When Momin was an artist-in-residence at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn NY in 2017, he’d invited Val Jeanty for an informal jam session, which led to the formation of Turning Jewels Into Water. The name of the project alludes to one of the impacts of climate-change where water itself will become an extremely precious resource in the near future. Their collaboration, rooted in improvisation, evokes the esoteric realms of the creative subconscious. Drawing from the voodoo religion, Val recreates the ancient rhythms and pulse of Haiti through digital beats, while Momin, rooted in Indian folk and Black Music traditions, is also influenced by street music from Sao Paulo to Durban. Drawing on the AACM motto of “ancient to the future,” they employ cutting-edge music-technological tools such as Ableton, acoustic drums outfitted with Sensory Percussion triggers, Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) drum pads and Smart Fabric MIDI Controllers, to create music with spiritual resonance.

They have released a critically-acclaimed full-length album on the Chicago-based FPE Records, entitled A Map of Absences. Their music was described by Bandcamp as ‘a sound that feels deeply rooted in tradition, but adapted for a generation of people who care as much about their roots as they do innovation.’

They have toured Europe and the US, and most notably have performed at the Earshot Festival (Seattle, WA, US) Bang On A Can Marathon (New York City, NY, US), ZEZ Festival (Croatia) and Tarcento Jazz Festival (Italy.)

In 2020, Momin was awarded a prestigious grant from NewMusic USA for Turning Jewels into Water to collaborate with video artist Art Jones and dancers Rosalynd Harris and Infinite Lynn, to create an interdisciplinary work that depicted the transformation of an individual facing the impacts of climate change.

Val Jeanty

Val Jeanty also known as Val-Inc is a Haitian Afrofuturist, drummer, turntablist, and professor at Berklee College of Music.

Jeanty is a pioneer of the electronic music sub-genre called Afro- Electronica or Vodou-Electro.

Jeanty’s Afro-Electronica performances have been showcased at the Whitney Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and internationally at the Venice Biennale in Italy.

She is the recipient of various grants and fellowships including

Van Lier Grant 2017, NYSCA/Roulette 2019 Residency, NYU/CBA Toulmin 2022 and the 2024 United States Artists Fellowship.

Ravish Momin

Indian-born drummer/electronic music producer Ravish Momin (also known as Sunken Cages), studied with US Jazz master-drummer Andrew Cyrille. He has worked as a sideman with a wide array of musicians including US Jazz legend Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre (AACM/Chicago) and pop-star Shakira. In the past, he led Tarana, a shapeshifting global-Jazz trio, on international and domestic stages for the past 14 years

His current projects include 'Turning Jewels Into Water' (with Haitian electronic music pioneer Val Jeanty), a duo with dragonchild (Ethio-American saxophonist DA Mekonnen of Debo Band) and Zelzeleh (a Digital Sufi Ensemble)

He has recently produced tracks with South African Gqom group Phelimuncasi (Nyege Nyege Records), Saxophonist Maria Valencia (Meridian Brothers), along with producers Makossiri (Hakuna Kulala, Kenya), Saskia (QTV, Brazil), Kush Arora (Discrepant, US), Baba Sy (Jokkoo Collective, Spain/Senegal) and Rani Jambak (Indonesia, Yes No Wave)

He has done remixes for Depeche Mode, global electronic music producers Batida (Portugal), Babani Sound System (Mauritius), and Guedra Guedra (Morocco).

His recent performance highlights include the Free Forma Impulse Festival (Italy), AfroBanana Festival (Cyprus), Words/Beat/ Life Festival (Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage (US)), Big Ears Festival (US), LeGuessWho? Festival (NL), Positive Futures Festival (AT), Lincoln Center Outdoors Festival (NYC, US), Slingshot Festival (US) and Festival Congedi (IT).

He is also the recipient of grants from New Music USA, The Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, NYC Arts In Education Roundtable, Arts International, Meet The Composer and NYSCA (New York State Council of the Arts)

Contact the host of Turning Jewels Into Water

There were 0 errors found in the information you submitted: