♪ SINGING ♪ >>FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY, WELCOME TO MELROSE IN THE MIX, OUR SERIES OF LIVE RECORDING SESSIONS HERE IN THE AUDIO STUDIO AT THE MELROSE CENTER.

HI, EVERYONE.

I'M JIM MYERS.

TODAY'S SESSION FEATURES SINGER, SONGWRITER KA MALINALLI.

KA PERFORMED AT THE VERY FIRST MELROSE IN THE MIX SESSION A FEW YEARS AGO AS PART OF THE SWAMP SISTAS SONGWRITING CIRCLE.

IN THIS SESSION, SHE RECORDS A COLLECTION OF POWERFUL ORIGINAL SONGS IN THE TRADITIONAL TROVA STYLE.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO KA RECENTLY ABOUT HER MUSICAL INFLUENCES, HER ASSOCIATION WITH THE SWAMP SISTAS, HOW SHE WAS DRAWN TO THE TROVA STYLE AS A SONGWRITER, WHAT SHE HOPES PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM HER MUSIC, AND MORE.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>MIENTRAS TU SOLO ESTAS PREOCUPADO SI EL MUNDO ESTA ALERTA Y FINGIENDO LA VIDA PERFECTA SE VA EL AMOR QUE DEJAS PASAR LA CONSECUENCIA AHORA LA VES, AUTOR DE MIEDOS, LADRON DE FE TU TEMPLO SE DERRUMBA, TU OBRA ARDE EN LLAMAS CREADOR DE IMPERIOS Y DE FRONTERAS CREADOR DE NORMAS, CREADOR DE GUERRAS MIENTRAS TU SOLO ESTAS PREOCUPADO SI EL MUNDO ESTA ALERTA Y FINGIENDO LA VIDA PERFECTA SE VA EL AMOR QUE DEJAS PASAR LA CONSECUENCIA AHORA LA VES TRAS EL ABUSO DE TU PODER LA FURIA HAS DE TEMER, MAS NO DE QUIEN CREES TU ENEMIGO NO DEL QUE RIGE COMO TU TEME A QUIEN, A QUIEN SIEMPRE HAS OPRIMIDO CREADOR DE RAZAS, CREADOR DE SEXOS CREADOR DE RANGOS Y DE ABOLENGOS TU IMPERIO VES CAER, EL QUE HAS CREADO POR PLACER CREADOR DEL MUNDO TU ORIGEN HAS DE RECONOCER CREADOR DEL MUNDO TU ORIGEN HAS DE RECONOCER >>IT BEGAN WITH MY FAMILY.

MANY OF MY COUSINS PLAY AND SING SO FAMILY REUNIONS WERE LIKE HOURS AND HOURS OF JAMMING AND WHAT WE CALL THE [SPANISH] JUST LIKE SINGING ALL NIGHT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME I GREW UP, IN A HOUSE WHERE MY DAD HAD A SUPER EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF VINYL.

SO EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY TIME OFF HE HAD HE WAS IN FRONT OF THE STEREO WITH HIS HEADPHONES SOMETIMES AND THEN HE WOULD TAKE THEM UP AND THE WHOLE HOUSE WOULD BE BLASTING WITH INSRUMENTAL MUSIC FROM THE 70S TO BOSSA NOVA, CUMBIA.

SO I LEARNED TO REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE AND LOVE MUSIC.

AND THEN WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AT SOME POINT, I GUESS IT WAS JUST MEANT TO HAPPEN.

I DROPPED OUT OF THE TRACK TEAM TO JOIN THE CHIOR AND I DISCOVERED THAT I LOVE SINGING AND THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IS SINGING.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE MY THING.

SO I'VE BEEN SINGING EVER SINCE.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>NO PODIA VER MAS ALLA ME ATORMENTABA EL RIESGO, EL REMORDIMIENTO QUE CAUSABA DAR LA ESPALDA A QUIEN AMOR ME PROFESABA.

MIENTRAS AL FUEGO TE ARROJABAN ME AVERGONZABA DE TU NOMBRE Y NO QUERíA HABLAR DE TI AUNQUE ME ESCONDI YA NO PUDE ESQUIVARTE AL LIMPIAR TUS HERIDAS DESCUBRI QUE LA FUERZA AUDAZ VOLVíA A CRECER EN MI PUDE TOMARTE DE LA MANO Y SIN ARREPENTIMIENTO HUIR HACIA LA VIDA.

PORQUE REUNIR TODAS LAS PIEZAS DE TU PASADO MALTRATADO ERA UN MALDITO INCONVENIENTE "“PERO QUE DRAMA"” DICE AHORA EN SU SOBERBIA Y DESENGAñO EL.

