(soon there will be some WRENAGADE illustrations to go along with this amazing body of work created by Siaira Shawn)
For now:
On behalf of R&B singer, Siaira Shawn, we would like to invite you to listen to and download her new EP, "The In Between" for free!
About "The In Between EP"
The In Between EP is a prelude to Siaira Shawn's debut album, "The Outsider Inside." This five song EP with bonus acapella showcases the wide vocal range and talents of one of the Bay Area's budding R&B stars. The "Intro" and "Outro" narrates what would usually be complex subject matter for the typical R&B album. Shawn's songwriting depicts the battles we endure searching for love as well as the trials we face defining ourselves in a world bent on conformity. Musically speaking, the up-tempo tracks such as "Seat Filler" produced by Mr. Know-It-All to the sonically progressive ballad, "Where You Are," tightropes the energy and imagination of a Janelle Monae with the soul and depth of Donny Hathaway. The In Between infuses futuristic soundscapes with the maturity and vulnerability contemporary R&B audiences have been yearning for.
Visit Bandcamp to Stream or Download
Production Credits
Nick James, George Hearst, T.K. Top Kat, Mr. Know-It-All & Will Bracy
All songs written by Siaira Harris | Mixed by George Hearst at Gehea Music Studios | Art Design by Nick James
SIAIRA SHAWN:
Siaira Shawn is a singer, songwriter, performer, & youth worker born and raised in San Francisco, California. She started singing at the ripe old age of three. She attended San Francisco School of the Arts with a concentration in theatre. She has performed and continues to perform all around the Bay Area. She has shared stages with performers such as Goapele, Bilal, Kindred, Dwele, Ise Lyfe, Zion I, The Attik, and Jennifer Johns. She works with artists/producers League 510, producers Will Bracy, Nick James, rap artist DoDat, rapper Five-Eighty, keyboardist/composer Maya Kronfeld, producer/musician George Hearst, and one of the most sought after rhythm sections in the west, The Park.
She has many influences from soul legends like Donny Hathaway to revolutionary thinkers such as Audre Lorde. Siaira Shawn wants to bring a much needed light to the up and coming talent in the Bay Area and bring a level of artistry, creativity, and purpose to music that she believes the people deserve.
I am honored to just recently join the team of OAKLAND IN BLUE (Do Dats projects with FRESHVIBE MEDIA) They are amazing and I can't wait to see all of the visions and plans for 2010 materialize.
Niema herself and yours truly along with the homegirl and talented songstress Dom Jones interviewed about OAKLAND in BLUE! And performances by SIAIRA SHAWN! Definitly a magical night with DAT as the HOST, with no further a do OAKLAND IN BLUE:
YOU CAN PAINT ME AS A FEMINIST BUT NO THIS WE COME IN ALL SHADES, SISTERS AND BROTHERS MAKING CHANGE, AIN'T AFRAID TO SHAKE GROUND AND REARRANGE, PROGRESSION IN THIS RECESSION AND AIM, LIKE A SHOT 'CEPT NOT VIOLENT, SPEAKING LOUD NOT SILENT, RESILIENT SOMETIMES MILITANT, PEACEFUL WITH MOVEMENTS THAT HAVE SEQUELS
WHAT DOES A FEMINIST LOOK LIKE TO YOU
YOU CAN PAINT ME AS A FEMINIST BUT KNOW THIS please don't put me in no boxes Im claustrophobic and that obnoxious, found round all people so put those labels down there lethal...
What is a feminist to you? Can she be feminine, can she be traditional? can she rap? can she paint? can she cook? can she think? can she dance? can she wink? can she wear a tight shirt and a short skirt? can she rawk a kangol with some hi top Adidas with a matching fit? can she sew or knit? can she get married? can she love? can she be white? can she look right? can she be black? can she laugh? can she be latina? can she be free? can she be asian? can she be amazing? can (s)he be a dude? can she be from the hood? can she be in the white house? the answers yes and than some, cause a feminist comes in all forms...
