Category: Projects

The Full Length Project – Video for ‘Destiny Manifest’:

21Dec

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Kennedy Center Performance 11/30/20

1Dec

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Kennedy Center Performance 11/30/20

Destiny Manifest – Available Now

30Nov

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Kennedy Center: Arts Across America – Maine

10Nov

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Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Arts Across America: Sacred Resonance.  Portland Ovations & Indigo Arts Alliance produce an original performance event featuring three Maine artists to be featured in this Kennedy Center national series. Part of the Washington, D.C.-based John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Social Impact Initiatives, Arts Across America is a program to uplift artists and showcase art from communities and regions across the country.  This free, online programming will be available on Facebook Live, YouTube, and the Kennedy Center website.

The Kennedy Center hosts weekly online performances curated by arts organizations in each United State presenting artists and their works, and Maine will air their contribution on November 30th, 2020 @ 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT.

RSVP NOW!

Featured Maine artists include:

  • Firefly, a member of the Penobscot Nation and raised in his people’s ancient village at Indian Island, Maine in Firefly: Sacred Fire. A journey through sound, light and emotion from the ancient to the unknown. Deeply influenced by the traditions of his ancestors, Firefly performs both traditional hand drum, shaker and vocal songs as well as cutting edge musical compositions rooted in his ancestral traditions. A hyper creative, Firefly’s artistry involves powerful vocals, eye popping visuals and cutting-edge costumes created by himself and his team.
  • Maya Williams (pronouns they/she), Definitions of Home, a showcase of poems touching on mental health, suicide, and racism. Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Maya is a Black and Mixed Race suicide survivor residing in Portland since 2017. She has published poems with glitterMOB, The Portland Press Herald, Black Table Arts, Occulum, Littoral Books, Homology Lit, and more. Her work has garnered a Best of the Net Nominee and a PortFringe’s Audience Choice Award as well as residencies with Hewnoaks, Sundress Academy for the Arts (SAFTA), and Voices of Our Nation Arts (VONA) Foundation. Maya hosts open mics on most Tuesday nights with Port Veritas.
  • Atiim Chenzira’s work titled ‘Destiny Manifest’ is a seven-part multi-media art piece utilizing his poetic spoken-word and Hip Hop lyricism to explore his ancestral experience. His expressive storytelling highlights this familial journey from the East Coast to the West and back. ‘Destiny Manifest’ interweaves Atiim’s personal journey as a husband, father, and “new Mainer,” into his American experience with the larger issues of racism, colonialism, capitalism, and displacement.   

Story Telling – SoundBites: Wanted – 2019

19Aug

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Story Telling – SoundBites: Wanted – 2019

I was invited to share a story under the theme of ‘Wanted’, which means anything from ‘wanting’ something to being ‘wanted’ by someone, etc.

I took the challenge.

Thanks and blessings to Donna Galluzzo, Co-Founder of SoundBites. 

Take a peek:

I tell stories all of the time, and the best ones are when there are no cameras or microphones to capture them.

However, sometimes, when it is well rehearsed and just as natural, you get the feeling that there was no rehearsal, and the authenticity shines through.

 

Recorded at Frontier in Brunswick, Maine June 20th, 2019

Life Ain’t A Game – Reboot Who?Mix (feat. Salim ALi)

20Feb

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Released on February 1st, 2016.

Life Ain’t A Game

Album Link: https://r3np.bandcamp.com/album/life-aint-a-game

Jack Eastgate = Artist & Designer

3May

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I met Jack Eastgate 5 years ago while booking artists and musicians for a Haiti relief show I organized in West Oakland at the Oakland Noodle Factory in 2010.

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A good friend and colleague Amber McZeal reached out to me and asked if I needed any more artists, explaining that her friend Jack wished to be included in the show. Well, I didn’t really need anymore artists, because between both Project Elefont & Local 365, two Bay Area Artist Collectives, there were already well over 30 artists filling two levels of wall space. Also, I had recruited a few photographers and artists on my own, so I didn’t know how I could fit one more into the gig. Unless…  I decided I could use a live artist to top things off and entertain guests above the second story where the bands would play. So, I asked Amber, “Does he do live artwork?”. She promised to find out, and have Jack give me a call. And so, Jack called me the following day explaining that he had done live artwork before and that he would show up with a large canvas and paint in the space I designated for him, above the live performance space on the second floor.

