LOTTO Interview: Alison Clancy
09 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: "Lovin You", "My Love", Alison Clancy, Austin, Austin bands, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Artists, cello, dance, disco, dream, dubstep, Electric Child, Electric Pussy, electro, Fifth Nation, freddie beat, Freddie Rodriguez, Ghost, HUFF THIS!, LOTTO Interview, modern dance, popolio, punk, R&B, Stephanie Salvo, synth, Texas Council on Family Violence, THE REAL popolio, thrash, Urb'l Remedy, Urban Cool Remedy, Zach Hill, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: Zonisphere Media Group, home of the e-zine, Zubterrain, where my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, lived, continues to undergo a site overhaul, indefinitely. So, my column is currently halted. I finished out my June posts here at THE REAL popolio.
My articles normally went live on Tuesdays. I thought I was done for the meantime, but I have a few outstanding. Since this was in flux and submitted by the artist, I think it deserves to see the light of day. This is the last pending LOTTO Interview. I would have posted this on Tuesday, but there’s been a lot going on in September and I’ve gotten a little behind. See the other LOTTO Interview that was pending featuring the ATX’s SALVO here.
That said, I normally had a Cause of the Month interview that kicked things off the first week of each month. Since, I’m not writing the column for the the whole month, I’m just going to choose what would be my COM and link it here. I choose the Texas Council on Family Violence as the September 2011 Cause of the Month. Click on the link to find out more about the organization and enjoy the interview.
+++
Cause of the Month: Texas Council on Family Violence
Alison Clancy is a Brooklyn artist who fronts two bands. HUFF THIS! and Electric Child. She was actually the answer to on of the questions in a previous LOTTO Interview.
The question reads, “Play it Forward: Make a case for an up-and-coming indie artist or act that you’re really into and that you feel more people should be into. Who is it and why should we be into them, too?” Fifth Nation played her forward.
The idea is simple. I have a list of questions that are a mixed bag of musical, fun, serious, and silly. Alison Clancy chose ten numbers from 1 through 50 without getting to see the questions. The questions she answered for this interview are the questions that corresponded with the numbers that were chosen. The list is currently holding steady at 100.
Alison Clancy started as a modern dancer and brings that sensibility to her musical expression. Especially her videos. Watch the official video for “Lovin You” by HUFF THIS! Read Alison’s LOTTO Interview below.
UR: Why did you get into music?
AC: Because it feeeeeeeeeeeeels GOOD!
UR: Greatest movie of all-time?
AC: I probably haven’t seen it. Or it hasn’t been made, yet.
UR: What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
AC: Guilt is never pleasurable.
UR: Tell me a secret.
AC: Don’t have many. I’m a pretty open book. Maybe too open. I was kind of in a cult for a while, but that’s not even a secret. I like crazy people and freaks and sometimes I can follow their logic a little too long even when it doesn’t make any sense. Or I let people into my life who maybe I shouldn’t trust so quickly.
UR: What do you hate about the music industry?
AC: In the music industry there is always the slight chance of a song, person, or band garnering money/fame and sometimes this makes people unnecessarily possessive/jealous/competitive. For me, the point of playing music is expression/community/catharsis. Having come from the dance world, where no one is ever expecting fame or glory, it’s all about process and the discipline of training. This was a very foreign and frustrating dynamic for me at first, but now that I understand it I think I’m getting better at dealing with it.
UR: If someone were to play you in a movie of your life, who would it be and why?
AC: I would play me because I’m awesome at being me.
UR: What would the soundtrack to the story of your life sound like?
AC: Grass growing, airplanes crashing, lots of classical ballet music, sexy R&B, and Zach Hill bloodying himself on a drum set.
UR: Does Ghost still make you cry like it does me?
AC: Hmmm. Haven’t seen it in ages. Would probably depend on the context of my life at the moment.
UR: You can get a song remixed in another genre, which of your songs would you remix and in what style?
AC: I would get the HUFF THIS! Song, “My Love,” remixed as a dubstep dance anthem. The cello/synth dance duo, Electric Pussy, might do this. If so, it will be SICK!
UR: Favorite part of your body?
AC: Whatever part is being touched by my lover.
LOTTO Interview: The Shears – Room to Rock Artist
26 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: "Air Balloon", "Tighten Up", Austin, Austin artists, Austin bars, Austin Music Weekly, Austin venues, Bruno Mars, Club 1808, David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Kimbra, LOTTO Interview, Mariah Carey, Peckerheads on Sixth, Room to Read, Room to Read Austin, Room to Rock, Sameer Gadhia, Second Annual, Sixth Street, The Black Keys, The Eargasms, The Shears, Young the Giant, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: The LOTTO Interview was one of the features for my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, that was part of Zubterrain, the e-zine of the Zonisphere Media Group. That site is undergoing an indefinite overhaul; so, my column is currently on hiatus. For the purpose of this series of interviews, I’ve decided to use the LOTTO Interview format here at THE REAL popolio.
