This Week on Artist Spotlight; We highlight our good friend and Ethio-American based Artist, Meklit. We had the pleasure of sharing a cab ride with her in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
On the ride, we sparked a musical conversation about coming back home, live performances, new album journeys and how influential Ethiopian music has become in her art form.
Keep an eye out on her new album – When The People Move, The Music Moves Too – releasing June, 23 2017 on Six Degrees records, and is produced by multi-GRAMMY winning singer-songwriter/producer Dan Wilson (Adele, John Legend). Mulatu Astatke – the Godfather of Ethio-Jazz, inspired this album with a directive to Meklit back in 2011. He told her, “find your contribution to Ethio-Jazz and keep on innovating!” His words sparked these 11 celebratory songs, born of of a hyphenated Ethio-American identity, as Oakland as they are Addis. The record features world renowned musicians Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the violinist/whistler Andrew Bird.
