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- You Should Know: Andreya Triana (Video Interview/Soul Bounce)
- Black Cab Sessions: Solange performing “Bad Girls”
- New Album Releases: May 7, 2013
- You Should Know: Onra (Video Interview/The Daily Motive)
- New Video: Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu – “Q.U.E.E.N.”
- New Album Release: April 23, 2013
- New Video: Leonard Friend – “Every Woman”
- New Album Releases: April 9, 2013
- New Music: The Hood Internet – “Suit and Commercial” (Justin Timberlake x Daft Punk)
- NYC: Alt-soul singer Maiysha performs at The Living Room, Mar. 29
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NYC: Alt-soul singer Maiysha performs at The Living Room, Mar. 29
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Maiysha will hit the stage at The Living Room in New York City on Friday, March 29 at 9pm. She will share the spotlight with musician Matt Singer.
The Minneapolis-bred, Brooklyn-based artist mixes the genres of R&B, rock, blues and jazz to create a sound that garnered her a 2009 Grammy nomination for her first single “Wanna Be” in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category. The song is from her debut LP, This Much Is True: (2008) released via Eusonia Records.
In 2010, Maiysha delivered her live album entitled UnderCover, which featured cover versions of songs that inspired the singer. Guided by her signature version of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” on This Much Is True, tracks re-worked on Undercover included Nancy Sinantra’s “Bang Bang,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game.” Undercover was recorded live at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC.
Record Store Day Official Film: “Last Shop Standing”
I think most every music fan at some point in their life has wanted to work in a record store. Not a big box chain store, but a small independently owned shop with a primary focus on music. It’s the meeting ground for like-minded music fans, nerds, artists, writers and DJs abound. “It’s like a library for your ears and your mind,” says Johnny Marr, about record stores, in the official RECORD STORE DAY film, Last Shop Standing: The Rise and Fall and Rebirth of the Independent Record Shop.
The documentary, directed by Pip Piper, is based on the book of the same name by Graham Jones where he “takes you behind the counter to discover why nearly 2000 record shops have already disappeared across the UK.” But it also delves into the rise, fall and re-emergence of record stores, as well as newer technologies like digital downloads.
Since 2008, Record Store Day has been celebrated every third Saturday of April. On this one day, independent record stores gather with artists to celebrate the “art of music” with exclusive vinyl, CD and promotional releases. Many stores host in-store performances and meet and greets as well. It’s a fun time for all!
So click here to see exclusives titles being released for RSD this year, which falls on April 20th, and start making your list!
Snoop Lion Documentary “Reincarnated” In Select Theatres, On Demand
In case you didn’t know, famed rapper Snoop Dogg is now reggae artist Snoop Lion. In his new documentary Reincarnated, which hit select theatres last Friday (March 14– for one-week only) features the artist’s transformation into Snoop Lion while recording an album in Jamaica in February 2012. It shows the California rapper meeting with Rastafarian elders to reflect on his years growing up in Long Beach and his fast rise to super stardom, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Born Calvin Broadus, Snoop is also set to release his new LP of the same name on April 23 via Berhane Sound System, Mad Decent, VICE Music and RCA Records. According to Pitchfork, noted DJ and producer Diplo will produce the project and it features Drake, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, T.I., Akon, Rita Ora, and dancehall stars Popcaan and Mavado, to name a few.
Below, watch the trailer for Reincarnated and Snoop’s new video for new single “Lighters Up” featuring Popcaan and Mavado. Reincarnated is currently available On Demand as well.
Live Review: Bruno Mars at Reliant Stadium (3.7.13)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – Pop-soul singer Bruno Mars is the total package. He plays the guitar, drums and piano. He’s an accomplished songwriter, co-penning hits like Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” to B.o.B’s “Nothing on You,” and he can dance, too. Last Thursday night he packed Reliant Stadium, bringing in 75,000 screaming fans — a record attendance, according to Rodeo Houston.
Mars carries a casual and comfortable stage persona and exudes self confidence. Dressed in a checkered flannel shirt, lime-green t-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers, the Hawaii-born singer immediately got down to the singles from his current LP Unorthodox Jukebox, released last December via Atlantic Records. He began with “Moonshine,” then moved to “Natalie” and “Treasure,” onto “Show Me,” mashing it with “Our First Time,” another R&B-reggae tune from his debut Doo-Wops & Hooligans.
Honestly, it was a short set. Thirteen songs in a bit over an hour. But ask me if it mattered? Mars danced and hammed it up the entire time. Fans ate it up (including me!). Performing “Billionaire,” mixing it with an oldie “Money (That’s What I Want),” the talented artist segued into “Marry You” from Doo-Wop and back to his recent with “If I Knew,” blending it with Boyz II Men’s 1992 hit “End of the Road.” Bringing the romance full circle, Mars, of course, sang “When I Was Your Man,” the vulnerable ballad that’s as beautiful live as it is on the radio. He closed out the night with chart-toppers “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Just the Way You Are.” It was the fastest hour of great music I’ve ever witnessed at the rodeo. Total package indeed.
Nelson George-directed film “Finding The Funk” premieres at SXSW, Mar. 13
Finding the Funk is a new music documentary by author and music critic Nelson George. Premiering at SXSW in Austin next week, the film — narrated by Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, follows the journey of Funk music — past, present and future. Traveling from Georgia to California, onward to Dayton and Detroit, the director will showcase the sounds of Motown as well as the P-Funk era. Interviews will feature a who’s who of music legends, including Sly Stone, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Nona Hendryx, Maceo Parker, Bernie Worrell, and Steve Arrington, as well as “their descendants Mike D, D’Angelo, Sheila E and Shock G.” If you’re going to be in Austin, there will be a funk panel on Saturday, March 16, featuring Collins and Worrell, among others.
Finding the Funk was funded via Kickstarter, and according to Nelson George, there will be a forthcoming premiere for backers in Brooklyn sometime this spring or summer. A shorter version of the doc will air on VH1 in the fall. Check out the SXSW trailer below.
