On November 22nd, sound artist Val Jeanty and performance artist Risha Rox—two Caribbean American artists whose work explores the diaspora, death, ritual, the ancient past and an envisioned future—present a live art show in which they create a ritual, merging Jeanty’s soundscape and projection work with Rox’s live painting of human canvases. Ritual Emerging uses the black body as focal site of breath work, movement, projection, sound and visuals.
Tell us about yourself and what you do.
My name is Val Jeanty; I am a Vodou-Electronic Music composer. Being born and raised in Haiti until the age of 12 exposed me to a merging in sound structures and left an impression on the way I hear and create musical compositions. Living and creating in New York City for over a decade has granted me access to advanced study and knowledge of electronic sound composition. This knowledge in sound merging and design inspired me to create a new genre called Afro-Electronica, which is the incorporation of Haitian traditional ritual music with electronic instruments, the past and the future.
Who would you ideally like to collaborate with?
Diamanda Galas, Shelley Hirsch, Pamela Z, Sun Ra, John Cage, Phillip Glass. These great minds inspire me.
What is influencing your work right now?
Voudou Culture and the current state of the world.
What is your first musical memory?
Listening to my heartbeat.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Be humble.
Val Jeanty and Risha Rox: Ritual Merging premieres Friday, November 22 at 8pm.
This piece was commissioned by Roulette and made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and New Music USA.