"Making" Series Ed. 2 - Making Art with Ayesha Jordan & Shasta Geaux Pop
Photo by Carlos David.
Shasta Geaux Pop
What’s your main gig?
Diva extraodinaire!! Also, singer/rapper/songwriter...and the occasional laugh triggerer.
Tell us about Shasta.
Well, I’m just a southern girl at the end of the day, charming and magical with a city girl joie de vivre. I like to say that I have a je ne sais quois, that makes the people say “Ahhh.” I’m a Leo, and I love to eat. I love exercising my right to exercise my sexuality and my sensuality in the ways that speak to me. Ayesha taught me the Dutch word ‘regel’ (ray-collect some spit in your throat for the- gul). So, I make it my regel to kegel.
What’s inspiring you these days?
Well, I try to follow what’s happening in the pop world and multiply that by what’s happening in society and the world. I like to make sure I am always connecting with my audiences you know. I’m heading down to New Orleans this summer to do some research for my show at The Shed next year, and I must say it’s got my juices bubblin’!
Photo by Carlos David.
How would you describe your craft?
Well, as a performing artist, entertainer, and innertainer...I would describe my craft as first being an exploration inside myself. I like to be a honest artist, therefore I want to speak from personal landscapes that others can relate to. I have to ask myself at times, is what I’m doing true, even if it’s made up is it true?
I try very much to avoid copying, but I love inspiration, and I love paying homage to those who’ve inspired my craft and my style, my influences...I also make a strong effort to maintain originality as much as possible.
Collaboration is an extremely important part of what I do. I cannot make it happen alone. Be it the music, the audience, the costumes, the show itself in any version. It’s always a team effort. I may write my lyrics, but I need others to help them come alive. Otherwise we would be kegeling to a beat that’s only in our minds...which can be cute, but way less fun.
Do you have a travel memory that sticks out to you?
A few years back I shot Drunk and Famous in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. That was my first Mardi Gras, and from that moment I knew I would be back again to rediscover my roots, and somehow make it a stronger more visible part of my art.
Where are you headed next?
If all goes well, I will be heading to Atlanta and then New Orleans this summer. Then a lil’ stint in Europe.
Which shoe did you pick from this collection, and why?
My heart was drawn so deeply to the Gold Bird cause I’m so fly!!!
Do you have any current or forthcoming projects you want to plug?
May 24th, I will be performing at the Pearlstein Gallery at Drexel University in Philly.
So-Fi Festival at Torn Page in June.
Next year Shasta Geaux Pop: The Return Remixed at The Shed.
Also Shasta Geaux Pop for President 2020. I have a perfect vision for America ya’ll!
Anything you’d like to add about Ayesha?
She cool. She aight. She take good care of me. I guess I love her. She just needs to step managerial game up...wink wink.
Photo by Carlos David.
To learn more, visit: http://www.ayeshajordan.com/. And be sure to follow @ayeshatjordan and @shastageauxpop.
Photo by Dane Rhys.
Ayesha Jordan
What’s your main gig?
I am a multidisciplinary performer and artist, and a massive lover of hobbies, food and free things.
What’s inspiring you these days?
Ooh, inspiration...I think travel has been inspiring. I have spent the last year doing a lot of travel which has my mind racing in many directions. Living out of a suitcase has made me look at and revisit a lot of my value systems. This informs a lot of my work I believe. I have also been inspired by love...cheesy I know, but true. Good love brings about some exciting ideas. I would say my hobbies also inspire me greatly. Woodworking and permaculture. Nature. I wish I could say something really smart about a great book that I just read, or a film that really moved me, but once I can untrap myself from the clutches of my devices...it’s on and poppin.
Is there a project of yours that has been most transformative for you on a personal level? Why?
I would say working with/on Shasta Geaux Pop has definitely been the most transformative project. It’s shown me how much I am really capable of, but also that other people actually believe in and trust my vision as an artist which is incredible, but also requires an amazing amount of responsibility. My confidence as an artist/creative has grown immensely. I have also realized how important it is to invest your time and energy in projects that are important to you and align with your personal value system. Otherwise you won’t be able to give of yourself which is a disservice to one’s artistic self...does that make any sense?
How would you describe your craft?
Oooh, that’s tricky to answer...I am an actor, mover (I refrain from saying dancer because I know people who DANCE...but I can bust a mean tail feather), writer (but, not the same way writers are writers because I don’t do it everyday...yet), a singer just don’t expect any runs or fancy stuff. I do all kinds of things. I really just try to do my best. I guess my craft is making performance and interactions. Cultivating relationships with strangers in a performative environment.
Do you have a travel memory that sticks out to you?
Travel is great...sigh. There are several, but I will choose one. I would say traveling to France and Spain with my mother for her 70th birthday. That was our first international trip together, just the two of us, and our last night in France I booked us a room at a five-star hotel. I could only afford one night, but it was so lovely and we had such a great time.
Photo by Eleanor Sturm.
I hear there’s a move in your future. How do you anticipate your move to Oslo will influence your work to come?
I think moving to Oslo will really push me to create more because I think my bread and butter will actually be more reliant on that. I will have to network in a way I haven’t before because it’s a new culture, new contacts, and a different part of the world. But my boyfriend Jelsen and I will also be able to create work together which will allow me to explore more areas of interest that also incorporate more social and community engagement from a grassroots level.
Which shoe did you pick from this collection, and why?
Honestly, I have been torn between the Silver Cat and the Gold Bird. I was hoping you could be my tie breaker!!
Do you have any current or forthcoming projects you want to plug?
Shasta Geaux Pop at The Shed 2020!
Anything you’d like to add about Shasta?
She’s such a diva! She’s takes up so much of my time and can be so demanding, but I love her and will always work for her. I know she always means well, and sometimes gets caught up, but luckily we are here to balance each other out. That’s my girl.
Photo by Dane Rhys.