i wrote "into the garden" to call in the type of love that this living planet gives to each and every one of us: one that is patient and capacious. one that nourishes without lording its abundance over us. one that embraces both blushing springs and crushing winters. one that is playful and full of mystery.
when i invite audiences to sing "we change, we grow / we love, we know / we fly, we float" with me during live performances, i am asking you to join me in reverence for the radical wisdom and tender ascendancy we can find in loving each other as the earth loves us.
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happy earth day today and every day! put your toes in the dirt! i'm not playing with you!!!
📸: @ktsimonian
🎸: @soundslikeo
🏡: @greenroom.irl
⭐️ NEW SHOW ⭐️
Join us May 29th for the next Punch Tab Party as we make an early kickoff for Pride 🌈🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Featuring stripped down sets by:
@miri_tyler@cuni.jpg@sabeljanemusic@thee.dall@xpinkylemonx
and beats provided by @rhythmradar
as well as tapes, zines, drinks, and more 📼📚🥂
NEW LOCATION in Park View/Columbia Heights, dm for address or ask a punk — 🚫 DO NOT show up at the last location 🚫
Doors 6:30pm
Music 7:30pm — No punk time
$10 at the door — NOTAFLOF
Limited capacity, so make plans to come on time and stay until the end ⏰😎
Beautiful poster by our own @lenie.097
⭐️ SEE YOU SOON ⭐️
ironically, the process of creating this video of "miss alignment" for the tiny desk competition was perfectly aligned.
people have asked me why i haven't submitted to tiny desk for actual years and i always joked that i was waiting for the avengers to unite. maybe you can't fight misalignment, but you also can't fight what IS aligned for you on your path, as @erique.bby always reminds me. it is truly a blessing that all of the pieces came together and that i was able to take this on with so many members of my astounding creative community.
i can't thank my crew enough for walking beside me, guiding me, believing in me, and helping me to bring this to life. i am so incredibly proud of our work!
shoutout to the gracious stewards of salonhouse @locatormusic and @peacelovetal for allowing me to use their space to produce the video.
thank you to my brilliant band:
background vocalists - @ruqqiyah__@highnotehandsome
cajon and bass - @dizzyrae
lead guitar - @soundslikeo
saxophone - @lavender.listening
piano - @locatormusic
and my fabulous crew:
production & video director - @melani.midas
wardrobe & make-up - @lailaamichel
sound engineers - @lucas_ashby_music@locatormusic
plant director - @yikesitsbrina
check out the full video on youtube (linktree in bio)! and also maybe read some of the books on the desk if you're trying to figure out how to deal with these times like me...
xoxo,
KENDALL!
#nprtinydeskcontest
Downtempo Lovers Ball (DTLB) is a one-night sonic installation of quiet proportions evoking the slow jams that we love: From Kelela to Ella Fitzgerald and everything in between and beyond.
Hosted by Ivy Sole and Shugsline, the evening will feature live performances and DJ sets in 😷 lush environs by Genre Makers:
Sure Love to Ball | @lovetoballsholedo on Tik Tok
KENDALL ! | @thee.dall
Daniel SUUN | @itsdanielsuun
Shugsline | @shugsline
Ivy Sole | @ivysole
Clean Air by Positive Deviance NYC
DTLB is an exploratory cultural activation of Black genremaking that premiered in Philadelphia in 2024 at the behest of @tafaridiop
“The juke joint connects to the warehouse, connects to the garage, the lounge, the cafe… all are spaces necessary to escape the dominations of a society unwilling to hold Black artistry with care. No matter how you choose to define it, Downtempo is a genre that reminds us to slow down, hold each other, care, feel, and listen.” | @tafaridiop in Black Genre Makers Guidebook
RSVP in bio.
SUMMER (I)
when people ask me how i'm doing, i try to answer genuinely: i'm tired but this is the fatigue that i prayed for. this summer has been so transformative and good to me and i have just been sososososo grateful for many opportunities to travel, connect with loved ones, and grow deeper into my purpose.
these pictures are from june's festivities:
- celebrating pride with friends (slides 2-5),
- planting a garden bed with community members in remembrance of what and who we've lost to COVID-19 (slide 6),
- being changed by erykah badu's concert (slide 7; i can't stop listening to time's a wastin'),
- a really incredible global conference in slovenia where i presented and met kind, thoughtful, brilliant people (slides 8-13),
- visiting illy in london and doing all the things like eating beans on toast and having a sunday roast and sitting on the top of the double decker bus! (slides 14-20; THANK U ILLY I MISS U BAD!!!)
there's soooo much more to share abt my summer including my recent performances so stay tuned! and stay cool my friend 🙏🏾✨
(slide 1 was taken by @alt_nero )
