Bear Necessities

Having spent the last few weeks on the east coast of Australia, all the way from the west coast of America via Bali, Nahko Bear and his group Medicine for the People touch down in WA this week for a brief, action packed-tour of Perth and the south-west. “I can't wait” says Nahko excitedly. “It's crazy, it's going to be obviously our first trip over there as well – just every day that we're there – every hour has been planned.”

“I look forward to seeing how the land and the creatures and the people treat us over there because it was definitely noticeable over here,” he says. Nahko and Medicine for the People were brought to Australia to tour by the Byron Bay Spirit Festival this year, a three-day yoga and spirituality festival that takes place in March. “[We're] super grateful to the Byron Spirit Festival guys for bringing us out, since last spring we've been working on putting together this eight-week run,” says Nahko, “it's really nice to be getting a foot in the door and kind of get our name around here, build a bridge; we've been really well received over here.”

Medicine for the People has gained a lot of popularity globally, as well as a niche following thanks largely to an unexpected and serendipitous YouTube video that is both breathtaking and musically poignant. “This guy on the east coast had found my demo of Aloha Ke Akua, the piano version,” Nahko explains, “and basically had this stock footage from a company in Latin America, in Mexico, and spliced it all together and put it to the song. I cried when I first saw it.”

“It was classic because we released a music video that we actually made on our own a couple of days after that one released itself and it was amazing to watch the difference between who was watching what and the effects of the versions,” he said. The group will be playing at the Fly by Night in Freo on Sunday, and a gig at Princess Margaret Hospital the following day, before heading south to Nannup for a meet and greet at the Youth Activities Council there.

Nahko explained that they do a lot of work with kids at home in the states. “We just want to make kids laugh and play for them and share stories, share struggle stories and spiritual stories,” he says, spreading the message, “what is your medicine, what is it that you're good at and can give back?”. Indeed, the music of Nahko and Medicine for the People has been called a number of things; including their self-coined genre, 'spirited thump-hop'. “I don't know if we're necessarily calling it that anymore, that's like a funny way of describing it,” he explains. “It's like folkie, reggae, rock, acoustic, tribal – all that kind of stuff.”

“I'm not the greatest promoter of our music; if anyone asks me what it sounds like I usually say it's boring – so if you want to listen to some boring music come down,” laughed Nahko. “They'd usually be like, 'What the fuck?' and I'd be like, 'Nah, I'm just joking!' Music is going to change the world – it is changing the world – Aloha,” concludes the Bear.

Nahko Bear will be playing the following dates:

Saturday 16 February - Three Worlds Drumming, Byron Bay NSW
Sunday 17 February - Fly By Night, Fremantle WA
Wednesday 20 February - The Green Door, Bridgetown WA
Friday 22 February - GLO Dance, Uki NSW
Saturday 23 February - Verrierdale Full Moon Dance, Eerwah Vale NSW
Friday March 1 to Sunday March 3 - Byron Spirit Festival, Mullumbimby NSW