Artists
who's who and who's doing what?JAMIKA
- country:France
- style(s):Poetry Electro
- label:
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist submitted by:
Jamika Ajalon, charismatic American poetess, film director and long time Zenzile collaborator based in London, releases her debut solo album the 5th march 2007.
«Helium Balloon Illusions» showcases a range of influences, mixing hip hop and electro, dub and spoken word all built on a foundation of amazing grooves and incisive lyrics.
Anyone who has followed her work with Zenzile since the late nineties, will already be familiar with her phenomenal energy and sensual delivery, which has seen her dubbed "the female
Tricky" and the "underground Grace Jones" by some reviewers.
The Zenzile Family was first introduced to and fell in love with this exiled American when she was the surprise guest artist at their live show at the legendary Fridge in Brixton in 1999. That
chance meeting uncovered an incredible chemistry and Jamika became the first guest on Zenzile's 5+1 series of recordings (next were Sir Jean from Meï Teï Shô and Vincent Segal from Bum Cello). That initial EP proved so successful that Jamika has participated in almost all subsequent Zenzile recordings. Jamika has also contributed her feline style and electric stage presence on the band's live tours including Austin USA (South by South West Festival), in Montreal festival, at Sakifo in Réunion island, at Vieilles Charrues and countless others all around Europe. Seven years on, Jamika is considered the sixth member of Zenzile.
Her talent has attracted the attention of other artists
including Tony Allen, The Shrine Sound System, Urban
Poets and numerous DJ's who have sought her lyrical
wizardry and unique vocal delivery. She was part of the
Shrinemania Tour of Uganda and contributed the track
«ZZT Girl» on the 2004 EP from El Baron Brissetti.
Never one to be bound by any kind of limits, Jamika
considers herself first and foremost an interdisciplinary
artist. As a reviewer and critic, she has written for Black
Book Review, The Voice, Black Filmmaker Magazine and
Straight No Chaser. Her poetry, short stories and essays
have been published in several anthologies including
«Kin» (Serpent Tail), «Afrakete» (Doubleday, New York)
and «Sappho küsst die welt» (Querverlag). She is now in
the process of writing her first novel.
As a film and video director, she has produced several
notable experimental short films («Shades», «Introduction to
Skit-zo-frenia», «Memory tracks») all of which have been
screened and won awards at festivals across Europe and the USA. She has also directed a series of
short films for Channel 4 in the UK. She even had a cameo in seminal lesbian film «Go Fish» from
the American director Rose Troche, now a co-creator of the hit series The L Word.
Bringing together her love of visuals and music, Jamika has delved into mixed media installations,
ambitiously fusing live improvised performance. Several of her installations have toured the UK
and led to her being selected as a resident artist at Graz in Vienna with her piece Transnarratives.
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