Sonic Sovereignty: Hip Hop, Indigeneity, and Shifting Popular Music Mainstreams

Sonic Sovereignty explores how contemporary Indigenous musicians use music to champion self-determination and connect to their cultural heritage. It follows musicians and producers as they navigate the music industry and engage in public conversations about Indigenous issues. The book encourages listeners to experiment with out-of-time listening and embrace rupture as a means of creating decolonial possibilities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2023
Publisher: New York University Press

Sonic Sovereignty delves into the captivating world of contemporary Indigenous musicians, exploring how they harness the power of music to champion self-determination and reclaim their cultural heritage in Canada and the United States. This innovative framework, coined as "sonic sovereignty," weaves together self-definition, collective determination, and Indigenous land rematriation with the profound and lasting impacts of expressive culture.

Liz Przybylski, a passionate documentarian, embarks on a journey to capture the dynamic interplay between online and offline media spaces, following the paths of musicians and producers as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of broadcast and online networks. Through her lens, Przybylski meticulously documents and reflects on the significant shifts that have taken place within the music industry and political landscape over the course of a decade. As the ways in which people engage with, consume, and interpret popular music undergo radical transformations, profound public conversations have emerged, delving into contemporary Indigenous culture, settler responsibility, Indigenous leadership, and the pursuit of decolonial futures.

Sonic Sovereignty invites us to embark on a unique auditory journey, encouraging us to explore the temporal possibilities of listening. It reveals moments when a sample, lyric, or musical reference transports listeners beyond the confines of normative time, fostering generative listenings that are informed by nonlinear storytelling practices from hip-hop music and other North American Indigenous sonic traditions. Through the musical readings presented in this book, Przybylski delves into how musicians employ various tools to facilitate listeners' embrace of rupture and the creation of decolonial possibilities through out-of-time listening.

In conclusion, Sonic Sovereignty offers a profound exploration of the intersection of music, culture, and self-determination, shedding light on the ways in which contemporary Indigenous musicians are shaping a vibrant and resilient future for their communities. Through their creative expressions and innovative approaches, they are not only reclaiming their cultural heritage but also contributing to broader conversations about justice, equality, and the ongoing struggle for decolonization. This book serves as a testament to the power of music as a catalyst for change and a means of building bridges between generations and cultures.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479816910