FRESH WORKS! awards commissions to support the creation of new work by BlPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) transgender, gender-nonconforming, non-binary and queer artists: we present these new works at our annual FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL.
Fresh Meat Productions is thrilled to announce our 2020 FRESH WORKS! Commissioned Artists! We awarded commissioning grants to these four brilliant artists/ensembles to create new work: Star Amerasu, TAJAH J, The Singing Bois, and Angelica + Jahaira
Fresh Meat Productions presented the world premieres of these commissioned works at our 2020 FRESH MEAT FESTIVAL of trans and queer performance.
Star Amerasu
Star Amerasu is a multi-disciplinary artist. Her music and video work have been featured in many publications including Out Magazine, Paper Magazine, Them, I-D, Billboard Magazine and KQED Arts to name a few. She creates indie electronic music under the moniker Ah-Mer-Ah-Su and her last album “Star” Released in 2018 was voted Top 20 LGBT albums of that year by Billboard Music. Her voice though its own unique timbre has been compared to Nina Simone, her sound in a world of its own. www.starmusic.tv
TAJAH J
TAJAH J is a Contemporary R&B, Soul, EDM, and Pop artist. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and currently lives in the S.F Bay Area. As a black transgender multi-media artist and activist, Tajah J puts forth her experiences being formerly incarcerated, her love life, and her passion for trans empowerment as the essence of her music. www.tajahj.com/
The Singing Bois
The Singing Bois is a queer/trans retro band that performs a blend of R&B, soul, rock, hip hop, and Latin genres. Their signature sound features catchy hooks, lush vocal harmonies, and an infectious groove to offer a soulful take on songs of love and liberation. The Singing Bois has performed around the U.S. at venues including Freight and Salvage, UtahPresents at University of Utah, UC Riverside, SF Pride Main Stage, UC Santa Cruz, Z Space, EastSide Arts Alliance, the Fresh Meat Festival, and the National Queer Arts Festival. The group released their debut self-titled EP in 2018.
Angelica + Jahaira
Angelica Medina and Jahaira Fajardo are the Directors of In Lak’ech Dance Academy, in Oakland CA. They both share an immense passion for dance, and in 2014 they met and fell in love on the dance floor. They soon after decided to grow as dance partners while training for competition. In December 2015 they placed 1st in the Latin Ladies Same Gender Division, at the World Latin Dance Cup. Jahaira made history as the first Bachata female leader to become a World Champion. In 2018, they returned to to WLDC as pros and placed first in the Bachata Couple Pro Cabaret division. In 2017, Jahaira and Angelica participated and completed the Alex and Desiree Bachata Instructor Certification Course. They also had the honor to Direct The AnD WW ~Team SF Season One. In 2018, In Lak’ech Dance Academy produced the first ever Queer Latin Dance Festival, where Queer and Trans Latinx dancers are highlighted and celebrated. This event continues on an annual basis. In Lak´ech Dance Academy is the direct result of the passion Angelica & Jahaira share for Latin Dance and for their community.