By Emma Schwichtenberg

AFROPUNK is coming to Seattle for the first time this weekend.

Set against the backdrop of Pier 62 at Seattle’s new Waterfront Park on September 7, 2024, this all-ages event promises a dynamic celebration of Black culture and music. KEXP’s Eva Walker, known for her role as the host of The Black Tones and a passionate advocate for the local music scene, will be hosting.

AFROPUNK’s debut in Seattle is a significant step for the festival, known for championing Black artists and pushing the boundaries of genre and representation. With a lineup featuring Cautious Clay, Black Ends, BLAST, Lace Cadence, and Faridaguyzzz, the festival is set to spotlight a diverse range of talents. 

Converge Music sat down with Eva Walker to discuss what hosting the upcoming AFROPUNK festival means to her and what we should expect from the festival this weekend.

What does it mean to you to host an event like AFROPUNK Seattle? And what do you think its significance is in the broader context of Seattle's music scene?

I think it's awesome. I remember the first time AFROPUNK wrote about my brother's band and me in 2016 or 2017. I was in the post office, and the article popped up. I don't remember who shared it, but it popped up—or maybe AFROPUNK shared it and tagged us. That was how I knew about it. But anyway, it popped up, and I let out this little yelp at the post office, like, "Oh!" I was so excited. It wasn’t our first national coverage, but it was the one that I cared about the most because it was AFROPUNK. That was back in 2016 or 2017, and to fast forward and be working with them as colleagues now, it's just kind of amazing—like, wow, what happened between all of that time? So, for me personally, it's totally an honor. I'm really glad they're finally going to be doing something here in Seattle. I say "finally" as if they owe it to us or something, but I am glad that they're coming here. I think it's going to mean a lot to a lot of people here in Seattle—Black artists, but everyone in general.

I was born and raised here, so I know what it feels like to be, I guess, left out of the conversation or left out of the representation, even within your community. The Black community is huge, and it's diverse; it’s not one thing. It’s not like a blanket thing. Black Northwesterners alone are their own thing to each other because we're all individuals, you know? And I think people forget about that—that we're all individuals. That said, as a "quote-unquote" culture still, growing up in the Northwest is different than growing up in Atlanta, or growing up in Chicago, or growing up in New York. We hear a lot of those stories, but we don’t really hear the Black Northwestern story. So, I think AFROPUNK’s presence here helps give a voice to this—or, I should say, helps amplify the voice of this other part of the culture, which is the Black Northwesterner, or the pioneer, or the blacksmith, or whatever you want to associate with the Northwest—the fisherman, whatever you want to associate with the Northwest, you know? I mean, I think it gives light to that because it is a different area. It's a different region of the United States, and I just feel like that doesn’t get the spotlight quite a bit.

That’s something I told AFROPUNK. I told them, "We really appreciate your presence here. This is really great." People don’t immediately think of Black culture and think of the Pacific Northwest. They think of the East Coast or the South, you know, stuff like that. So, I expressed to them how important and meaningful it is to have them here, and for them to consider being in the Northwest and to try this out with us and with KEXP. So, yeah, I mean, that’s the impact I feel it will have—not just in Seattle, but in the Northwest in general.

When did you first discover AFROPUNK?

Um, that's a really good question. When did I first... probably not long before we got the write-up, maybe a couple of years before that, around 2014 or 2015. I think the write-up was in either 2016 or 2017, so a couple of years before that is when I became aware of AFROPUNK as an organization. I thought it was pretty freaking cool to know that Black "weirdos" kind of had a place to congregate. And, of course, with it being all the way on the East Coast, it was one of those things that felt out of reach, which is why it's so important that they're expanding and including us in that expansion. I believe they do this in Brazil, too—we've talked about how they're really expanding. So yeah, it kind of felt far away, like, "Oh, it's a dream. That'd be cool." And so, to be doing this now is pretty amazing.

How did you get involved with hosting it? Because you mentioned that you talked to them a lot about it. Did you approach them, or did they approach you?

I was actually on maternity leave. I remember the idea was floating around, I think, before my maternity leave officially started. But even before that conversation, it had been talked about—I think even before I was at KEXP. Certain DJs were kind of trying to figure out how we could do something with AFROPUNK, specifically Black DJs. Or at least go to Brooklyn and cover AFROPUNK. I remember it started with just that idea—like, can we go over there and cover it? But I was on maternity leave when the gears started turning. So I actually don't know who approached whom first. And I was still on maternity leave when they asked me to host it.

