BWD Magazine - March 2013

Worldwide Underground Indie Music Magazine

vaig

March 2013

brilliant lyricism

patron poke why rap and hip hop?

dead sober memorable and unique Bringing Birmingham back into the spotlight where it belongs

a decades worth of experience and knowledge

Features 04 Witta Majick

Appeal and Mysterious Air 08 Vaig

Only The Beginning

09 The Skinny

Captivating Musical Experience

10 Patron Poke

Turning Heads and Listeners into Fans

16 Boogie Balagan

Harmony and Tantalizing Rhythm

COVER STORY 12 Dead Sober

Bringing Birmingham back into The Spotlight

Lifestyle 06 Five Tips For Recording Efficiency

The Good, The Bad and The......

14 5 Singing Tips

We Are The Champions

ENTERTAINMENT

24 BWD Records

2 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

The Independent Music Label of the South

FROM THE EDITOR

last issue

Having continuously been recognized throughout the music world as a vast movement with an undeniable force we at BWD Radio are now bringing you the best music and individuals within their field in a more easily digestible format; with a dedicated online magazine packed to the rafters with news, reviews, features and phenomenal artists from across the globe.

Synonymous with breaking new ground and talent, our aim isn’t to deliver you an aggregator of articles; more like, the BWD Bible of breaking talent and breath taking bands turning heads and volume dials up to eleven.

In each breaking issue we reveal the winners of the BWD Radio’s Indie Music Featured Artist Competition, a monthly competition where we invite you to Get On The ‘Visual’ Playlist for your chance to become one of the featured BWD Competition Winners. The winners are awarded the opportunity of talent exposure across the globe and throughout the world as part of our aim to prove a good tune isn’t limited to whatever celebrity judge endorsed single is currently riding high in the iTunes download chart.

In each issue, we also bring you the newest faces in the world of modeling to watch out for in store windows, on the billboards, and in the high-street, as well as on the catwalks

Editor In Chief

of Paris and Milan.

Veralyn Keach, bwdmagazine@gmail.com

Though that may be enough to fill the covers of most magazines, we’ll be taking things

Associate Editor

even further with exclusive ‘first-looks’ at the best in indie talent, our unique position within the world of media affording us the opportunity to bring you the next big hitters before anyone else and by combining the two enormous forces--presences of BWD Radio and BWD Magazine into one with the ‘soon to launch’ all-new BWD website there is twice the promotion to deliver double the impact and even more worldwide exposure to its featured artists.

All the freshest new faces and hottest new talent in one magazine, BWD Magazine in con-

Robert Baker, madashellpromotions@gmail.com

Lead Contributing Writer Robert Baker, madashellpromotions@gmail.com

Contributing Writer Veralyn Keach, bwdmagazine@gmail.com

junction with BWD Radio is committed to setting the standard of what you deserve from a magazine with constant promotion through the BWD network of contacts and promoters.

Art Director

Did someone say BWD Promotions? The BWD Triple Threat Trio!

Veralyn Keach, bwdgraphics@gmail.com

BWD MAGAZINE’S SERVICES: Being in such a unique position affords us the ability to offer

Graphic Artist

our services at ‘considerably less’ than most others, our network allowing us to expose your talent in all the right places without needless expense or additional ‘secret costs’ less scrupulous companies fill their small print and help fill their bank balances with.

Covering all aspects of media promotion (from social media sites through to music video promotion) we are able to offer the best when it comes to brand awareness and public recognition of your name or product, without compromising either your impact or finances.

For price and space availability inquiries, please contact us via the contact details to the right where we can discuss your specific requirements to ensure maximum exposure: MAGAZINE SPECIFIC SERVICES:

Veralyn Keach, bwdgraphics@gmail.com

Circulation Officer Marilyn Thompson, bwdmusicpromotions@gmail.com

Sales Officer Marilyn Thompson, bwdmusicpromotions@gmail.com

bwdradio.com facebook.com/bwdmagazine twitter.com/bwdmagazine

Single Page Feature Double Page Feature Package (Includes Name “Mentioned” on Cover, Double Page, Review) Interview Feature (Add On for any Single or Double Feature)

facebook.com/bwdradio twitter.com/bwdradio_

Cover Story Package (Includes Gracing our Cover, Interview and Double Feature Package) Reviews (Add On for Single Feature or if you want a written review) Twitter Buzz “Feature Spotlight” Promotions Boost - 30 Days of 4 Daily Mention Tweets BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 3

Professionally Written Biography & EPK (Electronic Press Kit) Services are also Available.

majick’s ‘appeal and mysterious air’

witta majick When you think Jamaica you feel the warm sun basking your skin as the waves lap

Capturing the feel and emotion of a never ending swirl of passion and movement leaves Witta Majick the sage of the seasons. . . .”

deliciously at your feet where you lay on crisp white sands.

