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Station Space Breaks Ground at King Street Station
“Totem Star is currently working on securing funding to add to the $2.3M already raised. The funds will go primarily towards building Station Space since the City of Seattle will not be charging rent. The new studio will become the main destination for Totem Star members looking to set their musical ideas to tape.”
Read our feature in 206 Zulu titled “Station Space Breaks Ground at King Street Station’" written by Juan Carlos Gallegos.
The article highlights our groundbreaking event at King Street Station. What will be called The Station Space, will be a creative arts hub with the organizations: Red Eagle Soaring, Wh!psmart, The Rhapsody Project, the Jackson Street Music Program, and Totem Star.
Arts groups break ground on new home in Seattle’s King Street Station | The Seattle Times
“For much of the past decade, Totem Star has helped thousands of young artists develop their music from a 225-square-foot recording studio in West Seattle. Now, in a major upgrade, the nonprofit has broken ground on a 2,000-square-foot facility, this time in the heart of the city.”
Click here to read more from our Seattle Times feature!
Read our feature in The Seattle Times article titled "Arts groups break ground on new home in Seattle’s King Street Station" written by Grace Gorenflo.
The article highlights our groundbreaking event on October 13th, 2022 at our new home — King Street Station. The article also features our partner organizations — Red Eagle Soaring, The Rhapsody Project, Jackson Street Music Program, Whipsmart, and the Cultural Space Agency.
Conversations Podcast: Totem Star ft. Daniel Pak and Mirabai Kukathas
“Pak and Mirabai talk about the work being done at Totem Star, how being involved in music and community affects the personal wellbeing and confidence of the youth involved, as well as their new facility coming to King Street Station and the future of the program.”
Listen to our feature in Conversations Podcast titled “Totem Star - Daniel Pak and Mirabai Kukathas’" with Doug Duin.
This podcast interviews co-founder Daniel Pak and Totem Star Artist, Mirabai Kukathas on their work with Totem Star and our move into King Street Station.
Teens Find Their Voice — and Family — at Totem Star
“Working with individual artists has been our framework from the very beginning. We meet each artist where they’re at,” says Pak. From basic software tutorials to promoting an album, Totem Star is there to give each young artist whatever it is they need, regardless of their experience level.” - Daniel Pak
Read our feature in Parent Map’s article titled “Teens Find Their Voice — and Family — at Totem Star’" written by Gemma Alexander.
This article talks about how Totem Star supports their young artists and highlights Totem Star Artist, Mirabai Kukathas’ story.
Our 2020 Annual Report is out!
We consider our annual report to be a work of art! The beautiful part about creating art is that you can continually edit your drafts while also enjoying and taking in each iteration — enjoying and being present with the process.
Below, we want to share with you all a bit about our process + to give lots of love to our team behind it all!
The Beginning
It started off as an idea which then turned into a mood board + working google doc. We sent our board + doc to our dear family member & fantastic Graphic Designer, Simon Legaspi in October 2020. We wanted the theme to be reflective of how much we shifted to virtual platforms so we included emojis, hashtags, and other elements that reflected the social platforms we were predominantly using (ex: Zoom and Instagram).
Image from: kopetu.ru
Image from: socialmediatoday.com
We received our first draft from Simon — he provided the framework and design and we loved how he turned our mood board to life!
Then we began the editing process! From big to small shifts. We began filling in space, adding more color, layers, and depth into the pages.
About nine drafts later, we finally said -- boom. This is it!
View the full Annual Report Here
THE TEAM
BIG LOVE to the following people who played a huge role in making our annual report come to life:
Simon Legaspi | Annual Report Designer
We are so appreciative of Simon for designing our annual report. Every single page was so thoughtfully created.
Follow his work:
Website: https://legatsbyart.com/
Instagram: @_legatsby
Andrea Dimond | Infographic Designer
Andrea Dimond is the one! Let’s take a moment to look at this beautiful infographic that Andrea designed. This process also started off with a mood board + google doc. Andrea was so thoughtful in taking in our ideas and turning them into a work of art. Thank you for being in this process with us and for designing our very first infographic ever!
Follow her work:
Website: https://dimond-design.com/
Instagram: @dimond.design.beheard
Krista Welch | Board Co-Secretary, Communications Committee Member
Tracey Wong | Communications Manager, Communications Committee Member
Paul Laughlin | Deputy Director, Communications Committee Member
Daniel Pak | Executive Director, Communications Committee Member
Thanks so much for reading!
<3 Totem Star Family
Totem Star Wins Create Action Grant
“With the Sony Create Action grant, Totem Star will support their Studio, Stage and Story programs. The Totem Star Studio program empowers artists to compose and record original songs. The Stage program gives artists an opportunity to perform at open mics that they plan, promote and produce. The Story program is a unique monthly program where youth can attend panels and connect with culturally relevant guest artists and other industry professionals.”
