Apryl Allen, a member of the Comanche Nation and nominated for a total of four NAMMYs, captured her first NAMMY for Best Pop Recording at the 11th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA) for the song Na Unu Nahai from her latest album Shape Shifter on Saturday, October 3 at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, NY. Nominated categories included Debut Artist of the Year, Best Pop Recording of the Year, Record of the Year and Song/Single of the Year.
Shape Shifter, Apryl’s second album, has qualified for seven Grammy Awards including Best Native American Album.
“I’m thrilled to be honored with a NAMMY; actually ecstatic is more appropriate! I am thankful for everyone who voted for me…Now I’m looking forward to the GRAMMY’s,” said Apryl Allen.
“Working with Apryl was a wonderful creative experience. It was inspiring to cross the musical barriers between cultures,” said Richie Cannata, Producer of Shape Shifter and former saxophonist for Billy Joel and the Beach Boys.
The NAMAs honor national recordings that were released in 2008. Over 200 songs were submitted by artists from the U.S. and Canada vying for a NAMMY in 27 categories.
Nominees were submitted and selected by NAMAs national Advisory membership consisting of individuals directly involved in recording, manufacturing, distributing and promoting Native American music nationally. Winners were selected by a combined vote by NAMAs national membership and the general public.
Listen to Na Unu Nahai from Shape Shifter at: http://www.aprylallen.com/a/flash/cdB05/index.html
About Apryl Allen
Apryl Allen is a singer/songwriter and is becoming recognized as a unique talent with the ability to create lyrics and music that reflect her passionate outlook on life and personal experiences.
Her first album, Morningstar is a tour de force consisting of 11 songs demonstrating her songwriting ability across multiple musical genres – Blues, Jazz, Country, Pop, Adult Contemporary and others are represented in this compilation.
Apryl’s second album Shape Shifter started as a personal journey in words and music through her Comanche ancestry has become a touchstone for Native Americans throughout the country and the world. Her ability to blend traditional Native American music and sounds with modern music and arrangements is a lyrical and musical marvel.
Shape Shifter is receiving extraordinary responses throughout the US and internationally from fans as far reaching as Western Europe and Japan. Shape Shifter has been placed in the Comanche Nation Historical Archives and is merchandized at the Internationally recognized Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, and the National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian Institution) in Washington, DC.
For more information about Apryl Allen visit http://www.aprylallen.com.
Apryl will be performing the National Anthem at this year’s Powwow Contest taking place at Utah Valley University on Friday November 11th 6 PM.