The air is filled with the uplifting beat of music borne of including all within its beat, the rhythm of reggae almost matching the hearts own beat at times and carrying us off on the wave of electronic sound and natural emotion you feel guiding your soul.

Capturing the feel and emotion of a never ending swirl of passion and movement leaves Witta Majick the sage of the seasons, his touch capable of moving the listener to become part of the heaving mass of bodies pulsating on the dance floor, the beach, the gathering of strangers united under the sound of friendship and good times.

4 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

The natural emotion you feel guiding your soul.”

The master of ceremonies himself is forever the iconic image of style and effortless appeal that matches being tall, dark and the epitome of handsome. With his striking appeal and mysterious air, Witta Majick combines the beauty of the Caribbean with the wonder of a thousand dusk-filled nights of desire and dreams, the debonair and devilish.

“It came to me as a big surprise,” he announced when informed of his ‘BWD Radio’s Competition’ Win. “I am really grateful for this wonderful gesture.”

With such brooding looks to match such brilliant talent, perhaps it is us who should be thankful for Witta and his pool of inviting talents.

Contact Information: Email: mosesrodrecords@gmail.com Twitter: @WITTAmajick Facebook: witta.di.magician Photo Credits: All Rights Reserved

BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 5

five tips for recording efficiency choosing the right songs A good album is like a breath of fresh air every time it is played; conversely, a bad one is the foul stank that just won’t go away each time it is aired.

So getting it right in the recording room will take more than a mug of sweet, milky tea and a fifty yard run-up; it will take planning, preparation, and plenty of patience for when the bassist just can’t get that damn section right.

1.

When you finally get into the recording room it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed with the actual work you will need to do. Sure, a song you’ve created and been belting out for six months may be as familiar as that weird lump you haven’t had checked out by the doc-

tor yet, but once the actual task of recording said beast of beats comes to the fore it’s not always as simple as ‘playing your part’ when the red light flashes.

No doubt you will have several pieces you may wish to record, so figure out which of them are the strongest overall. You don’t want to waste any

With that in mind below we present the Five MadasHell

time recording parts for a song you alone think is the best in your set if

Tips for utmost recording efficiency*…”

there are better ones available in your back pocket. Your music is your calling card, the very thing you will use to make your mark and maybe some money, and no matter how good a recording or how well arranged

(* queries surrounding the dubious skills players of the bass guitar may have lied about excluded).

it is, if it doesn’t illicit more than an ‘…’S alright’ in response then clearly you’ve wasted both your time and money – as will anyone else involved with the project.

So sit down and really look at the songs you have, find the one people respond best to; if need be, record a once-through take of all the material you think worthy of recording and get some feedback off others – seeking the opinion of someone outside your group is a good way of ascertaining which songs are stronger than others, without any qualms of ego or personal opinion blinding you in choosing which songs will be most well received. You’ll save time, money, and effort this way, all of which can be poured into focussing on the ones you are recording into being the best they can be.

6 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

Record A Base/Guide Track

2.

However you choose to compose your song – be it

It might take five attempts, it may take fifty, but until you have the absolute best

band or solo singer- a guide is always useful when

version of the Chorus sitting in the mixing desk’s hard-drive everything else is

recording. Putting down a take ‘as played’ has several

just practice.

crucial uses; not only does it give the producer/mixer on the desk a clear idea of the structure of the song,

Technology today means you can spend as much time and money as there are

who comes in where and how long the guitarist’s

hours in the day will allow without wasting a single spool of costly tape or tube

solo goes on for – but it also helps remind you where all the pieces fit together.

of wax. A simple press of a button editing in or cutting out various permutations of the same piece like a giant musical jigsaw puzzle and having a selection of

Yes, you may be the living embodiment of Rainman made real on a quiz night

takes to listen back to may throw out an unexpected diamond in the rough, or

down the local, but the pressures of actually being in a recording studio can be

a particular way you hit the ‘crescendo’ in the solo gave you a better chance at

the undoing of the most confident of performers. Like taking an exam in school,

taking the song to the next level than previous attempts.

‘brain fade’ can strike at any time, causing the simplest of riffs to become a finger tangling mess of flubbed notes and broken nails as you try to remember the cor-

All chocolate tastes like chocolate, but only a fool settles for the first bar on the

rect order those tips must touch strings.

shelf without perusing the remaining selection.

