Stream Temporary Hero's New Album "You're About To Have Your Hands Full"

The blending of genres, the beats of contemporary pop and electronic music, and the prowess of an artist reaching for new levels in every creative endeavor, Temporary Hero is an artist's artist. Starting out making underground club records like Ballet remixed by legendary Andre Lodemann, the artist pushed his craft into contemporary dance music territory after forging his way into the top 20 Billboard club chart with WILDJOY featuring Jason Walker.

From there he visited a cross-genre platform focusing on current and futuristic pop music with first full LP "Sunset People" featuring the MTV hit “Circus.” The pop and dance circuit is just the tip of the iceberg for this artist, however. He has covered Sinatra and Bing, Chet Baker and then covered 1/2 of Fleetwood Mac’s polarizing TUSK album to critical acclaim.

For this new collection, Temporary Hero cites the influence of William Orbit (most notable in the Orbit/Madonna-esque feel of “Happy Around Me”) and other electronic artists like him that were able to blend the esoteric with the world of pop. There is neither a throwback sound nor a truly contemporary style on here, yet echoes of both worlds exist (the snares, the synths, the acoustic instruments), again illustrating the drive for this artist to explore all types of sounds, everything AND the kitchen sink! Not wanting to completely abandon covers (yet also not wanting to be defined by them), the artist treads on delicate territory of covering Nirvana (gasp!) on a very electrified version of DUMB. Lyrically, the artist states the album was the product of a darker period in his life, wrought from heartache and world-weariness, two facets of the human experience that influence countless numbers of artists.

Connect with Temporary Hero: Facebook   Twitter   Soundcloud

Reid The Martian Drops DOPE New Album "Excuses Not To Sleep"

Reid the Martian, is a rapper/singer/songwriter/musician originally from South Bend, Indiana whose first two singles as an independent Hip-Hop artist—“Introduction” and “Work”—were released in March 2012, under the name Rabbiteater. Also at this time he began making live appearances in the Midwest area, including Lawrence, Denver and parts of Texas.

Reid spent most of 2014 composing and recording in Los Angeles with noted producers
Duane “DaRock” Ramos (LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige), and in Atlanta with Grammy® Award winning producer Aldrin “DJ Toomp” Davis (2 Live Crew, T.I., Kanye West) and Miykal Snoddy (Trey Songz, Lupe Fiasco, Jamie Foxx, Diddy).

In December 2014, Reid’s song “I’m Sick” (produced and co-written by Miykal Snoddy) was featured on the Future Star DJs Black Friday mixtape release, hosted by DJ L-Nyce. Also in December, The Midwest Music Foundation selected Reid to perform on the main MidCoast Takeover stage at the March 2015 SXSW (South by Southwest) Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

Reid released the song “Whiskey for the Devil” (co-written and co- produced by Miykal Snoddy) in February 2015 and released the full EP, Hardball, on March 17, 2015. He released the official video for “Whiskey for the Devil,” directed by Morgan Cooper, on April 17, 2015.

In December 2015 Reid returned to the studio in Kansas City to begin working on his new album, Excuses Not To Sleep. This is the first full-length album for RtM, and the first on which he’s written and produced all the songs. The new album was finished in May and released June 10, 2016.

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Stream/Download "Excuses Not To Sleep" by Reid the Martian

Ronnie Lott Releases Sensational Full-Length Album "Nothing Is Forever"

“Nothing Is Forever” Fuses Hip-Hop & R&B with EDM & Rock to Create an Original Sound

24 year-old San Antonio, Texas native Ronnie Lott is gearing up for the release of his third
full-length album “Nothing Is Forever” today via Spotify and with it hopes to further cement himself as a force to be reckoned with on the urban music circuit.

The project fuses together the genres of Hip-Hop, R&B, EDM and Rock in a non-abrasive way that creates an original, yet at the same time familiar sound. Ronnie teamed up with J-Nice, a
producer out of Denver, CO, to help create the cutting-edge sound on “Nothing Is Forever”. The album carries overtones of Drake and Lil Uzi Vert with hints of The Migos and even a bit of Andre 3000 at times. Your ears aren’t quite sure where the music originated from until you hear Ronnie’s southern, Texas flavor peek through. The first single, “Trophy”, was released on May 30th via SoundCloud and currently has over 65 thousand streams. Accompanying
visuals for two tracks off of the new project, “Kris Kross” & “Keyauna”, will be released in the coming months as Ronnie continues to tour and promote his new music.

