Stream "Crimson", the DOPE Debut Mixtape by Omari Vel
Check out the very DOPE debut mixtape entitled “Crimson” by Philadelphia based rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist @lil_halfie right now!
Philadelphia based rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist Omari Vel is considered to be an orchestra kid. From the ages 8-18, they/them was in orchestras of all sizes from Philharmonic to Quartets, and has worked hard develop a mastery of music.
An apt example of this musical mastery is on full display with Omari’s debut mixtape entitled “Crimson”, which includes seven DOPE tracks. Omari specifies they/them music as “Glam Rap”, and we concur that this project is glamorously lit. We want to say more, but we’ll hold off until we post our in-depth review of the mixtape which is coming very soon.
Interview: London's Harun Rune Talks About His New Single/Video "MOSCHINO"
Big salute to London based artist and creative @HarunRuse who DCWS connected with for an exclusive interview to discuss his very DOPE visual for “MOSCHINO”, and much more.
“I spent time in the city uptown, downtown and roundtown at parties enjoying the champagne lifestyle and meeting new people. “MOSCHINO” gives my fans and new listeners a chance to get a glimpse of how I talk and what I came from.”
We're blown away by your new music video for "MOSCHINO"; tell us about what inspired you to create the song itself and who produced it.
From a young age I was fan of MOSCHINO. I grew up in the London culture, where the sharpest and most swaggy new about this Italian Brand that had innovative designs selling jeans, shirts, tee's and jackets for men and a full array of clothes for women including bags which till this day are very popular.
I spent time in the city uptown, downtown and roundtown at parties enjoying the champagne lifestyle and meeting new people. “MOSCHINO” gives my fans and new listeners a chance to get a glimpse of how I talk and what I came from.
“MOSCHINO” was produced by Sekko, a talented European producer that had a one of a kind sound I had to get on. I reached out and made it happen. I feel that we came together to hear something the people have never heard before.
Regarding the video, how did you and the director come up with its treatment?
I'm someone that has always been creative, I'm involved in art direction and styling, I write my own video treatments. Putting something together for this that was reminiscent of the VH1 era and has all the aspects of a video from the start of the music TV era. I wanted to keep it clean and distinct. Reminding people that this was art remembering a music video where I angle more towards film.
The director WillVisions came through for me to make something that is quality and always has replay value. Feedback I get is that it never gets boring. People always find the little touches I put in it for those with a keen eye.
Is "MOSCHINO" a part of an upcoming EP or album? If not, what can we expect next musically from you?
“MOSCHINO” is the first single from my project “GOLD“, which is an exquisite collection of sounds for the listeners with best taste.
Expect more singles that tells tell you in more detail who I am and the life I lead in Britain. How we turn up, how sauce on em, how we work hard to live this life in the city as lit individuals.
There are private listening parties happening worldwide in anticipation for this full length 10 track project.
You're not just a DOPE rapper, but a creative in general, as a model, business owner with a clothing line, and more. How do you juggle all these responsibilities without getting burned out?
I get after it all day, I'm blessed to have life and make sure I go for mine. It's great to do the things I love and get paid for it. As time goes on things get better.
I make sure I workout and rest like a regime to stay fit and healthy so I've got the energy to never fall off. I bounce back from anything.
What do you look for in the beats that you select when you are writing new music?
I look for a beats and instrumentals that allow to create an art piece with a mood I can translate to a listener. I like different tempos and construct narratives and flows on site.
Music is a craft I'm glad I'm gifted with because I'm inspired by sounds and have always needed a number of outlets for my creative vision. Making sure my audience can here the stylistics aspects of fashion, film, culture and art as they engage with my collections.
It's nice that it's going further by the day.
How did you connect with Chicago based producer Bitoy Beatz and what's next to come from this collaboration?
I met Bitoy Beatz online years ago back when I was releasing experimental works on Soundcloud. I've never heard a producer quite like him, who has such a distinct and varied sound. There's nothing like it; once you put a flow like mine with instrumentation like his the effect is amazing and speaks tons about both artists. I'm priveleged to work often with producers from the states and worldwide. Once I want I get it.
Stream and Share “MOSCHINO” on Spotify
Connect with Harun Rune: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Interview: Blac Samurai Discusses His Brand New Album "Soul Glitch"
DCWS connected with Chicago based rap artist @bsamuraimusic for an exclusive interview to discuss his new album entitled “Soul Glitch”, and much more.
