Interview: London Rap Artist/Producer Lynx Cane Talks About His New EP "Garden of Gethsemane"
Big salute to London based rap artist and producer @LynxCane who connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to discuss his newly released EP “Garden of Gethsemane", and much more.
“I just love music, and I feel like listening to a whole bunch of stuff has helped with my sound and creativity.”
Who were some artists and/or producers that influenced you early on when you started creating music?
Oh Eminem, MF DOOM, Earl Sweatshirt, Nas, Kanye, The Alchemist, Mick Jenkins, Action Bronson, MIKE, Jay Electronica and Tyler, the Creator for sure. There's so much more but yeah they're probably the most influential to my sound in terms of people in Rap.
I would also cite Melanie Martinez, Sade, Tinashe and Lana Del Rey as big influences on my sound also. I listen to a whole bunch of stuff though, like one day I'm listening to Yugoslavian dance music, the next day I'm listening to German progressive rock, the next day I'm listening to Gospel, and the next I'm listening to Jazz. I just love music, and I feel like listening to a whole bunch of stuff has helped with my sound and creativity.
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new EP "Garden of Gethsemane". Tell us about your creative process for its five songs and how long it took to complete.
Thank you and to write and record the whole thing it took about a month to do. I usually try to write something every night. Whether it's a verse or poetry just something about how I'm feeling or how I've been doing. Which honestly has helped a ton, writing is literally therapy for me at this point.
I also had the theme of the biblical verses of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane already, so inspiration wasn't too much of a problem for me. The difficult part was finding and creating the right sounds for the EP.
I wanted it to sound soulful and at the same time like my view of what summer sounds like, and for a while I couldn't find the right collection of beats that sounded cohesive together.
I made "NINETEEN" first and as soon as I finished it, I knew that this was the direction and sound I was looking for, so I just thank Wilf Merson for that beat for real. The song "Prayers" was made after that. Me and waldero have always mentioned working together for months but never really came up with anything until that track. I was just making that beat and then I was just like, "waldero would kill the bass on this I just know it." A lot of his projects have songs with a dark or melancholy vibe and I just knew that it would be perfect for him.
When starting a project I usually start with getting all the production first, and I had 1 song and 3 other beats to record to definitively on the project but for the longest time I couldn't produce anything that I thought would fit the vibe to be a fifth track. So I hit up Swordbearer and literally that "Willpower" beat was just the icing on the cake. That's when I was like, "Ok cool, now it's time to actually start making this thing for real."
Were there songs that you recorded that did not make the final track list? If so, why did they not make the cut?
Yes there was actually. It was this song produced by Lord Glacier. Super talented musician from Canada, he's production is just soul touching. I wanted to put it on the EP but it was just way too soon to the release date when I got around to finally writing for it. It's definitely coming out though. It's coming real soon. I love that song too much to not release it.
For the beats that you produce, what software/hardware do you use?
I use Soundation. It's pretty good, I've been using it since I was 14 and it's improved a lot since then. I use it to mix my vocals too. It's not as well known as say FL Studio or Ableton but it's actually pretty decent.
With the EP now released, what's next for you musically for the rest of the year?
Damn umm I don't know. Probably gonna drop some more freestyles and stuff like that on my YouTube. Have something with Kenny Aries too that might come out some time this year as well. I don't know what else.
I'm always open for features and I think there's some coming out soon. Really, I'm just trying to keep pushing this EP and do more shows right now, but hey who knows, I change my mind a lot when it comes to putting out stuff, so only future me knows to be honest.
Stream and Share “Garden of Gethsemane” on: Apple Music | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Spotify
Interview: Philly Based RnB Artist Ashley Syd Talks About Her New Song "2003"
DCWS connected with Philly area based RnB singer-songwriter Ashley Syd for an exclusive interview to discuss her brand new single/video “2003”, and much more.
“When it comes to bringing something different to the RnB genre...All I can say is that I bring myself to the table, my personal lived experiences, thoughts and desires.”
We're huge fans of your new single "2003"; what inspired you to write the song and who produced it?
Thank you so much! It’s actually a funny story. I was inspired to write this from a soundscape assignment in my media class this past semester. The assignment was to recreate a place only using sound, and since my family would always go to Wildwood, NJ when I was younger, I decided to create a beach soundscape.
Once in class we had to share our project with a partner and the person I shared it with said it reminded her of her home in the Dominican Republic. This lit a fire under me as I was happily surprised my simple soundscape could transport her to an entirely different place. After class, I decided to write a song about the beach, Wildwood specifically.
As I began writing I realized how much I missed this beautiful, simple time with my family. This impulse turned into the “2003” we have today. Jodellplaymaker was the genius producer behind this track.
Can we expect a music video for “2003” to follow?
Yes you can! The music video for “2003” is currently on my YouTube channel! Enjoy!
If you could select any artist to appear on a remix to "2003", who would you pick and why?
This is a great question, and honestly a hard decision. I would love to have a female RnB artist feature. I’d have to choose between H.E.R, Kehlani, or Jessie Reyez.
I feel that these artists would bring an amazing vibe to “2003” and bring the song to a whole nother level.
You've mentioned Luther Vandross, Rihanna and Alicia Keys as your musical influences; what about them speaks to you artistically and what different are you bringing to the RnB genre?
