JOSEPH SARENHES

Joseph Sarenhes, member of the Wendat nation of Quebec, mixes hip-hop and trap with traditional native songs and drums, performed by the group RedTailSpirit. 

'I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where art and music were ubiquitous. My Father is a professional West African dancer and percussionist. I’ve been immersed in traditional African rhythms from my birth. From the age of 3, I did percussion shows with my father across Quebec province , which allowed me to build solid musical technical bases and develop polyrhythmic skills. Dance has also been part of my life since then. I completed a professional dance formation that took place during all my high school years and it’s that discipline that made me fall in love with the Hip-Hop world. It was during this era that I deep-dived in the self-taught learning of the piano and guitar which are instruments that I have never stopped playing. It was the mixture of all these artistic experiences and a burning need to express myself that opened the path to musical production and rap. Born of an Indigenous mother (Wendat) and a Guinean father, it was only natural for me to incorporate these two rich and beautiful cultures into all my songs. I tend to create a mixture that is both homogeneous and refreshing between tradition and modernity. Although each of my projects has a distinct message, I direct my art so that it becomes an unifying medium that inspires and leaves a positive impact on Afro/Indigenous youth and everyone else. 

Knowing that my music pays respect to those that came before me would be my greatest achievement. I come from an environment where respect for the ancestors is paramount. To honor them through my music is a goal that animates me every note sung.' 

Joseph Sarenhes // josephsarenhes.bandcamp.com  // josephsarenhestv 

Follow @josephsarenhes