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Jennifer Nettles Multi-Grammy Award Winner
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Table of Contents Page 3 Lawrence TYZE McGriff
Page 18-19 IRKO
Page 32-34 BeNita AppleBomB
Page 4-8 Dechen Hawk
Page 21-25 Jennifer Nettles
Page 35-36 Patrick Tripp
Page 10-12 Geechie Dan Page 14-15 BayBee Gurl
Multi-Grammy Award Winner
Page 27-28 Ma$o Foreelz
Page 37-38 vanilla base
Page 30-31 Burning in The Skies
Page 16-17 Timothy Fletcher
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Lawrence TYZE McGriff Industry Mentor
What’s your full name? Lawrence Tyze McGriff. TYZE is pronounced WISE. It means Teach Youth Zig Zag Zig (Knowledge Wisdom and Understanding) Equality.
How was your case inadvertently dismissed? I was exonerated on all charges, and cleared from the investigation on my finances.
It’s listed that your Net Worth is $330 MILLION Dollars, how did you acquire that massive amount? Working for Russell Simmons earned me about $180 Million. Investments in Crypto Currency, a Dispensary with Shaunie O’Neal, Premis Cognac, Qui Tequila, 3 Barber Shops, a Dry Cleaners, and Serenity Hookah/ Cigar Bar… rounds it off. So, it’s not money from your SUPREME TEAM glory days? DEFINITELY NOT. Any closing remarks or comments? Money means NOTHING when the FEDS come for you. I’m a man of FAITH. GOD saw me through. Any shout outs? SPECIAL thanks to Gwendolyn, Big Mike, my Uncle Supreme, My Brother Prince, Joe Antney, K-Slay, Capelle, Kakey, my Cousins Nessa & Rome, Peaches, my HENNY FAMILY, GMC Ent. Soldi, Mel, L.O., Leak, Moon, Mike Eddy and my comrades in the Halfway House. Love is LOVE. #DefJam #MurderInc #300Ent #AideMedia #JusticeforSupremeCampaign
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Dechen Hawk Singer-Songwriter
When did you first get into music? Please explain. Music spoke to me from the womb. My momma rocked me to sleep to Stevie Wonder. I was always singing as a kid, making songs up on the playground. My parents bought me one of those toy pianos. I’d play it for hours. I took piano lessons as a child. But it wasn’t until the death of my father at age fourteen that I reached for an outlet and asked for an electric guitar. The rest as they say was history. I started writing and recording songs immediately and haven’t looked back. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? You know, it was never a question for me. I knew through and through that I was a born musician and that I wanted to make a living doing what I love. I was inspired by my band teachers in High School. They were young performing and recording artists. I wanted to be like them. MTV was bursting on the scene when I was young and I wanted to be like those artists as well. I was a teenager in the ’90s and that was a special time for music. Artists of all types, styles, and genres were making it as musicians and getting signed to major labels. It was all super inspiring.
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How has your music evolved since you first started in the music industry? I think I’ve evolved more than my music. My music has always been powerful and moving. I’ve just gotten better at letting it flow through me and having the skills to bring that to fruition. I also think there’s a maturity in simplicity. I made things complicated when I was younger. Now I try and make it as simple as possible. As the great Thelonious Monk said, “Simple ain’t easy.” Stylistically, I went from a more singer-songwriter sound in the beginning to a more soulful R&B sound later on. Now I’ve arrived somewhere in the middle. I craft moving soulful songs.
If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other, drives you to stay in this tough industry? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? I’m with Kid Astronaut on this one, it’s gotta be love. Love is the only real reason to do anything. I play music for the love of it. I play music because I love other people and I want them to feel the joy or healing that I feel when I perform or listen to music. Love has the power to transform the world. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? I am the ingredient that makes me special and unique. Everyone has their unique voice and sound if they can tap into it. Everything I do from beautiful downtempo ballads to gritty upbeat funk and soul all sounds like me. There’s a through-line that is my genuine self-expression. I don’t try and sound unique or special. I just try and sound like myself. That’s where it’s at. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Overcoming the fear and self-doubt that inhibited me from fully embodying my greatness has been my biggest challenge. As humans, we often get in our way. Ego, insecurity. We all deal with this stuff. In my younger days, I could be arrogant as a cover for my insecurities. I believe this hurt my career. Or you could say I was out of alignment and so I didn’t get to where I was trying to go. I’ve since learned to work with my mind and body, to be humble and kind, to be of service, and to align with my purpose, to use the power of conscious music to heal and transform humanity for the better. Once aligned with your purpose the universe conspires on your behalf. Magical things start to happen. It’s beautiful. A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? The Buddha famously said, “life is suffering”. But he meant it in the sense that there is suffering in life. It’s part of the human experience. And so coming to terms with that is important. The course of that suffering comes from attachment to desires. When we relinquish our desire suffering ceases. And we can liberate ourselves from suffering by liv
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ing rightly or essentially being a good person. So I would say that you only have to suffer for your art if you’re attached to some specific outcome. If you are aligned with a purpose that is genuine, kind, and of service, then no, you don’t have to suffer. You simply give your heart away and the world provides. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? I think the impact is generally positive, but like everything, there are two sides to every coin. I think it’s great that independent artists can now reach fans anywhere in the world quite easily. There are a lot of DIY supportive services. Musicians can perform, record, and teach remotely. It’s pretty incredible. A downside for me is all the screen time. I’d prefer not to be staring at a computer as much as I am. The DIY approach is also a lot of work for an independent artist. It’s important to get help and build a team. If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be? I think there are a lot of things about the current model that are outdated. More artists are DIY and labels don’t have the same appeal as they used to. I don’t think artists should have to be promoters and fan builders. For most independent artists it’s hard to afford time in a professional studio. I recently worked with a company that paid us to record an EP. They pay each band member for their time in the studio per track and they pay the songwriter for licensing their material. They work out a percentage deal for their sales, but they also give the artist the masters to sell the material as you see fit. That’s an example of a new model that makes sense. The invention of the streaming platform is genius and a great way for people to consume music, but the artists need to be getting paid fairly for the streaming of their music. Musicians also need to get paid more to perform. We’ve been making the same wages since the ’60s without accounting for inflation. I’m sure you have shared the stage with many talented artists. Please share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us. I was around 15 years old. Still in high school. I had been playing for a few years at that point. I’d befriended my jazz band teachers. I’d sit in with them at their gigs sometimes. They introduced me to funk, soul, jazz, etc. One of them was offered a gig at one of the major venues here in Boulder, CO called The Fox Theatre. He didn’t want the gig for one reason or another, I can’t remember, maybe he was already booked that night or it didn’t pay well enough, but he rang me up and said, “Hey man, The Fun Loving Criminals are touring through and they like to have local independent acts open for them, they’re looking for a trio or something, can you pull one together?” I jumped at the opportunity. I said yes even though I didn’t have a trio. My teacher put in a good word for me and coached me on what to say when I talked to the venue. I called them up and told them about my trio and we got the gig. This was hands down the coolest thing that had happened to me at this point in my life. I put together a power trio with a bassist and drummer and me on guitar and vocals. We rehearsed like crazy for the gig. At the show, we were underage and stuck in the balcony till we went on stage. We played our set of mostly covers. I remember playing I’m Tore Down in the style of Eric Clapton. His blues album had come out recently. When we were done, the Fun Lovin Criminals were side-stage watching us, cheering us on. They said to keep going. We didn’t have any more material rehearsed so we busted into a jam for a while. It was crazy. We were teenagers and this venue was packed. Afterward, the band invited us backstage to hang with them. They were so supportive and generous. The takeaway from all this is how important it is to be supported by older more established musicians when you’re starting out and how important it is for older more established musicians to support younger up and coming artists. That’s one reason why I offer music lessons and artist coaching. It’s important to lift each other up.
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What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why? Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder. Stevie is the best in so many ways. He’s extremely talented. He has lead the way for so many of us. He has a positive and important message. His style is super versatile. I take after Stevie more than any other artist. Grace by Jeff Buckley. Jeff unlocked something in me I didn’t know was there. I took after Jeff a lot in my early years as a singer-songwriter. His style is unique and his vocal
technique is unbelievable. I learned a lot from emulating Jeff as well. Wildflowers by Tom Petty. Tom is one of the greats. He appeals to almost everyone. And this album is just so special. A lot of that also has to do with the production of Rick Rubin, one of my favorite producers. I appreciate the variety on this album as well as the use of simplicity or minimalism. Labcabincalifornia by Pharcyde. I love hip-hop, especially what came out in the ’90s. Bands like Pharcyde, The Roots, De La Soul, all showcased their jazz roots in their music which is the backbone of neo-soul and all black music. I love when rappers use melody in their verses as an ode to scatting in jazz. I appreciate conscious hip-hop. Brown Sugar by D’Angelo. D’Angelo and Badu paved the way for the resurgence of soul music as seen in the neo-soul movement. I love soul music, focusing on peace and love and positive relationships with a heavy jazz swing and a dope backbeat. Neo-soul is my jam. These artists and genres have deeply influenced me and helped bring out my true self-expression through music. What is the best advice you have received? Be kind. It’s really that simple. Be kind and be of service to others. Life can be hard. We don’t know what other people are going through. There’s so much pain and confusion in the world. And you have the choice to be the light, the joy, the encouragement, the happiness in someone else’s day. You can make a profound difference in someone’s day by simply smiling at them, by seeing them, acknowledging them. Be flexible and centered in who you are. And be kind. How did COVID-19 affect you and your music career? Whoosh. What a year. So much challenge. Learning to adapt and change. How to be resilient in the face of the unknown. And so much beauty and opportunity. My friend called it the great pause of 2020. It truly was a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect. To stop and take stock. I questioned everything I had been doing. I got in touch with my purpose. Realigned with my mission. Studied a lot. In the end, I came out stronger, clearer, with so much more appreciation and gratitude. I’m so inspired by people’s innovation. We had a musician in town here in Lyons, CO with a flatbed trailer that he could town behind his truck. And he started putting bands on the back of the flatbed trailer with a generator for power and driving around town stopping in each neighborhood for people under quarantine to still get to hear live music. People would come out of their houses, gather masked and socially distanced, dance in the streets, and tip the bands. It was beautiful. And we can keep these innovations even as things change. I think there
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New single! Out now on all streaming services.
will continue to be a lot of streaming performances now that that has become a normal way to enjoy music. So the overall effect on my career has been positive, growthful, clarifying, strengthening, and inspiring. What’s next for you? Please explain. I’m taking all these gifts that came out of this last year of challenge and growth and putting them into action. I just released a new single that I completed during quarantine. I’m out in the world performing again with my band. I’m connecting with my fans on a deeper level. I’m spending more time rehearsing and tightening up the band. I’ve got more recordings in the works. I’ve been offering music lessons and artist coaching to musicians and songwriters who need some help with direction or if they’re feeling blocked. I help them unlock their full potential. I’ve got a bunch of gigs lined up for the rest of summer. Mostly outdoor festival-type shows. I’m just grateful to be back in it sharing my gifts and love of music with others making a positive impact in the world. Tell us about your inspiration for your new single, Lady Divine. How did it come about? The new single, Lady Divine, is available on all platforms! Click here to download & stream: https://dechenhawk.hearnow.com/ Lady Divine is a devotional love song to Music herself personified as the divine feminine. Dechen Hawk takes us on a journey through his life as his relationship with music grows and evolves. Hawk gives us the opportunity to reflect on our lives and the relationships that matter most to us. Lady Divine - Written, Arranged, & Produced by Dechen Hawk Dechen Hawk - Lead & Backing Vocals, Electric Piano, Electric Guitar Jesse Hunter - Electric Guitar Tyson Bennett - Organ, Synthesizer Ben Rubin - Electric Bass Eric Imbrosciano - Drum Kit Zach Lucas - Saxophones/Horn Arrangement How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? My website dechenhawk.com has my most current releases, videos, blogs, and more. People can sign up to my fan list and get an exclusive free download of my performing one of my newest singles live at the Belly Up in Aspen opening for Bruce Hornsby. People can also find my music on all streaming services.
