HAPPINESS IS :: Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Happy

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Happy

Wow, this one brings back a lot of memories! Ned's Atomic Dustbin was pretty crucial in my life in the early 90's. From Britain, They developed skate rock into early emo. I bought a VHS tape of their tour through the UK and Europe and would play on repeat. Happy is a sweet gem of a song. It hit's all the right points in a bouncy bob your head kind of way. The band didn't last, unfortunately, having released their last album in 1995. They did reunite in 2008 for some reunion shows but haven't produced any new tracks.

LITTLE STEPS :: Josin - Company (Kiasmos Remix)

Josin - Company (Kiasmos Remix)

Need some nice chill tuneage? I've got you covered. This Kiasmos remix of Josin's Company is midtempo chill at it's best. Josin's voice reminds me of Radiohead's Thom Yorke in a slight way, and I mean that as a compliment. You can check out more of her work in the Soundcloud profile below.

SAILING :: Yacht Rock (Web Series review)

Yacht Rock (Web Series review)

First of all, I've got to thank my sister Sara for introducing me to the Yacht Rock series. With all my time on the net, this one had completely passed me by. I was familiar with the term Yacht Rock and what it described - but what was the real history and the origin of the name? The Yacht Rock series was released in 2005 after being written, directed and produced by J.D. Ryznar and co-produced by David Lyons and Hunter D. Stair. It's a fictionalized mockumentary in 12 episodes, following the smooth rock superstars of the late 70's and early 80's. It follows the careers Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, and others. In fact, the term "yacht rock" was used to describe this genre of music only after the release of the series in 2005.

The storylines are hilarious and the caricatures are completely over the top. You'll recognize comedians and other celebrities such as Jason Lee, Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland, Steve Agee, and Drew Carey. Go now, watch all 12 episodes (they are roughly 5 minutes each) and enjoy. You can learn more at:

http://www.yachtrock.com/

Start here with episode 1:

HOUSE IS A FEELING :: Les Sins - Grind

Les Sins - Grind

Happy Mother's day to all you special moms out there! I want to dedicate this post to you. Les Sins aka Toro Y Moi aka Chaz Bundick is a talented mutherfucker. His first full length album as Les Sins, named Michael, is blowing up. Let's go back though, 5 years to be exact. Grind is one of those tracks that is instant classic. With soulful vibey synths and "yeah" samples throughout - this one gets that ass waggin and feet shuffling. Check out anything and everything by Toro Y Moi or Les Sins - you won't be disappointed.

DROP ACID :: Roy Of The Ravers - Emotinium

Roy Of The Ravers - Emotinium

It's great having friends with taste in music. This tasty tune comes from my friend Weston and it might be the beginning of a new genre - dare I say it, Chill Acid. Not much is known about Roy of the Ravers. He comes from the UK and is indeed from the ravers. His Facebook profile said this:

In 1981, deep within the laboratory of the Roland Corporation, Japan - Tadao Kikumoto invented the TB-303. But when Kikumoto heard it was being used to create the acid sound, he ordered that all TB-303s should be recalled and DESTROYED. However, soon after; Kikumoto discovered that the last remaining TB-303 was in fact owned by Roy of the Ravers and vowed to destroy both Roy of the Ravers and the TB-303, putting an end to the acid sound FOREVER!!!

Long live acid! Check him out on Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Facebook.

AN ANGELIC VOICE :: Prisca (the interview)

Prisca (the interview)

It was at least a few months ago, that I was at a so-called "speakeasy" in Atlanta. You see, Atlanta has drinking laws so that you can't drink out past midnite on a Sunday, but there are ways around it, such as making a private club and charging membership. This was the case, at HUSH in East Atlanta Village, where I first met Prisca. She was there with friends and I quickly learned that she was a singer/songwriter. She has some real talent. I'm so grateful because she tonight took some time to talk with me about her music/life/career.

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today! Now, I met you in Atlanta. Did you grow up there?

I moved to Atlanta about 11 years ago to start my music career. I Moved from Ohio where I grew up. Nothing brilliant in Ohio going on.

That's what I hear. So how old were you when you started singing?

I started singing at age 4 as the special music for my dad's church - I would join my mother on stage. The first concert I attended was Etta James when I was about 8, and from that point on, I connected and grew from soul music - but from an early age, music meant something more than just words or notes.

I had a feeling that was the case. There's something about singing in church that carries through. Is that also where you learned piano?

I started piano lessons when I was six for a few years - my grandma was a piano teacher. When my parents split, the piano didn't make it in the divorce - I started writing songs with my voice and cassette tapes at age 8, recording harmonies in stereo without really understanding what I was doing. Then a few years later, my father got me a keyboard when I was 13, and I started writing via the piano.

