Joshua Luke Smith releases powerful music video 'Carry Me'
The 25-year-old wordsmith and philosophy graduate has managed to combine his love of words and music to inspire people to break free from their own limitations. Joshua's self...
"Joshua Luke Smith's sound is one that travels across contemporary rap and acoustic pop-soul, producing a world-weary, heartfelt, relatable brand of penmanship." Complex
The 25-year-old wordsmith and philosophy graduate has managed to combine his love of words and music to inspire people to break free from their own limitations. Joshua's self-produced debut EP landed in the top 10 of the UK and International Itunes charts and has led the young poet and record label founder (onmusic.com) to receive BBC 6 Music Radio play as well as features with BBC 1xtra and the London Roundhouse.
Although dyslexic and dyspraxic, Joshua has never let the conditions hold him back. He has a degree in Philosophy and amazingly has never written down a single line of his songs! He is passionate about encouraging others not to let any 'limitations' hold them back.
Produced and directed by Of Dust and Stars (Ofdustandstars.com), Carry Me is a song about 'coming home'. Joshua explains, "Along my own journey I've defined home as living as the person you were born to be, free from the pressures of other perceptions and your own self-depreciation. ‘Home' is an identity without illusion, without the confusion of trying to be someone we are not. We all get distracted, disappointed and at times disillusioned with who we are and where we're at but there's hope in knowing you can change direction, there's hope in knowing you can always return home"
With his sophomore EP recently released, accompanied by a string of live shows including the BBC 6 Fringe Festival and support for JP Cooper, Joshua Luke Smith is fast becoming an inspired and important voice for his generation.
Connect with Joshua Luke Smith: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram
Download ‘Carry Me’ on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/carry-me-radio-edit-single/id1107635261
RnB/Soul artist Marc Anthony Figueras released new EP "How Things Have Changed"
Marc Anthony Figueras is a Clayton, NC based RnB/Soul singer-songwriter who just released an incredible five song EP entitled "How Things...
Marc Anthony Figueras is a Clayton, NC based RnB/Soul singer-songwriter who just released an incredible five-song EP entitled "How Things Have Changed". This EP is a follow-up to Marc's last project "Blue" which he released in the spring of last year. In regards to who the EP is dedicated to and what it represents, Marc says:
"Around last August, an old friend of mine passed away in a car wreck. He was an incredible piano player and singer. Very sick gospel style of playing. He was definitely a big influence on my decision to continue pursuing my passion, no matter how discouraged I became. When he passed, it was completely out of nowhere, and it devastated me. Around the same time, my oldest brother was getting ready to get married, and one of my uncles was getting ready to have a baby.
I remember stopping and thinking about the past few years, specifically since I finished up high school. The last two years, compared to the previous nineteen or so, have felt like an eternity. I've never had so much happen to me in such a short amount of time.
Life moves in the strangest ways, but it always moves forward. I wanted this EP to be a reminder to never take anything we have for granted, and to always seek the beautiful things in life.
Dedicated to a good friend who moved on too soon.
Sometimes things change before we're ready for it."
Listen to the "How Things Have Changed" EP and then download it using the link below. Also, come out to see Marc Anthony Figueras tear up the stage on Saturday, May 7th at our DOPECAUSEWESAID.com Day Party which is in conjunction with the Art of Cool Festival in downtown Durham. The party will take place at Bull McCabes Irish Pub and starts at 1:30.
Download "How Things Have Changed" by Marc Anthony Figueras: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/how-things-have-changed-ep/id1095990799
Australian singer/songwriter/comedian Jude Perl unveils the visuals for her new single 'Hungry and Horny'
Jude Perl has been performing professionally for the past 7 years as a singer and pianist and in the last year has branched out into stand up and music comedy...
Australian singer/songwriter/comedian Jude Perl unveils the visuals for her new single 'Hungry and Horny', taken from her debut album 'Modern Times' produced by Grammy Award - winning engineer Brian Paturalski (Album of the year in 2003 with Outkast).