I was out for three months, but I got a text saying, "Hey, you know you're out, but we're going through with this AFROPUNK thing. It's happening—the partnership. We're doing a festival here. Would you like to be the host?" And I was like, "Hell yeah. That's a no-brainer, of course." So that's kind of my experience with how I got involved with being part of the festival. I wish I could say I was more hands-on, but the timing of when I had my child obviously took priority. So I wasn't as involved in all the planning and everything as I would have liked to be. But I have my little girl, so that is totally worth it.

Do you know why they chose you?

If I had to guess, you know, I have a Black rock and roll band. And, you know, AFROPUNK is not limited to punk or rock, but I think they knew I've expressed my interest and love for AFROPUNK at KEXP. I feel like it’s no secret that I wanted to be involved with them, or cover the festival, or whatever. But I think they just thought, you know, as a Black rock and roller—and, you know, my—what's the word—like, I’m a good host. I like talking to people, to crowds, and things like that. So my charisma and hosting style, I think, are well-suited for a festival setting. That might be why—it might be a combination of things: being a rock and roller, a charismatic host. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say these things about myself.

Okay, so how do you feel about the series lineup for AFROPUNK in Seattle? Are there any artists you're particularly excited to see perform or looking forward to the most?

I've seen Black Ends several times, and I actually think I was the first to play them on KEXP. So, I'm very stoked that they have this opportunity and that they were asked to play. I am excited about our headliner, Cautious Clay. I did not know who he was just a handful of years ago; my twin brother told me about Cautious Clay. He was a fan. And before I was at KEXP—was it before I was at KEXP?—I did a short run of a radio show on Hollow Earth Radio, and my brother would help with the show. I ended up giving him the show, and he played Cautious Clay. He said, "Have you heard of this artist?" and I said, "No, I haven't." So, he would play him on that show. I got into some of his music through my brother.

When I saw Cautious Clay was on the lineup, I texted my brother and was like, "Look who's headlining!" He was like, "That's awesome!" So, I invited my brother to help me introduce Cautious Clay, just because it's come full circle, you know? So, I'm excited to see him. I've never seen him live.

I was gonna say, when you meet him, you should definitely—I'm sure you will—tell him the story about that.

Oh yeah, of course.

So AFROPUNK kind of has a history of celebrating Black culture and pushing boundaries, how do you think this event is going to contribute to the ongoing conversation about diversity and representation in music?

Yeah, how do I think the presence of AFROPUNK will contribute to the ongoing conversation about diversity? I think, if anything, showcasing artists that people wouldn't normally hear of or go see is just good because it exposes them to something new—they don't know what they're missing. Race shouldn’t be a curtain that keeps people from exploring; I mean, that’s as ridiculous as it sounds. The celebration of AFROPUNK... What am I trying to say? The platform of AFROPUNK is to highlight Black artists, Black freedom of expression, and the diversity within Black culture. But as far as consuming it, that’s for everyone. I think everyone should experience AFROPUNK, regardless of race. It’s an important part of America—not just important, but significant to American culture. Because most things trace back to the inventions of Black people, you know?

So, it’s significant in that way. I think exposure to AFROPUNK, especially in the Northwest—where it isn’t necessarily as highlighted as it would be in Brooklyn or places like that—will make people go, “Oh, crap! This is something I needed to see. This is the exposure I needed.” And I hope that it takes people on a journey to wanting to keep discovering more music from Black artists, because of the platform that is AFROPUNK.

AFROPUNK Seattle emphasizes community organizations, and festivals like this naturally bring people together and help build a sense of community. How do you think events like these can strengthen the community in Seattle?

That's a good question. Well, I think it’s kind of like what I said before, but in a different way. I think people mostly say dumb shit because they don’t know anything about it, you know? And so when you expose people to something like AFROPUNK, and you have that representation of another culture's contribution to art, it makes people more open, you know what I mean? Part of the reason we have the issues we do in the United States is because people don’t want to expose themselves to anything different.

Also, there are a lot of Black people in the Northwest. I know people don’t think there are, but they’re around, and this AFROPUNK presence will help make the isolation feel less so. I think it’s something we need, because definitely, as a Northwesterner, I have felt isolated as a Black rock and roller. Then, when we all started coming out of our bedrooms with our guitars, it was like, "Whoa, you’re out here too. Whoa, you’re out here too. Whoa, you’re out here too." I think the presence of AFROPUNK here is going to do that even more. And so, I think that’ll foster a whole new movement—not just in Seattle, but in the region as a whole.

What are you most looking forward to?

