Q&A with King Zell

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We connected with King Zell, a 20-year rapper from Baltimore, who is part of the music group Rated R, about his musical influences, how he selects beats, how he and Rated R connected and more. 

Carlton Boyd

Tell me about Rated R? How did you guys connect and do you have an EP or mixtape on the way? K: Rated R is a music group that consists of 5 members (4 Guys and 1 Girl).The 4 of us guys went to high school together & we became friends from there. I knew one of them (Ruso) since we were younger though. They were making music before me, this is in 2012. I told them I would be the hype man & that's really what it was at first. Being around them & listening to a lot of music growing up made me want to start making music so I made my first song in the summer of 2014. In 2015 we got a girl in the group with a very unique sound to her. We've been clicking since then. We are currently working on a Rated R mixtape as well as solo projects.

Being a part of Rated R as well as a solo artist, how do you decide what beats to keep for yourself to write to as opposed to using them for your group? K: I pick the beats that I feel would be the best fit for all of our styles. We all have a different style to our music but for the most part we find a way to finesse the beat for all of us. If they don't want to use a beat that I pick, I'll use it for myself & find one that sounds better all of us.

Chicago is known for "Drill" and Atlanta is known for "Trap"; would you say that Baltimore rap has a distinct sound? K: I don't really think Baltimore rap has a distinct sound yet. It's kinda like a mixture of Trap, Drill, Gangsta Rap & Soulful Rap. We do have a type of music that we dance to called "Baltimore Club Music".

Who are some of your influences lyrically as an artist? K: Growing up I listened to a little bit of every rapper but my influences are Lil Herb, Meek Mill, 50 Cent, Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Drake, Lil Bibby, Kanye West & More.

When a new listener hears one of your tracks for the first time, what do you want them to take away from it? K: It's nothing I would want them to take away; I want them to hear & feel everything that I'm saying in any song.

Connect with King Zell and Rated R:   Soundcloud   Instagram   Twitter

EVOLVE or Else

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EVOLVE is an Indie MC based out of Donna, Texas and is the owner of Boom Bap Masterpiece Records. EVOLVE has worked with some of the illest mc's and producers in the underground Hip-Hop genre including El Da Sensei from the Artifacts, Esoteric (AOTP/CZARFACE), C-Rayz Walz, Goretex (NON PHIXION), and Mickey Factz, among many more. He has also shared the stage with Hip-Hop royalty including Public Enemy, Masta Ace, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique, Chino XL, Blueprint, Ikey Owens (Mars Volta), Prime Element, and many more.

'Deathmarch (Larry David)'  is EVOLVE's latest track off his new EP entitled "Death March". The track is produced by K Black of Moodie Black and it's available for you to stream/download below, along with  "ETC..." which is comprised of 21 fire tracks featuring Mickey Factz, Pawz One, Kido, Ray Rozel, and more.  

EVOLVE and Boom Bap Masterpiece Records represent that real authentic Hip-Hop where lyrical content and beats both matter. So no, Hip-Hop isn't dead; it just EVOLVED. 

Connect with EVOLVE: Facebook   Soundcloud   Bandcamp   Reverbnation   Twitter

BLOG: How to Setup Your Home Studio on a Budget (Ten Steps)

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In this post, Scotty Banx gives artists advice on how to setup a home studio without breaking the bank. Click here to read the full post. 

Rook: FLEXIN on You

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Rook is a young MC striving to be the first big name to come out of the 870—the area code of the long-overlooked region of Northeast Arkansas where he was raised. Now living in LA, Rook works to support a family; however, the real work comes in his home studio, where Rook records and mixes nearly every track he releases. Rook has fleshed out a steady stream of free records via Soundcloud and self-packaged hard copies of his mixtapes. "Orange is the New Black" is the title of his latest free-of-charge project, which was released to rave reviews.

Rook has been writing raps for a decade and recording them for half of that time, drawing inspiration from such greats as NWA, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake, 50 Cent and Kanye West. To keep up with his most recent projects, look for Rook performing with his partner-in-rhyme Smoo in venues throughout the LA area, or you can download his new single “Black Mamba” on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play. Some even say he plans to drop another tape in November.  The 23 year old has no plans of slowing down any time soon. 

