Conversation with Goapele
Tuesday, January 03, 2006Soul 2 Soul with Goapele
For Oakland native Goapele activism and art are intertwined. The socially conscious singer/songwriter has been involved in community organizations since age ten, sang in the Oakland Youth Chorus as a teenager, and later attended the Berklee College of Music. In 2001, she began selling her EP "Closer" to her growing number of fans at live shows. Her full length album Even Closer, released on her family-owned record company, Skyblaze Recordings followed a year later. Inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, and Miriam Makeba who have all created timeless music and positive change in the world, Goapele set out to create her own musical movement. Her anthem like single "Closer" continues to receive airplay four years later.
Having worked with artists from the Hieroglyphics to Soulive her song stylings incorporate jazz, hip hop, r&b and rock but her roots are still firmly planted in soul and marked by her luxurious vocal tones. Her latest album Change It All released in December 2005 features production by Jeff Bhasker, Mike Tiger, Amp Live, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Linda Perry and Bedrock with collaborations from Bay area rapper Clyde Carson and fellow soulster Dwele. She's included interludes from her Oakland area friends and family and from imprisoned journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal. With a voice as comfortable singing protest songs as she is singing romantic ballads, Goapele continues her movement to create music that makes a difference.
In this edition of Soul 2 Soul Goapele talks about her new album Change It All and the inspiration for opening an online community that spotlights political and social issues and promotes positive change.
[Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Goapele]
sweetened by Honey at 09:00 AM |Conversation with Anthony David
Wednesday, December 14, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Anthony David
Anthony David is taking the road less traveled. Although it's a road traversed by other artists Anthony David seems more apt to lead the trail and find his own path. That path led the Savannah native to Atlanta where he met someone who would be instrumental in his development as a musician, India.Arie. Although they met at a time when neither was seriously pursuing their own musical careers, their friendship and mutual love for music led them down another path together. Anthony toured as India's background singer, guitar player and has been her writing partner.
Anthony has always written but he didn't find his singing voice until much later, helped in part by his admiration of Anita Baker. His raw, bluesy sound, raspy vocals and effortless delivery have garnered him inevitable comparisons to Bill Withers. His easy going manner seems to carry over into his music as well. He doesn't try to overdue the music production. Instead he relies on clean simplicity and his gift for storytelling. Although he was named Billboard Magazine Breakthrough Artist 2005, anyone who has followed the career of India.Arie or listens to soul on satellite radio has heard his influence on the music scene.
Anthony has lent his talent to a diverse number of projects including working with poet Jessica Care Moore and he was a member of the rock group El Pus. His debut album "3 Chords and the Truth" is a mixture of blues, r&b and hip hop blended together with very personal lyrics. Whether it's the crunked out "GA Peach," his ode to the beautiful women of his home state, the intimate urgency of "Cold Turkey" or the soul bearing "Cheating Man," Anthony David holds you captive with his storytelling and leads you down a path to your own musical satisfaction. "3 Chords and the Truth" is available at local retailers and through his web site.
In this edition of Soul 2 Soul Anthony David discusses his entrance into the music scene, gets candid about the meaning of his songs and talks about the truth in his music.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Anthony David
sweetened by Honey at 09:30 AM |Conversation with Jon B
Monday, October 31, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Jon B
Jon B wears his heart on his sleeve and it's a heart filled with soul. He pours that heart and soul into his music. The songwriter, producer, musician and most notably R&B balladeer is equally as talented creating and producing music as he is in singing his emotion-filled songs. He is proficient on keyboards, bass, and the drums. With his naturally soulful voice, Jon B. never seemed to court crossover appeal. He didn't have to as he was already firmly rooted in R&B that stems from his love of the music and has long been a figure on the hip hop scene working with such artists as Tupac, Nas, Guru, and Jay-Z. His laid back vocal style and trademark sensual grooves are carried over in his fourth album entitled Stronger Everyday.
