Liberation. Transcendence. Possibility. Composer and improviser Keyna Wilkins has a global reputation for visionary 21st century jazz-classical works that combine everything from her own skills as a flautist to art-music collaborations for film and theatre.
She has also developed major experimental works that have blended poetry from refugee voices, ascending towards what could be described as a politicised spirituality set to music.
The Sydney Morning Herald has praised Keyna’s performances as “arresting, genre-blurring, disquieting music with massive breadth and high drama”. Limelight described her solo shows as “an irresistible mix…. in equal parts jazz, Debussy and flamenco”. Australian Jazz summing her up as “unconstrained by labels and… constantly exploring new ways to express herself musically”.
Walking around Addi Road, Keyna relates her excitement in being part of the ‘Hearts for Gaza’ fundraiser taking place inside Gumbramorra Hall from 3pm to 6.30pm this coming Sunday 23 February.
The afternoon will feature acoustic music, Arabic songs and the voices of the Solidarity Choir. With Keyna Wilkins part of a stellar line-up of composers and musicians that also includes organiser Chloé Charody, Antonio Aguilar, Pavel Cajic, Maisa Alemeddine, Maxeem Georges, Alaina Ray and Chloe Chung.
The ‘Hearts For Gaza’ benefit aims to raise money for staving families in northern Gaza who are in desperate need of help. Keyna is committed to the cause – but she also sees how suffering everywhere is affecting how we think about the world and what we can achieve.
“Everyone here has been hit by rising rents and mortgages,” Keyna says. “High prices have kicked in. The cost-of-living crisis is very real. Because of that it is really easy to feel even greater despair. To feel there is no hope. That there is nothing we can do.
“But with regard to Hearts for Gaza I have seen what Chloe Charody has already done. I can tell you– a lot of good things. She has made sure that water and food have gotten through over there. And we know it is making a difference.
“What is happening there and here is not unconnected,” Keyna adds. “I think the news and things here undermine what people feel they are capable of. It destroys all confidence and encourages helplessness.”
Keyna’s belief is that our best actions can empower us across all our experiences and the challenges we face everywhere. Our ability to react to people suffering in Gaza also strengthens our sense of community here, our resolve to work together.
Ultimately, of course, that’s a very artistic view of things, very idealistic, she admits. “When I think creatively I do tend to focus on one small thing. One small change. But it’s like a mirror. A mirror into which you can say, ‘Yes I did my best.’
“This event coming up on Sunday gives us a chance to shed light on the terrible conditions for people in Gaza. The focus of our event is very humanitarian. It’s not about taking sides. They need food and water. They need blankets now too as it is very cold there. Children are starving.
“But ‘Hearts for Gaza’ is not just about charity or politics. There’s a musical side to it that draws in a different kind of audience. Through what we do as artists and musicians, we’re able to show people that hopeful, positive change is still with us, still inside of us.
“It’s a way, really, of showing – through music – that joy comes from resistance. That this kind of joy has something very nourishing in it for all of us to experience and take part in.”
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Hearts for Gaza at Addi Road’s Gumbramorra Hall, Sunday 23 Feb from 3-6.30pm. Tickets and full details on the Humanitix link here: https://events.humanitix.com/hearts-for-gaza-charity…