About Ronnie Lott Ronnie Lott is a 24-year-old San Antonio, Texas native who was previously a member of some of the city’s top bands, known for their legendary performances. Ronnie’s art eventually led him to begin releasing music as a solo act and in the 5 years since he has released 3 mix-tapes and 2 full-length albums. He has performed at venues across Texas such as Warehouse Live in Houston and The Beauregard in San Angelo. His currently monthly streaming rates are surpassing 55 thousand which has gained him recognition from industry reps who’ve started to take notice of Ronnie’s musical talents and song-writing skills. 

Connect with Ronnie Lott: Website   Instagram   Facebook   Twitter

Singer-Songwriter Jae Franklin Gears Up For Another Impressive Release

Dynamic songstress Jae Franklin is a citizen of the world. Her curiosity about the interconnectedness of people has led her to perform in over 20 countries from Ethiopia to Dubai. No stranger to pop stardom, Jae toured as a background vocalist for Grammy Award winner Melanie Fiona and eventually began performing at a host of reputable venues across the world as a solo artist. Franklin sure knows her stuff and now its time for her to get in the minds of the masses. 

Jae was a 80s baby. She grew up in one of the most dynamic eras of music when R&B, house, electro, and hip hop increased in popularity. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Jae’s father exposed her to the blues - the likes of B.B. King and Bobby “Blue” Bland, balanced out with greats like Shirley Caesar and Michael Jackson. Jae also shared her mother’s love of contemporary pop and soul music, admiring the music of Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, and Michael Bolton. Today, Jae is inspired by legends like Angelique Kidjo, Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder, and Sade. It’s no wonder her music sounds the way it does. 

Since 2010, Jae has given the world a taste of what’s next. Her voice can be heard on countless collaborations across the web. Her cover of Jamiroquai’s “Morning Glory” was praised by the British band and featured on their official Facebook page. Her collaborations and solo projects have been applauded by esteemed websites like VIBE, MOOVMNT, Sampleface, and Groovement. 

Most recently, Jae started sharing new music in September 2015, releasing her new single ‘Music & Love,’ which premiered on reputable websites like Indie Shuffle and URB. 

Franklin is well on her way to cementing herself among the soul and pop greats that have influenced her. Her new album, “CHEERS TO LIFE,” was released on Feb 2, 2016 and features production by Charles LaMont and WaxMantic. “CHEERS TO LIFE” was premiered on VIBE Magazine and has already received support from Impose Magazine, URB and many others. “CHEERS TO LIFE” has also been well received internationally, receiving coverage in Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Featuring the lead singles, ‘Higher’ and ‘Weary,’ Jae Franklin is set for an impressive year.

Connect with Jae Franklin: Website   Instagram   Facebook   Twitter

Singer and Actress Cristina Lizzul Connects With DCWS For An Exclusive Q&A

Cristina Lizzul is a multi-talented Italian-American actress and recording artist currently based in Los Angeles. As an actress, Cristina has starred and appeared in several Italian feature films such as “Righteousness" and "Subject 0- Shattered Memories", as well as American films "Distant Vision", directed by Francis Ford Coppola, "Acacia Avenue" and "Lemonheads". Not to be outdone by her 'in front of the camera' accolades, Cristina just released a very DOPE six-track EP entitled "PERCIPIENCE".

We connected with Cristina to find out more about her new EP, how she became interested in singing and acting, how she compares the music industry in Italy to the U.S., and much more. After reading this exclusive interview with Cristina, stream/download "PERCIPIENCE" below.

Tell us about your new EP "PERCIPIENCE". What does the title mean to you and where can we all stream/download it?

PERCIPIENCE is a synonym of wisdom, a synonym of open mindfulness and insight to sensitivity. The EP was released on July 20th and is currently available for streaming and download on Spotify, Itunes, Apple Music, Tidal etc.

What is your favorite song from the EP and why?

It always alters! Some days it’s Advice, other days it’s Medea and other days it’s another song. This week it’s probably Advice, My 16 year old Labrador passed away this week so when I went back to the song and listened to the lyrics “Don’t waste your time and figure it out”, it triggered me to try my best to get back up.

What sparked your interest in singing? 

I’ve been writing, singing and acting since I was a kid. I always wanted to create something from nothing. I guess it all came to life when I was in elementary school, we used to have creative classes like creative writing, music etc… and I remember always being the happiest when I was exploring my artistry and working on something creative.

We also heard you are an actress as well. Can you tell us what projects have you starred in? 

I’ve worked primarily in Italy on independent feature films “Righteousness, Subject 0- Shattered Memories, Lemonheads”.

How did you start your acting career?

I started out with theatre, I knew I wanted to be an actress at a very young age so I had my first professional experience when I was 11 year old, I landed my first feature film role in the horror movie “La Prigione Oscura."

We also heard you will be in an upcoming Francis Ford Coppola project. Can you tell us your involvement in that?

