Author

Renata Yazzie
Renata Yazzie is a Diné musicologist, pianist, and writer from Albuquerque, N.M. whose research focuses on the intersections of Diné song and music with religion, theory, pedagogy, popular culture and neurochemistry. She is also the founder of the American Indian Musicians’ Scholarship which aims to provide all-encompassing assistance to Native students pursuing higher education in music.
‘Stop, and uplift each other’
By: Renata Yazzie - April 27, 2023
For the last decade, Christopher Mike-Bidtah (Diné) who goes by the stage name Def-i, has been hosting the annual Gathering of MCs where Native hip-hop artists gather in community to perform and spread encouraging messages for listeners. Def-i has been a vital part of the New Mexican hip-hop community, at one point co-hosting New Mexico’s […]
More than just a powwow
By: Renata Yazzie - April 20, 2023
People dance at the Launchpad venue during a performance by the band Midnight Stew. The band performs Thursday at the Native Guitars Tour. The Launchpad is hosting several events showcasing Native American musicians. (Photo by Sharon Chischilly for Source NM)
Analysis: What is sonic sovereignty? And why should Native Nations care?
By: Renata Yazzie - May 31, 2022
Songs are historical documents, narrating the histories of our origins, geographies, relationships and more. Songs and language are so intimately tied and their survivance depends on each other. “Kiowa people sing Kiowa more than they speak Kiowa,” said Maxwell Yamane, a Japanese-American Ph.D candidate in Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland. The sentiment is also […]