Martín Perna

Last updated
Martín Perna
Born1975 (age 4849)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
EducationNew York University, B.A.; University of Texas-Brownsville, M.Ed.,
Occupation(s)educator, multidisciplinary artist
Years active1996-
Known forFounder, Antibalas, Founding Member Dap-Kings, Founder, GO! Passport, Founder Ocote Soul Sounds
Website

Martin Perna is an educator and multidisciplinary artist living in Berkeley, California. [1]

Contents

Music

Perna founded the musical groups Antibalas [2] and Ocote Soul Sounds, [3] and has written for and/or recorded with TV on the Radio, Santigold, Toro y Moi, Sharon Jones, Jovanotti, Scarlett Johansson, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, David Byrne, the Whitefield Brothers, the Daktaris, No Surrender, Apsci, Architecture in Helsinki, and many other groups. [4] [5] [6]

In 2021 he received his first Grammy nomination for Best Global Music album for his co-production, arranging and performance work on the Antibalas album Fu Chronicles on Daptone Records. [7]

In 2022, he composed and performed the soundtrack for the PBS American Masters documentary "Roberta" about singer Roberta Flack, directed by Antonino D'Ambrosio [8]

Multidisciplinary Art

He is author of the children's book BLACKOUT! about the 2003 Northeast Power blackout, published in 2006 by Magic Propaganda Mill and illustrated by New York Times best-selling illustrator Ricardo Cortés. [9]

An apprentice of earth architecture master Nader Khalili Perna also practices superadobe architecture and has created works in Michoacán, Mexico, and Austin, Texas. [10]

In 2018, in collaboration with poet Roger Reeves and members of Antibalas, he set to music works by student poets at Miami Edison High School and performed the works together with the students and members of Spam All Stars at the North Miami Beach Bandshell as part of the O Miami Poetry Festival. [11]

In 2020, he performed the music for "Fourth of July", narrated by actor/spoken word artist Daveed Diggs, and written by Safia Elhillo, Danez Smith, Lauren Whitehead, W. Kamau Bell, Angel Nafis, Idris Goodwin, Pharoahe Monch, Camonghne Felix, and Nate Marshall, inspired by Frederick Douglass's historic speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" [12]

In 2023 he collaborated with visual artist Courtney Desiree Morris on the performance art piece "Sopera de Yemaya: Bendición" as part of the "Remedios" show at C3A in Cordoba, Spain. [13] [14]

Partial Discography

with Antibalas

With TV on the Radio

With Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada

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References

  1. Gilbert, Andrew. "Antibalas doubles down on a Bay Area strategy for its Afrobeat". SF Chronicle.
  2. Farber, Jim (August 16, 2012). "Perna and Antibalas get the Williamsburg beat". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  3. "Martin Perna: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  4. Forman, Bill. "New world ardor". Colorado Springs Independent.
  5. "Martin Perna Discography". Discogs.
  6. "Martin Perna". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  7. "Antibalas : Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee". Grammy.com.
  8. "PBS American Masters: S37 Ep1 Roberta Flack". PBS . 27 July 2022.
  9. "Faxploitation: You're Never Too Young for the Straight Dope". East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda. 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  10. "Cal Earth Apprentice Alumni". mail.calearth.org. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  11. "Antibalas – OMiami". O, Miami. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  12. Diamond, Robert. "VIDEO: Daveed Diggs Asks: "What to My People is the Fourth of July?"". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  13. Velasco, Juan (2023-04-10). "'Performances' y paseos rituales: así arranca 'Remedios', la nueva muestra de TBA21 en Córdoba". Cordópolis (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  14. Velasco, Juan (2023-05-14). "Arte y antropología contra la crisis ecosocial: "Somos refugiados climáticos y eso va a ser lo normal"". Cordópolis (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-28.