Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 2

The Sundar Prize Film Festival 2025 Celebrates Women Filmmakers With Powerful Stories

From a media release

The Sundar Prize Film Festival 2025 Celebrates Women Filmmakers With Powerful Stories
April 9 to 13, 2025

Find The Program & Tickets Here

Surrey, BC – The Sundar Prize Film Festival 2025 proudly champions the voices of women in film, showcasing a powerful lineup of stories shaped by women storytellers. With 54% of this year’s official selections directed by women, the festival reaffirms its commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices and celebrating stories of resilience, identity, and empowerment. Several featured films have also received prestigious nominations, recognizing their outstanding contributions to storytelling and cinematic excellence.

Still from the animated film Have I Swallowed Your Dreams (British Columbia, 2024, 6 min, dir. Clara Chan)

Alex Sangha, Festival Co-Founder comments,

"At the heart of the Sundar Prize is a belief in the power of diverse voices to create real change. This year, we’re incredibly proud that over half of our selected films are directed by women—bold, brilliant storytellers who are challenging narratives, shifting perspectives, and inspiring action through film."

"As a jury member, it’s been deeply moving to witness the artistry and emotional depth in the stories told by women filmmakers this year. These films don’t just entertain—they confront, empower, and heal. It’s an honour to help spotlight such courageous and visionary work," adds Vinay Giridhar, Festival Co-Founder and Finalist Jury Member.