I had a small supporting role, I played “Zia Carolina” (Aunt Caroline). The project is very exciting, it’s an experimental live cinema project. The maestro is exploring a new form of film-making. At the moment, Francis Ford Coppola’s intent is to workshop portions of the script so I was a part of an experiment of the latest cinematic innovation that he’s generating.

If you could work beside any actor, who would it be and why?

I would say Penelope Cruz, I think she’s an extremely refined actress, the fact that she acts in English, Spanish, Italian, French is so fascinating. I’ve always wanted a career like hers, the ability to be so versatile and live so truthfully under the vests of so many characters in so many different languages. I feel like she would really push me over my boundaries as an actress, I would learn so much if I were to ever work with her.

Coming from Italy, was it hard or has it been hard making a name for yourself in the U.S?

Of course, I’m still in the process of building my brand and career. LA is a city that people label as immersed in competition. I don’t see it that way, I see every artist as a possible collaborator. Living in LA opened so many doors for me, I have all the resources that I need to create, I’m constantly inspired and constantly have ideas. It’s definitely not easier in LA,  It’s probably harder to make in in the States but the reason why I’ve had more momentum here than in Italy is because I have all the resources that I need to create in this city. There are productions studios, recording studios and artists in every corner of this city so it makes it easier to stay productive and focused whereas in Italy if I had an idea, I didn’t have the resources to bring it to life.

How would you compare the music industry in Italy to that of the United States for emerging artists such as yourself? 

I feel like the Italian entertainment market lacks meritocracy, I feel like there are limits and boundaries for emerging artists whereas in the States merit is given to where it is deserved.

What do you do on your off time? Hobbies? Charities?

When I have some free time I love to go back home to Naples, Italy to see my family and friends, spending time with my girls is my favorite thing to do, all I need is a sunny day and REAL friend to spend time with. I’m very involved in women’s empowerment, rights and body image issues. I’m in the process of becoming a spokesperson and ambassador for the eating disorder community.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps and try to juggle both acting and singing?

Work very hard and be patient. The most substantial increase I’ve seen in my career was when I was working my hardest. This year I decided to make it my year of success so I forced myself to adopt a fervent and strenuous discipline and determination that I never knew I had in me. It’s not easy to juggle both and a lot people constantly tell me that it’s not a wise decision to pursue both careers simultaneously, they always say that I should keep my focus on one thing because or else I'm not going to achieve either of them but I‘m an artist and I have a deep urge to create , whether it’s singing, writing or acting, I wouldn’t be content by excluding one. I've gotten into so many arguments with people tying to limit my creativity.  Don’t ever let anyone tell that you can’t achieve something.

What three words would you use to describe "PERCIPIENCE" EP? 

Chill, Soulful, Meaningful

If you could collaborate with any artist on a song who would it be and why?

SZA, I adore her poetry like lyrics and angelic sound, I just think her music is beautiful, it has that alternative R&B sound with so much swag and simultaneously this sexy rasp and sky high falsetto that’s so dreamy.

What is next for Cristina Lizzul? 

I will be filming the music video to "Medea" this week in the beautiful Italian island, Capri. A visual album is the next project, inspired by Terrence Malick-like visuals, the city of Napoli, Beyonce’s Lemonade and other things that I cannot yet reveal.

Where can future fans find you on social media?

You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and my Facebook Page. My EP “PERCIPIENCE” is available on Itunes, Spotify, Tidal, Applemusic etc.

Connect with Cristina Lizzul: Website   Instagram   Twitter   Facebook   IMDB

 

Stream/Download "PERCIPIENCE" by Cristina Lizzul

R.E.A.L. Tha Poet Releases New Album "Learn On The Fly"

R.E.A.L describes "Learn on the Fly" as, "a direct reaction to the past year or so of America… a sort of wake up call to myself as we enter the end of Obama's presidency. For many he represented a turning of the corner but I think it's clear to see we have much more work to do". R.E.A.L uses his unique worldview to paint a vivid picture of everyday life.  

With "Learn on the Fly", R.E.A.L. Tha Poet expands his sound and goes in depth about his experiences with the current political climate in America and how it affects his newly formed family.

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Stream/Download "Learn On The Fly" by R.E.A.L. Tha Poet 

Mercy Releases “Depth Charges” Single

Mercy has just released her new single, 'Depth Charges', a love song with a submarine warfare theme.  Yes, that’s right: submarine warfare.

“It’s a playful song about watching and waiting to be noticed by the one you love,” explained Mercy. “That translates in the song to lurking below the waves in a submarine.” 

Written by Mercy Weiss and Christopher Pellnat, “Depth Charges” comes on the heels of their five-song 2016 “Mercy EP” that showcased the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter’s beautiful, soulful voice and unique style: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mercy10

“I think people will enjoy ‘Depth Charges’,” said Mercy. “It’s a fun song, but with attitude too.  Folks who liked our ‘Mercy EP’ will feel right at home with this new song.”

In everything Mercy sings, she brings her own unique depth of feeling, as well as a sly sense of humor, which shine through her singing and draw you into her world.

Connect with Mercy: Instagram   Website   Bandcamp

Our Exclusive Interview With Singer-Songwriter C.R. Gennone

C.R. Gennone is one of New Jersey's most prolific songwriters: He released five EPs in 2015, his first full-length album with C.R. Gennone and The Degenerates, “Salt of The Earth,” in June of 2016, and is already at work on a follow-up to be released in 2017. He also wrote almost every tune on Tribal Days' May 2016 full-length release, “Laughing at the Funeral.”

We had a chance to discuss some of Gennone's creative influences, dietary preferences, and spiritual leanings in the interview below.

You've released a lot of music lately. What do you think is driving your creativity? What do you aspire to? In Moby Dick, Herman Melville wrote, "For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness....all mortal greatness is but disease." Do you think ambition is a disease? If so, what is the cure?

Creativity comes in waves. I don't think I'm driven by anything in particular. Sometimes certain lines or melodies just hang in the ether and sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't. It all depends on what I'm going through or sometimes I'll hear something interesting that someone says. You just have to be an active listener. Listen to everything. Eavesdrop on people's conversations, listen to their stories, get something out of them and be the voice.

I aspire to be an artist that can't be pinned down as just one thing. Categories are stupid. Sure, sometimes I play rock and roll. Sometimes I don't. They can call me whatever they want, just fuckin' listen to the song. I want someone to hear my music and be like, "oh, it's Chris." That's all.

I don't think ambition is a disease. I think ambition gives you strength. While ambition and ability are two different things, you cannot succeed without ambition. Sure, I get negative about shit and can be cynical too, but at the end of the day; and I know this sounds cliche, but if you don't have ambition, set goals or believe you can make it, you won't.

If your latest album, Salt of The Earth, was a farm animal, which animal would it be, and why?

I'd say Salt of the Earth is kind of like a bronco. The album is about being in this certain stage in your life and thinking about all the good memories, the future and the regrets. I think it relates to a bronco because they both come from a wild, unrestrained place and are eventually tamed to become part of the norm. 

You recently signed to the Sniffling Indie Kids label, which released your last album. How has it been working with them? Do they actually sniffle? If so, why don't they see a doctor?

They're good dudes. I've gotten to know them a little bit more lately. Frank is definitely the go-getter, which is what every great label needs. And Eric is kind of the taste master. Him and I like a lot of the same bands. It's still a really small label but they support my thing and help promote their bands so it feels good to have that.

I told them they should go see a doctor but I'm not sure if they have insurance.

If you were born in the early 20th century, and a dictator like, say, Joseph Stalin wanted to pay you exorbitant amounts of money to be the State's official musician, but you were only allowed to compose patriotic propaganda songs, how much money would you need to be paid (using American dollars as of 2016 as a reference point) to do it? Why would you or would you not do it?

Would I be killed if I refused? Maybe I could write propaganda songs but have little underlying tones that made fun of him. Then I'd probably be killed. I wouldn't do it. Being rich would be cool but the last thing I want to be is a fuckin' joke. And maybe that's a superficial reaction but if I was the same person and really wanted my own music to be heard, I wouldn't do it.

Let's talk about novels. This isn't a question. Just talk about novels for a little while.

When I lived in Chicago, one of my favorite past times used to be smoking a cigarette and reading a book in the bathtub. It just felt so satisfying. I don't know why. I read a lot of books during that time. Lot of Kerouac, a Che Guevara biography, some Proust, Hemingway and Bukowski.

I'm sure there's some great modern novels out there, but it just doesn't really pique my interest. I'd rather read more of the classics or some interesting biographies. Been meaning to check out the new Replacements book and I read about half of the Tom Petty one, which was cool, but also lost my interest.

Peanut butter: Chunky or creamy?

Definitely chunky. I like anything that's crispy or crunchy.

If you had to choose one musician to be your father, which of the following would it be? Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Tom Waits, or Johnny Cash? Who would be your top pick and why? Who would be your last pick and why?

I'd have to say Tom Waits. I feel like he'd be a supportive parent and even though he'd probably come home late and drunk every other night, he'd probably be the easiest to get along with. He'd be the kind of father you can have a drink with at the bar and shoot the shit as if you were just acquaintances.