Jude Perl has been performing professionally for the past 7 years as a singer and pianist and in the last year has branched out into stand up and music comedy. In 2013, her debut single 'Girls & Boys' received regular commercial radio airplay all over Australia (including Fox FM and 2Day FM). The following year, Jude starred in the critically acclaimed narrative concert 'Let's Get It On - The Life & Music of Marvin Gaye' in Melbourne.
Often described as 'funk-a-licious music', Jude offers a collection of feel good funk/pop/soul tunes that will make you want to sing along. Named purposely after Charlie Chaplin's famous film, her debut album provides a satirical window on the advertising world that we are living in : « Music and advertising are so intertwined, which to me seems so ludicrous, as they have such different goals. Music is supposed to elevate people and challenge people and advertising kind of does the opposite »
With that approach in mind, Jude promotes her new album with fake advertisements set in the 50s, 80s and present day, pretending to have sold her intellectual property and identity to a sugar company. In her fun new music video 'Hungry and Horny', Jude Perl impersonates an anonymous actress who tries to look good on camera to please the producer and sell whatever she's told to sell. Her debut album 'Modern Times’ is now available on Bandcamp and on iTunes Australia.
Connect with Jude Perl: Website Twitter YouTube Tumblr Facebook Instagram
Download "Modern Times" by Jude Perl
Lánre unveils her new single 'Human', a beautiful take on what unifies us all
Lánre is a British singer-songwriter whose music can be described as acoustic Soul and Folk with captivating storytelling influenced by her Yoruba heritage...
"Relish in her soft yet soulful vocals..." - MTV UK
"This utterly soothing new single is well worth a listen" - MOBO awards
Lánre is a British singer-songwriter whose music can be described as acoustic Soul and Folk with captivating storytelling influenced by her Yoruba heritage. Born in Stoke-On-Trent in England, Lánre has spent most of her youth in Nigeria where she started singing and performing live at the age of 8. Soon enough, she started playing guitar and found freedom in her own voice.
In 2002, Lánre embarked herself on a worldwide tour as a member of award-winning UK collective GK REAL. This experience ignited in her the desire to pursue a solo career. Her debut album 'Pen Voyage Chapter One: Singing For Change' was released in 2011 followed by her critically acclaimed EP 'Home' in 2014 (praised by MOBO, MTV UK among others).
Her new EP 'Human' is set to be released on April 29th. This new record is a collection of uplifting songs, which encapsulates the essence and depth of Lánre's artistry. Relating the struggles and celebrations of life, 'Human' is a hopeful hymn to togetherness.
In the meantime, Lánre has recently unveiled the title track 'Human' whose signature phrase 'We're all broken so that light can come in' showcases once again her determination to offer the listener inspiring words to hold on to.
Pre-order link for the new EP with immediate download of the title track ‘Human' http://apple.co/1Qdwnl2
British Soulful Singer/Songwriter Mi'das releases his debut album 'All Inside Your Head'
Mi'das a.k.a Mike Davies creates soulful pop music infused with his trademark vocal and guitar playing. From busking the streets to performances...
Mi'das a.k.a Mike Davies creates soulful pop music infused with his trademark vocal and guitar playing. From busking the streets to performances with artists such as Leona Lewis, Jessie J, Rita Ora, Labrinth and Jamie Cullum, you could say the last 10 years have been quite a journey for this Brighton born soulful strummer. In 2015, Mi'das played a total of 60 shows to 20,000 people and memorable performances at venues such as the O2 arena, Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park, and Kensinton Palace (In front of Prince William, Bon Jovi...) He also released a series of three EPs 'The Story so far' which was an eclectic mix of the soul and pop music he loves so much.
Quoting Bill Withers, Joni Mitchell, Elton John and Gregory Porter as strong influences the sound is rooted in timeless songwriting but is discernibly of our time. Speaking of his debut album, Mi'das states 'This album may be the most retro sounding album I'll ever make as a homage to those artists I've learnt from’.
