Airbit Launches Playlists, Curated and Collaborative Beat Collections to Showcase Producers’ Best
@Airbit has launched a new feature to support producers and showcase their beats and sounds. Airbit Playlists will help beatmakers and soundcrafters highlight their best work and reach more potential artists on and off the beats marketplace.
Airbit has launched a new feature to support producers and showcase their beats and sounds. Airbit Playlists will help beatmakers and soundcrafters highlight their best work and reach more potential artists on and off the beats marketplace.
Playlists on Airbit come in three flavors:
Curated: Airbit and its producer ambassadors will curate playlists of beats
Collaborative: Airbit will allow users to create their own collaborative playlists
Unlisted: Private playlists producers can share, even with people who don’t have an Airbit account
“We're passionate about making sure the right beats reach the right people for the right projects. Playlists will help our team and our users spread the word about the beats that are out there, as well as continue to build and support our community of creators,” explains Wasim Khamlichi, Airbit CEO. “We'll be adding new playlists regularly, updating them, and recruiting high-profile contributors to make sure artists and content creators get access to the perfect beats for their project.”
The new feature is rolling out with help from Symbolyc One, a prolific producer and Airbit advisor who’s worked with Drake, Kanye West (S1’s first GRAMMY win came for “Power”), Meek Mill, J. Cole, and many, many others. S1 presented Airbit’s first celebrity-curated playlist, on May 6th. After dedicating years to building his career, S1 has chosen to sell beats online exclusively via Airbit, something new for the seasoned music professional.
“Just because you can’t see things happening, doesn’t mean they’re not happening. In the 13 years before working with Kanye, I had a lot of failures and a lot of mishaps, but all of those things were preparing me for that particular moment,” he says. Through it all, he emphasizes, community matters: “It’s so much easier to accomplish a goal when you can collaborate with others and build a community of creatives all supporting each other and moving together toward a mutual goal. And that’s exactly what I see with Airbit.”
About Airbit
Airbit’s mission is to make music more fair with an online marketplace where producers can sell their beats and artists can buy those beats at a fair price. We provide a wide array of selling tools, as well as user friendly music monetization services. Airbit is one of the most trusted and well-known names in beat-sales. Airbit was founded to champion producers, and offer them a creative career path through licensing, selling their music when they want, how they want.
How the Vocal Effects Processor Changed Pop Music Forever
For decades, the music industry treated autotune as though it were a shameful thing. Singers who used autotune were frowned upon and considered sellouts. Here’s a look at some hits and artists who dared and fared well with the vocal effects processor.
For decades, the music industry treated autotune as though it were a shameful thing. Singers who used autotune were frowned upon and considered sellouts. The idea behind this was that a singer's voice should be 'pure', any artificial glossing up was considered fake and undignified. Plus the contrast between the autotune supplemented sound and the singer's live vocals was always disappointing and often horrifying. Autotune was treated a little worse than ghostwriting. It was seen as the music industry's photoshop, and singers who used autotune were considered talentless and unserious artists. So, how did autotune become such a force in the music industry? How did autotune become such a beautiful form of creative expression?
Here’s a look at some hits and artists who dared and fared well with the vocal effects processor:
California Love
In the year 1995, Tupac released a monster hit called "California Love". This track is considered one of the first hits to feature autotune though the autotune didn’t stand out too much, functioning only to supplement the mesmeric beat. However, the difference it added to the track was very recognizable. The autotune effects added to the vocals in the chorus gave the song an almost ethereal feel, adding a dreamy feel to the song's energy and bounce.
T-Pain
Although Kanye’s use of autotune was futuristic for his time, it would be wrong to not mention T-Pain’s influence. T-Pain might not have been as creative as Kanye in his use of autotune, but he used it heavily and extensively, and it became his signature sound. T-Pain’s use of autotune, in spite of having amazing vocals without the effects, proves that the autotune sound is appealing and in high demand.
Kanye West
Autotune allows the voice to be stretched and manipulated in ways that, prior to its invention, were simply impossible. To find out about how the vocal effects processor works, you can read more on this blog.
A decade later, autotune would take the industry by storm. Kanye West is arguably the artist who pushed the boundaries of autotune use, crossing genres with the sound and using it to transform his voice into an instrument. The best example of this is his track 'Runaway' from his album 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'. This track features an autotune boosted vocal solo that can easily be mistaken for a guitar solo. Kanye was able to use the autotune as a tool to enhance his ability to create melodic sounds using his voice, the autotune effect allowed him to edit his vocals however he wished, making his imagination the only thing limiting his sound.
Believe
Cher's 'Believe' was released in 1988 and is considered to be the track that popularized the autotune sound in pop culture. Not only was the sound unique and different, the audiences also loved it, making the track a smash hit. ‘Believe’ was special because it showed just how flexible the autotune tool was and opened artists and audiences up to potential new sounds and possibilities for music. It also changed the way artists perceived the human voice as a musical instrument.
Autotune In Recent Music
Today, artists in all genres use pitch correction technology to enhance their sound and, sometimes, create new sounds. This is most evident in Hip Hop wherein the alternative sound, which relies heavily on autotune, has taken over. Most songs on the BIllboard Hot 100 are drenched in autotune. The autotune sound is so central to today’s pop music that if it didn’t exist, today’s music would sound completely different.
Rappers like Lil Wayne also used the sound to improve their delivery and add a touch of melody to their sound. Another reason the use of autotune has increased significantly is the emotional range it allows artists to express. Artists use autotune to create howling and haunting vocals that convey the depth of their emotional expression. Slurred and warped autotune enhanced vocals are also becoming increasingly popular.
Rappers aren’t the only ones taking advantage of autotune in modern times. Most pop musicians use autotune to gloss up their sound and give it a luxurious feel that perfectly matches the glistening aesthetic of pop music. Artists like Lady Gaga, Kesha, and the Black Eyed Peas use autotune to its peak potential and create futuristic and otherworldly sounds with its assistance. For many artists, autotune is essential for their sound, even if just used minimally, such as in the cases of Katy Perry and Chris Brown.
Another genre that is autotune heavy is EDM (Electronic Dance Music). There’s no better example of autotune use in EDM than Daft Punk’s entire discography. Daft Punk experimented with autotune and created a futuristic sound that mimicked the science fiction/cyberpunk aesthetics. The result was a unique and original style of using autotune that has been adopted in numerous genres and mimicked endlessly.
Final Thoughts
It’s fair to say that autotune use crept into the music industry and has absolutely dominated the sound of popular music in recent years. The success of autotune is owed to the creativity and bravery of artists like Dr Dre, Daft Punk, Kanye, and Cher. Autotune is a dominant force in the music industry. By the looks of things, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Review: "Off The Grid" EP by Kai Akili and Malik Ismail
Chicago based rap artist Kai Akili and producer Malik Ismail embrace a sound that feels simultaneously nostalgic yet futuristic on the lush “Off The Grid” EP. Check out our review of their DOPE EP now!
