Watch KeiyaA on Curating Space for Her Community – Warungku Terkini

[Keiyaa] At every walk of my life,

there is some type of soundtrack,

whether it’s sad, crazy moments,

or even walking down the street

and hearing something pass by.

Music is everything.

[smooth music]

I’m Keiyaa, I’m from Chicago, and I’m a musician,

singer, songwriter, producer, and composer.

Music has carried me

through some pretty challenging and rough times,

but also has been a catalyst for growth in my life.

I’m throwing a series of shows in Bushwick at Cafe Erzulie.

It’s where Black people are welcomed to share space.

I’ve been in Brooklyn since 2016.

I was very lucky to find myself

around really like-minded Black and Brown artists.

I feel like I really cut my teeth

just from being in community with them.

I try to do what others have done for me

by hosting events in the community, for the community.

[Woman] Y’all ready for this?

[Keiyaa] Seeing different artists

who are from the community

that have a really unique ability to hone in on tradition,

but also reject it or like flip it on its head

and do something really unknown and new,

and from the future, that was the theme with the curation

or the different types of artists that I wanted to showcase.

There are dwindling number of spaces

that nurture music and art.

Creating those spaces

and making them very affordable and accessible

is what keeps the music and culture alive.

Being a good neighbor means understanding who you are

in the greater context of those around you.

There is room for everybody.

I’m hoping that in the future,

people are inspired to curate similar spaces,

and that the way we connect with each other in the future

is more holistic

and based off of driving the culture forward,

as opposed to clout.

[smooth music] [people cheering]