Full Transcript for Episode 11: Bionik & emerging young artists

role in your upbringing, where you're at, where you've been and where you're going and how creativity has played a role in all of it. 00:03:10.610 --> 00:03:10.729 Bet? 00:03:11.590 --> 00:03:12.330 Let's do it. 00:03:12.430 --> 00:03:13.629 Right, let's get it going. 00:03:14.370 --> 00:03:15.949 All right, well, we'll start off. 00:03:16.349 --> 00:03:25.229 On my right, we have MC, JG Manman, who I understand is the most experienced of all of the performers that we have with us. 00:03:25.250 --> 00:03:27.090 So I'm going to ask you this question first. 00:03:28.250 --> 00:03:35.590 What's the first thing you remember creating or the first time you thought, as you created art, man, I love doing this. 00:03:37.250 --> 00:03:41.969 I want to say probably like two years ago, it was this song I made. 00:03:42.490 --> 00:03:47.090 And I wasn't too sure about it, but the more I listened to it, I'm like, I think I got somewhere. 00:03:47.550 --> 00:03:48.569 Then I performed it. 00:03:49.210 --> 00:03:50.310 The crowd went crazy. 00:03:51.490 --> 00:03:51.770 Yeah. 00:03:52.150 --> 00:03:53.550 You got a big stage bug. 00:03:53.770 --> 00:03:54.370 For sure. 00:03:54.509 --> 00:03:54.990 Yes. 00:03:55.129 --> 00:03:55.409 Yeah. 00:03:55.490 --> 00:03:57.509 I can relate to that very much. 00:03:57.770 --> 00:04:00.129 So once it bites you, you hit it now. 00:04:00.990 --> 00:04:01.509 So, yeah. 00:04:01.689 --> 00:04:04.550 Well, what is your favorite thing about being on stage? 00:04:05.870 --> 00:04:07.990 Provide, setting the tone, everything. 00:04:08.669 --> 00:04:11.750 It just let me know I'm doing something right to make people feel good. 00:04:12.009 --> 00:04:13.689 Man, that's what's up. 00:04:13.789 --> 00:04:14.490 That's what's up. 00:04:15.149 --> 00:04:17.930 And Bella, I'm going to ask you the same question. 00:04:18.310 --> 00:04:23.389 What's the first thing you remember creating or the first time you thought, man, I love doing this art thing. 00:04:23.670 --> 00:04:40.389 I feel like art has honestly always been a part of my life, but it wasn't until like, I think it was really my mother that encouraged me to take myself seriously as an artist from a younger age. 00:04:40.689 --> 00:04:49.490 So like she connected me with this program called The School of Rock St. Paul is like an outlet for me because I was really struggling growing up. 00:04:49.589 --> 00:04:54.990 And that was like, I didn't have like the words to like put to it then. 00:04:55.209 --> 00:05:02.730 But like, I really think that was like a catalyst, like for my own being able to process what I was going through. 00:05:03.509 --> 00:05:11.889 So that was, I think doing the music with School of Rock is really like where I started. 00:05:12.029 --> 00:05:16.589 I was like, okay, like I can actually like do this. 00:05:16.670 --> 00:05:22.930 Not only am I capable, but also this is something that like speaks to something deeper within me. 00:05:23.449 --> 00:05:23.550

Yeah. 00:05:24.509 --> 00:05:33.310 But and to your second question, I think that also like, I also had a very hard time, just like, connecting with others. 00:05:33.589 --> 00:05:38.370 And like, I think it's still something that I struggled with as a young adult, just due to anxiety. 00:05:38.670 --> 00:05:49.610 But like, I feel like when I'm on stage, my true self is showing and that I can be vulnerable and also connect with others who may feel the same anxiety. 00:05:50.410 --> 00:06:00.310 And so we're able to create an experience together because you're co-creating even with your audience, like you're feeding off. 00:06:00.529 --> 00:06:10.050 I don't think feeding off, but I would just say like, you're, yeah, co-creating is the only way I can explain it. 00:06:10.370 --> 00:06:11.449 It's a conversation. 00:06:12.129 --> 00:06:13.410 It's an exchange. 00:06:13.550 --> 00:06:15.370 An absolute exchange. 00:06:16.029 --> 00:06:19.110 So that's the part that I learned most about. 00:06:20.089 --> 00:06:30.930 Now, really quickly, were you already, because you do a lot of things, were you already kind of dabbling with jewelry work or fashion work before you got on stage? 00:06:30.990 --> 00:06:38.870 Or did the experience with School of Rock and being on stage kind of then open up a door to these other creative expressions that you have in you? 00:06:39.250 --> 00:06:50.230 I think it's quite interesting because like the fashion design and jewelry, like I had been unpacking it recently and I was like, I made designs when I was like single digits. 00:06:50.529 --> 00:06:54.449 I was like dresses and like different things like that. 00:06:54.529 --> 00:07:05.350 And like, I was always very like into it, but like, I never really, at least in that part of things, or like that was the thing that seemed more like, oh, it's like a hobby or like whatever. 00:07:05.629 --> 00:07:10.709 So I didn't really take that portion seriously until probably about a couple of years ago. 00:07:12.189 --> 00:07:21.069 Um, because I really started delving into like my ancestors' relation to those mediums. 00:07:21.370 --> 00:07:25.589 Yeah, it's also a way for me to reconnect with them. 00:07:25.870 --> 00:07:30.129 And, and at the same time, like that's something that I hope to be able to pass on. 00:07:30.310 --> 00:07:47.189 Like, eventually I would like to go back to some of my ancestral homelands and like, not just with the beadwork, but with like the textiles, like even like regalia coming from like, um, West Africa and, um, just different things like that. 00:07:47.209 --> 00:07:53.129 And being able to, um, pass those things on and preserve those things. 00:07:53.129 --> 00:07:57.970 Like that's really where my passion came from, um, for the medium. 00:07:58.329 --> 00:07:58.810 Okay. 00:07:59.069 --> 00:07:59.829 That's what's up. 00:08:00.089 --> 00:08:10.569 Very, very, uh, well thought out and introspective and you put a lot of depth into the processing

of what your art means in relationship to your spirit. 00:08:11.189 --> 00:08:13.350 That was a very profound response. 00:08:13.889 --> 00:08:18.310 Um, Saint KX, first off, I got to ask you, what does the KX stand for? 00:08:18.430 --> 00:08:22.550 So the shortened version of my name, my full legal name is Dakota. 00:08:22.829 --> 00:08:23.529 So it's Koda. 00:08:23.750 --> 00:08:26.170 So K-O, and then I just did an X. 00:08:26.449 --> 00:08:26.930 It's easy. 00:08:27.110 --> 00:08:28.129 No, no, no. 00:08:28.290 --> 00:08:28.509 Yes. 00:08:28.850 --> 00:08:29.389 Pretty much. 00:08:29.769 --> 00:08:30.449 That's what's up. 00:08:30.529 --> 00:08:38.490 So, so tell us, um, what was the first time, first thing you remember creating or the first time you, as you were being a creative thought, man, I love doing this. 00:08:38.570 --> 00:08:39.048 This is it. 00:08:39.509 --> 00:08:39.629 Yeah. 00:08:39.769 --> 00:08:42.750 So I wanted to be an artist like for most of my life. 00:08:43.090 --> 00:08:48.789 Um, when I was like probably about three years old, I started drawing and like people in my family just noticed I was like good at it. 00:08:48.809 --> 00:08:52.429 So they just started supporting me, you know, which is different than a lot of people's stories. 00:08:52.690 --> 00:08:56.850 Um, I read somewhere that people learn if they're good or not at art went by the time they're seven. 00:08:57.230 --> 00:08:59.110 So somebody's already told them that they're bad when they're seven. 00:08:59.210 --> 00:08:59.409 Right. 00:08:59.570 --> 00:08:59.889 Wow. 00:08:59.889 --> 00:09:06.490 And so for me, like having that has been really cool, but I think for me, like it's, it has become something more than that. 00:09:06.809 --> 00:09:08.850 So as a kid, I was a skateboarder. 00:09:08.929 --> 00:09:09.529 I still am. 00:09:09.649 --> 00:09:11.509 I skate, I've been skating for almost two decades. 00:09:12.090 --> 00:09:20.169 Um, so 2006, when I started skating and that really led me into more of this, you know, art space type of way of being. 00:09:20.950 --> 00:09:24.970 Um, I would say that like when I was about 13, I got into a lot of trouble. 00:09:25.230 --> 00:09:29.210 Um, I did a lot of home invasions, just got into a lot of trouble. 00:09:29.210 --> 00:09:30.409 I was looking at a long time. 00:09:31.169 --> 00:09:39.090 And, um, when I was, when I was locked up in juvie, you know, that's where I really found my love for, you know, drawing and writing. 00:09:39.090 --> 00:09:40.350 And I got really into poetry. 00:09:41.070 --> 00:09:47.350 You know, I had my first charge by the time I was, you know, 11 years old and then my first misdemeanor by the time I was 12. 00:09:47.429 --> 00:09:53.470 And so, you know, getting, getting in trouble was like just something that was just natural to me. 00:09:53.549 --> 00:09:58.750 So I needed an outlet to move all that negativity and all that negative energy into. 00:09:58.990 --> 00:10:05.070 And so, you know, when I found, uh, poetry actually in juvie, it was just like something I fell in love with. 00:10:05.250 --> 00:10:08.690 So that was my first love with spoken word poetry, I would say. 00:10:09.710 --> 00:10:14.929 And, um, I've been writing now for, uh, like pretty consistently for going on 10 years. 00:10:15.009 --> 00:10:17.470 So, you know, that's something that I pride myself in. 00:10:17.590 --> 00:10:23.730 It's just being, you know, not just a good artist, but understanding the history, being intellect. 00:10:24.529 --> 00:10:30.789 Um, and so that led me to getting really into policy work and, um, understanding more about my culture. 00:10:31.370 --> 00:10:36.330 And then, um, I ended up going to the university of Minnesota and I graduated with my degree in political science. 00:10:36.970 --> 00:10:40.909 Yeah, I graduated top of my class. 00:10:41.029 --> 00:10:52.590 And so, you know, being able to, to be in a space, um, that is really rigid in this thinking and being able to use my art as a way to expand that thinking has been really cool. 00:10:52.690 --> 00:10:58.950 So I've had a couple, um, journals posted in some, um, some articles posted in some journals, there we go. 00:10:59.409 --> 00:11:00.870 Um, and that kind of a thing. 00:11:00.990 --> 00:11:03.250 So, and I got minors in my culture. 00:11:03.370 --> 00:11:07.789 So I got minors in Afro indigenous studies, um, American Indian studies. 00:11:08.250 --> 00:11:21.370 And so, you know, in that way now that I'm making my own music and doing art more, um, more regularly, I would say, you know, as a full-time artist, um, I had the opportunity to really engage with my culture a lot. 00:11:21.470 --> 00:11:24.730 Like Bella, you know, I get to learn more about my indigenous heritage. 00:11:25.429 --> 00:11:29.950 I get to, you know, every time I go to a protest, I feel like I'm learning something more about my people. 00:11:30.450 --> 00:11:30.889 You know what I mean? 00:11:30.929 --> 00:11:34.529 Just being curious and authentic in the world is something that art taught me. 00:11:35.450 --> 00:11:42.090 Um, and now I'm just trying to give back for real, like, you know, I've done a lot of harm in my community and art is an opportunity for me to also give back. 00:11:42.129 --> 00:11:45.470 So yeah, I'm making money, but I'm also being able to give back. 00:11:45.509 --> 00:11:51.389 And so right now I'm in the bridge makers program with a Cole Stevenson, um, through Ramsey County workforce solutions. 00:11:51.389 --> 00:11:56.450 And I'm working on getting a, um, getting my business up and running. 00:11:56.570 --> 00:12:00.350 So right now I'm working on an art, an art store, an art space and skate shop. 00:12:00.450 --> 00:12:04.730 So the whole idea is, you know, people that want to create good. 00:12:04.990 --> 00:12:13.789 Um, and so I'm hoping to make it like more of a nonprofit to where, you know, young people have a place to go on the weekends or in the

