- [Sahara] 10-4?

- [Pete] 10-4, rubber ducky.

- Good evening and welcome.

It's KVCArts.

Arts and entertainment in our region as well as the people and places providing it.

I'm Sahar Khadjenoury.

Tonight is music and conversation with dark country musician and filmmaker, Pete Sands of Blackkiss.

And you can find his and other artists music videos on The Aboriginal Unity Experience, the indigenous music video series from FNX, fnx.org/theaux.

(soulful country music) ♪ Well it seems like the sun ♪ ♪ Has lost its will to shine ♪ ♪ When he heard all the truths ♪ ♪ I told you lies ♪ ♪ There's not enough whiskey for me to drink ♪ ♪ To make my memories of you go away ♪ - I think if people were to watch your music videos, you also get a feel for your style, your view, kind of viewing the world through Blackkiss vision.

(both laugh) - That's a scary thought right there!

(laughing) - Your videos have an interesting texture to them, because you give a little taste of the Southwest, and a little biker culture, there's something rebellious, and dangerous at the same time.

Kind of teeter-tottering on these really soulful lyrics, and that really works.

♪ You want to die, I just want you to know ♪ ♪ That I did love you ♪ ♪ But sometimes inside the devil's eyes ♪ (vocalizing) ♪ I hope I see you walkin' down the streets ♪ ♪ Holdin' the hand of a better man ♪ ♪ All I wanted was you to be ♪ ♪ The woman I always see ♪ ♪ Well I know that I made you cry ♪ ♪ With all my lies ♪ ♪ Even made you want to die ♪ - When we talk about music and the music that you're making, and the music that you're performing, you just hear the music and you can feel the music, and it's something very different each time.

Talk to me about the different musicians, or the different instruments that you have incorporated into your dark country music style.

- Right now I play with my buddy Renata Javadov, cello player, and she's been playing with me for about, almost two years now.

But even her joining me was something very different, to have that cello follow the haunting sounds of Blackkiss.

(emotional country music) ♪ I punched a first class ticket ♪ ♪ Straight to her ♪ [Pete] The storytelling to me is what's very important so whatever instruments that I want to put on a song has to compliment the story.

I think it was the guitar player for Maroon 5.

They asked him, "What's a good guitar player?

What's a great guitar player?"

He says, "A good guitar player can play all the notes, "can play all over the frets.

But a great "guitar player will serve the song."

And from that, I knew exactly what he meant.

So when I write a song, or when I perform live, I like to have instruments and people who cater to the song, not try to shine on their own.

Because as a collective you have to be able to hold something together with all your hands included.

And when one side falters, it just unbalances everything, so I'm very careful about who I let enter my world in that sense.

But I'm always open to try something new; keep that open mind.

But I've had steel guitar players, cellos, violinists, harmonicas.

Had an accordion player play with me for a while.

Drums, other guitar players, but there's probably more things out there that I want that I haven't yet discovered.

Mixing it up is something I've always wanted to do.

Because as an out-- you feel like an outsider.

I mean I always felt like an outsider when I was younger, I was picked on a lot.

Bullied, as well.

You try to collect things, to try and make yourself normal.

In that sense, you collect things from different cultures, or different things you see in magazines, or movies, or whatever you listen to.

And you put that as a part of yourself to try and make yourself normal, but it makes you bloom into something else.

So that's why it's very important for me to mix it up.

I do it unknowingly, sometimes.

(emotional country music) Shooter Jennings and Pete!

(laughs) (crowd chatter) - Tell me what was it like to meet your idol, Shooter Jennings?

- I first met Shooter a couple years ago, and I wasn't really making music at the time, and he really encouraged me to try it.

Everybody has unique perspective on anything.

It was back in 2010, I think it was, when I met him.

That's when he encouraged me.

He gave me directions to where his father was laid to rest, and he says, "Go visit my father, "and see how you feel after that."

