Baltimore strong — Chiffon celebrates their intersectional scene
Chiffon from left — Chase O’Hara and Amy Reid; press photo courtesy of the artists.
Around the beginning of 2020 we announced the return of Baltimore underground institution with the new single "Woke Me" right before the entire world arrived at a standstill. And as we all were (and still are) confined to our respective spaces and only tending to essential errands; the rallying cry to stand up against systemic injustices became a just as essential focus and cause as we watched (and continue to watch) as our world became one vast boulevard of businesses shuttered with plywood doors and windows. Before the pandemic hit, Chiffon's Amy Reid, Chase O'Hara and Will Ryerson enlisted visual artist Corey Hughes and an entire Bmore ensemble of fellow artists, dreamers, designers, dancers and doers to celebrate the occasion at The Compound. And while the debut of the following video for "Woke Me" has been postponed until now as we have collectively shifted toward finding new outlets of activism, innovation and discovering new ways to be better allies — Chiffon has dedicated the visual as a celebration of their friends and luminaries that are an integral part of their local scenes and communities (and far beyond).
The Corey Hughes-directed visual for “Woke Me” is like a dream state event set in an opulent ballroom of enchantment and wonderment. Captured and curated before the lockdown; the audience is invited to join some of Baltimore’s best and brightest stars that are criminally underrepresented in both — and outside of their home digs. A contemporary viewing of the video feels like entering a vision world of an alternate and inclusive new realities of togetherness and camaraderie. Chiffon and a posse of polymaths and eclectic aesthetes bust moves to some of the smoothest and serene grooves in the world that are spiced with plenty of ear and mind catching flavors and audio illuminations. Witnessed as a diverse army of collaborators, cohorts, champions, mixed media/multi-media creatives and bosses of tomorrow and today’s new empires of new arts — Chiffon sets the bar high of squad goals and community support that exists to uplift and exalt the LGBTQ+, non-binary, BIPOC and other progressives that extend beyond the semiotic realm of labels.
Chiffon now proudly presents the incredible people who made this video happen and encompass part of the incredible, intersectional and multidisciplinary cross sections of the Baltimore scenes:
Corey Hughes
Corey Hughes via the artist’s website.
The idea for “Woke Me” was to re-create the feeling of wandering through a party late at night, thinking about other things, and then being brought back and grounded into the present moment by the people around you. It’s a celebration of the dancers, performers, artists, and musicians in Baltimore and the collaborative creative energy of the city.
Really appreciate everyone at The Compound for letting us use and help design the space and the crew that made this video happen. <3
EN’b
EN’b video still courtesy of Corey Hughes.
EN'b is a lost child who sings of Han as their diaspora blues. Born in Koreatown Los Angeles but calling Baltimore their home, they explore the dissonance between home, journey, and pain of diaspora through their music inspired by traditional Korean music, Rhythm and Blues music of the Black diaspora as well as Korean tunes their dad loudly sung on family road trips. They speak about ‘Han’ -- “a theorized culture-bound syndrome in that denotes a collective feeling of oppression and isolation in the face of insurmountable odds, the overcoming of which is beyond the nation's own capabilities. It connotes aspects of lament and unavenged injustice. “ They have worked with the Red Emma's Collective, Fusion Partnerships, 0Zone collective to create platforms for POC Artists, and the North Avenue Knowledge Exchange for free community workshops in Baltimore City. They have performed on stages in Baltimore, MD including, Creative Alliance, The Crown, Metro Gallery, Wind-Up Space, and the Kennedy Center. They are currently fundraising for and working on their debut EP.
Links: Spotify, “Take Care”, YouTube, Instagram, Gofundme.
Alex Shade
Alex Shade via Twitter.
Alex Shade is a multidisciplinary theatre artist in Baltimore, MD. He is a founding member of The Oven Theatre Company, a Baltimore-based social action theatre collective, focused on creating new work geared toward starting and continuing conversations about social and political issues. @TheOvenTheatre @alexjshade
Abdu Ali
Abdu Ali via Bandcamp.