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Geechie Dan
Hip Hop Defines Him When did you first get into music? Please explain I first got it Hip Hop by listening to the NYC radio shows that were on WHBI 109.5 FM. Shows like Mr Magic, World Famous Supreme Team Show, Zulu Beats with Donald D and DJ Afrika Islam. These shows would come on at night after midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I would stay up all night waiting for these shows to air. They played the latest Hip Hop songs, freestyles and snippet of the tapes from the Park Jams, T Connection, Harlem World. What genre of music do you perform? Hip Hop
Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? What inspired me to love Hip Hop was the Tapes... everything I do today is because of tapes...I used mimic what I heard from the tapes and instead of saying their name ..I would say my name. I started rapping and collecting tapes late 1982...early 1983. How has your music evolved since you first began performing/ writing rhymes? I used to freestyle a lot off my head in the beginning and as time went on..I started writing my rhymes.
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I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? In 1989, I was living in Virginia Beach, VA. I was down in VA with
the wrong crowd and I heard Chuck D from Public Enemy on the local radio station. They were going to be performing at Hampton University. I called up the radio station and spoke to him...we both knew each other from WBAU College radio 90.3 FM at Adelph University. He was excited to hear from me and told me to come through. I went to Hampton University before the show started and I saw my dudes Ron, Drew, Terminator X, Chuck D. MC Flavor wasn’t there...he was notorious for being late for Public Enemy shows. The show was about to start and Chuck D asked me to get the crowd app up and rhyme some. I grab the mic and got busy!! If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? I will have to say, passion. Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? Passion drives me because when I was a teenager, my mother wouldn’t allow me what I fell in love with and she block every opportunity that came my way at the time. My mother told me I would never be successful in life in whatever I pursued because I wasn’t a Jehovah Witness and the only way that Jehovah God will bless me was to dedicate my life to Jehovah God and get baptized. So today...I’m the most passionate person you’ll ever meet in Hip Hop because I hated the idea that my own mother would tell me. All I ever wanted was to be successful in something I love doing so that’s why I’m so passionate. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as an artist in an industry overflowing with new talent and ideas? I’m from Hollis, Queens and I’ve watched and saw what RUN DMC, Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, FUBU, A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, Jam Master Jay were able to do. They were able to take Hip Hop to another level. Today, I see and envision the same thing for Hip Hop. God continues blessing my imagination with ideas that no one thinks about so when I wake up, I write these ideas down and I start making something happen. What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? The biggest challenge for me is remaining positive and focus and separate the passion from the business. Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? I’m still working on it… A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? Yes, that’s true…Lord knows I have suffered. If so, how have you suffered for your art? I had to lose everything in order for God to get my attention.
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It took me losing marriages, homes, cars, jobs. I had all the materialistic stuff but I wasn’t happy. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? The internet made it easier for artists to get attention that they wouldn’t normally would get if they were pursued by record labels. If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be? There isn’t any diversity in music today. Artists rap about drugs, killings, drinking, and guns. There’s no thought provoking songs..there is no Iconic, classic songs today. There is so much more artists today could rap about. One song can change everything. Hip Hop Culture is rich…Hip Hop Culture is global... powerful. What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? Nas - It Was Written LL COOL J - Momma said knock you out Public Enemy - It Takes A Million to hold us back Rakim - Paid In Full Big Daddy Kane -Its Big Daddy Kane Thing Tell us about your current project. Please explain. I’m currently the Co-Chairman of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame and I want to see everyone involved and honored. Everyone that contributed to Hip Hop should be acknowledged. From MC Hammer, Bun B, Sir Mixx Alot, JJ Fad, 2 Live Crew, Cold Crush 4, Crash Crew, Soul Sonic Force, LL, Fearless 4, DJGrand Wizard Theodore, EPMD, RUN DMC, Common, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Yo Yo, Shy D, Goodie Mob, OutKast, Luda, Big Tigga, Busy Bee, Kool Herc, Snoop, Ice Cube, E40, D Nice, and thousands of others. What is the best advice you have received? LL Cool J always tell me to stay focused. What is the best advice can you give someone who wants to get into the music industry? Be patient and don’t give up! What’s next for you? Right now the Hip Hop Hall of Fame is top priority. I’m also waiting on paperwork to do a reality show on a major network. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music and follow your career? My social media is: FB - I Got The Tapes IG - geechiedanhollis TW - geechie_nyc Amazon - My book, “The Kingdom Hall No More”
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BayBee Gurl
Following Her Dream What made you decide to get into the music industry? At a young age, I was very inspired by the singer, Selena Quintanilla. She really inspired me to pursue this dream. What age were you when you first started? I was around the age 19, when I started.
How would you describe what you do for a living? Just living my dream, creating music with the people I trust around me.
What is your most vivid childhood memory? It would have to be me singing on the karaoke machine for my family at parties and making up a whole dance to go with it. If you could invite any three people, dead or alive, for dinner, who would they be? Juice Wrld, Selena Quintanilla, and 2PAC. How did you end up with your stage name? I’ve always liked the word Baby Girl, but I wanted to make it more unique, so now I spell it BayBee Gurl.
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What would you say is the biggest misconception about you? That I am mean, because I have a resting B face. But, I’m super nice. What is your (honest) opinions about the way music is looked at today? I feel like the way I perceive music now is different, because now I’m able to understand other artist’s perspectives when I’m listening to their music. Especially in this Industry, there can be a lot of ups and downs. What’s the greatest fear you’ve had to overcome to get where you are today? Growing up I was very anti-social. I struggled to make friends, but now that I’m an Artist, I had to over come that fear and I had to create a new persona to give me that confidence I was missing. What’s the one thing you’d like to achieve before you die? To be able to tell my Family, I made it. Being a female in a competitive market do you feel the odds are against? Definitely! I’ve had many experiences where people thought they were better than me, just because I was “A Female Artist”. What was the name of your first single? Icy Tell us something that most people may not know about you? That I’m a huge gamer head. I’ll beat anyone 1v1 any day. What do you have to say to the young woman that are following in your footsteps? I’ma keep it real. You’re going to feel like at one point you want to just quit, but I promise you all the pain and work will pay off, baby girl. What part of Cali do you represent and what is the music scene like out there? I represent the west side of California. The music here is pretty diverse, but still lit at the same time. Do you have social media or a website? Officialbaybeegurl on all platforms.
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Timothy Fletcher Beat Goes On
What is your full name? Timothy Fletcher
What is your city, country and age? Baltimore, Maryland USA and 24.
What led you to doing drums? Music runs in my family, so I always been interested. How long have you been doing drums? I’ve been playing drums for 14 years.