Chicago based rap artist Kai Akili and producer Malik Ismail embrace a sound that feels simultaneously nostalgic yet futuristic on the lush “Off The Grid” EP. A neat trick for sure, the duo pulls it off in a way that feels so easy-going. The collection is rooted in hip-hop, yet brings into the fray elements of dub, pop, reggae, jazz, and a whole slew of other styles while remaining incredibly catchy. Together they create impeccable hooks that linger on in the mind long after the music has ended.
Kai and Malik offer a duality of sort in terms of how they create this sonic ecosystem. Each takes the path less traveled and it really does make all the difference. For Kai ’s rhyme schemes, he actually proves to have a playfulness and optimism behind it. Nods to Madvillain’s delicate and giddy storytelling, there is a true joy that comes to inform his narratives. His speed of delivery brings to mind some of Busta Rhymes’ spirit, a rare feat.
On the production side of things, Malik presents a psychedelic array of samples under his thumb. Within the field of the sampling itself, he draws from easy-listening standards that touches upon Daedelus’ bespoke worldview. Every single beat has a carefully hewn edge to it, going for a slightly tropical, even Bossa-Nova flavor to it.
A delicate shuffle introduces the collection on the trippy ethos of “Journey”. Here Kai and Malik double-down on the tempo, making sure that the layers whirl about in a fantastic glowing presence. Glitch effects work wonders on the dreamy-eyed presence of “Moon”, with the nimble beats adding to the sense of glee.
The desire to rise above inform the whole of the piece, making it the highlight of the collection, right down to the acidic tinge of the synthesizers out in the background. “Let It Go”, featuring Maushéa, has a luxury to it, for the song’s hypnotic groove cycles through in a soothing wash. Pure chill radiates through the light and airy finale of “Too Lovely”, featuring Zhane and Glory Randall.
The “Off The Grid” EP shows Kai Akili and Malik Ismail working in unison to sculpt a sparkling piece of art. The EP is DOPE and deserves your full attention right now.
Stream and Share “Off The Grid”
Interview: Houston Rap Artist Malcolm Gee Discusses His New Single "Skate"
Big salute to Houston based rap artist @MalcolmGeeez who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his DOPE new single “Skate”, and much more.
“Once I got the chance to actually record on a mic and have that studio feeling, that’s when I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my days.”
We're hypnotized by your new song "Skate". Tell us about your creative process for its development and whether we can expect a music video for it.
Thank you and much appreciation, glad you enjoyed the song. With this song, we were going through beats and this one came on. Immediately we felt this vibe of old school music you would hear from your folks, or an episode of Soul Train and the soul train line was happening. It also just gave the vibe of roller skating, how the music makes you bounce and groove with the beat we knew we had to make a skating anthem. We even played some old episodes of Soul Train and roller skating videos to get the full effect of that skating freedom.
Also, yes there will be a music video coming out sometime in the Summer and we're really excited to bring this song to the eyes!!
Following up on the last question, will "Skate" be featured on an upcoming EP or album this year? If so, what can you tell us about it?
‘Skate” will actually be featured on the EP "Fourth and Inches" I've been experimenting this year and decided to release this EP as singles throughout the year and compile it all when all songs have been released as singles. It's a weird approach to how things are normally done, but it wouldn't be me if I didn't do things differently or weirdly.
What are some things/people/places that influence the music that you create?
Great question!! One of my biggest influences and will always be is the city that I was born and raised in, Houston, Texas. There was all types of music in Houston, it's diversity made me not only see Hip-Hop and Rap, but also RnB, EDM, Soul, Blues, Pop, Country, Rock & Roll.
The city helped introduce me to all those fields, and I'm extremely grateful for it because it made me realize that I wanted to tap into all these genres. The people also!!! With so many different ethnicities I got the chance to her different stories, different outlooks on how life is, and different histories of where someone came from. This made me want to make music for everybody, no matter the age or nationality.
My family also are a big influence, I consider friends as family because we all brothers and sisters at the end of the day. Lastly, myself, I used to wanna be only the best rapper, but I saw music as bigger than that. It's a whole force that can start something good, bring great feelings to someone's day, a great therapy when going through a breakup, new love, or a big, drastic change in life. That's when I said I don't want to be the best rapper, I want to be the best artist and lyricist ever.
Tell us about how you got started creating music, and some of the artists that inspired you to pick up the pen and pad.
I started writing when I was a kid, making poems in journals they always rhymed and when I found my rhythm, it was all over!! Then I was jamming to UGK, Z-RO, Chamillionaire, Jay Z, Lil Wayne and so much RnB. They were the ones that helped me learn how to rhyme in time and make it my own as they did.
When I was 13, I was recording for my brother and performing all throughout school thanks to choir. Ya boy can sing too!! When I had went to college in Mayville, North Dakota, that when I met up with H.R.Three, the San Diego native artist featured on this song, he showed me how it could be more than just a fun hobby.
Once I got the chance to actually record on a mic and have that studio feeling, that's when I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my days. By then my music research ran deep, just cause I wanted to put a taste from everywhere in my style. I was listening to Big Sean, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Outkast, Drake, Nelly, Slim Thug, and so many more. I still try to find new artists everyday because I feel like music has so many viewpoints I want to know them all.
Why is it important for you that your music is uplifting and have a positive message for the listener?
The reasoning of why I want my music to be uplifting and positive, is mainly because the world is a crazy, unpredictable, wonderful yet cruel place, it has its ups and mostly downs. With times especially right now, the dark in this world continues to grow and grow. People are trying to bring the light, and a lot of people are just in the dark trying to find their way to the light. Many people are finding their voice to speak up and do more, I want to do my part in helping more people finding the light as well.
Music has always been the best form of communication for me, and I feel like I have some great advice to give. I've been in the dark and I found my way to look at all the beautiful things life has to offer and the change we can make for ourselves and others. I want to spread this knowledge I found to them and fill them with it, then overflow them with it so they can go and give the knowledge to someone else and brighten up their days. Simply saying I just want to put a smile on everyone's face.
Thank you so much Dopecausewesaid; I am grateful and blessed with this opportunity, and appreciate you featuring and interviewing me, much love and Live Life, cuz Life Lives!
Connect with Malcolm Gee: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Pop Star Remi Wolf Returns With Her New Remix EP "We Love Dogs!"
Breakout pop-star Remi Wolf returns with “We Love Dogs!”, a remix EP featuring reworked tracks from Wolf’s 2019 debut EP, “You’re A Dog!” and 2020’s critically acclaimed “I’m Allergic To Dogs!” EP.
