Event

Christine Salem

Christine Salem sings dangerous tunes that rouse the spirits and challenge the authorities which means that her shows are as controversial as they are spellbinding. The rousing deep-voiced singer from Réunion Islandm the multi-ethnic French province in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, performs maloya, a blues-like music rooted in the work songs and chants of the island's African slaves. Rising up from a troubled childhood on the streets of Saint-Denis, Salem has become the greatest living champion of maloya, infusing the trance-inducing blend of voices and percussion with fresh inspiration and contemporary influences.

Previously performing at the well known theater Webster Hall, Salem always puts on a mesmerizing show. Her music is a mix of a percussion instrument called a kayanm, which is made from the seeds, stems, and flowers of sugar cane, and four different languages - Creole, Malagasy, Comorian and Swahili. Before making her way into the spot light after a breath-taking performance at the Australasian Worldwide Music Expo, Salem kept her job as a social worker and a summer camp leader all the way up until October of 2012.

"She has a potent, indefatigable contralto, and most of her songs are terse chantlike melodies." - The New York Times

"Salem's exceptionally rich voice and fiery stage presence easily transcends any and all cultural barriers"- National Public Radio News

"Christine Salem is surely the queen of maloya, her powerful voice and intense presence creating a trance music of great power." - Songlines Magazines

For more information on Christine Salem, go to www.christinesalem.com

Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Avenue, Troy, NY
Open to all!