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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
What is Esther Listening To?
Post by Lashaunycee O'Cain
What's your favorite song at the moment, one that you have shamelessly on repeat?
My favorite song at the moment is "Call Them Brothers" by Regina Spektor. It is on the deluxe version of her “What We Saw From The Cheap Seats” album. Every song on that album is awesome, but right now thats my favorite.
What genre of music speaks to you most recently?
Recently, soul music has been my favorite. I am usually unaware of what music is within which genre, but I googled my favorite musicians lately, and it turns out they’re make mostly soul music (e.g. Allen Stone, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Daniel Caesar, Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, etc.).
Do any of your favorite songs inspire your poetry?
I’m not sure my favorite songs inspire my poems, but I would say my life inspires both the poetry I write, and the music I’m listening to. I use the songs I hear to enhance the feelings that are inspiring my poetry. Sad music for nostalgic poetry, lovey music for love poetry, music with stories for more storytelling poetry.
Find more of Esther on Instagram: @4sourtangerineswalkintoabar
Or on Facebook: Esther Eidenberg-noppe
Close to the Sun
Photo Credit: Amber Zbitnoff
For the seventh installment of The Song, our monthly artist spotlight and newsletter, we present EDM DJ Close to the Sun with his new song "Me To You."
In his interview he shares, "To all young artists reading this, take inspiration from any happenings in your life. Some of the best stories are true, and your music will sound more experienced with authentic emotions and feelings."
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
5 Tips on How to Conquer a Crowd
Written by kidLIO
There comes a time in a performer's life, where they have to learn how to conquer a stage with only a microphone and without the music. Whether it is as a comedian ora host. There will be a time where instead of entertaining the crowd, you are inter-taining with the crowd, in the sense that you are interacting withe crowd between sets of other artists. Some have natural-born instinct to the taking of a crowd... and then, some don't.
Here are 5 tips on how to conquer a crowd.
- 1. Assess your crowd; it's important... Trust me.
When you step onto the stage the you are about to conquer, as a host for the first time, you need to focus on the energy that the crowd is already giving to you. Assess the way that they wait for the artists to arrive, monitor their chatter and prepare yourself. Maybe even prep them from backstage with jokes, and queues of the shows beginning. When you know your audience, you can feel deep into your stage and connect with the crowd. If you arrive with low energy while everyone in the crowd is hyped, they will assume that there is nothing to be excited about. If you arrive with energy way too loud to register, the crowd will extend how overwhelmed they are towards the artists in an exhausted manner.
- 2. BE ANIMATED... but humble.
We love a fun host who knows how to make a joke, but it gets questionable when there isn't any room left for ego, unnecessary stories and loss of interest from the crowd. Know when to be humble but also know that crowds are crowds for a reason, keep them happy but not exhausted-- they still have quite a show to go!
- 3. Stay hydrated!
No crowd wants a host too tired to remind them of when their favorite artist is hitting the stage because water bottle isn't being used backstage. Stay hydrated between sets to prevent voice cracks or strain of voice. You have an important job here, best to keep up with it. Also, water is life. If you're hyping up a dope artist on stage and suddenly you collapse from dehydration... it'll be awkward for everyone... in every way.
- 4. Love on your crowd-- AT ALL TIMES!
Living up to the potential of a "perfect host" is obviously unattainable for any person, no matter their caliber of humor, speech or bravery on stage. There will always be a different essence to each crowd that you assemble and speak before. During a rowdy crowd, or a crowd too quiet to be excited, love on your crowd to remind them of how important they are! Thank them for their contribution to the event your hosting and thank them for their dedication-- even when they won't be quiet.
- 5. Know when to be stern.
More often than not, there will be crowds that are too hype to listen to a middle man. The key to understanding the element of your crowd is by knowing when to set rules, standards of how to respect each other, the artists and the venue. In other words, when to e stern. Don't be afraid to remind crowds what they are there for and remember to keep all dialogue in between interactive, respectful and with purpose. Don't yell at a crowd because you see someone chewing gum or drinking water. But also, if fabrics and objects start hitting the stage, call a time-out and a take a moment to structure.
Hope these help! Enjoy!
What Is Sharmaine Listening To?
Take a quick glimpse into the current vibe, inspiration, and story of Totem Star artists
Sharmaine, what song is really speaking to you at the moment?
I would say a song that's really speaking to me right now is "Rise Up" by Andra Day
What makes the song so special to you?
This song is special to me because it touches on so many emotions that I have felt and it reminded to keep fighting even when it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
How does the song reflect with what you see in your real life?
