Music Utopia

Angel From Montgomery - Bonnie Raitt/John Prine. Performed by O3B

Enric Sifa

Rwandan born Eric Nshimiyumuremyi (now Enric Sifa) was orphaned by the tragic events of the 1994 genocide and its devastating impact to his country. At age nine he began to live on the streets, trying to find any way to survive. He struggled daily to get food and shelter, suffering from loneliness, abuse and hunger.  

Because he loved music, he began hanging around village nightclubs, running errands for patrons. These clubs were dangerous though because drunk patrons or gangs would sometimes beat him or abuse him.

On a Saturday night in 2000, Enric was severely beaten in a nightclub. That night as he lay awake in pain, he felt so miserable because he had no one to help treat his wounds. He heard a voice telling him not to return to that life. The next Sunday morning he wandered into a church. In that church, he found his passion again-music! This music was free, and the people treated him well. Enric's heart began to feel hope for the first time so he gave his heart to God. He immediately began writing songs, and at 14 he wrote many powerful songs like Vahanze   (come out and enter) still sung by his fans in Rwanda today.

In 2002 a church member asked Enric to teach children to sing for American visitors coming to help with a summer camp hosted by Africa New Life Ministries. While he led the children in music, Serena Morones from Portland Oregon recognized his life’s potential and offered to help him return to school.

As a newly sponsored student through Africa New Life Ministries, Enric began to flourish. He continued to write music and in 2004 he won a national music competition in Rwanda about the hazard of AIDS and how people can prevent it, earning the right to sit with the President of Rwanda.

While attending primary school at Gakenke Primary School in the eastern Provence, he was chosen as a student leader to attend national children’s summit with Rwandan government leaders. The summit was formed for the purpose of involving Rwandan students in the process of changing the country, to avoid repeating its painful history. He attended the summit for two years.

Today at the age of 21, Enric has composed over 60 songs in both his Kinyarwanda and English. He has appeared on Rwandan TV and radio, performed for government dignitaries and toured three times in the United States with the music group, Hindurwa. Enric's dream is to travel the world and speak about how people can make the world shine by loving each other , and sing to people about God's power to change anyone from the most hopeless circumstances. Enric released his first solo CD in December 2007.

 Download Enric Sifa

Shonti Elder

I first ran into Shonti Elder when she was participating in an impromptu jam session at the Alaska Folk Festival in 1990 or 1991, I'm not sure anymore. She, and a bunch of others, were ripping into a lively jig and she just had that sparkle that comes with the pure joy of loving what you are doing. My guitar skills were, and are, such that I was content simply to lurk around the outside of the circle and strum quietly so as not to call attention to myself.

As it turned out, Shonti and a friend by the name of Will Putnam had put out an album (back when they were made of vinyl) of tunes that they had co-written and recorded. An internet search turned up personal websites for both Shonti and Will. Apparently they are still putting out some great music. You can get some of their recordings at CD Baby and at Trill Music Productions. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Homefires (1991) is a great collection.  The 16 tunes are all original except for Fishing in Montana by Jensen & Thompson.  Available on CD and cassette. The linked songs are wav samples, just click and listen.  Featured songs: The Alaska Highway,  Airstrip,  Friction (a love song), TV Trained Sleepless Baby Blues, Fishing in Montana,  Stop the Clock, The Game, Plastic Flowers, Missing a Man, Grandfather, Rolling fog, No car in the parking lot,  Family reunion,  Allegheny Home, Kluonie Stomp.

dm 

Gordon Bok

Ever wanted to run off to sea? Then check out this gentle Maine-bred folk singer who has built a career on different kinds of sea chanteys and songs. I listened to Gordon and the lovely harp music of Carol Rohl create a magical experience the other night at the Carvlin Hall in Portland. The event was sponsored by the Portland Folk Music Society and I am still humming some of their tunes.

Gordon and Carol will be traveling out West for the following concerts:

• Friday September 19: Portland, OR
• Sunday September 21: Astoria, OR

  Concerts coming up at the end of the month:

• Saturday September 27: Ketchikan, AK
• Sunday September 28: Juneau, AK
• Friday October 3: Bellingham, WA
• Saturday October 4: Seattle, WA

Gordon's music is published by Timberhead Music. Here's a couple of clips from his live concert album as well as a couple of songs that he plays with Carol:

The Angelus: Download TheAngelus_clip.mp3

Patrick Spencer: Download PatrickSpencer_clip.mp3

El Parrandero: Download ElParrandero_clip.mp3

The Parting Glass: Download ThePartingGlass_clip.mp3

Welcome

Music-Utopia is dedicated to the best in Indie Music. Join us.