THE MEDIA INDEX 

AMERICAN INDIAN REVIEW/WINTER 1999-2000

THE NATIVE BEAT GOES ON by Paula Zalar

.....Arigon Starr, Kickapoo-Creek performer and "one of the fastest rising artists on the Native American music scene," say press reports, was an early award winner. Starr's recording MEET THE DIVA, (www.arigonstarr.com) won in NAMA's new category, 'Best Independent Recording.' Described as 'music everyone can experience and relate to on many different levels,' Starr's 13-song CD reflects her own, personal motto, 'Indian Glam -- Native Pride.' With music called 'clever, melodic, explosive, and fun,' Starr is receiving solid support from concert attendance and radio stations nationwide, and from music lovers in the U.S., UK and Canada.

Assessing the evening, Starr echoed the feelings of many in explaining the need for and importance of an evening like the Nammy's, "What they're doing for the Native American music community is akin to what the annual Grammy Awards do for musicians in the non-Indian community," she says. "It brings to people's attention a lot of music they might not have heard otherwise, and it brings notice to deserving music that everyone already knows about and loves."

Citing the set design, Starr emphasies this as an example of the Nammys being an event that brings together Native American artists in all mediums, each part, each talent, reinforcing the whole of Indian performing artistry and vision.

"The production is the most amazing showcase one could possibly imagine," says Starr enthusiastically. "We know who we are, coming into an event like this, but -- given this particular spotlight -- we're able to cement our identity throughout the Indian community nationwide."

It helps, says Starr, that performers can learn how much of an impact their music is having. "When I came in here for the show," she explains, "Ellen Bello (NAMA's founder) said to me, "You don't know how many fans you have!" Starr could hope and imagine, certainly, but an award winning tabulation offers a performer solid testimony of music reach, and audience.

"The people who come to this are into music and this is their night, their forum. To walk into something like this, where there are 2000 people just screaming and yelling, cheering for everyone, it was electric, just crackling with energy. We hope that by seeing this, record companies out there will be convinced to take a chance on signing Native American talent. It's more than, 'Oh, those poor Indians, isn't that nice? Don't they sing pretty songs?' We're professional people who work hard at what we do, and we know the business, know how to be out promoting ourselves. This is our life, and we treat it with respect, learn what we need to learn."

The NAMMY's get the word out: "There's a market for Indian music." The message matters, the message helps. The more people know about Indian performers, believes Starr, the more they'll realise Native Americans are individuals with diverse backgrounds, languages and customs.

'Arigon Starr' is so different from someone like 'Primeaux & Mike" says Starr. "We're on the same stage as Indian people, but we're all bringing our own, different experiences, different nations to the forefront, and this is good."

"Through our music we continually show people we're still here, and thriving. We have a lot to say, and music -- unlike television, film or books -- takes a small time investment, say just about 3 minutes to hear a song." Music is portable communication, reminds Starr, and all the more effective because of this. Arigon Starr's latest record, Wind-Up, will be available February-March 2000.

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©1999-2000 American Indian Review