Raised in a household of music filled with turntables, belly dancing and live percussionists; Samira Mendoza knew they would be a professional musician by the time they’d reached the 8th grade. A chance audition for a music conservatory involving Mozart and an improvised horn section, and later the encouragement of a classmate to explore DJing, would soon have Samira deeply invested in the realm of musical experimentation. The curiosity of sound would manifest itself into a multidisciplinary creative career ranging from music, movement, sculpture, community organisation and so much more. On today’s episode Lebene sits down with Samira to discuss salsa and bomba as a form of resistance music, the power of the drums and the importance of speaking truths. We’ll also listen to some handpicked tunes compliments of Samira.

With Guest: Samira Mendoza is a cultural worker rooted in transdisciplinary performance art, curation, and education. Their work centers improvisation through different mediums including sound, sculpture, organizing, and movement to investigate oppressive systems, familial history in Latin America and the Caribbean, and their personal experiences growing up in the South. Mendoza sees improvisation as an act of resistance, a space to reject formal structures and create new ideas. Their radical expression can be heard in all aspects of their multidisciplinary work, including in Dendarry Bakery, Las Mariquitas, Recao Rulé, Tó Ara, Dyspheric, Uhaul Disco, Spiral Generator, and under their DJ moniker MIRA MIRA.