Spoken-word poet and hip-hop artist Shirlette Ammons stopped by Live and Local last week, to celebrate the release of her new album “Spectacles” – her first in eight years.
“Spectacles” is a title with many layers. On one level, it references Ammons’ reaction against being made into a ‘spectacle’ – personally, as an object of childhood curiosity when paired with her identical twin sister Shorlette, or writ large as a Black artist in White-dominated culture and a queer woman in a hetero-centric, patriarchal society. On the other hand, as a performance artist Ammons is also in search of public attention, actively striving to be a ‘spectacle’ – on her own terms, though, not on other people’s.
The title is also plural, in part because Ammons isn’t the only ‘spectacle’ present. The album’s 11 tracks feature a who’s-who of supporting guests, from Sylvan Esso’s Amelia Meath to The Veldt’s Daniel Chavis to Triangle hip-hop stars G Yamazawa and Kane Smego to powerhouse jazz vocalist Mavis Swan Poole to Megafaun brothers Phil and Brad Cook. (Phil Cook co-produced the album with Ammons.) Poole’s contribution is a particular highlight – most notably her soaring, soulful vocal on “Short,” the album’s lead single, which features a powerfully simple refrain that links trauma with triumph in a single sentence: “Even though we keep coming up short, / Still we keep coming up.”
Purchase the album and listen on Bandcamp.
While “Spectacles” is Ammons’ first full-length album since 2016, she hasn’t been resting on her laurels. Among other things, she’s co-produced the Emmy-award winning PBS series “A Chef’s Life,” the acclaimed gospel documentary “Stay Prayed Up,” and most recently “May the Lord Watch,” a 2023 documentary about Durham hip-hop legends Little Brother.
Shirlette Ammons stopped by Live & Local to discuss the album and play three tracks: “Hello,” “Spades,” and the title track, “Spectacles.” Listen:
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