♪ It's one here ♪ - [Announcer] Tonight on Stage, take a front-row seat for the inspiration, connection and joy you've been missing.

Multi-disciplinary artist, Witt Siasoco, brings together three artists that believe art has the power to heal, featuring the music of Lady Midnight, MaLLy and Dameun Strange.

(saxophone blowing) (bright music) (laid-back music) - My name is Lady Midnight, and I come from a long line of matriarchs.

And this song, I wanna dedicate it to the feminine that exists in all of us, to my grandmother, Priscilla, my mother, Pamela, my sister, Myrna, Leah, Stephanie and Racquel, my tias and to all of the women that exist in you.

And when they ask you when it is that she works, when it is that she sacrifices, I want you to repeat with me.

♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ Hard for it ♪ ♪ We see you working hard for it, yeah ♪ ♪ Hard for it ♪ ♪ We see you working hard for it, yeah ♪ ♪ Hard for it ♪ ♪ We see you working hard ♪ ♪ The power of your influence to correct ♪ ♪ The misgivings of three generations ♪ ♪ Bang, girl ♪ ♪ Ooh, show 'em, work that thang, girl ♪ ♪ Power to your nature ♪ ♪ She don't need no favors ♪ ♪ Offers on the table, hey ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ She works every day ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ It's the only way, yeah ♪ ♪ Came for it ♪ ♪ Ooh, show 'em what you came for, oh ♪ ♪ Flip it, fix the pain on 'em ♪ ♪ Teach and lead the lane on 'em ♪ ♪ Ain't got life to waste on 'em ♪ ♪ Can't nobody take what you now know ♪ ♪ Can't nobody break the ground you're on ♪ ♪ Can't nobody put a claim on ♪ ♪ What you put your name on ♪ ♪ Put your, put your name on it, baby ♪ ♪ Ooh, every, every day ♪ ♪ She works every day ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ It's the only way ♪ ♪ You'll see her on the main floor ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, watch her work on main floor ♪ ♪ My baby gets it paid for ♪ ♪ She don't need no favors ♪ ♪ Offers on the table ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah ♪ ♪ Ooh, every, every day ♪ ♪ She works every day ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Every, every day ♪ ♪ It's the only way ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Every, every, every day ♪ (bright music) ♪ Come to me now, not too long ♪ ♪ I'll bathe the body with your soul ♪ ♪ Fall into waiting ♪ ♪ Fall into hoping I see you soon ♪ ♪ Willing the moment I see you soon ♪ ♪ If you burned in a fire ♪ ♪ I will hold a seance for you ♪ ♪ Bring you back to me ♪ ♪ Grow you in the soil ♪ ♪ Harvest in the moonlight ♪ ♪ Water you with memories ♪ ♪ I'll replay your ways, I'll replay your ways ♪ ♪ I'll replay the ways you were with me ♪ ♪ And I'll choose the phrases ♪ ♪ From your better phases ♪ ♪ Bring you back to me, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Don't slip the detail ♪ ♪ Can't stop the motion ♪ ♪ I can't get, I can't get over you ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no ♪ ♪ Thinking on replay ♪ ♪ Stuck with the notion ♪ ♪ I'm gonna, I'm gonna bring you back to me ♪ ♪ Fall on me now but don't be long ♪ ♪ Patiently waiting your return ♪ ♪ But tell me, how can I fight 'em ♪ ♪ How can I teach 'em when I'm still learning ♪ ♪ Holding your freedom ♪ ♪ Calling you back because I'm still yearning ♪ ♪ And then you came in the fire ♪ ♪ Flying like the phoenix for me ♪ ♪ Showed me you remembered me ♪ ♪ Left it in the soil ♪ ♪ A stone for him to harvest ♪ ♪ Living with a memory ♪ ♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪ ♪ I'll replay your ways, I'll replay your ways ♪ ♪ I'll replay the ways you were with me ♪ ♪ And I'll choose the phrases ♪ ♪ From your better phases ♪ ♪ Bring you back to me, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Don't slip the detail ♪ ♪ Can't stop the motion ♪ ♪ I can't, I can't get over you ♪ ♪ I can't get over you ♪ ♪ Thinking on replay ♪ ♪ Stuck with the notion ♪ ♪ I'm gonna, I'm gonna bring you back to me ♪ ♪ Don't slip the detail ♪ ♪ Can't stop the motion ♪ ♪ I can't get, I can't get over you ♪ ♪ I can't get over you ♪ ♪ Thinking on replay ♪ ♪ Stuck with the notion ♪ ♪ I'm gonna, I'm gonna bring you back to me ♪ ♪ Study what you built, and your reasons ♪ ♪ Study what you built, and your reasons ♪ ♪ I can't get, I can't get over you ♪ ♪ I can't get over you ♪ (laid-back music) ♪ Even when I'm alone ♪ ♪ I can hear your body ♪ ♪ Five fingers to my waist ♪ ♪ I can hear your body longing ♪ ♪ Longing for it ♪ ♪ I can hear it ♪ ♪ Keep it moving, baby, keep it moving, baby ♪ ♪ Keep it moving, baby ♪ ♪ I follow the lead, that, that, that, that ♪ ♪ I can hear your body sending me ♪ ♪ My ♪ ♪ Keep it moving, baby ♪ ♪ I can't give away this feeling ♪ ♪ If I can't feel it first ♪ ♪ We won't know the difference if we can't ♪ ♪ Learn it first ♪ ♪ Show me and I'll follow the lead ♪ ♪ Ambition drives me to ♪ ♪ Worship my temple like something holy ♪ ♪ I worship my temple like I'm one and only ♪ ♪ Inside rhythms, baby, yeah ♪ ♪ This will never fly ♪ ♪ And we will never die, we will never die ♪ ♪ We will never die, we will never die, we will never die ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Sanctify my ♪ ♪ Feeding ♪ ♪ Feeding, my feeding, my feeding ♪ ♪ My feeding, my feeding ♪ ♪ Inside rhythms, baby ♪ ♪ This will never fly ♪ ♪ And we will never die, we will never die ♪ ♪ We will never die, we will never die, we will never die ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ Oh, sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Oh, we will never die, oh, we will never die ♪ ♪ Oh, we will never die, oh, we will never die ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Sanctify my feeding ♪ ♪ Oh, we will never die, oh, we will never die ♪ ♪ Oh, we will never die ♪ ♪ We will never, never, never die ♪ ♪ We will never, never, never die ♪ (bright music) - Hi, Adriana.

