"Hey Blk Child" is a vividly interwoven voice and synth composition imagined by electronic music producer Blackdaylight and ArinMaya. The song takes form around the prolific poem Hey Black Child, written in 1965 by Useni Eugene Perkins, thus carrying on and furthering the tradition of powerful black art coming from Chicago by three Chicago-born artists. Through her transcendent yet accessible rendition, ArinMaya hopes to remind black and brown children of all ages, as well as everyone in back-to-school mode that they can “be what [they] want to be if [they] learn what [they] can learn.”

Hey Blk Child

ArinMaya is an inspirational singer, songwriter, sound healer and activist who’s been described as having “a unique and ancient sound” by Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Gregory Porter.

Though she's been called "the Mayor of Brooklyn," ArinMaya originally hails from Chicago’s South Side. Her musical training and performance background began with studies in West African dance and rhythms, continued in numerous church and community choirs and was fostered by her parents’ diverse record collection, which included Bobby McFerrin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sweet Honey in the Rock and Paul Simon, among others. She’s gone on to study and sing with Bobby McFerrin and Voicestra, Ysaye Barnwell and Sweet Honey in the Rock— these experiences continually impact her writing and musical approach.

She has shared the stage with numerous icons, artists and activists, including Angelique Kidjo, Deva Mahal, Carly Simon, Maya Azucena, John Robinson, Akua Naru and Camille Trust, and is also a founding member, arranger and musical director with the Resistance Revival Chorus. She is committed to creating uplifting music with like-minded talent across the genres of soul, jazz, hip-hop, and world music and has most recently joined the M19s band, performing on hip-hop trailblazing duo Stretch and Bobbito’s new album, No Requests and headlining alongside Grammy-winning artist Mireya Ramos, Grammy-nominated artist Mumu Fresh and world-renowned DJ Rich Medina. She was also recently seen on the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, providing background vocals for Jim James (My Morning Jacket) with the Louisville Orchestra.

Her solo performances are known to be “joy-filled” and “healing” experiences that captivate audiences at intimate venues around the world, including: Blue Note Jazz Club (New York, Paris), The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), Harlem Stage, Ananda Ashram, National Sawdust, Core Club, Sofar Sounds (Chicago, Paris, New York, Philadelphia), Porgy & Bess (Austria), Flavourama Dance Fest (Austria), Café Galdos (Madrid), and Badehaus (Berlin). ArinMaya has also performed for incarcerated youth at Rikers Island and frequently supports programming at Crossing Point Arts, working with victims and survivors of sex trafficking.

In 2018, her song “Thank You” was considered for a Grammy in four categories and her music has been featured on Issa Rae’s award-winning web series "Giants," the Lifetime Network's AUDC, BET’s "Hustle in Brooklyn," and Spotify’s Leo Cosmic Playlist curated by Chani Nicholas. With five EPs and one album to her credit, ArinMaya is hard at work on her next solo project, and is committed to solidifying her place as musical healer, inspiring performer, teacher and community activist.

Hey Blk Child

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