BROOKLYN: Party with cultural critic Touré at Greenlight Bookstore, Mar. 29
![Pop culture critic Toure takes on Prince in new book, "I Would Did 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon" [Atria]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Pop-culture-critic-Toure-takes-on-Prince-in-new-tome-I-Would-Did-4-U_-Why-Prince-Became-an-Icon.jpg){kind=icon}
Though mastering the worlds of pop, soul, funk, R&B and rock music, Prince has always been an enigma. From overtly sexual lyrics in the 80′s and 90′s to pop-up concerts and a more toned down image in the new millennium, the producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has influenced artists and musicians alike in his near 35-year career.
Now author and pop culture critic Touré takes on the music legend in new tome, I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon (Atria, $14.00), out March 19.
Drawing upon “in-depth interviews with Prince’s band members, former girlfriends, musicologists, and even Bible scholars to deconstruct the artist’s life and work,” Touré weaves a tale of deep analysis and cultural perspective that has many ringing its praise.
“I’m a Prince scholar and this is the ultimate Prince book.” — Questlove
“Based on his Du Bois Lectures at Harvard, Touré has written a thoughtful and compelling book that is both a full and sensitive explication of the genius of Prince’s music, as well as his exemplary role as an seminal figure in contemporary American culture. It is must reading for any student of popular culture. – Henry Louis Gates
I, for one, cannot wait to read I Would Die 4 U.
That being said, if you are in Brooklyn, there will be a book signing as well as a dance party held on Friday, March 29 from 7 PM to 9 PM at Greenlight Bookstore (686 Fulton St.) in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. Touré will sign copies of I Would Die 4 U and a guest DJ will spin popular Prince tunes. Below is a short bio of the author.
Touré is a co-host of MSNBC’s The Cycle and his writings have appeared in Rolling Stones, The New York Times Magazine, The Village Voice and Time.com. He is the author of four books: Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? (2011), Never Drank the Kool-Aid (2006), Soul City (2004) and The Portable Promised Land (2003). He lives in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.
NYC: The Roots, Talib Kweli to honor Prince at Carnegie Hall, Mar. 7
NEW YORK CITY – Benefiting music programs for under-privileged youth, The Roots, Talib Kweli, D’Angelo, Bilal and more are set to honor the music of Prince at Carnegie Hall on March 7, 2013.
“The concert will mark the ninth year that Michael Dorf, the founder of City Winery, has mounted a show to raise funds for education programs serving the poor,” says the New York Times.
This year, the programs benefiting from the event are the American Symphony Orchestra, Church Street School for Music and Art, Fixing Instruments for Kids in School, GRAMMY in the Schools, Young Audiences New York, Little Kids Rock and the Center for Arts Education.
In a statement Dorf admits: “Prince is one of the most prolific songwriters in my collection, and he makes my Top 10 when I think about the artists who have truly shaped modern music.” An eclectic array of musicians will reinterpret the catalog of the artist, including Bettye LaVette, Blind Boys of Alabama, Citizen Cope and Alice Smith, Elvis Costello, Princess (feat. Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum) and Sandra Bernhard.
Past tributes have been for The Rolling Stones, The Who, R.E.M., Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
This year’s event will be curated by drummer, producer and resident “Prince-fanatic” Amir “Questlove” Thompson. Tickets start at $48. To purchase, visit Carnegie Hall’s box office or buy online.
[Via The Revivalist]
HOUSTON: Bruno Mars Playing RodeoHouston, Mar. 7
Pop star Bruno Mars will play Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Thursday, March 7, 2013, at Reliant Stadium. On his latest album Unorthodox Jukebox, the Grammy-winning artist issues a varied blend of musical styles; his sophomore release via Atlantic Records.
Two years ago the “Grenade” singer delivered Doo-Wops & Hooligans, a slightly G-rated project full of sweet and unconditional love songs such as “Just The Way You Are” and “Marry You,” however, Unorthodox Jukebox – ringing in at only 34 minutes, is straight up and down about S-E-X. From “making love like gorillas” to “your sex takes me to paradise“ on lead single “Locked Out of Heaven,” Mars makes no bones about his life in the pop star lane. Along with production team The Smeezingtons (songwriter Philip Lawrence and engineer Ari Levine), the songwriter creates music that not only connects with his audience, but shows his vulnerable side too; as shown on “Treasure,” “When I Was Your Man” and “If I Knew.”
Having written Billboard chart-toppers for artists such as B.o.B (“Nothin’ on You”), Travie McCoy (“Billionaire”) and Cee Lo Green (“Fuck You”), Bruno Mars continues his knack for churning out hit-making songs. (original review appears at SSNYC).
Bruno Mars Live on Jimmy Kimmel performing “When I Was Your Man”
Pt. 2 – “My Teenage Love Affair With Music”
Last February I did a month-long project called “29 Days of My Teenage Love Affair with Music” – which was music I absolutely adored between the ages of 13 and 19, the years between 1988 to 1994. These were not only full-length albums, but single cuts, non-mainstream tracks, cassettes, one-hit wonders, movie soundtracks and the like, that I would play over and over and over again.
That being said, I’m doing it again this year! However, this time around I’m moving forward to ages 20 to 24-years old –- the years of 1995 to 1999. A period where my musical palette continued to grow from R&B to rock to hip-hop to neo soul. And to be honest, a moment in time when music was pretty dope. But especially, a point in my life where not only did my musical taste change, but my personal life did as well. I joined the military and moved away from home for the first time; got my first tattoo; fell in love especially hard, got engaged, broke up; met Morris Day; spent three-months in Haiti; started college; bungee jumped; saw Prince in concert for the first time; moved to Japan; and fell in love even harder. There were good times and not-so-good times, such is life. But the love for music never stopped.
With all the adult changes in my life, naturally my song choices matured too. I went from loving “Dial My Heart” by The Boys in ’88 to adoring “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden in ‘97. Music is a universal language. No matter where I’ve lived or whom I’ve met, music has somehow found a way into the conversation almost immediately. My hope is that all of you will go down memory lane with me and feel the universal effect music from the 90’s still has on music of today. So feel free to post comments, share it, tweet it, pin it if like.
The first “28 Days” post will begin this Friday, February 1st.
