Source: Pitchfork
By now, we think it's safe to say that art, in all its forms, is a powerful tool for empowerment, protest, and celebration. And music, is arguably one of the most exceptional tools of them all. It is, after all, a universal language that unites us all.
Here at TNC we are no strangers to boundary breaking musicians, in fact, we kind of have a soft spot for them. How could we not? It is basically impossible not to be inspired by someone's work when, on top of being an absolutely masterful piece of music, the message it puts across is passionate, cohesive, and on top of that it impels the world to do better, to be better.
Source: Passive/Aggressive
This is exactly what Camae Ayewa, aka Moor Mother, aims to do with her work. Moor Mother is a poet, musician, and activist from the US, from Philadelphia to be precise.
Ayewa is very much dedicated to using her talent for the greater good, as a part of the collective Black Quantum Futurism, which uses artistic and wholistic methods of healing such as writing, music, visual art, and creative projects as means of exploring cycles of experience, and transformative solutions.
Source: Bowerbird
She also co-leads Irreversible Entanglements, a liberation oriented, free jazz collective.
Her first solo studio album, 2016's Fetish Bones, was released alongside a 122-page poetry book praised by the likes of Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and The Wire. Since then, Moor Mother has released five more solo studio albums as well as projects with Irreversible Entanglements, compilation albums, and collaborations.
So why are we telling you all of this? Well, we simply want you to be aware of the powerhouse that is Moor Mother, and the value, and substance, of her work, so that you will truly be able to appreciate what we're about to show you…
Ahead of Moor Mother's new album titled Black Encyclopedia of The Air, set to be released in September, Ayewa has released not one, but two remarkable tracks.
The first one, which came out in early June, is called Zami. According to the artist, it "speaks of agency and something beyond freedom. It speaks of another future. It speaks about connections free from the stains of colonialism. It speaks about the expansive temporalities of Afro Diasporan people around the world.”
The second one, Obsidian, features rapper Pink Siifu and it delves into the violence one might see themselves surrounded by, not only in their communities, but in their homes too.
One thing's clear, Moor Mother does not shy away from hard-hitting topics.
With that being said, make sure you keep an eye out for Black Encyclopedia of The Air, out September 17th! And if you want to make sure you'll get your copy, Pre-order it album here.
Source: Subbacultcha
