BLOG
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.
The Spotlight 2018
By: kidLIO
I was the host for Totem Star’s 2018 Fundraiser, The Spotlight. Lemme tell you how that was.
On October 12th, 2018, The Spotlight came together as less of a fundraiser and more of a family showcase, afters weeks of preparations, meetings and rehearsals that saved us from our daily schedules.
4 performances from 6 different artists that represent separate genres of Totem Star but the entirety of the Totem Star family. We’ll have testimonies from some of the artists that graced the stage- effecting us all with their love and passion for music, family, self-development and improvement. The Spotlight reminded me, as the host and a fellow intern and artist of Totem Star, of the importance of the youth movement that is this non-profit, the fundraisers and every performance we put on for groups of amazing audiences and other fam that chooses to support our cause and giving us all the chance to get better at our crafts and craft better spaces for us to create and invite more family in.
It was always an honor to be in the room full of artists that made up the family that changed my life when I was 14.
Rushing back and forth through the fill-in venue, a certain tension cursing my veins not to rest the last 30 minutes before showtimes, I found my anxiety restless. Tonight was not one of intended perfection, but of telling so many stories that all had one thing in common: this is my family and this is what family does for one another. I knew I had a duty— 17, a high school senior and no where near a professional entertainer, I had to put forth my best foot to make tonight one that everyone who left remembered.
Itinerary in hand and one of my best fashion statements, I tried to take deep breaths before I stepped on stage.
Many pep-talks and back pats later, Bestock tells me that he is on his way up to the booth to present me. I’m short for breath and can’t find my heart anywhere except in my stomach and it’s beating erratically. It’s actually ridiculous how many times I’ve performed on the Thelma DeWitty theater stage in Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and yet each time the feeling is more life-or-death than before. I realize as my name courses through the speakers in the theater, that this is what I live for.
The anxiety, the pounding in my chest, the sweaty palms, the passion to make every performance better than the last, to make my family proud.
I look around at the crowd. These awesome youth artists ready to sing their hearts out. I take a gulp of water, and deep breath—
“Welcoming your host for the Spotlight—kidLIO!”
Horns by Bryce Fox slams through the speakers, and it’s like a white light envelops me for the rest of the night.
The night was opened by Red Eagle Soaring with a beautiful introduction for the Native space.
Interviewed Daniel Pak—a mentor and co-founder of Totem Star about his passion for helping us youth.
Then, our first performer after a dope interview with a fellow artist Zo— a Georgia state—singing an original song, gave the audience an fun beginning to our showcase—leaving everyone gleaming in that experience. He spoke in our interview together about his first time performing at a talent show and how he got made fun of by kids he knew from school. How he has progressed anyhow past the hate and I’m sure it’s only the beginning for his journey through music, startling crowds with his honesty and talent to make any song lit! He tells us about his night went:
My time on the late night show with LIO was absolutely fantastic. I felt like my presence had meaning and my life was unfolding like a written script for a new tv show. I met a slew of people who wanted to know about Totem Star as a whole and why I joined the organization. The Spotlight was truly an experience to die for; and it’s all because of Daniel Pak and our amazing MC, LIO!
Following the first performance of the night, was a dynamic duo, Justus and Sarah— whose cover of The Moon Song, surely left everyone swooning for their chemistry on stage and the amazing clashes of their voices. In our interview, we spoke about they decided to collaborate on a song, what brought them to Totem Star and their choice of song. It was all genuine to the idea of them wanting a place to be their best artistic selves and have a chance for the world to see that.
They, indeed, left quite the impression on every person in the crowd— who all rooted for this collaboration. We’re hoping to see them perform together again soon at another Totem Star event.
Promptly after these two performances, the crowd were just left dazzling in fire from the heat of these awesome inside look to the passion of these artists and how we come together. Little did they know, the night was far from over and there more amazing performances to come.
After we thanked our sponsors and volunteers for the event (Food & Sh*t, A DJ & A Cook, That Brown Girl Cooks!, Sam Choy’s Poke To the Max), I found myself settling back into my Jimmy Fallon chair next to another artist, Zoë Roberts, a singer-songwriter from Washington. A native to Totem Star since she was a pre-teen, we sat to talk about her experience as a singer and how it can get scary to perform songs so full of emotions to audiences unknown. As fearless as they come for her age, Zoë still performed an original song entitled, Why?
Later, she shared her experiences of the night:
The spotlight was such an amazing night where people from all over got to see how amazing and influential our program is. They got to see us all working together as a family, and I realized how lucky I am to be a part of Totem Star, and how I probably wouldn’t be a musician still if it wasn't for all the love and support I have got from everyone there.
Zoë exited the stage with everyone in tears, her heartfelt performance obviously striking each individual beautifully.
Although there couldn’t ever be anyone that follow up the raw intensity of every artist before, my colleague, Mirabai Kukathas, found her way onto the stage and spoke with me briefly about a song we were performing together following the setup of the stage.
We spoke about how we wrote the song Rise, LIO the primary lyricist for the entire song, and Mirabai helping create melodies.
Her mention of her experience at The Spotlight:
Singing, speaking, just being at, and helping to organize the Spotlight was a real honor. I love this community so much, and anything I can do to be here, let alone help, makes me so happy. I got to sing a beautiful song I wrote with one of my best friends, I got to talk about what makes this community so great, and possibly best of all, I got to meet and be around some truly wonderful people.
