Imagine going somewhere for 4 years, far away from home with nothing reminiscent of it alongside you, except maybe some pictures. As the years went on during my time in Philadelphia, tattoos became a sense of therapy that helped me determine for myself what that identity exactly was. But I never wanted anything extravagant or complex, I'm very interested in juxtaposing BIG meanings with simple expression. The amount of things to read between the lines with always outdo the lines they lie between, for me and my art. So, as I continued on my journey, I eventually got a circle on each wrist, to remind me with every handshake and transaction that we are all equal. My next was an aux cord that extends from my arm (where IVs usually go), wrapped around my arm and plugged into my wrist. This represented for me the fact that I am always surrounded in SOUND, not even just music.

As my time in Philadelphia neared an end, I stumbled upon a shop called "Hunter X Gatherer". To my delight, I saw that they were one of the only shops in Philadelphia who were raising money for #NODAPL protestors. I had just come back from Iowa in a concert supporting the actions in that particular state against the oil company, where I was gifted a shirt that was far too small for me. It meant so much to me that they were doing that. At the time, NOBODY really in Philly was aware like that, unless they were already in the "activist" or "native" communities there. Without hesitation I whipped out a design that was on my mind and made an appointment that same night.

For me, the three tipis alone signify multiple households. I am someone who grew up traveling and moving so much that I never felt like I could settle in anywhere. I was used to not feeling a real foundation. As I floated back and forth from Philly to home, I encountered so many friends and family, and just your average hater that would question my authenticity and worthiness to be in that community, be it in college or back home. This brought upon the three triangles above each tipi - blue, grey, and black. For me, it signifies peace, storm, and struggle. Overall, the design is my way of saying, "No matter where I am, or what the 'weather' is that day in my life, I am always here and I am always who I am."

It is like that in my music, my art. No matter where I am or what I am doing, I NEVER fake it. I ALWAYS put so much of my soul into things that I cry, yell, smile, laugh, or just fall asleep and stay up at the same time throughout creating or performing. It's how I move about in the world. It is embedded in my experiences as a Lakota/Dakota, as someone of THIS time, the here and now, which to me will forever be connected to the then and future. Therefore, by sticking to myself always, I can show people different music without ever trying, because by allowing myself to BE and change, the music adapts on its own.