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Kino Benally

Nihimá Nahasdzáán

 

Pronunciation: Neh-Hyeh-Muh Nah-Hoss-Dzawn

Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Kino Benally’s first release under his own name, is seen as a fond departure from his earlier work as DJ Béeso, with a shift from the Electronic/Club music of his past releases, to Nihimá Nahasdzáán, which is an intricate and layered conceptual piece with soundscapes and many moments of reverence for traditional Diné Musical Structure and Practice. The album title, Nihimá Nahasdzáán which roughly translates to, “Our Mother, Mother Earth,” gives Kino the proper space to give tribute to Ké’ or kinship and the complete interconnectedness of everything. Kino builds a home with each song describing an object, concept, or place in his world all while featuring many longtime collaborators and colleagues along the way.

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--Performed, Produced, Mixed, and Record by: Kino Benally

--Guitars: Kino Benally, Ryan Dennison(*tracks 5), and Olivia Komahcheet

--Hand Drums: Camas Logue

--Saxophone: Oona Benally

--Bass: Kino Benally

--Piano: Renata Yazzie, and Kino Benally

--Vocals: Kino Benally, Oona Benally, Tatiana Benally & Ryan Dennison

--Hágóonee' - Composed by Kino Benally

--Piano Arrangement and Performance by Renata Yazzie

--K'os - Additional Vocals - Ryan Dennison

--Zas - Guitar Solo: Ryan Dennison

--Shinálí - Saxophone: Oona Benally

--E'e'aah - Co-written by Ryan Dennison

© FOUNTAINavm 2022

Featured
Nihimá Nahasdzáán by Kino Benally
Kino Benally
Nihimá Nahasdzáán by Kino Benally
Kino Benally
$25.00

Kino Benally’s first release under his own name, is seen as a fond departure from his earlier work as DJ Béeso, with a shift from the Electronic/Club music of his past releases, to Nihimá Nahasdzáán, which is an intricate and layered conceptual piece with soundscapes and many moments of reverence for traditional Diné Musical Structure and Practice. The album title, Nihimá Nahasdzáán which roughly translates to, “Our Mother, Mother Earth,” gives Kino the proper space to give tribute to Ké’ or kinship and the complete interconnectedness of everything. Kino builds a home with each song describing an object, concept, or place in his world all while featuring many longtime collaborators and colleagues along the way.

Kino Benally
Nihimá Nahasdzáán by Kino Benally Digital Download
Kino Benally
Nihimá Nahasdzáán by Kino Benally Digital Download
Kino Benally
$10.00

Nihimá Nahasdzáán, Kino Benally’s first release under his own name, is seen as a fond departure from his earlier work as DJ Béeso, with a shift from the Electronic/Club music of his past releases, to Nihimá Nahasdzáán, which is an intricate and layered conceptual piece with soundscapes and many moments of reverence for traditional Diné Musical Structure and Practice. The album title, Nihimá Nahasdzáán which roughly translates to, “Our Mother, Mother Earth,” gives Kino the proper space to give tribute to Ké’ or kinship and the complete interconnectedness of everything. Kino builds a home with each song describing an object, concept, or place in his world all while featuring many longtime collaborators and colleagues along the way.

In MP3 format with option to receive free WAV files as well.

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Kino Benally

Kino Benally

Kino Benally is a Diné musician, producer, sound engineer and artist from Shiprock, New Mexico. His work prioritizes collaborating with indigenous peoples and strengthening contemporary indigenous voices. Kino's music has been featured on KEXP's song of the day and has been featured on CBC radio based in Canada.

Kino frequently teaches workshops on sound and creativity to indigenous youth, with past collaborations with Native American Community Academy, Dził Ditł'ooí School of; Empowerment Action and Perseverance, Paper Rocket Productions, Survival of the First Voices, and many others. He has also worked as a composer/performer with Dancing Earth (a First Nations Dance Company), PBS mini-series "Class of '27," "Moroni for President", "Mr. Navajo," & “America Reframed” in order to challenge his artistry and teaching methods, between workshops and community organizing.

