We are raising money to fund travel research that will continue the development of an educational music performance for young people entitled "Adapting History".

"Adapting History" is an oral telling of American music through history and American history through music. From gospel to blues, jazz to R&B, America has produced some of the most innovative music of the 20th century. Although the songs are easy on the ears, their inception occurred in cultural climates that were often discordant. In "Adapting History", musical artist Dahlak uses spoken word poetry and hip-hop sampling techniques to narrate and re-imagine the complex history of our nation. His musical chronicle shows that despite conflict and misunderstanding, we can still be brilliantly creative.  "Adapting History" was created in collaboration with and commissioned by Montalvo Arts Center’s Education Department in 2016.

Most recently, Dahlak was given a small grant by Found Sound Nation and  the U.S. State Department that would serve as seed money to develop Adapting History further, add an international component, and premiere an interactive performance of it in the Sacramento area, supported through a presenting partnership with the Mondavi Center at UC Davis.

In July of 2019, Dahlak (Artist) and Amadeu Goncalves (Producer) are heading to Senegal and the Cape Verde Islands to conduct historical and musical research. These are 2 of many West African countries who’s culture and history have impacted the American Story in a REAL way.

More information about Found Sound Nation: Found Sound Nation (FSN) is a collective of artists who use music-making to connect people across cultural divides. We believe that collaborative music creation is a deeply effective way to become aware of the beauty, trauma, and hidden potential in our communities. Our process gives voice to the underrepresented, unlocks the creative potential of youth, and supports movements for social justice.