Hicham Kayed A Palestinian filmmaker and activist originally from Jaffa, was born in Lebanon where he currently lives and works. He is the director and the multimedia coordinator of AL-JANA, The Arab Resource Center for Popular Arts in Beirut, organizations which work conducting writing and film workshops for Palestinian youth living in the refugee camps in Lebanon.

Hicham’s films have been shown at Film Festivals around the world.

Interviewers: Lucine Serhan & Shahrzad Arshadi

*Life stories Quilt podcast website: https://lifestoriesquilt.com

Säye Skye’s Interview was recorded online on June 22nd, 2020.

Säye Skye is an award winning transgender Iranian rap artist and LGBTQ rights activist at the forefront of a new hip-hop movement that has its basis in social consciousness. With astonishing originality, his experimental raps challenge deep-rooted stereotypes of misogyny, discrimination, and queerphobia. Since age 13, he has been crafting songs and poems that resonate deeply with people, using music as a platform for communicating truth. Säye Skye’s work is distinguished by both its mystery and infectious energy. Using the poetic language of Farsi, each song elicits an instant audience connection through its passion and pulse. From its unpredictable flow and hypnotic rhythms to its evocative lyrics, Säye Skye’s work invites listeners to question their current state of being.

Music and songs: Säye Skye

*Life stories Quilt podcast website: https://lifestoriesquilt.com

Interview with Bermal Che was recorded in June 2018 in the mountains of Kurdistan.

Bermal Che is a Kurdish poet, Singer, songwriter  and freedom fighter. Bermal was born and grown up in Bakur – Northern Kurdistan (Turkey). She is member of PKK.

This Episode is in Kurdish.

Music and songs by: Bermal Che

Photo by: Shahrzad

Published on: December 05, 2019 at 1:00 AM

Interview with Ronia was recorded in June 2018 in Kurdistan.

Ronia Arial is a young Kurdish/Iranian writer, poet and freedom  fighter. She was born and grown up in Sanandaj, Kurdistan (Iran).

This interview is in Farsi.

*Music and songs by: Bermal

https://lifestoriesquilt.com

Janet Lumb, born and raised in Toronto for twenty years and having lived in Vancouver for ten years, Janet Lumb has now been living in Montreal for the majority of her life. As a musician and sax player since ‘75 and working with dancers, poets and painters, she has been exploring her visual interests as a composer for film music for over 20 years. As Director of Accès Asie, an Asian arts Festival, Janet merges her passions for the arts, culture, community and social activism. A great believer in the chaos theory, that there is order in chaos, Janet continues taking chances in the magic of the moment.

Interview and Edit: Shahrzad Arshadi   /  Original Music by: Kayon Taheri

Janet Lumb, born and raised in Toronto for twenty years and having lived in Vancouver for ten years, Janet Lumb has now been living in Montreal for the majority of her life. As a musician and sax player since ‘75 and working with dancers, poets and painters, she has been exploring her visual interests as a composer for film music for over 20 years. As Director of Accès Asie, an Asian arts Festival, Janet merges her passions for the arts, culture, community and social activism. A great believer in the chaos theory, that there is order in chaos, Janet continues taking chances in the magic of the moment.

Interview is recorded on December 15, 2018 in Montreal

*Interview and Edit by: Shahrzad Arshadi

Tess Tesalona is a Montreal based Filipino-Canadian union organizer. She is one of the founder and active member of Immigrant Workers Centre,  Women of Diverse Origins and more…..

Interview is recorded on October 20th, 2017 in Montreal. 

Tess Tesalona is a Montreal based Filipino-Canadian union organizer. She is one of the founder and active member of Immigrant Workers Centre,  Women of Diverse Origins and more...

Interview is recorded on October 20th, 2017 in Montreal.

 Interview is recorded on October 19th, 2017 in Montreal. To  honour Freda Guttman, a great Montrealer and to celebrate her 85th  birthday! A unique and wonderful Artist and Activist that we have the  privilege to listen to her life story on this Quilt episode.  Happy BirthDay Freda! 

Music for  this Episode is courtesy of Stefan Christoff from родина (rodina) album;  an exploration of duets between Sam Shalabi on oud and Stefan Christoff  on piano.

 Interview is recorded on October 19th, 2017 in Montreal.

To  honour Freda Guttman, a great Montrealer and to celebrate her 85th  birthday! A unique and wonderful Artist and Activist that we have the  privilege to listen to her life story on this Quilt episode.  

Happy BirthDay Freda! 

Music for  this Episode is courtesy of Stefan Christoff from родина (rodina) album;  an exploration of duets between Sam Shalabi on oud and Stefan Christoff  on piano.