Recent Posts
- Album Review: DJ Unwind – Épais (Downtempo/Trip Hop)
- New Artist: Sevyn Streeter – “I Like It” (Video)
- 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
Upcoming Album Releases
Categories
Archives
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.
New Music: RoseMary Fiki – “It’s Official” [prod. Benny Blanco]
Philly-based singer-songwriter RoseMary Fiki delivers a sound that embraces Philly soul, but isn’t afraid to leap into other genres like rock and pop as well. “It’s Official,” a mid-tempo tune showcases her vocals, while “Ooh” gives the grittier side of the Nigerian artist. If you’re into Janelle Monae or Yahzarah or Alice Smith or VV Brown or Santigold, you’re on the right track to digging Rosemary Fiki. Both songs are from her self-titled RoseMary Fiki EP, released last summer and is available on iTunes. However, both tracks can be downloaded for free HERE via Soundcloud.
Prince on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – “Screwdriver” & “Bambi” (3.1.13)
Last night music icon Prince visited Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to perform two songs: “Screwdriver” (his latest with new band, 3rd Eye Girl, and “Bambi,” a classic from his second studio LP, Prince released in 1979. 3rd Eye Girl consists of Donna Grantis on guitar, Hanna Ford Welton on drums and Ida Nielsen on bass. Peep the footage below.
[Via Okayplayer]
Friday Nite at the Movies: Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
Thanks to Netflix, I’ve had Searching for Sugar Man, a Swedish-British film, in my possession for about a month now, resting underneath a pile of mail. I’ve known about the movie since last spring when I made a list of films I wanted to catch in theatres. All of that is to say, I finally watched the movie on Tuesday night.
Searching for Sugar Man is an incredible true story of a Mexican-America folk musician named Rodriguez, discovered in a dive bar in Detroit in the 60′s, who never made it big in the U.S. in the 70′s, but somehow in anti-apartheid South Africa, his music was hugely popular. He had two albums released via Sussex Records (founded by 2013 BET Honors awardee Clarence Avant), Cold Fact in 1970 and Come From Reality a year later. Rodriguez wrote songs about the sadness of life in an urban setting, which is probably why it resonated so much in South Africa.
In the film, Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, a South African record shop owner, and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, a music journalist, are the two music fans who dedicate a huge part of their lives to finding out whether Sixto Rodriguez, their idol, was dead or alive. I loved this film so much because of the heart and ambition of Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul, as well as Segerman and Strydom. Rodriguez was a riddle they were dead set on solving. And they did. It’s a fantastic film, a must see.
Searching for Sugar Man won Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards on Sunday night (Feb. 24) and took home the Special Jury Prize and Audience Award for best international documentary at Sundance Film Festival in 2012. Check out the interview below with the director and Rodriguez.
Searching for Sugar Man: interview with director Malik Bendjelloul and Sixto Rodriguez from PORT on Vimeo.
Day 26 of 28 Days: Aerosmith – “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
Rock band Aerosmith struck gold with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” the signature song from the soundtrack to the 1998 film Armageddon, starring Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck. It was the group’s first #1 song in their near 30-year career. Written by Grammy-winning songwriter Dianne Warren, who also penned Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” Toni Braxton’s “Un-Break My Heart,” LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live” and Beyonce’s “I Was Here,” the song still makes me smile whenever I hear it.
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.
Alabama Shakes Live on SNL
Following last week’s Grammy nod, alt-rockers Alabama Shakes stopped by Saturday Night Live this weekend to showcase their talents to the world. The band performed their bluesy number “Hold On” first, which is also the lead single and opening track off their debut album, Boys & Girls, released last year via ATO Records. For their second set, they gave us the new single, the rock-a-billy soul piece “Always Alright,” where lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard gets loose on that Gibson of hers. Check out both performances below …
“Always Alright”
Day 17 of 28 Days: Savage Garden – “Truly Madly Deeply” (1997)
Australian pop rock duo Savage Garden (Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones) released “Truly Madly Deeply” from their self-titled LP in 1997, and it remained on the Billboard charts for the better part of the year. Though they had major U.S. and international success with first single “I Want You,” their signature song “Truly Madly Deeply,” selling upwards of 18 million records worldwide; as well as with “I Knew I Loved You” (from their second LP Affirmation), the group unfortunately disbanded in 2001. Lead singer Darren Hayes is still recording as a solo artist.
