All episodes

Vocal dis/obedience

Vocal dis/obedience

35m 17s

This episode features Anjeline de Dios, a cultural geographer and vocal artist from Manila, Philippines. Emma Lo talks with her about voices, disobedience, well-being, and sonic conceptions of space. They engage with how voices are shaped and how to connect with one’s own voice.

Archival silences

Archival silences

29m 44s

Season 2 engages with Asian (diasporic) perspectives and opens with artist-scholar Dr. meLê yamomo in conversation with Prof. Dr. Doris Kolesch, Dr. Layla Zami, and Emma Lo who curates this new season. In this episode, they discuss sonic relationalities and archival practices. Learn more about yamomo's projects 'Echoing Europe’, the Decolonial Frequencies Festival, and DeCoSEAS.

Chicago Field Trip

Chicago Field Trip

25m 30s

This episode discusses Nick Cave's exhibition Forothermore and features a conversation with scholar-artist Dr. Meida Teresa McNeal and curator-artist Danny Dunson. A timely meditation on listening, Black bodies, house culture and visual arts, enriched with sound excerpts from Dr. Zami's research field trip to Chicago.

Stimmbezirke (in German)

Stimmbezirke (in German)

35m 15s

In this episode in German language, musician Natalia Kiës and photographer Elias Wessel discuss the project “It’s Complicated - Ist möglicherweise Kunst". The conversation facilitated by Dr. Layla Zami addresses information overflow, photography as painting, and the possibility for sound art to intervene into social media algorithms.

Music as Retroactive Reparations

Music as Retroactive Reparations

31m 5s

This episode presents BRICKS (A 20-YEAR MUSIC TOUR OF REPARATIONS), and features playwright Charlene Jean, performer Mercy Kelly, and host Dr. Layla Zami. A conversation about decolonial spirituality, matriarchs, gentrification, Black time, and queer performance strategies, enriched with lively audio samples from the performance.

Sounds of Rest

Sounds of Rest

32m 19s

Recorded on the historical site of the Weeksville Heritage Center, this episode welcomes Najee_ (interdisciplinary artist and yogi) and Erica Harper (VP of Learning and Engagement at WHC). The conversation with Dr. Layla Zami addresses restful practices and restorative sounds, African-American liberation history and the meaning of community. An episode full of emotions and information!

Lower Frequencies

Lower Frequencies

25m 33s

Dr. Layla Zami is in conversation with fellow artists-scholars Mendi and Keith Obadike, a married Igbo Nigerian American couple who create music, writing, and art. In this first episode, they discuss alternate ways of listening that allow us to perceive something beyond the surface. Learn more about their work, such as 'Frequency' and 'Timbre', which were inspired by a lively African-American literary legacy.

Trailer

Trailer

0m 53s

#sonicinterventions is launching just on time for Black History Month 2023! In each episode, host Dr. Layla Zami interviews artists and scholars who create and think about sound art, performances, music, audio walks, and other artistic forms. The first season centers projects based in New York and Chicago. Listen to our conversations and field recordings, and learn more by subscribing to our podcast.

Season 3 starts this February for Black History Month 2024

Enjoy listening to South African artists, scholars, and sounds!