This song reflects what I see daily. People who are in my life that deal with depression, People who deal with suicidal thoughts. People who feel like giving up or actually give up. It's a reflection of what I've been dealing with these past months with depression and it's empowering to hear what Everyone deals with, something hard to explain like depression... reflected and executed so well in a song.
Gio & Ajani
For the sixth installment of The Song, our monthly artist spotlight and newsletter, we present hip hop duo Gio & Ajani with their new EP "Intuition."
In their interview they share, "Don’t get to caught up on getting popular and instead perfect your craft. Try to be original, still use your inspiration/influences, but take them and make it your own. If you love making music you should definitely follow that passion. Also, take advantage of opportunities to progress yourself in music, especially getting your music available to be heard my people as well as creating connections and collaborating with others."
Click here to check out Gio & Ajani's new artist profile page and listen to their EP "Intuition."
The Origins of Totem Star
Totem Star's Inaugural JRA program in 2010
Written by Mirabai Jyothi Kukathas
Totem Star is a truly special place. Here young people can make music, learn from one another (as well as from talented teaching artists) and develop a sense of community. Everyone I know involved here has a deep appreciation and love for this space. But how did Totem Star come to be? It didn’t just emerge from the ether fully formed; it was a labor of love to bring this place into reality. So, I asked co-founder Daniel Pak to recount the origin story of Totem Star.
Mirabai: Pak, what were your goals and hopes for Totem Star when you and Thaddeus founded it in 2010?
Pak: Funny thing is we didn’t even know it was going to be Totem Star when it all started. The Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) called in 2010 about doing a two-month summer work training program with ten young people who were just released from detention. We started with ten and ended with ten, which just shows how consistent engagement can do wonders for young people who want to express themselves through music and the arts. I think we called the program Making The Band, or Bars & Beats, or something like that. Not one month after our program ended, we found out that half the group got locked up again. And then we lost one of the leaders of the group. And that’s when we realized this was our calling. We had to ensure that young people had a safe and encouraging place to go to make music and find a creative sanctuary away from the chaos of the streets. So we started applying for grants, and amazingly we were awarded funding, and that’s when we realized we were developing an organization. That’s when Totem Star was born.
M: What kind of challenges did you face when bringing Totem Star into reality?
P: Funding and space have always been the biggest challenges. Without funds we can’t keep the studio open, and even when we have funds, where is the studio going to be? For the first four years we were strictly a mobile operation. We packed our recording studio into a suitcase and lugged it all over the city, from Rainier Community Center to the Northwest African American Museum to the Metrocenter YMCA down to YouthSource in Renton. When our program partners asked what kind of technical support we needed we said we just need a room, a table, and a power outlet. We’d set up the rest and BOOM! - recording studio! Then another challenge arose - we realized that because we had so many different program partners with different pools of young people, we’d see this group of young people for six weeks, develop amazing relationships with them, run out of funding, and then it was "good bye, have a good life" and that never felt good. That’s when we realized this mobile operation wasn’t working and we needed something more sustainable. That’s when we talked to David Bestock at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and he gave us the keys to the recording studio there, and that’s where we’ve been since 2013. Our humble studio has transformed into a hub for young recording artists and we are full every day of the week with motivated artists making incredible music and building a strong community of voices in the process. Though we are thriving as a community today, funding and space remain our greatest challenges, as constant fundraising is the only way to keep the studio open, coupled with the fact that our current studio space is far too small for the number of youth who come in. We need our own building, with multiple studio rooms for our artists, our own performance space, and an artist lounge where young people can gather and relax in a creative environment.
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
M: Totem Star constantly evolves and changes, but when did you first feel like Totem Star found its groove or that you started to feel more at ease running it?
P: Totem Star definitely found its groove (and a home) when we made the move to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in 2013. To be welcomed as a tenant organization and as part of the amazing arts community there is such a big deal. Young people come from all over the city and from as far as Shoreline, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, and Tacoma for The Studio and The Stage. The family vibe in the studio is always warm and uplifting. And in 2015, we received a major gift - an email from Paul Laughlin who was moving to Seattle to pursue his MPA at the University of Washington. He was asking about a possible summer internship and after a wonderful meeting with him, we onboarded him as a development intern. Paul changed everything for us. He started writing grants, helping develop infrastructure around our development strategy, began helping with programming, handling administrative tasks, organizing our board, and so much more. Today he is our Director of Development and Operations and constantly pushes us forward. I am certain that we would not be where we are today had we not received that email from Paul back in 2015. He’s the ultimate game changer, and to answer your question, we are all more at ease because of him!