evenings where they're not getting in trouble. 00:12:14.269 --> 00:12:14.450 Right. 00:12:14.529 --> 00:12:17.789 Have access to how do you, how do you use certain programs? 00:12:17.889 --> 00:12:18.629 How do you use Canva? 00:12:18.730 --> 00:12:19.950 How do you use Adobe Photoshop? 00:12:20.230 --> 00:12:20.409 Right. 00:12:20.470 --> 00:12:23.710 Like trying to create a space in St. 00:12:23.750 --> 00:12:27.870 Paul geared towards local artists who are also young people who just need a space to go. 00:12:28.070 --> 00:12:28.830 That's what's up. 00:12:28.909 --> 00:12:30.029 That's what's up, man. 00:12:30.210 --> 00:12:31.470 True success story. 00:12:31.610 --> 00:12:31.929 Thank you. 00:12:31.950 --> 00:12:32.289 Thank you. 00:12:33.610 --> 00:12:34.750 Wow, man. 00:12:34.809 --> 00:12:36.509 We're gonna, we're gonna come back to all of this. 00:12:36.590 --> 00:12:41.070 So many things buzzing in my mind, hearing you guys talk about your stories and journeys so far. 00:12:41.269 --> 00:12:43.070 So we're going to come back to all of this. 00:12:43.509 --> 00:12:46.409 Um, but before we even move further, Niaje. 00:12:47.129 --> 00:12:47.610 Yes. 00:12:48.289 --> 00:12:51.409 Performing artists, spoken word artists, singer. 00:12:51.830 --> 00:12:58.690 Um, tell us, tell us when you first remember creating or the first time you thought like, yo, this, this is me right here. 00:12:59.090 --> 00:13:08.129 Um, well, to be honest with you, ever since I was little, I promised, I promised to God that I would be famous. 00:13:08.190 --> 00:13:10.269 Then I switched over to just being well known. 00:13:10.909 --> 00:13:12.049 And I always wanted to sing. 00:13:12.210 --> 00:13:13.450 I've been in my church choir. 00:13:13.769 --> 00:13:15.389 I've been in school plays. 00:13:16.009 --> 00:13:20.450 I've been, I've been, I've been a lot, you know, I've been everywhere. 00:13:20.909 --> 00:13:23.710 And I've always had, I always had a love for music. 00:13:23.850 --> 00:13:27.309 I've always had a love for sound, you know, some good old singing. 00:13:27.309 --> 00:13:29.090 Always had the love for it. 00:13:29.309 --> 00:13:37.950 But, um, for poetry though, I found real love with poetry by like last year I was going through it. 00:13:38.129 --> 00:13:41.889 I was homeless and I was just looking through some stuff. 00:13:41.990 --> 00:13:42.970 I was at my cousin's house. 00:13:43.029 --> 00:13:43.970 I was looking through some books. 00:13:44.570 --> 00:13:49.830 I started writing some, uh, some words down and I literally went on my phone. 00:13:50.389 --> 00:13:58.730 I put them words to together and I just, I made a poem and I was like, Oh, I was like, Oh snap. 00:13:58.850 --> 00:13:59.870 I just snapped. 00:14:00.389 --> 00:14:01.690 And I was like, okay. 00:14:01.789 --> 00:14:05.049 I was like, okay, I could actually, I could actually do something. 00:14:05.470 --> 00:14:11.470 Like I always, I always thought, you know, like writing is hard, but whole time is really not. 00:14:11.789 --> 00:14:17.529 And ever since I wrote my first poem, I was like, I'm finna, I'm finna keep this, keep going. 00:14:17.629 --> 00:14:21.289 Cause I promised you, I used to read, I used to, I started reading, I was on my own. 00:14:21.409 --> 00:14:27.909 I was starting my self journey and I was just changing bad habits to, to good new habits. 00:14:27.909 --> 00:14:34.330 And I was just, I was rejuvenating myself and writing and journaling helped me a lot. 00:14:34.649 --> 00:14:41.929 And that's really what, that's what gives me the, the boost to really make poetry and to write. 00:14:42.029 --> 00:14:44.649 Cause I, I make a little short whoop. 00:14:44.710 --> 00:14:46.629 I'm like, okay, I'm gonna keep going. 00:14:46.690 --> 00:14:49.269 Then I don't, I'm like, you know, that sounds fire. 00:14:50.090 --> 00:14:52.309 I make another one and snap. 00:14:53.529 --> 00:15:00.669 You seem to have, I think as a spoken word artist, the most difficult thing down, which is to know when a piece is done. 00:15:01.970 --> 00:15:08.230 For me, that's, you know, that's the hardest thing is to know when enough is enough in a poetic conversation. 00:15:08.509 --> 00:15:11.789 And so I'm listening to you like, okay, I made a whoop and I snapped. 00:15:12.149 --> 00:15:13.070 Okay, that's done. 00:15:13.250 --> 00:15:14.269 Now it's time to make the next one. 00:15:14.889 --> 00:15:16.269 I'll be making whoop forever. 00:15:16.429 --> 00:15:17.950 I'll still be whoopty, whoopty, whoopty and all. 00:15:20.470 --> 00:15:21.690 Um, real quick. 00:15:21.990 --> 00:15:25.289 Um, I just, uh, I want to kind of go in reverse here. 00:15:25.429 --> 00:15:29.230 If you guys don't mind sharing your ages and we'll start with you, Niajé. 00:15:29.409 --> 00:15:29.750 Okay. 00:15:29.970 --> 00:15:31.049 Um, I'm 20. 00:15:31.990 --> 00:15:32.750 Big toys. 00:15:33.769 --> 00:15:35.409 I'm 25 Aries. 00:15:36.029 --> 00:15:37.070 25 Virgo. 00:15:37.610 --> 00:15:38.669 25 Virgo. 00:15:39.149 --> 00:15:39.610 Oh man. 00:15:39.690 --> 00:15:43.610 Y'all giving me like, what am I going to tell my age? 00:15:44.529 --> 00:15:51.330 And I always forget to do this every podcast because it's never about me, but for the listener's sake, my name is Frank Centrale. 00:15:51.509 --> 00:15:57.629 I am the Compass Principal Teaching Artist, uh, on staff as well as spoken word teaching artists. 00:15:57.830 --> 00:16:03.289 It's what I do, um, and have been doing for over 20 years now with Compass. 00:16:03.470 --> 00:16:05.230 And so I put that out there just for the listener. 00:16:05.370 --> 00:16:09.570 I always forget to introduce myself because I'm always so enamored with our guests. 00:16:10.490 --> 00:16:14.230 Um, I'm going to come back to you, uh, J.G. man, man. 00:16:14.350 --> 00:16:15.629 I got to get the J.G. in there. 00:16:15.970 --> 00:16:17.710 Uh, what does the J.G. stand for? 00:16:18.629 --> 00:16:20.450 Uh, I had a

friend that passed. 00:16:20.570 --> 00:16:20.789 Okay. 00:16:21.269 --> 00:16:22.990 So it's kind of like Joseph Gale. 00:16:23.809 --> 00:16:24.669 Paying homage. 00:16:25.250 --> 00:16:26.169 That's what's up. 00:16:26.730 --> 00:16:40.230 Um, what, is there one particular person that either inspired you to make art or that you consider like your primary inspiration for what you do to this day? 00:16:41.309 --> 00:16:43.629 Honestly, my kids, they gave me life. 00:16:43.850 --> 00:16:44.149 Yeah. 00:16:44.590 --> 00:16:44.950 Yeah. 00:16:44.990 --> 00:16:45.750 How many kids do you have? 00:16:46.950 --> 00:16:47.389 Six. 00:16:47.769 --> 00:16:48.070 Me too. 00:16:50.190 --> 00:16:50.909 Me too. 00:16:51.009 --> 00:16:51.269 Yeah. 00:16:51.470 --> 00:16:54.049 And so they keep you motivated and keep you working, right? 00:16:54.210 --> 00:16:54.450 Sure. 00:16:54.570 --> 00:16:55.330 That's what's up. 00:16:55.409 --> 00:16:56.090 That's what's up. 00:16:56.470 --> 00:16:57.250 Um, Bella, how about you? 00:16:57.370 --> 00:17:02.389 Uh, what is, what is the, I know you mentioned like the school of rock and you mentioned your mom. 00:17:02.610 --> 00:17:06.970 Um, is that who you would say is what continues to inspire you? 00:17:07.108 --> 00:17:13.710 Or is there someone other than your mom that also was like really, um, uh, pivotal in, in inspiring your, your creation? 00:17:14.368 --> 00:17:26.269 I say I've been very lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to work with and be taught by, um, community artists in the Twin Cities. 00:17:26.750 --> 00:17:31.609 And so I feel like another one, um, her name is Crystal Spring. 00:17:31.910 --> 00:17:35.170 She runs the Black Box Theater in Washington. 00:17:36.670 --> 00:18:01.410 She was the one who really got me into poetry and to starting to, um, because I feel like from like school of rock, I really got more of like the fundamentals or just like the technical skills and learning how to like, uh, learning stage performing, things of that realm. 00:18:01.730 --> 00:18:07.730 But I was still like fine tuning, like, and what, what really is like my sound? 00:18:07.990 --> 00:18:08.250 Yeah. 00:18:08.529 --> 00:18:17.190 Does my voice sound like, um, and so it was kind of, I was just kind of all over the place, you know, just trying, just trying man. 00:18:17.789 --> 00:18:37.730 But, um, I really think that program and her, and also, um, because Crystal Spring was taught by, um, Jan Mendel, who is, um, the co-founder of the Irreducible Grace Foundation, and alongside, um, Dr. Darlene. 00:18:38.410 --> 00:18:59.130 Um, and so that, that whole crowd really, I think, helped me to make the connection between like really getting down to like, what is my truth and at the same time, like, I feel like IGF took it deeper because they, they taught me about the biology of thought. 00:18:59.569 --> 00:18:59.670 Yes. 00:19:00.049 --> 00:19:01.690 And that changed everything. 00:19:02.009 --> 00:19:02.450 Yes. 00:19:02.630 --> 00:19:03.069 Yes. 00:19:03.369 --> 00:19:05.390 It, it changed the way that I wrote. 00:19:05.609 --> 00:19:25.369 It changed the way that I interacted with my art completely because like, I feel like before it was kind of just like, you know, again, like kind of like a shot in the dark, but it's like, oh, this is like something that is real and it's incorporated into like my, my, I would say, my healing journey at this point. 00:19:25.750 --> 00:19:30.109 Like it's, it's an active, um, healing tool, I would say. 00:19:30.430 --> 00:19:30.569 Right. 00:19:31.049 --> 00:19:31.349 Yeah. 00:19:31.430 --> 00:19:35.549 And it's funny you mentioned Crystal because I do know she's a disciple of Jan Mendel. 00:19:35.690 --> 00:19:36.990 Jan and I go way back. 00:19:37.670 --> 00:19:45.210 I, uh, started working with Jan in 1999 when I built my spoken word residencies. 00:19:45.470 --> 00:19:52.809 Jan brought me in the Black Box and I was the first spoken word artist that would, that introduced spoken word to the Black Box Theater at St. Paul Central. 00:19:53.150 --> 00:19:54.390 Oh, Mark. 00:19:56.450 --> 00:20:04.690 And so I just, matter of fact, I just, um, did a interview with Jan that is on our Compass website as a blog. 00:20:04.809 --> 00:20:11.809 So if you go to the Compass website and look up the blog postings, I wrote a blog on my interview with Jan Mendel. 00:20:12.170 --> 00:20:21.769 And she said something that actually, as all you guys were introducing yourselves and your journey in the beginning, she said something that really, um, it resonated with me when I listened to you all. 00:20:21.809 --> 00:20:26.809 And she said, I was only ever trying to save children that the system would kill their gifts. 00:20:27.069 --> 00:20:38.950 And as I listened to you guys tell your story, and especially as I was listening to you saying KX and I was like, yeah, I was like that, that, that is the young people that Jan Mendel was talking about. 00:20:39.130 --> 00:20:56.450 And all of you, like, if it was up to the system, it would kill your gifts before they could, before you could hone them and become who you're becoming, you know, before you could get a political science degree, the system would have killed your gifts if it wasn't for art and creativity and theater and people like Jan in the world, you know? 00:20:57.029 --> 00:21:01.690 Um, so yeah, I, when you said that, I was like, oh yeah, I know Crystal and yeah, I know Jan very well. 00:21:02.509 --> 00:21:02.950 Yeah. 00:21:03.230 --> 00:21:05.509 All my, all my peoples, those are my spirit animals. 00:21:07.789 --> 00:21:08.190 Yeah. 00:21:10.210 --> 00:21:10.609 Crystal. 00:21:11.670 --> 00:21:11.970 Yeah. 00:21:12.150 --> 00:21:12.809 That's what's up. 00:21:12.890 --> 00:21:12.990 Yeah. 00:21:13.069 --> 00:21:14.390 Tell the frame since while they said hi. 00:21:16.029 --> 00:21:24.029 Um, so saying KX who, uh, who would you say, um, uh, really inspired you in your

