Category Archives: Drummers

Makeda! – “I’ll Say It How I Want To” EP Annoucement

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Makeda! (previously known as Music Bones) is back with a new name, a new EP, and a new music video! Though the name is different, you can expect the same blues-y rock sound that came with Music Bones. Their new album, I’ll Say It How I Want To, is set to be released June 8th of this year. The first single from that album, “If He Gets to Be President”, will be blessing us way sooner than that; look out for it on May 29th.

Watch this space for more information on their new album and video. And to drum up your excitement about all the new content coming down the pipe, check out the EP announcement below:

I’ll Say It How I Want To is a four song EP that takes you on the journey of a band’s path to emergence. The songs featured provide a glimpse into the band’s sound and more importantly into their perspective. Makeda! is a rock band that insists on embodying the essential ethos of rock and roll, as exemplified by the genre’s founder Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In doing so, their work actively seeks to draw from tradition, and following in the footsteps of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, leverages music as an instrument of truth telling and disruption. The songs on the EP serve as a response to current events and an unapologetic critique of the paradigms that would have us seek our worth in the subjugation of others (namely white supremacy), while planting the seeds of a vision for something else. That vision is one that Makeda! will continue to advocate for through their music, their work, and their name.

The band’s name (pronounced ma kə da) pays homage to the real name of the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba, as identified by the Kebra Nagast, and is the band’s way of holding space to recall histories that have been whitewashed, minimized and distorted.

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Black Women In Punk: Part 4

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Photo Credits: Honeychild Coleman (Photo by Ed Marshall Photography NYC), Kathy Foster (Not sure, but if this is yours please let me know!), Shingai Shoniwa (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images), Tracy Wormworth (Not sure, but if this is yours please let me know!

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This is the last part of a four part series exploring Black Women who are in punk bands. Last but not least to be featured are the following talented ladies.

Honeychild Coleman (top left): From Kentucky, Honeychild Coleman’s influence has extended across various well-known bands, including “The Slits, Greg Tate’s Burnt Sugar Arkestra , Mad Professor, Apollo Heights , Death Comet Crew (with Rammellzee), Gregor Asche AKA DJ Olive and Raz Mesinai’s Badawi” (1). Besides being a solo artist, she also plays guitar. Her music was featured in the groundbreaking film Pariah. Suggested Song: Echelon (Live) (Website – Facebook – Twitter)

Kathy Foster (top right): Kathy Foster is best known as the bassist for punk band The Thermals, and plays drums for All Girl Summer Fun Band as well. She is original from California, but moved to Portland, Oregan around 1998. Suggested Song: A Pillar of Salt (Live) (Kathy Foster Wikipedia)

Shingai Shoniwa (bottom left): Shingai Shoniwa is associated with post-punk band the Noisettes, where she plays bass and provides leading vocals. According to Wikipedia, her first name means “be bold/courageous/strong” in the Shona language, which is a Bantu language native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Shingai met future Noisettes bandmate Dan Smith at the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology (located in Croydon), which she attended. The Noisettes have reached critical acclaim, having been praised by Rolling Stone, the New Yorker, and others. Suggested Song: Never Forget You (Live) (Wikipedia – Instagram)

Tracy Wormworth (bottom right): Tracy Wormworth comes from a family of musicians — her brother Jimmy Wormworth is a drummer for The Conan O’Brien show, and her father and sister are also musicians (a jazz drummer and vocalist, respectively). Tracy herself plays bass guitar, currently as a member of the B-52s, but originally as a member of new wave band The Waitresses. She has toured with many well-known acts besides the B-52s, including Cyndi Lauper, Sting, and Phyllis Hyman amongst many others. Suggested Song: Christmas Wrapping (Wikipedia)

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If you missed the other parts of the Punk series, they are here: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3

Check out the Black Women in Metal Series as well: Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4