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robert kool bell
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Laurene Landon
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Babah Fly
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WALK WITH KINGS
We caught up with a metal band by the name of WALK WITH KINGS Tell us a little bit about you guys ? We’re a bunch of mates that enjoy making & playing music together. When we’re not busy working or doing family stuff we play heavy metal. Where are you from? We’re from the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. What is the music scene like over there? The heavy metal scene is good, although small local bands don’t get paid much, there’s quite a lot of venues in & around Sydney for bands to play. What age did you all start playing music? I’m pretty sure we all started at a young age, like many musicians, playing our respective instruments has been a process that’s developed through years of practice. What was the name of your first single and why did you choose that particular name? Our first single was called “The Long Shadow”. We chose that title because it suits the context of the lyrics, it loosely relates to corporate greed & fighting back against the one’s that hold you down. What are the names of your band members and the instrument they play? Joel-Vocals Nick-Guitar Rossy-Bass Torchy-Keys Cale-Drums What is your feed back between rock band and grunge bands? We appreciate a wide variety of genres & we grew up listening to the great bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden etc & still love what those guys did. Rock & Grunge are typically the gateway to heavier music & there’s some fantastic stuff still being created in those genres. What made you guys for a metal band?
Walk with kings is the brainchild of our guitarist-Nick. We came together through a series of events & started writing music that we liked to listen to, we’ve seen a few members come & go over the last 4 years but those things have helped push the band in the direction we are going now. Is there a reason or a purpose for the style of music you make? We play the music we like to listen to ourselves, we don’t like to categorise our style because it’s a little bit more diverse than most metal bands. Do you feel being in a rock band is very competitive? The only competition is with ourselves, we try to produce the best music we can & I think it’s a constant process of development within the band. We don’t try to compete with other bands at all. We’re all in this together. Where did you get your inspiration from? Our inspiration comes from many years of listening to our favourite bands, developing our own personal styles & just approaching songwriting with an open mind. Of course, life & all it throws at you is a source of inspiration as well. What do you do when your not making music? We all have families, work & other interests outside of the band so it’s a tricky balancing act. Being Australian, we surf, wrestle crocodiles, cuddle Koalas & drink beer! Who is your favorite artist to listen too and why? There’s too many to list. There’s a lot of amazing Australian metal music being released lately too, it’s definitely a difficult thing to choose a single favorite artist these days. Do you have a website or social media ? We’re on all social media platforms. Look us up & say hi on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube etc. Our music is available on all digital outlets including ITunes, Spotify, GooglePlay, Deezer etc. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us! WWK
New York Blues Hall Of Famer Regina Bonelli “Killing Floor”
By Eileen Shapiro
Hall of Famer, soulful singer Regina Bonelli unveiled her hauntingly mysterious new single and video, “Killing Floor”, following the release of her new album “Love Letter”, via True Groove Records. The album is a kaleidoscope of R&B and soulful sounds. As part of the Global Soul genre, Regina is also a powerful performer receiving a standing ovation at this year’s Gloucester Blues Festival backed by soulful phenomenons The True Groove All-Stars. “This Collection of songs represents empowerment and healing in a world so sorely in need of both. These are tense and trying times we live in today, and I hope that the messages in these songs reach into the souls of the listeners. I truly believe that this is what music can, and should do-especially the Blues”.....Regina Bonelli
You’re a Hall of Fame recipient, tell me that story? There as an organization in New York and they approached people who have been around for a while doing their thing. They have one in each of the boroughs and I think one in New Jersey. I was contacted and the Organization wanted to honor me about five years ago. So, it was nice to be honored and I felt recognized for all the tooling around for a bunch of years. How long have you been singing? I’ve been singing since I’m 6 or 7 years old but professionally since I’m about 17 or 18. What inspired you to choose blues? I’ve always been writing my own music. I started playing piano when I was five and then Guitar when I became a teenager. My father was a musician also, so he bought me my first guitar. I was writing music and playing kind of like funk and rock in bands. I always had an original group. I always liked the blues and back then I was into Big Mama Thornton, Sunny Terry, and Brian Magee, and how old the British rock was always mixed up with the classic blues here. I have always been told I have a bluesy voice. I was doing funk and R&B because I loved that music. Then I stopped writing although I never stopped singing. I stopped writing for a minute when I had the kids. I found myself raising them on my own and you’re trying just put one step in front of the other. When they were little my ability to just sit down and decide to write music was hard to get to focus on. But then when I went back doing my own thing, I guess when they started going to school, people always told me I had a bluesy voice. So, when I came back I kind of got into the blues. I started writing things in that genre. That’s what happened. Then after life and doing the single mother thing I had a whole albums worth of materials. Was that “Love Letters?” No that was the one before. That was cathartic and that album got airplay and stuff. Then I met Tomás from True Groove Records and we made “Love Letter.” It’s being played worldwide, and on SiriusXM. It hit Number One of Roots Music Report. That video for your new single “Killing Floor”, is over the top.
