Season 3, Episode 8

When classical composers incorporate indigenous music into their work, it’s more than just cultural appropriation, because indigenous songs are not only songs: they serve as medicine, law, and history. So what would it mean to redress such misuses, and to bring an indigenous worldview into Western art music? A conversation with Dylan Robinson about appropriation, repatriation, and his path towards becoming a scholar. (And, yes, we talk about Roomful of Teeth.)

Dylan Robinson is Associate Professor, School of Music at the University of British Columbia

If you’re interested in learning more about Professor Robinson’s scholarship, check out:

• The book Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies
• The article “To All Who Should Be Concerned,” in Intersections
• The co-authored article “Rethinking the Practice and Performance of Indigenous Land Acknowledgement” in Canadian Theatre Review
• The exhibit Soundings, curated with Candice Hopkins, touring until 2025
• The article ““Giving/Taking Notice” in Performance Matters

Sound Expertise is hosted by Will Robin (@seatedovation), and produced by D. Edward Davis (@warmsilence). Please subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and/or Spotify. Questions or comments? Email soundexpertise00 @ gmail

A written transcript of this episode is available here; thanks to Andrew Dell’Antonio for volunteering to prepare transcripts for the show!