New Video: Indie Band Suite 709 – “Life Won’t Let You Down”
Photo Courtesy: Suite 709
Filmed in Chicago during their summer tour, Austin-based band Suite 709 releases their new video “Life Won’t Let You Down,” an uplifting single from their debut album Night & Day. The pop and soul crew highlights Chi-Town and most of its glory, as well as what it’s like to be an touring indie band in the U.S. of A, which includes personally loading and unloading equipment into vans and up freight elevators.
And the fun hasn’t stopped yet. The group will be in Dallas on December 22nd, opening for soul singer Leela James at The Prophet Bar (2513 Main St). Tickets can be purchased here.
A few months back I interviewed three of the guys (lead vocalist Jirod Green, keyboardist/manager Dietrich Schmidt and guitarist David Butler) for a piece on indie bands, social media and marketing. Night & Day is in stores, on vinyl and available for download now.
DIY Artists Suite 709, Papa Grows Funk & Dantrel “FAVE” Robinson Speak On Social Media, Marketing & Being Indie
Former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, Tje Austin opens for Suite 709, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/ND McCray)
The Future of Music Coalition, a research and advocacy organization for musicians, completed a recent study saying that though technology is a “double-edged sword for musicians” now with the advent of digital music stores, podcasting and streaming services–the opportunity for artists to produce and distribute their own music has been “greatly reduced.” That is to say, “the Internet alone is not the only way to make money with music, but it is a big, maybe the biggest, part of the equation these days – both for sales and exposure.”
A true independent artist is someone who does not receive any financial backing from a record label to record his or her album. Essentially handling all marketing, promotion, distribution, touring, live booking, new media, merchandising and all other aspects independently, according to MoneyInMusic.com, a web site offering advice to musicians to make money with their music.
Self-funded music entrepreneurs can now get their music directly to fans via blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, SoundCloud, Bandcamp or any number of legal music services; thereby, charting their way to a successful and sustainable career. But it will take hard work to make it work.
MoneyInMusic offers this advice for up-and-coming musicians: Play live shows, setup a really good website (WordPress, Tumblr) with no less than a bio, and include sound clips, your CD/EP/single for sale and an email list for fans. Learn about the business, but set your own pace. Maintain your focus or even start your own label and take on other artists. Make social media a part of your marketing plan.
INDIE DOWN IN AUSTIN
DIY artists Suite 709 headline a KGSR/Do512-presented show at The Parish, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/ND McCray)
Austin, Texas-based indie pop, rock and soul band Suite 709 formed in July 2009, and they seem to have the indie machine well oiled. Mixing classic Motown and 90’s-era Lenny Kravitz, with a dash of Maroon 5, the quintet — comprised of vocalist Jirod Greene, Dietrich Schmidt (keys and manager for the group), David Butler (guitar), Drew Walters (bassist) and Zach Boston (drums) — initially gained a following the old-fashioned way: Through word-of-mouth advertising and touring before they even had an album out.
“We wrote and toured for a year before recording, so we actually had a fan base [first],” saysButler at their in-home studio in Austin.
Having attended a free show in their honor at The Parish on 6th Streetin August–where The Voice’s former contestant Tje Austin opened, the crowded venue included a mixed bag of folks from college students and hipsters to middle-aged folks and fellow musicians.
Watch Suite 709 at The Parish performing The Jackson’s “Can You Feel It.”
Having a do it yourself (DIY) mindset in place, with a combination of online marketing and promotional skills via platforms like the band’s website, Google+, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, the guys are now part of Google+’s most recent Ad campaign for “Hangouts On-Air.”
Releasing their debut album Nite and Day in July – which was funded in 2011 via Kickstarter — where fans and supporters contributed between $25 and $2,500 for the project, three of the guys (Dietrich, Jirod and David) sat down with me at their home studio in September to talk digital marketing, fan interaction, staying positive as well as staying indie. To which Dave states: “Currently we do everything in house; literally, no manager, no booking agent, no record label, no nothing.”
[Listen: 3 min: 8 sec] Suite 709 – Interview snippet
TIMING, MARKETING AND PROMOTION
“There’s never, ever, ever been a better time to be an independent artist right now… ever,” according to marketing guru Seth Godin in a recent video interview with publicity maven Arial Hyatt. Godin says that “If everyone knows your song, someone’s going to show up and say: Come do a live gig …” He says that if you can overcome the obscurity problem and get people to talk about your music and attend your shows, the money will follow.
If you can come overcome the obscurity problem, getting people to talk about your music and attend your shows, Godin says, the money will follow.
Marketing & social media pro Dantrel “Fave” Robinson working on his iPad at Starbucks, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Houston, Texas. (Photo/ND McCray)
“The cool thing about indie artist fans, they are more loyal than a pop artist fan, says Grammy™ Blogger Dantrel “Fave” Robinson.
“No diss to a pop artist fan. But the relationship, it takes more work to forge it. It’s easy to be a fan of Lady GaGa, it’s easy to be a fan of Miley Cyrus … it’s easy to be a fan of Justin Bieber because they’re in your face. They’re on TV, they’re on the radio… there’s merchandising, it’s in your face. If you want to write them, it’s there.”
Robinson, who’s an indie singer, songwriter and musician, as well as a marketing and social media expert, who has developed promotional campaigns for Coca-Cola, BP Oil and Hewlett-Packard, continues: But an indie artist — they don’t get all that mass media love. So when a fan loves you, that means they’ve taken the time to find you. They’ve taken the time to figure out what show you’re at. They took out the time to save their money to go see your show,” says the Houston-based artist.
“It’s important from a social media standpoint … [because] the tools are now there that kind of level the playing field, so now an indie artist can reach an international audience. An indie artist can reach people on Twitter and talk to them individually and rap to that person.”
IFPI DIGITAL MUSIC REPORT
Aside from popular social networking platforms, there are many digital music services that can maximize an artist’s reach. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is an affiliate of the Recording Industry Association of America, and a non-profit member organization that works to protect the recorded music of artists and producers in over 60 countries. The IFPI’s Digital Music Report for 2011 declares that there are now more than 400-licensed music services worldwide (up from less than 60 in 2004), which are enough outlets for artists to get music into the hands of eager fans. Some of those digital platforms, as of 2011, include AOL Music, Artist Direct, Bandcamp, Beatport, MOG, MySpace Music, ReverbNation and Traxsource, among others.
