Known by his stage name MetalPillow, Jo has been seriously aspiring to make it in music ever since starting college at the University of the Arts  in Philadelphia. He picked up the bass guitar in 2020, and set out to teach the instrument to himself. Only recently discovering the Afrobeat genre with the likes of performers like New York based singer Kaléta, Jo is determined to finally record his debut album in the next two years, move to New York to explore that music scene, and put the wildly underappreciated instrument at its forefront. 

Jo Moore

“No one is really thinking about bass. It’s a background instrument. But I look at guys like Thundercat and Mano Neon who really make bass the focus of their pieces. because it really is an underappreciated lead instrument,” said Jo.

In his mind, the expectations of his college curriculum are the sole major obstacle on his musical journey. But after next year’s graduation, Jo hopes to move up to Brooklyn, and immerse himself fully in the diverse music scene of that Borough to highlight black stories.

“I will take blame in that I really never focused in on that aspect of myself being black, but it never really dawned upon me. I was like, wait, why am I not emphasizing my own people, my own skin, because in the end it’s simple; black, of course is beautiful,” said Jo.

 Already living in Brooklyn, a rare performer to cross a major division in Nigerian music, and in the States, Leon Ligan-Majek originally from the West African town of Porto Novo, better known by his stage name Kaleta, fronted many bands on his way to bringing a culturally unifying sense of music. Always inspiring new artists to pick up their passion, Kaleta is looking out for performers just like MetalPillow. 

“My music is Afrofunk and Afrobeat and It is just a reunion of music I listened to as a kid coupled with my own interpretations. If it is your calling, just do it and do it right. Practice as hard as you can,” said Kaleta.

Amongst the most successful of Kaletas bands were Kaleta Jaa, Akoya Afrobeat, Zozo Afrobeat, and eventually his current group of likeminded music lovers, the Super Yamba Band. Both Moore and Kaleta perform their instrumentals at various Brooklyn venues on an irregular basis, taking stock of how far black music has integrated itself into the pop scene today. 

Kaleta and Wild Birds in Brooklyn. Photo by Kirill Bykanov

“Being black in music I never thought about the color difference but I do know that music and playing is universal and still growing,” Kaleta said. “This genre is about Africa and the various types of music being played by all countries therein.”

Two venues that both performers are looking at to promote their art are Wild Birds, and Bowery Electric in Brooklyn. Both venues stand for diversifying their music scene, highlighting small artists and groups, and to not discriminate when it comes to art on stage. 

“Even if this music thing only lasts a couple more years, even if I never blow up and get famous, it’s worth it because to a couple of people for a short period of time what I made meant something,” said Columbia College senior and singer Eva Westphal about the vibe at Bowery Electric in an interview with Columbia Spectator. 

With his already existing EP’s, but even more so during shows at Bowery Electric, MetalPillow aims to invite his audience to simply dance and experience music and culture through his lens. Likewise, Kaleta is motivated to bring people together on the dance floor. Though decades apart, born into different worlds, both Kaleta, and Moore carry on a legacy of black music and pride themselves in bringing a unique narrative to the industry, as well as their respective instrumentals, that no one else can do justice.

“I don’t want to keep dropping singles without a story, without my peoples’ story. I want to show people I’m actually serious and what’s more serious than an actual album? That’s what I want to give to people,” Moore said. 

The post Afrobeat musicians make strides appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Shoshanna Kelly always had a calling for politics, but only set foot on that path after her college years. In her first term she fought for a better and more inclusive life in her city, is a climate change activist, and continues to wrestle the  pushback she faces on a daily basis. 

“You know, there were several people in the race last night who were racially targeted and lost,” Kelly said. “And we had proud boys and Neo Nazis showing up and, you know, doing things at the polls yesterday that were just appalling.” 

Being an elected official of color in a state where the black or African American demographic makes up a mere 1.6 percent, an advantage Kelly seizes is to be able to bring a fresh perspective to the table. Throughout her time on the Board of Aldermen, she has pushed for more progressive policies and disrupted the traditional notions of local politics stirring controversy amongst sitting board members.

