Dead Feather – “American Dreams”

Dead Feather is a deaf artist from Edmond, Oklahoma, and what makes this release so interesting is how personal and grounded it is. The song is part of his larger project “Cate Heleswv (Red Medicine) Vol. 1”, which explores his Mvskoke-Creek heritage and the complicated relationship between Native communities and the U.S. government. Dead Feather’s “American Dreams”, is my favorite of the week.

What impresses me is how DIY the whole thing is, Dead Feather didn’t grow up with access to cultural resources or traditional music training. He taught himself to play guitar and studied his favorite bands to learn song structure, which alone makes the project worth checking out. The recording sessions involved a small group of collaborators, including musicians Adam Stanley and Issac Nelson, and it all came together at Remote Studios in Wellston, OK. You can tell everyone involved really believed in the vision.

“American Dreams” isn’t trying to be mainstream. It’s trying to say something real. If you’re into music with a deeper meaning and an honest backstory, follow Dead Feather on social media to keep up with what’s coming next in 2025.