Matanda: Alternative World Music

For this intriguing program, Matanda has created a theatrical tone poem expounding on world folk-music sonics.

Matanda will be joined by string musicians for this piece; the Oakland-raised multi-instrumentalist Cheflee on bass and electronics, along with two more TBA artists on cello and violin.

Saracens is the fictitious story of a boy caught in the middle of a holy war. Matanda, along with three other eclectic musicians, will present this tale as a tone poem, blending sounds of American folk, Afro-Peruvian percussion, orchestral bowing, and vocalization. The performance will present as an immersive experience akin to that of a speakeasy or work-song, with touches of movement borrowed from the theatrical stage.

Matanda – percussion/vocals: Oakland born, Brooklyn-based multimedia artist Matanda (formerly known as Matanda Keyes) is a jazz-trained percussionist whose work develops around sculpture. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, he is now blending folk, world music, and alt/indie rock sounds. Matanda’s newborn multi-disciplinary project, Parsody, aims to explore the relationship between music and physical objects.

Recently, he designed jewelry for Madonna’s worldwide “Celebration Tour”, and he has been asked to supply pieces for Zayn Malik (formerly of One Direction).

Matanda breathes through sound, and his brand of such is personally coined, “Alternative World Music.” You can learn more about this eclectic artist on his website.