I just read Niema Jordans blog post over at "Twenty somethingRenaissance"and it inspired me to post this blog on What a feminist looks like. Gender Roles and Feminism is something i have written songs, poems, and even reports on, with a vision in my head that i wanted to tare down. I feel like a lot of people feel the Woman's movement is over but as my homegirl Wendy just pointed out to me it hasn't even been 100 years since women got the right to vote. Above is a slide show of images, some kind of random, but they all are feminists, some more controversial, some more famous, some are activists, some are arists, some are rappers, some are my friends, some are men, some are mothers, some are fathers, So make room for new images of what a feminist looks like this is my challenge to you...I'm sure I left some out. What is your view of feminism? Is it limited to people who are active or vocal about Woman's Rights, How has it changed over history, and how is it different amoung different cultures and races?
Its Sunday night, I always get the Sunday night Blues, but Im feeling blessed (a lil stressed) but blessed to be alive Right Now, and in this place Right Here, in this (Pre)sent moment, where grace is all around me, and I Am in the company of some astounding folk, from Emcees, to organizers, singers and all around artistas, beautiful people. Please Check the events put on by FRESH VIBE MEDIA! Ya boi in the video (skip a post down) can be found hosting shows in Up Town and he gets Down with flows, captures by ID who goes (without moving) so in case you have been snoozing Wake Up and check out OAKLAND IN BLUE! this next show has one of my favorite singer/songer writer extrordinaire hailing from San Francisco and residing in Oakland Siaira Shawn...gaurenteed to be a beautiful show. I will be there enjoying the musica, lovely company and collecting emails, please come thru.
WRENAGADE: Never been afraid to speak on it, Never would stand by and not protect a sister getting assaulted, forever working hoping and praying that this world is safer, better for the next generation, especially for young girls and my future daughter...any women who has been assaulted, harassed, raped, through out history, whether by a soldier, or someone that's supposed to protect you, a preacher, or a stranger, you are not invisible. We are all victims unless we speak out.First off I am filled with a lot of emotion about this incident that happened in the near by Bay Area city Richmond, California, to a young 15 year old girl. Especially, but not just because of the fact that, it is reported that there were by standers that did nothing and even cheered on the attacker. My first reaction is just that this is one act of horrible violence, that is one of way too many. I have too many friends who have confided that they too were raped. I have heard too many stories through out history of soldiers raping women, not just in some foreign land, but also right here, the American Holocaust. Too many in history that is not what you read in the books, too many in my life time, and too many who have felt invisible, and stayed silent.Too many communities with out unity. Too many young people exposed to violence. Too Many young girls staying silent. Too Many victims who feel they can never heal that there power is taken from them, and they wish to hide to never reveal.Too Many women have been assaulted, and felt it was there fault, or known that people would look down on them, as if they brought it upon themselves. Too many have kept silent, held back pain, supressed the crimes done to them. Its 2009 and its time for any hidden crimes to shine so that justice can be reached. Rapist have no face, n they are definitely not 1 color (although statistically in the U.S white male rapists are the highest percent) I dont know the whole stoy of went down in Richmond but ive already heard ignorant voices about Richmond and Race and the crime that went down and people assuming.All i know is what i heard that 2O something people stood by while a young girl was raped, i dont have words to describe how out of pocket that is.
This incident is not a local problem and it should mos def not be what richmond is known for, no matter what the media spins on it, this is an injustice that is found around the world and will continue to go on unless people speak out everytime it occurs and demand justice. Forget what you may think, and think of your children and your wish for her or him to be protected.
According to the LA times:
Bay Area girl gang raped at school while witnesses watch but do nothing October 26, 2009| 5:41 pm A 15-year-old girl who went to her homecoming dance was repeatedly gang raped and beaten at Richmond High School for at least two hours while more than a dozen witnesses saw the assault but failed to call police, authorities said today.The attack occurred Saturday around 9:30 p.m. after the girl had left the dance and was waiting for a ride from her father. She saw a male student she knew, who took her to a dark alley behind one of the school buildings, Richmond police said.Police said alcohol was consumed but were awaiting toxicology tests.The male student and about six others began raping and beating the girl. As she struggled, more than a dozen witnesses passed by or watched what was going on. The ordeal lasted 2 to 2 1/2 hours, police said."The victim was beaten, sexually assaulted and robbed," said Lt. Mark Gagan. "What's equally disturbing is that other people saw what was going on and did nothing."Police were finally called after a female student overhead people talking about the rape. She called 911 and told dispatchers what she had heard, according to Gagan.The girl was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.A former student, Manuel Ortega, 19, was arrested a few blocks away Saturday night and booked on charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, Gagan said. Ortega was being held Monday on $800,000 bail.