It’s kind of like a light horror thing. It’s not your usual walking down the street, singing a song video. It’s haunting and spectacular. It must have been? It was. We had the costume thing going on and Dylan is very cool to work with. It’s great working when your passion is the music and then with the video it’s great to do that. The label asked for a video with this song and we did it with Dylan. It was a blast. You have some events coming up soon? We have some gigs coming up. We just finished the Barrier Beach Festival in Long Beach Long Island on June 15th. Then June 29th we are all going up to Rhode Island to this place called “Chan’s Egg Rolls and Jazz.” It has a funny name but it’s really big on the blues circuit. A lot of big blues people play there. I’m excited about that because that’s going to be my first time in there. After that in July they asked me to do the Buck’s County Blues Society R&B picnic, and that’s in Morrisville Pennsylvania. I’m excited to be playing there with The True Groove All-Stars. Watch the “Official” new music video for “Killing Floor” by Regina Bonelli here: https://youtu.be/ChgzXvaEBfk Download “Killing Floor” by Regina Bonelli on iTunes in the United States here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/killing-floor-single/1460020353 The official website for Regina Bonelli may be found at https://www.reginabonelli.com True Groove Records was founded in 2011 by internationally renowned guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer, Tomás Doncker. Referred to as the “fasting rising label in NYC” True Groove boasts a roster of artists spanning across all genres. True Groove believes that MUSIC is truly the universal language and has the power to open minds and hearts around the world. The official website for True Groove Records may be found at https://www.truegroove.nyc
Laurene Landon
Laurene Landon: An Exclusive Interview With Jimmy Star I am so excited to do an interview with the amazingly talented and beautiful Laurene Landon. She has been a guest on The Jimmy Star Show with Ron Russell many times, and has become an amazing friend, part of my Hollywood family, and she is one of the most genuine souls on planet earth. She has worked with the who’s who of Hollywood, in many classic and cult classic films. With an impressive career spanning almost 40 years, she is a force to be reckoned with, and you can see her in several films coming out this year… Jimmy Star: Congratulations on your incredibly stellar career. You are one of my favorite people in the world…. Incredibly beautiful and talented with a heart of gold. What is your favorite thing about being a well-known working actress in Hollywood? Laurene Landon: Thank you very much for the kind words. You and Ron aren’t one in a million but two in a lifetime. Never considered myself beautiful. I’m going to donate my body to science-fiction. When I was a kid—before your parents were born---a boy in the park ran a nail down my forehead, right between my eyes. It left a terrible scar so noticeable that many wonderful kids in grade and middle school called me “Frankenstein” -- and those were the teachers! Joking. Many students called me that. In high school the guy I wanted so much to go to the prom with told a friend that I looked like “Cyclops.” Also, since my parents were fighting like cats and dogs and mom was always stealing dad’s money, the cops spent more time at our house than they did at Yum-Yum donuts. Needless to say, I was not a very popular shy girl in school. I stayed after school playing classical piano as my parents bought me one from a thrift store. In retrospect, the scar between my eyes was a blessing. It could have been my EYE that was ripped out and I wouldn’t be able to type and misspell these questions, but thank you for saying that. You made my day! I think I shall put my razor blades back in the bathroom closet. I don’t consider myself a well-known actress. Well-known actresses are bankable. They have private gates surrounding them. However, I DO have a dilapidated wood fence to keep the lunatics - - INSIDE.
Jimmy Star: You have worked in so many different genres of film, including action, thriller, comedies and horror movies, do you have a favorite? Laurene Landon: My favorite is comedy, because I am a sardonic wiseacre at heart once I know someone. Normally, I shy away from people. As an actress, I can hide behind a hopefully three-dimensional character. If one person laughs in a comedy I am in, mission accomplished. My favorite comedian is Judy Tenuta. Google her Boodle. She is the funniest damn human in the universe and I get to work with her in an upcoming series. I cannot believe how lucky to be her fan since the 80’s and now work with her. My second favorite genre is drama, since I can cry on cue --- thinking of my love life.
work with many actors that are popular right now in the present, like Norman Reedus, Diane Kruger and Lena Dunham, all huge stars in their own right, but you have also worked with legendary actors like Lloyd Bridges, Raymond Burr, and Bette Davis. As an actress how has the industry changed from when you started, and how was it working with Bette Davis?