What speaks to me most about these amazing artists, is the way that they each have their own unique voice and style of singing. When it comes to Luther Vandross and Alicia Keys specifically, I love that they don’t shy away from their feelings and are truly vulnerable, they are great storytellers.
When it comes to bringing something different to the RnB genre, I acknowledge that so much has been done before by a multitude of amazing artists. All I can say is that I bring myself to the table, my personal lived experiences, thoughts and desires.
I believe that there is nothing more unique than an individual. So in terms of “new” and “different” I offer myself to RnB because just like no two people are alike, the songs I have written and the songs I will write in the future can only be delivered by me, as nobody else can word it exactly like I would.
When did you realize that you had a voice for singing, and that you should take your talent seriously?
I started singing in the church around the age of four. From then I realized how much I loved it and that I wanted to pursue a singing career as I got older. I never had a doubt in my mind, even at that young age, that this is what I would be doing.
With "2003" now released, what can we expect next from you musically?
Now that “2003” is released, more singles can be expected from me in the future. As I grow my discography and continue to discover more about myself and my particular sound, I hope that others will join my journey and relate to my feelings.
KOONG, The World's First Self-Upload Music Platform Has Now Launched Globally
The world's first self-upload music platform, KOONG, has officially launched to provide its services all over the world, including South Korea.
The world's first self-upload music platform, KOONG, has officially launched to provide its services all over the world including South Korea.
It has gathered up a large amount of interests from numerous musicians, and there are 3 million users that have visited the website as of now.
KOONG is different from other music streaming websites as it incorporated the "Self-upload" function where musicians who write and compose may register their own work to stream, and that the revenue of the copyrighted content servicing on the platform is distributed transparently to ensure the musician's rights. The win-win music communication website (www.koong.world) is essentially a cross-directional music platform that provides convenience to musicians.
Anyone with creative ideas may record and upload a song from their smartphone.
The individual may set their own prices for their work, keep 80% of the revenue, donate 5% of the revenue for events/concerts that require equipment and other costs, and the rest of the revenue goes into marketing fees.
KOONG's main creative design executive Taewon Kim who has taken part in founding this platform has elaborated that the purpose of KOONG is to gather talented artists from all over the world, to have them freely distribute their musical content, and to develop into an eco-system where musicians are able to rightfully get paid for their copyright and creative passion.
Connect with KOONG: Website
Stream "Garden of Gethsemane", the DOPE New EP by London Rapper Lynx Cane
London based rap artist @LynxCane just released his latest project “Garden of Gethsemane”. Check out this DOPE new EP right now!
London based rap artist Lynx Cane just released his latest EP “Garden of Gethsemane”. Speaking about the project, he says “The EP is about my "coming of age" in a sense. I talk about how much I've grown and learned from my mistakes in my past, detailing problems in my personal life, and how faith has helped me overcome those issues and made me more grateful and optimistic about life”.
The five track EP includes several self produced songs (“Agony”, “Prayers”, and “Olive Trees”) and production by Scottish producer Swordbearer ("Willpower") is produced by Swordbearer, and WilfMerson, a rapper and producer from South-West London ("NINETEEN"). There's also a Bandcamp exclusive track called "Iscariot" produced by WilfMerson also.
We guarantee that you will love the “Garden of Gethsemane” EP, especially if you are a fan of artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Jay Electronica, and Kanye West. Listen to it right now below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with Lynx Cane on his social media. Also, be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with Lynx Cane coming soon.
Stream and Share “Garden of Gethsemane” on: Apple Music | Bandcamp | Soundcloud
Interview: Brooklyn Based Artist/Producer T@NE Talks About His Latest Single "Autumn"
DCWS connected with Brooklyn based musician, saxophonist, composer, producer, rapper, and vocalist @leeandthem for an exclusive interview to discuss his brand new single “Autumn”, and much more.
Photo Credit: Jerry Sumit Suksawat
“For the creative process, I try stay as open as possible. So it can be anything, a song can start with a rhythm, melody, chord, sound design, lyrics, etc., the main thing is to record and save your ideas so you can go and work on them.”
We're blown away by your new single "Autumn"; tell us about what inspired you to write it and whether it will be appearing on an upcoming EP or album.
Thank you so much, glad you like the song.
Yeah I had been talking to my friend Be Steadwell about working on a song together, so I went to her place and we pretty much wrote the whole composition and lyrics in like 3 days, I remember working on a few chords when I got back to my place.
Be wrote the lyrics, I just remember her composing all these lyrics on the spot, I was thinking to myself this is incredible. After that the song stayed in pre-production for quite some time, and I changed some things from what I had originally composed but for the most part the composition stayed close to what we wrote.
And yeah, it can work on an album, working on more projects with my bandmates, so it should work with other songs.
The accompanying cover art for "Autumn" is incredible. Who did the artwork?
Yeah, that’s my guy Fishman Art 89; he’s amazing. Fishman’s done a lot of our album covers; I love working with him.
Can we expect a music video for "Autumn" to come next or will you be dropping another single?
Yeah working on music videos and more new music as well. But you know, I just work and whatever is ready to go we put out.
As a musician, saxophonist, producer, rapper and so much more, tell us about your creative process when you are developing new music.
