Black Belt Eagle Scout has returned with “Fantasy,” her first new song in three years. In that time, the Swinomish musician Katherine “KP” Paul was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, struggled to walk, and lost the ability to play guitar. “Fantasy” delves into the stresses and struggles of a capitalistic society, and how it took a toll on her body. The single also comes with a music video directed by her cousin Priscilla Hensley and Evan Benally Atwood that features Paul’s mother, aunt, and relatives as dancers wearing handmade Iñupiat garments. You can watch it below.
“I wrote ‘Fantasy’ during a time in my life when I was transitioning out of the nonprofit world and into making music full time,” explains Paul. “I was feeling really burnt out and disconnected from the work I was doing. Working in the Native nonprofit world, I often felt this pressure to be some kind of superwoman representing Native people, while also trying to fit into systems that didn’t always reflect who we are as Native people. I was at a point where I didn’t want to keep trying to fit into something that didn’t feel right for me anymore. I wanted to make music, feel free, spend time in the trees, and reconnect with myself outside of all those expectations.”
Black Belt Eagle Scout released her latest LP, The Land, the Water, the Sky, in early 2023, and toured heavily in support of it before she abruptly had to stop performing due to her health issues.
Revisit the Rising interview Black Belt Eagle Scout Is Bringing Queer Indigenous Stories to Indie Rock.