Curtis Santiago’s Extremely Made Over
A few days ago, TRACE had the opportunity to hang out behind the scenes at Curtis Santiago’s new music video shoot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for his single “Extremely Made Over”. This guy is WAY too dope and the video is looking hot!! While you wait for the vid to drop, download the single for free right here !
Janelle Monae’s ArchAndroid
Made in Naija
With the Asa, Nneka and other prodigies, the success of Broadway musical Fela there’s no denying that Nigeria music is once again à la mode.Creator of Blufunk, Nigerian troubadour Keziah Jones is at the top of his game. with a 20- year career highlighted by 5 succesful LPs. Jones who share is time between NYC, Paris, London and Lagos is set to release his latest album ‘Nigerian Wood‘ this Spring* in North America.
First things first, tell us more about yourself?I was born in Nigeria where I lived until I was 8. Then, my parents sent me to boarding school in England. It was there that I was exposed to a lot of British music, Eighties pop, Ska and people like David Bowie, Duran Duran and Japan, people I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to hear in Nigeria. At that time I was also listening to a lot of PFunk- Georges Clinton and the Parliament- and African-American Blues with people like Chuck Berry…
Performing live is very key to you as an artist, can you explain?I started playing on the streets after I left school when I was about 18. First in London then Paris. My performing was very intense, I was singing at the top of my lungs accompanied by my guitar. I felt the necessity of playing outdoor and these experience has definitely shaped my performing style. Read more
Ryan Perfect: “Hip Hop Beware” (RIP BIG PUN)
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of BIG PUN’s passing, Queen’s talented MC Ryan Perfect has released “Hip Hop Beware” (Big Pun Tribute). While many of you are anticipating Ryan Perfect’s website launch, which will feature his brand new mixtape “THE MESSAGE”, download Ryan’s EP “Searching: The Lyricist Lounge Sessions 2001-2003“, while you wait, straight from the source.
Renaissance 2.0: Curtis Santiago
Curtis Santiago is a breath of fresh air - the kind of creative visionary who steps onto the scene and revolutionizes the game rather effortlessly. You’ve probably heard his name bouncing off the lips of those kids who are always two-steps ahead when it comes to music, fashion, film and art. That’s because Canadian born-and-raised Santiago has made a name for himself in every field – he was a member of the Hi-Phoniqs soul band in the late 90s, has co-hosted CTV’s Fashion Television, has exhibited his colorful, “wild-style” paintings in galleries across the country, made his acting debut in a John Cusak film that recently wrapped in Toronto, and is now set to host the highly-anticipated RedBull 3Style DJ Tour. His music is as post-genre as he is, fusing slick rhymes with soulful rock. Santiago released his latest mixtape with Mick Boogie, “HAVE MERCY!” last April, featuring a collaboration with TRACE favorite Mickey Factz on a remix of The Killers hit track “Human”. TRACE sat down with Santiago to gain a little more insight into his eclectic music, personal style and future projects. Read more
Dungeon Dragons: Little Dragon Performs at Le Poisson Rouge.
Since releasing their self-titled debut album,
For additional show and ticket info visit: http://lepoissonrouge.com/events/view/633
- Courtesy of Devin “Pan” Barrett
Drea [He Say, She Say]
- Listen to He Say, She Say
- Interview by Ferrari Sheppard [Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StopBeingFamous.com ]
- Photoghaphs by Dakota Harper
Jazz and the city, looking back at Montreal’s 2009 Jazz Festival
The rain didn’t stop hundreds and thousands of Montrealers and tourists flocked to the newly established Quartier des spetacles, for the opening of the International Jazz Festival.To mark the 30th anniversary of an event, that has become the landmark of the city, the organizers of the FIJM gave the city an a unmatchable thank-you gift with an opening show by none other than Stevie Wonder. The Motown legend performed
many of his hits for a mesmerized audience of over 100,000 people, which had arrived on the site, as early 1pm. The two hour set also included jazz standards and even a Beatles cover, however an emotional Wonder had made it clear from the beginning that the show was entirely dedicated to the memory of his friend the late King of Pop.