Breakout pop-star Remi Wolf returns with We Love Dogs!, a remix EP featuring reworked tracks from Wolf’s 2019 debut EP, You’re A Dog! and 2020’s critically acclaimed I’m Allergic To Dogs! EP. The 15-track offering showcases guest appearances and remixes from an eclectic mix of names including Beck, Free Nationals, Hot Chip, Sylvan Esso, Little Dragon, Nile Rodgers, Kimbra, Polo & Pan, Panda Bear, Dominic Fike, L’Impératrice, Tune Yards, Gabriel Garzón-Montano, Phony Ppl, and Porches. The EP follows the release of remixes from electronic pop duo Sylvan Esso for the track "Rufufus,” Kimbra for “Down The Line,” and Hot Chip for “Disco Man.”
Wolf shares her excitement around the new EP stating: “This is very sick. Half of these artists are ones I studied in school and have admired since I was a teenager. Needless to say I’m shook! I hope you dance, vibe, shower, and chill to these remixes! I hope you make a lasagna or an eggplant parmesan while you listen to them, too!!!”
You're A Dog!, released in 2019, featured the breakout singles "Guy" and "Shawty" that introduced her colorful funk-pop authenticity that fans quickly latched onto. Wolf soon released her sophomore EP I'm Allergic To Dogs! in June 2020. The 5-track EP included the defining tracks "Hello Hello Hello," "Photo ID," and "Disco Man." 3D rendered visuals created by Dazed 100-nominated director Agusta Yr accompanied the singles, further building upon Wolf’s distinctive eccentric and colorful aesthetic. The EP garnered widespread praise from media worldwide, including NPR, TIME, Pitchfork, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, NME, NYLON, Paper, Hypebeast, i-D, Billboard, and more. It earned extensive support from radio (BBC Radio 1, Triple J) and widespread playlisting on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
"Photo ID" gained virality through TikTok, reaching over 10 billion views across the platform, and was featured in Instagram's global "More To Heart" commercial. The single was also included in a mash-up with "Hello Hello Hello," for Wolf’s memorable debut TV performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "Hello Hello Hello" received a remix from Polo & Pan that was used in Apple’s global ad campaign for the iPhone 12 and Snapchat's international commercial for its new Sound feature. "Monte Carlo," a standalone and standout single following the EP, was featured in the worldwide commerical for Samsung's Galaxy Buds earphone. “Photo ID” recently received a rework from Dominic Fike, joining an extensive catalog of successful remixes that led to the release of the We Love Dogs! EP.
Wolf provided a moment of musical relief during the pandemic, pulling off LA’s first drive-in show of 2020. Not only did the show quickly sell out but all proceeds went directly to support The Plus1 For Black Lives Fund and the local LA charity Summaeverythang. Remi Wolf will have more live dates, including performances at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Life Is Beautiful and more new music soon!
Listen to We Love Dogs! by Remi Wolf right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with her on social media.
Stream "Off the Grid", the Debut EP by Kai Akili, Produced by Malik Ismail
Chicago based rap artist @KaiAkili has released his 4-track EP “Off the Grid”, produced solely by Malik Ismail. Listen to this DOPE new project now!
We are excited to introduce you to Chicago based rap artist Kai Akili who recently released his 4-track EP entitled “Off the Grid”, produced solely by Malik Ismail.
The "Off the Grid" project makes a statement towards finding oneself through self-reflection as Kai details his experience going off the "grid" of Chicago into the bayou of New Orleans. The tribal production in the project's intro "Journey" carries the weight of the story all the way through the jazzy outro "Too Lovely". Each track unveils a new layer of Kai's introspective narrative which heavily compliments the intense musical composition by Malik.
“Off the Grid” acts as a formidable debut project for the Kai Akili moniker and is intentional in its entirety, from its distinctive production to its purposeful lyrical content and conception.
Listen to “Off the Grid” EP right now, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Kai on his website and social media. Also, be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with Kai, as well as our in-depth review of “Off the Grid”, coming soon.
Interview: NYC Rock Band Nick and the Old Sport Talk About Their New Single/Video "You Saw Me Incomplete"
Big thanks to NYC based rock band Nick and the Old Sport who connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to discuss their new single/video “You Saw Me Incomplete”, which is featured on their upcoming album "Take What You've Learned and Begin Again".
““You Saw Me Incomplete” started as a little diddy on the piano with the driving hook - but when I brought it to the band, Keith’s bombastic drum part, Mikey’s dangerous bass line and Brian’s soaring synth sounds turned it into the high energy song it is now.”
Congratulations on the release of your new single/video "You Saw Me Incomplete"; tell us about the song's development and what inspired it.
Thanks so much for showcasing "You Saw Me Incomplete". The song is about regret and accepting that you're gonna regret some things from your past. And that that's okay.
Before the band really got started up I would record Garageband demos of my songs and release them, warts and all, on my SoundCloud. They were very rough and tumble demos as I was "producing" myself for the first time. I would release these demos perhaps a bit too early in their development. They needed more time in the oven so to speak.
I related that to how sometimes when you think back about relationships you realize that, that person you lost didn't see the best version of you, they saw an incomplete version. The relation between feeling like an early, incomplete version of yourself with someone and releasing unfinished demos of good songs found its way into the lyrics of the song, "You saw me when I was not ready yet...you heard me out of tune...you heard me when I did not know the words...you heard me unmastered...when my levels were not right..."
"You Saw Me Incomplete" started as a little diddy on the piano with the driving hook - but when I brought it to the band, Keith's bombastic drum part, Mikey's dangerous bass line and Brian's soaring synth sounds turned it into the high energy song it is now.
As a band, you product/direct all of your own music videos. How did you come up with this visual's treatment and why is it important for you to DIY?
Well most of the band are actors and filmmakers so we have plenty of experience making films for little to no money. The treatment for the video, me in a rush assembling the rest of Old Sport for a gig we're running late to, came from an image I had when I first heard the recorded song. I knew the video had to have quick cuts of NYC intercut with us rushing to a gig which ultimately no one shows up to, thus making our rushing pointless. Shit, ain't that life sometimes?
I wrote up a little treatment and sent it to Keith and he mapped out a shot list and we shot it over two Mondays in Rockaway Beach and the Lower East Side of Manhattan with absolutely no budget. Our good friend Barrett Shuler shot the performance footage of us on the roof.
Nowadays getting your music heard seems to be a very mysterious and seemingly impossible task. What we've found to be the best policy is just to keep creating content on our own and releasing it.
The band is based in NYC, but was founded in Los Angeles. How did you all meet initially and decide to form a band, and what led to you deciding to move back to NYC?
A bit of a strange story. I'll try to be brief. I wrote a little off-off Broadway play in NYC back in 2013 that did well entitled: ELSEWHERE. I decided to adapt it into a feature film. With the help of a great troupe of actors we raised the $10,000 film budget ourselves with 5 donation based theatrical performances of scenes from the script we called "Fundragers" and with an IndieGogo campaign. It was truly independently funded.