For the creative process, I try stay as open as possible. So it can be anything, a song can start with a rhythm, melody, chord, sound design, lyrics, etc., the main thing is to record and save your ideas so you can go and work on them. Usually when I get an idea I’ll sing it into my phone to save it because you gotta catch it while you can.
And for composition, I might compose different sections of the song at different times, like maybe a part at the end of a song, then I’ll go work on the beginning of the song then the middle or some production or melodies, or rhythms, it really can be anything.
So yeah, I just try to stay open because when your working it can be nonlinear or linear. Once the composition and pre-production is done my bandmates and I will track our parts, then post-production, then mixing and then mastering.
What led to you and your bandmates, Taber, Andrew, Dan and Peter, coming together to form T@NE?
Yeah I have incredible bandmates. I learn from them all the time and they’ve helped me grow so much as a person and as a musician.
We had been playing together previously in different settings, so It just kind of happened naturally, you know compose some songs get together and start playing them.
The main thing I would say is just start, just show up and take that first step, consistently put in the correct hard work and let it grow.
Interview: Latin Hip-Hop Artist Ray Pearson Discusses His New Single "Haciéndolo (Doin' It)"
Shout out to Bronx, NY based Latin Hip-Hop artist @itsraypearson who connected with DCWS for an exclusive Q&A to discuss his new single “Haciéndolo (Doin' It)", which will appear on his upcoming project "Suave Ramón”, and much more.
“My creative process is what am I envisioning, what am I trying to get across, how am I being challenged, what did I do in my last releases that I need to do in this one. I start listening to beats and thinking of lines...”
As an emcee, tell us about your creative process when you are developing new music.
First things first and I'm probably going to get crucified for this but I'm not that much of a "singles" artist. I enjoy putting out a body of work. I enjoy the journey from track 1 to the last track. Starting off strong, building mid project leading to the closing.
My creative process is what am I envisioning, what am I trying to get across, how am I being challenged, what did I do in my last releases that I need to do in this one. I start listening to beats and thinking of lines. Once I have the direction of what I want to do I execute......RAY!
Salute to you on the release of your new track "Haciéndolo (Doin' It)", featuring DutchessQony. What inspired you to write the track and how did you connect with DutchessQony?
What inspired me was LL Cool J's "Doin' It". Throughout the year's there's been many Spanish remixes to English records. Originally "Haciéndolo" was supposed to be called "B.A.D" in response to Cardi B's "W.A.P" record.
As I mumbled the flow I wanted to attack it with the plans changed and it changed for the better. I connected with DutchessQony...... Well, Dutchess I've been a fan of her through battle rap. Dutchess knows my cousin DJ HekTek from BluntsquadTV/Bronx Mob and I bought some studio equipment off her some years back and I always knew I wanted to collab with her because she's a dope dope songwriter as well. It all made sense to reach out to her and we took it from there.
What attracted you to the dope instrumental provided by Fear! The Faithful, and in general, what do you look for in the beats that you decide to write to?
Fear! has been my big bro since high school. After my 2 Puerto Rican festivals back in 2019 I was inspired to start tapping into my Spanish side and then the pandemic hit and he presented me the beat to Haciéndolo and that pretty much birthed my upcoming project.
What I look for in beats is detailed beats. I look for beats that have dope instruments played. I look for things in beats that are going to stand out, so when I write I save the best lines for the part of the beats that stand out so it pulls the listener in more. I'm a writer, so I want my pen to be challenged.
"Haciéndolo (Doin' It)" is a featured track on your upcoming album "Suave Ramón”; what can you tell us about this project?
"Suave Ramón” is my first English/Latin cross over project. Production is all Spanish style, Spanish sampled. All my features are Hispanic.
I tried to keep it solely Puerto Ricans but that changed as soon as I heard Gabriel De Los Santos whose featured on my project. Once you hear someone on something then the rules change. I definitely wanted all Hispanic artists on my project.
Tell us about your experience performing at the Puerto Rican Festival in 2019; from a motivational standpoint, I can only imagine how it impacted you artistically.
I did the PR festival in The Bronx and Newark. The Bronx was the first one. Standing in the crowd is completely different than standing on that festival stage. I never performed in front of that many people before. As I waited for my cousin DJ HekTek to give me the cue to turn on my mic I tried to speed mumble my lyrics as I do with every performance but the lyrics weren't coming to me. I looked at my cousin to see if it was time as I tried to remember my lyrics in my head and he gave me that nod but as soon as I turned my mic on it all came to me.
Amazing experience and that lit the fire for me to now refer to myself also as a Latin Hip Hop artist.
Connect with Ray Pearson: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Interview: Chicago Based Writer/Producer Haji Outlaw Talks About His New Track "After Good Sex (Leave U Alone)"
Big thanks to Chicago based writer and producer @OutlawHaji who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his new track “After Good Sex (Leave U Alone)", and much more.
“My biggest accomplishment as a creator, hopefully hasn’t happened yet. But for what I have created thus far, I would say it’s a 3-way tie between The Eric Andre Show, standup, and beats.”
Your new single "After Good Sex (Leave U Alone)" is beyond DOPE. Tell us about your creative process for its development and when you knew definitely that the beat was complete.