(See complete list at the end of the Digital Music Report)
INDIE JAZZ IN NEW ORLEANS
John Gros of New Orleans band Papa Grows Funk playing a funk-filled jazz set at The Continental Club, Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, in Houston, Texas. (Photo/ND McCray)
With no set play lists or rehearsals; Papa Grows Funk earned their indie stripes touring back in 2002, when Twitter, Facebook and YouTube had yet to appear. Thus, they had to learn social media and marketing via online message boards.
Based out of New Orleans, Louisiana, the group’s latest LP Needle In The Groove (Funky Krewe Records) showcases a confident jazz and funk fusion that’s been perfected throughout the years. In a late September interview, John Gros, manager and lead man of the group, talked to me about those early years:
“What happened in the earlier days was that we were all playing with different other bands of the same genre — George Porter’s band, The Wild Magnolias, The Funky Meters, so we had a fan base through those bands. So what we did, we went to message boards. It was just me, like Papa Grows Funk … I would just post on a million different message boards, so when fans from all over the country would come down [to visit], maybe they would stick their head in — and it worked!”
The group, which includes Gros on the Hammond B3 organ, June Yamagishi on guitar, Marc Pero on bass, Jason Mingledorff on sax, and Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander on drums — plays some 100 shows per year in and around their home base as well as New York City, San Francisco and Japan.
Having joined Facebook around 2008, Gros handles marketing for the group by utilizing the platform to connect with fans and to promote upcoming shows. “Within two or three weeks [on Facebook] I probably had about 300 to 400 friends. And it was never a personal thing; it immediately turned into a marketing tool,” he says. “We don’t have a marketing budget; we never had a marketing budget. So it was like how can we do this fast, cheap and easy?”
“Out of the Mud” (from PGF’s Needle In The Groove)
Having interviewed Robinson a few days after Gros, the Grammy™ blogger recalled a similar story that ties-in social media, touring and using both as promo tools, despite online piracy still existing.
“So now you shift to maybe to 2005 to I’ll say, 2009. That’s around the time that YouTube came out. At this point the machine [record business] was taking its hit. They mad, taking people to jail; putting mamas in jail for downloading Justin Bieber songs or whatever. But at the same time, indie artists now have more technology, they have more outlets,” he shares.
“During that time, I interviewed Phonte [of indie hip-hop/R&B and electro duo The Foreign Exchange] and I asked a similar question, so to kind of bring it all full circle, I’ll say what he said:
“The music then becomes a promotional tool. Because at the end of the day, artists — and this goes back to the last 50 years – they make their money on the road. That’s why the O’Jays [R&B/soul group] and Frankie Beverly [soul/R&B band] still get a check. They love the show, they love the energy, but that’s where the money is. The money is in the show, the money is in the merchandise,” he says.
“But why would I come see you, why would I buy your merchandise, if I haven’t heard your music? So it’s kind of like, its cool if you downloading it or whatever. But if you came to my show and you dropped $20… Then it’s all good, [so] it balances out.”
The Future of Music by Dave Kusek, founder of BerkleeMusic.com, the world’s largest online music school. (Photo/Digital Cowboys)
Bottom line: There are a plethora of avenues for which an artist can showcase their work, thereby, creating a successful and long-term career: Be it touring, merchandising, CD and digital sales or even licensing music to TV or film. These tools are readily available. Now it’s a matter of an artist utilizing them.
Dave Kusek & Gerd Leonhard, co-authors of The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution (Berklee Press, 2005), shares this piece of advice in Chapter 4 of their book:
Music marketing has always been, and will always be, about exposure and discovery.
LIVE REVIEW: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, House of Blues (Houston, TX) – 11/11/12
Grace Potter on stage at HOB’s in Houston, TX, on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. (photo/ND McCray)
Opening with the title track from her latest album, The Lion The Beast The Beat, Vermont singer-songwriter Grace Potter showcased her rock-star style along with band mates the Nocturnals at House of Blues on Sunday night.
Undeniably a rock and roll outfit, GPN is also steeped in soul, blues, gospel and country music. Touring heavily in support of their newest project, released in June, the crew opened for country music superstars Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney in August at Reliant Stadium for their Brothers of the Sun Tour.
Potter told CultureMap Houston last week: “That whole tour was a highlight for me this summer — especially when I got to sit in with Kenny during his show and watch how he controls the energy of 50-some-odd-thousand people. It’s a pretty inspiring thing to see.”
Grace duets with the star on his track “You and Tequila,” a 2011 crossover hit that exposed the group to a much wider audience.
Grace Potter at House of Blues. (photo/ND McCray)
With a light show that rivaled many big-name major-label artists, Potter showcased that she learned from (and can hang with) the best of them. Divvying up sentimental songs like “Stars” and the theatrical “Turntable” (from The Lion The Beast The Beat) with their catchiest tracks from previous albums like “Money,” “Low Road,” “Stop The Bus,” Medicine,“ and of course, “Paris (Oh La La),” the band also included cover versions of Otis Redding and Elton John tunes.
Their set list was compiled via fan-requests on Twitter, thus, making every show a new and different experience. But I, as well as the people around me, could feel the passion in Potter’s voice during Redding’s “Pain In My Heart,” where her powerhouse vocals and organ skills shined through.
For Elton John’s sing-a-long classic “Rocket Man,” country-blues singer RayLand Baxter, who opened for the group, joined in for a rousing rendition. As for other tracks performed (think: “Nothing But The Water II,” “Sweet Hands,” “Apologies,” “2:22,” “That Phone,” as well as an amazing cover by Heart (“Crazy On You”).
Potter says this about a live show: “People come to a rock concert to get lost in the moment and to lose themselves. [And] the best way to do it is to dance, shake off your inhibitions, just really let go and sing at the top of your lungs, whether you know the words or not. That to me is a true visceral rock-and-roll experience.”
And what an experience it was.
The Lion The Beast The Beat is available everywhere now.
