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Calling Immigrant Musicians from the Greater Seattle Area!

Submit Your Song + Story to the Movement Radio Series

Submissions open through March 7, 2021

Movement — a radio storytelling series and live show about immigrant musicians — is seeking artists in the Greater Seattle area for a storytelling workshop, conducted in partnership with the University of Washington. Participants will receive a $300 stipend to work collaboratively with host Meklit Hadero and the Movement team to tell your story in a richly-produced short audio piece.

Selected stories may be featured on PRX’s The World or as part of a live performance at UW’s Meany Center for the Performing Arts. Musicians selected for the UW performance would receive an additional performance fee. 

For more details and to apply, visit the Movement webite HERE.

 

What is Movement?

Movement is a radio series and live show that features stories of global migration, told through music. Hosted by Ethiopian American singer and composer Meklit Hadero, the show highlights the work of immigrant and refugee artists who are shaping the sound of music today. Our stories are heard on hundreds of stations around the country via our broadcast partners at The World, and our live show will debut on stage at the University of Washington’s Meany Center for the Performing Arts in the 2021-22 season. Movement is created by Meklit Hadero, along with award-winning audio producers Ian Coss (PRX) and Julie Caine (NPR). 

Who can participate?

We are seeking submissions from immigrant and refugee musicians in the Seattle area, including artists born in the U.S. who identify as part of an immigrant community. You can perform in any style or discipline — as a singer, instrumentalist, composer, emcee, etc. — and have any level of formal or informal musical training, including being self taught, as long as you have a song and story to share. 

How do I apply?

  • Record a video of yourself performing a song (vocal or instrumental), and also telling us the story of that song. Here are a few questions to help get you started:
    — Why did you create this song?
    — Why did you decide to perform this song?
    — What does the song mean to you?
    — Who are you thinking of when you perform it?
    — Please don’t feel limited by these questions. Tell us whatever you want to tell us about your song! 
  • The music should in some way reflect your personal journey as an artist, and an immigrant. 
  • Upload the video to YouTube (no longer than 10 minutes), and share the link through this form: https://forms.gle/xUZMbpbYbJp8yf6k8
  • Please use “Migration Music 2021” in the title of the video. 

What will happen if I am selected?

Three artists will have a chance to work with the Movement team to collaboratively create a short audio story (think TED or The Moth, but layered with music and field recordings). The residency process will be conducted virtually, in March and April. Some of these finished pieces could be broadcast nationwide through our partnership with PRX’s The World, or included in our live show at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts, planned for the 2021-22 season. All videos submitted as part of this process will also be publicly accessible as part of a running video wall, hosted by the University of Washington. 

Any tips for my submission?

No need for fancy gear; you can record yourself on a phone, laptop or tablet. Just make sure there is good light and not too much background noise, so we can see and hear you clearly. We encourage submissions of original music, but they can also be traditional songs or covers, if they are connected to your personal journey as an artist. Videos must be under ten minutes and comply with YouTube’s terms of service.