GFE: On important days in our life, we often remember details of our day, like where we were or who we were with. Do you have a memorable day as it relates to your art going viral? 

Supaman: One of the most pivotal moments for me as an artist was the day I made a decision to do the Prayer Loop song. I wanted to do some looping, I knew I could do it. I wanted to make it special and do it out of my own culture. Both sonically, with traditional flute and my language, and digitally, through video. But, I come from a community that has a lot of protocols. Rights are given to you. For example, the right to speak in public is given to you by your Elders. I knew that the thing I was about to do was almost going against that protocol. I had this idea, but I knew it was breaking the code of my own culture. What I was going to do was brand new. There might be controversy over it. It was a big step to do it. I was grappling with the decision to do it or not to do it. I was scared of what people were going to say.

I was feeling fear, but knowing my own heart, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do something positive.’ And that’s when I created the Prayer Loop song that ended up going viral. 

GFE: So, do you recall where you were?

Supaman: I was in our apartment in Billings, Montana, and I recorded the Prayer Loop song in our bedroom at the time. I knew at that moment, if I’m going to do this, it’s going to be right now.

I was reminded by something an Elder taught me which is that all traditions at some point are new. We respect tradition but change is also considered traditional.

GFE: When you perform in communities, often you create an improvisational piece of art. Having members of the community create with you. What is that experience like for you? 

‍Supaman: It’s awesome. When things are rehearsed and a lot of preparation goes into something, it’s good and it often leads to a quality outcome, but a lot of magic comes from an improv. 

Music often tells you what to do. Magic manifests itself. When you dance for example, the music tells you how to move your body. Being on stage and creating helps you come out of your shelI. I can look back and see how those moments in my life got me out of my comfort zone. It was magical and it strengthened me. When I ask for volunteers to come up on stage, sometimes it’s the people (I learn later) who are shy or find it hard to come out of their shell. But, the magic of that moment brings them up. When we are creating something together, and sharing the spotlight, the focus shifts. We are now a team up there creating something together. It’s not about the outcome, it’s about the process of creating.

GFE: You travel all over the country and even the world performing. When you return home, what are you most excited about?

Being present with my family, my wife and my children. In my journey of life I’ve come to understand what’s truly valuable. That’s time spent with the ones you love. Time spent with them is everything. When I come home and I’m with my family, it’s just like vacation for me.

GFE: As an artist who creates both music and fashion, where do you find your inspiration? How do you fill your creative cup?

I just love the craft of being a performer, a dancer, a producer and DJ. For me, it comes from the love and the feeling that creating gives you. For example, when I was doing hip-hop break dancing, I just really wanted to practice the moves because it was all about the response that I got from the audience. If someone responded positively to what I was doing, if I danced and they said, ‘Yo, that was cool!,” I would get so much joy from that. I guess it’s the dopamine you get from creating and then getting the love from others.

Creating is therapy for me. When I create it helps me in my own journey as a human being. It helps me be at peace. 

GFE: How has being a fancy dancer helped you to take some of the biggest stages in the world, including receiving the MTV VMA award?

Coming from the reservation and my community, we’ve been beaten down and our value has been taken. Taking the stage at the VMAs, it was like the value of my people was coming back from the ashes. I had this amazing opportunity to showcase my culture to the outside world. It was a very public moment to say, ‘I’m valuable. I’ve got something really valuable. My culture is valuable.’ 

I knew where I came from, and I knew that no one else in the world has what I have.

I was just proud to represent my culture and my people. I already knew how valuable it was. And, I took that all with me to that stage for the world to see.

‍GFE: You’ve visited Great Falls a number of times now. What is something about visiting Great Falls you look forward to.

The people. When I come to Great Falls, we always get good vibes. People come out and they are excited. Maybe they’ve seen me before and they are coming back for round two or three. We always get a great response, and I just love the vibe. It’s definitely the people and what they bring.

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