Egzio
"I wrote Egzio in 2020 right in the middle of pandemic when the civil unrest in the U.S. was at its highest. I didn’t know what to write on social media or how to say it, but just like the rest of the society I was outraged. So I wrote this song as a prayer to the most high! It says Egzio, meaning hear us oh God and have mercy on us."
Watch the Performance
Reflection Questions
- Etsegenet wrote this song as a prayer during the peak of pandemic and civil unrest. She shares it was a way for her to process and express her emotions when she did not know what to say using only words. What practices do you turn to re-center, heal, and process in times of grief, mourning, and anxiety?
- Etsegenet shares that her music and composition practice provide a path for connecting to her Ethiopian heritage. What are ways you connect to your ancestral background and culture? What can you do today or this week to reconnect with a sensory experience that connects you to your culture? This could be eating or cooking a special cultural dish, listening to a record from your cultural background and/ or attending a cultural event.
About Etsegenet
Etsegenet Tadesse
Guitarist, Bass Player, Singer/Songwriter & Arranger
www.etsegenetmusic.com
@esy_music
Ethiopian musician, guitarist, bass player, singer/songwriter, and arranger, Etsegenet was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She started her musical career in a very early stage of her life singing in elementary school. After she graduated from high school, she continued to pursue music continued and she joined a private college "Mekane Yesus School of Jazz Music" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she got her Associated Degree in music performance. In 2011, Etsegenet won a scholarship to study music abroad and moved to Los Angeles, CA. to join the "Los Angeles Collage of Music" (LACM) in Pasadena, CA.
After graduation from LACM in 2013, Etsegenet has been Blessed with the opportunity to work, perform and record music with musicians from all over the world including, Pharrell Williams "Happy" music Video, Mychael Danna, Zap Mama, Dexter Story's band "Wondem", and Sal Masekela's band "Alekesam" to name few. She performed in festivals and venues including Bonnaroo Music Festival, Joshua Tree Music Festival, The Roxy Theatre, Ford Theater, Grand Park Los Angeles, Natural History Museum LA, Record Surplus, Union Station LA, The Broad Stage, and many more.
Interview with Etsegenet
What thought leaders, movements and artists influence and inform your practice?
A lot of artists and leaders influence me in my musical journey. But most of the time I find myself being inspired/influenced by Love and the Truth.
How do you practice radical rest and nourishment to sustain yourself?
I try to focus on what’s important at the moment and try to protect my mind from distraction. I go out for a walk, meet friends, and stay active.
What messages do you hope to share with your music and lyrics? What are some themes you find yourself exploring in your current work?
I hope to share a message of hope, love, and forgiveness. Currently I’m exploring some Ethiopian tonalities and sounds with my guitar & vocals.