His debut album 'All Inside Your Head' is a collection of songs which represents the last 10 years of his life. As for the meaning behind the name, Mi’das adds 'I called it All Inside Your Head as I've come to notice that most things in this life good or bad come down to something you can change yourself in your own mind without blaming anyone or looking for other reasons'. Mi'das will be going on a headlining tour across the UK in May.
Connect with Mi'das: Website Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube
Listen to ‘All Inside Your Head’ on Soundcloud (His album will be released on iTunes on March 28th - currently available on his official website)
Acoustic performance ‘Feels Like Only Yesterday’ with Christian Tierney
Savannah Dumetz embraces vulnerability in her new video "Naked"
19-year-old London native Singer/Songwriter Savannah Dumetz drops an inspiring visual for her latest single "Naked". Savannah's debut...
19-year-old London native Singer/Songwriter Savannah Dumetz drops an inspiring visual for her latest single "Naked". Savannah's debut single was originally unveiled earlier this month and has already been played on BBC Introducing London and BBC 1Xtra. "Naked" has over 10K plays on Soundcloud.
Directed by Émile and filmed in her home town, the music video aims to encourage people to embrace and express themselves. Savannah wishes to use her music as a means to start a discussion with her fans. The soulful artist strives to highlight the power of vulnerability and the necessity of breaking stereotypes to practice self-love. She adds "I just wanted to show in this video that I can't be defined by a single title and Naked comes from my heart, it's not about what I wear or what I look like, it's the way I choose to live my life! It's the most beautiful and fulfilling feeling to feel free in your skin." Savannah Dumetz is currently working on new material. She will headline her first show in London on April 15th at The Social.
Connect with Savannah Dumetz: Instagram Twitter YouTube Tumblr
LA Rock and Soul duo Nicky Davey drops a video for their single "Been Lovin' You"
The LA rock and soul duo Nicky Davey just dropped a video for their single "Been Lovin' You". Nick Green and Dave Rosser officially formed...
The LA Rock and Soul duo Nicky Davey just dropped a video for their single "Been Lovin' You". Nick Green and Dave Rosser officially formed the project in 2011. They started out just making records together under various aliases until they carved a sound they could truly call their own.
Their approach to songwriting has always had a strong emphasis on beauty, combined with infectious hooks. Their music features lush vocal arrangements, infused with the melodic honey of the talk box over organic beats. Constantly striving to reinvent the modern pop song, they were given the opportunity to work closely with Odd Future affiliates, The Internet. Lead Singer Nick Green's vocal production on The Internet's Ego Death helped earn it a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Directed by Rich Yodsukar and filmed in the streets of downtown Los Angeles, the music video captures in a light-hearted way the reality of being musicians in L.A "We live and breathe our music and are willing to do anything for it, even walk all the way down to Hollywood Boulevard. to play outside in front of people, that's just the spirit we have". "Been Lovin' You" is the last track on the NOW compilation album that went in stores everywhere on February 5.
Nicky Davey is the only artist unsigned to a major label to be featured on NOW 57. The duo is working on new material and will release a new EP in Spring 2016.
Connect with Nicky Davey: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
Q&A with David Dixon
David Dixon is a guitarist/singer-songwriter from Greenville, NC who studied guitar performance and songwriting at Berklee...
David Dixon is a guitarist/singer-songwriter from Greenville, NC who studied guitar performance and songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and at East Carolina University. His rock band, "The David Dixon Trio" is currently touring the southeast and he recently released a self titled album "David Dixon" which is filled with amazing Blues, Rock and Soul inspired songs. We caught up with David to find out how he got his start in music, how his self titled album came about and much more.
Carlton Boyd
How did you get your start playing guitar and singing?