Jon who grew up in Pasadena, CA was raised in a musical family and began making demo tapes in his teenage years at L.A. County High School for the Arts. He was soon after contracted as a solo singer and songwriter and signed to Yab Yum Records by Tracey Edmonds, thus starting a long working relationship with the Edmonds family.
Jon's first single was a duet with Babyface entitled "Someone To Love" and was included on his debut album Bonafide in 1995. Two years later, his second album Cool Relax, which featured the hits "They Don't Know" and "R U Still Down" featuring Tupac, went double platinum and became Jon's most successful work to date. His 2001 album Pleasures You Like and 2004's Stronger Everyday had some commercial success but suffered largely from lack of promotion.
Jon recently ended deals with both Sanctuary Records & Edmonds Music Group and is now independently on his own label Vibezelect. After surviving hardships over the past few years that have included losing his entire recording studio in a fire and going through a painful divorce, Jon is back with Stronger Everyday, a testament to the survival of the spirit and as always, he offers us a bit of his heart through his music. "Stronger Everyday" features collaborations with ODB, Tank, Babyface, Beenie Man and Tupac. It's available online and at local retailers everywhere. He is now working on his fifth album, currently titled "Back To Love."
Jon B. talks about his years of making music, his collaborations and answers a few personal questions in this edition of Soul 2 Soul.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Jon B
sweetened by Honey at 12:00 AM |Next Week on Soul 2 Soul: Jon B.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Conversation with Geno Young
Wednesday, October 26, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Geno Young
Soul music is malleable. You can remold it, remake it, and stretch it's genre boundaries. It can be jazzed up or mellowed out. You can even bend it back towards past influences or twist it into current regional styles. Dallas native Geno Young recognizes this and shapes soul music into a musical work of art with his debut album "Ghetto Symphony."
Geno began playing violin and piano at an early age. His musical talent lead him to Arts Magnet High School where he walked the same hallways as Roy Hargrove, Erykah Badu, and Norah Jones and then to Howard University where he studied music with fellow classmates Eric Roberson and Sy Smith. He's always been in good company. He gained valuable experience touring as musical director, arranger, and producer for childhood friend Erykah Badu. He wrote and produced "Times A Wastin" and "Orange Moon" on Erykah's Mama's Gun CD. He was also the associate producer of N'Dambi's "Tunin' up & Cosignin'" album and worked as producer and A&R director for Carmen Rodger's "Free" album.
You may wonder if he had any creative inspiration left for his own debut. No need to worry. Geno delivers his own brand of old soul with a new school twist consistently throughout his album "Ghetto Symphony." Starting from the thump heavy "Throw Your Hands" and flowing effortlessly to the final track, the romantically smooth "Love Beyond Compare", Geno Young captivates his audience and turns music into artistry right before our eyes. Ghetto Symphony is available through Geno's website, CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and local retailers.
In this edition of Soul 2 Soul Geno gives us a peak at his musical resume, talks about the ladies in his life, and discusses the obstacles and the triumphs of his musical career.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Geno Young
sweetened by Honey at 08:00 AM |Jonz Musique Update
Monday, October 24, 2005I hope that by now everyone has had a chance to listen to that great Jonz interview. I wanted to respond to all of the messages I've received regarding how to get his album since it's currently sold out in stores.
Great news! "Sayingthings" is now available for purchase online directly through the hands that created it. Please contact jonz@jonzmusique.com for more information. Let's support good music!
sweetened by Honey at 03:35 PM |Conversation with Jonz
Tuesday, October 18, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Jonz
The Jonz musical experience is like no other. The soulful rocker uses his natural musical ability, real world experiences and varied musical influences to produce a musical journey that feels as if a friend has just shared a secret with you yet it's so familiar that it's universally appealing. His stellar musicianship, rich vocal texture and intricate vocal arrangements elude to a professionalism gained from years in the music industry but the self taught guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer with seemingly limitless star power manages to keep his music very intimate and relatable. After listening to Jonz you feel as if you are witnessing a talent on the verge.
