Brin Levinson’s Moody Cityscapes

Vee Hua 華婷婷1 min readAugust 3, 2010Add comment
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Vee Hua 華婷婷

Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Managing Editor of South Seattle Emerald, and Co-Chair of the Seattle Arts Commission. They also previously served as the Executive Director of the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences.

In 2017, Vee released the narrative short film, Searching Skies — which touches on Syrian refugee resettlement in the United States — and co-organized The Seventh Art Stand, a national film and civil rights discussion series against Islamophobia. 2022 sees the release of their next short film, Reckless Spirits, which is a metaphysical, multi-lingual POC buddy comedy for a bleak new era, in anticipation of a feature film.

Vee is passionate about cultural space, the environment, and finding ways to covertly and overtly disrupt oppressive structures. They also regularly share observational human stories through their storytelling newsletter, RAMBLIN’ WITH VEE!, and are pursuing a Master’s in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the Native American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota.

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Urner Interview: How a Love for Process Unlocked His Most Lucid Music Yet - new interview by Miles Ginoza @weeaboo.diaspora /// Growing up, Queens-based electronic artist @_urner_‘s first encounters with music highlighted the range of immersive experiences one can have. From bedtime routines of falling asleep to a repeating Hindu mantra playing on cassette tape, to relying on soundtracks for movie watching guidance, he learned early on that music has the capacity to be more than simply a passive experience of receiving pleasant sounds. Urner recalls that an early experience of this was through his family’s bootleg copy of Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which was recorded from Japanese TV without any subtitles. “I didn’t speak Japanese, so for the first ten times I watched that movie, I didn’t know the details of what was going on in the plot. I just had the visuals and the music.” Urner explains. “Looking back, I think it was very instructive in how music can be a storytelling device.” “I was thinking of it pretty consciously as spaced-out foreground music,” Urner notes. “I did not write it to be background music, although it takes a lot aesthetically from background music genres.” /// READ THE INTERVIEW: http://bit.ly/redefineexits Ulner's latest record EXITS is out now on @AtlanticRhythms! #ElectronicMusician #ElectronicMusicians #ElectronicMusic #AmbientMusic #AmbientMusician #AmbientMusicians #Ulner #AtlanticRhythms #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalist #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine
Last couple days to catch CHANGER: A HAND TELLING streaming virtually! Read our full interview by Vee Hua @hellomynameisvee - read it at https://bit.ly/redefinechanger /// A project unlike any other, Changer: A Hand Telling, is a shapeshifter which has taken on many forms. First conceptualized by Native artists Fern Naomi Renville (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwha S’Klallam, Makah) as a theater play for Sound Theatre Company in Seattle, Changer was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stage show was canceled in 2020, and out of necessity, the project transformed into a dynamic audio play. Upon its release, the audio play caught the attention of Deaf director Howie Seago, who worked with his son, filmmaker Kyle Seago, Native filmmaker Raven Two Feathers, Renville, and Fernandes, to expand the audio play into a dazzling visual work. Changer was filmed on the traditional lands of the Lower Elwha s’Klallam Tribe and features two Deaf Native lead actors who play three vastly different characters apiece. The film uses creative camerawork, clever editing, and plenty of humor to retell mythic stories central to Coast Salish tribes, while showcasing difficulties related to sovereignty which tribes continue to face today. /// Changer: A Hand Telling screens during Local Sightings Film Festival 2022. The in-person takes place at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle on September 17, and it can be streamed virtually from September 16-25. Purchase tickets at nwfilmforum.org! /// @fern_renville @seagsees @raven_two_feathers @seagohowie #HowieSeago #FernNaomiRenville #RavenTwoFeathees @soundtheatrecompany #FilmJournalism #FilmJournalist #FilmJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine #NativeFilms #NativeFilm #NativeFilmmaker #NativeFilmmakers #DeafFilm #DeafFilmmaker #DeafFilmmakers #DeafFilms #FilmmakersWithDisabilities #CODA