 
Women Filmmakers at Sundar Prize Film Festival 2025 "Programming this year’s festival was a powerful reminder of how essential women’s perspectives are to the future of cinema. These films speak to lived experiences with authenticity and strength, and we’re excited for audiences to engage with stories that are as transformative as they are unforgettable," says Sidartha Murjani, Executive Director and Senior Programmer.
Here's a look at the films by women at this year's festival.
● Have I Swallowed Your Dreams (British Columbia, 2024, 6 min, dir. Clara Chan) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated: Best Animation] A poetic conversation unfolds between an immigrant daughter and her mother, exploring sacrifices, dreams, and generational hopes. 
● Beyond the Reins (Canada, 2024, 6 min, dir. Magill Moyes) [Nominated: Best Student Film] A story of empowerment through the bond between a girl with an intellectual disability and her horse.
● Kids Are Only Kids Once (British Columbia, 2024, 11 min, dirs. Alysha Collie, Dallas Yellowfly) – Surrey Premiere [Indigenous] A documentary exposing the devastating impacts of child apprehensions in BC and sharing a powerful vision for change.
● Velvet Secrets (British Columbia, 2024, 10 min, dir. Shanthini Balasubramanian) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated: KDocsFF Best Emerging Filmmaker Residency Award, Best Youth Film] Asha’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a revealing red velvet dress in her daughter's room. Her curiosity leads her to try it on, sparking a journey of self-exploration and empathy.
● Teresa’s Choice (British Columbia, 2024, 10 min, dir. Marlene Castaños Ortega) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated: Best BC Short Film] When the world pandemic strikes, forty-something Teresa must overcome her fear of dying and decide if she wants to have a child conceived as a single mother through artificial insemination.
● Designed by Preeti (United States, 2024, 93 min, dir. Gayatri Everitt Bajpai) – Canadian Premiere [Nominated: Best Feature Film] A compelling and heartfelt romantic drama about Preeti Kumar, a resilient woman in her 50s who courageously escapes an oppressive and unfaithful marriage. Assets.
● The Poem We Sang (Canada/Jordan/Palestine, 2024, 20 min, dir. Annie Sakab) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated: Best Short Film] A meditation on love and longing, contemplating forced migration and the trauma of losing one's family home, transforming regret into creative catharsis.
● Leilani’s Fortune (Canada, 2023, 80 min, dir. Loveleen Kaur) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated: Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film, Best Canadian Documentary] An intimate documentary following queer Ethiopian-Eritrean artist Witch Prophet as she pursues her musical dreams while navigating cultural expectations and self-discovery.
Still from the film Leilana'a Fortune Leilani’s Fortune (Canada, 2023, 80 min, dir. Loveleen Kaur) 
● Throwaway Living (United States, 2024, 4 min, dir. Laura Malatos) – Canadian Premiere. A housewife trapped in a 1950s ad campaign becomes the unwitting messenger for a world consumed by plastic.
● Different Kind of Sick (British Columbia, 2024, 14 min, dir. Nightingale) A 6-year-old girl, Lily, witnesses her parents’ fight for the first time. As she fights for the truth, she uncovers more than she expected. 
● Female and Furious (British Columbia, 2024, 5 min, dirs. Siddharth Sanjay, Logan Ferino) – Surrey Premiere. After escaping from Winnipeg, Rager Rip struggles to overcome her anger issues in order to join Storm’s skate gang. 
● Mareya Shot Keetha Goal: Make the Shot (British Columbia, 2023, 72 min, dirs. Baljit Sangra, Nilesh Patel) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated for: Best Canadian Documentary, Best British Columbia Feature Film]
● The Pringle Mingle (British Columbia, 2024, 14 min, dir. Jenny Lee-Gilmore) – Surrey Premiere  A couple’s romantic getaway takes an unexpected turn when they realize they’ve accidentally booked themselves into a swinger’s home.
● Mirthless (British Columbia, 2024, 12 min, dir. Tina Kardan) – Canadian Premiere  [Nominated: KDocsFF Best Emerging Filmmaker Residency Award]  A haunting sci-fi thriller that delves into the consequences of a near-future society grappling with technology’s grip on human emotion.
● Choose The Correct Answer A, B, C or ... (British Columbia, 2024, 6 min, dir. Seung Yeon You) – World Premiere.  A student’s stress-induced nightmare about an English listening test unfolds in a surreal and comedic fashion.
● HATCH (Canada, 2024, 10 min, dirs. Alireza Kazemipour, Panta Mosleh) – Surrey Premiere [Nominated: Best BC Short Film]  An Afghan refugee boy hides with his mother inside a moving water tanker to cross the border to safety. Losing his mother in the process, NAAJI forever tries to find a way to relive his last memory of her.
● My Roommate Ahriman (British Columbia, 2023, 17 min, dir. Nessa Aref) – Surrey Premiere  A young Iranian-Canadian man comes to terms with his sexuality while inadvertently cohabitating with an ancient Persian Spirit of Chaos.
● Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot (Canada, 2024, 105 min, dir. Regan Latimer) [Nominated: Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film] – Surrey Premiere.  A witty and insightful documentary exploring queer representation in television and how media narratives shape identity and perception.
Still from the film Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot (Canada, 2024, 105 min, dir. Regan Latimer) 
● Mirage (United States, 2024, 18 min, dir. Jhanvi Motla) [Nominated: Best Short Film]A newly widowed woman moves from Mumbai to California, only to discover unsettling truths about her cousin’s mysterious business dealings.
● Tehran Is Ours (United States, 2024, 6 min, dir. Hamideh Azimi) – BC PremiereA young woman joins protests on the city streets of Tehran, only to face brutal police resistance.
● Bardo (Canada, 2024, 16 min, dir. Mishki Vaccaro) Surrey Premiere  A meditation on grief and acceptance, following a woman navigating the aftermath of her mother’s passing.
● Desync (Canada, 2023, 12 min, dir. Minerva Marie Navasca) [Nominated: Best Student Film] A young Filipina filmmaker attempts to overwrite a painful memory of her mother with a perfect narrative. Assets.
● LOOK (British Columbia, 2024, 11 min, dir. Georgia Tindle Acken) [Nominated: Best Youth Film] A young girl haunted by loneliness makes friends in the unlikeliest of places.
● Whispers of Colors (United States, 2024, 4 min, dir. Sujin Kim) – Canadian Premiere  [Nominated: Best Animation] An animated short that translates the poetic longing of a Korean War survivor into visual form.
● FLIGHT 182 (United States, 2024, 17 min, Dir. Rippin Sindher) [Nominated: Best Short Film] A harrowing true story about a man forced to choose between seeing his dying mother one last time or heeding a terrorist warning.
● Mawtini (My Homeland) (Canada, 2023, 18 min, Dir. Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller) – Surrey Premiere. A young Palestinian woman and an Indigenous elder come together to fight for food sovereignty in their urban community.An Eco-Conscious Trophy for a Justice-Driven FestivalMore than a symbol of cinematic excellence, the Sundar Prize Trophy reflects the festival’s commitment to sustainability and social impact. Handcrafted from eco-friendly bamboo by Watson Design in Squamish, BC, and artfully designed by Vinay Giridhar, Co-Founder of the Sundar Prize and a celebrated artist and filmmaker from Surrey, the trophy represents the intersection of artistry, ethics, and environmental stewardship.View the Sundar Prize Trophy hereSupporting Filmmakers and Social Impact Through $45,000 in Prizes
The Sundar Prize Film Festival remains one of the most filmmaker-friendly events in Canada, offering nearly $45,000 in cash prizes and in-kind sponsorships. These include:Free courses from Vancouver Film SchoolIndustry equipment and services from Sparky’s Film Rentals and Keslow CameraDistribution offers from Moving Images Distribution for winning BC filmmakersA four-month Emerging Filmmaker Residency at KDocsFF and Kwantlen Polytechnic University with access to professional mentorship, test audiences, and filmmaking toolsFestival ScheduleFestival Pre-Launch – We Will Be Brave ScreeningWednesday, April 9, 2025VIFF Centre – VIFF Cinema | 6:30 PM Get Tickets Herehttps://viff.org/whats-on/we-will-be-...
Opening Night & Networking Reception with Open Mic Pitch SessionThursday, April 10, 2025SFU Surrey Campus | 5:30 PM onwards
Film Screenings & PanelsFriday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13, 2025Landmark Cinemas Surrey, Guildford | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Awards Ceremony & Closing NightSunday, April 13, 2025Landmark Cinemas Surrey, Guildford | 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Culture and Arts: Lebanon | Rehabilitating the historic Le Colisée Cinema in Beirut

From a media release

Culture and Arts:  Lebanon
Rehabilitating the historic Le Colisée Cinema in Beirut

BEIRUT - After the experience of rehabilitating and opening the closed cinemas in the south and north of Lebanon and turning them into independent and free cultural spaces, the Tiro Association for Arts and the Istanbouli Theatre rehabilitated the Le Colisée Cinema in Beirut, to transform it into the Lebanese National Theatre, an independent free cultural space, in which training workshops, festivals, and artistic performances are organized, as well as the establishment of a public library and an artistic cafeteria.

