The third episode of a three-part audio series responding to 'Nostalgia Interrupted', focusing on traditions & cultural perseverance.

To Whom Does This Concept Benefit, And Where Do People Of Colour Stand? is a three-part audio series combining archival audio and soundscapes created by Educator-in-Residence Natalie Asumeng, in response to the exhibition Nostalgia Interrupted.

Episode three reflects on the importance of the preservation of culture and traditions amongst BIPOC communities, especially when moving away or displaced from home. The passing of rituals and practices has allowed migrants to have their children understand where their roots lie. Even though nostalgia for people of colour has been interrupted by violence and forced assimilation, culture is still preserved and passed down from generation to generation – in this way, BIPOC communities both resist and persevere. In this soundscape, you will hear the voices of educator Nia Egwim talking about Kwanzaa, a celebration of African culture, as well as Lorraine Goodstriker, who was an interpretation officer of the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site in Alberta, talking about Indigenous ways of being. Archival audio of American writer James Baldwin refers to the erasure of African history in schools, just one example of the attempts made, through lies and propaganda, to erase BIPOC stories from cultural memory. An underlying soundscape amplifies the emotions and promotes a reflective state of mind for the listener.

Created as part of Natalie Asumeng's residency at the Doris McCarthy Gallery, To Whom Does This Concept Benefit, And Where Do People Of Colour Stand? explores the weaponization of nostalgia in current politics and media. Overlapping archival audio and ambient music contrasts the happy-go-lucky propaganda of the Canadian and American dreams with the disturbing realities of discrimination, violence, fear, and silencing of BIPOC communities. Each episode has a different focus: episode one considers home and community, episode two looks at conversations around beauty, and episode three addresses traditions and cultural perseverance. Presented abstractly, like entering a dreamlike state, this audio series encourages the listener to reflect on who benefits from a romanticization of the past, and showcases the brave communities who challenged the status quo. Episodes launch monthly from October to December 2022.

To Who Does This Concept Benefit and Where to People of Colour Stand Episode 3

DEDE radio is a sonic research project that dives into the exploration of auditory in relation to colour.

DEDE Radio: Colour Red

Sunsum

"To Be So Much Myself" is an embark on a sonic journey inspired by the profound words of Nina Simone during her first British TV appearance on NET Festival: The Sound of Soul in 1977. In this audio collage, I weave together excerpts from Simone's dialogue about her artistic mission with soundscapes and environmental sounds. The aspect of the ambient sounds encapsulates a moment of introspection, reminiscent of an evening when I silently absorbed the world around me, capturing the very essence of that contemplative experience.

As the listener sonically wanders through this soundscape, they are invited to reflect on the honesty and vulnerability captured in Simone's message.

Through this collage, I hope to prompt the audience to confront aspects of themselves, just as Simone envisioned. The soundscape invites listeners to delve into their own thoughts and emotions, mirroring the transformative power of genuine self-expression.

Photography by: Jack Robinson

DEDE Radio: To Be So Much Myself

Welcome back to DEDE radio In creating my latest sound piece, I found inspiration in the atmospheric complexities of the horrible wildfires that happened this year around different provinces in Canada and that enveloped the city of New York with smog. The swirling haze and muted cityscape stirred a curiosity within me, driving me to capture the essence of this environmental crisis through a sonic lens. This composition merges elements of soundscape and environmental sounds, offering an auditory observation of urban life and the transformative power of pollution.

 
This piece serves as a sonic narrative, capturing between the city and the ominous presence of smog. Through the layers of sound, listeners are invited to immerse themselves in the harmony of a city grappling with its own environmental footprint. As the environmental sounds and the haunting echoes of pollution converge, the composition becomes a poignant commentary on the delicate balance between progress and the inevitable consequences that accompany it. This sound piece, strives to prompt an awareness of the connection between our urban existence and the environmental challenges we face.

Photo Credit: Timothy A. Clary Getty Images.

DEDE Radio: Haunting

In our digital age, where advertising infiltrates every aspect of our lives, I examine the sounds of consumer culture from the past. Through my soundpiece, I go through vintage commercials, putting together a collage that evokes both familiarity and uneasiness.
Nostalgia, a powerful force, connects us to our emotional memories, transporting us to simpler times. Yet, beneath its comforting surface lies a subtle unease—a reminder of the deceiving grip of consumerism on our collective consciousness. As the crackling voices of iconic brands echo through this soundpiece, they summon memories of sentimentality, each jingle and slogan acting as a siren's call to the depths of our minds.
Amidst the catchy melodies lies an undercurrent of eeriness—an unsettling reminder of the relentless pursuit of profit and the exploitation of human experience. Through the juxtaposition of these vintage sounds of consumer culture, I invite the listener to contemplate the recurring nature of nostalgia and its role in perpetuating the consumerist ideals.

Sentimentally

From the exchange of echoing drum beats and faint bells, this soundpiece seeks to capture the essence of movement in various forms. I evoke a sense of calm and serenity through an arrangement of ambient tones and textured rhythms.

Yet, beneath the tranquil surface lies a subtle tension. As this piece unfolds, the soothing melodies give way to a pulsating rhythm that is unsettling yet compelling in its urgency. It is a visceral reminder of the constant motion that defines our existence.

Through this juxtaposition of calm and disquiet, I invite listeners to embrace movement within this piece and find liberation in the uneasiness of the rhythm.

Photo Credit: Gordon Parks, “Untitled, Fort Scott, Kansas,” 1963.

Aura

Junionia echoes the atmosphere of an ethereal forest existing solely within the realm of imagination. This soundscape encompasses a subtle tension, yet allows you to still be at peace.


PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM LAMAN

Junionia

Hello my name is Natalie and this is 135 studio’s DEDE radio. Dede meaning noise in Twi is a sonic research project that dives into the exploration of auditory in relation to colour, audio collaging, and soundscape. Homepage Image by photographer Axel Morin

135 Studio: DEDE Radio

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