Fern Naomi Renville & Howie Seago Film Interview: Deaf and Native Creators Reimagine Coast Salish Myths in Changer: A Hand Telling Full article by Vee Hua @hellomynameisvee - read it at https://bit.ly/redefinechanger /// A project unlike any other, Changer: A Hand Telling, is a shapeshifter which has taken on many forms. First conceptualized by Native artists Fern Naomi Renville (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Roger Fernandes (Lower Elwha S’Klallam, Makah) as a theater play for Sound Theatre Company in Seattle, Changer was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stage show was canceled in 2020, and out of necessity, the project transformed into a dynamic audio play. Upon its release, the audio play caught the attention of Deaf director Howie Seago, who worked with his son, filmmaker Kyle Seago, Native filmmaker Raven Two Feathers, Renville, and Fernandes, to expand the audio play into a dazzling visual work. Changer was filmed on the traditional lands of the Lower Elwha s’Klallam Tribe and features two Deaf Native lead actors who play three vastly different characters apiece. The film uses creative camerawork, clever editing, and plenty of humor to retell mythic stories central to Coast Salish tribes, while showcasing difficulties related to sovereignty which tribes continue to face today. /// Changer: A Hand Telling screens during Local Sightings Film Festival 2022. The in-person takes place at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle on September 17, and it can be streamed virtually from September 16-25. Purchase tickets at nwfilmforum.org! @fern_renville @seagsees @raven_two_feathers @seagohowie #HowieSeago #FernNaomiRenville #RavenTwoFeathees @soundtheatrecompany #FilmJournalism #FilmJournalist #FilmJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine #NativeFilms #NativeFilm #NativeFilmmaker #NativeFilmmakers #DeafFilm #DeafFilmmaker #DeafFilmmakers #DeafFilms #FilmmakersWithDisabilities #CODA
New Terence Nance @terenceetc for REDEFINE magazine by Vee Hua @hellomynameisvee About V O R T E X, out now on @flyinglotus imprint @brainfeederrecords ~ READ THE INTERVIEW, "The Terence Etc. Album V O R T E X is a Multidimensional Spiral" >>> https://bit.ly/redefinevortex /// EXCERPT: Terence Nance and I leapfrog through time and space. Numerous missed connections and mutual schedule misalignments occur until — two weeks later — we finally manage to get on the phone to speak about Nance’s new record, V O R T E X. Nance is halfway across the world by then, working on a project in Africa that can’t be discussed quite yet. The multi-hyphenate creator may be best known for his filmic works — including the HBO series Random Acts of Flyness (2018) and the feature film An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (2012), which premiered at Sundance — but to limit Nance as a filmmaker would be foolish. Under the moniker of Terence Etc., his 2022 record V O R T E X, out now on Flying Lotus’ imprint Brainfeeder, follows up to Nance’s 2020 EP, Things I Never Had. Similar to our hop-scotching phone call schedules, V O R T E X leaps and bounds liberally as it experiments with musical genres, rhythmic flows, vocal stylings, and divinated messages — not just on the record as a whole, but within each track itself. It is also paired with a short film directed by Rikkí Wright, asserting yet again that Nance’s creativity is expansive. More importantly, perhaps, that expansiveness reaches far beyond simply Nance; it is rooted in ancestry, history, and his elders. /// 1st and 2nd photos by Alima Lee @alima_lee #DallasMusician #DallasMusicians #DallasMusic #TerenceNance #TerenceEtc #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine #RandomActsOfFlyness #BlackMusician #BlackMusicians #RikkiWright
New Terence Nance @terenceetc for REDEFINE magazine by Vee Hua @hellomynameisvee About V O R T E X, out now on @flyinglotus imprint @brainfeederrecords ~ READ THE INTERVIEW, "The Terence Etc. Album V O R T E X is a Multidimensional Spiral" >>> https://bit.ly/redefinevortex /// EXCERPT: Terence Nance and I leapfrog through time and space. Numerous missed connections and mutual schedule misalignments occur until — two weeks later — we finally manage to get on the phone to speak about Nance’s new record, V O R T E X. Nance is halfway across the world by then, working on a project in Africa that can’t be discussed quite yet. The multi-hyphenate creator may be best known for his filmic works — including the HBO series Random