Catch World Fest Artists In Your Community This Fall

Ahead of her upcoming tours, Farah Siraj answered some questions about her hopes for her upcoming residencies—read more below.

How would you describe the music you make to someone who has never heard Middle Eastern/flamenco music? 
I would describe it as a sound that has the rich, expressive melodies of the Arab world, characterized by intricate ornamentation and microtonal scales, blending seamlessly with the passionate rhythms and harmonies of flamenco. My music often features traditional instruments like the oud and darbuka alongside flamenco guitar and cajon, creating a tapestry of sounds that take the audience on a journey through different cultures and traditions, where each song tells a story that can convey a wide range of emotions, from longing and melancholy to joy and celebration.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and what parts of your music have been inspired by them?
There are so many! I grew up listening to traditional Arabic music which you often hear in Jordan at cafes, restaurants, weddings and celebrations. Singing those songs is a way for me to feel connected to my roots. I also grew up listening to western music, particularly Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Tracy Chapman. Paco de Lucia, Cameron de la Isla, Naranjito de Triana, Vicente Amigo, Jose Merce, and Nina Pastori are also some of my biggest musical influences who inspired me in the world of flamenco. I also love Joni Mitchell, Sinead O’Connor, Eric Clapton and, again, Tracy Chapman, who inspired some of my more intimate songwriting.
 
What do you hope World Fest communities learn from you?
My hope is that by showcasing the beauty of Middle Eastern and flamenco traditions, the audience is moved to appreciate these rich cultural heritages, fostering greater understanding and empathy. I hope that my music illustrates how diverse elements can come together to create something harmonious and unique. This can serve as a metaphor for how diverse communities can coexist and collaborate, highlighting the strength and beauty that comes from embracing and celebrating diversity.
In addition, I always address social issues from stage, advocating for peace and human rights, so I hope there is something that the audience takes from that, knowing that we all play a role in driving social change and addressing important societal issues.
 
What do you hope to learn from the World Fest communities?
Each community has its own distinct cultural and historical backgrounds, and I know I will gain a deeper appreciation for their diverse traditions, folklore, and customs. To me what makes a place is really the people, and one thing I am learning from World Fest communities is that in those communities personal stories and histories are often cherished and preserved. The authenticity and richness of these narratives is both educational and inspirational to me. 
 
What are you most excited for on this tour?
I’m excited to meet everyone! I am excited to discover these unique communities and connect with the locals. Each community is special in its own way and though we are bringing music from different cultures to them, we are also having our own cultural experiences by spending time in these communities and getting to know them!  
 
What’s one question you’ve always wanted to be asked about your music (and what’s your answer to that question)?
I love to share the story of my first solo performance on stage because it’s a funny one. I was four years old playing at the student recital concert, playing piano and singing. All the students were asked who they dedicate their piece to, and all the other students would dedicate it to their parents or grandparents, and when it came to my piece I very seriously said “I dedicate it to my cat, Tiger”!

Ahead of their upcoming tours, LADAMA answered some questions about their hopes for their upcoming residencies—read more below

How would you describe the music you make to someone who has never heard Latin American music?
[Mafer] Latin American music is the sound of a mix of cultures with danceable beats, most of the time bringing the joy and movement to the audiences. The music we play is music with strong roots in the ancestry from Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil—our music is a celebration of the diversity, with gross percussion, singing in calls and response, in Spanish, English, and Portugués and making the people feel in different places at the same time. Our music is the celebration of who we are, and where we are coming from.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and what parts of your music have been inspired by them?
[Mafer] Our inspiration in the music made in communities and those creatives that reflects their times and social context in their art. We would like to mention Susana Baca, Rosalía, Betaida Machado, Juan Luis Guerra, Stevie Wonder, Djavan, and Pastor López.

What do you hope WorldFest communities learn from you?
[Dani] We are “viajeras del Mundo”—We’ve been traveling the world for a decade as a band, building communities based on the essence of our music. We want communities to feel part of this! We want people to learn that embracing our identities is a powerful tool to transform realities and unite communities that value diversity and empowerment of women—Cuido mi raíz. We want to broaden their understanding of Latin music and culture, particularly among the youth and children, sparking their curiosity to explore new cultures and broaden their horizons.