Recently I heard “Truly Madly Deeply” while at work and I was instantly transported back to Tucson, Arizona, where I lived at the time; and it brought up funny memories of me singing it in my car (completely off key, by the way) every time I’d hear it on the radio.
HOUSTON: Indie pop-soul band Suite 709 hits town again
After the release of their debut studio release Night & Day last year, indie pop-soul band Suite 709 will be in Houston again, this time opening for alternative-rock group Courrier on Thursday, February 7th at Fitzgerald’s in The Heights.
I’ve written about Suite 709 on the site before because of their smooth blend of Motown soul with indie rock stylings, however, I’ve only recently heard of fellow band Courrier; though their music has been featured on CW’s Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries and 90210, among other teen-oriented shows. The tour is in support of Courrier’s new album Cathedrals of Color, due in stores March 12th.
Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $8 for General Admission; $10 day of show.
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.
Video: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Alt-rock outfit Grace Potter and the Nocturnals visited Late Night with Jimmy Fallon recently (Jan. 4) for a perfect performance of “Stars,” the moving ballad from the crew’s newest album The Lion The Beast The Beat (Hollywood Records). The group is currently on tour, but if you have yet to catch a show, you can read my live review of the band at Houston’s House of Blues back in November of last year.
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.
S/O to indie country-rock duo Moonlight Social
Via Twitter
We found our way into a blog about doing independent the right way. Check it!
@nd_mccray youtube.com/watch?v=8IUv-P…— Moonlight Social (@MoonlightSocial) August 17, 2012
ALBUM review: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, The Lion the Beast the Beat
Album in stores now.
Having seen alternative rocker Grace Potter jam out with Daryl Hall on Live from Daryl’s House earlier this year and most recently on VH1’s Storytellers and Good Morning America, hearing The Lion the Beast the Beat was a must for me.
Based in Vermont, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ fourth album is an amalgam of “big riffs and bellowing vocals”—basically, an eclectic project with no specific genre in mind. However, The Lion does stay somewhere along the pop-rock-country lane.
Potter, a multi-instrumentalist, has large vocal abilities and an almost cult following, so one does feel the tug of commercial success calling. Standout moments include “Never Go Back” and “Timekeeper” for their transparency. (original review at SSNYC)
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
My Top Music Releases for April, May & June; shortlist of good stuff
Parisian beatmaker Onra’s latest EP “Deep In The Night”
With tons of new projects forthcoming and lots of dope music in my ear right now, I just realized I haven’t posted my favorite “new music” list since the beginning of April. For those who might of missed ‘em, here’s January, February and March –but the list is a short roundup highlighting my top LPs, EPs, singles, and mixtapes released throughout the month. Whether for deep lyrical content or strong production aspects, there were plenty who got play on my iPod.
Nonetheless, here’s a shortlist of my favorite releases that dropped from April 1 to June 30 of this year. In order of the most recent.
