What happens when a legendary heavy musician puts his experience, equipment and creativity in the hands of a group of young people? In the case of Steve Von Till and the Firekeeper Noise Collective, the answer is iiyiikǎakimǎan — a powerful new piece of music about perseverance, connection and belonging.
The song brings together Von Till, best known as a member of the influential experimental metal band Neurosis, and students from Browning Public Schools’ Heavy Music Symposium in Montana. Released through Firekeeper Alliance Records, iiyiikǎakimǎan marks the first in what Firekeeper Alliance hopes will become a continuing series of collaborations between its students and musicians from around the world.
The title refers to the idea of “to try hard, to persevere.” And perseverance is at the heart of the project.
When heavy music becomes a place to belong
The Heavy Music Symposium was created by Firekeeper Alliance as an interdisciplinary high-school program exploring heavy music, creativity, culture, community and emotional expression. Rather than treating heavy music simply as entertainment, the program sees it as a potential space where young people can express difficult emotions, develop creative skills and find community.
For iiyiikǎakimǎan, students contributed guitar drones, spoken words, Blackfoot words and phrases, and field recordings of wind and water captured during their spring semester.
The recordings were made at Buffalo Hide Academy and Red Eagle Campground in May 2026. Von Till subsequently recorded, assembled and mixed the material, with Scott Evans mastering the finished track at Antisleep Audio.
Music, community and mental health
The track was released around World Suicide Prevention Day, reflecting Firekeeper Alliance’s broader work to reduce suicidal distress within Blackfeet Nation.
The organisation’s approach goes beyond talking about crisis. It emphasises creating communities and experiences that can make young people feel connected, creative, valued and excited to return the next day. Heavy music becomes one of those spaces.
That makes iiyiikǎakimǎan more than an interesting collaboration between a respected experimental musician and a group of students. It is an example of how music can become education, cultural expression, mentorship and community-building at the same time.
Listen to iiyiikǎakimǎan
Firekeeper Noise Collective describes the release as the first of many collaborations involving its Heavy Music Symposium students. Proceeds from the name-your-own-price release are intended to help purchase equipment for the group’s after-school program.
Iiyiikǎakimǎan is a reminder that music doesn’t have to change the world overnight to matter. Sometimes, giving young people a voice, a room, an instrument and someone willing to listen is already a form of change.
Listen to Steve Von Till and the Firekeeper Noise Collective’s iiyiikǎakimǎan below. The song is available on Bandcamp, for pay-as-you-like. All the proceeds will go into buying new gear for the project’s after school club.
