Princess of Chop Pop Kiiara Unveils Her Debut Album "lil kiiwi"
@Kiiara's debut album "lil kiiwi" finds her bringing a new level of self-possession to her music, fully embracing her instincts in every step of the process and capturing the strange complexities of love.
After exploding onto the scene over five years ago, Atlantic Records recording artist Kiiara has released her highly-anticipated debut album “lil kiiwi”.
“With this album, I want to bring fans into the world of ‘lil kiiwi,’” Kiiara shared. “lil kiiwi being who I was early in my career. The queen of ignorance and bad decisions. During that time in my life, I didn’t think before I’d say or do anything, I was just living. I was unpredictable and reckless beyond belief. It took a few years to process and understand that side of me which will always remain a part of me. And I’m now ready to share my debut album with my fans and let them into that world... lil kiiwi’s world.”
The incredible project is highlighted by the princess of chop pop’s collaboration with superstar rapper blackbear, “So Sick” as well as six brand-new tracks, recently released singles “I Still Do,” “Never Let You” and “Numb (feat. DeathbyRomy and PVRIS),” and past hits “Gold,” Whippin (Feat. Felix Snow)”and “Feels.”
“’So Sick’ is a playful song about my relationship with blackbear back in 2016,” Kiiara says about the single. “We dated for a lil and this is a look into that. We stayed friends thru it all even tho I was blocked for a solid 2 years lolll. Bear is incredibly talented and he really brought this song to life.”
"lil kiiwi" finds Kiiara bringing a new level of self-possession to her music, fully embracing her instincts in every step of the process and capturing the strange complexities of love. This is exemplified in the track “So Sick (feat. blackbear),” a bold but brightly textured tale of a toxic romance. “As soon as I cut the vocals on that song I could hear him on it,” Kiiara recalls. “We hadn’t spoken in a long time but he hit me right back and said he’d love to do it. It ended up being a playful, dramatic song.”
Listen to “lil kiiwi” right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Kiiara on her social media.
Justin OH Releases His New Album "Welcome to the City of Oz" On Monstercat
@justinohmusic drops his long awaited album, "Welcome to the City of Oz" on @Monstercat. This 11 track album, showcases an array of ear-catching music from previous dubstep hit "For a Minute" featuring Jamie to feel good single "Feels Alright", a collaboration with Rogue.
Forward thinking and at the forefront of electronic music in Asia. Justin OH is best known for releasing on acclaimed labels including both major and independent. Justin was the first solo act in Asia to break boundaries and bring K-Pop to the international EDM scene.
He is also one of the very few Asian artists to perform for major international festivals like Ultra Miami, Ultra Korea, Ultra Japan, Ultra Singapore, Ultra Europe, Tomorrowland, World Club Dome, It’s The Ship, 808 Festival, Djakarta Warehouse Project, and more.In 2016, Mixmag & Beatport awarded Justin OH as the #2 Asia Future Picks and the one to look out for.
Justin OH drops his long awaited album, “Welcome to the City of Oz” on Monstercat. This 11 track album, showcases an array of ear-catching music from previous dubstep hit "For a Minute" featuring Jamie to feel good single "Feels Alright", a collaboration with Rogue. For the showstopper lead single "She's A Killer Part 2", the talented Justin OH teams up with Feint and Mazare to brings a melodic drum and bass song that is sure to be on replay. From start to end, Welcome to the City of Oz will have you captivated in the world he has created with his music and we are excited for him to continue to share his vision!
Listen to “Welcome to the City of Oz” now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Justin OH on his social media.
Interview: Brooklyn Rap Artist D. Edge Discusses His New EP "Tha La$t Supper"
Salute to Brooklyn based rapper @therealdedge who connected with DCWS to discuss his very DOPE five track EP “Tha La$t Supper”, his goals musically for 2021 and much more.
“I felt like artistically I have grown because I feel more confident (and it shows) rapping wise, I’m more cognizant sonically/conceptually and I have a better idea of when is something is completed.”
Salute to you on the release of your EP "The La$t Supper", and the track we just featured, "HVIII ME". Tell us who the featured artists and producers are on the EP, and what the title, "The La$t Supper”, represents.
“Tha La$t Supper” is an ode to art, religion, politics, identity etc. When you think of Tha La$t Supper most people would think of Jesus and eventually getting betrayed by Judas. Some people might think of the Leonardo DaVinci painting or depiction on the previously mentioned subject.
Yes, those are indeed some of the reasoning why I chose the title, but I want people to have their own interpretations of what they would do if they were confronted with this situation. Members of the African Diaspora and poor people are faced with tough decisions on the daily due to circumstances beyond our control. How would you feel if you knew your life could potentially end based on ethnicity, religion, sexuality and etc? Everyone’s meaning could vary based on their interpretation.
The EP only has two features from SMTH and Beyond with production from RAH the Gift, theycallmeParker, U-Dub, DEXTAH and DJ Forgotten.
Tell us about your creative process for the development of the EP's five songs and what inspired you to create it.
I had this concept in the chamber for years, but this is the first time I was able to execute it. Right now I feel like the world is due for a “Renaissance” (also a college professor said I was a Renaissance Man) which means that you will have to endure death (ideologies, mentality) to show rebirth and growth.
I felt like artistically I have grown because I feel more confident (and it shows) rapping wise, I’m more cognizant sonically/conceptually and I have a better idea of when is something is completed. When I get tired of hearing a record, I know that’s when it’s time for the project or song is ready to be released. I also stopped giving a fuck whether people believe I’m dope or not. I know I’m talented and I’m not trying to sound like what’s hot/trendy.
“Starvation Freestyle” was produced by Brooklyn’s finest RAH the Gift. This guy is one of the dopest producers period and is one of my real life friends. We’re both huge basketball fans so he knew I’d rock with this off the rip. When he played me the beat, I instantly wanted to use it. The instrumental made me feel nostalgic to the ‘90s Bulls which featured MJ and Scottie led teams. I feel is the most important record because it set the tone for the project. Without that record, “Tha La$t Supper” wouldn’t have a direction at all. The record was just a reminder that I could rap my ass off and show people the growth. This song also proverbially mixes the medicine in the candy because while I say crazy punchlines, I drop gems in the record as well stating create your own path and be yourself. RAH and I have some more things cookin’ coming shortly.