For this young victim and for anyone who has been raped, you are not invisible, and there is no shame in speaking out against the horribe crime done to you, you are not damaged, the only one in the wrong is the person that commits the rape, or anyone who stands by and lets it happen.
AM I (INVISIBLE)
{by singer, song writer, all around fly artivist: Siaira Shawn}
What does it mean, if things obscene seen and no help you bring The song I sing, silenced, the quiet violence or the noisy love To both you shrug and ignore the blood
Am I invisible or do you just not care to look Am I expendable, do you care when my life is took
Sweep things under the rug, until they have to be dug, from under Appalled at the plunder, slumber on it, but still condone it Treat us like enemy or your opponent
Am I invisible or do you just not care to look Am I expendable, do you care when my life is took (c)SiairaShawn
her thoughts on writing this piece:
SIAIRA SHAWN:I wrote this awhile ago, it was sparked by an incident that happened to a young women who went to Mills and she was attending school in New York. She was living with roommates and they discovered her dead body in the room days later; she had been beaten to death by her former boyfriend and left for dead.
Around this time other violent crimes against Black women were happening as they have for centuries and there was no or little media coverage or outcry. It seems that when something happens to women of color we are supposed to take it and be silenced, we are not valued or respected and that is why things like this young girl in Richmond getting beaten and gang raped while people watched can occur. What are we teaching our men, our women, ourselves? These things must not be allowed to go on!
SPEAK OUT!!!
*Statistics indicate that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will become victims of sexual assualt during their lifetime*36% of new victims served by the Rape Crisis Center are between the ages of 0-17*Every two and a half minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted *More that 1/2 of sexual assualts go unreported, (last year Rape Crisis served 313 victims, so just imagine how many more victims are out there that never reported the crime!)*False accustations of sexual assualt are estimated to occur at a low rate of 2%- similiar to the rate of false accustations of other crimes*The chances that a woman will develop PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) after being sexually assaulted are between 50%-95% (Proving that this is a serious crime, and not something that happened in one night and someone can get over easily!)
For more information and statistics visit: www.rainn.org
After posting a note about this incident I was outraged to find out that based on a law that diferentiates between victims that are 14 vs 15 (the age of the victim) those people people that stood by and laughed while this crime was commited will not be charged with anything: via Catherine-Mercedes Brillantes Judge
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
California police now say as many as 20 people were present at the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside a high school homecoming dance last weekend. 10 people were involved in an assault in a back alley at the school that went on for more than two-and-a-half hours. 10 people stood around and watched without calling 9-1-1 to report it. Police say some witnesses took photos, while others laughed.
Police say a student at Richmond High School was gang raped outside during a homecoming dance.
California law makes it illegal not to report a crime against a child, but the cutoff is 14-years-old. Since the victim in this case is 15, cops say they can't arrest the spectators. The law needs to be changed immediately.
Meanwhile this horrific rape of a young girl follows that brutal beating death caught on video of a 16-year-old honor student in Chicago.
That case has been hampered by the refusal of witnesses to come forward. These kids in Chicago also stood by and watched this teenager murdered - beaten to death in broad daylight - and did nothing.
Experts say the reason crimes aren't reported could be a social phenomenon known as "the bystander effect" that means the larger the number of people involved in any situation, the less will get done...
One famous case happened in New York in the 1960s - where people watched or heard a serial killer rape, rob and murder a woman named Kitty Genovese. At the time, one witness said: "I didn't want to be involved."
Here’s my question to you: Should people who witness a crime, like the gang rape of a 15-year-old California girl, face jail for failing to report it?
