THE CONCEPT
Commissioning new multimedia works for solo cello that elevate stories of feminine empowerment
Forward Music Project (FMP) elevates stories of feminine empowerment through socially-conscious commissioning, raw performances, and educational initiatives. These works are performed through the lens of solo cello by FMP founder and performer Amanda Gookin, electronics, video art by S Katy Tucker, and audio interludes by the composers. In performance, Amanda sings, chants, fights, gasps, and breathes life into these new works. Seven FMP commissions premiered during the Spring Revolution Festival at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, NY in March 2017. During the 2018/19 season, Amanda was an Artist-In-Residence at National Sawdust and premiered five new works for FMP 2.0: in this skin. Forward Music Project is on the touring roster of National Sawdust Projects. FMP has been presented by such institutions as The Kennedy Center’s DIRECT CURRENT and Georgetown University in Washington, DC; The Wallis in Los Angeles; OK Electric Festival in Tulsa; and deDoelen in Rotterdam, NL.
Photo by Ryan Scherb
““Gookin is carving out space for fresh narratives and providing a much needed dose of reality.””
Forward Music Project is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
THE ALBUM
For elevating stories of suffering and joy. For raising awareness of injustice. For shining a light on a culture of musical-patriarchal deification. Whether you come with caution and leave with curiosity, come as a victim and find a voice, or come as an ally and feel a sense of community - I founded Forward Music Project for you.
For mothers. For sisterhood. For brave storytellers and quiet listeners. I sing, I gasp, I fight, I breathe life into the work of these fearless artists. I founded Forward Music Project for you. And you are not alone.
— Amanda Gookin, April 2020
Cellist and creator of Forward Music Project
Track 1: Dam mwen yo by Nathalie Joachim
Track 5: Stray Sods by Amanda Feery
Track 2: Stolen by Allison Loggins-Hull
Track 6: For Edna by Leila Adu-Gilmore
Track 3: Las Desaparecidas by Angélica Negrón
Track 7: Swerve by Jessica Meyer
Track 4: memories lie dormant by Morgan Krauss
Amanda Gookin, cello and vocals
THE COMPOSERS
3.0
Through sound design, electronic instruments, vocalization, and performance art with synchronized video installations and a fully-immersive concert environment, fever dreams offers composers a unique collaborative space to create art that probes the tension of perception, power, “truth”, and reality in an era of “fake news” rhetoric.
To premiere Fall 2020, between the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the upcoming Presidential Election.
2.0
In the face of division, hashtags, and soundbites, Forward Music Project 2.0: in this skin commissions five new multimedia works for solo cello and provides space and time for audiences to listen deeply to, interact with, and contemplate the visceral joys and struggles of women.
World Premiere: March 20, 2019 at National Sawdust
1.0
World Premiere: March 1, 2017 at National Sawdust
THE VISUALS
S. Katy Tucker is a video and projections designer based in NYC. Tucker began her career as a painter and installation artist, exhibiting her work at a variety of galleries, such as the Corcoran Museum in Washington, D.C. and Artist's Space in New York City. Her work in theater and opera has been seen around the world, including Broadway; Off-Broadway; the Metropolitan Opera; the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall; the New York City Ballet; the Kennedy Center; BAM, The Park Avenue Armory, among others. She has collaborated with musicians including: Paul McCartney, Paola Prestini, Jeff Ziegler, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Recent productions include Dmitri Tcherniakov’s Prince Igor at the Dutch National Opera and Metropolitan Opera, The Ring Cycle with Francesca Zambello at San Francisco Opera, Iron & Coal with Kevin Newbury, If You Listen with R.B. Schlater, and Sets and Video for Orphee at Banff Center with Joel Ivany and West Side Story at the Kennedy Center with Francesca Zambello. Upcoming: Silent Voices with Kevin Newbury, The Park Avenue Armory Gala with Stefan Beckman, Set and Video design for Parsifal at IU Opera Theater and Florencia en el Amazonas at Houston Grand Opera.
THE PIECES
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAST EVENTS
PRESS
“I embrace the label of bad feminist because I am human. I am messy. I’m not trying to be an example. I am not trying to be perfect. I am not trying to say I have all the answers. I am not trying to say I’m right. I am just trying—trying to support what I believe in, trying to do some good in this world, trying to make some noise with my writing while also being myself.
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