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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You Should Know: Andreya Triana (Video Interview/Soul Bounce)
British soul singer Andreya Triana is an artist I’ve been following since 2009; the following year, I interviewed her for Nu-Soul Magazine. She’s really humble and down to earth. Here, the songstress speaks on new music, her writing, tour plans and then she shares a new tune “Everything You Never Had,” the first single from her forthcoming EP (due out soon).
I agree with Soul UK, the writer at Soul Bounce who says, “Andreya sounds best when everything is stripped right back and you can really focus on her gorgeous tone, and “Everything You Never Had” is a perfect example, as she sings a deeply emotional tribute to her mother.”
It’s a beautiful song, but I didn’t expect anything less.
Though featured on several music releases over the years, from Flying Lotus’ “Tea Leaf Dancers” in 2007, Mr. Scruff’s “Hold On” in 2009, as well as many tracks with fellow Ninja Tune artist Bonobo, Triana released her debut LP Lost Where I Belong in 2010.
You Should Know: Onra (Video Interview/The Daily Motive)
You Should Know is my latest segment on showcasing new artists, musicians, bands, duos, singer-songwriters, emcees and DJs. Mostly independent artists, yet good music all around. So sit back and read all about them.
I first heard of Parisian beatmaker Onra in early 2011, while living in Brooklyn, New York. He had released his newest LP Long Distance the previous summer via All City Records. The album is a mix of electronic music, “vintage funk and R&B, all filtered through hip-hop’s rhythmic, lyrical bounce;” it features tracks with Oliver DaySoul, fellow French beatmaker Walter Mecca, and T3 from Slum Village, as well as soul singer Reggie B and keyboard player Buddy Sativa (whom Onra recently completed a free form jazz-electro project with called Yatha Bhuta Jazz Combo).
In 2007 and 2011, respectively, Onra (born Arnaud Bernard) released Chinoiseries and Chinoiseries Pt.2 on All City Records, instrumental LPs created from Chinese music records he found in China, Thailand and Viet Nam. The producer is French with Vietnamese ancestry. In 2012, Onra released his newest EP Deep In The Night – a five-track electro-hip hop mix via Fool’s Gold Records; the EP also appeared on my Top 30 Music Releases of 2012.
Below peep the video interview The Daily Motive conducted a few months ago, where Onra speaks on music, DJing, his J Dilla influence and a whole lot more.
ONRA INTERVIEW | The Daily Motive from Mateo Vega on Vimeo.
Onra’s discography:
- Deep In The Night (EP) Fool’s Gold Records 2012
- Chinoiseries 2 (CD, 2LP) All City Records 2011
- Long Distance (12″, CD, 2LP) All City Records 2010
- 1.0.8 (LP) Favorite Recordings 2009
- Byron & Onra -The Big Payback (12″, CD) Just Like Vibes 2007
- Chinoiseries (7”, CD, 2LP) Favorite Recordings 2007
- Onra & Quetzal Present “Tribute” Bo Bun Records 2006
SEVEN Questions with Indie Soul Singer Collette
photo courtesy: Collette
Collette is a Columbia, SC-raised, Harlem, NY-based singer-songwriter bringing positive vibes with her sophomore release Juneteenth Revolution. Taking its inspiration from the African-American tradition that commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States, Collette’s Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom as well. In her own words, it’s a “freedom to live, love, go, give, and find real happiness.”
Continuing to spread a message of hope to the masses, the hip-hop and soul artist recently chatted with Unclouded By Ambition, where she spoke about being free, the revolution still not being televised, the recording process of Juneteenth, in addition to standing out as an indie artist in NYC. Check out the full interview below the video.
Collette’s “Material Star (Juneteenth Remix)” video featuring Akil Dasan.
Juneteenth Revolution has an easy-breezy kind of flow. There’s a sense of happiness throughout it. Was that intentional? And why is freedom so important to you today?
Thank you! Yes, the happiness is very intentional. I think that freedom to pursue happiness is the most basic and important freedom we have. It’s important to me because when I look around at art, politics, the economy, and all of the major issues of the day, they’re all basically struggles for freedom. Social media has brought about an unprecedented transparency, and people are realizing for the first time that they should be free to live and express themselves however they choose. It’s hard, even dangerous in some places, but it’s what we’re all born with and we deserve it.
Is the Revolution being televised now?
Nope, not just yet. But it’s being tweeted, texted, Facebook posted, streamed and podcasted every day. J Television is still very mainstream and almost solely-commercially driven, and the Revolution isn’t sexy enough. Plus, television and other traditional media are all about making the most money, for the least effort. Creativity is not a premium – cookie cutter is ideal. The Revolution I dream of is all about individual ingenuity, and that means time, effort, evolution and no easy shortcuts. The powers that be ain’t ready for that!