“Blac Samurai came from a Wu-Tang name generator. When I took a step back and looked at my life, I was and still am a huge fan of kung fu movies/ mix marital movies...”
Congratulations on the completion and release of your new album "Soul Glitch". Tell us about the album's development; how long did it take to complete and what was your beat selection process like for the nine songs?
The development for “Soul Glitch” started in 2014. Taking those four years to carefully craft certain things to write about and to wrap my head around the meaning of “Soul Glitch”.
The beat selection was tricky because I wanted the album to flow differently, you know? I wanted to feel like you're in a different world floating around. So the only way I can fully make the album complete is by having two sides. This part is Side 1 with nine songs. Side 2 is completely different and being worked on as we speak.
What made T.E.E the perfect artist to appear with you on the CharlieP produced track "Tap In"?
T.E.E was perfect because he naturally has a bounce to his flow and can switch up his flow at any second. I love that type of stuff in an artist and with me being a huge fan of his music, it only made sense to get him on that song. You should check out his music too. He's a beast man, for real (listen to T.E.E HERE).
How did you decide on the moniker "Blac Samurai" and how has the Wu-Tang Clan influenced you artistically?
Blac Samurai came from a Wu-Tang name generator. When I took a step back and looked at my life, I was and still am a huge fan of kung fu movies/ mix marital movies. Wu-Tang was the name, so I looked at them as the way to process everything.
Wu-Tang's raw approach to music lyrically and sonically really influenced me a lot. The influence will show more on Side 2 of “Soul Glitch”.
With your incredible "Soul Glitch" album now released, what is next for you musically?
Next up is to finish up Side 2 of “Soul Glitch”, new clothes for my clothing line, and finding places to perform. It all takes patience, so I'm taking my time with it.
Who did the awesome artwork for the "Soul Glitch" album cover and what does it represent?
Man the artwork was done by Ajam. The cover represents being reborn into a different world and looking at it from a different point of view.
Songs such as “Born Like This” and “Dreams” are you becoming reborn into this system and it's feeling good to you. It feels like freedom that's why the hook for “Dreams” is "If I'm dreaming, just let me dream". So it all fits into one as a story or as a trip.
Stream and Share “Soul Glitch” on: Bandcamp | Spotify
Read our review of “Soul Glitch” — HERE
Connect with Blac Samurai: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Review: "Soul Glitch" Album by Blac Samurai
The “Soul Glitch” album shows off @bsamuraimusic uncanny flair for storytelling mixed with a production style that has a fully lived-in, deep-rooted history behind it. Check out our in-depth review of this DOPE album now.
Chicago based rap artist Blac Samurai features fine philosophical flows that are pure fire on the lush “Soul Glitch”. Everything about this album offers a fully immersive unique experience, from the careful cadence of his verses to the cloudy, dreamy atmospheres that he sculpts with care. A neat mixture of trap meets vaporwave; there is an intensity to the album.
Melodies weave their way through the entirety of the album and it is best taken in as a singular whole in order to appreciate the ornate narratives that play off each other, for Blac Samurai’s rapping style goes for an incredible range from near dream-like states to retrospectives on a whole people’s history.
A deep understanding of hip-hop’s traditions and Blac Samurai’s willingness to mess with them results in a true swagger that giddily rolls on through. On the hip-hop side, his delivery takes on a bit of Yung Lean’s poetic word choice with such detail rushing on through. Beyond this, there are some of the unusual verses that recall some of Tyler, the Creator’s vulnerability.
Production-wise, Blac Samurai dives deep into rather experimental producers, with nods to D/P/I’s fractured beats. Clever sampling does recall a bit of Ahnnu’s early output, and there is a glimmering ambiance to the whole thing, drawing equally from pieces of jazz as well as house, resulting in a kaleidoscope of textures.
Heavy electronics and sci-fi sampling start things up on a high note with “Born Like This”. The rumble of the bass makes “Dreams” a rather sultry experience, complete with vinyl crackle alongside his surrealistic vocalizations. Virtually taking a page from Future Sound of London’s expansive discography are the found sounds of “Match (All Black) ‘21”.
Keyboard vamps give “Break” a futuristic flair. Various details emerge with “Tap In”, feat. T.E.E. Grooves go for a physicality with “All That” for it unfurls with majesty. Slow-moving the languid “Bag prt. II” explores atmosphere with a reflective stance. Bursting at the seams comes the sheer intensity of “New Heaven (On Me)”. A grand finale brings it all home for “The Matrix” references a disembodied funk.