“Kill or Be Killed” featuring one of my brodies SMTH (most known for “Last Straw” with Capital Steez) and was produced by U-Dub of NY Bangers (most known for Young MA’s “OOOUUU” and Casanova’s “Don’t Run”). When I heard this beat, I thought of survival - hunter vs the hunted. I wanted SMTH on the record because I feel like every time we collab on something we complement each other very well (see King$, SBM or Tha Life as evidence). Someone stated that when they heard this record that I was like Rambo on a mission and SMTH is the cool guy in a three-piece suit snapping his fingers getting someone hurt haha. “Kill or Be Killed” is personally one of my favorite records because we both snapped, but it shows how different artistically me and SMTH are sonically to make a great record. This goes back to interpretation because me and SMTH are typically on the same wavelength, but his verse was completely different than mine in terms of content. When someone is faced with tough decisions or life and death, how would you react? Shoutout to Heccctorrr also for his help on this song as well.
“ENUFFizENUFF” was the last record I wrote, which was produced by DEXTAH. It took me a minute to really sit, write and record this song because I have a myriad of emotions being a black man in America. Some days I feel frustrated, sad, angry, hopeless, and etc. seeing how the legal system continually fails people who look like me. I wrote the song during when riots were rampant across America and I probably recorded the song close to 40-50 times. This was the first time I recorded since COVID and without an engineer, so I questioned everything. The record means a lot to me as well because this is the first record since SBM or N****s Hate where I feel like I didn’t sugar coat anything. I’ve also dealt with police harassment and brutality multiple times to the point where I still deal with trauma sometimes in everyday life. Recently, I was literally walking in my neighborhood in Brooklyn with my girlfriend with a Black Lives Matter jersey on and was apprehended by a police officer. They didn’t believe that I lived in my neighborhood and asked for my ID because we were trying to get past the barricades. We literally saw him allow others walk through without any issues. I typically would be a little more argumentative because if I’m not doing anything wrong, why am I being harassed for? However, since I have my girlfriend with me, my main focus was ensuring her safety. I showed the officer my ID and as he escorted us up the street I told him to his face that you wouldn’t do this to us if we were white (making him turn beat red). Even if someone was doing someone illegal, someone shouldn’t be beaten or lose their lives without having a “fair trial”. The point is that I’m tired of people being judged on appearance and such instead of character. I’m beyond tired of my people worldwide being oppressed. “ENUFFizENUFF” of black men, black women, black trans/queer people getting denied basic rights.
“HVIII ME” was produced by one of my mentors, the Bay Area’s own theycallmeParker (worked with D-Savage, Earl Sweatshirt to name a few) recorded at the Brewery Recording studio in LA in February. This dude really is a supercomputer and has the best drums in the industry, I swear to God. For instance, he made me rerecord the Onyx duh, duh, duh like 40x because he said my tone was off. This dude catches everything when an artist records with him. His earlier teachings have molded me into the perfectionist I am today. I now rerecord verses and every little thing until I feel like it’s at a great level. For instance, I didn’t punch in recording “ENUFFizENUFF” at all. I hate punching in for verses!! Nevertheless, when Parker sent me this beat in like last October I knew it was created for me. “HVIII ME” is one of my favorite songs to date because I showcase a different delivery with witty punchlines and bravado and to top it off I sing on the hook. I feel like this song has the most replay value and I feel this song is the most relatable. Who doesn’t have haters or snakes pretending to be your friend? Shoutout to my homies Mo White, Rich and RND Musik for talking shit about me hahaha!
“inVINCIble” featured R&B/Soul artist and producer Beyond with production from DJ Forgotten. I recorded my verses with theycallmeParker in LA as well. However, I initially recorded a hook that I was singing in autotune with and in my gut I knew I wasn’t meant to be on the hook. Parker literally told me that I should consider getting a soulful male singer on the hook but I didn’t see it at the time. My homie RAH the Gift posted a Beyond song on IG called Chasin’ and I really liked his vibe and sound. I literally had one of those Jimmy Neutron brain blasts and said hmm yo he fits perfectly on this record. We started choppin’ it up and found out we have a lot in common, so we started collaborating more on other stuff for both of our projects. He wrote a hook that better suited his vocal style and made “inVINCIble” a better record. The fans will be seeing a lot of Beyond & D. Edge collabs moving forward.
Woodro Skillson (worked with Travis Scott, MGK, Kid Cudi) was the brains of the operation adding his touch mixing and mastering the project. This dude took the project to another level adding elements I would’ve never thought to add.
Do you plan on releasing a music video for "HVIII ME" or any of the tracks on the EP?
Before COVID-19 I was planning to do a video for “HVIII ME” and I wanted to have a lot of props and such for the video. I wanted to do scenes on the Brooklyn bridge, have a throne and such really have a visual to poke my chest out for. We don’t need another bravado record out during these times, and I feel like I’d be better suited shooting a video for “ENUFFizENUFF” and “inVINCIble”.
“ENUFFizENUFF” is a record discussing the struggle as a black person in the USA. “inVINICIble” is a motivational record telling you to keep your head up during these times. I really like “HVIII ME”, but I don’t think it’s the time to put my chest out when the world is in turmoil.
How would you say that Brooklyn influences or inspires the music that you create?
Brooklyn is the home of some of the greatest period. You can look from rap wise Big Daddy Kane, Biggie, Mos Def, Hov and Fab. We could even look at sports: Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, Mike Tyson, Stephon Marbury and etc. We also have the legendary Spike Lee, Eddie Murphy and Lena Horne. My home is known for having culture, swagger and a different energy. In my music, I try to incorporate old school/new school relatable themes and I just try to be myself musically. People know that I have a lot of influences, but no one can say I’m trying to emulate a particular artist.
What do you look for in the beats that you write to?
I feel like I have a great ear for production since I hang out with a lot of producers and I’m open to all genres. I look for something that is timeless and not trendy. If I get some sort of creative direction, I look for beats for concepts that match moods sonically as well.
I’ve been compiling beats for my debut album for like a year or so, but I constantly have changed things based on feelings and if I find something better to match my mood/feelings. I’m not scared to experiment with other genres and such because I’m open minded (if I’m drawn to it). I love heavy 808’s though.
With the EP out and 2020 winding down, what are some of your goals musically for 2021?
My main problem since I started taking music seriously has been consistency. If you look at my previous releases, I was dropping stuff every two years. Some of that was because of work life balance, dealing with real life shit and access to a studio. Now, I’m able to record whenever I want because I have a little setup in my room.
I’m slated to drop possibly two more projects this year (one with Beyond and another with Canadian rapper/producer Flowzus). Next year, I plan to have another EP for my album, drop an album and drop “DevSeason III”. I just want to continue having fun making music, expand my fan base, remain consistent and constantly improve as an artist.
