Review: Don Neil's "I'm Weak" Single
The twinkling production that opens Maryland's Don Neil's new track has a fast and poppy intro before getting cut by a hard 'skrrt"...
The twinkling production that opens Maryland's Don Neil's new track has a fast and poppy intro before getting cut by a hard 'skrrt". The softer, star-lit production style merges with Don's soulful crooning that's almost reminiscent of an old school Usher, and he pinpoints the sing-song-rap style with effortless ease. Producer Lewis Cullen provides some bright contrast to Don's style - with a light and buoyant beat reminiscent of Chance The Rapper to carry his contagious flow, I feel less annoying inspiration by contemporary mainstream artists with a similar and repetitive sound, like Tory Lanez and Drake.
Baltimore's Don Neil merges a catchy mainstream sound with a unique beat that still sounds a little indie. He's fluid in both his rapping and his singing (a feat that many artists attempt, and rarely succeed at without sounding corny). Compared to the other tracks on his Soundcloud (link), this one is constructed a little more delicately, and more fluid in genre, where his other tracks have a more consistent, hard-hitting sound.
Amongst a new generation of singing rappers and experimental production, Don Neil is a unique and diverse Baltimore force to be reckoned with - brew your morning coffee to it, play it at your next intimate gathering, or use it as a turn-up anthem. Either way, "I'm Weak" should be the soundtrack.
The SuperDuper Swag of Kyle Harvey
At first glance, rapper SuperDuperKyle kind of puts you in the mind of Drake. But then you listen to his songs...
Courtesy of: freebreadintl.com/tag/super-duper-kyle/
At first glance, rapper SuperDuperKyle kind of puts you in the mind of Drake. But then you listen to his songs, and look at some of the music videos and you realize that while both Drake and Kyle are both light-skinned, Kyle is better. His raps are less of him trying to portray himself as a prominent womanizer rapper, and more of him just talking on the track. That’s what makes SuperDuperKyle such a talented artists. He’s happy, hype and real, and it reflects on his tracks.
Hailing from Ventura, California, ‘SuperDuper’ Kyle Harvey (or as he calls himself, King Wavy) started rapping to provide for his mother and three siblings. Kyle tells Rolling Stone Magazine "My mom is a single mother, and she's worked really hard to raise us. I'm in a unique situation to make a good sum of money and take that weight off her shoulders".
Kyle has toured with G-Eazy, and is fond of pop sounding rap with electro notes to them. In his song ‘Just A Picture’ featuring Kehlani, he talks about a relationship that is being interrupted by one partner’s obsession with their cell phone. Using a sound reminiscent of the 80’s, and a music video featuring dance moves of early 2000’s girl and boy bands, he communicates the message in a way that isn’t too admonishing, but does make you think.
My personal favorite SuperDuperKyle song is his song ‘Really?Yeah!’. The track uses video-game sound effects at the beginning, which then transitions into a super sick beat that will have you dabbing and stabbing within 30-45 seconds. As soon as Kyle starts rapping and referencing oldies cartoons, such as Wyle E. Coyote, the listener is hooked. This is a song that you will want to dance to in the car, at a party, or even while cleaning up around the house.
The music video for ‘Really?Yeah!’ features bright colored lights, 90’s telephones, sweatbands, and plastic palm trees. This helps contribute to the light, fun tone of the song.
Ely Murray is a student at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @agirlcalledely.
Seduction Has A New Name: Max Frost
Max Frost is certainly on the rise. Connoisseurs of fine emerging artists ought to...
Most of the songs we’ve been jamming out to have become tired. Our sexy playlists that were once filled with songs by The Weeknd, Nick Jonas, and Rihanna have grown to bore us. It’s time for something new, something that gets our hips swaying soft and our blood running hot. It’s time to find a new beat, free from the ties of memories of crazy nights past. We’re craving something fresh, different, novel to listen to. Enter Max Frost.
The young musical artist (only twenty three years old) has a unique sound all his own, though he’s comparable to other experimental indie artists such as Robert DeLong, Big Data, and WE ARE TWIN. Max has been performing for live audiences since he was only twelve and has been in multiple bands, including Joy Ride and Blues Mafia. The Austin community rallied around him, believing him to be a promising blues guitarist, but Frost surprised them all by going solo. He’s a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and, most importantly, he has an amazing sense of how to mesh different genres together to create a fusion of Electronica, Blues, RnB, and Pop.
Oh, and did we mention how adorable he is? Because this man has definitely nailed his sex appeal.
If you know any of Frost’s music, you’re not one of many. You may have heard his biggest hitting single “White Lies,” for which he earned himself a record deal with Atlantic Records. However, the quality of his music and lyrics has only increased as he’s grown up and gained more experience, and the music community is starting to take note. His most popular song from his latest album, “Intoxication,” that is currently grappling its way up the charts is “Let Me Down Easy,” a sexy and smooth jam that reminds us of the stylings of Chet Faker. The entire 2015 album is a solid and cohesive piece of work; indeed, it’s so good that it recalls the days when we’d actually pay for CDs and listen to entire albums on repeat. His sultry and soft voice is enough to turn anyone on. Max Frost has created some solid jams for all occasions, for both when you feel you have to dance and for when you’re retiring for the evening with a special friend in tow.
Max Frost is certainly on the rise. Connoisseurs of fine emerging artists ought to make an effort to see him before he hits our radio waves. He’s currently touring in Germany, but he’ll be making a return to the west coast of the United States soon. Check out his tour and pick up “Intoxication;” soon enough, you’ll be hearing his familiar songs everywhere.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Carmen R. Lawrence is a freelance writer currently located in Chicago, IL. Though she writes about topics as varied as craft beer, theatre, and video games, writing about music is a passion and a pleasure. Follow her on Twitter at @carmenrlawrence or find her on Facebook at carmen.lawrence1
Merlot Embargo: An Indie-Rock Experience
Merlot Embargo’s debut release "Don’t Look Back" plays less like an album and more like an indie-rock experience...
Merlot Embargo’s debut release "Don’t Look Back" plays less like an album and more like an indie-rock experience. Hitting the listener with touches of youthful wonder and sometimes upfront honesty and angst, Merlot Embargo finds a way to inject some refreshing creativity into every square inch of their 9 track LP.
"Don’t Look Back" thankfully does not try to be like any other piece of art in its genre. Though Merlot Embargo employs indie-pop overtones within their album, it only takes one listen to discover that there are many other driving forces at work. Blues-style blasts of sweeping guitar chords, driving drums, and multi-layered strings pepper tracks like “We All Fall Down,” “How To Survive An Apocalypse,” and “Storms,” providing the album with an epic, driving atmosphere. Tracks like “In The End” and “All Who Are Lost” are gripped with beautiful melodies and heart-felt lyrics, taking the listener beyond the music and into the life of the artist.
