Meklit Hadero

Me and Fatoumata….

meklit — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 06:10:43 +0000

Love Fatoumata Diawara! Saw her rock the stage at Zellerbach Hall this evening and man can this woman can sing. But my favorite part of the night was when she went through this particular 6/8 beat and showed how traditions from across the African continent dance to this rhythm. Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, Saharan nomadic folks all express this 6/8 in different physical fluidity. But it wasnt just this light understanding of the dances. It was embodiment. Right on, Fatou. See you next time!

Finishing the new album…

meklit — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:38:52 +0000

So I’m about 80% done writing a new album. This whole year, every show, we’ve been taking new songs out on the road, testing them, dressing arrangements up/down/sideways/backwards, and trying out forms. We’re really close. In fact, the big goal is to be all done writing and arranging by the end of May, which is both soon and totally possible. Yeah. Get ready.

Back on my hilltop…

meklit — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:31:37 +0000

Ahhhhh. I’m back on my hilltop. Back in that just-so San Francisco light. Now for a week’s stillness (though not really rest) before the adventure continues on to two shows at UC San Diego, a week at the TED conference, a show at the gorgeous new SFJAZZ Center (March 2nd!!!), and a couple of weeks of gigs in the UK. Yes! Then, a moment of spring quiet to follow.

But for now, just drinking lots of tea and trying to get over the instant cold that knocked on my door immediately upon landing. Sniffle, sniffle. Achooooooooooooooooooooo!

Moving through worlds….

meklit — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 06:37:40 +0000

Tonight Quinn and I played our first show on our short but sweet Colorado tour. It was at a beautiful listening room called Steve’s Guitars and the audience and show were l-o-v-e-l-y. Driving up to Carbondale (ski country) from Denver, we rolled through winter canyons and road that had been blasted into existence by dynamite decades ago.

In one month, I have written music by the Nile with artists from across East Africa, hit the midwest with my solo project steeped in Jazz and Ethiopian influences, and come to the high country for a distinctly American music with Quinn. Surreal to say the least. Life is an adventure. Moving through so many states of being, modes of music making, and ecologies is an inner and outer whirlwind. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, other times I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s both, and neither, everything all at once. Time to write a song about it!

Music expansions…

meklit — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 08:51:28 +0000

Today we have our first official Nile Project concert in Aswan at the Cultural Palace. We’ve been rehearsing 8 hours a day, learning backing vocal parts in 6 languages, writing songs, finding new tunings for all our instruments, understanding entirely different approaches to improvisation. This residency has been deep musical expansion time. I can’t wait to see how it all trickles into everything that we make and do.

It’s been blowing my mind to see all these ways of understanding sound trying to come into conversation with one another. I think the most beautiful part of it is how eager everyone here is to listen. To listen with kindness. Think about it. Imagine you are sitting with a friend, and you are having a conversation with them, and they are truly present with you. Doesn’t it change what you say? Cant you say more to them? This happens musically too. When you have ears that are listening with kindness, you also sing differently, play differently, with more of yourself.

For audiences, this means that you have immense power! You are the shape of the bowl that the sound pours into….. You influence musicians, and change the course of a show. I dont know if people know this. Maybe I knew it at one level, but it’s deeper now. Onwards to tonights show!!!!

Performance photos from Viracocha via the fabulous Mr. Jamie Lyons….

meklit — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:07:26 +0000

Performance photos from Viracocha via the fabulous Mr. Jamie Lyons…. It was a special show….

Happy New Year!

meklit — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:37:26 +0000

Happy new year friends. May 2013 be filled with music that rocks you, lulls you, lifts you, and opens you. Here’s to the new era!!!!

Plane Rides…

meklit — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:04:15 +0000

Plane rides are the best facilitator for lyric writing. There’s something about that up-in-the-air state of mind. Heading back to San Francisco from Seattle in hours. Pen ready.

Gregory Porter…

meklit — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 07:19:54 +0000

Post-Thanksgiving food coma having come and gone, I’m now actually winding down after the full Ethiopian + full tgiving meal has been cooked, eaten and cleared. Listening to Gregory Porter’s “Water” is my late night quietude trick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=J0PAIsWcOO8&NR=1

Bernie Krause + Bioacoustics

meklit — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:23:12 +0000

Went to a lecture last night by Bernie Krause, one of the leading researchers in bioacoustics. He blew my mind! Studying and recording the soundscapes of nature, he points to the need for conversation of habitats by looking at changes and quieting of sound related to biodiversity loss. Here’s a video that details his life and work. You can go chapter by chapter in this video. Let me know what you think!

http://fora.tv/2009/09/22/Dr_Bernie_Krause_The_Great_Animal_Orchestra