Laurene Landon: I loved working with Diane Kruger in SKY. She was very dedicated and kept telling me that I was brilliant and forced her to “bring her game up.” I was even more stunned when THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER said “Landon makes you wish the entire film were about her.” Most grateful for these kind words. I have worked opposite Peter Falk in ALL THE MARBLES, Armand Assante in I, THE JURY, Jimmy Star: Many of your roles are in films that Robert Davi in MANIAC COP, the wonderful Michael are now considered cult classics…Maniac Cop 1 & Moriarty in ISLAND OF THE ALIVE, and recently, 2 come to mind. Were you aware that these films two time academy nominee Bruce Dern. One of the would become so popular when you were shooting greatest opportunities was to read with Bette Davis for them? THE WICKED STEPMOTHER! I read with her for a part that was already cast but the director wanted Laurene Landon: Never did one think Maniac Cop to see us read together. It was an honor and privilege 1 or 2 would become cult classics. Cannot believe the to say the least. Ms. Davis was very frail and couldn’t mail I receive from fans of the movie. Especially at au- read her lines. I felt ostensively that she was very ill. tograph shows! I was at an autograph signing the oth- The director told me after I had left that Ms. Davis er day and a man was shaking talking to me. He had said, “That girl wasn’t bad. That girl was fabulous.” To a Maniac Cop poster with him. He stuttered severely this day in my reverie I am so very humbled by this and I felt really sorry for this gentleman. I gave him legend. three free pictures. He then said, “I’ve been in love with you for 25 years! I was always terrified to meet Jimmy Star: You have two new movies coming out you. Maniac Cop is my favorite movie and I’ve seen this year that I am really excited about. The first one it at least 40 times and Hundra 75 times. I can’t stop is “Nation’s Fire” written and directed by Thomas J. thinking of you and now, I finally get to meet you! I Churchill, where you play the wife of Two-Time Oslove you, Miss Landon.” I am flattered but honestly, car and Three-Time Golden Globe nominee Bruce bewildered. It’s so odd that the depth of ones love is Dern. Nation’s Fire has an amazing talented cast measured by the amount of their suffering – especially starring Krista Grotte (who also executive produced for a serial slob from Canada whom they don’t even the film with Robert Ori and Jerry Roberts from know. I am nobody special. My sister Charmaine Teknocentric), Lou Ferrigno Jr, Gil Bellows, Kristen Andersen has more talent in her right pinkie. She Renton, Tom Proctor, Wyatt Walter, Chuck Lidell, has been an amazing artist since she was five years Ken Sagoes, Barry Papick and many more really old. Charmaine is the gifted Coughlin in our family. talented actors. Tell us a little about your role in the Please check out her website at https://www.realartfilm, working with Thomas J. Churchill and playing studios.com . You will be awe-struck. I am so very the wife of such an iconic Hollywood legend. proud of Charmaine. She should be the one doing this interview. Jimmy Star: You have had the wonderful fortune to
Laurene Landon: Playing the wife of iconic legend, Thomas J Churchill was amazing. HA! Oh, you mean Bruce Dern. Sir Thomas Churchill approached me for the role playing a drunken, psychotic, tortured and SLOPPY woman who is out of control and down for the count. I loved playing Myra. Sir Thomas Churchill wrote a sensational role for me. It is one of the three most challenging roles in my career. I went places in my mind and soul to humanize Myra’s suffering. I endeavored to make her empathetic and humorous to combat the tragic Soul she is. Sir Thomas is my hero. He is a luminous, eclectic, cutting edge director who spent a lot of time with the actors to help narrate his vision. He has an innate understanding of visual literacy and was truly the creative leader of the entire production. What most people don’t know about Sir Thomas Churchill is that he is a brilliant ACTOR as well. We did a film together entitled, SYNDICATE SMASHER and he stole every scene in the film. I told him so after the premiere. Thomas is the real deal in this town. He has character. He is a man who says the words he feels and not the words of a man who kneels. He possesses a scintillating and coruscating wit that is matched by only my best friend, Larry Cohen. I hope to meet Thomas someday in person. HA!! I adore this man. He has character. He is never lured by false promises or “You give me this and I’ll get you that.” Sir Thomas is AUTHENTIC. After Bruce Dern and I finished wrapping NATION’S FIRE for the day he hugged me tightly and said in front of the entire cast and crew, “Laurene, I have worked with the best of the best actors in this industry in my life. There is only one actress I have ever worked opposite in your age range that is better than you — and that would be my daughter. If there is anything I can EVER do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.” This was as remarkable to me as the note from the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER regarding my performance in SKY. Jimmy Star: You also have an amazing new horror film “Agramon’s Gate” written and directed by the incredibly talented Harley Wallen. What can you tell us about the film? Laurene Landon: I play Sharon Stann, the mother of a son who murdered my husband many years prior for attempting to kill me. I have been in a mental institution for many years. Hell, sounds like
my real life! HA! Anyhow, in the beginning of the film, there is a seance that goes south and the demon AGRAMON is raised. Agramon, the Demon of Fear. I loved this challenge because Harley Wallen is a master of social commentary and dealt with something we all encounter in our journey - and that is fear. I went insane in this movie, went places in my heart that have been under lock and key since the death of my father - which I have never recovered. It stars Harley Wallen, his beautiful wife, Kaiti Wallen, Calhoun Koenig, the illustrious Yan Birch and Kris Reilly who plays my son. There are so many luminous actors in this movie it would take an entire page to name them all. Agramon’s Gate Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/qtDYHkBJi5k Jimmy Star: Tell us a fun story about something that happened on the set of one of your movies that no one knows about….you can pick the film, whichever one you like. Laurene Landon: When I first met my now best friend of 40 years, Larry Cohen, I was in awe of how incredibly funny and handsome he was. The first day I was sent to the set of FULL MOON HIGH, he fired the lead actress and read me for the role. He said I was wonderful. I had a massive panic attack and told him I couldn’t star in the film because “I had an AUDITION” to go to. Like, right now. I was terrified of him. He said I was crazy to go for a stinking audition when he was offering me the LEAD on the spot. I ran like hell to my car and went home to hide under my dog. My agent at the time, Beverly Hecht called and read me the riot act on my answering machine. Two days later I ended back up on the set in a small role on FULL MOON HIGH which, thankfully for me at the time had been cast the day I ran home. That’s almost as crazy as when I met Robert Aldrich for the first time to star in ALL THE MARBLES. Hell, I was a kid. I didn’t know who he was. I kept calling him Mr. Altman. He kept telling me he was Robert Aldrich. I told him I have never heard of a Robert Aldrich, only a Robert Altman. It turned out he was right. Lord, I loved this man and miss him terribly.
