As one half of surly Minneapolis hip hop partnership The Tribe & Big Cats!, originators of the NUN FUX GVN slogan and purveyors of the mantra “Stay High,” you might not assume that Spencer Wirth-Davis, AKA Big Cats!, would have a softer side.

The truth is the talent heard in Big Cats!’ work draws on duality, like most great things in life, and one of the most important people in his realm of inspiration is Christie Wirth-Davis. I know what you’re thinking—his wife, right? Wrong.

Christie Wirth-Davis is the late mother of the prodigal DJ, who lost a battle with ovarian cancer in 2010.

Wirth-Davis describes the inspiration his mother brought: “If it weren’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be making music today. Growing up, she devoted an incredible amount of time, effort and money to my music. She drove me to lessons, rehearsals, and band practices, put up with noise at all hours, records strewn around the house, and my tendency to play the largest instruments possible, and she was always the first to hear any new music I was working on and give feedback. This album is my eulogy for her.”

The album, “For My Mother,” will be available on October 2 on CD and vinyl, with a release party at The Cedar in Minneapolis, MN on October 11. Album pre-order and tickets can be purchased here. Listen to the single “One” below.