A true ode to the Black Fiddler!
Y-Series collab with Iymaani Abdul-Hamid(@iahstudio)
Ode To The Black Fiddler is an 8.5% ABV 30 IBU Hazy India Pale Ale with a sweet, smooth, cracker-like taste in the company of subtle fruit flavors. Citra and Azacca hops lend a wide array of tropical fruit flavors escorted by spicy and pine-like undertones. The addition of Honey Ginger Crystals and Lime Peel contributes to a smooth-tasting; concentrated tangy citrus flavor!
Iymaani Abdul-Hamid is a Bronx-born professional violist with a background in music education and community organizing. Learning the craft since she was six, taking it to the path of higher education to achieve her bachelor’s degree in viola performance as well as a masters in music education. Feeling like an outcast in an environment harbored by tradition which is predominantly European, elitist, and white male dominated; Iymaani felt the need to facilitate her own space. This space in question would enable her to feel safe and would also allow for placement of her culture and history at the forefront. Iymaani’s creative aspirations have positioned her to develop a platform where curiosity and cultural expression are encouraged becoming a catalyst for collective empowerment and healing.
“My aim is to use strings music as a tool to bring people together and learn something new/different while exposing local neighborhoods to the artistry and professionalism of today’s string musicians of color and those of the past. My process is communal, always focusing on how I can benefit and guide the larger community.”
Ode To The Black Fiddler’s can design and name take inspiration from came from the name of the multi-genre, string music festival, Ode to the Black Fiddler, which showcases the versatility of string musicians of color. Ode to the Black Fiddler is a tribute to the unrecognized “black fiddlers,” or string musicians, who left behind an incredible legacy dating back to the 1700s. The design for the label includes a previous art piece created by visual artist Josh Paige. The piece takes two abstract violins and replaces the scroll (top part of the instrument) with the face of the Black man and woman. This image represents the connection between stringed instruments and the African continent.
When asked “What do you hope to achieve with your art/platform?” Iymaani says:
” I hope to achieve a wider recognition of past string musicians of color while empowering the next generation of music makers. In addition, I plan to provide an inclusive and equitable space where cultural awareness is valued and students can develop a deeper sense of self.”
When asked “If there’s anything else you’d like to let people know?” Iymaani says:
“It’s such an honor to work collaboratively with the Bronx Brewery who has hosted the Ode To The Black Fiddler Music Festival for the past two years. Their continued support has allowed me to share the IAH Studio brand and engage with a broader audience.”
The Community collaborator for Ode To The Black Fiddler’s release is IAH Studio; a community-based organization that offers culturally responsive, private music lessons in violin, viola and music theory. Proceeds received from the release of this beer will sponsor private music lessons for students in the Bronx.
