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Photos: Summer Kickoff Kicks Off in High Gear Once Again
On Friday, June 15, 2018 we hosted our fourth annual Summer Kickoff youth arts showcase at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Hosted by emcees LIO and Mirabai Kukathas, the showcase featured nearly two hours of songs and poems by some of the dopest and wokest young artists to set foot in our studio. The showcase was also the official release party for the Respect the Vibez mixtape, our third compilation album to date, featuring the recordings of thirty Totem Star artists. Check out these photos from the celebration, which take you from the behind-the-scenes pre-show huddle into the action and lights on the stage.
House Party 6 Was A Packed House!
A packed house at The Station in Beacon Hill. Photo By Mary Elworth
By Mary Elworth
House Party 6 brought singing, dancing, and poetry to an enthusiastic crowd at The Station in Beacon Hill! By 7pm, the place was packed with a diverse and intergenerational group, but it was clear that the youth would rule the night.
Host Lashaunycee O’Cain (a.k.a. kidLIO) set the tone by making sure everyone in the room was on board to support one another throughout the performances. Kicking off the open mic was vocalist Ezra Hollister, accompanied by Daniel Pak on keys) whose melodious voice lit up the room and got everyone captivated by his lyrics.
Jade Arquitt continued the energy by performing an original piece of music. Singer-songwriter Mary Elworth performed an acoustic version of her original “Set You Free.” Next up was Joseph soulfully covering the CNCO hit “Tan Fácil” with the support of Arquitt, Pak, and Thaddeus Turner respectively on bass, guitar, and drums.
Singer-guitarist Zo (Zoser Dunbar) wowed us all with a cover of Ed Sheeran’s Don’t. Later he got everyone singing and grooving along with a mashup of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s “Thrift Shop” and Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.”
Zo freestyling with spontaneous a jam band at The Station. Photo by Mary Elworth
Next up were Twinn (Jonathan Burgos), Virgilio Carbajal, and Noah Predko, who rocked the audience in each of their own performances. Singer-songwriter Dominique Estrada stepped up to the mic and gave us a taste of what she's been working in the studio.
Then came time for the poets in the room to have their say. Carlynn Newhouse brought the room to a philosophical hush with her powerfully crafted verses, followed by Azura Tyabji, who also delivered a poignant message steeped in wisdom and observation.
Azura Tyabji delivers wisdom through poetry at House Party 6. Photo by Mary Elworth
Songwriter and musician Ezrael Sarmiento professed his appreciation for the city of Seattle, followed by a fitting performance of his original “Seattle Skies.”
Muliti-talented kidLIO closed the first round of performances with an original poem illustrating capitalism in society and demonstrating resistance to it.
Joseph. Photo by Mary Elworth
Twin & His Crew of Supporters, Fans, and Family. Photo by Mary Elworth
Much Love to The Station in Beacon Hill for Hosting Us! Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 4
Close To The Sun. Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 4 was lit!!! We were a little hesitant to do it during spring break, but the stars aligned and the room was packed! The sign up sheet was completely full within 20 minutes of doors opening, thanks to the incredible Monica Elenes (Hip Hop Artist Residency), who got all of the performers got on stage. Politically-charged rapper ZAG rocked his new single "Ahmed," which he premiered at More Music at The Moore. Lashaunycee surprised us with a new song called "Someday Maybe," with beautiful melodic hooks (she needs to bring a choir next time) intermingling with her introspective rap verses. Joseph sang a beautiful cover of CNCO's "Tan Fácil." And to close it out, Close To The Sun put on a dance party that got everyone out of their seats (and even flat on the floor). Big thanks to DJ Funky Fresh Fernando for setting a great vibe and keeping the energy high between sets. Incredible night of music. If you missed it, don't worry, House Party 5 is coming your way in early May - stay tuned!
ZAG. Photo by Mary Elworth.
Joseph. Photo by Mary Elworth.
Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 3
The House Party is always one of our most popular events. Our name for an open mic, a House Party is where you'll see a singer-songwriter taking risks and trying out that new song they've been working on or a rapper freestyling a verse to a beat played by a band who all just met for the first time. Collaboration and improvisation are always welcomed at a House Party! In fact, at House Party 3 in February, two parents got our of their seats and performed a song together, with co-founders Daniel Pak and Thaddeus Turner holding it down on drums and bass (anyone got a video of that performance?). The coolest thing about a House Party is to see a diverse group of folks from different neighborhoods coming together to celebrate youth voice, creativity, and community building at its finest. All through music!