This is your second LP. Do you feel any sort of pressure?
I don’t feel any pressure, and that’s the beauty of being an independent artist. The only thing I feel is a great sense of privilege that I’ve figured out a way to share my voice with the world, and a desire to keep on doing that.
How did the recording process differ from Experience Collette to Juneteenth Revolution?
Juneteenth Revolution was a smoother process because I now have a production/engineering collaborator named Terry “20” Poindexter who is based in Memphis, Tennessee. So even as I received tracks from other producers, and produced tracks myself, I was able to get his help with refining them and achieving that consistency that makes an album great. Experience Collette was much more of a solo effort in terms of pulling it all together, which is fine, but I really enjoy having a close and trusted ear to help me refine my ideas.
To me, independent music is honest music. From the heart. How do you keep yourself grounded in an industry that changes so much?
I really draw on my true opinions, experiences, lessons learned and even outrages to formulate my musical material. I also think that having grounded myself in classic, timeless material like Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Oleta Adams, Anita Baker, and others, helps my ears withstand the temptations of various musical fads. Or at least, I like to think so.
As a former Brooklynite myself, and knowing what I know about the indie music scene in NYC; the oversaturation, the competition, how do you make yourself standout?
I just bring my own little Southern soul flavor, and hope that it speaks to people. I take any and every piece of advice into consideration, but at the end of the day I define myself, my style and my sound, and I believe that it’s like a thumbprint – no one else has it.
I also make sure that I take time to foster my relationship with fans by talking to them on social media and releasing behind-the-scenes type material. I think that’s a great way to continue to stand out.
Last question: “Be Careful” is my joint! “Be careful with your mind/be careful with your time … be careful who you let in.“ Dope beat with a message to boot. What was the inspiration behind the lyrics?
Thank you! My mom’s various pieces of advice over the years definitely inspired that song. She always warned me, “You can’t walk away from everybody,” as a way of saying that I should be careful about people I chose to let into my life. So I took that idea and made it a little colorful for the song.
I think that negative relationships have ‘enslaved’ a lot of people today – I say enslaved because when you’re not able to speak freely, move about, pursue your interests, build your wealth, and all because of a partner or friend who is negatively affecting your progress, you’re being robbed of your freedom! How can you pursue happiness? So I feel like people – especially young girls – should really treasure their time, their minds and their bodies, and be very selective about who they allow to partake. That goes for boys and men, too! Everyone deserves to be treated like pure gold.
Collette’s Juneteenth Revolution is available now on iTunes.
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.
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).
Anita Baker returns with new single; a cover of Tyrese’s “Lately”
Anita Baker returns with her signature R&B/soul and jazz sound.
Grammy-award winning R&B singer Anita Baker will return in the fall with her first studio project in seven years. The first single, which released today, is a cover of R&B crooner Tyrese’s 1999 hit “Lately“.
In a recent interview with The Boombox Baker says, “['Lately' is] one of the first songs we cut, analog, in Nashville. I brought in a live rhythm section. I brought it to L.A., and I called [Tyrese] into the studio and I played it for him; he had no idea. And he lost it, of course.” She also reveals, “I just had this concept of walking into a digital universe with an analog heart [on Only Forever]. So we’re kind of marrying the two.”
Only Forever will hit stores on October 23 via Blue Note Records/EMI, but also peep Anita’s interview with USA TODAY, where she answers five questions regarding her and the new album.
“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.
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
Electro-Funk DJ and producer Opolopo
Opolopo (Photo/Martin Rinman)
DJ/producer Opolopo and singer Amalia entered my iPod last year when I came across his 2010 release Voltage Controlled Feelings via Google Play. Now, his latest Mutants is rattling my eardrums (in that good way!). Alongside Dam-Funk and a handful of others, the Hungarian-born, Sweden-bred Opolopo is creating a mutant blend of soul, funk, hip-hop and house.
In the video –while visiting Jakarta, Indonesia for a performance, Opolopo and his partner and collaborator Amalia, talks about future-funk, their influences and more.
Behind-the-Scenes: Matisyahu
Matisyahu, 2012
Even with the beard and Chassidic reggae music gone, Matisyahu visits Tel Aviv to film a more energetic version of “Sunshine”, which is from his forthcoming LP Spark Seeker (out 7/17).
According to Matis, the video as well as the album illustrates “finding the self which you left behind and reconnecting with your inner child”. I love that! And I’m loving the new look. Here he gives a behind-the-scenes view in the making of “Sunshine”.
