Welcome to the inaugural episode of LIFT OFF w/ Veronica Cross podcast featuring an interview with Kandia Crazy Horse. Kandia Crazy Horse is an indigenous country musician, rock critic, and writer. In her current Native Americana band Cactus Rose NYC, Kandia (Pamunkey) is joined by guitarists Lonnie Harrington (Seminole/Shawnee/Choctaw/Cherokee) & Jeff McLaughlin. Their album Live From Lenapehoking: Field Recordings debuted last Fall via Bandcamp and was recorded in what is now called Central Park. Over two interviews in May and June of 2025, Kandia recounted her wide-ranging career in music which has also included teaching, interface with some of music’s titans, her 2013 debut album Stampede, and the expansive 2003 book that she edited Rip It Up: The Black Experience in Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Learn more about Kandia Crazy Horse at: Listen to Cactus Rose NYC Music (via Country Everywhere) Cactus Rose NYC Spotify Cactus Rose NYC EP available at Apple Music Live From Lenapehoking: Field Recordings @ Bandcamp LinkedIn (Kandia Crazy Horse) Website (Cactus Rose NYC) Wikipedia (Kandia Crazy Horse) Instagram: @cactusroselovesyou Cactus Rose NYC youtube channel For booking, please contact – [email protected] This interview includes our 2025 conversations from May 21st which aired on LIFT OFF on WHIV 102.3 FM New Orleans (the area indigenously known as Bvlbancha) on June 1st and our follow-up interview from June 8th, and has been edited for consistency and time duration.

Many thanks to Kandia Crazy Horse for the opportunity to tell her music story, which extends far beyond our discussion. To learn more about Cactus Rose NYC music, go to their website Cactusroselovesyou.com *photograph credit: , Kandia Crazy Horse by Camara Dia Holloway