Connect with Rook: Twitter   Instagram   Soundcloud   Facebook 

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Who is Stayc Johnson?

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Marcus Foggle Jr. (born September 19, 1991) better known by his stage name Stayc Johnson is an American Hip-Hop artist, producer and videographer from Fort Worth, TX, by way of Atlanta, GA. He is one of the four co-founders of the Hip-Hop collective #DrettiPosse, with whom he has released two mixtapes.  

Leaving #DrettiPosse late 2013 Stayc set out to push The Most High Brand, his music collective and production team.  Stayc released his debut album Avenue L in October 2014 to follow it up with the release of his EP Fo’ set to release late October 2015.

Connect with Stayc Johnson: Soundcloud   Facebook   YouTube   Twitter   Instagram

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Videos:

Suicide Notes: Stranger than Fiction

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Suicide Notes is a fictional Hip-Hop group from Austin, TX. DJ/Producer LROY (Legitimate Rhythms Own You) & Producer/Emcee HADES (Hungry Artists Don't Ever Stop) got together one day at dark times in each others lives. Feeling like they'd almost accomplished all they wanted out of life, it became a running joke to end it all or leave soon from natural causes. 

When reflecting on the music catalog that would be left behind, it became clear that there was more to say. Something that could sum it all up. 

Boo G. Ratchet & Frankie Donatello came after the failed suicide attempts to help LROY & HADES leave a proper suicide note behind in the form of an album. Boo G. Ratchet is a wannabe aristocrat and barely functioning sex addict & Frankie Donatello is a sleazy, desperate low-rent con artist who lives with his mamma.  

Suicide Notes's debut album drops on December 1st on Black Market Pluto.

Connect with Suicide Notes: Website   Facebook   Tumblr   Twitter   YouTube   Soundcloud

The Gold Standard: Bateau

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Bateau is an Austin, Texas based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop singer-songwriter who at the age of 19 decided to pursue a music career after The John Lennon Tour Bus made a stop in San Antonio, Texas and gave her an opportunity to professionally film, produce, and record a music video for her original song  “Runaway” in March of 2013. Early the next year, in January 2014, she released the single “Put Down The Bottle” on YouTube which quickly attracted a following. Although she initially started to generate a buzz in the Texas indie folk scene singing under the stage name Melina Evalyn, she felt restricted by the genre and increasingly uncomfortable with the squeaky clean image that she felt pressured to maintain for her career.

Melina took a break from everything in 2015 and for three months took up a job waitressing to save money for a move to California. Even though she felt emotionally drained and hadn’t performed for months she couldn’t help but wonder if her fans would accept the underground Hip-Hop sound that inspired her to write to music in the first place as a teenager in Houston, Texas. Unable to leave music behind for good, Melina quietly recorded and released the single “Gold“ as Bateau and officially retired her old stage name Melina Evalyn on Facebook.

On September 20th Bateau released her self-titled debut album "Bateau" and it's FIRE. We had the opportunity to connect with her and ask a few questions about her sound, the album, and more.  

How would you describe your musical style and sound? B: My musical style is Trip Hop with Hip Hop undertones. My style of singing is atmospheric and light in contrast to the dark and ominous beats. My lyrical style honest and direct, as well as heavily influenced by pop and indie-folk writing traits.

Do you have a favorite song on your recently released debut album "Bateau"?  B: My favorite song on the album would have to be Money Honey. The song is honest and harsh, while touching on dark matters that most people don’t like talking about it. It is also one of the most energetic songs on the album.

Would you say that the various places you have lived have contributed to who you are as an artist lyrically and concept wise? B: Most definitely. I have lived in three different cities in the past five years, as well as traveled very frequently. The things I have learned from other states and countries influence my style by giving me a wide range of perspective. The album has a sense of wanderlust due to my travels, and most of my songs are influenced by my longing to go back to California. 

