TUBAS

Tubas reflects upon the use of the black body as an instrument for political agendas, and how we can recontextualize this power dynamic by centering our perspective, taking back the instruments of power in order to play *our own songs* and tell *our own stories.*

It’s been a challenging year for me creatively and this is an idea that I’ve had shelved since 2020. I’ve lowkey been passing this moodboard around for years and It honestly just feels good to just make something, and overcome the fear of actually releasing work to the internets. The project started with a google search “largest instrument you can carry” and I was off to the races from there.

The idea resurfaced after I visited Grambling homecoming for Adidas and photographed the tuba section. (scroll down my feed) I felt so black in that moment, like so many black stories, the tubas were booming and commanded immediate attention–a trait that I wish I had a little more of at times.

Shouts to @jackavelithedon who I ran this idea by during Culturecon NY and was like “yeah I can get you some tubas” then proceeded to source some the next day. A madman.

Thank you to @happypplstudio for opening the space. I’m looking forward to sharing more from this project in the coming days.

photography: @mark.c
stylist @marquisemiller
studio: @happypplstudio
set @jackavelithedon
lighting : @dinbaedin
assisted by @iamkendraharris
film dev: @arthousefilmlab
scan : me & icon la
dp : @iambrimonet
gear : @freestylecinemarentals
shot on @canonusa

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