- Hi, Witt.

- How are you?

- I'm doing well, thank you.

- Thank you, I wanted to thank you for that performance.

And your band, an incredible setup, and an incredible array of musicians.

I'm so honored that you guys could play today as a part of this performance.

One of the things that brings us all together is a theme of healing, and I know a lot of your songs touch upon that but can you talk a little bit about how healing plays a role in your music?

- Yeah, I think even the songs that I performed today, they really were ways for me to process things that I've been through in my life.

Specifically, the song that song "Catorce," that song is about my sister who passed away a few years ago.

And I know it kinda sounds like a love song if you don't know the backstory about it but I think that in some ways it's about being able to process something that is difficult to let go and recognizing that you never truly heal from those things either.

You're just changed sometimes when you go through loss and that can be difficult to know how to hold.

So I think that my music makes it a little bit easier for me to hold.

I mean, it's great, because we have a history of knowing each other and working.

One of the taglines that I like has always stuck with me from the days that we worked together was like, art is a way to make unsafe ideas safe, and to be able to challenge those notions.

And I've always kind of like felt that, and I think the way that I create is in that spirit too to just not be afraid to express the things that might be too difficult to put in words.

- I totally feel that.

I mean, you're a true artist.

I mean you're like, you're definitely a performer, that's first and foremost.

But I know the visual arts have played a role in your life and many other aspects.

Can you talk about the label of artist versus all those other titles that you've had?

I mean, do you hold it in a high regard?

And if so, how do you hold that title?

- Yeah, 'cause I don't really see it as, like...

I think when you say that you're an artist, sometimes it moves into a different realm, where it's not like a craft or like a trade in any way.

It's almost like you're not for hire anymore of a specific duty or function.