Not everybody has the confidence to admitting they need the others playing to remember exactly where they are in a song, either – maybe they need to see the bass player move from the fifth to the third fret as the signal they need to change chords, or maybe the way the drummer always raises his arms for the cymbal smash at ‘that bit’ in the song is their cue. You may not even need the guide track, such mastery as you display; but somebody else in the room might,

Be Critical, But Don’t Over Produce

5.

Well yippee you, but not just yet; before the cover gets printed and covered with your autograph for an extra two bucks you need to really listen to what you’ve produced.

and having the entire song ready to be referenced should Muddy Mind hit will

It’s at this stage any mistakes or mis-playing need

save wasted hours and embarrassed faces when the bassist forgets what he’s

to be addressed and ironed out. Auto-tune can be used to enhance a less than

meant to play.

sterling singer, and there’s a multitude of pedals and patches for getting just the

3.

listen... LISTEN & LISTEN

right guitar sound. However, played live the effect will be completely different

Once you’ve got the basics down and everything

from the aural experience you’re offering the listening masses, so these should

seems pretty much done, go back and listen to what

be used sparingly. Everybody knows about the robotic-tone Auto-Tune lends to

you’ve done. Not being focused on your performance

the lyricists lamentations, turning a chorus to share into a chorus from ‘Cher’.

will allow you to properly hear what you are playing, how the song works overall with everything in place

Unless your music is built specifically around such digital deception, keep the

and correct, and whether you managed to nail that

interference of faux-flavoring down to a minimum. Raising levels and voices to

tricky bit the drums usually manage to disguise.

hit impossible in real life notes will only end up with your performance coming in well under par when played live. It’s easy to forgive a one-time ‘less than stel-

It’ll be pretty bare bones at this stage, meaning no effects or overdubs to dis-

lar’ performance, though a consistently substandard set - when compared to the

guise or hide poor playing or crappy chords, and can come as a bit of a shock at

‘original’ version - will result in empty rooms as your crowd and plenty of time to

first. Don’t worry; no artist in the history of music ever settles for the first listen-

rue the day you ever heard of level compression.

able take. A basic mix to get the levels of everyone coming through crisp and clear will be sufficient for seeking out where you can improve what you produce.

Iron out the flaws and make nice the plausible; make right the performance and get the best rendition of the performance as you possibly can. Then leave it for

Be critical; don’t assume any roughness or rubbish can be disguised in the mix-

a week, go back, and repeat step five again. A little distance from the recording

down. Put ego aside and make notes on where you can improve, what could be

process clears muddy heads made tired from staring at a monitor and hearing

polished, and where the levels can be raised/lowered to create maximum impact

the same song a half billion times in a single day; you will be able to spot the

and a more impressive sound overall. You don’t need to be a producer to know

indiscretions and properly consider the extra delay on the vocals for the heart-

what sounds bad. If you’re anything like most musicians, personal criticism will

breaker song, and feel in a better position to truly judge what it is you are hear-

ensure the bits you can improve upon will stand out like the proverbial injured

ing and whether it works.

digit in the mixing room; allowing you to concentrate on the areas that need brushing up.

4.

GET THE BEST TAKE

In Conclusion: If you’re the kind of person who simply skips to the bottom to see if they can get a ‘rough round-up’ of the text above then here you it is.

Never accept the first take as the best take; much like buyer’s remorse -- it’s too late to change your

A good album can bring you the kind of attention you truly want, and a bad

mind once the layers have been merged and moneys

album can bring you the kind of attention you truly deserve.

been handed over and the Master Take is sitting on your desktop. Break the song structure down to its components (Verse, Chorus, Bit Where Bassist Can Be

Heard) and concentrate on recording just those individual parts.

Again.

And again.

BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 7

vaig “Only The Beginning!’

L

ike a new life-form emerg-

Top” and “Journey”, it’s clear the Midas touch

them to live their dreams and do their best. I

ing from the carcass of the

lives within Vaig’s musical soul, achieve-

appreciate this honor and all of your support.”

old Vaig burst onto the music

ment breeding success at every turn.