What do you hope to learn from the World Fest communities?
[Dani] Our experience at World Fest has significantly broadened our perception of the US. We are passionate about travel, and in every town we visit, we are humbled by the kindness and openness of the people we meet. The beauty of art, music, and culture is that it creates a two-way connection. We hope to learn about their culture, what they love to eat, and appreciate the land’s beauty surrounding them. We are certain that children will surprise us during concerts with questions that will blow our minds. Working with them always provides good lessons and helps us to connect and remember to love and protect our inner child.

What are you most excited for on this tour?
[Lara] We will be in cities we’ve never been to before, and for us, it’s always very exciting to work and create amidst new cultures and communities. We are constantly moving, constantly learning from every place we visit, and we are looking forward to meeting the youth, collaborating with students and teachers, and taking our music to more places in the United States.

What’s one question you’ve always wanted to be asked about your music (and what’s your answer to that question)?
[Lara] Creating a collective allows us to develop a wide range of skills within the music world. Beyond being composers, arrangers, and instrumentalists, we also take on the role of producers for our music. As music producers, we’d love to collaborate with other artists, producing their work as a group. This is something that’s not very common, and as women in the music industry, especially coming from different parts of the world, we are eager to explore and expand this approach.

Ahead of their upcoming tours, A Moving Sound answered some questions about their hopes for their upcoming residencies—read more below

How would you describe the music you make to someone who has never heard Taiwanese music? 
Taiwan is an island nation in East Asia known for its open and diverse culture, and includes traditions from 16 indigenous tribes and a history of colonization and immigration from various parts of the world. These elements have shaped Taiwan into what it is today: a progressive, democratic country that respects tradition while embracing innovation. The originality of A Moving Sound’s spirit epitomizes these core values. 

We use traditional ethnic instruments, presenting tones and aesthetics from a variety of Eastern classical styles. Our song composition breaks free from traditional constraints and embraces innovation with a contemporary touch. The theatrical vocals from Mia Hsieh serve as important threads connecting emotions and storytelling. In a few songs she uses Taiwanese or Mandarin Chinese dialects; however in most of A Moving Sound’s songs she is using her own created  imaginary language.  
 
What are some of your biggest musical influences, and what parts of your music have been inspired by them? 
Scott is a classically trained French horn player, and performed as a singer-songwriter and experimental musician for 10 years before meeting Mia, who was immersed in a completely different kind of music growing up in Taiwan. She heard instruments and singing styles from the Far East with a completely different sound and purpose compared to the West, and also created and choreographed music theater productions in Taiwan. Mia and Scott meet in the creative process and in their strong intention to create something totally new and original, and both share a love and commitment for spirituality that deeply influences their music. 
 
What do you hope World Fest communities learn from you? 
We hope they get a sense of the vibrant energy of Taiwan! Taiwan is such a progressive and open place. The people are intelligent and curious and keep the light of democracy burning in Asia.  
We hope people will feel this creative energy in our cultural presentations and our music to be exposed to musical instruments they probably have never seen before!  We also hope they can feel A Moving Sound’s unique spirit and love for the creative process. We like to invite people to connect and feel empowered. We hope audiences in the workshops and concerts leave with a sense that making new things is possible and making mistakes is okay. 
 
What do you hope to learn from the World Fest communities? 
This fall will be the second tour for A Moving Sound as part of World Fest. Normally we don’t stay a whole week in a particular community when we are touring, we are moving more quickly from place to place. In our first tour we had the chance to experience in a very real way, how communities use the creative energy World Fest brings to encourage and uplift them, and we hope to have more of these joyful experiences in upcoming tours!
 
What are you most excited for on this tour?
On our first World Fest tour, it was really exciting to be part of and meet community leaders who were enthusiastic about this and help them in their mission. It was a great to see in a practical way how the arts bring positive energy to community that may have less resources. We are looking forward to meeting and connecting with brand-new audiences and seeing the Black Hills of South Dakota!