So I consider myself an artist because I think it gives me a lot more freedom to express myself in different ways, and it gives me permission to think in different mediums.

- Thank you so much, Adriana, for coming to perform today.

So psyched that you're a part of this showcase, and yeah, I know we'll be hanging out soon.

- It is an honor, yes, we will.

Thank you.

- Thanks.

(bright music) (laid-back music) - Feels good to be alive in these crazy times.

Art is peace, it's power, it's love and it's light.

Thank you for joining me.

(laid-back music) And right now, here to celebrate the good times, and the not-so-good times.

We've been up, we've been down, but even in the midst of all of that, we can still celebrate, so let's do it.

♪ Who am I, little guy ♪ ♪ Not known for losing ♪ ♪ Got every non-believer ♪ ♪ Screaming out their hallelujahs ♪ ♪ I'm making art for the living ♪ ♪ 'Cause the dead can't do it ♪ ♪ I wrap the circle round these dummies ♪ ♪ That's my revolution ♪ ♪ We're still bouncing ♪ ♪ Added to this, 1,000 arteries drowning ♪ ♪ From hard liquor, hard lounging ♪ ♪ Been catching flights all year ♪ ♪ The rest is walking ♪ ♪ I make the deaf wanna hear me out when I'm talking ♪ ♪ I'm good money, all in ♪ ♪ You ain't got it counted ♪ ♪ I'ma crash a really good party ♪ ♪ With no announcing ♪ ♪ You gotta know I got a heart of gold, take that ♪ ♪ It can't be bought and it can't be sold, no cap ♪ ♪ You know I come from a town where white, blacks, browns ♪ ♪ They're equals round here ♪ ♪ You see the door, leave the crowns there ♪ ♪ Money don't amount here, just dead faces ♪ ♪ Black Lee's, black Jordans with the red laces ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I'm so blessed, and I'm so good ♪ ♪ I brought Nike sweats ♪ ♪ I don't dress Hollywood ♪ ♪ So refreshed since I had a couple minutes ♪ ♪ Of a destiny that's promised and a pigment that's a threat ♪ ♪ Oh, yes ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ You should know my name is Black Moses ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, the world is yours ♪ ♪ Black Moses, uh-huh ♪ ♪ Twin Cities, worldwide ♪ ♪ Black Moses, yeah ♪ ♪ It feels good to be alive ♪ ♪ Still amazing, never really shiny on the neck ♪ ♪ No tats, I show respect to all my flesh ♪ ♪ Can't love all y'all counterfeits ♪ ♪ I just do this for the real ones ♪ ♪ A couple of fingers pointed down ♪ ♪ To George Wash, non-preacher ♪ ♪ But they be filling golf features near the Colosseum ♪ ♪ 100,000 stars reaching out ♪ ♪ Wishing death to every lie in his lifestyle ♪ ♪ Catch me waving black flags toward a white cloud ♪ ♪ An old soul, a lotta women want it ♪ ♪ Can make a heart split in two ♪ ♪ Call me the Black Moses ♪ ♪ My 15 minutes, about an hour late, go back ♪ ♪ I want the world but you can have the state ♪ ♪ Oh, that ♪ ♪ See me stroll through in slow-mo ♪ ♪ I ain't shooting dope, though ♪ ♪ I still say my amens, even if I don't go ♪ ♪ I never cared to be their favorite rapper ♪ ♪ I probably did on the last album ♪ ♪ Same book but different chapter ♪ ♪ Metaphors on the now ♪ ♪ When before it's really working ♪ ♪ And this whole sound got you wanting more, right ♪ ♪ Don't expect for the majority to know ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm unapologetically nappy in all my dialogue ♪ ♪ It's Moses, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, everybody, what's my name ♪ ♪ Black Moses ♪ ♪ Southside, Northside ♪ ♪ Worldwide, everybody, Black Moses ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Black Moses ♪ ♪ Here to celebrate life, here to celebrate with you ♪ ♪ Black Moses, yeah, uh-huh ♪ ♪ The world is yours, for sure, yeah ♪ And in a time of pain and a time of trial and tribulation, it's time to heal, let's go.

