SXSWedu Panel to Explore Impacting Social Justice at the Intersection of Music and Tech

    AUSTIN, TX, March 07, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Soul Science Lab, Rapport Studios and Lincoln Center Education to present Soundtrack '63: Social Justice through Music & Tech, a SXSWedu panel on how the convergence of music, technology and African-American cultural history is used to impact culturally responsive education and advance social change in today's society on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from 11am-12pm at the Austin Convention Center.

In Soul Science Lab's Soundtrack '63, the viewer goes on a journey in a live, multimedia musical performance and retrospective of the African-American experience in America. Session panelists include Soundtrack '63 Creative Director, Chenits "Chen Lo" Pettigrew (Soul Science Lab), Soundtrack '63 Musical Director Asante Amin (Soul Science Lab), Co-Founder of Rapport Studios Armando Somoza and Peg Schuler-Armstrong, Director of Education at Lincoln Center Education.

Discussion topics will be centered around:
- Culturally responsive education and the purpose of Soundtrack '63.
- Insight into the creative process of developing Soundtrack '63, exploring how select media and music arrangements were selected and developed in tandem to convey history.
- Effective uses of art in education, focusing on how music and technology can be leveraged to scale empathy and build dialogue that drives social change.
- Effective uses of technology and immersive experiences in education that impact the viewer's perspective to connect our history and communities.

Panelists will also share the collaborative role and relationship between the institution, educator(s) and artist/producer in presenting this work to create cultural empathy.

In keeping with SXSWedu's Music Culture and Stories track, this panel is especially geared toward artists, historians, educators, technologists and those interested in exploring the role of music and arts, storytelling and technology in enhancing education and impacting society.

From the Black empowerment songs of James Brown to the outcries for justice in Ferguson, Soundtrack '63, connects generations through captivating and immersive video. The visuals highlight history prior to, during and post- Civil Rights Movement along with spirituals, protest songs, hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul and popular 20th century music performed by an 18-piece orchestra and a soul stirring vocal ensemble. Originally developed by Creative Director Chen Lo, the full sensory live documentary takes viewers on a journey from the African continent through milestone events in African-American history with a captivating immersive video of archival footage and animation serves as the backdrop of the soundtrack of the movement, conducted by Musical Director, Asante Amin. Soundtrack '63 tells the story of tragedy, triumph and transcendence and illuminates attention around one of the single most important movements in history with liberation messages that remain relevant today.

Originally commissioned by 651 ARTS and created by Chen Lo, Soundtrack '63 first premiered in 2013 as a millennial response to the major events of the Civil Rights Movement and significant moments in history that have defined much of contemporary America. The production has since then run sold out engagements at The New School's Tischman Auditorium (New York, NY), the Contemporary Arts Center (New Orleans, LA), the Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY), Cuyahoga Community College (Cleveland, OH), Lincoln Center Education (New York, NY) and the Apollo Theater (New York, NY).

The SXSWedu Soundtrack '63: Social Justice through Music & Tech panel will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from 11am-12pm at the Austin Convention Center, located at 500 E Cesar Chavez Austin, TX in Room 17B. To register to attend the panel session, visit sxswedu.com/attend.

To learn more about Soundtrack '63 visit Soul Science Lab on YouTube. RSVP on Facebook atTo learn more about Soul Science Lab, visit http://www.soulsciencelab.com. To connect with Soul Science Lab, visit the Soul Science Lab Facebook page, follow Soul Science Lab on Twitter @SoulScienceLab and on Instagram @SoulScienceLab. Follow the online conversation with the hashtag #Soundtrack63 and #Soundtrack63SXSWedu. Downloadable Soundtrack '63 press assets are available at bit.ly/ST63SXSWedu.

For all Soul Science Lab and Soundtrack '63 media, education/speaking and performance booking inquiries, please contact:
Jasu Sims, PRess Theory
p: 646.820.9859
e: [email protected]

For all SXSWedu press inquiries, please contact:
Liz Stein, SXSW EDU Press & Publicity
p: 512.467.7979
e: [email protected]

ABOUT SOUL SCIENCE LAB
Innovative. Afro. Futuristic. Griots. Soul Science Lab (SSL), is a Brooklyn, NY based music and multimedia duo that translates stories into soul stirring sounds and dynamic visuals, formed by artist, educator and creative director, Chen Lo, and multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Asante' Amin. With a focus on high quality, timeless music, Soul Science Lab designs innovative arts education models and creates culturally responsive interactive experiences. In addition to international touring, their current projects include Chen Lo's album Footprints, Amin's album The Visitor: Alter Destiny, the interactive orchestral documentary Soundtrack '63 and their newly released interactive album, Plan for Paradise. Co-founder Chen Lo is a seasoned artist, educator and creative director. This visionary mind has toured the globe, performing and leading master classes with a number of cultural arts institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center on the Rhythym Road, the August Wilson Center, 651 ARTS, Lincoln Center Education and others. The duo has been featured in TheRoot.com's Black History Month series and VICE.com's publication, The Creators, for their 360 degree video, "I Can't Breathe." Offbeat Magazine calls Plan for Paradise "likely the most eclectic hip-hop record out this year." To learn more about Soundtrack '63 and Soul Science Lab, visit soulsciencelab.com.

ABOUT RAPPORT STUDIOS
Rapport Studios is a creative agency that exists to disrupt, awaken and reorient people's relationship to knowledge and culture. Rapport Studios offers custom technology, media and education services. To learn more about Rapport Studios, visit http://www.rapportstudios.com.

ABOUT SXSW EDU
The SXSW EDU Conference and Festival cultivates and empowers a community of engaged stakeholders to advance teaching and learning. The annual four-day event affords registrants open access to engaging sessions, immersive workshops, interactive learning experiences, film screenings, early-stage startups, business opportunities and networking. SXSW EDU is a component of the South by Southwest family of conferences and festivals. Join the passionate and innovative community at SXSW EDU, March 5-8, 2018 in Austin, Texas. For more information, please visit sxswedu.com.

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