Black Box Presents: QUEERNOIR III
Curated by Ishtar Sr.
2/28 FREE Doors at 7:30pm
QUEERNOIR celebrates its third iteration on February 28th! Ishtar Sr., in collaboration with Vox Populi Gallery’s Black Box Presents Program, presents a free-to-the-public night of Philadelphia’s best Black queer music, selected from across many genres and scenes within the city. Prepare to hear the hard hitting metallic textures of Kat Nzingha’s industrial compositions and the club/jungle rhythms of curator/DJ/producer Lorboo juxtaposed with the indie/soul fusions of Blu K. and Honeychile’s jazz-hop stylings.
QUEERNOIR is an event series highlighting Philadelphia’s Black queer musical underground.
About the Artists:
Blu K. (they/them) - Based in the city of philadelphia, Blu K. is a multidisciplinary artist who's pursuit of truth rings throughout all their works. Starting in 2023, seeking to hone their craft, Blu took part in many music collectives, and has perform with many amazing artists across the city. All colluminating in the release of their debut single "Bojack" on all streaming service on their birthday, August 2nd, 2024. Borrowing sounds from Indie, Shoegaze, and Neo-Soul genres, Blu K's music echos the woes of the human condition.
Honeychile (she/they): Under the moniker of Honeychile, Philadelphia-based musician, singer, and songwriter Becca Graham explores themes of identity, relationships, and coming-of-age by taking on the roles of a hip-hop emcee and a jazz diva. With a mix of humor, vulnerability, and sass, Honeychile wishes to challenge listeners' perceptions of the Black musical canon, following in the footsteps of giants past and present.
Kat Nzingha: Kat Nzingha is a multidisciplinary experimental artist born and raised in Philadelphia. Their artistic practices explore abstruse textures through sonic and sculptural materials. Combining their sculptural works with heavy low-end frequencies and celebratory tones they create blissfully cryptic sonic resonances that are the extended bodies of the modified objects they fabricate. Kat Nzingha uses convulsing kicks, metallic percussion, and hyper-processed textures to design sound, and distinct repetitive techniques, industrial materials, and elongated forms in their sculptural works. After releasing an EP, "Angeltribe" on London label TT in 2020, and "Vorphic Skin" on Toothgrinder Press in 2023, Kat Nzingha released the album "Grind" on AngeltribeXTL. Shorty after, they released “RIM” under the artist name “BRYYA” on the label formfourm which consists of heavy focused sound design techniques.
Lorboo (they/he): Lorboo is a Philly-based DJ, producer, & founder of Sub Zero, a queer party series highlighting different artists to inspire.
Savan DePaul (they/them, she/her, dey/dem): also known by her monikers Ishtar Sr. and Asphalt Savannahs, DePaul is a multigenre musician, producer, engineer, and visual artist living in West Philadelphia. She has released material with various independent record labels and collectives: Tiergarten Records, Astro Nautico, and Grimalkin Records (her 2021 debut album Divine Ecdysis and the 2022 mixtape Ecdysis Incomplete in particular) in addition to some self-released singles and EPs. In addition to being a working musician, she has experience in participating within or curating various art exhibitions alongside Vox Populi and elsewhere
About Black Box Presents
Made possible by the William Penn Foundation, Black Box Presents is a yearlong series transforming our Black Box Performance Theater into a platform for 12 community arts organizations, each curating their own monthly event. This initiative amplifies experimental music, dance, film, and spoken word while ensuring free, accessible programming that strengthens Philadelphia’s creative networks.
About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.