Germa Adan
About Germa
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‘Germa is a rising star on the folk scene with a beguiling and original style’, Folk on Foot
'captivating and honest', Folkroom London
'Creole folk star Germa Adan recorded one of the great LPs of 2017, the rare beauty, Kenbe Fèm... Germa, right now is an incredibly powerful, unique and fresh voice on the UK folk scene’ -Outside Left Magazine
'Kenbe Fem/Hold Firm - an intriguing collection of songs drawn from Haitian lullaby, sacred harp, English tradition and original compositions, quickly became a topic of excited conversation in the gilded corridors of fRoots on its release in June 2017'.
- fRoots Magazine
Photo by Jas Sansi
Germa Adan is a Haitian folk artist known for her ability to write and perform in the style of a storyteller with a strong undercurrent of social consciousness at the heart of her music.
She creates an ethereal tapestry of rich vocal and stringed harmonies, influenced by the overlapping identities with culture and musical styles - especially so in the Haitian, American and global folk influences that colour her sound.
Germa Adan was born in Les Cayes, Haiti, spent a big part of her life in the US and currently resides in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Her geographical journey and autobiography have a major influence on her art and musical practice.
Her diverse ancestry of creolisation and unique journey across borders led to an organic sound within her music that captures the many influences that have shaped her as a person and as well as a music creator. Germa invites her many influences and stories to weave, dance and come to life freely and unhindered by genre.
In 2022, Germa will be writing and releasing a new collection of songs - stay tuned!
Following the success of her debut album, Germa is currently working on her second album to be released in the coming year (Germa always strives to let the music breathe and make its presence known when it's ready -- the process is never rushed). The album will feature the Senegalese virtuoso Kora player Kadialy Kouyate as well as other new collaborations, new sounds, and approaches that will link to autobiographical themes of roots, bloodlines and ancestral connections.
Germa collaborates with various musicians, building common ground and celebrating their differences through unique composition and performance.
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KENBE FEM ALBUM BACKGROUND
In September 2016, Germa has been awarded The EFDSS Creative Seed Funding to write new music chronicling her journey from Haiti & the USA to the UK. With the help of this funding Germa has had the privilege of collaborating with singer-songwriter Maz O'Connor to arrange traditional American Sacred Harp song and to compose a new British folk song inspired by stories from her Haitian culture.
As a result of these discoveries, Germa has released a selection of songs in her debut album entitled Kenbe Fem (Hold Firm), which she will be touring along with original works and traditional Haitian tunes in her usual repertoires.