Mirabai Kukathas

Photo Credit: Amber Zbitnoff

Seattle born and everywhere-raised, Mirabai Kukathas has been a singer all her life. She loves nothing (other than perhaps garlic fries) more than stories, no matter the medium in which they are told. Her music is an act of healing; a confusing celebration of her culture, identity, and life. With lots of love, effort, and community, she works to blend folk, pop, jazz, soul, and a lil rock n roll to tell her own unique story.

What was one of your first experiences with music that made you want to become a creator? Why do you create music? 
I don’t have a dramatic moment when I realized that I loved to sing. I think I was born with the knowledge (or maybe the instinct) that I needed to sing. Even before I could speak I was already babbling the lyrics and melody to the hit song “Old McDonald Had a Farm.”  Singing has always just been what I do. Growing up I’d sing as I walked and sing at my desk in school (much to the chagrin of my classmates) and I’d make up little songs about whatever I did or felt.  I’d sing to calm myself down when I was scared or anxious. I still do that. Singing has always just felt natural. I’ve always known it’s what I’m supposed to do and I always figured it would be what I did (at least in some capacity) for the rest of my life. As I got older I started to realize how much of myself I could communicate through music. I realized that if music could heal me maybe I could use it to help heal other people too, or at least allow them to feel some release or empathy or relatability. 

Tell us about your process creating this song? 
How this song came into existence actually starts almost two years ago with the amazing kidLIO. She texted me one day and said “I've written these lyrics and I think I want you to sing it.” So the next time we were together in the studio she showed me the lyrics. Almost immediately a melody came to me and I just started singing it. I related to every lyric she’d written and honestly, it just felt like the music poured out of me. It was really a beautiful day. 

I wrote a short bridge for the song (which is really just an extended pun) and figured out some simple ukulele chords and then I did not record it. I performed it at a handful of open mics and showcases but I didn’t feel confident enough in myself to record it and anyways I was super busy.  Then, at the beginning of this past school year, I made a resolution to start actually using the studio, because despite having been an intern for over a year I had never really used it. 

Between my crappy health, busy school schedule, and tendency to overthink every step of the process, it took me the better part of a year to record,  mix, and master this song. It was a rough experience and I really hated that song some days, but Matt and Pak were there with me every step of the way and I learned a lot from the whole process. 

What is the song about? 
To me, the song is about feeling like you're not enough for someone you care about. It's about liking someone so much it hurts. It gives you a bellyache and a headache and all the aches. I think it’s all very relatable. I think a lot of people of all ages have felt that weird jumble of emotions where they think “I want to love this person and I want them to love me but I don't feel like I'm good enough for them and/or they’re not very nice to me and also I'm also very nervous when I'm around them but I really really like them.” It’s about young and confusing emotions. 

It’s a very sweet song and I feel honored to be part of the collaborative process that made it. LIO has always said it’s my song, and it does feel very personal to me in both content and also because of the arduous process of producing it,  but really, truly it’s a collaboration. It has LIO’s beautiful lyrics, Pak and Matt helped me produce and arrange it,  and I wrote the melody and a few lyrics and do my best to sing it with truth and power. The song really feels like a testament to collaboration and to this family that we have at Totem Star. 

Gray Luvay

Gray Luvay is an independent pop singer-songwriter from the Seattle area

What was one of your first experiences with music that made you want become a creator instead of a listener?
Music has always been a passion of mine since I was a small child. I grew up listening to mostly 90’s and 2000’s hip hop, west coast hip hop, pop and alternative rock. Being from a Hispanic family, Mexican music has always been an influence to me. My love for creating started in second grade though. I went to a low income elementary school on the central coast of California. My school just got a piano that was falling apart; I don’t even think it was tuned correctly, but I would just play and play whenever I could. I would come up with improved melodies and then preform them for my teachers later on (I’m sure I hurt their ears playing for them but it meant so much to me).

My love for music took off and shortly after I started playing the clarinet with my schools band. Which only had about four other people playing instruments. Shortly after, I was introduced to this free community youth orchestra called Yosal that helped underprivileged youth to play an Instrument, read music and learn how to play and perform. They taught classical history and other genres of music and the history behind them. I picked up different instruments while I was there and grew an ear for music.

In late elementary and early middle school I would write poetry and popish raps in my notebooks. My grandma at the time had a piano at her house, I would go over there and write melodies to my poetry and lyrics and would come up with songs like that. A few years later I moved to Washington state in eighth grade and had to completely start my life over. I hated it but I always felt safe when I had my clarinet or piano with me. I played clarinet from eighth grade to my sophomore year and I think it was sophomore year that I really wanted to start taking my own song writing seriously.

Tell us about your song. What inspired you? Tell us about the theme of the music video. How do you hope listeners will receive your messages?
The song “Remidiez” is about leaving your bad self destructive cycles in the past. It’s about being a teen and having fun with your friends, but also having so much fun you loose sight of what really matters. It’s about wanting to leave that all behind to go after your dreams. I was inspired by my past, especially my early to mid-teen years. I wasn’t in the best place in life but it got to the point where I had enough and wanted to heal. I was shown a different path and I hope I can inspire someone to take that golden path too. In 2016 I went to my first big concert, it was a really spiritual experience for me. It inspired me a lot to where I wanted to stop what I was doing all together and go after what made me the happiest, which was music. It was a new beginning for me and I wanted to write a song about my past destructive ways to help me set my choice in stone.

How has Totem Star helped shape you as an individual and as an artist?
Totem Star has totally inspired and motivated me a lot. I just recently moved to the area and I heard about the program through a friend. I signed up and had no idea what to expect but I was in for a surprise. From the first day I stepped in I was welcomed by everyone. The mentors and students were so friendly and accepting towards me. The energy of the space pulled me in so much. Not to be cheesy, but it was like gut feeling that felt light and beautiful in some way. It felt like I was supposed to be a part of this. I’m so glad I stuck with my gut feeling because I have met so many talented, inspiring, uplifting, motivating, supportive people along this journey and it’s all thanks to Totem star. The mentors are just fantastic and uplifting and I really appreciate. Being a part of Totem Star has also helped me step out of my comfort zone and has pushed me to be more expressive with my music and individuality.

What advice would you give to other young artists?
Don’t stop creating. The world needs more color and creative sound. Don’t pay attention to other people’s progress, it will stop your focus. Write when you don’t have motivation, it will train you to be a better writer and creative. The only person that is stopping you in your work is you and your negative thoughts. Don’t doubt your vision because someone else might be needing to hear or see that vision. 

Just be you with your music, don’t copy or try to be something that isn’t you because when you’re not living YOUR truth, you’re just following the herd and where’s the originality in that? 

Primoe

What was one of your first experiences with Hip-Hop that made you become a creator instead of a listener?
Probably my friends, just wanting to make music and we would freestyle. Chill, freestyle… After a certain point they told me I was good at freestyles and suggested that I start rapping seriously.

If you could describe your genre of music to an unknowing public, how would you describe it?
Depends, ‘cause like— a mix of grunge R&B. Retro, boom-bap hustle.

Tell us what we should know about your upcoming releases; are they inspired by other musical influences?
Yes, they are inspired mainly by the whole West Coast; DJ Quik, Mausberg, Biggie, etc. I’m working on an album called L.E.V.A [Losing Everyone to Violence on the Avenue], which is about gang violence and growing up, not following the same path as past family members.

How has Totem Star helped shape you as an individual and as an artist?
Totem Star has definitely taught me not to be shy and keep my voice out there. Before, I was really shy and I don’t think I would be where I am without Totem Star. Or I’d still be struggling to upload my songs.