Navasha Daya brings music and activism to Moods Music
The Baltimore-based jazz/soul singer opens up about her new album, Lom Nava Love
Baltimore-based singer Navasha Daya has been making beautiful music for nearly 20 years, first as a member of the famed group Fertile Ground and then as a solo artist with her 2012 EP Rebirthed Above Ground. Along with the songs she’s known for belting out in her distinctive jazz-tinged soul style, Daya is also a dedicated activist; she and her husband, educator/musician Fanon Hill, launched the Youth Resiliency Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to "inspiring realization of the authentic self in children, youth and young adults in Baltimore."
On her latest album both sides of her life’s work — music and activism — come together in a big way. The project, titled Lom Nava Love, is the soundtrack for a documentary of the same name, which follows the work of Mama Shirley Foulks, a community organizer in Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood. The 15-track album, written by Hill (who also directed the film), features tunes in many genres, including reggae, folk, R&B, and more. And although the movie opens this June, the music of Lom Nava Love debuts Sun., April 17 in Atlanta as part of the Record Store Day activities at Moods Music. The album will be available via digital retailers on May 7. Before making her Atlanta appearance, where she’s set to perform and answer questions in a Q&A session, Daya opined on a number of topics, from embracing different musical styles to finding balance between music and activism.
On recording in genres other than jazz or soul:
I love singing in different genres, although I haven’t really recorded in a lot of different genres before now. So it was a way for me to explore and express all of myself as a musician and vocalist/artist, as well as speak about issues and the beauty of the black community. … In this industry, for black women, they put us in a box. … So this album was also a way for me to show the diversity of a black woman’s voice.
On balancing her work as a singer and activist:
I feel like working with the Youth Resiliency Institute keeps me grounded. I feel like it keeps me informed to what’s really happening. Because, you know, a lot of people sing about issues, but they don’t really do the work in the community. I’m not downplaying anyone, but they’re not there to see what the people need.
On the uplifting effects of marriage:
When Fanon and I first started doing our community work in Cherry Hill a student asked him: “When you get angry, do you hit your wife?” Questions like this had Fanon saying: “Wow, it’s really important that I’m here because you need to know that’s not OK!” You think about building a black community, the most revolutionary thing is having a healthy relationship.
On her upcoming appearance at Moods Music:
I’m so excited to come to Atlanta! I always receive so much love there. It’s really like going to see my cousins! I plan to share some of the new music. It’s an acoustic set, and I’m bringing my singers and my guitar player, and I plan to share some of my stories, as well as some of the stuff I did on my debut solo album. I haven’t seen fans in the ATL in like eight years, so it’s almost like a family reunion.
Navasha Daya plays Moods Music on Sun., April 17. Free. 3 p.m. Moods Music, 1131 Euclid Ave. www.moodsmusic.net.