I will be MCing Room to Read’s 2nd Annual Room to Rock music showcase and fundraiser event TONIGHT at Peckerheads on Sixth (6th and Trinity). Doors open at 7:30PM. Show starts at 8PM.
On Monday I started counting down to tonight’s event by featuring a daily LOTTO Interview with each of the featured bands – The Blistering Speeds, Feedback, The Shears, and Day vs. Night ( BTW, that is the order they perform in, but was not the order of the interviews). There was a bit of a delay in getting the Shear interview, so that is why nothing posted yesterday. But, better late than never, here it is!
Get the 411 here, RSVP at the Facebook Event Page, and learn more about the organization at the official site.
The Blistering Speeds kicked things off on Monday. Day vs. Night kept it going on Tuesday. Feedback held it down on Wednesday. Read each of their LOTTO Interviews here, here, and here, respectively. Last, but not least, in our series of Room to Rock LOTTO Interviews are the Shears, who will be playing second-to-last after Feedback and before Day vs. Night.
The idea is simple. I have a list of questions that are a mixed bag of musical, fun, serious, and silly. The Shears chose five numbers from 1 through 100 without getting to see the questions. The questions they answered for this interview are the questions that corresponded with the numbers that were chosen. The list is currently holding steady at 100.
Watch the Shears play “Air Balloon” from a Club 1808 show captured by Austin Music Weekly. Read their LOTTO Interview below.
UR: Anyone you would pattern your career after?
TS: Well, any road to success would be the pattern we would want to follow, but all roads are different. We wanna’ get there anyway we can. John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Bruno Mars, maybe.
UR: What are you trying to achieve when you perform live?
TS: To inspire some sort of positive emotion…While rocking the shit out of the stage. We want to put on a great show! Inspire the audience anyway we can, whether it be to dance, be creative, musically or just to have a damn good time.
UR: What would the soundtrack to the story of your lives sound like?
TS: Like this!
UR: Put the super-baddest vocal group together by voice. Any living (This sucks. We wanted Ella Fitzgerald.) singer/vocalist from any group. Name them, the vocal role they’d play, and what group they’re from. [2 to 5 members only.]
TS:
| Kimbra |
| David Bowie |
| Mariah Carey |
| Sameer Gadhia |
| Bruno Mars |
Not sure what roles they would play, but the name of the band would be the Eargasms.
UR: Why did you get into music?
TS: It’s one of the few things we love to do and will never get tired of. Music is great. Music is Beautiful. Music is inspirational. Music is creative. It is all that and more. Emotions, feelings we cannot describe. Music is the pure language of the soul.
LOTTO Interview: Feedback – Room to Rock Artist
24 Aug 2011 3 Comments
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: "Love Lockdown", "Rent", "Seasons of Love", 1970s music, American Idol, Austin, Austin artists, Austin bars, Austin venues, banjo, Bazaarvoice, Best Of, bluegrass, Christina Aguilera, cover band, Feedback, fiddle, J. Lo, Jennifer Lopez, KanYe West, LOTTO Interview, musicals, Paula Abdul, Peckerheads on Sixth, Room to Read, Room to Read Austin, Room to Rock, Second Annual, Sixth Street, soul, Spinal Tap, stage props, The Rutles, The Voice, X-Factor, Xtina, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: The LOTTO Interview was one of the features for my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, that was part of Zubterrain, the e-zine of the Zonisphere Media Group. That site is undergoing an indefinite overhaul; so, my column is currently on hiatus. For the purpose of this series of interviews, I’ve decided to use the LOTTO Interview format here at THE REAL popolio.
I will be MCing Room to Read’s 2nd Annual Room to Rock music showcase and fundraiser event on Friday, August 26, 2011, at Peckerheads on Sixth (6th and Trinity). Doors open at 7:30PM. Show starts at 8PM.
Starting on Monday, to countdown to the event, I have been featuring a daily LOTTO Interview (and will do so through tomorrow) with each of the featured bands – The Blistering Speeds, Feedback, The Shears, and Day vs. Night ( BTW, that is the order they perform in, but not necessarily the order of the interviews).
Get the 411 here, RSVP at the Facebook Event Page, and learn more about the organization at the official site.
The Blistering Speeds kicked things off on Monday. Day vs. Night kept it going yesterday. Read each of their LOTTO Interviews here and here, respectively. Next up in our series of Room to Rock LOTTO Interviews is Feedback, the official band of Bazaarvoice, who will follow the Blistering Speeds during the showcase.
The idea is simple. I have a list of questions that are a mixed bag of musical, fun, serious, and silly. Feedback chose five numbers from 1 through 100 without getting to see the questions. The questions they answered for this interview are the questions that corresponded with the numbers that were chosen. The list is currently holding steady at 100.
Watch Feedback perform their version of Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown.” Read their LOTTO Interview below.
UR: Anyone you would pattern your career after?
FB: Probably the Rutles…Or maybe Spinal Tap, but mostly just for the great stage props.
UR: What are the top references you use for this band, musical or otherwise?
