Maori Holmes is exactly the kind of person that Black Lily provides a platform for: a strong female artist. Among her many positions in the music and film worlds, she’s been a freelance writer, costume designer and film producer. Now with Black Lily, Maori is working with female artists of all backgrounds and races, helping them to be heard in a culture of stifled voices.  The organization produces the annual Black Lily Film and Music Festival, as well as other various events in Philly that celebrate female artistry and brilliance.  After last year’s festival, Holmes gave us some of her time, and insight into her prowess.

How did you get started in entertainment?
I started out carrying crates for a popular DJ in Atlanta named Sol Messiah when I was a junior in high school in 1994, and then I got an internship at Dallas Austin’s Rowdy Records working for Kenny Burns, which I continued through my freshman year at college. Then, I landed a summer internship with Sony Music Distribution, and was hired at the end as a College Marketing Representative for the Mid-Atlantic region, a position I held for three years until I graduated in 1999. I was offered a position in the Sony HQ in NYC but I wanted to go to “find myself’ first, so I declined and spent a year after college traveling. When I was ready to jump back in, positions had changed and mergers had taken place, and I ended up working and writing for the DC City Paper and promoting local shows as part of the Groove Gumbo collective.

Do you think women artists are well-represented in Philly’s music scene?
That’s an interesting question since that was the subject of my film “Scene Not Heard.” I came to Philly because I was so inspired by Bahamadia and Ursula Rucker. In short, I’d have to say “yes” and “no”. There are a ton of amazingly talented women in Philly but I still think men get the upper hand in terms of performance opportunities and pay. I think the emerging generation, especially folks like Ethel Cee and Amanda Blank, are making too much noise to be ignored, though. We’re definitely hoping with the reemergence of the Lily to bring more voices to the table. Things are changing for the better for sure.

How do feel this year’s Black Lily Film & Music Festival turned out?
This year’s festival was awesome! I hate to use such a corny adjective, but it was really awe-inspiring, and beyond my wildest dreams. We worked on it for so long (over 14 months) and it turned out beautifully. Every event was well-attended and well-received, and folks seemed genuinely happy.

What are your future goals for Black Lily?
We are doing the festival again May 2-4, 2008, and we will be doing the Black Lily: Women in Music Series every second Sunday at World Cafe Live upstairs, and hopefully we’ll have a film screening series and an expanded education series of workshops and panels throughout the year. Mercedes Martinez (one of our founders) is interested in having a magazine and we also have some ideas for film, tv and radio. My immediate goals are fundraising and securing operations expenses to pay folks and get an office. We did year one on ether–everyone, including me and the Jazzyfatnastees, were 100% volunteers!

Give the Author Some Feedback!