First off, thank you 🙏. My creative process when it comes to sampling begins with crate digging. I find a record or records and listen to them intently. Then when I find a record I like, sometimes love, I pull out my favorite parts and put those parts into my iPad. From there I manipulate those parts until I find a combination that makes me feel something good. From there it's crafting. While that feeling is usually created anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes, the craft part may take a day or two, as I'll come back to the beat the day after and the day after that and the day after that, making sure that I continue to get that same feeling once I get away from that sound. From there I send the beat, along with several others, to my dude Derek. If Derek's feeling it then I know it's a banger.
The song appears on your five track EP "Tittynope VI"; would you say that there is an overlapping concept or theme to the project? If so, how would you describe it?
For “Tittynope VI” there is definitely a sexual feel, which can be seen in the videos which are all up on YouTube (not to mention the cover). But with my music in general, there is no definitive theme besides making music that grabs me.
The method of my musical "grabbiness" revolves around comedy and an eclectic vibe, which I would most readily describe as Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation) meets Madlib.
If you don't mind sharing, what software/hardware do you use to produce your beats and what did you use when you first started out?
I currently use iMaschine 2 by Native Instruments on my iPad Pro. When I first started producing I used an MPC2000XL along with a Korg Karma keyboard and Korg Kaoss Pad.
You're not just a talented producer but a writer whose work has appeared on the hilarious The Eric Andre Show, Amazon (music + ebooks), CBS, NBC and Comedy Central. What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment as a creator?
My biggest accomplishment as a creator, hopefully hasn't happened yet. But for what I have created thus far, I would say it's a 3-way tie between The Eric Andre Show, standup, and beats.
With "After Good Sex (Leave U Alone)" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the remainer of 2021?
My goals for 2021 are three-fold. One, gain more exposure as a producer so I can pay real bills with my art. Two, get my music placed on one of my favorite artist's projects (Ransom, Royce da 5'9", E-40, Kool Keith, Ghostface Killah, Devin the Dude, Stove God Cook$, Griselda). Three, get my animated web-series Hey Doorman! - which features original music of mine, sold to a network.
BIGSOUND Announces Six Aussie Artists to Share in $90,000 Levi's Music Prize
One of Australasia’s biggest annual music prizes, the Levi’s® Music Prize in partnership with BIGSOUND, has awarded a total of $90,000 to six of Australia’s most exciting emerging musicians - ASHWARYA, Beddy Rays, Birdz, Jerome Farah, JK-47, and Sycco.
Joining the star-studded ranks of previous winners like G Flip, The Teskey Brothers, and Ecca Vandal, the $15,000 cash prize and additional support package from The Indigo Project and Bolster comes at a time when artists need it most.
The prize winners are ASHWARYA, Beddy Rays, Birdz, Jerome Farah, JK-47, and Sycco.
"Winning the Levi’s Music Prize has always been a dream of mine," said Brisbane pop artist, Sycco, whose song Dribble debuted at #29 in triple j’s Hottest 100 and took out Song of the Year in the 2021 Queensland Music Awards.
"I remember seeing G Flip and Hatchie win over the last few years and manifesting in those moments! Hopefully we can tour overseas next year so the money will definitely assist with getting over there! This is so awesome, I cannot believe it!"
Selected from the BIGSOUND50, who were featured as the future of Australian music in BIGSOUND’s 2020 online pivot, Levi’s® Music Prize judge, Casey O’Shaughnessy said the quality of the artists and their achievements thus far is truly impressive.
"The past 18 months have been a particularly trying time for new artists to break through given the uncertain nature of touring throughout the pandemic. I’m a genuine fan of each of the winners and I look forward to watching them flourish over the years," said O’Shaughnessy, who is the senior booking agent at Select Music, Australia’s largest independent agency.
Giving almost half a million dollars to artists and bands since partnering with BIGSOUND in 2017, Levi’s® Head of Marketing for Australia & New Zealand, Trent Bos, is proud and grateful to continue Levi’s® support of Australasian artists through the Levi’s® Music Prize.
"We believe that music is a force for good. But belief without real backing isn’t enough to help aspiring musicians fulfil their ambitions, and our dream and desire is that this contribution can help these incredibly talented artists do just that."
Delivering the good news in the wake of last week’s devastating cancellation of September’s BIGSOUND conference and festival, QMusic CEO, Kris Stewart said how critical the ongoing support of initiatives like the Levis® Music Prize is to the survival of the music industry.
"Our musicians and the music industry at large continue to be one of the hardest hit sectors, having to prove their resilience time and time again in the face of cancellations and tougher restrictions than other industries.
"The Prize will go a long way to supporting these talented BIGSOUND artists to not only survive but thrive through COVID and beyond."
Each winner receives $15,000 cash to boost their music career, an online mental health workshop provided by The Indigo Project, plus a custom BLOCKS by Bolster digital marketing workshop, and an outfit from Levi’s®.
The Levi’s® Music Prize in partnership with BIGSOUND is administered by QMusic and presented by Levi’s® Australia and New Zealand, with support from Bolster and The Indigo Project.
BeatConnect Makes Remote Collaboration Easy and Accessible For Producers and Musicians Everywhere
Talk to any musician about what collaboration has looked like in the past, and they will tell you that it is no easy feat if your fellow musicians live elsewhere. @joinbeatconnect is a platform that connects creators in a virtual studio for real time jam sessions and asynchronous editing, regardless of system or setup.