(laid-back music) And if you're alive today, got a little bit of money in your pocket, got your loved ones, your life is all that.

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, uh-huh ♪ ♪ Yeah, it feels good ♪ ♪ If you're all that, it's your random standup ♪ ♪ Welcome a new world ♪ ♪ Gonna put your hands up ♪ ♪ Searching for the truth now ♪ ♪ Certified answers that stand out ♪ ♪ Feeling fly, 100 hands down ♪ ♪ All my people sit high each and every single night ♪ ♪ We want more than get by ♪ ♪ Everything is all right ♪ ♪ We share the same air, and I'm honored ♪ ♪ Let's celebrate life to death, how ironic ♪ ♪ My mother's only son, I be shining like this ♪ ♪ The greatest sign that the eyes won't miss ♪ ♪ There's an infinite space in my soul ♪ ♪ With a glow never ending 'cause time don't exist, yeah ♪ ♪ It's obvious to see that I don't copy, I take action ♪ ♪ Their cameras, they're flashing, lotta lights ♪ ♪ And I'm grateful that you're here for the show ♪ ♪ And if you're rocking with me ♪ ♪ I need to know you've got love for soul ♪ ♪ Life is free, take it slow ♪ ♪ You got a right to breathe ♪ ♪ And your life could be all that, all that ♪ ♪ Okay, all that, yeah, all that ♪ ♪ Take control, just believe ♪ ♪ I'm rocking out nice with TPT ♪ ♪ Everybody, you can be all that, all that ♪ ♪ Okay, all that, okay, all that ♪ ♪ I'm still driving down my block ♪ ♪ Ain't got the system on crack ♪ ♪ Never going back, hey ♪ ♪ Living how they can, hey ♪ ♪ Wasn't all expected, not a boy, you're so respected ♪ ♪ Every blessing, get it counted ♪ ♪ Like a dollar in a safe, right ♪ ♪ I can't be them, I'm just him ♪ ♪ Just winning all around the world, I just win ♪ ♪ Still, I'm eating in the days of a drought ♪ ♪ Breathe easy, you could, with my name out your mouth, yeah ♪ ♪ Negatives to the big picture, crapper mouth ♪ ♪ Can't complain, seats lean down ♪ ♪ What are you talking about ♪ ♪ '86er, Midwester, with a lotta South ♪ ♪ Got my hat to the front, and move like a number one ♪ ♪ Not another sucker sucking to another's drum ♪ ♪ In my own lane, gotta do my own thing, yeah ♪ ♪ And I'm grateful that you're with me on this show ♪ ♪ I need to know, love for soul ♪ ♪ Life is free, take it slow ♪ ♪ You got a right to breathe ♪ ♪ Everybody say, all that, okay, all that ♪ ♪ Yeah, all that, yeah, all that ♪ ♪ Take control, just believe ♪ ♪ I want the world to shout with me ♪ ♪ And your life could be all that, okay, all that ♪ ♪ Okay, all that, yeah, all that ♪ ♪ Let this black man take a bow for this major sound ♪ ♪ And then bring the curtains down ♪ ♪ No laying 'round, 'cause I'm really trying to make a pal ♪ ♪ Just to make it out ♪ ♪ Making money never made me smile ♪ ♪ All set, God bless, went from flawed to flawless ♪ ♪ Neckpiece swing heavy ♪ ♪ Can't keep 'em off that ♪ ♪ Healed every heart crack with drops of the malbec ♪ ♪ But my steak is all black ♪ ♪ All black, all black, all black ♪ ♪ Everybody, all that, all that, all that ♪ And I go by the name of MaLLy, from Southside Minneapolis, and I like to pray.

