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Shine My Crown
Ebonie Smith Releases Poetry Album Featuring Iconic Black Female Voices
By Gee NY,
6 hours ago
Ebonie Smith, award-winning musicproducer, audio engineer and singer-songwriter, and the founder and president of Gender Amplified, Inc. Image Credit KUT News.
The album includes contributions from a diverse range of artists, including Dawn Richard, June Jordan, Gwendolyn Bennett, Phillis Wheatley, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Valerie June, Danyel Smith, Genesis Be, Lori Lightfoot, and Flyana Boss.
In discussing the album, Smith reflected on its personal significance, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the passing of Migos member Takeoff.
“The poems on this album are restorative. They helped me heal and re-center after COVID. The language is challenging, requiring thelistenertoworkfor a deeperunderstanding, but those who make the effortwillfind the words of these poets truly powerful andtransformative,”Smith stated.
A standout track from the album is “Fantasy,” written by Gwendolyn Bennett and performed by Dawn Richard. The piece is accompanied by a dancechoreography created by Francesca Harper, the artistic director of Ailey II.
“It was an absolute pleasure working with Dawn Richard, creatingmovementand collaborating with her on an anthem celebrating the resilience and power ofwomen of colorfrom theAfrican diaspora.”
Richard also shared her thoughts on the significance of the project, noting:
“Nineteen years later, I get to step through the doors of Ailey on my own terms. The lasttimeI danced in Ailey’stheaterwas in Making the Band. To be back here and recreate a world of regality andbeautythroughfemininityandempowermentmakes thismomentsospecial. It speaks to the power ofwomanhoodandperseverance. You can shape your owndreams, tell thestoryyou wish to tell, and dare to imagine thepossibilitiesyou wish to create.”
On Imagination is a powerful testament to the enduring strength and creativity of Black women and serves as a reminder of the healing potential of art and language.
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