I'm really feeling your song/video for 'Gold', especially the utilization of the Active Child sample. How did they come about?  B: Thank you! Gold was the very beginning of Bateau. At the time, I was doing my singer-songwriter bubblegum pop. A friend of mine made beats, and had a bunch of discarded ones he was not using. I asked him for one just so I could try out singing over it, since I have always been a huge fan of soul and hip hop. I was not even aware it was an Active Child sample until much later. I was basically driving to Houston when he sent it, and I wrote the hook over the three-hour drive. I just listened over and over again until I had the hook. I never even wrote the lyrics down, and it all happened really fast. After that, I sent it to my friend Walter in San Antonio, who laid down some verses. It was mostly for a fun experiment, but took off more than I anticipated. 

"Bateau" by Bateau (stream below)

Connect with Bateau: Website   YouTube  Facebook   Soundcloud   Instagram

Free The Optimus (FTO): 1234 and More

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Free The Optimus (FTO) is a North Carolina Hip-Hop collective comprised of C.Shreve the Professor, DJ Jet, Mike L!VE, Phil Dangerous, Ill Will, She Carretta, Good Shepard, James Millen, and other affiliated collaborators including Pragmaddix, Phlo Deli, C.Pitt, ILe Flottante, Tha Last Boss, Soulful Chemistry, Jerrel Moore, P.U.R.P. and Beek the Sneak. Sub-sets of the collective include Mind Ninjas, and PRO-Dangerous as well as everyone's solo work. The focus is on raw food for thought packed full of phytochemicals.

The “1234” video below finds FTO in higher education mode at Cypher University where they thoroughly demonstrate each element of the Hip-Hop culture that has so thoroughly shaped their lives. The lyrical aggression comes from witnessing “the wackness that y’all perpetuate, that’s insidious” and their response to “rap for dope North Carolinians” – bottom line, dispensing with sucka MCs will always be an issue, and we’ve had a knack for handling business lately.
 
Filmed in Boone & Asheville, NC, and in Knoxville, TN, this is the follow up to the Summer Ransom series of videos that helped propel FTO to win Best Hip Hop Group at the 2015 Carolina Music Awards. The production comes from Dylan Guye (Greensboro, NC), who has several songs on FTO's upcoming album FTOLive. FTOLive will be released later this fall and will star C.Shreve the Professor, Mike L!VE, and DJ Jet along with features from Jrusalam, Tuscon, Hunter, Pragmaddix, and Chachillie with production from P.U.R.P., Dylan Guye, Flue, Millie Vaughn and more.

Please believe that DOPECAUSEWESAID will keep you posted as to when the FTOLive album drops; in the meantime, scroll below to stream/download Summer Ransom.

Connect with Free The Optimus: Website   Soundcloud   Facebook   Twitter (FTO)   Twitter (seeshreve)   Twitter (JetMusake)   Twitter (LongLiveLive)

1234 Video

The Cypher Documentary

Summer Ransom by C.Shreve The Professor

BLOG: Are You Ready for the Fast Life?

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Hey everybody, my name is Asha Mullings. You may remember me from some articles I’ve written for this fantastic site. What some of you may not know is that I’m also an aspiring female rapper who knows by the name Ekelle. I know that it’s not an easy industry to crack into, but I feel like I have as decent a shot as anybody else. The following is what I have experienced and learned thus far since my small beginnings on this journey. Although I’ve only started to seriously pursue my musical goals this past January, I’ve learned a lot in that short time. Hopefully this short list of advice will help you or anyone else you know who is also on a journey to pursue fame and fortune.

1. Get Your Money Up
You’re going to hear me mention this a lot, but that’s because money is so important.  Of course the game is about who you know more than what you know but money always talks real loud! I’m not sure where some of y’all are in your journey but you should start saving towards your next project and then some because you never know when unexpected expenses might come up. So if that means you need to work those night shifts at McDonald's to record your mixtape, just do it with no shame because you know where you really belong.

2. Network, Network, Network!
I’ve always had creative ambitions, but like most I was never really encouraged to pursue them so I went to school first. Yes, I have a full 4-year program degree and the student debt to prove it. At school they would always preach the power of networking for your career, but I was never that interested. In regards to music though, I’m always excited to meet new people and shake hands. Midsummer I performed at an open mic at a popular restaurant in my city’s downtown. A month later I had an artist from Chicago message me on Facebook to tell me that he and his crew were coming up to do a showcase and wanted me to perform in it. Fast forward, I did end up performing, met with another entertainer from my city and so much more. The entertainer was someone I saw at a different open mic and she gave me all sorts of information on opportunities I could get my hands on next summer. I ended up also getting an interview for an up and coming Hip Hop magazine called Urban Color and when I went after-partying with the Chicagoans, I ended up meeting Tasha the Amazon! You all may not be totally familiar with her yet, but I tell you she’s the next big thing out of Toronto. 