His debut CD "Sayingthings" is a collection of intimate songs about love and life. It transitions from soul to rock and showcases his versatility lyrically, vocally and musically. Whether it's the r&b flavored "Pro-Vide", the acoustic sound of "The Truth", or the rocking "Invisible", Jonz' blend of acoustic soul and deep rock produces a sound that's timeless. It's truly music for the masses as is evidenced by his sold-out album. Despite the limited availability, Jonz is not remaining static in his artistry. The ever evolving musician is in the process of creating and completing future projects.
Jonz' album "Sayingthings" and EP "Simplement" can be found at Bearshare, Morpheus, Limewire and OffthePeer and he is currently working on a reissue. In the meantime he'll continue releasing music on his own terms, sharing the wisdom of his experiences and enriching us all.
On this edition of Soul 2 Soul Jonz talks about the marketing of his music, explains the stories behind the songs and sings acapella for us.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Jonz
Conversation with Stokley Williams (Mint Condition)
Monday, October 10, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Stokley Williams
Before "neo" became the latest rage, before producers became more celebrated than artists, and before rappers and rockers churned out mashups, there was Mint Condition. Their indescribable sound that combines R&B, rock, jazz, and hip-hop and their energetic live shows have garnered them praise from peers and from loyal fans. What do you need for a band that's so multifaceted? A lead vocalist who is just as versatile. Stokley Williams is simply one of the best vocalists of our time. The heartthrob's vocals are as strong, controlled and beautiful as ever and remind you of that old adage, you know the one about things getting better with age.
Williams on lead vocals, guitarist Homer O'Dell, keyboardist Larry Waddell, keyboardist/saxophonist Jeff Allen, guitarist/bassist Rick Kinchen and Terry Presley on drums follow in the tradition of great bands who have shaped the sound of soul music.
Whether you call them soul survivors or harbingers of real music, Mint Condition is back with a vengeance after their previous CD Life's Aquarium received poor label support. After a six year hiatus they return with their sixth CD, Livin' The Luxury Brown, the first on their own label Cagebird Records. Their combined influences and experiences shine through on tracks like "Fallin' Apart" while ballads like "I'm Ready" and "Whoaa" prove that they never lost their touch for classic R&B ballads.
The band didn't lose a beat. "Livin' The Luxury Brown" is funky, jazzy and edgy, all the things we've come to expect from the baddest band on the planet. It's available at local retailers, and online at Amazon and iTunes.
Stokley Williams talks about their new CD, explains the band's philosophy and answers a few personal questions in this edition of Soul 2 Soul.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Stokley Williams
Special thanks to Lis for all the information and her help.
sweetened by Honey at 05:00 AM |Next Week on Soul 2 Soul
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Interview Snippet
Why is Stokley sending me a check?
Will the price keep going up?
Will Stokley sing for a broke sista?
For answers to all these burning questions, stay tuned...coming up next week LOL
Conversation with Dwele, Pt. 2
Monday, October 03, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Dwele
Some things are worth the wait. It's been two years since Dwele's critically acclaimed album Subject made a lasting impression on soul music fans with it's jazz infused r&b and hip hop grooves. The Detroit native has enhanced the projects of others with his heavenly smooth vocals but loyal fans who first heard his "Rize" demo tape have been awaiting more of Dwele's solo divineness. He offers more of his melodic tones over retro soul sounds and jazzy riffs to familiar fans and first time listeners with his new album Some Kinda. We first talked to Dwele (pronounced DWELL- ay; means 'God has brought me' in Swahili) after the first single "I Think I Love U" was released. He's back again to talk about his much anticipated album finally in stores October 4.
His groove-heavy sophomore album gives us what he calls "baby-making music" that speaks to the mind, like the romantic "Lay It Down" as well as to the body, such as the sultry "Weekend Love." In addition to his sexy ballads, he also offers danceable tracks like "Keep On" featuring Slum Village and "Flapjacks" the first song he wrote and produced for this album. He states "I wanted to write a song that had a Southern-type bounce to it but still had that Dwele feel."
