José with Meredith Monk and Anne Waldman at Brown University
More info on Brown Unveristy's website here - https://www.brown.edu/academics/music/events/meredith-monk-and-anne-waldman-performance
José performs @ Tight 5, A Comedy Series hosted by Greer Dworman
More info + tickets aqui -https://www.howlarts.org/event/greer-dworman-tight-5-2017-12-13-2018-01-31-2018-03-23/
José in studio creating dance and visual concepts for LQQK
José will be in studio at Triskelion Arts & Chez Bushwick (Brooklyn) physicalizing the visual ideas, concepts, and dance for his first visual EP LQQK. Rehearsals will be open the first week of April.
José Asst's Meredith Monk in World Premiere of 'Cellular Songs' at Brooklyn Academy of Music
Meredith Monk has spent more than five decades exploring and expanding the capacity of that most essential instrument: the human voice. Returning to BAM after the ecstatic hymn to compassion On Behalf of Nature (2014 Next Wave), Monk and the four women of her peerless vocal ensemble present a new work, continuing their investigation of the interconnected, ineffable relationship between humans and the natural world.
Pairing voice with movement, instrumentation, and a site-specific video installation, Cellular Songs contemplates the fundamental unit of life and its relation to the universe. Drawing inspiration from biological processes—layering, division, replication, mutation—Monk looks to underlying systems in nature that can serve as a prototype for human behavior in our tumultuous world.
Music and direction by Meredith Monk
Costume design and scenography by Yoshio Yabara
Lighting design by Joe Lavasseur
Sound design by Eli Walker
Commissioned by BAM
Full program via BAM Website here - > https://www.bam.org/theater/2018/cellular-songs
Meredith's history @ BAM > https://www.bam.org/artists/meredith-monk
José Asst. Meredith Monk in 'Cellular Songs' W.I.P. at Graces Farms, New Canaan, CT
More info coming soon!
José Directs and Choreographs Natti Vogel's "I Dont Want to Find the One" Video
https://nattivogel.com/
José plays music from LQQK @ Club Cumming X WWTNS 'Cumming for Puerto Rico'
José performs music from LQQK at Club Cumming November 30 @ 10pm.
TICKETS HERE -> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wwtns-presents-cumming-for-puerto-rico-tickets-39795248660?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button
What Will the Neighbors Say? is thrilled to be teaming up with Alan Cumming and Daniel Nardicio at Club Cumming for a fundraiser to support the relief efforts in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
Asst. to Meredith Monk, Cellular Songs, Wesleyan University, CT
José assists the incredible company of Cellular Songs by Meredith Monk at Ms. Monk's residency at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.
Public Performance Sunday, November 12th at 7pm at Crowell Concert Hall, Wesleyan University.
Performing in 'Hollow' by Rebecca Cunningham, Dixon Place
Based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
@Dixon Place
...more info soon.
Performing in 'Artifice,' by Nine Lives/Dance by Pat Catterson, Triskelion
José performs in 'Artifice,' by Nine Lives/Dance by Pat Catterson at Triskleion Arts.
Part of INTERSECTING DanceGuest Curated Series:Jessica Gaynor
Asst. to Meredith Monk, Dancing Voices, Lincoln Center
"The “body sings and the voice dances” in this program that captures the kinetic energy and pioneering philosophy of Monk’s six-decade exploration of the human voice as an instrument, transmitted and luminously present in this multidimensional, multiperceptual work."
For more information please visit Lincoln Center's website directly.
Assistant Producer, CUNY Prelude Festival 2017
José works alongside Madeline Barasch and Sean Leo as they produce the CUNY Prelude Festival curated by Andrew Kircher.
Weren't able to make it to the festival - watch our video archive here! http://howlround.com/livestreaming-the-prelude-2017-festival-martin-e-segal-theatre-center-new-york-wed-oct-4-fri-oct-6
For full festival lineup please visit http://preludenyc.org/
Asst. to Meredith Monk, Cellular Songs
Join us at Queenslab in Ridgewood, Queens, for a work-in-progress showing of Meredith Monk's latest work "Cellular Songs."
For tickets click here - http://meredithmonk.org/calendar/upcoming.html
José at Connecting Unicorns, Berlin, DE

José will perform a few songs from LQQK and lead a workshop on authenticity in digital media at #UNIT's Connecting Unicorns Conference, for LGBTQIA+ folk in tech.