Jimmy Star: If you could go back in time and be a character in any film that has ever been released, which film would you like to be in and what character would you have liked to play? Laurene Landon: If I could go back in time I wouldn’t be born for twenty years and maybe would have had a chance to meet and marry Tom Hardy. He reminds me so much of my dearly departed friend, Marlon Brando, who always called me “Vanilla.” I would love to play Tom Hardy’s wife in real life. As the great Judy Tenuta says, “IT COULD HAPPEN!!” I am not a stalker. However, I do think people should marry stalkers. Why? Because stalkers never cheat on you. They don’t have TIME!! Jimmy Star: Let’s ask some fun questions to see what you come up with…. Jimmy Star: If you could be any superhero in the comics, who would you like to be and why? Laurene Landon: I was the original cartoon of Spider Woman many years ago. My body and face were rotoscoped to look like her. Rotoscoping is an animation technique that animators used to trace over motion picture footage. Many years ago, Stan Lee wanted me to star in a comic book he had called THE DAZZLER. Because I was taking care of my ill parents along with my sisters, I opted to get out of the business for many years and said no. There are no regrets in hindsight. We would never have changed a thing. Our parents are our greatest treasure. There is always a movie somewhere down the line if you have passion, patience and perseverance. A fist comes in handy too at times. Jimmy Star: It’s a cold day and you are snuggling up on the couch with a fire and hot chocolate to watch your favorite chill and relax movie…what film are you watching? Laurene Landon: Any film that I am not in. HA! I love watching HOCKEY! THE KINGS and THE DUCKS. Because I hail from Canada, I love the fastest sport on the planet, but suppose if one had to nail it down, it would be a comedy. Or any Marlon Brando movie for that matter.
Jimmy Star: What other cool projects would you like us to know about so we can be looking for them when they come out? Laurene Landon: I have 3 projects in the works. FLOW - FABULOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING created by the indefatigable genius of GLOW - Matt Cimber. Cannot go into much detail but it is going to be a HOOT. God knows, I really want to do comedy right now. Albeit, another project is SORROW’S WAY - written and directed by Ben Lawson. It deals with the five stages of grief and how in life, the bitterest tears ever shed—are for words that are left unsaid. This is a role of a lifetime. I pray I will do justice to Opal, the main character. The cinematographer is a giant talent by the name of Chuck France. You don’t even need dialogue with the pulchritude and majesty he creates visually. The other project is in New Zealand but we are just in talks for this film. I am sent two to three scripts a week but honestly, if I feel there’s no way to make a full bodied, three-dimensional character come to life, why bother? I am most grateful dear Jimmy Star for this interview. I admire and respect you more than idioms can express. May your lives be blessed with the love and happiness you show to others unconditionally. This is another word so seldom expressed in this town: Unconditional. My other favorite word is authentic ——you hear me Sir Thomas J. Churchill? And not to forget the most important word in the world… FAITH. Follow Laurene Landon on the web: Twitter @LaureneLandon Instagram @Laurene_Landon https://www.LaureneLandon.Biz
Robert Kool Bell
How old was you when your started playing music? I was in my teens at the time with an earlier group called the Jazziacs. This was 1964. What was your first single as a group? “Kool & the Gang” with “Raw Hamburger” as the flip side. This was in 1969. What got you start in the direction of music? Listening to jazz – folks like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ron Carter. Then Motown came in as well as James Brown and groups like Sly & the Family Stone and the Beatles. During some of your down time what kind of music do you listen to and why? Jazz, R&B, rock…many types. You have to be well-rounded in many genres to be a musician. Who were or are still some of your role models and why? The jazz and R&B folks I had mentioned before. If it weren’t for them, there would not be a Kool & the Gang. What were you doing when you first heard your music on the radio? We were gigging in the NYC/NJ area when our music made it radio stations such as WWRL and WLIB, which were the two biggest soul music outlets in the Big Apple. It was a great feeling to hear our single (“Kool & the Gang”) mixed in with the Temptations, Sly, JB and many others How did you come up with the name Kool & The Gang? Our first name was Kool & the Flames but since James Brown had the Famous Flames, we changed it to Kool & the Gang to avoid any legal troubles with The Godfather of Soul. And how did you come up with the name of your first single? We called the song, “Kool & the Gang” after our band name so that folks knew who we were and it worked! As a legendary group did you ever expect your name to become house hold?
