Aga Ujma
Intercontinental poetry in motion with Aga Ujma on A World in London! Click: https://www.mixcloud.com/SOASradio/a-world-in-london-323/
Almost exactly a year ago AWIL discovered a brilliant Masters student at SOAS called Aga Ujma. In this episode we caught up with her once again, and just before her forthcoming gig at SOAS Concert Series on February 21st. Aga’s ethereal vocals are a haunting complement to her musicianship; she specialises in Indonesian instruments including sasando – the gorgeous 32-string, butterfly-winged zither, siter – a plucked string instrument related to gamelan, and gender barung – the Javanese xylophone. Growing up in small city in SW Poland, Aga studied piano, and has always been drawn towards instruments which challenge her to use both hands. The Indonesian ones seduced her in other ways too as she has a natural affinity with polyphony, so these intercontinental influences - Indonesian and Polish - have a natural home in London, which Aga has also adopted. In the last year she’s performed at over 40 concerts in and around the capital, including a Sofar Sounds session and music festivals across Europe. She’s also been busy composing and recording, and her much-anticipated debut album is just on the verge of release. Titled ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ it’s a roving journey through her life and times in London and abroad. The bookworms among you will notice the nod to William Blake, who Aga (a bookworm herself!) credits as an inspiration, in handling multiple creative processes to put her own personal imprint on everything she does. You can hear more of Aga’s exquisite voice and unique creativity via Soundcloud and Spotify, and of course on this episode of AWIL! See her at the unmissable SOAS Musicians Showcase on February 21st in The Brunei Gallery for a sensational double-bill with East Asian/Irish folk trio The Sages! Tickets just £4 so book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soas-concert-series-the-sages-aga-ujma-tickets-83705676933
Joji Hirota – Haru No Ibuki - Japan
Lokkhi Terra - Lal Meri Pat - UK
Pulled By Magnets – Within - UK
The Mystery Kindaichi Band – Yatsuhaka Mura - Japan
Africa Negra - Zimbabwe - Sao Tome e Principe
Custodio Castelo/Amalia Rodriguez Estranha Forma de Vida - Portugal
KyoShinDo - Hinode - Japan
Aga Ujma - In the Ocean - Poland/Indonesia
Aga Ujma - Sarna - Poland/Indonesia
05/02/20 – AWIL 323. Production & pics by Tanbir Johal, Norman Druker, Sophie Darling, Lucas Keen, artist Alban Low. Catch our other show with guest Silvia Balducci-Rox on Resonance FM – Listen here: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-5th-february-2020/
Next week on AWIL author Caspar Melville 4pm at SOAS Radio, and The London Lucumi Choir 6.30pm at Resonance 104.4FM.
Going Global Gigs Guide: Feb 12 Olcay Bayir @ TunedIn London, Feb 21 The Sages & Aga Ujma @SOAS Concert Series @ Brunei Gallery SOAS, Feb 29 Kuch Kuch Bollywood Nights @ The Alice EC3A, Mar 2 Lokkhi Terra @ Jazz Café, Mar 7 Kan Beng @ Trades Hall E17, Mar 13 WOMED feat. Marina Deligianni, Katerina Clambaneva, Olcay Bayir, Pavlos Carvalho @ SOAS Concert Series, Mar 24 Bilja Kristic @ Union Chapel, Mar 27 Let Drum Beat @ Rich Mix.
#AWorldinLondon #TheSoundofDiverseLondon #ConnectingCulturesThroughMusic – fourteen years. Live on Wednesdays 6.30pm Resonance 104.4fm https://www.resonancefm.com/ & 4pm SOAS Radio https://soasradio.org/ Online worldwide at #Mixcloud. Join us on Twitter & Instagram @aworldinlondon @djritu1 http://www.djritu.com