With several notable albums to his credit and

scene in 2007 with his debut

his hit singles “Glide” and “Yea Right” currently

album ‘Fall Top Rise’, a hip-

Such triumphs are clearly deserved as his

available on iTunes and various other digital

hop hubris that raised hi above this peers

music is already dubbed as “hot and poignant”

outlets for your musical delectation, an enthu-

and marked him in the listeners perception

by the legendary Mr. Chuck D. of Public Enemy,

siastic Vaig quells any fears of resting on his

as an artist truly worthy of the emcee title.

as well as, featuring across a plethora of

laurels, assuring us ‘This is only the beginning!’

noted media sites and radio stations, includBringing a hypnotic flow and smooth style to

ing AllHipHop.com, DJ Booth, RapStation.com,

the proceedings his talent lies in being able

HipHopSpeakeasy.com, RepPittsburghHipHop.

to craft music that, though specific in genre,

com, and the UK’s Niji Magazine, Rewind Radio

Email: contactvaig@gmail.com

is universal in appeal. Underlining such lofty

with BlakkSteel, LD Music Blog, The Bum Rush

Website: theofficialvaig.com

ideals, it seems his ability to grip all who hear

Show, MocRadio.com, and BDWRadio.com

Twitter: @OfficialVaig

his tracks is proving itself to any who may

alongside various other blogs and magazines.

Facebook: TheOfficialVaig

doubt his mastery of the craft, as his single

“I make music to inspire and motivate oth-

Photo Credits: Derek Tull Photography

‘Yea Right’ turns up the heat while tearing

ers to do great things,” Vaig revealed when

up the indie radio charts from PA to San Jose.

speaking of his BWD Radio’s Competition win.

Having already achieved number one sta-

“Having fans vote for me means my music is

tus with previous albums “Marchin’ To The

reaching others and hopefully encouraging

8 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

Contact Information:

the skinny Captivating Musical Experience.

S

ix minds, twelve eyes,

be captivating of the body and soul as

and one overall view

well as the mind, more a call to join

focused to a finite point

in the party of life than simply a band

of impossibly infectious

playing songs for your aural delight.

groove and hip-swing-

ing mechanic brings a dawn of petals

‘Being a self-produced indie band,

laced with the tincture of unity ‘The

we owe so much to social media,’ The

Skinny’ modestly refer to as songs.

Skinny revealed to BWD. ‘Capitalizing on every opportunity, reaching out to

Michigan based yet worldwide in

fans who would otherwise not hear

appeal The Skinny describe them-

our music.’

selves as ‘…hard funk hippies that specialize in stabbing grooves…’, and

Turning worlds into whirlwinds and

bring with them the feel and emotion

adding some depth to your soul, The

of a truly captivating musical experi-

Skinny’s newest single release Dark

ence.

Nebula is your invite into their truly groove-y view, with a full EP to be

Not just captivating in the hooks and

released later in the year.

riffs that wrap you in their rhythm and guide your body along, the flow

Contact Information:

maintained by Kamm’s conductor-like

Email: haveourjam@gmail.com

hand; nor just the captivating vocals

Twitter: @lesskinny

that glorify the movement through

Facebook: lesskinny

the impending swarm. It is the experi-

Photo Credits: Tea Rose Photography

ence of listening and hearing six indi-

Chuck and Carol Eisenhardt with

viduals create music that manages to

All Rights Reserved BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 9

showing substance to his worth

patron poke turning heads & listeners into fans

T

“I want the world to hear my music,” he said when informed of his ‘BWD Radio’s Competition’ win. “I love music and my music speaks for itself.”

urning challenges into triumphs at every oppor-

of music with his mixtape “The Truth”, Bre-Z and Classic on pro-

tunity has seen Patron Poke rise above humble

ducer duties.

beginnings and slight stumbles on the path of life to not just become the figure standing tall

Through this he began working with artist such as Sage Classic,

in his musical genre, but also soon within the industry empires

Cartier Jones, Beach Boyz, and Hoodsta Rob, the end-product a

themselves.

collection of ‘bangers’ as they would later be known to be called.

Raised in the West

From there he met

Adams area of the City

Tycoon Staxx, aka TC

Of Angels, Patron Poke

of Freeway Boys of

witnessed the spiral-

Freeway

ing lifestyles of those

and

around him, almost

hand to the atten-

succumbing

tion of such artists

to

the

Enterprise,

turned

his

same nihilistic ending

as

many see as the only

BeatNic, and Asha of

way to further their

GirlBye. Proving him-

lot in life.

self on both sides of

FrancoDaGawd,

the mixing desk.

“I mastered my craft,” he

says

simply. “I

A

always could rap but then I really honed in on it.”

self-styled

and

shamelessly assured ‘bully in the industry’ it is his confidence that has brought him to where he now stands, on the verge of launching a music empire

It is through this determination and dedication to his own

with the creation of his own independent label. In January 2013

worldview that Patron Poke began turning heads and listen-

manager & business partner Chris ‘BabyGirl’ Thomas became the

ers into fans throughout the LA scene. Showing substance to

second half of the BullyFace Entertainment Inc business, and

his worth he turned such mixed surroundings into masterly

Patron Poke is anticipating Spring of 2013 to be the date the

inspiration, his experiences into lyrics, and his life to the world

world has been waiting for.

