Meklit Hadero

What you hear in your head

meklit — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:31:55 +0000

Musicians, and especially songwriters, are always talking about the sounds they hear in their head…. At first when I started on this songwriting path, I had no idea what they were talking about. My process was unconscious. It had much more to do with improvisation, and just seeing what came out, than anything that was planned or premeditated. I still write songs that way, but over time, something else started to happen. I started hearing songs in my head too. They weren’t fully formed, and were often muted, jumbled, and barely audible. But they were there. Sometimes a bass line, sometimes a melody, sometimes a phrase mumbled and then suddenly clear. What a discovery! And then there was learning how to work with it, for which I really have GarageBand to thank. Whatever it is, record it right away. Work on it right away. If you come back to it later, it often is gone, and you forget why it seemed so special for a brief moment. My friends, unfortunately, have come to expect this from me. I may cancel an appointment out of the blue, if a song has gripped me. I’ll say, “I’m so sorry, but I’ve got something and I can’t let it go till it’s done.” So much for planning. If they’re really upset about it, then I’ll promise to play it for them first. They generally forgive me.

Giving Away Live Versions of New Songs to My Email List….

meklit — Wed, 29 May 2013 04:17:49 +0000

Yeah…. I am indeed starting to give away live versions of new tunes to my email list as of May. I’ve been performing a slew of recently composed ditties since February, and I’ve been itching to get them to you all. We had a couple of great live recordings this spring, and it just seems to make sense to get them out of my itunes and into your inbox.

If you’d like to join the list and plug in those headphones, go ahead and enter your email address in that little widget to your right. Easy as pie. Easy on the ears. Stay in touch, dear ones!

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.