We shot the film in LA in the fall of 2015 when I still lived in NYC. The film was about the afterparty for an indie rock band's first big LA show. After the film was finished we needed a soundtrack. We had no more money so I decided to score the film myself, as I had been quietly writing songs since 2002 in high school. I, who had moved to LA in 2016 to pursue an acting career, played the lead singer of the band in the movie. Brian Teague WIlliams, who played the keyboardist in the movie band, had been living in LA for a year. I brought some songs I had composed to Brian and we would spend weekends sipping whiskey and playing my songs.
I met Mike Maio in LA and he was the best musician I knew so I asked him to join Brian and I in recording the soundtrack. The three of us clicked. We released the soundtrack and loved our sound. We wanted to jam with a drummer so we called up Keith Roenke (who had provided most of the instruments for ELSEWHERE) and asked him if he knew any drummers. He told us he had been a drummer for 20 years and had been in several LA bands. We all jammed and knew we had a band.
We played gigs all over LA, highlighted by a headlining show at the Troubadour I put together. Two successful and adventurous tours of NYC/NJ followed and then decided that back home in NYC was where we actually wanted to be.
We all moved into a four bedroom in Bushwick in June 2019, had residencies and shows all over the city and were about to headline The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn before COVID shut everything down.
The film ELSEWHERE went on to win 3 awards at two film festivals and is available to watch on AmazonPrime. The soundtrack is available on my SoundCloud. Links below.
We are very excited to hear your upcoming album "Take What You've Learned and Begin Again"; what can you tell us about the project and is there an overall theme/concept to it?
The album we are self producing is coming along beautifully. Mike Maio is producing it with the help of our friend Diego Ramierez of the awesome band Joudy.
It wasn't intentional, but in choosing the songs for the album and their order, a bit of a theme has emerged. Each song deals with mourning the loss of a relationship cut short. And the flow of the songs resembles something of the stages of grief, until the end of the record when we realize all one can ever really do to move on in life is to take what you've learned and begin again.
Also I see it as a comment on us taking everything we learned about being a band in LA and starting over back home in New York.
As we're doing it all on our own it's taking some time but we're on track to have the full album released in the summer.
With everything slowly starting to open up, how excited is the band to start playing live again? Also, do you have a favorite venue you've performed at, or are they all the same at this point?
We are ecstatic to get back to playing live. We have missed it so much. But we've been doing all we can to perform during the quarantine. We have a series of videos on our YouTube channel entitled "quarantine sessions" which chronicled our stuck at home performances, similar to a Tiny Desk Concert.
Our first scheduled show is an outdoor performance on July 18th at 18th Ward Brewing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as part of The New Colossus Festival. And we are setting up some outdoor summer shows in Asbury Park and Long Branch, New Jersey.
I am also gonna reschedule our Knitting Factory show as our return to indoor shows. We truly cannot wait.
I think our favorite place to play overall has been Troubadour in LA...not just because of the historic nature of that venue but also because we created that bill and had our biggest crowd ever there. It was a special night in a special place. In NYC we've loved our experience playing at Arlene's Grocery in the LES. But honestly just to be able to play anywhere is a blessing and we're excited to see where we head from here.
Connect with Nick and the Old Sport: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Interview: CHH Artist Obie One B.A. Discusses His New Single "Hip Hop"
We connected with Atlanta based Christian Hip Hop artist @ObieOneBA for an exclusive interview to talk about his new single “Hip Hop”, his upcoming album and much more.
“I grew even more closer to Christ and started sharing my testimony through songs. Though I love using my musical talents to share the Word, I enjoy sharing the gifts that God gave me without even speaking a word.”
If you had to describe your music to a stranger in three words, which ones would you select?
Motivating, Love-Filled, and Authentic.
We're huge fans of your new song "Hip Hop"; what initially inspired you to write it and how did you connect with DJ Cue and SickFlo?
What initially inspired “Hip Hop” was the track. My first cousin Marquis aka Jimmy Sue Beats made the track and when I heard it I knew I needed it. I added some live drums from Antwane McMullin then started with the words. The words came with ease, because I got to a place where I just wanted some real hip hop. I needed something that had substance with a beat that gives me that old school hip hop feel. So I created what I needed myself with the influence of all the rappers that came before me.
SickFlo is a dope MC and friend of mine. I knew he would do some justice to this song, because he respects MC's past and present that honor the history of Hip Hop. While we all run in the same circles DJ Cue is one of the dopest DJs in Atlanta.
The last piece of the puzzle was to add in the scratching to make people want to breakdance or just move like they did during the live shows in the 80s. DJ Cue brought that and some with his turntables.
At what point did you decide to focus on your musical talents and spreading the word through it?
I started making music with my best friend in a duo group called FreekieTwinnz Ent. I'm sure you can imagine what all we talked about. However in 2005, I was growing as a man, artist, and a child of God. I never pictured myself as being an artist that shared the Word, but God had a different plan.
At the time when I talked to God about leaving FTwinnz behind, I heard him clearly tell me that I don't have to be preachy like the rest. He told me I can just talk about my life and lead people to Him. From that point on there was no looking back.
I grew even more closer to Christ and started sharing my testimony through songs. Though I love using my musical talents to share the Word, I enjoy sharing the gifts that God gave me without even speaking a word. For example, some things that are in the Word that we can do daily is show love, kindness, care, hope etc. For all that the Lord has done for me, I am honored to rap about who he is to me and hopefully they can have their own experience after listening.
Will "Hip Hop" be featured on an upcoming EP or album this year? If so, what can you tell us about it and do you have a release date in mind?
“Hip Hop” is the second single from my forthcoming album title "Pray 4 Me 2". The first single was titled “Pray 4 Me” that featured my 6 year old son Princeton and cousins 3D. I love including my family.
The album will include 10 tracks featuring some respected artists such as King Markiss B.A., Dice Gamble, Ty Scott King, and Baigon just to name a few.
The release date is to be announced; however it will tentatively be around September 2021.
How have your travels internationally influenced you as an artist, in terms of what you write about?
Being about to travel internationally has influenced me to write more broadly. Sometimes we write about our lives and where we are from, but sometimes you need music that can transcend past our environments.
People are connected through the music, so I try to be open when writing. I am broad enough to rap about things that everyone can relate to, but direct enough to connect the masses. The international audience loves American music, so it's a different feeling when you are blessed to perform in a different country. They may not know you or ever heard of you, but if you can leave them blessed by your music is powerful.
When someone listens to your new single for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience?
For someone listening to “Hip Hop” for the first time I would want them to first feel appreciation. Appreciate all the founding artists, DJ's. and dancers that played a role in the origin of the genre.