This opening event set the tone for the Festival, a joyous and grandiose celebration of 30 year of entertainment and excellence.
13 days, more than 600 shows, hundreds of artists, a brand new festival site, La Maison du Jazz, a brand space entirely dedicated to Jazz, this is what the organizers had to offer the public.
And after all these years what keeps fueling the creativity and success of the event,? Its winning formula.
An indoor line-up of Jazz virtuosos with the likes of the Marsalis brothers, Oscar Petersson, Chucho Valdes, and other big headliners, such as Tony Bennett Al Jarreau, Kool and the Gang, The Harlem Gospel Choir ….The star-studded l line-up also included a wide variety of acts from Estelle, to electro-duo Thunderheist, Melanie Fiona, The Chin Chin, and Robert Glasper (whose tag-team effort with Mos Def got canceled only a few days before the event).
The outdoor shows presented an even greater variety of musical genre; an interesting selection of up-and-coming artists but also especially, this year, 5 mega-shows that punctuated the festival. The audience traveled to Jamaica with a masterclass on Rock Steady, with none other than Marcia Griffith (…); Toots and the Maytals and Burning Spears shared the stage for another memorable reggae evening.
A plethora of west African stars also graced the festival. From Femi Kuti to the Juju master himself King Sunny Ade to Alpha Blondy’s and the ever so graceful Oumou Sangare, the continent was widely represented.
Finally, it’s Ben Harper and his new band closed the festival on high note. Harper and his Relentless7 their brand new White Lies for Dark Times with over 100000 people in attendance.
With this year’s edition, the 30th the organizers of the Festival International Jazz Festival had the ambition to offer the most exciting edition to date… and they did. With performers that could satisfy audience of , activities for the whole family, including a school of Jazz for the little one, as well as 3 day guitar fair, there is no doubt that the FIJM is the most important event of its kind.
Estilo Hip Hop.
Hip Hop music has the ability to give a voice to the disenfranchised in any country, and as music with a message it is a form available to all societies worldwide. Directed by New York based filmmakers, Loira Limbal and Virgilio Bravo, ESTILO HIP HOP chronicles the lives of Eli Efi, Guerrillero, and Magia, three hip hop artists from Brazil, Chile and Cuba who firmly believe that hip hop can change the world. These three inspirational leaders mobilize young people to become politically active. However as the stakes assume greater risks, the leaders are faced with challenges and have to make
life-altering decisions that ultimately impact the course of their lives and of the hip hop movement.
ESTILO HIP HOP will air nationally on Global Voices on PBS WORLD on Sunday, June 28 at 10 PM. For more information and to check your local listings, please visit
- Courtesy of Sigourney Salley + Keith Selby
A Jade Of All Trades
Place: Santos, NYC | Open Party
Subject: Jade
On an evening that ideally complements a blanket and a movie, there I stood in front of the stage waiting for Jade to perform. The first time I saw her live, I must admit her songs left a spell on me that has yet been broken. In awe by her mighty vocals, I was immediately taken by her aura and for that reason this gloomy night seemed to linger auspiciously. Although the rain and the cold did not inspire much promise, NYC still agreed that something magical would happen. About 10:30pm the TRACE team arrived, ready to record this spectacular evening, but even more expecting, and indeed we experienced the magic. Within minutes the initial group of 30 party-goers became an eclectic crowd of 200 hipster fairies, socially fluttering together. Instantly the venue’s (Santos) vacant decor transformed into a magic castle where Cyclopes and Sorcerers played the role of security and bartenders. Literally a disco ball in the shape of a heart sparkled over us with meaning, and the natural chatter vanished underneath Q-tip’s funky turntables, which instead gave our bodies a reason to converse with the music. Maybe it was the strobing lights or the thick smoke, but as I scanned for my reflection by the bar mirror, amongst it all, I barely identify who I was. A paraelle feeling to OZ, we traded our admission to become apart of this mystical experience, and anxiously, we waited to hear from our special guest… Read more