Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we spoke with singer songwriter Sunny War prior to her performance at the Pilot Light in Knoxville. Sunny War's early musical history was rooted in punk music, and she has successfully blended these punk influences with elements of roots music— a unique sound that is further highlighted by her distinct right-hand technique that mimics the clawhammer banjo. Sunny is candid about her early experiences with heavy alcohol use and addictions to heroin and meth that started as a teenager, which eventually led her to a medical crisis. During these years, she began busking on the streets, writing, and recording original music. Her most recent album which we discuss in this conversation, is called Anarchist Gospel. In this conversation, Sunny War discusses how early substance use and family problems use have shaped her perspective, important musical influences, and ways that songwriting provides space for emotional processing and moving past difficult experiences.

This episode features music by Sunny War, all from her 2023 album Anarchist Gospel. These tracks include "No Reason", "Whole", and "New Day". Theme music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we talked to songwriter, activist, and multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla during the 2024 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. Previously, Leyla performed as part of the GRAMMY award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. She is also a founding member of the Black, all-female American roots ensemble, Our Native Daughters. Her previous solo work includes her 2022 album Breaking the Thermometer, which explores the history of Radio Haiti and the journalists who risked their lives to report the news in Haitian Kreyol. The album was part of a multidisciplinary dance, theater, and music project commissioned by Duke Performances. Leyla's most recent album, Sun Without the Heat (2024), draws inspiration from Black feminist Afrofuturist writers. Leyla describes her new album as a reflection of her experiences as an activist trying to also embrace joy and pleasure, and a celebration of "thriving against all odds." In this conversation, Leyla reflects on the inspiration behind her new record, life as a working musician while parenting three young children, and what it means to be effective as an activist while also nurturing oneself.

All music featured on this episode was composed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we spoke to composer, pianist/vocalist, and interdisciplinary artist Samora Pinderhughes during the 2024 Big Ears Festival. Samora is a graduate of The Julliard School and is currently completing a PhD in Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry. He is the first-ever Art for Justice / Soros Justice Fellow and a recipient of Chamber Music America's 2020 Visionary Award. Much of Samora's long term work as an artist has been dedicated to documenting experiences of incarcerated individuals and critically examining structural violence and policing in the United States. Through his multimedia project, The Healing Project, Samora explores these realities while presenting an abolitionist vision through the lens of community care. Samora's most recent album, GRIEF (2022), is the latest addition to The Healing Project's collective body of work. In this conversation, Samora describes his motivation for highlighting experiences of incarcerated individuals, his approach to scholarly activism, and life as a young working artist in New York. He also describes his early experiences with music and hopes for the impact of this work.

This episode features music by Samora Pinderhughes. These include the 2024 single "Sweet", and the following tracks from the 2022 album GRIEF: "Breath", "The Cry", "Grief" and "Hope Intro". Theme music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we spoke to Amythyst Kiah during the 2024 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee. Amythyst earned a GRAMMY nomination for her song "Black Myself" in the category of Best American Roots Song. She is also a member of the "all women of color supergroup", Our Native Daughters, which also featured Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell. Amythyst's 2021 album, Wary+Strange, was described as "a must-listen about living in the land of white privilege" by Billboard and a "masterful blend of lonesome folk and neo-blues" by Rolling Stone. In this conversation, Amythyst describes her early experiences with music, her time exploring music as a student at ETSU, and ways that learning to manage social anxiety has shifted her approach to songwriting.

All music featured on this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we decided to highlight some of the sights, sounds, and experiences of the 2024 Big Ears Festival. We spoke with the festival's executive and artistic director, Ashley Capps, and Big Ears' development director, Casey Fox, about the philosophy behind the festival, some of the challenges, hopes for the future of the event, and intentions for its impact on the local Knoxville community. We also ventured out into the streets to talk to patrons and some of the artists as well, who shared some of their highlights and impressions of the festival.

Special thanks to Jason Thompson, who allowed us to record his live improvised saxophone performance for this special episode.