Full release: http://connecting-unicorns.com/
Facebook eventhttps://www.facebook.com/events/1593504910976633/
José speaks at NYU Washington DC
José will speak on Race and Identity in Trump's America as part of NYU Washington DC's "DC Dialogues" May 3rd in the Abramson Family Auditorium.
For more information click here - https://www.nyu.edu/washington-dc/nyu-washington--dc-events/-race-in-trumps-america.html
José performs at The Party by Ostbahnhof, Lot 45
José performs new music from LQQK at
The Party by Ostbahnhof
April 28th at Lot 45
in Brooklyn
New Release - Visual Cover of 'Somebody to Love' by Queen
José has recorded a version of Queen's 'Somebody to Love.' The visual cover premiered at 12pm EST on Logo New/Now/Next
José covers 'Somebody to Love' by QUEEN. Watch in 4K!
Donate to kickstart 'LQQK' - José's first visual EP.
Upcoming:
April 5th - May 8th: Kickstarter to fund LQQK, José's 1st Visual EP
April 28th: Performance at the Party by Ostbahnhof, Lot 45
May 4 - 6th: Performance at Connecting Unicorns at Schwuz in Berlin, Germany
Conceived and Conceptualized
by José Rivera Jr.
Co-directed
by Charlie Purdom
DP Wayland Bell
Performed by (in order of appearance)
Dior Vargas
José Rivera Jr.
Rify Royalty
Paige Hackworth
Alexa Andreas
Andrew Chung
Derek DiMartini
Rebecca Marie Hidalgo
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by
Cesar Gonzalez
at Studio G, Brooklyn
Band
Albert Goold (Keys)
Andrew Forman (Guitar)
Corey Metrick (Drums)
Steve Conroy (Bass)
Background vocals
Chris Ignacio
Cesar Gonzalez
José Rivera Jr.
Rebecca Marie Hidalgo
Torian Brackett
Gratitude
to QUEEN
to Queers
to Mom
to Josette and Cesar Hidalgo
to Wendy Richard
to Francisco & everyone at Studio G BK that made recording this massive track so simple and FUN.
to Jamie Helen Sanin
to Pizza
& to you for listening and watching. Thank you so much. ❤
LQQK Kickstarter
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO MY FIRST EVER VISUAL EP, LQQK, VIA KICKSTARTER!
LQQK, The Way I Look, is my first visual EP featuring 6 original songs, choreographies, and concepts in a digital format. With glam-electro pop sound, high quality filmmaking, performance art, and athletic dance, LQQK, The Way I Look celebrates queer thought, physicality, form, and function. Think Beyoncé's Lemonade - I will explore my history and most intimate experiences with sexual identity.
LQQK is slated to be my most personal work yet; it is a declaration of my own queer presence and pride. This is me - who I am, how I think, and where I am going. Through the songwriting I cracked through my own inauthenticities and developed a fuller expression of myself. At the end of the day, LQQK is the dream come true from a fearful youth to a multifaceted artist.
Check out my work at the links below!
- My visual cover of Queen's Somebody to Love!
- José on NPR: on Orlando, and the very first seedling ideas of LQQK
- My cover of Adele's When We Were Young | Press: Elite Daily / Idolator
- Performing at the New Museum X DKNY in 'On False Tears and Outsourcing,' Cally Spooner's First U.S. Solo Exhibition
By funding LQQK, you are supporting a team of diverse, hard working young artists. I am beyond grateful to have a committed and talented group who collaborate to help me execute my vision. I am young emerging artist in New York City making recorded music, and visual art using dance as my medium. I perform in on/off-Broadway shows, museum installations, and choreograph frequently throughout major U.S. cities.
100% of your contributions will directly produce LQQK, The Way I Look. Investing in LQQK couldn't be more timely as the arts need your support and solidarity right now. The current political climate is doing it's best to erase LGBTQIA+ stories - your support shows you believe and celebrate rebellious art and my rebellious spirit. I refuse to hide or feel ashamed because of who I am. In fact, I choose to celebrate who I am, and believe you should too.
