I did not fully understand the significance of the moment. I did not realize that I was the inspiration for the song and one of the inspirations for the album. However, I believe Carlos Niño grasped all the significance. This album is dedicated to the people who support birth: the Birthworkers.

I stood alongside incredibly talented, amazing, and powerful women — mothers, doulas, and midwives. Together, we were giving birth to a moment in time, and I believe, to a piece of musical history. The concept of creating such a powerful album around birth, the people who support it, and the extraordinary components of the birthing process is outstanding.

For me, as a Birthworker, a mother, writer, and artist, it brought everything full circle. Everything I had learned as a dancer about the body, its mechanics, and how it works deeply informs my birth work. As a Birthworker, performing on this album deepened my understanding and awareness of the phenomenon called birth. As a mother, my love for my children expanded — if that’s even possible. I have great pride in being a mother, understanding it as one of my greatest achievements on this planet.

May 24th, the night of our concert, was magical. The music was alive, and there was a palpable synergy in the space. Carlos brought Maia, Jimetta, VCR, Georgia, and me on stage, introducing us one by one, explaining who we were to him and to the album Placenta. The music began, and the words flowed from my lips: “Placenta made by the baby, for the baby, held by the mother...”

We wove a spell of creation and science, poetry and sound. Our voices blended and swelled as the journey of the placenta captured the imagination of the room. As the words flowed from me as if by their own volition, I engaged the audience, reminding them that each of them once created this organ that filtered out what didn’t serve them. From negative energy to toxic substances, the placenta acts as a filtering system that protects the baby while simultaneously removing what the baby has used up, sending it out through the mother. Together, we encouraged the audience to tap into the energetic aspect of the placenta, urging them to continue filtering what is negative for their mind, body, and soul.

That night, the title track Placenta took center stage. There wasn’t a sound until the music began to wind down. The sirens merged with the vocals in synchronicity, and I uttered the words: “Placenta... made by the baby, for the baby, held by the mother...” There was silence for a few beats before the audience erupted, letting us know they received it, that they got it. It was an incredible feeling. I was transformed that evening. My artistry was reborn, and I will never let it lie dormant again. Sensing the energy in the room, Carlos kept us on stage for the final song, after which he led us into an impromptu procession through the audience, giving all of us the chance to connect on an even deeper level.

As we moved through the aisles, I realized that several of my former clients, whose births I had been a part of, were there. The significance was not lost on any of us. I am forever changed, and I am forever grateful for the creativity and brilliance of Carlos Niño.

—Haize Hawke