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We are the voice for indie artists!!! Visit: www.musiekmagazine.com Checkout previous issues at www.issuu.com
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https://soundcloud.com/ahreemusic/ahree-vibe
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Tiffany Gaines pg 33 8
INSIDE
Hey DJ: Malinda Bell...pg 22
Did You Know: Get Your Music Heard Internet Radio...pg 12
BuzzWorthy Artist: Tommy Johnson...pg 18
Musiek International: Mic G……pg 26 9
Coming from an extensive background in music and working with many indie artists for many years, I wanted to do more to help those creative souls who travel a hard road exposing their talents. As the shift in resources and outlets for indie artists become limited or pose as a high-end investment requirement, many artists today soon give up and silence their voice. There had to be a way to help give them to be heard beyond the lyrics of their music...thus we create Musiek Magazine. My hopes are to highlight indie artists who deserve a platform to speak and encourage other artists through their stories & experiences not to give up on their craft. I truly want everyone to share this magazine not just to make this magazine "hot" but to help the artists we highlight reach more people through our publication. I'm excited for all that we will accomplish with Musiek Magazine and I look forward to helping many artists reach new heights through our publication. Demario Mcilwain Founder & CEO JDS Certified Inc. 704.412.1537 www.jdsonlinemarketing.com info@jdsonlinemarketing.com Follow Me: https://twitter.com/onlinedemario Like Me: https://www.facebook.com/jdscertifiedinc Connect With Me: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/demariomcilwain/45/377/201
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My goal has always ben to introduce to others the talent and abilities of those that are around us daily. My experiences with artists of various genres and talent gives a unique perspective to their dreams and goals, and that needs to be shared to the masses. I still remember sitting in a cafeteria talking to two brothers that told me of their music and how they are going to NY and become famous. While listening to their demo, I was amazed by their talent. Those brothers were KC and Jo Jo. , And well, you know the rest‌.. Working with DeMario, I know Musiek will be a vehicle for those artists, producers, DJs and venues that remember the beauty of music and how it connects us. To sit and listen to the first tracks , the story of sacrifice, and the success gained. This is the purpose of Musiek!
Carey Digsby Editor/CEO Urban Tymes Media www.urbantmedia.com https://www.facebook.com/urban.tymes https://www.instagram.com/urbantmag/ https://twitter.com/urbantmag
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Did U Know‌.???? Get Your Music Heard! Market Internet Radio demographic/listening base. There is low startup costs for Internet radio, which is why so many of them are independent and becoming available at this time. Currently, more people listen to online radio than to satellite radio, high-definition radio, podcasts, or cell-phone-based radio combined. But why? And how does it affect the indie artist? Well with many Internet radio stations popping up, several devote much of their focus on the promotional side of indie artists.
and sound, but after that, it must be heard by the public. A great platform today: Internet radio.
Songcast is an Internet radio service that was created solely for serious music lovers and indie artists wanting their music to be heard. www.songcastmusic.com/indie-artist-radio They note on their site 7.99 per track per month of play.
Internet radio, also known as web radio, net radio, streaming radio, e-radio, online radio, webcasting, is the audio service one normally hears, transmitted via the Internet. Internet radio involves streaming media, which gives many listeners continuous stream of audio that is not paused. Also Internet radio is also distinct from podcasting, which involves downloading rather than streaming.