So I went a couple months later, and I stood at the grave site of Waylon Jennings.

There's so many things people leave there, like CDs, just stuff to honor the guy.

After that I said, "I've gotta give this a try."

So as the years passed, I would run into him every now and then.

And we started building a repertoire, and it got to the point where he saw what I was becoming.

He saw through Instagram, especially-- everything's through Instagram!-- he saw the progress I was having, not only as a songwriter, but as an artist.

As an artist, if you're true, true to yourself and how honest you are with your fans and the people, other artists will gravitate toward you.

Because you have something to offer, more than just something superficial.

And he's seen that now.

I talked to him.

When I first came to LA yesterday, he told me and said "Hey, man.

I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

It really doesn't click.

It really doesn't dawn on me, 'cause I just see them as friends.

But when I sit back and really think about it, I think, "A couple years ago, you didn't know him, "and you weren't an artist, and you always dreamed "of playing and meeting your idols, "and people you've known, like Yellow Wolf and Shooter, "and Whitey Morgan, Randy Rogers."

And now I've played with all of'em!

It just blows my mind, and sometimes it kinda scares me.

Because as a little res-kid a little Navajo boy growing up on the Navajo reservation, you dream of things but you never really think that you would ever achieve such things.

Meeting the filmmakers I've met, Oscar-winning actors, and Oscar-nominated directors, and they know you.

They know your name.

It just blows your mind!

It blew my mind.

It just made me feel...

I don't know...?

I felt like blushing!

(laughs) I don't know!

I felt... embarrassed.

I don't know why.

- You know Peter's a friend.

And, there's singers and then there's voices, and this is a voice.

The difference is, you listen to a singer, but a voice is the soundtrack of your life, and that's what this guy is.

I'm honored he asked me to be here tonight, and to introduce him and his band.

And I can't wait to hear him, so here you go.

Here's Peter Sands and Blackkiss.

- It's one of those things where people tell you, "Keep working on your dreams, 'cause you never "know what could happen," and that's true, you know?

I came from such a small world, but my creativity was something that was more than just where I grew up from.

People like Shooter who have encouraged me, and supported me, behind the scenes, I don't really put it out there all the time, you know, "Shooter Jennings calls me!"

or whatever, 'cause I want to build it on my own.

I want to build this Blackkiss with people who I came up with, who I built with.

And that's very important to me because they were there when none of this was here.

When we were just unknowns.

♪ On a long, lonesome road ♪ ♪ From Boulder to Tucson ♪ ♪ I find myself draggin' my feet ♪ ♪ Even with the sun pushing me away ♪ ♪ There's still a hundred highways ♪ ♪ And a few more to go ♪ When people invest their time in me, especially when fans come out to watch and see, 'cause they're taking time out of their lives to come see me, and you've gotta respect that.

I respect it so deeply, and I'm extremely thankful for that.

Especially for the people who invest money in me, that is the ultimate form of faith.

You know, it's one of those things where...

Some of them don't have a lot of money, don't have a lot to give.

But, they give what little they have to what I believe in, and that is something that I can probably never pay back.

(moody country electric guitar solo) ♪ ♪ The old preacher of town ♪ ♪ Was her own devilish father ♪ ♪ And he was the one who shot her down ♪ ♪ ♪ I went as a lover ♪ ♪ Of the best whore in town ♪ ♪ And I cried for her soul ♪ ♪ As she was lowered in the ground ♪ ♪ ♪ My dear old one ♪ ♪ Said I was gonna die and spend eternity ♪ ♪ Polishing his crown ♪ ♪ So many miles makin' my moods ♪ ♪ Become one with the road ♪ ♪ There's still one more place I have to go ♪ ♪ To find my love ♪ ♪ I must go to Helldorado ♪ ♪ A sinner's town ♪ - That amount of faith and support in you from your fans is most definitely priceless.

As is projects where you are tapping into a more cultural background.

