Wicahpi Olowan releases “Compilation, Vol. 1”

Listen to how diverse we are. Listen to how unified we are through our diversity. Listen how proud we are of our diverse voices.

First Peoples Fund’s Wicahpi Olowan Music Program and Studio is proud to have unveiled the inaugural Wicahpi Olowan Compilation Album, Volume I. This project, produced entirely by an all-Native staff and featuring a diverse group of Native artists, marks a major milestone as we recently marked the first anniversary of FPF’s Oglala Lakota Artspace and the Wicahpi Olowan Music Studio. 

“We really wanted to do this to celebrate the hard work that everybody's been doing, who's been in any way, shape or form a part of this [album]. This is a way to demonstrate how artists are rising to the occasion,” Talon Bazille Ducheneaux (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), Program Manager of the WO Music Program, said. 

Inspired by the Pine Ridge Reservation and surrounding communities like Rosebud and Cheyenne River, the album shares the talent and culture of these areas. More than a compilation of songs, it reflects the rapid growth and impact of the music program at FPF in just its first year while also extending a hand to other Indigenous communities to create similar projects in their communities. 

“I am a huge believer in diversity as a strength of society, and I believe this album puts that out front and center. it's like, ‘Listen to how diverse we are. Listen to how unified we are through our diversity. Listen how proud we are of our diverse voices.’ I think that is a remarkable feat not just of the album but also of the endeavors of the music studio at OLA,” Thomas Duncan, the Chief Programs Officer of the Playing for Change Foundation, said.

The Playing for Change Foundation played a significant role in creating the album by providing critical support, resources, and connections that helped the project’s quality and reach. According to Talon, PFCF has provided FPF with high-end equipment that is usually only found in professional studios and can cost up to $150 an hour to use. 

Featuring a diverse range of Indigenous artists, they each bring their unique sound and perspective to the project. From traditional music to modern genres like hip-hop and blues, the hour-long album captures the wide range of talent within the Indigenous community. 

“I have two songs on the album. I have one with Terrance [Jade], and then I have one with my brother Noah,” said Jacob “Conquest” Bianas (Oglala Lakota); the first song is called ‘Shine,’ and it’s pretty much about how we’re now able to find ourselves with access to equipment and a place to record- going from having nothing to suddenly having something out of nowhere.”

it’s pretty much about how we’re now able to find ourselves with access to equipment and a place to record- going from having nothing to suddenly having something out of nowhere.

Conquest blends rock, hip-hop, and traditional singing into his songs on the compilation album. Being a part of a project that includes so many other Indigenous artists felt meaningful to him, “It feels good because working with a lot of artists and then hearing them on the same album as you is eye-opening. It’s not just one genre, it’s all kinds,” he said. 

“It’s so cool to represent our community in this way and the different hues we all paint from. I want to see more talent in our language, singing in our language, or rapping in our language, as well as experimentation with different things. Being able to have that space and have this moment to be myself in a project like this is just so cool because we're all respectively representing each other as well as our communities at the same time," Nyna "9a" Matowin (Oglala Lakota), another artist on the album, said. 

Nyna describes her style of music as “Lakota pop,” blending pop and R&B and focusing on including the Lakota language in her music. She felt her song in the album fit well with its message, bringing her energy and perspective. Her music shares the themes of perseverance and dreaming beyond one’s circumstances, encouraging her listeners to pursue their passions regardless of where they start out. 

“It’s not just the music; it’s also being able to sing in our language,” she said, hoping that the message of resilience and determination would resonate with her listeners in English or Lakota. 

The Wicahpi Olowan Compilation Album, Volume I, stands as evidence of the colorful and diverse musical talent that can be found within the Pine Ridge community and its surrounding areas. Through the partnership with Playing for Change Foundation and the artists' dedication, this album celebrates the culture of its contributors and marks the start of future collaborations. This inaugural album marks a milestone for the music program, promising growth and inspiration. 

It’s so cool to represent our community in this way and the different hues we all paint from.

The album is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.