THE ARTIVISM TOUR

Special Edition of the ARTIVISM Blog!

Written by Kai Malette

Woah. It's been a good amount of time since our last publication (whoops), and in that time, ARTIVISM has gone through some significant updates. Crazy reworks, a more laser-focused crew, and an increased dedication to providing a space where we can create the world we want to see through art and music.

That dedication, when applied to the correct spaces, grants us the ability to do more for you all. And this past weekend, October 17 and 18, we were on a roll like no other -- we're talking a flow state in which we could do no wrong. It was truly exciting, and personally? I'm still riding the high that came from it.

If you missed out or didn't hear about our exploits this weekend, don't worry! You get the incredibly descriptive version right here! I'm going to stop with the introduction so we can get into it, and reveal the fun truth. Ready?

ARTIVISM Headlined Songbyrd.

Yeah, you read that right. Songbyrd, the music venue in Union Market, was the home of an ARTIVISM concert this past Friday. All of the work -- the live events in smaller venues, the community organizing, it paid off in full. But it wasn't just us.

We collaborated with Inspired Minds, another event curation company (@our.inspiredminds on Instagram), whose vibes were infectious when matched with our own. Together, we put on a show called 'Art Inspires,' a name that would resonate with our shared goal.

There was a lot of thought that went into creating this event, with questions such as: "What can we do to make us stand out?" and "How do we get both groups to shine in their distinctive ways?" Valid questions, but one thing about creative minds is that we always bring something to the table. And so we began to cook.

After weeks of planning, preparation, and marketing, the day finally came, and each team showed up, ready to deliver. With minimal problems technically and physically (take that, Murphy's Law), we got through sound check, and once the doors opened, began one of the greatest nights of our creative careers so far.

The answer to the aforementioned questions were soon answered for the crowd. For the first: the concert operated like a controlled jam session with a setlist, where we had our predetermined songs that transitioned into epic band freestyles, complete with guitar solos, saxophone riffs, and vocal prowess. For the second: Nirvana of Inspired Minds sat in front of the stage, and within an hour and a half, produced a graffiti-esque portrait that elicited heavy cheers from the crowd.

ARTIVISM and Inspired Minds: The Conclusion

There is not enough gratitude in the world to describe how thankful we are to everyone that showed up for the concert. We have been hoping and praying to our own respective higher powers for a success such as this, and thanks to the community that we have gathered, there is a likelihood that this will happen again; perhaps at an even bigger venue! Who knows?

A huge shoutout is to the band for holding it down as well, with Isaac/Icy Tides on guitar, Akeen Shomar and Kevinah Wright on vocals, Jus Josh on the bass, T.L. Smooth laying it down on the drums pads, and me (Kai) on the saxophone. Such a gathering was deliciously funky. I sense we'll be doing it again.

Banded Together

"Kai, the title says tour. Isn't this just one thing?"

Oh believe me. We're not done.

Two Places at Once? No Problem.

If you thought we would end at just one event, you'd be mistaken. I've said it before and will say it again: ARTIVISM has motion. It carries us from one event to the next, attracting people who would love nothing more than for us to be involved in their community events, and we are more than happy to oblige.

SixEleven Magazine reached out to us to join/headline their event, Sampling Grapes. However, an event slated for earlier that same evening - Howard University's Halo Garden, reached out to us, in hopes that we would help host an open mic in their space. What did we do? We split our forces. The musicians got sharply dressed for Sampling Grapes, while Spike, our Chief of Staff, led the charge in the Halo Garden alongside... drumroll please... our new interns! Bet you didn't expect that. More on them in a moment.

Sampling Grapes was a fun event -- a miniature art market and wine tasting accompanied by live artists, and headlined by us. I must admit, we looked and sounded fantastic.

Meanwhile, right up the street, a sunnier event was taking place. The HU Halo Garden had their homecoming, and for a brief time, our ARTIVISM crew took charge in hosting an open mic.

Speaking of our crew... This weekend could not have gone so well without the help of our new interns: Avi, Cyprienne, and Morgan. While the band was occupied on the Songbyrd stage, they did us the huge favor of handling our merchandise table, greeting all who walked by with smiles and positive vibes. We also saw them dancing when we started rocking out, but that is to be expected. Rather, it is encouraged when you're at an ARTIVISM event.

Avi (left), and Morgan (right) are our current invaluable interns, aligned with ARTIVISM's mission.

We've got more in store for our new recruits, but if you want to see what they can do, you've got to join us at our events! A picture can only do so much. I'm a good narrator, but an even greater host.

Always Moving Forward.

"After a weekend such as that, what more can they do?"

You're joking, right?

ARTIVISM will continue pushing forward. This mini tour was just the beginning. There will be more collaborations, more concerts, and as usual, we have our weekly events: Melodic Mondays, Tuesday Jam Sessions, and T.G.I.A. Fridays. We're not going anywhere any time soon. If you want the vibes to be spectacular, you already know who to call. We'll shine like the stars, and continue to create the world we want to see through art.

Twinkle, twinkle, my friends. We'll see you soon!

- Kai