journey? 00:21:24.029 --> 00:21:33.970 And it sounds like you had a lot of inspiration just from your experience, but somebody in that process had to pull you aside and be like, yo, we got something better over here for you. 00:21:34.109 --> 00:21:34.230 Yeah. 00:21:34.369 --> 00:21:38.390 So I think the first person that did that was actually one of my high school English teachers. 00:21:38.589 --> 00:21:41.470 His name was Aaron Nebo and he's an amazing person. 00:21:41.630 --> 00:21:46.089 He's an amazing teacher, an amazing artist, and he was a creative writing teacher. 00:21:46.289 --> 00:21:49.309 And he really pulled me aside and was like, yo, you're killing this. 00:21:49.490 --> 00:21:49.910 You know what I mean? 00:21:49.910 --> 00:21:50.930 You're doing really, really good. 00:21:51.009 --> 00:21:52.210 I think you should keep going with this. 00:21:52.250 --> 00:21:54.170 And so, you know, I just kept writing. 00:21:54.269 --> 00:22:00.630 Like I just never stopped after that, you know, and growing up, I was somebody who also struggled with dyslexia and dysgraphia. 00:22:00.769 --> 00:22:10.009 So writing and reading was always really, really hard for me, but creative writing gave me an avenue to really start to understand the English language in a way that traditional teaching couldn't. 00:22:11.150 --> 00:22:23.029 Um, and as I got, um, further into, you know, art, the arts, you know, I've had a lot of struggles in my life, um, homelessness, um, and just being in a space that like, it's a really bad mental space. 00:22:23.029 --> 00:22:30.609 You know, I grew up, you know, in and out of foster care, you know, just in the streets doing kiddy stuff, you know what I mean? 00:22:30.769 --> 00:22:32.809 I think about it now and I'm like, wow, that was childish. 00:22:33.109 --> 00:22:36.609 But, you know, I needed to go through that to learn how to live. 00:22:36.750 --> 00:22:37.589 You know what I mean? 00:22:37.910 --> 00:22:40.289 And the thing that taught me how to live was art. 00:22:40.890 --> 00:22:41.650 You know what I mean? 00:22:41.750 --> 00:22:50.509 And so like, with art, I'm just so grateful to the people who were in my life, who gave, who said like, you know, this can be your way of life. 00:22:50.630 --> 00:22:52.990 Because without that, I definitely wouldn't be alive. 00:22:53.170 --> 00:22:54.549 I can guarantee you, I wouldn't be alive. 00:22:54.690 --> 00:22:56.150 You know, I was, I was carrying guns. 00:22:56.250 --> 00:22:57.470 I was doing home invasions, right? 00:22:57.569 --> 00:23:02.069 Like I was doing drugs and alcohol, you know, I actually just hit, uh, 18 months sober. 00:23:02.289 --> 00:23:03.309 So congratulations. 00:23:04.869 --> 00:23:15.549 You know, but like the things that got me there were, you know, not just myself, but like art and the people who really make, really just were like, no, you don't got a choice. 00:23:15.609 --> 00:23:16.190 You're going to do it. 00:23:16.349 --> 00:23:16.869

You know what I mean? 00:23:16.869 --> 00:23:17.809 Like I didn't get a choice. 00:23:17.809 --> 00:23:19.589 Like if it was my choice, I would have been outside. 00:23:19.769 --> 00:23:20.630 You know what I mean? 00:23:20.630 --> 00:23:24.930 But them sitting here and being like, no, I'm going to give you eight things of homework to do. 00:23:25.009 --> 00:23:26.190 That's not required. 00:23:26.869 --> 00:23:27.329 You know what I mean? 00:23:27.369 --> 00:23:30.029 That kept me inside because the thing that I love too was school. 00:23:30.190 --> 00:23:31.029 I love school. 00:23:31.170 --> 00:23:31.750 I love learning. 00:23:32.309 --> 00:23:44.890 Um, and I'm, was, um, blessed with the opportunity to go to a small public art school in downtown St. Paul, creative arts secondary school, which is where I met, um, Aaron Lebo and a bunch of other amazing artists through that. 00:23:44.950 --> 00:23:54.269 And so, you know, I've been really blessed a lot, like Bella said, and, um, my fellow artists here that like art really has blessed us with opportunities that I don't think we would have gotten anywhere else. 00:23:55.009 --> 00:23:55.269 So yeah. 00:23:55.730 --> 00:23:58.170 I need you to say that for the legislature. 00:24:02.569 --> 00:24:11.269 Um, I've, I'm actually in contact with governor walls and I'm a deputy mayor of St. 00:24:11.329 --> 00:24:11.589 Paul. 00:24:11.670 --> 00:24:13.230 I'm on a couple of youth advisory boards. 00:24:13.230 --> 00:24:21.619 And so, you know, that's another part of my art that I've to, you know, expand on is being able to talk to people at the policy level. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:28.940 Like, yo, like we need this, like young kids just need the opportunity, especially like young black and Brown kids. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:33.579 Like we don't have the same opportunities as our white counterparts. 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:42.220 And so like, we need these, these opportunities to grow and learn and be like functioning members of our communities. 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:42.779 You know what I mean? 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.539 Not even society. 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:52.660 I don't give a fuck about societies and my brunch, but like our communities, like our communities need more young people who grow up to be leaders and mentors. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.440 You know what I mean? 00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.819 And so arts and Avenue. 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:56.859 So the system doesn't kill their gifts. 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:57.480 Exactly. 00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:02.900 Um, same, same, same question to you. 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:10.539 Like, uh, you know, you talked about finding some poems, who was the person that either inspired you or that co-signed for you? 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.779 Cause you seem very self-confident. 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:17.279 So somebody probably had to co-sign along the way of you like, yeah, girl, you are, you are her. 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.299 Okay. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:25.980 Um, yeah, uh, honestly, um, first person for sure is my mom. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.420 I like you. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.140 I love you, mama. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:33.339 Um, my mom has been my biggest fan since the beginning. 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:45.740 She's by herself and I found out after she died, like girl, but, um, but yeah, that's definitely my number one. 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.279 Um, one of my best friends is here. 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.980 Mr. Montrey. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:58.200 He has pushed me through my journey and has helped her a lot and very appreciative of everybody in my circle. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:13.920 Um, I would say open mics have definitely, uh, been a big, big mind opener and has helped me through with confidence, nervousness, all types of, you know what I'm saying? 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:19.140 Um, but also, uh, I do appreciate Bionic for sure. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:24.579 Cause, uh, nobody else, I feel like I would not be in this position without him. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.740 I'm not gonna lie to y'all. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:32.359 Uh, he definitely seen me and now we are literally sitting here. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:35.700 So I just want to say I'm grateful for sure. 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:37.220 And then it was my peoples. 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:39.839 Well, there it is. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.519 Yeah. 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:46.240 Well, I'm glad you mentioned Bionic cause that's where I was going to go next and we'll, we'll keep it with you. 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:51.619 Um, Niazay, um, how would you say Bionic has helped you grow most as an artist? 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.200 Oh my goodness. 00:26:53.900 --> 00:27:02.619 Um, well, first off, when I first came to Bionic, I literally, my first question was, can you help me with some, I need help with lyrics. 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:05.579 Then, then it came to us. 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:05.960 Literally. 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:08.940 I had my first, my first, first month on my ever written. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:15.700 He had, he said, you know, he, I pulled it out for them and it literally started from right there. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:19.299 He made me a beat called Swan, like my poem is called Swan. 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:21.160 And that's literally, that's legit. 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:36.440 When it started, I promise you from that day on, it's been, it's been that, like I've been, I've been getting, I've been, uh, I've been helping myself get back on track. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:38.859 Really, you know, like it's, it's, it's consistent. 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:40.220 You know what I'm saying? 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:45.200 Like I'm expressing myself more than I probably ever have. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:53.900 And like, I, I know what art is and it makes me feel very good inside. 00:27:54.019 --> 00:28:04.339 Like I love the feeling of how, of how it makes me feel because at the end of the day, like I said,

I would not be here with, you know, without, without my system, without my system. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.720 So yeah. 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:08.059 The glow is showing. 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.700 I can tell you're in a happy place. 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:14.200 Of course, you got to keep the vibrations up there. 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:25.299 We absolutely have to, especially in today's society where not only, um, is the world trying to, trying to kill the positive vibe. 00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:36.160 Um, so not only do we have to keep that vibe for ourselves, but then we get to represent what that vibe is to other people in the world so that they can be inspired. 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.839 And that's part of what we do as artists. 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:41.019 Um, Madman, how has working with Bionic helped you grow as an artist? 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:49.619 Honestly, it's like, I always had to, I always had the talent, but he just showed me like, you can do this better, tighten this up. 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:54.660 You know, just little add-ons that make me a better artist than what I was already. 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.759 That craftsmanship. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:56.440 Yeah. 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:56.980 Yeah. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:10.640 What's your, what's your, what's your, um, what's your favorite part when you're, when you're looking out at a crowd and the beat comes on, like, what's the first thing that just, is it, is it when the beat, the crowd vibes with the beat? 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:21.279 Is it when somebody you see responds to a bar or, or a lyric you said, what, what is that thing that just is like, like, boom, I'm glad I'm here in this moment. 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:21.779 I don't know. 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:23.980 When I see hands start bopping, I start bopping. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:33.440 Man, if we had time, I'll tell you, after the pod, I'll tell you a story, man, that I have a story about that. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:36.740 The first time I was 15, the first time I was on a big stage in front of thousands. 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:39.519 And, uh, and yeah, I'll tell you about it. 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:43.559 Cause that, you just reminded me, I know that feeling too well. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:47.519 Uh, how has Bond, working with Bond helped you grow as an artist? 00:29:48.460 --> 00:30:06.940 I really think it's taking this and making it this discernment, this consistency, you know, that I think that's the thing, like, where it's like, I feel like it's true for all of us. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:11.319 Like we have the content, we have the talent, we have this passion. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:20.440 Um, but it just, I feel like Bionic has the experience of the professional side of things. 00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:28.240 And I think like, it's helped me to, instead of getting overwhelmed by like, what am I going to do? 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.220 How am I going to do it? 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:38.420 It's