(laid-back music) ♪ In these times we have to reflect to reconnect ♪ ♪ Yeah, uh-huh ♪ ♪ And sometimes it's time to pray ♪ ♪ Can I walk like, talk like ♪ ♪ Please forgive me for my off nights ♪ ♪ Left shoulder fighting with the far right ♪ ♪ Vain from here on, no comparison ♪ ♪ I've been 142nd ♪ ♪ Third eye, got the foresight ♪ ♪ I pray for all the likes in the world, diamonds and pearls ♪ ♪ I wanna spend the night with a girl ♪ ♪ Get some followers, and that's love, why ♪ ♪ White blood, good as black blood, mad as, uh ♪ ♪ Like, we had enough ♪ ♪ Then we're stackin' up to by a Yeezy shirt ♪ ♪ That probably looks stabbed up ♪ ♪ And the funny boots ♪ ♪ Are we humming truth ♪ ♪ I woke up like this ♪ ♪ That's another you ♪ ♪ I've been praying since 22 ♪ ♪ And I saw every desire that I'm holding ♪ ♪ Got my hands hard ♪ ♪ Treat you like a Santa Claus ♪ ♪ Drop my spirit like a dollar in a well ♪ ♪ Salvation, half off, like a product on a shelf ♪ ♪ If I'm idolized, greatest son, shining my favor, no ♪ ♪ But he got a prayer like mine, I'm so major ♪ ♪ I need a bill to pay a bill ♪ ♪ But I'm kneeled up at this pulpit ♪ ♪ Asking you for bull ♪ ♪ I'm sitting low in my flow, run this TV on soul ♪ ♪ Touching, asking, trying to figure why they don't love us ♪ ♪ Take the cuffs off and free shackle ♪ ♪ Kaepernick, he took a stand but his knees crackle ♪ ♪ We made the pyramids, and live like kings, even queens ♪ ♪ With their pyramids, they trick you and scheme ♪ ♪ Doing things, necklace ring ♪ ♪ I need to prevent family ♪ ♪ Once we're slaves and bloody ornaments ♪ ♪ Had to quote it like no one knows it ♪ ♪ Stuffing prayers in a box that's been overflowing ♪ ♪ Just a note to say I came by ♪ ♪ Until my name pop, I'll be here ♪ ♪ Same time at the same spot ♪ ♪ Amen, amen, amen ♪ (laid-back music) I just wanna send a big thank you out to everybody in the world.

Positive vibes, positive energy.

But most of all.

♪ All day, the confetti gonna fall ♪ ♪ Got Ws, need a couple more ♪ ♪ The boy floating, parade with the stars ♪ ♪ It's a celebration, round of applause ♪ ♪ Get your hands up high enough to knock down a plane ♪ ♪ Walking all night, made made it rain ♪ ♪ It's one me and a whole lotta frauds ♪ ♪ Celebration, round of applause ♪ ♪ For yourselves, round of applause ♪ ♪ For your life, round of applause ♪ ♪ You got through it, round of applause ♪ ♪ For the day, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm fresh out the gate with a brand new fade ♪ ♪ Left tool shed, wait, couldn't recognize the face ♪ ♪ Celebrating life, 100 candles in the cake ♪ ♪ I done been so many places a lot will never taste ♪ ♪ Y'all can't relate when it's great ♪ ♪ Hold up, my head filling up again ♪ ♪ You're running out of space ♪ ♪ And why so many rappers hate ♪ ♪ Them dudes stake on a play ♪ ♪ They have nothing to say except grace ♪ ♪ The power's in their necklace, the freshest ♪ ♪ Lord have mercy, they've been plotting on my blessings ♪ ♪ I focus on completion and not perfection ♪ ♪ I gotta take 'em all to church ♪ ♪ But the masses and who I break bread with ♪ ♪ I'm halfway decent, never seen a cell ♪ ♪ Ducking blue lights, and felt the long arm of a precinct ♪ ♪ Wrap it up, 'cause the guy should remain ♪ ♪ I had to walk before I fly ♪ ♪ The black bird's out the cage ♪ ♪ For those that never heard me before ♪ ♪ I got 'em on standby, I'm about to take off ♪ ♪ I told 'em I was sharing from their door ♪ ♪ I'm so down to Earth but I'm still touching stars ♪ ♪ Because all day, the confetti gonna fall ♪ ♪ I got Ws but need a couple more ♪ ♪ The boy floating, parade with the stars ♪ ♪ It's a celebration, round of applause ♪ ♪ Get your hands up high enough to knock down a plane, yes ♪ ♪ All night, made it rain ♪ ♪ It's one me, and a whole lotta frauds ♪ ♪ Celebration, round of applause ♪ ♪ God flow next to Christ on a cross ♪ ♪ Heaven started splitting on the minute I was born ♪ ♪ Dropped jaws, and the spectators talked ♪ ♪ 'Cause my Jesus ain't white but my high tops are ♪ ♪ A round of applause to your flaws ♪ ♪ Every dream of a king's that we'd all get along ♪ ♪ Till the paper's all right, I be feeling all wrong ♪ ♪ I'm too real for scraps, got no chill for that ♪ ♪ You know I gotta get it ♪ ♪ They weren't just riding with me ♪ ♪ Confidently, see you stopping through another city ♪ ♪ Broads this thirsty, they hit you with a lot of memory ♪ ♪ But on the flip, you might forget 'em ♪ ♪ Now that y'all offended ♪ ♪ I never hold back, I let it go ♪ ♪ Special with soul for respect and the dough ♪ ♪ Fist high, stress low, ball placed by the sun ♪ ♪ Y'all set by the toes, been a threat in my zone ♪ ♪ There forever, give a toast to the set ♪ ♪ Well, they sing it's all love ♪ ♪ And got a hole in their chest ♪ ♪ From the projects ♪ ♪ Nah, I'm so low key, just me ♪ ♪ But keep a couple of nuts in the sweats ♪ ♪ The PC bounce, got the format switching real soon ♪ ♪ But the lines start clicking ♪ ♪ Thank me later, it's all in the business ♪ ♪ None of y'all are welcome, doormat's missing ♪ ♪ Round of applause, round of applause ♪ ♪ Round of applause, round of applause ♪ ♪ Hands up high enough to knock down a plane ♪ ♪ Walking, I love to see the rain ♪ ♪ It's one me, a whole lotta frauds ♪ ♪ Celebration, round of applause ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, round of applause ♪ ♪ Round of applause, round of applause ♪ ♪ Round of applause ♪ Thank you.