“Jazz on the Green” presents Robert Glasper Experiment this Friday, Oct 26
HOUSTON, TEXAS – Robert Glasper, the jazz pianist and High School for the Performing and Visual Arts alum, returns to Houston for a special performance of his jazz and hip-hop fusion at downtown’s Discovery Green, on Friday, October 26. With guest opener: HSPVA Jazz Orchestra.
Robert Glasper Experiment consists of Glasper on piano and Fender Rhodes, Casey Benjamin on vocoder and sax, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Chris Dave.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle earlier this year, Glasper spoke about his newly released fourth album, Black Radio (Blue Note Records), saying that he “wanted to create a project that could withstand the casualties of the poor quality of music that’s being shoved down our throats by mainstream radio.” He continues: “For this album, I really did it for the urban mainstream audience, because that’s what’s missing in jazz. I wanted to do stuff that the audience would love.” Hip-hop and R&B vibes fuel the record but at the heart of it, jazz is the word.
Ledisi at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, 2010 / photo: Wire Image
Grammy-nominee and noted jazz-R&B singer Ledisi, who’s one of many features on the LP, says, ”It [Black Radio] reminds me of a show that Robert would give where he’d have all of his friends come and hang with him, and just sing or write anything or make up something on the spot. But what I love about it; is that it’s introducing the world to his world, and that’s what’s special about it.”
Robert’s friends include a large list of respected neo-soul, R&B and hip-hop artists: Erykah Badu, Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, Lupe Fiasco, Chrisette Michele, Musiq Soulchild, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), Stokely Williams (Mint Condition) and yasiin bey (Mos Def).
Ledisi says, “He understands all music, not just jazz. He understands R&B, hip-hop. He’s worked with everybody. So there’s nothing he can’t do. And that’s what I admire about him; he’s very special in that way.”
On October 9, Glasper released Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP, that includes new mixes by ?uestlove, 9th Wonder, Pete Rock, and Georgia Anne Muldrow, among others.
Watch the above video featuring “Gonna Be Alright” by Ledisi as well as the title track “Black Radio” by yasiin bey. If you haven’t heard it yet, also take a listen to “Ah Yeah” featuring Chrisette Michele and Musiq Soulchild, which was the first single released from Black Radio, and one of my favorite tracks on the entire project.
Video by Robert Glasper/YouTube
My best Brooklyn experiences: 10 reasons to visit the best borough in New York
Entering BK via Brooklyn Bridge in 2010
Now that The Barclays Center, an indoor entertainment and sports arena, officially opened its doors on Friday (Sept 28) in downtown Brooklyn– with an inaugural performance by the King of BK (thanks Jay-Z), it has given the borough and surrounding businesses more publicity than usual, which is giving tourists and native New Yorkers alike more reason to head downtown.
Usually passing the construction site for the Barclays Center on my daily commute, until this year I’d lived in various parts of BK since early 2009. From Bay Ridge to Lefferts Garden, to Greenpoint to Flatbush, living in Brooklyn was probably the most exhausting yet exciting three years of my entire life! From DJs rocking out in parks to a musical legend giving a free show in Coney Island –every day of the week was something new and special to experience.
But don’t get it twisted, as a military veteran who was stationed in Arizona, Alaska, Nebraska, Haiti and Japan over an eight-year span, living in BK was by choice rather than by circumstance.
That being said, I decided to craft my top 10 list of favorite Brooklyn moments during my time as resident. Included are concerts, film screenings, a restaurant, a bookstore and a few fan moments. This is by no means a complete catalog of events; I have New York stories for days but this is sort of my PR moment love letter to BK.
Lastly, IF you are planning a visit to New York for the first time (or second or third), definitely check out Times Square, 34th Street, Soho, The West Village, etc. but do take the time to visit Brooklyn! It’s a whole other experience.
So without further ado …
1. Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene – At the corner of Fulton and South Portland stands the independently-owned Greenlight Bookstore. For nearly a year I worked at (and had many flirtatious encounters) at this little shop. Started by Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo and Rebecca Fitting in late 2009, it’s a great place for good reads, sweet author events, and the occasional “family-member-of-a-celeb-spotting”. While there I met rapper Talib Kweli’s mom and actor Steve Buscemi’s brother. But I also met Jennifer Egan, author of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning book A Visit From the Goon Squad and noted music journalist and cultural critic Touré.
2. Aretha Franklin in Coney Island – Stood in line for nearly two hours just to witness the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin give a free performance at Coney Island’s Asser Levy Park during the 2011 Summer Concert Series. Setlist included “Respect,” “Chain of Fools” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
Vinyl version of Odyssey’s “Inside Out” (Twitpic photo/ND McCray)
3. DJ Spinna and Dam-Funk at Fort Greene Park – Spike Lee filmed many scenes from his 1986 feature film She’s Gotta Have It in Ft. Greene Park. However, on a warm summer day in 2010, soulful house producer DJ Spinna and electro-funk-boogie king Dam-Funk brought out many music lovers for their summer concert in the park.
Bonus memory: There was a song in DJ Spinna’s set that I’d loved for years but never knew the song title or artist. So the next day I hit him up on Twitter and described the song and the point at which he played it in his set –and lo and behold, minutes later he tweeted me the artist and song title, which was Odyssey and their funky 1982 R&B tune, “Inside Out.”
4. Fela! in HD at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) – Seeing Fela, the story of famed afrobeat musician Fela Kuti in HD at BAM last year was just as fascinating and riveting as I’d always heard. However, catching Family Stand singer-songwriter Sandra St. Victor and Grammy-nominee Maiysha at BAMcafe Live was equally fascinating.
5. Zen Vegetarian House in Flatbush – When I lived in the neighborhood, I’d eat at this vegetarian Chinese restaurant at least once a week. Whether delivery, dine in or take out, my food always arrived fresh, hot and with the quickness. My favorites were the veggie spring rolls or the crispy soy chicken nuggets served with their homemade BBQ sauce. Their smoothies and soy ice cream are quite delicious too.
6. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at Prospect Park Bandshell – Though my friend Amelia and I could only hear Sharon Jones from our viewing point at this packed out Celebrate Brooklyn! show at Prospect Park’s Bandshell, it was a memorable night nonetheless. Not only did we have a good time and a backdrop of great music by the retro soul act – but we had some awesomely cheap wine to sip on too!
7. Jamie Lidell at Music Hall of Williamsburg – London-bred, formerly Brooklyn-based, now Nashville-settled Jamie Lidell is a cross between alternative neo-soul and eclectic electro-pop artist. I saw him perform live for the first time two years ago at a sold-out show at Music Hall of Williamsburg, when he was promoting his newest album Compass. Full on charm and personality, Jamie is definitely a performer.
FYI: Williamsburg is the hipster capital of Brooklyn but their music venues host some of the best performances around the borough. Anyway, here, the electro-producer and beatmaker messes around with a Native Instruments app to remix “A Little Bit More,” from his 2005 LP Multiply.
8. Saying “what’s up” to indie singer-songwriter Citizen Cope as well as Emmy Award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright as I walked towards Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn. Two separate occasions, same geeky smile.
9. Making Do The Right Thing screening and discussion at Billie Holiday Theatre at Restoration Plaza in Bedford-Stuyvesant – This was a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Spike Lee’s seminal 1989 film Do The Right Thing –which was filmed in Bed-Stuy. It featured a post-screening Q&A with Sam Pollard, a noted filmmaker and frequent Lee collaborator on such films as Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues, Girl 6 and 4 Little Girls. Here’s the official trailer for Do The Right Thing.
10. Columbia Street Waterfront in Red Hook – Across the street from Fairway grocery store (one of my faves in the borough) and tucked into a nice corner of the industrial section of BK called Red Hook, sits the Columbia Street Waterfront. With great views of Lower Manhattan, this was my go-to spot to think, to write, to eat a meal, meditate or just relax the afternoon away. There is no official website for Columbia Street Waterfront but if you head to the Waterfront Museum, they’re literally in the same location.
Bottom line: Visit Brooklyn!
When it comes to online audio platforms, privacy matters: SoundCloud vs. Last.fm
Screenshot of DJ Unwind’s SoundCloud page. Click to hear the chilled out sounds. (photo/ND McCray)
“No matter what, privacy is an issue all-over the Internet, no matter if music is the main focus or not,” says downtempo and triphop producer DJ Unwind. ”I personally am not on a great deal of social networking sites…and I am careful about which sites I do belong to.”
In a previous blog post, I wrote about music piracy and privacy issues. Though I’m not a lawyer in any aspect, it was a general overview of how online piracy affects artists and indie labels alike. This week I’ll briefly share the privacy policies of not only Last.fm but SoundCloud®, in my opinion one of the more accessible audio services on the Internet. Not necessarily a streaming site like Spotify or Pandora, but it is a good way to listen to and discover new music by a variety of independent artists.
“They [SoundCloud] have such a great tool with their players, it helps to put your music in places fast especially when it comes to promotion. With SoundCloud, you are in control,” states Unwind, who recently remixed Usher’s latest single “Climax.”
Founded by Alex Ljung and Eric Wahlforss in Sweden but established in Germany, August 2007, SoundCloud is a worldwide online audio platform with over 20 million users. Used mostly as a music outlet to promote, upload and share original recordings, fans can comment and depending on the artist security setup, may be able to download and share music across other platforms such Facebook, and more recently Twitter and Pinterest. Their website states, “This Privacy Policy is designed to give you full transparency regarding our data protection practices.” Continuing “you have full control over your data.”
“Last.fm on the other hand, is painful,” according to Unwind via email. “They allow anybody to be an Admin of any artist and to post their content freely, which I have an issue with, especially because they will not remove anything…which is bogus.”
Browsing through Last.fm’s privacy practices is as full of legal jargon as SoundCloud’s, but the Berlin-based SoundCloud does have a “Choice and Control” section, which “enables you to control the information you share with other networks and applications.” Say if an artist doesn’t wish to have a track available for download or to share, he can disable the feature in his privacy setup. Last.fm, from what I’ve read (and I could be wrong) doesn’t have this setup.
Additionally, like many sites these days “Last.fm may also use your personal information and non-personal information to help Last.fm and its commercial partners deliver targeted advertisements, promotions and other similar initiatives to you,” as stated on the site’s policy page. In contrast, SoundCloud says, “…most of the personal information you provide to us can be accessed and updated in the “Settings” page of your SoundCloud® account. If you wish to access, amend or delete any other personal information we hold about you, or if you have any objection to the processing of any information that we hold about you, please contact us at privacy@soundcloud.com.” More to be read on SoundCloud’s privacy policy page.
In 2008, CBS Interactive, a division of CBS Corporation acquired Last.fm. (Think: mass media), thus that could explain the variety in “content” and admin features on the UK-founded company’s website. As a music fan first –third party retrieval of information seems to be the norm with various online destinations, so if you ask me –it’s all a sticky playing field when it comes to uploading, downloading and sharing any kind of online content.
In essence, privacy does matter. Whether you are the artist or the appreciator of music, your private information should be protected as well as the music you’re sharing in the process.
Music piracy x privacy issues: a paradigm shift over the years
In an article published on Mashable.com last year, music piracy or peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing in the U.S. has dropped from 16 percent (28 million users) in 2007, to 9 percent (16 million users) in the last quarter of 2010. That said, digital music theft or illegally downloading songs or entire albums for free has become a serious crime, to the tune of $12.5 billion dollars in losses to the U.S. economy as well as more than 70,000 lost jobs and $2 billion in lost wages to American workers, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “From 2004 through 2009 alone, approximately 30 billion songs were illegally downloaded on file-sharing networks;” while 37 percent of it acquired in the U.S. in 2009 was actually paid for. More on the “Scope of the Problem” at RIAA.
Over the years, individuals have been sued for illegally downloading music–while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has challenged RIAA on their “right to know certain information.” As a civil liberty issue, ACLU works to protect the privacy of internet users. ACLU staff attorney Aden Fine says, ”We’re not saying the record industry shouldn’t go after file-sharers, only that they must do so in a way that’s fair.”
