YA TSEEN

Nicholas Galanin is an indigenous Alaskan, also known as Tlingit and Unangax, and a contemporary artist who channels many of his beliefs through both art and music. As well as taking part in direct actions like the excavation of the shadow of the statue of Captain James Cook in Australia – in a call for the burial of such monuments – he has also produced pieces like Land Swipe, a deer hide painted with the NYC subway map, noting the sites of police violence against black youths (and called “one of the most important art moments in 2020” by The New York Times). As Ya Tseen (meaning “be alive” and from his Tlingit name Yeil Ya Tseen) he released Indian Yard last month (on Sub Pop). It “explores love, desire, frustration, pain, revolution, and connection” across 11 varied “no genre” tracks, and all produced with a huge range of synths – just you wait – and software…

1 How did you get into music?

“My father is an artist and musician, and was a DJ for the local radio station. His love for music has been handed down to my brothers and I as if it were a necessity. By 13, I had my