Watch SoundMojo's 1st Virtual Music Festival Sound Travels on Friday, October 9th!
Join @WatchMojo’s record label @SoundMojo this Friday, October 9th at 1 pm EST for their 1st-anniversary virtual music festival Sound Travels, which will feature artists such as Motorcycle Display Team, Stereoriots, Cultural Vultures, and many more!.
Join WatchMojo’s record label SoundMojo this Friday, October 9th at 1 pm EST for their 1st-anniversary virtual music festival Sound Travels.
The Sound Travels virtual music festival will bring you 6 hours of live, intimate and studio recordings from 26 SoundMojo artists from around the globe! Rock, Metal, Folk, EDM, Pop and more. Several of the artists who will be appearing this Friday have been featured on DCWS, including Motorcycle Display Team, Stereoriots, and Cultural Vultures.
Set your reminder HERE to watch the Sound Travels virtual music festival on YouTube this Friday at 1 pm EST.
Connect with SoundMojo: YouTube | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify
Review: "Occupational Hazard" Album by Mozzy
There’s no doubt about it, “Occupational Hazard” is one of the hardest @MozzyThaMotive albums out there, and it’s intentional. Check out our in-depth review of Mozzy’s DOPE new album now.
There’s no doubt about it, “Occupational Hazard” is one of the hardest Mozzy albums out there, and it’s intentional. In a press release, he mentioned that this was his favorite project because it was a return to the old Mozzy (aka, Hellgang Mozzy) - a shoutout to the streets as opposed to the mainstream, which he said “Beyond Bulletproof” was intended more for. Instead, “Occupational Hazard” isn’t all rainbows and Daisys - it’s a realistic discussions of topics only those that live a specific lifestyle will be familiar with.
The California rapper mentions that the message of this album is that you won’t always get a happy ending or a sunny ride if you decide to live this lifestyle. “When you choose to make your money a certain way, there can be consequences that come with that but own it, embrace it.” While it’s a warning to fully understand what you signed up for, it’s still a celebration of gang culture, which many people have mixed feelings about, given the nature of Nipsey Hussle’s death.
His smoky voice is a pleasant departure from the younger sounding rappers speaking on similar topics. In ‘Same 40” he spits, “watch what you troll on Instagram cause you could die today”, speaking to the effects that petty social media posts have on gang and gun culture. and the ease which which he could hire a hitman “i can get you cooked for less than what I got this rolley for”.
In “Heartbroken” Mozzy recruits Quando Rondo for a slowed down piano track that talks about how OGs need to numb their pain and heartbreak from all the friends lost to violence, and the paranoia you’re left with when you’re one of the few left standing “And the way I sip that purple potion, I'ma need some rehab/Roll up that dojo for the fallen soldiers/everytime I look over my shoulder, it's whole 'nother death”.
Quando raps about the perks of living the highlife, but in the back of his mind, he knows that his decadent and drippy lifestyle could be gone in an instant due to the path he chose: “Two double cups, I love to pour up, I'm switchin' lanes in the Lamb/This shit so crazy but I know right 'round the corner be death”.
“Never Lackin” is a tribute to his late grandmother “Damn I miss my granny, she the only one believed in me/Never pictured you leavin' me, wherever you are/I hope it's frequent that you think of me, forever you are/The only one it's hard to live without, eternally scarred.”
Still, he pushes through to make sure “momma rent is paid.” The chorus explains the title of the album, listing the range of well known occupational hazards that come with living the high-roller life, as he reminds listeners “I'm a gangster first and then a rapper.”
The slick lyrics and chorus rhyme patterns hit hard in “Hazardous” a fearless claim to street bravado and all the stories swirling around his notoriety, from “never feared another man, that n*gga bleed the same/I bought some balls and told the dealer he can keep the change” to “I hit my dawg inside his mouth and he don't speak the same/I keep it flame, he bowed his head when he seen the flames”.
“Occupational Hazard” seems like a clear message to the haters, and a reminder to his musical fans that he wouldn’t be making songs without the inspiration of his lifestyle and even so, he’ll always have an undefinable grit that makes him more than just another famous rapper.
Stream and Share “Occupational Hazard” on Spotify
Interview: Velvet Bloom's Maddy Herbert Talks About Their New Song "7Hundred25"
Coming out fresh from Australia, alt pop project @BLOOM_musik are making waves with their latest single ‘7Hundred25’. We connected with lead vocalist Maddy to talk about their latest release, what they are working on now and what advice they would give to upcoming musicians.
Coming out fresh from Australia, Velvet Bloom are making waves with their latest single ‘7Hundred25’. Smooth, vulnerable and a little too deep in the feels, Velvet Bloom knows how to put you in a mood.
We sit down with lead vocalist Maddy to talk about their latest release, what they are working on now and what advice they would give to others.
Tell us about your latest release and what inspired it?
Lyrically, I write by myself - especially when it comes to such personal subject matter.
I really wanted integrate numbers into my writing because it is something that I haven’t experimented with before.
Writing ‘7Hundred25’ helped me to centre myself in the midst of a break up, I was able to come to a realisation and accept that the relationship wasn’t fulfilling me. This song is about accepting your current situation, growing from your experiences and moving forward.
Having a creative outlet and being able to gage my emotions through creating a song is so therapeutic and I highly recommend that people try expressing themselves through an art form, its good for the soul!
I had a pretty solid idea of what I wanted this song to sound like but it was so nice being able to experiment and refine sounds of the instrumentation!
The E-Bow was such an imperative sound for this song - we wanted to incorporate some form of strings but when we heard Alex’s E-Bow with the track we were sold!
What is one of your guilty pleasures?
I am so overly obsessed with popcorn. I feel like i'll cook some to watch a movie and eat the entire bowl without realising.
How did you first start in the music industry?
The band started out under the name ‘BLOOM’ but as our music evolved, we felt it necessary to change our name to ‘Velvet Bloom’.
We began performing under Velvet Bloom around 3 years ago now and we’ve been growing as a band ever since. I found Navigating the music industry side of things super difficult at the start of my career but I was lucky enough to have incredible mentors to help me through it as I’ve always been self managed.
A friends manager got me into booking a venue and since then my job has evolved to assisting with social media and marketing.
I also co run Flo Creative, which is an events company focusing on promoting local artists, businesses, community projects, various organisations and we print a quarterly magazine. The community surrounding Flo is absolutely wonderful.
What are you working on next?
