boston progress radio

Shuffled! is a new feature on BPRLive, in which we ask some of our favorite people on the scene to set their mp3 player of choice to random, and tell us about the first few songs that they hear.

Today’s Shuffler: Nancy Yap

Nancy Yap began her career as an artist manager at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop (AAWW) in New York City. While working as bookstore manager at AAWW in 1999, she began marketing and booking an Asian American poetry collective named the feedBack poets, a group of ten performers that included the young versions of Beau Sia, Ishle Yi Park, Taiyo Na, F. Omar Telan, and others.

Since then she has worked on a variety of projects from organizing a monthly open mic for Asian American poets named (Re)collection to target marketing for the 2003 Tony Award-winning “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam” on Broadway.

She continues to represent artists that enable her to work closely with the non-profit community while drawing the attention of mainstream America. She currently represents Suheir Hammad, Denizen Kane, Beau Sia, and the Visionaries. In conjunction with the Human Writes Project and the Latino Theater Company, she is developing a series of spoken word events and programs entitled ” L.A. Voz” at the newly renovated Los Angeles Theater Company in downtown Los Angeles.

For more information on Nancy’s management company, visit www.jeanniemanagement.com and to find out about her most recent project visit www.thenewlatc.com.

And now, on to the shuffle…

This is For Real my iPod In Shuffle…..

So, Giles asked me to do this memory lane about the music that I listen to. However, I did not realize what exactly was on my iPod when I agreed. My work as an artist manager does require that I have the work of my artists on hand as often as possible. But it is funny to see what actually makes it to the download process in my life. That said, I just want to be clear …that I think it is important to listen to and support Asian Pacific American artists. As my disclaimer, it is also important to note that I grew up in the mid-west.

Here Goes.

“Escapar”
Enrique Iglesias
First of all, Enrique is totally part Filipino and therefore appropriate, so I was relieved (I was hoping at least one would be Asian American.) Go Asian America! And, from a diversity standpoint, he is singing in Spanish (this being the Spanish version of the single, Escape.) Now, what makes this song that much more awesome is, my older brother, who cannot speak Spanish, can sing this song in its entirety. One summer, top down in New York, in a rental car, blasting Enrique Iglesias. Some things are awesome because they add a new meaning to cruising down the boulevard.

“Standing in the Shadow of Ellis Paul”
Kevin So
To my surprise, song number 2 also by an Asian American. Kevin So is even a Boston favorite, so I feel like that should win me some points!

Kevin and I met at Jason Hwang’s Asian American Music class at NYU where he came in and sang some songs of his own as well as old songs by Charlie Chin. Something he said that day stuck with me for awhile. He was talking about how hard it was in the folk scene and how we need to support what each other is doing. It was simple, not anything I had not heard before. And yet, there was something different about it. He really is one of the few Asian American folk musicians at the level that he is at. He has been doing it for longer than many and has done the circuit. And Asian America did not know who he was. And he was singing songs about his family to all white audiences in cities most of us have never been to. Not caricatures, but everyday stories. Needless, to say, I started to go to all of Kevin’s New York shows.

When the album with this song released as “That Oriental Guy” I was really nervous. I was not sure if he realized the negative implication of “Oriental” or calling himself that in front of predominantly white audiences. But, I approached him about it and we had a very interesting conversation about it. I also seriously took a listen to the song and was happily surprised. I think it is subversive. It talks about how people would refer to him while simultaneously addressing the glass ceiling he faces as a musician. It also showed me we have to give artists a chance to show us what they are thinking without jumping to conclusions.

My life has changed a bit since then and so has Asian American music. The best part of this is I am listening to BPR live while I write this and it is crazy to me. And, outside of my love for guitars generally, it is important to me to not only support artists that are representing us in difficult settings, but also at levels where they are respected for what they do. Beau and I have come a long way, but I began working with him for the same reason. He was doing his thing in places that were not predominantly Asian and as hard as that can be, it is always worth supporting the people that do it.

