Adia Victoria, who performed at The Yacht Club on Wednesday night, was born and raised in South Carolina and discussed the effects of growing up around white people. She explained that she creates art to “fight against the narrative pushed on me” and how she used to associated blackness with only shame. Growing up around white kids led her to constantly compare herself to them, which created a “deficit” in her mind.

She explained that after realizing this in her 20’s, she has spent a lot of time “unpacking my internalized racism” which is an issue that many people of color share when they grow up with the indoctrination of Eurocentric ideas.

Victoria describes her feelings about blackness now to be “a liberation” from her previous ideas. She hesitantly confessed to a crowd of mostly nonwhite people that she “feels blessed” she wasn’t born white, because of the vantage point that has helped her to understand the world better.

After her answer, the audience looked back at Martin, lead singer of PHOX, whose eyes brimmed with tears. Adigweme asked her about her feelings, and Martin disclosed an important moment in the decolonization process: “I feel behind in many ways.” She elaborated, saying that because she hadn’t critically examined her blackness the way that Victoria has, she feels that it’s not her place to comment on black experiences until she has “thoroughly educated” herself.

This represents a feeling that I have definitely experienced, earlier in the learning process. I felt like my friends had so much more knowledge than me, and they had read theoretical arguments and feminist literature that I hadn’t heard of, and I invalidated my own position as a brown woman living in a white space.

However, Adigweme responded with my exact thoughts. “It is your place, though.” As a black woman living in America, as a musician creating art in a white space–her experiences are just as valid and she deserves a voice.

The panel continued, as Martin brought up issues of colorism in the black community. Victoria spoke against the limiting definitions of blackness. Both artists discussed their frustrations with wanting to create art meaningful to them, but the white music industry expecting them to make pandering music that appealed to “the NPR crowd” (otherwise known as white hipsters).

Victoria explained how she has learned to deal with those people: learning to say no. When people try to change her creative process or her political activism, or tell her she isolates herself by creating a certain kind of art, she reminds them, “you work for me.” She finished her answer by defiantly declaring “I’m not going to take a position of subservience in my art.”

Black Art/White Space Pt. II was the most powerful Mission Creek event I have attended so far, and I applaud the organizers for including this in the festival.

Check out my review of Adia Victoria’s show here, and PHOX’s show here!

Keep updated on Mission Creek events at missionfreak.com.

The post Mission Creek: Black Art / White Space pt. 2 @ ICPL 4/7/16 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The show began with openers Subatlantic and The Wandering Bears, but I already felt impatient about seeing PHOX

which probably affected my opinions of the first two bands. The first group, Subatlantic, composed of older members, began with their set, which I found to be pretty homogenous. Each song sounded similar to the previous one: a cliche mix of folk/indie with some aspects of country sprinkled in. They had longer, awkward breaks in between each song during which they definitely lost my attention.

However, I really loved the variety of instruments they used, like a cello and an accordion! They competed for my attention with the drunk people yelling next to me and lost most of the time.

I appreciated that members from PHOX and The Wandering Bears both showed up to watch the first performance, which headliners often don’t do.

While the first band seemed to be largely unknown, The Wandering Bears definitely had a fan base. After a 5-year hiatus, the band appeared to be surprised that some audience members knew every word to many of their songs and even the names of the members!

I liked this band’s style more than the previous opener, mainly because of the three vocalists. Each of them shared the vocals pretty equally and clearly had individual talent, but blended together so well. Their three-part harmonies transitioned from complex to unison with ease, and they sounded so smooth. Unfortunately, I found myself ignoring the rest of the band’s instrumentalists because I was so impressed by the vocals. During the last song, one of the two women precariously crowd-surfed (such is the nature of crowd-surfing) and they left the stage.

Finally, PHOX began to set up for their long-awaited performance. The lead singer, Monica Martin had participated in a panel earlier that day called Black Art / White Space to discuss her perspective as a racialized woman creating art in a mostly white arena, and the event was very powerful. I was excited to see a different aspect to her persona as an artist.

Aside from Martin, the band members looked like really cute nerds. Thick-framed glasses, matching tattoos, and an energetic stage persona contributed to their lovable nerdy nature. A few minutes before they began to play, the band squeezed past me yelling “we’re gonna pee first!” Thinking ahead. Smart people.

They began with the song “Calico Man,” and the audience immediately quieted down to listen to Martin’s flawless voice. The people next to me repeated “she’s got the voice of an angel” all night, and I agree! When she sang “Blue and White,” I may or may not have shed multiple tears.

The band played four new songs which showcased a starkly different style than their older music. Their first new piece, entitled “Lack of You” discussed the dilemma of being hit on by a person who is in a relationship. The song seemed to stray into R&B genres, with hints of jazz-iness. Their newer style reminds me a lot of Allen Stone: relaxed R&B sounds with smooth vocals.

Other new songs included “Fight or Flight,” “Stocked Liquor Cabinet,” and “Pillow Case” and the crowd seemed to love all of them. I can’t wait to hear their newest creations!

The night was complete when Monica Martin looked directly at me and recognized me from an earlier event. SHE WINKED. I died. It was amazing.

PHOX’s performance tops all other concerts I’ve ever attended! Stay updated on the band to listen to their newest music!

Check out the PHOX Facebook page for band updates and silly selfies, and listen to some of their great music here!

The post Mission Creek: PHOX @ The Mill 4/7/16 appeared first on KRUI Radio.