We will be recording our debut Velvet Bloom EP as soon as we are allowed to!!
This release will come out next year with a run of vinyl! We are so super excited!
What advice would you give to upcoming musicians?
To upcoming musicians, I'd say that you really have to back yourself - no one is ever going to believe in your music as much as you do.
You shouldn’t feel silly asking questions, I hate that emerging artists are just expected to know about the industry with no experience.
If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be?
Matt Corby would be an absolute dream. I think that there is such a raw simplicity to his music and his voice is out of this world! What an incredible musician!
Who is the dopest artist you know?
The musicians in my band rock my world! Yara (our backing vocalist) has her own solo project and it is absolutely stunning!
What’s your favourite studio snack?
We bring so much food when we head into the studio!
The essentials are Turkish bread and hummus, of course!
Interview: Laguna Beach Rapper Michael Burnz Discusses His New Single/Video "Naturally", Featuring Morea Nahani
Big thanks to Laguna Beach, CA based artist @faithmassive who connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to discuss his new single/video “Naturally”, featuring Morea Nahani, new album “The Expanse”, and more.
“...life is inspiring you know. Ultimately all creativity comes from The Creator so I do my best to be sensitive to what the Spirit might want to say thru me.”
What are some things that inspire your creativity when working on new music?
Mostly I listen to the music and meditate on it and to feel where it wants to takes me.
Sometimes I'm ask to write for a project and they already have the concept so I channel the emotions/creativity for that.
Almost anything, life is inspiring you know. Ultimately all creativity comes from The Creator so I do my best to be sensitive to what the Spirit might want to say thru me.
What do you look for in the production that you decide to write to and record?
Vibes, mood just something I can feel. If I can feel it then I know others probably can also.
We're blown away by your new single/video "Naturally". Tell us about who produced it and how you connected with Morea.
First off, thank you! I appreciate that. The music was produced by a Texas team know as TexasRadioFish :-D It is what it is that's their name and music is their game! They also produced my single " More Love" which is more reggaeton vibe so they can go jazz, to hip hop to reggae on and on.
I met Morea in church years ago. We were both individual artists and we worked together on a church project once. We enjoyed it so much we wrote another song together and just have never stopped since then. Right now we're working on a group name for us as a duo. That's how much music we have together!
The music video for "Naturally" is the perfect accompaniment for the song, and looked like a lot of fun to shoot. Who directed it and can we expect any more visuals for tracks on the album?
Again thank you! My friend Jamie shot the footage in Laguna Beach, we had it edited and out together by my guy Fabian in Germany. When that video came back it was edited once more by my best friend and sometimes manager, Shaw in L.A. and that's the video you see!
I love that video because I remember how much fun we had making it. Those are all authentic friends and authentic Laguna Beach shots.
More soon to come YES! The title track "The Expanse" has a lyric video coming early-mid October and a live video coming mid-late October. Something like that, we want to give people something new to watch at least once a month, then eventually twice a month.
Speaking of “The Expanse”, congratulations on the completion and release of this album. What was your creative process for its 10 songs and would you say that there is an overall theme or concept to it?
Man you're the best with the compliments, more love back to you! “The Expanse” is a total indie project. I recorded it all at home using Reaper so I'm proud of that, yet getting better ever day.
The theme is Expansion of the Mind Body and Spirit. Expand past hate, Expand past lying to yourself and find freedom in being you (“Your Mask”, track 3), love more, expand your heart... know yourself more, meditate where you can do better.
I love our song "Too Late"; it's an Earth song, how can we do better by the Earth before it's too late. I loosely got the theme from the Amazon Prime show by the same name Lol
With "The Expanse" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2020, heading into the new year?
Musically the vision board huh Lol. Again to release 3 new live videos by year's end, 1 for each month, and a couple lyric videos, some behind the scenes stuff.
I co-write with some talented people so God willing I'll keep meeting great people to write great music with. I'm heavy into pursuing sync licenses so a big win for me would be to sign 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or more agreements in that space :-)
Interview: Toronto Based Jazz Fusion Pianist Desarae Dee Talks About Her New Single "LVLS"
We connected with Toronto based jazz fusion pianist @desaraedeemusic for an exclusive interview to discuss her new single "LVLS", and much more.
“For a majority of my music, once I hear a melody idea that resonates with me, I tend to go with it and build around it, adding jazz chords, a beat and synth sounds. ”
What first interested you in music, specifically production, and are you a self-taught pianist?
I started my music journey at the age of 6 and at that time I was not as enthusiastic about music as I am now. I was classically trained for 12 years and went to university for jazz piano. I also am the lead musician at my church in Toronto.
I’ve always wanted to immerse myself into production and learning the how to’s behind beat making and sound design. At first, I was only producing for piano and keyboards and eventually produced for multiple instruments.
What are some things/people/places that inspire your creativity when developing new music?
A lot of my music inspiration comes from my particular mood, my environment and my 4 musical influences: Alicia Keys, Robert Glasper, Frédéric Chopin and Oscar Peterson.
The most important thing for me in my music creation is to stay true to who I am: unique, outside the box, unconventional and spontaneous, but you will always hear a hint of my inspirations in my music.
Congratulations on the release of your dope new single "LVLS"; tell us about your creative process for its development.
“LVLS” (pronounced “levels”) was originally created for my #DailyVibes producing series that I have on Instagram and was written back in April 2020. For a majority of my music, once I hear a melody idea that resonates with me, I tend to go with it and build around it, adding jazz chords, a beat and synth sounds. My sound is very unconventional and spontaneous so my creative process will include some sort of spontaneity.
This song is near and dear to me as it is a depiction of my journey through my 20s and I wanted to display that journey through this song. There are many low points to the song until about a minute in where everything elevates which represents the high moments of my journey. It’s a very meditative and reflective piece and it gives listeners an idea of who I am as an artist, a musician and as a person.
As a producer, what software/hardware do you use, and what instruments do you play?
When I first started producing, I was using Garage Band and after 5 years of having my MacBook, I had no idea that there were drum loops (*face palm*). After finding that out, that’s when my producing and sound design journey began. After about a year and a half of using Garage Band, I transitioned to Logic Pro X and have been using it ever since.
I am a multi-instrumentalist, so I play quite a few instruments - 14 to be exact, but my main instruments are: Piano (24 1/2 years) and Saxophone (18 years) and Key Bass (12 years).
Can we expect to hear "LVLS" on an upcoming EP or album? If so, what can you tell us about it?