Not really at first. We were just happy that fans loved our music, came to our shows and bought the records. But as time went on, more folks tuned into us and then the pop stations started spinning our singles. Once we hit the trifecta with “Funky Stuff ”, “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging”, all million selling singles within one year (1973-1974) the band became a household name. How have been some of the major acts you have played with? The Jacksons, Nina Simone, Earth Wind & Fire –all back in the day. Most recently we toured with groups from the Dave Matthews Band to Van Halen! What was the experience like with you being the first time on tour? We toured the smaller nightclubs and venues when we started out in the late 60’s/early 70’s. In fact, two of those gigs – the Sex Machine and P.J.’s – were recorded for two separate live albums released between 1970 and 1972. It was great to play in those intimate settings because you could vibe directly with the audience. Do you support any Non - Profits or charities? I have a non-profit organization – the Kool Kids Foundation – which helps young folks learn music and become musicians. What is your feedback on hip-hop and politics? Hip-hop has done so much to introduce our music to later generations and we appreciate those who have sampled our works over the years. We stay away from politics because our mission is to bring all people together through the music. Do you have any social media links or a website for the fans to go to? www.koolandthegang.com
Shelita: “Love is Her ‘Religion’, Humanity is Her Heart, And Music Her Obsession” Celebrated, award winning, urban velvet, R&B/pop, singer/songwriter, Shelita is about to unveil her new self-titled album following the release of her heart-felt single, “Religion!” Her songs offer a kaleidoscope of different energies that cause the listener to reflect on the human experience. Her unique, plush, velveteen vocals conjure up Kings and Queens and opulence. From listening to Shelita one can tell that she surrounds herself with people whose eyes light up when they see
her. She possesses that certain gift that allows her the ability to gently touch humanity with her profound and compelling lyrics. Making her first appearance on Billboard’s Next Big Sound Chart at #14 in 2017, Shelita received over 29 million streams with her last EP entitled, “Special.” With a strong technical background, Shelita has adopted innovative techniques including blockchain, presenting a new artist model that puts artists first. She proves to the world that the eye’s perception of texture is pale compared to the soul’s thirst for music.
What motivated you to become a singer/songwriter in such a tough industry? I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I learned how to sing songs before I could read books. When I first started singing in church, I realized what an impact that music had on people’s minds and hearts. When I got the reactions that I did as a child singing in church, I realized that music is medicine for the heart. If that’s the case then I want to be a doctor for the heart and keep writing songs, keep touching hearts, and touching the world and humanity. Music was a vehicle to do that. As a young child I didn’t know at the time that music was going to take me around the world. So not only does it touch hearts but it’s a means of traveling, going from place to place, country to country. I feel like music is that universal language. I think that’s so existential for humanity. Creating music and participating in music, I think everyone should try to create music. I think everyone has the potential to create music and I just think it’s beautiful. I’m obsessed obviously. I can’t see myself doing anything else. I sense that you feel like music is kind of a destiny for you? I think music is filled with love and compassion, the language of emotion. It’s a therapy, and it’s an art, it’s life, it’s everything. You were given the gift, the talent to be able to present music in such an opulent manner, so do you feel like you were chosen to do this? I do feel like I was chosen to do this. But I also feel that it takes a lot of discipline and work and practice. Practicing and trying to increase my craft is a lifelong journey and I’ll do that until I’m 95+ years old. I think there are levels and levels and levels to get to, and I think that you could just keep going deeper, deeper and deeper into the level that you are at. I really feel that way about my personal journey. If you could have your ultimate stage fantasy what would have to happen? I feel like my ultimate stage fantasy happens every time I am on stage. When I’m on stage and playing music, I’m connecting to the source, this universal source of creativity and beauty and love.... when I’m connected to the source I feel like the audience is connecting to that source with me. I just feel like I’m in a state of pure love.
When you write your songs, for example, “Religion!”, what tends to inspire you? I write everyday so everything is an inspiration for me. Even when I’m sitting down on a bus and I hear the door opening and closing or the natural sounds of nature or even the sounds of street cars and sirens going, I’m inspired. I’m inspired by every frequency that I’m focusing on. In terms of “Religion!” I fell in love. This love is so deep and profound I felt like it was a religion. I felt like love was my religion. I am always inspired by my life events in terms of my writing. It’s very interesting to know that my life events are universal in the way that when I write about my own experiences millions of other people can relate to that. They are going through similar things. On your up-and-coming album soon to be released is there a universal message or messages embedded within the body or soul of the songs? There are some messages. I don’t want to taint the listeners, but if I had to say a particular message, I would say every single song connects to different parts of humanity. And everyone depending where they are in this human journey will connect differently in a different way to each song because it touches different parts of the journey of humanity. For instance, some people when they hear the “Libations!” song they will connect in a way where they are celebrating friendship. Some people hear the same song and they are celebrating a loved one. It depends on the journey that they are a part of, their past, or how they are going to connect. Because it touches on different aspects of humanity in general, I think that it will hit strings or chords and that’s what I’m here to do. Touch hearts in a very authentic way. As a child where you influenced by? I was very inspired by new sounds and inspired by things that you wouldn’t necessarily find music in first. For instance, when I’m making tea and I hear the sound that the tea makes when it’s ready to be taken off the stove. That frequency is a note to me. When I hear the wind chimes outside when the wind is moving through the air, those are notes to me. When people are speaking in general. When I overhear a conversation. There’s a natural rhythm in the way we speak. Each of those tones and each of those syllables all have their notes. I started there in terms of my inspiration. When I go into who I studied in terms of what I call mastery of songwriting,
also really love Janet Jackson. I think that she tells stories with her body in terms of poetry and movement. Her song writing is not just with songs, but it moves into the translation of her body in terms of dance. I think that is very poetic and beautiful. Another inspiration of mines is Miles Davis. When I heard that he basically locked himself in a room until he found his original sound that’s one of the journeys that I took my own self to try and find my own original sound. I feel that I have accomplished that. Another person that really influences me is Nina Simone. When you hear her voice it doesn’t sound like any other voice that you’ve heard and it’s a representation of what she’s going through in her journey. I just think she’s a super genius. I’m super inspired by her piano playing. I could answer this question forever, because I feel like I’m inspired by everything that comes into my world. If you could say anything to your fans and followers what is it that you’d want to say to them? I would say everything is alive and we just have to continue to learn how to see it and hear it and continue to be open.
