Art is subjective. To each piece that we encounter, an interpretation unique only to us is formed, thereby forming a sort of bond with it. We may not always remember each piece by name or by creator, but most likely we will retain how we felt about it if that connection is made.

Our gallery of subjects today come from Frida Kahlo, a legendary Mexican painter that lived during the early 1900’s. While her works gained acclaim mainly in the latter half of her life, after being recognized and helped by fellow artist surrealist Andre Breton in 1938, Kahlo is known for native folk-art style she employed, mixed in with autobiographical and fantasy elements for each piece. Rediscovered by art historians and political activists’ decades after her death in 1954, Kahlo became a recognized figure in the art world post humorously, regarded as an icon in both Mexican national and indigenous traditions while also being highlighted in the feminism movement and in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Jah Freedom’s Kahlo Album Listening Party at Asylum Digital Studios in Charlotte, NC

Jah Freedom, one of North Carolina’s own legendary composers and DJ’s, takes a different approach in interpreting the artist in a seven-track album dubbed in reverence and remembrance of Frida; Kahlo. In talking to the musician about the recent release, the process of forming each song takes on a more nuanced life.

“Every track on the album is named after one of Frida’s paintings. For crafting each, I would look at the work and form the music by how I thought they sounded.”

The outcome is being able to see through the eyes of one type of artist into another’s work, but instead of simply telling listeners his thoughts, we’re now tasked with interpreting his creativity as well, and it is a pleasant experience.

A gleeful casual mood can be felt through the birds layered into the background alongside fellow musician Elizabeth Kowalski’s calming flute in “Me and My Parrots”. There’s a strong downtempo that’s accompanied by Jah’s Soul treatment on the keyboard, paired in with the sound of rain falling for great effect in “Without Hope”. With “The Dream, The Bed”, various elements are thrown in, from drums, to piano and guitar twangs, and even some bird chirps that are never all around at one time, giving the track an unpredictable feel.

In creativity, one of the most nurturing activities an artist could take on is immersing themselves in another’s work. Jah Freedom takes Frida Kahlo’s art and interprets each selection with a touch of his own styling, be it with Jazz, Neo-Soul, or a little improvisation via effects thrown in. What listeners are left with is an enriched experience, and by the end, hopefully questions of how they too might evaluate Kahlo’s works. ~

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