10 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

I mastered my craft,” he says simply. “I always could rap but then I really honed in on it.”

why rap and hip hop?

“I want the world to hear my music,” he said when informed of his ‘BWD Radio’s Competition’ win. “I love music and my music speaks for itself.”

Contact Information:

If you were to ask Patron Poke, “Why Rap and Hip Hop?” is to

Email: Bulliesndabuildin@gmail.com

receive the reply, “Cause I’m Great at it.” An answer honest and

Website: www.patronpoke.com

direct and unashamedly confident in exactly where they intend

Twitter: @PatronPoke

to go, there isn’t much you could find fault with when coming

Facebook: PatronPoke

from the mouth of Patron Poke, an artist holding life firmly by

Photo Credits: Various-All Rights Reserved

the reigns and determined to tame the wilds of an industry you wonder is fully prepared for.

BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 11

DEAD SOBER bringing Birmingham back into the spotlight, where it belongs

W

hen Black Sabbath first strummed out the opening bars of Paranoid an evolution of music was kick-started into action in the heart of the United Kingdom. Since then Birmingham and the Midlands have been responsible for some of the greatest

names and songs ever to have annoyed a generation of parents – Zepplin, Slade, Wizzard and more have all been born from the Brummie cloth and go on to conquer the world.

Looking to add to those luminaries past, James Warren and West Addams are bringing about a new turning of pages in the ledger of Birmingham’s musical heritage - and much like those bands previously mentioned, it seems they are creating something equally memorable and unique.

More commonly known as bass player and frontman in former band ‘Revenant Dead’, things came to a close as the group disbanded, for all intents and purpose to pursue paths outside the musical world. So when word reached our offices of an amazing new group soon to be emerging on the scene it was with some interest two very familiar names appeared to be involved. A few days and a few dozen inquiring e-mails revealed the full truth of the matter; yes, it seemed, there was a new band being formed and it did indeed count frontman West Addams and bassist James Warren within the mystery new group’s number.

Dedicated to bringing our readers the very cutting edge of exclusive news BWD managed to track the erstwhile musicians down, and though guarded were more than happy to lay the rumours to rest and discuss this mysterious new group.

“There’s just so much music out there it’s difficult to pin-down one thing that inspires what we do,” said Addams - whose vocals have been described as a mix between Bowie at his finest and Rose at his most volatile - when asked to describe the new band’s sound. “I think a fusion of punk-rock sensibilities edged with a blues style and a heavy groove in the bass is as close to what we do as we’ve been described as so far.” BWD attempted a little pin-pointing of their own, stating ‘Rock and Soul, possibly?’ “Ha-ha, yeah; something like that.”

12 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

cover story Having proven their worth in previous outfits

When asked to describe what being in ‘Dead

the coming together of the two didn’t seem

Sober’ is like, rhythm guitarist Ben said “It’s

as unlikely a scenario as first assumed.” He

like a nice cold Guinness; you take one sip

replied to an ad we’d placed asking for a bass

and you just want more.” Suitably tempt-

player for the old band,” explains Addams.

ed we tried to press for an exact date the

“So we set a date and time and he rocked on

band intend to unveil their EP.

down with a bass in hand. It wasn’t until after when we said ‘you’re in’ that he admitted to

And the answer ‘Soon enough’ delivered with

only having just bought the bass that day.”

a wry smile seems all we’re likely to know for now. “But it’ll be worth the wait,” we’re

With past experience working together

promised.

bringing all key players into the positions of fellow band members was fairly simple

An exclusive listen reveals the wait will

for the pair. “It was just a case of ‘right time,

indeed be worth it. Warren and Addams

right place’, I think. After deciding we wanted

taking their unique styling’s and vocals in a

to do something we found Ben (rhythm gui-

whole new direction from that of the metal

tar) first, then Bruce (lead guitar) about a day

route they were previously on, an infectious

or so later. Bruce used to be in a band called

blend of rhythm, attitude and excitement

Oak, and he and I had actually been working

that captivates the listener and delivers

on some tracks as a sort of side-project to

something genuinely ground-breaking in the

our respective bands, so bringing him in just

world of rock and music as a whole.

