Ulali
Encyclopedia
Ulali, founded in 1987, was the first Native American women's a cappella
group to create their own sound from strong traditional roots and personal contemporary styles. They created a new genre of Native American music
and inspired the creation of other Native women's groups. The group includes Pura Fé
(Tuscarora
), Soni (Mayan
, Apache
, Yaqui), and Jennifer (Tuscarora).
Known for their unusual harmonies and wide vocal and musical range, Ulali's sound encompasses an array of indigenous music including Southeast United States choral singing (pre-blues and gospel) and pre-Columbian (before the borders) music. Breaking the stereotypes of Native women, Ulali is political, romantic, and humorous. Their live performances addressed Native struggles and accomplishments.
The group was first called "Pura Fe'" and included three female singers and three males. Later, the group became a duo comprising singers, Soni Moreno and Pura Fé
before eventually becoming a trio.
, and abroad performing at venues like Woodstock 94, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the 1997 Smithsonian's Folkways 50th Anniversary Gala at Carnegie Hall
, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the 1998 WOMAD Festival in Seattle, the 1998 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
, the 1999 World festival of Sacred Music at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Solstice 2000 in Montréal, the Britt Festival 2000 in Oregon, V Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden, the 2001 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and a wide range of other venues, benefit performances, and festivals. They have performed abroad in Brazil, Corsica, England, France, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia and Portugal. Ulali also travels throughout Indian country (U.S., Canada, Central America and South America) visiting communities, singing, and exchanging songs. They also perform at powwow
s and can often be heard on Native radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
recording Shaming of the Sun
, and opened for and performed with the Indigo Girls in several cities in 1997. Ulali also contributed to the Indigo Girls benefit recording project, "Honor the Earth" and participated in the national tour of the same name.
Ulali was featured on the soundtrack of the Miramax film Smoke Signals
. They performed at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival
in support of Smoke Signals, which won the Audience Choice Award and Filmmaker's Trophy. Ulali recorded on the soundtrack for the Turner documentary series The Native Americans
. They subsequently had two of their songs, "Mahk Jchi" and "Ancestor Song" featured on Robbie Robertson
's album Music for The Native Americans
. Their video "Follow Your Hearts Desire" won "Best Music Video" at The American Indian Film Institute Awards.
Ulali has appeared on National Public Radio several times and made their national television debut when they performed with Robertson as featured guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After performing at the Todos un Cantos del Mundo in May 2000, Ulali was featured on the "Jô Soares Show", a nationally televised talk show in Brazil.
The group has been on several compilations that have been nominated for Juno Awards. Ulali participated in the Aboriginal Women's Voices Project and helped to develop songs for the Project recording "Hearts of the Nations". They were also featured on the Smithsonian's Folkways compilation recording "Heartbeat," and can be heard on dozens of albums, documentaries and movies. In addition, Ulali contributed the music for a recording with Lakota/Kiowa Apache Story Teller Dovie Thomason's "Lessons from the Animal People," which won the American Library Association's 1997 "Editor's Choice Award" and "Notable Recording Award". During Spring 2002, they were featured on the "One Giant Leap" recording and MTV video.
Ulali has shared the bill with Buffy Sainte-Marie
, Floyd Westerman, Miriam Makeba
, John Trudell
, the American Indian Dance Theatre, Sting, Richie Havens
, the B-52's
, Jackson Browne
, Bonnie Raitt
, Mary Chapin Carpenter
and the Neville Brothers
.
As Contributor:
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group to create their own sound from strong traditional roots and personal contemporary styles. They created a new genre of Native American music
Native American music
American Indian music is the music that is used, created or performed by Native North Americans, specifically traditional tribal music. In addition to the traditional music of the Native American groups, there now exist pan-tribal and inter-tribal genres as well as distinct Indian subgenres of...
and inspired the creation of other Native women's groups. The group includes Pura Fé
Pura Fé
Pura Fé is a singer-songwriter, poet, musician, artist and social activist. She founded the first native women's a cappella trio, Ulali, and created a style and genre that blends traditional Native American music with contemporary musical styles...
(Tuscarora
Tuscarora (tribe)
The Tuscarora are a Native American people of the Iroquoian-language family, with members in New York, Canada, and North Carolina...
), Soni (Mayan
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
, Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
, Yaqui), and Jennifer (Tuscarora).
Known for their unusual harmonies and wide vocal and musical range, Ulali's sound encompasses an array of indigenous music including Southeast United States choral singing (pre-blues and gospel) and pre-Columbian (before the borders) music. Breaking the stereotypes of Native women, Ulali is political, romantic, and humorous. Their live performances addressed Native struggles and accomplishments.
The group was first called "Pura Fe'" and included three female singers and three males. Later, the group became a duo comprising singers, Soni Moreno and Pura Fé
Pura Fé
Pura Fé is a singer-songwriter, poet, musician, artist and social activist. She founded the first native women's a cappella trio, Ulali, and created a style and genre that blends traditional Native American music with contemporary musical styles...
before eventually becoming a trio.