he Tried to devour my soul today They tried to take my power away Feels like I dont have a choice But its still a beautiful resistance Born into this world Hurled into it I can smile thru tears Because I cry flowers Seen friends killed with my own eyes So I know violence Too wise for the lies Heard my mamas cries ReLiving being raped Vowed to be my families protector at the age of 8 For the young girl who stayed silent When he said dont tell For the woman who still Lives with the memory of Hell For wives who stay silent thinking it wont be considered violence For anyone thinking that its accepted For the young girl neglected n molested For the victim who blamed herself Because she was reckless For all women who wear shame like a necklace The only one shamed or in the wrong is who did it or anyone that didn't put up a Beautiful Resistance Speak on it because the world needs to hear you Speak on it cause every young girl hurled into this world need to hear it No one can take your beautiful spirit. -WrenAgade
In thinking about this incident as what it represents as problem in our community, just like any problem of violence or harm, as an activist I begin to think of solutions. I have had many conversations with close friends who like myself organized at the Ella Baker center against Police Injustice and the murder of Oscar Grant. One thing that we all noticed was that the amount of women organizing for justic for this young mans life was way more than the men that chose to come with us. In thinking about this injustice to this young woman I thought about that, more in theory than in actuality. What if men protected us in the ways we protect them? I just read an amazing poem by someone I am honored to call a friend, and his words brought my questions to actuality. There are men out there who are wise and willing to teach, and it gives me hope when I hear men speaking out like this:
To the Young Men who Watched and Said Nothing By Josh Healy I went to the Peace March this part Saturday that was organized in response to the recent gang-rape at Richmond High School. It was a healing event for a lot of folks. Despite the tragedy that brought us together, the spirit of love and solidarity was strong. Dennis Kim gave one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard at a rally. Youth Speaks had a contingent out to support, and I felt good about our presence. But something strange happened as well. First once, then twice, and finally almost a dozen times, I was approached by women in the march who said to me, “Thanks for being here.” Almost like it was a surprise that I, a man, was there to take a stand against violence towards women. There were a decent number of men at the march, but I realized that, amongst many other things, we really do need men speaking to other men about this issue. Despite the media hype, the Richmond High incident unfortunately is far from isolated. This shit happens all the time – and not just in Richmond. It does no good to further criminalize East Bay youth. The question is: how can we stop sexual violence against women EVERYWHERE? As someone who’s had the privilege of working with some brilliant, amazing students (young men & women) at Richmond High, and across the Bay, I wanted to talk directly to the folks who I think could make the change we need. To the Young Men who Watched and Said Nothing i call you young men,not boys.but i don’t mean thatas a compliment. boys play freeze tagand three-on-three.young men watcha mob assaulting their classmateand go home to watch MTV. i don’t know your names,but you knew hers.it wasn’t Jane Doe. i know this shithappens everyday.you heard what the football teamdid to that girl in El Cerrito.you might have been pushedagainst a wall yourself once.pants pressed to your ankles,forced to turn around and take itlike a man. you know what rape is. you should have been inside at the dance.getting your off-beat grind onor standing awkwardly in the cornerlike teenage boys are supposed to. but you went outside, to the courtyard.and you saw what they were doingto her. you said nothing. you watched them:punch, scratch, choke, violate herfor one hundred and twenty seven minutes. you said nothing. you left to go to the bathroom,came back, and they werestill at it. you said… and i know you were scaredthat you’d get jumped.get called a snitch, a bitch, a punkwho’s as white as his tall tee. but what colors did you see that night in Richmond?do you remember the reds of her knuckles? the blues in her eyes?the blacks of her throat as she screamed for Someone, Anyone? i am not perfect. not evenin the same area code as perfection.i am a young man myself, after all. i have never hit a woman, but thatdoesn’t mean i have never hurt one. i was raised by my mom,grandmom, aunt, and my little sister-cousin.she is 16 now. the same ageas the girl you saw in that courtyard.who do you think i thought of when i heard?can you look your own sisters in the eye? and i was raised by my father.no saint either, but he was with meat my Bar Mitzvah, the day that i became a man.my father is a good man. he loves me. and i still love you.like a brother, who’s fucked upin ways I couldn’t have imagined.l ike a student, who’s brilliant but got caught up in some horribly stupid shit.like a young man,who isn’t a boy no more
Sustenance is the food for the soul what we need to survive, to sustain, to remain sain in the membrane n for me this is music.i WAKE to it i sleep with it i make it write to it paint to it, ride with it bumping, and think its something that should be wise, from the heart, a mastered craft, not without laughs. Once in a blue moon artists make songs that are truly of sustenance. You could listen to the song or the album over and over and get something different o new lyric noted or a feeling from it, a harmony that gives you chills or a flow that goes with the beat so lovely you want to hear it on repeat, so you rewind and open your mind and let the music in.
