Therapy Session II: Maestra’s Birthday Bash N Bars

Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024

Time: 2-6pm

Location: NorthStar Church of the Arts (220 W. Geer Street, Durham, NC 27701)

Get Tickets Here

Description:

On July 27th, 2023, the "Therapy Session" series was born, showcasing hip-hop as a form of therapy. This year, the event will be held as a family-friendly event open to all ages and backgrounds where anyone in the Triangle area can be inspired by conscious Hip-Hop music.  This free event aims to provide a safe space where people can come together to “feel good” and use hip-hop in its therapeutic form as an outlet. Originally used by people of color to tell stories of oppression, hip-hop is used as a tool to bring relief through laughter, tears, and smiles - similar to what one would experience in a therapy session.  Those on their spiritual journey might think of this event as Hip-Hop church.

The Therapy Session is more than just a music event, it's a movement that aims to inspire and uplift the community through the healing power of performing arts. From the very first event, many attendees and performers alike were moved to tears by the flawless and heartfelt performances of some of the greatest local emcees. Their passion for the art form was palpable, and it sparked a desire in the hearts of many to continue the series and build on this legacy annually.

Maestra Feel Good Music is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, championing the cause of independent artists like Kala "Maestra" Hinnant, a Purdue University alumna who uses performing arts as therapy, especially for young people. As a former student of Theatre Arts - Acting and Psychology, Maestra understands the transformative power of the arts and is committed to using her vision and talents to inspire and heal others.  This is how the Therapy Session came about.

Maestra selects independent artists based on their lyrical content, performance skills, and ability to connect with the audience. She carefully chooses artists who create inspiring and therapeutic music, like spoken word or wordplay and considers their released music. While Maestra has her favorite selections, each artist is given full creative control during their sets. If the music is therapeutic for both the artist and the audience, she makes her final decision to have them share their talents. Her focus is to provide a specific vision or therapeutic story for the audience to experience while enjoying the performances.

During the showcase, there is a Cypher Artist Segment where some of the greatest local artists with a passion for freestyle perform their own songs, freestyle or both for 5-minute sets back-to-back. The purpose of this segment is to display artists who have the capability to improvise as well as create hits. After the Cypher Artists have completed their performance, the floor is open for anyone to display their improvisational skills through freestyle. This portion is called the cipher, inspired by the fact that artists have an impulse to perform anywhere, anytime, and now, even audience members can take part.

The remaining featured artists perform before the headliner ties the show together with a performance of his/her work and counsel, which is called "free game."  The upcoming Therapy Session II event will feature Maestra as the headlining performer, just like last year. She will be performing heartfelt tunes, including her newly released single "Alright." In addition to her performance, models will walk down the runway wearing clothing from designers Jamice's Closet and No Xqses to fan favorites, such as “Let’s Decompress” and “Pretty Girls,” showcasing another form of therapy: fashion. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase items directly from the designers. 

Several vendors will be participating in the event, including True Soul and Seafood Food Truck. They will be taking preorders for their menu items, which will consist of fish, wings, and some vegan/vegetarian options. Endless Will will be showcasing his unique talent of creating custom poems for donations, using his exceptional typewriting skills and beautiful words from the heart and soul. BrainSTEMology will be hosting the Kid's Corner, where children of all ages can participate in creating molecular models of neurotransmitters. Dopeheadz Shop will be selling some of our favorite products for creatives. Importantly, several organizations in the Triangle will disseminate information on mental health resources in our community.  The event has something for everyone to enjoy.

First annual Therapy Session Clips

-Lena Jackson gives her take on the necessity of mental health and performs. (Lena Jackson - Therapy Session)

-J Rowdy performs "My Way" during the cipher segment (J Rowdy - Therapy Session)

-Maestra performing “Still M.A.E.” as the headliner.  (Maestra - Therapy Session)

Therapy Session II Line-Up

Host

Bishop Omega

DJ

Corey Smith

Featured Artists

Iconic Bond

Tesh

Vinnie Dangerous

Juteria

Mr. Adams

Maestra

Cypher Artist Segment

Barz

Fonzi

LWord

Watty Tha Shepherd

Blair

Jrusalam

Tuscon

Eternal The MC

Vendors

True Soul and Seafood Food Truck

No Xqses

Jamice's Closet

Endless Will

Dopeheadz

BrainSTEMology

So, if you're looking for a music event that's more than just a night out, bring the family and join us at the Therapy Session. Experience the passion and energy of some of the most talented local emcees, and be part of a movement that's changing lives through the power of performing arts.

*Disclaimer: When we use the word "therapy," it is solely intended to illustrate how the creative and performing arts can be utilized as a tool for personal growth, emotional well-being, and positive transformation. Please note that this usage is not to be construed as professional therapy provided by licensed professionals accredited by state or programmatic accrediting bodies.