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Diga are shown here during the band's CD release gig at the Raven several weeks ago. From left are Mike Bryant, Walter Girrior and Jesse James Gon. - NNSL file photo

Diga's latest video airing on Much Music

Laura Power
Northern News Services
Friday, June 8, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife rock group Diga has put Northwest Territories on the map as its latest music video is now being aired nationally on Much Music.

The band's first video, for the song Water, was aired on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network but was never aired by Much Music.

Their second and most recent music video was filmed for the song Bare Hands, a track from the new album titled Forest Fire. It was first aired about three weeks ago, less than a week after frontman Jesse James Gon sent it to the television station.

"It feels great... I think it's the first from the Northwest Territories," said Gon of having his video on the nationally viewed music network.

The video, produced by Western Arctic Moving Pictures, was filmed in late April in the Woodyard. It shows the trio of Gon, Mike Bryant (bass) and Walter Girrior (drums) rocking out in the cold with a group of friends enjoying the music.

Gon said there were several ideas for the video before they decided on this one. He said it wasn't possible to plan for it because of factors such as the size of the shack, "...so we decided we're just going to try, and we're just going to show up cold with our cameras and lights and just try to shoot what we can and see what comes out. And that's what came out."

The Woodyard was decided upon as the location for the video because it has personal meaning to Gon, who said he hangs out there a lot.

"It's just a place where I made a lot of friends and connections, and we're sort of like a small community of friends," he said.

Gon said he hasn't been keeping track of record sales since the video was first aired, but said he received an e-mail from someone down south who said they had seen the video but were unable to find the CD in the shops. Gon said his website may be changed to make Diga's music more accessible, so that people can order the CD online.

He said he has ideas producing the song Raven Dance, also off the new album, for his next video project, which will incorporate animation. He doesn't have an artist in mind as of now.

"I can draw it but, you know, I just need the technical side of making the raven move," he said.

Gon plans to move to Winnipeg to help boost his music career.