31837_279293539949_4129904_nWe were set! However, I didn’t know until a few years later that Jack had never done live artwork and that he was doing it for the first time!

 

Jack, nonetheless, took a chance and made a leap into being the center of attention for the entire evening, as people were in awe of his work.

(below is a photo of Jack’s finished work on 2/27/10)

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Since 2010, Jack has continued to support my projects with his artistic consultation and design. He’s been instrumental in my branding for my 2014 album release, Aspectz Of Me (http://R3NP.bancamp.com), and with my newest band project FatheR BrotheR Sun‘s branding and logo design for our web-presence and promotions. Besides supporting my organization A Thousand WordZ, he’s been my ‘go to’ art designer for all of my marketing collateral needs.

Check out his portfolio, and newest website, which features some of the work he’s recently done for me:

http://www.jackeastgate.com/atiim

It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Jack. Since his marriage to the beautiful and equally talented Alise Rand Eastgate, the two have teamed up to both own and opperate EastRand Studios (http://EastRandStudios.com). Since our first meeting, I’ve purchased at least two of Jack’s original pieces, which I proudly hang in my office and in my home. I am consistently seeking ways to involve EastRand Studios in supporting my creative endeavors, besides stopping by to have Kava and an old fashioned home cooked meal (vegan island style) from time to time.

(The above photo of Jack painting is from the A Thousand WordZ May 1st, 2010 benefit for China, compliments of Ploom)

Here are a couple of links to the bios for Jack:

1. (2010 ATW): http://interviewz.blogspot.com/2010/02/artist-bio-jack-eastgate.html

2. (2014 ATW): http://interviewz.blogspot.com/2014/03/oakland-drops-beats-jack-alise-eastgate.html 

My newest project, FRBRS aka FatheR BrotheR Sun.

1May

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The mixes for our album ‘The Dawn’ are done. We have spent quite a bit of time recording at Skyline Studios in Oakland,  CA., and then mixing at Whoville Studios in Berkeley, CA. with the legendary JasWho? Now, the mixes are off to the Master himself, Pierre Allard in San Mateo, CA. We can’t wait to share our polished versions of the music we’re allowing you to listen to early.

In the meantime, stop by our website and take a look around:

http://FatheRBrotheRSun.com 

Upcoming Shows: Calendar

We are scheduled to play in Oakland on 5/23/2015 at Awaken Cafe, so come out and be ready to dance!

Soundcloud: 

Playlist of Friends & Family

10Nov

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Hi, ya’ll.

I figured I would share a list of songs for your entertainment. Included are some folks that I have played with in some capacity or respect musically. I hope you enjoy. All you have to do now is press play, and let the music fill your ears.

Try Again – Aspectz Of Me (2014)

21Oct

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Hey, ya’ll. It was about two years ago today that I performed a song live at Roccapulco in San Francisco named ‘Try Again’. It wasn’t in the recording phase yet, but after rehearsing this track with a few great musicians to make it ready for an audience of 1000+ people at a Goodwill Industry Corporate Event, I was excited to move it towards recording.  People danced and had a great time while I performed ‘Try Again’, and it quickly became one of my personal favorites in my newest body of work, Aspectz Of Me  (http:r3np.bandcamp.com), for more reasons than one.

The inspiration for this track comes from years of experience with relationships, being reflected in ways, which has inspired me to grow & evolve psychologically, socially, and ultimately, relationally. You see, I don’t give up on things so easy, and sure, I get bummed at times when things don’t work out the way I want them to, but that feeling only inspires me as much as oxygen inspires fire. I just burn a little more brighter, and get a little more hungry.

Check out the lyrics: https://atiimchenzira.com/lyrics/try-again/

Here is the Kosta Mix Version from Aspectz Of Me – Volume A:

Here is  the Version, which is on both the EP & Volume Bomani: 

Oh, and here is video from about two years ago, when I performed it at Roccapulco (www.roccapulco.com/) in San Francisco for a Goodwill audience, with some great musicians:

Enjoy!