Indie Radio Music http://www.indieradiomusic.com/ has a review and submission area on their site to allow indie artists to submit and covert their music to the radio play list or note on their social media pages. They only ask that musicians forfeit their SoundExchange royalties for use of the site. (This of course is a business decision an artist would have to consider prior to submittal)
Today, artists work hard to perfect their craft
Internet radio usually feature news, sports, and talk radio along with different music choices, So do your homework and review the opportusimilar to the traditional radio broadcasts we nities Internet radio has to get your music grew up on. Many Internet radio services are heard! associated with a corresponding traditional radio stations or networks, giving them a wider
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ARTISTS
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BuzzWorthy
Tommy Johnson
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“The Newest Rising Star of the Contemporary African Artists�
Poet | Playwright | Songwriter| Arranger & Composer |Multi instrumentalist and Producer from Chicago, Illinois. Tommie Johnson, is currently completing a long overdue compilation featuring jazz, blues & orchestral musicians with an array of soul singers; Frank Mccomb, TJ Brown, Khari Lemuel, Javon Watson and Gospel singer Maurice Griffen. The album is expected to be released later 2015. Work has Johnson busy, he wrote, produced and composed the entire compilation, and recently completed his first album The Javon Watson Experience. He has also has written and composed music for an upcoming stage play. In addition to his music movements, He has launched two full recording facilities in Atlanta, GA. Learn more at www.sonofsoul.com
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http://www.shableek.com/
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HEY DJ
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Malinda Bell
by Elise Yeung
photographer/conceptualist. Malinda's photography has been featured "YumYum" wears multiple hats as a in XXL, Ebony, Vibe, Black Enterprise full figure model, photographer, and Radio host for WTSX Power 104.9. A as well as independent published magazines. As a radio and TV host former photography and wardrobe stylist student at the Fashion Institute she has interviewed artists such as: Jim Jones, JaRule, Stephen Marley, of Technology in NYC, she furthers R&B singer Joe, Chris Jasper Isley, her dedication to bringing her visual concepts into the greater visual arena D-Train and many more. As an acof print and film media in front of the tress, Malinda has appeared in indie films and the 2015 Docu- Series: camera as a model and behind it as "eMotions" which was featured on the Independent Film Channel.
Malinda Bell, also adorably known as
As a new resident to the Bay Area from New York she is excited to meet and collaborate with talented visionaries who want to bring life to their creative projects. With her beautiful smile, photogenic features and bubbly yet grounded personality, Malinda has a catalog of unheralded work which makes her a tremendous asset to any set as a model or photographer. Stay tuned, there's more to come!
*Contact: Instagram: Yumdivayum / Twitter: Yumyumsworld/ Facebook: M alinda Bell
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INTERNATIONAL
Mic G (Sboniso Ngubane) is a solo Hip hop artist from Durban SA, currently based in (PMB) Pietermaritzburg. “Basically he's style is strictly street with a bit of that raw lyricism.� He has worked with alot of talented artists and producers around South Africa. This includes Liquid K-ZN, Golden Shovel, Skye Wanda, Shon
G, Deep Soweto and Siyamatic Zakwe and Zulu boy. Worked on compilations and mix tapes like The Given Mixtape, Graveyard Mixtape, Chain of Command Mixtape, Timezone Mixtape and Fresh book,Muff Town Producers Spikeyboi and Blazing Jams and now working with PMB's fresh producer Kurt (New Age Records)
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Industry Spotlight
Her Vibe… Her Music.. Her Message
Tiffany Gaines When you read the biography of Tiffany Gaines, one can see that she is truly a dynamo in so many things, so many facets of the industry. But there is more to her than just the titles and the multitude of celebrities that she’s been fortunate to rub shoulders with and learn from. Besides being multilingual, multifaceted and internationally respected…. When you talk to Tiffany Gaines, you are in the presence of an individual that is passionate in everything that she does. And that the gifts given to her over the years, the knowledge accumulated, is not taken lightly. And her talent knows no limits……
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TG: I started out as a model for Baby Phat…I did not like it at all, but it was an entrance to the entertainment industry. So after being introduced to several people, from Russell Simmons to Kimora Lee, MM: We appreciate you allowing us this then Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, then all opportunity! Your biography is so expansive, and it shows us an individual who is of the sudden your resume turns into potential let’s just say. Because you know very passionate about the work that they to these people, relationships are do in the entertainment industry…share with us your vision, your thoughts behind everything. So actually I did a lot of writing, my background comes from that. TG: Well, I have a lot of mentors. I started completely opposite from what I do. I have Bachelors in Political Science with Law out with some pretty big mentors in the and Society, so naturally I have a lot of business. I don’t like to drop names but their friends of mine who have taught me experience when it comes to Law, when it that if you chase purpose, then there’s no comes to