About
Steven Arrowtopknot
Steven Arrowtopknot is a Native drum maker, songwriter, music producer, and singer from the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana.
The music
Singing, songs and drums
He’s been singing for most of his life, performing with championship groups at powwows and round dances and on countless albums. Steven has composed songs for groups like Young Spirit and Bros Round Dance, including hits such as “I’m Right Here,” “Ugly, Broke and Chubby,” “The One I Love,” and “Honor Song for Mother,” along with many others. His songwriting helped Young Spirit earn a GRAMMY nomination for Best Regional Roots Music Album in 2019.
He also taught himself to make drums, figuring it out by hand over more than 20 years. His powwow drums and hand drums have been part of championship wins across Native America, including at the Gathering of Nations, and can be heard on a wide range of recordings.
Hidden Lake Recordings
The label
In 2012, Steven founded Hidden Lake Recordings, where he handles all the mixing, mastering, and most of the artwork. Hidden Lake is there so Native singers can keep control of their own music and own what they make.
“I aim to improve my sound each year to truly capture what it feels like at our gatherings.”
He has worked with groups such as Bear Creek, Northern Cree, Warscout, and Young Spirit, along with up-and-coming groups like Blazing Bear, Iron Hill, and WarPaint, and solo artists like Marlon Deschamps. In 2026, Bear Creek won their first Juno Award with music recorded by Hidden Lake, and thanked Steven and the label on stage when they accepted it. In all, Steven’s recordings have been part of six Juno nominations. His own single, “Beautiful Year,” was nominated for Single of the Year at the Native American Music Awards.
Beyond the studio
The work
Steven serves as a Governor of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy in Seattle, where he’s working to bring back a Native American music category and pushing for fair treatment and fair pay for artists who usually get overlooked. As a cultural coordinator, he puts together performances and collaborations that bring Native music to more people, with respect for the drum families and the traditions around it.
He believes in keeping the songs alive in the hands of the people who made them, and in teaching yourself what you need to know to get the job done. That way the next generation of singers can take care of themselves on their own terms.
In the news & profiles
Read more
- ICT NewsBear Creek keeps ‘On the Move’
- The JUNO AwardsBear Creek, 2026 Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year
- First Peoples FundHonoring Heritage, Fostering Success
- First Peoples FundCultural Capital Fellow profile
- First Peoples FundArtist in Business Leadership Fellow profile
- Apple Music“Beautiful Year” by Steven Arrowtopknot
- FacebookHidden Lake Recordings
- FacebookSteven Arrowtopknot
Contact
Get in touch