What was your first important concert? Honestly, I don’t know because, I had so many when I was younger as well. How do you feel about COVID and the way it impacted the entertainment industry? It’s sad honestly and it hurt a lot of us not just the entertainment industry, but others too, with job losses and family deaths.
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What was your first recording in a music studio? The 1st time was for a beat tape, and I study/practice everyday intensive. What concerts have you played that will you always remember as very good? The Ellen Show and NFL stadium What self-recording on CD most identify you? Don’t have any. What styles of music do you prefer to listen to? Explain. I listen to EVERYTHING, I love music. What are your tips to improve more speed on the drum kit? Practice hard everyday. Start off slow and work speeding it up. Who are your 10 favorite drummers and why? My favorite drummers are Ralph Nader, Harvey Harv and SDJMalik. Ralph and Harv are the OG’s, they are forever the blueprint and they’re BEASTS! And SDJMalik is insane, he’s a beast and always taking things to new levels. If you could invite some great musicians for play 3 concerts around the world ... Who would you call? Micheal Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, and Ella Mai. Tell us something you really try and try with the drums and you could not get yet or are not satisfied with the results you got? When I don’t get something, I just keep doing it till I do. Do you have website? No, just Tik Tok and Instagram. TimothyFletcher_
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IRKO
Up for the Challenge Tell us a little bit about yourself? Hey Michael! Thanks for having me!
My name is IRKO, I’m the music industry’s most beloved bow-tie-wearing mixing engineer. I grew up near Venice, Italy but I have been in the United States for 15 years. Music took me around the World and I have been very fortunate to have worked with artists like Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Sia, Pitbull, Jay-Z and many many more. How long have you been in the music industry? I opened my first studio in 98 but my very first days in Music were way before, the exact timing has been lost to time itself but I think it’s safe to say it was the mid nineties. Where did you learn your craft and how long did it take you? I went to audio engineering school in Italy. During that time I was able to learn all the basics of sound and the experience put me in the right direction to grow my career. My formation years were far from complete after graduating as my huge passion and interest for Hip Hop music made it very necessary to learn tools and techniques conclusive to achieving the results I was after, some of them were not taught in a classroom. So it took a while but I got it eventually! What was your first project? My first projects were probably a bunch of beats that I would make using samples, these tracks were eventually used by local artists for their projects. They probably sound very silly if we heard them today
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Who were some of your mentors when coming into the industry? In the beginning days, I had one OG engineer in Italy who I followed briefly, he helped me with gear and studio stuff. Then, I partnered up with another teacher from school, he helped me with running the business and most
things Pro Tools. Then, in the US, I learned many things from different people but if I was to point one out I’d say that Tony Maserati taught me how to communicate with clients. What genre of music do you listen to during your down time and why? Now, I listen to a lot of instrumental music, it’s perfect for reading and cooking and such. But when I’m on my cleaning mode you better believe I’ll blast some boom bap! Who was your first well known client? Jay-Z for sure. I was involved in the engineering of ‘Kingdom Come’. What a time! Describe a time when you were required to think on your feet. How did this go? During studio time, even more so recording sessions, the talent might be ready to rock and time is of the essence. I found myself countless of times trying to figure out a buzz or a noise while having tens of channels open. That’s when you have to think QUICK on your feet. A good, trained and effective crew helps a lot to solve these kinds of problems. Can you name a list of artists you have worked with? Sure! Besides the previously named artists, I have mixed for Mac Miller, Swizz Beatz, Jennifer Lopez, Black Thought, Portugal The Man, Joey Badass, ScHoolboy Q, Rick Ross, Killer Mike, Kevin Gates, Pusha T, Tory Lanez, Juicy J, 21 Savage, Eric Bellinger, Dave East, Kid Cudi, Big K.R.I.T., Ty Dolla Sign, Kash Doll, Fabolous, Common, Redman, Talib Kweli and a lot more Describe in detail to our reader what you do when it comes to the music scene. To simplify things, the producer makes the beat, the artist writes a song to it, they record everything, now the song exists and it gets passed to me. At this point the song is brilliant but the sound is that of a Honda civic, after I spend a day on it it’ll sound like a v12 Lamborghini! Now, the song not only is catchy, but it’s also sonically competitive with everything else that’s on the charts. So, my clients now have that extra juice to get a plaque! Describe a time when you had to work with a difficult client. What did you learn? Studio situations can be difficult some times but I have noticed that it usually boils down to communication. I do my best to set expectations clearly and deliver more than anticipated Describe a time you made a mistake. What happened? Mistakes (or as I call them chances to learn more) happen all the time, even more so at the beginning of careers. In my line of work a typical situation is to over do things, use too much level on this or that element of the song. Or not running mixes through strenuous tests, or not setting up the business side of things very well. But, you learn from those situation and make sure they never happen again! What would you regard as the most challenging part of Sound Engineering? The most challenging part of sound engineering is that we all hear differently and we all have different speaker and different settings in which the speakers are, this all makes sound very unique, it’s a moving target. But, you know what? I would not have it any other way!
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Jennifer Nettles Illuminates Broadway With Her New Album “Always Like New”
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Jennifer Nettles: Illuminates Broadway With Her New Album “Always Like New” by Eileen Shapiro “Every night, half an hour before curtain up, the bells of St. Malachy’s, the Actors’ Chapel on New York’s 49th Street, peal the tune of ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business.’ If you walk the streets of the theater district before a show and see the vast, enthusiastic lines, it sounds like a calling: There is certainly no place like Broadway”–Dan Stevens Multi-Grammy Award winning global phenomena Jennifer Nettles illuminates Broadway with her album Always Like New set to release on June 25 via Concord Records. Jennifer has joined forces with Grammy and Tony winner Alex Lacamoire (recognized for his work on Broadway including Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and In The Heights) to celebrate the re-envisioning of some of the best loved Broadway tunes, embracing modern day epics and familiar echoes of the past. Always Like New is brimming with heart, adorned with vibrant color and marinated with soulful texture. Nettles has welcomed Broadway back by taking songs from a variety of great musicals and elevating them to a dazzling climax that will delight musical theater aficionados and novices alike. Jennifer and Alex have crushed this record with their talent and dedication, breathing fresh life into standards in a way that makes you want the show to go on and on. The album will be unveiled at a most appropriate time. The world is opening up and people are no longer howling at the moon. The release will come in time for New York Gay Pride Week, in time to honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11, as well as the reopening of Broadway. The word “superstar” only touches the surface when celebrating Jennifer Nettles. She has appeared on TBS’ hit competition series Go-Big Show as a judge, portrayed Aimee-Leigh Gemstone on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, and delivered a powerful performance in Focus Features’ Harriet Tubman biopic, Harriet. As a singer/songwriter, she has earned three Grammy Awards, two with Sugarland and one for her collaboration with Bon Jovi on “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” She also has five ASCAP awards, three ACM Awards, a CMA Award, the Human Rights Campaign’s Ally for Equality Award and the Artist Impact Award from Lincoln Center. Jennifer is a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community, racial equality, and women’s rights, as well as a philanthropist. She has also appeared on Broadway–in Chicago in 2015. Mostly, Jennifer is true to herself, inspirational, and honest.