Well, your dedication definitely shows. When we first met, you told me you were a singer/songwriter. When I went to listen to your music the next day, I was blown away. Particularly, with the song Kamikaze, which you collaborated with KB on. How did that come about?

I wrote a song called Kamikaze with my writing partner and producer Nick Chahwala, and we released a one take live version to YouTube. The rapper KB and his team found it and ripped it offline, created a dope rap around it and called me into Reach Records to listen and approve for it to be on his EP 100. It was a quick and beautiful experience and the song ended up being my first charting song on Billboard - his EP made it to #1 on the Christian/Gospel Billboard charts on it's the first week of release. ❤ It has been a beautiful ride with that song. There have been incredible covers of our song Kamikaze online, and also super dope choreography videos submitted from all over the world. ❤ It is so so wild and I am still excited about that song! 🙂



Well, it's a great song - all the different versions. The video with the carjacking is really powerful too. Let's talk about Nick, you guys started a studio together, yes? Bravo Ocean?

Nick Chahwala and Charles Malone started it about 15 years ago, and 10 years ago I joined in as the first artist they wanted to develop after they had had some of their first successes. I wrote so many songs that eventually we became an incredible system together and were called upon to write songs for a lot of major label artists alongside indie artists.

It has been a wild ride, and I am happy to say that we have found new hats to put on and are working as updated gears in a beautiful system at Bravo Ocean focusing on the independent artist.

The mission statement on the website is everything:
"All under one roof, our three divisions specialize in helping recording artists recognize and create their own unique avenues through our approach to record production and brand content development."

Yes, I see that you've had a lot of artists record there, from Post Malone to Raury, who is honestly a personal favorite of mine. It must be great to be able to work with a lot of great talent. I understand you were picked by Kelly Clarkson to sing on her tour. How did she come across you, was that through the studio?

I was chosen by Kelly Clarkson as her Open Mic Night winner from a cover video I submitted on her fan page. I had signed up on her page when I had recorded a cover of one of her songs with my friend and fellow singer and creative Ulrika (who is another member of Bravo Ocean) -- the song I submitted caught Kelly's attention and I was informed the day before Kelly's Atlanta tour date by her musical director via email. I actually misread the email and deleted it the night before, but later double checked and I'm glad I did! It was such a blessing to be able to get up on that stage and rock out for her fans - she really believes in music and has a genuine heart. I hope I get to meet her again to thank her again in person and maybe even sing with her! 💙



The talent that comes through Bravo Ocean is crazy - we love that every day is different and unexpected, and we love pouring our hearts into every moment.

Wow, that's crazy! I think one of my favorite songs you've done is Skin. It is hauntingly beautiful. How did that song synthesize?


That's a great question, Skin was actually a song I wrote years ago that I never showed anyone. I was involved in relationships that weren't conducive to self-growth, and I wrote/played that song as a mantra to feel stronger. I rose with that song out of the depths of my own insecurities, and then one day as I felt strong, I happened to play it as an intimate house concert. Afterward, I was approached by audience members that were touched by the song; including Rachel Truitt of gotta dance who then convinced me to play that song as a feature in her large production of Surface that included dancers from Gotta Dance Contemporary. The song kept growing, and there was a demand for people to take it home with them, while I was still learning how that song would live and breathe as my mantra, it was thruster forward into another performance art show, and then I created a Kickstarter campaign because I realized the importance behind the visuals. I hadn't worked that song into my budget at all, I wasn't even supposed to play it out loud to anyone - it was my secret. As the Kickstarter and concert raised over $6k, we then were able to make a music video happen, and today, I have learned and been reached out to by listeners of its impact. It brings me to tears saying this, but the song has saved 2 people's lives that I know of, and it is bigger than me. My purpose to speak the truth and be unapologetic has then, in turn, helped listeners get over their hard times and decide to live. I don't have words to describe the feeling, but what I can say is that I feel like my work as a human is finished and that this life is now icing, I feel called to write the only truth, and help others see their own beauty by being their true selves. ❤❤❤ ⚡️😭😭😭
And that's my short answer. 😬😬😬😳

Sam green and Steve Pitts - the director and producer, Rachel Truitt the choreographer from Rite Media helped produce it and it featured the genius Bubba Carr who has shifted the dance community with his brilliance. It was a Wiiiild ride!



Wow, that's incredible! You are truly something special. You've certainly touched my life with the raw beauty and emotion that pours out of you. Supernova is another one that does that. You like to have fun too, I can tell. Robot boy is a great song and it looks like that was a ton of fun making that video? Yes?

