Stephanie McKay
Stephanie’s got soul. So much soul that it moves through her lyrics, erupts uncontrollably with the unique alto in her voice, and leaves a deep resonance in the minds of listeners. Her soul is fresh and according to her, marks a “reincarnation for the new generation.”
This Bronx-born native makes no mistake when it comes to producing lasting music. With influences from greats such as Betty Wright, Lyn Collins, Margie Joseph, Roberta Flack, Candi Staton and Mavis Staples, it’s only expected that the rasp-jazz songstress bring music back to its feel-good roots.
July 21st marks the expedition back home, with the release of her forthcoming album Tell It Like It Is. When asked about the hiatus between this album and her 2003 self-titled debut, Stephanie McKay responded with a quote from Q-Tip: “Record company people are shady.”
Fortunately, she’s worked through the industry struggles to put forth a solid album. With its distinct title, Tell It Like It Is speaks to the people on their own level. Her latest single “Jackson Avenue” is a hip revival of the classic ‘day on my block’ theme and brings listeners on a journey of what she says focuses “good times, good friends, and Sergio Valente’s.” Stephanie describes this album as “more organic, less electronic” than her debut.
With inspiration stemming from family, life and love Stephanie indulges in the art of storytelling, and she’s had the opportunity to work with some of our times most acclaimed storytellers — Mos Def and Talib Kweli. She describes the two as “poets and masters of their craft. Dedicated to the betterment of their community and proud of their culture. These are things I aspire to do as an artist.”
With her ability to grasp an audience with her music, Stephanie has set herself in the right path to achieve this goal, and been marked her as an artist to be reckoned with.
Ancient Futures
The mercury retrograde is over and a fresh breeze of regeneration will be felt by all this Saturday, June 21 with the Avant Yard offering of “Ancient Futures: The DNA of Culture and Civilizations” at MoCADA, the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts at 5pm.
This multi-media group exhibition will confront socio-political boundaries in “underground” movements with a dynamic blend of painting, photography, installation art, photo-illustration, and music. Featured artists include, Terry Boddie, Fikisha C., Jennifer Crute, Francks Deceus, Joshua Humphries, Dirk Joseph, Laura James, Kip Omolade, William Rhodes, Danny Simmons, Jamel Shabazz, and Malik Yusef Cumbo (Avant Yard).
Live music will be presented by The Essential M.C. (CA), Game Rebellion (NY), The Welfare Poets (NY), Yolanda Zama (SA), Nucomme (TX), and a long awaited Survival Soundz reunion featuring Carla Csharp Gomez (ATL).
Known for giving young artists the stage to speak their voice, Avant Yard will set the day in bloom with a special photographic collaboration from the students of Life Academy High School for Film and Music from 2pm until 5pm.
An opening reception hosted by Defrei of Ahficianados with resident DJ’s, The Majestic Twinsound and Ahficial Music continues on to the main exhibition from 5pm until 9pm, including a dance from LOVESPACE MUSIC Alter-Native Movement.
MoCADA is located at 80 Hanson Place in Ft. Greene.
The entire event is FREE.
“Ancient Futures: The DNA of Culture and Civilization” will be on view at MoCADA through September 7th, 2008.
For more info, click here
Jones in Your Bones
BabyStone – the soulful mash-up of Ms. Novena Carmel and Itai- croon the stage with a gathering of beautiful eccentricity. The sound captures a Jazz, Afro-Funk, Caribbean sensation that caters to cultural enthusiasts. Marcus Brock had the chance to sit down with lead singer, Ms. Novena Carmel. This retro-fitted chanteuse is no stranger to the grittiness of the soul and funk being that her father is Sly, of the revered band Sly and the Family Stone. But, even without the distinction she’s a show stopper! BabyStone’s syncopated rhythms and intuitive - yet fun- lyrical dynamics need be positioned on anyone’s playlist.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, don’t forget to check out the Record Release Show at Temple Bar tonight. For more info, click here
Trace: How did you and Itai start working together?
Novena Carmel: Itai and I started working together a couple of years ago. He had a track he was producing and when I sang for him, we vibed. Eventually, we had enough material for a show. We didn’t even have a band yet, but I was like – let’s book a date! We then got a band together, booked a date, and rehearsed about five times before our first show.
T: Was the use of live musicians in your band on purpose or a routed intention?
