5 Native American Musicians You Should Be Listening To Right Now

Music has so many purposes – one of which is to bring people together. Another one is to heal. Native American musicians are known for compositions that emphasize a variety of aspects of their culture, mixed with multi-instrumental layers. From blues to rock, soul to metal, we’ve listed five talented Native American musicians here for you to check out. Just in time for Native American Heritage Month!

5 Native American Musicians to Check Out

Sihasin

From the ashes of Blackfire, Sihasin arose. Three siblings – Klee, Clayson, and Jeneda Benally were involved in a punk rock rez band called Blackfire. The band formed in the early 90s and was known for their percussion-heavy, aggressive music, fraught with rebellious lyrics. Blackfire broke a lot of barriers for many artists. Unfortunately, older brother Klee passed away at the end of 2023.

The siblings Jeneda and Clayson went on to form Sihasin (Diné for hope), and things took a more mellow turn. With music influenced by nature sounds, chanting, and traditional Navajo songs, Sihasin is not a band to miss. Jeneda and Clay keep the memory of their brother alive and close by continuing to make music and protect the land in their native Arizona.

Redbone

“Come and Get Your Love” was arguably Redbone’s biggest hit in the 70s. But if you only know them for that, then you haven’t been paying attention. Their songs like “Wovoka” and “Maggie” were catchy, and “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” (about Marie Laveau) were moderate hits in the U.S., but fared better overseas. Aussie pop band Chantoozies covered the latter song in 1987.

Brothers Pat and Lolly Vasquez-Vegas, of Yaqui-Shoshone heritage, formed Redbone back in 1969. All the members of the band were either Mexican American or Native American. The band had influences of rock, folk, blues, and soul. They were also considered swamp rock at the time. Redbone became the first Native American band to have success with a single reaching quite high on the charts.

Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo is a Native American musician who is not to be overlooked. Besides being a songwriter, she is a poet, an artist, an author, and a playwright. She’s a creator in every sense of the word. In 2008, Harjo won a NAMMY (Native American Music Award for her album “Winding Through the Milky Way.” Joy Harjo is the recipient of many other awards, and she served three terms as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States.

Harjo frequently incorporates spoken word poetry with her songs. She is also known to embark on multiple collaborations with different musicians. With respect to her music, Harjo’s website describes it as “reggae-tribal-jazz-rock… which seeks healing for a troubled world.”

Testify

It’s a family affair for the rez metal band out of New Mexico. Darius Yazzie puts his wife and his father to work in this band that’s been around since 2010. Testify originally started as a straight metal band, but now weaves Native American music and lore into much of what they do.

Guitarist Yazzie told New Mexico Magazine that he wants his music to uplift Native youths with its positive message. Their ’80s-inspired track “Live for Something, Die for Nothing” has a huge anthem-y sound, making them a band to watch. And, by the way, they have a new album coming out in 2026!

Jesse Ed Davis

A talented guitarist who died way too young, Jesse Ed Davis needs to be recognized for the creative force that he was. Born in 1944 in Oklahoma, Davis was of Muscogee, Comanche, and Seminole ancestry. He had a keen interest in guitar at a young age and eventually toured with Conway Twitty.

Soon after, Davis moved to California and met Levon Helm from the Band. Helm introduced him to musicians like Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Jackson Browne. On Browne’s 1972 song “Doctor, My Eyes,”  Davis played the searing guitar solo. There was no rehearsal, and in just one single take, Davis nailed it. That is the solo part you hear on the record today.

Some End Notes

There are a few other Native American musicians we should recognize. One in particular is Blackbraid, out of northern New York. The one-man act is currently combining sounds of nature, tribal lore, and black metal. The project is the work of Mohawk Jon Krieger, who is also known as Sgah’gahsowáh, or witch hawk.

Another musician we’d like to mention is John Trudell. Not only was he an actor, but he was also an accomplished musician. He often played with other musicians, both Native American and non-native. He was also a poet and an advocate for hemp.

These are just a few of the Native American musicians that we’ve listed here. There is a growing metal movement, called Rez Metal, that is currently happening. While we can’t wait to see what musicians come from this genre, we still have plenty of others to enjoy.