House Party 4 will be on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Doors open and sign ups start at 5:30pm, and the open mic runs from 6-8pm. Light snacks and refreshments provided. All ages welcome, and as always, every House Party is free to the general public thanks to our partnership with 4Culture, Office of Arts & Culture, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Summer Kickoff
At the end of every school year Totem Star hosts the Summer Kickoff youth arts showcase to highlight select artists who have performed at our House Party open mics in the winter and spring. Soulchild Elle, who was featured in the recent video documentary by The Seattle Times, will perform her new original song, a fresh and summery love song with a classic R&B vibe. West Seattle High School freshman Jawzilla will team up with backing band Noah and the Arks to rock a brand new song they’ve been working on during their after school sessions. All the way from Lynnwood, singer/songwriter Amy Hall will capture your soul with her voice – we just met her at the last House Party and she’s awesome! Stay tuned for more artist announcements!
This year’s event goes down on Friday June 10 from 6-9pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Centerand will feature an amazing dinner by Food & Sh*t and Sam Choy’s Poke To The Max. As always, the event is all ages and is free to the general public thanks to partnerships with 4Culture, Arts Corps, the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association, the Jubilation Foundation, the Office of Arts & Culture, and the Satterberg Foundation.
House Party
17 youth performers and an audience of 60 came out for the first House Party of the year on February 5. The open mic at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center started out with individual acts, including producer/rappers Hirschurmouth and Jaws, singers Ramsey Tall and Zoë Roberts, DJ Close To The Sun, singer/songwriters Soulchild Elle and Alison Cohen, and more. Towards the end, all of the performers took to the stage in various combinations to close out the night with improvised jam sessions of dynamic proportions.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor Arts Corps and partners Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Jubilation Foundation, and the Satterberg Foundation.
#HouseParty
Zoë Roberts
Jaws
Jacob Martin, Griffin Ryden, Noah Predko, Brian Hirsch, and Zoë Roberts
Brian Hirsch, Noah Predko, Griffin Ryden, Robby Little, and Wyatt Carloc
Ramsey Tall
Video: Winter Magic
Nothing captures the magic of The Stage like being there to witness it in person, but if you missed the last one, check out this beautiful sizzle reel of the Winter Magic youth arts showcase shot and produced by Darien Brown! Features the instrumental for “M.O.M.” produced by Totem Star alumna Shakur Washington!
Special thanks to our partners and supporters Arts Corps, the Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, the Jubilation Foundation, the Satterberg Foundation, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Photos: Winter Magic
4 bands, 5 rappers, a dance crew, a DJ, 5 poets, and 6 singers lit up the amphitheater stage at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on December 4, 2015 for the second annual Winter Magic youth arts showcase. Totem Star produces quarterly showcases, this time around through a partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Arts Corps, Youth Speaks Seattle, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. All photos by Paul Laughlin.
Justus White
Torren Anderson
The Rush
Close To The Sun
Samone Thomas
The Black Tone
The BCs
Winter Magic
Winter Magic is Friday, December 4th! Don’t miss an incredible evening of youth performances, including music, dance, poetry, and more! The youth arts showcase will be in the Amphitheater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center from 5-8pm and is free to the general public.
Powered by partnerships with the Office of Arts & Culture, 4Culture, Arts Corps, Youth Speaks Seattle, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Photos: Winter Magic
Set the stage and they will come. The final open mic of the year was an all-out jam session, featuring more spontaneous on-stage collaborations than any other event we threw this year. It was the culmination of a quarter-long residency in the recording studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, once again in partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture and its Youth Arts program.
After a tag team opening by DJ Close To The Sun and DJ Hirschurmouth, guitarist Joe Naranjo took to the stage, plugged into the Marshall, and ripped through a Rage Against the Machine cover. With the audience demanding more, Close To The Sun joined him on bass, with Noah Predko jumping on the drums. The impromptu three-piece rock band, all from West Seattle High School, jammed for a good ten minutes and set the tone for the rest of the evening. By the end of their extended jam, all the performers were itching to get on.
DJ Hirschurmouth rocked a couple new instrumentals before getting on the mic and performing his new song “Recovery” (check it out on his BandCamp page). DJ Close To The Sun followed with his own instrumentals (check them out on SoundCloud) – this was when things got really interesting. Robby Little (of The Black Chevys) started bobbing his head to the instrumentals and jumped on the bass. Co-Founder Thaddeus Turner got on the drums. Paris and Star grabbed the mics. It was the first time at an open mic where a live band performed over an instrumental track, much like how national touring artists use pre-recorded backing tracks to add sparkle to their live performances. At this point the energy shifted from a room full of individual artists silently checking each other out to a powerful collaborative community performance. It was epic.
One last thing about our guy Paris, who helped host the event. Paris understands the cipher. He lives for the cipher. It runs in his blood. He gets on the mic and by doing his thing and saying his piece, he motivates the others to join in. He’ll even get in your face (in a friendly way of course) to encourage you to spit. It’s his special way of getting folks to join the movement. Big ups to our guy Paris.
