Album Notes

The founding members of Red Earth have been performing together since the mid-1990s when they met in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since that time, the group has gone through various personnel changes and additions as their sound has grown dramatically. Now several years into the journey, the band has been working to create a sound utilizing Native American themes combined with numerous contemporary music influences from across the Americas and the world. On their last album "Zia Soul" (Independent, 2003) that sound solidified with a collection of diverse and energetic tracks, all with a uniquely Native American/Southwest voice.
The band mixes musical, cultural and political influences together to create an explosive sound, which they label "tribal stew." Amidst these numerous influences, Red Earth projects a fresh originality that can be clearly seen and felt at their high-energy and fun-filled live shows. Everything from funk, hard rock, reggae, and Latin grooves are mixed with ska, rockabilly, jazz, and Native American rhythms, along with a heavy dose of Indian humor. Underlying the music are the band's uplifting and positive lyrics that call out for unity among all people. After years of playing locally, the band has attracted a substantial following around the Southwest and in Indian Country, demonstrated by them being awarded the prestigious "Debut Artist of the Year" at the 2000 Native American Music Awards (NAMAs) and "World Music Album of the Year" for Zia Soul in 2003.
Over the years Red Earth has shared the bill with numerous noteworthy artists, including Ozomatli, War, The Funk Brothers, 311, Los Lobos, Indigenous, Robert Mirabal, Bill Miller, Native Roots, Casper Lomayesva, Willie Nelson, John Trudell, Las Víctimas Del Dr. Cerebro (from México), and Querosene Jacaré (from Brazil.) They also created and organize the annual "Electric 49" (tm) festival, which takes place every April in Albuquerque. Their music has been featured in several New Mexico films and CD compilations. Red Earth has participated in numerous festivals all across the United States, as well being invited to the Chants du Monde festival in Bretagne, France in 2001.
With the energy of their last CD "Zia Soul" Red Earth hopes to take their sound outside of Indian Country and outside of the United States. Helping to lead the way in the recent surge of contemporary Native artists arising in the United States (and around the globe), this band needs to be heard and felt in a live setting to truly capture the energy of their songs and the power of their musical message. Red Earth is a band that understands the seriousness of what they are doing yet never take themselves too serious in the process. Please check out the official Red Earth website for more information on the "tribal stew" brewing in the New Mexico desert.