NO DEJEMOS MáS QUE EL VIEJO LASTRE DE COMPLEJOS Y RENCORES LíMITE EL LENTO ARRASTRE DE NUESTROS PASOS QUE SE SABEN LARGO Y CANSADO EL CAMINO ENMENDEMOS LOS PEDAZOS Y AUNQUE NO ES MUY CLARO EL DESTINO Y CUANDO INEVITABLEMENTE MI PASADO COMPLICADO SEA UN MALDITO INCONVENIENTE NOS HUNDIREMOS EN EL LLANTO Y AUN CASI AL BORDE DE LA ASFIXIA VENCEREMOS AL QUEBRANTO ALCANZAREMOS TIERRA FIRME Y CON LA FRENTE MUY EN ALTO CONTINUAREMOS CAMINANDO HACIA LA VIDA.

HACIA LA VIDA.

HACIA LA VIDA.

>>I THINK THAT THE FIRST STYLE THAT REALLY SPOKE TO ME WAS THE TROVA AND THE CANTO...AND IT WAS THIS STARTED A WAY FOR MUSICIANS AND POETS TO EXPRESS THEIR POLITICAL IDEALS, OPINIONS, EMOTIONS.

AND IN CHILE FOR EXAMPLE, THE SINGERS OF THE [SPANISH] THEY WERE JAILED.

THEY WERE MURDERED.

BUT IT WAS POWERFUL SONG.

AND IT HAD A CAUSE.

IT HAD A MESSAGE.

IT WASN'T JUST GET UP AND DANCE AND BE IN A PARTY.

IT WAS MUSIC THAT REALLY MADE YOU THINK.

IN MY CASE, IT JUST MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE INEQUALITY, THE INJUSTICE IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

SO I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT.

I LIKE THE MUSIC.

AND THEN WHEN I STARTED TRAVELING AS A TEENAGER I SAW WHAT IT MEANT.

SO IT STAYED WITH ME.

AND I DIDN'T REALLY MAKE MUSIC UNTIL YEARS LATER WHEN I HAD MY FIRST CHILD.

BUT IT WAS THE STYLE THAT I COULD USE TO TRANSLATE MY FEELINGS AND HOW I WAS COPING WITH ADULTING, I GUESS.

YEAH.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>DE CAMINOS LEJANOS, DE PUEBLOS HERMANOS LLEGARON LAS VOCES A PERDERSE EN LA OBSCURIDAD ROMPIENDO EL SILENCIO DE LA NOCHE Y LA CONFORMIDAD NOS MUESTRAN EL MIEDO, Y LA IGNORANCIA DE LA SOCIEDAD SE LES OYE DECIR QUE NO SON DE AQUí QUE PRESAS ESTáN, PERDIDAS SIN SOLUCIóN SE LES OYE LLORAR SIN CONSUELO Y LA EXPLICACIóN NO BASTA LAS VOCES NO CALLARAN AY DONDE ESTAS MI VOZ, MI LUZ, MI NINA?

AY YO SOLO QUERIA UNA MEJOR VIDA AY DONDE ESTAS?

ME HAN HECHO VOLVER A LA TIERRA QUE NOS VIO NACER VACIOS MIS BRAZOS DESTROZADA EL ALMA SIN TU RISA, SIN TU VOZ, SIN TU INOCENCIA INERTE EN LA IMPOTENCIA Y NO SABER SI HE DE VOLVERTE A VER Y DEBES DECIR QUE NO ERES DE AHI QUE EN ESA PRISION NO HAY CONSUELO PARA TU TIERNO CORAZóN Y AUNQUE FALTE YO TENDRáS QUE LUCHAR CONTRA EL MIEDO Y LA IGNORANCIA Y TU VOZ, NO DEBE CALLAR AY VOLVERA TU VOZ, TU LUZ, MI NINA?

AY VOLVERA LA PAZ Y LA ALEGRIA?

AY DONDE ESTAS?

>>BETH MCKEE, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE SWAMP SISTAS, I MET HER AT MY VERY FIRST ALBUM RELEASE.

ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

AND SHE INVITED ME TO JOIN AND WE'VE BEEN I GUESS COLLABORATING EVER SINCE.

TO ME, BEING IN THE SWAMP SISTAS HAS BEEN AMAZING.

I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH.

OF COURSE I GET TO LISTEN TO ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL SUPER TALENTED WOMEN SING THEIR HEARTS OUT IN AN INTIMATE SETTING.

WE GET TOGETHER AND WE HAVE THESE CIRCLES AND WE GIVE EACH OTHER FEEDBACK ON OUR SONGWRITING OR THE ARRANGEMENTS OF OUR SONGS.

AND THE BEST PART IS THAT THERE IS A MISSION TO HELP IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH ALSO FOR ME IS AMAZING.

THERE WAS A TIME MAYBE MORE THAN A DECADE AGO WHERE I USE TO SAY I VOLUNTEER FOR A LIVING.

BECAUSE I USED TO LOVE VOLUNTEERING.

AND MY KID WAS IN SCHOOL SO I REALLY HAD TIME TO GO OUT AND VOLUNTEER WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THEN I STOPPED FOR A WHILE.

