Artists in their Residence Archives - The Bluegrass Situation

Artists: Calvin Arsenia + Ramy Essam
Hometowns: Kansas City, Missouri, and Mansoura, Egypt
Song: “Toward the Sun أخر العتمه نور” from Folk Alliance‘s Artists In (Their) Residence program
Release Date: August 24, 2021

In Their Words: “Ramy Essam and I met at the Folk Alliance International Conference in February of 2018 through a magical encounter that unfolded into cascades of beautiful music filling the halls of the conference hotel. I have always admired Ramy for his work in social justice but I am most impressed by the peace he carries with him in spite of the tumult he has and continues to endure. It is an honor to finally have a musical piece to call ours after years of sharing stages together across the globe. Ramy and I have played together in Kansas City, Tulsa, Montreal, and Gothenburg, but this is the first time we have written a song together.

“Ramy came to me with the guitar part and his verses after a few false starts of other songs. It was important to both of us to sing in our mother tongues and to showcase a hopeful message that can ring true for people around the world. My friend, Dr. Ezgi Karakus of Turkey, adds even more world flavor joining us on cello. I hope listeners feel as hopeful and inspired as I did when I met Ramy. It is a joy being his friend. Even in the face of severe persecution; beauty, love, and hope still triumph.” — Calvin Arsenia

Learn about the Folk Alliance Village Fund.

Photos provided by Folk Alliance International

Artist: Charly Lowry & The Heart Collectors
Hometown: Charly Lowry: Pembroke, North Carolina; The Heart Collectors: Hinterland Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
Song: “Navigating to Hope” from Folk Alliance‘s Artists In (Their) Residence program
Release Date: June 1, 2021

In Their Words: “It’s safe to say this global ordeal has proven that no one being has all of the answers; we are all navigating this plane the best way we know how. The Heart Collectors and I find ourselves on opposite sides of planet Earth, navigating to hope. We likened our experiences during this time to being aboard a ship, fighting against Poseidon’s watery fists and underneath dark, ominous skies. We do so with the understanding that we are in this together, and instead of accepting the defeat of a sinking ship, we remain steadfast in our voyage to find our lighthouse, our beacon of hope. This type of imagery was key in the songwriting process and aided us in delivering a message for the downtrodden. Whatever your case may be, we encourage you to seek your peace first, and then move your vessel onward and forward to hope for a new day, season, or way of being.” — Charly Lowry

“Coming together in collaboration from all points on the earth is an extraordinary experience, and one that makes our world so much bigger. Hearing and being present to the stories of people and cultures from one side of the world to another made us see how we literally are all in this together, we have all suffered this at once. Not in our life time has a global experience like this ever been the case, and it brings everything to a level. Things that seemed important became unimportant. The heartbreak of individuals suffering has a profound way of naturally breaking us open to be so much more capable than the usual way of dealing with existence. Finding each other and joining in this online type of creative common room has been the unifying strength to move forward, one step at a time.” — The Heart Collectors

Photo credit: Courtesy of Folk Alliance, Charly Lowry, and the Heart Collectors

Tag: Artists in their Residence

WATCH: Calvin Arsenia + Ramy Essam, “Toward the Sun أخر العتمه نور”

WATCH: Charly Lowry & The Heart Collectors, “Navigating to Hope”