DAY DAYZ ON DECK MILLE LACS BAND MEMBER HIP HOP ARTIST
By Mashkodebizhikigahbaw, Benji Sam
Everywhere you look, there is music around us. The very fabric of the world is built around sounds and interactions between musical instruments. Some of those natural instruments might be rustling of leaves in the wind, the calmness of flowing water against shoreline rocks, or birds singing in unison across the forest around us. The Ojibwe have always held music in a special place as our own cultural practices revolve around teachings of the drum in ceremony and celebration. Through the years, that musical dream has changed for some more than others, and has taken many people on their own journey through life.
One individual who is beginning to open his wings and is prepared to fly is District I Band member Eldayshun Big Bear, better known as Day Dayz to his community and followers. What started as hobby, creating beats and rapping with his brother and friends, has now turned into performing on larger stages in the world of music. “I’ve been into music my whole life, and I’ve been writing lyrics since I was about 16 years old,” said Big Bear. “My friends and family used to ask when I would start taking it seriously, and here we are.”
Like many young artists, Big Bear attributes the help of his loved ones and his community upbringing for his success. “When I decided I wanted to really give music a try, I approached my big brother, Todd, because I knew he would give me the tough love I needed to hear, and he loved it. That’s when I knew I could do something with this and until this day, he’s a huge reason for my success,” Big Bear said.
Releasing new music on a regular basis is often a complaint of many mainstream artists around the world and writing music consistently while finding inspiration is often the Achilles' heel of new artists everywhere. When asked about where he finds inspiration, Big Bear notes that most of his music revolves around life experiences, the community in which he was raised, and the vision he has looking to the future. “Sometimes it takes me 15 minutes to come up with new lines while some songs might require a few weeks before I can make it all sound put together,” said Big Bear. “My mother was always a big advocate for expressing your feelings in a healthy way instead of bottling it inside, my way of doing so is sharing the game of basketball and in sharing my love of music.”
Along with releasing a number of singles, Big Bear has also released a music videos with the help of JKFilmedit, who recorded videos for three of his singles including “Cold Stories,” “Strike Down,” and “Rhythm Therapy.” After working on multiple songs and paving the way for music videos to each, the musical journey has taken Big Bear to larger places than he thought possible. “From making a song with my favorite rapper to performing shows outside of Minnesota, this journey has been special in itself,” he said. “Making my music is so much more than just rhyming on a beat and I hope it helps bring hope to those listening and bringing peace from within.”
Big Bear has performed in multiple shows over the last year and hopes to add larger shows and venues in 2024. From venues like The Pourhouse to the Skyway Theater, the possibilities seem endless when you spend time on your craft. “We don’t have any current shows coming up soon, but I will be performing at home during Isle Days this coming summer,” he said.
It goes to show what hard work, talent, dedication, and community support can help bring into existence. Big Bear, rather Day Dayz, attributes this newfound success to the support of his mother, brother, immediate friends, and the Mille Lacs Band community. “It’s truly a dream come true,” he said. Big Bear is hopeful that the next few years continue opening doors into music and that he will be able to travel to larger venues with other Indigenous rappers as well as other local artists who are looking to expand to new heights.
While this journey is to highlight one individual living out his dreams, it is important to remember that when we support our children and help hold doors open instead of limiting ourselves to live behind closed doors, the possibilities are endless in the world of success. When we stand behind our youth and create a community that highlights individual talents and celebrates one another for who we want to be, we can truly all “Make A Difference.”
To listen to Day Dayz, listeners and fans can look to all major music platforms including iTunes, TouchTunes, Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify, and find his latest videos on YouTube