In Nick Laroche’s experience, there’s always been a need for accessible tools in the music realm. “We’ve had the idea of doing remote collaboration for years, but the music industry hasn’t ever offered a solution for most musicians,” he says. “When COVID hit, I said, you know what, I’m going to see if I can actually do something.”
With the present surge in virtual collaboration and long-term sustainability in mind, Laroche co-founded BeatConnect, which lets musicians work together online from the comfort of their own creative spaces. Users can install BeatConnect as a VST plugin that lets them open up a virtual studio directly from their audio workstation. They can then invite other artists to join their session either in real time or for asynchronous work. Available for macOS and Windows, it supports major DAWs like Ableton, GarageBand, FL, and many others, maximizing compatibility for all users. And its Premium version is priced at a level any musician can afford: a one-time fee of $29.95.
From the user’s point of view, BeatConnect is compatible with any level of technical expertise. As a plugin, it requires no extra setup. Users can install the software and start jamming right away, with persistent in-app text chat (and video chat for Premium users) available as they work in a shared studio. Not a producer? BeatConnect’s standalone version lets musicians record vocals and instrumentals without needing a DAW, and integrates seamlessly with users who have the plugin.
BeatConnect's pricing tiers keep the service low-barrier. Its free Lite version allows three users per session, while Premium allows for up to five. Whether you’re working in Lite or Premium, BeatConnect provides a convenient, time-saving alternative to emailing bulky WAV files back and forth, and cloud storage adds a failsafe protecting musicians from inevitable technical glitches or user error. “Musicians are not project managers. Every musician I know has screwed up their computers and sometimes lost years’ worth of projects,” says Laroche. “With everything in the cloud, you can reload it on a different computer and all your sounds are still there.”
Laroche knows how exciting musical collaborations can be and how stressful it often is to make them happen. “My friends live in different cities,” he says. “So many weekends I rush home, shovel my gear into my car, get stuck in traffic for three hours, so excited to jam all weekend, and when I start plugging in I realize I forgot a cable. I get so mad!”
Life constantly comes between musicians and face-to-face jam sessions. “They’ve got to work all day, they take care of their kids, so they can’t make music with their friends anymore,” Laroche says. When they hear about BeatConnect, “they see the door open. They didn’t even know it was possible to do something like this.”
For BeatConnect, those moments of community are crucial, and accessibility is a core value. “Most of our users right now are bedroom producers,” notes co-founder Alexandre Turbide, whose workplace meeting with Laroche and project management expertise brought BeatConnect to life. “You don’t need to have high quality gear or the perfect internet connection to work with BeatConnect because of our straightforward workflow.”
“You can still make and export music with the free version,” adds design lead Yohan Antoine-Édouard, whose vision and experience in UX/UI design has been central to BeatConnect’s user-friendliness. “It’s still a comfortable space.”
With virtual collaboration increasingly common in music, BeatConnect couldn’t be a more timely option for maximum accessibility. “A lot of creators tell us that because of the pandemic, they’ve set up their home studio in such a way that they don’t want to leave it anymore. If they can make the music from there, it’s so much better for them. I think that’s here to stay,” says Antoine-Édouard.
That interest in using a personal workspace has longer-term implications. “If it’s not COVID,” says Turbide, “it’s going to be something else tomorrow. It’s become apparent that many areas of our lives are completely underserved in terms of collaborative tools.”
Laroche agrees. “If you’re a professional musician, time is money. Being able to go back and forth with BeatConnect helps people with time management and efficiency.”
At the end of the day, “it's about connecting people, not just systems.”
Mon Laferte Tickets ON SALE NOW For U.S. National Tour
Tickets for Chilean artist Mon Laferte's two-month tour of the U.S. are ON SALE NOW. The coast-to-coast run behind her recent album, “SEIS” will kick off September 14th.
Tickets for Chilean artist Mon Laferte's two-month tour of the U.S. are ON SALE NOW. The coast-to-coast run behind her recent album, SEIS will kick off September 14 in Seattle and head down the West Coast for shows at the famed Wiltern in Los Angeles and the Ohana Festival in Dana Point with Pearl Jam, Kings Of Leon, Sharon Van Etten, Maggie Rogers, My Morning Jacket, and more. The tour will then cross the country from Phoenix to Brooklyn wrapping back west in Tucson.
SEIS is an intensely personal album inspired by a documentary about Mexican-via Costa Rica singer Chavela Vargas, who is best known for revolutionizing Mexican ranchera music. The songs were born during the global pandemic and heavy isolation, and include carefully crafted lyrics, brought forth from self-reflection, allowing Mon to explore her deepest feelings, leaving nothing but vulnerability at this rare time.
Rolling Stone called Mon’s powerful duet with Alejandro Fernandez, "Que Se Sepa Nuestro Amor," "theatrical," adding, "Fernández and Laferte exchange operatic verses befit for a bodice-ripping romance novel.” Billboard said, "It’s the collaboration we didn’t know we needed… one of the most attractive pairings of the year."
Discussing “La Mujer,” The New York Times said, "Mon Laferte infuses vintage styles with up-to-date sentiments and fierce attitude" and The New Yorker added, "Laferte channels [Chavela] Vargas’s ability to convey both fierce grit and shattered vulnerability.” Robin Hilton at NPR Music noted SEIS, “Reminded me of a Chilean Édith Piaf...It’s easy to imagine her performing these songs late at night in a little club somewhere.”