The husband and wife/songwriter and producer duo who make up Merlot Embargo, Geoff and Scarlet, feel they owe their creative spark to a near fatal automobile accident during the winter of 2014. Their flirt with death unleashed a sort of creative floodgate that gave the pair a vision to paint the world with their music. “It was clear,” says Geoff, “that we had something special.”
"Don’t Look Back" is an album with great songs that, as a whole, creates something thematically and musically unique. With individual moments of creativity and risk-taking, "Don’t Look Back" puts Merlot Embargo miles ahead of other bands. As Scarlet sings on the opening line of “Head Above The Water,” “Some things in life will knock you off your feet.” Indeed, Merlot Embargo is one of these things.
Connect with Merlot Embargo: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Purchase "Don't Look Back" by Merlot Embargo
William Wilson is a freelance writer, musician, husband, and connoisseur of the finer things in life. For contact info, send a email to writewilliamwilson@gmail.com
Ekelle's Exclusive Interview With Toronto Based RnB Artist Lust God
The first word that comes to mind when I think of the Lust God is intense! This singer-songwriter from Toronto...
The first word that comes to mind when I think of the Lust God is intense! This singer-songwriter from Toronto really takes RnB music back to its roots with hi soulful sultry style. His lust and sex filled music takes you to another place, but in a good way. Most people try to combine raw sexual passion with their music, but the result is vulgarity. That is definitely not the case with the Lust God, although the music describes sexual scenarios, it’s still musical and something anyone with a sensual side can get into. He tells me that RnB music helped him to learn life and even how to talk to women! I got the chance to talk to the Lust God about his process and where he wants to go next.
So, Lust God, how did you manage to make our music so sexual without being vulgar? What’s your songwriting technique like?
My writing technique I think is fairly simple, I talk to the record like I'm having an intimate conversation with my lover, so she becomes the record.
So who exactly is your target market?
My target audience is anybody mature enough to relate to passion and a lust to be desired.
Where does the name “Lust God” come from, was it given to you or did you just make it up yourself?
The name "The Lust God" came as a gift while meditating.
Where did you learn to sing like that? And who influences your musical style?
Lol thank you, I don't know I just ...sing. My musical inspiration is my life and the women that I'm lucky enough to have relations or situations with.
So I noticed that you’re often pictured with a guitar in hand, can you actually play it?
Yeah, I can play my songs lol I'm still learning a lot. The guitar in the photos actually represent the desire of a woman, I wanted the audience to see me intimate with something but still see themselves.
Are any of your songs based on real life situations with women?
All my songs are based off experiences with women or ideas for women I want to be with. The more passionate the relations, the better.
So what kind of women do you like?
Confident, sexually secure.
I noticed that you spruced up your Instagram page with a new vibe and concept, any special reasoning for that?
Thank you, I wanted to tastefully tease a little, I think it looks good but who knows it may change again!
What are your goals as an artist in the near future?
As an artist, I want the power of my music to reach people and remind them of what it's really like to touch your partner and be as intimate and free as possible, I want to continue doing that for the rest of my life.
Asha Mullings aka Ekelle is a Toronto based artist, model, and writer. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG at #officialekelle.
Hold On To Your Summer With PJ's "Rare", Noname's "Telefone", and Jesse Boykins III's "Bartholomew"
With the summer coming to an end, I wanted to take the time to highlight three well-crafted summer album releases: PJ’s Rare, Noname’s Telefone...
With the summer coming to an end, I wanted to take the time to highlight three well-crafted summer album releases: PJ’s Rare, Noname’s Telefone, and Jesse Boykins III’s Bartholomew. Each project, coming from artists who are tackling music creation differently than those around them. Collectively the albums span 38-tracks filled of creative freedom, musical versatility, and wonderment. Boykins, Noname, and PJ all offer projects that speak to their distinct musicality, who they are, what they have experienced.
PJ - Rare
Rare was the first to drop of the three. It hit the net in mid-July and serves as both PJ’s debut album and a follow up to her magnetic EP Walking Around Pools; although the Atlantic Records singer-songwriter did drop some songs in between releases like “Crazy.” Similar to that cut, Rare is powerfully raw and vulnerable. PJ adds a softer undertone by framing the 11-track album as the telling of a fairytale. The North Carolina native is no damsel in distress however, and she makes that clear with her opening track “Something Special.”
“I'm climbing up the mountain/There's something special in the air/I'm running out of problems/Ain't got no time to care/How could I be careful?/I've seen the bottom and I promise I ain't scared,” are lyrics from the song’s chorus and succeeding first verse. And it’s clear from PJ’s delivery that she means what she says. She’s not afraid, she knows she’s something special. The track that follows seem to share that sentiment as it’s named “Gangster.” But upon listening you learn that although PJ is strong she wishes she could be more straightforward and less of nice guy. “Gangster” is kind of a “don’t take my kindness for weakness” track and has instrumental filled with soulful beach vibes backing it.
Coincidentally enough PJ’s third track “Can’t Stop,” is demonstrative of her hustle. With violins, drums, and some loops serving as her backdrop PJ lets us that she is going to more than get by with the rasp of her voice acting as the vehicle. PJ gives listeners a glimpse of what she’s been up against, it isn’t just a generic song about overcoming adversity. “I’m Good” follows and serves a great transition track because it shows that she’s positive despite what she’s been through. This takeaway is not the only highlight however. “I'm just a little new school with the old school mixed in,” is a line from the cut’s pre-chorus that exemplifies who PJ is an an artist. The Los Angeles transplant definitely fuses old school and new school realms quite beautifully. The word realms is used here because it more than just sounds, it’s about the culture of the music and how it makes people feel. Because I can’t tell you about every chapter of Rare in triple review you can either take my word for it, or listen to it below. (Yeah, I know the album artwork is bad a**!)
Noname - Telefone
Although Noname’s Telefone (released on July 31th) isn’t narrated like PJ’s Rare, it maintains a story-like feel thanks to its whimsical production coupled with image-provoking bars; Noname’s spoken word flair furthers the allure. Of the 10 tracks that make up the Chicago rapper’s project, only four have no features. I’ll tackle those first.