Le Colisée Cinema in Beirut

The founder of the Lebanese National Theatre, actor and director Kassem Istanbouli, confirmed, "The goal of the project is to establish a link between the south, the north, and Beirut, as it is a complement to our dream, which began with the establishment of the Lebanese National Theatre in Tyre seven years ago, which is the first free theatre and cinema in Lebanon. Thanks to the efforts of young volunteers, we will achieve our dream that art is a right for all, break the virtual wall between the Lebanese regions through the arts, and link them together through cultural spaces. We are happy to live this dream in Beirut, which is considered the second-most cinematic city in the history of Lebanon." About 29 halls were located in Al-Burj Square and 16 halls in the Hamra area. That’s where many theatres were founded and witnessed by the most important playwrights in Lebanon and the world.

Moreover, the Tiro Association for Arts (TAA), which is led by youth and volunteers, aims to establish free and independent cultural forums in Lebanon. That is, by renovating Al Hamra and Stars Cinema in Nabatieh and Rivoli Cinema in Tyre, which became the Lebanese National Theatre, the first free theatre and cinema in Lebanon, as well as Empire Cinema in Tripoli, which became the Lebanese National Theatre in that city. TAA also implements artistic training workshops for children and youth; opens and renovates cultural forums; and organizes festivals, activities, and artistic exhibitions. 

Interior of the Colisée Cinema in Beirut

In addition, the association screens artistic and educational movies for children and youth and works on maintaining partnerships with international festivals, as well as granting young directors the opportunity to screen their movies and letting people get acquainted with the history of cinema and local and international performances. The association also presents film screenings for the blind and deaf, and training workshops for people with special needs. 

The Lebanese International Theatre Festival, the Watch Lebanon in Mobile Cinema Festival, the Tripoli International Theatre Festival, the Tyre International Music Festival, the Lebanese International Theatre Festival for Storytelling, the Tyre International Fine Arts Festival, the Tyre Cultural Days Festival, the Lebanese International Theatre Festival for Women’s Monodrama, the Lebanese International Theatre Festival for Contemporary Dance, the Tiro International Arts Festival, and the Tyre International Theatre Festival are among the festivals that TAA implements.

ARAB CULTURE AND ARTS NETWORK - ACAN 

Facebook: facebook.com/acannetworkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/acan.network/Twitter: twitter.com/ArabCultureand1LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arab-culture-and-arts-network-b62133188Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP9v39RhVo3KT0IREiqbP2w

Toronto Fringe | Reveals Programming for Next Stage Series 2025

From a media release

Toronto Fringe
Reveals Programming for
Next Stage Series 2025 

More Info

(February 19, 2025) Toronto Fringe is pleased to announce the 2025 Next Stage Series will be presented during the 37th annual Toronto Fringe Festival taking place July 2-13, 2025. The Next Stage Series will feature four shows including Justice for Maurice Henry Carter, and BABZ JOHNSTON: Songs by a WANNABE at Michael Young Theatre, and Have Fun Kids, and Siranoush at Tank House Theatre. 

Photo courtesy of Toronto Fringe Festival

Next Stage Theatre Festival is the Toronto Fringe's boutique, curated performance festival that allows for elevation and creative risk-taking by notable emerging companies who are poised and ready for their next stage. In the new Next Stage Series model, Fringe audiences have the chance to experience four productions that are moving to the “next stage” of their development. The Next Stage Series participants will receive the same level of support to elevate their shows as previous Next Stage productions, including extended tech time, marketing support, and training and mentorship.  

The 2025 Next Stage Series Line-Up:  

In Alphabetical Order  

BABZ JOHNSTON: Songs by a WANNABE  

Created by Barbara Johnston
Company: Wannabe
Producers: Alan Kliffer and Ann Merriam 
Venue: Michael Young Theatre 

Barbara (Babz) Johnston is back for the second instalment of her one-woman musical series. In BABZ JOHNSTON: Songs by a WANNABE we find career Spice Girls Impersonator (and award-winning theatre artist/writer and current Mirvish Come From Away company member) in a moment of reckoning as she chronicles the thrills and perils of a life lived in someone else’s platforms. 

Have Fun Kids  

Written by Laura Anne Harris, Directed by Jessie Fraser 
Company: Convection Productions 
Venue: Tank House Theatre  

At the edge of the event horizon is a tipping point, a place where memories hover for infinity, or so it seems, before they are gone forever. Featuring the words of Jordan Mechano, join storyteller Laura Anne Harris, (Destiny, USA, Pitch Blonde) as she invites you in to explore the edges of her own lived and inherited memories of loss and love. 

