Artist Takeover 5/2: Ahamefule J. Oluo

While we work to schedule a new date for musician, composer, writer and comedian Ahamefule J. Oluo’s performance of SUSAN (which was scheduled to make its REDCAT debut this spring), we were excited to have Oluo take over our social media channels on Saturday, May 2, to share what he’s been working on during quarantine and more.

 

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While we work to schedule a new date for musician, composer, writer and comedian Ahamefule J. Oluo’s performance of “SUSAN” (which was scheduled to make its REDCAT debut last month), we’re excited to announce that Oluo will be taking over our social media channels today! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as he shares what he’s working on and more. And at 3pm, he’ll be going live with us @ahamefule. Check it out and look for more artist takeovers soon! #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 11:54am PDT

 

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“I’ve been staying at a cabin out in the woods during quarantine, I built a recording studio here over the last few years and this is the longest I’ve ever stayed out here. It’s been wonderful having access to the studio everyday.” - @ahamefule #calartsredcat #redcatondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 12:34pm PDT

 

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“Right at this moment, I am working on building a short solo performance for the big Portland Institute for Contemporary Art fundraiser in a couple weeks, I love @picapdx and any opportunity to work with them. I’m also so itching to perform more since COVID. I never did any streaming or online performance before lockdown and I don’t do a lot of solo performance, my work usually includes a lot of people so this is new to me but I’m really enjoying it and finding interesting places to go.” - @ahamefule #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 1:46pm PDT

 

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“I also spent yesterday overseeing the release of the first album on my new record label @OakHeadRecords. The album is called ‘Who the Hell Is Dwayne Kennedy?’ And it’s the first full album from a legendary figure in stand up comedy, Dwayne Kennedy, and It came out Friday! I produced the album along with @harikondabolu and @wkamaubell and I also engineered and edited it, it’s a project I’ve been working on a couple years now and I’m so happy it’s out in the world.” - @ahamefule #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 2:15pm PDT

 

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“I also have been putting the finishing touches on the score to the film @thinskinmovie, which is based on my stage show ‘Now I’m Fine’ and I co-wrote it with the brilliant Charles Mudede @mudede and the also brilliant @thelindywest and I also acted in it. We are in the last few weeks of post production which has been slowed by COVID but we are nonetheless near the very end of a project that began over 7 years ago.” - @ahamefule #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 2:28pm PDT

 

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Photos by @alleyrutzel from the original post by @kexp In another world, @ahamefule would have brought the REDCAT house down with his musical production of “SUSAN” last month. This darkly comic musical portrait of Oluo’s mother builds one story out of many, a journey from Section 8 housing in 1980s Seattle to the mangrove swamps of the Niger Delta to the Clallam Bay Correctional Facility. While we wait for a new date to bring “SUSAN” to REDCAT, enjoy these photos of Oluo and his band performing the piece at Seattle’s @KEXP. ‘SUSAN’ is a @creative_capital project and was commissioned by @ontheboards in Seattle. #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 2:54pm PDT

 

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“One thing that has been getting me through this is the newsletter of the great writer Samantha Irby @bitchesgottaeat (https://bitchesgottaeat.substack.com/), where she writes recaps of the show ‘Judge Mathis’ that are so perfect and hilarious and escapist. A true gift. I also went through all of the podcast @decomposedshow so quickly and wish so badly that there was more. Riveting stories about classical composers, so well put together and Jade Simmons is a great host. And like everyone else, I’ve been digging into the new Fiona Apple album and having my brain explode, what a singular statement.” - @ahamefule #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 2, 2020 at 3:04pm PDT

 

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Yesterday, musician, composer, writer and comedian @ahamefule went live to share a piece from his musical production, “SUSAN,” which was supposed to make its REDCAT premiere last month. Stay tuned for details about a new date, but in the meantime, enjoy his quarantine performance! #calartsredcat #REDCATondemand

A post shared by REDCAT (@calartsredcat) on May 3, 2020 at 11:16am PDT