it's a revolving cast.... my co-conspirators include- todd brown (guitar) - (BY THE WAY- todd write the music for the nefasha ayer song, tuhnesu, which has been up on my page forever.... i wrote the lyrics and main melody), eliyahu sills (upright bass, ney), jesse hix (upright bass), aaron "babycakes" kierbel (percussion), charith premawardhana (viola), riaz abdullah (piano), darren johnston (trumpet), eugene warren (upright bass) and more!
Influences
stevie wonder--for everything, tom sway-- for teaching me to write songs!, nina simone--for her spells, lila downs -- for her infinite vocal textures, bob dylan--for his poetry, otis redding-- for his longing, virginia rodgrigues--for her vastness of sound and those soaring sustains.... but everything impresses something on you.... feel like i pick up fragments from near everywhere.
Meklit Hadero is a singer, musician, arts organizer and Director & Resident Artist at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco. Born in Ethiopia, Meklit has since lived in twelve cities, on three continents, and brings her international, inter-cultural experience to all her creative work. As a solo artist writing original compositions, Meklit draws on her folk, blues, and Ethiopian roots to create her songs. Lyrically focused with intimate, spare arrangements, her music imparts a kind of tenderness towards life, a sweetness that soars. Meklit considers herself an 'artist-musician,' bringing together visual arts with music whenever possible, and working interdisciplinarily and collaboratively to create fully rounded performance experiences.
In April of 2007, the Red Poppy Art House received a grant from the San Francisco Foundation and the Fund for Artists to commission a group of musicians, including Meklit, on the composition of a body of music titled Nefasha Ayer: The Space of In-between. This in-progress body of music explores a transcontinental odyssey of multiple characters that find themselves caught between national identities, cultures, and politics, and brings together traditional Ethiopian rhythms and melodies with Jazz and Hip-hop. Meklit is also being commissioned to write music by the Brava Theater Company for the new Brian Thorstenson play, "Over the Mountain," which tells the story of artists and dissidents who disappear in politically tumultuous times. The play will premier in April of 2009.
In December of 2007, Meklit released a limited edition pressing of her first recording, titled "Eight Songs," which was produced by Eric Moffat. Seventeen Bay Area artists, including Adrian Arias, Caleb Duarte, Juan Carlos Quintana, Todd Brown, Michelle Muennig, Tania Padilla, Clara Cheeves, Ella Noe, Ashlee Ferlito, Carlos Castillo, Indira Urrutia, Luis Vasquez-Gomez, and Meklit herself, handpainted/collaged/created the covers for this edition. Each individual album is a unique piece of artwork, drawing the visual arts and music into a single, cohesive framework. The limited edition pressing is now sold out, and the second edition, with silkscreened covers by Clara Cheeves, is forthcoming.
Meklit has been profiled three times by the San Francisco Chronicle, once by the quarterly arts journal Hoboeye, and has been interviewed and performed twice on the KPFA morning show. She has played at the Red Poppy Art House, the Bottom of the Hill, the San Francisco Public Library, La Pena Cultural Center, Amnesia, the Mission Cultural Center, the Bumbershoot Music Festival, the de Young Museum, the Cowell Theater, the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis, the University of the West Indies in Barbados, and has toured in the Pacific Northwest. In mid 2009, Meklit will is being commissioned for a month-long residency at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
Meklit, "...sings of fragility, hope and self-empowerment, and exudes all three. What's irresistible, above all, is her cradling, sensuous, gentle sound. She is stunning." -SF Chronicle.
Please join AccessCafe July 20th at The Box Factory (865 Florida, between 20th & 21st) from 11am-3pm for a donation-based, volunteer-coordinated Sunday Brunch! Enjoy savory vegan food, mimosas and live music!
I am in Phnom Penh right now - studying dance with my teacher and working with new ones, meeting other artists, networking with arts organizations, designing the first Cambodian samba costume, choreographing for the first time, taking over the night clubs - I hope the two months remaining prove to be as nurturing! Yesterday, I made an offering to the spirits of the dance and music consisting of seven types of fruit, seven incense sticks, two candles, one whole chicken (boiled), and a pair of baisey. I will come back as Vorachun, the princely manifestation of Earth, killed by the demon Ream Eyso, and born again, revived, when rain falls. Lok Ta Muni Eisey, the ascetic who is responsible for teaching the arts to humans, gave me a lychee in turn!
It'd been a while since I visited your page. Your music made my day. Your voice is so...deep, but light. I enjoy your songs so. I'm sure watching you sing is lovely, you always did have a beautiful smile. :-)
Right On Meklit thanks for coming to my rescue! That was quick thinking the other night, if I can ever be of service to you Todd or the Poppy just say the word.
Thanks to you for being a part of a wonderful time in San Francisco and Bay Area. All the best to you - and hope to meet you again somewhere, somehow, sometime...
I love Meklit! I'm so excited we get to see you perform again tonight in Portland! I still feel high from Katrina's birthday because of your amazing gift you shared with us. Thank you so much for blessing us with your heart and beautiful voice!
Meklit! You must please come to AccessCafe's inaugural brunch...this Sunday from 11-3! Our donation-based, vegan cafe is transforming Million Fishes Art Gallery into a restaurant on this day only...Bring friends, many!
Thank you for your SistahShip. I truly appreciate you! Being Natural is a symbol of love and acceptance of self. We have come a long way & NappyNap Nation celebrates this everyday! Join our family at www. nappynapnation. com - YOU ARE BEAUTIFULL. Together we RISE!
Oh my love, you are so amazing! I havent tuned in in a minute. Your new songs are incredible! I really love. Thank you!! I always knew you had it in you heee heee heee
funny that i just thought about you, wanting to reach out and catch up, and then i log on to myspace and see your comment! Much love and NEWS to share - lets inundate each other! HUGS HUGS HUGGIES
