WICAHPI OLOWAN MUSIC STUDIO

RECORD. PRODUCE. RELEASE.

First Peoples Fund (FPF), in collaboration with Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF), proudly presents the Wicahpi Olowan (WO) Music Program and Studio. Located in the heart of Oglala Lakota Territory, the WO Studio shines as a beacon of creativity on the Pine Ridge Reservation at the Oglala Lakota Artspace (OLA) in Kyle, South Dakota. Led by exceptional talents of award-winning Oglala Lakota artists and engineers, WO Studio warmly welcomes Indigenous creatives from Pine Ridge and beyond, inviting them to a space where their artistic visions can soar.

OLA provides unmatched music services in the region including recording, beat-making, producing, engineering, and training. Join us, let your creativity flow, and be part of a vibrant movement celebrating and elevating Indigenous talent at the WO Music Program.

Recording Services

Book a session with an engineer or come during open hours

Production & Engineering

Beatmaking, mixing, mastering, audio restoration, and training services offered

Distribution Services

WO can help get your music across all digital streaming platforms

Marketing & Business Development

Music video production, album artwork, business and financial management

Recent Productions

Wicahpi Olowan Compilation Album, Vol. 1

First Peoples Fund and Playing For Change Foundation are thrilled to present the the release of the inaugural Wicahpi Olowan Compilation Album, Vol. 1, a selection of recordings produced at the Wicahpi Olowan Music Studio! This groundbreaking project, produced entirely by an all-Native staff and featuring all-Native musical artists from various genres, marks the first anniversary of the official opening of FPF’s Oglala Lakota Artspace and the Wicahpi Olowan Music Studio. Support this album by sharing and listening today!

Check out a selection of other recent productions:

The Wicahpi Olowan Music Program and Studio is dedicated to uplifting and nurturing Indigenous artists. Through First People Fund’s relationship with Playing For Change Foundation and our location in the Oglala Lakota Artspace, we are dedicated to creating a vibrant ecosystem of creativity while honoring cultural heritage through a diverse suite of free workshops, intergenerational activities, concerts and jam sessions, and music production services. We aim to empower aspiring artists and established musicians, songwriters, and producers to thrive. We are committed to celebrating and elevating Indigenous talent, fostering an environment where creativity knows no bounds and cultural roots deepen for generations.

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Founding Partners

Founding Partners

Tour the Studio

Welcome to Wicahpi Olowan

Join Talon Bazille Ducheneaux, Program Manager of the Wicahpi Olowan Music Program and Studio, on an exciting tour through our studio space, showcasing all the fantastic specs available for your creative use.

Whether you dream of a solo vocal session, are eager for a live band rehearsal or recording experience, or are ready to dive into beat-making and production, our enthusiastic team supports your artistic journey. Let’s make your musical aspirations a reality together.

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Mobile Recording Capacities

We record outdoors! Whether solo artists or large groups, we can meet you where you are and maintain high quality, professional recording standards. Only your imagination can limit where we record!  

Watch this video of award-winning artist Emmanuel Black Bear recording live outside at the Oglala Lakota Artspace in Kyle. 

Studio Specs

DAWs Available:
  • Avid Pro Tools
  • Presonus Studio One
  • FL Studio
  • Logic Pro Studio
  • Garageband
Interfaces/Hardware:
  • Avid Carbon 16-Channel Preamp & Carbon Pre Extension
  • Avid Dock & S1 Controller
  • Sound Devices MixPre-10 II Audio Recorder & Interface
Microphone Locker:
  • Neumann TLM 103 Condenser Microphone
  • Neumann KM 184 Stereo Set Small-Diaphragm Cardioid Mic Pair
  • sE Electronics X1 S Condenser Mics
  • Shure SM57 & SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Mics
  • Rode NT4 Stereo X/Y Condenser Mic
Instruments/Equipment:
  • Acoustic Guitars (3+)
  • Electric Guitars (3+)
  • Electric Basses (3+)
  • Ukuleles
  • Acoustic 5-Piece Drum Set
  • Electronic 5-Piece Drum Set
  • Electronic Casio Keyboards (3x)
  • Electric Piano
  • Vinyl/Cassette Player
  • Percussion Instruments
  • Vintage Novelty Instruments
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Media Coverage

WO Music in the News

Check out the press coverage of Oglala Lakota culture and our music studio and community music programming!

VIDEOS

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Book your session now! Studio rental fees include:

  • $50 per hour for recording services
  • $75 for recording with one of our engineers
  • $150 per song for production: beats, instrumentals, composing assistance
  • $100 per song for mixing and mastering
  • $50 per hour to book studio as rehearsal space

For Indigenous artists, we are pleased to inform you that you may select to have these fees waived entirely. Fill out the form below:

After submitting this form, a WO team member will reach out to schedule the booking

Talon Bazille, a versatile artist of Cheyenne River Lakota and Crow Creek Dakota heritage, embodies roles as a rapper, producer, and sound designer. His artistic journey was initiated at 13, guided by supportive uncles, though temporarily paused during post-secondary pursuits. Rediscovering his hip-hop passion at the University of Pennsylvania, he hosted a radio show to uplift underground artists and rekindled his own creative flame.

Beyond hip-hop, Bazille’s artistry spans genres, from crafting soundscapes for installations like “RELATIVE” with Dyani White Hawk & Leya Hale for the Pennsylvania Academy for Fine Art, to participating in significant events like First Peoples Fund’s “We The Peoples Before” concert and Cornerstone Theatre Company’s “Wicoun” tour.

“WCWW” and “DOPA,” his albums, echo evolving rap expressions, while collaborations with diverse artists underscore his commitment to diverse musical forms. Balancing his experiences from reservations to urban life, Bazille aims to honor his heritage and foster healing.