Cam O’bi, Phoelix, and Saba are on the boards for “Yesterday,” with piano, drums, and wind instruments creating a serene feel. A feel that is a great fit for Noname’s tale of nostalgia and loss. “Freedom (Interlude)” clocks in at around 3:20 and finds Noname simply letting her thoughts go. She was supposed to write a rap, but she ended up creating something else. The track that follows “Freedoom (Interlude)” is “Casket Pretty,” which is meant to highlight the effects of Chicago’s climate on the community. “All of my n****s are casket pretty/Ain’t no one safe in this happy city/I hope you make it home/I hope to God that my tele don’t ring.” These lines open the track and immediately sheds light on the worries of many Chicagoans. Some of whom who have lost loved ones due to violence, and others praying that they never do. Juxtaposed with to the all too real topic, the production here is mystical.
"Bye Bye Baby,” is the penultimate track and one of Telefone’s standouts, in my opinion. It’s a standout because it has many layers of meaning for a song that’s only 2:49. “Bye Bye Baby” seems to take on abortion. Noname gives something that usually thought of dark some light with this one. The track is like a lullaby to the unborn as Noname bars speak for the mother, the baby, and the emotions that come with making such a decision. “Some get presents before they’re even ready,” this line comes from the song’s second verse which is told from the baby’s point of view. The baby goes off to heaven and God reminds it of this simple yet, profound sentiment.
Aside from the topic and the way the song is crafted, how perplexed it makes me contributes to it being a standout as well. It’s hard to decipher whether “Bye Bye Baby” is the prelude, postlude, or has nothing to do with her verse on Chance The Rapper’s “Finish Line/Drown.” In her voice Noname raps about her relationship with her mother in addition to her relationship with God. Listen below to hear exactly where the perplexity lies.
The six other tracks on Telefone are vividly chill and real. Raury, Eryn Allen Kane, and theMIND are just a few people who assist Noname on these. “Diddy Bop” and “Forever” are top picks. Listen to Noname’s Telefone in full below.
Jesse Boykins III - Bartholomew
Noname’s Telefone and Jesse Boykins III Bartholomew actually dropped within a day of each other. Nine of the singer’s 17 tracks have features, one of them being Noname herself. Noname is recruited for Boykin’s fifth track “Into You,” which tells a story of being smitten and conflicted while latin and tribal fused sounds create the backdrop. “She’s lost in the age of living forever, he’s stuck in age of needing forever, but you never never never see it, no you can never live it all” are telling lyrics, passionately delivered by Boykins. A notable line by Noname is, “My God is the only above you,” it’s poetic and seems to have trust and love cementing it.
Another notable line comes from Isaiah Rashad on Bartholomew’s second track “Everybody Shut Up.” “Your mirror’s looking suicidal, why you?” raps the TDE signee on a cut about silencing those around you and their expectations, especially haters. The line circles in on what can happen if those voices and expectations become too much. Most importantly however, it shows how powerful self-doubt can be.
Noname and Isaiah Rashad’s contributions aren’t the only ones that help to create a perfectly imperfect track. Boykins also links with Willow Smith, Mick Jenkins, and Dej Loaf amongst others for tracks like “Vegetables,” “Nobody On Jupiter,” and “Only Way Out” just to name a few.
Aside from “Only Way Out,” my Bartholomew favorites are the ones where Boykins singing it solo. The Boykins and K. Roosevelt-produced “Kumbaya In June” is rather tranquil and seems to focus on an old flame and her re-entry into his life. “I Need You,” is the sixth track and I like the Chad Dexter-produced cut because of honest it feels. Boykins’ voice as he sings “I need you, you need me, we need we,” sounds like it’s coming from the depths of his soul and not his diaphragm. “Tomorrow” is up there simply because. “No Worry,” is the last track of the album and is honestly one of the best. Like the rest of the project reminds listeners to be free.
Before you’re prompted to listen to the project in full, I want to reiterate why I wrote about Rare, Telefone, and Bartholomew together. All of these projects are soulful, thematic pieces of art. And come from artists who crafted these pieces with approaches unique to them. PJ, Noname, and Jesse Boykins III know what they’re doing. Peep Bartholomew below.
Peneliope is hip-hop head and a closet poet. Yes, that's how you spell her name.
Toy Cars Wants To Bring You in Close, Then Scream in Your Ear
I was in a random dude's living room in New Jersey some time this past summer when I first saw Toy Cars perform...
I was in a random dude's living room in New Jersey some time this past summer when I first saw Toy Cars perform. There was probably 20 or thirty people there, standing directly in front of the band.
I had no idea what to expect. I'd never seen them, or even heard of them, before. It was a typical random rock show: A bunch of bands playing together for one night, and one night only. I figured we'd all probably forget each other's names after we left. I can never remember the names of most of the bands, or the people in them, or really anything about the night, usually. It's nothing personal. I don't expect them to remember me either.
But I didn't forget Toy Cars—as soon as they started playing it was clear that they weren't your run-of-the-mill local band. They had a ton of energy, and great songs—and, most importantly, they seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. It was one of those sets that makes time seem to speed up and slow down at the same time.
They made that dude's living room feel like it was a stadium.
And now, with their new EP, Sleeping Patterns, out on Friday, September 16, they pull off a similar feat: The five songs are somehow simultaneously intimate and gigantic at once.
The EP starts with “Bjork,” which puts vocalist Matt DeBenedetti's half-screaming-but-still-somehow-melodic style on display, and then Matt Caponegro's guitar comes in. It fills everything out—he does ambiance perfectly. Drummer Mike Linardi and bassist Chris Beninato lock in immediately, giving Toy Cars a driving sound that is especially strong on the EP's single, “Stone.”
“Dull,” essentially a folk song, changes things up—it's just DeBenedetti singing and playing acoustic guitar. Placed right in the middle of the EP, it's the perfect break of the loud-quiet dynamic shifts of the rest of the tracks. It has a Bright Eyes feel to it, which they return to on the final track, “Albatross,” a song about growing older, about regret, about devoting yourself to the things you love even if, as DeBenedetti sings, “every thing you've ever loved is gonna bury you some day.”
Well, let's hope that day doesn't come any time soon for Toy Cars: Sleeping Patterns is the work of a mature band, and if it's any indication about their future, they've got a lot more to offer.
Sleeping Patterns is available on vinyl from Counter Intuitive Records and on CD from Sniffling Indie Kids.
L.M. Alder is a writer, librarian and musician. His stories, poems, and reviews have appeared in Asimov's, Ghost Town, decomP, Corium, the EEEL, and other places. He is the co-author of A Cathedral in a Mason Jar: The Untold Story of Elvis Presley (tNY.Press, 2016). You can check out his band at TheDeafeningColors.com.
The Best Indie Rappers You Should Be Listening To Right Now
These are the rappers we recommend you get to know right now and you'll thank us later for putting you on to these...
