Annie Lenox + Alice In Chains + Bjork + Chuck Perkins + Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young + cin salach + Dali's Car + Dj Spooky + Dj Krush + Ella Fitzgerald + Elizabeth Frazier + Gang Of Four + Hole + Jeff Lyons + Joe Pug + John Lennon + Jaap Blonk + Kraftwerk + Kate Bush + Kate Pearson + Layne Staley + Lee 'Scratch' Perry + the MOVE family + Marilyn Manson + Mumia Abu-Jamal + Nina Hagen + Public Enemy + Postcards From Buster + Pam Africa + Prodigy(except that one backwards song) +Rage Against The Machine + Robert Mirabel + Sinead O Connor + Siegfried Halus + Saul Williams + Tom Morello aka The Night Watchman! + Tricky + The Soft Pink Truth + Throwing Muses + Ugochi Nwaogwugwu + Yvonne Jeffries + Zack de la Rocha.
Mars hit the open mic poetry scene in Chicago in the early 90's, reading mangled manifestos and timid tirades at Anotha Level @ Lit X, the weekly gathering in the basement with the leaky toilet and the best performance poets in town working out their craft.
Having been a political activist since 1983, Mars quickly learned the true power of the Spoken Word: to Teach, to Unite, to Inspire and to Incite. When arrested as an agitator during a 90s protest with CHA residents against the housing Lockdowns --
Cop: Are you carrying any weapons?
Mars: My only weapon is my mouth.
Cop: I believe it!
Soon known on the scene as the Mumia poet who continually fought to keep the name Mumia Abu-Jamal on the political and cultural maps, she performed at rallies, benefit shows and conferences more often than the usual coffeehouses. Mars organized a cadre of other politically-minded local spoken word artists known as Poetic Service Announcement. These artist/activists agitated through their art on State Street during holiday season, to crowds in line for a show, on a 1999 benefit CD (Renaissance Street productions) and in several Bud Billikan parades. That year she also was part of the Chicago Mad Bar team in the National Poetry Slam.
Mars also became known for weaving song throughout spoken word. She has studied improvisation (with Michael Zerang,) violin (ages 10 - 17,) Madrigal singing (high school,) djembe (with John Yost,) and Japanese taiko drum (at Tsukasa Daiko.) Her addiction to rhythm led her to Vegas and Reason, her beat programming tools of choice.
Red Eye Renaissance, a duo with jazz bass player Darius Savage, experiments live with programmed rhythms, vocals, contrabass, and sound effects both high and low tech.
She Laughs, an improvisational poetry/percussion/musical mob of Chicago women, produced a beautiful CD, "Elements of Life, Love and Action" along with appearances at a Performance Art Festival and several radio stations from 2001 - 3. Members were Carolyn Aguila, Genine Coleman, Mars, Sache Garrett, Elizabeth Marino, Alicia Matthews, Shelley Miller, Nicole Mitchell, Kelly Norman-Ellis, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, Cecile Savage, and Jamie Topper.
Red Planet Productions (a.k.a. Renaissance Street), her production company dedicated to promoting and inciting art aimed at political change, has organized events (such as the 1999 Day Of Art For Mumia show at Hothouse) and has produced 4 CDs, with her debut solo work due in Nov 2007. She continues to work as an early childhood + youth teaching musician, and mother of a Rebel-In-Training.
To Release isn't to forget, not to think about, or ignore. It doesn't leave feelings of anger, jealousy, or regret. It's not about pride and it's not obsessing or dwelling on the past. It's not about giving in or giving up. To let go is to cherish the memories, but to overcome and move on. Letting go is learning and experiencing and growing. To release is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry, and made you grow. It's about all that you have, all that you had, and all that you will soon gain. Letting go is releasing and having the courage to accept change, and the strength to keep moving. It is realizing that the heart can sometimes be the most potent remedy. To let go is to open a door, and to clear a path and set yourself free---
Mars, remember that it's easy to let go when holding on hurts so bad--so free yourself from all these expectations and just be :-) Hope you find the unity in my new single "Release" feat. JRockA. So come peep the track! Stay creative and stay connected!!
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All right.... lets definatly link up.... our camp is the Fixxxation Station....not sure on our address yet, but we will have it soon.... let me know where your camping b4 you go.... We will have some jam sesions for sure at our bar..... can't wait...
H o w i e G o o d K a t h l e e n J . S a t h e r S e t h W h i t e G l e n L a n t z H o l l y a n n B u r t o n C h e r y l A T o w n s e n d B r e n t G r i m e s B r i a n M c B r i d e R i c h F o l l e t t J e f f M i l l e r G l o r i a n n e K a d a M a t t h e w V i c k e r s G l e n S t i l l F r a n c i s P . B l u e D o l b y D u b r o w M e e r a F l a m e J o h n n y O l s o n N i c . S t . J a m e s J i m C r a f f o r d
G l e n S t i l l - E x e c u t i v e E d i t o r G l e n L a n t z - M a n a g i n g E d i t o r G l o r i a n n e K a d a - D e s i g n E d i t o r A 10K Poets Publication ? 2 0 0 9
much respect to you and all that you do... very impressive... if you have any vocals you'd like to lend me, maybe we could collaborate... i make electronic music and have actually been looking for some politically-aware/love-orientated lyrics... if you decided to share, i would of course give credit where credit is definitely due.... either way, continue on your wonderful journey, and it's very nice to make your acquaintance.... peace
Greetings Fam!!! Hope all is utmost blessed and irie to da fullest :-) Please come check out a new callabo track I just posted entitled "Been So Long"....
I give thanks for the connection. Much respect from the JUST BE Family and always wishing you infinite abundance...
Girrrrrlgirlgirl, it woulda been good to see you! They had us working and meeting kids and such on Friday and Saturday and Sunday I was whooped, then it was back home. I hope that art is sustaining you right now. I'm glad to hear from you. I saw some footage of Chuck online, and it sounds like a brother's having fun. Hope I see you on the next trip in short order. I have to make it the mission.
whew! grrrlll. you spittin it sweet and right on, sister. i'm here til june and want to branch out. i'm playing with electronics and the bendir - frame drum. let's do something!! hope you are well.