“Hit me Baby One More Time”
Travis
Alright, a non-Asian American song that falls in the 90’s. Way to make myself look cooler.

This song has many, many, memories for me. Travis is a band that my sister and I have loved for a very long time. We went to their show in the bay area when they opened up for Dido. They represent the brit rock love we have had since we were kids. All you Asian American folks in your mid-twenties to late-thirties know what I mean. Older siblings dressed in goth and walking around listening to the Cure and Depeche Mode. Travis was a newer manifestation of that. What can I say? And a cover of Britney Spears on acoustic guitar?

This is also the version that inspired many of my friends to learn this song on guitar. Thanks to the help of Mr. Jason Muhelberger and Yvette , Beau and I were both able to learn how to play it on guitar. This was also at the height of feedBack days in San Francisco and New York where we would often have artists at our house cyphering and singing random songs. Beau has since learned many other songs. I have not…

“Patriot Act”
Denizen Kane
The first time I ever heard this song was at a Def Poetry Jam taping. Haunting…without beats…Simple. No fear about what he is saying. Beautifully written. Hopeful. Real.

“Don’t bring my body home draped in a flag.
F*ck a draft
F*ck a war
F*ck a patriot act.”

This taping was also before Denizen and I started working together. But, as always, Mr. Kane impressed with his writing and performance. This aired right before his album came out. I still listen to it all the time. I am also excited to hear more legends from Tree City.

I’d also like to take a moment to talk about Def Poetry Jam. Whatever you believe about Russell Simmons and that show, I know that I am happy that we were all able to be a part of it. Mr. Stan Lathan, the director, never censored the artists on the show. Asking someone to edit is different than editing for them, and so are things that you cannot back up with evidence (slander is still a very complicated legal thing.) However, all the years working for them, they never told any of my artists what to say.

Alright
Visionaries
That’s right, more songs by more of my artists! I was worried they might not appear on this shuffle. Which, would be impressive given how much Visionaries is actually on my iPod. But of all the songs, this is the one I most wanted to talk about. Phew!

This album is very close to my heart because I saw it through from start to finish. I was there for the writing, mixing, promotion of it all. I even had a chance to listen to the beat cds and hear the options. This beat is made by none other than JDilla. He has contributed so much to hip hop, and we were blessed to be part of that legacy.

This Visionaries track also touches on their families and real life of the guys. Hip hop is growing up with us.

“Rock DJ”
Robbie Williams
I couldn’t pass up adding this song on when I saw it was next on my party shuffle. With something as serious as “Alright” before hand, this seemed like an awesome closer.

Suheir Hammad has also been an awesome addition to my life. As serious as she can be, and as revered for her work, at the end of the day, she also introduced me to Robbie Williams. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

This song, if you are unfamiliar with Mr. Williams is a body rocking completely sex oriented British pop song. And, if you doubt the true power of the lyrics, I just want you to get a little taste of it before I go.

“You got no love then you’re with the wrong man
It’s time to move your body
If you can’t get a girl but your best friend can
It’s time to move your body

I don’t wanna be sleazy
Baby just tease me
Got no family planned (uh, uh)
Houston, do you hear me?
Ground control, can you feel me?
Need permission to land

I don’t wanna rock(rock) DJ (DJ)
But you’re making me feel so nice
When’s it gonna stop(stop), DJ?
‘Cause you’re keeping me up all night.”

And on that note, keep listening to BPRLive. Someday they will have a real DJ to keep us up all night and not an Asian American shuffle. Hope I did not embarrass myself too much and that you will continue to support my artists. Merry Holidays.

Last 5 posts by shuffled

• Shuffled! Giles Li - August 7th, 2008
• Shuffled! Alexander Chee - July 31st, 2008
• Shuffled! Terry Park - July 24th, 2008
• Shuffled! Theresa Vu of Magnetic North - July 17th, 2008
• Shuffled! Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha - July 10th, 2008

Tags: Shuffled!.