Most of America wanted to grow up and be a cowboy...
I wanted to be an indian
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IN THE STUDIO 2026
The Jir Project is currently working on their fifth release, a deeply personal body of work shaped by life on the road and years rooted in community. The songs reflect moments of resolution and reckoning, conflict and solitude, boundaries and direction, confidence and self-truth.
Always willing to take a stand, this new music also speaks directly to what’s happening in the world, writing through injustice, resistance, and the ongoing fight for dignity and truth. The lyrics hold both success and failure, raising little earthlings, heartbreak, growth, and hard-earned perspective.
This next chapter finds Jir fully present, heart open, grounded in purpose, and using music as both reflection and resistance.
NEW MEXICO MUSIC AWARDS 2024
Our new EP received an award for the 2024 New Mexico Music Awards on May 19, 2024. In their latest release, "Who's Your Favorite Indian?", Jir Project takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the lens of childhood, unraveling tales that resonate deeply with Jir’s own upbringing. With a blend of humor and introspection, they delve into the complexities of identity, shedding light on the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding Native American culture.
NEW
RELEASE
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"Absolutely Brilliant"
- Bob Harris BBC Radio 2
The Jir Project is a blues-rock trio from the Southwest, delivering high-voltage performances rooted in story, rhythm, and lived experience. Their sound blends raw blues, rock, and soul—traditional at the core, fearless in execution.
The band broke through with Sun Child, earning a North American Indigenous Image Award for Outstanding Blues Album. Releases like The Pueblo and the award-winning Who’s Your Favorite Indian? continue to push boundaries, using humor and honesty to challenge stereotypes and reclaim narrative.
Driven by groove and purpose, The Jir Project turns personal history into powerful sound. This is Native Americana—loud, soulful, and unapologetically real.
Jir Anderson
Jir Anderson is a musician, songwriter, and storyteller from Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico, whose work is grounded in resilience and truth. He found his voice early—building his first guitar from his family’s dinner table and plugging it into the household stereo.
As the creative force behind The Jir Project, Jir uses blues-influenced guitar and sharp lyricism to tell stories drawn from home, identity, and lived experience. His songwriting blends grit with hope, humor with reflection, creating music that resonates beyond genre.
Jir’s work stands at the intersection of culture and sound—where story becomes rhythm, and music becomes connection.
Gear: Jir rocks with Fender and Washburn guitars, powered by Louis Electric amps. His setup includes custom Warmoth necks, Semour Duncan pickups, Ernie Ball Slinky’s, and Native Audio Pedals.
Douglas Bellen
Doug is the low-end backbone of the trio—steady, curious, and deeply musical. Raised in Saginaw, Michigan, where he “learned to throw rocks,” Doug brings grit, groove, and precision to every stage.
A music educator and builder of Bellen Amplifiers, Doug is fluent in all things sound. Equal parts human encyclopedia and calm presence, he’s known for good tone, good brews, and thoughtful conversations—usually stage side. His bass lines don’t just support the music; they shape it.
Gear: Musicman Basses
Kendall Bell
Kendall brings rhythm, discipline, and heart. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana and now based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he honed his skills abroad during his service in the U.S. Air Force, where he also developed an impressive knowledge of beer, ask him for the rundown on your drink.
Beyond the kit, Kendall is a choir director at his church and widely regarded as a model human. His drumming is intentional, dynamic, and grounded, anchoring the band with feel, precision, and soul.
Gear: Kendall plays a Ludwig Breakbeats kit by Questlove, Mapex Drums, Vater sticks, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Heads, Pork Pie Snar.
United States Management:
Booking:
(505)710-5494