Recent Posts
- 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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New Audio: "Stormy Weather" Columbia Nights
New Music: Onra "Chinoiseries Pt. 2" + "No Matter What"
New Video: DJ Shadow + Little Dragon "Scale It Back"
Saul Williams "Dance" {Official Video}
Record Store Day Purchase: Gold Panda, Lucky Shiner (Ghostly International/Notown)
Derwin Panda, otherwise known as Gold Panda is a London-bred electronica producer. Though Lucky Shiner, his debut album released in 2010; the vinyl wasn’t released until Record Store Day this year, April 16th–which is when I actually bought it. Comprised of minimalist instrumentals with a few hip-hop influences, Lucky Shiner is an LP best consumed while in chill mode. Case in point: I’ve written poems while it plays in the background. Favorites: “You”, “Same Dream China”, “Marriage” and “India Lately”.
House & Dub Report, Feb 2010 at QuietColor.com
Nevertheless, check out Cubic Zirconia’s “Josephine” video along with Basement Jaxx’s “My Turn” featuring electro-punk man Lightspeed Champion.
Bassnectar – Land of the Lupes (Free Download)
“Land of the Lupes” dropped a couple of months ago as a free download from Bassnectar’s forthcoming project Cozza Frenzy (digital release: Sept 29/in stores: Oct 27), which is a fusion of dubstep, electro, hip hop, and various mixes of electronica. Maiysha on Suite903
J*DaVeY – End of Your World (Your Mama’s Back) (New Video)
Moody Tunes: Bomb the Blocks (video)
Radiohead – Weird Fishez (Amp Live Remix) (Video Edit)
This Charming Man, Theophilus London?
1. Higher (featuring Jesse Boykins III)
Thunderheist: Destination, Brooklyn, June 19, 2009
They’re coming! Read the review: Thunderheist, Quiet Color. 
Josh Wink, "When a Banana Was a Banana"
If you understand electro-trance and what it can do to your body, then (maybe) you can get with the experimental sounds of Wink (aka Josh Wink). Read a quick review of his latest, When a Banana Was a Banana at Quiet Color.
ZION I, "Geek to the Beat" (video)
If you’re a fan of West Coast lyricism and bangin’ beats (even if you’re not), take note of Bay Area-duo ZION I‘s “Geek to the Beat” video.
However, if you want more (and trust you will!), listen to the album The TakeOver (!K7) from which the single derives. It’s definitely hip hop with stellar production by beatmaker and DJ Amp Live and mean lyricism by emcee Zion but it’s also drum ‘n’ bass mixed with wicked tales of inner-city life intermingled with positivity doubled-over with a love for mankind and living your dreams. By far the sickest mix of New Orleans-jazz and 808′s I’ve ever heard, “Gumbo” is a must-listen. And if you dare, bounce with the minimalistic track known as “Juicy Juice”.
Kissey Asplund, Sweet Electronica
Kissey Asplund is this funky-soul-electronica-Swedish-Carribean singer that I’m feelin’ at the moment. “Fuss ‘n’ Fight” from her debut album, Plethora (R2 Records) – along with “Beam Me Up” and “Hit Me With Medication” is space-age soul, jazz, hip hop, and electro all wrapped up into a genre-bending little cd.
Also, to follow a day in the life of a soulster, check out her blog, SomeWhatStrangeLife.
Flying Lotus, the Tarantino of Beats
The best way some have described DJ slash hip hop producer Flying Lotus (aka Stephen Ellison) is “experimental as eclectic, the Tarantino of Beats”. FlyLo’s tracks are these ambient, downtempo, pschyedelic mazes of sound and haze, making you wonder “what the hell was going through his head while making this”. I absolutely love it!
Interview: alt-soul singer Maiysha – Nu-Soul Magazine
Though fundamentally R&B-soul music, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Maiysha is bringing something fundamentally eclectic to the R&B game. Check out my interview with the singer in Nu-Soul Magazine.
