Josiah Contreras: A Native without a Tribe
Armed with his bass and voice, Josiah Contreras, a.k.a. Red Elk, plays what he calls “Native soul,” combining modern groove-based styles (funk, soul, folk, and rock) with elements of Native American music (rhythms, chants, flutes, and percussion).
Red Elk draws inspiration from artists such as Victor Wooten, A Tribe Called Red, R. Carlos Nakai, and Nahko and Medicine for the People. He hopes to create groove-based, enjoyable music that expresses his passion while reiterating the message of indigenous people.
Watch Contreras perform “Ghosts Embodied”: