Fire Breathing in the Wild: A Night of Live Music, Poetry, and Deep Breath

Fire Breathing in the Wild returns! Join us as we sing & breathe & dance & jump through our wilds!

This interactive, theatrical concert features music and poetry from Natachi, Nicole Gentry, Diamond Key, ImmoBme az.i.B.we MmaMma Laura, QLynn SMOOVE, Syrin, and Jeanette Rowe.

Fire, both creative and destructive. Or, what is creative is destructive.

Fire, symbol of passion, vitality, of danger and alarm.

Fire, what makes the kettle sing,

What makes the spirit sing

Fires, wild, and what California forests are intimate with.

Wild, what can’t be contained

Wild, what we are tempted to tame

Wild, the systems we have come to know

Wild, our forgotten names

Fire: Breathing in the Wild engages with these multiple understandings through poetry and song, breath and movement.

Journey with us as we sing & breathe & dance & jump through our wilds, and perhaps, you’ll be called to sing & dance & jump & breathe too.

Nicole Gentry

Originally from Oakland, California, Nicole Gentry, a multifaceted musician and singer/songwriter, has become one of Sacramento’s musical mainstays performing and teaching all over Northern California and beyond. She has toured and has shared stages with India Arie, Joe, and Anthony Hamilton among many others. Whether performing her own solo work, making contributions to various bands, acting as Musical Director in the bands she leads, or working as a performer and educator with Bigger Than Us Arts and Stockton Soul, Ms. Gentry brings a unique methodology of empowerment and healing every time the music starts.

Diamond Key

Diamond Key is a multi-faceted artist quickly gaining Sacramento’s attention both on and off stage. Dedicated to using her creative expressions as a means of empowerment and inspiration, Diamond's work revolves around creating community through upliftment and joy. Already drawing comparisons to Warsan Shire, India Arie, and Bahamadia, her thought-provoking poetry, soulful melodies, and captivating vocals have gained her the attention of Northern California poetry, soul, and Hip Hop fans alike anticipating the release of her first solo recording “Revival.”

As Co-Founder of the First Church of Poetry, Diamond has helped establish a truly diverse platform where artists and community can come together to connect and heal through artistic expression in all its forms. Her passion for promoting poetry and literature has led her to serving as an executive board member at the Sacramento Poetry Center where she actively contributes to fostering a vibrant, representative, and equitable literary landscape in the city.

ImmoBme az.i.B.we MmaMma Laura

ImmoBme az.i.B.we MmaMma Laura, daughter of ‘Cynthia on the Throne,’ has enjoyed loving and living the arts more publicly, both locally and abroad for the past few decades. She has been honored to have her hands in Live Theatre; script writing, stage management, lights and sound as well as acting. She is a spoken word artist who also loves to draw, paint, and enjoy photography and video production.

For over 10 years she created curriculum as an artist educator alongside other amazing community artist educators, while working with Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS). Stepping out, she has branched out to explore other career opportunities and expand her growth and learning curve through previously unexplored avenues. She will always find herself fed by music, art and the vibrant outpouring of amazing young people moving in heart.

QLynn SMOOVE

“I hear drums. Is that QLynn Smoove?”

Quincia Lynn, also known as QLynn Smoove is a Drummer, Percussionist, Rhythm Activist, and Independent Drummer for bands in her hometown of Sacramento, CA. She has over 25 years of experience in drumming, teaching, mentoring, coaching, and leading youth, adults and older adults through artistic community engagement and music activities. In addition to her community engagements, QLynn has played drums for Element Brass Band, End Game Band, XXBrassBand, and was a drummer with the Sacramento Kings Drumline 2022.

You may hear QLynn in the streets of Sacramento performing Ambitious Rhythm with SMOOVE drummers Entertainment. QLynn frequently played and performed in Oakland, California with Afro Urban Society, BoomShakeMusic, Everyday Party, Kah Liberation and She Drums project.

In her free time, she enjoys grilling, playing flag football, traveling, and fishing.

The next time you hear live drums with a unique rhythm on the streets of Sacramento, CA, chances are, “That’s QLynn Smoove”.

Syrin

Syrin is a Sacramento based multi-instrumentalist. She began her journey with music in school, studying classical flute and saxophone. She went on to explore jazz improvisation, which lead her on a path of creating her own sound with her original music. Syrin is a part of the femme-based super group Angelite, in addition to her personal project Syrin Soul. Syrin Soul is an amalgamation of jazz, funk, rnb, and rock influences.

Jeanette Rowe

Jeanette Rowe (J.Rowe) is a writer, spoken word poet, educator, and social activist. She believes writing is one of the best ways to learn, teach and heal.

A dynamic performer, J.Rowe draws artistic inspiration from nature as well as from inspiring artists like Saul Williams and Lauryn Hill and others. She often writes about the evolution of love, identity and humanity. Through her poetry, she hopes to provoke thought, and encourage others to seek and speak their truth. She’s opened for artists such as Brandon Leake, Buddy Wakefield and Dr. Cornel West. In addition, Jeanette has had the honor of representing Sacramento at the National Poetry slam (2017), the Women of the World Poetry Slam (2019), and the CA Democratic Convention (2018).

Holding a Master’s degree in Education and Counseling, in addition to other degrees, she also applies her accomplishments to her work as an educator, and has used her skills to mentor and conduct workshops geared towards art, cultural enrichment, and self-empowerment. Her writing can be found in several scholarly journals and various online platforms

Natachi

Natachi seeks to nourish. She is a writer, performer, teaching artist, and emcee born and based in Sacramento, California. Through improvisation, call & response, and collective breathing, Natachi facilitates dynamic experiences that deepen audience engagement and celebrate community voice. Natachi is a two time finalist at the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) and has featured at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Oberlin College, AutoMobility LA, as well as at venues in Accra, Copenhagen, and Istanbul. Natachi has worked with youth communities and people who are incarcerated to engage writing and rapping as tools of empowerment. She has facilitated writing and performance workshops at Tufts University, Rutgers University, Rikers Island, and more.

As a 2022-2023 Seeding Creativity grant recipient, Natachi founded and produced a live poetry and music show called Fire: Breathing in the Wild with a band of local Black women artists. As a member of the local collective, All City Writers, Natachi is currently developing a one person show titled SOAK. Natachi works as a Business Program Manager, focusing on community building, communications, intercultural awareness, and design, and is almost always ready to hop into a dance circle

Info: Experience an interactive, poetic, and musical experience. Kicking off with group breathing and journeying from lyrics to jump rope, Fire Breathing in the Wild is a world of its own.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Natachi