I was fortunate to have music in my life from an early age. My mom is a Suzuki Method violin instructor. She literally had me learning violin on a tiny instrument when I was two years old. That little violin is in a frame at my parent's house now. Suzuki is a Japanese method of learning music by ear first, before learning how to read music. It basically teaches you how to memorize music and how to play what you hear on your instrument. I am so lucky to have been exposed to this method of teaching (involuntarily at that). It caused me to develop a strong ear and to be able to quickly figure out musical lines when I hear them. By the 5th Grade the orchestra needed an upright bass player, I was selected, mainly because I was tall enough to hold the instrument. One of the first things I learned to play on the bass was a Temptations song. I was hooked on the feel and the groove from that point on. By the 7th Grade I had switched to playing guitar and it has been my favorite thing ever since.
I started singing out of necessity. I had a high school band of some pretty talented guys, nobody wanted to sing. I knew having a vocalist would be something that would help us get more fans so I starting singing on a few songs. I always thought of myself as a guitarist first, until I really started getting serious about songwriting, after college. Nowadays, I consider myself a vocalist, a guitarist, and a songwriter.
What are your thoughts about the independent music scene in North Carolina?
I think NC has a lot to offer as far as the indy scene goes. There are hot spots in the state that have a ton of talent and support for independent artist. I moved to Wilmington a few years ago for that reason, specifically. Having beaches nearby didn't exactly make it a hard decision. Wilmington has a lot of great open mics, clubs, performing arts centers (the BAC and Cape Fear's new venue) and Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. There is also a impressive amount of musical talent and songwriters. I attend a songwriter's night every month that features several artists per event. Its great to see original music supported when a lot of venues only want cover bands. No disrespect to cover bands, its just nice not to be limited to only that if you want to play regular shows.
The Triangle is awesome as far as talent and venues as well. My band (the David Dixon Trio) has performed regularly at the Raleigh Wild Wing as well as Tir Na Nog downtown. We were bummed when that venue closed as it was a local favorite spot downtown. Also, the Pour House and Lincoln Theatre regularly bring in great bands. Several of my friends in Wilmington bands play the Pour House regularly.
Asheville is also one of the cities in NC that stand out in my opinion. There are a ton of musicians, artist, creative people and outlets to showcase that. I think basically every college town in NC has some good stuff going on, musically. My hometown of Greenville is also making some strides to bring in more good music. We always love coming home and playing events for ECU like Freeboot Friday, and having shows at Crossbones Tavern. We did an album release party there. Crossbones does a good job of showcasing a lot of up-and-coming NC-based bands as well as some well-known, regional acts.
Describe your experience performing for the US Military in South Korea; how did it come about?
I played in a Raleigh-based band several years ago that played Soul, R&B, and Beach Music called "The Embers". They have been around since the 50s and I was the third generation of the band. They have been regionally famous for decades. When their guitarist of several years left the band, my name came up in their search and I ended up joining the band and playing with them for three years. It was my first taste of having a road crew, riding a tour bus, and playing to thousands of people at times. We were a favorite of Raleigh's "North Hills Thursday Concert Series" in the spring and summer.
We were asked by a US Army General who was friends with the band leader if we would be interested in touring several US Military bases around the holidays in December and performing a series of shows for the troops. We did, two years in a row and it was an amazing experience. Those troops, especially the ground troops near the N. Korea border (the DMZ) don't get to spend time with their family and loved ones over the holidays. It was so rewarding to bring them a taste of the States and play music that made them happy. We were all given medals from a general at each base we performed. I have them all in a shadow box on my coffee table. It was a great experience.
Also, some of my former band mates and I went to the Red Light District a couple of times and found this bar in Seoul that had an open mic. The bar was called "Woodstock" and had pictures of American musicians on the wall. We went in there and played a set of Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone (among others). They went crazy. The Korean bar owner had his calendar out trying to book us for the following weekend. It was so cool to bring American music to people who admired it so much. Such a great experience.
How would you say your education/exposure at Berklee and East Carolina have prepared you as an artist?
