“Fear—not some sort of divine mandate — drove American expansion in Louisiana. A need to suppress the black population, and fear of external enemies, pushed Americans to develop a new sense of who and what the country was…”
From American Uprising: The Untold Story of America's Largest Slave Revolt
i am developing, an ancient songbird bringing
to life, just a bit of strife.
i told myself at the top of the month that i am submitting my musical career to the wills of the Universe. it is not my goal to pursue a fanbase, nor is it what drives me.
right now, i am here to let the music write me. i am open to new instruments (i tried cello and learned U2's with or without you last week at the park). i am open to new collaborations, though not pursuing them much longer. i am open to drum circles and creating music in community.
it is not easy to let go of control of anything. but if anything is pure anymore, it is the desire to create not for any purpose but for love's sake. this is what drove me to release these tracks in the first place.
love for other young women, love for myself, for my inner child, and all of her anxieties and curiosities. i wanted a place where she could always escape in the midst of a breaking societal consciousness. and thankfully, she has not only brought me love and connection-- she has brought me closer to my inner most exploration: that of justice.
i develop and develop, cranes hanging in the sky, hoping for scaffolding to last long enough for me to build something substantial, sustainable for future generations. but what about the land that was there before? do i remember how it looked, how the ground felt, how the trees grew outward and sprawled about?
before i ascend into the madness of the music industry-- because let's face it, it is inevitable-- i must slow down and soak in the foundation of where i am now.
“I remember thinking of it as an analogy for my transition—this idea of building up, up, up that was going on in our country at the time, all of this excessive building, and not really dealing with what was in front of us. And we all know how that ended. That crashed and burned.”
solange, in her interview with the Miami Herald about excessive construction in Miami
references:
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/american-uprising-daniel-rasmussen?variant=32206399963170
https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/miami-com-news/article225704335.html#storylink=cpy