voiceless and brown (2023) by Jules de Bouverie
'voiceless and brown' was commissioned by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as part of the PLUG Festival 2023. It features Stephanie Lamprea - vocals/movement, Calum Huggan - percussion, and myself on computer. The piece was inspired by recorded interviews from Mexican Americans in the 30s. They spoke about being on strike and how they were perceived as being lazy simply for asking for better terms, pay and conditions. I combined these interviews with audio from Sandra Hochman's 1973 film 'Year of the Woman'. The film covers Shirley Chisholm's presidential campaign as well as protests from the height of 2nd wave feminist movement. 'voiceless and brown' is an expression of frustration with how workers' rights have been eroded by conservative and liberal governments in the US and UK. I am especially horrified with the terms, pay, and conditions BIPOC, LGTBQ+, and disabled workers face today no matter what we do.