Taína Asili is a U.S.-born Puerto Rican singer, composer, interdisciplinary artist, and educator carrying on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice. Echoing powerful calls for love and liberation, Asili delivers energetic multi-genre fusion performances at diverse venues nationwide – from iconic stages such as Carnegie Hall and San Francisco Pride, to historic events like The Women’s March on Washington – inspiring audiences to dance to the heartbeat of social change. Her songs and music videos inspired by social justice movements have been lauded by the likes of Rolling Stone, NPR, and Billboard, and her music has aired numerous times on Democracy Now!. Asili’s work as a speaker and educator amplifies her impact, fostering a deeper understanding of social justice through art, and leaving an indelible mark at conferences, colleges, and community events nationwide.
Taína Asili’s commitment to social justice is reflected in her extensive body of work, including her latest album Resiliencia, inspired by interviews with women of color from the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. This project, which includes an award-winning music video documentary series, showcases stories of resilience against cancer, hurricanes, migration, and sexual violence. As the ‘21-22 Artist In Residence with The Social Justice Portal Project – a collaborative think tank of artists, activists, and academics – she created The Justice Suite, exploring themes of abolition, climate justice, and economic democracy. Her latest interdisciplinary show, Fever Pitch, is a groundbreaking multimedia production rooted in her prolific two-decade artistic journey addressing the intersectional issues related to the urgency of climate change. Asili holds a BA in Women’s Studies from Binghamton University and an MA in Transformative Language Arts from Goddard College, where she developed the curriculum for the art and social change workshops she facilitates nationwide. Further, Asili forges innovative connections through her podcast, The Rhythm of Rebellion, engaging in conversations with performing artists committed to social change across diverse genres.
Taína Asili’s liberation-themed work is profoundly shaped by her ancestry and identity as a queer Afro-Boricua woman, as well as her enduring commitment to activism. As a founding board member and Board Chair of Soul Fire Farm, she supports food justice initiatives, while co-founding the New York State Prisoner Justice Network highlights her dedication to ending mass incarceration and state violence. She has artistically collaborated with prominent social change organizations, such as Fight For the Future, where she organized and performed on the nationwide Rock Against The TPP tour, and The Solutions Project, for which she composed the theme song for the Climate Curious web series. Additionally, she has performed in support of numerous other grassroots organizations, including MADRE, The Movement for Black Lives, UPROSE, City Life / Vida Urbana, The California Environmental Justice Alliance, The People’s Forum, The Rising Majority, and many more. Her impactful work has earned her accolades including the Leeway Foundation’s Transformation Award, In Our Own Voices LGBT Community Advocacy Award, Citizen Action NY’s Jimmy Perry Progressive Leadership Award, and an award from the City of Albany’s Commission on Human Rights.
In 2019, Taína Asili began collaborating with One Billion Rising by writing and recording a new anthem for the movement, “We Are Rising,” as well as directing the music video. Later, she wrote and recorded a Spanish version of the anthem, “Nos Estamos Levantando.” The song has been danced to in risings throughout the world. She has also brought the anthem to life at several One Billion Rising actions, rallying crowds in front of the NYS Governor’s office to demand One Fair Wage and getting people on their feet at 92NY during V’s “An Evening of Reckoning and Rising” event, which also marked the 25th anniversary of V-Day. As the new U.S. Coordinator for One Billion Rising, Taína Asili continues to harness the transformative power of art to inspire and mobilize communities towards justice and liberation.