| Kisar Jones-Fryberg shares many personal feelings on his
first collection of original songs, "Perfect World."
An 18-year-old Tulalip Tribes member, he and his marketing
agent (who is also his grandmother Michele Madison) are planning
steps to take the collection to the outside world.
Presented in rap style with a soft edge, Kisar's heart-felt
poetry shares his thoughts and feelings about what it was
like to grow up Native American on the Tulalip Reservation
within the larger United States.
His lyrics contain sad truths about racism and prejudice,
pride in being Native American and hope for the future.
"All the Natives in the past would have wanted so much
more," he chants to the beat of rap.
"Drinking liquor never was part of the plan," he
chants.
"In this Land of the Free; they stick us on the Res."
"You gotta look at what is wrong and wanna change it."
"If you ever had a dream that was suddenly broken; If
you ever got in trouble for being outspoken; If you had a
girlfriend turned bad—all that love turned to hate;
If you ever had a good day turn bad; If you ever had a crazy
mother and a dead-beat dad;
Get out of this past; I have places to go; people to see;
It's a hard decision; Who do I love; I just looked to God
and He showed me how."
Kisar started writing poetry when he was 9 years old. Having
listened to rap music all of his life, he started putting
his poems to beat as a teenager.
"It made it all that much better," Kisar said.
Kisar has performed around town at private parties for friends
and school events and he performed at a fundraiser that the
Tulalip Tribes held for the Marysville school bond in September.
He also enjoyed a spot on the Tulalip Amphitheater stage for
the Katrina Benefit in September.
"I got bombarded by the kids and their mothers,"
Kisar said.
Kisar sees his music as a way to teach other young people.
"We have to modernize our ways to communicate with the
young," he said.
Kisar said he was most inspired by the originators of rap,
Dr. Dre and Tupac.
"They are the biggest rap musicians."
His marketing agent is very proud of her grandson.
"I love his music," she said. "It speaks very
positive of our culture and is so full of hope. It shows that
he is proud to be Native American."
Kisar said that his songs contain bits and pieces of the
poetry he had written through the years.
Now that he has local recognition, Kisar and Michele have
found a promoter in California and they are planning a strategy
to get his music out to the rest of the world. Kisar is booked
to play at Studio 7 in Blaine and at Chemawa Casino in Oregon.
"First we'll reach out to college radio stations,"
Michele said. "Next summer we'll start the Perfect World
Tour."
"Perfect World" was recorded at No Script Studio,
by John Candelio, producer, and engineered by Don King, in
Seattle.
"Perfect World" features the song of the same name,
as well as "Komplex Kai" "Too much has happened,"
and "Where I'm from."
It is one of two albums released by a new Tulalip Company,
Madison Record Company. The other one "War and Other
Things," features country music by Kisar's uncle, Guy
Madison.
Madison Record Company was established by the Madison family
to help encourage young Native American artists as well as
non-Native youth with their careers.
"When a young person is seen up on the stage, or with
a CD, then other kids realize they can do it, too," Michele
explained the reason for starting this service.
"Now that we have the amphitheater, we want to present
our talent and reach beyond the tribal setting," Michele
said.
Kisar Jones-Fryberg works by day at Tulalip Data Services.
"I'm getting trained in audio engineering," he
said.
Michele is manager of K&G Construction.
Coming soon, Kisar's cousin, Curtis Taylor is featured on
"Fingertrace" with alternative-style rock music.
"When the younger kids see Kisar up there on stage,
it opens the door for them to go through," Michele said.
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