This is for those that want, need, and seek real hip hop, because they're tired of mumble type rap music. This is for you. I want people to listen to this song and want to go to a house party, make a beat on the table with their hands, beatbox while someone freestyles, or just walk around with a big boombox on their arms. That's the feeling I want to leave everyone with.
Connect with Obie One B.A.: Website | Twitter | instagram | Facebook | LinkTree
Canadian RnB Artist Justine Tyrell Releases Her Debut EP "While You Were Sleeping"
Blending contemporary and traditional R&B sounds, breakout Canadian artist @JustineTL has just released her 6-track debut EP, "While You Were Sleeping".
Award winning Canadian singer-songwriter, Justine Tyrell, has released her brand-new EP, “While You Were Sleeping”, which seamlessly blends contemporary and traditional R&B sounds.
A well-known vocalist within Calgary’s local music scene, Tyrell serves as the official anthem singer of the Calgary Stampeders, and was deemed a “game changer in her city of Calgary, Alberta” by Branded Magazine. Her recently released music has landed her coveted spots across all formats of Canadian music media, including appearances across the country on CTV Morning and Noon-hour shows, a feature in CBC’s weekly “Songs You Need to Hear” series as well as airplay across CBC channels, features on Virgin Radio, The Strombo Show, and many more.
Written and recorded in Calgary, Alberta, Tyrell used the time during lockdown to transition from being known for her voice to using it artistically. Heavily inspired by artists like Aaliyah and Amy Winehouse, the R&B singer-songwriter found her signature sound included both traditional and contemporary R&B stylings through the process of creating her music.
With hundreds of songs written and hundreds more ideas of melodies, music styles, and thoughts on what she wanted to say, Tyrell realized it was “time to part with the art”, and share her creations and artistic intention with the world. Inspired by “the bitter and sweet tastes of love and intimacy”, the self-described melancholic storyteller set out to create a project that captures feelings everyone has felt before, where listeners hear their own experiences or those of someone they know. Interwoven in the deeply personal themes of love and intimacy is Tyrell’s sharp focus on female empowerment. With storylines ranging from heartbreak to love and loss, Justine Tyrell adds messages of female strength and power in each song, and across the entire project.
The first single off of the project, “Worthy”, is an ode to honouring self-worth. “I was inspired to create something that can empower the listener to know that it is better to let go of someone, than to lose yourself, and most importantly – that it's critical to determine your worth, rather than let someone else decide for you.” With a music video that tells a story of a woman re-discovering her self-worth, Tyrell also intentionally uses women of colour in the video to honour their importance and worthiness following the Black Lives Matter protests which took place earlier in the year.
Recorded live off the floor in just one take, “Radar” tells the story of a past lover who keeps an eye on their ex, keeping them on their radar. The ballad showcases Tyrell’s outstanding vocal talent and production abilities, serving as a co-vocal producer on the stunning harmonies scattered throughout the song. “You’ll Miss Me” includes background vocals from platinum selling Canadian artist and fellow Calgarian, Jocelyn Alice. From the intimacy of “My Name” to the red flags written all over “Warning Signs”, Justine Tyrell creates a highly relatable body of work while discovering her voice, her message, and her sound.
Aptly titled, “While You Were Sleeping” was created in the early morning hours, while most of the world slept. The title has a double meaning, as it is additionally targeted at those in Tyrell’s life who may not have believed in her, and let her go either romantically or professionally. The EP highlights Justine Tyrell’s brilliant creative talent, vocal abilities, and lyrical artistry.
Interview: Toronto Based RnB/Soul Artist Michelle Mondesir Discusses Her Song "Look What You Started"
We connected with Toronto based RnB/Soul singer-songwriter Michelle Mondesir for an exclusive interview to discuss her new single “Look What You Started”, which features pHoenix Pagliacci.
“I’m always writing songs/beats at home and every once in a while I compile the ones I like best to actually put lyrics to. This was one of those tracks that I thought had a lot of potential and I came up with the chorus for it fairly easily.”
Congratulations on the release of your new single "Look What You Started", which features pHoenix Pagliacci. How did you two connect and who produced the song?
Thanks so much! We’ve been acquainted for a number of years. Back in the day I was looking for backup singers and pHoenix was one of the people that auditioned and we’ve kept in touch since. I’ve done some backup singing for her in the more recent past as well and thought it would be cool to collaborate on a track with her. I did the production on the track in my home studio.
Tell us about your creative process for the development of the song from a songwriter's perspective. What inspired you to write it?
I’m always writing songs/beats at home and every once in a while I compile the ones I like best to actually put lyrics to. This was one of those tracks that I thought had a lot of potential and I came up with the chorus for it fairly easily. I actually was going to do this as a solo release but after putting it aside for a while and knowing I wanted to do more collaborating, I started reaching out to people I’ve been wanting to work with. This one popped out as one of the tracks I wanted Pagliacci on. I sent her the track with my roughly recorded parts on it with the holes I wanted her to fill in. She, fortunately, has a home studio as well and was able to get her parts to me fairly quickly. I don’t usually write very raunchy lyrics, but I wanted to change up my typical love ballad to something with more passion and heat. And I think this track is hot! Lol
What can you tell us about your upcoming EP that you are currently working on? Have you decided on a title yet and will "Look What You Started" be featured?
“Look What You Started” will definitely make the EP. I’ve decided to let myself take the time to come up with a product that I’m really proud of. So the timeline of its drop is TBD. I have a few more collaborations that I’m working on that I’d like to add to the project but I still don’t fully know where it’s journey will take me and my collaborators. It’s an adventure!
How would you describe the Toronto RnB music scene in 2021? Are there a lot of venues to perform (with COVID restrictions loosening) and how difficult is it to grow your fanbase?
There are a lot of new artists that are hustling hard during the pandemic and it’s great to see all the new talent. Unfortunately, all venues have been closed for over a year and even worse, a number of them have now gone out of business. Personally, it’s always been a struggle to grow the fanbase as an independent artist but I do feel that there are a lot more avenues to do so.
Why should every person reading this interview follow you on social media and check out your music on Spotify/Bandcamp?
Haha, well, if every person reading this loves discovering new music then they should definitely check out mine, especially if you love 90s R&B vibes.
Stream and Share “Look What You Started” on: Spotify | Bandcamp
Connect with Michelle Mondesir: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Tell us about your creative process for the development of the song from a songwriter's perspective. What inspired you to write it?
I actually was going to do this as a solo release but after putting it aside for a while and knowing I wanted to do more collaborating, I started reaching out to people I’ve been wanting to work with. This one popped out as one of the tracks I wanted Pagliacci on. I sent her the track with my roughly recorded parts on it with the holes I wanted her to fill in. She, fortunately, has a home studio as well and was able to get her parts to me fairly quickly. I don’t usually write very raunchy lyrics, but I wanted to change up my typical love ballad to something with more passion and heat. And I think this track is hot! Lol
What can you tell us about your upcoming EP that you are currently working on? Have you decided on a title yet and will "Look What You Started" be featured?
