Queer Black Cinema International Film & Music Festival- Music Lineup for Closing Concert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 23, 2008
New York, NY (www.queerblackcinema.org)- In just one week, the 1st ever Queer Black Cinema® International Film & Music Festival will take place. The festival begins on Thursday, October 29th and runs until Sunday, November 2nd at the Brecht Forum in New York City. Come celebrate and be a part of history in the making by attending the culminating event showcasing several live acts from today’s LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly artists. The Closing Party and Concert will held Sunday, November 2nd from 6-11pm at the Brecht Forum. With DJ Double D as the emcee, the concert lineup includes Imani Uzuri, Substantial, Steph, Monica McIntyre, and a a surprise guest or two for a guaranteed night of fun and celebration. Together, these artists will be a feast for your ears and soothing to your soul with sounds ranging from R&B to hip hop to blues to rock, and in most cases, an eclectic but beautiful infusion of somewhere in between.
Imani Uzuri’s (myspace.com/herholywater) debut album is entitled “Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera” and is best described by Greg Tate in the liner notes, “There is a sound between weeping and wailing, singing and screaming, soul crying and caterwauling, rhapsodizing and retuning fire. Put your hand where it hurts and this sound might heal you…There is no way you can hear such music and not be transformed.” She is currently also in the process of creating a musical theater piece inspired by this album and her childhood experiences in rural North Carolina. Now residing in New York City, Imani’s influences include a range of artists from Bjork to Nina Simone to Alicia Keys.
Maryland native, Substantial (myspace.com/substantial), released his sophomore album in the States called “Sacrifice” back in March 2007. This album continues along the same path of his debut album “To This Union A Sun Was Born” with hip hop rounded out by jazz,/funk/club/soul beats and an overall feel good vibe. However, if you’re listening closely, you see that this album chronicles his struggles as a man and as an artist trying to make it in a world that never ceases to present you with challenges- something he centers with his love of the martial arts. Currently with the QN5 indie record label, “The album is made of everything that makes me me: Six years of writing, mixing, soul-searching, love, hate, strife, life and death,” says Substantial. “I found myself while making this album, which surprised me, considering how much I lost.”
Steph (myspace.com/sapphicsongstress), also a Maryland native like Substantial who have collaborated on tracks for each other, brings R&B to the 1st Annual QBC International Film & Music Festival’s stage. An “out” lesbian, Steph feels strongly that her music can be shared by a broader audience with songs that touch any soul affected by politics, spirituality, struggle, and love. While R&B has an enormous spectrum today, Steph’s music resides on the conscious lyrically inspiring side of R&B channeling her childhood influences of artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Stylistics, and Nancy Wilson as she sits alongside more modern greats of the neo-soul movement like Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. Coming soon will be her sophomore album under her own record label Twelth Sign Entertainment called “Fulfillment.”
Monica McIntyre (myspace.com/monicamcintyre) brings a beautiful and unique sound to the stage with vocals and her unconventional play of the cello that she often slaps, plucks, and strums, sans the traditional bow as originally taught during years of studying classical cello, to create melodies. As described on her myspace page, “The smoky texture and emotional quality of her voice, as it delivers these lyrics, have left audiences crying, dancing, laughing and testifying. Whether performing solo or with a full-band, Monica McIntyre is sure to introduce you to a unique, musical experience.” Her music channels sounds originating in blues, soul, reggae, and the middle-east. Also a Maryland native, Monica now makes Philadelphia her home where she studied fashion at Drexel University before pursuing her lifelong love of music. Her albums include “Blusolaz” and “Abuse Gets Heavy.”
You can sample the sounds of each artist named here on QBC’s IMEEM Music page www.imeem.com/qbcmusic as well as their myspace pages. For more information on tickets, programming, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, visit the Queer Black Cinema® website at www.festival.queerblackcinema.org.
About Queer Black Cinema®
Queer Black Cinema® (QBC) is New York’s first and only monthly micro-cinema, volunteer-run organization dedicated to showcasing independent narrative and documentary works by U.S. and international Black LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) filmmakers. QBC encourages filmmakers to create films knowing there is a venue specifically developed to display their works. QBC aims to be to filmmakers what Apollo is to some of the greatest musicians in the world- a home to preserve our history and expose all to our stories.