3. Stay Open
Stay open to all the possibilities that you can. We all want that fame and fortune but at the beginning of your musical journey you’re gonna have to work for free for a little bit. I’m not sure how long, but that is just the reality until you start to generate some buzz for yourself. With that being said, be open to anything that can give you good exposure. Since the industry is more about just music these days, see if you can start modeling, try out for some TV shows and music videos, or be in the audience of a talk show. Basically you need to start getting into the practice of doing things you’ll be doing when you get on top such as talk show interviews, photo shoots, music videos, magazine interviews, etc. You need to start preparing yourself for the life you wanna live!

4. Market Yourself!
The good thing about being at the beginning stages of your career is that you’re the boss. No one can make you do anything you don’t wanna do. If you don’t see the value in certain things or people then you can just walk away. With that being said though, I think the biggest mistake a lot of new artists make is their marketing approach. You can put all the songs you want on Soundcloud, but if no one’s clicking on it then it doesn’t matter. I’m not saying that you should spend an obscene amount of money on marketing but maybe something like $100 dollars towards promotion of a new project is decent. Keep in mind that having Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, Bandcamp, Facebook, etc are free methods of support but there are millions of people on them so you need to stand out. Don’t be afraid to make your friends and family promote your stuff because that’s what they should be doing in the first place if they want to see you be successful. Try and get yourself in as many online publications as possible and any local public access TV shows too because someone is always watching. 

5. Stay Busy!
I do think that there are a lot of good opportunities out there when you go looking for them, so don’t stop looking! No one is going to hand you anything at first so keep finding work for yourself to do. Try not to have a huge gap between productions and videos by keeping yourself busy with the shoots, open mics and other things you’re doing. When you’re meeting new people and making your connections just be aware of who these people are and what their intentions with their careers are too. For example if you meet someone who proudly says they’ve been in the game for 13 years but they’re still at street level, really consider whether you need to have them in your posse. The other day through my adventures with my Chicago peeps I met another female artist who has some of her material on The Source which is pretty cool. We exchanged info and hopefully something great will come out of that connection. I’m not saying you should go around like a snob and only talk to some people but just be mindful of how their presence will affect you.  Surround yourself with other likeminded individuals but don’t be afraid to cut people off who aren’t supporting the hustle. If you’ve asked certain people 10 times to share your link or come to your show then you need to cut them off! All you need is to keep believing in yourself, find yourself a go to team for production, photos, videos and even duets and you’re good to go.

I hope that was helpful! - Asha Mullings

Hindu V: Vancouver Stand Up

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Vicky Chand born (January 28th, 1990), also known by his stage name Hindu V, is a South Asian rapper. He was born and raised in Surrey BC (Canada) and has amassed a large internet following while striving to achieve major success. Originally known as Vicky Chand, under the moniker “VC”, Hindu V first rose to national prominence after the release of his debut single featuring none other than West Coast legend WC (Westside Connection) with a song titled “Still Westsidin”. The single received high praise by fans, bloggers and radio stations world wide who were infactuated by the West Coast movement. WC gave V an early CO-Sign in his career saying V would be "the next to blow!" 

V is becoming one of the few rappers to put Canada on the map. Well known and respected in his city of Vancouver, Hindu V has worked with WC, Young Buck, Gorilla Zoe, Euroz & has performed with artists like Warren G, DJ Quik, Jadakiss, Fabolous & Rich Homie Quan. V's Highly Anticipated Debut Album "Guilty By Association (GBA)" will be released late fall 2015 with full digital distribution through Universal Canada. Hindu V seemingly moves confidently through his career in hopes to not only carry the weight of an overlooked country, but also give the South Asian community across the world the chance to hear their voice in the Rap industry.