Thanks to everyone for making Winter Magic a big success, especially the Office of Arts & Culture! See you in 2015!
Winter Magic: Open Mic & Art Pop Up
Calling all (in alphabetical order) audio engineers, bands, comics, dancers, DJs, musicians, photographers, producers, rappers, singers, songwriters, spoken word poets, theatrical actors/actresses, and visual artists (did we forget anyone?):
Are you ready for some Winter Magic? The next open mic and art pop up is Thursday, December 18 from 3:30-6:30pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (see map). As always, it is an all-ages event open to the general public and guaranteed to be a great time!
For Performers:
– we provide stage, sound, lights, and backline including drums, bass, guitar amps, keyboards, and microphones
– feel free to bring instrumental tracks in any media format
– sign ups start at 3:00pm when doors open
– if you would like to pre-register, send an email to totemstarrecords@gmail.com with a description of what kind of performance you will be doing and your technical needs
– you may arrive at the venue two hours before show time if you would like a soundcheck (if time permits)
For Visual Artists:
– we provide an open space to showcase your work
– visual artists are encouraged to bring their own installation materials with which to display work
– send an email to totemstarrecords@gmail.com with a detailed description of your work and any installation questions or concerns
– you may arrive at the venue two hours before the event to load in your work and begin installation
Thanks to the Office of Arts & Culture for partnering on yet another Totem Star open mic and art pop up!
#YouthArts
Killing The Game
By Paris Randall
Totem Star is officially killing the game! November 20 marked the second monthly open mic we hosted in the intimate and inviting Movement Studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle. As host of the evening, I got to kick things off, feeling the energy of the audience and getting them involved in a little call-and-response.
The first act up was Dogg Pound (formerly known as Vicious Puppies Crew). These b-boys have been killing it for years, with Robert, Sammy, and the rest of the boys showing us how they’ve earned so much respect over the years. They host a breakdancing class every Monday and Wednesday at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center from 3-4pm.
Next up was the neighborhood rock band with that classic flavor, All Star Dads! Sterling, Miles, and Gunnar know how to entertain. Gotta love that West Seattle High School alumni!
Speaking of all-stars, two veterans returned tonight to the Youngstown spotlight. Enter Massiah andStar. The latter is a well-versed rap vocalist, currently specializing in LGBT events and artist collaborations. Trust me when I tell you, the girl knows what she’s doing! She hit us with a snippet from her upcoming project.
Massiah has been involved with Youngstown for years (he taught me a lot about recording and performing). This musical maverick dropped a jewel on us from his upcoming project, The D.A.L.M.S. LP, expected to drop in 2015. He rocked that crowd something fierce!
Alien Angel brought the metal. Also from WSHS, these guys for sure know how to rock! They tantalized the audience with some guitar and drum work. Pure energy.
Close To The Sun is a DJ and a music producer. He graciously rocked the 1’s and 2’s for us the whole night! When the time came for him to perform, he couldn’t just do it the old-fashioned way. No! He came out dressed as a Creeper of Minecraft fame. But what couldn’t creep up on us was how awesome his beats sounded. Stuff of legend indeed.
Following that was yours truly. My mission was to get the crowd involved. I stopped my set mid-way through the first song to interact with the crowd, teaching them my hook, because I needed their energy for this performance to really take off. It worked!
Next up was Will. He dropped two songs of his own, all original productions. And boy, did his beats hit hard! His words really hit the crowd.
Our penultimate act was the Black Chevys. This group has a rich, soulful sound that I consider soothing to a savage beast. Two sultry voices and excellent instrumentation. Magic. The female voice is Totem Star’s own, Nafsiya.
Ezra closed the show, shining with his guitar and solo vocal. His interpretation of the classic “Hallejuah” was touching.
Time to kick everybody out. But before that we made sure they enjoyed the music, the food, and of course, the incredible visual pieces by Sita. The next event is Thurdsay December 18! Chee!!!
Photos: Jeremy Protacio http://rockpapersketch.com
Giving Thanks Open Mic And Art Pop Up
The next open mic and art pop up is Thursday, November 20 from 4:00-7:00pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (see map). As always, it is an all-ages event open to the general public and guaranteed to be a great time!