M: What are the biggest changes Totem Star has undergone in these past 8 years?
P: I would say other than the move to Youngstown and the addition of Paul as part of our team, the biggest change is the number of diverse young people who find out about Totem Star and want to get involved. We get inquiries every week, which is humbling and overwhelming at the same time. If we had a bigger space and more hours to keep the studio open, everything would be better. We are always under pressure to fit in as many young people into the studio as possible, sometimes having to physically move our workstations to other locations that open up in the building so that more young people can work on their projects. The word on the streets about Totem Star is spreading, and more young people are finding out about Totem Star and wanting to get involved. There is a huge need, which very much reflects the state of how educational institutions are not able to provide music and arts to all young people, especially those from communities with less resources. Once again, there are young people coming from as far as Bothell and Tacoma to get in the studio. What does that tell us about the arts education and opportunity gap for young people? This heightened attention to our programs has definitely brought in more press and recognition by larger organizations, foundations, and even the Seattle Music Commission. All of that attention is great, but at the end of the day, the biggest change that we need to see is more funding, or else this all could go away.
M: What about Totem Star do you most wish you had access to when you were in high school?
P: Mentors. Positive adult role models who really care. Mentors who live and breathe social justice just as much as they do compression and equalization. I never really had a mentor when I was in high school. And maybe that was my fault for not reaching out. And as an adult, I’m always looking for mentors. Embracing fear and vulnerability is the only way we can grow. And mentors always seem to help make it easier to understand.
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
How to Rock a Live Performance
Photo by Avi Loud
I see you. You've been busy putting in work in the studio. Hours and hours spent crafting beats, writing lyrics, recording vocals, bringing in guest collaborators, and mixing your songs to perfection. You've got a bunch of followers on SoundCloud and you're feeling pretty good about your Instagram. And to top it off, you just got booked for a performance and it's only one month away.
This is the moment that matters most. The "in real life" moment. All of the work you've been doing in the studio and on social media has brought you to this point - getting on stage and making a connection with an audience of people, many of whom you've never met before. And it can be nerve-wracking to think about what you're going to do when you're up there, in the bright lights for all to see.
Are my songs all memorized? Will I be able to hear myself and sing in pitch? Will the audience even care about what I'm singing about? Will they like me?
Last weekend I played a show down in Portland and I overheard a conversation between my drummer and keyboard player before the show about how you should always remember that an audience you're meeting for the first time is just waiting to love you. But it's all about how you transmit energy to them. If you go on stage and succumb to the awkward and nervous feels, chances are the audience will feel that energy. So what do you do?
There is so much involved with putting on a great live performance. Make sure you practice, practice, practice. You should have your entire set memorized from beginning to end. If you're performing with a band make sure you are tight and know every cue. Spend some time thinking about (and even scripting) what you're going to say to the audience between songs. Does your set list take the audience on a ride through different feelings, emotions, energy dynamics, etc? Have you thought about what you're going to wear on stage? More than anything, are you ready to get on the stage in front of a bunch of people and just be YOU? Because that is really the most important thing - people come to a show to be inspired, and you are the one they want inspiration from. Just as the music you write is an extension of you - your expression - your audience wants nothing more than the real you to captivate them, and that is when they fall in love with you.
I found a few great blogs with more detailed tips for rocking a live performance. Check them out!
Mind, Body, and Soul, The Guardian
Waiks
For the fifth installment of The Song, our monthly artist spotlight and newsletter, we present singer/songwriter Waiks with his track "Come Through Girl."
In his interview, Waiks shares "I have learned a lot from Totem Star. I'm beyond thankful that Totem Star popped into my life out of nowhere. Without this incredible non-profit organization, I would have never met the incredible friends I have now, and I would have never been able to realize my love for music. Totem Star made me realize the power of a voice."
Click here to check out Waiks's new artist profile page and listen to his track "Come Through Girl."
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.
Sir-Mix-A-Lot's "Posse On Broadway"
Original Cover of "Posse On Broadway"
Let’s take it back to 1988 when Sir-Mix-A-Lot released "Posse On Broadway.” This was his first single to hit the charts, four years before his huge pop hit “Baby Got Back.” I wanted to highlight this song because of its significance to my own upbringing and personal history. I was 5 years old when this song came out, not too long before I discovered and fell in love with hip hop music.
Although I grew up in the San Francisco, this song still resonated with me. The 808 bumped real hard in my mom’s Oldsmobile stationwagon and on our tiny portable Sony stereo boombox.