Justice for Maurice Henry Carter  

Written by Donald Molnar & Alicia Payne 
Company: Arbez Drama Projects 
Venue: Michael Young Theatre 

Two men, one Black, one White, become brothers while fighting to overcome a wrongful conviction. A choir/chorus helps tell this true story through spirituals, hymns, and gospel music woven throughout. 

Siranoush  

Written by Lara Arabian, Directed by Carla Melo 
Company: CorpOluz Theatre 
Venue: Tank House Theatre  

A multimedia, multilingual one-woman show that explores the writer/performer’s desire to dig deeper into her cultural roots through a reimagining of Siranoush, a 19th century ethnic Armenian actress who was a trailblazer both on and off the stage. Tapping into ancestral knowledge and diasporic memory, the performance takes us across time and space to explore the power of theatre as a way of cultural survival and female empowerment. 

Toronto Fringe Hub

Toronto Fringe previously announced it will create a new festival hub at Soulpepper Theatre for the 37th annual festival. This new hub allows Toronto Fringe to host five performance venues in one building, including Soulpepper’s Michael Young Theatre, Tank House Theatre, Garland Cabaret, TD Studio, and RBC Studio, in addition to animating the atrium and courtyard with the legendary Fringe Patio, festival box office, and free ancillary programming. 

The Next Stage Series was curated by the 2024 curation committee of Laura Paduch, Lucy Eveleigh, Derrick Chua, Virgilia Griffith, and Indrit Kasapi.

Toronto Fringe is a grassroots, charitable organization that runs the Toronto Fringe Festival each July, and the Next Stage Theatre Festival. Toronto Fringe offers various year-round programs that benefit youth, emerging artists, BIPOC artists, artists with disabilities, and the performing arts community at large. Embedded in Fringe’s operations are the values of Access, Accountability, Creativity, Exploration, and Support.

Toronto Fringe Festival
July 2-13, 2025
Next Stage Series Tickets are $25
Tickets and passes on sale in June 2025
www.fringetoronto.com 

Montreal Performance Festival | Centaur Theatre Presents the Inaugural WINTERWORKS February 25 – March 15, 2025

From a media release

Montreal Performance Festival
Centaur Theatre Proudly Presents the Inaugural
WINTERWORKS
February 25 – March 15, 2025

WinterWorks is Montreal’s dedicated home for exciting, boundary-pushing premieres

Montreal, QC – Get ready to immerse yourself in a bold celebration of artistry and innovation! Centaur Theatre’s WinterWorks, the thrilling evolution of the Wildside Festival, breaks new ground with an eclectic lineup of performances that defy convention and ignite the imagination. 

Conte Bright Comme Un Diamond by Fano Maddox

From daring theatrical productions to intimate gallery performances and thought-provoking readings, this festival is a playground for risk-takers and boundary-pushers, redefining what theatre can be.

Presented by Centaur Theatre from February 25 - March 15, 2025, and selected by WinterWorks curator and associate artist Rebecca Gibian along with artistic director Eda Holmes, WinterWorks presents cutting-edge work by established companies and emerging artists alike, through theatrical productions, readings, and gallery performances, complemented by two productions taking place at La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines. 

Fostering innovation and creativity in the Montreal performing arts community, the inaugural WinterWorks line-up features.

Adventures, An Imago Theatre and Keep Good (Theatre) Company CollaborationPRODUCTIONS AT CENTAUR THEATREAdventures

February 25 – March 1, 2025 at Centaur Theatre

An Imago Theatre and Keep Good (Theatre) Company Collaboration
Starring Ann-Marie Kerr
Directed by Christian Barry
Original Soundscape by Jackson Fairfax-Perry
Gillian Clark - Playwright

Be carried away in a story that is for the hopeful and the hopeless. Part fairy tale, part gritty-real-life story, Adventures invites us to the roots of the Mother Tree in this time of collective grief, to witness PJ and Wendy on the edge of a life-altering moment. 

Resurrection (Photo by Richard Dworkin)Resurrection 

March 11 – March 15, 2025 at Centaur Theatre

Created by Dane Stewart with Andrew Morrisey & Andrew Boudreau
Directed by Adam Capriolo
Dane Stewart - Writer, Performer, Producer
Andrew Morrisey - Performer
Andrew Boudreau - Pianist

Resurrection is the real story of Michael Callen—activist, musician, and leader in the AIDS self-empowerment movement. Based on the hit CBC podcast of the same name, the show is part cabaret, part documentary theory, part live podcast event.

Based on the life and music of Michael Callen. Adapted from the cabaret show directed by Margot Bégin.

On What Ground An Other Hearts Collective presentation
GALLERY PERFORMANCEOn What Ground

March 7-8, 2025 at Centaur Theatre

An Other Hearts Collective presentation
Written by Other Hearts… and the audience
Eris Thomas - Creator/Performer/Producer
Yousef Kadoura - Creator/Performer
Sebastian Marzialli - Creator/Performer

For a society that is increasingly realizing the critical importance of place and environment, On What Ground is an exploration of the ways that we find, make, and leave the places that define us.