like, these are the steps, the measured steps that you can take in order to grow, um, over time. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:53.819 You know, I feel like speaking of society again, we're just like in this instant gratification or, or the shame based place where it's like, if I'm not exactly here, then like, I should never try to achieve this thing. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:31:01.799 And just like, you know, just try and, and do what I can to, to, I don't know, hopefully survive. 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.220 Yeah. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:19.779 And I think he's, he, I think we're really starting to talk about like, transforming the mind and like, in the sense of like, okay, these things are, these goals are reachable. 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:27.819 And here's what we do to get there instead of just like being like, I can never get there. 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:30.220 Making it tangible for you. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:36.319 The mountain is so big when you look at it, you know, it's like, well, where do I even start? 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:49.579 You know, but I think especially like there's, and just the fast paced, fast pacedness of our society of just like, we need to be out there, we need to be seen, we need to make it immediate. 00:31:49.900 --> 00:32:50.380 And it's like, well, you don't see like really all those struggles that those people have made it, or even just like the people who were deemed successful, like you don't see all those times that they failed, that they were told no, that they had to like, push and overcome, like, even when like, they wanted to die, even when they wanted to, you know, just like, the life of an artist that I feel like to be an artist is to be a warrior in a way, like in the sense of like, I feel like at least like for our, our cohort, like we're, I don't even know how to explain it, but like, being able to bring forth these messages and these forms of expression and to like connect with each other, despite everything that is threatening to take it out or like, shut it down. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:55.299 Like, I feel like that to me is like some of the ultimate form of revolution and resistance. 00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:55.920 Absolutely. 00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:03.259 So I feel like Bionic is really like a change agent. 00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:08.140 He's like one of those silent masters, you know what I'm saying? 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:19.619 That is just like, I was literally just talking to my brother about this earlier, because he really was just like getting like, well, everything in the world is just terrible. 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:21.660 So it's always going to be terrible. 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:23.799 And I can't do anything about it. 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:58.079 And like, it's like, bro, um, when you, when you focus on that light that you got in you, and you focus on pouring into that and the others around you, it's like, it's those small drops that create ripples and waves, you know, it's like, it's not so dramatic, you know, it's not as instantaneous as you wish it, but then those are those roots that grow and become the strongest foundation. 00:33:58.539 --> 00:34:04.220 You know, like, I feel like some of those things that go up just immediately like that, they can burn up just like that. 00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:06.559 Or they come crashing down just as fast. 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.299 Yeah, exactly. 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.099 Exactly. 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:08.980 Yeah. 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:12.880 No, I, I, I hear you 100% on that. 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.579 And he is an agent of change. 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:28.940 I mean, the evidence is sitting here having this conversation, you know, the, the connection that you all have to bionic and through safe zone, and you are creating change throughout you all's lives, not only for your life, but for the life of those who care about those around you. 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:35.280 And, and so that keeps expanding, just like Jan into Crystal into you, right? 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:42.000 And then, you know, me and Jan in our relationship, and now here we all are creating change together, right? 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:46.400 I'm saying KX, what happened, you know, how's working with bionic helped you? 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.400 Yeah, bionic is fire. 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.260 I love bionic. 00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:50.800 That's, that's my dude right there. 00:34:50.900 --> 00:35:00.039 You know, I think the part about bionic that I love so much is that he doesn't force you to be in a box, but he helps you refine all the boxes that you're in. 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:00.920 Right. 00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:03.340 And so for me, like, I do a little bit of everything. 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:13.460 Like I think our first the first show that I worked with these, these amazing artists on was, I made a shirt, just I was like, let me just let me just make a shirt. 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:15.300 I wasn't even really involved in the show like that. 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:18.860 But I made a fire design and bionic was like, we got to get you on board. 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.559 You know what I mean? 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:27.619 Like, so he really helps you like, not just like, hone your craft, but also like he just creates a space for everybody to be. 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:44.639 And I've been really grateful for the opportunity to learn like, I think being involved in shows and learning what it takes on the back end, you know, to create a show just because I do a lot of background stuff to, you know, I've gotten to learn a lot about like, what does it look like to be an artist long term? 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.519 What does it look like to produce a show? 00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:55.360 What does it look like, you know, to be do all those technical aspects, but also what does it look like to make sure that you're feeding yourself and your own art and your own craft? 00:35:56.139 --> 00:36:00.519

And so like, right now, like, I'm looking at getting into like teaching. 00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:03.500 I love watching young kids like develop. 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:05.340 That's like probably one of my favorite things. 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.940 You know, their craft. 00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:13.300 And, and I want to be that mentor that like, I wish I had a lot sooner. 00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:17.420 Like, I wish I had bionic way back when I was like, you know, 1213. 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:18.099 You know what I mean? 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.820 I'm grateful for how things played out. 00:36:20.900 --> 00:36:28.699 I have a lot of gratitude for like the things that I went through and like how it how, you know, cultivated my own art and who I am as a person. 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:35.719 But to get kids at a young age when they need more guidance, you know what I mean? 00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:38.500 Like, that's the piece that a lot of us were missing. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.460 You know what I mean? 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:41.679 So how do you step in and like pass that forward? 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:44.500 Like we're talking about those small ripples and you're turning into waves. 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:51.460 But I think more than that to like, bionic bionic just like teaches me about life. 00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:52.980 Like, you know what I mean? 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:58.920 Like, art is, is more than just I'm producing a product or I'm producing this song. 00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:02.039 It's like how you live and how you breathe and how you move. 00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:02.719 Right? 00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:10.400 And so for me, like, the way that I move is like, really integral to how I'm doing my art. 00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:18.880 So like my art will shift with where I'm at in life and what I'm doing and how, how I'm just like, existing. 00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:19.480 Right. 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:32.099 And so I've gone from poetry and visual arts to making hip hop and rap music to making, now I'm making a lot of like deep ambient music, like just a place where I feel centered. 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:32.559 Right. 00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:36.940 Like, and so just like, as I'm moving on my journey, my art moves with me. 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:40.860 So if you follow my journey, you'll see like where I was at to where I'm going. 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:47.380 And, and honestly, like the thing about me is like, I, I'm not going to lie. 00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:49.559 I don't really care what other people think about me or my art. 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:55.000 Like I'm, I'm strong and I stand in that my art can fluctuate with where I'm at in life. 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:55.920 That's okay. 00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:56.780 You know what I mean? 00:37:56.800 --> 00:38:01.039 I have a lot of people who are like, I just wish you would do this just all the time. 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:04.679 And it's like, yeah, but like, I'm not in the same place all the time. 00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:04.920 Right. 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.400 You know what I mean? 00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:07.860 I like, I'm also human, you know what I mean? 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:10.059 I'm going to fluctuate with my art. 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:13.400 And so for me, like, I don't really listen to a lot of that. 00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:15.559 Like, it's not even hate. 00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:21.099 I think it's people just genuinely wanting to hear more, you know, of a certain kind of music, but I'm just not in that place. 00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:21.820 You know what I mean? 00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:26.699 And so I have to like hold both like what people want because they pay my bills. 00:38:26.699 --> 00:38:26.960 Right. 00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:31.980 But I also have to hold, like, I'm allowed to be human and I'm allowed to like shift where I'm at in life. 00:38:32.019 --> 00:38:32.840 And like, that's okay. 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:36.559 And Bionic has really created a space to where that's okay. 00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:37.679 You know what I mean? 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:42.980 And so, so learning how to just like, be okay and stand in my decisions. 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:47.940 Like, I think like as an artist, you always are trying to perfect right is constant. 00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:50.920 When I'm doing a show, I'm perfecting every little thing. 00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:53.059 Like, am I going to read off my phone? 00:38:53.179 --> 00:38:57.099 Or am I like, what type of experience do I want my audience to have? 00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.760 You know what I mean? 00:38:57.780 --> 00:39:02.880 And, and once I figure that out, I'm sitting there and I'm going over it again and again and again. 00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:05.760 And like, that can seep into your life too. 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:09.800 And so how do you just allow yourself to like be in your creativity? 00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:12.159 And Bionic creates that space for me. 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:13.079 That's what's up. 00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:13.320 Yeah. 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:13.920 What's up. 00:39:14.039 --> 00:39:15.760 Very Andre 3000-ish. 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.099 Thank you. 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:19.579 He's one of my favorite artists. 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:23.619 So, you know, I'm just going to do a flute album because that's where I'm at right now. 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:32.760 So Bella, have you ever tried something creatively that just didn't work in the way you expected it to? 00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:33.920 And what did you learn from it? 00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:38.780 Can you think of like one time where you're like, oh, okay, that, that one, yeah, maybe, I don't know. 00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.579 That one ain't it. 00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:42.739 I think, well, I think- Or a song or a poem or something. 00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.139 Yeah. 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:45.179 Like, and especially with the beat work. 00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:46.880 Cause like, I'm such a

perfectionist. 00:39:48.099 --> 00:39:55.840 Even when I'm like writing and stuff, like I have to like go over it and it has to have like a certain structure and a flow. 00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:58.519 And then I'm like, okay, this is right. 00:39:58.679 --> 00:40:02.440 And if it's not, then I'm just, I'm working on it obsessively. 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:08.260 But I think that's where I've had to pivot and just like letting go of that. 00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:11.400 Go to the Niaje school of, okay, that's done. 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:14.500 You know? 00:40:14.760 --> 00:40:22.059 And so like, I would say like really just being open to, to messing up. 00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.619 Ah. 00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:33.679 And being a beginner at certain aspects and knowing that with time and dedication and practice, those things will grow. 00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:34.380 Yes. 00:40:34.699 --> 00:40:35.280 Yes. 00:40:35.300 --> 00:40:36.300 That's a great lesson. 00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.000 Yeah. 00:40:37.179 --> 00:40:38.099 It's very hard. 00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:42.280 And we walk with the guys, again, stories. 00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:46.920 There are things that I don't do anymore before I go on stage that in my twenties I used to do. 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:52.139 And now I'm just like, yeah, no, can't use that as an excuse for not having a dope show. 00:40:52.539 --> 00:40:54.559 So, you know, so I get it. 00:40:55.199 --> 00:40:56.920 I've been there and you grow from it. 00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:57.179 Right. 00:40:57.280 --> 00:40:58.239 You're like, oh, okay. 00:40:59.099 --> 00:41:02.920 Let me, let me refine how I move with my creativity. 00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:15.860 Or just, you know, just allowing space for exploration and like, just to let that inner voice shine through no matter how it comes out. 00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:38.320 You know, I guess like something that shifted for me, especially within like this cohort is just like, I feel like before I was really trying to, um, cater more towards the audience, like there was, but then like I was losing my own self in that, you know? 00:41:38.460 --> 00:41:44.000 And so like, I feel like I'm, I'm being encouraged to delve deeply within. 00:41:44.599 --> 00:41:49.519 And so that's like, it's, it's messy. 00:41:49.980 --> 00:41:56.000 It's at times scary, but it's, it's also necessary because it's like without yourself. 00:41:56.860 --> 00:41:57.420 Right. 00:41:57.739 --> 00:41:58.519 What do you got? 00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:00.099 Right. 00:42:00.199 --> 00:42:01.599 What is it? 00:42:01.699 --> 00:42:01.960 Right. 00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.980 I hear you there. 00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:11.619 Niazeng, have you ever written and performed a poem and you're like, oh, that didn't happen the way I thought it was going to happen? 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:12.739 Oh, of course. 00:42:13.800 --> 00:42:15.219 Um, I ain't gonna lie. 00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:22.699 When we performed our, uh, our first performance, I was overly nervous for no reason. 00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:30.420 And I, after, after my two songs, I was like, it was like a big burden off my shoulders. 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:33.219 I was like, okay, like that felt really good. 00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:35.300 Like that felt really good. 00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:49.739 And I don't know what I learned from that is that I need, I just need to have a little bit more faith in myself to know enough to where I know for a fact that ain't no reason to be nervous. 00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:55.019 These people finna, finna, they finna, they finna jam out to what I got and they finna love it. 00:42:55.079 --> 00:42:55.880 They finna enjoy it. 00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:58.260 And I'm finna, I'm finna do my thing. 00:42:59.019 --> 00:43:09.400 So one thing I for sure learned is I gotta, I gotta work with myself a little bit more and give myself a little bit more credit to give myself a little bit more credit and push myself. 00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:17.059 So I ain't got to really do so much, but yeah, nervousness is one thing for me that be eating meat. 00:43:17.719 --> 00:43:23.440 Uh, I always tell my students that, uh, nerves is part of the uniform of performance. 00:43:23.800 --> 00:43:25.199 It never goes away. 00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:27.980 You just, you know, you got, you got to show that day. 00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:37.800 You, you put, you take your shower, you put on your socks, you put on your, you know, your garments, you put on your clothes, your pants, your shoes, and you put on your nerves and you walk out the door. 00:43:38.139 --> 00:43:40.139 No, it never goes away. 00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:44.280 And as a matter of fact, if I'm not nervous when I'm performing now, I'm worried. 00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:47.679 And I'd much rather be nervous than be worried, you know? 00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:55.000 Cause I'm like, okay, what is it about this that I don't feel connected to enough to feel anxious enough about wanting to do well. 00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:57.599 So to me, nervousness is just, it means you care. 00:43:57.900 --> 00:44:00.539 And so if I'm not nervous, then that means I'm not caring. 00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:01.699 And then there's a problem. 00:44:01.699 --> 00:44:02.460 It's true. 00:44:02.900 --> 00:44:04.980 So that's part of my uniform, you know? 00:44:05.059 --> 00:44:10.460 And who knows, maybe it's the Cape that allows us to all go out there and put our best foot forward, you know? 00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:12.320 So, so don't worry about being nervous. 00:44:12.420 --> 00:44:13.400 Just embrace it. 00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:14.239 Oh, eat it. 00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:15.519 Yeah. 00:44:16.579 --> 00:44:17.019 Sure. 00:44:17.119 --> 00:44:17.920 I snap on that. 00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.860 I snap on that snake. 00:44:19.019 --> 00:44:19.840 I said, that's named. 00:44:21.980 --> 00:44:34.800 I know that I have worked over it by making more, making more content of myself, singing by myself, myself

