Moor Mother

Last updated

Moor Mother
Moor Mother - @ the Seahorse Tavern - OBEY Convention X (cropped).jpg
Ayewa performing in 2017
Background information
Birth nameCamae Ayewa
Also known as
  • Moor Mother Goddess [1]
  • Camae Defstar [2]
Born (1981-11-19) November 19, 1981 (age 42)
Aberdeen, Maryland, U.S.
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Experimental [3]
Occupations
  • Poet
  • musician
  • activist
Years active2012–present [4]
Labels
Website moormother.bandcamp.com

Camae Ayewa, [5] (born November 19, 1981 [6] ) better known by her stage name Moor Mother, is an American poet, musician, and activist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [7] She is one half of the collective Black Quantum Futurism, along with Rasheedah Phillips, [8] and co-leads the groups Irreversible Entanglements and 700 Bliss. [9] [10]

Contents

Early life and career

Ayewa was born in Aberdeen, Maryland, where she grew up in a public housing project. [11] [12] She moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to study photography at the Art Institute. [13]

In 2016, Moor Mother released a studio album, Fetish Bones , on Don Giovanni Records. [14] The album, which was released alongside a 122-page book of poetry, [13] was included on year-end lists by Pitchfork , [15] Rolling Stone , [16] and The Wire . [17]

In 2017, she released a studio album, The Motionless Present, on The Vinyl Factory. [18] It featured collaborations with Geng, DJ Haram, Mental Jewelry, and Rasheedah Phillips. [19] The same year, she released a collaborative EP with Mental Jewelry, titled Crime Waves, on Don Giovanni Records. [20] [21]

She served as one of the guest curators at the 2018 Le Guess Who? music festival. [22] [23] In 2019, she released Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes . [24]

Ayewa co-leads and provides lyrics and vocals for the "liberation-oriented free-jazz collective" Irreversible Entanglements. [25] She met the quintet's members through musical and activist endeavors: bassist Luke Stewart shared bills with her band the Mighty Paradocs; saxophonist Keir Neuringer worked with Books Through Bars, whose events Ayewa has emceed; and the trio of Ayewa, Stewart, and Neuringer was followed by the duo of trumpeter Aquiles Navarro and drummer Tcheser Holmes at a 2015 Musicians Against Brutality event following the shooting of Akai Gurley. [9] The group performed in the inaugural season of the Kennedy Center's "Direct Current" contemporary culture showcase, [26] and their releases have been included in best-of lists in Magnet, [27] NPR Music, [28] The Quietus , [29] and Stereogum 's "20 Best Jazz Albums Of The 2010s". [30] The band's instrumentalists also performed on Ayewa's debut theatrical work, Circuit City . [31]

In the fall of 2021, Ayewa began serving as an assistant professor at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. [32]

Discography

Studio albums

With Irreversible Entanglements

Ayewa performing with Irreversible Entanglements Irreversible Entanglements.jpg
Ayewa performing with Irreversible Entanglements

With 700 Bliss

Compilation albums

Live albums

EPs

Guest appearances

Remixes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonobo (musician)</span> English musician, producer, and DJ (born 1976)

Simon Green, known by his stage name Bonobo, is an English musician, producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles. He debuted with a trip hop aesthetic and has since explored more upbeat approaches as well as jazz and world music influences. His electronic sound incorporates the use of organic instrumentation and is recreated by a full band in live performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Father John Misty</span> American musician (born 1981)

Joshua Michael Tillman, better known by his stage name Father John Misty, is an American musician. He is known for his satirical lyricism and eccentric performance style.

Earl Davis, known professionally as Damu the Fudgemunk, is an American hip-hop producer, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and rapper from Washington, D.C. Damu is a member of the groups Y Society and Panacea, and he co-owns and operates Redefinition Records.

