Sasha Hsuczyk is an Asian-American old-time musician currently based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Exposed to punk music and anarchist ideology growing up in Los Angeles, California, Sasha performs music that rallies around themes social justice and activism. Starting on the Irish fiddle at a young age, Sasha eventually traveled to Dublin, where it was an Irishman that introduced her to a love of American old-time and traditional music. With a career encompassing punk and metal as well as the traditional musics of Irish fiddle, American old-time and Sacred Harp, Sasha’s immense talent is also prevalent in her work towards education. She regularly teaches at Camp Fasola, a Sacred Harp summer camp based in Alabama. 

Much of Sasha’s repertoire has been pieced together from time spent traveling through the American south. Her list of influences includes the original Carter Family, Anne Briggs, Jean Ritchie, Hazel Dickens, Julia Clifford, Kitty Wells, and Flannery O’Connor to name a few. One of her most recent projects, The New Abolitionists, includes new takes on old melodies. Traditional songs like “Let it Fall,” have since been reworked to reflect the current struggle against the white supremacist state. This Thursday, Sasha will join Ian Hallagan on Punk & Old-Time Radio to discuss her musical journey and upcoming projects. 

McKissick's radio show Punk & Old-Time Radio: Conversations on Community, Conflict, and Cohesion airs weekly on WUSC Radio (90.5 FM)  through April, Thursdays at 2:00pm EDT.