BY TÉA VAN ACKEN
PHOTO BY BRADLEY MURRAY
Jamila Woods is changing the face of poetry, soul music, and music itself with her every word. Woods stands with her shoulders back to stand up for what she believes in. Born and raised in Chicago, her words expand much farther than that with themes of feminism and identity. Woods’ gift with words brought her to publish a poetry book, The Truth About Dolls, as well as the gift of organizing a community of Young Chicago Authors, where she is the Associate Artist Director, holding and participating in workshops for poetry creation. Her voice brings communities empowerment as she is educating and mentoring for those who feel silenced, and building a foundation of strength for “unapologetic blackness, intersectionality, and self-definition” as an editor for “Black Girl Magic”, publications of poetry through The Breakbeats Poetry Volume II. She is also widely known for her voice alongside other artists such as Chance The Rapper, as she can be heard in “Sunday Candy” in the album Surf, and “Blessings” from Coloring Book. Not only is it music but poetry as well, Woods makes her authenticity evident as she appears she pours her entire being into her works. Her first soul and hip-hop mixed debut, HEAVN, showcased her unique upbringing in Chicago and the memories of which shaped her into the artist she has become, bringing feelings of nostalgia to the surface and as well were alongside her Chicago fellows NoName, Chance The Rapper, and Saba. Her newest pieces embodied in the new album Legacy! Legacy! allows for herself to shine through and highlight other black artists, honoring the songwriters, poets, musicians and more through titling her songs after them. Not only is Woods honoring these artists, but she is also giving them a voice as she arises the legacies of those who inspired her throughout her journey of organizing communities, publishing her own poetry, and striving through music. The album demonstrated frustration and changes for the white-knuckle fight against racism, inspired by the history of which Woods creates a voice for today’s fight and aspirations. Her soul songs are pieces of her, but also tells the stories of many black artists whose voices were quieted, actively putting her frustrations with inequality and white privilege in the beautiful, fight-song lyrics to music. Jamila Woods does a fine job of keeping these voices alive, recording her melodies to bring sound and justice to our world. Leave it up to the lovely Jamila Woods, honor her fight and her voice, sing alongside one who believes we can make changes on the following dates:
JUN 17 MON
@ Valley Bar
Phoenix, Arizona
JUN 18 TUE
@ Casbah
San Diego, California
JUN 19 WED
@ Constellation Room
Santa Ana, California
JUN 21 FRI
@ El Rey Theatre
Los Angeles, California
JUN 22 SAT
@ Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, California
JUN 23 SUN
@ Cornerstone Brewery
Berkeley, California
JUN 25 TUE
@ Star Theater
Portland, Oregon
JUN 26 WED
@ The Crocodile
Seattle, Washington
JUN 27 THU
@ Biltmore Cabaret
Vancouver, Canada