politics, naturally that involves limit to what you can do for others. So that people, relationships, so I can bring a lot has always been the main concern as far to the table. Especially in the entertainas for me, so with all these titles, positions ment industry, as people are always and these different things that I take on, it dealing with contracts, always dealing with business plans and dealing with people in really allows me to expand opportunities for others. So from the distributor side, to general. I really believe in you’ve got to give before can even think about the management side, from an receiving….does that make sense? international hotel broker with National So I did a lot, I’ve helped write the Hotel Association, there’s so many things that you can get into versus getting business plan for Alonzo Robinson, who was the Senior Director of ASCAP, I got tied down to with a 9 to 5 where it just with some heavy hitters and started limits you to that check. Once you get donating time, and just saying “don’t even limited to that check, you can only spend worry about it, get me in the future. If I within those means. But once you say. “hey ..you know what, there’s no limit, I’m ever need it, you got me.” And that’s how I started building, then all of the sudden I going to temporarily dedicate my time to started writing. I’ve always had a passion this position, and then get certified for for singing, me and my sister used to sing whatever reason, then it just boosts the quality of value of that individual. Yes my in church, so we would perform and it was just always that something in the back of resume is pretty expansive! Sometimes my head, so writing became natural, so when I read it, I tend to have the eyepoems, spoken poetry and then all of the brows raised and what not, but when you’re just doing it. They say, multimillion- sudden the right people coming into the picture. That’s the short version of the aires you want to have at least what 7 to story (laughing) 10 income streams coming in, so that’s what I teach my artists. MM: Well that is impressive, and also what is truly impressive is when MM: Wow, well how did you start? Or better yet what influenced you to become individuals such as you hold a high standard in professional areas. How part of this industry or those industries? important has that been for you?
MM: Hello Tiffany!!! How are you? TG: Hello! I’m good, thank you for having me!
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TG: Well, have you ever dealt with some people that had great ideas, but when you started working with them, all of the sudden you could see that it was just an idea, but then when it comes to the effort and actual commitment they could bring to the table …it turned out to be something you wasn’t looking for? You know, it was either going to be you did it, or they’re gonna sit... and it’s a dream that never happened. Well, that’s important to me. It’s important to focus on integrity...if you say you’re going to do something you better do it. If you can’t then just say you can’t. That’s something I feel, especially with my artists. When I have these conference calls with them I dedicate an hour of my day, at any given time if they need to talk about strategies or their business in general, or even a personal problem, because if you have a personal problem in your world, you won’t be able to commit to the business. So it’s important to stay professional, and it’s important to stay with professional people. (Side note)During the interview, she shared with us several things that she learned during her tenure in the industry, and webinars/ seminars she’s planned to educate artists and entrepreneurs in general on the business and trappings that occur during the building of your brand. This alone speaks volumes of her belief in mentoring others. MM: In the entertainment industry, who has been the individual that’s truly impressed you? TG: Curtis Young.
really big situation to try to compete with. It’s like that shadow is always going to be there right? There was a lot of discouragement in just the everyday process of growth. You want it to happen as fast as possible, and MM: Why do you say that? then there’s always the media who would TG: It’s not because of our business come back, or people would always say “oh, relationship, but if you look at his growth just but that’s Dre’s son” so any type of growth in the matter of three years. So I started off pattern that would exist in our circle, we as his manager and he was representing would always hear, “yeah..how much did Curtis Young at that time but prior to that your pops give you?” It was like a blessing was Hood Surgeon, but I feel like it was a and a curse in disguise. And right now when you look at three years back all the way up loss of identity, not really knowing who you until present day, he is an entrepreneur, and want to portray publicly. Do you want to impress the streets? Do you want to impress money is coming in. the industry? Do you want to impress the ladies? Your father is Dr. Dre, so that is a 37
We recently incorporated the company; he (Curtis) is a businessman now… he’s not a rapper anymore. Every day when you get up and you know you have so much pressure on you to be something and to even possibly try to compare to where your dad is. I mean... come on; his dad is Hip Hop, right? How do you compete with that? So he (Curtis) is the one person that comes to mind if there’s anybody wants to try to learn the process of growth and the process of understanding of what it takes to be successful, it’s him….you have to watch him. He smiles, he greets all of his fans. No matter what he’s going through, he’s always a pleasant individual to speak with, but you know deep down inside there’s hurt, there’s anger. When I met with him and his wife for the first time, they told me the real story of what happened.