Acts of Flyness (2018) and the feature film An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (2012), which premiered at Sundance — but to limit Nance as a filmmaker would be foolish. Under the moniker of Terence Etc., his 2022 record V O R T E X, out now on Flying Lotus’ imprint Brainfeeder, follows up to Nance’s 2020 EP, Things I Never Had. Similar to our hop-scotching phone call schedules, V O R T E X leaps and bounds liberally as it experiments with musical genres, rhythmic flows, vocal stylings, and divinated messages — not just on the record as a whole, but within each track itself. It is also paired with a short film directed by Rikkí Wright, asserting yet again that Nance’s creativity is expansive. More importantly, perhaps, that expansiveness reaches far beyond simply Nance; it is rooted in ancestry, history, and his elders. /// 1st and 2nd photos by Alima Lee @alima_lee #DallasMusician #DallasMusicians #DallasMusic #TerenceNance #TerenceEtc #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine #RandomActsOfFlyness #BlackMusician #BlackMusicians #RikkiWright
BAZZOOKAFEST 2022 returns as a free BIPOC-powered music and arts festival. Taking place at Jefferson Park in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the two-day event will feature an array of gender-expansive artists and performers of varying styles. Saturday performers will include Shaina Shepherd, Down North, Bijoux, Combat Mommy, Da Qween, Supercoze, and Brujita XO. READ OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THESE MUSICIANS: https://bit.ly/redefinebazzooka /// Down North @downnorthband is a genre-expansive four-piece band whose influences merge punk, soul, and psychedelic into a energetic blend that sets the stage for an explosive live show. After the pandemic forced them into the studio much more than usual, they’re excited to reemerge into the performance space with all of that pent-up energy. “We have the five or 5,000 rule, which means you give the same exact show to five people in a room that you would give to 5,000 people,” says frontman Anthony Briscoe. “We work hard on showmanship and our skills as musicians; I feel that a lot of people have been making music but don’t have the skill to really play it. There’s a reason why the Motown Records [acts] sound like they do, because you had jazz musicians make it pop music… people who really understood their instrument[s] [were] making those pop records.” /// BAZZOOKAFEST is a partnership between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec, Office of Arte and Culture (City of Seattle)! @bazzookafest @veraproject @supercoze @jaidengraysonmusic @cruisinrecords @seattleparksandrec @bijoux_seattle @thingsareokiguess @seaofficeofarts #SeattleMusician #SeattleMusicians #SeattleMusic #CombatMommy #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine
BAZZOOKAFEST 2022 returns as a free BIPOC-powered music and arts festival. Taking place at Jefferson Park in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the two-day event will feature an array of gender-expansive artists and performers of varying styles. Saturday performers will include Shaina Shepherd, Down North, Bijoux, Combat Mommy, Da Qween, Supercoze, and Brujita XO. READ OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THESE MUSICIANS: https://bit.ly/redefinebazzooka /// After recently organizing the inaugural QTBIPOC So Dreamy Fest, nonbinary indie pop musician Cody Choi, aka @Supercoze, has been focused on playing shows, creating new material, and hopes for an EP and tour in spring 2023. “What really excites me about what I’m doing right now is all of the connections I’ve been making with other creative people and artists that I really look up to as well as just making friends with people that are like-minded in the scene we’re in,” they say. “I’m also excited about the ways in which we’ve been building our own platforms, and how we’ve been able to create the scene that we’ve really always wanted but didn’t necessarily have access to or saw in the years prior.” Their music trends towards the lighthearted and vibrant — often uplifting and full of feel-good emotions, even as they might sing of mental health. “My philosophy around what I do with my work, and in general, is to try and put in more healing and light into a situation, rather than taking or adding a negative energy to it,” Choi says. “So I’m just always hoping to heal from things, and that also helps others heal…" /// BAZZOOKAFEST is a partnership between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec, Office of Arte and Culture (City of Seattle)! @bazzookafest @veraproject @downnorthband @jaidengraysonmusic @cruisinrecords @seattleparksandrec @bijoux_seattle #SeattleMusician #SeattleMusicians #SeattleMusic #CombatMommy #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine @thingsareokiguess @seaofficeofarts