Dwele, the one man band (he plays piano, trumpet, flugelhorn, sax, guitar and bass) wrote and produced the majority of songs on the album. It features his brother Antwan Gardner, Poppa Yo, Slum Village, Boney James and additional production from Mike City (Bilal, Dave Hollister), Jay Dilla and G-1 (R. Kelly, Raphael Saadiq). About the album title Dwele says "At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you're leaving behind on this earth, what kind of love you've left for the people in your life...It's about discovering what your "Some Kinda" is."
"Some Kinda" is available at your local record store and online at Amazon and iTunes. I'd like to say a very special thank you to Dwele who did this interview on an hour's sleep after flying home to Detroit, not to mention in the middle of repairing his '63 Lincoln Continental for a photoshoot and he was even patient enough to wait on me while I fixed some computer problems. That's "Some Kinda" wonderful guy.
In this edition of Soul 2 Soul, Dwele discusses his new album and answers questions that I invited some of my readers/listeners to ask. Thank you to everyone who submitted those wonderful questions.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Dwele
Conversation with Ladybug Mecca
Wednesday, September 28, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Ladybug Mecca
Ladybug Mecca is cool like dat. We discovered that back in 1993 when the socially conscious rap group Digable Planets (Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira, Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving) topped the charts with their platinum selling debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space). The album was filled with socially conscious messages over jazz samples from Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, and Curtis Mayfield, and garnered them a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a duo or group for their single "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)." Ladybug Mecca stood out as the soft, self-assured voice with the laid back flow.
After a mutually agreed on split, Butterfly released "Bright Black" under the name Cherrywine, Doodlebug became Cee Knowledge, releasing "Space Is the Place" and Ladybug worked on her own solo effort. This year she released Trip The Light Fantastic on her label Nu Paradigm Entertainment. The hip-hop, jazz, samba and rock influenced album features production by Ladybug, Koproduced, Sa Ra, Masauko Chipembere, Eric Rico, Shane Conry, Matt Harris, Chris Udell, and a collaboration with Martin Luther.
On this album, Ladybug adds singing to her repertoire. That seems like a natural transition for a woman who has always been about finding innovative ways to express herself. The mother of four focuses on topics ranging from the death of her parents, empowerment and spiritual connection. What's changed is the level of maturity that comes from her growth and life experiences. What remains the same is her political and spiritual focus, the eclectic music blends and her ultra chilled flow. Ladybug Mecca is still cool like dat.
"Trip The Light Fantastic" is available at Ladybug Mecca's site at iTunes and Amazon.
In this edition of Soul 2 Soul Ladybug discusses her new album and talks about her dual roles as singer/rapper and mother/wife.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Ladybug Mecca
*mature language
sweetened by Honey at 12:00 AM |Conversation with Syleena Johnson
Monday, September 12, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Syleena Johnson
Syleena Johnson's musical book would probably reside in a library section reserved for rare finds. Now she's back with a new chapter. The Chicago born soul singer who's bluesy alto tone and lyrical content is reminiscent of old soul is releasing the third album in her musical saga, Chapter 3: The Flesh.
Like Chapters 1 and 2, this album tells a story that showcases her vocal range and style. She enlists help from a long list of producers (Kanye West, R. Kelly, Soul Diggaz, Jermaine Dupri, Kay-Gee, Terry Hunter and Keith and Darrin) and guest artists (Anthony Hamilton, Common, R. Kelly, Jermaine Dupri, Twista, Fabolous) to help reach every segment. This is actually here sixth album (two never released and one released undergroud called Love Hangover). Whether passed down the musical bloodline from her soul man father Syl Johnson or due to her past experiences, Syleena has the uncommon ability to relay joy and pain through her stories. She often leaves the listener wondering if she sings of her own struggles or has somehow discovered theirs. Chapter 3: The Flesh is in stores tomorrow (Sept. 13).
