Our third spotlight interview in this year’s cohort is with Cydi Yang (she/fluid). Cydi is a spoken word artist, musician, and dancer. Her new work for the 2022-2023 Cedar Commissions Soul Call is a modern interpretation of the traditional Hmong hu plig ceremony. In this ceremony, a soul is called back to the body after experiences of darkness create a disconnect. Cydi spoke with Twin Cities music writer Youa Vang about pushing their artistic boundaries, exploring their expression as a Hmong person, and what the art of spoken word means to them.