Arias Hoyle (Air Jazz)

Arias Hoyle, who performs as Air Jazz, is a hip-hop artist from Juneau. He is Afro-Indigenous, of African American and Tlingit descent; through Sealaska Heritage Institute he is identified with the G̱aanax̱teidí (Raven / Woodworm) clan and the Yáay Hít (Whale House) of Tlákw.aan (Klukwan). He grew up in a musical household and, by his own account, began writing and recording music in middle school, going to a Juneau recording studio for the first time at age 14.

He writes, performs and records songs that combine English and the Tlingit (Łingít) language; his first music video, made at 16, was for 'Ix̱six̱án, Ax̱ Ḵwáan (I Love You My People).' His songs often address spirituality, healing from generational trauma, and positivity. He is also a member of Khu.éex', a Pacific Northwest Indigenous music collective.

Hoyle performed at the inaugural Áak'w Rock, an Indigenous music festival organized by members of Pamyua that was held virtually from Juneau in November 2021; a 2022 Juneau Empire profile credited him with helping to orchestrate that first festival. At the festival's first full in-person edition in September 2023 in Juneau, he gave a solo Air Jazz set and took part in an Indigenous hip-hop cypher.