AND WITH BETH, IT PUT THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER.

LIKE, THE MUSIC AND THE COMMUNITY ACTION.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY, REALLY FULFILING.

♪ MUSIC ♪ ♪ GUITAR ♪ >>FRáGIL, LIBRE COMO EL POLEN DE UNA FLOR REPOSE EN TU MANO Y CON SUAVE ALIENTO, VIENTO QUE SALIó DE TUS DULCES LABIOS, LARGO FUE EL MOMENTO EN EL QUE FLOTE CON LA LIVIANDAD DE PáRPADO CERRADO CUANDO A MEDIA MULTITUD TE SIENTO A MI LADO.

IR Y VENIR IGUAL QUE OLAS DE MAR ERA NUESTRO BAILE.

POEMA DE CADENCIA, RITMO DE PASIóN, ERA LUZ DE LUNA SOBRE EL LIENZO DE TU PIEL SOBRE EL QUE PINTE CON LA SUAVIDAD DE BESO Y CARICIA UN PAISAJE VASTO HASTA MADRUGAR.

LARGO, FRíO FUE EL INVIERNO DEL FINAL MENOS LOS MOMENTOS, MENOS LAS CARICIAS, MáS NECESIDAD DE BUSCAR A SOLAS EL MOTIVO DE EXISTIR HASTA COMPRENDER QUE LA BREVEDAD DE LA VIDA ES SIMPLE: HE DE AMARTE AL DIA Y DEJARTE IR ♪ GUITAR AND WHISTLING ♪ ♪ GUITAR ♪ >>IT'S A LITTLE SCARY FOR ME.

I MEAN THIS IS NOT A GENERAL THING.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DO HAVE STAGE FRIGHT.

IT DOESN'T SHOW BUT MOST TIMES I'M TERRIFIED WHEN I'M PERFORMING.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS FUN FOR ME.

LIKE HAVE THAT EXTRA "UMPH" OF EMOTION.

♪ GUITAR ♪ >>LUNA LLENA GUARDAN MIS PUPILAS RUGE EL TRUENO AL ECO DE MI VOZ BEBE DE MI AGUA DE YERBITA DEJA QUE TE ARRULLE MI TRISTE CANCIóN.

BáñATE EN EL MAR DE LOS SUDORES VERTIDOS SOBRE PIEDRA ANCESTRAL PURIFICANDO HIERBAS Y FLORES CUANDO TUS DOLORES PEDISTE CURAR EN SILENCIO TE SEGUíA LOS PASOS LUEGO ARDI EN EL FUEGO DE TU CRUZ PEDAZO DE HUESO TRANSFORMáNDOSE EN LO QUE HACES PASAR POR DESVIRTUD CAMBIASTE EL PODER DE MI AGUA PURA POR LA MAGIA OSCURA DE TU TALISMáN QUISISTE DOMAR A LA BRAVURA QUE COLMO TUS PLACERES Y SANO TU MAL PIERDETE EN ESOS SENDEROS SUAVES FORMADOS DE VIEJAS CICATRICES LUEGO DE QUE AL DESAFIAR LA MUERTE BROTARA TU LUZ DE MIS RAICES TE CURE CON FLORES Y YERBITAS LUEGO ARDI EN EL FUEGO DE TU CRUZ PEDAZO DE HUESO TRANFORMANDOSE EN LO HACES PASAR POR DESVIRTUD SOY LA VOZ QUE GRITA POR LA NOCHE GUARDO LOS SECRETOS DE TU HISTORIA DE LA GUERRA EN TE VANAGLORIAS MIENTRAS ME DESTRUYES DESTRUYENDOTE LUNA LLENA GUARDAN MIS PUPILAS RUGE EL TRUENO AL ECO DE MI VOZ BEBE DE MI AGUA DE YERBITA >>MY SONGS ARE VERY PERSONAL.

THEY FOR THE MOST PART SPEAK OF MY OWN EXPERIENCES.

WHAT I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD TAKE AWAY IS THAT WE CAN GET OUR FEELINGS OUT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ELABORATE.

A SIMPLE SONG AND A FEW WORDS CAN MAKE US FEEL BETTER.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A RADIO HIT OR YOU KNOW, A NUMBER ONE SONG.

IT'S JUST MUSIC IS AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT WAY TO COPE AND EXPRESS ANYTHING.

ANYTHING.

AND IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO LISTENS TO MY SONG AND EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ONE WORD OF WHAT I'M SINGING.

IF JUST THE MELODY, MAKES THEM FEEL SOMETHING, I THINK MY MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED.

>>THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EPISODE OF MELROSE IN THE MIX FEATURING KA MALINALLI.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON WITH ANOTHER LIVE RECORDING SESSION HERE IN THE MELROSE CENTER AT THE ORLANDO PUBLIC LIBRARY.