My last pick would be either Bob Dylan or Mozart. I think Dylan wouldn't give a shit about much of anything. His persona and ego is larger than he is. He'd be the kind of dad that would come home once a month and then just disappear. And Mozart would probably just drive me crazy. I like the idea of living a little loosely and I feel Mozart would be a pretty strict father. It'd be cool if he were the same kind of person he was in Amadeus though.

Do you believe that human beings have a soul? If so, please describe what the soul consists of and tell us about where you think the soul goes after bodily death.

Yea. But I think the phrase "having a soul" is a matter of interpretation. Everyone's got "soul." I believe the soul is just basically your purest self. I suppose it's impossible to envision, but if you try to strip away everything and get down to your deepest, darkest and most honest thoughts, you'll feel it. I think it's part of your subconscious. We layer so many things on top we can lose sight of who we are or don't even know who we are. It definitely takes some kind of deconstruction to get there. But it's possible.

I'd like to believe in a heaven but I don't buy it. I believe our souls just wander after death. They take whatever beings or vessels they can take and live up to another 100 years. When we die, it's just our bodies and the vessel that dies. But souls live forever. Deep stuff. Anyway, that's what I believe.

Connect with C.R. Gennone: Twitter   Facebook   Instagram   Bandcamp   

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.

Prolifica Records Releases Debut EP From Alt-Rock Band Human In Bloom

“One of the most talented bands coming through the ranks at the moment"
http://www.subba-cultcha.com/

 Story is brief and fortuitous…. 
Alfio (drummer) met Arty (singer) and his free spirit in a restaurant in Melbourne, 
heard him busk and casually mentioned he had a good recording setup back at home… 
Cue foggy Rovigo, North of Italy a few months later… They write and write and, visa upon visa eventually make their way to London where they are joined by bassist Joe from Milan and on guitar Elliot from, well, London ;)

With influences ranging from Foals to The XX and from Radiohead to Daughter, 
and after an aborted attempt with a techno-rock producer from Germany, they literally ‘wish upon a star’ they could miraculously work with anyone from Muse’s production team and low and behold, that very night the band’s long term collaborator (as recording engineer, additional producer, mix engineer etc) Tommaso Colliva, asks to be put on the guest list for their show…
 
He has a fresh Grammy in his tiny London studio (Drones), really likes them and
commits to producing an EP for free :0 ;) ;) 

 And here it is… 
(and yes it does deal with deep existential issues like freedom and fulfillment, synthetic realities and urban alienation… but all in a gloriously positive way and with unflinching optimism and benevolence… 
and the flip side’s about war…).

 “Robots with emotions” indeed.

 Hope you enjoy.
#onlyhuman

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Stream/Download "EP#ONE" by Human In Bloom

Interview: Sick of Sarah On Fame, Their Band Name, And Live Shows

Sick of Sarah is the hot chick punk band you’ve been missing in your life.  Whether you’re looking to get some rock fueled angst out of your system or just looking for a visceral, authentic band experience, Sick of Sarah is the perfect band for you.  While the band of badass chicks has been around for a decade and has appeared at some of the best music festivals, like Warped Tour and South by Southwest, they haven’t busted through to our radios and Spotify accounts… yet.  Sick of Sarah is becoming a demanded name around the country; they’re names headline concerts, benefits, and music festivals from coast to coast.  In fact, Charlotte, North Carolina houses an immense fan base to the band.

Chicago field reporter Carmen Lawrence sought out the bands manager, Michelle King (an awesome lady and badass manager, she might add), for an exclusive interview with the band’s front runners, lead singer/guitarist Abisha Uhl and drummer/backup vocalist Jessica Forsythe. Jessica and Abisha were gracious enough to take a few minutes out of their busy schedules on their way to perform at a music festival to answer some questions and shout out to their fans.

To start us off, I’d like to get an answer for curious fans like myself: where does the band name, Sick of Sarah, come from?

Abisha:  The name actually came about when my roommate, Sarah, was telling me she was sick of her own name.  She was drunk, it was funny, and we needed a name!

You guys recently left your label, Adamant Records, after working with them for years.  For the first time in your careers, you’re self-releasing your work.  What drove the choice to leave, and how has the transition been?

A:  We wanted to be more in control of our music, so we parted ways with our old label.  It was a difficult decision, but necessary.

You recently got to work with Belinda Carlisle (lead singer from The Go-Gos, for fans who forgot).  How was that experience?  That kind of work can be overwhelming!

A:  Yeah, we got to perform with Belinda at the YouTube studios last year.  We were on a show with her called Breaking Band on AXS Television.  We also toured with The Bangles a few times and that was amazing.

Your music is certainly reminiscent of the chick-rock style.  You’re popularly compared to groups like Tegan & Sara, Paramore, and Sleater-Kinney.  All that aside, who do you hold up as inspirations as songwriters, instrumentalists, and performers?

Jessica:  We love all those bands you just listed!  I grew up listening to 90’s alternative rock: bands like No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bush, Weezer.  I love Dave Grohl (guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Nirvana and Foo Fighters), his story inspires me.  There’s so much great music out there right now.  I recently learned about Borns and recently had a chance to see them perform for the first time in Minneapolis – amazing show and I loved their sound!  Shout to out their drummer Kristen, she killed it!

Speaking of live performances, it’s clear that live performances are really visceral experiences for you both.  You get into your songs in a way many performers aren’t wont to do, and I can see a real connection to your music.  Could you talk a bit about the meaning of live performances to you both?

A:  I take performing very seriously.  I want listeners to feel the same way I did when I wrote the lyrics.  People won’t believe in you unless you believe in yourself.  I always want to give the audience the best I can.

J:  I love performing!  It’s a lot of fun.  The fans who show up to our shows make it all worth it to me.  I can’t do as much interacting as I wish I could behind the [drum]kit, but I love smiling out into the crowd and watching people rock the f*** out.

South by Southwest is a huge music festival, known for showcasing bands with limited fan bases and launching them towards lucrative careers.  How was the festival for you this year? Can you talk a bit about your experience, walking into that high-stakes arena of performance?

A:  SXSW is always so much fun!  The vibe you get in Austin, especially during the festival, is surreal.  Good music, good food, good people.  This year we got to perform with a wide variety of musicians, which was great.  I can’t wait to go back next year.

On that note, you’re about to arrive in Utah to perform at Women’s Red Rock Festival!  This year marks the tenth anniversary of the festival.  With Sick of Sarah being just a bit older than the festival, you’ve got to be pretty pumped about this opportunity (and it’s very clear that they’re excited to have you there).  Anything you’d like to share with fans eager to see you?

J:  Yeah, we’re actually driving to Torrey [Utah] now!  The mountains are beautiful and I am so eager to meet all the wonderful, beautiful women Jeri has been telling us about!  Especially since this is the festival’s tenth year anniversary.  We’re so excited to be a part of it.

A:  We can’t be more excited to be a part of this festival.  Jeri Tafoya is the founder of WRRMF and she is the best!  I’m so happy she invited us to play this year.  Really looking forward to this event.  Plus, Utah is beautiful this time of year.  I want to see some stars!

You guys have been busting your asses for over a decade now.  Your music is certainly getting noticed and you’ve got fans everywhere clamoring for you.  All it might take is one big performance to reach a new level of fame.  Are you two in this for the long haul?

J:  We’ve definitely been going hard with this for a long time and have had the opportunity to see the world and meet some incredible people.  It’s definitely a tough industry to break through.  It’d be great to live off strictly playing music someday!

I heard about Sick of Sarah on a recent trip to Charlotte, where a friend had heard your music and couldn’t believe you weren’t on the radio.  You’ll be returning to Charlotte for a benefit concert in October that directly impacts LGBTQ+ businesses, which is raw awesomeness. What does this benefit concert mean to you two?  Why are you willing to come all the way across the country that supports this community that so admires you?

J:  We met our good friend Maureen, who was on the chamber of commerce committee, at a show last year at The World Famous Milestone [a popular Charlotte club].  She asked if we’d be interested in performing for the benefit concert.  We love and support the LGBT community everywhere and we love the idea of helping people in the LGBT community receive grants to pursue their dreams in business.

Thank you both so much for talking with me and sharing your time with me.  To wrap up this interview, I’ve got one question everyone always seems to pose and is always just as hard to answer: what’s on the horizon for you two?  You’ve had an amazing 2016, one that is unparalleled by a lot of bands rising to mass popularity.  I’m sure you’ve got some big dreams and plans for what’s to come!

A:  We are currently writing.  We’ve been writing a ton!  New music is coming and we can’t wait to share it with the world!

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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

Miami's OG Dirty Connects With DCWS To Discuss His New Project and The OFFRIPCULT Collective

OG Dirty is a Miami based rap artist who is a member of OFFRIPCULT, a collective of creatives ranging from artists to photographers, website designers and producers. OG Dirty's single '45' which will appear on his upcoming release "Warm Winters", was selected recently as our "DOPE Song of the Week", so it only made sense that we dig a little deeper into the mind of the emerging artist to find out how he started rapping, what we can expect from the Warm Winters album (dropping on Sept. 1st), and much more. 

So how did you get your start rapping?

