Art, Community, and Resilience in East Oakland:: Hoodland Chronicles with Roy Miles, Filmmaker, Puppeteer, and Toymaker
Art Heals All Wounds
04/05/23
•45m
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Today, I’m joined by Roy Miles, aka Ghetto Geppetto, a filmmaker, motion graphics artist, puppet maker and puppeteer, toymaker, and animation artist. On top of his impressive resume, Roy is also a former student of mine who stands out as one of the most creative people that I’ve had the pleasure of working with.
Roy has an animated universe called “Hoodland'' that's somewhat of a West Coast version of Sesame Street. Growing up in the 70s and 80s in East Oakland, Roy looks back fondly on his childhood of biking around the city with his friends and experiencing the liveliness of different neighborhoods. In our conversation, he describes how he draws on those memories to create the multidimensional characters and storylines in the Hoodland series.
Even though we can laugh at some of Oakland’s unique qualities and reflect on the rich history and culture of the city, there’s no denying how gun violence and disparity have deeply impacted the community. Roy looks back on how he leaned into his creative practice to cope with depression after his wife and children were caught in the crossfire of a shooting. He also explains why he’s not planning on leaving Oakland.
Listen, rate, and review Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Moments and people from Roy’s life that are represented in Hoodland
● Celebrating the multiculturalism and close-knit communities in East Oakland
● Struggling with creativity and a sense of artistic purpose after tragedy
● Honoring the creative ingenuity and expression of people from East Oakland
● Why Roy is committed to staying in East Oakland
Guest Info:
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Previous Episode
Today, I’m joined by Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea, aka La Doña, to discuss the inspiration and meaning behind her “Femmeton” music.
As a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and educator from The Mission in San Francisco, CA, La Doña’s music draws on many of the social-political issues of her neighborhood. From women's empowerment and trans-inclusivity to gentrification and climate anxiety, she offers an honest look at her life as a young, queer, Latinx person in the Bay Area.
La Doña brings an intentional femme perspective to the typically misogynistic themes of reggaeton. In our conversation, she walks us through two songs: Cuando Se Van and Nada Me Pertenece. She also opens up about the pressure that so many Bay Area musicians experience and factors that ultimately drive them out of the city. But despite those challenges, Cecelia is dedicated to continuing to show up for her community and keep her culture alive.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● The inspiration behind La Doña’s music and lyrics
● How gentrification has disrupted the cultural fabric of many Bay Area communities
● Challenging the narrative that musicians need to move to LA to be successful
● How La Doña and other Bay Area artists work to maintain space for their culture
● Experiences that have informed Cecelia’s songwriting process
Guest Info:
● Nada Me Pertenece Music Video
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● Art Heals All Wounds Newsletter
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Next Episode
Today, I’m joined by Mathew Gabriel Gonzales (aka Philthy Dronez), musician and music producer, to explore the roots behind his signature West Coast Cumbia sound. As an Eastside San Jose native, Mathew draws inspiration from the hip hop, funk, and cumbia rhythms he grew up around in his vibrant neighborhood.
In Mathew’s words, music doesn’t have borders, which is why he celebrates the multicultural melting pot of Eastside San Jose. In our conversation, Mathew gives an overview of the history of cumbia and why it’s had such a major impact on his life. He describes the throughlines of the genres he mixes, namely how they’ve all emerged from collective oppression.
Between the flashy lowriders, steaming bowls of pho, and lively music streaming from every direction, outsiders might write Eastside San Jose off as ‘rowdy’ or ‘disorderly.’ But to Mathew, that’s what makes the city so beautiful and what he hopes to portray in his innovative music. He shares his plans to travel through Europe this year and show people around the world what West Coast Cumbia is all about.
Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Topics Covered:
● Mathew’s musical background and how he started developing West Coast Cumbia
● The history of Eastside San Jose’s old nickname, “Sal Si Puedes” to United Farm Workes “Si, se puede”
● How the Vietnamese and Latino cultures intersect in San Jose
● What drew Mathew to experiment with cumbia music
● Mathew’s vision for expanding the reach of West Coast Cumbia
Guest Info:
Follow Me:
● Art Heals All Wounds Website
● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram
● Art Heals All Wounds Twitter
● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
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