If you’ve ever watched a Tiny Desk concert or MTV Jam Session, you’ll be happy to hear that Germantown now has its own local musical offering via a new event series showcasing local musical talent. From the same group of folks who brought you the quarterly Germantown Art & Sound (GA&S) showcase, now comes the Germantown Sound Sessions.
The OG showcase (GA&S) typically prioritizes visual artists, with support from musical presence. However, this new series takes Missy Elliott’s “flip-it-and-reverse-it” and puts it into praxis.
“We’re still staying true to our roots of Art & Sound, but this time, we’re putting the sound first… and then we’ll have visual artists supporting [musical artists],” explains Julian Moore-Griffin, one-third of the dream team behind these showcases.
The Germantown Sound Sessions showcases three different musical artists. The artists will have sets of about 25 minutes, give or take, each within the intimate vibe that Our House Culture Center (OH) makes accessible through its grand yet inviting features, such as original hardwood floors, exposed brick, and 18-foot ceilings. Visual artists will use their offerings to further beautify the space to create “The Vibe” everyone deserves on a Friday night.
Courtney Childs, another member of the organizing trio and Our House owner, is excited to bring a new series to the Our House space. She says, “Every day, I have the opportunity to connect with some of the most creative and talented people in our city through Our House. That is very exciting.”
Moore-Griffin pitched the idea to the team. He used to work for Sofar Sounds, which has a similar concert format. It’s also where he learned of two of the showcase’s performing artists, Maya Simone and Cvgebird.
Alongside them comes the Our House-recommended WAYV WILSON, who spends a lot of time in Germantown, working for the local Musiqology Media Group.
WILSON channels their experiences as a Black non-binary person from West Philly who grew up in the nineties to create their audible ventures. And through their experiences, they hope you, the listener, will consider your own experiences.
“My art is about connection. My art is about collaboration. It does have a diaristic aspect to it, but it’s trying to get you to feel about what’s going on around you,” WILSON said to the Germantown Info Hub.
So, what can you expect from this seasoned artist with 12 years of classical vocal training at the showcase? Well, expect the unexpected–but in a good way.
WILSON’s catalog rides seamlessly through the Black musical tradition, hearing the various styles and influences of R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, Gospel, House, and Jazz. They said these sound choices come from what they identify as a collective Black Philadelphian experience — their mamas blasting their favorite music in the house.
And as I use their newest WAVYCAST episode as background companionship to write about this, I must agree. WILSON’s work embodies all the best parts of the Black sound with nods and references to sounds of Debra Laws (“Very Special”) and The System (“Don’t Disturb The Groove”) while experimenting with rain sounds, narration, poetry, and original sound creation.
Their identity as non-binary people also allows them to exercise their musical range beyond stereotypical male-associated voice types like tenors and bass, allowing them to create what they feel and not what others expect.
They give an illustration of how that may sound: “Most of my riffs, for instance, are riffs or copies off of Karen Clark (one-fifth of the Clark Sisters), who, like, vocally, what she’s doing really sits nicely with my vocal kind of setup.”
WILSON says that they may do some choppin’, breaking a sampled phrase and breaking it into smaller pieces and then rearranging them in a different order at the showcase. However, they are still determining what will actually happen. For an example of what choppin’ sounds like, get a tutorial from the artist on Instagram.
WILSON says they are excited about the showcase, not only to perform but also to connect with all the artists there. Shaunia Bronson, a Germantown Art & Sound alum and the star teacher who worked alongside the organizers for the first-ever GA&S youth showcase, shares the excitement as one of the visual artists of the night.
The opportunity to continue putting her art in front of audiences means a great deal for her. She shared love and gratitude for event organizers, saying how scarce it is to find folks throwing events like these for the sheer purpose of community enjoyment.
“This is a bunch of selfless people that got together and continued to be selfless,” says Bronson, who will showcase a Manga panel of an original character choosing between fighting to survive and not wanting to.
Heather Bowlan, another GA&S alum and Germantown resident, says that these local showcases and the spaces that create them are important and deserve attention. She says, “Our communities need to gather and celebrate Philly’s rich art scene in accessible spaces, not just capital-G-galleries, spaces that welcome us to experience what artists dream of and create. At least, I know I need it — to inspire me and help me feel connected and hopeful. The GA&S crew is so supportive and welcoming to artists and people who love art, and their events meet that need.”
Bowlen says that these showcases have inspired her, with a friend, to open the Philadelphia Small Works gallery, which looks to offer other local artists the same opportunity they have bestowed her. And these organizers are creating full circle moments, as Bowlan shares that they are partnering with Vanessa Chandler, the third of the trio, on their next exhibition.
And that’s part of the legacy that Moore-Griffin says he wants to leave in Germantown, as it pertains to this space the dream team trio has carefully and intentionally cultivated over the past few years.
He gives his thoughts on the carefulness they take into their planning, saying, “This is my personal opinion from what I’ve seen around the city. There’s no other art event organization that’s been putting on as far as, like, the marketing and opening up artists for (media) opportunities [like] Art & Sound has.”
“We go so hard for the artists and the creative people in the city, in this neighborhood, and that’s the legacy that I want to leave,” he passionately concluded.
Along with the musical and visual artists, folks can also expect a bring-your-own-instrument jam session, where guests are invited to play aloud after the main attractions have finished their sets. This is a bring-your-own-bottle event, but complimentary wine will be available, and ginger-flavored hard cider from neighbors Young American Hard Cider & Tasting Room will be available through donation.
By the way, grabbing dinner at Young American before or after the event can get you free hard cider with your meal. You only have to show your ticket and mention the Sound Sessions.
While the dream team may be smaller since the departure of former organizing member—Germantown ArtHaus’ Keisha Whatley–their momentum hasn’t ebbed a beat, and the hope for love and creation is at an all-time high as they hope to put on more Sound Sessions at the same quarterly rate as Art & Sound.
Childs calls Chandler and Moore-Griffin “family” and says their bond keeps these events so special and coming.
She says, “Everyone comments on how warm and inviting Germantown Art & Sound is, and that starts at home. When we’re bouncing ideas off each other and finding ways to create more opportunities for artists, it happens in a room (usually in Vanessa’s apartment), and it’s always one of the best parts of my week.”
The first-ever Germantown Sound Sessions happens on Friday, August 23, from 7-9 p.m. at Our House Culture Center at 6380 Germantown Avenue. You can learn more about the event and get early bird tickets for $15 via Eventbrite; tickets are $20 at the door.
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