Welcome to Indigenous in Music with Larry K, today we welcome from Vancouver, British Columbia. Mamarudegyal. Singer, Producer and Entrepreneur. She has just released her new album out entitled “ABREACTION.” A nice soothing mix of Indigenous Neo Soul and R&B.
On this show, enjoy music from Mamrudegyal MTHC, Shylah Ray Sunshine, Stolen Identity, Tribalistas, One Way Sky, Hataalii, Logan Staats, Digging Roots, Aysanabee, Ray Zaragoza, Irv Lyons Jr, Indigenous, Garret T. Willie, Crystal Shawanda, Blackbird, QuiltMan, Mike Bern, Ryan LittleEagle, Tom Frear, Chris Ferree, Eagle & Hawk, The Halluci Nation, John Trudell, Joy Harjo, Pure Fe, Martha Redbone, Marx Cassity, Kwiat, Janet Panic, Silla, Rise, Tanya Tagaq and much more.
Look around our site to find out all about us and our programs and visit our SAY Magazine Library with all our featured guests.
OUR INTERVIEW IS 30 MINUTES INTO THE PROGRAM
MAMARUDEGYAL MTHC IN OUR SAY MAGAZINE FEATURE
NEW ALBUM – ABREACTION
MAMARUDEGYAL MTHC – POGO
CONTACT INFORMATION
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: https://rudegang.wixsite.com/mamaempress
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Mamarudegyal
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mamarudegyal/
SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/mamarudegyal
BANDCAMP: https://mamarudegyal.bandcamp.com/album/mrg-ep
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@Mamarudegyal
BOOKING: [email protected]
BIOGRAPHY
Diana Hellson, AKA Mamarudegyal MTHC (MRG), is an Afro-Indigenous interdisciplinary artist and music industry professional working primarily in the Hip Hop and Film, based in Vancouver, BC. Born in Calgary, AB Diana is a proud member of the Siksika Nation where she played several of her early shows
performing covers.
At 3, Diana was already expressing an interest in Dancing, Singing and Performing, subsequently spending her childhood and youth exploring her many creative endeavours. Her mother Charlene Hellson was an active member of the indigenous arts community, often bringing Diana to Indigenous arts events.
Charlene supported Diana through struggles in school, often enrolling her in arts training such as Film, Animation, Dance, and Music. Together they participated in “The Vagina Monologues” with Michelle Thrush, Stacey Da Silva and Tantoo Cardinal. During her time as a Hip Hop Dance Teacher at the local YMCA Indigenous Drop ins (2012), Diana connected with Indigenous Rapper Lil Smokey and became his backup dancer with two friends, and would join him in opening for Tech N9ne and
Winnipeg’s Most.
Diana would continue to develop her interdisciplinary repertoire by joining Black Theatre company “Elipsis Tree” and training in Krump Dance with Empirical Freedom Family, where she was given the name “Mamarudegyal” by Oliver Reyes (Reignmaker). Her first shows billed as Mamarudegyal came in 2013, introducing her to Psych Ward Kidz’ who brought her along to perform their song
“Dark Secrets.”
Relocating to Vancouver, BC in 2014, Mamarudegyal added the “MTHC” and hit the ground running, playing her first show at Surrey’s “Olympia” only 15 days after landing. MRG would perform at the legendary venue weekly, solidifying her place in the community, witnessing early performances by artists like Snak The Ripper and Merkules. Settling in to the music ecosystem, MRG begun to notice and call out disparities permeating the music ecosystem, creating boundaries for artists from marginalized communities. In response, MRG created a company that could act as a resource for those very artists; Diana has made significant waves in the music industry since founding Rudegang Entertainment in 2014.
2017 brought the win of two Fraser Valley Music Awards and the following year, she continued her winning streak by securing 1st place in Vancouver’s Shindig Battle of the Bands against 26 Vancouver bands. She capped this off by destroying the competition at Battle of the Iron Mic, taking home a win against 3 other Vancouver Hip Hop artists.
Supporting and facilitating the funding, production and release of projects for other musicians from 2017 to 2023, Diana found herself suddenly in the role of Music Executive. Simultaneously, Diana was dedicating more time to her work as filmmaker, producing music videos and documentaries including The Foundation: Indigenous Hip Hop in Canada (2018). Commissioned by the Weltkulturen Museum
of Frankfurt, Germany, Diana created the short documentary “Let Them Speak” (2020).
Mamarudegyal MTHC had a great year in 2021, being featured in Complex Canada Magazine and CBC Music’s “Beyond the Six”, and headlining night two of “Giiwewich” International Indigenous Music Summit’s Virtual Showcase. After a long wait, Mamarudegyal MTHC released her Music Video for “Pogo”, Directed by Matt Leaf (Dakota Bear, Drezus “Circles”, K-Os “the Dog is Mine”, and More) in
October 2023. January 2024 brought the release of MRG’s LP “ABREACTION”, funded by First Peoples Cultural Council.
Much of Diana’s work involves dismantling colonial filters that create these disparities, thus stirring up controversy and discussion over the years, causing her to become a target for Incels and Racists online. Despite the discomfort, MRG held strong on her views of the issue at hand and the solutions she saw possible, and after being noticed by music industry professionals for her progressive work, MRG began consulting, paneling and jurying for arts organizations like ArtStarts, FPCC,
Music Publishers Canada, CreativeBC, City of Vancouver, and even The Junos in 2022 when she became the 3rd Executive Producer for the International
Indigenous Hip Hop Awards. The same year, she attended the A E West program hosted by Canada’s Music Incubator, spending five weeks at the National Music Centre in Calgary, AB, to hone her skills and expand her knowledge.