whether it be ups or downs, all that you just throw it all away and say “it’s not for me.” Until you decide that is what your choice is going to be, like “I give up, “experience teaches you that there is no such thing as failure. As long as you don’t fail and you keep going then you are going to see success. It’s inevitable! And what again is success, growth, because you consistently put forth that effort to grow. MM: So Tiffany we appreciate it because I can hear the passion in your voice in regards to your work. Tell us why it’s so important to you to be an individual to help others. TG: You know it’s funny, you can’t have an interview without me bringing up God, and that is something that will always be.
MM: You better go head sis!!! TG: Right!! I give credit to Him! A lot of times I It’s just something that you know that is more spiritual, more purpose driven than it is “I’m just don’t know if you’ve ever done this before, but you completed a project and say “you know a rapper trying to get on.” So he comes to what, that was pretty good” and you look back mind…he hasn’t given up, despite how long it at it and you know that was not you. That it had takes, because you know we want it now. to have been the Big Man upstairs! I am a Everybody wants it now, but it was when he daughter of a preacher, my uncles, my aunties told himself “okay, I see what you’re saying now, all these years,” now we have a board of are all preachers and pastors, so naturally directors. We had to get through all the drama people are looking at me like “are you going to be a preacher?” “Are you going to be a to get to where we are today. So that is the pastor?” Um..no, but I’ve always told myself perfect depiction of what an entrepreneur should be and what you need to look for as far that I will still be a “fishermen of men” I have as success. This is why he is the ambassador over three thousand artists in my database, I for the majority of my stuff. From Underground have thirty two sub-labels, and that doesn’t even include the people that I mentor. So I’m over Mainstream Movement I think of him. still that preacher/pastor, but in a lighter sense From Independent Movement, I think of him. I’m not teacher about the Bible, I’m teaching about life. So it’s very important for me to MM: Wow, that’s impressive, when you can apply that to people who have become look at an individual like that and know from the struggles to now and they still impress you followers of mine just in general. Because at the end of the day I want them to take with today. Wow. TG: And he’s still growing today, we all are! At them whatever it is they get from me at that very moment and apply it to their everyday life. the end of the day, that’s what success is. The thing I like about the posts (on FB) is that they are timeless. I pray, before I gather up my MM: They say experience is the best thoughts and say what’s the topic is going to teacher……so what has experience taught be about, I ‘ll pray first and say “I don’t know Tiffany Gaines? who this is going to reach, but whoever it’s TG: Whew! That’s a good question, because going to reach I pray Lord that You go ahead you can’t have growth without experience. So experience has taught me that there is no such and put it together for me, and I’m just the thing as failure unless you actually do say “I’m messenger.” done.” “I give up.” Despite all of the past, 38
And that allows those words to live through me. You know they say that the Bible is the “Living Word” it doesn’t matter what you’re going though. At any given time you might open it up and it’s like oh my God it’s like you talking to me right now! I feel like the posts are just like that as well, and it has to come from a higher source. Its important to me to be that person with integrity business wise, but I also need them to see that there is something a little different from her versus the average entertainment industry executive. “I don’t know what it is, but naturally makes me want to flock to her…” And yeah, that’s God. Inspiration,
that I write about on the Freeway’s Break Free campaign. So back to the whole importance of mentorship, you need to have that; otherwise you just might go down the path that you weren’t even destined to go down. So if I can write some quotes here and there and actually speak to artists who are hungry for something, they just want answers. Many of them have said “you are the only person that is in my corner, everybody has gone. My parents don’t support me.” And that’s why I welcome those phone calls Fishermen of men, I’m