Most songs tend to lose their popularity after awhile, but Bay Area DJs seemed to always drop “Posse on Broadway” in the mix on the radio and at garage parties. The song was always an instant crowd pleaser and I used it in the mix myself as a DJ in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and now Seattle for the last two decades.
After living in Seattle for more than 3 years now, this song finally is more than just one of my favorite hip hop songs from my childhood. “Posse on Broadway” is an ode to Seattle and some of the neighborhoods that make it great, institutions that are loved in the city, as well as some places that are (or were) notorious for one reason or another. Now that I am fully oriented to Seattle, this song takes me on a journey through The Town.
4 Tips On Getting More Out of Your Release
Whether it’s a single or an album, I’m sure we all want success from releasing our music. It can be a lot of work but if you’re willing to work for it and think ahead, you can potentially make some real noise with your music. Here’s four tips on releasing your music that should help.
1. Have a Reachable Goal and Set Up a Plan to Meet that Goal
What are you trying to get out of your release? More views? Emails? Followers? Knowing what you are trying to get can help give you a start with how you want to promote and release your music. A plan or strategy can help things run smoother with releasing your art as well. Things like knowing your target audience, what time you want to release and how fast you want to show your art to the public can all can and should be part of that plan. For example, planning to get more views to your music video that you've worked out a blog promotion for by releasing a trailer at 11am PST of a Friday will probably work better than just releasing the video as soon as it's done with only a post on Facebook saying " check out my new video! " The more strategy used in your release the better the outcome you will have!
2. Connections! Connections! Connections!
Now I know we've all heard "it's not about what you know, it's about who you know." But connections are more than just knowing the right person. Community building and outreach are extremely useful Networking skills. Working with other artists and people in your community and other communities can spread your name out and get you recognition in other circles. It can get you shows in places around the globe. But more importantly, it get's you people to work with that support you and the dream you guys build as a team. Think about crews in hip hop like the Beast Coast movement in NYC. All different groups that share shows and features so the success each group has builds everybody in the community. That can help you get further than trying to make it all by yourself.
3. Outside Promotion
Promotion can do a lot and spread you to places you didn't know your music could go. But promotion comes from a wide range of places. Blogs, college radio, word of mouth, and ads are just a few forms of promotion that you can use. With promotion like college radios and blogs, knowing how to write an email the right way can is vital and will separate you from a lot of other people also asking for the same thing. Emailing the right way could also benefit in other areas like booking. Even the pros today use blogs so don't take them lightly. Some blogs have huge followings so access to their fan base can be very rewarding. The same goes for college radios and online radio stations. People do actually listen to them so air play and interviews could do some good for your career.
4. Access is Key
If nobody can find your music how can you expect it to go anywhere. It's a good idea to get your music EVERYWHERE if you want tons of people to see your music. That means more than just Soundcloud. That means Soundcloud, YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Itunes, Google play, and any other place you think people can find you. now making an account with websites like YouTube and Sound cloud are easily accessible and free. But the problem for some might come with streaming services like Spotify. To be able to use spotify you need to go through an aggregator like Tunecore or CD Baby. While it is a cost money, it could help you get where you want to be. Speaking of actually releasing, you might want to make sure your copyrights are good to go. you can't exactly use things like airplay and streaming services like Spotify if you have copyright infringements because of samples If you do use a sample make sure you get it cleared and the songs you work on are registered with a publishing company to help secure and protect your rights.
What Is Seneca Rose Listening To?
Take a quick glimpse into the current vibe, inspiration, and story of Totem Star artists.
Seneca, what song do you currently have on repeat recently?
Currently I have had "Gun" by Allen Rayman on consistently! Also, my favorite band in this universe is Tame Impala and I love their song, "The Less I Know the Better."
How do you compare and contrast your favorite songs from your own music?
I don't have a determined favorite song because I have such a diverse diet in my music, and it wouldn't make sense to compare and rate to me. Also, I'm incredibly indecisive. That shows in my music, but I guess what I mean is that I don't like to limit myself to any genre which to some people would seem really indecisive-- "PICK A GENRE, ROSE!" I can already hear it.
Do you find yourself interpreting parts and styles of your favorite song into your own artistry?
Of course, music reflects through every inch of my day-to-day human experiences. I take sections of my favorite songs as more as, "Why did this song work?" "Why do the lyrics hold prominence to me?" "Why do I relate to this song or the artist who made it?" "How do I see myself in this song?" and, "How would others see themselves or recieve this artist?" I feel I think this way because I am truly a student of passion and I'm never listening to a song or watching a movie that I'm not taking time to decipher and study in analysis.
