Dralandra Larkins: Before I Lie
Our first official client!
Dralandra Larkins is a multi-genre writer, award-winning spoken word poet, and the author of Before I Lie (2025). A teaching artist with COMPAS and instructor at Now Make Art, her work blends rhythm, vulnerability, and advocacy—rooted in her background as a social worker. Through poetry and prose, she navigates healing, memory, identity, and Afrofuturist imagination.
Before I Lie
A fusion of Afrofuturistic poetry and confessional prose that defies silence. In her own voice, Dralandra testifies to the complexity of Black womanhood, trauma, healing, and resistance—refusing to be buried by the weight of expectation.
Art by Ian Koviak
As explained in the main showcase, I met Dralandra Larkins through the Go Back and Fetch It! Writing Mentorship Program by More Than A Single Story. Shortly after launching Skull Dogs Media, the company got brought up in a conversation with Dralandra—which is what led to us getting the gig.
Dralandra's enthusiasm for the project was readily apparent, and diving into collaboration discussions with her was both easy and a lot of fun. Right from the start it felt like we were on the same page.
Initially, the project was meant to be a simple author headshot—which actually led directly to our first personal Skull Dogs Media photoshoot, acting as a sample and test shoot at the locations we had planned to shoot her author photos. However, due to a scheduling conflict, the timeline for this project shifted and evolved into something bigger: documenting Dralandra's audiobook recording through photography and film.
A Photo of Jose at the Guthrie from our initial test shoot for Dralandra’s Author Headshots
We would meet at Wild Horse Recording in Stillwater, Minnesota. Jose and I made sure to go a bit early to give ourselves time to set up and find the venue. Before we got started, we stopped by a local coffee shop for some frappes and mini donuts.
Finding the studio turned out to be a bit of a challenge. We had been given the address by Dralandra directly, but Google Maps guided us to a marina that didn’t quite match. Still, we got out and looked around—eventually asking a nearby shop employee for directions to the actual address.
Once we confirmed with the studio owner and called ahead to be sure, we were on the right track. Daryl Bolicek, owner and audio engineer of Wild Horse Recording LLC, welcomed us inside.
The venue itself was impressive. We’d already seen some interior shots on the website, so we had a sense of the space and were already brimming with creative ideas. But seeing it in person sparked something deeper. While I set up the cameras, Jose and Daryl geeked out over the studio gear and discussed some of Daryl’s previous work. Big shoutout to Wild Horse Recording—it’s a top-tier space for music, audiobooks, and more. Daryl was kind, professional, and clearly passionate about his craft.
Things really got going once Dralandra arrived. We started with some portraits in the space before Daryl explained how the recording process would go. Then it was time for Dralandra to do her thing.
Before I Lie is a collection that blends Afrofuturistic poetry and confessional prose—a book that refuses to remain silent. In her writing, Dralandra unearths what shame, trauma, and expectation have tried to bury. It’s a work that centers voice, vulnerability, and resistance. Hearing it in her own voice was unforgettable.
Sadly, we weren’t able to stick around for the entire session due to scheduling, but what we did witness was stunning. Dralandra’s poetry struck me with an emotional force I wasn’t fully prepared for. Her work reflected parts of my own story back to me—moments of silence, survival, and power—and it reached places in me I hadn’t expected. It made me feel closer to her, to myself, and to Jose as well.
She also read with incredible skill. Daryl explained that most narrators require 2–3 hours of recording for every hour of content, but Dralandra often hit a 1-to-1 ratio. Her delivery was strong, clear, and emotionally resonant. It was a joy to film.
After the session, Jose had to run to his 2nd job, but we managed to sort through the footage at a nearby café before I brought everything home for editing.
Thank you for taking a chance on us, Dralandra. Collaborating with you has been a treasure and an honor, and Skull Dogs Media is excited to continue working with you as we gear up for the official release of Before I Lie.
From one storyteller to another: keep your roots deep, your heart open, and your story sacred. We are all still becoming
Keep Howling
~ Christian