Siaira Shawn is definitely an artist of sustenance and she even has a song entitled this
BAY AREA---->AIR LOUNGE ms. SIAIRA herself will be performing this is the place to be Monday night. Siaira Shawn is singing new material from her upcoming e.p. "The Outsider Inside" Which what I have heard I love. She will also be singing Happy Birthday to you Leos. I cant wait with this song bird on stage you know its gonna be good music. Come Thru!
Just recently got to sit down with one of my favorite artists Bay Area's own singer/songwriter/ herself. Its not everyday that someone can capture a crowd with purely acapella vocals .
WRENAGADE (WR): There is a lot going on in the Bay Area {from Prop 8 Protests, Oscar Grant Protests/Mehserle Trial,} as well as all over the world {Iran Democratic Election, too many injustices to name...}, As a song writer that is an activist, how do you take on the challenge of Speaking your Views, as well as keeping it Universal (so anyone can get down with your music and really hear it?
SIAIRA: The songs I write are what I am inspired and by my experience. I originally started writing songs on a certain topics, mostly very personal. As I've started to write more and become a better writer, I've learned how to frame very personal things into very universal themes. Also, because the big issues are our issues, my issues, the political is personal, so I write in a way that shows that I hope. Everything I try to do comes from a place of love, so that's how I write.
WR: Just listened to TOO MANY which is an amazing song, the lyrics the melody all of it. This is a dope song to me because it is expressing all the emotions that protesters have, of rage, sadness of seeing injustice, put into a song in such an eloquent and heART felt way. I get chills when I hear the part of the song “and I cant stomach another daughter or son on the ground…” Siaira has managed to capture so much in the beautiful song, from the pain of loosing a life, overall police brutality and transcend that with harmony and lyrical grace.
WR: You bring such a refreshingly fly style to your music, is there anyone that influenced you growing up in the Bay Area?
SIAIRA: Thank you! Growing up in the Bay, San Francisco especially, there weren't too many people to look to,as far as being a soul/ r and b singer. I think that’s why you have to do your own thing. I can say in Oakland, all my homeys, who were involved in BUMP and other youth music programs, really gave me an outlet. And as far as my style; I wanted to do my own thing, and write from a different perspective that I feel is unique because its me, no manufacturing.
WR: If you could choose some artists out there that did/do really influence you as a singer and song writer who would they be and why?
Nina Simone-Crazy style, unique vocals, she blew my mind,and the subject matter she tackled in her songs and the emotion, I love her… John Legend-When he came out there was no one like him in R&B, his song writing, making good quality songs. Also as he has matured in his career and his music and he has taken a great political stance.
WR: thats wassup...Whats your favorite quote?
SIAIRA:*Never settle for mediocrity "I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood." Audre Lorde
WR: What projects do you you have in the works?
SIAIRA: My e.p. "The Outsider Inside" is upcoming, doing a photoshoot, want to put some shirts out soon too , oh I'll also be on rapper Five-Eightys album and The League 510 album and video for the song "Friday". I am always working on music, I wanna put a mixtape and some themed projects out, and a full-length album of course, so just look out for me :)
WR: Words of advice to other singers out there?
SIAIRA: My advice is just to be true to yourself and strive for as close to perfection as you can get. Put out quality music, put your best self forward always. Don't conform.
* I have some shows end of July and August in oakland mostly, I believe, and wherever elso people will have me :) You can go reverbnation.com and lastfm.com to hear some older music,new stuff coming soon on those. And I'm on facebook, just type my name-Siaira Shawn in the search to get updates. A big shout out to Siaira Shawn if ya dont know now ya know.
Heres a perfect Summer feel good Jam that im bumping ritnOW…
Look forward to many more collab projects with this Song Bird, dont sleep on OakTowns finest and Flyest from the Song Birds to the Emcees, we got Talent all over the Bay...
oh yeah...(dont mind the messy photography skills ill post better pics soon)
At INTERNATIONAL heART SHO (Katiana and myselfs first collab project) I did a set of portraits of the song bird SIAIRA SHAWN. This is a pic of one of them I will eventually share with you many more pictures of art flick so look out for more. I think I only captured about 1% of the dopeness in this piece, I do portraits of folks mostly music artists to pay homage...Look out for more posts soon.
(Disclaimer for anyone sipping some haterade: im in no way a professional journalist and mos. def. don't claim to be, I am a artivist, so just a fan of good music, in terms of lyrics, vocals, production, Good music, especially when its about real issues that effect our community, because that is when music is at its best. -wr)