Abdu Ali is an American avant-garde electronic musician, writer, and multidisciplinary artist who primarily works in social practice. Their work is a yielding poetic uprise that often interrogates ideas of identity as well as narrate and promote liberation from oppressive ideologies and systems. Their music is an idiosyncratic blend of punk, jazz, Baltimore club music, and rap that has graced stages across the U.S. and Europe. Through their energetic visceral performances, spiritualizing audiences, they have been anointed as a cosmic, punk, and soulful tempest on stage. In 2019 birthed as they lay, a fluid creative project focused on conjuring collaboration, digital media, & dialogue based exhibitions. Unapologetically black, gay, with sociopolitically queer, Abdu Ali’s work is bold, raw, and most importantly life-affirming. They are based between Baltimore, Brooklyn, & Berlin. Bandcamp
Naomi
Naomi via Bandcamp.
RoVo Monty
RoVo Monty via Soundcloud.
RoVo Monty is a performance artist from the DMV looking to take the underground LGBTQI music scene to the next level. He combines a mash up of genres and sounds such as pop, dance, house, and alternative R&B. With his unique style, choreographed dances and gender fluid fashion RoVo creates an experience that is truly captivating to the audience. His music influence is drawn from legends such as Prince, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson and Beyonce. RoVo also takes note from new school artists that relate to his independent journey, especially Dawn Richard and MNEK. Since 2013 RoVo has been performing on main stages throughout the DMV including Gay Pride, Six Flags America and many other LGBTQ events. Most recently he has opened for artists such as Leikeli47 and BbyMuva which is setting the tone for the rest of his upcoming performances. With the mixes of mainstream pop culture and an underground edge RoVo is sure to making any appearance unforgettable.
Hunter Hooligan
Hunter Hooligan photographed by @brookmichellej for @sentimentalfools Pride 2020.
Hunter Hooligan is a queer and indigenous singer, songwriter, producer, performer, and activist from Baltimore, Maryland. In 2019, Hunter released an EP entitled “Child of Venus” (which is available for purchase/streaming on your preferred platform) and saw his music video for “Ecstasy” (ft. TT the Artist) exhibited in the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of the Mickalene Thomas exhibit “A Moment’s Pleasure.” Hunter began 2020 with a new single titled after the year, and is currently pursuing plans for more music amidst navigating the coronavirus outbreak and working within the ongoing movement for black liberation, indigenous sovereignty, and defunding the police.
Find Hunter’s music here via Spotify.
And please donate to Baltimore Safe Haven.
Pangelica
Pangelica via Soundcloud.
Pangelica is a hyper romantic composer, producer, and curator based in Baltimore, MD. In 2016 she joined GRL PWR Baltimore, a creative collective with the mission to give LGBTQIA artists a performance platform. In August 2018, Pangelica released her first pop music album Saturn Returns, a galactic fusion of synth pop and sound art. In October 2019, she released Sinister, a menacing two track EP combining pop music and sound art elements.
Eze Jackson
Eze Jackson via Soundcloud.
Eze Jackson is a pillar of the Baltimore music scene. An insanely talented hip hop MC, front-man for the band Soul Cannon, an ever-present collaborator, and an artist who infuses soul and justice into his every word- his words and spirit are needed now more than ever!
Dj Diaspora
DJ Diaspora via Soundcloud.
I've been spinning an eclectic mix of music on vinyl since 1998, highlighting broken beat, deep house, Afrobeat, jazz, jungle, and the African diaspora.
Sarah Manley
Sarah Manley via Mind on Fire.
Feat. Amy Reid with Background Vocals by Chase O'Hara Direction & Editing by Corey Hughes Cinematography by Tyler Davis
DANCERS - Alex Shade • Marissa O'Guinn Dahl • Eze Jackson Caitlin Rife • Abdu Ali • Naomi • Erin Reid • Joe Lee • Hunter Hooligan • Rovo Monty • Laura Krapache • Eunbi CHILLERS - Michelle Uckotter • Becca Morrin • Colin Foster • Will Ryerson • Max Fisher • Margaret Palmquist • Pangelica First Assistant Camera • Nick Gorey Gaffer • Nick Hughes
Art Direction • Becca Morrin
Set Design • Colin Foster Production Assistance by Claire Di Salvo & Michelle Uckotter Filmed at THE COMPOUND in Pre-Pandemic BALTIMORE, MARYLAND • 2020 A.D.
* C H I F F O N - - - T H I R D E P * https://chiffon.bandcamp.com/