Enjoy Mon Laferte's enamoring live performances of "Amor Completo,” "Que Se Sepa Nuestro Amor" and "Tu Falta De Querer" to prepare for her upcoming trip across the United States.
Purchase tickets here - https://linktr.ee/MonLaferteUSTour2021
L.A. Exes Announce Their Upcoming Debut Album "Get Some", and Share New Single
L.A. Exes are thrilled to announce their debut album “Get Some”, out August 20th, and give us their blunt and cheeky new song “Baby Let’s Pretend”.
L.A. Exes are thrilled to announce their debut album “Get Some”, out August 20th on Black Rainbow Records. The queer alt-pop rock quartet comprised of fast friends Sam Barbera (vox, bass), Jenny Owen Youngs (vox, guitar), Rachel White (lead guitar), and Steph Barker (drums) have already released a pair of singles, including “Skinny Dipping” and “Temporary Goodbye” which Stereogum described as “a jump, fizzy piece of power-pop about wanting to get away from all the stressful shit that’s constantly surrounding you.”
With this announcement, L.A. Exes give us “Baby Let’s Pretend”, a blunt and cheeky song about stealing a girl away from her lame boyfriend. “I’m really not convinced he keeps you coming / You don’t seem to miss him when we’re touchin’” go the opening lines.
“This song deals with the sticky situation of being kept as a secret. Not everybody's been there, but anyone who has knows it doesn't feel great. But just because something sucks doesn't mean you can't still have fun doing it!” - Jenny Owen Youngs
Listen to “Baby Let’s Pretend” below, stream it on your preferred music service and connect with L.A. Exes on their IG. Also, be on the lookout for the “Get Some” album which drops on August 20th.
Stream and Share “Baby Let’s Pretend”
Connect with L.A. Exes: Instagram
Amplifihub and Airbit Partner to Collect Unclaimed Royalties For Over 10,000 African Beatmakers
@Amplifihub, co-founded by star Afrobeat producer, Sarz, has officially partnered with @Airbit to bring their unique music monetization tools, including YouTube Content ID Monetization, to African beatmakers.
Many African creators have been the driving force behind global and regional hits--yet have never reaped the reward. Amplifihub, a Nigerian-based music production and licensing e-commerce platform, is partnering with Airbit, the producer hub and beats marketplace, to change this. The partnership will empower emerging and established producers across Africa by collecting unpaid publishing royalties from a wide range of sources.
As part of this partnership, Airbit will offer its unique music monetization tools and pioneering technologies to Amplifihub’s users. These tools will unlock vital revenue streams from platforms like YouTube for composers, artists, and producers across the region. Amplifihub, co-founded by award-winning Afrobeat beatmaker and producer Sarz, and Airbit share a vision to support talented producers at all stages and give them everything they need to create the career they want.
Speaking on this opportunity, Ezekiel Olayinka, COO of Amplifihub, expressed that Amplifihub is excited at the opportunity of working with Airbit, and looking forward to a long-lasting partnership between Amplifihub and Airbit. He also said that the partnership is in line with Amplifihub’s goal of ensuring that music producers earn while they create.
Excited to experience the value Airbit will bring to African creators and music producers, Judah Wiedre said, “Our mission is to create pathways to sustainable careers for some of the most talented audio creators on the planet, the world’s producers. This collaboration with Amplifihub lets us extend our mission to a new region and new creator communities.”
“The future of music is being created in markets that have been overlooked for too long. We’re excited to help connect more producers with the global royalty system and help them get the remuneration they deserve,” Airbit Founder and CEO Wasim Khamlichi explained.
Expressing her zeal to continue to provide opportunities for Music Creator across the Africa, Oyinkansola “Foza” Fawehinmi commented: “DMCE’s investment in Amplifihub is towards giving African creators the opportunity to live on their creation and this partnership is step towards making that happen and we are looking forward to the disruption”
“I have always stood at the forefront of emancipating African sound composers towards self dependence by making a living out of their creation. This partnership is part of getting that done,” Sarz stated.
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.
About Amplifihub
Amplifihub is an online platform where music producers, artistes and media houses in Africa can sign up to offer African music making services online. Our platform aims to make accessible, the African sound and music making experience to the world. It was founded in 2019 with investment from Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Limited (DMCE), the pan-African music investment company, and foremost African Music producer “Sarz” . Amplifihub offers users with the following services:
Personal Online Beat Store For African Music Producers
Html5 Beat Stores For Music Producers To Use On Personal Websites
African Instrumentals & Beat Store Database
African Mixing & Mastering Service Hub
Classic Catalogue Sample licensing
Osabuhoien Osaretin popularly known as “Sarz” is an award winning Afrobeats producer and starmaker who has more than 100 Afrobeats hits to his production credit. He is also the Founder of The Sarz Academy, a non-profit organization that develops emerging producers into household names and to name a few such producers include Dunnie, Ppriime, Tempo, STGprodigy.
BADBADNOTGOOD Announce New Album Due Out 10/8 and Share New Song/Video
Canadian ensemble @BADBADNOTGOOD return to announce their new album “Talk Memory”, due out October 8th; they’ve also just released their new single/video “Signal From The Noise”.