NC: The band was on purpose because we like a BIG sound. I like a real sound, there’s a lot of “fake jewelry” out there so to speak, but BabyStone won’t turn your neck green! We are influenced by funk, soul, and Afro-Beat. So, the use of live sounds and music is very important to us. We are now looking to performing an acoustic set as well in future shows and albums. Itai loves Brazilian music and I have family there so we want to incorporate more of those sounds into our music, like in “Can I Be.”
Me, personally, my vocals will always be soulful but I have a yearning to do some wild, electronic beats. Our live album is many live instruments, similar to a live show but I also want to perform to synthetic sounds like keyboards and talk boxes. Just weirdness, not only sincere heart-to-heart beats. Our next recording will probably have those types of sounds, not completely out there, but different.
T: Some artists try and shy away from their parents’ music – does some of that sound/feel resonate in your music? How has that inspired BabyStone?
NC: As an artist I’m inspired by a lot of modern artists and those that have come before me. One of my favorite genres is the funk/soul of the time period when Sly & the Family Stone was writing their biggest hits. The sound is so influential and amazing to me that there’s no way I could shy away from it. It’s funky, it’s in your face and it’s timeless. That’s a lot of what BabyStone is or at least hopes to be.
(More…)
KOJO Summer Party
With the UK music scene growing tired of the same old indie bands, KOJO seems destined to fill the void for those looking about in search of something new. The band’s unique blend of funk, rock, soul and electro conjures up a cocktail of influences from Sly and the Family Stone to Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, all encapsulated in a slick set full of energy and instantly memorable melodies.
Formed and based in West London, the band’s music is a mix of all their influences, cultivated in a rehearsal studio off Portobello Road. Lyrics cover everything from getting out of London’s rat race in “ Let’s Go,” to the superb reflection on their 80s childhood name-dropping Thundercats and Super Mario with some original computer samples in “8 Years old.”
KOJO is currently working with Grammy Award winning producer Simon Gogerly (U2, Gwen Stefani) whilst finishing the writing on their debut album. Mates Duffy, Estelle and DJ Yoda regularly come to see them play and you can check out their video blogs on Nokia’s Royal Artist Club.
Catch KOJO at their Summer Party this Friday June 20 at DEX, where they’ll be laying on a fantastic set as well as DJ’s all night, a BBQ and hot tub action.
For more info and a sample of KOJO’s tracks, click here
DEX
476 Brixton Road
London SW9
Doors 7pm to 4am £5 Before 9pm £10 after
Re-Imagine Kenya
Softer Side of Hip-Hop
Guillermo Scott Herren (aka. Prefuse 73), an Atlanta artist of Catalan and Irish/ Cuban descent currently working in Spain, composes vaguely jazzy experimental hip hop tracks so beguiling they emit a strange sense of déjà vu. I remember the first album Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives with a story of my own, sitting on the roof of a college apartment during the slowly cooling early autumn, Prefuse slinking through the living room from the outdoors, in an oversized sweatshirt and bare feet. Something in the way Herren produces allows his music to feel both fresh and comfortable at the same time.
Prefuse 73 comes off much lighter than hip hop studies by similar artists Madlib, Danger Mouse and GirlTalk; almost Ibiza beachy at certain points. But make no mistake. His subtle musical repertoire makes for compositions far more far more substantive than the average gamine + electronica = eargasmic construction of comparable lounge and house. His music bares striking similarities to the speckled collages adorning his album covers: a classily psychedelic mix of harmony, texture, and balance.
Herren’s fourth album under the moniker Prefuse 73, Preparations, has a slightly more orchestral feel than his earlier work as he lends his classically trained instrumental ear to the P73 alias. The merger makes him a wise choice for the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Whitney Live series. The series showcases a new pairing of cutting-edge performers each weekend in addition to “pay-what-you-wish” Friday admission to the museum itself. Prefuse will play as part this June’s Wordless Music series with “adventuresome chamber music from the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME)” and Jad Abumrad (Host of WNYC’s RadioLab) appearing as the MC.
Friday June 20
Whitney Museum
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
New York, NY 10021
For more info, click here
Life Imitates Art
What do you get when you cross a French filmmaker and a closet jammed with shoes and books? The neat freaks and green-thinking among us, relax- for Mr. Brainwash, better known as MBW, it is only fodder for his art.
MBW has spent the last nine years attempting to make the ultimate documentary about graffiti art. While filming, MBW began putting his camera aside and making art of his own, displaying a Banksy-esque predilection for coloring on the walls. Graduating from a few hand drawn stickers to giant billboard sized paste-ups, MBW has become one of the most prolific street artists in California.
