Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles
International Anthem presents Kalia Vandever for their *Mana* record release. LA-based producer and melodist megiapa opens the night. *(Photo credit: Lesley Mok)* ~ Kalia Vandever (they/them) is a trombonist and composer living in New York. Praised by AllMusic as “a master musician and composer” and “a singular talent,” Vandever’s approach to the trombone is distinctive, defined by their sonorous tone and lyrical voicing. They lean into the challenges of the instrument and allow patience and melody to guide their process. Vandever’s music has quickly and widely gained traction in the last few years despite the fact that their style has been consistently difficult to pin down, boasting a compositional scope ranging from the palatial modern jazz of their quartet work (notably featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson) to the synthetic, gauze-like droning ambience of their solo material, their compositional practice draws from their love of both songs and improvisation, creating a landscape of sounds that resonate in the body and hold the listener. This dexterity has not gone unnoticed, with The Wire asserting, “Vandever has never sounded more assured and in control of their many strengths.” *Mana* is the International Anthem debut by composer, trombonist and vocalist Kalia Vandever. This new full length carries on the expansive and dazed spirit of their first solo album, We Fell In Turn, while entering a new landscape of spacious songwriting. ~ With deep roots in Chicago’s underground beat scene, Ohio-born, Los Angeles-based linguist, producer, visual artist, and vocalist megiapa makes jazz-influenced experimental beat music. In 2019, she self-released her debut LP *’92*, introducing the world to her distinctive sound, followed by *diddies* — an ongoing series in which she produces a new beat each day for a week, showcasing her intuitive talent for crafting immersive sonic worlds with infectious melodies. The first installment she released, diddies vol. 1, was named a Bandcamp Essential Release in 2021. In the years since, she's put forth several more singles and two more EPs, including *diddies vol. 2* in 2023. Pulling inspiration from eclectic corners with an eye on the Afro-future, megiapa's growing body of work articulates a constantly evolving yet consistently original sound, painting fractured downtempo and palatial lo-fi soundscapes with soulful swaths of vocal harmonies.