These are the rappers we recommend you get to know right now and you'll thank us later for putting you on to these DOPE indie artists on the rise. This list includes Black El, Black Josh Ape, thatboycurtis, Little Simz, and WALDO. If you feel like you were slighted and should be included on this list, holla at us at info@dopecausewesaid.com and we'll see what's good for next time.
Black El
Known for working with producer Durkin (soundcloud.com/durkin) this Boston-bred underground rapper is a lyrical breath of fresh air, with hot beats to match. His samples will give you shivers - it’s a hip hop a little less nicely packaged than the R&B Rapper era of Tory Lanez and Drake - Black El’s voice is a little smoother, deeper. His tracks seem of the moment, but your big brother can also relate to them. The Durkin Produced track “5 to 6” almost melds the styles of Kid Cudi and Chance the Rapper for a refreshing and much-needed wake up call.
Black Josh Ape
This MC from Manchester draws inspiration from a hard-hitting boom-bap era, but his cute and clever stoner bars add unique layers to his songs. He always pairs his lyrics with top notch producers like Reklews, and too late He’s confident but not annoyingly cocky (even though with that spitfire delivery he might have the right to be) His flow can go aggressive, or mellow, or combine the two, like the smooth, fast Tribe Called Quest inspired jazz of “Sleepless”.
thatboycurtis
Otherwise known as Curtis Williams, this wild-haired artist is a diamond in the rough from Atlanta, Georgia who has close ties to rapper Key!, and is part of the rap collectives Two-9, FatKidsBrotha, and Retrosushi, that ensures all his tracks have jaw-dropping turn-up features, like OG Maco and production by Metro Boomin’. His direction on each project is so diverse, yet consistently delivers - he’s definitely worth a listen.
Little Simz
She might be small and shy, but don’t underestimate Little Simz - her swag takes over a room. The shyness quickly goes away as she demolishes a track, and continuously impresses with her freestyle skills. She always keeps her cool and that effortless London “it” girl vibe, drawing from role models like Lauryn Hill She brings a quick intelligence to all her tracks that will keep you guessing, and it’s hard not to make her your #WCW rapper.
WALDO
Michigan has had some impressive rappers come out of it, like Eminem and Big Sean, but WALDO’s rapping chops make him one to add to that list of talent. Uptempo beats will keep your blood pumping. He’s one of the founders of AGO, a collective of artists including afro-punk producer Sango, and the international influence of the members in his collective shine through his own tracks, like the contagious, frenzied instrumental of Plaques, produced by none other than the homie Sango.
Born and raised New Yorker. I'm a leftie, (handed, and in all senses of the word), and a culture/lifestyle writer. With a Muslim mother, a Jewish father, and an upbringing at the United Nations School, my perspectives are often strong-footed, and have roots in many different pots.
Interview: Max Rauch Discusses Fast Food, Donald Trump, and Leo Tolstoy
Max Rauch is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, recording engineer, and long-time performer from New Jersey...
Max Rauch is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, recording engineer, and long-time performer from New Jersey. Not only does he record and engineer music for a seemingly endless list of bands, but he also plays drums and sings in NGHTCRWLRS, writes songs, plays guitar, sings, and plays “a lil organ” for LKFFCT, is one of C.R. Gennone's Degenerates, helped to engineer the latest Tribal Days record, and, well, the list goes on and on...
Max had just come off a long weekend of five straight shows when he took some time to answer our questions below.
You're in a lot of bands. Don't you have anything better to do with your time? What's the point?
Well, I guess the answer to that question all depends on your perspective.. Playing music and expressing myself creatively is a top notch priority in my life. It brings me joy. That's the point. Why should I waste my time doing something I don't enjoy?
Who is your favorite musician that you have worked with? Why is he or she so much better than everyone else?
Working with Chris Gennone of C.R and the Degenerates has been a great experience. I don't like to measure artists in a ranked system and I won't say he or anyone is "much better than everyone else" but I will say that his music is genuine, honest, and unique in a way that happens to be personally relatable to me. Chris is becoming a master at writing memorable and cathartic songs.
If your band LKFFCT was a fast food restaurant, which restaurant would it be? What would the most affordable combo meal consist of?
I've always likened our music to Raw Sugar. Perhaps we'd be a Jamba Juice? Never really thought of our music in relation to fast food. I do think modern pop music is a lot like McDonalds though....
Two of your bands, LKFFCT and NGHTCRWLRS, have names in which the vowels are omitted. Why do you hate vowels so much? Is there some sort of childhood trauma that led to this? If so, can you please describe your childhood in-depth for us?
I don't hate vowels...it just so happens that the 2010's are slim pickin's when it it comes to available band names...We tried to keep our vowels but we got threatened with a potential legal action. Who cares anyways? Band names are kinda meaningless. Also, I had nothing to do with naming NGHTCRWLRS (I wasn't even in the band at that point!).
Please react to this quote from Leo Tolstoy's "What is Art?"
“Art is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of beauty or God; it is not, as the aesthetical physiologists say, a game in which man lets off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man's emotions by external signs; it is not the production of pleasing objects; and, above all, it is not pleasure; but it is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward well-being of individuals and of humanity.”
Seems like Leo Tolstoy didn't like to include women in the conversation. What a jerk.
Who do you think would like your music more: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Jill Stein, or Gary Johnson? Why?
Too content with being "losers" for Donald. Probably a bit too loud for Hillary these days... I guess Gary and Jill might dig us; they both seem like they've smoked a doobie or two in their day...that helps.
L.M. Alder is a writer, librarian and musician. His stories, poems, and reviews have appeared in Asimov's, Ghost Town, decomP, Corium, the EEEL, and other places. He is the co-author of A Cathedral in a Mason Jar: The Untold Story of Elvis Presley (tNY.Press, 2016). You can check out his band at TheDeafeningColors.com.
DCWS Connects With Los Angeles Based Rap Group High Sunday
We connected with High Sunday for this interview because we think 'Wonderland' is a DOPE track and because...
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, High Sunday bring sizzling energy and a massive hip-hop presence to their debut single, "Wonderland." The group is an eclectic mix of talents that include Eddie Core, Ike Deezl, Nick Fazekas, Evann Lewis, Nicole Row, Drin Elliot and Ryan Evangelista; who consistently produce a fresh take on the genre by combining elements from Jazz, Rock, Reggae and Funk. They count their influences among Hip-Hop heavyweights like Eminem and Outkast, while incorporating an infusion of rock akin to the likes of Hendrix and The Doors. It's a sound that rejects typical genre convictions in the pursuit of creating an unforgettable experience.
We connected with High Sunday for this interview because we think 'Wonderland' is a DOPE track and because we look forward to hearing and seeing much more from them. In this Q&A, we ask High Sunday about how they came together, about their debut single, their plans for the remainder of 2016 and much more.