singing and go back to like, okay, I'm gonna look at that and be like, you know what? 00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:38.360 My next performance, I'm going to give, I'm going to give everybody eye contact. 00:44:39.019 --> 00:44:54.619 I'm not going to put down, you know, like I, you know, kind of how Bella said, you know, I kind of critique myself so I can grow, grow as myself, but also grow as an artist to enough to where, you know, each time is every other time is going to be perfect. 00:44:54.719 --> 00:44:55.000 Perfect. 00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:55.320 Perfect. 00:44:55.539 --> 00:44:57.039 You know, just how I want it to be. 00:44:57.260 --> 00:44:59.480 And the film study era is great. 00:44:59.659 --> 00:45:02.719 The camera ball era, you can record yourself, study yourself. 00:45:02.920 --> 00:45:03.500 Oh man. 00:45:03.639 --> 00:45:05.039 I was born too soon. 00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:19.059 KX, I'm going to ask you a little bit different question about this, this cohort, as you guys keep calling it, this group of people that are with us today. 00:45:19.360 --> 00:45:23.179 How do you inspire and challenge each other creatively? 00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:27.199 And, and, you know, do you guys have fun working with each other? 00:45:29.780 --> 00:45:30.179 Yeah. 00:45:30.380 --> 00:45:33.639 So I think the really cool thing about this cohort is like, we're all really good friends. 00:45:33.900 --> 00:45:40.719 So we met in a time in our lives where we were all like kind of struggling, but we were all doing art and it was like just a dope experience. 00:45:41.199 --> 00:45:47.139 But we, I think we push each other because I think we all see like, oh, like, I love that Bella does this thing. 00:45:47.179 --> 00:45:48.599 Or I love that JJ does this thing. 00:45:48.639 --> 00:45:54.400 Or I mean the two other two who aren't here. 00:45:54.559 --> 00:46:09.599 But I think like, for me, I get really pushed in, how do I create, you know, the best environment where we all get to learn? 00:46:09.880 --> 00:46:30.039 I think what that's like the most important thing for me, you know, it's like to constantly be pushing each other means to constantly be learning, means to constantly be bouncing off each other, it means calling each other at two in the morning, like, hey, I have this written, can you help me figure out the ending line? 00:46:30.380 --> 00:46:31.519 Or like, you know what I mean? 00:46:31.539 --> 00:46:45.539 Or just like creating a constant way to just like keep that line of communication open to where, you know, we, it could be three in the morning and we're texting each other like, yo, I thought I saw you downtown. 00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:46.920 And it's just a whole show. 00:46:47.019 --> 00:46:59.940 And that's cool to me, like having a relationship with artists outside of, you know, just performing means that you get to develop together, not just as artists, but as people. 00:47:00.239 --> 00:47:01.719 And so that's been really cool. 00:47:01.820 --> 00:47:12.760 Like I got to go to one of Bella's shows outside of our cohort and just like just being able to engage and seeing what everybody is up to is really cool. 00:47:13.119 --> 00:47:15.880 Like, so it's much more like I wouldn't even call us a cohort. 00:47:16.079 --> 00:47:18.179 Like I would really just call us like extended family. 00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:19.360 You know what I mean? 00:47:19.460 --> 00:47:25.619 Like being able to, to be that like, you know, like, yeah, you're killing it. 00:47:25.719 --> 00:47:27.420 Let's adjust this way or like, you know what I mean? 00:47:27.420 --> 00:47:28.519 Just bounce off each other. 00:47:29.719 --> 00:47:40.400 I think for me personally, the thing that I think I've grown and how I like you just get to learn how artists think and how they talk. 00:47:40.539 --> 00:47:49.019 Like, I think when you're just doing art by yourself, like you're like, I don't know what I'm doing in the industry, but the more that you hang out with artists, the more you can move in the industry in a more fluid way. 00:47:49.420 --> 00:47:53.400 And so I've learned how to make more connections, how to communicate with other artists, right. 00:47:53.400 --> 00:47:56.360 Just by communicating with my really good art friends. 00:47:56.639 --> 00:47:57.360 So, right. 00:47:57.500 --> 00:47:58.739 That's, that's what's up. 00:48:00.179 --> 00:48:06.860 And your role in inspiring and working with each other, how have they inspired you or how do you feel like you inspire them? 00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:19.559 Because you, as, as someone who's primarily, correct me if I'm wrong, primarily an MC, you have maybe a little bit more narrow focus on exactly like trying to create the best rap songs or be the best MC. 00:48:19.760 --> 00:48:31.840 You can be really have a more narrow focus on that while at the same time being, being connected to these artists that, you know, especially these two that do so many things outside the medium of stage performance. 00:48:32.179 --> 00:48:32.659 Right. 00:48:32.739 --> 00:48:37.820 So how do you feel like your role fits in, in terms of the relationship with, with this group? 00:48:38.699 --> 00:48:42.119 Well, for one, I'm going to turn our friend out the group. 00:48:43.380 --> 00:48:46.059 Every day, all day, I'm doing something. 00:48:46.579 --> 00:48:46.679 Yeah. 00:48:47.659 --> 00:48:53.300 But like you said, just outside of this, we're friends, you know? 00:48:53.539 --> 00:48:53.760 Yeah. 00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:54.960 We'll be around each other. 00:48:55.019 --> 00:48:55.739 We have a group chat. 00:48:55.800 --> 00:48:56.380 We text there. 00:48:57.420 --> 00:48:59.179 We see the music inside the group chat. 00:48:59.539 --> 00:49:00.320 That is sound. 00:49:00.440 --> 00:49:01.239 What you think of this one? 00:49:01.900 --> 00:49:06.019 And then I don't think none of us afraid to tell each other, like, you can do this better. 00:49:06.119 --> 00:49:07.079 You can

switch this up. 00:49:07.239 --> 00:49:08.920 Or, you know, that's important. 00:49:09.199 --> 00:49:09.500 Yeah. 00:49:10.719 --> 00:49:18.880 And then you determine heights is humble. 00:49:19.059 --> 00:49:23.860 Like, JG is the one who makes sure that all of us are like, ready to go over a performance. 00:49:23.860 --> 00:49:26.539 Like if anybody is on something, it's JG. 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:28.980 And it makes us like to go perform. 00:49:29.019 --> 00:49:32.099 So yeah, we like, yeah, he's being too humble about it. 00:49:32.159 --> 00:49:32.780 You know what I'm saying? 00:49:32.780 --> 00:49:35.320 But JG is not just a hype man. 00:49:35.440 --> 00:49:36.179 He's a cool guy. 00:49:36.239 --> 00:49:36.619 Yeah. 00:49:36.760 --> 00:49:37.239 Yeah. 00:49:37.239 --> 00:49:39.199 He's my friend. 00:49:40.280 --> 00:49:48.820 I love you guys are reminding me so much of when we were, you know, when our collective, we call it a collective. 00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:54.219 And it was, man, it was Fuoss, it was EduPoetic and Abraham, and it was OSP and Calus. 00:49:54.440 --> 00:49:56.659 It was, you know, Desdemona was part of it. 00:49:56.900 --> 00:50:04.199 It was a collection of artists that all, much like you all, did different things. 00:50:04.599 --> 00:50:11.179 And, you know, we performed, I think there's only one song we were ever all on together. 00:50:11.320 --> 00:50:13.780 And we did that at First Ave and the 7th Street Entry. 00:50:14.179 --> 00:50:18.960 But it was, you know, it was four different groups or solo acts all performing. 00:50:19.360 --> 00:50:21.619 And we would all book shows for each other. 00:50:22.039 --> 00:50:26.139 And so as I'm having this conversation with you guys, it's really taken me back. 00:50:26.239 --> 00:50:38.659 And I'm like, it's a continuation of the legacy of creativity and how each generation has its voices that become beacons for their environment, you know, for their community, for their peers. 00:50:38.860 --> 00:50:48.019 And so I'm really grateful to be able to have this conversation with you all and know that process with each generation continues. 00:50:48.599 --> 00:50:53.420 And so I'm laughing inside because I'm like, yeah, that's Sister Leslie over there. 00:50:53.679 --> 00:50:55.300 Yeah, that's ODOT right there. 00:50:55.780 --> 00:50:58.679 You know, it's awesome to see this. 00:50:59.800 --> 00:51:06.320 And I hope that whether it's through Compass or some other medium, we can all get together and maybe have a generations thing. 00:51:06.559 --> 00:51:10.599 And really, I think that's important now because, you know, it's Kendrick. 00:51:10.639 --> 00:51:13.119 And Kendrick wouldn't lie when he said it's time for the party to die. 00:51:13.579 --> 00:51:28.960 And you guys are representing that recycling of spiritual and philosophical and intellectual art while at the same time being able to have what we like to call the revolutionary party, right? 00:51:29.079 --> 00:51:41.260 Knowing when to turn up and at the same time having a substantive approach to that turn up where the art is bigger than just the party, but the art is about both of your peers. 00:51:41.420 --> 00:51:43.380 And so I think that's a beautiful thing. 00:51:43.719 --> 00:51:57.639 I have just a few more questions for y'all because I want to save about 10 minutes or so to get Bionic in here so he can talk about how proud of you all he is and his process in this journey. 00:51:58.500 --> 00:52:01.300 So I'm going to rapid fire this one really quick. 00:52:01.480 --> 00:52:02.820 Can I say one thing? 00:52:02.920 --> 00:52:03.340 Absolutely. 00:52:03.619 --> 00:52:05.360 Since we're talking about the group. 00:52:05.559 --> 00:52:05.820 Yeah. 00:52:05.820 --> 00:52:09.059 You've been a little quiet, but I want to shout out to our future cameraman. 00:52:09.800 --> 00:52:10.679 Coming soon. 00:52:10.860 --> 00:52:11.239 Okay. 00:52:11.820 --> 00:52:12.219 Okay. 00:52:13.179 --> 00:52:14.400 That's his role here. 00:52:14.519 --> 00:52:16.820 He's going to do the videography, huh? 00:52:16.900 --> 00:52:18.199 Put the documentary together. 00:52:18.320 --> 00:52:18.840 Coming soon. 00:52:18.940 --> 00:52:19.360 Real soon. 00:52:19.380 --> 00:52:19.980 Yes, indeed. 00:52:20.340 --> 00:52:21.059 All right. 00:52:21.119 --> 00:52:21.599 All right. 00:52:21.639 --> 00:52:23.059 Well, I'm glad that you are here, man. 00:52:23.159 --> 00:52:31.619 Thank you for supporting and being a part of what seems to be an amazing energy and creativity doing what it's supposed to do, bringing people together. 00:52:32.300 --> 00:52:32.980 Yes, indeed. 00:52:35.159 --> 00:52:35.599 Niazadeh. 00:52:35.739 --> 00:52:36.179 Yes. 00:52:36.320 --> 00:52:37.019 One sentence. 00:52:37.360 --> 00:52:40.880 All of you are going to get one sentence for this one because it's on here. 00:52:42.980 --> 00:52:44.360 It's on the prompt. 00:52:44.820 --> 00:52:49.320 If you could describe what creativity means to you in one sentence, what would it be? 00:52:49.739 --> 00:52:50.599 In one sentence? 00:52:50.760 --> 00:52:51.639 Yeah, I know. 00:52:51.760 --> 00:52:52.480 I know, right? 00:52:52.699 --> 00:52:52.920 What? 00:52:53.059 --> 00:52:53.500 Okay. 00:52:54.440 --> 00:52:55.380 Can you repeat that one more time? 00:52:55.380 --> 00:52:55.940 Absolutely. 00:52:56.400 --> 00:53:01.519 If you could describe what creativity means to you in one sentence, what would it be? 00:53:02.260 --> 00:53:11.280 Creativity to me is being open-minded and versatile. 00:53:12.039 --> 00:53:12.380 Okay. 00:53:12.760 --> 00:53:13.539 That's what's up. 00:53:13.820 --> 00:53:16.440 I would agree because you can't create with a closed mind. 00:53:17.659 --> 00:53:20.619 You're just stuck in the prison of a closed mind. 00:53:20.619 --> 00:53:22.820 Facts and man. 00:53:24.960 --> 00:53:25.980 I'll talk about that. 00:53:26.079 --> 00:53:26.820 All right. 00:53:27.219 --> 00:53:28.840 Yes, ma'am.