Canadian ensemble BADBADNOTGOOD returns to announce a new album. “Talk Memory”, the band's first album with XL Recordings in partnership with Innovative Leisure, features 9 new songs and is due October 8th. The album features musical contributions from Arthur Verocai, Karriem Riggins, Terrace Martin, Laraaji and acclaimed harpist Brandee Younger, who has worked with Moses Sumney, and Thundercat. Sporting visuals from Virgil Abloh, whose design firm Alaska-Alaska™ designed the cover for “Talk Memory”, the album is an evolution focused on collaboration and the magic of improvised live performance. Demonstrating emotional and poetic progress, the new album is an aural odyssey and a heartfelt expression of joy for the music and community the band considers itself lucky to inhabit.
Of the album, BBNG says: "It took a year or two of just living life to get to the place where the creative process was exciting again and once we actually went in to the studio it was the most concise recording and writing process we’ve ever had. We hope that the improvised studio performances bring the listener closer to our live experience."
To coincide with the announcement of “Talk Memory”, BADBADNOTGOOD are also sharing the album's lead single. “Signal From The Noise” is a psychedelic jazz track exploring balance and harmony through improvisation. The new track is accompanied by a Duncan Loudon-directed video. Starring Steve Stamp, writer and star of the BBC's sitcom People Just Do Nothing, the video is a pitch-perfect accompaniment to the song.
The album announcement comes on the heels of the band going viral on TikTok in June. Tallying 500k+ Tik Tok edit videos of "Time Moves Slow," the band is now averaging 4.4 million monthly streams and over 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The band also recently released issue one of The Memory Catalogue; a print series illustrated by Moya Garrison-Msingwana (Gangbox) of world-building newsletters that fold out into a 32” x 24” poster, releasing with each piece of new music to contextualize Talk Memory. Available in select locations such as Stussy, Noah, Psychic Wines, and more, the newsletter-turned poster features exclusive content (sheet music, illustrated artwork, unseen photos etc.) that allows fans to peek behind the curtain of the BBNG universe. See the list of locations here. This collectible item is also available via the XL webstore and indie record shops and downloadable sheet music for "Signal From The Noise" is available here.
Listen to and watch "Signal From The Noise" and pre-order “Talk Memory”, and stay tuned for more from BADBADNOTGOOD soon.
Interview: Seattle Based Artist SevenLeafs Talks About Her Debut Song "Pokerface"
DCWS connected with eclectic Seattle based artist @sevenleafsxo for an exclusive interview to discuss her debut single “Pokerface”, and much more.
“I think I stand out by accident. LOL. I have alway been told I was an odd one...but I have learned it is my strength rather than a weakness.”
We're huge fans of your debut song "Pokerface"; describe for us your creative process for its development and who produced it?
I was basically just speaking from experience when I made the song. My creative process? Well, I basically hear the music and the music starts to speak words (lol) I wrote the lyrics to this song and I had a ghost producer.
Can we expect to hear "Pokerface" on an upcoming EP or album in development? If so, what can you tell us about it?
Yes, I am one song away from finishing my album. This album allows you to think if you want to think and if you want to chill you can vibe.
Who are some artists that have influenced you musically throughout the years and how do you stand out from them?
I love old school artist like Luther Vandross, Bobby Caldwell, Patty Labelle, James Ingram, Chaka Khan, Journey, Earth Wind and Fire, Sade, Eagle, Tears for Fears, Odessa, Masego, Yuna, The Fat Rat, Crywolf, Kerli, Jacob Lee, Dabin, Tokio Meyers, Sango, Tupac... I have a lot of international artists I like as well...OMG! I have so many! It's like asking me what my favorite color is...there are just too many!
I would say these artists are my encouragement and my chill point. Stand out? I think I stand out by accident. LOL. I have alway been told I was an odd one...but I have learned it is my strength rather than a weakness.
Tell us about your process when you are working on new music; do you generally write music before or after you have an instrumental track?
I would say 70 percent to the time I will make a beat or hear one from my trusted producers and begin to write. The other 30 percent of the time I will hear a song in my sleep (ancestors) and I will write it down in my dream journal as fast as I can or use my phone to record so I can go back later and work on it from there.
Sometimes this is more challenging because I want it to sound exactly like what I heard and sometimes I can't find or explain the right instruments.
When did you know that you wanted to pursue music seriously and what do you remember about your first time in the recording studio?
When I was really young (lol) but it wasn't until the last couple years ago that I finally started finding myself, my own style and my own message. Again, I have to thank my guides, angels and ancestors for being my biggest inspiration and encouragement.
My first time in a recording studio singing was with a church group I was a part of; at the time we were making an album almost in one night. I was on a few songs but freaking exhausting and at the same time exciting. It was fun because I was with so many people. The Tech was super cool. This man worked long into the night with us. I was in AZ at the time.
Stream and Share “Pokerface” on: Spotify | Soundcloud
Interview: New Zealand Based Artist/Producer Manu Francois Talks About His New Song "Fire Love"
Big up to New Zealand based artist/producer @manufrancois98 who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his new song “Fire Love”, and much more!
“...the song “Fire Love” is inspired by the calling for expressions of love and freedom. Particularly in a spiritual sense. Although many of us feel the presence of the divine in our life more or less from time to time...”
Congratulations on the release of your new song “Fire Love”; tell us about what inspired you to write the song and who produced it.
