Ep.65: Stance turns 7! Musician & Producer Kamaal Williams, Author LaToya Watkins, Artist & Composer Cochemea, Musician & Singer Sinkane

Kamaal Williams by Lin ChienWen @MW Studio

Musician and producer, Kamaal Williams’ sound is made up of a fusion of jazz, hip hop, electronic and funk. Self-styled as Wu Funk, the genre has led to intimate, soulful compositions. Born in London to a Tawainese mum and British dad, Kamaal grew up surrounded by the musical influences of Peckham’s West African and Jamaican communities.

Producing music under both names, Kamaal Williams and Henry Wu, he is the founder of his own record label, Black Focus. His latest album Stings is a melodic, intricate electronic jazz, hip-hop and piano soundscape. Kamaal speaks with Stance about faith, how his layered identities continue to push his music making, his upcoming crime thriller film shot in Taiwan, and the close to home influences behind Stings.

Acclaimed author, LaToya Watkins shares her new short story collection, Holler, Child. Influenced by her Texas environment, which acts as a character in itself, Holler, Child is a striking collection of 11 stories.

They insightfully examine the beauty and thorns which make us human through themes of grief, love, secrets, and redemption. LaToya’s debut novel, Perish was published in 2022. A story which closely looks at intergenerational trauma, and family dynamics. On Stance, LaToya takes us through what it means to embody the characters she writes about, and the importance of reflection throughout her books.

Cochemea Gastelum is a saxophonist, musical director, composer, ensemble player, and visual artist. Guided by his Yaqui and Mescalero Apache Indian ancestral roots from Southern New Mexico, his sound follows in his lineage of reed players and musical traditions. He has forged his own unique rhythms through the electric alto saxophone and flute.

Cochemea has toured and worked with artists including Sharon Jones as a member of the Dap Kings, Run the Jewel, Quincy Jones, Emily King, Amy Winehouse, and more. His album Vol. II Baca Sewa is a semi-autobiographical voyage through his family's memories, in part collaboratively composed with Baca Sewa Singers, and several generations of family members. In conversation with Stance, Cochemea shares news of his upcoming 2024 album, and reflects on creating connections through ancestry, improvisation and memory.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Sinkane’s sound blends rock, jazz, soul, funk, electronic, pop and syncopated rhythms of Africa. Creating music under his moniker, Sinkane, since 2007, Ahmed Gallab’s approach to music is influenced by his Sudanese-American background, his New York City’s musical community and his many travels.

Sinkane has collaborated with artists including Caribou, Born Ruffians, Yeasayer, Dev Hynes, and David Byrne, and recently composed the score for a Roald Dahl play in the UK. Sinkane’s latest release, How Sweet Is Your Love, is a funk-infused single, with references to gospel, Afrobeats and the rhythms of Sudan. On Stance, Sinkane tells us more about We Belong, a celebration and ode to Black creativity through music, a message to a culture and history of a people.

After seven years of Stance which has spanned over 64 episodes of arts, culture and current affairs, 8 insightful Stance Takes shows, the growth of Stance Studios, multiple awards, and over 30 in-person events across the globe, we present our final show. Stance have been shaped by a commitment to highlight forward-thinking global perspectives.

Several of our most loved episodes have been guest edited by creatives, journalists, writers and artists including Jemma Desai, Tamika Abaka Wood, Mend Mariwany, and Alix Wilton Regan. We hear from a few of them at the end of the show.

None of this would have been possible without the brilliant producers behind the show! Thank you Zara Martin, Rikette Genesis, Saskia Sewell, Sky Williams, Farrell Mahon, Joel Duncan, Carmela DiClemente, Lucy Carasco, Rachel Porter & Rene Katiisa.

Music Used In This Podcast:

Kamaal Williams Tracks Used In This Podcast, With Thanks to Black Focus Records:

Cochemea Tracks Used In This Podcast, With Thanks to Daptone Records:

Sinkane Tracks Used In This Podcast, With Thanks to Cityslang Records:

Front Page Image: Sinkane