What is the first place you remember?  How will this place remember us? Is this the place yet? 

Bud <3, Written & Produced by Darragh MondouxWINTERWORKS READING​Bud <3 

March 2, 2025 at Centaur Theatre

Written & Produced by Darragh Mondoux
Performed by Samantha Bitonti, Riley Wilson, and Lucas DiTecco
Directed by Rahul Gandhi 

A creative, clever and heartfelt theatre for young audiences play that brings together grief and horticulture, Bud <3 is an object puppetry piece exploring the rituals around caring for houseplants and our loved ones through infancy, through life, and in death.

PRODUCTIONS AT LA CHAPELLE SCÈNES CONTEMPORAINESConte Bright Comme Un Diamond

February 17, 18, 20, 22 at La Chapelle

Par Fano Maddix
Fano Maddix - Storyteller
Audrée Lewka - Set, Costume, and Lighting Designer
Abèle Kildir - Composer and Live Musician
Sovann Rochon Prom-Tep - Director

Conte bright comme un diamond is based on an Acadian folktale that is several centuries old, presented in Chiac in a contemporary form by Fano Maddix. This show is an invitation to be touched by tradition. 

This is original folklore: we’ve kept the true medieval twists of the story, with its grandma fairy vibes, flying islands, and magical sex work. Because folklore doesn’t care what anyone says: it knows it’s glorious, timeless, and queer.

One performance will be presented in English, with three performances in Chiac.

For Everyone Stuck Chasing The Clock by Chloë Lum & Yannick DesranleauFor Everyone Stuck Chasing The Clock

March 3, 4, 6, and 7, 2025 at La Chapelle

Par Chloë Lum & Yannick Desranleau
Chloë Lum & Yannick Desranleau - Concept, Text, Set Design & Choreography
Jacqueline van de Geer, Lenore Herrem, Lior Maharjan, Michael Martini - Performers

Between visual art and performance, four characters live in a spatiotemporal loop created by the limitations of their shared chronic illness. Half-resigned yet still filled with hope, they find meaning and purpose by putting on a show about their lived experience.

Conte bright comme un diamond - Fano Maddix:

Contemporary Jazz & Fusion | Ivan Mazuze: Penuka (Global Sonics / July 12, 2024)

Contemporary Jazz & Fusion
Ivan Mazuze: Penuka
(Global Sonics / July 12, 2024)

Check It Out/Buy It Here

Ivan Mazuze is a virtuoso saxophone and wind player, and a composer with a distinctive and assured voice. Penuka, his latest album, is a rich and imaginative kaleidoscopic intersection of global sounds and modern jazz. 

On Penuka, he dives deeply into his roots in Afrojazz and the kind of edgy contemporary music beloved particularly in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, where he now makes his home. Specifically for this album, and new to his compositional palette, is an appreciation for the influence of Arab and Indian cultures on the music of the African continent. Through centuries old trade routes, the regions have longstanding cultural connections.  

He's assembled an impressive band for the recording. The core group includes Olav Torget (guitar, and ngoni on two tracks), Raciel Torres (drums), Per Mathisen (bass), and Jørn Øien (piano & keyboards)

Rhythmic complexity is a strong feature throughout the album.

 
Guest musicians from Zimbabwe, Gambia, Senegal, Morocco, Pakistan and India add to the musical mix, including the Shona, Urdu, Wolof, Rajasthani and Sargam languages.
In short, he's built a global collective of musicians that contribute to Penuka's soundscapeThe Songs Bongile, the opening track, is a Xhosa word that means "we are grateful" or "we are thankful". The music of the Rajasthani Indian nomadic gypsy peoples, known for their dance traditions, infuses the piece from the outset. The threads of shared histories blend into the flow of modern music. 
Penuka, the title track, plays with the sax against complex and multilayered rhythms. It's a highlight of the album, and illustrates the concept behind it: the interplay of cultures.Put another way, it blends different ways of thinking about melody and rhythm into a seamless dance. The song and album's title means "to expose" in Xichangana, a Mozambican language. 
Mamidje finds inspiration in African spiritual and religious practices; more specifically, spirit possession rituals common to Southern Africa. It's a belief around connecting with our ancestors. Mamidje is the name of Ivan's late older brother, and the song honours his life. 
Maxwell Vidima's vocals embody the song's spiritual centre in sound. Around it, the instruments dance a kind of enveloping rhythm. Particularly striking is a dense passage that layers flute, various percussion, voice and more. 
Vidima is Zimbabwean, and the Bira practice from that country uses dance and music to invite the spirits to communicate. 
Soukous and kwasa kwasa mix with a Latin flair in M & S. The song has an irresistible groove. Ayaan, from a word that means God, is a standout track. Inspired by northern Indian classical music, tablas, saxophone and jazz quartet seamlessly layer in and out of vocals by Pakistani singer Reshail Mansoor and sitar played by Rohini Sahajpal. 
 Each of the songs offers a different dive into the rich mix of musical traditions and idioms. Kanawa uses the hypnotic rhythms of Moroccan Gnawa to acknowledge the influence of Arab music and culture on Subsaharan Africa. 
 Through the often busy instrumentation and polyrhythms, all of the musicians make their contributions felt. Modou Mbaye Tama talking drums were a notable element in five of the tracks.There is a superb rapport between the core musicians that creates a solid base for the ensemble to play.It's imaginative global jazz for those who want to think and groove. 

