"Conversations" Uganda EP: out this summer!

This January in Uganda was HUGE.

Thanks to the generous support of our Kickstarter backers as well as the US Embassy Kampala, we were able to not only implement our "Conversations" project successfully this January in Uganda, but the performance, recording, and master classes combined impacted the lives of hundreds of Ugandan artists and musicians. We were able to fairly pay over 55 artists and musicians for their work on the project, including musicians, photographers, videographers, audio engineers, visual artists and artisans, poets, actors, and fashion designers.

*Andereya Baguma, Kate Bass, and Joses Arins Emanzi on the red carpet (Kate’s skirt by Ambishion Uganda)*

We were able to supply electronics, laptops, and studio equipment, including headphones, mics, mixers, instruments, video cameras, and more to many young independent Ugandan musicians. We were also able to help fund production of an independent and entirely local Ugandan music festival, Endongo Munsiko.

*Joses working with Keith Mugenyi, one of our amazing Ugandan drummers*

Additionally, I was able to lead a free, full-day master class at Kampala Music School, filled over-capacity with participants, as well as numerous free private coaching sessions for Ugandan singers.

Thanks to generous support from the US Embassy Kampala, Andereya, Joses, and I had the great honor to perform for Ambassador Natalie Brown at the US Embassy's Alumni Impact Awards, and were so excited to have a whole US Embassy busload of audience members at our "Conversations" performance at Nyungu Yamawe Forest Park. The Embassy's support of our project made me truly honored and proud to be American.

Our brand new, cross-cultural and cross-linguistic 6-song EP album is completely finished with recording, and now in the mixing and mastering process, to be released this summer.

This album is a true testament to what happens when people open their minds and hearts to each other in the common goal of connecting and creating something beautiful together.

Spending two months in Uganda solidified friendships that I am sure will last a lifetime. I have already hired our producer (and equally brilliant singer-songwriter and guitarist!) Joses to play on another song of mine outside of this project.

I got completely addicted to street food kikkomando (and never got sick!) and my beloved Stoney Tangawizi, the best ginger soda you could ever imagine. Uganda truly became like a second home to me; I am already developing a second "Conversations" project with some amazing musicians in Western Uganda, who speak an entirely different language (Runyankore) and who have a whole new culture and world of stories to share.

This project was everything I could have dreamed of, and more. I have never felt stronger that this program can change lives: not only the lives of all of the artists and musicians involved in the project, but those that witness the project as audience members, master class students, and supporters from far and wide, able to learn about new cultures and people through the Universal Language of music.

This is not the end of these cross-cultural projects! This is just the beginning. My projects are now 501(c)(3) fiscally sponsored, so I am in the process of raising funds and applying for grants to expand this work to as many places as possible. I am currently developing projects in Pakistan, Egypt, Taiwan, Mexico, and more...as well as some amazing cross-cultural collaborations right here in the US! If you want to be involved for future projects, please contact me!

Stay tuned for exciting news about the EP release, upcoming projects, and new musical collaborators all over the world!

Thank you for being a part of my community. You all helped make this happen. Here’s to the future!

All my love,

Kate