Wayquay

Wayquay's full name, Swangideed Wayquay, means "Lady Unafraid" in English.

She lives with one foot in the past, one in the present, and an eye to the future, retracing steps on the path left by her ancestors to bring messages of simplicity, sharing, honor and hope for redirecting complicated lives through the medicine of music.

Of Ojibway, Anishnabe descent, Wayquay was raised in rural America. This progressive musical poet and pioneer set off to New York City to find herself with a few dollars in her pocket and a vision in her mind. Soon, she had written and directed a successful comedy show at Harlem's Landmark Apollo Theatre and participated in a compilation album and concert in Japan to benefit the Kobe earthquake survivors. Fast forward, and now, through song, poetry, and speaking engagements, she emerges as a unique and powerful voice.

Wayquay's "soulin'" style merges the rhythms and chants from her indigenous background with the grooves of blues, funk, hip-hop, rock, poetry, and nature on her compelling debut album Tribal Grind. Her music and vision, uniquely American, has garnered her international recognition and heavy appeal for her soon to be released album Ghostflower.

Songs from Tribal Grind appeared in Wayquay's feature film debut Dreamland, and Wayquay herself was featured on CNN Worldbeat, CNN's international music program. She was a guest on Good Morning Live in Montreal and was interviewed by MusiquePlus, who featured her "Navigate" video.

Wayquay also opened the Reservation X exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum for the American Indian, has repeat performances at the United Nations, and currently performs her "ethniccational" tour Words of 'IS'dom around the country.

If you missed her on The Sopranos or her recent poetry and narration in Alcatraz Is Not An Island with Benjamin Bratt on PBS, Wayquay's much awaited album Ghostflower is coming soon.