The Rhythm of Rebellion with Taína Asili

In this episode of The Rhythm of Rebellion, Taína Asili speaks with Antonio Truyols, a brilliant pianist, composer, and educator of Peruvian, Spanish, and Puerto Rican descent. Trained in both jazz and classical traditions, Antonio’s music weaves together sounds from Latin jazz and folkloric rhythms to hip hop and beyond. He’s toured internationally, worked with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Pa...

In this episode of The Rhythm of Rebellion, Taína Asili speaks with Alsarah, a Sudanese-born singer, songwriter, and founder of Alsarah & the Nubatones, known for crafting a sound she calls East-African retro-pop. Born in Khartoum and raised in exile after fleeing political violence, her music reflects the complexity of migration, identity, and revolution. In this episode, she shares the story...

On this episode of The Rhythm of Rebellion, I speak with Evan Greer, a powerhouse trans and queer activist, writer and musician based in Boston. Evan's journey is a dynamic interplay of musical wit, grassroots activism, and a fervent dedication to justice. She has gracefully evolved her sound from riot-folk roots to a more layered indie pop aesthetic with an anarcho-punk soul. Her recent album...

On this episode of The Rhythm of Rebellion, we sit down with DJ Johnny Juice, a legendary figure in the world of hip-hop and an iconic DJ, producer, and musician. Best known for his work with the groundbreaking hip-hop group Public Enemy, DJ Johnny Juice has been a driving force behind the revolutionary sounds that have defined an era. Join us as we dive into his journey, exploring the profound hi...

On this episode of "The Rhythm of Rebellion," I have a soulful conversation with the brilliant musician, composer, and singer, Toshi Reagon. Toshi's unique ability to move seamlessly between musical genres and create melodies that carry the essence of human experiences has earned her a distinguished place among musicians and activists. A remarkable facet of Toshi's career is her...

On today’s episode, I delve into a captivating conversation with Edisa Weeks, a renowned choreographer, educator, and the founder of the multicultural dance company Delirious Dances. Edisa’s artistic journey is a profound exploration of dance, liberation, and community engagement. Edisa's artistic vision extends beyond traditional performance spaces. Her artistic vision transcends traditional...

On today’s episode I speak with Meklit, an Ethio-American vocalist, songwriter, and composer known for her electric stage presence and her ability to craft deeply personal Ethio-Jazz songs that resonate with audiences across the globe. Meklit's music has taken her from the heart of Addis Ababa, to stages in San Francisco, New York City, Nairobi, Cairo, Montreal, London, Rome and many more. Mek...

On today’s episode I speak with Morley, an artist deeply devoted to human rights and environmental justice. Morley's global travels have allowed her to share music with profound luminaries like His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. She has shared the stage with Toshi Reagon and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, and has starred in their renowned musical Octavia E. Butler's Parable of th...

On today’s episode I speak with Ivelisse Diaz, a dynamic force in the world of Bomba, an emblematic Puerto Rican musical tradition that emerged 400 years ago from our African ancestors. Ivelisse shares her journey, from learning Bomba as a child, to becoming director of La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón based in Chicago's Humboldt Park community with classes offered throughout the world. Her sto...

On today’s episode I speak with Jamila Sabares-Klemm, a prominent Filipina-American activist, actor, and singer currently starring as Dory/Evelyn in the Broadway Revival of Merrily We Roll Along. We discuss her journey through the world of theater, as well as her work as co-founder of Justice through Arts Music and Movement (J.A.M.M.), which uses music and movement as powerful tools to challenge i...

On today’s episode I speak with singer-songwriter María José Montijo, who is a self-described “weird, cosmic, and queer islander” from Puerto Rico, now based in the Bay Area of California. Her music draws inspiration from over 20 years of experience as a healer, and is rooted in a continuous process of discovery and care, where trauma is transformed into art. Made in collaboration with Hudson Moha...

On today’s episode I speak with music maker Xenia Rubinos, who uses her powerful voice to create beats and melodies from scratch. Xenia’s sound grows from a wide range of influences from Caribbean rhythms and beat music to minimalism and indie rock all delivered with a soulful punk aura. With her most recent album Una Rosa and accompanying videos, she continues to push musical and creative boundar...

On today’s episode I speak with Sonny Singh, a Brooklyn-based musician who has brought his fiery trumpet & vocals to audiences around the world for the last decade. Sonny's first musical outlet as a child of immigrant parents in North Carolina was singing Sikh devotional music, later exploring many other musical genres. In 2003, Sonny co-founded the political rock band Outernational and re...

On today’s episode I speak with L.I.T.A., a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter born in Ecuador, raised in Upstate, New York, and currently residing in Los Angeles. Her name is an acronym for Love Is The Answer, and with love as her guiding force she offers emotion-filled vocal performances and an unparalleled genre-fluid sound inspired by her life experiences, hardships, and struggles. After a h...

On today’s episode I speak with Ximena Violante, a Mexican violinist, jarana player, singer, teacher, actor, and organizer creating spaces for people to celebrate their roots, re-imagine their futures, and expand their communities.  Ximena is the bandleader and songwriter for Interminable, a futuristic fusion project that brings together son jarocho (an afromestizo musical tradition from Mexi...

On today’s episode I speak with Mireya Ramos, a New York-based, Latin Grammy-winning vocalist, violinist, composer, arranger and founder of Flor de Toloache – New York City’s first and only all-women mariachi group. Born in California to Dominican and Mexican parents, Mireya was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico until moving to New York in her teens to pursue her musical career. With her powerful sk...

On today’s episode I speak with Jeneda Benally, a bassist, vocalist, and songwriter, and one half of the multi-award winning duo Sihasin. Jeneda and her brother Clayson Benally are from the Dine’ (Navajo) Nation in Northern Arizona. Together with their family, they grew up protesting the environmental degradation and inhumane acts of cultural genocide against their traditional way of life. Today t...

On today’s episode I speak with Martha Redbone, a Native and African-American vocalist, songwriter, composer, and educator. She is known for her unique gumbo of folk, blues, and gospel from her childhood in Harlan County, Kentucky infused with the eclectic grit of pre-gentrified Brooklyn. Inheriting the powerful vocal range of her gospel-singing African American father and the resilient spirit of...

In this episode I speak with Mama Charlotte Hill O’Neal, an accomplished vocalist, musician, poet, visual artist, and former member of the Black Panther Party. She has been living in the village of Imbaseni, near Arusha, Tanzania, for over 40 years. There she is the co-director of the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC), a center focusing on healing the community by providing a divers...