What album or artist would you recommend everyone to try listening to?
This question is a bit hard to answer because I'm low-key a hipster. I'm trying not to give away my "You probably wouldn't know them..." albums. "Low Wishes" by Air Review is definitely something I'd recommed for anyone who is into any sort of folk pop or alternative. My go-to album right now is Michelle Branch's, "Hopeless Romantic."
Jawzilla
For the fourth installment of The Song, our monthly artist spotlight, we welcome Lyricist/Producer/Multi-Instrumentalist Jawzilla with his new song "Family Reunion." In his interview, Jawzilla reflects on how he discovered his love for music: "I used to love hearing Motown hits from the temptations and OutKast with my dad while jamming sweet child o mine and the ghetto boys with my mom."
#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.
5 Ways To Improve Your Self Confidence As A Musician
Totem Star Artist, Mirabai Kukathas shares her honest tips on how to improve your self-confidence when it comes to performing as a music artist.
Jawzilla in the element
Written by Mirabai Jyothi Kukathas
They say write what you know, but here I am doing quite the opposite. One of the biggest reasons I don’t write music or perform that often is that I lack the self confidence. When I sit down to write I hear a voice telling me not to bother. Every performance I’ve been a part of has been preceded by intense stage fright. So why am I, a person with very little self esteem, especially in regards to music, giving you tips on becoming more confident? Well, because my boss told me to. No, I’m just kidding; it’s because I’ve been working to become more confident and know first hand what’s helpful and what's complete nonsense. Now, you might be thinking, but Mirabai, unlike you, I am not a nervous wreck, to which I say, good for you but everyone gets nervous, especially preforming artists. I think it's really important to keep the following things in mind, so without further ado… HOW NOT TO BE A NERVOUS WRECK, written by a nervous wreck because primary sources are important.
Be kind to yourself. Usually people save the most important piece of advice until the end of the list, but I’m going to put it first on the off chance you get bored and stop reading to go watch a cat video or make some toast or something. Recently, I was asked how I'd want a friend to react if I was experiencing anxiety before a performance, or even just in every day life. I said that I'd appreciate kindness and honesty. I realized a lot of people would say the same, but I was not treating myself with those qualities and often neither do others. . It’s easy to treat your loved ones with kindness or to crave kindness from them, but most people are far less willing to be easily excited, forgiving, or appreciative when it comes to themselves. So, be kind to yourself because you are pretty damn awesome.
Practice. This one’s pretty short, sweet, and obvious but it works: if you practice something you feel self conscious about, you will improve. If you improve, you will become less self conscious abut it. This is especially true in regards to music. You’ve probably noticed that you feel more at ease performing a song you’ve practiced a million times or that writing a song is a less daunting task if you’ve done it before. Practice makes perfect.
Learn that it’s okay to be only or less than okay. Okay, I lied: Practice doesn't make perfect. There is no such thing as perfect, yet most humans expect themselves to somehow achieve this delusional aspect. A lot of self consciousness derives from the idea that you should be flawless at whatever you’re doing. We have these crazy expectations of ourselves, and when they aren’t met we get upset. I recently wrote a song which for some reason I decided had to be fantastic. When I felt that it wasn’t, I got really down on myself. The song was, in all honesty, pretty bad, but looking back on it with kindness (see no.1) I’ve decided that’s perfectly okay.
Surround yourself with supportive people. I understand that this isn’t always an option, but when it is, it’s insanely helpful. I assume that at at least one point in your life you have been around people who have put you down; who have made you feel less than. It really sucks. That’s why having a community of people who lift you up and vocalize the best parts of you is really amazing. It makes you want to make music and share it with your community. For me, Totem Star is that community. That's why the power of collaboration is so strong. You and your collaborators can teach each other and build yourselves up. I know it can sometimes feel like other people are able to create musical magic out of thin air, but they aren't and you'll see that through working together. So go write something with your friends.
Celebrate the little victories. You wrote a song? It wasn’t very good? I have no idea what that must feel like, but congratulations! You wrote a song, that’s impressive, I’m proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself! You can always push yourself to make it better or you can write a new song that resonates with you more or perform something that showcases your talents and views more coherently, but always be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Big victories always begin with the little ones.
Here are a couple links if you want to read more on the subject.
How Much Does Confidence Affect Musical Ability? by Anthony Cerullo from Sonicbids
Becoming a Confident Performer by Gerald Klickstein from Musicians Way