Nicholas Galanin, a contemporary artist of Tlingit and Unangax̂ descent who also records as Ya Tseen, shapes an abstract, atmospheric sound that merges electro pop, indie rock, and hip-hop to explore intimate longings and socio-political concerns. Having previously issued music under the name Silver Jackson and within the collective Indian Agent, he introduced the Ya Tseen endeavor through the 2021 album Indian Yard on Sub Pop, which gathered guest appearances by Shabazz Palaces, Portugal. The Man, Nick Hakim, Iska Dhaaf, Stas THEE Boss, and additional contributors.
Born in 1979 in Sitka, Alaska, Galanin creates across sculpture, jewelry, installations, video, and further media; his pieces have been shown in galleries throughout North America, Australia, and Europe. The work directly engages cultural genocide, appropriation, and environmental damage, while supporting Indigenous sovereignty and projecting visions of a more equitable future. He first produced music as Silver Jackson in the 2000s, launching the HomeSkillet label and its accompanying festival, and joined the multi-disciplinary collective Black Constellation alongside members of Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction.
In 2017 he formed Indian Agent with Otis Calvin III and Zak Dylan Wass, releasing the debut album Meditations in the Key of Red the same year. He subsequently adopted the Ya Tseen alias—drawn from his Tlingit name Yéil Ya-Tseen and meaning “be alive”—and spent four years recording Indian Yard, completing the project around the birth of his third child.
