Black Weirdo of the Week 10: John Daise

photo credit: Alicia Gutierrez

Name: 

John E Daise 
(of duo Columbia Nights)

From: 

Washington, DC/Upper Marlboro, MD

Mini Bio: 

A son of the city and the 'burbs. A band geek and afro punk rocker. John E Daise (a.k.a. JD) is beloved by many, but remains an enigma to most. As a child, the young funkateer spent hours tinkering with his computer sound recorder, which turned into countless moments of musical discovery. He spent hours listening to records and teaching himself how to play bass, piano and guitar, eventually getting his chops up to play 'em all. Since graduating from the high school jazz ensemble, he's held down bass duties for gospel groups, indie rock bands, go-go outfits, and everything in between. Now he's putting in work as a session musician and producer, both as a member of electrosoul duo Columbia Nights and with other acts like Diggs Duke and Amber Mimz.

What is your craft/career/creative expression? 

Musician/Producer

How long have you been working at your craft? 

A lifetime.

Why do you consider yourself a Black Weirdo? 

JD never lets anyone's boxes define who he is. As a musician and brother, he's a throwback and a snapshot of the future at the same time. He's traveled the world as a teacher and musician, but always stays true to his roots. The man moves in many different spaces, but no 

matter the circumstances he's never fakin' the funk.

Links/Social Media:
John:

Tumblr: johnedaise.tumblr.com
Twitter: @johnedaise
Columbia Nights:
Twitter: @columbia_nights
Website: columbianights.com

Upcoming events/ projects?

We've been hard at work on Columbia Nights LP. Look out for that later in 2013.

Why We Love John E Daise:
He is sexual chocolate on the bass. A very kind fellow. We met up with him in DC and chopped for a while backstage he's dedicated to the upward moment of black music.

Black Weirdo of The Week 9: DJ Rimarkable

photo credit: Sherley Camille Olopherne

Name:

 DJ Rimarkable

 

From:

Brooklyn via Detroit

Mini Bio: 

Redefining the word “remix”, Mariaelena “Ri Ri” Garcia, aka DJ Rimarkable is a renaissance woman indeed. A DJ, producer, drummer, vocalist, writer and instructor, her multiple talents have taken her to many stages. Truly mastering the DJ technique of “Reading the Crowd”, she has earned the moniker, “Rimarkable” after rocking international dance floors for more than a decade. She has shared the bill with such music icons as Meshell Ndegeocello, Les Nubians, Toshi Reagon 
and THEESatisfaction, to name a few.  She is based in the Brooklyn, NYC 
area where she holds several DJ residencies, is the creator and 
instructor for the groundbreaking DJ instructional series, "The Alchemy of DJing" and runs her own creative umbrella company, Rimarkable Things.

What is your craft/career/creative expression? 

Music, Dance, Cuisine, Film, Theater and all things Rimarkable

How long have you been working at your craft? 

officially...16 years in April 2013.  unofficially...several lifetimes
 

Why do you consider yourself a Black Weirdo? 

I like to think of "weird" in the context of "different'.  I am a spiritual engineer.  It is my belief and practice to orchestrate a spiritual experience in everything I offer artistically/vocationally. Be it with food or music, people leave me in charge of their bodies when i am working.  I choose to nourish the soul as it is relating to the body/senses, for those open to it, thus, engineering the spiritual experience.  I think a little possession goes a long way towards the avenues of healing.  On top of all that, I love math, classic rock and can sing pretty much any theme song to any TV show airing in the 80s or 90s.

 

Links/Social Media: 
Website: www.iamrimarkable.com
Twitter: @djrimarkable   
Other Sites:
www.djrimarkable.podOmatic.com
www.arteroticaevents.com

 

Upcoming events/ projects?

Spring/early Summer release of a Rimarkable music project, The "i am rimarkable" self-empowerment campaign, and a nasty, sweet, 2013 of Rimarkable DJ appearances in NYC and abroad.

Why We Love DJ Rimarkable:
We first experienced Ri Ri at a late night ladies dance party in Bed Stuy, she played so many jams they had to pry us off the dance floor. She has a warm spirit and has always been a tastemaker.

Black Weirdo of the Week 8: Terence Nance

Name:
 Terence Nance 
 

From:

Dallas, TX - Living in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn

Mini Bio: 

I was born in Dallas and became an artist, mostly because everyone in my family is/was. I moved to NY in 2005 for art school and started making films, music videos, and music with my brothers who also moved here for school.  I just finished my first feature film / album called An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, It premiered at Sundance last year and will be in theaters and record stores in April of 2013.

What is your craft/career/creative expression? 

I'm an artist and I make films, music, and performance mostly about love. I'm also committed to making very bold films / performances about some of the issues that are affecting my community so I'm working on some pieces right now about, Colorism, Capitalism, Misogyny, and Sexual Violence 
committed against Women and Girls.

How long have you been working at your craft? 

I'd say 7 years seriously.
 

Why do you consider yourself a Black Weirdo? 

 I come from and operate within the vast and infinite Universe that is Blackness and a wise and beautiful goddess I used to date once told me that the first word in the definition of "Weird" in the 
O.E.D. is "Magical" and Art-Making is nothing if not Magic.

 

Links/Social Media: 
Website: terencenance.com
Blog: terenceetc.tumblr.com
Instagram: @terenceetc
Twitter: @terencenance
FB: www.facebook.com/loveterence

 

Upcoming events/ projects?

Music Videos for Cody ChesnuTT and Melissa Laveaux as well as a documentary on skin lightening called So Young So Pretty So White and a feature narrative called The Lobbyists.
An Oversimplification Of  Her Beauty is now available for viewing on 
Netflix and is coming to theaters April 26th.
 
Why We Love Terence Nance:
Terence is a wonderful artist. He is an active ally and a cutie pie. His smile lights up the room.
His film An Oversimplification Of Her Beauty completely changed the way 
we viewed art. We respect his eye and vision. 

Black Weirdo of the Week 7: Jade Foster

Photo Credit: Be Steady

Name:
Jade Foster

From:

Southeast, DC

Mini Bio: 

I teach. Went to undergrad at Sarah Lawrence, and dropped out of grad school... twice.  As a writer, I've been published in a few magazines, featured on web series such as "The Peculiar Kind". 
I also produce a national poetry tour called THE REVIVAL. The only thing 
that matters though is that I love GOD more and more everyday.

What is your craft/career/creative expression? 

I'm a writer. I'm a servant. I'm just tryna do what I'm told.

How long have you been working at your craft? 

I've been reading and writing since I was like 3. My dad was locked up for a long time and that's how we talked. Ummm... wrote/shared my first poem at a funeral when I was 7. I've read a lot of poems at funerals. So yeah, I don't know, I've been writing a long time. 
 

Why do you consider yourself a Black Weirdo? 

BLACK has room for every color, every moment, every memory. Sometimes I get tricked and think I'm one of the few who thinks it's  beautiful. But I know it's more of me, than it is of them. 
Weirdos don't believe the hype.

 

Links/Social Media: 

Website: www.cereusarts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cereusarts
 

Upcoming events/ projects?

Co-creating a narrative web series called FAMILY. We held a casting call last month. And in the meantime I'm working to cultivate a culture of arts patronage and capacity building for creatives of color.
 
Why We Love Jade Foster:
Jade is an amazing woman with a real eye for talent. She takes time to showcase her peers
within her project "THE REVIVAL". She is a long time THEESat supporter and has been spreading
our music around since 2009. With her passion and work ethic, it's hard 
not to love Jade and all that she provides.