Belgian singer-songwriter Selah Sue drops U.S. debut August 21
Photo/Cedric Viollet
Selah Sue drops her self-titled U.S. debut on August 21st via Columbia Records that features remixes with J. Cole and Cee-Lo Green. The Belgian singer-songwriter is killing the Top 10 charts in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, blending her unique sound of pop, funk, soul and reggae.
“Raggamuffin“, her first single, is available on iTunes –but here Selah Sue essentially talks about how music is consistently building her confidence.
OneTwoWatch: Selah Sue
Myspace Music | Myspace Video
Nelly Furtado explains eclecticism of “The Spirit Indestructible”
Nelly Furtado at FUSE Studios in New York City (2012)
In a recent interview with Rolling Stones magazine, Canadian songtress Nelly Furtado explains the making of her forthcoming LP The Spirit Indestructible. What she says about the project: it’s “incredibly fun, and it’s sort of a juxtaposition of a lot of things – playful vocals with really heavy beats. There’s this innocence with this sort of wisdom.”
With top music producers like Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber) and Saalam Remi (Nas, Jazmine Sullivan, Amy Winehouse) on her fifth LP, it should be as-interesting-a-sound as “Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)”.
The Spirit Indestructible hits stores on September 11, 2012.
Hip-Hop artist Rocko Stedy gives insight into his vegan lifestyle
Listen [1 min 57 sec]
Everyone has their own reason for going vegetarian or vegan. For me, it was a healthier lifestyle choice. Others see it as a way to help the environment or to feel better about their bodies, or a way to gain more energy and insight. Some just do it because they love animals too much to put them on their plate.
For hip-hop rapper/entrepreneur Rocko Stedy, 25, becoming a vegan was never a part of his plan.
“I do marketing, I do advertising; that’s my business in the mornings. And I walked into a restaurant with a friend of mine who said try this food out. I’ve never tried this food; I’ve always been pretty open-minded, so I was like cool let me try this food out.”
“It was all vegetables; it’s tofu, beans and vegetables. I’m like cool. So I ate it, and I thought it was banging! I thought it was real good and I was amazed that it taste exactly like Chinese food. However, it was healthier; it was cooked cleaner and it had no meat in it. I was amazed, thoroughly. And I was like “The world needs to know about your restaurant, can I do marketing for you?”
In addition to doing marketing for Pine Forest Vegetarian Restaurant (9108 Bellaire Blvd.) –over the last five months of eating there, the Dallas-born artist has lost 55 pounds.
According to Vegetarian Times, a leading source in the veg movement for over 30 years now, “an estimated 70 percent of all diseases, including one-third of all cancers, are related to diet.” The article on its website states: A vegetarian diet reduces the risk for chronic degenerative diseases such as obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancer including colon, breast, prostate, stomach, lung and esophageal cancer.
The Stay Diverse artist says, “that’s what happened; a restaurant named Pine Forest Garden manifested into the Pine Forest state of mind”. Also known as a healthy, conscious vegan lifestyle.
You can catch Rocko Stedy on Saturday, July 21 at Stafford Centre in Stafford, Texas. The Filipino rapper will be one of 10 Finalists for Kollaboration Houston 3 –a local event in its third year that’s produced by Asian and Pacific Islander professionals. General Admission: $15.
Check out Rocko Stedy in action!
[Source: REUP Spot]
Short Film: Big K.R.I.T. – The making of “Live From The Underground”
Big K.R.I.T.'s debut studio album (2012)
On the heels of his newest record Live From The Underground, Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. shares the making of his proper studio release.
In the short film, K.R.I.T. gives all access to studio and listening sessions, interviews, his time with the legendary B.B. King, and of course, he talks about “The realest booo ever”. Referring to a show he played in New York City two years ago where he got no respect; two years later, it sold out!
[Source: OKP]
Record store owner unknowingly buys J Dilla’s record collection
Photo/HipHopWired.com
Jeff Bubeck is the guy who unknowingly bought a record collection that belonged to late hip-hop legend J Dilla. Years after his passing, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey confirmed the collection was indeed her son, James Yancey.
Here the store owner tells the tale to AllMusic Editor Greg Heaney.
Houston-area blues-rock band Runaway Sun releases new album
Photos/ND McCray
Indie blues-rock band Runaway Sun is currently promoting their latest LP Let’s Run. The Houston-area quartet brought their blend of whiskey blues, rock and country to Cactus Music on Saturday (Jun. 9), a record store that’s huge on supporting local, regional and national acts.
With two previous projects – 2008’s self-titled EP and 2009’s The Bridge, the group which includes front man Andrew Karnavas, lead guitarist Daniel de Luna, drummer Marshall West, and bass player Matthew Buehrer a.k.a Zero have been touring across the south in support of their music.