Read our feature in the Sony article titled “Totem Star Wins Create Action Grant’" written by Alpha Universe.
Our organization recently won the Sony Create Action Grant which awarded us $50,000 in cash, a storytelling film created by Sony, and $50,000 in Sony Electronic products that we will use to support our artists in their future work.
Wavelengths Podcast
Listen to our podcast, Wavelengths!
In partnership with Na'ah Illahee Fund, we created a core group of BIPOC youth to discuss meaningful topics within the intersections of our cultures.
Grae Violett Speaks to the Importance of Community
“As an example of Totem Star’s tight-knit culture, Violett cited the organization’s COVID-19 response: an example of Totem Star’s tight-knit culture, Violett cited the organization’s COVID-19 response: Totem Star’s co-Co-founders, Daniel Pak and Thaddeus Turner, immediately checked in on her after the stay-at-home order passed. “They’re calling you—your phone—personally and asking ‘How are you doing? How are you doing, not just as an artist, but as a person? And what can we do to help?’” she said. When she’s older, she noted, “I want to be like that. I never want to be so successful in my career that I forget to give back—and not in a facetious way, but genuinely give back to people.”
Read our feature in the Colorization Collective’s article titled “Grae Violett Speaks to the Importance of Community" written by Anya Shukla.
This article highlights Grae Violett’s artistic work, story, and experience working with Totem Star.
Totem Star offers online music programs to youth in response to COVID-19
“With all sessions becoming digital, it has become easier for artists outside of the Greater Seattle area to participate in programs. Since closing their doors in March, Pak has brought in a singer/song writer from Auburn and reconnected with an alumni who is currently studying abroad in Holland.”
Read our feature in City of Seattle’s Art Beat Blog titled “Totem Star offers online music programs to youth in response to COVID-19’" written by Erika Lindsay.
This article talks about how Totem Star responses to the beginning stages of the COVID-19 lockdown. We took all of our in-person programs and brought them online!
Art Beat Blog: Totem Star offers online music programs to youth in response to COVID-19
Photo Credit: Avi Loud
Check out City of Seattle’s Art Beat article titled "Totem Star offers online music programs to youth in response to COVID-19" written by Erika Lindsay featuring Totem Star Artists Totem Star Co-Founder Daniel Pak.
The article highlights Pak's history, how he came to stating Totem Star, and also discusses his work with Kore Ionz including their latest video release "Superhero."
Below is a snippet of the Crosscut article by JaLynn Montes:
"Daniel Pak has been making music for the good part of his 37 years on the planet. While on hiatus from his studies in metallurgical engineering and on a visit with friends, he had an epiphany: music was meant to be the center of his life’s work.
He was feeling 'sick and tired of seeing the status quo,' he says, 'with oppression and violence being so pervasive; it [was] maddening.'
Music, he figured, would connect him 'with like-minded people who really want change to happen.'
So he rejected an attractive offer to work as a high-paid nuclear engineer at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, where Pak was raised. Instead, he chose to pursue a career as an artist, or, as he puts it, 'a culture worker.'"
Check out the entire article at Crosscut.com.
Totem Star shines for youth artists during COVID-19
“Although it’s tough to be confined in our homes with less physical accessibility and interaction, we always encourage our young artists to keep making art,” Pak said. “To keep writing. To keep telling their story. And if they’re feeling scared or anxious, to be assured that we all are. Writing, singing, rapping, and creating music may just be the best medicine.”
Read our feature in the International Examiner titled “Totem Star shines for youth artists during COVID-19’" written by Ronnie Estoque.
This article highlights Totem Star’s response to the COVID-19 lockdown and how we transitioned our in-person programming to online.
Totem Star music flourishes over digital airwaves and across generations
“It had been months since the half dozen young artists on the call had seen one another, months since Totem Star, a recording studio and music workshop for youth, shut its 250-square-foot space to protect against the deadly coronavirus. But closed doors are no match for the internet, or for the family-of-choice that Totem Star helped create.”
Read our feature in Real Change News titled “Totem Star music flourishes over digital airwaves and across generations’" written by Ashley Archibald.
This article speaks on Totem Star’s quick response to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Totem Star on King 5 News
Totem Star co-founder Daniel Pak. Photo courtesy King 5 News.
"Totem Star is all about spreading messages throughout the world that will help other people, bring light to others lives," singer-songwriter Sharmaine Tillmon explained to the King 5 News camera during a recent interview while rehearsing her new song “Home” with Justus White, Edgar Vega, and Matt Sablan.
Angela Russell, host of Take 5 on King 5 News, came down to the studio to learn more about Totem Star and produced this amazing story which broadcasted during the evening news on October 29, 2018.
