Cassandra Tribe

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Cassandra Tribe
Cassandra Tribe, 2008
Background information
Born	October 5, 1968 (1968-10-05) (age 39)
Origin	Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
Genre(s)	Performance Poetry, Experimental Music, Spoken Word
Occupation(s)	Writer, Musician, Performance Artist
Instrument(s)	Vocorder
Website	http://www.loveandwords.com/

Cassandra Tribe is an American spoken word artist.

Contents 1 Life and work 2 Reviews 3 Discography 4 Videography 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Life and work

Tribe was born October 5, 1968, in Poughkeepsie, New York and studied as a painter under Abstract Expressionist Max Schnitzler before enrolling in the Rhode Island School of Design. By her second year, she switched to the illustration department to begin exploring mixed media studying almost exclusively with illustrator Dagmar Frinta. RISD granted Tribe permission to pursue an independent course of studies with traditional storytellers in the Rhode Island area and with the Brown University Philosophy Department, she graduated with a BFA in 1989. ^[1]

In the early 90’s, Tribe lived in New York City and performed at various independent NYC art spaces. Her focus at the time was in finishing the manuscript to “Killing Peace”. The death of her partner, the inspiration for the novel, led her to abandon the project although pieces of it still survive today, most notably in the text of her recording, “The Garden of Lost Things”. ^[2][3]

Tribe gave up writing and painting for several years, working on developing Multi-Player Games for the internet and GUI interfaces for networks in the capacity of Artistic Director for a major gaming corporation. Her work was part of the then new movement to give the Internet a “face” so that non-computer literate people would be able to use it for email communication, shopping and information research. Eventually, she left civilian life to join the military and served as an MP with the 8th US Army in Korea. Upon receiving an honorable discharge she began a career as a Union Ironworker.^[4]

In 2000, Tribe returned to her art with the release of her first CD, “The Garden of Lost Things” (castledeep records). Much of the content of this CD was drawn from her unfinished manuscript. Critics praised the release, naming Tribe “the architect of the soul” for her performance. The CD went on to be nominated for the 2003 Just Plain Folks People’s Choice Award for Spoken Word and became a staple of internet radio stations making Rhapsody.com’s 2004 Top 50 tracks for Spoken Word.^[5][6]

The track, “Ich Bin Nicht” was selected for inclusion as the sound track for the traveling exhibit designed to promote and fundraise for the Friedrich St. Florian design for the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. by the Providence Gallery. The piece was inspired by the PBS broadcast of “Rabbit in the Moon” about the Japanese Internment Camps in America during World War II.^[7]

In 2002, Tribe was commissioned to do the soundtrack for a fundraising and awareness video for The Mills Project designed to promote the renovation or demolition of manufacturing mills in the New England Area.^[8]

In 2003, Tribe was included in the New Berlin Calendar of Artist’s to watch. Also in 2003, the single “Is this then (what love is)?” was released and won the 2003 Ibezia New Artist Dance award.^[9]

Tribe also pursued a Masters of Divinity in preparation for ordination within the Episcopal Church. She served as the Director for Integrity, Rhode Island pushing for a unity of communities within the church. Her visits to all the Episcopal Churches in Rhode Island to review their communities and environments for an online guide for Hispanics and GLBT persons seeking to return to a church community, were controversial.^[10]

Upon receiving and reading a copy of Leo Tolstoy’s, "The Kingdom of God is Within You", Tribe left the church and began to focus on a more independent spiritual journey. She has maintained ties with the Order of Julian of Norwich and began a deeper exploration of spiritual mystics throughout the world’s religions.^[11]

In 2007, after traveling the country in an RV for several years, Tribe released “The House of Weddings” to critical acclaim. Her second cd explored the nature of commitment, Faith, community, Life and Love. The track “the cradle, the lamb” was included in the syndicated broadcast of American Women Musicians alongside the work of Bonnie Raitt, and the Indigo Girls.^{[12][13][14] [15][16]}

The video for “the cradle, the lamb” was released to the Internet and quickly captured audiences in Thailand and Korea.^[17][18]

Distributed by Sony, itunes, Virgin Records and Tower Records, Tribe’s recordings have been known throughout Europe, Australia and Asia since 2002. The 2007 addition of Walmart.com to her list has dramatically increased her American exposure. That same year Tribe also began a daily blog which continues to expand her audience.^[19]

In 2007, the release of “Ugly Diamonds” marked the beginning of a new phase of Tribe’s work. Tribe became the co-host of Estrogen Affair”, New Mexico’s Only Women's Open Mic and made the decision to release the majority of her recorded work on her site for free. ^[20]

Tribe also returned to working on her philosophical manuscript “Eat not the Heart”, and began to publish essays derived from her notes on Helium and her web site, loveandwords.com. Her essays, most notably “Should Faith Influence a Person’s Vote” and “Are Happy People, Productive People,” have become internationally popular. Her unique mix of personal responsibility and fulfillment of potential with a sense of communal responsibility is proving increasing popular with readers in their 20’s and 30s. Her philosophical influences include Fromme, Frankl, Ayn Rand, Hafiz, Spinoza and Tolstoy.^{[21][22][23][24]}

Her recorded work is influenced by Laurie Anderson, Nick Cave, Baz Luhrman, Pina Bausch, Rachel Rosenthal, and Jane Siberry(Issa). Her writing is influenced primarily by the Sufic Poets, Algernon Swinburne, Christina Rosetti, Martin Amis and Jeanette Winterson.^[25][26]

Tribe currently resides in the American Southwest where she continues to write and record. Her current projects include (audio) “The City of Love”, (video) “The Rest of the World” and several print projects including a book of poetry and the philosophical collection of essays “Eat Not the Heart”. ^[27]

[edit] Reviews

"A haunting and arresting portfolio of work, the mood changes overtly with tempo and varied music styles with soaring beats and washes of soothing sounds to build a landscape familiar but for most of us, found only in our dreams." Amy Kirk, Freelance Writer, 2002

"The House of Weddings"...is driven by incantation and prayer-energy, putting it into a class by itself." Gregg Shapiro, Music, No. 24, The Chicago Free Press

"One of the most original artists of our time...I'm surprised that thousands aren't copying her...the material is planets beyond original." Brian Douthit, perfectlysaid.com

"...intensely groovy and matriarchal..." cdbaby.com

"...Cassandra uses very creative vocal effects and techniques, including the use of multiple voices and changing the timbre and pitch of her voice to sound like a woman or a man. Her reading is excellent...very heartfelt and dramatic! The music and poetry are somber and deep, tearing at your heart and soul..." Volume 2, Issue 9 April 5, 2007 LooseyLucy.com (Painted Girl Records)

[edit] Discography

• The Garden of Lost Things (2002)
• Is this then (what love is) – 2002, single
• The House of Weddings - 2006
• The City of Love – (TBA)

[edit] Videography

• Pearl (2003)
• Ugly Diamonds (2007)
• The Cradle, The Lamb (2007)
• The Rest of the World (2008)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Website
• myspace.com/love_and_words Myspace
• c_tribe.bravejournal.com Blog
• loveandwords.com
  

  

  Ugly Diamonds by Cassandra Tribe
• myspace.com/love_and_words
• c_tribe.bravejournal.com