Bandcamp is an American online audio distribution platform founded in 2007 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with headquarters in Oakland, California. Acquired by Epic Games in March 2022, the company was sold to Songtradr in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kali Uchis</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1994)

Karly Marina Loaiza, known professionally as Kali Uchis, is an American singer and songwriter. After releasing her debut mixtape Drunken Babble (2012), she gained recognition for her debut extended play, Por Vida (2015). She signed with Virgin EMI Records to release her debut studio album Isolation (2018), which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 and saw widespread acclaim. She then signed with Interscope Records to release her second studio album and first Spanish-language project, Sin Miedo (2020). It spawned the single "Telepatía", which first gained virality on TikTok and marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, also receiving double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her third studio album, Red Moon in Venus (2023) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, while her fourth album and second Spanish-language project, Orquídeas (2024), peaked at number two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algiers (band)</span> American post-punk band

Algiers is an American-English post-punk band from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, formed in 2012. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Franklin James Fisher, Ryan Mahan, Lee Tesche, and Matt Tong. Algiers pulls from a divergent number of musical influences; the most notable of which being post-punk, hip-hop, Southern Gothic literature, and the concept of the Other. Their sound has been described as dystopian soul due to its somber mood, afrofolk inspired vocal approach, and heavy emphasis on atonal textures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Bridgers</span> American musician (born 1994)

Phoebe Lucille Bridgers is an American singer-songwriter. Her indie folk music typically centers around acoustic guitar and electronic production, with melancholic lyrical themes. She has received four Grammy Awards from eleven nominations.

<i>Fetish Bones</i> 2016 studio album by Moor Mother

Fetish Bones is the debut studio album by American musician Moor Mother. It was released via Don Giovanni Records on September 16, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clairo</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1998)

Claire Elizabeth Cottrill, known professionally as Clairo, is an American singer-songwriter. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Carlisle, Massachusetts, she began posting music on the internet at age 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabaka Hutchings</span> British jazz musician, composer and bandleader (born 1984)

Shabaka Hutchings, also known simply as Shabaka, is a British jazz musician, composer and bandleader. He leads the band Shabaka and the Ancestors, and formerly led Sons of Kemet before its dissolution in 2022. He was also a member of The Comet Is Coming, performing under the stage name King Shabaka. Hutchings has played saxophone and other wind instruments with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Andre 3000, Floating Points, Mulatu Astatke, Polar Bear, Melt Yourself Down, Heliocentrics, London Brew and Zed-U.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike (musician)</span> American rapper (born 1998)

Michael Jordan Bonema, known professionally as Mike, is an American rapper, songwriter and record producer based in New York City. Bonema's non-typical upbringing, having experienced life in New Jersey, England, Philadelphia and New York City, has had an audible influence on his diverse and experimental music style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavetown</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1998)

Robin Daniel "Robbie" Skinner, known professionally as Cavetown, is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, and YouTuber. His style blends elements of indie rock, indie pop and bedroom pop with mellow, gentle ukulele ballads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JPEGMafia discography</span>

The discography of American rapper and producer JPEGMafia consists of five studio albums, eight extended plays, eight mixtapes, three video albums and 42 singles.

<i>The Return</i> (Kamaal Williams album) 2018 studio album by Kamaal Williams

The Return is the debut studio album by British musician and producer Kamaal Williams. It was released on 25 May 2018, under his Black Focus Record label. After the breakup of the band Yussef Kamaal, Williams sought to recreate the sounds of their 2016 album Black Focus with bassist Pete Martin, drummer Josh McKenzie and producer Richard Samuels. The album is built on improvisation and its ideas are based on their recorded jam sessions.

<i>Circuit City</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Moor Mother

Circuit City is a studio album by American musician and poet Camae Ayewa, released under her alias Moor Mother. It was released on September 25, 2020 through Don Giovanni Records. Composed as a recorded soundtrack for the 2019 stage production of the same name by Ayewa, the album features contributions from the free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements and the Circuit City Band. Lyrically, the album deals with housing inequality, private ownership and institutional racism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Stewart (musician)</span> Musical artist

Luke Stewart is a composer-improviser, bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and organizer known for his work as a soloist; leader of his Exposure Quintet, with Edward Wilkerson, Jr., Ken Vandermark, Jim Baker, and Avreeayl Ra; and member of groups including Blacks' Myths, Heart of the Ghost, Six Six, Irreversible Entanglements, and Heroes Are Gang Leaders, a literary free jazz ensemble that was awarded the 2018 American Book Award for Oral Literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PTP (artist collective)</span> American artist collective

PTP, also known as Purple Tape Pedigree, is an American artist collective and independent record label based in New York City. PTP has been called "New York’s experimental incubator", and the collective has released recordings named among the best in new experimental, hip hop, metal, avant-garde, and electronic music. Pitchfork noted that "PTP's mission seems to be to annihilate genre boundaries and revel in the brilliant debris", and VICE has called PTP "home to some of the most boundary pushing music being made".