“Look What You Started” will definitely make the EP. I’ve decided to let myself take the time to come up with a product that I’m really proud of. So the timeline of its drop is TBD.
I have a few more collaborations that I’m working on that I’d like to add to the project but I still don’t fully know where it’s journey will take me and my collaborators. It’s an adventure!
How would you describe the Toronto RnB music scene in 2021? Are there a lot of venues to perform (with COVID restrictions loosening) and how difficult is it to grow your fanbase?
There are a lot of new artists that are hustling hard during the pandemic and it’s great to see all the new talent. Unfortunately, all venues have been closed for over a year and even worse, a number of them have now gone out of business.
Personally, it’s always been a struggle to grow the fanbase as an independent artist but I do feel that there are a lot more avenues to do so.
Why should every person reading this interview follow you on social media and check out your music on Spotify and Bandcamp?
Haha, well, if every person reading this loves discovering new music then they should definitely check out mine, especially if you love 90s R&B vibes.
Stream and Share “Look What You Started” on: Spotify | Bandcamp
Connect with Michelle Mondesir: Website | Instagram | Facebook
Interview: Rap/Pop Duo TT(TopTier) Talk About Their New Single "Lemme"
We connected with IgnoVa and MC of hip hop duo TT(TopTier) for an exclusive interview to discuss their DOPE track “Lemme”, and much more.
“While sipping on the Bombay Sapphire and listening to classics like Christopher Cross and George Michael, we were inspired to make a classic anthem.”
What does the name TT(TopTier) represent to you and how did it originate?
DIFFRNT. UNTY. TICKT.
#NXTLVL be the mantra
Two brothers attempting to achieve greatness. #tttoptier
How did you two initially meet and then decide to form the duo TT(TopTier)? What was the first song you recorded together?
We were always working on projects with peers here and there. We digged each other's sound and decided to become one. Ying Yang. “Thousand Times” was our first collaboration. That was a fun song, we made it while on tour in the Netherlands.
Congratulations on the release of your dope new single "Lemme"; how did the development of this track come about and how did you end up with the DEMOBOYZ instrumental?
While sipping on the Bombay Sapphire and listening to classics like Christopher Cross and George Michael, we were inspired to make a classic anthem. Crazy shit was, DEMOBOYZ literally brought the beat to the stu later that day.
Can we expect a "Lemme" music video to follow and will it be appearing on an upcoming EP or album this year?
We're working on many projects as we speak #staytuned
Describe your process when it comes to the creation of new music as a duo where one is a rapper and other sings.
The team feeds off each other's energy. We're both creatives and get to work with other people dedicated to their crafts.
Interview: Rock Artist Dez Rocket Discusses His New Single/Video "Shocktane"
Big thanks to St. Louis based rock singer-songwriter @DezRocket who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his recently released single/video “Shocktane”, and much more.
“Always stay young at heart, it helps keep the spark alive. Don’t put much credence into what people say, do what you love the most and always follow your bliss.”
What is your creative process when developing new music? Also, what are some things/people/places that inspire your artistic creativity?
For me it’s about getting out of the way.. almost like mindful meditation. The more my mind shuts off the more open I am to the flow of creativity, cosmic flow. I call it ridin’ the wave. When I write, typically, the music emerges simultaneously with the theme and often time some lyrics and at least a working title. The less blockages I have that particular day the more information is able to pass through.
I don’t like to start with any direction or plan, I just let go and start cruising. I also feel the need to write everyday because it’s been my therapy, my church, for so long. It’s also a direct communion with Source, which can be very addicting! You never know by whom, what or when you’ll be inspired, so it’s good to keep the eyes, ears and curiosity of a child at your side and always be ready for the next spark.
Salute to you on your awesome new single/video "Shocktane". First, tell us about the song; what inspired you to write it and what does "Shocktane" mean?
First off, thanks I really appreciate that! So, Shocktane is a word I created that means to be overwhelmed, consumed by insanity, absurdity, mind control, manipulation, so much so that you become numb, almost detached. Like the next step beyond desensitization.
Shocktane the “drink” used in the “Shocktane” music video was just a 3 dimensional depiction of an abstract thing like making someone crave... manipulating them into craving the very thing that is only meant to harm them. The whole concept blows me away. I think waking up every day and questioning our very existence for decades was my inspiration for “Shocktane” lol.
We're blown away by the "Shocktane" visual; how long did it take to shoot and edit it, and how did you and your team come up with the treatment?
Wow thank you so much! So it was a 3 day, 3 location shoot. We all had so much fun and we all worked very hard. I think the first day, the apartment scenes, we shot 87 takes. Long day.
Anyway, I wrote the treatment, storyline with backstory, then sent it to graphic artist Justin Curry who storyboarded it. The magic I think was all started by the incredible camera work by our very talented DP Adrian Proleiko. The editing was a bit more of a grind. Editing supervisor Caleb Wieland and I pinballed off each other for a couple weeks remotely, but it was when we got in the same room and hammered it out for 10 hours is when i think it really took shape. He did an incredible job. They all did!
Will the "Shocktane" song be appearing on an upcoming EP or album this year? If so, what can you tell us about it?
Yes, thanks for asking, it’s on my new album! It’s called “Dezert Rocket”... I didn’t put much thought into it! Lol! Ten tracks on it.
The story behind the recording was almost more incredible than the album itself but that’s a long story for another time. “Shocktane” was the first single, dropped on January 29th... had another one “Fooled You” drop in March... my plan is to continue to release singles throughout the year, 5 or 6 singles, then let the whole album go sometime in autumn, mid to late autumn. I’ll set a solid release date this summer.
From when you initially started creating music to where you are now in 2021, what are some things that you have learned about yourself as an artist?
I’ve learned not to take things for granted and that my ego was not my friend! Lol. It also took me awhile to learn that the hardships were the most important element of my growth.
I also used to think about things like where do the songs and ideas come from or worry that I would run out or lose the ability to write more songs, stuff like that. I don’t anymore. I learned I’m better when I don’t “try”, I just “do”. Whatever that may be. Do the pitfalls of negativity and self doubt still wait to jump on me? Ya they still do, I just recognize it now and redirect back to positivity.
Always stay young at heart, it helps keep the spark alive. Don’t put much credence into what people say, do what you love the most and always follow your bliss.
Stream and Share “Shocktane” on Spotify
Connect with Dez Rocket: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Help, Not Hype: Lyric Financial Powers $100 Million of Funding to the Music Industry
@LyricFinancial, a long-time leader in financial services in the music industry, has announced a major milestone in its 14 year history. By focusing on reliable, sustainable, and honest investment in its clients, the company has funded over $100 million in advances.