How did you guys come together to form High Sunday?
We (Ike and Nick) had been a hip hop group for 10 years since 2005 under the name "Enfamus". We decided to move to LA and recruit a live band (drums, keys, bass, guitar, saxophone, and lead singer) comprised of extremely talented, and overall great people from around the country. Thus, the birth of the musical experience that is High Sunday.
Does the name High Sunday have a special significance?
The meaning of "high Sunday" is best explained through our music, but to us the significance is simple. With the current lack of talent and creativity, we feel like hip hop is at an all time low, so our goal is to continue raising the bar and keeping our aim "high". As for "Sunday", we just feel like it's a day of positivity, regrouping, and refocusing. Sunday gets us ready to work hard and take on the challenges that face us every week. We felt it's the perfect metaphor for how we take on our music, and what we want people to take from it.
Tell us about your debut single 'Wonderland'. Who produced it and how did it all come together?
Wonderland was produced by Ike Deezl. It's inspired by the dream of trying to "make it" in LA/ Hollywood, and discovering that the glitz and glam come with a price, and aren't exactly what they seem to be on the surface. The theatrical undertone stems from just that; to give the feeling of a grandiose wonderland, that gets darker and heavier the further you dive into it.
Is an EP or full length High Sunday album on the horizon?
We have an EP that we are planning to release at the end of November after releasing our 2nd single "hip hop anonymous".
What are your goals for the rest of 2016 and in 2017?
We will be releasing the EP along with some videos for our singles. As for 2017, we plan on playing more shows while creating more music for our fans. Quite possibly a tour coming up.
Are there any fellow artists in Los Angeles that you look forward to collaborating with musically?
We have already been fortunate enough to collaborate with plenty of great musicians here in Los Angeles. Spanning from amazing guest guitarist and bass players to singers and emcees on stage at many of our shows. That's one of our many treats we like to give to our fans. You never know who you might see killing it on stage at our shows. We are a 7 piece but a lot of times you will see up to 10 people on stage jamming at once.
The Best RnB Artists To Get Freaky To
Sometimes, the time for the perfect playlist is extremely vital - especially when it comes to between the sheets...
Sometimes, the time for the perfect playlist is extremely vital - especially when it comes to between the sheets. So we compiled a list of tracks that will go perfectly with some black lace, dimmed lines and a glass of red wine - they might even get you out of the friend zone.
J Robb
Feature Track: Say What
J Robb takes your favorite tracks from the 90’s and early 2000’s and puts his sexy, sexy twist on it. Get freaky to the reworks of Ashanti, Tamia, Justin Timberlake and more. He infuses a jazziness and super chilled tempo that makes you want to get wavy and do stuff.
Yellowlunarhuman (Pomo)
Feature Track: Kiss it Better Remix
You might know this producer better as Pomo. His alter ego has some pretty fuego tracks, that although sparsely posted, are all amazing. With jazz inspirations and remixes of Janet Jackson, Sade, and more. The beats are all velvety but his remix of Rihanna’s “Kiss it Better” is a funky, stridant bedroom anthem that gives the original song an extra 80’s inspired kick.
Gemaine
Feature track: Freaky
This panty-dropping sensation has under 15k followers, but seems to be the lovechild of Tory Lanez, the Weeknd, and R.Kelly. His falsettos and hi-hats are sharp, and his Soundcloud followers are sure to follow the quality of his tracks soon enough
ABRA
Feature Track: CRYBABY
Abra is adorable, and her old school beats are infection. She reminds a little of Janet and some vixens from her era, singing way beyond her years. This R&B crooner is perfect for ghosty bedroom vibes and her sexy taunts will have you playing in the sheets all night.
Alizzz
Feature Track: Body Slam feat. Santell
Alizzz will get you revved up in all the right ways. His moaning, come-hither voice reminds of Usher in tracks like the above, and the songs are a little brighter and more dynamic than some of the sleepier songs on this list. His tracks will get you into bed but wake you up in all the right ways ;)
Penthouse Penthouse
Feature Track: 69 Camara feat. Bobby Saint
This track is pretty straightforward in it’s message - if there was ever a song to make you want to get freaky in a car, this is it. Bobby Saint croons sweet pillow talk to us to the tune of Penthouse’s punchy synth beats. Be sure to check out his remix of Elijah Blake and Dej Loaf’s remix of “I Just Wanna”.
Ambre
Feature Track: Nintendo $hawty
This indie artist’s lyrics are on point and will definitely seduce you. She entices and makes promises about being your Nintendo Shawty - entice your man with some Nintendo in nothing but your socks, or vice versa for bae. Her production is super crisp and that voice (reminding a little of songstress Mila J) will cover you in goosebumps.
Born and raised New Yorker. I'm a leftie, (handed, and in all senses of the word), and a culture/lifestyle writer. With a Muslim mother, a Jewish father, and an upbringing at the United Nations School, my perspectives are often strong-footed, and have roots in many different pots.
Rock/Pop Duo Merlot Embargo Discusses Their Debut Album "Don't Look Back"
Merlot Embargo is a Los Angeles based Rock/Pop songwriter/producer pair (and husband/wife) who just released their debut album "Don't Look Back".
Merlot Embargo is a Los Angeles based Rock/Pop songwriter/producer pair (and husband/wife) who just released their debut album "Don't Look Back". We connected with the duo to find out more about their unique name, the new album, their creative process and much more. After reading our exclusive interview with Merlot Embargo, support this amazing duo by purchasing their debut album on iTunes.
I'm a big fan of the name 'Merlot Embargo'; what significance does it have to you?
Geoff: Hah! We've generally left the origins of our name a bit mysterious, but lets just say we named our band based on a big fight we had. It's kind of funny now, though.
Scarlet: Seriously. We're laughing. Trust us.
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard you guys?
Geoff: Scarlet's described us as a "modern-day, unconventional family band," and although that doesn't really describe what we sound like in specific terms, I think it does get at the spirit of our vibe, and in a roundabout way, even our sound. I'm a little less creative with my words, so I might say we're sort of americana singer-songwriter pop rock. Although there are definitely songs on the record that don't really fit in that description either.
Scarlet: We have been influenced by such an array of musical icons and styles, you can hear all of them in almost any song you hear on the album. There's not much that doesn't get us grooving so you're likely to hear an even more eclectic collection of sounds in our next few songs. But words that come to mind are: Vintage, Soul, Grit, and Groove.
How did the automobile accident in 2014 affect you as musicians and has it changed your outlook on life any way?
