Fourth of July narrated by Daveed Diggs
I was honored to be a part of this piece (music, sound effects) in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives for this piece that came out July 2, 2020. It is building momentum with over 10 million views and an airing on CBS This Morning with Gayle King.
Daveed Diggs demands we ask: ‘What to My People is the Fourth of July?’
‘Hamilton’ Actor Launches Provocative New Video with the Movement for Black Lives
Oakland, CA – Amidst the growing national uprising against police brutality and racist violence, Tony award-winning actor Daveed Diggs (“Hamilton”) is launching a bold new video that asks a simple, provocative question: what does the Fourth of July mean to Black people in America right now?
Inspired by Frederick Douglass’ historic speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, Diggs’ new video asks poignant questions and radical truths, naming and reframing America's claim of “liberty and justice for all.” Written by a national collective of Black artists including Emmy Award winner W. Kamau Bell, National Book Award finalist Danez Smith, legendary emcee Pharoahe Monch, and award-winning writers Safia Elhillo, Lauren A. Whitehead, Angel Nafis, Nate Marshall, Idris Goodwin and Camonghne Felix, the video pairs Diggs’ powerful performance with images that juxtapose America’s ideals of freedom with the realities of police violence, economic exploitation, and public health devastation.
The full video “What to My People is the Fourth of July?” will be launched this Thursday, July 2 in the leadup to the national holiday this weekend.
"When I heard that some of my favorite writers were remixing the original Frederick Douglass speech -- a piece that has always meant a lot to me -- and that they would like me to perform it, I jumped at the opportunity,” said Diggs, who is in the public eye this week as “Hamilton” premieres on Disney+ on July 3rd. He also stars as Frederick Douglass himself in the John Brown epic “The Good Lord Bird” this fall on Showtime. “This piece captures the spirit of the original and adds to it the frustration of nearly 170 years of American refusal to value Black life while still expecting Black "citizens" to celebrate America. I'm honored to get to say these words. I hope people hear them. I hope we have contributed something to this very necessary moment of reckoning that maybe helps it last beyond just the moment.”
“Every year we are asked to celebrate this nation’s independence day, its freedom, and every year we are faced with the irony and cruelty as Black people who have never gotten to partake in that freedom,” says video co-writer Safia Elhillo. “This piece is the product of that mourning and that anger, honoring the original Douglass speech and responding to how little, ultimately, has changed for us since then. Real change comes from the people on the ground, not a government’s empty promises. That’s who I put my faith in – the people.”
Produced by Offsides Productions and Colehouse Walker Political Outcomes, the project is partnering with the national Movement for Black Lives and amplifying their call to “defend Black lives, fight voter suppression, and defund police.”
“This brilliant artistic offering places the current iteration of the Black liberation struggle in its right historical context, while tapping into our people's power and ability to find hope and harness beauty during each step of our journey to freedom,” says Karissa Lewis, National Field Director for the Movement for Black Lives. “As we continue the fight to defend Black lives and defund the police this Fourth of July and beyond, we invite everybody who watches the video to join this national movement for justice -- because when Black people get free, everybody gets free."
Keleketla! Collab with Coldcut & Friends out now!
A new collaboration with Coldcut, Tony Allen and a cast of musicians from South Africa, the UK and beyond.
Guardian - ‘Global Album of the Month’ Album review
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/03/keleketla-review-ninja-tune
Print clipping attached + here
NPR - “New Music Friday” Album review (audio)
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/02/886560842/new-music-friday-the-top-6-albums-out-july-3
Mojo - Album review
Print clipping attached + here
Q Magazine - Album review
Print clipping attached + here
Future Music - ‘Recommended’ Album review
Print clipping attached + here
All Music - Album review
https://www.allmusic.com/album/keleketla%21-mw0003389303
MusicOMH - Album review
https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/keleketla-keleketla
Uncut - Album review
In print, attached + here
+ some news/updates from announce
The Vinyl Factory - Album news
https://thevinylfactory.com/news/tony-allen-dele-sosimi-shabaka-hutchings-keleketla-album/
Brooklyn Vegan - ILA in “25 Songs Out Today'
https://www.brooklynvegan.com/25-new-songs-out-today-12/
45 Live - 7” review
https://www.45live.net/magazine/article/keleketla-future-toyi-toyi-ahead-of-our-time
Boulder Weekly - 'Future Toyi Toyi’ review
https://www.boulderweekly.com/entertainment/dance-like-your-life-depends-on-it/
Earjelly - ILA post
http://earjelly.com/keleketla-international-love-affair-project-pablo-club-mix/
Music Policy Forum Webinar 5/31/2020
Hey world. We all want live music to resume, but we are nowhere close to where we need to be on so many fronts—health-wise, economically, and so forth. I was invited by Michael Bracy and the Music Policy Forum to share my experiences and outlook as a professional musician since the Covid-19 shutdown.
My last day of work was February 29, 2020 performing in Denver with Antibalas. We were in the midst of a spring/summer album tour through North America and Europe, and a fall trip to Nigeria in the works and all of that is on ice for now. It is far too early to create any sort of a timeline, but several cities are on board with REVS (Reopen Every Venue Safely), developing standards and protocols for what it would take to make this a reality. It is going to take a lot.
Anyway, below is my segment of the webinar but PLEASE check out the whole thing—we talk about healthcare resources before and during Covid-19 in New Orleans, Seattle, and Austin.
New Music: "Lamentos"
Hey world. I hope you are safe and sound and protecting yourself and your loved ones.
I’ve been working in a new lane of data sonification (turning datasets and numbers into sound).
This is related to that, but turning feelings into sound. It’s a series called Lamentos - quick improvisations, and snapshots of how I’m feeling and what vibes I’m absorbing on any particular day as we get deeper into this global crisis.
It is called Lamentos. A lamento (lament in English) is an expression of grief.
Me Quedo En Casa Fest Show/Livestream 4/12/20
I did an improv concert from my studio. It was the first one I’ve ever done, building loops and textures on the spot with my keyboards, flutes, saxophones and a drum machine the size of a pocket calculator. I was a bit nervous but happy to contribute to the effort of making sheltering place a little bit more interesting for everyone.
Upcoming Antibalas tour dates postponed
Hey world.
I’m flattered that in this moment of global chaos you dropped in on my website. Here’s what’s new.
I just got off the road from three weeks of touring with Antibalas beginning in Southern California and wrapping up in Denver.
The shows were great energetically, musically, and emotionally. Just a day or two after we finished the leg of touring, we began to get reports of widespread venue closures and health alerts from both inside and outside the United States to halt any large-group events. That put a wrap on all of our remaining touring (about 35 or so shows) between now and the end of May and possibly beyond.
So I (and the rest of the other musicians and my whole musical community) are posted up at home (or worse, stranded on the road) with little to no income for the foreseeable future except for any royalty checks that might be on their way. (My last one from ASCAP was for $66.14).
If you are in a position to help, visit Antibalas.com - you can buy our music there, arrange an online music lesson or consultation with one of the musicians or just kick us a love offering.
NPR Weekend Edition Interview
My bandmate Amayo and I were interviewed by NPR’s Scott Simon of Weekend Edition to discuss our latest Antibalas album “Fu Chronicles.” LISTEN: