Gay-la Performers
On May 13, 2010, FIERCE present our 10th Anniversary Gay-la Extravaganza on May 13, 2010 at the Highline Ballroom.
Hundreds of community members and supporters joined us for an incredible evening honoring the hard work of FIERCE to build the leadership and power of LGBTQ youth of color over the past decade.
We were thrilled to have the following artists join us for a spectacular evening of music, dancing, and celebration!
Meshell Ndegeocello
10 time Grammy nominee, Meshell Ndegeocello, is a renowned bassist/singer/songwriter who has collaborated with The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Sting, John Mellencamp, Mos Def, Herbie Hancock and many, many more.
Combined sales of Meshell's albums total nearly 1 million copies in the US alone. Meshell released her 8th album, Devil's Halo, on October 6, 2009 on Mercer Street / Downtown Music (David Gray, Ozomatli, Femi Kuti).
Canonized, marginalized or just scrutinized, Meshell Ndegeocello has given up with the politics of explaining herself. After 20 years in an industry that has called her everything from avant garde to a dying breed, what unquestionably remains is the fearsome bassist, prolific songwriter and the creativity and curiosity of an authentic musical force. With that, she has earned critical acclaim, the unfailing respect of fellow players, songwriters and composers, and the dedication of her diverse, unclassifiable fans. For the sake of setting the record straight, a few brass tacks remain: Meshell was born in Germany, raised in DC, signed at 23, and has been nominated for 10 Grammy awards.
Toshi Reagon & BIGLovely
In some ways, singer Toshi Reagon is a throwback to classic R & B artists, like Stevie Wonder or Prince, or old school rock group like Led Zeppelin; she can take any style, update it, and make it her own with incredible ease. Despite (or because of) her genre-bending, Toshi fits comfortably on a stage at Carnegie Hall, or in a dirty rock club. Toshi is an artist who’s known for energetic performances and a exemplary gift for writing engaging songs that provoke listeners to think and have fun at the same time.
Staceyann Chin
Staceyann Chin is a writer and activist. She is the recipient of the 2007 Power of the Voice Award from The Human Rights Campaign, the 2008 Safe Haven Award from Immigration Equality, the 2008 Honors from the Lesbian AIDS Project, and the 2009 New York State Senate Award. She unapologetically identifies as Caribbean and Black, Asian and lesbian, woman and resident of New York City.
A proud Jamaican National, Staceyann’s voice was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, where she spoke candidly about her experiences of growing up on the island and the dire consequences of her coming-out there.
Widely known as co-writer and original performer in the Tony award winning, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, her poetry has seen the rousing cheers of the Nuyorican Poets' Café, one-woman shows Off-Broadway, writing-workshops in Sweden, South Africa, and Australia. Chin’s three one-woman shows, HANDS AFIRE, UNSPEAKABLE THINGS, and BORDER/CLASH all opened to rave reviews at the Culture Project in New York City.
Be it on “60 Minutes,” or in the New York Times, Staceyann has a reputation for telling it exactly like it is.
Staceyann is the author of the memoir, The Other Side of Paradise.
House of LaDosha
The House of LaDosha is a family act that performs a dark/crunk plethora of music. It consists of Dosha Devastation (Antonio Blair), Cunty Crawford LaDosha (Adam Radakovich), and Golisha Nomi Simone LaDosha (Ojay Morgan). They draw inspiration from such things as Paris Is Burning, popular culture, fashion icons, female rap artists, and gay city living. The entire concept is an art performance composed of deeply saturated sounds and visuals. It is fun, high energy, sexual, and sometimes frightening. Definitely a spectacle not to be missed. GET INTO HUH!!!
DJ Tikka Masala
DJ Tikka runs That's My Jam with Trent Brooks, DJ's at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, The Bell House, that hot loft/basement/warehouse party you were at last weekend, and assorted venues across New York City and Brooklyn. The mix includes music from all the different places she's lived—from India to NJ to Oakland and now Brooklyn.
Tikka Masala has been seen on stages, or rocking afterparties for Toshi Reagon, Meshell N'Degeocello, Talib Kweli, DJ Premier, Jean Grae, MC Lyte, Pharoahe Monch, TV on the Radio, The Gossip, Murray Hill, and the list goes on. After 5 years of non-stop DJ-ing in NYC and Brooklyn's hottest clubs, Tikka settled down to create That's My Jam, possibly Brooklyn's largest mixed queer dance party, with Trent Brooks.
DJ Bill Coleman
Superstar DJ Bill Coleman has enjoyed 23 years in the music business and 29 years of DJ-ing (from cradle to turntable...). Bill’s diverse experience and musical expertise makes him a mad scientist of the music world. He plays for and with the crowd, always gauging the response that his listeners are giving back — and give back you will when DJ Bill Coleman is in charge!
DJ RIMARKABLE
Redefining the word “remix”, Mariaelena “RiRi” Garcia, aka DJ Rimarkable is a renaissance woman indeed. A vocalist, lyricist, drummer, producer and DJ, her multiple talents have taken her to many stages. Truly mastering the DJ technique of “Reading the Crowd”, she has earned the moniker, “Rimarkable” after rocking international dance floors for more than 13 years. She is a member of the all female-DJ squad Ubiquita NYC, tour DJ for hip-hop artist Invincible and a producer/recording artist on legendary DJ/Scholar, Bobbito Garcia aka Kool Bob Love's record label, Alala Recordings.
Dj.shErOck*
A native of Los Angeles currently living in New York, Dj.shErOck began her career in music as a singer/songwriter, and dancer. Now taking a hiatus from performing her own music due to her desire to only work with the best producers, Dj.shErOck has found a creative outlet in the art of dj’ing. For Dj.shErOck dj’ing is a great way to express her passion for music. Dj.shErOck has residencies in some of New York's hottest spots. A weekly event "Eden", at R BAR, The Standard Grill, Los Dados Restaurant and the monthly party "In the Mood", with Talib Kweli, and D.J. Eque. In addition to her residencies, she is also apart of the Ubiquita NYC's The Ladies Of Ubiquita. Dj.shErOck spins a collective mix of world music, soulful house, eccentric dance beats, tribal beats, rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, reggae and underground tracks, consistently keeping herself aware of what is new and hot in music, and adding her unique touch to every set she plays.