 

Liner Notes

 

1 Bįįh - Deer

Pronounced: Bee (with Nasal Tone)

Written by: Kino Benally

Featuring Olivia Komahcheet on Guitar

Recorded in Sweetwater AZ

This track started with several layers of syncopated hand drum patterns. The hand drum sound-bytes were sent by friend and collaborator Camas Logue and are featured throughout the entire album. The track progressed and Olivia and I had been planning to collaborate for a long time – the timing ended up working out perfectly for this opening track.

2 Sǫ'Yilwoł - Shooting star

Written by: Kino Benally

Recorded in Shiprock NM

I recorded the guitars when I lived in São Luis, Brasil. If you listen closely you can hear motorcycles passing by from the street outside. I revisited this song at the beginning of this year while looking through some old files. It was a recording from a handheld device back when I lived in Brazil. I could have replayed it, but that recording captured that time of my life.

3 E'e'aah - West, Sunset

Written by: Kino Benally

Co-written by: Ryan Dennison

Recorded in Shiprock NM

The track began with a lofi sound byte from my good friend Ryan. It has a warm end of the day type of vibe. It started off as a rough lo-fi sounding beat, and that made me nostalgic of DIY shows. I wanted to juxtapose a more refined sound with this one, to show the contrast.

4 K'os - Clouds

Written by: Kino Benally

Recorded in Durango Co (2016) and Revisited in Shiprock NM (2022)

This track was started as an old file recorded in Durango that was most likely going to turn into a hip-hop beat, but I wasn’t exactly sure where to go with it. It was revisited within the last 2 years, and I challenged myself to try something new with it.

5 Zas - Snow

Written by: Kino Benally

Recorded in Shiprock NM

This song is a journey and goes through several different emotions all dealing with winter. This track started off with the finger piano. That’s what really started this song. Ryan sent some guitar pieces and one of them fit really well with this one.

6 Tooh Nílíní - River

Written by Kino Benally

Recorded in New York City at an Indigenous Arts Festival. Revisited in Sweetwater, AZ

I was invited to an Indigenous Arts Festival in New York City and that is where the base of this song was started. We recorded my sister, Oona, in Sweetwater earlier this year on Saxophone.

7 Nahałtin

Written by Kino Benally

Recorded mostly in Shiprock NM

It's raining. Rain sounds recorded in a shade house in Sweetwater with a tin roof during summer.

8 Ná'oolkiłí - Clock

Written by Kino Benally

Featuring Oona Benally

Recorded in Sweetwater AZ

Inspired by drones, meditation, and Terry Riley. I wanted the song to sound Dreamlike – the two main instruments featured in this song are the synthesizer and saxophone.

9 Shinálí

Written by Kino Benally

Co-Written by Tatiana Benally

Vocals Featuring Tatiana Benally, Kino Benally, & Oona Benally

Recorded in Sweetwater AZ & Shiprock NM

A song written for my paternal grandfather – I love you and miss you.

10 K'aalógii - Butterfly

Written by Kino Benally

Recorded in Shiprock NM & Sweetwater AZ

The burning fire was recorded outside while it was snowing in Sweetwater. This song has a spacey and nostalgic feel to it. A majority of this song was made in Sweetwater and was finished in Shiprock.

11 Tółikan - Sweetwater

Written by Kino Benally

Recorded in Sweetwater AZ & Shiprock NM

The place where my father is from, located in Arizona. I started the wash and the birds first. Then I recorded a bunch of sandstone & rock sounds for percussion. I then did the chords. Then did the Acid Bass

12 Hágóonee' - Good-bye.

Written by Kino Benally

Performed & Arranged by Renata Yazzie

Recorded in Albuquerque NM & Shiprock NM

This one is patched together from 3 different piano performances by Renata Yazzie. Originally the song was composed in Ableton, but was later transferred/transcribed to Sheet Music with the help of Renata. This song is Purple and Somber, it has hints of R&B, and has a feeling of longing to it.