DAY409 – Brett Wildeman – Foreign Affairs

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Video #409 of 1000
Brett Wildeman – Foreign Affairs
For May 14, 2013 – Election Day!
Recorded live at Renaissance Books in New Westminster
on Mar. 11, 2013 in HD (1080p on XA10).

Brett Wildeman came out to Renaissance Books in New West, the province’s first capital city.  He must have tapped into that political root when he arrived because he took his shoes off and sang us his song “Foreign Affairs” off of his forthcoming album mother earth.  Brett went to University of Victoria and reflected on how he studied both Political Science and Geography and found that the two clashed around environmental issues.  Brett described “Foreign Affairs” as a song about Stephen Harper and the pipeline he’s trying to push.

This excerpt says it all so beautifully, I hope you all hear this message and take it to heart, then take it to the polls:

Mr. Harper I hope your listening
To all your citizens, we didn’t all vote for you
Your power is not absolute

Thanks Brett Wildeman.  Thanks for coming out and sharing your songs about family, mother earth and the political sphere and tying them all up in such a lovely package.

If you would like to read more of what Brett has to say about the May 14 election check out his blog post http://brettwildeman.tumblr.com/   If you love “Foreign Affairs” and want to take it home you might want to think about downloading it from here: http://mynameisbrettwildeman.bandcamp.com/track/foreign-affairs-2

Any money raised up to May 31 will go to the Dogwood Initiative.  If you don’t know about them they are worth checking out, they are very active and are a BC organization which works to give British Columbians ways to take back decision-making power over their land and water.   http://dogwoodinitiative.org

 ~MzCool Gurrl (Amy Girard)

Shot by Rod Matheson for EveryDayMusic
Posted with permission of the artist.

DAY408 – Kidum – Mapenzi

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Video #408 of 1000
Kidum – Mapenzi
For May 13, 2013
Recorded backstage at St. Mary’s Ukranian Catholic Centre
on May 11, 2013 in HD (1080p on XA10).

http://kidum.page.tl/Home.htm

“Born in northern Burundi, Kidums’ love for music started way before other kids of his age could tell 6 from 9. At just 10 years, he started playing drums and by 12 he had joined an active band where he honed his skills for six years. Today, anyone watching him on stage or listening to his latest album can confirm this guy was born to make music.

Exiled by genocide that ravaged his home nation of Burundi in 1994, Kidum found himself in refugee status destined for Kakuma refugee camp. This is where most of his country-mates ended up, in the punishing scorching climate of Northern Kenya. But not Kidum. He would not let fate format his destiny; he would stick to the city where he was more of an intruder than a guest and somehow seek to craft it himself. Ultimately, his resilience and hard work paid off. In 1995, he joined the Hot Rod Band, a high-riding live band that had maneuvered its popularity to the peak right when live music was the in-thing.

This would be Kidum’s platform until 2003. In 2004, he formed his own band, the Boda Boda Band which today, Nairobi clubs are jostling to have as part of their entertainment master show.  To many fans, his music is like a brand new toy, that no kid will let go. With 3 albums and a fourth one on its way, Kidum live gigs are a must attend. His voice is loaded, compelling, and will for sure awe the listener. 

He is East Africa’s musician of the moment, more so confirmed after he scooped the Best East African artiste during the annual Kilimanjaro Awards in Tanzania this year. As such, his performances are infectious, keeping his diary full with at least four weekly live performances around Nairobi.  Kidum’s band performance is like a journey to a place you’ve heard of, but never been to. His songs are a collection of Kiswahili and Kirundi. The message in each is genuine, told in the sincerest of voices. It’s a perfect realization that music respects no boundaries; good music speaks to the soul.

This song started before I was ready, so I pull my chair to the left (in an attempt to get more light on Kidum).  I resisted the urge to ask him to start again.  As Kidum performed the song, people steadily streamed into the dressing room to listen and by the time we were finished there were over a dozen people in the background singing along.  A truly beautiful moment (after the concert) with an African legend. 

Shot by Rod Matheson for EveryDayMusic
Posted with permission of the artist.