00:53:30.500 --> 00:53:31.280 All right. 00:53:32.539 --> 00:53:39.659 Saint KX, which I love to say in front of the name and listening to your journey, you can own that. 00:53:39.940 --> 00:53:40.800 Come along. 00:53:41.039 --> 00:53:41.380 Yeah, I do. 00:53:41.940 --> 00:53:43.000 Qualify for shows. 00:53:43.760 --> 00:53:44.059 Yeah. 00:53:44.420 --> 00:53:45.659 Every saint has a past. 00:53:45.800 --> 00:53:46.219 Man. 00:53:46.360 --> 00:53:47.219 Every sinner has a future. 00:53:47.219 --> 00:53:48.300 And don't we all. 00:53:48.760 --> 00:53:49.820 Don't we all. 00:53:50.480 --> 00:53:54.860 If you could describe creativity in one sentence, what would it be? 00:53:55.260 --> 00:53:57.199 What it means to you in one sentence? 00:53:57.699 --> 00:53:57.840 Yeah. 00:53:58.079 --> 00:54:06.380 Creativity means to me creating a space where person development and the betterment of community is created. 00:54:07.360 --> 00:54:08.280 That's what's up. 00:54:08.420 --> 00:54:08.820 And produced. 00:54:09.139 --> 00:54:09.659 I like that. 00:54:09.699 --> 00:54:11.400 How you brought community into it, right? 00:54:11.460 --> 00:54:16.199 Because a better individual by default isn't going to be a part of a better community. 00:54:16.199 --> 00:54:17.559 That's what's up. 00:54:17.639 --> 00:54:18.400 I like it. 00:54:18.719 --> 00:54:21.460 Well, you're profound thinkers. 00:54:22.219 --> 00:54:28.619 Bella, if you could describe creativity and what it means to you in one sentence, what would it be? 00:54:30.860 --> 00:54:36.500 I feel creativity is like turning home. 00:54:38.480 --> 00:54:44.760 And reminding me of how intrinsically connected I am to everyone and everything. 00:54:46.199 --> 00:54:48.440 And that we all have that creation in common. 00:54:50.219 --> 00:54:51.679 All right, Spirit Energy. 00:54:52.500 --> 00:54:53.380 Yes, indeed. 00:54:54.300 --> 00:54:56.019 Mama Bella, Mama of the Earth. 00:54:57.480 --> 00:55:00.980 I played a character called Nana Tree one time. 00:55:02.320 --> 00:55:05.619 It was wild, but. 00:55:06.119 --> 00:55:07.679 You didn't know that you would be Nana Tree. 00:55:08.820 --> 00:55:11.960 You didn't know that you would become Nana Tree, huh? 00:55:13.079 --> 00:55:14.659 Maybe it's something inside of me. 00:55:14.659 --> 00:55:16.480 Yes, yes. 00:55:16.519 --> 00:55:17.619 That's what's up. 00:55:18.000 --> 00:55:18.659 All right. 00:55:18.760 --> 00:55:21.179 And then same question to you, J.G. 00:55:21.340 --> 00:55:21.780 Manman. 00:55:21.880 --> 00:55:26.019 If you could describe what creativity means to you in one sentence, what would it be? 00:55:26.960 --> 00:55:34.880 I feel like if I ever have a voice, you never know who around you or how it may affect other people in your life. 00:55:35.400 --> 00:55:40.139 For real, for real, just be outspoken, creative, open-minded, like you said. 00:55:41.539 --> 00:55:42.659 It'll take you a long way. 00:55:42.659 --> 00:55:44.599 Yeah, that was about five good sentences. 00:55:48.199 --> 00:56:00.420 I do like that what you said about forever having your voice, because when I'm teaching young people, the first thing I teach them about my spoken word residency is this is a journey into finding your voice. 00:56:01.119 --> 00:56:03.599 And I think that is so important. 00:56:03.800 --> 00:56:09.719 And I'm glad that you are also mentoring because you're helping the next generation of young people find their voice. 00:56:09.719 --> 00:56:11.860 And you're doing it through an authentic journey. 00:56:12.039 --> 00:56:13.599 Like you said, every artist has a story. 00:56:13.960 --> 00:56:22.460 So the authenticity in your journey is what gives you the credibility when you all speak to folks about either what you do or what they can do. 00:56:22.900 --> 00:56:23.360 Right? 00:56:23.760 --> 00:56:25.639 And so I think that's an awesome thing. 00:56:26.079 --> 00:56:29.360 I'm going to ask you each one last question. 00:56:29.800 --> 00:56:34.320 And this is also an opportunity for you to plug any work that you have. 00:56:35.199 --> 00:56:48.320 For you as an artist, is there something that you have produced or created that you'd like to share with the listening audience and then follow that up with what's next or what would you like to accomplish next that you're excited about? 00:56:48.860 --> 00:56:51.139 And I guess we'll just kind of go. 00:56:51.199 --> 00:56:52.260 We'll go back to Bella. 00:56:52.460 --> 00:56:55.119 And then we'll let the queens go first, ladies first. 00:56:55.280 --> 00:56:57.619 We'll go Bella and then Niaje on this one. 00:56:57.739 --> 00:57:04.699 And then we will go Man Man, JG Man Man, and then St. KX. 00:57:06.239 --> 00:57:16.960 So I don't have anything dropped right now, but I am planning to release an EP within the next year. 00:57:17.280 --> 00:57:19.079 So be looking out for that. 00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:25.980 My Instagram is B-E-L-L-A underscore 444-888. 00:57:26.539 --> 00:57:31.559 And I also have my business called Diaspora Dreams LLC. 00:57:32.079 --> 00:57:37.699 That's where I'll be selling all my jewelry and apparel, anything like that. 00:57:38.099 --> 00:57:47.699 So that is also on Instagram at Diaspora Dreams LLC or wait, no, it's at Diaspora Dreams Designs. 00:57:47.719 --> 00:57:48.119 I forgot. 00:57:48.579 --> 00:57:48.960 Yeah. 00:57:49.139 --> 00:57:50.380 Make sure you get it right now. 00:57:50.500 --> 00:57:51.599 Don't be sending people that. 00:57:52.260 --> 00:57:57.820 Well, the thing is I have a very complicated relationship with social media. 00:57:57.980 --> 00:57:59.119 I feel like everybody does. 00:57:59.360 --> 00:57:59.460 Yeah. 00:57:59.460 --> 00:58:00.579 And do we all? 00:58:00.820 --> 00:58:01.019 Yeah. 00:58:01.239 --> 00:58:02.300 Everybody does. 00:58:02.440 --> 00:58:09.380 But I feel like that's another thing that within this cohort that I've been like pushed to like, it's like, yes. 00:58:09.880 --> 00:58:11.940

Because like being perceived is hard. 00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:21.500 You know, being perceived is very vulnerable in those states where like you're able to like control at least somewhat of like your image. 00:58:21.659 --> 00:58:22.320 You know what I'm saying? 00:58:22.480 --> 00:58:25.380 Like it's still like a window into you. 00:58:25.579 --> 00:58:26.019 Absolutely. 00:58:26.980 --> 00:58:30.099 So I'm learning to get more comfortable with that. 00:58:32.360 --> 00:58:35.360 I do said it best and it will never be said better. 00:58:35.599 --> 00:58:39.000 I'm an artist and I'm sensitive about my shirt. 00:58:43.480 --> 00:58:44.039 Yeah. 00:58:46.139 --> 00:58:46.420 Yeah. 00:58:46.619 --> 00:58:48.920 She's a she's a universal for certain. 00:58:50.699 --> 00:58:56.139 Miaget, is there something that you have out that you want to plug? 00:58:56.280 --> 00:58:59.159 What's next for you that you're excited about? 00:58:59.320 --> 00:59:04.159 What have you created that is like, this is my this is my pride and joy at the moment. 00:59:04.300 --> 00:59:04.800 Talk to us. 00:59:05.000 --> 00:59:05.320 Okay. 00:59:05.900 --> 00:59:09.460 Well, first, um, well, she was ready. 00:59:10.719 --> 00:59:16.719 She's like, since I got time to have it all together. 00:59:16.860 --> 00:59:17.599 I like that. 00:59:18.659 --> 00:59:26.760 Um, uh, what's in the works right now is some poems that me and Bionic have been working on some some poems that I did perform. 00:59:27.000 --> 00:59:28.179 I got those recorded. 00:59:28.500 --> 00:59:30.500 I'm working on those to get dropped. 00:59:31.300 --> 00:59:34.760 I've been creating new poems. 00:59:35.539 --> 00:59:38.099 I have been singing. 00:59:38.480 --> 00:59:40.300 Y'all can see me at open mics. 00:59:40.519 --> 00:59:41.699 I'll be popping out. 00:59:41.840 --> 00:59:43.039 I'll be doing my thing. 00:59:43.179 --> 00:59:44.559 Get them stage miles up. 00:59:44.920 --> 00:59:45.260 Yeah. 00:59:45.980 --> 00:59:47.159 In the stage. 00:59:47.360 --> 00:59:50.599 I've been, you know, I've been I've been getting I've been getting it done. 00:59:52.739 --> 00:59:58.179 Honestly, I might be I want to start some more church singing, some more choir singing. 00:59:58.679 --> 00:59:58.780 Okay. 00:59:59.139 --> 01:00:02.920 Um, also, I have a cleaning business. 01:00:03.280 --> 01:00:10.559 If y'all know anybody that needs their house clean, I I have good rates at nice prices. 01:00:11.320 --> 01:00:12.380 Don't sleep. 01:00:12.579 --> 01:00:18.920 I get the job done real good, real clean, real thorough, and a job guarantee for sure. 01:00:19.019 --> 01:00:19.920 Just bring the money. 01:00:20.119 --> 01:00:21.099 Creative entrepreneur. 01:00:22.059 --> 01:00:23.000 Yes, indeed. 01:00:23.300 --> 01:00:24.019 I do it all. 01:00:24.380 --> 01:00:25.039 All right. 01:00:25.179 --> 01:00:26.000 All right. 01:00:27.099 --> 01:00:31.159 Um, J.G. Man Man, what's dropping? 01:00:31.500 --> 01:00:34.760 When can we get

