This week on Minnesota Native News, we hear about the official renaming of a popular Minneapolis lake and listen in on a Twin Cities musician who just completed an impressive kickstarter push for her new E.P. Here’s Cole Premo.
Transcript
Minn. Native News: Popular Mpls. Lake Renaming & Laura Hugo Feature
MARIE: This week on Minnesota Native News, we hear about the official renaming of a popular Minneapolis lake and listen in on a Twin Cities musician who just completed an impressive kickstarter push for her new E.P. Here’s Cole Premo.
LAURA HUGO FEATURE
[Song Intro]
That’s the song, “Not Even A Little Bit”, from musician Laura Hugo.
[More song]
Her story is complex and dynamic, much like her music.
I sat down with Laura at one of the places she, and many other musicians, including myself, frequent. Moto-i in Uptown.
Hugo is from a small town, called Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, which is a part of the Navajo Nation. Growing up was a struggle for her on the reservation, to say the least.
HUGO:“The reservation unfortunately does fall into some of those stereotypical categories of poverty and alcoholism and dysfunction. So there, my life has definitely been really chaotic. Not stable.”
Her father wasn’t around a whole lot growing up, and she and her mother moved frequently. Plus, since she’s of mixed ancestry, it was hard fitting in.
HUGO: “People would call me like a dog or a mud. Um, and so I didn't look Navajo like everybody else.”
Despite hardships, her family remained strong and even inspired her to begin creating music. Her grandmother was in a gospel group and her grandpa, well..
HUGO: “My grandpa John is like the Navajo Elvis, like he’s got the good hair, but his voice is just like chillingly beautiful.”
Tough times, however, continued and In 2009, Laura dropped out of high school at the age of 18 -- struggling with mental health issues and a tough home life. It was at that low point in her life when her father’s sister came to visit…
HUGO: I didn't really want to be around anymore and I think she could sense that and she was like, so why don't I fly you up for the summer? And I've been here for eight years. (Laughs)
Now, Laura is an up-and-coming artist in the Twin Cities music scene. And while she’s proud of her Arizona roots, she loves it here. And it’s help launch her music into the world.
HUGO: “It's been probably one of the most beautiful experiences that I've ever had.”
Her songs bridge worlds of country, folk and indie pop.
HUGO: “It's just kind of all over the place.”
She recently recorded a single, “Not Even A Little Bit.”
Here’s a bit of that and her inspiration behind writing it.
That song will be part of her debut EP.
Laura had always planned to record the EP as soon as she could, but a tragedy struck and gave her even more drive to complete it.
Her father, who she had reestablished a relationship with and became very close to, passed away in February after battling pneumonia.
HUGO: “After he passed away, I kind of had this like, oh my God, like people just go, they just disappear and I want to make sure that before I'm done here that I've done something that I can be proud of.
So, she started a Kickstarter campaign as a way to not only fund her EP, but to get the community involved in her music.
Making the goal of $7,000 dollars wasn’t easy, though. And during the ending stretch, she didn’t think she’d raise enough. If she didn’t make the goal, the money is refunded and she would have to try again.
HUGO: “Four days left, I was at 50 percent and I was like ‘I'm not, I'm not going to make it.’”
But at the last minute, a very generous friend of hers offered to match contributions until the goal was met. And it was indeed. She surpassed the goal by over $1,000.
HUGO: “It still doesn't feel real. It's very cool. I did cry and I had to like take a walk just to be like, to just kind of take it in a little bit.”
She plans on recording the 6-song EP in the next few months. You can find her on Bandcamp and Facebook. Just search “Laura Hugo.”
[SONG OUTRO]
BDE MAKA SKA
In other news, it’s official for Bde Maka Ska, the lake formerly known as Lake Calhoun in south Minneapolis.
In July, the federal government officially approved the name change of the lake.
BEANE: “The name Bde Maka Ska, means “White Earth Lake.”
Kate Beane, a member of a South Dakota sioux tribe who holds a PHD in American Studies, is one of the main organizers responsible for the name change.
BEANE: “This whole area is sacred to us.“
The lake was previously named after John Calhoun, a former vice president who was a slavery supporter.
Beane says the name change is ultimately about turning the conversation.
BEANE: “Not only acknowledging the Lakota people but including that in processes and making sure that we have a voice at the table.”
Signs around the lake have already been changed. I’m Cole Premo.
OUTRO