In this Soul 2 Soul conversation Syleena talks about her spirituality, her new album, and how media images affect women.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Syleena Johnson
BET is previewing Syleena's entire new album here.
sweetened by Honey at 12:00 PM |Conversation with Darien Brockington
Monday, September 05, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Darien Brockington
Darien Brockington is an ordinary guy. Not to suggest that being ordinary means he isn't exceptionally gifted, after all he did start singing at age 2. The Durham, North Carolina native is pursuing his musical dreams while still supporting himself with a day job. Contrary to music video tales, Darien Brockington is living a real life, making real music and putting in countless hours of hard work on his way to becoming an "overnight sensation."
Past and present influences from Donny Hathaway to Stevie Wonder to Faith Evans are all reflected in his blend of timeless soul and r&b music. He sings and writes beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics about love and life in a way we can all relate to on some level. Yes, Darien Brockington is an ordinary guy with extraordinary talent. He makes music that elevates us, and makes us wish for more ordinary guys.
Darien has toured with Yahzarah, Little Brother and William Becton. His vocals have been featured on Pete Rock's Soul Survivor II, Foreign Exchange's Connected, Big Pooh's Sleepers, Okayplayer Records' True Notes Vol. 1, Symbolyc One & Illmind's The Art of One Mind and he will be releasing an EP shortly. He is currently touring with Little Brother. Tour dates are available here.
Darien was kind enough to call while he was packing and preparing for his tour with Little Brother (thanks to Harry Lawrence III, OhSoKool & Darien's management for their assistance). I found him to be a refreshingly down to earth, level-headed brotha with a great sense of humor. The conversation was so relaxed and comfortable, I almost forgot I was supposed to be recording it and in fact, didn't start recording until the conversation was well under way. In this edition of Soul 2 Soul, he talks about his day to day life, his influences and how becoming the "hook man" lead to more musical opportunities.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Darien Brockington
sweetened by Honey at 06:00 PM |Soul 2 Soul Update
Thursday, September 01, 2005I'm very grateful to everyone who has been so supportive of my Soul 2 Soul interviews. I originally planned to do only a few interviews and only every once in a while but it's taken on a life of it's own thanks to the listeners and the artists.
I was going to use this promo a few weeks ago for something and I was practicing with the audio but I never got around to using it. So for those who wanted a hint about who is coming up, if you listen closely, you'll find out.
sweetened by Honey at 03:08 PM |Conversation with Julie Dexter
Monday, August 29, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Julie Dexter
Julie Dexter is a musical storyteller. In the great griot tradition of our heritage when history was often passed down orally from generations, Julie has worked with and been influenced by jazz legends. She's passed down those lessons through teaching and developed her craft further through live performances. Combining her past experiences, her classical training, and her innate songwriting ability, Julie produces music that is rich in tradition and contemporary in it's sound and appeal. Her fusion of jazz, reggae, bossa-nova, brokenbeat and soul is uniquely her own and has garnered the international award winner recognition as one of the most important vocalists of our generation.
Julie Dexter has been dubbed by her fans as "The UK Queen of Soul." A classically trained musician, she played clarinet, violin, piano, and djembe (African drums) before concentrating on her voice as her main instrument. During the 90's she was part of the group J-Life and toured as the featured vocalist with jazz great Courtney Pine. Born in Birmingham, England to Jamaican parents, she now makes her home in Atlanta. The singer, arranger, composer, and producer released her seven song EP, Peace of Mind in 2000 and her full-length album Dexterity in 2002 on her own label, Ketch A Vibe. Her latest album "Conscious" was released in late 2004 and features production by labelmate Michael Johnson. It's innovative and fresh and continues her own personal tradition of bringing us the best in music to pass down through the generations. "Conscious" is available at local outlets, at online record retailers and through her site.