Indie label Tokyo Dawn Records
Fabien Schivre, co-founder of Tokyo Dawn Records– an indie label based out of Frankfurt, Germany, said in an email this week that music-sharing sites do help in getting the word out about their artists–which include ATL-rapper Stan Smith, DJ-producer Opolopo and singer Amalia, ”But there are clear limits regarding the true “profit” in the long run. There is practically no way around it for newcomers, but not for most established artists.”
Additionally he states, “It hurts…file-sharing is a real pain, and we fight it wherever we can. However, the tone shifted in the last 2-3 years, most people familiarized themselves with e-payments in general and started buying music again (downloads mostly). [So] we are very positive regarding these developments.”
Tokyo Dawn releases music in the genres of broken beat, soul, funk, electro and hip-hop. They’ve worked with artists as diverse as Talib Kweli, Dam-Funk, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Blaktroniks, Atjazz, and Coco (of Danish duo Quadron).
Social media, marketing and independent artists
Photo/David H. Thomas
A couple of weeks ago I posted a short multimedia project on independent artists, social media and marketing, highlighting how some are utilizing the many social networks available to them to engage and interact with their fans. Included in that post were Moonlight Social, an alt-country-rock duo based out of Austin, Texas–who officially formed in early 2011 but has accrued over 12,000 Twitter followers as well as a coveted showcase at SXSW alongside Ray Benson, frontman for Grammy-winning band Asleep at the Wheel.
Mixing powerful vocals, lyrics and melodies, the tandem crew was also crowned the winners of the 2011 Austin Chronicle Sound Wars, which included 100 other Austin bands. I simply wanted to showcase how the two use social media including Twitter (where they RT‘d my blog post!); YouTube, Facebook, ReverbNation and a host of other sites to market and connect to fans. Their debut-release, the full-length Heading South was even fan-funded via a Kickstarter campaign last year.
Music industry consultant Loren Weisman
Nevertheless, I also included a September 2010 podcast interview with author and music consultant Loren Weisman. The industry expert spoke with Bob Andelman of ”Mr. Media Interviews” about the impact and importance of social media in an independent artist’s promotional and marketing plan.
In the interview he says, “It’s not the music…of course, the music is the foundation and the root, but it’s the content, the graphics, the marketing, the promotion, the branding that’s bringing people into a very over-saturated market to look at someone and say, “Okay, maybe they standout.” He continues, “It’s really about standing out initially from areas outside of music to get people into hear your music.”
Remember, this was two years ago but it is just as relevant today. Now it seems that if you are a band or singer-songwriter, new media is key to marketing yourself as not only an artist but as a real person. I know Moonlight Social has a series of YouTube videos where they talked about tracks for the new album before it even released. And from personal experience, when an artist responds or RTs a comment I make about their music on Twitter, I become an even bigger fan because they’ve now added that “human aspect” to it.
But I wanted to go a step further. To get a loose idea of the music-buying habits and social networking patterns of readers, I created a survey called “Music and social media.” I asked a series of questions on how readers find new music and whether or not they interact with artists online now that the capability exists.
Photo/Lovell Communications
Not surprisingly, iTunes was number one for discovering new sounds and more than half of the survey-participants login to their Twitter or Facebook pages several times a day–thereby creating more opportunity for artists to engage–but many fans now do take the time to chat up musicians via social channels.
So this led me to agree with Weisman: It is evermore important for an indie artist to utilize these platforms to not only share their music with the buying public, but to also “connect” as a human being.
Bottom line: If you are a musician or singer or songwriter, not only share your lovely sounds with us, but also be someone who engages as well!
Music and social media survey
Photo/Matt Hamm
It’s no secret that the music and social media bandwagon is here to stay. In what ways it will be manipulated and transformed in the future, who knows. But for now, musicians and fans alike have choice selection in social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, streaming services such as Spotify, Last.fm and Grooveshark, blogging sites such as Tumblr and WordPress; as well as online editions of major and minor magazines like Spin and Wax Poetics.
As a music and multimedia journalist, I essentially live on online. But I’m always curious about the social media and buying habits of other music fans and writers; like how do you guys find new music and artists? Where do you shop? Are you online 23 hours a day?! Do you buy music at record stores? iTunes? Spotify?
Tell me via a short survey I’ve crafted. Six questions, takes less than a minute to complete. Thanks.
Loren Weisman, Indie Artists & Social Media
Loren Weisman is a music producer, author and music consultant for independent artists. Here, in a short multimedia piece, I share Mr. Weisman’s thoughts from an interview with Bob Andelman in 2010. Still relevant today, Weisman speaks on social media promotion, indie artists and the new music business. Also includes insight from media maven Fiona Bloom.
Lastly, I included some interesting facts on up-and-coming indie country-rock band Moonlight Social and their latest release Heading South.
“Black Dynamite” animated series now airing on Adult Swim on Sunday nights
Black Dynamite: The Animated Series
Can you dig it?
Michael Jai White’s 2009 cult classic Black Dynamite has now been transformed into an animated series on the Adult Swim cable network, which shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9pm to 6am. The first episode aired on Sunday, July 15, but for those who haven’t seen the movie, it’s an ode to 70′s blaxploitation films such as “Shaft”, “Dolemite” and “Superfly”. The title character is an ex-CIA agent-turned-vigilante who fights against kung-fu masters, drug-dealing pimps, and “the man.”
The series is executive-produced by Carl Jones (co-creator of The Boondocks), and co-written by actors Michael Jai White (“Black Dynamite”) and Byron Minns (co-stars as “Bullhorn”). In a recent interview with Shadow and Act, Minns and White says there will be differences between the film and the TV show, such as more in-depth character development:
Minns: “We were very respectful of the characters that we originally created. But the thing that makes the animated series special is that we’re able to delve into the characters in full. In the series, it’s like we have 10 movies and now we get to see who these people are in different situations, and it takes it so much further than we could in just one film.“
White added, “Of course it’s a different pace, and [in animation] your characters have to be larger than life. But the essence of the characters is still there. That strange family unit is still evident in the cartoon. It’s a whole lot of fun.”