Thank you so much! ❤❤❤ Making that video with Rite Media (Sam Green and Steven Pitts) was the best!! They took my vision and ran with it!! I also made most of the cardboard props and had some help, took us a few days! Steve Pitts and his wife Dri made the robot, and I was blown away - it was a week-long shoot of a few hours each day and different locations! I have a silly side, and although slowed down robot boy can be a very somber song, I decided to kick it up a notch and really dive into an opposite emotion from skin, and embrace the layer of myself that just decides to say "beep boop" in a song hahaha it was very freeing. 🙂 All of my friends have special cameos throughout the film as well, and my co-writer, Jean Kelley, is my maid of honor in the video. Gosh, we really had some hilarious times during that shoot! Nick is my doctor in the music video, and I just laugh every time I watch it or even answer my phone on an abnormal day and people start our conversations with "beep boop" hahaha!

All of my songs are produced by our team at Bravo Ocean as well, which makes the recording process fun because you are having a blast the whole time!
It is fun to play Robot Boy live at my concerts because everyone joins in and it becomes a theme that brightens everyone up. I just love making people smile.





I love it. I know you also toured with one of the greatest songwriters of our time - Ben Folds. I bet that was a great time. Can you tell us a little bit about working with him?

I had the privilege of being Ben Fold's as an he second (love dying my hair btw) and after the second show I did with him in Pittsburg, PA, there was an open letter online written about The Singer With The Purple Hair that an audience member wrote that Ben Folds found. He mentioned it to me and shared the info with me during sound check at the Cleveland, OH pavilion. He thought it was something I should read and thanked me. He passed me his phone during sound check and the woman said that my eyes watching Ben Folds and the way I rocked out to his music as his backup singer made her fall in love with his music. So through my inspiration, she was inspired, and I had no idea, I was just a giddy child up on that stage singing with one of my idols 🙂 Dude ... there are so many great memories and pieces I hold dear to me like the Segway moment haaha which I won't share with you but dang, haaha yes, I had a blast, and that was the first time I realized that something was bubbling in me to release my own music by watching him.

Alto and Soprano for a few dates on his tour in 2014, and it was such a lovely and memorable time. He influenced me so much as a songwriter, and when I found out that I got the gig, I flipped out, cried a bunch, and then got straight to work. I had to learn twice as much material because some shows I would need to be a soprano (sing the higher parts) and some shows I would need to be the Alto (lower harmonies). It was a symphony tour, so the practice routine was intense, we would spend a few hours with the city's symphonic orchestra and then have a break and then blast off during the show. There was a lovely and striking moment on tour though - I had bright pink hair for the first date, and then purple hair for

Well, you are the true genuine article. I knew it from the moment we met. You give the best hugs, by the way! I want to know some of your early and current influences. You mentioned Etta James, what about male singers? I'm a big fan of James Blake. His singing is so sexy. Can you share some of the music you like and would be playing in your car?

Thank you so much Noble! You have a genuine heart and I always give my best hugs out to people who have kind eyes. In my car, I am blasting everything ... haahaa,  as long as the song is timeless and can stand alone with one instrument and one vocal, I am a fan for life. I was. Blasting James Taylor and Queen yesterday. I can't get enough of Stevie though. ❤

Stevie Wonder?
Yessssss! Stevie, Elton, Billy Joel. I'm a sucker for an artist who plays the piano.

OK, because Stevie Nicks would be acceptable too. lol

Yes, Stevie Nicks is raw and powerful. I also rock out a lot to Janis Joplin ❤❤❤❤❤❤ and Alanis Morisette. String chicks give me goosebumps.




So, I love that you said that your life is icing now. There's still got to be a dream ahead though. What are your future goals?

I want to release my debut album and tour more in the years to come- I have some intense plans in the works right now that I wish I could share with you!

Well, surprises are always good too. I know you've been performing regularly in Atlanta. Is that going to continue?

I love performing in Atlanta and the surrounding states - it has expanded over the past few years and am planning more traveling and music soooooon !🙂

I look forward to that. I might be able to help get you some gigs in Nashville. I certainly want to help in whatever way possible. I am truly a fan for life. Anything else that you want to add before we wrap it up?

Thank you so much! I love Nashville and everything helps!
Oh, I don't know! Any personal questions that you have that don't have to do with music?
I have 2 cats named Chicken and Baby Kitty.

Yes, what is your favorite food?
My favorite food is Biscuits and Gravy, and every year I make it on my birthday. ❤
I love Biscuits and Gravy! But the kind with the real sausage in the gravy. Yuuuuummm!
I'm a great cook! 🏄🏼‍♀️

You just had a birthday, recently! Congratulations!

Thanks! I turned 32! And I'm excited for this time in my life.

What a perfect age. I remember 32 so fondly!

32, single, 2 cats, following my dreams, eating egg rolls currently ... it's a good life.

You can find more on Prisca at:
http://www.priscamusic.net/
http://www.bravooceanstudios.com/