In this Soul 2 Soul conversation, Julie Dexter speaks about her classical training, tells us why her current album sounds different than what we've heard from her on previous albums and lets us know what we can expect from her on upcoming projects.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Julie Dexter
sweetened by Honey at 09:30 AM |ProjectVibe & HoneySoul
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
projectVIBE radio offers the latest in soul, house, jazz and r&b music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I'm very pleased to announce that my Soul 2 Soul interviews will now be offered as one of their features. They will be broadcasting my interview with Wayna on Wednesday, August 24th at 12pm CST. I'll keep you posted.
sweetened by Honey at 05:00 AM |Conversation with Lina
Monday, August 22, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Lina
Singer/songwriter doesn't seem an apt enough description for a renaissance woman like Lina. Add to that music historian, humanitarian, poet, rule-breaker, and truth-seeker and you may be closer to capturing her true essence.
Raised in Dallas, Texas, Lina's introduction to music started at the age of four when she began singing at church. After cultivating her gospel and jazz roots by touring with the church choir, performing with her mother and singing at social gatherings, Lina was signed to Atlantic first as a songwriter and then as a singer. Influenced by singers from Josephine Baker to Sarah Vaughan to Sade, Lina began developing a signature vocal style that could be described as a mixture of swing, r&b, and jazz meets modern day soul that was first introduced on her debut album Stranger on Earth. She started her own label, Mood Star Recordings which features her Save Your Soul compilation series and gives back to her community in the form of charitable works.
The Inner Beauty Movement, her sophomore album and her first on Hidden Beach Recordings is filled with introspective songs with messages of self-acceptance (I Am), empowerment (Leaving You), and love (My Fix). Just when you think you've got her figured out she hits us with a seductive track like Come To Mama and Around the World, a soulful ballad with Anthony Hamilton.
Lina's Inner Beauty Movement is not only an amalgamation of our rich musical history but also a reminder of how music can touch our soul. What a concept, and Lina is just the one to pull it off. The "Inner Beauty Movement" is available at local retailers and online at various outlets such as Amazon and iTunes.
In contrast to her almost operatic soprano singing voice, Lina's speaking voice is more like southern alto which I personally found very interesting and very familiar being a Texas girl myself. In this edition of Soul 2 Soul she talks to us about the origins of the Inner Beauty Movement, her music industry experiences and finding the balance in music and in her life.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Lina
sweetened by Honey at 05:00 AM |Conversation with Carmen Rodgers
Monday, August 15, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Carmen Rodgers
There are certain advantages to being an independent artist. One of them is being free to produce a product that is more representative of who you really are musically and personally. Carmen Rodger's music is much like her personality, engaging and authentic.
Born in Mississippi and raised in Dallas, TX, she began singing at the age of four and her musical endeavors eventually lead her to Kansas State University where she earned a music and engineering scholarship. She toured as a background vocalist for N'Dambi who she met through artist/producer Geno Young and Baduizm producer Madukwu Chinwah before pursuing a solo career.
She is such a seasoned performer and writer that it's hard to believe that "Free" is her debut album. Carmen, with help from Geno Young and Ernie Green (aka Ernie G), raises the bar by producing a very solid, consistent album that is thoughtful, mellow and inspirational. Now that she is free, the sky is the limit for this grounded singer. "Free" is available at CD Baby and iTunes.
In this edition of Soul 2 Soul, Carmen speaks about her musical beginnings, the inspiration for her songwriting and the business of being an artist.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Carmen Rodgers
Conversation with Gaelle
Monday, August 01, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Gaelle
Gaelle is a dream. Her music transcends the real world confinement of placing music into one genre. Instead it's an ethereal blend of Latin/Carribean rhythms mixed with house music. Electronic music with overtones of R&B. Lush ballads and danceable grooves. It's what music should be, innovative and unrestrained.
In the late 1990's Gaelle had a popular dance hit "King of My Castle" with Wamdue Project. Along with partner Eric Stamile, she has produced numerous dance mixes and has worked with a variety of artists from Cee-Lo to Esthero to Jagged Edge.
Her album Transient is a dream come true. It was produced by her company (Speakeasy Music) and released on Naked Music in late 2004. It quickly made my "best of" list for 2004 (#4 on my top 12 CD's of 2004 and her song "Falling" was #2 on my top 25 songs of 2004) because of it's honest and passionate songs. Some speak of new love, others address issues of quiet desperation, and one even makes you a voyeur into a haunting obsession. "Transient" is available at your local retailer, at Amazon, and on iTunes.
