Recording: Keita Juma

Artist: Keita Juma

Songs: ¿YRWEONTHISBEACH? + Cashback [a capella]^*

Recorded at The Music Gallery ("X Avant X"), October 18, 2015.

Keita Juma - ¿YRWEONTHISBEACH?

Keita Juma - Cashback [a capella]

This year's X Avant not only celebrated the festival's tenth anniversary, but also the Music Gallery's 40th season. No surprise, then, that the festival incorporated various methods to look back at the MG's legacy — but also to look forward. It's a savvy bit of programming that saw Mississauga's darkwave bouncelord Keita Juma playing X Avant's final night, given the festival's stated goal of celebrating boundary-pushing music across all genres. KJ, meanwhile, adapted his performance to the space somewhat, focusing a bit more on his words than his grooves to engage the seated crowd that was more apt to head-nod than bounce. Beyond showcasing his ice-cold minimal production style, that also gave a chance to listen in as he grappled with some larger existential questions.

^* Thanks to Kehinde Bah for passing along the title to this one!