Lyric Financial, the company that pioneered royalty-based financing for the global music community, is announcing it has crossed $100 million mark in financing provided to its clients. From automated advances for independent artists and labels to creatively structured facilities for A-list, high net-worth clients and larger independent music companies, the company has processed over 24k transactions in 32 countries, empowering tens of thousands of musicians and music companies to achieve their goals.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish by working thoughtfully and consistently with our clients,” says Lyric Financial Founder and CEO Eli Ball. “We’ve kept our promises and provided our services with integrity, in a business that isn’t always above board and rarely transparent.”
The field of companies offering artists money has grown crowded in recent years, from corporate and private equity-backed catalog aggregators to startups eager to grow at any cost. Lyric Financial, however, has built its business over a decade by first listening to our clients then offering sustainable options that support their goals, whether that be creating custom financing structures to address complex situations or more efficient products as technology and customer needs shift.
These products include royalty advances, credit lines, catalog and business loans, master and publishing acquisition facilities, and increasingly automated financing through its vATM product, currently offered to Tunecore customers. No other financial services company in the music space has the volume and the breadth of Lyric Financial.
Lyric Financial has long prided itself on its no-nonsense, compassionate approach, one designed to last—and to offer help, not hype, to its customers. “We see ourselves as coaches, trying to understand how our tools can help our clients reach whatever aim they’ve set,” Ball explains. “That’s how we got to this point, by doing what’s right by our clients and by understanding what they are trying to solve for.”
Interview: Musician/Visual Artist Dani Twice Talks About His Visualizer For "Pixel Beach"
We connected with Florida based singer-songwriter, producer, and visual artist Dani Twice for an exclusive interview to discuss his recently released single/video “Pixel Beach”, and much more.
“I like that at the end of the day I don’t need to wait on anybody to make what I see in my head. Being independent like this is part of the fun for me though and it’s not for everyone...”
Salute to you on the release of your new "Pixel Beach" visualizer; regarding the song itself, tell us about your creative process for its development.
I got COVID at the start of 2020 and fell into the deepest depression I have had since the events of last summer. I was feeling so isolated living in this new town that I felt all my friends lived inside my phone, quarantine was really getting to me and the catalyst for the Pixel Beach was the decade old Gorillaz album: “Plastic Beach”.
All the themes of pollution, technology and dehumanization low key inspired me a lot and I wanted to share my 2021 experience of it. I really was feeling like I was trapped in a submarine and the internet was feeding my digital isolation. I got in Ableton and turned an upbeat reggaeton beat I made into a more emo trap sound. You can hear in my voice the stuffiness of the COVID.
As its director, how did you come up with the overall concept and visual aesthetic for the "Pixel Beach" visualizer?
I was super inspired by the video game “Cyber Punk”; I have never played it, but I watched many videos documenting the chaos of that release and I have many friends in the industry, technically I am part of the gaming industry as a 3D artist and it felt like it was a perfect dystopian aesthetic. I worked on the cyber arm and was inspired by the pose on Frank Ocean’s Blonde album cover.
Before working on the city environment, I watched Blade Runner 2049 and man is that not one of the most impactful movies of our time, visually striking. “Pixel Beach” is that digital escape from this cold world. In the video I’m in this warm beach but it’s a digital simulation occurring over and over, ironically the 3D environment in the video is the “real world” and it is a cold cold place.
When creating music, what software/hardware do you use; and for visual art, what software/hardware to do you use?
I use a lot of different software. I went from Cubase to Ableton and that is my baby forever now. When it comes to visuals, I use Maya for 3D (or Blender which is free and better) Photoshop, After effects, Premiere, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and many more… I mean once you learn one you can pick up others quickly it’s much like a language.
I do not think you need to know that many to be a music artist. Honestly it might make your career better to learn how to use Tik Tok than Unreal Engine but the tools you use are not as important as what you do with them, you can definitely work way harder than you need to and finding efficient ways to save weeks of work will be your best friend.
I like that at the end of the day I don’t need to wait on anybody to make what I see in my head. Being independent like this is part of the fun for me though and it's not for everyone; sometimes you can just focus on what you like most and get dope at it.
With the "Pixel Beach" single/visualizer now released, what's next for you musically and visually?
So I have a new song/music video coming April 30th, given that I’ve always made everything by my lonely. This project is my most ambitious and collaborative yet.
Currently I’m gonna start the visual effects, but the shooting of the video was an amazing experience and I have had a lot of support to bring this to life. Song is called “TOO COLD!” and it’s pretty hot actually.
Do you also work as a visual artist for other people? If so, how can interested parties get in contact with you?
I am a 3D artist for a gaming company from Las Vegas and I got to tell you this, I'm very lucky to be a part of a super amazing workplace where everybody is very supportive of each other and there’s this space for being creative and pursuing my artistic goals.
I don’t have any immediate needs for visual work but I am down to be hired in other fields relating to music. For example if an artist I like wants to collaborate musically and visually I don’t know how I could say no. hit me up on Instagram @dani.twice I always respond.
What are some things/people/places that inspire your creativity when you are developing new music and/or visual art?
For writing songs, I am inspired directly from life events, substantial things that give me a lot of emotions make for great songs, currently with my new relationship I have a lot to unpack for my next songs.
For visuals I am inspired by all the amazing works of art that exist now and I can pull from I feel like I can do anything visually and that’s a good place to be a bit of a chameleon with style means you’re not limited oh and also my dad! My dad is the most creative man in the world, and he advises me in so many aspects and I love bouncing around ideas with him; it’s always a blast.
Beats Mean Business: Independent, Tech-First Beats Marketplace Airbit Wants Creators to Build Careers, Not Just Sell Tracks
Airibit is a platform truly built by the beatmakers, for the beatmakers. Focus on features like these have driven all manners of producers to the platform, from Grammy winners like S1 (Kanye West) to teen starlets like Cyanide (Smokepurpp).
Everything has changed for music producers. Once the hidden wizards of the studio, producers have jumped out in front and found their own independent business paths online, thanks in part to Airbit.
“The mentality among producers is shifting compared to 10 years ago,” explains Wasim Khamlichi, founder and CEO of Airbit. “People used to look down on producers who sold their beats online. There’s no stigma now.”
More than a beats or sound pack store, Airbit evolved to make it easy for producers to expand their professional options and revenue streams. Airbit’s Infinity Store features and YouTube monetization, unique among beat marketplaces, allow producers everywhere to create a branded, customizable site to present and sell beats and sounds, much like a Shopify for producers, and to maximize the money they earn from their work, no matter where it pops up.
With 800,000 creators on the platform and growing fast, Airbit has attracted established producers like multiple GRAMMY-winner S1 (Kanye West) and serious contenders, including Cyanide (Smokepurpp), KingDrumDummie (NBA YoungBoy), TnTXD, Ric & Thad (Tierra Whack, Bad Bunny), and The Beat Menace (Meek Mill, Pop Smoke).