Daniel Pak Featured In The International Examiner
Photo Credit: Avi Loud
Check out the International Examiner article entitled "Musician Daniel Pak goes solo: See him at the Crocodile on April 20" written by Alan Chong Lau.
Below is a snippet of the article:
"Totem Star has been a big part of my life for the last eight years. After our first program in 2010 working with young people released from juvenile detention, it dawned on Thad and me that this was truly our calling. We had to do whatever it took to make sure young people had a safe and encouraging space to take creative risks, tell their stories, and build a supportive community. Today we have mentored over 1,500 young recording artists, offering them free studio time, performance opportunities (including shows like The Crocodile), and bringing in guest touring artists and music industry professionals to inspire them.
Totem Star is all about amplifying youth voice and mentoring the next generation of leaders. I think singer-songwriter Monica Elenes says it best: 'What people need to understand about Totem Star is that, more than a record label, first and foremost we’re a family. Before you’re an artist, you’re a human, and Totem Star teaches you that. You can be an artist and not be a role model but Totem Star teaches you to be both.'"
Check out the entire article at iexaminer.org
Thaddeus Turner aka Thaddillac In The Seattle Times
Photo Credit: Michael Rietmulder of The Seattle Times
Check out The Seattle Times article entitled "Sea Monster Lounge and 700 Funk keep piece of old Seattle alive" written by Michael Rietmulder featuring Totem Star Co-Founder Thaddeus Turner aka Thaddillac.
Below is a snippet of the article:
"Along with the now-defunct Scarlet Tree and Baltic Room, the 700 Club was part of a local circuit Turner and other musicians played to help pay the bills between tours. It would be another three years, in 2003, before the Sea Monster Lounge opened in Wallingford, filling the funk and soul void. 'The scene just continued and flowed over to the Sea Monster, and the Sea Monster became the hangout,' says McGraw, who used the club to scout future bandmates, including innovative organ boss Delvon Lamarr.
What started as a small, 50-person venue more than quadrupled its capacity after expanding into the neighboring bakery space in 2015.
'To me, Sea Monster’s pretty legendary,' says Tiffany Wilson, the powerhouse soul singer who performs at 700 Funk. She credits Nunez’s background as a singer and songwriter for creating a communal, musician-friendly vibe.
'So often in the music business, you have people directing and running aspects of the music who aren’t actually musically creative,' Wilson says. 'They work primarily on the business side of it, so there isn’t sometimes the empathy and understanding of the artists. That’s what’s really helpful, that Andrew himself is creative musically. He’s creating a space where he himself as a musician thrives.'"
Check out the entire article at seattletimes.com
Daniel Pak In Crosscut
“You have to keep it in the positive no matter what,” Pak says. “Reggae is a music of healing — it was created to uplift the community.”
Photo Credit: Nick Turner
Check out the Crosscut article entitled "Reggae Artist Supports Youth Through Music" written by JaLynn Montes featuring Totem Star Co-Founder Daniel Pak.
The article highlights Pak's history, how he came to stating Totem Star, and also discusses his work with Kore Ionz including their latest video release "Superhero."
Below is a snippet of the Crosscut article by JaLynn Montes:
"Daniel Pak has been making music for the good part of his 37 years on the planet. While on hiatus from his studies in metallurgical engineering and on a visit with friends, he had an epiphany: music was meant to be the center of his life’s work.
He was feeling 'sick and tired of seeing the status quo,' he says, 'with oppression and violence being so pervasive; it [was] maddening.'
Music, he figured, would connect him 'with like-minded people who really want change to happen.'
So he rejected an attractive offer to work as a high-paid nuclear engineer at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, where Pak was raised. Instead, he chose to pursue a career as an artist, or, as he puts it, 'a culture worker.'"
Check out the entire article at Crosscut.com.
Access to the Arts: Spotlight on Totem Star
Every young person who steps into the threshold of our studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center receives the same orientation: “Welcome to the family.” And we mean it. Totem Star is all about lifelong relationships with our young recording artists, many of whom we’ve now known for close to ten years and who are coming back to give back.
Read our feature in the KEXP article titled "Access to the Arts: Spotlight on Totem Star".
The article highlights Totem Star’s mission for young people to access the arts, our story, and why we continue to do the work that we do.
Totem Star and ‘The Resistance Mixtape’
“What people need to understand about Totem Star is that, more than a record label, first and foremost we’re a family. Before you’re an artist you’re a human, and Totem Star teaches you how to do that. You can be an artist and not be a role model but Totem Star teaches you to be an artist and a role model.” - Monica
Read our feature in The Seattle Times article titled "Totem Star and ‘The Resistance Mixtape’" written by Brett Hamil.
The article highlights one of our annual mixtapes - The Resistance Mixtape and what the mixtape means to each of our Totem Star Artists as well as to Totem Star co-founder, Daniel Pak.