Anaïs Maviel: DIáSPORA / Cross Times

About

DIáSPORA
Chiquita Magic – synths, voice
Anaïs Maviel – surdo, voice

Cross Times
Sam Yulsman – keyboards, electronics
Luke Stewart – bass
Anaïs Maviel – voice, n’goni

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Anaïs Maviel and collaborators present the composer’s latest investigations into the manifestations of song in relation to trance in electro-acoustic settings.

The first set will focus on the dilatation and crossing of time layers in songs written on the n’goni (West African gourd lute). The second set will present the ancient to future collaboration of the touring duo DIáSPORA, using voice and rhythm as base for exploration of trance in popular music, in advance of their upcoming EP release. The evening reflects two sides of the same coin, two ways of exploring song and trance. One is inward, the other is outward.

DIáSPORA is a nomadic band; sonic witchcraft by Chiquita Magic and Anaïs Maviel; a futuristic carnival music that transcends status-quo, cross-pollinates complex realities, inspires lucid dreams. Formed for the occasion of a South & Central America tour, DIáSPORA is shaped by motions of people, and expressions of their encounters – also called Creoleness. It is a research into diasporic folklores, urban cultures and music as ritual. The multi-lingual songs combine an independent approach of composition with the contagious freedom of their performance. Their first EP will be released in May 2018 with Mexican label Carnitas.

Anaïs Maviel is a vocalist, percussionist, composer, music director, educator, curator, and healer. Her work focuses on the function of music as essential to settling common grounds, addressing Relation, and creating utopian future. Involved at the crossroads of mediums – music, visual art, dance, theater and performance art – she has worked with artists such as William Parker, Steffani Jemison, Daria Faïn, Jonathan Bepler, and Jawole Zollar to name a few. As a leader she is dedicated to substantial creations from solo to large ensembles, and to expanding the power of music as a healing and transformative act. She performs extensively in New York, throughout North, South and Central America, and Europe. Her solo debut hOULe, out on Gold Bolus Recordings, received international acclaim.

Chiquita Magic’s music hopes to transcend cultural and social norms. She is interested in the cross pollination of seemingly contrasting styles (cumbia, salsa, choral music, hip-hop, jazz) with futuristic electronic textures. Her Colombian – Canadian identity has made her realize the power music has over inclusiveness, social justice, and equality.She has released three “official” albums over the past three years (Isis Giraldo Poetry Project-2015, Chiquita Magic-2016, & Aventuras-2017) and has toured North and South America extensively both as Chiquita Magic and with other artists most recently as part of the Louis Cole Band opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. She is currently working on the final touches for the next Chiquita Magic album. She hopes to continue being surrounded by and collaborating with such an inspiring community of artists from all backgrounds.

Multi-Instrumentalist Luke Stewart is a DC-based musician and organizer, recognized by the Washington Post as a key contributor to the scene there. In DC his regular ensembles include Trio OOO with legendary DC Free Jazz saxophonist Aaron Martin, Six-Six, a duo with guitarist Anthony Pirog, experimental jazz trio Heart of the Ghost, and experimental electronic group MOM^2 (Mind Over Matter, Music Over Mind). Luke is also a presence in the greater community of Creative Musicians, with regular multi-city ensembles including Ancestral Duo, Irreversible Entanglements featuring Moor Mother, James Brandon Lewis Trio, Heroes are Gang Leaders, and has performed in a myriad of other notable collaborations.

Sam Yulsman is a composer, pianist and multimedia artist from New York City, whose music spans a wide range of musical idioms. He has performed and/or recorded with artists including Ryan Muncy, Peter Evans, Biliana Voutchkova, Tyshawn Sorey, Chris Heenan, Anaïs Maviel, John Colpitts, Art Lande and Joe Morris. Currently, Yulsman performs regularly as a member of Brandon Lopez’s trio “the Mess”, and co-directs “Little Moments of Invisible Death” – a multi-media performance installation, designed and performed in collaboration with Martin Hiendl. As a composer, Yulsman’s diverse works have been performed by Ostravská Banda, Ensemble Korea, the New York New Music Ensemble, Rage Thormbones, JACK Quartet, Wet Ink, Loadbang, and Mivos Quartet.