That's a funny story actually, my boy Jskii (also a member of OFFRIPCULT) had came to us around the summer before 9th grade, so we talking like 2011, he had came up to us and told us he was dropping a mixtape this coming year and to be ready for it, so naturally we were all hype to hear it since Jskii been rapping for a minute already just dropping freestyle videos and all that on youtube. So the coming year came and he didn't drop anything, and after a bit more time passed and he still hadn't dropped the tape I was like "Yo, I bet I can drop a mixtape before you do." So the idea was to drop a little tape there clowning on him cause that's the homie but when I actually got into making it and the whole process I actually really liked it a lot! It was fun for me and a new way of expressing all the things going on in my head, so through that I just started working and studying the in's and out's of making music and just getting better day by day until the point where I was confident enough to start releasing the music, and basically yeah that's how I started rapping!

Tell us about OFFRIPCULT; who are the members and how did you guys connect with each other?

OFFRIPCULT is basically just a group of 11 friends just trying to encompass all forms of entertainment and creativity with the main focus being on music above all, we have the artists, managers, photographer/videographer, producers, website maker and overall just people that are really talented in being creative and making dope content whether its music, videos, photography, graphic art, clothing, all that and pretty much anything else you can think of. To run down the members real quick we have the artists which include myself, Jskii, Mageez, JGuada, and Asix. Then we have Alex Reyes, Jose, and Brandon as our managers and they basically handle the business aspect of things and are the main speakers during our meetings and whatnot, and then we got Henry, Ivan, and Anthony who do the multimedia aspect like Anthony is the photographer, Henry handles the website and Ivan reaches out and contacts the outlets. Even though you can specify the jobs everyone still does a little bit of everything and we consult together for mostly all decisions. As far as how we connected, these are all people I've known since my early elementary school days and if I didn't know 'em then, then someone from OFFRIP knew them since then, so it's a very tight knit group where even outside of all the business we're still best friends and are always together.

What can we expect from your upcoming project "Warm Winters", where will everybody be able to stream/download it and on what date will it be available?

Yes, the project! Alright so the project is called Warm Winters and it will be available September 1st! When it comes to what you can expect from the project it's hard to say one specific thing because my goal with the project was to cover the whole spectrum of emotions any given person can feel, including myself. I got songs on there man where I will rap my ass off over heavy 808s and then I got songs where I'll just sing my heart out and open up to the listeners, and then I'll have songs where I blend both styles together. The point being that  me as a person I go through a whole mess of feelings and emotions and with Warm Winters I just really wanted to capture as many of them as I can and lay them all out in one cohesive project where the songs will blend together well and transition almost like a story, I have a whole theme going on in the album with little skits between songs which explain what it is that I'm going through at that given point in the project. As far as where it will be available, the best place to find it would be SoundCloud, @OGdirty and can be found under @OFFRIPCULT as well, we'll try to have it up for streaming on spinrilla as well as other mixtape streaming apps but for now your best bet is Soundcloud, and that will be available September 1st, my birthday!

You are based in an area (South Florida) with a great legacy in music, especially Hip-Hop. Who are some of your musical influences?

Everyone knows about South Florida's legacy in music with people like Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Trick Daddy, and it goes way deeper than just rap, Miami and South Florida as a whole is just a really rich place when it comes to music and diversity. When it comes to my influences from South Florida rappers though I get a lot of inspiration from the new wave like Pouya and Buffet Boys, Denzel Curry who has been going in for a while now, Robb Banks, Yung Simmie and the list goes on and on, it's hard to not be inspired and want to make music when you see all these dudes putting in work and representing for the city! Outside of Florida though my favorite artists as well as the main inspiration behind almost all the music I make are Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Travi$ Scott, Kanye, Young Thug, Isaiah Rashad, Jay-Z and the list goes on but that's some of the higher ones on my list. I try to combine a whole bunch of different flows, sounds, and styles when I make my music and a lot of it comes from those artists previously mentioned.

What are your goals for the remainder of 2016 and can we expect a new OFFRIPCULT collaborative album or EP anytime soon?

My goals for the rest of 2016 after dropping Warm Winters is just to continue to network and interact with the many outlets I have around me as well as performing at way more shows and laying the groundwork to be able to perform at a lot of festivals in 2017, you're going to be seeing a lot of me and OFFRIPCULT as a whole working throughout the rest of 2016 we have solo projects lined up to drop before the end of the year. I don't know if you can expect a full fledged OFFRIPCULT collaboration to come out anytime soon since most the artist are working on their solo projects and it's difficult to get everyone to sit down and work on one at the moment but I can tell you that there is going to be collab EP between myself and Jskii dropping before 2017 so be on the lookout for that, that's gonna be crazy good I can't wait for y'all to hear it, as always you can keep up with all our news and upcoming releases and shows by finding us @OFFRIPCULT on basically any social media and our website offripcult.com. Thank you guys for everything, everyone at OFFRIP appreciates every person who takes a second to check us out and show love, we have a lot more coming for y'all in the form of music, videos, clothing and everything else, we're not stopping anytime soon so we hope the listeners can be there with us while we continue to grow and evolve, thanks again!