MBW’s first exhibition, “Life is Beautiful,” opens in Los Angeles this week, running four days in a former Hollywood studio complex. The exhibit features more than 300 paintings, sculptures and prints, alongside installations made from 100,000 of the aforementioned shoes and a life-size recreation of Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks.” MBW also does his own take on graffiti, Andy Warhol and icons of American pop culture- neither Marilyn Manson, Michael Jackson nor anyone in-between, are spared his aerosol treatment.
For more information on Mr. Brainwash’s show, click here
Also, be sure to check out the opening reception, Wednesday, June 18, 7P-11P: the first 200 people walk away with a hand finished limited edition print by MBW himself.
Life is Beautiful
June 19 - 22
CBS Studios
6121 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
International Swagger
txt_Shawn Lawrence James//ph_Rahan Cotterel
Styling others for a living requires a special charm, external instincts, and an unlimited reservoir of influence. British-born stylist Nasrin Jean-Baptiste is well-noted for refreshing herself with the latter and here, she chats about the mechanics of making people look good.
Name: Nasrin Jean-Baptiste
Age: hmm?
Born: in the 80’s
Based: London
Occupation: Fashion Stylist and Consultant www.nasrinjeanbaptiste.com
Background: I was born and raised in London by two Haitian parents. I have always had a dual sense of cultural identity. The concept of different-ness and being open to our many diverse cultures will always be a point of intrigue and something to embrace.
My fearless, non-conformist mother would never bat an eyelid when I would come home with bright yellow hair or the most horrific outfits I would make out of ripped up t-shirts, bleached denim jeans and florescent ribbons. So being open, coloring outside the lines and self-expression came quite naturally and is reflected on my approach to life, work and my appearance.
Favorite Brands: I am a very fickle brand follower. You’re only as good as your last collection, so I go season to season falling in and out of love with designers – but British designer Ashish has stood the test of time as I have been a huge fan since his first s/s collection in 2005. Lashings of sequins, beading and knitted enmeshments is divine and he somehow combines it with enough wit and edge to make me feel like a lady.
Luella Bartley and Danielle Scrutt are new favorites. I love their interpretation of Britishness and Youth Culture. Up and coming designers Timothy James Andrews and Pam Hong will prove to be significant future talents. Oh, and I can’t not mention Vivienne Westwood for her menswear.
What inspired you to become a stylist?: I have always enjoyed the idea of creating alternate worlds and hyperreal personalities. Whether it is in print or film, styling allows me to explore these mediums. Being able to interpret and manipulate garments like an artist’s paint pallet and using them to convey a story, message or to even make someone feel the same excitement I do when I see a shoot that inspires me is the reason why I’m so passionate about styling!
(More!)
Wonder-Full Returns!
Dj Spinna and Bobbito are once again serving up a night to remember with Stevie Wonder classics, twists and remixes. Although the duo is known very well for teaming up with KieStar Productions for various dance parties through-out the year, the most buzzed about event hands-down is Wonder-Full, a tribute to genius of Stevie Wonder.
Last November, Stevie Wonder came in the flesh to the party, making fans and late night dancers lose their minds and dance as if their lives depended on it! Word on the street is that he may again make a special appearance on Saturday, so don’t miss this event!
Doors for this event at the Hammerstein Ballroom open at 10pm, but the Stevie jams continue to pump into the early morning — just in time for pancakes.
Tickets Available at Fat Beats (406 6th Avenue);Pieces (671 Vanderbilt Ave); Academy Records (415 East 12th Street); Harriet’s (293 Flatbush Avenue); Addy & Ferro (672 Fulton Street).
Digging The Sonic Arts
June 14th is certainly a day you should mark on your calendars in regards to art. Two events will be taking place, The Art of Digging and the Sonic Visual Arts Expo.
The Art of Digging will be going down at theLightGalleries in Costa Mesa, California. The event, which pays homage to the advancement and progression vinyl culture, brings awareness to the discrediting of music artists due to the increase in downloading. The event will include vinyl art and rare wax displays, live performances, record sales and exchange, and a special guest DJ. For more information click here.
Those on the East Coast can enjoy the Sonic Visual Arts Expo in Hamden, Connecticut that evening instead. Unlike The Art of Digging, this event focuses on the more conventional means of visual arts. Here, artists will be displaying and selling their work, along with a vast number of music acts. The headlining performances will feature Stephanie D’Ranged and Hellfire Graffix. Click here for ticket and location information.