The “Soul Glitch” album shows off Blac Samurai’s uncanny flair for storytelling mixed with a production style that has a fully lived-in, deep-rooted history behind it.
Stream and Share “Soul Glitch” on: Spotify | Bandcamp
Interview: Royal Tiago Talks About His Newly Released Album "33RD"
Big salute to DMV based rap artist @royal_tiago who connected with DCWS for an exclusive interview to discuss his brand new album “33RD”, and much more.
“...I want the listener to enjoy themselves, have fun, but appreciate the things I talk about in my music; I need you to hear the blood, sweat, and tears literally. ”
Congratulations on the release of your new album "33RD"; tell us your creative process for the development of the songs, and who provided the production on the project.
Well I travel back and fourth to California with my team and during that time we were just finding ways to make things happen. I recorded most of the album in California, just locked in with my engineer, vibe and create the music right on the spot.
Production came from a few producers who I reached out to specifically for this project.
We're huge fans of the album, but "Winning" really stuck out to us; what inspired you to write it, and can we expect a music video for it?
Most Definitely!! A video will be coming for “Winning”, maybe in Russia, that’s an exclusive!
The inspiration just came from a car accident I was in that almost took my life and my team working hard every day! To reach our goals. We all quit our 9 to 5 job and bet on ourselves and since then we’ve been winning, no pun intended.
Talk about how you initially got started writing rhymes and the artists that influenced you musically early on. Also, is there a rapper or singer who would be your go-to featured artist on a song?
I started when a close friend of mine on my team brought his recording equipment to my house and we would just rap on beats all day. I was heavily influenced by Lil Wayne mostly, and Juelz Santana, I know those guys music like it’s my own.
My go to who I would love to do music with would be Kanye but because of his production, need a Yeezy produced album.
With "33RD" now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2021?
Right now one goal is to shoot every single video for each song on the album. Another goal is to get it in the right hands to keep our momentum going and to keep people listening.
When someone listens to the "33RD" album, or any of your music, what do you want them to take away from the experience?
Great question, I want them to listen and appreciate it. As an artist you put a lot of time, effort etc. into your music and those who don’t appreciate, it is a lil disappointing. But also I want the listener to enjoy themselves, have fun but appreciate the things I talk about in my music; I need you to hear the blood, sweat, and tears literally.
Stream and Share “33RD” on: Apple Music | Spotify
J-Pop Sensation Shihori Fuses Musical Eclecticism Into a Fluid Think Piece With New "Mutation" Album
With each song a piece of art unto itself, J-Pop indie sensation @shihoriNY aptly titled new album, “Mutation”, cleverly surmises her uncanny ability to fuse her eclecticism in music into a fluid think piece. Listen to it now!
With each song a piece of art unto itself, J-Pop indie sensation Shihori’s aptly titled new album, Mutation cleverly surmises her uncanny ability to fuse her eclecticism in music into a fluid think piece.
At 15-tracks strong, and available now, the dynamic debut LP features new single, “Under the Skin.” With her exquisite vocals clear, pristine, and with a touch of lilt that lands like the beauty of precious glass, Shihori shines on the track — its layered harmonies creating mesmerizing, siren-esque hooks that grab you from inside and refuse to let you go.
Weaving intricate melodies with pop culture edge, Shihori fluently mashes the harmonies with exciting instrumentation. Where she excels is her ability to lure you in and captivate you long enough to keep you around till the next track.
For example, among some of Mutation’s previously released breakthroughs “Perfect Imperfection,” “Jungle (Cyber Mix),” and “I Cover You” lays “Fire” — a song that breaks boundaries and incinerates all previous notions of what pop could do, be, think, or feel. Stomping its industrial beat over exciting rushing vocals, it mingles with effects, stripping back to raw and vulnerable, and challenges you to try and sit still. On “Fire,” Shihori dances between big ballad belts to spoken word, rap lyrics — a trick she executes flawlessly, both on the song and in its high voltage music video.
Hailing from Japan, Shihori’s venture into creating and developing music has been a precarious life-long process — and one that worked as an ability to relate to the world around her in a way she’d never understood prior.
Born deaf in her left ear, Shihori was also diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (part of the Autistic Spectrum) at a young age. Seemingly trapped in her “isolation,” Shihori found the ability to break into her place in the world during a chance karaoke encounter with a group of school children. Her natural ability to perform would become the key that would unlock her.