The song Belonging:

From Ivan's bio:Ivan Mazuze is a Norway-based composer, award-winning saxophonist and world jazz artist of Mozambique origin. Mazuze initiated his studies in music in 1987 at the National Music School in his home country Mozambique.
Piano was his first instrument and after seven years of classical piano training, he joined the woodwind section with a jazz study approach and a focus on improvisation. Mazuze continued his studies at the University of Cape Town, South Africa in the Department of Jazz and Musicology. 
He holds an honours degree in jazz and composition studies and is a master's graduate in ethnomusicology. He writes ethnomusicological articles about music and trance in ritual practices which have been released in the educational magazine The Talking Drum. 
He's been based in Norway since 2009.
Album Details All music composed and arranged by Ivan Mazuze. Lyrics written in collaboration with Maxwell Vidima for the track Mamidje, and with Khaleed Laaouam for the track Kanawa.
Recorded at Newtone Studios, Oslo, Norway (2024)Sound engineering: Leif JohanssenAdditional recordings: Ivan Mazuze at Imazuze Music Studios Editing, mixing and mastering: Leif JohanssenProducer: Ivan MazuzeExecutive Producers: Global Sonics and Ivan Mazuze
MusiciansIvan Mazuze: Vocals, Saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor), flute, mbira, shakersSikander Langa: VocalsMinuddin Khan: VocalsRahis Barthi: Vocals, tablasMaxwell Vidima: VocalsReshail Mansoor: VocalsJai Shankar: Vocals, tablasKhaleed Laaouam: Vocals, guembri, krakrebMariama Ndure: VocalsOlav Torget: Guitar, ngoniRohini Sahajpal: SitarJørn Øien: Keyboards, synths, pianoPer Mathisen: BassPapa Asane Samb: Sabar PercussionModou Mbaye Tama: Talking drumsRaciel Torres: Drums Track List
Bongile (4:35); ; Penuka (6:09); Mamidje (5:20); M & S (4:36); Belonging (4:22); Ayaan (6:00); Adufo  (4:50); Kanawa (4:39); Nhaka (4:57); Yangulanu (5:48)
Mamidje - from the album Penuka:

Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden

Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden
at the Birmingham Museum of Art
until April 20, 2025

The work of African American sculptor John Rhoden is on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art in an exhibit of some 50 pieces in bronze, wood, and stone. 

Eve (1957) - bronze - one of several pieces inspired by the  biblical story of Adam and Eve. It is said that the silhouette was inspired by his wife Richenda.

The show, the first comprehensive retrospective of Rhoden's work, has been on a US tour since its initial launch in October 2023 at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Founded in 1805, PAFA has the distinction of being the first art school and museum in the United States.

The institution has created a digital archive of his work to preserve his artistic legacy. You can check it out here. 

You can check out the show in person in Birmingham until April 20.

Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden at the Birmingham Museum of Art

John Rhoden (1916-2001)

Rhoden was born in Birmingham, Alabama, where he went to Industrial High School. While he was still in high school, he met sculptor William Grant by chance. Rhoden happened to notice Grant's studio as he passed by the window. After stopping to talk, Grant eventually became his mentor. By the age of 16, John had completed a bust of the school's principal, and later namesake, Arthur Parker. 

John attended Talladega College from 1934 to 1936. There, he met painter Hale Woodruff, who encouraged him to go to New York City. He took Hale's advice, and connected with sculptors Augusta Savage and Richmond Barthé in NYC.

After enlisting in the Reserve Corps of the army in 1942 as a private, he created busts of members of the military, including high ranking generals. 

Blue Eyes, Indonesian Legend (1962) - Wood, completed while he was in Indonesia, and exhibited at the Whitney Museum in 1971 

Rhoden would go on after the war to attend the New School for Social Research, and Columbia University, winning prizes for his sculpture. At university, he met his wife, painter Richenda Phillips. 

He served as an art specialist for the US Department of State for 1955 to 1959, part of the International Cultural Exchange and Fair Participation Act of 1956. The experience included travelling to more than 20 different countries. From 1961 through 1963, he was in Indonesia setting up a bronze foundry at the Institut Teknologi in Bandung on a Rockefeller Foundation Grant.

After the years of travel, John and Richenda settled in New York City, where both taught as well as practising their respective arts. Rhoden exhibited his work at major institutions such as the Whitney Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the African American Museum in Philadelphia, along with completing major commissions that include a monumental bronze work for the Harlem Hospital. 

Through the 1970s and 1980s, Rhoden taught art classes at local public schools, as well as in his own studio.

