Indigenous (band) facts for kids

Indigenous is an American blues rock band. They became famous in the late 1990s. The band first started with two brothers, Mato Nanji (who sings and plays guitar) and Pte (who plays bass guitar). Their sister, Wanbdi, played drums and sang. Their cousin, Horse, played percussion.

Their music is inspired by famous guitarists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Carlos Santana. Many people compare Mato Nanji's guitar playing to these legends. Indigenous has also performed with many well-known artists. These include B.B. King, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, and the Dave Matthews Band. The band has also led their own tours many times.

The band members are part of the Nakota Nation. They grew up on the South Dakota's Yankton Indian Reservation. Their father, Greg Zephier, was a spokesperson for Native American rights. He was also a musician in the 1960s and 1970s. Greg taught his children to play instruments. He also shared blues music from artists like B.B. King and Buddy Guy with them. The family began touring together. Soon, the children started performing on their own.

The Band's Journey in Music

Early Success and Awards

Indigenous released their first album, Things We Do, in 1998. It was a big hit! In 1999, they won three Native American Music Awards. These included top honors like Album of the Year and Group of the Year.

Their song "Now That You're Gone" became very popular. It reached #22 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Amazon.com even named them Blues Artist of the Year. They were also featured on popular TV and radio shows. These included NPR's "All Things Considered" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

The famous blues musician B.B. King became a fan of Indigenous. He invited them to join his Blues Festival Tour. This was a huge honor for the band!

More Albums and Changes

Indigenous released an EP (a shorter album) called Blues This Morning in 1999. They also released a live album, Live at Pachyderm Studios, that same year. Live at Pachyderm won two more Native American Music Awards in 2000. Their next album, Circle, also did well. It reached the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart in 2000.

After this, they released their self-titled album, Indigenous, in 2003. Then came another EP, Long Way Home, in 2005. This EP had five new songs. It also included an acoustic version of "Rest Of My Days" and a live version of "Things We Do."

In 2006, after recording Chasing the Sun, the original band members went their separate ways. Mato Nanji continued to perform under the name Indigenous. He toured with new band members. In 2008, Mato wrote and recorded the album Broken Lands. Later, in 2010, they released The Acoustic Sessions.

Honoring Their Roots

Their 2012 album, Vanishing Americans, was very special. It honored Mato's father, Greg Zephier, Sr. The album was dedicated to young people on Native American reservations. It won the Native American Music Award's "Album of the Year" in 2014. Greg Zephier was a spiritual advisor and spokesperson. Mato said his father was his "favorite musician." He felt it was time to honor him and his band.

The 2014 album, Time is Coming, was described as more rock than blues. Indigenous continues to make music, sharing their unique sound with the world.

Indigenous Album Highlights and Awards

• Things We Do (1998): Won Native American Music Awards for Album of the Year, Group of the Year, and Best Pop Group.
• Live at Pachyderm Studios (1999): Won Native American Music Awards for Blues Album of the Year and Group of the Year.
• Circle (2000): Reached #3 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.
• Indigenous (2003): Reached #3 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.
• Chasing the Sun (2006): Reached #2 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.
• Vanishing Americans (2013): Won the Native American Music Award for Album of the Year in 2014.