Digging Roots

“…a sophisticated fusion of reggae, blues, jazz, hip hop…”
The Hamilton Spectator

“Luminous musical statements... 4.5/5 Stars” Winnipeg Free Press

“Digging Roots re-imagines the blues..." Digital Journal

“They have a gift for telling vivid stories about love and desperation, darkness and light, and being optimistic in the face of it all…”
CBC Music

“…loving it. Political, personal, spiritual.”
Roots Music Canada

“…they peel back the layers with each song, taking you deeper into their soulful, edgy and passionate sound.”
Marina Wray - CBC Radio One

“Funky native music fuelled by a sexy soulful blend of reggae ’n’ blues”
Jeffery Morgan, Detroit Metro Times

“…ShoShona’s honeycomb tone draws from the smokey power of Erykah Badu and the soufflé delicacy of Karen Carpenter. When she comes together with the whispery gravel of her partner Raven, Wall of Sound harmonies become a delectable motif that ages beautifully to the ear…Digging Roots’ ‘For The Light’ is sharper than a knife and is carving the group into maple-sweet mainstays in the mainstream Canadian music scene.”
Natural Landscapes Magazine

“…it is absolutely inspiring to hear these artistic people make such luminous statements...a must hear piece of work. 
4 1/2 stars.” 
  ~Jeff Mon - The Winnipeg Free Press

“…a strong release, that deserves to boost Digging Roots' international following.” 
  ~Kerry Doole - Exclaim

“…hopeful and empowering. 4 out of 5 stars.”
~Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen

“For The Light plays out like a love song, flawlessly produced featuring strong songwriting and beautifully executed songs. Infused throughout with blues, rock, roots and reggae this album is a gorgeous sexy feast for your ears as well as your soul.”
~ Shara Gustafson for MoJo Junction - Various

Barrie band Digging Roots leads the nominations at this years Aboriginal Music Awards, with nods in six categories including Best Band and Best Album for We Are. Smoothly presented in a fusion of blues, folk, pop and hip-hop, the collection features guest appearances from singer Kinnie Starr, who also produced the disc, and Inuit throat-singer Tanya Tagaq. The core of the collection, though, remains appealing husband-and-wife duo Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish. He lays down the guitar licks, she voices the melodies – sometimes with sweetness, sometimes with anguish. Its solid Toronto fan base will see the band launch the CD tonight at the Mod Club. - Toronto Star

Testimonials:

“It was at Eaglewood where I recently presented DiggingRoots and they were, without a doubt, the hit of the festival. Rarely have I received such rave reviews for an audience. Their performance was passionate, their stage presence mesmerizing, and their music infectious. They are a committed and driven group of artists whose voice is as unique as any I’ve heard.”
- Holmes Hooke, Hugh’s Room & Eaglewood Folk Festival

Audiences love DiggingRoots! They love ShoShona's exquisite vocals, Raven's stunning guitar work, and the joyful on-stage energy that makes a primal connection to the listener's feet, head and heart.
- Chris White, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Ottawa Folk Festival

‘Refreshing new talent with an edge . . a favourite at this year's festival, and delightful folks to work with.’
- Phyllis Stenson, Artistic Director, Harrison Festival of the Arts

“DiggingRoots provided my audience with uplifting fresh new music that reflected a variety of influences from their First Nations roots to Reggae and original Blues. The resulting synthesis created a real buzz of discovery at the 22nd Islands Folk Festival. Our office adopted their song “Wake Up and Rise” as the way to start our day. It was a pleasure to work with DiggingRoots and I look forward to the next time we present them.”
- Brent Hutchinson, Artistic Director/Producer, Islands Folk Festival

“Powerful writing and musicianship”
- Guelph and District Multicultural Society

“The talent you find in your own back yard may surprise you”
- Brian Charles, Art City Magazine

“With the casual deference and gentle, youthful enthusiasm which permeate their stage shows, [DiggingRoots] are of a number of emerging Indigenous Artists who have taken Jazz and Blues music and applied their considerable creativity… to enlarging and enriching the art…in a series of delightful surprises. Kanatakta has much of the technical [guitar] skill, humour and creative aplomb of a youthful Jaco Pastorious…”
- Robin Munro, Festevent 2004 - ...

After three years of touring in Canada, the US and Europe, Digging Roots decided it was time to get back in the studio and record a select few of the 40 plus songs they had in the store house since their last recording in 2006. So, in spring 2008 they rented a little cabin on the water, gathered their friends and allies and held up a recording studio arranging, recording and putting final touches on the new studio album.

The resulting album 'WE ARE' co-produced with Kinnie Starr builds on the unique strength of Digging Roots' live sound with carefully crafted songs, tight studio arrangements and soulful performances. These are artists coming into their own with a groove heavy album that spans a range of emotion from the dark haunted heartache on 'Holes' to socially charged optimism on 'Plant The Seeds'. At the center of the new work is the chemistry and songwriting of ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta. The title track and first single 'We Are' exemplifies the convergence of their styles that is Digging Roots' almost undefinable sound...somewhere blurred between the lines of roots, rock, hip hop, and blues.

As vocalists, Kish and Kanatakta play well off each others' strengths and here they both have been given room to stretch out. Kish's emotional range is showcased throughout the record from breathy seductive texture on songs like 'Brave Enough' to a sweet almost naive approach on 'These Hands' to the throaty wails that have garnered her live performance references to the likes of Janis Joplin.

Still playing tube-electrified acoustic guitars, Kanatakta's chops really shine through the new recording from minimalist melodies, to searing blues inspired slide guitar to epic Zeppelin-esque solos. Kanatakta sets himself apart from the pack with the fluidity of his musical ideas, playing with references to his influences (think, Hendrix meets Sun House meets Derek Trucks) while still shaping an entirely original sound.

The album features guest appearances by Kinnie Starr, Tanya Tagaq and Melanie Storm.

Digging Roots will release 'WE ARE' in October 2009 and is preparing to head out on the road with their backing rhythm section and new addition DJ Jesus Parlange, who brings sub bass tones and time-stretched rattles that shake the ground. - Arts for All