And from that point forward, Shihori was destined for a life of music.
“I have rather considered my deafness as a ‘gift’, and the other ear is a ‘gift,’ as well, because my right ear has a perfect pitch by nature,” Shihori says.
Motivated by her love of song, despite a lack of formal musical education, she would go on to compose, learn, and listen to a variety of artists, honing and developing her craft. Her direction was fueled by passion, and her music became the words she’d never known how to previously articulate.
She’d found her voice.
Inspired by the all the anime she watched, and the classical works of Beethoven, whom she’d begun to learn as she began taking piano lessons, Shihori says these “unlikely bedfellows of vibrant pop and art music from the classical and romantic periods would come to shape the foundation of the music” she creates today.
Ultimately, Shihori would both move to Tokyo and sign with Lantis record label in 2007, going on to score her first Top 5 chart success with the single, “Never End Wonderland”. Her experiences living in the city, being a part of the new environment, and finding recognition in others who also struggled to discover their own identities shaped Shihori as songwriter, and a champion for acceptance of oneself. “As I was meeting new people and singing in new environments, my writing changed because I began to truly see the world and the hurt that is out there,” she says. “I felt the struggle.”
The young songwriter found herself with a higher purpose and a stronger calling: to provide words of love, support, and self-acceptance. “Why do I have to change my shape to be the same as everyone else? What's wrong with looking different from others? I am not miserable!! I like how I was born!”
Her commitment to her creativity as an authentic storyteller coupled with the message on her heart granted Shihori a conglomerate of opportunities in the world of anime — including a commission to bring her songwriting abilities and talents to high-profile series such as Fairy Tale and The Irregular Magic at Highschool.
Shihori has also enjoyed international success performing lead vocals on composer Mason Lieberman’s charity single, “The Real Folk Blues,” which reached #6 on the Billboard World Digital Chart, as well as composing and performing the ‘Battle Queens’ theme song for the video game League Of Legends, which is closing in on 1 million Spotify streams.
These fruitful opportunities also land among some of Shirohi’s other major accomplishments in the industry, having collaborated with Kohei Tanaka (ONE PIECE) and Yoko Kanno (Ghost In The Shell). To date, Shihori has found incredible success on the Japanese song charts, with nearly a dozen of her songs selling more than 100,000 units each, achieving Gold-selling status in her home country.
“I have the desire to become one of the new role models of Asian women, to empower all the races, although not by being a stereotypical ‘cool Asian woman’ but more as being a super ‘Shihori,’” she shares. “I feel like I was destined to be here at this point in time, and to be involved in American society through my musical activity.”
In 2018, she would make the bold leap of faith to cross-over into the United States in an effort to pursue her musical journey. Her time in the US would primarily focus on a new creative process — developing her songwriting in English, in addition to touring across the country.
In Mutation, Shihori explores the struggle to evolve herself into her American version of Shihori through New York’s concrete jungles, and takes her music, melodies, and message to heights not yet discovered by the rest of the J-pop industry; she’s carving a path all her own. “Mutation is very diverse, and the songs showcase how I’ve mutated since I moved to the US in 2018,” Shihori reveals, adding, “Through those experiences [in life], 'love who you are' became the core message of my music…
“And now, I think America needs this message too,” she continues. “What does it matter if your skin color is white or black? What matters more is what your SOUL looks like.”
Get ready to shapeshift with an album that could be pop. It could be J-pop. It could be electronica, dance, world music, or, at the end of the day, is genuinely the Mutation of an artist who knows the only constant in music is change.
And she’s developing that change through a sound you can’t possibly understand to hear, until you dare to hear her lay it all on the song.
Listen to “Mutation” below and connect with Shihori on her social media.
Chicago Rap Artist Blac Samurai Releases His New Album "Soul Glitch"
Chicago based rap artist @bsamuraimusic just unveils his new album entitled “Soul Glitch”. Listen to this DOPE project now, and be on the lookout for our exclusive interview and in-depth album review coming soon.
Blac Samurai is a rap artist born and raised in Chicago who artistically has a mixture of smooth flow and lyrics. He blends the influences of Three Six Mafia, Biggie, Wu Tang, Outkast, Pusha T, Jay Z, and many more. With the lyrics like poetry, Blac keeps the balance of simplicity and rawness, giving you the space to get away from life and slowly bringing you back.
