Thursday 28 November 2013

Run The Jewels Live Performance & Q&A



Hey guys!


A quick post to let Run The Jewels fans know that they will be live and direct tomorrow from 4pm GMT at Big Dada HQ.


You can watch online right here:http://boilerroom.tv/session/run-jewels/






New Music Post: Baishe Kings - 'Vodka Lemon Lime' (Official Video)

Hi Guys!

When I got the email from Ninja Tune with this video, I was like hey I've never seen this before! I'm sure not many of you have either so I thought I'd share.

Art/Rap Septuplet from South London have presented a new music video for Vodka Lemon Lime. They've been likened to Wutang meets Odd Future, with a British flavour of course!

The video drops together with the first installment of the Baishe Kings comic strip (designed by Siku, the graphic novelist of 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Magazine fame). 

Check out the video below!


Sunday 24 November 2013

Year 2 Of A Commercial Music Student: Goal Digger

Hi everyone!

This week has flown by. As part of our course we have Professional Development, as intense as it can be thinking about the future regarding chosen career and field and planning HOW to get there; once done a weight is lifted off your shoulders. Felt awesome! Taking these goals and creating weekly objectives to make progress.

In terms of studio I've been everyday this week. Definetly improving. My friend singer/songwriter Diamant Ballou recorded a rough demo of 'Better Than Before'- I felt like it would sound great with her voice. To hear a singer sing your songs is a great thing especially when delivered exactly how I imagined. And this is just a rough. Also on Wednesday I recorded a rough demo for 'HeartStrings'  , I recorded the keys using the standard logic Yamaha plugin, I was so thankful to be in CR4 this studio has a full sized keyboard great for a piano player like me, no fussing with shifting octaves etc. for both vocal recordings I used my favorite mic AKG C214. Out of all the mics I've used at university so far this one is great, I love it for my vocals. 

For this upcoming week I plan to finish up the rough demo with my Chica Diamant and shorten the actual instrumental, as it's 8mins long! True Ekeisha fashion. Also see what I can do with HeartStrings, I feel it needs something eve though it's a rough demo.  Also I wrote a new song last Thursday enroute to uni 'Look What You Did' this has a Cassie vibe to it. So need to get that idea recorded too. As you can see guys I'm working, working hard.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

X

Sunday 17 November 2013

Spirit Post: In Faith we Trust, in Love we Lay

Hi all,

Nothing like writing before bed, sometime after 2AM *sigh*. Sometimes I write thoughts which turns into a poem. This one I call:

In faith we trust, In love we lay

Often we talk ourselves out of achieving our dreams. Well not completely but we just question whether we are on the right path, on the right page; question whether there is anything to gain. 

And when it comes down to it. You have this dream for a reason. You did believe in it. Make sacrifices. So all the doubt is fear. Remember why you started. Start to complete. Do what you love. Some days you may question why,just remember your dream why you're here. Decide today to put all in. You've got nothing to loose. They say it's easier said than done. But doing is so much in itself. Doing will bear fruit. Stay true. Be you. Purposeful purposes

I hope this inspired you. 



Friday 15 November 2013

Year 2 Of A Commercial Music Student: Getting There

Hi guys !

So this week I've been finishing off songs that I've written. I can't believe how quick time is going! 

The song I wrote 'Care Less/Party More' is in production and J (producer) is working with the vocals and mixing it down. It's already sounding like a summer hit. 

Tomorrow is Saturday and I plan to record two acoustic demos: 'Heart Strings' and 'Better than Yesterday' for the EP. I'm going to use logic to do this. First record the piano, and try to get the most realistic sound as possible. My friend suggested even adding a little bit of reverb to do this. I will then record the vocals and harmonies. After our tutorial on Ableton on Tuesday I may even experiment with it next week. I've got live installed on my laptop so why not I say? What's your pref logic, or Ableton guys? a lot of producers use Fruity Loops too and Reason how could I forget. So many options!

Next week I plan to work with two producers and collab some more. Colab,colab, collab they say. Love it. 

Any producers out there looking to collab or feature music or anything creative hit me up. I'm nice I promise lol.


X

Sunday 10 November 2013

Year 2 Of A Commercial music Student: Progress

Hi guys!

So this week was Reading Week at uni, it is not a holiday but there are no classes. So I decided this week would be creative week, writing, recording etc. It went SO fast!

I was productive though, worked on the swap track for The Released Recording. Having never recorded my vocals in a studio before I'm so proud of myself because I know my way around now. Feeling like a boss I managed to record the whole song yesterday. The swap track has been through a lot I must say. I wrote two songs to the same beat both with completely different meanings.

