Curtis and Denis had this conversation over a year ago. Before the pandemic. Before the murder of George Floyd. And before the passing of Curtis’ mother, Lorna C. Hill, just two short weeks ago. Even though their time-capsuled conversation lacks an awareness of today’s sorrows, would you say the poignancy of our present day reality is diminished? Or is it amplified?
Show Notes
Denis and Curtis first met after her performance at Creative Mornings, a monthly gathering of creative people. They talk about why all the superlatives attributed to her mother, Lorna C. Hill, are forever fitting.
Curtis talks about “being raised on the stage” in the shining light of Ujima Company, a multi-ethnic and multicultural professional theater company founded by her mother.
As a child, Curtis performed in Ujima’s annual mother’s day production, And Bid Him Sing written by her mother. The play is a celebration of the poetry and vision of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and has also been a perennial celebration of Buffalo's great talent in theater, music, and dance.
Curtis mentioned performing in the Buffalo Infringement Festival.
Curtis’ spoke fondly of her brother Amilcar, also known as DJ Milk, who provides the grooving thump and pump at practically every professional sporting event in Buffalo.
Curtis mentioned recording in Bobby Takac’s studio, GCR Audio, in Buffalo, NY.
Curtis attended PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and is proud of her music and performance apprenticeship with such mentors as George Davis and Frank Scinta.
Curtis reminds us that the original Me Too movement was an empowering message of empathy among women of color who were sexually abused. Denis mentioned that he had just recently heard the original history of Me Too from Marxist, Slavoj Žižek.
Curtis and Denis discuss what makes it possible for disparate people to maintain their humanity and civility while engaging in challenging discourse.
Curtis breaks down her song, Exorcise and remembers the astonishing moment this song brought an audience member to tears.
You can follow Curtis’ performances and projects on her website, CurtisLovellMusic.com, and listen to her music on Spotify.