ARCHIVE

Live from Fridman Gallery: New Ear Festival 2024 curated by Still/Moving with Bilal, Pink Siifu, and T'nah (Audio)

Jan 06, 2024

Fridman Gallery's New Ear Festival is a bold exploration of avant-garde sound and contemporary art. The festival features a diverse lineup of artists pushing the boundaries of sonic innovation, embodying one of Fridman Gallery's core missions—to help restore the creative, experimental spirit of downtown Manhattan. The seventh iteration of Fridman Gallery's New Ear Festival takes place January 5-7, 2024. All three nights will be streamed live on the Live from Fridman Gallery Wave Farm Radio channel and Friday and Saturday night performances will be broadcast live on WGXC 90.7-FM. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.fridmangallery.com/new-ear-festival.

Saturday night is curated by Still/Moving and features Bilal, Pink Siifu, and T'nah.

Still/Moving operates as an event series local to NYC, producing shows ranging from indie rap to free jazz. The platform was founded to promote experimentation & innovation within the realm of the performing arts, while centering artists of color.

Philadelphia's Bilal, a trailblazing R&B artist, broke free from neo-soul constraints with a uniquely trained voice and modern sound, facing label setbacks but gaining grassroots support. His jazz roots flourished at the New School for Jazz, and notable collaborations in 1999 marked his entry into the spotlight. His debut album "1st Born Second" showcased exemplary neo-soul, setting him apart from peers. Despite label challenges, his hiatus led to a triumphant return in 2010 with "Airtight's Revenge," featuring the Grammy-nominated track "Little One." Subsequent releases, including "A Love Surreal" and "In Another Life," solidified Bilal's influential presence in R&B.

Shifting between styles with deftness, Alabama's elusive Pink Siifu found underground success in the late 2010s with his experimental blend of genres. Piecing together aspects of his wide-ranging influences, the prolific rapper/singer and producer built an extensive catalog during the 2010s, releasing a total of 46 EPs, albums, and mixtapes throughout the decade. Siifu has been no less busy in the 2020s with projects such as Negro (2020), Gumbo'! (2021), and Real Bad Flights (2022) expanding his body of work.