I think just the event itself. I have no idea how AFROPUNK Seattle is actually going to turn out because it’s never happened before. We’ve had, like, “AFROPUNK-themed” events here, but not the actual entity that is AFROPUNK. So, I’m excited to see what this is going to be like and to see what roots or what grows from its presence here. You know, they’re already trying to connect with communities here—not just for the event, not just for a day, but potentially for the long term. I’m helping them with this, too. They’re looking to have a regular connection or network in Seattle. So, I’m looking forward to the event itself, but I’m also excited about the potential outcomes and the lasting impact it could have.

Have you been to any AFROPUNK events in the past?

No, never. I've always wanted to, but it felt out of reach. I couldn’t afford to just fly to Brooklyn and attend a festival. I still can’t now, but especially back when I was just starting in music. I would buy a teriyaki bowl and split it up to eat for all three meals in a day—I was poor. I’ve never been to one, not even outside of Seattle. But now that I have this wonderful child, maybe she can come with us someday. Checking out the one in Brooklyn is definitely a goal—sort of a bucket list item. I saw that Erykah Badu will be performing at the next one, which is pretty cool. 

As a DJ at KEXP, how has your role evolved over the years, and how does hosting events like AFROPUNK align with your past work and future goals?

I started on Audioasis, the local Pacific Northwest music show, and did that for six years. During that time, I also subbed for daytime shows, and occasionally the afternoon show. When George Floyd died, KEXP made a lineup change to include more DJs of color in the daytime slots, leading to the creation of The Early Show and changes in drive time. This shift made room for Larry Mizell to take over the afternoon show.

Initially, I wasn’t part of the lineup change announcement. However, as people started writing in asking about me, I found myself included in the announcement as someone who would be subbing more regularly. Eventually, I was offered the position full-time. I was thrilled because it was my goal to be on air five days a week, even though the hours are early.

Being on The Early Show has made me one of the main faces of KEXP, and with that comes local recognition. This visibility has led to opportunities to host events and continue supporting and highlighting artists, regardless of their background. It’s not about charity; it’s about showcasing excellent music, which should have been highlighted long ago.

As a Black person, I’m in a position to bring attention to music I believe deserves recognition. I hope to continue curating music and supporting artists for a long time. Although I’ve only been in this role since September, and had three months off due to maternity leave, I plan to apply what I’ve learned to whatever I pursue in the future. Ideally, I would like to continue playing with my band and eventually retire from KEXP. If I decide to explore other opportunities, working with NPR, the BBC, or PBS would be exciting. But for now, playing music and working at KEXP sounds like a life I would gladly choose.

That's pretty exciting—happy almost one year on The Early Show! I was wondering, how has your role changed since you had your daughter?

Waking up early and balancing everything is definitely a challenge. Before I started on The Early Show, I discovered that I have a segmented sleep pattern, which means I sleep in sections rather than straight through. I always thought it was insomnia, but then I learned it’s actually a natural trait that people have had for survival reasons. Due to our modern work schedules and societal expectations, we’re often pressured to conform to a single sleep pattern, but that's not necessarily how everyone functions best.

So, getting up at 3 a.m. for the show wasn’t too difficult for me because I was already used to waking up early. When they offered me the early slot, I thought, “Why not use this time to play music for people?” Additionally, I can broadcast remotely most of the time, thanks to the pandemic. I only go into the station on Fridays, and the rest of the week, I broadcast from home.

This remote option was initially implemented in response to COVID-19, when it was important to minimize in-person contact. Although we are considered an essential business and needed to stay on air, the flexibility to broadcast remotely was a great adjustment. Most DJs with weekly shows come into the station, but for me, it’s just once a week.

My husband and I have developed a routine where he takes the early shift while I’m broadcasting. He feeds our daughter when she wakes up, and she actually sleeps pretty well through the night, which is wonderful. I didn’t do much sleep training, so I’m not sure how it happened, but it’s been great. I’m not planning to change anything since it seems to be working perfectly for us.

Why should people be excited for what's to come this weekend?

It's going to be fun and new. We’re all going to be learning something fresh. This event has the potential to really benefit the region. Everyone here, regardless of their background, can gain from exposure to something new, as long as it's positive and inclusive. I encourage people to come out, experience it, and help make it a success. Let's make this an event that they’ll want to return to in the future. Personally, I'm really excited for it!

Find Eva Walker on Instagram @theblacktones.

Afropunk Seattle will take place from 2-8:30pm on Saturday September 7th at Pier 62 at Seattle’s new Waterfront Park. More info at KEXP.org.