Jennifer, congratulations on the release of your new album..... Thank you. I am very, very excited about it. Let me tell you a sort of kismet moment. We recorded the last note of “Tomorrow”, the last song on the record, on March 12, 2020. It was the day that Broadway closed. So we literally finished recording and everybody’s phone started blowing up with the news that Broadway was closing down. It has only closed one day during 9/11 and it has never closed during any of the world wars. It is such a significant moment in history for this iconic American institution, world known. How many songs have been written for Broadway or about Broadway? The fact that it shut down the last day of recording this album felt so cosmic, so meant to be, so now, thankfully, the world continues to open up and Broadway is about to do so. I just feel like this record is such a celebratory flag to say “Yay!!! Here we come back to celebrate all the beauty that we’re going to be able to see on the stages once again.”
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Growing up in New York it was always kind of exciting to see a Broadway play. It’s a big deal because it is a high level of excellence. Anytime we get to experience as human beings such an exquisite level of excellence where everyone is contributing at the top of their game, there is a sacredness to that. So of course it would’ve been a big deal even as a New Yorker. As a matter of fact even more so as a New Yorker. Like “The Night of the Living Dead” resurrected...In any case I love all the songs that you’ve chosen however while I love the theater, I am not a huge Broadway Musical fan. I love punk rock... However, I have to say the way you orchestrated these songs was so over the top. You did songs that I never thought I would like in my wildest dreams, but I really, really liked them. I love hearing you say this, Eileen, and let me tell you why. Because my collaborating partner for arranging and producing, Alex, and I and Adam Zotovich, the executive producer, we put so much stock into the selection of the songs. The criteria we ended up using in choosing the songs had to be in two parts. It had to be respectful homage to the original composition, but number two, it had to expand that original composition in such a way that it made it reimagined, re-envisioned, and able to be discovered anew. That’s where the title came from, Always Like New, because for me as an artist, not only am I constantly reinventing and evolving myself, but also, the songs symbolize that in the ways that… some of them are modern contemporary theater, some of them are classic, but all of them take the original compositions and hopefully reimagine them in a way that allow for their discovery.
If you were ever to tell me that I would thoroughly enjoy a song like “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” I would have said that you’re crazy. But the way you did it, it was almost like it was a brand new song. You elevated that song to some kind of imaginary realm. I love hearing that, and also, here’s the thing: People are very specific about their musical taste. Just like you were saying you would’ve never thought that you would like that, people say that about musical theater, country music, just fill in the blanks, according to what their taste might be. But to hear you say that, it has so much significance for me because again, that feels like we’ve achieved what we set out to do, which was take the songs and respectfully reimagine them. The good thing is I’ve been hearing on both sides of the coin, because I have people who are super precious about musical theater. I mean they are protective, but they are like, “Oh, my God, we love this record.“To hear them say that, those that are so super protective of the form and genre, and to hear you say that, who really comes from another background and taste, that to me is super rewarding. So, thank you. Truth....very refreshing and I almost want to say inspiring. Yeah, let it be inspiring because that’s what music is supposed to be. I feel like I’m winning today, Eileen... You’ve definitely won with this one. The fact that you’re releasing the record at such a monumental time, during Pride week.....If just fits. I think it fits in so many ways. I think obviously within the Broadway community, the gay community is such an intricate part. For those two communities to hold hands physically in the form of this album is a beautiful part of its release for sure. I think that from this interview and the last interview we had that you are so genuine and I know you will answer this honestly....So my question is who selected the songs, in other words were they favorites of yours or did someone choose them for you? The way that Alex and I collaborated on this project was really serving the song and serving the music.
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That for us was the highest goal. Some of them, for example “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ ” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”, “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?”, even “Tomorrow”, but especially those first three…They were always for me in my own head as a writer, singer and composer, that I heard those vocal melodies anyway. So, for years I have been singing them with a back beat, which made them feel for me as a vocalist that they were super accessible, different and celebratory. Starting with those three really as a foundation as we started to expand into those arrangements, we realized what was making those arrangements work. It’s what I mentioned to you earlier, which was that dual inspiration of serving the original, but in a way that made it completely re-envisioned, with respect. There is not a bad one in the bunch. There are a lot of classics and then there’s a handful of contemporary ones as well, like “Wait For It” from Hamilton and “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen. We wanted to make sure we represented some of the current ones as well. Your world expands way beyond the average mortal. You do everything. Do you ever stop counting your Grammys? Well, it’s easy to stop. I just get to three. I would love more. Let’s be honest. And beyond that, I enjoy storytelling across the board and I love the performing arts. If I’m doing it as a songwriter, if I’m doing it as a vocalist, if I’m doing it in TV and film or on the theater stage or on the concert stage, whatever it is, I love storytelling and I love music most specifically as my first love. Where do you find the time for everything, I mean you’re a singer, songwriter, actress, activist, a mother.... Even I don’t know. I think something that I’ve definitely seen over this pandemic is, good God, how we all learned about ourselves. We have learned shit about ourselves that we wish we didn’t know. We’ve all had way too much time on our hands. But also, the downward pressure that we’ve all experienced this year. The ambiguous loss, the tangible loss, the fear, the anxiety–for me, I have learned that I’m quite accustomed to being much healthier when I have a certain amount of output and a certain amount of input. Creatively, from a performance perspective, from a chemical perspective, I am just used to running at a certain gear, and to have stopped that…Just to put it bluntly, it fucked me up. So, where do I find time for it? I just look at it as a big dance and I just try to step in at the right cue. I say “Yes” to only the things that fill my heart in the right way. I keep reinforcing to the universe, “This is the kind of stuff I want to come my way.” Kind of like “The Secret.” Very much...let’s manifest it. So, the album came out on June 25 and it will be sold as vinyl, CD and online? I don’t think they did cassette, but I heard among the young kids that that’s becoming a new thing again. Where they are going to play I don’t know? We didn’t do cassettes, but we did vinyl and CD and of course the digital source of your desires.