One of the main reasons why I made “LVLS” so short is because I will be releasing an extended version sometime in 2021 as part of my debut album. This extended version will include some features and a visual.
Connect with Desarae Dee: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Indie/Emo Band Floorbird Release "Fall Apart Anywhere" EP, and Share New Visual "Navy Blue"
From the 'burbs of Philadelphia comes indie/emo 4-piece @floorbirdband, with their new EP “Fall Apart Anywhere” and music video for “Navy Blue”.
There’s something special about being able to create in the midst of a crisis. It’s like a rose growing out of a crack in the sidewalk: unexpected and beautiful. Somewhere between the hours of Animal Crossing and wondering what day it is, a Philadelphian indie/emo band called Floorbird was born.
For Eric Reavey, Kevin Folk, Drew Grahn, and Tom Brucker, this project has been over a year in the making - meticulously mapping out melodies, tirelessly recording and creating videos entirely in-house. Having already released the single “I’m Not Nervous,” with accompanying lyric and live videos that have accrued thousands of plays between social media platforms, and spending months refining their tone and style at their home studios, their efforts have all culminated in their EP, “Fall Apart Anywhere”.
With plenty of pop sensibility to sing along to, their debut isn’t all comfort food: in 26 minutes, there’s more about mental illness, loss and intrusive thoughts than love. But, in a time of profound separation, it’s a familiar voice desperate for connection. There’s something special about being able to create in the middle of a crisis - and Floorbird is audible proof.
Of their new video, vocalist Eric Reavey says, "This was our first attempt at a "real" music video, all done in-house. We didn't want to do something grandiose for our first video, and Drew [Grahn, Bassist] came up with a scrapbook-themed performance video. To execute this with just us, a few friends and the tools we've got - we're really proud of it."
Watch the music video for “Navy Blue” now and stream the “Fall Apart Anywhere” EP on your preferred music service. Also, connect with Floorbird on their social media.
Stream and Share “Fall Apart Anywhere” on: Spotify | Apple Music
Review: "Alicia" Album by Alicia Keys
@AliciaKeys calls “Alicia” genre-less, but we think it’s more like a mesmerizing melting pot filled with spices from all corners of the earth. The album is definitely guitar heavy as opposed to her previous piano preference…
Alicia Keys calls “Alicia” genre-less, but we think it’s more like a mesmerizing melting pot filled with spices from all corners of the earth. The album is definitely guitar heavy as opposed to her previous piano preference. She utilizes the instrument in diverse and creative ways, so we don’t even miss those signature keys from Keys (don’t worry, we still get some in “Perfect Way to Die”). From the 80s to present day, Alicia weaves a gorgeous tapestry of sound. This is her first comeback since “This Girl Is On Fire” and it’s a glorious one, filled with flawless, carefully curated features. In this album, Keys’s natural musicality and seasoned years in the industry shine through organically.
The album begins with “truth without love” which feels like abstract jazz before her smooth vocals bring in an unusual R&B flow that we haven’t heard before, with notes of Solange. There’s a freeness to it that we event felt from the artist in more pop-centric tracks like “Girl On Fire”.
Its a bummer for the track “Time Machine” that clubs are closed, because this funk-inspired, danceable track takes us a couple decades back in time, soaking Keys in an Sade-style track that we’re obsessed with. For an artist that’s had as many musical chapters as Alicia Keys, it blows our minds that she’s still this innovative in 2020, a year that we needed it most.
Wasted Energy with Diamond Platinum slows down things to a bassy, mellow reggae beat and she softens her voice up for this song that we can all relate to. It’s a a tale of rejection and heartbreak that we’ve all felt at one point or another, “Brokеn promises along the way/Lost count of how many you made/My lovе, my love, my love/Tied up in your plans/still on center stage/no great escape.”
Usually these lyrics are reserved for more conventional R&B beats, but the sadness behind this beat speaks something more complex. She’s looking back on painful memories, but coming from a place of healing and reflection. Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz kills it on the outro before a choppy acoustic guitar wakes us up on the inspiring “Underdog.”
This song, co-written by Ed Sheeran, is a shoutout to the marginalized people who face adversity, as Alicia’s hook sings “This goes out to the underdog / Keep on keeping at what you love,"You'll find that someday soon enough / You will rise up.” It’s all about defying the odds, and a line that stands to us is “ They say I would never make it but I was built to break the mold.” For anyone experiencing a low, it’s kind of impossible not to feel uplifted by this track.
“3-Hour-Drive ” slows things down again to this baby-maker of a track that’s perfect for setting the mood, or going on an existential late night drive. As always, Sampha’s vocals give us goosebumps, especially against that spacey echo of a background beat.
We love that she’s gone back to her slow tempo R&B roots, especially in tracks with fellow crooner Miguel . This gentle guitar duet is a smoldering back and forth between the artists that definitely needs to be added to the 3 hour drive playlist. A song hasn’t given us this kind of tingle since Jhene Aiko’s more explicit “Pu$$y Fairy” released earlier this year. “So Done” ft Khalid is another glossy guitar track that Keys’ voice sounds like velvet against.
It feels almost surreal to see Keys do a collaboration with her protégée, Swedish R&B sensation Snoh Aalegra who sounds like Keys with a hefty dose of Amy Winehouse. It’s a love song to the one that acted as her saviour (we’re assuming she’s talking about hubby Swizz Beats and her kids) and the safety of a sure, secure, and healthy relationship: (“And if I could stay, I'll stay here forever/And if I could be here, we'll be here together/'Cause did you know that you save me?/Did you know that you save me from the fall?”).
Her guitar theme gets beefed up with some percussion in “Jill Scott” ft. Jill Scott as the two icons daydream about public displays of affection without a hint of shame - just pride to show that person off: “Kiss on me in the daytime/In front of the whole show/So they can all know/I want you to love on me, love on me/Love on me in the daytime/Like you do at bedtime/So they can all know”. It’s the anti-sidepiece anthem to remind women all over they deserve to be showered with unconditional love in all settings.
Her final song is a reminder to us that even though Keys is an A list celebrity, she’s still as earnest and genuine as she was since Day One. “Good Job” is a timely song dedicated to other “underdogs,” as Alicia likes to call them. From parents to teachers and frontline workers, it’s a celebration of the ordinary people, whose strength keeps the world turning: “you’re the engine that makes all things go/always in disguise my hero I see your light.” During coronavirus, when so many people are struggling, this track hit us hard in the hearts.
Stream and Share “Alicia” on Spotify
Interview: DinoTheDonDaDa and Donny Talk About Their New EP "How Far We Roam..."
