A key component of Law Rocks’ mission is to promote music education for underserved youth. In 2023, due to our increased sponsorship and fundraising, Law Rocks was able to offer a new grant at each Law Rocks show: The Music Matters grant. This grant, continuing in 2024, is given to a local nonprofit that supports youth music education in each of our U.S. tour cities. Omi Crawford, director of Law Rocks, says of the grant initiative:
“Since our 2009 founding, Law Rocks has supported hundreds of incredible nonprofits, with an emphasis on youth music education organizations. The Music Matters grant is a natural evolution of our mission and a chance to formalize our support of amazing music education nonprofits across the country.”
Today’s spotlight is on our 2024 Law Rocks Seattle Music Matters grant recipient, Totem Star.
Totem Star is a diverse community of young recording artists building life skills in communication, collaboration, and critical thinking through their creative pursuits in music production and performance.
Keep reading to learn more in our spotlight interview with Totem Star Executive Director, Daniel Pak.
Our 2024 Seattle Music Matters Grant Recipient: Totem Star. | Photo courtesy of Totem Star.
1) Can you tell us a little about the history of your nonprofit, as well as its mission and focus?
Totem Star supports a diverse community of young recording artists learning music and life skills through mentorship and meaningful relationships. Our work in the studio and on the stage fosters growth in collaboration, leadership, and self-identity.
In 2023, Totem Star opened its new home and recording studio at historic landmark King Street Station in partnership with the City of Seattle and the Cultural Space Agency. Music production, live performance, and mentorship are the pillars to our creative youth development programs.
2) What is the best example of the way you’ve seen your organization’s work make a difference?
Growing into our new space at King Street Station, we have already provided 1,000+ hours (500+ sessions) of artist mentorship, music education, and recording sessions to 700+ youth participants since January 2024. We now need to develop a next-gen creative workforce that can serve more young people and further their career development in music.
Photo courtesy of Totem Star.
3) What are some upcoming initiatives that you are planning for?
Totem Star and the Station Space partners (the other arts and culture orgs on the 2nd Floor) would like to build an outdoor stage on the plaza of King Street Station right off Jackson Street. In September and October 2024 we are co-hosting the first annual Station Space Block Party series in alignment with the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Ongoing downtown activations will be an important initiative moving forward, as our artists will benefit greatly from exposure to larger, more diverse audiences, especially with the World Cup coming to Seattle in June and July 2026.
4) What is the greatest challenge your organization faces?
Funding. Arts and culture funding has and always will be a challenge. And it just seems to get harder. We can't develop the creative workforce we need to serve more artists without long-term operating support, thanks to unpredictable funding sources and shifting funding priorities across the philanthropic spectrum. We are still paying off the debt we owe on our first capital campaign, thanks to escalation in construction costs. Our 60 year Mutual and Offsetting Benefit (MOB) lease agreement with the City of Seattle is an incredible gift, and yet it's hard to think that securing the funding to sustain and evolve programming will be a challenge for the length of the lease.
Photo courtesy of Totem Star.
5) What does the power of music mean to you?
Music is storytelling. Music is history. Music is culture. Music is connection. Music is healing. Music is life. Music is human.
Photo courtesy of Totem Star.
6) How will the Music Matters grant be used?
Totem Star's "menu" of opportunities for youth artists is vast. For example, $500 could cover a four-hour open studio session where 8-12 artists could receive mentorship in songwriting, vocal coaching, beat making, instrument lessons, and even a music business consult. $500 could also pay for one artist to receive a four-hour recording and mixing session for one song. $500 sends an artist to perform a set at a major music festival or pays for four artists to perform 1-2 songs each at an artist showcase. $500 also covers the cost to host a monthly jam session open to musicians from the greater Seattle area.
Learn more about Totem Star.
The Inaugural Law Rocks Seattle is Thursday, November 14 at The Crocodile. Click the button below for tickets and more information!