You have a super strong technological background, does that influence your song writing? I think the tech aspect is more so when you write the song. There is a formula you can use. You can go into that creative space. So for me the technological aspect in the way that I do music is when I am creating I have tools like coding tools that I’ve used for their foundations and principles for coding that help me in terms of having a skill set in terms of songwriting and putting things into segmented lists. It’s the same way I would segment a list in programming. So, there are streams of information that I’ve pulled from programming in terms of the principles of programming more so that I bring into song writing. If you could have me ask you any question in the world what question would that be? The question I have is what is your ultimate goal as Shelita? So, my ultimate goal is to be my true self and to remind myself on a constant basis that things are created into existence when I observe them so as long as I keep observing love there is going to be more love in existence in the universe. So, if we all do this together, we will have abundant love in the world.
Follow Shelita on the web: Website: https://shelitaburke.com/ Instagram: @ /shelitaburke Twitter: @ ShelitaBurke Facebook: @ ShelitaBurke Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5V0TpjZuquJ43WvKZyskj1 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/shelitaburke
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Were any of your songs written to symbolize your child hood ? I have an old song called Mama that I wrote about me and my mother’s relationship while I was growing up. None of my new songs are really about my childhood. How do you feel about the way people interpret your songs? I hope that people can feel a deep emotional connection to my songs. They may appear to sound “light and airy,” however if you listen to the lyrics, I talk about some real-life experiences that many people can relate too. My goal is to encourage people to open up and be their true, raw, honest self. What job do you think you would be doing now if you didn’t have your music career?
If I weren’t working on my music, I would be an interior designer. My sister and I started an interior design company in 2016 and have had a lot of clientele. I handed the business over to her so that I could focus full time on my career again. If you were to give someone advice on life or how to start songwriting, what would you say? Life is a blank canvas. It is up to you to paint the picture. When writing a song, just let out all of your emotions. Let the words flow out. There’s no right or wrong answer. I promise it is the best medicine there is. Are you into sports? If so, who do you support? I use to play lacrosse when I was younger. I played for 11 years. I’m not so much into sports anymore, but I show a lot of support for my friends and family who do play. My brother plays Basketball In the euro league overseas, so I watch all of his games.
and even performed a few times; however, I’ve always known that I wanted to be a solo act. Who would you say is your inspiration for your love of music, and why? I would say my mother sparked my love for music because when I was little, she would always sing to me and when I got old enough, I started singing with her and she taught me how to harmonize, which became a massive part of my creative process. How long does it normally take you to write a song? Every song is different. Sometimes it will take me 4 hours to write a song, sometimes four months lol. How old were you when you wrote your first song and what was it about? I was about 12 years old when I wrote my first song. It was called All I Do, and it was about my first little boyfriend.
What has been your most enjoyable song to write? Why? The most enjoyable song I’ve written is on my new ep called “Vibe.” I wrote it while having a “wine and wings night” with my best friends in my old apartment in NYC. We had so much fun writing it talking a bunch of mess about guys lol.
Where is your favorite place to tour and who have you enjoyed touring with? My favorite city I’ve toured in was Houston. I loved the ambiance of the crowd and the overall vibe of the city was dope, with all the shops and restaurants. Marc E Bassy’s “Groovy People Tour” was definitely one to remember. We had a great time!
What is your favorite song to play? My favorite song to play and sing on the guitar would have to be,” Almost Is Never Enough” by Ariana Grande. I love everything about the song. I really connect with the lyrics and love the sultry melodies.
I was wondering, what is your motivation and muse to write songs? My relationships and experiences are my motivation to write. Any time I feel a lot of balled-up energy towards a particular subject, I just let it all out in my lyrics.