BAZZOOKAFEST 2022 returns as a free BIPOC-powered music and arts festival. Taking place at Jefferson Park in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the two-day event will feature an array of gender-expansive artists and performers of varying styles. Saturday performers will include Shaina Shepherd, Down North, Bijoux, Combat Mommy, Da Qween, Supercoze, and Brujita XO. READ OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THESE MUSICIANS: https://bit.ly/redefinebazzooka /// Coming fresh off a recent KEXP performance, hip-hop artist Donte Johnson, preferably Da Qween @daqweenofeverything, is presently finalizing their next project, a seven-track visual EP called Qween of Hearts, which will follow with a record release show in October. Watching them onstage, one feels them radiating with a sense of ease, fluidity, and comfortability, which seems to reflect their approach to performance. “I’m such a vibe person,” they say in their KEXP interview. “So I feel like: I am a rapper who raps over a lot of different things, because… there’s a lot of different emotions to portray; there’s a lot of different vibes and moods. Sometimes I don’t stick with genres too well.” “I always use the phrase, ‘Help people get free with the power of music,’ in my bios, because I know that I have the innate ability to shift space, and when people get to experience complete vulnerability, it’s an offering of comfort letting you know you can be yourself here,” Da Qween shares with REDEFINE. “I’m up here doing me, so you can do you." /// BAZZOOKAFEST is a partnership between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec, Office of Arte and Culture (City of Seattle)! @bazzookafest @veraproject @downnorthband @jaidengraysonmusic @cruisinrecords @daqweenofeverything @supercoze @seattleparksandrec @bijoux_seattle #SeattleMusician #SeattleMusicians #SeattleMusic #CombatMommy #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine @thingsareokiguess @seaofficeofarts
BAZZOOKAFEST 2022 returns as a free BIPOC-powered music and arts festival. Taking place at Jefferson Park in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the two-day event will feature an array of gender-expansive artists and performers of varying styles. Friday evening's will feature drag performances and music presented by Beauty Boiz @beautyboizevents and the Royal House of Noir @theroyalhouseofnoir -- among the Friday night performers is Jaiden Grayson @jaidengraysonmisic, who will take the stage at 7pm on Aug. 19. READ OUR INTERVIEWS WITH BAZZOOKAFEST MUSICIANS: https://bit.ly/redefinebazzooka /// Solo artist Jaiden Grayson mixes R&B and spoken word to sultry-smooth effect. Most of her recent work, she shares, has been performance-centered; she’s passionate about bringing audience members the “best live show possible,” especially given the ongoing iterations of the pandemic. “What excites me most about what I am doing right now is the opportunity to heal my fans with music and the celebration of art,” she shares. “It is such a critical part of our connectivity and finding grounding during such uncertain times.” Grayson also identifies as an educator and activist. Thus, the philosophy that guides her work is the same one that guides her life. “If I am going to do it, it must be done with integrity,” shares Grayson. “Integrity is the driving force for my passion.” /// BAZZOOKAFEST is a partnership between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec (City of Seattle)! @bazzookafest @veraproject @fuckdannydenial @downnorthband @ @daqweenofeverything @supercoze @seattleparksandrec @bijoux_seattle @seaofficeofarts #SeattleMusician #SeattleMusicians #SeattleMusic #CombatMommy #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine
BAZZOOKAFEST 2022 returns as a free BIPOC-powered music and arts festival. Taking place at Jefferson Park in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the two-day event will feature an array of gender-expansive artists and performers of varying styles. Saturday performers will include Shaina Shepherd, Down North, Bijoux, Combat Mommy, Da Qween, Supercoze, and Brujita XO. READ OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THESE MUSICIANS: https://bit.ly/redefinebazzooka /// Lo-fi experimental musician Chance C. Crafton, aka COMBAT//MOMMY @thingsareokiguess, is presently working on her next album, DOG DNA, and exploring new sounds to build upon her already playful, genre-skipping style. “Above all, music to me is supposed to be about expression and fun, and at the end of the day, whatever you feel best about is what is best. It’s gotta love you first,” says Crafton. Crafton has recently acquired new gear which has expanded her musical options when she least expected it; she believes it will likely change her style, moving forward. “I consider myself a classically trained musician (pianist),” Crafton shares. “And that structure of practicing and consistency and technique is something I really do pride myself on. Like it’s the disciplinarian in me that informs a lot of the artistic vision I’ve had over the years with these projects, I guess.” Regarding BAZZOOKAFEST and its focus on BIPOC communities, she says, “As we know, there just isn’t a space that even considers centering our people, so I believe it’s necessary for events like these to take place. A lot of new ears and eyes are willing to see things when presented in an informed and organized way.” /// BAZZOOKAFEST is a partnership between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec (City of Seattle)! @bazzookafest @veraproject @downnorthband @jaidengraysonmusic @cruisinrecords @daqweenofeverything @supercoze @seattleparksandrec @bijoux_seattle #SeattleMusician #SeattleMusicians #SeattleMusic #CombatMommy #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine
BAZZOOKAFEST 2022 returns as a free BIPOC-powered music and arts festival. Taking place at Jefferson Park in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, the two-day event will feature an array of gender-expansive artists and performers of varying styles. Saturday performers will include Shaina Shepherd, Down North, Bijoux, Combat Mommy, Da Qween, Supercoze, and Brujita XO. READ OUR INTERVIEWS WITH THESE MUSICIANS: https://bit.ly/redefinebazzooka /// The highly danceable two-piece @bijoux_seattle recently released their debut album, Disco Diamond, on Cruisin Records. Now, @jaysonkochan_official (Airport, Midday Veil) and iconic Seattle artist Adé A Cônnére @adeahmir are focused on building their fanbase through performances and videos, as well as writing new music. With their expansive, synth-heavy jams, Bijoux is driven by a love of disco and nightlife, as well as a love of nostalgia and escapism in a dark time. “What excites me about what we’re doing is being able to be a part of an emerging scene post-lockdown,” shares vocalist Adé A Cônnére. “And creating new art through a love of music and a great partnership.” “I think that as a gender-nonconfrming BIPOC artist, there have not been a lot of opportunities to be celebrated for what we do,” she adds, regarding BAZZOOKAFEST. “So a festival like this is important to celebrate and show ourselves.” /// BAZZOOKAFEST is a partnership between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec (City of Seattle)! @bazzookafest @veraproject @downnorthband @jaidengraysonmusic @thingsareokiguess @cruisinrecords @daqweenofeverything @supercoze @seattleparksandrec #SeattleMusician #SeattleMusicians #SeattleMusic #Bijoux #MusicJournalism #MusicJournalist #MusicJournalists #VideoInterviews #ArtistInterview #ArtistInterviews #ArtInterview #ArtInterviews #REDEFINEmagazine
BAZZOOKAFEST returns with a FREE two-day event, BAZZOOKAFEST + THE BAZZOOKA BALL -- a partnernship between The Vera Project, Northwest Film Forum, Redefine Magazine, BeautyBoiz, The Royal House of Noir + Seattle Parks & Rec! /// Open to all-ages and demographics, the free two-day festival takes place on Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 at Jefferson Park in Beacon Hill. On Friday evening is BAZZOOKA BALL; from 5pm to 10pm, drag performances will be presented by BeautyBoiz and the Royal House of Noir. Performances include music by Jaiden Grayson @jaydengraysonmusic and others. Saturday includes a BIPOC marketplace with vendors during the daytime, with live music running from 5pm to 10pm. Performers will include Shaina Shepherd, Down North, Bijoux, Combat Mommy, Da Kween, Supercoze, and Brujita XO. For more information and full schedule, please visit: bit.ly/bazzooka2022 @bazzookafest @veraproject @hellomynameisvee @redefinemag @beautyboiz @lifewithluchi @shainashepherdmusic @downnorthband @bijoux_seattle @supercoze @thedivinesupreme @theroyalhouseofnoir #SeattleShows #SeattleShow #SeattleConcert #SeattleConcerts #SeattlePerformance #SeattlePerformances #SeattlePerformer #BIPOCShow #BIPOCShows #Bazzookafest #DragPerformance #SeattleDrag #SeattleDragArtist #SeattleDragArtists
Written by Vee Hua 華婷婷
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