“Regardless, I believe that the fact that she received the most votes on Election Day demonstrates that the citizens of Nashua want diverse leadership and trust Shoshanna to be their voice in city government,” said Ben Telerski, Kelly’s long time friend and campaign manager.

While technically being a nonpartisan election, the Nashua Democratic and Republican Parties were very involved in campaigning this year. Kellys’ team has found it to be a helpful and agenda-clarifying boost to be openly supported by the party. Now Kelly seeks to empower more young leaders of color throughout the state to use their voice to affect change. 

“I hear a lot, ‘Well, I don’t want to be the first black woman, I don’t need that as part of my title.’ And while I understand that, there are a lot of little black girls out there looking and seeing that you’re there, or that you’re wanting to be there, and that you’re willing to lift your voice up,” she said.

Kelly had an interest in being involved in politics from an early age, maybe since being the only black girl in her middle school even, but only after Donald Trump’s election win, and attending the Women’s March in Washington DC in 2017 did it dawn on her that if she didn’t like the leaders being elected, Kelly herself could be the leader her community chooses. After serving Nashuas public for four years, she  has woven a dedicated network of constituent supporters and built a goal-oriented team of local talent and activists supporting her second term. 

“I think Shoshana is one of the leading faces of a whole new generation of young leaders in the state that actually really do reflect the future of New Hampshire, and also more accurately reflect where we’re at, and looking towards a future in our cities, towns, and a state that’s diverse,” said Theo Groh, director of digital marketing and outreach for the campaign. 

Kelly states a clear message of wanting to give a voice to those not heard thus far in her hometown. In her first term she has  played a major role in creating the first pride parade in Nashua, offering teens a safe space to speak up about their sexuality, pushing for a performing arts center to be built in town, and with that making Nahusa no longer just a bedroom community to Boston. 

“I think when you have a candidate like Shoshanna, it’s a real opportunity to engage in future oriented conversations about what do we want to look like? This next couple of budget cycles or election cycles, but what do we want, you know, nationally to look like 10 years from now?” said Groh. 

When thinking about the future of the state and looking at potential leaders, Kelly thinks that oftentimes what keeps women and people of color out of the political arena is the idea of qualification. Media streamlines the necessity of degrees, an MBA, and other requirements to enter higher levels of politics, but Kelly disagrees. 

“I think my advice would be that you are qualified if you live in the community, you have passion for that community, and you are ready to listen…,” she said. “So getting yourself out there is just as important as winning. It makes a difference to those kids who haven’t always had that type of leader.”

The post The only woman of color in Nashua’s city council is reelected appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

“Voting as it is in this country is extremely one-coin sided. We are choosing between two sides of the same coin,” said Hager after casting his mail-in vote for Joe Biden, and voting Democrats across the board.

Despite calling upon family and friends to check the status of their ballot, or going to vote in their precinct, Hager doesn’t put much value on the power of the people’s free choice anymore. So why still vote?

“Because I think it’s going to be easier to pressure that administration,” said Hager. “I do think that Biden is a weak candidate and that is an advantage if he wins because he will become my new opponent.”

It isn’t about choosing the right president for the country, but rather picking the lesser of two evils for him. Encouraging people to vote has been Hagers way to encourage fellow Americans to stand up for equality and fairness in our government.

“Things are just getting so bad. I don’t understand how people would want to not reject this system that so obviously doesn’t serve us anymore,” he said.

Going forward, Hager doesn’t see a future without a fight regardless of which candidate will take home the win tonight. After Trump’s tyranny and not neglecting Kamala Harris’ spotty record of incarcerating thousands of people for marijuana possession, and keeping people in prisons beyond their sentences, Hager wants change. 

“We should keep going out into the streets, keep asking, keep screaming, keep demanding to be heard, and disband the entire police force,” said Hager. 

Despite the ongoing pandemic and hardship of online school, hager encouraged college students to take matters in their own hands and not let anyone tell them it will get better by itself.

“Just meet as many people as you can, and talk to each other about this stuff,” he said.

The post Voting For The Lesser Of Two Evils appeared first on Pavement Pieces.