Scarlet: I think it had a huge impact on getting the ball rolling for getting this album done. I walked away with an almost subconscious but indelible impression on my mind of one big question: Would I have had any regrets if those had been my last moments? And the ONLY one that kept coming to the forefront was that I knew I had a lot of unfinished work in me musically. And to not give it one really good shot would have been a serious regret.
What's the creative process like for you in regards to the development of a new song?
Scarlet: The two places where ideas come to me the most are the car and the shower. On occasion I might say to myself it's time to write a song and grab a guitar and just do it, but mostly it has to start with one little thought, musical line, catchy turn of phrase that just won't leave my head. I have a so many random voice memos on my phone of me just scatting or singing stream-of-consciousness style. And many of the songs have their origins in there.
Geoff: I'm less abstractly creative than Scarlet, so my role in producing and arranging seems a little more like work, although I enjoy it immensely. My whole goal is to find the best way to present the song without getting in the way or overproducing, which is really easy to do these days with unlimited track counts and virtual instruments up the ying yang.
Tell us about your debut album "Don't Look Back"; what are you most proud of with this release?
Geoff: Man, there are so many things that went into it, it's hard to pick one. So I'll pick a few: I'm really proud of the fact that I can forget about all of the specifics of all of the details that went into each track and just enjoy the music - hopefully that means we succeeded with the production - that it doesn't get in the way of the songs. The second is the variety on the whole album. I think each track is unique and interesting, and yet still sounds like us. Also, on the engineering nerd side of things, I'm pretty proud of the fact that the stuff we recorded is 99% real instruments that a real person played. (There is a single software instrument in one song that we ended up keeping. If anyone wants to have a guess what it is, please write us - if you're the first to get it right, we'll send you a t-shirt :-)
Scarlet: That it's finally finished! It's an incredible feeling of accomplishment to have been working on something for so long (2yrs and some odd months) and actually finally have a THING. Especially since the thing actually sounds pretty damn good -- I'm just so glad it actually does sound good.
If you had to pick one song from the album as your favorite, which one would you select and why?
Geoff: For me it's "How to Survive an Apocalypse." That song went through a several revisions before we arrived at the arrangement on the album; and i had a bit of a love/hate relationship with it for a while.
Scarlet: "Apocalypse" is definitely a good one. I think my favorite one to sing is "Freaks On A Train". I've had my ups and down in that relationship as well.
What's a typical Merlot Embargo live performance like and will you be touring in support of the "Don't Look Back" album?
Geoff: We're a pretty relaxed bunch on stage. I know some bands rehearse everything down to the details, but that's not what we've done. I think we've got a bit of a good back and forth stage banter and presence, and having a pair of front people is nice too. For one, it means I don't have to worry about dead time if I need to tune my guitar or something.
Scarlet: Yeah, I don't stop talking so filling gaps has never been much of a problem for me. We don't have a tour set yet, but if it ends up making sense and working out, we'd love to. At first we'll be sticking to local clubs and opportunities though. Our website and social media sites will keep everyone updated on any upcoming shows.
What's next for you musically after "Don't Look Back"?
Geoff: We're always writing and working on new material. In fact we just got hooked up with a day in a nice studio this weekend, so we'll be working on a new tune - maybe it'll end up as a single, maybe for the next album; we'll see.
Scarlet: Actually yeah I've been writing since I finished writing the tunes on this album. So hopefully by the time we're ready to solidify the next one I've weeded out some pretty nice songs. We will also be releasing a few singles and some more music videos for the other songs on the album.
Peter Wells, Lead Vocalist of Parker Road, Discusses Their Upcoming Album "Simple Days"
Daniel Wilson sat down with Peter Wells of the Rock/Alternative band Parker Road to talk about life, music, and their forthcoming album...
We sat down with Peter Wells, founder, lead-vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist of the Rock/Alternative band Parker Road to talk about life, music, and their forthcoming album, Simple Days.
What is the inspiration behind your new song, “Simple Days”?
I wrote "Simple Days" with my best friends in mind. It's really about the journey of those friendships from the days when we were care free to the days when tragedy hit, distance became greater, and the pressures of life set in. I know for me, my life has changed so much in the last two or three years, and between that and all the chaos that surrounds us in the world today, at times I wish I could go back when life was simpler, before life started to make its mark.
What inspires you to write?
My inspiration to write usually comes from things I've been wrestling with personally, whether that be certain ideas or philosophies, or events that have happened. I write hoping that a song can be a voice for someone that is wrestling through something similar.
What is different about the music on this upcoming release? How does it differ from your previous music?
I think this album is lyrically more personal and also more accessible to the listener than my last. Musically, my last album was the first rock album I had written and it was the first time I had single handedly written every song on an album. Before that, I was in heavier bands and would co-write with the band. It [this album] was definitely a learning experience stylistically and it pushed me as a writer. The way I approached writing this album was different, too. Before, I would usually write the entire song musically first and then I would start writing lyrics and melodies, while trying to fit them into the music I had demoed out. This time I wrote music and lyrics more at the same time which really helped the songs become what they are more naturally. I definitely feel more grounded as a writer with this album.
Was there an intentional decision to progress with your music for your second body of work?
Definitely. I wanted to write music that was more colorful. I have synesthesia, so that's the best way I know how to say it. Maybe in other words, I wanted to write music that had more dimension and emotion. That also influenced the decision to change this from a solo project to something that can evolve into something more.
What do you hope your music accomplishes?
hope my music, aside from being fun to listen to, is able to connect with people more honestly than a lot of music I've been hearing lately. I hope it can inspire people to not give up on their passions, to appreciate their friends and family, and to keep moving forward when times are tough or when you feel displaced in life.
What do you hope people take away from listening to ‘Simple Days”?
After listening to the song "Simple Days" I hope people remember to appreciate where they are at the moment. I think the first verse says it well, "they were simple days and we had no clue". Life rarely seems to simplify itself and people are always looking at what's next instead of appreciating the moment. I catch myself doing that a lot. We rarely appreciate what we have until we look back on it. So I hope it helps people appreciate where they're at and who they're with right now, and not just be consumed with what's next.
What does the ideal ‘simple day’ look like to you? (I.e. what do you like to do with your ‘free time’?)
What's free time? *laughs. Well, when I'm not at work or in the studio, which is rare, I love to completely separate myself from both. Whether it's sitting out on my porch in a warm summer night, or binge watching a TV show, I enjoy just getting away. Sometimes sitting outside and taking in the peacefulness is the ideal simple day for me. When I get the chance, I also love traveling wherever I can. Being able to get away and appreciate something that I don't experience every day is something I really enjoy too.
Should we be on the lookout for the new album?
Yes! The album is dropping on 9/23/2016!