Connect with OG Dirty: Twitter

SaRap Fresh Is Back With His New EP "Michigan"

SaRap Fresh is back with a new EP entitled "MICHIGAN", consisting of three tracks inspired by his experience of growing up in Michigan aka "The Glove". 

Stream/Download "Michigan" by SaRap Fresh

Kaytranada Is A Force To Be Reckoned With

At the mere age of 23, Kaytranada is the Haitian Canadian producer/DJ that is making his name a definitive staple in the music industry. His rise in music started with the humble beginning of remixing some of the most well known and sought after songs in the music industry. Some of his best known hit remixes include Janet Jackson’s 'If’, TLC’s 'Creep' and Justin Timberlake’s 'Cry Me A River', just to name a few.

When you listen to Kaytranada’s musical creations you will take a trip through the genres of Hip-Hop, Electronic, RnB, Pop and Dance. He released his debut studio album 99.9% back in May 2016 and it is one of the best conceptually abstract albums of the year. The album includes some dope contributions from Vic Mensa, Syd (The Internet), up and coming artist Anderson .Paak and more. The breakout single from the project 'Glowed Up' featuring Anderson .Paak grants you the opportunity to escape to a higher melodic realm. Another one of the highly supported singles from the album “Leave Me Alone” featuring Shay Lia embodies various musical textures that invites you to dance. The entire album is a collective of intriguing melodies and capturing lyrics that will kindly harp at you to keep it on constant rotation. Kaytranada is a force that has no end in sight and we advise that you hop on his musical train before it leaves you behind.

Check out 5 singles from the album below. 

Connect with Kaytranada: Website   Twitter   Facebook   Soundcloud

DeShayla Cisero is a communication specialist and writer who strives to be a fresh and effervescent voice. She is an advocate for all things authentic, creative and out of this world dope. Twitter: @DCisero   Facebook: DeShayla Cisero

Eagle | Stallian Release "Reminiscence EP"

Deeply involved in the music scene for more than 10 years, Eagle I Stallian (Varti Deuchoghlian, Rafi Bogharian) are bringing their heavy rock experience to the electronic music world.  As far as they can remember, they have always had a passion for music, inspired by numerous encounters, a true love for meeting new people and an aspiration for travelling. Initially addicted to crunching riffs and melodic leads, they realized after countless rehearsals, shows and competitions that there was more to music than a single genre. 

Eagle | Stallian's new release, the "Reminiscence EP", finds the guys reaching deep to their roots to bring such an epic and grungy experience. This EP combines raw energy and groovy distortion with the beautiful ambience and melodies of Trance. Two progressive records fusing the dark grooved roots of Rock with the uplifting melodic synths of electronic music.

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Stream/Download "Reminiscence EP" by Eagle | Stallian

Afro Sensei Releases New Single ‘Lazarus’, New Album Slated For Release In October

It’s been a quiet few months since Afro Sensei released a remix EP for his bombastic, industrial-house single 'Southern Gothic,' but the Louisiana-based artist/producer has spent the time away twiddling knobs and creating new music.

One of the fruits of this studio labor is 'Lazarus', the first single from his forthcoming full-length album, entitled "After Hours". A ferocious slab of tech-house, the track features vocals from Sensei himself, while the lyrics take aim at the debilitating effects of religious indoctrination.

“Having something pummeled into your brain Sunday after Sunday basically telling you ‘you ain’t shit’ from the time you can’t even talk is poisonous,” Sensei says. “It can make you doubt your own intelligence, your own sense of morality. Nothing should be so sacred that you can’t question it.” Listen to and download Lazarus below. After Hours will be released in October. Here's the album’s full tracklisting.

After Hours Tracklisting
Lazarus
Sanctuary
Parking Lot Kingpin
Rabbit Hole
Middernag
Sensei Interlude
Refuge
Omega

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R.E.A.L. Tha Poet Releases Two New Dope Tracks

R.E.A.L tha Poet is releasing two new tracks in preparation for the release of his new album "Learn on the Fly".  'Hope' features the soulful crooning of David Napier as R.E.A.L reflects on some choices made along the way while looking forward to the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. 'Couple Days' features stellar electric guitar work from Debraun Thomas with R.E.A.L flexing his lyrical chops and speaking on the feeling of being overwhelmed with life.

"Learn on The Fly" will be available on August 24th. For all updates/information on the release please visit urbancreekmedia.com.

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