Brooklyn-based artist Kelsey Pyro is proud to announce the debut of her forthcoming performance work, Makadewiiyaasikwe (to be pronounced phonetically as spelled). Translating to woman of African descent in Ojibwemowin, Makadewiiyaasikwe depicts the grieving process of a woman with a unique identity, exploring cultural and generational trauma through electronic music, live performance, spoken word and film. The work was selected for commission by The Shed to premiere June 13-15, 2019 at Hudson Yards.

Makadewiiyaasikwe is fully written and produced by Kelsey Pyro, featuring musical contributions by Benjamin Hoffmann and Compton Timberwolf and multimedia contributions by Kino Galbraith. A staged reading of the work will be held on May 14th, 2019 at Starr Bar in Brooklyn, New York with special guest performances by Miss Olithea and Steff Reed.

Kelsey Pyro’s music melds an eclectic R&B sound and raw, uncensored lyrics rooted in the oral traditions of her ancestors. As a music producer, poet, and songwriter, she’s shared bills with the likes of Erykah Badu, Logic, Wu-Tang Clan, Wale, MC Lyte, Rapsody and more throughout much of the United States and internationally.