My time at ECU and at Berklee really helped to shape me as a professional musician. My college experience was a lot different than most people's in that, I already knew exactly what I wanted to do since childhood, so it was time to get serious right away. Most people take some time to decide what they want to study. My decision after my freshman year was to either drop out of school and move to Austin or New Orleans and be a street musician, or attend a top-notch music college that focused on contemporary music. When I knew I wanted to go to Berklee I met with the Dean of the School of Music at ECU. I talked him into letting me take all music classes (mostly jazz and theory) in preparation for me transferring to Berklee. He allowed it and luckily, I had some pretty good preparation going into how intense Berklee was. Not to say I didn't party in college, I do love to have a good time, but the workload I signed up for was so intense it demanded most of my time and energy. I spent my last two years at Berklee grinding about as hard as I ever have. I came back much better, both at singing, guitar and having a much better overall understanding of music, both recording and performing.
Tell us about your self titled album David Dixon; how did you select which songs appeared on it? How long did it take to record?
I have always listened to a lot of different musical styles. I was raised playing classical violin, majored in jazz performance, grew up playing the blues on guitar, and love rock, soul, R&B and reggae music. I also really love acoustic-based, singer-songwriter styles as well. I wanted to showcase these styles on my record and have always had a hard time writing in one style. That makes it hard to describe yourself in one word or genre, but I didn't want to have limits on what was coming out in my writing. I think we did a good job of connecting so many different styles without the album sounding too schizophrenic in end, although I am trying to make my next body of work more cohesive and to have more of an overall connected vibe. I've always loved that about artists who make a great album thats all connected and vibes well. The Alabama Shakes did that on "Sound and Color" and just won a bunch of Grammys for that album.
I want to make music that people of many demographics enjoy. So I have that going for me on my album in the way that, if you don't like rock and skip the first track, the second track has a more soul/R&B vibe, the 4th track is pop, the 5th track is acoustic and so on. Thats a big advantage of being influenced by a lot of different styles of music. The tricky part is connecting those styles on a record and not making it sound all over the place.
Click to Download
I emailed song ideas to the musicians I hired for the record. The drummer was in LA, the keys player in New Orleans, everyone was in a different city. I basically sent them charts of the chord changes and demo recordings, and then trusted them to come in and put their own flavor on my songs. I also had the help of my Berklee colleague and producer, Dave Wolfe join me on this album. He and I went back and forth from Richmond and Wilmington working on all the different phases of the record, from pre-production to when we both flew out to LA and got it mixed and mastered. Overall, the album took just under a year. Having a full length album under my belt not only helped me develop and evolve as a songwriter, but it has opened a lot of doors for me musically. I have gotten FM radio airplay in several markets as well which is very exciting. I spend most of my time now writing music and booking shows and promoting. Its more than a full time job even before you get to the actual gigs.
I couldn't have recorded and released my album without the help of my fans via a successful Kickstarter campaign. We raised about $4,000 and I also spend a lot of my own money to complete the project. It ALWAYS costs more than you think it will which is why having label support can be a huge help. There's something to be said for doing it all yourself, independently though. It was a proud moment for me to release my album as an Indy. It was also amazing to have a multiple Grammy-winner do the Mastering. I literally googled "well-known Mastering engineers" and found Brain Lucey (the Black Keys, Ray Lamontagne, Beck). I sent him an email to see if I could afford him and he was really nice and said he always looks out for Indy Artists. He made it affordable for me and now I have a Grammy winner in the album credits. That was a really special part of the project for me as well as a great lesson to Indy Artists. Try for the best and you never know what will happen if you ask. Thanks for the support. It means the world to me. My album is available for sale on iTunes and Amazon, and you can also free stream songs on Spotify and Soundcloud.
Meagan Delima drops "Like You Do" EP
Canadian RnB/Soul singer Meagan Delima has just released her debut EP "Like You Do"
Canadian RnB/Soul singer Meagan Delima has just released her debut EP entitled "Like You Do". This EP includes four tracks and was recorded, mixed and mastered in Toronto. Over 40 musicians were involved in its creation and Meagan had the honor of having Bob Ezrin, a producer known for his works with Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper and Taylor Swift, produce one of the songs.