Other characters in the film have returned too, like “Honey Bee” played by Kym Whitley and “Cream Corn” voiced by Tommy Davidson. In the clip below, the cast talks about the show at New York’s Comic-Con convention last October, but peep the trailer for the series as well. Hilarious.
Black Dynamite airs Sunday nights at 11:30pm EST on Adult Swim.
PBS streaming full episode of “ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America”
Magic Johnson getting his blood drawn by Dr. David Ho, an H.I.V./AIDS specialist, in the PBS-documentary “Frontline”, now airing on PBS.org. (Photo/New York Times)
PBS aired Frontline’s Endgame: AIDS in Black America” on July 10 (it’s now streaming on the site), which explores the many reasons why HIV and AIDS cases are so prevalent among the black community. In a review of the show, New York Times reporter Neil Genzlinger asks a perfectly appropriate question: “With so much known about the disease and so many years of safe-sex messages out there, how can anyone still be cavalier or uninformed about this subject?”
The documentary affirms that 30 years into the AIDS/HIV epidemic, African Americans make up half of the newly diagnosed cases in the United States, according to Frontline’s website. Blacks are only 13.6 percent of the U.S. population but account for 52% of all new HIV/AIDS cases. It is the leading cause of death among African-American women ages 25 to 34 and African-American men ages 35 to 44. The program also states that the fastest growing segment with HIV is ages 16-24 and it is highest among young black men in the 18-29-year old bracket.
I live in Houston, Texas, and through AIDS Foundation Houston and the local chapter of Hip-Hop For HIV –a national event to encourage young people to protect themselves sexually, I found some alarming statistics about my hometown:
- Houston ranks 8th nationally in the number of total reported AIDS case
- 27,650 individuals are known living with HIV/AIDS in Houston/Harris County
- 76% of all reported STD rates in Houston/Harris County were among 15-24 year olds
- 1 person in Houston is infected with HIV every 7 hours
- 6 out of every 10 diagnosed HIV infections in Houston/Harris County are African American.
CDC estimates that over a million Americans are currently living with HIV, and an estimated 25% of Americans living with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their HIV infection status.
This is tragic. While watching “AIDS in Black America” there are several individual cases made by women who contracted the illness from partners who were seemingly “upstanding and trustworthy”. But the problem like Genzlinger noted: All the males’ faces that were shown in photographs, were blurred out. Former NBA player Magic Johnson tells his side in the story of how he contracted HIV in 1991 but the why and how behind some of the other males isn’t really revealed. Though one can surmise it to be embarrassment.
In one of the cases, a wife discovered that her husband had known he was infected for over a year, and never told her–until she confronted him after finding his HIV positive letter in his bible in their bedroom. “AIDS in Black America” is an in depth visual with plenty of expert opinion and answers to questions we continue to ask. A must-watch.
Frontline
Endgame: AIDS in Black America
On PBS.org Produced by Renata Simone Productions for WGBH/Frontline in association with the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC). Written and directed by Renata Simone; producer Renata Simone. For Frontline: David Fanning, executive producer.
Ice-T visits the UK to promote new doc “The Art of Rap”
Honest and raw account of hip-hop culture.
Rap legend Ice-T recently stopped by the UK’s Channel 4 news to speak on his new documentary “Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap“. Having premiered at Sundance Film Festival this year, the movie is the rapper’s take on true hip-hop culture. Not the women, money or cars, but the true essence of the lifestyle: b-boying, emceeing, DJing, and graffiti writing. From its early beginnings in the 1970′s to present day, “The Art of Rap” is a peek into the mindset and heart of some of the realest emcees in the game, including Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, MC Lyte, Nas, Rakim, and Snoop, just to name a few). And as always Ice-T keeps it real honest in this interview — talks much about his “colorful past”, which was part inspiration for the film.
If you have yet to see it, get thee to a theatre quick! It’s chock-full of insight and wisdom –and probably one of the illest freestyles you’d ever wanna see from Eminem.
[Spotted on Soul Culture]
Creativity in Motion
Two young fans observe a Katy Perry: Part of Me movie display at AMC Theatre in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, July 14, 2012. (Photo/ND McCray)
I love activity. Though daydreaming inspires a lot of my writing, being on the move, on the go really gets my creative juices rolling. I’m not talking in a social butterfly, “I Love the Nightlife” sort of way –but for me, I need to do things to create things. And that might be going for a short run in the park, finding an unusual art exhibit, visiting a local flea market, attending a concert, taking my dachshund to the dog park, or simply going to a movie by myself. Activity inspires my writing.
Yesterday I went and saw pop star Katy Perry’s Part of Me music doc, and I have to say: She has the concept of creativity and activity on speed dial. I mean the girl performs on stages with gigantic lollipops in the background. I respect that level of originality on and off stage. So while watching Katy Perry in 3D, I had the notion to Twitter-ask an artist or two about their creative and inspirational moments.
Once home, I looked through my Twitter followers and ended up with two creative souls in the spotlight: Musician-producer Hayling Price of neo-soul duo Columbia Nights and “Left-of-Soul” singer-songwriter Candice Anitra. I wanted to know what inspires them to create, be it music and/or writing songs. Here’s what each had to say:
Hayling Price: “I tend to listen to music and immerse myself in music situations that challenge me. Fresh ideas and innovative sounds can always spark inspiration for me. It could be a wrong note, and chord change, a strange sound … but all of that, combined with collaborators who push you and keep you on your toes, get those [creative] juices flowing!”
Candice Anitra: “Love, nature, challenge, gender and sexuality, spirit, art, music, family, depression, social justice, the grey/murky/in between. Often though, in the stillness, the center point, when I am with my breath –the words are speaking to me.”
Creativity in motion is inspiring to me in many forms. Be it watching Katy on the big screen or searching through Twitter and posing a question via DM to Hayling and Candice. For me, exploring different things in different formats is what fuels my creativity. My ideas come from everywhere. So I guess, they’ll always be there to move me.
To find out more on Hayling Price and Columbia Nights’ latest EP Dawn | Dusk, visit www.columbianights.com
To find out more on Candice Anitra and her newest LP Big Tree, visit www.candiceanitra.com
