Episode 5 – THE SPECTACULAR EMPIRE

When south-london multidisciplinary artist Gaika published his debut mixtape Machine in 2015, it was described as avantgarde grime influenced by dancehall and industrial music. But more important was his message, that there’s something wrong in the british society. Fear, police brutality, racism, inequality and debt. The empire is in ruins. It’s time to start building up based on new values. The Spectacular Empire is a collective started by Gaika and their aim is to create an infrastructure of forward-thinking black art and music. He’s no longer waiting for help to come from authorities, be they political or from within the music industry. As an experienced and established artist on the alternative scene, he uses his voice to call out and protest these institutions. Along with other members of the growing collective he runs the newest project Nine Nights, a series of streamed music events, a new model of infrastructure which represents, recognises and celebrates black artists. And it has also raised money towards other initiatives and charities during the pandemic. Alongside Gaika, you will hear a singer, composer and former project manager Glor1a and a DJ, manager and booking agent Mensa who has been putting on concerts with Gaika since they were 15. What is the position of artists in the music industry, are they seen as just the lowest of the workers? And how do work conditions change when it comes to people of colour? How to collectively build an empire where everyone’s equal?

instagram.com/gaikasees
instagram.com/glorias.land
instagram.com/akwasibmensa
instagram.com/thespectacularempire

LIST OF REFERENCES

GAIKA – Born Thieves
GAIKA – Ruby
GAIKA – Enoch’s Drone
GAIKA – Acid Wares
GLOR1A – Out
GAIKA – Chop
GLOR1A – Juice
GAIKA – Hackers & Jackers
GAIKA – Crown & Key
GAIKA – Last Dance At Baby Grand

Concept & narration: Mary C
Title music: Mary C
Translation: Dora Rodriguez
Dubbing: Kassory Condé, Hellwana, Martin Tvrdý
Visuals: Vladyslav Afanasiev & Jan Brož

MY EMANCIPATION DON’T FIT IN YOUR EQUATION

Podcast series that maps the revolutionary and emancipatory thoughts in current music presented by Mary C and Institute of Anxiety.

Let’s explore revolutionary thoughts and strong emotions in contemporary music, that have the power to move our society. They have always been here but are very often neglected. However, there still are places where they thrive, where new provocative and strong realities emerge and where new pop music arises, along with new revolutions.

Let’s explore the process of evolution and emancipation of electronic dance music and rap.
How do artists, especially those from african diaspora, create? Is it even possible to create when the art should be an absence of fear? What can artists help us learn and unlearn and how can we become connected and free ourselves through listening? Meet the artists who produce music as well as important knowledge, bring communities together and organize a variety of initiatives. How does their emancipation diverge from the current normative equation? The title of the podcast is inspired by Lauryn Hill’s lyrics 'My emancipation don’t fit in your equation' appears in her song Lost Ones.

Marie Čtveráčková aka Mary C is a curator, musician, music journalist, producer, and cofounder of ZVUK and Synth Library Prague. From 2011 to 2020 she worked at Radio Wave as the creator and moderator of Scéna s Mary C (The Scene with Mary C), which focused primarily on rap, its context, and its contemporary forms. She is currently focusing on musical education in the area of electronic music and works as a curator and instructor at Synth Library Prague. In 2018 she founded the collective Trigger, which aims to connect women and trans* people in the music scene. She is interested in the use of feminist theory as well as considerations of hiphop culture in informal education and opportunities for community organizing.