Cat (1959) by John Rhoden - Bronze on a stone baseHis Work

Rhoden's early work, and necessarily the many commemorative busts he completed, were created in a realistic style. Yet, even in these, there is evidence of the lyrical and detailed elements that became characteristic of his oeuvre. 

His later works are characterized by their sensuality and rhythmic approach to form, and influenced by the ideas and cultures he'd seen on his world travels. 

Safari (1958) by John Rhoden - Bronze Rhoden in Birmingham

It was the Birmingham Museum of Art that gave Rhoden his very first solo museum exhibition back in 1985, and some pieces from this current show will remain at the BMA as part of its permanent collection. 

Just a few blocks away from the Birmingham Museum of Art, Rhoden's sculpture of the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth stands outside the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Check out details of the BMA show here . Bronze sculpture by John Rhoden

21st Century Grunge JBNG: Run (Independent/JBNG Music Ltd / 1 November 2024)

21st Century Grunge
JBNG: Run
(Independent/JBNG Music Ltd / 1 November 2024)

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Jaben John Groome leads grunge-rock fusion band JBNG. Groome is a bass player who started singing just last year, and Run is the second album for the project.

 JBNG's Run offers a kind of friendlier version of grunge rock (they're calling it "grunge-rock fusion"). There's a melodic focus to the mix of guitars and synth, in other words. 

Interesting rhythms pepper tracks like The Narrator, a song that wouldn't be miscast as pop rock. That contrasts with the straight up rock feel of songs like Brutus and Disconnection, or Out To Get You, which leans into metal.

Jaben Groome's raspy vocals are delivered with personality, adding weight to the lyrics. They talk about modern life, with titles like Disconnection, Barely Know You, and See You In Hell. 

You get the picture.

A nice musical chemistry characterizes the band, and there's a sense of humour underneath all the dark observations. The tight musicality lights up all the tracks throughout the full-length album. 

JBNG are based in British Columbia, and along with Groome on vocals, the band is: Alejandro Yoshizawa on lead guitar, Jonathon Goldie on Rhythm, Tim Charman on bass and Matt Koopman on drums. 

For Groome, learning to sing began as a coping skill to manage symptoms of his bipolar diagnosis.

"I learned it helps, switching the nervous system out of fight or flight mode," he explains in a statement.

If you're fond of the genre, you'll love this polished and updated version. 

Personnel:  Jaben Groome Vocals; Alejandro Yoshizawa Lead Guitar; Jonathon Goldie Rhythm; Tim Charman Bass; Matt Coopman Drums

Websites:

Official Website: JBNG.CAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbngmusicTwitter: https://x.com/jbngmusicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbngband/

Video Game Composer Goes Singer-Songwriter | Megan McDuffee: Crimson Legacy (Independent / 11 October 2024)

Video Game Composer Goes Singer-Songwriter
Megan McDuffee: Crimson Legacy
(Independent / 11 October 2024)

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Singer-songwriter may be technically correct as far as musical terms go, but if it conjures images of track upon track of solo vocals with acoustic guitars, it's more of a misnomer. Crimson Legacy is the second album for Megan McDuffee, a long time video game and film composer, and sound engineer. 

Lovely Psycho illustrates her appeal. An interesting sense of rhythm underpins the music, overlaid with moody synths and contrasted by her sweet, breathy vocals. It's danceable without resorting to anything rote, always with something unexpected up its sleeve.

Imagination in the use of various synth and electronic elements is to be expected with McDuffee's background, and it's the signature element that elevates the music above the usual edm.

In terms of mood, the tracks range from the haunting edge of Lovely Psycho and Your Demise to the more straightforward Anywhere With You, and Army of Me, with its heavier rock edge. There's even an acoustic version of Forgive Me as a stripped down track with that classic combination of simple acoustic guitar and unprocessed vocals - but it achieves the same kind of moody effect via harmony and melody alone.

McDuffee has been working in the film and gaming industries for more than 15 years, winning multiple awards for her scores, including 'River City Girls'. 

The Seattle-based artist was a member of a world-travelling choir for more than a decade, and graduated from the University of California Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Scoring and a minor in Electronic Music. With a desire to further her education, she went on to the Berklee College of Music, earning a Master's Certificate in Orchestration for Film and TV. 

She talks about the release in a statement.

"I was inspired by a wide range of artists in crafting this album such as Puscifer, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, Deftones, The Cure, IAMX, Infected Mushroom, and Zeromancer."

Genre-wise, she's about giving listeners something unexpected. 

"With 'Crimson Legacy,' I wanted to capture the surrealness and essential weirdness of the 1970s - 1990s movies I grew up with. Films like Labyrinth, Dark City, Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, Legend, A Clockwork Orange, and Rocky Horror Picture Show. They all had a quintessential darkness, griminess, and strangeness to them that transported me to a realm of dreams and nightmares. That’s what I aim to do with my album - to take the listener into an edgy, disturbing-yet-alluring fever dream filled with lust, revenge and whimsy. 'Crimson Legacy' is for all my fellow weirdos, witches, warlocks, and creatures of the dark corners of the earth."

You don't have to love gaming to appreciate the cinematic and atmospheric qualities of the music. 