Thank you very much! Yes the song “Fire Love” is inspired by the calling for expressions of love and freedom. Particularly in a spiritual sense. Although many of us feel the presence of the divine in our life more or less from time to time, there still is a distance between us and that that is our source, our Creator. And the cultural differences that we live with make the expressions of Divine recognition a bit of a mine-field.
So this song was created in and around that sense.
How would you say that the music you create as a solo artist is different from that of your band ZoLeKa?
Well, for those who don't know. I play in a band called ZoLeKa. We are a groove roulette band, each member taking their turn at the front of the band to bring to life their own creations with the backing of the rest of the band.
I have the delight of playing with some truly iconic people and creating new and interesting versions of my own songs such as 'A Way For Both Our Ways', 'Home', even cross-genre renditions like my song 'Belly With The Bone' which is a bit of a sultry RnB tune, we play as a Ska rendition! Which is great! Totally unexpected and delightful.
Imagine a Reggae version of 'Fire On The Breath'!
So yes, when I create music on my own, it's a whole nother vibe than when I create music with the band. Co-creation is just a different process, and for me, I want to make music that gels with everyone in the band. So we do what sounds best rather than sticking to faithful renditions of the old versions, and in this, truly fun music is created.
Will “Fire Love” be featured on an upcoming EP or album? If so, what can you tell us about it?
Yes, “Fire Love” will feature on my next solo production EP, which I am very excited about (in the midst of all that is going on professionally at the moment). I have a fantastic 'House Remix' of my song “Home”, which will also feature. This is such a charming song I really can't wait to release it. There are some videos of it being played on my Instagram (@manufrancois98).
This and the other songs on this EP are reminiscent of my African heritage and my appreciation for the African culture and language, while at the same time, remaining perfectly consumable by audiences anywhere in the world. This is my aim. To make Fusion music that pays homage to a certain culture and style while still being fully relatable and enjoyable for audiences worldwide.
Tell us about your creative process when you are working on new music. What do you look for in production?
When I'm working on new music, if I don't start with a riff or chord progression on the guitar, then I usually start with a drum beat/rhythm. Once I have something that I feel makes my body want to move, then I move onto the chords, often wanting to honour both Major and Minor progressions. For I have come to realise that the typical sweet and melancholic minor movements are sweeter when they come out of a progression that spoke to a different part of us. For we have both joy and sadness in us. Mixing the two is how you really emphasize their characters.
Tell us about how you ended up as a playable character in the mobile game S.O.O.N.?
I formed a friendship and business partnership with Anthony Spady from R1Dmusic (R1Dmusic.com, R1Dvideos.com) and it is him who is the creator of the upcoming mobile game 'Something Out Of Nothing' (S.O.O.N).
I have seen myself as a playable character in this game, I am dressed in my Black Belt Kung Fu outfit and it looks awesome.
I am excited to see how developments with the game come along in the coming year.
Blessed Thanks for interviewing me today. I would direct you to my Spotify and my Instagram, to follow me on both accounts. When you hear something that you like, share that on your socials, let's all work together to make a buzz around my music and artistry and get my ass out of New Zealand and come touring around the world! Haha, Much love, one and all!
Connect with Manu Francois: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Soundcloud
SZA Drops Her First NFT Collection Called Amex UNSTAGED x SZA: The Collection
For the first time ever, @AmericanExpress Card Members have the opportunity to purchase NFTs with Grammy-nominated artist @SZA very first NFT collection - called Amex UNSTAGED x SZA: The Collection. The extremely limited, one-of-a-kind collection is hosted and sold by @Fanaply.
For the first time ever, American Express Card Members have the opportunity to purchase NFTs with Grammy-nominated artist SZA’s very first NFT collection - called Amex UNSTAGED x SZA: The Collection - to commemorate the 4-year anniversary of her critically-acclaimed debut album, “CTRL” and her Amex UNSTAGED performance during Membership Week, that included a surprise performance with Travis Scott. Today, at 5pm ET, the drop became available for the public to purchase with any Card. The extremely limited, one-of-a-kind collection is hosted and sold by Fanaply, one of the industry leading NFT developers for the biggest names in music, sports and entertainment. SZA is dropping her first-ever collection of NFTs, featuring her favorite moments from the show, including behind-the-scenes and other never-before-seen photos from her recent Amex UNSTAGED performance, as a way for fans to keep a piece of her epic performance forever.
Fanaply is one of the original creators of NFTs, beginning in 2019 with digital collectibles for the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. Fanaply believes the future of NFTs is an accessible one, where people can actually afford to buy them and purchase with credit/debit cards. No crypto or crypto knowledge needed to buy! Fanaply has the most environmentally friendly NFTs and has built a proprietary system that dramatically reduces the impact of energy consumption.
The Amex UNSTAGED series is built around giving Card Members an opportunity to go beyond the stage and connect with artists in new innovative ways, and providing Card Members with access to this NFT collection builds on that experience.
Amex UNSTAGED x SZA: The Collection Assets/Details:
More drop details:
o Each NFT is one-of-a-kind
o 14 total one-of-one NFTs will be available for purchase with an American Express Card at fanaply.com/szaamexunstaged
o Price - $100 each
o NFT drop #1 - On sale to SZA’s Amex UNSTAGED performance attendees on Friday, July 9 at 5pm ET – sold out immediately
o NFT drop #2 - On sale to all Card Members on Monday, July 12 at 5pm ET