For Khamlichi, computers had been an obsession since childhood, and by the time he was 16, he was building software for the UK government. “I started realizing everyone around me there was miserable,” he recounts, “and I saw it wasn’t where I wanted to be.” Khamlichi knew where he wanted to be, however, after an epiphany when he landed at an Eminem concert thanks to a friend’s extra ticket. “I knew then that I had to be involved with music,” he recalls.
His love of music and computers collided. Khamlichi got into music production and made his own beats as a hobby. As he got deeper into music, he decided to build his own online store to sell his beats. “Producers were the last to get credit, the last to get paid. There were no marketplaces back in the day,” he says. “You had to find your own customers and figure out your own online store.” Khamlichi’s solution, crafted in Flash, caught the eyes of friends and acquaintances, and soon he was building stores for other producers and beatmakers.
His customer base grew and grew, until it made sense to set up a marketplace to connect the producers and artists swirling around hundreds of individual sites. Khamlichi and team made some serious tech overhauls (including ditching Flash). The result was Airbit.
Airbit allows producers to join the site on a freemium basis, with higher paid tiers unlocking more customizable tools and more extensive monetization. Licenses let artists lease a beat--use it in specific ways for a specific period of time--or buy it, giving full exclusive rights to the artist. Producers can set their price points and terms and can use their storefront as a standalone site or embed it in an existing website.
Airbit strives to do more than broker beats, however. It wants to nurture a community and create a truly sustainable way for producers to build a career online and off, by bringing more relevant tools together in a single place. That includes the unglamourous but vital realms of monetization and publishing, elements treated as frills or afterthoughts by other marketplaces. Airbit is the only beats marketplace that allows its producer members to join YouTube’s ContentID, no easy feat for independent creators. The ContentID system flags beats that appear in uploaded content and notifies producers, so they can better monetize their work and monitor license terms. The platform’s strong producer focus has led to several global hits, uncounted new opportunities, and even a few producers who asked to invest in Airbit.
Producers’ expanded options are influencing how artists create, too. Part of this change connects to broader music listening trends that are blurring genre lines and upending music categorization. Airbit wants to set the stage for the coming genreless future. “Let’s stop the labelling. Let the music be free; don’t force it to conform to specific rules,” reflects Khamlichi. “Hip hop isn’t a genre, for example; it’s a culture. It’s infiltrated every other music scene and style.”
For many creators, the goal isn’t to find something that’s their genre, but to find beats that echo the aesthetic of a specific popular artist or producer, so-called “type beats.” There’s an aspirational and inspirational quality to how artists search, a quality that categories like genre may not capture. “Our dream is to do away with having to translate the sound you’re shooting for into search terms. Right now, we’re rolling out new features that allow creators to search by sound, but it could be even more advanced in the future. Artists always have ideas for melodies. Imagine you could hum into your phone or tap out a rhythm and then find the perfect beat to match. You could give us your idea and see if someone already created a track for that melody.”
Airbit’s creator-focused, tech-first spirit harkens back to Khamlichi’s first online store and still drives the company today, as it expands into everything from blockchain-based digital collectibles to AI-driven search. “We’re independent and plan to stay that way, like many of the producers and artists who use Airbit,” Khamlichi states. “We see that supporting and developing independent creators instead of buying them out, is the future of a sustainable and equitable music industry.”
About Airbit:
Airbit’s mission is to make music more fair with an online marketplace where producers can sell their beats and artists can buy those beats at a fair price. We provide a wide array of selling tools, as well as user friendly music monetization services. Airbit is one of the most trusted and well-known names in beat-sales. Airbit was founded to champion producers, and offer them a creative career path through licensing, selling their music when they want, how they want.
Connect with Airbit: Website
Interview: Trap Soca Artist/Producer Rizzo G.U.N. Discusses His Latest Single/Video "#IKDR"
Major thanks to Atlanta based “Trap Soca” artist and producer @rizzogun who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to talk about his very DOPE new single "#IKDR", and much more.
““#IKDR” is the next step in the evolution of my “Trap Soca” sound. I have my own lane, I know what I bring to the table...”
We're blown away by your new single ""#IKDR"; tell us about you and Sye K's creative process for its development.
Thank you so much! The creative process for “#IKDR” was a new one for me actually. I didn’t even pick the track. My fam Passhun Mylashia, The Mom Plug, reached out to me about doing a song for her online boutique, Plug Closet.
I had 2 days to write, produce, and record the song because the video shoot was 3 days after I got the call. So I went in with my engineer Jeanyus and didn’t really have too much time to overthink it. Up until that point, I hadn’t done a song of me just singing, so I was a bit nervous about it but it came out fire and the response to it has been incredible.
Can we expect a music video to follow next for "IKDR"? Also, will it be featured on an upcoming EP or album this year?
Yes the video is actually out now! We shot it the day after I recorded it, which was a little bit of pressure because I hate to be unprepared. I was still learning the lyrics and it was hot on set and cold outside BUT it turned out great.
I was most excited about the models in the video because it was all different shades of brown, from light to chocolate. Representation is important and I always want to use my platform to help the cause. In the words of another Capricorn Goat, Issa Raye, “I’m rooting for everybody black”.
Tell us about how you initially got interested in creating music and the artists that have influenced you musically.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been enamored with music. Its byt nature and nurture because I grew up around the industry. My father was a successful music manager for years, my mom worked at a legendary recording studio in Atlanta, my godmom was the A&R for Outkast during their career peak. So my love for the arts was encouraged all around.
I studied all the great iconic entertainers, songwriters, and producers from Prince, Beyonce, Lenny Kravitz, Puffy, Ye, MJ, Quincy Jones and the list goes on lol.
With "IKDR" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainder of 2021?
“#IKDR” is the next step in the evolution of my “Trap Soca” sound. I have my own lane, I know what I bring to the table, and this next EP will reflect that. I’m about 80% done with it.
I’m going to release one more single for the summer, just in time for the heat, brunches, and bbqs... shortly followed by my third EP release.
My goal is to have the summer in a headlock and be certified with some plaques by time capricorn szn comes around!
What do you enjoy most about performing for live audiences, and do you have a favorite song to perform?
Performing live is my favorite thing to do; that’s when I get in my athlete bag! I hit the stage and its game time. GOAT mode. I truly enjoy entertaining. The bigger stages and crowds make my shows even better.
My favorite song to perform right now is definitely “#IKDR”. I previewed it, earlier this year, at a concert of 800 people and to see the crowd really vibing to it was a amazing feeling.
It was also a great sign of things to come as the world slowly but surely starts to open back up, because the G.U.N. Show WILL be hitting a city near you!
Stream and Share “#IKDR” on Soundcloud
Connect with Rizzo G.U.N.: Linktree | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook