Can music bridge gaps in understanding? That is the topic of our first LABspeak. Canvas proudly hosts leaders from Refugee Songs: A Musical Journey and We Met Through a Song to talk about their projects and perform samples. Hosted and moderated by Artistic Director Lynn Hutchinson.

This program is part of the Canvas Lab series, located in Venice Beach, CA.

Leah Finkelstein, piano / vocal / presenter
Heather Stewart, guitar / vocal / presenter
Bahman Sarram, violin / presenter
Dan Ochipinti, percussion
Reverend Stickman, guitar
Lynn Hutchinson, pianist / host

“WE MET THROUGH A SONG” is a short film by singer-songwriters Leah Finkelstein and Heather Stewart. It follows the unlikely and surprising friendship of two California musicians who met and befriended a conservative North Carolina farmer, through a song.

 William Edwards heard an original song of Heather’s on the TV show “NCIS” and was moved to contact her. One song, many emails and phone calls later resulted in William’s first trip out to California. Their weeklong adventure was filmed capturing difficult conversations, laughter, insight, and a realization that friendship can transcend diametrically opposing views. 

In a time when the US is more divided than any of us have ever experienced, “We Met Through A Song” is a reminder to listen not just to music, but to one another.

REFUGEE SONGS: A MUSICAL JOURNEY is a unique concert experience that tells the true story of a young Iranian man struggling to create a home for himself in the United States after fleeing Iran following the 1979 Revolution. Narrated through spoken word, storytelling, images and music, Refugee Songs is a revolutionary collaboration between music ensemble Mystic Groove Collective and scriptwriter Anita Casavantes Bradford.

Refugee Songs is powerful meditation on the themes of cultural identity, family, inter-generational trauma, as well as resilience, self-acceptance and the healing power of love.

Co-creator and violinist Bahman Sarram, guitarist/composer Reverend Stickman and percussionist Dan Ochipinti of Mystic Groove Collective will present and perform.