Word, sound and power

Guest curated by OCADU's Criticism & Curatorial Practice (MFA) students, AGO All Hours returns this Saturday bringing a theme of warmth, storytelling and comfort.

Headlining the all-day art event is eclectic R&B indigo child a l l i e, who brings her “addictive sound that makes you want to groove” (Flare). Ahead of her 7 pm performance in Walker Court, she will join artist Matthew Progress for In Conversation with a l l i e at 5 pm, generously supported by the RBC Emerging Artists Project. Their conversation will be geared towards creative processes and self-care for emerging artists.

As we prepare to get cozy with her dreamy R&B performance, a l l i e gave us a glimpse into her world.  

AGO: Your music is introspective and carries reoccurring themes of self-love and healing. How do those themes resonate with you personally?

a l l i e: I think music can completely rearrange us, heal us, and is one of the most uniting forces on Earth. It transcends everything that divides us, and hits on a level that’s beyond language. It’s been the biggest part of my personal healing journey, and that naturally reflects itself in the music that I make. Self-love is definitely a process, and I think there’s a huge shift going on worldwide, especially in the Black community. The conditioning we’ve received for so long to hate ourselves, to feel somehow less, to hate our hair, our bodies, our features…it’s being obliterated. We’re making a collective decision to move forward and re-write the narrative and it’s stunning to watch and be a part of. 

AGO: Along with your performance on January 25, you’ll also be sitting down for a conversation on stage. What do you hope attendees will gain from the talk?  

a l l i e: I’m hoping to impart some of my personal practices that have helped me create work over the years. Writing can be an elusive process, so I want to share some tricks and explore ways in which we as artists can become clearer channels for our work. I want to touch on aspects of self-care, and different ways that I protect my mental health within the music industry. Mostly I want to have an exchange with folks who are working on themselves and on their craft, and I hope we can all learn from each other.

AGO: Your sound has been described as “dreamy and eclectic”. Who or what do you consider some of your biggest inspirations?

a l l i e: A lot of my work comes from a sort of dream state, and I love that people pick up on that. I’ll often take messages, images or even feeling from my dreams, and try and translate them into a musical language. I have always had very vivid dreams since I was a child, and it can sometimes feel like having a second life. We spend so much time asleep, and if we can embody that space and utilize it in a way that benefits our waking life it can really be so rewarding. The eclectic aspect of my music is because I love so many genres and I don’t like to limit myself to one thing. I get bored easily and when I do, I try something different. If I’m feeling it, I explore.  My biggest inspirations? Love, nature and lucid dreams!

Don’t miss AGO All Hours this Saturday, January 25, from 10:30 am to 10 pm.

Admission to All Hours is always free for AGO Members, AGO Annual Pass holders and visitors 25 and under.