This project hosts a series of miniature, solar-powered, public music venues. Each space is custom built and fit into an accessible public space featuring different local musicians. The various totems can be located across Denver and are meant to be found by surprise. However, if you have made your way to this website you are welcome to locate totems specifically, just visit the Sound Totem Website. The original prototype totem is installed in the Uptown neighborhood on the northwest corner of 17th and Washington, a high-traffic pedestrian area and restaurant row.

It is installed directly into a Catalpa Tree (otherwise the Catawba Tree), a local deciduous tree that grows naturally in Colorado. The word Catawba originates from the Catawba Native American tribe, Sioux speaking peoples, and translates to Totem. The tree has a companion, the Catawba Caterpillar or worm that feeds on leaves of the tree. The wood has historically been used as tone wood specifically in creating guitars. The featured musicians are a group of local bratty rockers, The Babysitters. Their lead wrote this original piece, Gigantic Sunglasses.