<i>Open the Gates</i> (Irreversible Entanglements album) 2021 studio album by Irreversible Entanglements

Open the Gates is the third record by free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements. It was released through Don Giovanni Records and International Anthem in November 2021.

<i>Who Sent You?</i> 2020 studio album by Irreversible Entanglements

Who Sent You? is the second record by free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements. It was released through Don Giovanni Records and International Anthem Recording Company in March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irreversible Entanglements</span> American band

Irreversible Entanglements is an American free jazz collective formed in 2015. The improvising quintet consists of vocalist Camae Ayewa, drummer Tcheser Holmes, trumpeter Aquiles Navarro, saxophonist Keir Neuringer, and bassist Luke Stewart. Their albums have been celebrated as among the best in new music by The Wire, The Quietus, Magnet, NPR Music, and Stereogum.

References

  1. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (October 6, 2016). "Moor Mother released 'Fetish Bones,' touring with Screaming Females". BrooklynVegan . Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  2. ↑ Fintoni, Laurent (December 18, 2015). "Meet Camae Defstar, The Philly Activist Channelling Her City's Pain Through Music". The Fader . Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  3. ↑ Blais-Billie, Braudie (October 19, 2017). "Moor Mother Shares Three-Hour Piece: Listen". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  4. ↑ Willems, Jasper (January 17, 2017). "Distorting The Present: DiS Meets Moor Mother". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (March 1, 2018). "Take a trip to Moor Mother's Philadelphia in this new mini-doc". The Fader . Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Moor Mother". Apple Music . Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  7. ↑ Ravens, Chal (January 11, 2018). "Moor Mother review – howl of apocalyptic fury is kept to a whisper". The Guardian . Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  8. ↑ Duplan, Anaïs (March 14, 2017). "Moor Mother Explains Black Quantum Futurism". Vice . Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Camp, Zoe (April 2, 2020). "The Revolutionary Free Jazz of Irreversible Entanglements". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  10. ↑ "700 Bliss discuss their debut album Nothing To Declare | The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  11. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (April 20, 2017). "Moor Mother: 'We have yet to truly understand what enslavement means'". The Guardian . Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  12. ↑ Rachel, T. Cole (December 19, 2017). "Performance artist Moor Mother isn't afraid of confrontation". Interview . Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Pelly, Jenn (October 26, 2016). "Moor Mother: Hardcore Poet". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ Iadarola, Alexander (September 6, 2016). "Moor Mother's New Track Is a Reminder of the Agitating Power of Noise". Vice . Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  15. ↑ Lozano, Kevin (December 9, 2018). "The 20 Best Experimental Albums of 2016 (page 2 of 2)". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  16. ↑ Weingarten, Christopher R. (December 28, 2016). "20 Best Avant Albums of 2016". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Listen to The Wire's Top 50 Releases of 2016". The Wire . December 26, 2016. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  18. ↑ Ravens, Chal (February 21, 2017). "Moor Mother announces The Motionless Present LP featuring DJ Haram and PTP's Geng". Fact . Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  19. ↑ Kalev, Maya (March 22, 2017). "Moor Mother Tells The Story Behind Every Track On Her Radical New Record". The Fader . Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  20. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (May 10, 2017). "Moor Mother x Mental Jewelry – "Hardware"". Spin . Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  21. ↑ Kelly, Kim (June 13, 2017). "Philly Producers Moor Mother and Mental Jewelry Team Up on 'Crime Waves'". Vice . Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  22. ↑ Welsh, April Clare (May 24, 2018). "Moor Mother, Asia Argento set to curate Le Guess Who? 2018". Fact . Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  23. ↑ Amin, Tayyab (December 8, 2018). "Le Guess Who? 2018: Fringe global sounds and community outreach in Utrecht". Fact . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  24. ↑ Yoo, Noah; Bloom, Madison (November 8, 2019). "6 Albums Out Today You Should Listen to Now: FKA twigs, Mount Eerie, Moor Mother, and More". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  25. ↑ Ng, Ivana (May 2020). "Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You?". DownBeat. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Irreversible Entanglements - DIRECT CURRENT: Millennium Stage (March 13, 2018)". The Kennedy Center. 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  27. ↑ Meyer, Bill (December 15, 2020). "Best of 2020: Jazz/Improv". Magnet Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  28. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs Of 2017". NPR. December 13, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  29. ↑ Smith, Stewart (December 13, 2017). "Complete Communion: The Best Jazz Of 2017". The Quietus. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  30. ↑ Freeman, Phil (January 9, 2020). "The 20 Best Jazz Albums Of The 2010s". Stereogum. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  31. ↑ Beta, Andy (October 14, 2020). "Moor Mother: Circuit City". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  32. ↑ "USC Thornton Welcomes New Faculty". USC Thornton School of Music. August 3, 2021. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  33. ↑ Lozano, Kevin (September 29, 2016). "Moor Mother: Fetish Bones". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  34. ↑ Miller, Julie (February 24, 2017). "Moor Mother previews new record of poetry and soundscape with "This Week"". WXPN . Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Analog Fluids of Sonic Black Holes by Moor Mother". Apple Music . Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  36. ↑ "True Opera | Moor Jewelry". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Circuit City, by Moor Mother". Moor Mother. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  38. ↑ Yoo, Noah (September 23, 2020). "Moor Mother to Release New Album Circuit City This Week". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  39. ↑ "BRASS, by Moor Mother & billy woods". Moor Mother. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  40. ↑ "BRASS from Moor Mother & billy woods". Backwoodz Studioz. December 11, 2020. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  41. ↑ "Black Encyclopedia of the Air, by Moor Mother". Moor Mother. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Jazz Codes, by Moor Mother". Moor Mother. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Irreversible Entanglements, by Irreversible Entanglements". International Anthem. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  44. ↑ Beta, Andy (March 25, 2020). "Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You?". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  45. ↑ Scherstuhl, Alan (June 24, 2020). "Jazz Is Built for Protests. Jon Batiste Is Taking It to the Streets". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Manufacture of Indigo | Moor Mother". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  47. ↑ "Clepsydra | Moor Mother". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Anthologia 01 | Moor Mother and Olof Melander". Bandcamp . Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Offering - Live at Le Guess Who | Nicole Mitchell and Moor Mother". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  50. ↑ Blanning, Lisa (June 14, 2017). "Moor Mother x Mental Jewelry - Crime Waves". Resident Advisor . Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  51. ↑ "After... | Fhloston Paradigm". Bandcamp . Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  52. ↑ "Corpus I | Show Me The Body". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  53. ↑ "My Idols Are Dead + My Enemies Are In Power | Lushlife". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  54. ↑ "IRISIRI | Eartheater". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  55. ↑ "The Majestic | Reef The Lost Cauze". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  56. ↑ "Singles Too | Screaming Females". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  57. ↑ "Wrecked | Zonal". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  58. ↑ "Héroïques Animaux de la Misère | Harrga". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  59. ↑ "Shrines | Armand Hammer". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  60. ↑ "Sons of Kemet". SHABAKA HUTCHINGS. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Fire by The Bug". Ninja Tune. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  62. ↑ Fordham, John (January 27, 2023). "Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Sixth Decade: From Paris to Paris review – devoted heirs carry the torch". The Guardian . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  63. ↑ Celestaphone. "Paper Cut From the Obit | Celestaphone". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  64. ↑ "Mandela Effect by Gonjasufi". Apple Music . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  65. ↑ "You Can't See Inside of Me by What Cheer? Brigade". Apple Music . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  66. ↑ "Because I'm Me (Remixes) - EP by The Avalanches". Apple Music . Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.