JUNE:
▪ Atlantic Connection, LOVE ARCHITECT (electro/soul/downtempo)
* Emeli Sandé, OUR VERSION OF EVENTS (pop/soul) #SwedishSoul
▪ Esthero, “Never Gonna Let You Go” (electro/pop) [single]
▪ HouseShoes, LET IT GO (underground hip-hop)
▪ Jarrard Anthony, READY TO LIVE (R&B/soul) #uplifting
▪ Lakecia Benjamin, RETOX (soulful/funky/jazzy)
▪ Liquideep, Alone [EP] (soulful house)
▪ Lissat & Voltaxx vs. Marc Fisher feat. Vanessa Ekpenyong, “Heat of the Night (Deep Disco remix)” (house) [single]
* Onra, Deep in the Night [EP] (electro/hip-hop) #dopeness
▪ Rocco Careri & Arturo Macchiavelli feat. Vanee, “Rock With You“ [Michael Jackson cover] (soulful house) [single]
▪ Tamia, “Beautiful Surprise“ (R&B/soul) [single] | video provided by Singersroom
MAY:
* B.o.B, STRANGE CLOUDS (pop/hip-hop) | 15 tracks/10 features #StillLikey
* Columbia Nights, Dawn | Dusk EP (neo soul) #sosmooth
* Karmin, HELLO (pop) #ultrapop #guiltypopleasure
▪ Mary Mary, GO GET IT (Music from the TV series) (contemporary gospel)
* Miguel Migs feat. Meshell Ndegeocello “Tonight“ (R&B/deep house) [single]
▪ Monophonics, IN YOUR BRAIN (soulful/heavyfunk/60′s rock)
* Rebecca Ferguson, HEAVEN [U.S. RELEASE] (pop) #BritishSoul
* Scissor Sisters, MAGIC HOUR (electro-pop-dance)
* Tank, THIS IS HOW I FEEL (R&B) #warning #pantieswilldrop
* The Hood Internet, MIXTAPE V.6 (hip-hop/electro) #crazymashups #FREEdownload
APRIL:
* Alabama Shakes, BOYS & GIRLS (rock/blues/soul) #lovelovelove
▪ Bassnectar, VAVA BOOM (dubstep)
▪ Blockhead, INTERLUDES AFTER MIDNIGHT (trip-hop) #instrumentals
▪ Bonnie Raitt, SLIPSTREAM (blues/country/rock)
* Jamiroquai, ROCK DUST LIGHT STAR [U.S. Release] (pop/rock/dance) #nearly two years after its European release. Can we at least get a U.S. tour? #justsayin
▪ Photek, DJ-KICKS (drum n bass/downtempo/deep house)
▪ SWV, I MISSED US (Soul/R&B) | Sisters With Voices are back!
▪ The Black Seeds, DUST AND DIRT (pop/rock/reggae)
▪ Yuna, YUNA (indie pop/rock/folk)
Bonus track: Matisyahu “Sunshine” [re-worked, pop version of 2010 single]
New Video: Saidah Baba Talibah – “Revolution”
Artist: Canadian rocker Saidah Baba Talibah
Song: “Revolution”
Album: (S)Cream
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.
New video: Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
Official video from rock & soul band, Alabama Shakes. Their proper debut Boys & Girls is out now.
Album Review: Alabama Shakes, BOYS & GIRLS
Boys & Girls is the debut full-length from blues, rock and soul band Alabama Shakes.
After a rocking set in Austin last week during SXSW, an appearance on Austin City Limits, and a glowing New York Times review back in October calling lead vocalist Brittany Howard “a thunderbolt dressed in blue jeans,” the newcomers are fast-becoming everybody’s favorite band.
Out the gate, lead single “Hold On” speaks from the gut of Howard: “Bless my heart, bless my soul, didn’t think I’d make it to 22-years old / There must be someone up above saying, ‘Come on, Brittany, you got to come on up.” A tale of keeping faith and pressing on, the track segues perfectly into the rest of an album that’s sure to be on everybody’s playlist soon.
“Drenched in gospel and Southern rock influences,” Boys & Girls is an intimate set: “I Found You” is about finding that perfect love; “Rise to the Sun” waxes on about finding a perfect home; “Hang Loose” is about being perfectly carefree; and title track “Boys & Girls” is about Howard being teased as a kid for having a boy as a best friend. I swear the girl pours her soul into each of the 11-tracks, along with bandmates guitarist Health Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, drummer Steve Johnson, and keyboardist Ben Tanner.
Signed to Dave Matthews’ ATO label and UK’s Rough Trade Records, Boys & Girls hit stores in the U.S. on April 10 and in the UK on April 9. Peep the video of the band performing at WNRN in Charlottesville, Virginia. Recommended spins: “I Found You” and “I Ain’t The Same” for its intensely lyrical respect to change and moving forward.
Day 29 of 29 Days: Prince – “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” (1994)
A Night Out w/ Sandra St. Victor at The Blue Note, August 30, 2010 | shortandsweetNYC.com
Maiysha Releases LIVE album at Joe’s Pub | Thurs, June 24th, 2010