After our small session of LIO: Jimmy Fallon who? with Totem Star artists, we settled onto the stage with:
Daniel Pak on drums, Justus on bass, Matt Sablan on guitar and Michael Grant on piano keys for our song Rise.
The crowd: our family, was so amazing at supporting. A photographer for the event, Danielle Elliott even caught a few pictures of the incredible participation for this moment.
Once Rise closed the night, before our Raise the Paddle, our DJ for the night, ZAG plays us all out as we exit the stage. He says this about his opportunity to be DJ for an event like the Spotlight:
It was so awesome being the DJ for the night. I got to compile a list of 70s and 80s Soul and Funk, which was a challenging because I’m not familiar with the genres but it was fun digging through the music and picking my set. It made me step out of my comfort zone in terms of what music I’m DJ’ing, but it’s definitely good for my artistry and the diversity of music I have to expose myself to.
The night went beautifully.
The rush I get from performing Rise as a black rap artist is constantly a new experience. I find happiness in our origin of creativity and the stage is one of the places.
I can’t believe that I went from the studio to that stage and every time my story is still being told.
The way I find myself as an artist is also the way I find myself as a human being— the type of artistry I put out into the world is all effected by the spaces they come from, what spaces harbor that energy and what spaces allow me to process those emotions.
The Spotlight was only one of the times that I found myself being listened to, that I watched artists be shown that if they chase their dreams they can meet them at the finish line.
What Is Abel Listening To?
https://www.gofundme.com/AbelACLU
Take a quick glimpse into the current vibe, inspiration, and story of Totem Star artists.
Abel, what song do you currently have on repeat?
The song that I currently have on repeat is "Change" by J. Cole. In the broader sense, the song just talks about how change is to come: change in racial inequality, change in our habits, and change in the obstacles we face.
What do you really like about this song?
I really love the long because of the beat and the occasional vocal parts that intertwine with the rapping. The song really just gives me hope; there is better to come and there will be better days. I listen to this song whenever I am working on stuff, and especially when I need some motivation. I started listening to J. Cole since his Forest Hill Drive album, so I listened to his 4 Your Eyez Only album when it came out as well.
Do you have any other music recommendations?
I recommend people to listen to Frank Ocean, specifically the songs Biking, Pink + White, and Nights. Just really love the vibes those songs gives and it reminds me of summer.
#Festanext2017
Photo Credits: Sally Phnouk
Written by Lashaunycee O'Cain (LIO)
FESTA has been known in the recent years for it's name of celebration, and specifically to celebrate a brand by the name of ArtsCorps. ArtsCorps is a non-profit organization that works with and conditions the youth to help them master in their art while reminding them of the social, economic and systematic change that we will be the head of in years to come. ArtsCorp has been the partner of other incredible organizations and programs that have stem more artistry from the greater Seattle areas within the youth; much like Totem Star. Totem Star is a non-profit youth record label that gives all kinds of vocal artists (and others) the opportunity to showcase their talents all over Seattle , Washington.
FESTA is a once-a-year celebration where youth artists (mostly connected to Youth Speaks or Totem Star through ArtsCorps) in the local Seattle area get to showcase their stunning talents on a stage that gives them the access, love and support that is required for them to excel in their artistry. It usually takes place in March of each year.
I, myself, participated in FESTA of 2016 and shared a stage with a beautiful choir, and my musical mentor Pak Daniel and the experience was such an exchange. I feel as if that is one of the biggest moments of my life because of the opportunity I had to conquer the stage even when I remember only 15 minutes before, having anxiety up to my eyebrows. The emotions that set through me reminded me that ArtsCorps was the one place that I'd never felt alone and that FESTA was also not just celebrating an organization, it was also celebrating me as a musician and an artist.
Those kinds of feelings are surreal and very rare to acquire these days, but the experience is one that an artist could be blessed to have. FESTANEXT2017 was specifically centered around the current generation coming, where youth artists spit their truth of the revolution through poetry, song, visual art or dance. It's been an incredible year for ArtsCorps and an even better one for FESTA; here are some highlights from the performances, socializing and landscape of FESTANEXT2017.
If you're new: Welcome to ArtsCorps where we build, we resist, we persist and we rise.
Make Art Anyway.
What Is Mirabai Listening To?
Take a quick glimpse into the current vibe, inspiration, and story of Totem Star artists.
Mirabai, what song do you currently have on repeat recently?
Currently I've found myself listening to "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home, which is a musical by Lisa Kron based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel. The song is sung by a child, which gives the song a really pure, youthful, but experienced sound, which I really like. All her life Alison has been told not to act or present in certain ways, because it's wrong or 'not what women do', and she notices this adult women presenting herself how she pleases and being so confident and normal about it. Alison feels this huge surge of connection with someone else who embodies who she wants to be and what she wants to look like.
How do you compare and contrast your favorite song from your own music?
I listen to a lot of 70s music, musical theatre soundtracks, and R&B. And I listen to 80s synth pop whenever I'm sad; it's my thing. Personally I'm just getting into writing music, so I haven't really discovered my "sound" or anything. I'd like to think that my music is/will be influenced by the kind of stuff I like. It would kind of suck if it didn't like the music I made.
What album or artist would you recommend everyone to try listening to?
Well, of course I'd recommend you check out Ring of Keys, which makes at least me cry regularly. Also, I know it isn't for everyone, but I recommend checking out more musicals. Some of them are really cheesy, but there are a lot of really good ones or at least ones that make the cheese factor work to their favor. I really like them because I can listen to a story through music.