By giving to this Kickstarter, you are directly funding:
- One full week of in-studio sessions at Studio G, a Latin Grammy Award-Winning location with incomparable musical equipment, instruments, and support staff to ensure the highest quality sound production. (+$8K)
- On location at one NYC Soundstage, and four days oncampsite in Hudson Valley, NY (potentially Ashokan Arts, TBD post Studio, filming August 2017). (+$3K)
- Artist Compensation for all contributing to the project:
- Cesar Gonzalez (Music Production & Engineering, Berklee College of Music ‘11), LQQK’s Sound Engineer and Musical Producer
- Wayland Bell (School of Visual Art ‘14), Director of Photography
- Charlie Purdom (School of Visual Art '14), Director
- Rebecca Hidalgo, my choreographic assistant and muse
- Solid Goold Band - Albert Goold, Steve Conroy, Cory Metrick
- All performers working on set, including Special Guest Appearances (re: Dior Vargas, Rify Royalty)
Thank you so incredibly much for taking the time to read this, and for potentially contribute to this really exciting work. Please share with anyone you think might appreciate/have interest in my work!
x
José & the LQQK team
LQQK Amsterdam
Jose will play some of the songs written for his first ever visual EP 'LQQK' in Amsterdam, NL.
The Legend of Yma Sumac ft. Scarlet Envy - Choreo by José
THE LEGEND OF YMA SUMAC will premiere at The Laurie Beechman Theatre March 15 at 9:30 PM, with additional performances March 22 and 29 at 9:30 PM. Written and directed by Steve Willis (videographer for Jinkx Monsoon and Sharon Needles), who was friends with the late star, the "live documentary" cabaret stars drag queen Scarlet Envy as Sumac. The show incorporates many of Yma's greatest hits, including Malambo No. 1, Mozart's Queen of the Night, and Claire de Lune. The show incorporates previously unseen video footage of Sumac, shot by Willis, with video editing and projections by Spencer Rothman. Tickets are $22 advance ($25 at the door), and may be purchased at www.SpinCycleNYC.com, or by phone at 212-352-3101. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located inside the West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42 Street (at Ninth Avenue). There is a $20 food/beverage minimum at all performances at this venue.
Born in Peru in the early 1920's, Yma Sumac moved to New York in 1946, and began performing in clubs throughout the city. Her five and a half octave vocal range made her a standout, and she was signed by Capitol Records in 1950. The release of her first album, Voice of the Xtabay, launched a period of fame that included performances at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, London's Royal Albert Hall, and London's Royal Festival Hall (before the Queen). Her exotic looks, arresting stage persona, and unique vocal stylings made her a hit throughout the 1950's. She released a total of six albums in the 1950's, featuring lounge music Hollywood-style versions of Incan and South American folk songs. She appeared in the 1951 Broadway show Flahooley. She toured the world throughout her career. In the 1980's she was "rediscovered," playing lengthy sold-out engagements at the Ballroom in New York and the Cinegrill in Hollywood. Her songs are heard on the soundtracks of many films, including Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Spy Games, and Happy, Texas. Sumac died in Los Angeles on November 1, 2008.
Scarlet Envy is a transcendental supermodel rooted in downtown glamour, redefining bone structure as New York City knows it. Simmering somewhere between Kentucky bourbon barrels, and the editorial allure of Fashion Week, Envy embraces both inner and outer beauty and is honored to be playing such a legendary performer as Yma Sumac.
Steve Willis is a filmmaker, photographer, and music video director. As a music video director, he has made videos for numerous artists, including Mary J. Blige, Patti Labelle, Maxi Priest, Dawn Robinson, Miranda, and many others (including RuPaul's Drag Race stars Jinkx Monsoon and Sharon Needles). He directed the documentary Wet Dreams with Rebecca Romijn, and is currently working on a documentary about Yma Sumac, who he befriended in 1987.
José at 'Sound Departures,' La Mama, Manhattan, NYC
José will be performing new original live music from his upcoming concert, performance hybrid LQQK at Sound Departures. Curated by Gian Marco Lo Forte and Nicky Paraiso.
December 11, 2016
Sunday, 6PM
The Club | 74a East 4th Street (3rd Floor)
$20 Adults; $15 Students/Seniors
Tickets - https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10125523
Facebook Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1056418674480026/
Full release - http://lamama.org/sound_departures/
José performs at Gizmodo Holiday Party 2016
José will create an installation dance piece with one dancer curated by artists Michelle Sutherland and Diego Montoya.