The name Blac Samurai comes from the Wu-Tang name generator, fitting the love of Kung Fu and Mix Martial Arts films, very similar to how Wu-Tang came together and getting their style.
Blac recently released his 9-track album entitled “Soul Glitch”, which features T.E.E, and production from Claine, VinnyFro, T.O, AE Beats, CharlieP, KVNG Zuzi x Jayden Richards, R.Munoz, and John Savage Music. “Soul Glitch” follows Blac’s album released earlier this year, “Garden of Deities” (stream HERE).
The entire “Soul Glitch” project is a certified banger, but that is all we can tell you right now, because our in-depth review is coming soon, as is our exclusive interview with Blac. In the meantime, listen to the album right now, stream it on Bandcamp and connect with Blac on his social media.
Stream and Share “Soul Glitch” on Bandcamp
Connect with Blac Samurai: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Beirut Based Pianist/Composer Vladimir Kurumilian Shares His New Project "(UN)COMMON GROUNDS”
Vladimir Kurumilian just unveiled his new project “(UN)COMMON GROUNDS”, which follows four individuals in their attempt to relive fleeting moments from a past life, a life that once was and can no longer be. Listen to this incredible release now!
Lebanese-Armenian interior architect, pianist, and composer Vladimir Kurumilian earned his reputation locally and internationally through his integration of contemporary, folk, and electronic music within his work. Vladimir’s early introduction to music throughout his childhood, eventual immersion into contemporary art, and experimentation with improvisation allowed him to forge his own, personalized artistic path.
Vladimir just released his project “(UN)COMMON GROUNDS”, which follows four individuals in their attempt to relive fleeting moments from a past life, a life that once was and can no longer be. One inflection point after another, a new reality has settled while memories still lurk in the empty corridors. Entangled and once again disentangled, these individuals lose grip of what initially brought them together, unable to find a common ground from which to comprehend this new reality. Reveries of the past animate worn-down walls and crumbling foundations as the four dancers slowly descend further and further into a rabbit hole.
Stream "33RD", the DOPE Newly Released Album by DMV Based Rap/RnB Artist and Songwriter Royal Tiago
Talented DMV based Rap/RnB artist and songwriter @Royal_Tiago has just released his 17-track album entitled “33RD”. Check out this DOPE new project now!
Royal Tiago is a talented Rap/RnB artist and songwriter out of the DMV area who has been putting in the work, grinding, and perfecting his artistic craft for years. His music has a smooth vibe, but he also displays that he can rap with the best of them when he so well pleases.
Speaking on rapping, Royal Tiago just dropped his 17-track project entitled “33RD”, and we’re excited to share it with you right now. “33RD” follows Royal Tiago’s EP from last year, “Do You Ev3n Car3”, and his 2019 album, “Easi3r Said Than Don3”, which are both very DOPE.
Listen to the “33RD” album below, stream it on Apple Music, and connect with Royal Tiago on his website and social media. Also, be on the lookout for our exclusive interview with Royal Tiago coming soon!
Genre-Bending Singer-Songwriter Nya Releases Her Brand New EP "Requiem of Me"
Listen to “Requiem of Me”, the brand new 4-track EP by Los Angeles/Uruguay based pop singer-songwriter Nya.
"I want a digital demise," sings Nya on "High," the penetrating kickoff track on her latest EP, “Requiem of Me”. She's not pulling any punches. In language that's both frank and clever, she lays out the predicament of the modern artist— dependent on screens and social-media approval, but regretful of the time taken away from truly being present in life and artistic exploration. On four glittering jazz-inflected pop songs, Nya wrestles with the exigencies of internet existence and wonders aloud whether the benefits have been worth the price. Impossible standards, casual dishonesty, the culture of constant comparison: it's all taken its toll on society. Few pop singers have been willing to look the beast in the eye, but Nya has never been short on bravery.
It helps that she's so good at what she does. Nya has the type of immediately appealing, endlessly adaptable voice that elevates everything she sings. She's equally at home singing streamlined electropop, soulful R&B, sleek new wave, and throwback jazz — and “Requiem of Me” incorporates and balances elements from all of those styles. The production on the EP displays the same flexibility that has distinguished Nya among young pop singers: she's always growing, always listening, and always pushing to augment her already-formidable skills. Though she was born in Florida, she currently lives between LA and Uruguay, always seeking fresh perspective and inspiration from wherever she may be in the world.