Karnavas along with de Luna took a moment on Saturday afternoon to chat with me about the group’s progression and touring. Karnavas said, “For touring, we’ve been focusing on the South. Houston’s a great home base; we go along the Gulf Coast and then we go all the way up to Birmingham; that’s where we did our last tour. And we just kinda make these loops around the South; it works out great.”
Setlist at Cactus included “Bad Bad Man“, “Bright Idea” and “Sweetheart”. Runaway Sun will once again play the arts and culture event White Linen Night in the Heights on August 4.
Houston: Vinal Edge Records heading to The Heights
HOUSTON, TX — A staple on the city’s North Side for over two decades now, Vinal Edge Records will soon be moving to its new location in the historic Heights area: West 19th Street to be exact.
A neighborhood filled with trendy antique shops, cafes, boutiques and galleries, Vinal Edge will take over the former space of Elegant Notions, the beads and jewelry store at 239 West 19th Street.
In April, Chuck Roast –owner of the record store for over 25 years, and his staff of two, Sam and Travis talked to me about working in the shop, but here Roast talks about the exciting move into their new home in the Heights.
Tell us about the new spot. What changes can we expect?
235 more square feet to play with! We’re adding a couple fixtures for more records and toys. Higher walls for more cool collectibles and shirts. We hope to have more in-store events like shows, listening parties, maybe even beer tastings!
When’s the official grand re-opening?
Shooting for July 1st.
How much longer will the Veteran’s Memorial location be open?
Probably close it down a week before.
And last question: What closeout sales do you guys have going on right now?
Each weekend it is something different. This weekend it’s promo posters. All the details will go through our Facebook and email list updates.
Want to learn to DJ in Texas? Austin’s Dub Academy can show you how
Photo/Applebox Imaging
Back in the day if you wanted to learn how to DJ, you were pretty much left to your own devices: watching music videos, attending shows, reading books or magazines — and if you were lucky enough to have a friend who was a DJ, you asked him (or her) to show you a few things.
Now, if you want to learn how to master the wheels of steel like a professional, you have the option of enrolling in a DJ school. That’s right! Dub Academy, located in Austin, Texas, is an independently owned DJ and music production school started by Barrington Miles two years ago. Miles is a native of Jamaica, hence the “Dub”, which is associated with reggae music. The academy is one of a handful in the U.S. (Dubspot and Scratch DJ Academy in New York City are two others). Scratch Academy also has locations in L.A. and Miami.
Recently, I visited Dub Academy during their “Sunday Fundays” Open House to check out a session, which was taught by their Lead DJ Instructor, KB (nee Kaivan Bazleh). Afterwards, I chatted with the school’s Director of Operations Lorenzo Villarreal aka Benzo, regarding the local response to a DJ school.
Behind-the-Scenes: Luke James
Photo/Luke James
Luke James’ star is consistently rising. His lovely ballad “I Want You” has over a million hits on YouTube; it’s been played on VH1′s top reality series Basketball Wives; and this Memorial Day weekend, the New Orleans-native will be opening for the Queen Bey herself: Beyonce at Atlantic City’s newest hotel and resort, Revel.
But here the up-and-coming R&B singer shares a behind-the-scenes clip of the making and inspiration for his forthcoming debut, Mo’ Betta Blues.
Bedrock City Comics Gears Up for Comicpalooza
Photo/Bedrock City Comic Company
Comicpalooza, Houston’s comic book convention, hits the city May 25-27, and Bedrock City Comic Company is gearing up. All weekend long, the popular store, which has four area locations, held its annual Spring sale with “most everything 25-50% off”, according to their Facebook page.
Here, Chuck Schiel — store manager at the Washington location, talks about how comic books are no longer a “nerdy” thing to collect; it’s just retro, which is simply revisiting things from the past. Even graphic novels are a rather respectful option too.
So if you’re in Houston in two weeks, be sure to hit up George R. Brown Convention Center and visit Bedrock’s booth. In the meantime, peep this video while I decide on which comic book I’m buying first!
Houston’s Own DJ SUN x Soular Grooves
Photo/DJ SUN
Holding it down on KPFT’s 90.1 Soular Grooves radio show since 1995, DJ SUN (aka Andre Sam-Sin) is a Suriname-born, Houston-based recording artist, deejay and producer. I recently caught up with him at his home studio to talk about what else, but music. And actually got a behind-the-scenes view of KPFT studios in Montrose. Be sure to catch the show every Saturday night from 9:30pm to midnight, as DJ SUN spins the sounds of downtempo, jazz, soul and hip-hop. With a live on-air mix at 11pm.
