Dr. Ysaye Barnwell on This Light: Sounds for Social Change

Dr. Ysaye Maria Barnwell formerly of Sweet Honey in the Rock

Dr. Ysaye Barnwell was a member of internationally renowned Sweet Honey In The Rock from 1978 – 2013. As composer, educator, and performer, her career has reflected her desire to form community through music. In this interview, hear about her journey as an artist and activist, as well as her recent opera Fortune’s Bones. Dr. Barnwell’ s final performance with Sweet Honey in the Rock took place May 2013.

Interview of Ysaye Barnwell [audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DR-_Ysaye_Barnwell-on-This-Light.mp3]

The first hour of This Light: Sounds for Social Change, which airs every other Sunday night on CPR radio from 9-11 PM, is devoted to the interview. The second hour is typically dedicated to the music of the artist/activists. In keeping with that tradition, an hour of Ysaye Barnwell’s music is posted below. Enjoy! [audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Dr_Ysaye_Barnwell-On_This_Light_2-.mp3]

This Light: Sounds for Social Change

Two years ago, I offered a radio production class via Empower DC’s Grassroots Media Project. The class was taught by long-time WPFW radio producer Netfa Freeman. Two of its students, Brenda Hayes and Ben King met for the first time and went on to produce the radio show This Light: Sounds for Social Change, a radio series highlighting the connections between arts and activism. Each episode features an interview with an activist/artist as well as an audio mix of their work. The program currently airs on Radio CPR; their podcasts are also featured on Grassroots DC Radio.

The following podcast is a ten minute compilation from several episodes of This Light Sounds for Social Change. [audio:http://www.grassrootsdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/This-Light-Clips-for-WPFW.mp3]

If the above podcast peaked your interest, check out this interview of Brenda and Ben on WPFW’s Voices with Vision.

This Light:Sounds for Social Change on WPFW’s Voices with Vision 1/15/13 by This_Light on Mixcloud

When Ben and Brenda first came to me with the idea for This Light: Sounds for Social Change, I asked them if they would be able to find enough artist/activists to have a show each week? Two years later, the guests are coming to them. Check them out on CPR Radio on Sunday nights from 9:00 PM until 11:00 PM, or on Mixcloud.

SongRise on This Light: Sounds for Social Change

SongRise in Action

SongRise is an all women’s social justice a cappella group located in Washington, DC. They use their music to inspire people to

fight for social and political change. They offer their singing talents at community events, rallies, protests, farmer’s markets, civil rights celebrations, DC voting rights events, arts showcases, in schools, at churches, in prisons, etc. They are one of the many local artists featured on “This Light: Sounds for Social Change,” a radio series highlighting the connections between arts and activism. Each episode features an interview with an activist/artist, as well as an audio mix of their work.

Click on this link to listen to the interview of SongRise.

Click on this link to listen to the music of SongRise.

“This Light’ is based in Washington, DC and airs on Radio CPR (89.7 FM) or RadioCPR.com every Thursday night and Friday morning from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Episodes are archived at SoundsForSocialChange.com. Enjoy!