Today we’d like to introduce you to Muata Ayodele Langley.
Muata Langley aka Madd Moses. Muata is a movement artist from New Haven, CT. He began dancing at age 5, influenced heavily by Michael Jackson. He later trained in popping, breaking, hip-hop, capoeira, and street-jazz, but krump was the style that he latched on to the most due to the aspect of the dance and the emotive release through its movement.
Muata has since worked with artists such as Rhapsody James, Lil Kim, Wyton Marsalis, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Keegan-Michael Key, and with brands such as Guess, JBL Audio, Macy’s. He’s determined to show his two young children that dreams are what you make them and to never give up on them.
Please tell us about your art.
I love to create no matter what it is. I was always moving around when I was younger…my father and step mother brought me to Zambia and South Africa as a child…I spent long Summers in South Carolina in a village that practice African lifestyle of Yoruba people… So, I very much feel like my art is centered in spiritual connection to my culture. It is important. I am a traveler and I feel the more we travel the more we understand the world and it’s treasures…same as the different languages and dialects…I see the same in art and dance so if you understand the root you can better understand the importance of the language. I have loved poetry, dance, and music since a child as well and have them as some modes of communication to describe my environments and express the ways I interact with them. I am now working on performing my poems that incorporate movement and vocal and also involved in a music group called The Ken Project.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Success is literally what you decide it to be as an artist. If you set to do something it’s your journey and there will be times where others feel like you can be doing what THIER VERSION of success for you…if it doesn’t align with you don’t worry about that and focus on your goals. The characteristics I believe you need is drive- the will power to make your stamp in whatever industry you are heading into, endurance- to understand it’s a marathon not a sprint, focus on your race…be ready when the baton comes, heart- your heart will keep you honest and intentions pure no matter the situation if it’s out of genuine love and understanding, Keep your child like self around to reassure you to dream big and laugh hard.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see my work on Instagram & SoundCloud till my website is constructed
Art and travel
Instagram.com/Madd_Moses
Preforming Artist Page
Instagram.com/Aiyoo_mo
Curation Page
Instagram.com/Maddmethods
Contact Info:
- Phone: 2028928346
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @Madd_moses @Aiyoo_Mo
- Facebook: Muata Ayodele
Image Credit:
Shootmadonna, W4yVideography, Layerythm Experience, Drawing w Light Photography
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