Do you have a pet? If so, what is his/her name? I do! I have a little Biewer Yorkshire terrier named Kinicki, He’s a little chubster. Do you like all your songs? Hell Yeah! Lol, I finally have been allowed to tell my story the way I want to; thanks to my amazing producers and team. They’ve given me the freedom to say what I want in my music. Have you ever considered joining a band or have you always wanted to be solo? When I was younger, I would always start little girl groups with my friends and we would have rehearsal
What is your favorite song on your album and what inspired its title? My favorite song on my EP is probably “Focus.” I wrote it about someone so worried about something else that it was distracting them from what was right in front of them, that was better for them, but they couldn’t see it before it was too late. What is your favorite song that isn’t your own? That’s a tough one because I don’t have a favorite. I love a lot of different songs, but if I had to choose one right now, it would be “Circles” by Post Malone.
Ian Guerin
Who are your inspirations? (as in other artists) My life long inspirations are: Michael Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, Tony Bennett, Janet Jackson, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, James Brown, Charlie Wilson & Snoop Dogg, as I can remember, they’re the ones who made me who I am, the music & the man, as Snoop would say. There are plenty others I love & take as influences when it comes to writing & singing, but they are the pivotal ones! How did you get started as a rnb singer? I don’t believe there are coincidences in this world. When I was writing my 1st album something just didn’t click. There was something missing even though it (Madsexy) has songs worth a listen. I realized then that all the songs I wasn’t recording for album consideration (demos) were the ones I truly liked, & they were all R&B songs. I remember telling my advisor this & he said: “If you’re going to crossover now is the time to do it. You don’t want to do it when people are already in love with your previous sound.” So I did, I wrote ‘Pop This Jam’ which I call a transition song, cause it merged both my styles, & then ‘Cry’ which is full blown R&B/Soul. The 1st
time I sang ‘Cry’ I felt like I was putting on a pair of custom made shoes & being able to walk in a mold of myself for the very first time. I didn’t feel it as a huge step, it just was the right one & I couldn’t wait to promote it! I was so proud. Who are your favorite bands/singers? Michael, Mariah, Janet, Prince & Tony are my tops. However, there are so many I truly enjoy, Van Morrison is one, I like me some Britney from time to time, the Stones, Madonna, Lil’ Kim, Cher, Keyshia Cole, Robin Thicke, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Ariana Grande; she’s the only current hit maker I truly enjoy. Sia, Ms. Mary J. Blige. There are so many I could go on forever What do you think about when your performing? Personally not much. The stage is my escapism, & singing is my lifeline, so I forget about my worries & focus on telling my show’s story properly so that people can decompress & forget about their troubles too.
We sort of cleanse each other. I like them to leave thinking they had a great time, that they felt free, unafraid & happy & also to take a moral, whatever it is. I like them to think “I hadn’t thought of that, but it’ll makes a difference in how I act, think & feel.” Fun, plus a message spread is to me a great show. What are you hoping to achieve in the future? I want my music to put me in a platform where I’m able to have a voice to actively promote change. I don’t really believe in fighting the system from the outside, I think you get yourself a name & then use the things that come with it as a tool to make the world a better place. So I expect my music to heal those hearts that like mine have felt shattered, helpless & misunderstood. & that the places that takes me allows me to truly make a difference. What is the first song you remember singing? ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ by the Spice Girls. Weird answer, but true. When did you first start singing? I first remember singing in my aunt’s house one afternoon—she had a karaoke machine & we were singing. I’ve told these story before & now I think I had a karaoke of my own at home beforehand that I got for Christmas from my parents cause I liked to sing, but I think it just happened in the car, listening to the Spice Girls with my sister, then I had my machine, then I sang at my aunt’s & then she bought me studio hours to record my first demo; that’s when it all really began. What did your family do to encourage you? They allowed me to do it & my mom paid for my recording costs, singing lessons & piano lessons. This is an expensive career path & an uncertain one too, but they supported me. They never said I shouldn’t do it, never asked me to do anything else in order to get this “as a price.” They let me make my own decisions & backed them. They didn’t judge me for dropping out of college. They just went with it & financed it. That’s mayor! My aunt Mitzi Bennet was the one who got me the 1st recording session. My sister is in film, she directs & writes my videos, so they’ve just backed me up all the way, without a shadow of a doubt, always.
Have you always enjoyed the art of music? Always. I don’t remember a silent time in my life. Any loves, other than music? I love psychology. I love diving into the human mind, I love nature & learning about it. I love analyzing anything related to psychology & the nature of things & how everything is connected. It’s a passion for me. Self discovery & connection are an incredibly long & fulfilling journey & we are truly one with the planet; we just don’t seem to see it. I spend a lot of time on it so it’s my second passion. I love exercising & cooking for myself with what’s available & trying to make dishes that work with what you have. I want to have a cook book one day. I have everything sorted out in my head, but I won’t give the title away. What was the best advice ever given to you? I’ve been lucky to have been surrounded by very wise people. However, my sister once told me not to expect people who don’t believe in themselves to believe in me, because they won’t. That the only person who needs to believe in me to achieve is myself, because I’m my only wall. Then there was that time Whitney Houston told Diane Sawyer: “the biggest devil is me; I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy.” There are plenty, but those two are on my mind constantly. What artists do you think represent themselves best in terms of individual style? Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Prince, Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Freddy Mercury, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, & Bob Marley. There’s really no way around them. One beep & you know it’s them. Their wardrobe, mannerisms, personality, & voice are carved in history. What kind of music do you listen to today? Well I’m truly eclectic. I know people always say they listen to everything, but I don’t. I just happen to jump from one genre to another in a heartbeat. I go from Big Band, to Jazz, to R&B to bubblegum Pop to Country, to Hip-Hop to Rock to Swing to Gospel in a matter of minutes, so it’s very wide.