Bruce (lead guitar)

seemed a logical step. Then came Andy from the band ‘SixDaySober’ on drums and every-

Despite repeated requests for a track or

thing just fell into place.”

two to review, it will have to be sufficient to be first-in-line for a copy when the band

Having toured extensively with their pre-

releases. Without wishing to resort to undue

vious bands the rigours of the road and

hyperbole or create any unwarranted hype I

requirements in rehearsal are no strangers

can assure you, the wait until then will feel

to the new group. With a combined half a

like a long one indeed.

dozen albums to show for their efforts it’s clear there is dedication and a firm plan in

Bringing Birmingham back into the spot-

mind with the band ‘Dead Sober’.

light where it belongs and firmly stamping their authority over the musical world, ‘Dead

‘’We’re currently putting the final touches

Sober’ can be reached/written to/bothered

to our first EP,” they reveal, “which will be

and totally harassed at their band e-mail

released alongside the launch of the website

deadsober5@gmail.com.

and social sites like Facebook and Twitter. We

Various-All Rights Reserved.

Photo

Credits:

thought it was worth waiting on making an

Ben (rhythm guitar)

internet presence until there was something for people to hear. I’ve seen a few sites where bands have ‘coming soon’ under the music tab or player, and it’s like ‘when’? Then you leave the site and check maybe once,

It’s like a nice cold

twice more until you either lose interest from the constant ‘not yet’, or just give up and

Guinness; you take one sip

forget altogether. Pictures and a biography

and you just want more.”

can only go so far, you know? It’s like wanting to test drive a car but not getting a chance to get behind the wheel, just given a handful of leaflets and info and the promise it’s a

JAMES WARREN AND WEST ADDAMS (bass player and frontman)

great ride.”

BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 13

You Aren’t (*insert name of your favorite singer*)

5 singing tips Whatever it was that inspired to you to sing - be it

1.

Unless you have the knack of imitation or been blessed with having an iPod for a larynx. The sound that comes from your noise box probably won’t sound like whoever you really, really, really want it to sound like.

wanting to follow in the footsteps of an idol or a Final

And so it shouldn’t; your uniqueness of voice

Destination-like series of events involving pigeons and

and style is your signature, your fingerprint, the thing that is instantly

plumbers and a bag of dry roasted nuts – there will be someone somewhere who thinks your voice is the aural equivalent of a pitbull licking his own effluence off a thistle and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THEM THINK OTHERWISE.

recognizable as being you and no-one else. Unless you’re looking to be in a tribute band, your main priority is growing this voice into its own dynamic sound.

Take a few minutes examining how many Beyonce Knowles or Miles Kennedy or Brian Johnson’s there are in the charts and you might see something quite surprising; there is exactly only ONE of each who sound like they do, in the ‘voice, they sing. Yes, there may be some inspired artists or similar sounding singers hanging around the fanboy frippery of

That said, even the most contentious of vocalists can

Singer X, but the iconic are resplendent in their singularity.

Another way to explain it is that they sound like them and only them

manage to get through a set without oxygen masks or

and no-one else and that’s why they’re where they are and the sounds-

subtitles for the crowd, so with that in mind (and re-

similars aren’t. You don’t have to give up belting out Sinead in the

membering that even Charlotte Church has her haters)

shower or Cobain in the car; just think about the number of different and

here are five tips to bringing out the best in whatever

unique artists currently fighting over their share of the cost to download their music from iTunes, and don’t expect anyone to put up with your

noise you find coming out of your mouth when ‘We Are

delusional nonsense about sounding like Rod Stewart unless you’re in a

The Champions’ pops up on the playlist…

karaoke bar and it’s your turn to murder, ‘We Are Sailing’.

In a nutshell; Unless you think the world is crying out for another sound-alike of your favorite singer, there’s no other voice better than your own for singing in.

we are

Nobody can tell you it’s not a good voice because whoever they compare it with will not sound like you; they will sound like whoever they are.

the champions

Just like every other great singer that has ever ‘t-t-t-talked about their generation’.

14 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

2. breathing

If you’ve got this far in life without constantly passing

You aren’t trying to shout; you’re trying to use all that air inside your lungs

out from lack of oxygen to the brain then congratula-

as a way of growing the sound coming from your mouth, rather than just add-

tions; you’re halfway through step Two! The other

ing thickness to the noise. When you shout you’re usually looking to get all the

half comes from where to breathe from and how you

words out as fast as possible, so not worrying about dropping things like ‘T’s or

control your breathing.

