Indie Music Panel
Leeway presents a panel discussion featuring women in independent music on Sunday June 13. The panelists, Rucyl Mills (Philadelphia), Ryat (Philadelphia), and Sarah White (Brooklyn), will discuss the pros and cons of the independent music scene, examine the music scene in Philadelphia versus other markets, explore the paradigm shift in the creation and distribution of music, and discuss practical issues such as management, marketing, and recording. The panelists will also discuss emerging genres in music, alternative technologies, the resurrection of a lo-fi/D.I.Y. aesthetic, how they make activism fit in with their art, and specific challenges they face as women in often male-dominated spaces. This panel is targeted toward emerging musicians who are interested in getting their work out to the public and want to learn more from the experiences of more practiced musicians.
The Indie Music Panel takes place from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at Leeway Foundation (1315 Walnut Street, Suite 832). Registration is FREE. Presented in partnership with Black Lily with additional funding from The Philadelphia Foundation.
Panelist Bios
Rucyl Mills
Rucyl is a multimedia artist, producer, and singer who experiments with sound, production and visual stimulus. In 2008 she built the Chakakhantroller, a wearable midi controller, and continues to play scientist with new formats of musical and electronic expression. In the early 90s she was an original member of The Goats, an alternative hip hop group (Ruffhouse/Columbia Records), and she recently graduated from the Interactive Telecommunications Graduate Program (ITP) at NYU after studying jazz performance and new media at the New School. She is co-founder of Saturn Never Sleeps, an experimental label and audiovisual performance ensemble.
rucyl.com
saturnneversleeps.com
Ryat
Ryat is a cutting edge multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer. She has toured all over the world and has been honored to collaborate live with some of the worlds top musical artists of our time, including Billy Martin, Calvin G. Weston, Mike Dillon, King Britt, DJ Logic, Taylor McFerrin and Skerik. Her intuitive artistic drive towards Instrumental Art has also brought her into a visual realm collaborating with multi-media artists, choreographers, film makers, live painters and interactive-video artists. In 2008 she was asked to score a live improvisational piece to a feature film for the Philadelphia Film Societies Annual Producer and Directors event. As of late, she has been doing electronic music seminars at centers like The Painted Bride Art Center in Philadelphia. With her live performances, she is known for her wide vocal range, unique powerful tone and words, her improvisational techniques and her usage of live instrumental looping and effects. In the studio, she is appraised for her innovative arrangements with multi-time signatures and her fresh outlook on evolving sound styles. She was endorsed by Reason software in 2008 to experiment with all of their newest products for her latest record entitled "Street Noise Orkestra." Compared to artist like Bjork and Thom Yorke, this young lady will be yet another sonic innovator for years to come.
Recently Ryat's ever evolving band consists of many world class musicians such as multi instrumentalist/composer Tim Conley, (who has shared stages with artists such as Flaming Lips, Mike Gordon(phish), Bernie Worrell and Mike Watt). When touring with more than just a duo, Ryat brings along many special guests including drummer Mark Guiliana, (who was cited in Modern Drummer 2007 readers poll as "one of the best up-and-coming stars of today's drumming scene,") Jason Fraticelli, (bass player has toured with Matisyahu and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey) and Chris Wood (of Grimace Federation).
Sarah White
Sarah has always been artistically inclined. As a youth she explored the worlds of theater and dance, and would become a student of music, learning to play instruments early on. Sarah’s organic progression toward vocalism would begin in middle school, experimenting with spoken word poetry and rapping by the age of 14. Her collaborative abilities would be put to the test in 2002 when she joined the regional hip-hop outfit, Traditional Methods, as an emcee. Covering political and social topics in the tradition of such groups as the Fugees and Digable Planets, the group had a successful run, until Sarah decided to expand her creativity, starting a new group called Black Blondie in 2005, with fellow vocalist Samarha Linton.
Black Blondie would fuse hip-hop, electro-dub, and soul, providing glimpses into Sarah’s current identity. The girl-heavy band would earn strong regional acclaim, as well as a Minnesota Music Award nod. Throughout her group efforts, Sarah drew lofty comparisons to contemporaries and legends such as India Arie, Lauryn Hill, and Sade. While Sarah embraced all of the local acclaim, she sought to further broaden her horizons, and is currently in the early stages of a burgeoning solo career. Sarah White’s voice can be described as hypnotic at times, with breathy, soothing soliloquies, and deep, seductive stanzas. What’s impressive is her ability to effortlessly transform from singer to emcee, as in the introspective song, C Train. In this selection, she combines a spitfire flow, with dancehall style chatting and soulful melody, to create her own unique “scatois”.
Each of Sarah’s songs is a perfectly balanced moment, reflecting the full spectrum of her vocal abilities and bringing a positive focus to the issues of growth, fulfillment, and love. Sonically, Sarah’s primary producer DJ Don Cuco has presented a menu of indigenous sounds and synthesized instrumentation that perfectly compliments the versatility of Sarah’s voice. It’s a proven formula for success as Sarah White has opened for artists such as Jill Scott, J*Davey, K-Os, Camp Lo, Amy Winehouse, Wajeed, Bobbito, Ursula Rucker, Fishbone, and The Roots, and performed at such New York staples as Smooch in Fort Greene, Solomon’s Porch in Bed-Stuy, The Delancey in Manhattan, and the Apollo in Harlem. She was also featured in 2007’s Black Lily Festival in Philly, and is poised to become the next post-genre fixture, much like fellow Minnesota export Nikki Jean of Philadelphia’s Nouveau Riche. Sarah White has clearly found her calling, and we should all join in her commute to the top.
mysarahwhite.com
sarahwhiteblack.blogspot.com
wronglips.blogspot.com
NOTE: Registrations will be accepted online only.
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