that J.G. Man Man hotness? 01:00:35.420 --> 01:00:40.340 So I just dropped the EP on YouTube like two weeks ago called Don't Count Me Out. 01:00:40.519 --> 01:00:40.760 Okay. 01:00:40.840 --> 01:00:42.659 If you don't know me, that's the way you can get to know me. 01:00:42.760 --> 01:00:44.119 I'll talk about a little bit of everything. 01:00:44.360 --> 01:00:44.639 Okay. 01:00:45.840 --> 01:00:51.159 2026, I have an album coming with some very, very big names and producers on there. 01:00:51.380 --> 01:00:51.760 All right. 01:00:51.920 --> 01:00:53.239 So just be looking out for it. 01:00:53.340 --> 01:00:53.460 Yeah. 01:00:53.519 --> 01:00:54.059 All right. 01:00:54.360 --> 01:00:55.539 That's what's up. 01:00:56.340 --> 01:00:57.460 I like that too. 01:00:57.599 --> 01:00:57.960 Teaser. 01:00:58.300 --> 01:01:00.019 No, I will go with teaser in there. 01:01:00.460 --> 01:01:02.239 2026, big names, big producers. 01:01:02.840 --> 01:01:03.280 Look out. 01:01:03.380 --> 01:01:04.460 J.G. Man Man, y'all. 01:01:04.559 --> 01:01:06.139 What's the name of the album or the EP again? 01:01:06.960 --> 01:01:07.699 Don't Count Me Out. 01:01:07.880 --> 01:01:08.760 Don't Count Me Out. 01:01:08.820 --> 01:01:09.460 And it's on YouTube. 01:01:09.860 --> 01:01:10.679 All right. 01:01:10.699 --> 01:01:11.800 So we can just type it in. 01:01:12.179 --> 01:01:12.719 All right. 01:01:12.739 --> 01:01:15.199 And for those of you that need to know how to spell it, that's J.G. 01:01:15.199 --> 01:01:17.860 M-A-N, M-A-N. 01:01:17.900 --> 01:01:18.760 All right. 01:01:19.119 --> 01:01:21.400 And then we got St. KX. 01:01:21.539 --> 01:01:24.900 What you working on besides, you know, getting ready to be the next mayor of St. 01:01:24.960 --> 01:01:27.440 Paul after Melvin moves on to bigger things. 01:01:27.719 --> 01:01:30.340 And what else we got going on? 01:01:30.579 --> 01:01:32.039 I wish I wanted to be a mayor. 01:01:32.119 --> 01:01:32.699 I hate politics. 01:01:33.139 --> 01:01:33.239 Yeah. 01:01:33.239 --> 01:01:35.059 So I'm more on the policy side. 01:01:35.079 --> 01:01:35.800 I like creative policy. 01:01:36.039 --> 01:01:38.760 But, you know, be on the lookout for some new art policy. 01:01:39.159 --> 01:01:40.280 You know what I'm saying? 01:01:42.420 --> 01:01:44.960 I'm not going to lie to you. 01:01:45.079 --> 01:01:50.460 But my Instagram for my personal art is St. Midwest underscore. 01:01:50.639 --> 01:01:55.059 So underscore S-A-I-N-T-M-I-D-W-X-S-T. 01:01:55.239 --> 01:01:55.480 OK. 01:01:55.960 --> 01:01:57.500 So that's my personal Instagram. 01:01:58.019 --> 01:02:00.820 Hit me up if you want some photographs taken of your shows. 01:02:00.940 --> 01:02:05.920 I do it from anywhere from 50 to 175, depending on prints, that kind of a thing. 01:02:06.340 --> 01:02:12.380 I have another EP dropping beginning of the year, end of January. 01:02:14.360 --> 01:02:16.360 And that was called Love Exodus. 01:02:17.079 --> 01:02:18.639 So I'm pretty excited for that one. 01:02:18.719 --> 01:02:21.880 That one is just like all deep ambient electronica music. 01:02:22.400 --> 01:02:23.659 But it'll be a good time. 01:02:23.780 --> 01:02:24.300 It's fire. 01:02:24.440 --> 01:02:31.860 I put some violins, some a lot of classical stuff along with some more synths and pads and stuff like that. 01:02:31.920 --> 01:02:33.599 So I'm pretty excited for that. 01:02:33.659 --> 01:02:38.539 And then the skate shop and art store that I'm trying to open is called St. 01:02:38.599 --> 01:02:39.559 Collective M-N. 01:02:39.920 --> 01:02:41.780 And so that's literally all it is. 01:02:41.980 --> 01:02:48.199 S-A-I-N-T-C-O-L-L-E-C-T-I-V-E M-N on Instagram. 01:02:48.719 --> 01:02:55.099 And we are a skate shop and a collective art space where we try to create good and create a space for young people to come. 01:02:55.460 --> 01:02:57.860 So, yeah, just keep an eye out for that. 01:02:58.019 --> 01:02:59.199 Follow me on that kind of stuff. 01:02:59.400 --> 01:03:02.559 And yeah, I mean, I do a lot of independent contracting work, too. 01:03:02.639 --> 01:03:07.719 So if you want something done, t-shirts, photographs, videos, you know me not to take Trey's stuff. 01:03:08.119 --> 01:03:10.380 Y'all can do that, right? 01:03:11.260 --> 01:03:12.239 Two cameras, shoot. 01:03:12.579 --> 01:03:14.400 Hey, hey, that part, you know what I'm saying? 01:03:14.880 --> 01:03:16.860 Just DM me on Instagram. 01:03:17.320 --> 01:03:18.360 It'll go to my request. 01:03:18.460 --> 01:03:19.460 I look at all my requests. 01:03:19.619 --> 01:03:20.460 I delete a lot of them. 01:03:20.679 --> 01:03:22.039 But, you know, here we are. 01:03:23.500 --> 01:03:25.000 Y'all don't just talk about it. 01:03:25.019 --> 01:03:26.159 Y'all be about it. 01:03:26.159 --> 01:03:28.119 Y'all don't talk about it. 01:03:28.280 --> 01:03:28.659 Right. 01:03:33.659 --> 01:03:38.920 I want to thank you all so much for coming in and joining us on Creativity on Tap. 01:03:39.059 --> 01:03:40.800 This has been a really fun podcast. 01:03:41.639 --> 01:03:44.559 I think one of the better ones that we've done. 01:03:45.460 --> 01:03:55.960 Just real quick, before I let y'all go, Niajeng, do you know that they now have a Best Spoken Word album in the Grammy category? 01:03:57.320 --> 01:04:00.000 And so something to think about in the future. 01:04:00.760 --> 01:04:10.639 One of our previous guests, Queen Sheba out of Atlanta, she's, I still have to edit her episode of Creativity on Tap, but I interviewed her about a month ago. 01:04:10.920 --> 01:04:13.079 And she actually is one of the finalists. 01:04:13.519 --> 01:04:15.179 And I've known her for years. 01:04:15.179 --> 01:04:19.079 And so I'm definitely plugged in with the national spoken word scene. 01:04:19.480 --> 01:04:23.239 So spoken word artists in the crew, holler at me. 01:04:23.719 --> 01:04:28.760 I can definitely help plug you guys in with some opportunities in other cities. 01:04:29.159

--> 01:04:31.000 Because that's my field. 01:04:32.280 --> 01:04:35.440 Thank you all for coming in for the listening audience. 01:04:35.820 --> 01:04:39.719 And for those viewing, I'm going to go from my right to the left. 01:04:39.820 --> 01:04:44.219 So we have J.G. Manman, emcee and performing artist extraordinaire. 01:04:44.699 --> 01:04:48.099 We have Bella, Bella Dawson, interdisciplinary artist. 01:04:48.260 --> 01:04:49.780 She blends poetry and rap. 01:04:49.900 --> 01:04:50.699 She does fashion. 01:04:50.840 --> 01:04:51.679 She does beadwork. 01:04:51.780 --> 01:04:52.760 She does metal work. 01:04:52.960 --> 01:04:54.739 And she's definitely a universal. 01:04:54.920 --> 01:04:55.719 She's a celestial. 01:04:56.400 --> 01:04:59.579 We got Saint KX, interdisciplinary artist. 01:04:59.679 --> 01:05:02.219 He does photography, spoken word, visual art. 01:05:02.519 --> 01:05:04.400 Basically, he's a one-stop shop. 01:05:04.539 --> 01:05:05.159 You need it. 01:05:05.719 --> 01:05:11.300 And if you needed to come and talk about political policy and about art policy, that's your man. 01:05:11.380 --> 01:05:16.920 He can come and talk to the young people about why they need to make sure they champion art going forward. 01:05:17.219 --> 01:05:21.880 And then Niaje, performing artist, spoken word artist, and singer. 01:05:22.840 --> 01:05:27.900 And they are all under the mentorship of the next person we're going to bring in, DJ Bionic. 01:05:27.980 --> 01:05:31.539 So thank you all for coming down, being a part of Creativity on Tap. 01:05:31.739 --> 01:05:33.179 Awesome conversation. 01:05:33.500 --> 01:05:35.300 Best of luck in your ventures, y'all. 01:05:35.360 --> 01:05:36.179 Keep representing. 01:05:36.519 --> 01:05:38.960 Welcome back to Creativity on Tap. 01:05:39.579 --> 01:05:42.519 Wonderful conversation with our young artists. 01:05:42.760 --> 01:05:47.219 And we are now here with the man himself who has been working with these young people. 01:05:47.420 --> 01:06:06.760 And they spoke so highly of you and your guidance, really, in both helping them find linear directions so that they can stay structured in their path, while at the same time giving them a wide breadth of possibility so that they didn't feel pigeonholed in one thing. 01:06:07.079 --> 01:06:08.940 Welcome, DJ Bionic, man. 01:06:08.940 --> 01:06:09.800 Thanks so much. 01:06:09.880 --> 01:06:11.260 Real quick, I'm not a DJ. 01:06:11.719 --> 01:06:12.480 You're not a DJ. 01:06:12.800 --> 01:06:14.159 I'm a producer and a composer. 01:06:14.380 --> 01:06:16.300 A DJ plays other people's music. 01:06:16.980 --> 01:06:22.519 I play all my own compositions and produce and develop artists and then support them live. 01:06:22.619 --> 01:06:25.099 So I often am not DJing at all. 01:06:25.179 --> 01:06:27.199 So why do they keep telling me DJ Bionic? 01:06:27.239 --> 01:06:31.139 Because when you see somebody standing up on stage behind a computer, that's what people think. 01:06:31.440 --> 01:06:31.920 You assume, right? 01:06:31.980 --> 01:06:32.260 It's okay. 01:06:32.360 --> 01:06:34.019 I like to keep people guessing anyway. 01:06:34.480 --> 01:06:35.019 Okay, what's up? 01:06:35.019 --> 01:06:40.079 And all those artists saying such nice things about me is really humbling. 01:06:40.820 --> 01:06:51.239 And as is usually the case, artists are underselling themselves and not realizing they're the ones with the passion, the determination, the hard work, the consistency. 01:06:51.840 --> 01:06:52.800 I'm just here. 01:06:53.179 --> 01:06:55.079 They show up over and over again. 01:06:55.260 --> 01:07:01.460 You know, so it's a real privilege to have them consider me in that way because that's the way I feel about them. 01:07:01.539 --> 01:07:03.099 They're the ones really doing the work, you know? 01:07:03.099 --> 01:07:13.639 Well, it's very, very evident that they appreciate your mentorship and guidance and using your experience and expertise to kind of give them vision really and help them. 01:07:14.039 --> 01:07:15.320 I shouldn't say give them vision. 01:07:15.619 --> 01:07:18.960 Help them see that their visions are possible is a better way of putting it. 01:07:19.179 --> 01:07:19.619 What a privilege. 01:07:19.659 --> 01:07:24.860 That was a common theme that you've helped them kind of really see, oh yeah, we can do this. 01:07:24.920 --> 01:07:25.800 This is a possibility. 01:07:26.059 --> 01:07:27.000 This is a real thing. 01:07:27.179 --> 01:07:39.820 And working with young people, you know, for the audience, you are a Compass teaching artist and you clearly have dedicated a lot of your life and time to working with and mentoring young people. 01:07:40.380 --> 01:07:41.920 And you could be doing a lot of things. 01:07:41.980 --> 01:07:48.659 So what inside you made you make time and space for working with young people? 01:07:48.900 --> 01:07:49.099 Wow. 01:07:49.860 --> 01:08:01.699 So I've only been teaching for about 10 years and it started volunteering at my son's preschool a day a week to show kids music, get them involved in making electronic, you know, music. 01:08:02.380 --> 01:08:06.239 And it was just such a natural kind of thing. 01:08:06.539 --> 01:08:10.400 I love to see people be inspired and it inspires my own art. 01:08:10.900 --> 01:08:14.179 So it's like this self-fulfilling kind of thing. 01:08:14.860 --> 01:08:16.880 And I really didn't see it coming. 01:08:18.119 --> 01:08:25.239 But I have spent my life as, you know, past over 30 years, I've been a white practitioner of black traditional art forms. 01:08:25.680 --> 01:08:33.479 So I've not only made all the comfort and all the things that I have in life off of black music. 01:08:34.000 --> 01:08:39.899 I've also been through a lot of experiential pitfalls being an artist. 01:08:40.319 --> 01:08:46.899 And so it's a natural fit to just try to pass this experiential information on to young artists. 01:08:47.239 --> 01:08:57.439 And I'm