 The first 'What's Love' is about love, a girl goes through a break up and questions whether what 'they say' loves means is true with the chorus: 'They all talk about love/But do they even know what it means...See I've heard it all before/ But do we even really know what it means (what it means)'. I felt like the track was too fast for the lyrics even though melodically it went and  didn't not reflect the upbeat club tempo of the track or the vibe. The second song I wrote to the track chorus is : 'Dj/DJ/ Just keep playing the songs (keep playing the songs) DJ/DJ/ Yeah tonight we're caring less and party more..DJ/Dj/ Got us in the zone/ care less and party more/ me and my girls killing the dance floor/ bass rhythm and heat/ the guys can't take it/ can't take it.' This just goes perfectly melody, vibe and the lyrics much more than the first. This song 'Care Less/Party More' is about a girl who wants to let go of the burdens of the world, not caring what people think and just party. Now that I've got the skeleton recorded, I can work on the bridge, and harmonies and work to getting it mixed in the next two weeks.

X




Tuesday 5 November 2013

Song Post: Illum Sphere new track and debut album!

Hey guys! I bring to you another Ninja Tune announcement.

Here is a post that alot of you Radiohead fans we love! Illum Sphere Radiohead remixer and Hoya:Hoya founder has released a new track called 'Sleeprunner', and his debut album 'Ghosts of Then and Now' will be released on 10th Febuary 2014 via NinjaTune.



The track 'Sleeprunner' is a great introduction to an album, as it literally sounds like day break almost. It has a very simple melody of mostly 4 notes, playing somewhat of a drone, then its like the sun begins to peak though the clouds as you hear the jazzy chords of strings and xylophones. Its a really interesting one. One that makes for great easy listening. Becoming more and more melodic leaving you wanting more.

Listen here:




Let me know what you think?


But most of all listen and enjoy.



Find Out more: http://ninjatune.net/illumsphere/




X

SOUL Post: Halloween Madness

Hi guys!

It seems like this year Halloween festivities are in overdrive. Its like the 5th November and people are still wearing their fancy dress costumes. I've been seeing witches on the tube, cats on buses and pumpkins everywhere.

Usually I'm oblivious to Halloween. I've celebrated once and that was like 10 years ago I'd say. Oh. and before that I was a mere toddler, in America with cousins where trick or treating meant heaps and heaps of candy!

So I didn't want to feel left out, after presenting at my university radio show my friend and I ventured out to KERB its a mini street food haunt in Kings Cross. We thought it would be easy to find. Easy it was not. We were feet from the venue and we could not find it. The arrow pointed straight ahead, leading to the grounds of a school. Central St Martins College of Arts and Design to be exact. It is such a beautiful building. The architecture is incredible. Even the lighting was perfect. So in the end we followed a family, who led us by longest route to KERB. It was right within the university really. It was great, smoke, lights a fully stocked bar, DJs and food stalls all "halloweened" up. 








After much deliberation I decided to try my luck with Bao. BAO is a new addition to London eats a small six seater Bar and a Market Stall, located in Netil Market, Westgate Street, E8 3RL. So Bao is a Taiwanese for bun, their classic is filled with slow braised pork belly, pickles, peanut powder and coriander all of which is made in house; even the milk to make the buns they cure themselves!





The classic bun became bun of darkness (£3.50): Squid Ink Bao, Evil Pig, Blood Sauce, Coriander, Mummified Pickles & Peanut ashes. SO GOOD! A small spicy delight full of texture and flavour. I wanted to go back for another. Definitely the highlight for me.







I rounded of with a little sweet treat from Kooky Bakes a London-based bakery of award winning small batch baked goods. I tried a red velvet cake pop (£2.50), a red velvet sponge with cream cheese dipped in white chocolate; of course for Halloween it was an eyeball. Delish. I was a little upset I was only able to have one bite, the rest fell on the ground. I should have been patient, but could not wait until I got home. Tisk Tusk.




If you're in London KERB is definitely a place to visit if you're a foodie. Find them on the Kings Boulevard Tuesday-Friday from 12-2.30pm.

To find out more head to http://www.kerbfood.com/kings-cross/

Happy November ALL!


X

Friday 1 November 2013

Song Post: Run The Jewels Debut Album


Hey Guys!

Run The Jewels will be releasing their debut album through Big Dada, this groundbreaking project is a collaborative of Company's Flow EL-P, and Outkast associate Killer Mike. The album will be released 16th December 2013!

EL-P's career begun as being one third of Company Flow a group that paved the way for experimental Hip Hop. He also produced Cannibal Ox's LP 'The Cold Vein', founded a label 'Def Jux' and has released a trio of brilliant solo albums. .

Outkast associate  Killer Mike is a key figure in Atlanta's fertile hip hop scene. A guest on four of their albums including the  breakout single 'The Whole World' and Bone Crusher's 'Never Scared'  his solo credits include the hit A.D.I.D.A.S.

You will need to turn up the bass for this one guys! As Kanye said Hip-Hop is the new Rock n Roll. Click the click below to watch the video for 'Get It'.




For more info and to pre-order: http://bigdada.com/run-the-jewels/

Watch the brand new 'Get It' video: http://bit.ly/1dsADzA


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