For Performers:
– we provide stage, sound, lights, and backline including drums, bass, guitar amps, keyboards, and microphones
– feel free to bring instrumental tracks in any media format
– sign ups start at 3:30pm when doors open
– if you would like to pre-register, send an email to totemstarrecords@gmail.com with a description of what kind of performance you will be doing and your technical needs
– you may arrive at the venue two hours before show time if you would like a soundcheck (if time permits)
For Visual Artists:
– we provide an open space to showcase your work
– visual artists are encouraged to bring their own installation materials with which to display work
– send an email to totemstarrecords@gmail.com with a detailed description of your work and any installation questions or concerns
– you may arrive at the venue two hours before the event to load in your work and begin installation
Thanks to the U.S. Department of Justice for sponsoring yet another Totem Star open mic and art pop up!
#ProjectSafeNeighborhoods
Photos: All Hallow's Eve Open Mic
“Totem Star really, really pushes us to become better artists, producers, musicians all around…and all together it’s been a wonderful experience.” The audience at the All Hallow’s Eve open mic heard an incredible story about artistic and social development, told by emcee Paris who hosted the event last Thursday. Having received his diploma from the Southwest Interagency Academy and participated in programs with organizations like the Service Board and Arts Corps, he is an example for all young artists and entrepreneurs by engaging with the wide spectrum of opportunities and resources available at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
The typical quarterly Totem Star open mic is like a mini arts and music festival. A lineup of rappers will take to the stage, rhyming over bass-heavy beats they produced. A soul/R&B group will get the audience out of their seats to close their eyes and shake their hips, while a hardcore punk band will jumpstart headbanging and moshing. Spoken word poets will unzip, unpack, and liberate the minds of audience members with personal stories of overcoming oppression. DJs spin electronic dance music while a singer/songwriter pulls up a stool and cradles an acoustic guitar.
The All Hallow’s Eve open mic was no exception, with every performance slot on the sign up sheet filled. With pepperoni and cheese pies donated by Proletariat Pizza and a seemingly bottomless coffee pot provided by Dubsea Coffee, everyone in attendance contributed to a nourishing and positive vibe. Huge thanks to the Office of Arts & Culture for sponsoring the open mic event through their Civic Partners funding program!
Photos: Derek Edamura http://derekedamura.wordpress.com
All Hallow's Eve Open Mic And Art Pop Up
For the next quarterly open mic we’re hosting an All Hallow’s Eve costume party on Thursday October 30 from 4:45-6:45pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (see map). As always, it is an all-ages event open to the general public and guaranteed to be a great time!
If this is your first time attending a Totem Star open mic, welcome to the fam! You will experience performances by live bands, rappers, spoken word poets, DJs, and more! And for the first time we are curating a pop up art gallery. This is for you – a space where music, art, and creative minds like yours collide. Meet awesome people, enjoy free snacks and refreshments, and by all means, don’t hesitate to sign up for a performance slot or a space to showcase your work at our pop up art gallery. Space and time fill up fast! Here’s more detailed info:
For Performers:
– we will provide stage, sound, lights, and backline including drums, bass, guitar amps, vocal mics, and a keyboard
– feel free to bring instrumental tracks in any media format
– sign ups start at 4:00pm when doors open
– if you would like to pre-register, send an email to totemstarrecords@gmail.com with a description of what kind of performance you will be doing and your technical needs
– you may arrive at the venue two hours before show time if you would like a soundcheck (if time permits)
For Visual Artists:
– we will provide an open space to showcase your work
– visual artists are encouraged to bring their own installation materials with which to display work
– send an email to totemstarrecords@gmail.com with a detailed description of your work and any installation questions or concerns
– you may arrive at the venue two hours before show time to load in your work and begin installation
Thanks to the Office of Arts & Culture for sponsoring yet another Totem Star event! #CivicPartners
WRAP Showcase At Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
In the words of Totem Star co-founder Thaddeus Turner, the biggest impact of any youth program hits when youth “come to the realization that their individual actions directly affect the group as a whole.” On Thursday, December 19th, youth participants in the Work Readiness Arts Program (WRAP) sponsored by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture did just that by booking, planning, promoting, and producing their first community arts and music showcase and open mic at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
Through the course of the two-month program youth focused on music production and performance and multicultural community organizing. The group, going by the band name Sustain, recorded an original song, “The Struggle,” currently in the final mixing stage, and learned the ins and outs of event planning and production. With two meetings a week and an advanced curriculum of topics including vocal recording techniques, use of compression and equalization during audio mixing, advancing a live performance with a music venue, social media marketing strategies, and much more, getting ready for the big show is what brought the group together.
“Each member had a newfound sense of ownership, not only to themselves and the group, but also to the community,” Turner said at the conclusion of the showcase. With almost a dozen performances by WRAP youth, along with guest performers from Arts Corps, West Seattle High School, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the showcase was a complete success and the youth are already planning the next event for early 2014.
Special thanks to the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture for sponsoring and to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center for partnering on the program. All photos by Jenny Crooks. Click to view the whole gallery.