‘G’s in words means fewer muscles have to move and you can deliver your mes-

Think of when you take a deep breath to prepare for

sage that bit much quicker in the least amount of breath as it takes to win and

some physical exertion or shouted out loud or even the last time you yawned; in

get to the gloating.

a relaxed state you take fairly shallow breaths, enough to move your chest up and

Look at someone arguing on television for a real-life example; notice how

down a bit, but for any of those three things you need to increase the amount of

their red-faced, breathing heavy, loud but not necessarily coherent. Their words

air you have in your body. Your entire diaphragm and mid-rift expands, your whole

carry across the studio but they’re not very clear, and though you could argue that

front taking on a balloon-like affectation as you fill your body with air.

the anger they’re in may have a hand in this stumbling of words it’s a fool who

When it comes to singing you need to have as much air as possible in your

ignores the amount of words you do hear clearly before the man on the button

body to help push the notes, carry the tune, and be able to stand longer than half

starts making them say *Bleep*.

a minute on stage without needing a bit of a lie down.

In a nutshell:

To do this, practice expanding your stomach as much as comfortably possible

Like your temper, if you can control yourself you will ultimately win. Here, the ‘win’

when breathing in. If you place your hands on your hips and, using your thumbs

is in having the guy in the back row able to hear what you’re singing as clearly as

as a pivot, swivel your hands forward until you can feel the underside of your

the stage hand trying to fix the monitors in front of you.

stomach against the index finger on each hand.

Start to slowly inhale as if preparing to shout; you should notice how the underside of your stomach is pushing your fingers apart and out, allowing more room for the lungs to inflate and therefore hold more of the good stuff.

When you exhale you want to be able to control the air rushing to escape –if you don’t it’ll all be gone before you’re even halfway through the first verse.

Purse your lips as if trying to blow something away, pursing them tightly

4. exercise

You’re not stupid so lets get this over quick; the better shape you are in the better you will sound when you sing. Good breathing is helped by regular exercise, and having a fine set of pipes underneath your teeth pays dividends behind the mic.

So get off your arse and do something that gets

together. Steadily release the air, counting to ten in your head as you do. Try not to

you exercising them lungs and maybe toning up the old flesh suit, too.

force the air out, as the amount of air in your body – along with the muscles fight-

In a nutshell:

ing to get back into place – will make it tempting to let it all come rushing out.

Seriously? It’s like…six lines of writing, and you skipped to this bit to save

You want to be reaching the ten-mark without feeling too strained or choked,

having to read it? Irony and a face palm for you.

and may take a few goes to assuage the sensation of uncomfortableness.

The exhalation of air is all important for delivering the best voice you can, so control is key here. You want to be looking at increasing the amount of time you can control the release of the air from your lungs, the longer it takes to fully expunge the O2 the more you will be able to control your voice and the more you will ultimately be able to hold in your lungs.

5. practice

In a nutshell;

There’s an old saying that goes ‘practice makes perfect’. Mind you, there’s another one that says ‘you never forget how to ride a bike’, so instead of putting any stock in old sayings search for the arm wrestling scene on the internet from the ‘80’s remake “The Fly” starring Jeff Goldblum.

Replicate the sensation and actions of yawning, controlling the air steadily as it

Now imagine that happening to the inside of your throat, with arm wres-

is released.

tling being replaced by singing and the bone protruding through the guy’s forearm -- your larynx bursting through your throat when the presSo you have big lungs and can get to the end of The

sure you’re expecting them to handle (embodying Mr Jeff in this analogy)

Alphabet Song on one breath? Fair enough; but can

decides they’re in the way of the words (…um…Geena Davis, maybe?) it’s

they hear you announce how you know your A-B-C’S

trying to force out.

all the way at the back of the room?

In a nutshell:

If the guitars were playing deadened strings and the

You don’t rehearse the song just to remember the words; it’s how you

drummer was hitting pillows you’d rightly wonder

learn the best way for you to project your voice and control the tone and

what the hell you were watching. Vocal delivery is this exact same weird meta-

really bring the best out of each and every word and yourself throughout.

3. projection

phor, but with vowels and consonants replacing pillows and poor playing.

You don’t have to make every word a perfect enunciation of English

Say the letter A out loud and imagine it coming out from your mouth and

grammar, simply make them clear enough to hear. The more you practice

forward, out towards the distance. Projection is important and visually imagining

singing the better you will become, the easier it will be to bring yourself

the word or letter on helps you ‘throw’ your voice further without compromising

up to the state of readiness you usually feel three songs in. It also releases

clarity. More like throwing a dart at a target on a board than simply throwing

endorphins in the brain, so if nothing else convinces you to breathe right,

up. Notice how your mouth and throat feel and move, where the vibrations are

control your flow, and really focus on bringing out the best in your perfor-

strongest and which bits rattle. You’re building up the muscles in your throat,

mance each and every time, there’s always that.

making them stronger and able to handle sending your voice out to the back of the room without breaking or squeaking or causing pain – both to your throat and the audience’s ears.

BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 15

boogie balagan Donkey Shottes multifaceted & eclectic mix of musical styles an tempting harmony and tantalizing rhythm

W

hen mankind discovered fire he took light into the

A self-described French Palestlsraeli duo Boogie Balagan is

shadows but more importantly took away the fear

expressive and expansive. Taking the Hebrew word ‘Balagan’

that dwelt within the unseen darkness beyond.

(meaning mess ) to form part of their name and speaking in many languages throughout they bring a multifaceted and

Imagination put the nightmares into the

eclectic mix of musical styles; English, French, Arabic,

shadows and it was only through facing the fear and con-

Greek, many are the tongues frontman Gabri uses to emote

fronting the imagination of our mind did we learn and

yet universal is the understanding within each song.

understand what we feared was without ground, the unveiled scenery – though sometimes different – was as familiar and comforting as any we had previously known.

Likewise within the world of music and its many corners of genre and styles, the unknown can be a formidable landscape of daunting effort and uncertain gains from adventure.

So it is on Boogie Balagan’s shoulders the task of turning these darkened recesses into inviting oasis of welcoming vistas for all to enjoy falls, their fusion of both genres and sounds an edifying indulgence impossible to ignore or refuse.

To describe Boogie Balagan is to begin to lose yourself in the wonderful world they create; a world based on a bedrock foundation of Blues and described through the sounds of the souls of music, the essence of what attracts us in the temptation of something new.

16 • BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com

Human understanding and the reunion of

Contact Information:

ourselves is the underlying message throughout Boogie Balagan’s music, segregation and

Email: info@boogiebalagan.com

separation through borders or belief a chasm

Twitter: @BoogieBalagan

they intend to build walkways across, forged

Facebook: AzriGabriFonkyDonkeyz

with the emotive strings of melody that bind

Photo Credits: Copyrights Reserved

us all together under the banner of humanity.

The style and sound Boogie Balagan represents is a cornucopia of delight burgeoning with tempting harmony and tantalizing rhythm that speak to the core of your being in an enjoining brace of camaraderie and kinship.

“We nickname ourselves ‘Donkey Shottes’ because sometimes we feel like a small indie project drifting on an endless ocean,” said the band when talking to BWD Magazine. “and we have to fight against perceived foes.”

Having started 2013 and already winning BWD Radio’s Competition, it is clear the battle they are facing is one Boogie Balagan have

We nickname ourselves the Donkey Shottes because sometimes, we feel like a small indie project drifting on an endless ocean.”

more than enough weapons in their arsenal to defeat, bringing peace through music to us all.

BWD Magazine • www.bwdradio.com • 17

bwd records, llc independent music label of the south BWD Records, LLC ‘The Independent Music

Owing to their unique position within the

Label of the South’. Taking over a decade’s

world of music BWD were able to snap up

worth of industry knowledge and experience .

and sign Florida based artist 5 M.I.C-Z to their new label, an artist that brings with himself

BWD Records, LLC - ‘The Independent Music

a level of credibility that owes everything to

Label Of The South’ - is the culmination of

musical talent and dedication and nothing

BWD’s vast expertise in the field of music and

to a cynical self-styled back-story and whose

artist promotion; not content with simply

first release on the label – ‘Head Turna’ – has

waiting to see what single or artist reaches

firmly established the label as serious com-

number one BWD Radio took their position

petition to the established status quo.

of being known globally as the leaders in discovering new indie acts and on the 26th

Continuing to set the standard for others to

of October 2012 launched their own record

follow BWD Radio has proven again the need

label, BWD Records. Dedicated to finding the

to change and adapt in this never static land-

best as-yet unknown talent out there BWD

scape of media and music is key to continued

doesn’t limit itself to one specific genre;

growth and success. Pushing where others

rather it extends its horizons to include all

are content to stagnate is the secret behind

genres such as rock, metal, hip hop and dance

where BWD Radio currently find themselves

amongst others. A smorgasbord of scintillat-

today, and with the launch of their own label

ing new acts are presented under the BWD

in BWD Records it gives you some idea of just

mantle, representing the best of the best and

how far BWD Radio are aiming to go.

most unique in their field, such as you have come to expect from one of the industry’s top

– BWD Records, LLC

media professionals.

‘The Independent Music Label of the South’

V i s i t w w w . B W DR e c o r d s . c o m o r w w w . F a c e b o o k . c o m / B W DR e c o r d s . l l c