The “Requiem of Me” EP is the culmination of a recent period of travel, experimentation, and introspection, and while it isn't exactly true to say that it wouldn't have happened without the pandemic, it wouldn't be as moody, immersive, or forthright as it is. You've likely already heard the lead single "Won't Pick Up The Phone," a very grown-up pop song that confronts inertia, depression, and transcendence in the sort of straightforward language that comes so naturally to Nya. American Songwriter compared it to Adele and Amy Winehouse. The song's mesmerizing, dream-haunted video has been viewed more than a million times on YouTube since its July release. Nya and her producers follow up "WPUTP" with the jazz-spiked "The Old Me" and "Lost Girl," two songs that demonstrate the strength and texture of her voice and further deepen her confessional storytelling. By the end of the short but powerful set, you'll know this artist well — and you'll be privy to the secret of her success. The more uncompromising she is, the more alluring she becomes.
Versebooks Hosts One-of-a-Kind Autographed Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker Auction and Exclusive NFT Artwork Drop
Music NFT marketplace Versebooks is hosting a one-of-a-kind autographed Wu-Tang Jordan III prototype sneaker auction and exclusive NFT artwork drop. Be a part of history with the legendary hip hop group by purchasing the NFT artwork of the autographed 1 of 1 Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker for $1.
VerseBooks is hosting a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker Auction and exclusive NFT artwork drop. VerseBooks is one of the first black owned music NFT marketplaces, leveraging the power of blockchain technology and smart contracts. The platform also specializes in other genres of entertainment. VerseBooks enables any user such as a songwriter, record label, publishing company, filmmaker, artist, producer, or fan to mint NFTs from various forms of content including lyrics, audio verses, instrumentals, album artwork, video visuals, GIFs, songs and sell the product on our marketplace.
Versebooks will auction a size 11 one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype pair of Sneakers, autographed by the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, U-God, Ol' Dirty Bastard by Young Dirty Bastard, Cappadonna, Mathematics, and Killah Priest. The Sneakers also come with a custom-made Wu-Tang Clan carrying case in the original flight box, an exclusive NFT artwork of the autographed 1 of 1 Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker, a digital copy of the martial arts Black Salt film and the Black Superhero single featuring RZA.
The one-of-a-kind autographed Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker Auction began on October 1st, on www.versebooks.com. The auction will last for 30 days, and the Sneakers will start with an opening bid of $20,000.
To get more people involved in this one-of-a-kind collector’s item, there will also be an autographed Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker exclusive NFT artwork for sale for $1 that comes with a promo code to view the martial arts Black Salt film and a digital copy of the “Black Superhero” single featuring RZA.
The one-of-a-kind autographed Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype sneakers are provided by Matthew Markoff, president of Holy Toledo Productions, LLC. Artist turned Music Executive in Hip-Hop for over 20 years as an A&R/Legal Admin, Markoff has serviced over 120 album releases for the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, E-40, and Snoop Dogg to name a few.
Be a part of history with the legendary hip hop group by purchasing the exclusive NFT artwork of the autographed 1 of 1 Wu-Tang Jordan III Prototype Sneaker for $1.
About VerseBooks, Inc. dba VerseBooks
VerseBooks platform empowering music creators to own and license their music compositions as NFTs, innovating the music industry. VerseBooks, the revolutionary new way to protect your music compositions using NFTs. No one wants to have their verses, songs, lyrics, hooks, or music intellectual property lost, stolen, or used unauthorized. With our mobile app, you can access your VerseBooks from anywhere at any time. Use the app to register or discover new songs, lyrics, songwriters and engage the VerseBooks community. For additional information, please visit VerseBooks.com or contact Delence A. Sheares Sr. delence@versebooks.com and or Owen Ratliff owen@versebooks.com
Nashville Based Singer-Songwriter Maddy Hicks Releases Her New Album "Reclaiming"
After releasing EPs “Nightlife” and “Daylight” earlier this year, Nashville artist Maddy Hicks combined the two and released a full-length album called “Reclaiming”. Listen to Maddy’s new album now!
After releasing EPs “Nightlife” and “Daylight” earlier this year, Nashville artist Maddy Hicks combined the two and released a full-length album called “Reclaiming”. The album features all of the songs from the EPs as well as three new tracks.