Music for this episode features excerpts from a live improvised solo performance on bass saxophone by Knoxville-based musician Jason Thompson. Thank you to Jason for allowing us to record and use your performance for this episode.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we spoke to self-described "Southern Soul" artist Rissi Palmer. Rissi has released multiple solo records and music for children. Some career highlights include performances at the White House, the Grand Ole Opry, on Oprah & Friends, and numerous other national TV appearances. Her radio show Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer celebrates Black artists and those who have been historically marginalized in country music. In this conversation, Rissi describes the process of carving out a space for herself in the world of country music as a Black artist, making history along the way, her reaction to the recent country album released by Beyonce, her evolution as a songwriter, and the many creative ways she provides opportunities for other deserving artists.

This music features the following tracks by Rissi Palmer: "Still Here", "Anything But Yours", "Seeds", and "Not Afraid of the Dark". Theme music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change, we spoke with Knoxville-based comedian, activist, community leader, poet, and self-described "truth teller" Brandi Augustus. In her comedy career, Brandi has opened for Katherine Blanford, Holly Lena, and Sam Tallent. She was voted Knoxville's Finest Comedian in 2023 and is a show producer with Tiny Stage Comedy. In this conversation, Brandi describes the struggles that led her to living in Knoxville, the personal growth that followed, her unexpected path toward comedy, and ways that she uses comedy to talk about the realities of parenthood. Brandi also describes her work with the Highlander Center and The Bottom. You will also hear some recordings captured live by Brandi during her road trip for a comedy festival performance.

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Music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage For Change, we interviewed Knoxville-based performer and entrepreneur Jonathan "Courageous" Clark. Courageous has been an important figure in the Knoxville theatre community since childhood, and served as Executive and Artistic Director of the Carpetbag Theatre (CBT), Inc. He has toured nationally as a spoken word poet, has worked in nonprofit arts administration, and currently facilitates creative writing & performance workshops for groups of all ages that explore unconscious bias. He is the CEO and Founder of ART.Official Intelligence, a DEI Consulting company, which aims to foster empathy and understanding in the workplace. In this conversation, we discuss the language and rhetoric around social justice, the importance of developing understanding of unconscious bias, and ways that storytelling can strengthen Appalachian communities.

For this episode of Pass the Mic, we talked to Devan Jaquez who serves as Principal Flutist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Devan was selected as a finalist in the 2020 Young Concert Artists International Competition, was selected to play in the 2020 Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, was chosen as a 2020 instrumental fellow of the Music Academy of the West (MAW), and was chosen as a winner of the Keston MAX Competition, resulting in a performance with the London Symphony Orchestra. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Devan served as producer and performer for his "Queer Covid Quarantine Commission" recording project, which featured contemporary flute pieces written by queer composers. In this conversation, Devan shares a glimpse into his life as a classical musician, ideas about ways that symphonies can adapt to be more accessible and meet the needs of an evolving audience, experiences as a queer classical musician living in the South, and the importance of making music spaces, including the symphony orchestra, safe and welcoming for all.

Music for this episode features studio recordings and live performances by our guest, flutist Devan Jaquez. This includes pieces from Jaquez's "Queer Covid Quarantine Commission" project, which features music written by J Diaz and Yaz Lancaster. You will also hear Devan Jaquez performing Anderson's G Major Etude Op. 15 , No. 3 and Grand Polonaise by BÖHM with pianist Hui Wu. The theme music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.

For this episode of Pass the Mic, we talked to North Carolina based musician Rebekah Todd at the 2023 Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion. Rebekah, who identifies her music as "Cosmic Soul Rock", has won numerous awards and has performed with a wide variety of notable artists including Keller Williams, Big Something, and Vince Herman among others. She hosts the podcast "Rebekah Toddcast," and also hosts the "Realign" glamping retreat for women and non-binary people in North Carolina. In this episode, Rebekah discusses the North Carolina music scene, experiences with sexism in the music industry, and the importance of women uplifting and protecting one another.

Music featured on this episode includes "Wrinkle", "Night Train", and "Mother's Beauty", which all appear on Rebekah Todd's 2022 album, Realign.

Theme music for this episode was composed and performed by William Wright.