Engagement with music and art in 2018 can seem like an uncomfortably transactional process. Though social media has put us closer than ever to the artists who make the music we love, heavily curated online presences can make the whole thing feel even more about passive consumption.
Ultimately, putting artists on a pedestal above those who listen to them feels out of step with the kind of solidarity that is needed in order to take care of each other, to take care of ourselves.
It’s refreshing, then, when a band like Nahko and Medicine for the People come along – one that feels decentered from ego, rock star persona, and more in sync with community, the idea that we’re all in this together. It’s even in the name – the “medicine” in Medicine for the People refers to music and its ability to create opportunities for shared healing and community. They’ll bring that medicine to Australia next year for appearances at Bluesfest and a handful of sideshows.
That said, calling Nahko and Medicine for the People a “band” seems like something of a misnomer. It would be more accurate to describe them as a collective, whose work spans not only their music and live performances but also activist causes and a deep connection with their fanbase – known as the “Medicine Tribe”.
Since forming in 2008, they’ve cultivated a constantly growing community that is an intimate as it is sprawling, regularly reaching out to their fanbase online and in person as a means of making the project feel more involved, and less like a commodified product.
Watch the video for ‘Goodnight Sun’ by Nahko below
For the collective’s eponymous leader Nahko Bear, the community that has sprung up around Medicine for the People has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of the project. Many of the (typically digital) communities that have developed throughout the world catalyzed by Nahko and the band’s music have grown into something much more supportive, more holistic.
“They’re everything. On my search for my own family, I ended up creating one. The Tribe is proving to be more resilient than ever,” explained Nahko in a 2016 interview with Catalyst Magazine.
“They’ve created an enormous sounding board on Facebook. Almost every state has their own page. Basically, taking my advice and doing it themselves. Creating community.”
While these communities were initially inspired by the band, many have gone on to become far more self-sustaining. However, Nahko and Medicine for the People have played an active role in connecting with their fanbase.
For instance, the music video for ‘Budding Trees’ from their debut studio album Dark As Night is made up almost entirely of fan-contributed footage of themselves singing along to the track. As an immediate, visual encapsulation of the kind of bond the band has with its fans, it’s overwhelming.
Perhaps, though, the main way that Nahko and Medicine for the People unite communities is when they take the stage. When performing live, Nahko and Medicine for the People foster that sense of human connection by attempting to be as open, honest, and vulnerable as possible. “People, when they come to see us, it’s like there’s an honest explosion of love,” explained Nahko in an interview with the Durango Herald back in 2015. “We share ourselves so openly that it’s contagious.”
Watching Nahko and Medicine for the People live is one of those rare examples where it feels like you’re a part of something bigger than the sum of its parts. They’re the kind of artists that, as music and identity are increasingly co-opted to sell a product, feel more vital than ever.
Nahko And Medicine For The People
Bluesfest Sideshows
The Triffid, Brisbane
Tickets: The Triffid
Saturday, 20th April 2019
Metro Theatre Sydney
Tickets: Metro
Sunday, 21st April 2019
170 Russell, Melbourne
Tickets: Moshtix
Bluesfest 2019
Thursday, 18th April — Monday, 22nd April
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay
Tickets: Official Website