Meagan was born into a very artistic family where both of her grandfathers were professional
jazz musicians so for her to shine as bright as she does on "Like You Do" is not a surprise to us here at DOPECAUSEWESAID. To say that we're greatly impressed by this EP would be an understatement.
Connect with Meagan Delima: Website Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
Who is LAVIER?
LAVIER is the name for Boone, North Carolina's fresh new soul-meets-future act who's music is already becoming known for it's sultry and artful complexity. Pulling from the deepest parts of himself, LAVIER intends to create a deeply moving experience for listeners; something artistic and expressive that can be felt from the soul. Jazz guitar and keyboard playing, live looping, and top-notch production are all contributing factors to the live LAVIER performance, which has been described as an all-encompassing and provocative experience.
Connect with LAVIER: Soundcloud Facebook Twitter Instagram Bandcamp Tumblr YouTube
CHAI TEA // TAI CHI EP
Urban Creek Records is What's Next
Urban Creek Records was founded in 2013 by recording artists Brandon Jones, R.E.A.L. tha Poet, and producer J-Ideas. Seeing the cut and paste nature of major label record labels, the crew set a goal to provide alternative themes and sounds within the realm of music without having to be shoved into a box of what's fresh, what's new, what's on the radio or what's "different". At Urban Creek, the motivation is the love of music and the creation behind it. The music and content released by Urban Creek provides a window into each artists' mind and soul.
Below are the biographies of the Urban Creek artists as well as their recent releases available for you to stream and download. These include R.E.A.L. tha Poet's "The Real World", J-Ideas instrumental album "My First Car Was a Caddy" and Brandon Jones's soulful "Shot of Bourbon".
R.E.A.L tha Poet
R.E.A.L Tha Poet is a true school rapper out of Paris, KY currently residing in Lexington, KY. His influences include Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and The CunninLynguists. R.E.A.L uses his unique views to paint a vivid picture of everyday life.
R.E.A.L drops knowledge that others are commonly afraid to shed light on. R.E.A.L's ability to craft records with playability in numerous settings while still being very lyrical showcases his talent on the mic, songwriting ability and his ear for beats.
J-Ideas
Producer J-Ideas loves cranking out hard head knocking beats that make the trunk rattle as well as smooth soundscapes that make you lay back and relax your mental. Hailing from Pekin, Indiana, he brings a small town, blue collar sound in his production, while making it complex enough to compete with anyone in the game.
As self taught musician, he feels he isn't constrained by the usual set of rules that others tend to feel boxed in to. J-Ideas tries to bring a different energy into each beat he creates with a style that shows he's a student of the craft.
Brandon Jones
Actor/Singer/Songwriter Brandon Jones was born and raised in Kentucky and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. An old soul in new shoes, Brandon blends both past and present into a beautiful mix of styles and musical textures.
Brandon is influenced by the jazz of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, the blues of Buddy Guy, Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as the soul of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye. Drawing from real life experiences, Brandon's music is raw and honest, creating a gateway into his soul for listeners to explore.
Q&A with love+war
love+war is a Nashville, Tennessee based Electro-Pop duo comprised of writer-producer-guitarist team Coury Palermo and Ron Robinson who just released their debut EP "Hue". The two began writing together in the fall of 2014 with no other intention but writing material for possible pitches in TV/Film. In early 2015, the two-piece began working on a collection of covers and an EP of originals simultaneously.
We linked up with Coury and Ron recently and asked them about their name and how they became a group, whether they're influenced by Country Music, their songwriting process and more.
Carlton Boyd
I really like the name love+war; what does it mean and how did you guys come together to form a group? Coury: To me (the name) it symbolizes where we are as a society. We live in a time of such immense hope and chaos - it's the collision of both mind sets.
We began writing together last fall and realized how effortless the collaboration was. We kind of stumbled onto "the duo thing" once the songs kept coming. It is by far the easiest collaborative experience of my career.