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time.
Since everything is finally opening up will you be touring in support of the album? That is what I am hoping. It is a very specific album in terms of the orchestration. So being able to support that with instrumentalists, I’m looking at now trying to decide whether this is a symphony tour kind of thing or sourcing musicians from local orchestras depending on where I go? I have never had an album this richly orchestrated. All that is to say is yes and I’m looking into the best ways to do. So, is there anything you’d like to talk about that I haven’t covered? Yes. As of note, I would like to point out that the only duet on the album–which is “It All Fades Away” from Bridges of Madison County–is a duet that I do with Brandi Carlile, who is loved and is one of your own in the LGBTQ community. It is such a standout to me on the album, for a number of reasons. Number one is vocally, Brandi is unsurpassed, and number two, the song itself is a love song, so for two women singing this song, a lot of times we definitely don’t see (at least I haven’t) two women doing a love duet in popular music, much less in theater music. So I think that song in particular is a standout, and I would just love for people to be able to note that and celebrate it.
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Ma$o Foreelz On His Game
How would you describe your musical style? My musical style is west coast G-funk rooted. But, I also have an alter side that touches basis with reality and real events or touching on people’s feelings or shit they go through. So, I’m like a Warren G, mixed with TWISTA, and a shot of Baby Bash. What first got you into Music? What got me into music was when I would do rap battles with the fellas out in the yard or in the cottage.
What was the name of your first single and how did you come up with it? My first single was “Lovely Day” ft. Villian & Craig “The H!TMan” Long…. I came up with the concept wanting to give tribute to the great state of California and our lovely entertainment capital of the world, “LA”…There’s nothing like taking a cruise down PCH and all throughout LA on a sunny day. So yeah, that was a tribute to that. How would you describe the music that you typically create? I can describe it as funky, catchy, something you can chill to in the backyard or at a bbq, something you can also dance to as well. It it’s about creating music that’s not just about talking out of ur ass, but making it relevant and relatable. Describe your style of music? G~Funk, Pop, R&B and classic hip hop.
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What is your creative process? It all depends on what I’m feeling at the moment, or what’s brewing within me when I hear the track. Sometimes I’m inspired by current events, or things that I know have happened to me or someone I know. Or more less an experience! Who would you most likely do a collaboration with and why? I want to do a collaboration with King Lil G. Because of the lane he’s on. He’s broken barriers and don’t bite no ones steelo. If you could do a show with any artist who would it be and why? I vibe his style and word play. Plus he keeps it. Secondly, DJ Quik, because he’s a great/genius with music. If you could do a show with any artist who would it be and why? I would like to do a show with Snoop, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole….. I’m a fan of all three. For J Cole and Kendrick they’re lyrical geniuses and super relevant. Snoop because he’s smooth, he’s a mastermind when it comes to marketing and putting on a show. I’d love to be part of that. What is the first album you ever owned? How did you acquire it? DJ Quik the single “Tonight”, my uncle bought it for me at a CD store when those were around lol. What are three things you look for when you see an artist play live? If they’re rapping without lyrics, they’re body language and crowd interaction. I think it’s imperative to know the crowd ur performing in front of. At least it’s easier to do on this smaller scale. Once ur a big star I guess u already know they’re their for u. lol Who is your superhero alter-ego and why? The Hulk lol…. Cause, I’m a really nice guy and have a sincere personality and heart. What u see is what u get. But, if u piss me off, I’ll f*** some shit up! hahaha Nah, but if I get upset it’s usually a good reason, but it takes a lot to get me to the hulk point If we were to buy you a drink, what would it be? Chivas Regal 18 year and coke, or Hennessy and coke on the rocks (chilled). What’s a song you have stuck in your head these days? Late at Night-Roddy Rich What’s your favorite thing to order from room service? I’ve never ordered room service tbh. I haven’t made it there yet. Where do you find your artistic inspiration? My inspiration comes from the great Pac and Nipsey. Two of the realest. Who’s your fashion icon and why? I love Guess and adidas. Adidas cause they’re classic and have always been embraced by the hip hop icons….otherwise for clothes I’m a pretty simple dude. 501s and a white Tee are good for me haha California vibes
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Give us an insider tip on what bands or artists are about to break in your opinion? I really haven’t been listening to too much music lately tbh. I e been grinding and working on my EP. I haven’t had much time to really put my ear on others , but I have heard a dude by the name of Lil. Tjay…. I think he’s pretty dope. He sounds like the rest of these guys with that auto tune but o we all I like his word play and beats are pretty sick. Photography by Carlos Lugo
Autumn Kaplan @autumnntaylor_
Photographer: Donte Toussaint @dtphotography Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Burning in The Skies
Caught in The Undertow Andrew King, the brainchild, heart and soul of Burning in The Skies, has just celebrated the release of his epic EP, “Caught In The Undertow.” With a Depeche Mode vibe, and a Linkin Park influence, the EP is already creating a global buzz. The eclectic music ranges from piano ballads too heavy guitar driven rock and synth propelled pop. By day, Andy is a physician’s assistant, a dream that he followed after losing a close friend and by night he is an accomplished musician with an accidental intent to share his music with world. Well on his way to accomplishing that, the British born rising superstar first created music as a hobby until people began to notice his talent and become addicted to his song.... What inspires your music? I think anything from day to day life really. I think certainly when I feel emotion, I feel it quite deeply and I think sometimes I find it kind of hard to direct. I started writing songs even before I thought about the music. I just put it on paper so it all kind of started about four or five years ago and Burning In The Skies has only been around for about two years. It’s been a long time.
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Burning In The Skies is all you? It’s just me. That’s why I don’t perform live or anything. I make the music on my laptop with my guitar and keyboard. It’s always been on my bucket list to record a song to see what it sounds like and I’ve never looked back.