Connect with Parker Road: Facebook
Daniel Wilson is a freelance writer and musician residing in Central Pennsylvania. For contact info, send an email to danielmarkwilson@comcast.net.
Why Kid Cudi Is The (Best and) Last True Punk Rocker Alive
Make no mistakes, punk is not a type of music. It is a lifestyle choice. You can bring up the Sex Pistols and Ramones and...
Make no mistakes, punk is not a type of music. It is a lifestyle choice. You can bring up the Sex Pistols and Ramones and yes, I will agree they are punk bands, but it is their attitude and approach to pop music that makes it punk, not the music itself. While it could be said punk music is four chords of chaos and repeated hooks, punk is not punk if someone who does not carry that mentality with them is playing it. Dylan playing electric at the Newport Folk Festival is a perfect example. Yes, he played his same folky songs he always played back then, but that day, plugging in electric for an audience that viewed electric rock as the death of music was about as punk as you can get. So you see, punk is a lifestyle choice that, IF YOU ARE LUCKY, will bleed into your musical sound as well. It is with that exact thinking in mind that I present to you the simple fact that rapper, musician, and artist Kid Cudi (who is mislabeled as hip hop by all, when he in fact plays every genre) is the last of the Mohicans when it comes to punk. You may disagree now but you will find that harder and harder to do the more you read, so get reading. My point is valid if you are brave enough to give it a chance.
ALWAYS Unable to Labeled
Here is the first thing that separates Kid Cudi from most hip hop artists (and most of music, to be honest). From his very first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, he had hinted to us he was not just a rap artist. There was a sort of manic energy to his music that danced between morose and inspiring, hitting every emotion in between on the way.
Maybe the full-on punk hadn’t emerged yet, but there were hints of rebellion masked as a depth most rappers don’t choose to share. Cudi shared it from the start, making him braver, more honest, and hinting at the punk he’d become. Don’t let the softness of the song below throw you off. It cuts deep, a song about being different and feeling like you don’t belong and no one understands you. A song, in essence, about the very things that make someone a “punk”, already cementing my point.
Not a punk ‘song’ by any means, but written from the viewpoint of someone who very much feels isolated and misunderstood. The seeds had been sewed from day one by and for Kid Cudi.
Under the Thumb of Music Execs
This was the point he moved to a major label and the label guys started doing that thing they do when they fuck with your music because they want it to sound a certain way. They were trying all they could to make him a pop artist and hip hop artist, as displayed by his first single, which, while great, did not sum up the man’s sound at all.
But we can look at it as the moment Kid Cudi was officially put on the map, so it is a moment I am still grateful for. I just know now how much he was holding back. They made him act and perform a certain way but he hungered to let his roots be known. Scott Mescudi was not a man raised on just rap or hip hop or anything that made him feel separate or different. He listened to it all and loved it all. He loved science fiction growing up (kind of obsessed, which explains his Man on the Moon persona) and always loved all kinds of music, from alternative to punk to classic rap to modern Kanye (who he has recorded with, written for, and produced. Don’t judge, Kanye is his own article). But the major labels wanted a very specific sound, so he gave it to them, branching whenever he got the chance. His song for the Fright Night remake began to truly show his darker, punk rock roots a little more:
From the hard, crunching guitars that fill it to the yells and yelps he makes throughout the song, that was when the REAL Cudi was beginning to bleed through. This man had a darker spirit than he was being allowed to show us, and it grew more and more hungry the more it was stifled. By the second album, it was all laid out. Hell, with Mr. Rager he straight up made a rock song and the video features his “punk, dark side” killing his pure self. That, my friends, says it all. He was sick of being the peon and wanted to let his dark side out and let his real emotions win for awhile.
This was it for him. A time to break free.. And he did.
He Went Rogue
It finally hit him that he had the album he wanted to make with producer and good friend Dot Da Genius (Hey, I never said he was humble, but his name fits) but the kicker was, it was going to be an album inspired by white music. I know that sounds very gentrified, but understand, Cudi liked Nirvana and the Pixies and old Blues artists Lead Belly, and he wanted to make an album that reflected that. So instead of making another Cudi record that sounded too different, he took a chance and formed WZRD with Dot and they made an entire album together that is filled with guitar and crunchy Nirvana-esque riffs and screams and pure power.
And wouldn’t you know it, the album places number one on the college and alternative charts when it drops. Number one, dammit!
BUT (and there is always a but to ruin everything) fans were not as kind. Seems they wanted old Cudi even though anyone with ears and commons sense could tell how happy the WZRD record made him. Hell, at one point I was so confused as to why he didn’t tour the support the WZRD album that I tweeted at Dot and asked him why and I saw he sent it to Cudi with no response. Seemed there may have been label dogs keeping Cudi acting a certain way, which is not uncommon in that nasty business. So what does Cudi drop next? Well honestly, he drops….
One of the Greatest Hip Hop Records of all Time
So next, to really mess with those who think they know the direction he was going, he releases a double album (Indicud) that is pretty much the pinnacle of good hip hop post 2010. Every single sound was represented on that album, from West to East coast, from 90’s influenced (Wu-Tang, YO) to stuff that sounds like nothing else out there. It really is a remarkable hip hop record.
But even then, the Indicud record hints at who Cudi wanted to be still:
Yes, featuring Father John Misty well before every neckbeard in America was bragging about this guy’s music like they discovered it. But what was to happen next? How was hip hop Cudi going to bridge WZRD Cudi so they could co-exist?
He had a plan, of course.
Satellite Flight Was the Transition
It was the record Satellite Flight that Kid Cudi best tried to gel both of the musical worlds he had created together into one thing. Being a huge fan who saw and heard the progression the whole time, I adore the album and its wide variety of moods and songs. But again, fans started to rise up say shit like they wanted “The OLD Cudi” back, and to me, people who said that were always insulting the artist in mention. Saying you want the old version of an artist is saying you want an artist who didn’t evolve or hasn’t grown in any way over a decade. Don’t you understand that would be hell to an artist? Is there a bigger insult than that? That would be stagnation, and no artist in their right mind would allow or perpetuate that.
So what happened after Satellite Flight (subtitled Journey to Mother Moon)? Easy. Kid Cudi finally said FUCK IT and made the (double) album Cudi wanted. And this is the key moment he became the last true figure representing punk rock in modern music. Because he straight went punk on every level.
He left his label and stopped caring what others thought. Suddenly, out of nowhere, along comes..
