Fifteen years ago, I was in a London apartment. The door opened, and beyond it stood Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté. She began to sing a traditional praise song from her homeland, Mali. I was blown away. In a lifetime of musical experiences, this was one of the most inspiring, warm and empowering moments I’d ever encountered.
When I encounter something that resonates in a way that only music can, I need to share it – with family, friends and audiences. Horizons is built around some of the musicians and sounds that I have an irresistible desire to share. And it all starts with Hawa.
I am deeply grateful to be invited to gather some of my favourite musicians from around the world. Up at UKARIA we’ll create a community to imagine new musical possibilities. These relationships will conjure an extraordinary musical experience for those who join us. My dream is that they also plant seeds of new friendships and ideas that I hope will flower long into the future.
We can easily see and hear the differences that separate musicians and their cultures. For me, all music is fundamentally connected: it’s simply a case of discovering the shared roots that lie beneath.
David Harrington, Curator