I was just thinking about your work with Mr. Tohonnie, and that close relationship you have.

That's something that directors are not able to build, because you're inside the circle, you're inside the community, making films with and about the community.

I think it's really unique.

Tell me more about your (laughs) project with Joe.

- Joe Tohonnie Jr. is a White Mountain Apache Crown Dancer/singer.

He comes from a long line of Crown Dancing, and Crown Dancing singers.

He's a two-time Grammy nominee.

Very powerful voice, man.

He has a voice that can move ya.

For him to give me a chance to sing with him?

I was a huge fan of Joe Tohonnie for years, and clan-wise we're related, 'cause he's half-Navajo.

So clan-wise, he's my older brother.

So when we got to know each other, he's one of those guys that had faith in me when he first met me.

He says, "You have a different, unique way of playing "your music and being the person you are.

"It's gonna be tough for you to find "that audience.

But once you do, "it'll be dedicated, loyal fans and supporters."

He identified that immediately because he's kind of seen as an outsider as well, but he reaches so many people.

I'll tell you, the first show I ever played with him was in Monument Valley, Utah.

That's the first time I ever sang with him, was in Monument Valley, Utah.

After the show it was quite something to see people line up such a long ways, just to get a prayer with him.

So these shows he plays, and people wait for him, just to get a prayer with him, and he'll stand there, and he'll pray.

Sometimes it'll take two to three hours before we can leave after his show, because he'll stand there and do these little prayers for people.

And give them little blessings, just to show appreciation for people who come out for him.

Seeing things like that and how he treats his fans, has showed me that there's no excuse for me not to do that.

(Native American singing) (drumming joins the voices) [Pete] Joe has taught me a lot, and he's still goin', man.

He's still got that voice.

He's got so many songs.

He actually gave me a drum of my own, so I can practice at home, so I got an authentic Joe Tohonnie drum!

(laughs) - I'm jealous!

- But if I get desperate I'll put it on Ebay!

- No.

I'll bid!

(laughs) - Yeah.

So Joe's a good guy.

He's had some struggles he's gone through, but he's overly positive, and he doesn't let anything negative get him down.

And that's what I really appreciate in him showing me, is how to treat the fans, and how to show appreciation.

And, just to try to remain positive, through the negativity that tries to bring people down.

- You have the Native sound but it's not overbearing, and it's not like you're tryin' to overdo it.

Like, "Yes, I get it.

You're Native."

(he laughs) But it's like a whisper of culture, and I feel that country feel, and that drifter feel, all at the same time.

But I have to kinda illustrate to the people who are listening to this interview, if they could catch a glimpse of your jewelry, they would be just as envious as I am.

Wow!

You were playing the guitar yesterday, and you were strummin', and I was watching your hands.

I could just see from the light, the stage light, how each ring was shining!

What kind of stones do we have there?

They're set in metal.

We got some turquoise.

- I got some rings from my friends Travis Tut and Tyler Johnson, and this bracelet actually has been in our family for years.

And a lot of the other rings were given to me as gifts from jewelry makers, and some are from fans.

The turquoise rings are made all by Tyler and Travis.

And it's, you know...

I never wore rings, ever, when I was younger, or even just recently.

And I got my first ring actually from my younger brother.

It had a wolf on it, and he gave it to me, and I wore it.

And then, just pretty soon people started gifting me rings.

I had a whole bunch of rings, but I was in a car accident a couple years ago, in Salt Lake.

My car was totaled, and I lost a lot of stuff in there, but it's just stuff, ya know.

I'm still alive.

That's what counts.

(chuckles) But after that, I realized that there's power in the stones.

In Native American cultures, turquoise has power to it.

And when I started getting these rings from these guys, it just gives you connection to a past that... because they handmake all these, and some of them have so much intricate detail, I just wonder, how do you do that?

Travis made me this Slumerican Sands ring with the lightning bolt on it, and Tyler gave me my first turquoise piece, is on my middle finger, I don't wanna flip the camera off, but (chuckles) my middle finger.

That was my first turquoise piece he gave me when I played a show out in Phoenix.

We actually bartered, so I can't say he gave me!

(laughs) The Indian way of doing things.

We bartered.

And ever since then, it's been a good relationship with those guys, and they're tremendous silversmiths.

Great people, as well.

Great family guys, and big supporters of mine and I support them, as well.

And I can't think of not wearing these at all, now.

I wear'em all the time, even when I play.

When people see me play, after the show they just ask me, "Where do you get these rings?

"Where do you get these things?"

But I always tell people who want Native American jewelry, it's gonna cost a lot.

It's the real, authentic stuff.

If you want the real deal, you have to pay the real prices.

-Absolutely.

-People always ask me, "Where do I find "Native American jewelry?"

And, I always tell them "Go drive to a reservation, or drive by it... -Bravo.

-"and buy it from the people who sell it themselves."

That's the most important thing.

We've got social media now.

We got a lot of silversmiths who are kind of Instagram celebrities now, and they got some tremendous work.

And there's so many out there that even I haven't found yet, and hopefully I'll find them, and meet them, and barter!

(laughs) Yeah, I'm very thankful for the rings I got.

- They're gorgeous.

I love them.

- Thank you.

- I know that you have a new album coming out.

When does that come out and how many songs can we expect?

- Well, the album's gonna be called, "Dark Side of Country," and it's gonna be totally different.

We started laying down the tracks two weeks ago, and we're gonna have a total of 12 songs on it.

I plan on releasing it on January 26th, 2018, and that's gonna be the first disc.

There's gonna be two discs.

The first disc will be acoustic; the second disc is gonna be electric.

So then the second disc will be more rock-oriented, and the first disc will be more country, acoustic feel to it.

So, it's gonna be a total of 24 songs altogether.

- Wow, you're doin' it big!

- Yeah, we're aiming high this year!

(chuckles) - I dig that!

- It's a dream.

After the album's done, I can die a happy man 'cause I would have done everything I wanted.

I'm in a place where I'm happy, and it's good right now.

♪ Well I hurt myself today ♪ ♪ To see if I still feel ♪ ♪ I focus on the pain ♪ ♪ The only thing that's real ♪ ♪ The needle tears a hole ♪ ♪ The old familiar sting ♪ ♪ Try to kill it all away ♪ ♪ But I remember everything ♪ ♪ What have I become ♪ ♪ My sweetest friend?

♪ ♪ Everyone I know ♪ ♪ Goes away in the end ♪ ♪ And you could have it all ♪ ♪ My empire of dirt ♪ ♪ I will let you down ♪ ♪ I will make you hurt.

♪ - Okay.

Inquiring minds want to know, and maybe it might be just mine, will we see, or hear, a Blackkiss song in Navajo?

- That's actually a main request I get from people, and I say, "Nothing's out of the question."

It's a possibility.

-Good answer!

-Who says I haven't written some already?

(laughs) - Could we get a sneak peek?

- I don't have my guitar with me.

- I tried!

(both laughing) - Yeah, I'll probably release a three-song, three or four Navajo song in Blackkiss.

I'm not gonna redo old Blackkiss songs, but I'm gonna write new songs in Navajo, and I hope people like it.

- 'Kay den.

(both laughing) - With that old Blackkiss savoir faire, Pete, Ahéhee laa' (Thank you).

You took time, you're sharing previous projects and what you've got going on.

So thanks for joining us this evening!

- Thank you for having me.

♪ Everyone I know goes away in the end ♪ ♪ And you could have it all ♪ ♪ My empire of dirt ♪ ♪ I will let you down ♪ ♪ I will make you hurt ♪ ♪ If I could start again ♪ ♪ A million miles away ♪ ♪ I would keep myself ♪ ♪ And I would find a way.

♪