also trying to hit people that are within my wheelhouse, my discipline, artists that are doing hip hop, spoken word, R&B, black American art forms. 01:08:57.739 --> 01:09:07.060 And so just passing this knowledge on so that the new generation of artists is better equipped to get around those pitfalls, you know? 01:09:07.239 --> 01:09:09.920 Yeah, those old artists too could probably use a tip or two. 01:09:10.579 --> 01:09:14.880 They teach me is the truth too, you know, it's a reciprocal thing. 01:09:15.039 --> 01:09:15.979 So it's great. 01:09:16.159 --> 01:09:18.640 That led right into the next question I was going to ask you. 01:09:18.760 --> 01:09:21.500 You talked about what you've been able to, you know, offer them. 01:09:22.420 --> 01:09:24.699 What have you learned from working with them? 01:09:25.800 --> 01:09:32.939 I learned that naivete is one of the most powerful things about art. 01:09:33.199 --> 01:09:38.659 Not knowing what the right thing to do is, is where the new things come from. 01:09:39.060 --> 01:09:57.000 And so they're showing me new perspectives all the time, turning me on to artists that I don't know about, broadening my own perspective on my own art forms, how they change, how to how to stay relevant, how to speak to a younger group of artists and have some common ground. 01:09:57.460 --> 01:09:59.359 So they really teach me a lot. 01:09:59.439 --> 01:10:04.680 They teach me all the things that drew me to my art forms in the first place. 01:10:04.819 --> 01:10:13.960 The culture behind it, the language, the fashion, the way you carry yourself, the way you transmit your ideas. 01:10:14.859 --> 01:10:19.739 And they're the, you know, the youth is the strength and the old are the experience. 01:10:19.739 --> 01:10:22.119 And so we got to trade, we have to trade. 01:10:22.420 --> 01:10:23.260 That's what's up, man. 01:10:23.319 --> 01:10:32.020 That reminds me outside, I guess it is still art related, but Terrence Crawford is one of my favorite boxers and watching his training regimen. 01:10:32.180 --> 01:10:39.079 He talks about how he always makes sure that his training camp is full of young up and coming fighters for that exact reason. 01:10:39.079 --> 01:10:55.520 It's like, yeah, I have a lot of knowledge of what I can teach them, but they keep them hungry and they keep them coming up with a creative approach to a old problem that maybe, you know, he has his way of solving it, but then there's a way these young people, these young fighters have that he hadn't thought about. 01:10:55.699 --> 01:10:58.199 And it's how he stays hungry and stays fresh. 01:10:58.239 --> 01:11:01.500 And it sounds like that's a similar approach you're taking with music. 01:11:01.500 --> 01:11:12.100 Like it might be an old problem and you have your way of solving it in the past, but here comes this young person with a totally new line of thinking about how to solve this old problem. 01:11:12.220 --> 01:11:12.920 New perspective. 01:11:13.399 --> 01:11:22.119 And like my son who's 16 has turned me on to more great artists in the past two years than myself searching in the past 20. 01:11:22.880 --> 01:11:27.479 And so I recognize that's a perspective I need in on. 01:11:27.579 --> 01:11:34.880 You know, if I want to do this, if I want to continue to be a productive artist in my own community, you've got to change and grow. 01:11:35.000 --> 01:11:36.899 It's the one thing you can count on is change. 01:11:37.220 --> 01:11:38.800 So yeah, always be changing. 01:11:39.060 --> 01:11:46.359 And now music is, you know, it's not easy to make, it's easy to access music making resources. 01:11:46.899 --> 01:12:04.300 You know, we're both probably around the same age and, you know, two inch tape was really expensive, you know, and now, you know, 10 year olds are coming up with crazy funky vibes or crazy creative vibes with the technology we have today. 01:12:04.439 --> 01:12:07.939 I just had to learn how to use GarageBand editing just to edit podcasts. 01:12:08.079 --> 01:12:08.880 You need to know. 01:12:09.199 --> 01:12:11.460 Yes, you know, so wow. 01:12:11.899 --> 01:12:20.720 Matt, I just want to say thank you for helping these young artists get to creativity on tap, for your mentorship of them. 01:12:20.899 --> 01:12:23.500 Your work with Compass is much appreciated. 01:12:24.180 --> 01:12:39.699 I want to ask you, where do you think creativity is going next as it relates to access and resources for young people, our social political landscape, our economic landscape? 01:12:40.100 --> 01:12:54.640 How is the idea of young people having access to creativity going to survive in an environment, a society where economic resources for creating art is constantly being pulled back, at least on a federal level? 01:12:55.840 --> 01:13:13.199 So obviously Compass is an answer in a sense because Compass is the stopgap between this lack of arts education in our public schools and in our public forums and, you know, plugging artists in with these places where they can inspire people. 01:13:13.720 --> 01:13:25.319 But I really feel like I'm inspired by where creativity is going because it isn't that everyone's just on the most popular Spotify playlist listening to those songs. 01:13:25.560 --> 01:13:33.619 I see with all these young artists I work with, they are searching out independent artists with less than 10,000 listens a month. 01:13:33.720 --> 01:13:40.079 They're trying to find their own niche and their own cultural voice through these artists. 01:13:40.300 --> 01:13:42.439 And everybody isn't just toeing the line. 01:13:42.739 --> 01:13:50.680 So the idea that everybody's just on TikTok listening to the same songs, they hear those songs, but they are digging in the crates just like we did. 01:13:50.939 --> 01:13:54.579 It's just a different methodology, but it's the same impulse. 01:13:54.659 --> 01:14:03.920 So I see that and I think we got nowhere to go but up because people

are, they're searching outside of the curve and looking for those unique voices that are going to inspire them. 01:14:04.159 --> 01:14:12.579 So I'm excited about where the future is going for art because I see so many young people that are pioneering right now. 01:14:12.779 --> 01:14:20.000 And I know in five or 10 years, they're going to be the next foundational level that is feeding what's going on. 01:14:20.180 --> 01:14:22.079 So it's cool and exciting. 01:14:22.239 --> 01:14:23.579 We had four of them in this room. 01:14:23.920 --> 01:14:30.319 Hey, I just want to say too, you asking those artists those questions is really important. 01:14:30.699 --> 01:14:40.779 And in a world where people don't feel very important to be an artist and have somebody ask you about your process, your intent, your discovery is a big deal. 01:14:41.060 --> 01:14:43.140 And these people deserve to feel important. 01:14:43.340 --> 01:14:44.220 They're passionate. 01:14:44.600 --> 01:14:45.600 They're consistent. 01:14:46.439 --> 01:14:49.920 They're the epitome of what artists are to me. 01:14:50.140 --> 01:14:54.699 So having that recognition just makes me feel so, so good to see that. 01:14:55.000 --> 01:14:57.380 Well, I'm honored that I was able to be a part of it. 01:14:57.439 --> 01:14:59.000 It's very nostalgic for me. 01:14:59.760 --> 01:15:18.819 I remember having opportunity to be them at 25 and 26 and 27 and 28 and luckily at that point in time, technology was just making it a way where us young aspiring artists could do radio interviews. 01:15:19.079 --> 01:15:28.720 It wasn't podcasts, but KFAI welcomed us, KMOJ welcomed us, public radio welcomed us, gave us a voice. 01:15:28.960 --> 01:15:34.140 And back then it was the Fuoss and the Truth Maze and the Pencil and EduPoetic. 01:15:34.659 --> 01:15:53.159 And so I told them, I said, it's heartwarming to see the evolution of creativity and yet the camaraderie of collaborative creativity still exists and then be representing for your peers on a communal, for a whole community of peers. 01:15:53.380 --> 01:15:55.640 And so I'm honored to have that opportunity. 01:15:56.060 --> 01:16:06.619 And so thank you so much for your work with them and helping them find that cohesion so that we could bring these things full circle while at the same time advancing them. 01:16:07.100 --> 01:16:07.199 Amazing. 01:16:07.399 --> 01:16:09.899 No one better than you to ask them those questions too. 01:16:10.079 --> 01:16:23.939 And with your experience and your insight, you're the kind of artist they need to meet in their community so that they know there's these support pillars that have been through it and that can guide me when I don't know what's going to happen. 01:16:24.119 --> 01:16:25.560 So appreciate you too, man. 01:16:25.560 --> 01:16:26.039 Likewise. 01:16:26.359 --> 01:16:30.640 I'm going to ask one more question and then we're going to close and I'm going to ask you the same question I asked them. 01:16:30.899 --> 01:16:37.260 If you could describe what creativity means to you in one sentence, what would it be? 01:16:38.319 --> 01:16:40.100 I guess I could do it in one word. 01:16:40.300 --> 01:16:41.399 I would say growth. 01:16:42.680 --> 01:16:44.720 Creativity equals growth. 01:16:45.300 --> 01:16:53.560 So self-expression, self-discovery, self-value, where we are in the universe and how we're perceived. 01:16:53.800 --> 01:16:55.760 I really feel like we find out all that. 01:16:56.319 --> 01:16:58.779 We grow in that way through art as the lens. 01:16:59.079 --> 01:17:02.039 Well, may we forever continue to be creatives then. 01:17:02.359 --> 01:17:03.100 Definitely and grow. 01:17:03.420 --> 01:17:04.020 Yes, indeed. 01:17:04.399 --> 01:17:08.640 Thank you, Bionic, for bringing your mentees down and for coming in. 01:17:08.840 --> 01:17:12.779 You have been listening to Creativity on Tap with Compass. 01:17:13.340 --> 01:17:19.180 Creativity on Tap is a series of conversations produced by Compass about the value and importance of creativity. 01:17:19.739 --> 01:17:21.420 This year, Compass turns 50. 01:17:21.420 --> 01:17:26.079 That's half a century of putting creativity into the hands of millions of Minnesotans. 01:17:26.380 --> 01:17:30.020 We are working really hard to ensure we'll be doing this for 50 more. 01:17:30.520 --> 01:17:41.739 Creativity on Tap is part of Creativity Saves the World, a year-long initiative led by Compass to explore the role creativity can and must play in solving the unique challenges of this era. 01:17:42.180 --> 01:17:48.520 For more information about Compass and how creativity saves the world, please visit compass.org. 01:17:48.859 --> 01:17:52.260 That's C-O-M-P-A-S.org. 01:17:52.460 --> 01:17:56.539 Special thank you to the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder Podcast Studios. 01:17:56.920 --> 01:18:06.479 For more information about the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder news publication, please go to www.spokesman-recorder.com. 01:18:06.960 --> 01:18:12.899 Spokesman Recorder on YouTube also offers more programming from the Spokesman Recorder Podcast Studio. 01:18:12.899 --> 01:18:16.500 Please go to their Spokesman Recorder content page. 01:18:16.880 --> 01:18:20.720 For Compass and Creativity on Tap, I'm your host, Frank Centrale. 01:18:21.659 --> 01:18:22.340 Peace.