Keshia Hannam, a global speaker and social entrepreneur, collaborates with Gen.T to create a playlist of songs to help us get through lockdown
“I’ve often called music a smuggler, in that it transports you from one place to another,” says Keshia Hannam. “Sometimes this journey is furtive, others it’s loud and public, but either way you are in a different place to where you began. During times of unrest or reflection, I find this to be particularly true.”
Hannam is a global speaker and social entrepreneur who works to heighten individuals’ and groups' understanding of their own biases, the actions they can take, and how the climate crisis impacts brown and black communities most. She has spoken for The New York Times, Fortune 500 companies like Marriott and Macy’s, and at The United Nations.
Hannam tells us that she sees music as being crucial at every juncture of her life. “It’s the most pleasurable vessel of storytelling, and subsequently, I cling to it, and have anchored my journey around using it to leverage more life for myself and others.”
“It’s so important to recognise what we’re listening to, and how that informs our worldview,” she says. “In a time where we’re assessing which voices shape culture, I hope to pay much attention to the artists of colour who are telling critical stories, even if they sound unfamiliar to us initially.”
Here, Hannam talks us through the songs that she has been listening to while in isolation and quarantine.
Listen to Keshia Hannam's ISO playlist here
Bamboo, Elder Island
"I got invited last-minute to see Elder Island perform in Brooklyn last year and had no idea who they were. I remember falling in love throughout the set and they ended with this song, which set the crowd off. Humble creators with a penchant for making catchy music, I have played Bamboo on my roof alone at night multiple times to recall the feeling of dancing with other humans."
Glow Up, Karun
"Talented Kenyan singer Karun hits the sweet spot of important lyrics and a melody I have stuck in my head for days after listening."