Ak47

Now Available!

Digging Roots

Imagine an AK-47 that shoots love. The notion is audacious, to say the least. But audacity is Digging Roots’ stock in trade. Juno-winning First Nations power couple Shoshona Kish and Raven Kanatakta have built their sound on a unique musical marriage of unvarnished truth and unconditional love. Digging Roots’ new song and video AK-47 has both, in spades.
AK-47 packs the punch of Digging Roots’ live anthem Hwy 17, adding the romantic optimism of For the Light, the title track of their most recent album. Like the latter video, AK-47 articulates an aesthetic deeply rooted in human love, but takes the approach to a new level.
Reminiscent of Beyonce’s “Lemonade” in its evocative visual language, AK-47 intertwines scenes of struggle and revival with colourful symbols of peace, love, and connection. Collaborator Sarain Carson-Fox appears throughout, in alternating avatars of jingle dancer, warrior, and activist.
Timed to coincide with Carson-Fox’s Vice documentary on Shoal Lake 40, AK-47 coincidentally arrives in the wake of the Pulse nightclub tragedy in Orlando—and just prior to a much anticipated appearance at Toronto’s world-famous Pride festival. The synchronicity simmers. “I just figured out the world’s problems,” begins the track; “people don’t make out enough.”
Echoing throughout with the beat of the Grandfather drum, burning with the fire of renewal, AK-47 engages Kish’s lilting vocal and Kanatakta’s searing guitar against the forces of darkness—and wins.

David Newland

Tour

News & Updates

"Aboriginal roots-rockers Digging Roots have a message to share with the confused, fearful world we seem to be living in. Their new song, "AK-47" is a blues stomper for peace and love. Singer Shoshona Kish wants to fill the titular firearm with hope and flowers, while the video stars her as a benevolent warrior amidst the Canadian wilderness as images of grenades and soldiers fly past.

“This song is very personal and emotional for us," says band member Raven Kanatakta, "Especially in the wake of the horrific events in Orlando this last week. ‘AK-47’ is about opening fire on hate, oppression and violence. Not with bullets and guns; but with the full force of love. This song is about peace and courage and the idea that its time to change the whole paradigm. Stop the violence, against each other, ourselves, against the land. There’s an Anishinaabe word in the chant at the end of the song that distills it all for me. 'Nizoogide’e'. It means “My heart is a stronghold.'”" - Phil Whitmer of Noisy Music By Vice

It’s been a whirl-wind of a summer touring the new album, meeting new friends and getting hug and love-up some old ones. Rumour has it that we’re thinking of getting back into the studio this winter to record a new album, but until then…order our latest album, ‘For The Light’ on iTunes NOW! Click here to order and enjoy a free-streaming of our title track, ‘For The Light’ and single, ‘I’ve Got It Bad.’ -

We had an amazing time performing ‘Stay’, from the new album and we made sure to represent our #MMIW at the #CanadaAM studios on the #AMSoundstage. CLICK HERE TO WATCH the whole clip!

We excitingly express our thanks and gratitude to Paul Reddick for dreaming & colouring outside of the box by creating the ‪#‎CobaltPrize‬, a contemporary blues composition award that was presented at the annual ‪#‎MapleBluesAwards‬. With Digging Roots as the inaugural recipient of the award we are both humbled and honoured. The prize composition was ‘Hwy 17’ from our new album ‘For The Light‘ that speaks to the incomprehensible issue of the near 1200 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women ‪#‎MMIW‬. We also send loving appreciation to our great friend Derek Andrews and the fantastic people at The Toronto Blues Society for hosting the ‪#‎BluesSummitVII‬ where we got to visit friends and were introduced to new ones! Meegwetch/niawen!

CLICK HERE FOR More Details about the Cobalt Award