– Both artists had studied under Dr. Leila Saeed , a pioneering ethnomusicologist who teaches at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Dr. Saeed’s courses emphasize “the politics of sound” —how technology, culture, and identity intersect. Kenna took her “Music of the Diaspora” class in 2019; James attended her “Electro‑Acoustic Narratives” workshop in 2020. Their shared mentor not only introduced them to the Afro‑Future Archive but also reinforced a philosophy: make the invisible audible.
– Dr. Saeed’s students are now writing theses on “the role of shared archival material in cross‑cultural collaboration,” citing Kenna and James as a primary case study. Their work is prompting discussions about cultural appropriation vs. cultural exchange , especially when artists from different backgrounds engage with historic recordings. noodlemagazine kenna james link
Inside, the atmosphere was a haze of low jazz and cigarette smoke. Kenna James sat in the corner booth, nursing a glass of whiskey that had long since lost its ice. She wasn't waiting for anyone—not technically—but her eyes kept drifting to the door. She tapped a rhythm against the table with her fingernails, a nervous habit she’d never been able to shake. – Both artists had studied under Dr
: Known for a bubbly personality and athletic presence. – Dr