Speedin’ Bullet to Heaven (And it Changes Everything)
Can you imagine the size of balls it takes to drop a double album out of the blue that is pretty much, at times acoustic, and at times punk? Well, that is what Cudi did. He switched over to Kanye West’ label (say what you want about the guy, but he let Kid Cudi make the record CUDI wanted, and that also takes balls) and the end result is easily one of the most raw, real, honest, at times heart breaking and at times inspiring records I have ever heard. Speedin’ Bullet to Heaven.
Would YOU have the balls to release a song this raw and honest:
And on the other extreme, how about releasing a song like THIS:
That song is pure punk and the closest we have come to music like that since Kurt blew his brains out (because of or as a result of his whorish wife). Yet, you know how people reacted to this record, right?
“WAAAAHHHH, Outrage, We Want Cudi To RHYME At Us” Scream the Masses, Cudi Screams Back...F*ck You
To me, those are not fans. A fan would be selfless enough that would want an artist to evolve and explore what feeds the artist creatively. People who whine at bands or artists for changing are not really fans of that artist in the truest sense, to me at least. They are fair weather sheep who want to approach the troth hoping it is full of the same filth they love to gorge themselves on everyday. Kid Cudi got to a point in his life when he no longer wanted to help fill that troth. That, motherfuckers, is pure punk, right down to the soul.
Cudi Is the Last of His Kind
So Cudi did ONE DATE OF THE TOUR and people reacted too harshly he just pulled it and said fuck it. But all of it, everything I just mentioned above, what most people seem to be missing is, it was punk from the start. Everything this guy did, and it finally culminated in a person who still symbolizes what made a whole entire music (and lifestyle) scene be born from. From not giving fucks and doing what YOU want to do, spite what the masses may beg you for.
Keep doing you and the music that feeds your soul, Cudi. The best of us recognize it and see and hear it for what it is. All I need to say about your progression and all you've done is Amen. Ya feel me?
Real recognizes real. We see you, Cudder. We see you and thank you. For amid the music landscape we all have to choose from right now, there is still at least ONE artist staying true to himself, and if you think there is anything more punk than that, you don’t know what punk means.
Remy is the rarest Pokemon of all, and cannot be caught by anyone (even child services). He lives in a velvet cave in the Northeast, and if you say his name three times in a mirror, he appears dressed in assless chaps. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook if you hate yourself enough.
From The Ground Up With DT: A Show For Artist Development And Great Music
Carib101Radio in Brampton, Ontario houses a new type of show on their usually Caribbean themed program. The show, From the Ground Up with DT (Ground Up)...
Carib101Radio in Brampton, Ontario houses a new type of show on their usually Caribbean themed program. The show, From the Ground Up with DT (Ground Up), is hosted by DT the Artist, who has been featured on DOPECAUSEWESAID.com before, along with Taesia, the booking manager and myself, Ekelle, the music director. The show is a mixture of advice for upcoming artists as well as seasoned artists, personal anecdotes from the hosts and fun and games, of course. The show airs on Wednesdays and Fridays on Carib101Radio from 6-8pm.
Our goals are to provide helpful information to artists trying to make it in the maze that is the music industry, to shed some light on new talent, inform of helpful events/activities for artists to take part in and play great music from all over the world! Yes, that’s right; anyone who makes urban music (Hip-Hop, RnB, Soca, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Soul, etc.) can submit MP3s to us and as long as the songs are clean and the quality is there, we will definitely play it. The show is also registered with a performing rights organization which means that qualified artists can get paid! So far we have played music from artists in North Carolina, Atlanta, New York, St. Martín and Nigeria in addition to Toronto, of course. Ground Up also features a creative as a guest each episode. Creative has a wide definition to us so the audience can expect anyone from artists, dancers, entertainment managers, fashion designers, talent scouts, models or even pro athletes. So from 6-8pm anyone who tunes in online via Carib101.com directly, from Apple Music or using the Tune In app can hear the show and share it with their fans, family and friends. So far the show has been great and so many interesting guests have come through. We are currently working on our phone in feature so that creatives from around the world and listeners can call in with their thoughts and make requests.
For any artists wishing for airplay or anyone who knows an artist whose music they would like to submit please contact us at fromthegroundupwithdt@gmail.com, for anyone looking to be considered as a guest please contact our booking manager Taesia at taesiafromthegroundup@gmail.com.
Connect with Carib101Radio: Website Instagram Twitter Soundcloud YouTube
Asha Mullings aka Ekelle is a Toronto based artist, model, and writer. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG at #officialekelle.
Nancie Schipper’s Debut Album: "Haunted House" Review
Nancie Schipper may only be sixteen years old, but the South West Victorian musician is showing the world why age is just...
Nancie Schipper may only be sixteen years old, but the South West Victorian musician is showing the world why age is just a number with the release of her fourteen track debut album titled Haunted House. Nancie’s stunning talents have caught the attention of Australian music legends such as Shane Howard and Bill Chambers, prompting them to appear on the 2015 project, which is a diverse and exceptional piece of art.
Nancie began writing more serious music around twelve years old, but stuck to playing covers at fundraisers and council foyers. Eventually, the confidence she gained on stage began to pour into her music, and she was bewildered to find the audience loved her originals. At fourteen, Nancie decided she had the right amount of material and confidence to capture her songs permanently in the form of sound recordings, thus beginning the journey to Haunted House.
"I thought the project would take a matter of months.” stated Nancie. “Little did I know just how much work and commitment it would take to produce 14 songs, and the entire project took a full year! In November of 2015, we officially launched the album with a full band in front of an audience of 250 people. It was the most mind blowing experience of my life“.
The fourteen tracks on Nancie’s album are not ones you would ever imagine to have been written by someone her age, touching on real world topics with underlying tones of poise and maturity. The album even stands true to it's name by giving the listener a Civil Wars type feel through the use of minor chords and vocal inflictions, creating a somewhat haunting and shadowy feel. Her voice is flawless and folky, blending well with the overall small-town singer vibe of the project. If you're looking for an organic and easy-listening album, we definitely recommend you check this one out.
So when you listen to her album Haunted House and fall in love, don’t worry. Even though Nancy is a bit reluctant to release too much information, she is planning the release of her second album in the near future, which will be recorded in Sydney by Australian producer Matt Fell in an intense ten-day session. Nancie is also in the process of planning an Australian tour as well as several appearances at major Australian music festivals. If Nancie has gotten this far and accomplished so much at just sixteen, one can only imagine where she will be in a matter of a few years.
Connect with Nancie Schipper: Website Facebook Instagram
Stream/Download "Haunted House" by Nancie Schipper
Bateau aka Melina Twyman is a Melbourne, Australia based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop artist as well as a DOPE writer and friend of DCWS. You can follow her on Instagram at #bateauofficial or at bateauofficial.wordpress.com