Ear Expansion with LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs

In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton is joined by LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs. This detailed and insightful conversation focused on her unique background in sound, particularly as a poet/vocalist/sonic experimentist, and her explorative journey with effects, synthesizers, and poetry in her performances. LaTasha shares her evolution from using her voice in unorthodox ways within the spoken word community to experimenting with electronic devices. She discusses the influences of artists and movements on her work, emphasizing improvisation, the fusion of the sonic aspects of language, and the integration of digital loops, which create multifaceted soundscapes. LaTasha also elaborates on her performance work, such as "Penny wasn't pulling no wagon," highlighting themes of labor, matriarchy, and the complexity of black identity. The dialogue encompasses her artistic philosophy, her engagement with language as sound texture, and how her performances act as a medium for trans-lingual and cultural communication, ultimately providing a profound insight into her creative process and the influences that shape her artistry.