“It’s important to me to be that person with integrity business wise” mentorship, all that is very important. I manage Rick (Freeway Rick Ross) and the thing about him is you’re either going to hate him or love him. Because of what he did in the past and what he’s doing now as a person who’s trying to gain redemption from destruction in the past right. So naturally when people go listen to him or he goes to speak somewhere and you watch what those people do, like they literally break down. They’re crying or they’re just looking at him for answers, because he has lived in their shoes. So I think it’s so important that you have that messenger that has the experience to deliver that message to you. When he (Rick) was growing up, he was a tennis player who was so good to the point they were going to give him a scholarship and what not. Where were the mentors at that moment when they realized he couldn’t read and they took that away from him? And now he had no choice in his mind other than to become that drug kingpin..”I gotta sell drugs; I gotta help put food on the table.” It’s called Generational Poverty, and this is something
still that! MM: Thank you! From the mountaintop! In spite of what’s been going on today, within the media and despondency of what is happening, that was refreshing, thank you! TG: Absolutely! MM: With the artists that are out there right now that don’t have someone like you behind them, could you share with them, deep words of wisdom as they walk that path of trying to be in the entertainment industry? TG: The number one thing that I would leave with an artist trying to pursue any type of career in the business is to stay independent, remain independent. It doesn’t matter how good that contract looks or what it sounds like, they need to remain independent. There’s always an ulterior motive from an executive that is dealing with a major (record company). Anytime there’s major anything, then there is major money.
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Anytime there’s major money that artist will be required to meet certain standards, regardless of whether or not they’re tired or they want to see their family, that doesn’t matter. You have now become the income stream for these top elites of the business. So they have to understand advances, most of them come to me “I feel like I’m so good that you should pay me, to represent me and take my career to the next level.” They need to remove that brainwashed perception/perspective and they need to make sure that they understand that, if they apply their consistency or effort that’s required to move forward. Do their research, study this business; look into whatever it is that is associated with their growth. Whether it’s a rapper, a singer, an entertainer or musician, they need to figure out” who,” and” what,” and” why,” so they can start applying “how.” That’s the most important thing that they have to take with them. Stay independent, because at the end of the day , when they go major, the advances will have to be recouped. Which means I (majors) will spend a lot of money on you, but when you term is up, in 7 to 10 years, you need to pay me back. And they tax everything, so if the video shoot costs five thousand dollars, they’re gonna put on paper it cost fifty to one hundred grand. So you’ll never be able to pay this money back, but you will have your fame. But the problem with the fame is that they will say “there is a small term that you have to know before you walk out this door when we release you.” You can’t use any bit of the songs, not a piece of it, not even a tune of it, you can’t perform it, nothing that we did to build you and brand you, will be allowed to use in your future outside of us. So then you’re like, “but everyone knows me as that”….. doesn’t matter. They did that to Lil’ Kim, they did that to so many artists now that they are sitting there saying “so what do I do if I can’t perform who I was? So it’s like you start over independent anyway. So start off independent.
Get a business plan, understand what an artist is. You talked about today despite all this drama with the shootings…I do want to end this interview with this; at the end of today, we cannot focus on the depth of our problems, we can only focus on the solutions. A lot of people are posting about it and saying “Aw man this is horrible” but at the end of the day, what are you going to do about it? Are you going have a program maybe that guys/women are teaching our Black young men this is how you respond in this type of situation. Are we going to have free pamphlets? Where’s the solution? I mean its fine that you post about it, we draw tears and we get angry, we get frustrated, but what is the result of this? That is what we are missing, where are our leaders? Can’t focus on the depth of the problem, yes its deep…. It is! But are going to keep talking about it, how deep it is and it keeps getting worse and worse? Don’t get me to preaching! MM: Yes! Thank you for sharing that. TG: Well, that is something I wanted to leave you with. MM: It’s important for us to have that perspective form someone such as yourself who is not only in an executive position, but someone who has been in the trenches and sees much of what other individuals don’t see…. I couldn’t think of a better way to end this. TG: Thank you for having me! I loved these questions. Good questions MM: Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to speak to the ever so popular, infamous, talented “T-Dub” Tiffany Gaines (laughing)
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