Who are your favorite music influences....who did you grow up listening to on the radio? I didn’t really start listening to my own music until I was about 12 or 13 years old. I used to live with my mum and dad when they were together. My dad was kind of the head of the household and he would listen to his jazz music and his 70s and 80s kind of pop rock-ish music. I didn’t really enjoy the stuff, but I listened to it. When they got divorced and when me and my mum moved, the first thing I did was I got this little TV with my pocket money. It was only 10 pounds and gave me the music channels. It was the first time I got to listen to popular music and I’ll always remember one of the first songs I ever heard was Linkin Park’s song “Numb”. I just thought “WOW” I’ve never heard that music before. It sounded like it was from the soul. It sounded gritty and heavy. I decided to keep an eye on them. Then I heard “Breaking the Habit”, and I went to a popular music store over here and the first album I ever bought was Linkin Park’s “Meteora” album. Since then I have been a diehard Linkin Park fan. They are my biggest influence. Where do you hope to be musically in five years? In a dream world, I’d love to have a band together and I’d love to be successfully touring and maybe be able to live off that money. It’s such a hard industry to break into because there’s so much competition. Then on social media everyone offers to promote your music and you have to pay for it and when you’re naïve you jump at it. It’s very hard to even get yourself heard. I never actually was going to show people my music. I went to my friend and asked him to help me record the song and he had played it for his girlfriend who loved it. He told me to put it up somewhere but I didn’t know how and then he told me about DistroKid and how it went onto Spotify and iTunes and that kind of thing. So, I did that and put it on social media and then I kind of got a following. That gave me a little confidence to go back into the studio and record a couple of others. It just kind of snowballed from there really. So, you kind of started by accident? Precisely. I didn’t have any expectations and I thought I’m just gonna put my music out and now I’m probably my number one fan. I listen to my own music all of the time, in the car, when I’m at the gym. I think when you write music and it comes from the heart you can really obviously empathize with it and I think that’s what makes music so great. I think that’s why people like it so much and come together because they all share similar feelings as far as how a song makes them feel....I think music is wonderful. Tell me your story outside of music? None of my family had been to University or anything like that. I came from quite a poor family, they always struggled. I said to myself that I wanted to earn more money and try and get to the top where I can, so I went to University and studied for a degree in zoology to begin with because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I love the biology but I bloody hate plants, so I studied zoology. I just really enjoyed the human part of physiology and one of the medical schools in London started a program for physician’s associate. So, I applied and I got in, and I’ve been a physician’s associate in general practice for the past eight years. When I was young, I had a best friend called James and he was like a brother to me. I would see him every day, we went to the same school. But I had a really bad year and my best friend committed suicide and then four months later my dad came down with a rare type of cancer and passed away. So ,it was a pretty horrible year and I think in a way that’s what kind of pushed me into the medical field. The reason I went into medicine is because I thought that I could empathize with things and maybe I could prevent certain things from happening. That has always been a big motivation for me. Watch the “Biding My Time” lyric video from Burning In The Skies here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BQT78XSFYY “Caught In The Undertow” is now available worldwide. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7izCliMIRqJgM4QnT2iXVn?si=bJEgFPQHTl2hxangW1gKfw&dl_branch=1 https://music.apple.com/gb/album/caught-in-the-undertowep/1566390173 Follow Burning In The Skies on the web: Instagram @Burningintheskies_official Twitter : @BurningInTheS Facebook : @Burningintheskiess
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BeNita AppleBomB Where are you from? Rosedale, Mississippi
Making Moves
Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way(s)? Yes, my whole life I’ve been in what they call “The Hood” bad language, drugs, guns, gangs, etc. although none of those are good things, but hearing the music that was created from those things definitely played a significant role in my music. Which is probably why I’m still underground.
What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? I was originally a writer, and wrote the book “Selected Chapters of Life”, and that opened the doors to rap. How did you get started? A producer (Eldridge Jenkins) R.I.P. purchased one of the aforementioned books and asked me if I was interested in adding music to my lyrics and we got in the studio and laid a track. What was your introduction to the underground scene? I wrote a song called “Trap Queen” my first song ever that I really didn’t put much promotion behind, but then I dropped a song called “Shake” and it took off I did a lot of touring with that song.
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At what age did you begin creating, and in which mediums? I began creating rhymes at the age of eleven and everyone said that I was very mature for my age because one of my first poems was, “Sea of Love”.
Sea of Love Two whole years I’ve been at sea without a fishing boat or net And who’s to come and rescue me? Another fool I bet Two whole years see I’ve survived even the deadliest tides The water has beaten me so bad, but yet I’m still alive With every breath I breathe, I pray, the Lord will spare one more This morning when I opened my eyes, I had finally set ashore This poem will be in my next book called, Blowetry, A Puff of Poetry that was not properly released the first time. However, there are copies out there around my hometown. Who is your favorite rapper and why? My favorite rapper of all time, that’s hard but I would have to go with Trina because I can relate to her and she talks a lot of sh* and that makes it fun and what’s entertainment without fun? Who have you worked with? I haven’t done any work with a major artist yet, but locally, I have a song with “Insane” of Clarksdale, MS. EDOGG of Greenville, MS. Bastard Child of Drew, MS. And a all female collab with Lyric, Da Ladie Da Boss both of Greenville, MS and MZ SI of Shaw, MS. If you could be any inanimate object in the world, what would it be and why? A book, a romance novel at that because at least then, I know I will get my happily ever after. Where does your influence come from? Growing up in the struggle, being the 3rd of 9 children. Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you? At the moment I would have to say Shaun Fisher who I believe is a good friend to both of us. He has given me what I consider great advice, one was definitely reaching back out to you and look at us now, doing an interview, thank you Michael Neely, this means a lot to me! How does your creative process differ when you are creating beats versus vocals? I’m not a producer, but whenever I write there’s always a rhythm in my head. How long have you been making music now as BeNita AppleBomB? I’ve been in the music scene for about 6 years now. What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you today? I would have to say losing friends. Who are your top 3 favorite bands of all time? En Vogue, TLC, and Destiny Child.
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If you could take anyone in the world dead or alive on a date, who would it be and why? Tupac Shakur, I’ve always been in love with him since a kid. I would definitely pick his brain. I feel like he wasn’t done with his story. Tell me about the first song you ever made. Was it a success or a failure in your opinion? I think it could have been a success with the right production and promotion behind it. What haven’t you attempted yet, that you hope to? Singing Do you have any new music you are working on? I do have a song I’m about to release called, “Scarred” and it was created because of the wrecks and hardships of my life. Physical, mental and emotional scarring. What do you hope to accomplish? Becoming a role model and get rich doing what I love. What is next for You? Hopefully, I could make some money writing for mainstream artists. What do you want your supporters to know about you? That I’m a genuine person and not to confuse the artist with the person. Follow BeNita AppleBomB’s career. Facebook: @therealbenitaapplebom Instagram: @therealbenitaapplebom Twitter: BeNitaAppleBomB SoundCloud: benitaapple YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHrx07cWNsSiulM_bolXWpg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5EWa9ISQmeVjpWBmQyIJzk?si=gM4D7ScvRXOsygsK2yiQZA&dl_ branch=1t Website: BeNitaAppleBomB.com
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Patrick Tripp Next Level
What is your stage name and genre? My stage name is my name or initials (Patrick Tripp) I use that because I’m just me. I can’t be put into a category, won’t conform to anything and remain true to myself.
How did you get into music? I got into music because a friend had some equipment in his basement. We used to sample beats and I would freestyle all the time, until other guys would come with written lyrics, so I started writing because I had competition now.
Who are some of your music inspirations? My inspirations are Run-D.M.C., Slick Rick, Tribe Called Quest, 8ball & MJG. These artist paint really vivid pictures with their words and plus they had the cool factor. Describe the kind of music you create. The music I typically create is very observational and vivid. I paint pictures with my words that u can visualize when u listen and I have an extensive subject matter. What is your creative process? My creative process consists of me listening to the track and letting the track tell me what to do. I get my ideas out of the air from just
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everyday living and interaction, So I take that thread if experience and sew it into my storyline. Which artist would you like to collaborate with? I would most like to collaborate with Jay-Z. I feel like Jay is the goat, and who would like to work with the best and some up some of the knowledge he has. If you could open up for any artist, who would it be? If I could open up for anyone it would be Jay-Z. It would definitely be a sold out show and there would be so many eyeballs on me, I couldn’t lose. If you could send a message to your fans, what would it be? A message I would give to my fans is, I will never cheat you. I will challenge you, i will always be consistent and will deliver every time. What is the most useless talent you have? The most useless talent I have is, slapping the cards on the table when I’m playing spades. What songs do you sing in the shower? The songs I sing in the shower are either new songs I’m working on, or whatever is stuck in my head at the time, so it could be anything from Stevie Wonder to The Lox How did Covid-19 affect your career in music? Covid impacted my career by slowing things down a bit. I had plans for 2020 and things didn’t work out. However things are starting to open up and I’m picking up where I left off. What would you being doing as a career if you weren’t involved in music? If I didn’t have my music career I’d probably be playing basketball or be some kind of writer for a newspaper, magazine or maybe even books. Where have you performed? I’ve performed at the ice bar in Chicago, MQ Hip Hop conferences in L.A. and Launchpad in Albuquerque. Currently, I’m working on opening up for 2short in September in Albuquerque In your opinion, how has the internet impacted the music business? The internet has impacted the industry by allowing new artists to be discovered more easily, it’s easier to publish your music and now we can stream music. Artist don’t need a label, because the internet had everything at your fingertips. What is your favorite song to perform? My favorite song to perform is Walk with me. It is the standout song on my album, and it has a real substantial message. Are there any famous musicians/artists that you admire? And why? Famous musicians I admire are Jay-Z, Nas, Master P, P. Diddy, Stevie Wonder. All of these artists have come from humble beginnings and have over achieved, become moguls and created empires. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music and follow your career? My social media handles are: Instagram: Ptripp78 Twitter: Ptripp78 Facebook: patrick.tripp.71 YouTube: Patrick tripp Walk with me Spotify: Patrick Tripp Walk with me Tik Tok: Patrick Tripp Walk with me
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vanilla base Indie Artists
How did you get the name, “vanilla base”? We began to look for a name in English. Many wines have a vanilla flavour in them. Vanilla is a byproduct of oak aging. I guess our music over time has moved towards a softer indie pop style and that seemed reflected in this name. Which instruments do you guys play? Drums, guitar, lead guitar and bass guitar.
What was the first tune(s) you learned? Hard to say. I remember that the first singers I really enjoyed were artists like George Michael, Madonna, Prince or Michael Jackson. Is your family musical? Not really, my mother told me we have a relative that was a good singer, but that´s about it. How did you come up with the name for your newest single called “ LOST TRAVELLER” It´s a contradiction, when we travel sometimes we think we´re looking for something, but in reality we do it because a part of us is lost. Describe your family member’s musical interests and abilities. I have a brother who plays the drums and my husband plays the piano and the guitar very well.
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Which famous musicians do you admire? Why? Female singer and song-writers, like Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Anastasia, Nelly Furtado. I really admire females who are good singers but also compose their songs. My favourite band of all time is Queen and Fredy Mercury is by far the best rock-pop vocalist of all time in my opinion. He had an amazing voice. Who was your first teacher? Other teachers? I began to take singing lessons fairly late; I was in my early thirties. My first teacher was actually an opera singer. He would teach me to sing at an opera level, his philosophy was if you can sing opera, you can sing anything, because it is the most difficult genre. Describe your first instrument. Other instruments. I´ve tried to learn to play the guitar but have not had much success actually. I leave it to the experts in the group! What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighbourhood or town? Listening, singing and dancing to some of the most amazing artists of our time like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Cindy Lauper, or Prince. Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones? I still remember recording songs from the radio on tapes! It seems so long ago, but that´s how we did it long time ago. Who are your favourite musicians? Groups? CD’s? Queen or Fleetwood Mac. But some current groups that I like include Maroon 5, the Coors or the weeknd. Sinse the pandemic, do you feel that it’s changed the way the world looks at music? Yes, we can do a lot of things separately, create music, record it and view it all remote. The music to lost traveller was recorded separately and then the vocals were added. This is something that would not have been done previously. Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV? We did in the past but now with the pandemic that is more difficult. What are your social media handles? Follow us at: @vanillabase
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Bailey Elora
Facebook: @baileyeloramusic Instagram: @baileyelora YouTube: Bailey Elora SoundCloud: Bailey-Elora Photo: @joshpshanks