What struck me about Gaelle was her silly sense of humor (much like my own) and her unpretentiousness. I didn't detect a hint of vanity. Lord knows she has reasons to be. She's talented, beautiful, smart and successful. From the initial moments of our conversation when she admitted to being a serial "giggler" like myself to her funny reply to my "thank you for the interview" email, she has remained the same from beginning to end...genuine. As she would say, "I'm just me."
In this fun conversation that I have dubbed "Gigglefest 2005", she speaks to me about her songwriting, her musical influences (from James Taylor to Jodeci), and she gives me her humorous take on the music scene. I also left in a part of the interview that I would normally cut out, but it was so hilariously real, I had to leave it as is. Listen and you will know what I mean.
*mature language
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Gaelle
sweetened by Honey at 05:00 AM |Conversation with Wayna
Monday, July 25, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Wayna
Wayna Wondwossen is a star on the rise. Don't believe me? Ask Stevie Wonder. He says about her, "Her voice reminds me of Syreeta (Wright), she's incredible." Ask Essence Magazine. Wayna was featured in their August issue as one of the "girls of summer" whose music offers a cool, refreshing alternative to the soggy sameness of commercial radio. If you do ask me, I'll tell you why Wayna is headed to the stratosphere. She's the real deal. Both lyrically and vocally gifted, her style is a mixture of R&B and jazz with just enough hip hop to keep your head nodding.
The Ethiopian born singer/songwriter's graciousness, strength and intelligence would make her successful in any vocation but she has found her true calling as evidenced by her exceptional debut album. "Moments of Clarity, Book 1" was released on her own independent label, Quiet Power Entertainment. The album features production from Kev Brown, DJ Roddy Rod and guest artists W. Ellington Felton, K'Alyn, Cy Young and Theodros Taddesse. It's available through her site and at CD Baby.
The album features intricate harmonies and songs that offer insight and hope and are a testament to the power of positive thinking, but there is such a heavy groove that you may not even notice at first. We are so in need of artists who represent the best in us; creativity, strength, and perseverance. Wayna doesn't just sing about these qualities, she leads by example.
In this conversation, Wayna discusses her music, her motivation and her experiences as an independent woman in the music industry. She also gives props to her D.C. homie Raheem Devaughn.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Wayna
Conversation with Dwele
Wednesday, July 20, 2005Soul 2 Soul with Dwele
Andwele "Dwele" Gardner (his 1st name means "God has brought me" in Swahili) began writing songs at the age of ten, after his father was murdered outside his home in Detroit. In 1998 he made 100 copies of a demo tape "Rize", that quickly spread his reputation as a singer and songwriter. Since that time he has appeared on records with Slum Village ("Tainted"), Bahamadia, the Platinum Pied Pipers and numerous others. After being signed to Virgin Records on the strength of his songwriting and performance skills, he released Subject in 2003.
The self taught multi-instrumentalist with the hypnotically smooth singing voice talked to me about his sexy new album "Some Kinda" (scheduled for release in October), his thoughts on Luther Vandross, what his typical day is like and even offers up a little fantasy. You don't want to miss his acapella performance or the preview of his new single "I Think I Love U", available at iTunes.
Listen to Soul 2 Soul with Dwele
Interview: Jaguar Wright
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
I am pleased to announce that my feature article on Jaguar Wright has been published by SOHH.com. Please head over there now to read about it.
I've also made the more in depth version of the interview available. This one gets a little deeper into the subject matter and you get more expanded answers. It includes more about her music, that infamous fight on the rooftop and she talks very candidly about her feelings for Mary J. Blige, Faith, Ashanti, Ciara, Tweet, and R. Kelly. I also asked her something we have discussed here on the blog. Why do the record companies often push back release dates? Read the expanded version here.
sweetened by Honey at 09:02 AM |