Personnel: Megan McDuffee/Composer, Lyrics, Vocals, Producer, Mix Engineer; RichaadEB/Guitar on track “Forgive Me”; AJ Lemos/Guitar, Bass; Jordan Fiction/Guitar, Lyrics, Vocals on track “Anywhere With You”; TELLE/Lyrics, Vocals on “Twisted”; ALEX/Additional production on “Your Demise” and “Cult Movie”; Simon Chylinski/Guitar, production on “Army Of Me”

Tracklist:

Lovely PsychoAnywhere With YouCult MovieEntityArmy Of MeForgive MeYour DemiseTwistedBreakForgive Me (Acoustic Version)

Websites: 

Official Website: https://meganmcduffee.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/megmcduffee

Goth Duo | Raudiver: Leave Before Dark (Geodesic Records / 13 September 2024)

Goth Duo
Raudiver: Leave Before Dark
(Geodesic Records / 13 September 2024)

Stream It On Spotify

Synth-heavy danceable beats mix with ethereal vocals to create the signature sound of Raudiver. The duo of Lauren Villarreal and Charles Eddy are a married couple based in Houston, and in Leave Before Dark, they explore the range of goth, darkwave and shoegaze, with a dive into post punk. 

The results are earworm worthy, from the hypnotic beats of Leave (which exorts its listeners, If you love her, Leave...) to the spookier vibe of songs like Mary Tombs, and the moody Find a Heaven.

It's territory well suited to Lauren's vocals, which emerge as fluid and expressive even after the post production. She can range from a sweet high range to a darker lower end with just the right sensibility for this kind of music.

The vocals might take the spotlight, but underneath, attention is paid to the music too. Both are credited with playing synths and programming, and they create multi-layered soundscapes - most evident in the instrumental Interlude. 

A highlight for me was No Sun Rising, which ventures into experimental territory. Spoken word combines with vocal flourishes over a malleable track of beats and sounds. It's atmospheric and effective.

The duo's name comes as an homage to the work of parapsychologist and writer Konstantins Raudive, who wrote the definitive book on the phenomenon known as EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). If you've seen the horror movie, it's the theory that the voices of the dead can be picked up by a radio frequency. 

Goth seems like a limiting term for the imaginative electronic pop created by this talented duo.

Personnel: Lauren Villarreal Eddy – Vocals, lyrics, synths, guitar, programming, and production; Charles Eddy – Synths, guitar, programming, production

Tracklist:

LeaveMary TombsTrue FaithFind a HeavenInterludeCold CallingNo Sun RisingIf I Should WakeRazor WireNow You Play to WinBleach

Links

Website: https://geodesicrecords.com/raudiverOfficial Website: https://www.raudiver.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raudiverTwitter: https://x.com/raudiverInstagram: @raudiverTikTok: @raudivermusic

New Age Americana | The New Students: Little Blue Dot (Independent / 30 August 2024)

New Age Americana
The New Students: Little Blue Dot
(Independent / 30 August 2024)

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Vocal harmonies and acoustic instruments create the Americana soundscape of The New Students, but it's a slot they fill with imagination. 

They tell stories about dirt farmers and driving through Texas. From Black Earth Country:

You can take the boy from the plough and the field, J
But you can't take the hunger from his eyes

Americana gets a more modern treatment in tracks like Fly Home, a love song with a sense of place. 

Different vocalists add to the multi-textured tracks, along with a range of influences. In Whale Boy, a swingy syncopation tells a very modern story about fame eating a celebrity alive.

Traditionalists will be happy with tracks like Vermont Maple Candy, a love song to a slow country waltz, or the simple, stripped down approach of A Good Man Is Gone.

They tackle social issues, in the solid roots tradition, in songs like The Refugee, a beautiful four-part vocal a cappella piece, and Little Blue Dot.

The success of the New York based band's last album, 2020's Quarantunes, with their signature combination of contemporary folk and Americana with social commentary, lent impetus to the creation of this, their second release. 

The band comments in a statement.

"This album has been percolating with us for a long time - we wrote one of the songs over a decade ago, some we've been playing live for a few years, and some are more recent."

It's clear they take inspiration from the golden age of folk from the 1960s and 70s, with an updated sense of urgency. 

"These songs speak to what we think are some of the universal concerns we all have on this little blue dot floating in space: fear for the future of our planet, the vanishing American Dream, love found and lost. We want to write songs that spread human empathy, but also make you want to sing along."

Personnel:

Briana Carlson-Goodman – VocalsJustin Flagg – Vocals, Guitar, BanjoMatthew Gelfer – Vocals, Fiddle, Mandolin, GuitarSam Gelfer – BassBeau Moore – Guitar, MandolinPaul Pearl – Drums

Tracklist:

1. Black Earth Country2. Fly Home3. Farewell4. Whale Boy5. Madelena6. Greta's Song7. Vermont Maple Candy8. Jackson's Holler9. Today A Good Man Is Gone10. The Refugee11. Tell Me12. Little Blue Dot

Websites:

Official Website: https://www.thenewstudents.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenewstudents/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNewStudentsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenewstudents