The business of making art can feel so serious sometimes, and artists forget it’s supposed to be fun. Between mining our inner landscapes, scraping together a living, and navigating ego death every time we step on stage, engaging in our artistic practices can feel like drudgery.
Speaking with the next collection of artists of Werklund Centre’s TD Incubator program, it’s apparent that the tonic for drudgery is collaboration. Just like everyone else on the planet, if artists want fun, then fun we must make. And do so with others.
The TD Amplify cabaret series returns this month for Episode Two, February 20 at the Engineered Air Theatre. Featuring the eight-piece neo-soul, R&B, hip hop band (un)decided, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks ensemble member and dancer Gisele Ardosa, and gifted storyteller and actor Matthew Mooney, this particular group of artists is purveyors of joy. We’ve begun the rigorous rehearsal process, and I’ve already witnessed the ease with which this batch of talented performers collaboratively creates something out of nothing. And have fun while doing it. The key ingredient so far? Play.
Julio Ginter-Agreda is a brilliant percussionist and member of (un)decided. If you’ve seen an (un)decided show, you’ll already have witnessed Ginter-Agreda’s musical prowess delivered with a gleaming grin from the back of the stage. It’s no surprise that play is at the heart of what Ginter-Agreda does.
“As a drummer, I’m always having fun when I’m behind the kit,” said Giner-Agreda. “It’s extremely rewarding to merge both a physically and creatively demanding exercise into one practice. However, the most fun I usually have is when I’m actively listening to others, trying to understand what they are saying through their instrument, and then moulding my performance, my music and my art to complement and support them. This process, to me, is the most fun – the puzzle-solving aspect of it.”
The specifics of “play” can be hard to pin down for artists. I have to schedule play in my calendar and set a timer. Others come by play easily. However, artists incorporate play; there seems to be an element of practice within it. (un)decided keyboardist Mosiah (Mo) Osaseri knows his process well and is dedicated to incorporating play whenever he can. Prolific and charismatic — and much like his exuberant band mates — Osaseri is an artist in a constant “state of play” on and off the stage.
“I love to have conversations with myself and give feedback to myself,” said Osaseri. “I play games with myself and allow myself to create another person, a different version, you may say, so we bounce back and forth. In music, when I have an idea, which mostly comes up in the middle of the night, I’ll get up, start recording on my voice memos app, and start either humming the tune, beatboxing the idea, or playing it on my piano. In most of these recordings, you will hear me make a mistake and grunt or play something cool or new and exclaim or laugh in the moment, almost in disbelief. I allow space for that always. Whether in my head or outward.”
Bandmate Pinky Rido agrees and describes a clear line for herself from the beginning to the end of a creative process.
“I live to entertain,” says Rido. “So that spirit shows up in my writing, whether I am alone or with the band. Playing makes me happy and helps me feel like a kid again, and that feeling gets my creative juices flowing. Being happy fuels my creativity.”
Artists have a hard time creating in survival mode, even though many of us do and must. Taking things seriously is important. There is much to be taken seriously happening in the world right now. But if artists don’t make and protect little pockets of joy in their practice, what are we even doing?
Actor, poet and storyteller Matt Mooney has got it figured. From his theatrical work with Theatre Calgary to Trickster Theatre, Mooney is all about making people laugh.
“Even if I’m making serious work which is meant to challenge the audience and make them look at a serious subject from another perspective,” said Mooney, “I get a real kick out of making people laugh. I always have. Being able to laugh at yourself is important to me. That self-depreciation brings me out of my own seriousness and allows me to be honest with what I’m creating.”
(un)decided trumpet player Jessie Natasha agrees. “Play reminds us to be in the moment,” she said. “This ‘play’ can be applied to every aspect of life; it is what keeps us feeling alive. I’m very lucky with (un)decided. When I’m not ‘feeling it,’ the others always remind me why we are there, to have fun. This mindset is so important because we are all here as human beings to create connections, be present, and enjoy ourselves.”
For more information on the TD AMPLIFY series, go to werklundcentre.ca.
