Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Black Belt Eagle Scout Shares First Song Since MS Diagnosis
Swinomish musician Katherine Paul released “Fantasy” under her name Black Belt Eagle Scout.
It is her first song since her 2024 multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
Paul wrote the song after an MS relapse, while she was leaving nonprofit work to make music full time.
She said she felt pressure to represent Native people and fit into systems that did not always reflect Native identities.
The song pushes back against those expectations and expresses her desire to feel free and reconnect with herself.
Musicians Claire Glass and Nay Mapalo helped produce and finish the track.
Black Belt Eagle Scout has shared “Fantasy,” her first song since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2024.
The song was written after an MS relapse.
Katherine “KP” Paul wrote it while leaving nonprofit work to make music full time.
She said she felt pressure to represent Native people and to fit into systems that did not reflect them.
“Fantasy” was produced and finished with Claire Glass and Nay Mapalo of the band Hikes.
- Who
- Black Belt Eagle Scout, the musical project of Swinomish musician Katherine “KP” Paul.
- What
- She shared “Fantasy,” her first song since her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
- When
- The diagnosis was in 2024; Stereogum published its article on 2026-11-09.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Paul wrote the song while feeling burnt out and disconnected from nonprofit work, and wanting to make music and feel free.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Paul released her last album, The Land, The Water, The Sky.
Paul was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Paul wrote “Fantasy.
Stereogum published an article about “Fantasy,” described as Paul's first song since her diagnosis.
- Artist
- Black Belt Eagle Scout, aka Katherine “KP” Paul
- Song
- Fantasy
- Diagnosis
- Multiple sclerosis, in 2024
- Last album
- The Land, The Water, The Sky, released in 2023
- Producers
- Claire Glass and Nay Mapalo of Hikes
1 source
What people are saying
I wanted to make music, feel free, spend time in the trees, and reconnect with myself outside of all those expectations.
I was feeling really burnt out and disconnected from the work I was doing.
Working in the Native nonprofit world, I often felt this pressure to be some kind of superwoman representing Native people, while also trying to fit into systems that didn't always reflect who we are as Native people.