Today as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s timeless legacy of hope and community, we are proud to premiere the Armenian remix of “Smile” by Black Alley, featuring Artyom Manukyan and Miqayel Voskanyan.

The US Embassy sponsored the visit of Black Alley last summer to bring go-go music to Armenia for the first time. During a musical tour filled with a fusion of African-American and Armenian musical traditions, we witnessed crank across cultures. New creative bonds were activated that exemplified the power of music to build bridges.

Check out the music video, which features behind-the-scenes tour footage, and the many inspiring Armenian musicians the band met along the way!

Thank you again to all our friends and partners who helped to make Black Alley’s Armenia tour a success: Ordinary Wonder Society, Armenia Vibes, Artyom Manukyan, Miqayel Voskanyan, Meeting Point Studios, Yerevan Wine Days Festival, Garage Club in Gyumri, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, NVAK Foundation, Emil Aregagk Center in Gyumri, Yerevan State Conservatory, and American Music Abroad.



Credits:
Black Alley - "Smile" (the Armenian Remix), featuring Artyom Manukyan and Miqayel Voskanyan

Sound Producing - Black Alley / Josh on Bass
Sound Mixing - Carolyn Malachai
Sound Recording - Meeting Point Studios / Narek Barseghyan
Video Production - Armenia Vibes / Armen Petrosyan
(c) 2024