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Bluesthem

@bluesthem

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Touring Bassist. Broadcaster. Sharing good food, dreaming, and making!
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Producer of @shugsline 🍊 ⛓ 📻
Bandleader of @blackfolksdontswim

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Braid Maxxing with @desirelines.hair
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Styling and creative direction by myself and @desirelines.hair, beading by me, and I helped to sew the koroba spirals.
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Bio-degradable hair bundles by @rebundle.co in ocean, and honey colors.
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📸: @tafaridiop by @bluesthem

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17 hours ago

Out west with the band. @yayabeybay tour ‘26 by @bluesthem

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11 days ago

Grateful for the opportunity to do some media for @yayabeybay opening for @bilalmusic 🌹
@the.pearl.vancouver
09.18.2026 taken in The Pearl on Granville by @bluesthem

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12 days ago

I do not believe this is an original thought at all…but this is def not a typical coffee order. ☕️🍊 I generally only opt for this beverage combination if fresh OJ is available. Ya won’t yuck my yum!!

Apparently it’s a Virgo thing to order/have multiple beverage options at any given time 🤣

got this, tasty sweet treats, and a stunning ratatouille at @l_atelier_patisserie

How do you take your espresso (if you partake?) would you try this?? taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @bluesthem

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14 days ago

In honor of turning 30 allow me to look back at this moment from 28! Surrounded by love and sweetness and sharing it right back as will continue to be my way.

This year I made another cake(s) for myself and received so many beautiful flowers and wishes from folks. I brought in midnight with a gorgeous slice of bolo de cenoura fofinho (Brazilian carrot cake with chocolate frosting) from @bossanovarestaurant which kind of made me time travel back to this moment 💕

Praying for another blessed decade getting eem BIGGER in my bag. 💆🏾

Tell me about your most memorable birthday cake below! 🎂 by @bluesthem

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17 days ago

New braids for new rotations. Entering my new years blessed by @desirelines.hair
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Parting and layout by @desirelines.hair
Braid down, and additional support from @east.aj
Beading, by me! by @bluesthem

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19 days ago

In honor of going back out on the road, I’m sharing some of my favorite tour memories!
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As Yaya would say, “old b!tches winning” @yayabeybay 💃🏾 iykyk Yaya is one of the realest, and a deft performer. Whether it’s deeply emotional, somber, political, celebratory or all of the above and more, It’s been so cool to grow in the craft together over the past couple of years.
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This show was the second night of a debut in Naarm so called Melbourne, Australia @blackcatfitzroy and jet lag was whopping errbody ass. We literally flew a whole day ahead into the future

I value the way Yaya shows up to this practice because it has given me license to be present,try, pick myself up when/if I stumble, and celebrate the wins and the beginnings again and again. It’s been healing as a recovering Jazz musician. Once again iykyk

Don’t miss Yaya’s show September 25 @theparamountla 💥💥

Now have yall ever seen anybody dance with a whole drink in the hand?? Let alone a cup of hot tea 🤭 idk but I feel this is somehow Caribbean coded and I will not explain. by @bluesthem

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22 days ago

In honor of going back out on the road, I’m sharing some tour memories!
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My support system of lovers, and friends is my inspiration for showing up to my life, artistry, and creative dreams in passion and embodiment!

On this day I was missing @angeledwardsart and anxious to get back home from Rio by their birthday (which a canceled flight made that not happen, plus visa issues had me in the GRU airport for 30+ hours but that’s a story for another time)

Anyhow I was staying in Santos Dumont enjoying this lush breakfast bar that was available every morning at our hotel with lots of fruits and treats including these guava pastries that little green parrot grabbed to snack on with they bird bae 🤭

Fellow travelers and touring musicians do you find yourself missing home or special people when you’re out on the road? Or…do you relish the solo time? I’m somewhere in the middle for sure. And I tend to make friends by aligning with mutual energy everywhere I go 🌎🇧🇷✈️🦜💕 taken in Santos Dumont by @bluesthem

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24 days ago

In honor of going back out on the road I’m sharing some of my tour greatest hits. 🤭
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Picture me laid up in a gorgeous 4 star hotel with leftovers from Torontos infamous New Ho King— but no microwave…so I had to improvise!

And I jiggered an innovative solution that I can’t say wasn’t directly inspired by cutthroat kitchen back in the day. So don’t hesitate to pick the iron as your heating element 🤭
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Fellow touring musicians, and travelers…would you ever try this? taken in Toronto, Canada by @bluesthem

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25 days ago

09.05.2026 Philadelphia Musuem of Art grand stair.

Amongst giants in the constellation of the Karen Smith Experience in commemoration and honor of the Coltrane Centennial. 🌌

Black artistry is alive and held well in the music, the movement, the poetry and intention 👊🏾💥

Bonus: Picture me mistakenly dropped off at the musuem front entrance and running up da Rocky steps with my bass, and amp in tow 😮‍💨💪🏾🦵🏾

@karensmithdrums @coltrane100philly @philamuseumart by @bluesthem

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a month ago

Happy to close and enter a new decade supporting friends in music. This here is a favorite from a series of headshots witnessing my elapsed 20s Happy to keep my witness current in front of a very talented lens.
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Shot by: @tafaridiop
Braids by: @desirelines.hair w/ @rebundle.co braid better
Bead work by: ME
All visible tattoos by: @intentionalartforthebrave

Playing 09/05 w/ the Karen Smith Experience @karensmithdrums at the @philamuseumart to celebrate the Coltrane centennial. I’ve been working on a couple of things to commemorate this giant but excited to lend some low end with this amazing lineup.

Back on de road supporting Yaya @yayabeybay opening for modern giant Bilal @bilalmusic I’m on these first 5 dates here.

Supporting @yayabeybay for another of her headline type beats at the Paramount, LA. Last time she was there we absolutely turned it out so cop your tickets ASAP. 🤭 by @bluesthem

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a month ago

🌟🍽️NEW COMMISSION
client: women’s way philly
service: community dinner + workshop

@studio.emefa hosted our first commissioned workshop at @freelibrarycook last month! The team at @womenswayphilly reached out to us to bring something new to their educational programming on the social safety net, with a focus on food programs like WIC and SNAP.

the result: everyone eats - a free communal dining experience to help guests reimagine and reclaim social safety beyond fleeting government programs. through group activities, mindfulness exercises, guided discussion (and a bountiful meal), we explored simple ways to make the most of our food, develop networks of care, and find nourishment, together.

while i love the esoteric, conceptual nature of my art practice, i am grounded by opportunities to gather real, good people around real good food – no frills. the free library’s culinary center provided a perfect container for the hands-on, educational aspects of our time together. pickling, butchering, and storytelling just like we would at home.

i had the honor to collaborate with some dear friends who have taught me so much about what it means to feed people. this project is indebted to their minds and hands. big thank you to women’s way for trusting us to deliver and to the folks at free library for hosting us. <3

credits:
producer + sous / pastry chef: @emefa.xyz
lead chef: @bluesthem
prep cook + facilitator: @ahoneyinprogress
photo + video: @shadracks.hands
client: @womenswayphilly
venue partner: @freelibrarycook by @bluesthem

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a month ago