(bright music) - Hi, Malik, how are you?

- I'm good, what's good, bro?

- Not much, we just got through this performance.

I know before this whole thing started, this has been a bit of a process we started off, what, a couple of months ago, talking about this performance.

And I know right before that, you had a gigantic show at First Ave, and now you're here at Aria with no audience.

- Well, three people.

- There are three people.

(laughs) So can you talk a little bit about that experience, and how each differs?

- Yeah, it's funny, it felt almost kinda like playing one of those shows on a Monday night.

There's like poor attendance, nobody's there, It's you and the performers, four other people.

It's weird, 'cause even when you're a professional, you think that you can get through it.

It's almost strange, like a glorified soundcheck in a way, 'cause you're just, but you still wanna be tight and perfect, versus playing in front of 1,200, 1,500 people.

It is different, 'cause who are you gonna crowd control with?

(laughs) Do you do it with yourself, or with the person who's holding the camera?

Well, they can't do that, because they're making sure footage is good.

It's definitely different.

But it is one of those things you have to adjust.

Nobody saw this happening at this particular point in time.

And if they did, I wasn't in the loop, so.

But it's still good, it's for a good cause.

Good information, good message.

I think that's the one thing to always remind ourselves of.

It could always even be much worse.

It could be worse, where we're not even doing this.

We're not even interfacing.

So, just trying to find the positives in it for me is dope.

But yeah, it's definitely different.

It's different playing in front of a room full of people, 'cause there's a whole lotta energy, new people, new faces.

And then when there's a room, a space where there's hardly anybody, you're kinda like constantly searching for what are the things in the performance that keep me energized or what's the message or what are certain parts that I could feel myself rising up a little bit, and then what are the moments to bring it down?

And in some cases, not overdoing it in a smaller room, where there's little to no people, 'cause then it might feel weird too to over-perform and there's nobody there, versus when there is a big room, and you got something to pull from, and interact with more people versus this time it's like, just zero in, really pay attention to the words, and know that somebody will see the performance at some point.

So I would say those are the two differences, in comparison to a 15-year anniversary with the current versus a much dialed-back performance for TPT today, so.