Appearances
Ulali has traveled extensively throughout the U.S., CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and abroad performing at venues like Woodstock 94, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the 1997 Smithsonian's Folkways 50th Anniversary Gala at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the 1998 WOMAD Festival in Seattle, the 1998 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
, the 1999 World festival of Sacred Music at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Solstice 2000 in Montréal, the Britt Festival 2000 in Oregon, V Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden, the 2001 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and a wide range of other venues, benefit performances, and festivals. They have performed abroad in Brazil, Corsica, England, France, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia and Portugal. Ulali also travels throughout Indian country (U.S., Canada, Central America and South America) visiting communities, singing, and exchanging songs. They also perform at powwow
PowWow
PowWow is a wireless sensor network mote developed by the Cairn team of IRISA/INRIA. The platform is currently based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard radio transceiver and on an MSP430 microprocessor...
s and can often be heard on Native radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Collaborations
The group added their distinct voice to the Indigo GirlsIndigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
recording Shaming of the Sun
Shaming of the Sun
Shaming of the Sun is the sixth studio album by the Indigo Girls, released in 1997.-Track listing:#"Shame on You" – 4:04#"Get Out the Map" – 3:25#"Shed Your Skin" – 4:10#"It's Alright" – 3:05...
, and opened for and performed with the Indigo Girls in several cities in 1997. Ulali also contributed to the Indigo Girls benefit recording project, "Honor the Earth" and participated in the national tour of the same name.
Ulali was featured on the soundtrack of the Miramax film Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals (film)
Smoke Signals is an independent film directed and co-produced by Chris Eyre and with a screenplay by Sherman Alexie, based on the short story "This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona" from his book Lone Ranger and Tonto: Fistfight in Heaven. It won several awards and accolades, and was...
. They performed at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in support of Smoke Signals, which won the Audience Choice Award and Filmmaker's Trophy. Ulali recorded on the soundtrack for the Turner documentary series The Native Americans
The Native Americans
The Native Americans is a three-part American television documentary miniseries that premiered on TBS on October 10, 1994. The remaining two episodes aired on October 11 and 13, 1994...
. They subsequently had two of their songs, "Mahk Jchi" and "Ancestor Song" featured on Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
's album Music for The Native Americans
Music for The Native Americans
Music for The Native Americans is a 1994 album by Robbie Robertson, compiling music written by Robertson and other colleagues for the television documentary film The Native Americans....
. Their video "Follow Your Hearts Desire" won "Best Music Video" at The American Indian Film Institute Awards.
Ulali has appeared on National Public Radio several times and made their national television debut when they performed with Robertson as featured guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. After performing at the Todos un Cantos del Mundo in May 2000, Ulali was featured on the "Jô Soares Show", a nationally televised talk show in Brazil.
The group has been on several compilations that have been nominated for Juno Awards. Ulali participated in the Aboriginal Women's Voices Project and helped to develop songs for the Project recording "Hearts of the Nations". They were also featured on the Smithsonian's Folkways compilation recording "Heartbeat," and can be heard on dozens of albums, documentaries and movies. In addition, Ulali contributed the music for a recording with Lakota/Kiowa Apache Story Teller Dovie Thomason's "Lessons from the Animal People," which won the American Library Association's 1997 "Editor's Choice Award" and "Notable Recording Award". During Spring 2002, they were featured on the "One Giant Leap" recording and MTV video.
Ulali has shared the bill with Buffy Sainte-Marie
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Buffy Sainte-Marie, OC is a Canadian Cree singer-songwriter, musician, composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist. Throughout her career in all of these areas, her work has focused on issues of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Her singing and writing repertoire includes...
, Floyd Westerman, Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
, John Trudell
John Trudell
John Trudell is a Native American-Mexican author, poet, actor, musician, and former political activist. He was the spokesperson for the United Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as Radio Free Alcatraz...
, the American Indian Dance Theatre, Sting, Richie Havens
Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
, the B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
, Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer...
and the Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
.
Current
Pura Fe' left the group in 2005 to start her solo career. The group continues to evolve by including performers from a guest roster when singing as a trio. This roster includes Jennifer and Pura Fe's cousin Monique Jarvis, Ataahua Papa and Matoaka Little Eagle.Awards
They were awarded the "Eagle Spirit Award" while attending the 25th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, CA in 2000. In addition they were each one of several winners of the "Native American Women's Recognition Award" (NAWRE), presented by the Friends of Ganondagan in Rochester, New York.Discography
- Mahk Jchi (Corn, Beans & Squash Records, 1994)
As Contributor:
- 1 Giant Leap1 Giant Leap1 Giant Leap is a concept band and media project consisting of the two principal artists, Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman.-Information:...
(Palm Pictures, 2002) Contributor - World Festival of Sacred Music - the Americas, Los Angeles (Bindu Records, 2000) Contributed song: "My People, My Land" with Ulali
- Smoke Signals: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (TvtTVTTVT may mean:*TVT: Canine transmissible venereal tumour*TVT Records*TVT: The callsign of a TV station in Tasmania, Australia.*Televisheni ya Taifa: The state broadcaster of Tanzania.*Télévision Togolaise: The state broadcaster of Togo....
, 1998) - Weaving The Strands: Music By Contemporary Native American Women (Red Feather, 1998)
- Lessons from the Animal People (Yellow Moon Press, 1997)
- Tribal Voices: Songs from Native Americans (Earthbeat, 1996) Contributor
- Honor: A Benefit for the Honor the Earth Campaign (Daemon, 1996) Contributor
- Tribal Fires: Contemporary Native American Voices (Rhino, 1996) Contributor
- Legends Project: I am an Eagle (Curb RecordsCurb RecordsCurb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
, 1995) - Heartbeat: Voices of First Nations Women (Smithsonian/Folkways, 1995) Contributor
- Music for the Native AmericansMusic for The Native AmericansMusic for The Native Americans is a 1994 album by Robbie Robertson, compiling music written by Robertson and other colleagues for the television documentary film The Native Americans....
Robbie RobertsonRobbie RobertsonRobbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
(Capitol Records, 1994)