Come together for an evening of storytelling and original music featuring resident songwriters Lora Mouna, Louie Lou Louis, and Madi Smith and storytellers Aida Zilelian, Joey Rinaldi, and Roselle Bajet. Songwriters and storytellers pair up to share their chosen stories through new songs never played live before, accompanied by a full band. Be a part of this legendary Keepsake House showcase where performance, music, and conversation intersect.
Aida Zilelian (she/her) - Storyteller
Aida Zilelian is a first generation American-Armenian writer, educator, and storyteller from Queens, NY. She is the author of THE LEGACY OF LOST THINGS, recipient of the Tololyan Literary Award. Aida's most recent novel ALL THE WAYS WE LIED released last January and she has been on a book tour. She has been performing on storytelling stages in NYC, Montreal, Boston and Los Angeles. She has also been featured in the Huffington Post, NPR’s Takeaway, among other reading series and print outlets. Her poetry chapbook DISSONANCE won the Swan Scythe contest and is forthcoming in June 2025. She will be featured on PBS' Stories from the Stage live in Boston this February. Aida is currently a speaker coach with TEDx Cabarete, which is scheduled for May 2025.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Joey Rinaldi (he/him) - Storyteller
Joey Rinaldi is an award-winning storytelling comedian whose work has been featured on the RISK! podcast, NPR, the New York Post, and The Drew Barrymore Show. He is known for transforming life’s most embarrassing and painful moments into comedy. Joey has performed at major festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York Comedy Festival, and Burbank Comedy Festival, winning Best Comedy at the 2020 NY Fringe and the 2021 International Canadian Comedy Film Festival.
A regular in the New York comedy scene, Joey co-hosts the cult-following shows Full House Comedy and Bad Trip that pop up around venues all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. When he’s not making audiences laugh, Joey is an avid screenwriter, aspiring to create the next great rom-com that Rotten Tomatoes will undoubtedly hate—but audiences will love (hopefully).
Lora Mouna (she/her) - Songwriter
Known for her confessional diary-like songwriting, Arab-American singer/songwriter Lora Mouna uses music as a vessel to capture moments of vulnerability within herself and within her relationships. Her music reflects on her shadow work and healing, emphasizing the importance of mental health. Her passion for humanitarian activism also bleeds into every part of her life, as you may see in her music and on her social media.
Louie Lou Louis (he/him) - Songwriter
Louie Lou Louis is a Haitian-American songster based in Brooklyn, NY who combines an uplifting musicality with a soothing, yet energizing vibe. Through life experiences and short stories, he celebrates human imperfection and engages audiences with an infectious positivity. With a unique blend of folk, jazz, and global music, he inspires joy and connection in any audience.
Madi Smith (she/they) - Songwriter
Madi Smith is a singer/songwriter and wannabe stand-up comic, known for her fun gay songs and witty lyricism. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, but made the big coast-to-coast move to NYC two years ago where she has since gone all in on pursuing her music career. Madi has never been able to commit to any one genre, she's really interested in exploring comedy in music and capturing the array of emotions that come with the queer experience. She's also been told her music would sound great with a band, but as of now it's just her and her guitar against the world.
Roselle Bajet (she/her) - Storyteller
advance tickets $25 /$30 at the door
Roselle Bajet is an actor and comedian based in New York. With a background in improv and stand-up, Roselle enjoys the art of entertaining people and finding humor in the absurdity of everyday life. She believes that the best comedy (and likewise the best acting) is rooted in telling the truth. Roselle aims to do no less when she is on stage. In her spare time, Roselle can be found napping, reading restaurant reviews, and contra dancing.