QUICK Three Interview:

What's the Hip-Hop music scene like in Vancouver? It is really competitive and cutthroat or are the other artists on the rise supportive of each other? H: It's kind of every man for themselves out here. There hasn't really been that one guy that's broken through and received mainstream success in the states, so everyone is trying to be that guy. There's a few groups of rappers/singers creating local movements a there's definately a lot of talented artists in the city, but I feel like there's just not enough infrastructure or outlets that help push local music.

How hard is it for you, specifically, and generally as a Canadian rapper, to be yourself as an artist and not try to emulate Drake and his sound since it has proven successful with American listeners? H: Personally it hasn't been difficult for me at all. Drakes a huge artist and has definitely open a lot of doors for different rappers that have a similar sound or flow, but my style has never really sounded like Drake and I don't think anyone is looking for the "next" Drake so trying to emulating his sound has never been my approach. If anything like all great hip hop artists have done in the past, I try to see what's worked for Drake and put my own flavor on it to make it something unique. 

When someone listens to a Hindu V track or your upcoming debut album "Guilty by Association (GBA)" or sees you perform live for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience? : I want them to feel my passion and my commitment to my craft. I want them to know that every time I get in the booth and every time I get on stage I'm getting better. I want people to know that I speak for them and I speak from a genuine place inside myself. Most importantly I want people to know that I'm a real artist and and a real person that won't ever lie to my fans or glorify the negative. Keeping that in mind my music will never be censored and will always give you the good the bad and the ugly, just like in life.

Connect with Hindu V: Website   Instagram   Facebook   Twitter   Youtube   Soundcloud

Video: Money on My Mind feat. The Kid

Mixtape: #GBAcomingsoon

Who is John Wells?

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John Wells is an American rapper, producer, and songwriter from East Baltimore, Maryland. John began writing raps at the age of 11, writing his first rap over the beat to Nuthin' But A G Thang. He began releasing music at 15 with friends from school, and eventually began working with Scotty Banx, whom he'd known of since middle school, but never actually got to talk to until 10th grade. In February 2015, John released his debut project, The KEILANI, produced by himself and mixed and mastered by Scotty Banx. Inspired by everyone from Chance the Rapper to Lil Boosie, he always wrote in order to illustrate the essence of what his life is, whether it be a story of waiting for his father to pick him up on his birthday, or an allegory of love and lust alluding to the dope game in Baltimore City, or a satire of the kids in Baltimore County who love to act like they live in the hood. Lately, John has been working quietly, occasionaly dropping things like "Beat Up Little Seagull," a song he wrote and produced during the uprising that went on in Baltimore, and more recently, the video to his song "Grass," the fifth track from The KEILANI. John is currently working on upcoming projects and plotting his next move, so clearly, there is much more to come.

Connect with John Wells: Twitter   Instagram

The Keilani

What's Good with Skuzi?

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Skuzi is a rapper on the come up from Hampton, VA who released an EP entitled "The Musing" earlier this year. We caught up with Skuzi to see what's next for him and to drop his new 'Now I'm Mad' freestyle. 

What's been up with you since you dropped 'The Musing'? S: Since I have dropped The Musing a big focus of mine has been what I need to do next musically and business wise. I will be re-releasing The Musing on iTunes, Spotify, etc. along with some new songs before the end of the year, along with some videos. Additionally, I am working on my next project, and an all Caribbean EP with Unique Nation of Bermuda. So, lots of work coming lol. I am also looking for any and every place to perform, so if anybody needs performers let me know!

How different is your upcoming release from 'The Musing' in terms of the production and would you say that you have grown lyrically since its release? S: I would say after this re release my next project will probably be the Caribbean project. Which will be WAAAAY different because I have to connect more to my original culture more aesthetically and focus more on the feeling of the music as opposed to focusing so heavily on the writing, which gets me out of my comfort zone. Normally I produce all my own work, and all of this production will be handled by another person. Fun fact: this is the same guy who co-produced "Raunchy" on The Musing. However, I do have a lot of singles dropping in the near future that will be full of quality lyrics.

