For the past year or so, Juan Luna-Avin and Jenifer K Wofford, completely independently of one another, have been interviewing people about the music they’d like played after they die. (Juan’s been DJing these songs as “Soundtrack of our Lives”; Wofford’s just completed a small artist book called “Death Songs*”.)
They’ve blended their 2 projects into “Ultimate Song Request,” a website compiling the memorial music conversations people have had with each of them. This Nov 3 event is their official website launch, and the release of Woff’s book.
This event should be pretty relaxed and fun: Juan and Woff will talk briefly about their respective interests in this subject, and why they’re both making work about it. Juan will be DJing people’s Ultimate Song Requests. A few friends will give brief performances/readings about their songs. There will be a break-out session where folks can chat and interview each other about their death songs (and a paper questionnaire for those who’d like to write it out, instead.) Woff will have copies of her Death Songs book available, too.
We’ll have wine and snacks; come share a toast to folks on either side of the veil, on the day after the day of the dead!
Woff’s Death Songs project, which includes this Ultimate Song Request collaboration, was supported by SFAC’s Individual Artist Grant.