Salute to DinoTheDonDaDa and @DonDapper0, two very talented NC based producers/rappers who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss their new EP “How Far We Roam…”, how they initially connected while students at @NCCU, and much more.
“For this project, I give all the credit to my nigga Donny. I was focused primarily on beat making, I haven’t spit a verse in years. Initially I was just trying to toss Don a few beats, then he mentioned, “ayo yo, me and you need to drop something, for real”.”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new EP "How Far We Roam...". What exactly does the EP's title represent and how did the incredible cover artwork?
DinoTheDonDaDa (Dino): The title is a homage to the Alma Mater of NCCU. “What matters it how far we roam? Our thoughts will oft return to home”. We met undergrad when we were both in the intermediate stages of beat making. After me and Don graduated from Central, he bounced back up north, I went back to High Point, NC.
From there, life’s journey brought all kind of drama, obstacles, opportunities and struggles. By some crazy odds, I ended up moving from Miami back to the Raleigh-Durham area at the same time my nigga Don moved back. Title just seemed to fit, like, here we are again.
With the art, first off, thanks for the compliment. I’m not the best graphic artist, by far. I was inspired by the artist Ral Duke, who does a lot of abstract cover art for artist like Griselda.
On “How Far We Roam….”, bar wise, me and Donny were in a very imaginative creative zone, jumping from pop culture references, to history, fashion, sports, you name it. My goal was to pull images from all of the different bars throughout the project, and combine them to cast a reflection of how spontaneous each of the verses are.
Initially how did you two meet each other at NCCU, and was there a vibrant network of artists and producers on campus at the time?
Dino: I met Donny through a mutual homie and artist, Jerry Blackwell. We were both helping him on his debut project, “Reality Check”. As far as the NCCU in general, I wouldn’t describe it as a vibrant network of artist, more like a battle royale. A campus full of talented individuals trying to find their lane, but only a few really had the it factor.
Speaking for myself, I was still developing my craft and discovering my comfort zone. It was around 06-07, when Facebook was just starting to pop, no Soundcloud to really encourage collaboration. But there were definitely a lot of artists making moves at the time.
9th Wonder discovered Rhapsody, E Jones, and others, and started to build up JAMLA. A few other cats were making major moves. Talent shows felt like Apollo. Good times.
What are some things, people or places that inspire your creativity when working on new music?
DON: Movies and TV shows are a huge inspiration for me. I can watch some 90’s nostalgic show and lines start coming to me, so I jot down ideas from there. Real life is always easy to pull from but once I find a feeling I try to put that emotion in the beat or words…make sure you can feel exactly what I was going for when making it….
Dino: For this project, I give all the credit to my nigga Donny. I was focused primarily on beat making, I haven’t spit a verse in years. Initially I was just trying to toss Don a few beats, then he mentioned, “ayo yo, me and you need to drop something, for real”.
Might have been the 3rd time he asked (lol), but it finally clicked like, damn, I’d be selling myself short if I didn’t try to rap on at least one project. There’s a extra bit of motivation hearing that encouragement from a fellow producer/rapper. Also there is a slight element of competition. We went beat for beat, bar for bar, and neither want of us want to get outshined. The friendly sport throughout the process made the entire project enjoyable, almost therapeutic.
When crafting new beats, what software/hardware do you use?
DON: Maschine MK3 , Ableton and Numark turntable.
Dino: I typically use Reason and Pro Tools. For hardware, I use an old Novation Impulse.
With this "How Far We Roam" EP now released, what are some of your goals for the remainder of 2020, and for 2021?
DON: Pushing this project to a few more ears and I have a solo EP coming out called, “Elusive” with me handling most, if not all the production and me rhyming over it. Other than that I’m working on producing for about three other artists’ projects right now….. and should be dropping a new beat tape sooner than later.
Dino: Primarily, I’d like to keep promoting this album. I’m really proud of how well it came out, and I’d love for it to reach a few more ears. Would have been nice to do a few live performances as well, but of course Covid put a pause on all of that.
Besides that, I have 2-3 beat tapes I want to put out before the year is over. I have a goal of trying to have a beat catalogue as extensive as someone like Madlib, MF Doom, Dilla… you know, the legends.
Late October, I’m dropping by third beat tape, “Plague Dogs”, so be on the look out for that. Early 2021, I expect me and Don to start creating the follow up to “How Far We Roam…”. We set the bar kind of high, but we will definitely try to go harder.
Have you always had the aspiration to start rhyming over your own production? Also, who would you say is in your top 3 producers/rappers?
DON: I never liked rhyming over my beats when I first started but now I feel real comfortable flowing over my production and it helps me to match the emotion I put in to the beat to my rhymes.
My top 3 producers (NO ORDER) Dilla, Timbaland and Alchemist….RIP Prodigy they did so many classics… shit is crazy. BUT honestly it changes every week, it could be Pete Rock, Premier, Large Professor or Lord Finesse any week. My top 3 rappers gotta be Nas, Phonte and Jay-Z.
Dino: Personally, not really.
My favorite producer is The Alchemist, and I always wanted to play my role similar to him, not craving the spotlight but popping up here and there with a surprising verse. But if people start showing mad love, fuck it, I might turn into Kanye on ya’ll niggas haha.
But as far as top producers/rappers, with a heavy emphasis on the rapping, I got role with Big Krit. Ye has been on some wild shit as of recent, but his spot is definitely solidified as one of the best rapper/producers.
Lastly, I’ll give it up to Juicy J. Being from the south, I gotta salute Juice, plus his longevity, relevancy, and adaptability in the game is incredible.
Stream and Share “How Far We Roam...”
Connect with Donny: Twitter | Instagram
Connect with DinoTheDonDada: Instagram
Review: "Thoughts in the Belfry" Album by The Supposed So
Check out our review of the newly released album by The Supposed So, entitled “Thoughts in the Belfry”.
Grab your tea and your coziest blanket and cozy up near a fire. Worcester, Massachusetts based singer-songwriter Michael McGuire, also known as The Supposed So, captures the true essence of live folk instrumentation on his new album “Thoughts in the Belfry”.
The Supposed So uses his production skills to explore some of the deep philosophies within, somewhat similar to that of Nahko and the Medicine for the People. These are talented artists who understand some of the harsh realities of life and are able to bring a lot of beauty and tribute to the lessons learned.