Universal Electro Movement
With production from Pharrell of The Neptunes, a more sexed-up swag and electro basslines, Common’s latest, Universal Mind Control (Geffen), no doubt will rock you, yet still make you think.
Though a mile away from his earlier introspective titles like One Day It’ll All Make Sense and Like Water For Chocolate, UMC will get you’re head nodding on the electro-title track, the bass-heavy “Punch Drunk Love” featuring fellow-Chicago rapper Kanye West and the ode to hip hop “Announcement” with Pharrell however he still gives us the positive “Changes” and the self-aware “Inhale,” letting us know that the Common we all know so well is still alive and well.
Futuristically Speaking … Ya’ll Ain’t Ready for Yo Majesty
Imagine that Afrika Bambaataa, Salt-N-Pepa, Prince, Luke and JJ Fad all had babies together. Now you’ve got the sounds of Yo Majesty.
Tampa, Florida-bred rapper Shunda K (LaShunda Flowers) and gospel singer Jwl B (Jewel Baynham) are so out of control and pro-lesbian that I smile every time I hear their club anthem “Club Action.” They’re refreshing in that L-Word-season premiere sort-of-way.
But are they rap, hip hop, electro, Miami bass, crunk – fact is, they’re all that shit. Shunda K and Jwl B are defiant, candid, innovative, sexy Christian women. Yes, they’re both devoutly Christian. At one point (2003-2005) Shunda K was even married to her pastor.
The dichotomy of being lesbian and about the church doesn’t stop the electro-rap duo from owning dance floors across the country. Thanks to the electronic sensations HardfeelingsUK (producers David Alexander and Richard Winstanley) and production from house magnets Basement Jaxx and jungle crew Radioclit.
Futuristically Speaking…Never Be Afraid their debut album on Domino is blend of crunk and electro-sounds. It’s genre-bending. With tracks like the funky “Night Riders,” the Milli Vanilli-ish-chorus in “Blame It On The Change,” the inspirational “Break Bread,” and straight up club bangers like “Kryptonite Pussy” and “Hey There Girl” on their EP, Yo Majesty is definitely bringing something new for our ears … if only they can keep it together for a sophomore album.
This is Yo Majesty! – Yo Majesty!
Ruckus Soundsysdom
As a self-proclaimed “dope poemsayer” Ursula Rucker has been rockin’ stages since 1994. Be prepared, while listening to Ursula you’re gonna get slapped across the face with mad truths.
Psychedelic Soul Rocks!
J*DaVeY is a cross between Erykah Badu, Prince and The Police. There. J*DaVeY is female vocalist Briana Cartright (who performs under the moniker Jack Davey) and male producer Brook D’Leau. Yep. Jack is a girl, and Brook is a guy. Identities aside, this duo has no problem mixing genres of neo-soul, electro-funk, new wave, alternative hip hop and jazz – you could say J*DaVeY is grits, eggs, toast and jam all mashed up. Their sound is quite delicious.
The Los Angeles duo has even opened for Prince at his 3121 Supper Club at the Rio in Las Vegas. (For a guy who never has opening acts – that speaks volumes!)
The Land holds its own with the sexy “Rock The Dancehall” with Kardinal Offishall, “Just Because” featuring Phonte from Little Brother and a live 2006 performance of “No More” at the Temple Bar in Santa Monica.
J*DaVeY is the future of electro-funk and soul. Definitely be on the listen.
ND
Our Eye Is On The Sparro: Sam Sparro, self-titled debut
Maybe we all need to go down under to see exactly what’s in Australian water. Because a lot of soul is still brewing, now in the sounds of Aussie singer, songwriter and music producer Sam Sparro.
But Sam nails his inner-Prince on “Hot Mess” and the first single “Cottonmouth.”
(Being that I’m THE ultimate Prince fan, ya’ll know he had me after that!!) And the wild thing – “Cottonmouth” isn’t about anything other than a dry freakin’ mouth (I think.) But who cares, Sam makes having it, sound so sexy.
ND