I learn from all of it like a sponge & what all of it has in common is that if I listen to it that’s because I see a value in writing or production in it, for little it may be. Even expendable music or trendy music has a hidden value. Not all of it, but if I’m listening to something it’s cause I heard something that I found interesting, not just fun, but interesting or creative, which makes it all the more fun. What embarrassing songs might I find on your MP3 player? I don’t think of any of the music I hear as embarrassing, cause, as I said, I see a value in everything I hear, but you could catch me dancing & singing to Buster Poindexter’s “Hot Hot Hot,” or “Asereje” by a Latin group called: Las Ketchup or jumping & air guitar-ing to “Sk8ter Boi” or harmonizing to “That’s What Friends Are For” by the Jungle Book’s vultures. That’s just me. Where would you most like to perform? The O2 Arena in London is my top. I’d love to do the Hollywood Bowl & Radio City Music Hall. The Coliseum in Vegas. All cities have an iconic venues, but long as they’re packed with people with open hearts I’ll love them. It’s not the place, but the people, but those are stages I dream of hitting & Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, I Heart Music Festival, the Billboard Music Awards, the Jingle Ball... Who would you most like to open for? Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Ariana Grande, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Keyshia Cole, Christina Aguilera, The Weeknd. In that exact order. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? I’d be solving crimes & putting psychological patterns together in some division of the FBI or Crime Investigation Division. Do you play any instruments? The piano, but I’m no Ray Charles. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? Disco & Big Band. I’m already mixing R&B, Soul, Hip Hop, A.C. & Pop in my new album, but I’d love to venture into Big Band & Disco music. I’m really driven
by horn sections so all genres with winds & beat or cadence are appealing to me. What hidden talents do you have? I’ve never said this before, but when I was younger I could imitate different bark sounds. I can imitate sounds & singers very well & also write paper articles to perfection, which has been a side job for me too. I can cook a delicious meal with anything in the fridge, do bike stunts, & one more which I can’t say hahaha. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? More than anything else in the whole wide world. What is your favorite quote you find yourself saying to fans and other artists? “Everybody loves a winner.” – Tony Bennett. Please let our readers know how to find you on the web: iTunes: HYPERLINK “https://itunes.apple.com/us/ artist/ian-guerin/id386325227”https://itunes.apple. com/us/artist/ian-guerin/id386325227 Spotify: HYPERLINK “https://open.spotify.com/ artist/5NQNDXk2lTPFgUGiplKUo4”https://open. spotify.com/artist/5NQNDXk2lTPFgUGiplKUo4 Website: HYPERLINK “http://ianguerinmusic. com/”http://ianguerinmusic.com/ Instagram: HYPERLINK “https://www.instagram. com/iamianguerin/”https://www.instagram.com/iamianguerin/ Facebook: HYPERLINK “https://www.facebook. com/IamIanGuerin/”https://www.facebook.com/IamIanGuerin/ Twitter: HYPERLINK “https://twitter.com/iamianguerin”https://twitter.com/iamianguerin Youtube: HYPERLINK “https://www.youtube.com/ user/IanGuerinVEVO/videos”https://www.youtube. com/user/IanGuerinVEVO/videos
Babah Fly
What got you into music? Breakin’ as a kid got me into the dance and then beatbox’n turned me on to performing music What’s your favorite song and why? I like when Nina Simone sings Suzanne. I’ve been listening to “Be Thankful For What You Got” by William De Vaughn. I just like the messages of those songs! Why did you decide to become a songwriter? I felt like I had something to say! What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Mostly self actualization are my themes, I’m a Sagittarius so I’m pretty philosophical. Do you think these topics will change over time? Naw because there’s always things to learn about life. Do you follow a formula when you write? I write a beat and record a freestyle to it, then I break down the rhythm of the words and sometimes substitute words that make more sense! Which song did you have the most trouble writing? Usually if I’m feeling the beat a whole lot I got real conscious of making the lyrics and flow to match. Do you ever perform any covers or do you only perform originals? Sometimes I recite some verses from some classic rap songs.. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music? I started just writing raps but I evolved into becoming a beat maker/producer. Hopefully I’ve gotten better! What musician or artist would you like to collaborate with and why? Probably any of my influences would be a dream of mine! Maybe Slum Village original members would be at the top! Are you a member of any music organizations? ASCAP
Where have you performed? What are your favorite venues? All over Denver, my favorite place in Denver is Ophelia’s. Do you have any upcoming shows? (November & December) November 30th is the next show, working on venues.. possibly Roxy on Broadway. What has been your biggest challenge as a independent artist? Staying focused! Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Making weekly lists and checking off the stuff when its done. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Look up Babah Fly on Spotify and all the steaming formats. @babahfly on Instagram Any last words? Peace and Blessings!!