- Well, thank you, Malik.

- Appreciate it, thank you.

- We'll talk soon, man.

- All right, appreciate it.

- I think you're released.

Yeah, thank you.

(bright music) (tranquil music) (water splashing) (tranquil music) (water splashing) (tranquil music) (people chattering) (man murmuring) (water splashing) (man murmuring) (saxophone blowing) (water splashing) (cymbal tinkling) (cymbals crashing) (saxophone blowing) - [Man] All I wanted was silence, or just the sound of the waves beating against the black rocks.

All I wanted was silence.

So, I'd listen with a mournful sorrow of song, of ancestors taking one last breath.

(wind howling) All I wanted was silence.

Maybe I could hear the echoes of the screams of those who refused to be taken, sacrificing their bodies to the sea.

All I wanted was silence.

If I could mourn the strong who made the journey, names replaced by numbers, until they landed in Brazil, Curacao, Virginia.

All I wanted was silence, or just the sound of waves beating against the black rocks.

(people chattering) It ain't all black, oh.

(indistinct) (plangent saxophone music) (indistinct) (plangent saxophone music) Or just the sound of the waves beating against the black rocks.

(agitated saxophone music) I could hear the echoes of the screams of those who refused to be taken, sacrificing their bodies to the sea.

(people chattering) All I wanted was silence.

(agitated saxophone music) Names replaced by numbers, until they landed in Brazil, Curacao.

Or just the sound of the waves beating against the black rocks.

(people yelling) (calm saxophone music) (indistinct) (calm saxophone music) All I wanted was silence.

Maybe I could hear the echoes of the screams of those who refused to be taken, sacrificing their bodies to the sea.

All I wanted was silence, so I could mourn the strong who have made the journey, names replaced by numbers, until they landed in Brazil, Curacao, Virginia, Louisiana.

All I wanted was silence, or just the sound of waves beating against the black rocks.

(tranquil music) (synthesizer swirling) (bright music) - Hey, Dameun, how are you?

- I'm good, I'm good, how are you?

- I'm good, thank you for performing today.

I was totally blown away.

I know you haven't performed this piece very much, and we're honored to have it as a part of this showcase.

Can you tell us a little bit about the piece?

It's called "Our Boat," right?

- Yes.

- Can you tell us a little bit about the development of "Our Boat?"

- Sure, thanks.

So "Our Boat" sort of came to be after a trip that I took to Senegal back in January, it seems like a long time ago, 2020.

I was going there to do some research on the water culture there, the culture of fishing that's existed there for generations, to work on a larger project that ties, that connects Senegal to my homeland of the Chesapeake Bay area and the Potomac River Valley, DC.

I wasn't expecting to write a piece like this but just going there and the familiarity of the place for me, this had such an impact on my music.

I was inspired right away to just start writing as soon as I came back from the trip.

- That's great, I mean, I can hear that it's deeply personal and knowing your work, you play with abstraction and surrealism a lot in your work.

And I know we're living in a time of COVID and post-George Floyd.

And with your body of work, that's abstract and surrealist, can you talk about the roles that abstraction and surrealism might play in the times that we're living right now?

- When I think of abstraction and surrealism, surrealism in particular, I think about sort of rituals and these planes that exist above the world that we live in.

So if I think about this piece in particular, thinking about the connection between my family here, black family here, and my ancestors that came over from Africa, and for me it was deeply personal because I was going home, in a sense to sort of erase the trauma that traveled over during the middle passage.

They're going specifically to Goree Island and the Door of No Return.

In the piece, in the center of the piece, there's the poem that really talks about the water and the island, and wanting to sort of be there and complete this process of healing.

That surrealist level for me in this piece is really bringing those ancestors and those ghosts into the current reality and using their energy, which they often give us anyway, but being really specific about my ask of them at this point.

- Thank you so much, Dameun, for- - Thank you, Witt.

- Yeah, for performing today.

- Thanks for inviting me.

- Thanks.

All right.

(laughs) (bright music) - [Announcer] Stage is made possible by the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, the citizens of Minnesota, and by viewers like you.