The album begins with “Gloria”, led by a soft acoustic guitar. Each pluck and strum, transports the listener on this journey of the mourning of love. A feeling lifted from that of sorrow- “How I wonder where the lonely people are”. As if saying, “I cannot be the only one who feels this way.” Solidarity.
“Fumblin’ Still” takes you to that backyard summer barbecue with your favorite friends. Kids running around. There’s a slip n’ slide somewhere. Everyone’s cheerful and happy. Smell of burgers and beer in the air. A waft of cigar smoke. A reminder to us adults, the importance of our innocence. And, the acceptance of our mistakes. The acceptance of imperfection.
On the nine songs of “Thoughts in the Belfry”, The Supposed So captures the importance of life. He uses his acoustic guitar to guide his songs, taking the listener on a journey through life with him, and we have thoroughly enjoyed the ride. And you definitely will too.
Stream and Share “Thoughts in the Belfry” on: Bandcamp | Spotify
Interview: Ottawa Singer-Songwriter Abe Shep Discusses His New EP "Unplugged"
We connected with Ottawa based singer-songwriter Abe Shep for an exclusive interview to discuss his reggae and soul music infused EP “Unplugged”, and much more.
“I kept in mind how Bob Marley would pour his heart out in his music in such a powerful way when he would talk about socio-political issues, and I just kind of soaked up all that inspiration with my own concept. ”
How did you get started writing music and who were some musicians that influenced you artistically early on?
Early on I was influenced by all kinds of music. I was 14-15 when I began writing songs. But some of my earliest finished songs I began were influenced by bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Doors, Incubus and Jimi Hendrix.
Soon after, reggae made its way into my soul and I connected with artists such as Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Don Carlos and Freddie McKay.
Congratulations on the release of your new EP "Unplugged"; tell us about your creative process for the development of its four songs, and long it took to complete.
Thank you! Well the creative process of these songs came at different periods. I believe 2012 was the year that “Full Force” and “The Wild Animals” came into fruition.
“Full Force” was completed in 2012, while the idea of the “Wild Animals” came that year but was fully completed years later (can't specify the year in which it was fully done) A friend of mine knew I had a new found love for the reggae genre, we would actively get together and exchange music. He told me he was still longing for his ex girlfriend to come back into his life and wanted me to highlight that in a song. My initial response was "I don't do requests. I just can't give you a song because you want it. It has to just happen naturally" I happened to say that mainly to myself, but hours later I started working on this reggae influenced guitar lick, and the words started to come. "Every day he awaits her reply, hoping that she will one day decide to be his bride"; those words were specific to my friend. So I advised him to "Push with full force, don't let yourself fall off the course", trying to give him motivation.
The “Wild Animals” came about after “Full Force” was completed and I decided to cover topics regarding ivory poaching and animal cruelty. And I was also considering being a vegetarian at the time also, hence where the lyrics "There's no need to sacrifice the animals flesh & blood" come from. That was a direct lyric stating that eating animals is not a necessity but a choice. The “Wild Animals” line interestingly came from the classic reggae ad libs you hear a number of reggae singers using to get the crowd excited "Wayo! Wayo yo yo!", I flipped that word around and said Wild instead. Then I decided to call the song “Wild Animals”. It's truly beautiful to see the inspiration that I've taken from great reggae singers and see it making my songs come to life.
“Have Faith” was me basically trying to replicate the mid 70's song “Blind Alley” by The Emotions. I was in love with that groovy soul sound and wanted to do my best to replicate it. I believe I was unsuccessful at doing so, but instead I created my own modern sound with that same kind of rhythm/feel in mind. This came about around late 2015-early 2016.
“I Dig You” was conceived very quickly. I picked up a friend’s guitar in 2016ish (while at his house) and just started improvising. I didn't write a single lyric down. Instead I recorded the whole improv on my phone. I don't know what I was doing, but I had something in mind that was very typical and almost cliche. I may have been thinking about Aretha Franklin and that's probably why I was singing in such a high falsetto register.
These songs were all done in a day in a live performance kind of setting. These were recorded roughly around 3-4 hours at a church.
One of the songs you mentioned on the EP, "Wild Animals", addresses animal rights. Why was it important for you to deal with this topic?
It was important for me to deal with this topic because the issue of Ivory poaching was so bothersome to me. The fact that intelligent animals such as elephants were being butchered daily for the purpose of being made into jewelry and decorations is absolutely deplorable and unacceptable.
I kept in mind how Bob Marley would pour his heart out in his music in such a powerful way when he would talk about socio-political issues, and I just kind of soaked up all that inspiration with my own concept.
Were there any songs that you developed that did not make the final track list? If so, why not?
I actually intended on releasing an album prior to this one that had a full band kind of sound. I had been working on it for years but it just wasn't coming out the way I wanted it to. Those songs have more of a Bluesy Rock and Soft-Rock/Pop kind of feel. Very different from the 4 songs that are on “Unplugged” and they were written a few years before some of the songs. I intend on releasing those songs as the follow up to “Unplugged”. That will be another 4 track EP.
When someone listens to "Unplugged" for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience?
I want them to feel inspired. Whether the music inspires them to pick up an instrument and write and sing songs of their own, or motivate them to make some positive change when it comes to relationships or their view of the world and all of it's treachery.
All in all I really hope the music can resonate with some and they can relate to some of the content and enjoy it.
Interview: New Jersey Rap Artist Kiran Rajan Talks About His New Track "Soundwave"
Shout out to New Jersey based rapper Kiran Rajan who we connected with for an exclusive interview to discuss his brand new Beats by Vig produced single “Soundwave”, his upcoming album “Under the Influence”, and much more.
““Under the Influence” is a project I wanted to pursue as a way to show that I can stand up on my own two feet as a rapper. ”
Congratulations on the release of your new track "Soundwave", produced by your boy Beats by Vig. Tell us about your creative process for this song and what inspired your lyrics.
This song was the first time I had worked with a producer and it really gave me the opportunity to get a more professional sound. Vig was a friend of mine when I was younger and when I found out he made fire beats I knew I had to work with him.
I came up with the name for this song well after I picked out the beat from his catalogue. In a conversation with a friend I blurted out how I “wanna get hella people on my soundwave” as a declaration of my goals for my music. From there I just locked myself away in my room and created my lyrics through trial and error.
Rapping over the beat with my freshly written bars over and over until I was satisfied with what I heard. It takes a lot of solitude and focus for me to make stuff I like. A big part of my process is getting myself alone with my own thoughts and letting my creativity fly on autopilot.
Speaking of beats, what do you look for in the production that you decide to write to?
The biggest question I ask during beat selection is “Would this beat be something I can imagine bumping in my car?”. I want to make music that people can get hype to so I tend to lean towards up tempo and high energy tracks with some exceptions here and there.
If I find a beat that makes me feel like jumping up and down then I know I have to rap on it. I have a pretty diverse range of sound but there will never be a time where I don’t want to go crazy. Seeing that energy reflected in my music is really all that I need to visualize when I pick a beat.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album "Under the Influence"? Will any other artists be featured, and would you say that there is an overarching theme or concept to the project?
“Under the Influence” is a project I wanted to pursue as a way to show that I can stand up on my own two feet as a rapper. My debut album, “The Orange Tapes” was fun and more casual but lacked the production quality and professional sound that I’m looking for now.
This next album is focused around building that professional sounding music. The songs on the album are all influenced by either the musical, or lyrical style of an artist that has had a significant impact on my own musical development. It's up to the listener to figure out who influenced which track.
The whole point is, no matter what answer they come to, they’re going to form those connections based on their own experiences and influences. At the end of the day, every person is just a combination of those influences. While individually they might be different, those ideas come together to form the foundation of who you are. That’s what I’m truly trying to convey with this next album.
Can we expect a music video for "Soundwave" or any other songs from "Under the Influence" next?
Most definitely, it’s difficult to get a crew together to work on a music video during the pandemic but if it comes down to me using a tripod and doing the whole thing on my own then I’m not afraid of getting that done. Depending on how that process goes you might get to see a few music videos for “Under the Influence”.
If at all, how would you say that your Indian culture is reflected in the music that you create?
I take a lot of pride in where I come from. I was born in the southern region of India and I’ve faced hate from everybody including other Indians. I usually like to address that negativity directly and through my rap I want to show that I can rise above that.
In certain songs like “Drip” (from “The Orange Tapes”) I like to sample Indian songs and sounds I grew up with as a nod to my heritage. However, I think my culture has a more indirect impact on my music because it's the drive for why I rap. There isn’t a lot of brown representation in mainstream media in the US and if I can make it big I hope to act as inspiration for people like me to know that they can make waves too.
Heading into 2021, what are some of your goals musically for the new year?
One of my biggest goals is to grow my fan base. I want more and more people to vibe with my music and I’m ready to do what it takes to make that happen. I’ve started building a bigger social media presence through things like Instagram and TikTok along with working on as much music as I can.
I also want to eventually perform my songs live, nothing compares to seeing a crowd getting hype to your music and I constantly dream about making that happen.
My final goal is to get signed by a label or make a name for myself independently on a larger scale. I’m really hungry when it comes to what I want out of my music career and I’m not stopping that momentum by any means.
Interview: Johnathan O’Gilvie Discusses His Self-Produced EP "Devotion"
Big up to Orlando based artist Johnathan O’Gilvie who connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to talk about his newly released, self-produced EP “Devotion”, and much more.
“A lesson I keep learning throughout all of this is to continue to put my heart in it. Release what I want, say how I feel, and erase the need to please others. ”
How did you get started with music and what instruments do you play now? Also, what software/hardware do you use for production?
One day in 2008 my mom asked me what instrument I’d like to play. I didn’t even have an answer for her but she picked guitar and that was the first instrument I ever got good at. Two years after that I shifted over to piano and now I’m all things keys.
I first started producing on GarageBand using an iPod, so I went straight to Logic when I got a MacBook. I’m still here but I do use Ableton occasionally if I’m working with others who prefer it. I’m starting to collect different synths and stuff now so a lot of the sounds from the EP aren’t from any VSTs.
My current roster is a Roland FA-08, Nord Wave, Microkorg, and Sledge.
Congratulations on the completion and release of your incredible debut EP "Devotion". It focuses a lot on relationships (the good and bad); were any of the songs based on personal experience?
Thank you kindly. They all are more or less. “Cater 2 U” probably comes closest to being 100% personal. The others are mostly inspired by different experiences of mine but in a more general sense.
I like to write songs about girls overall though, whether I feel it personally or not.
What are you most proud of with your debut EP "Devotion"?
Probably that I did it without focusing too much on how it would be received. Everybody wants to make some shit that everyone will like but sometimes that kind of pressure can block you from the real music. I felt very calm mentally putting it out, like “here you go, I just created this.”
You self-produced the EP in your bedroom; what was your creative process for the EP in that environment, and why did you decide to title it "Devotion"?
I actually just moved into a new spot so the environment is totally new and unlike anywhere I’ve been. I’ve also been able to upgrade my set up quite a bit since moving in. That being said the process was very enjoyable and fresh.
“Devotion” is a word that has really stuck with me over the years. So it’s like here’s what my devotion to the music over all these years sounds like.
Looking back at the development of the EP, what have you learned about yourself as an artist and producer that will carry over to your new music in development?
A lesson I keep learning throughout all of this is to continue to put my heart in it. Release what I want, say how I feel, and erase the need to please others.
With the "Devotion" EP now released, what's next for you musically? Can we expect any music videos from the EP's tracks?
I feel like I’m at a point where I absolutely have to take myself higher. So I’ll be doing some hard internal work before I decide when I’ll share some news sounds. It won’t be a super long time or anything like that though.
I’m also in the process of getting videos together for potentially every song, starting with “Bad Shape”.
Connect with Johnathan O’Gilvie: Instagram
Boston Rapper/Producer Baby Cate Releases Her New Mixtape "23"
Rapper/producer @BabyCate has just released her new mixtape, “23”. The Boston artist returns by dropping a new 8-track mixtape; the first project from Cate since she released her “Self Love” EP back in April and her single ‘Faded II’ in July.
Rapper and producer Baby Cate has just released her new mixtape, “23”. The Boston artist returns by dropping a new 8-track mixtape, (7 tracks plus a skit); the first project from Cate since she released her “Self Love” EP back in April and her single ‘Faded II’ in July.
Like all of her previously released music, Cate is no stranger to DIY as she wrote and produced the project. However, she enlists the help of Philly MC lbs. on the hook for the catchy, boss-like track ‘Get Tha Bag.’ Turning up the energy for ‘GUCCI RING,’ Atlanta’s own Vintage Rob lends a verse to match the mood.
“I named the project 23 because my friend lbs. told me it’s our ‘Jordan year.’” says Cate. “I wanted to reflect what I’m feeling, and how I’m seeing the world right now. Also I wanted to throw in light-hearted moments too.”
Listen to “23” right now, stream it on your preferred music service, and connect with Baby Cate on her social media.