Reclaiming tells a story from start to finish. The first track “Backseat,” which was also the project’s first single, reveals a twentysomething dissatisfaction with life that is addressed throughout the album. There is a lot of yearning in the first half of the project. From large pop numbers with false confidence to lo-fi breakup ballads, the top half is honest and dishonest, messy and pure. The turning point happens during “My Eyes Have Dried,” a powerful song about finally getting over a past relationship. From that point onward, the tone of the album shifts toward confidence and love from a truly genuine perspective. The project closes with an ambitious number called “Blazer Days,” which reflects on self-love through loving others. A slow motion outro with psychedelic production and freeform lyrics brings the album and its story to a peaceful end.
Originally from upstate New York, Maddy has been performing her self-written music for almost a decade. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2018 to pursue a career as a songwriter and artist while studying at Belmont University. She writes about the twentysomething experience with a unique sense of rhythm and rhyme beneath powerful melodies. In December of 2019, Maddy released her debut album “The Bliss You Missed”. Since then, she has transitioned into more of a pop sound. She has been releasing singles and EPs throughout 2021 building up to the release of her album “Reclaiming”, which dropped on September 24th.
“This project is about my experiences with losing and finding myself in all aspects of life. The pressures that can cause a person to evolve can be internal or external; striving to be better, struggling with mental health, facing societal expectations, loving someone, losing someone, and loving someone all over again. It’s messy and endlessly frustrating, but it’s also human. I wanted to create something that captures this feeling and reminds others that their struggles and successes are beautiful. So I made Reclaiming.” – Maddy Hicks
Listen to the amazing “Reclaiming” album right now, connect with Maddy on social media and her website.
Connect with Maddy Hicks: Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
BeatConnect’s Creators Program Offers Musicians and Producers Opportunities For Fan Connections and New Revenue
Virtual collaboration platform BeatConnect is launching BeatConnect Creators, an influencer program that will offer artists new opportunities to connect with fans, discover new revenue streams, and build a following.
From Facebook livestreams to Fortnite festivals, virtual experiences are reshaping the live music landscape. Artists and audiences are connecting like never before, regardless of how much physical distance stands between them. Continuing this trend, Montreal-based startup BeatConnect is launching BeatConnect Creators to offer artists a new platform to connect and collaborate with fans and followers.
BeatConnect Creators will empower artists to grow their networks and unlock new revenue streams. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase access to interactive masterclasses, real-time jam sessions, and more.
BeatConnect is inviting tech-forward and community-oriented musicians and producers to be one of its first 100 Creators. Apply at beatconnect.com/creator-register.
Since its launch in 2020, BeatConnect has paved the way for musicians to collaborate in real-time virtual spaces. Seamlessly integrating into major DAWs, BeatConnect helps users connect their respective home studios via a VST plugin or its standalone product. It’s affordably priced, too, with a free Lite version and a Premium version costing a one-time flat fee of $29.95.
Affordability, ease of use, and optimal compatibility are all consistent with BeatConnect’s focus on maximizing accessibility between systems and people. Its Creators program is yet another ambitious move to connect and empower musical communities.
Stream "Seven Years of Silence", the Debut EP from Tim Husmann's Music Project 1st Base Runner
@1stBaseRunner is the immersive new project from Texas singer-songwriter and producer Tim Husmann. His debut EP "Seven Years of Silence" is out now, and is accompanied by an official music video for "Only One".
Vignettes of a misty dreamland with emergent, pulsing mantras and addictive breathy vocals. 1st Base Runner is the immersive new project from Texas singer-songwriter and producer Tim Husmann. The Austin-based synth symphonist meticulously crafts his pieces blending trip hop, gothic pop, and avant-garde post-rock to create an airy, atmospheric world of its own. The surrealist soundscapes are filled with infectious vocal melodies and lyrics on the varied frictions of our existence.
1st Base Runner's debut EP "Seven Years of Silence" is out now on all platforms. It is accompanied by an official music video directed by the legendary Matt Mahurin (who has helmed videos for Tom Waits, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, etc) for "Only One". This new video follows the recently released "Break Even" music video, also directed by Matt Mahurin.
Regarding About "Seven Years of Silence", 1st Base Runner says:
“It was something that had to be made. I had tried to suppress the concepts and ideas explored in the 8 tracks for several years. It is my willingness to be vulnerable and laid bare before others in an attempt to glimpse some fundamental truths about what it means to be here and to be present. It is an exploration of expectations and shortcomings and how they in turn will make us all the more uniquely human. No one gets out with clean hands, not on this ride, and not in this lifetime.”
