Meet the Womxn Of the 2019 WSO Concert
Written by Brenda Mutuma
Illustration by Paulina Zepeda
Women Sound Off is back with another amazing concert lineup this year, and in order to get the Bay Area ready for Sound Off Day, we’ve put together a list of key artists to know!
Check out the rockstars coming to perform on Saturday, April 6th at the new parish in downtown oakland.
1743 san pablo ave. oakland, ca 94612
8PM - 2AM | 18+
MEREBA
Mereba, also known as Marian Mereba, is an artist taking R&B to new levels. With a background in indie-folk music mixed with soul and hip-hop, Mereba’s fresh and organic vibe is something difficult to find in today’s mainstream. Her earth-toned voice often blends with her unique ability to rap over gentle melodies and heavy beats, as seen in songs like “Bet” and “Planet U.” Based in Los Angeles, the multi-talented artist recently dropped her stunning debut visual EP, “The Jungle is the Only Way Out” in February, which includes her highly acclaimed single “Black Truck,” recently featured on the HBO series Insecure. With her latest music, Mereba fearlessly takes her listeners on what many are calling a journey of self-discovery and triumph. We can’t wait to hear what she brings to our Sound Off stage!
SWSH
Bringing us her Southern California sound, SWSH is a powerhouse to be reckoned with. The talented singer, rapper, and instrumentalist blends funk and soul with her raw vocals and quick rhymes on many of her self-produced tracks. Many liken her sound to artists like Pink, Anderson Paak, and Childish Gambino, obvious in songs like “Gone” and “Flowers.” Her latest project is called SOUP, a debut EP released in February, already speaking volumes about SWSH’s versatility and promise for musical success. Indie-media platform Bong Mines mentions that SWSH’s favorite writing topics “include love, relationships, and body and sex positivity,” and Women Sound Off is definitely here for it.
JEAN DEAUX
Chicago’s very own Jean Deaux will be bringing an eclectic hip-hop and R&B energy to the Women Sound Off stage. With an impressive music catalogue already under her belt, and her newest album KRASH dropping in late 2018, Jean Deaux refuses to be defined and seems nowhere near finished with music. KRASH exhibits a contagious self-confidence about the artist, as heartfelt lyrics tackle powerful reflections about success and failure throughout the work. Jean Deaux has worked with artists from the likes of Isaiah Rashad, Mick Jenkins, Sango, and Smino. On KRASH, she also collaborates with singers Ravyn Lenae and Kari Faux, who take her upbeat tracks “Energy” and “Work 4 Me” to new heights.
QUEENS D. LIGHT
Oakland goddess and Bay Area favorite, Queen’s D. Light is coming to the Women Sound Off stage transformed. With her latest album Flavor of Green being released last year, the Oakland-based rapper discovers a balance between the often callous nature of rap music and the gentle power found in spiritual lyricism. The laid back vibe of the album exudes feminine energy that is both confident and futuristic, as seen in songs like “Boss Goddess” and “Pisces Problems.” On top of being an amazing MC, Queen’s D. Light is also a filmmaker and the co-founder of production agency, The House of Malico.
JANE HANDCOCK
Melodic rapper, gifted songwriter, and all-around rising star Jane Handcock is a more than exciting addition to the Women Sound Off. Despite writing for artists like Kelly Rowland, Tyrese, Tank, and Big KRIT, Jane Handcock has proven she can also hold her own with songs like “Who Dis,” and “No Doubt.” With chill sounds and excellent production backgrounding versatile cadences, her lyrical honesty is what makes her stand out from most. Releasing her debut project “Where is Jane?” late last year, with two mixtapes before that, Jane Handcock covers relationship pressures, hurts, and games with a unique resonance that touches 90’s R&B, hip-hop, and trap-soul.
LIL KAYLA
“Lil Kayla, WASSUP?!” is a tagline well known across the Bay Area rap scene. San Francisco’s very own The Real Lil Kayla has made a name for herself, track after track, remix after remix, taking well known beats and putting her own sharp spin on them. Fearless in her lyricism and loyal to her growing fanbase, Lil Kayla brings an unforgettable energy to any stage she’s on, particularly evident in her performance at last year’s Rolling Loud concert. Some of her biggest hits include “Set It Off” and a heavy remix of Notorious B.I.G’s “One More Chance.”
HOST ~ FELA KUTCHII
This year’s Sound Off Concert will be hosted by none other than Oakland native and radical creative, Fela Kutchii. The electrifyingly fun Fela Kutchii has a track record of making parties unforgettable experiences with her DJ set alone, with turntables that conjure up music from all time periods and from all over the world. Women Sound Off knows she will bring this same inclusive energy center-stage, as she welcomes all the Sound Off performers and DJs and keeps the party going well into the night.
ALL HAIL THE DJS
The night of April 6th, Women Sound Off will also be bringing in a few DJs no Sound Off party could do without. New York’s finest, JADALAREIGN and Niara Sterling will be serving all the best sounds, as well as San Francisco-based spinners DJ Bitesize and DJ TS London. The night will also include a set from Bay Area favorite DJ Namaste Shawty, with sounds ranging from hip-hop, R&B, house, reggae, afrobeat, and experimental genres, merging East Coast and West Coast vibes. Click on the artist images to listen to their mixes on SoundCloud.