Being that you guys are based in Nashville, which is largely known as the "home or center of Country Music", would you say that your music influenced by that genre at all? Coury: I'm actually based out of East Nashville, which is a more fringe/non-traditional area of Nashville. Think "East Village" rather than "Upper Eastside" - in comparison. I love Nashville and all of it's rich history - both country and other. What may surprise people is the varied taste of the city. I'm not sure I can say I'm influenced by country music, but I am influenced by the city and the people I live my life with. It is a different pace than a New York or LA, which I appreciate. I'm not much for the posturing that comes with being a musician, so I enjoy the freedom to be oneself that Nashville provides.
Ron: Nashville has always been known as the center of country music, but in the last decade or so it’s really held up to the name “Music City”. Everything is being recorded here now. Artists and musicians are not going to LA or New York like they used to, they’re all coming here.
Who are some of your musical influences? Coury: I grew up on blue-eyed soul, hip-hop and what I like to call "chick-rock". Annie Lennox, Sade, George Michael - these were the records I cut my teeth on - the artists that made me fall in love with words and melody. They are the same artists I can still put on and get lost in.
Ron: Peter Gabriel, Tom Petty, Tears For Fears, The Cure, The Outfield, basically anything that’s 80’s pop. That is my favorite era of music hands down. I pretty much like anything with a great track - solid hooks and melodies.
What's the songwriting process like for you guys? Coury: We usually set up some mics in the control room, grab a guitar and begin. There's no big process. It usually comes extremely fast. For me - I write a ton while I'm driving, so there's a plethora of ideas to pull from.
Ron: Yeah we’ll set up in the studio - both have headphones on with some effects we love - hit record and start experimenting. Sometimes the tracks (programming wise) start to take shape at that point.
Its much more inspiring to hear an idea in the vein of a finished product “as” you’re working on it. Much more so than writing/playing “acoustically in the room” if you will. We find that it really helps enhance the creative process.
The "Hue" EP is an incredible collection of songs to listen to with a quality set of headphones on but I am sure that seeing you guys perform these tracks live is a whole other experience. Will you guys be hitting the road to perform these songs on tour? Coury: Thank you. Currently we are rehearsing a small set and would love to get out there and start playing. We have a lot of new songs in the wheel house that we'd love to hash out live as well before recording the full-length album, so yes - touring is on the forefront.
Ron: Thank you! Yes, I’m looking forward to it as well. The process of working out the material outside of the studio is always fun. Will it be more full sounding - like the record, or stripped back? At this point that's still to be determined. Either way we are super excited to get out there in front of an audience.
Connect with love+war: Website Facebook Bandcamp Soundcloud
Hue by love+war
BLOG: How to Setup Your Home Studio on a Budget (Ten Steps)
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.
Marc Anthony Figueras Schoolkids Records Performance Recap
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
Marc Anthony Figueras is On the Rise
Marc Anthony Figueras is an artist on the rise. Born and raised in Miami, FL, Marc Anthony Figueras started playing music as early as five years old. He's always enjoyed playing music as well as songwriting and says "I've been writing songs for a very long time, even though most of the early songs I've written were intentionally forgotten. I'm heavily influenced by jazz, R&B/soul, classical music, and blues. Overall, I really strive for creativity and originality in my writing, because that's what I enjoy the most in music I hear, or artists I look up to."
Marc Anthony Figueras currently resides in Clayton, NC and his first release "Love, Insanity, Conflict, Entropy" was dropped in March of this year. His latest release, the "Blue EP", featuring our Song of the Week 'Hold Your Breath', is a five song collection of mellow and soulful RnB/Jazz music that will be on display this Saturday, September 19th at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh, NC at 7 pm. This free in-store performance by Marc Anthony Figueras and his band is sponsored by DOPECAUSEWESAID. For more information, click here.
Connect with Marc Anthony Figueras: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Soundcloud Bandcamp