Tim Husmann's meticulous approach to the music and production shows throughout this multi-layered release. The songs are thick with atmosphere, elevated by deceptively simple mantra-type vocals and lyrics that stare into the void without fear. Stylistically, this release should appeal to fans of artists like Radiohead, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, My Bloody Valentine, M83, Nick Cave, Beak or Exploded View.
Listen to “Seven Years of Silence” now, stream it on Bandcamp, and connect with 1st Base Runner on his social media.
K-Pop Star Wonho Releases His 2nd Mini Album, "Blue Letter"
K-Pop singer-songwriter-producer, @official__wonho, has released his highly anticipated 2nd mini album, “Blue Letter”. The new album, which compares isolation from the world during the pandemic to the blue ocean, is a sincere letter from Wonho showcasing his genuine, innermost thoughts and raw emotions.
Singer-songwriter-producer, Wonho, has released his highly anticipated 2nd mini album, “Blue Letter”. Named by Rolling Stone as the “singer who’s breaking hearts just as quickly as he’s breaking stereotypes,” Wonho is set to continue his upward trajectory all across the globe with the release of “Blue Letter”. The new album, which compares isolation from the world during the pandemic to the blue ocean, is a sincere letter from Wonho showcasing his genuine, innermost thoughts and raw emotions.
Title track “Blue,” an upbeat pop song with a deeper meaning, presents a hopeful message through the use of “blue”--feeling blue and the blue ocean. This track is meant to quench the thirst of its listeners who’ve had strong emotions while being isolated this past year, with lyrics of hope “If you feel the same, tell me. Hold my hand when you’re ready.” With two versions of the song that are both in Korean and English, Wonho’s “Blue” will act as a light at the end of the tunnel. The music video was made with the intention to tell his fans that even the most dull days in life can be turned into the brightest moments through imagination. He tells Femina “...feeling blue means feeling depressed, right? I wanted to talk about feeling depressed and how it's important to accept it as is and then seize it, when you can. I want to talk about that attitude through my title track, Blue. I want to say that you're not alone if you ever feel blue or depressed.”
Wonho is further exploring his range of artistry on this album by showcasing his songwriting and producing skills throughout every single track. The seven tracks provide the listener with fantasies to help resolve their sense of loss that they may go through living their repetitive daily lives. Blue Letter weaves various episodes into one big plot under the theme of “youth” and “consolation.” As the first track of the album, “Intro: Seasons and Patterns,” which compares the blue waves to passing time, introduces the prelude for the rest of the tracks. The beautiful yet sad “No Text No Call” is followed by “Come Over Tonight” and “24/7”; while they all sing the melancholic change of moods that are on the border of joy and sorrow. “Stranger,” which is made up of soft vocals alongside an acoustic guitar, then reveals Wonho’s wish to meet with his fans in person.
Listen to “Blue Letter” right now, stream it on Apple Music, and connect with Wonho on his social media.
South Korean Rapper, B.I, Adds Pink Sweats, Epik High, Destiny Rogers & Afgan To Livestream Concert
South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer, @shxx131bi131, has announced a special guest lineup for his highly anticipated return to live performing. @livexlive is proud to announce that Pink Sweats, Afgan, Epik High, and Destiny Rogers are joining the lineup…
South Korean Rapper, Singer-Songwriter, and Record Producer, B.I, has announced a special guest lineup for his highly anticipated return to live performing. 131Live is proud to announce that Pink Sweats, Afgan, Epik High, and Destiny Rogers are joining the lineup with special performances and guest appearances. Get ready for a new concert experience, a movement of different cultures coming together seamlessly through the power of music. Not only will ticket purchasers get access to the full waterfall concert by B.I, but 131Live Presents has prepared these additional artists to make this an unforgettable event.
Tickets are on sale HERE for the show, where B.I will be performing his debut solo album for the first time. Tune in Saturday, October 2nd at 11:00pm EST & 8:00PM PST / Sunday, October 3rd at 12:00pm KST.
Earlier this year B.I released his global single “Got It Like That,” featuring Destiny Rogers and Tyla Yaweh, which MTV referred to as “nostalgic.” And on June 1st, B.I dropped his first full-length studio album, Waterfall, including his lead single “illa illa,” which TIME Magazine listed as one of “The Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 So Far.” The music video for “illa illa” broke a record of 12.7 million views in 24 hours, making B.I the most viewed male solo artist debut music video within the first 24 hours. Additionally, his album Waterfall was #1 on iTunes in 24 countries.
Tickets on sale HERE