Being that you are from the Hampton, are you influenced by music from Pharrell, Pusha T, his group the Clipse, or any other local artists in the Hampton Roads area? S: I wouldn't say inspiration comes from the artists, but more so the vibe of the area. The 757 is a blend of many different cultures since it's a mostly military area. On top of the fact that it's right in the middle of the South, the DMV, and Northern areas like Jersey and New York. So we get a mix of Go-Go, trap music, Jersey and Baltimore club, the list goes on. So rhythmically that mix and feel gives me a bounce in my aesthetic background and a little more to work with. I will say Pharell is very inspiring as a producer, plus we were both in Marching Band in high school I've actually been to competitions at his alma mater. Pusha T as well is a pivotal figure especially as an emcee.

Will your next release feature any of the artists who appeared on 'The Musing'? S: My next project will definitely include some of the artists that were heard on The Musing. Right now I am trying to grow more as a musician and network with as many people as possible before releasing a whole body, so I'm open and excited to work with any and everybody.

Connect with Skuzi: Twitter   Tumblr   YouTube   ReverbNation

SaRap Fresh is living the FRESH LIFE

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SaRap Fresh is an up-and-coming Michigan artist, currently working out of Los Angeles, whose rhymes are very much influenced by the stylish world he creates around him. SaRap Fresh is an 80’s baby who discovered the Hip-Hop genre in the mid-90’s and has been hooked ever since. He is who he is and preaches self-discovery and the courage to find/be yourself. 

SaRap Fresh has a throwback wardrobe style and is a big believer in lyrics and melody. He's influenced by all types of artists from early Lil Wayne, Ma$e, 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Obie Trice, Action Bronson, Big Krit, to Drake and King Louie and says that if it’s good he'll probably listen to it. 

SaRap Fresh has released 4 projects thus far, including: 1. ) ACID WASH – Side A (June 2014); 2.) Mike Lowrey Freestyle Sessions (December 2014); 3.) B Side – ACID WASH (February 2015); and his latest 4) FRESH LIFE vol. 1. These projects are available to stream/download on his Soundcloud page.  

Connect with SaRap Fresh: Facebook   Instagram   Soundcloud   Twitter

Marc Anthony Figueras Schoolkids Records Performance Recap

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On Saturday night, Sept. 19th, Marc Anthony Figueras and his band, put on an incredible show in front of an enthusiastic and receptive crowd at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh. The overall performance lasted less than 45 minutes but did not feel rushed. Marc and the band kept the intensity high and each song had the crowd grooving. The last song the guys performed was 'Hold Your Breath', which was our Song of the Week seven days ago.

Fortunately, the attendees at the show and fans of Marc Anthony Figueras won't have to 'hold their breath' for long to hear his jazzy, melodic and soulful music again because his recently released "Blue EP" can be downloaded below and according to Marc, the guys have more live shows coming soon, so stay tuned.

Thanks to Marc Anthony Figueras and his awesome band for putting on a great show and allowing DOPECAUSEWESAID to sponsor their performance. Thanks also go to Schoolkids Records for providing the venue for the performance as well as our sponsor from across the pond, Clowdy. Most importantly, thanks go to the fans and music lovers who came out to see Marc and the band play live. Keep supporting great artists like these guys by buying their material, seeing them perform live and spreading the word about their music. - Carlton Boyd

Connect with Marc Anthony Figueras: Facebook   Instagram   Soundcloud   Bandcamp

Who is Valentina Scheffold?

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Valentina Scheffold is a 19 year old singer/songwriter based in Vienna. She was born in Kitzbühel, Austria but grew up in the Dominican Republic and started singing when she was really young. Along with singing, Valentina has also been writing her own songs since she was a kid and taught herself how to play the guitar at the age of 11. Music has always been a huge part of her life, and she really doesn't see herself doing anything else.

Starting a YouTube Channel has been Valentina's way of sharing what she loves with people, and it has given her a chance to develop as an artist and inspire others. The first video Valentina ever uploaded was actually back in 2008 and it was an instrumental cover of "Burning Up" by The Jonas Brothers. She later proceeded to delete this video, and on July 29, 2011 opened up a new account (Mugavero0896) and has been uploading frequently ever since. Today, Valentina has more than a 1,700,000 views, and hopes to keep sharing her passion with many more of you. Valentina tries to live everyday to the fullest and make as much music as possible since at the end of the day it is what makes her happy.

Connect with Valentina Scheffold: Website   Twitter   Facebook   Instagram   YouTube  Soundcloud