FB: The main criteria we followed in selecting the music was to play the tunes that we are excited about. Our band members seem to have a similar taste in music, but we are pretty diverse when it comes to age. Since we mainly do covers, it ends up as somewhat of a “best of” from the ‘70s all the way through to today.
We had two rules we tried to follow:
1) The audience should be able to recognize the song within a few notes.
2) Once they recognize it, it should make them smile.
UR: What’s a genre of music you’d like to try that your fans would be surprised by?
FB: Bluegrass soul! Don’t be too surprised if we break out some angry banjo or maybe even a fiddle one of these days…
UR: If you were to redo a song from a musical, what song would you do from which musical?
FB: It probably wouldn’t be a huge stretch for us to try a few songs from musicals. Maybe “Seasons of Love,” from RENT – it has a big sound, lots of vocals, and it’s definitely a feel-good tune.
UR: American Idol’s Jennifer Lopez, The Voice’s Christina Aguilera, or X-Factor’s Paula Abdul?
FB: J.Lo…Of course.
LOTTO Interview: Day vs. Night – Room to Rock Artist
23 Aug 2011 3 Comments
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: "Caught in the Radio", Austin, Austin artists, Austin bars, Austin venues, Day vs Night, Front 242, Grammys, KanYe West, Krautrock, LOTTO Interview, Peckerheads on Sixth, Room to Read, Room to Read Austin, Room to Rock, Second Annual, Sixth Street, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain, Zwei Fear Zwei
Editor’s Note: The LOTTO Interview was one of the features for my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, that was part of Zubterrain, the e-zine of the Zonisphere Media Group. That site is undergoing an indefinite overhaul; so, my column is currently on hiatus. For the purpose of this series of interviews, I’ve decided to use the LOTTO Interview format here at THE REAL popolio.
I will be MCing Room to Read’s 2nd Annual Room to Rock music showcase and fundraiser event on Friday, August 26, 2011, at Peckerheads on Sixth (6th and Trinity). Doors open at 7:30PM. Show starts at 8PM.
Starting yesterday, to countdown to the event, I started featuring a daily LOTTO Interview (and will do so through Thursday) with each of the featured bands – The Blistering Speeds, Feedback, The Shears, and Day vs. Night ( BTW, that is the order they perform in, but not necessarily the order of the interviews).
Get the 411 here, RSVP at the Facebook Event Page, and learn more about the organization at the official site.
The Blistering Speeds kicked things off yesterday. Read their LOTTO Interview here. Next up in our series of Room to Rock LOTTO Interviews is Day vs. Night, who will be closing the showcase.
The idea is simple. I have a list of questions that are a mixed bag of musical, fun, serious, and silly. Day vs. Night chose five numbers from 1 through 100 without getting to see the questions. The questions they answered for this interview are the questions that corresponded with the numbers that were chosen. The list is currently holding steady at 100.
Listen to Day vs. Night’s “Caught in the Radio.” Read their LOTTO Interview below. Answered for the group by band drummer, Nick Welp.
UR: Do people who say “supposebly” annoy you as much as they do me?
DN: No, they may have learning disabilities. Or cuteness awareness problems? Either way, they deserve our compassion.
UR: Last day on earth, what do you do?
DN: Some context would help…I believe in finishing things like I did them in the middle, so just like I live my life my last day will be filled with sex and vengeance.
UR: You win a Grammy, who’s the first person you thank?
DN: You know when you’re practicing in your room and you’re really good the only person to thank is yourself. But, when other people are interested in what you do and it’s moved beyond the practice sphere that is entirely because of the effort and the goodwill other people have extended you. When you’re on the cusp of relevancy it’s because of other people.
I used to think the long lists of people to thank were silly, but I have a much better grasp on the scale and the effort success like that requires; it requires people all over the country pulling for you, suggesting your music to their friends, and playing your songs at parties. So, anyone who’s ever been a Day vs. Night fan, this thank you is for you!
UR: You can get a song remixed by any producer, DJ, or artist, which of your songs would you choose and who would you get to do it?
DN: I’d like a straight up Krautrock version of “Caught on the Radio.” No melody, only drum, and the singer would chant the lyrics. So, random reference, how about Front 242? Zwei Fear Zwei. Every other song has already been sampled by Kanye West. I want some real OGs that aren’t even hip hop. If not Krautrock, I want some freaking Electro!
UR: What’s your greatest musical strength?
DN: I hold my band to high standards and they meet them. As a band, we have a remarkably clean tone. We do not step on each others toes, we do not play over each other. Each musician has a perfect niche. My greatest strength as a drummer is that I can play anything anywhere anytime any planet, perfectly. It’s always catchy and it’s always groovy. I have high expectations for myself and I work to exceed them.
Troy, the guitarist, comes up with many of the riffs that define our songs. His musical gifts are original melodies, beautiful tone, and flexibility. Troy is one of the best musicians I’ve ever worked with and he’s remains imperturbable. He’s the only musician I’ve worked with for this long that I’ve never seen lose his cool. I mean we’ve been playing together for years now and he’s never angry or difficult to get along with.
Zafer, I feel, is the guy me and Troy work together to support. As the bass player, he’s the glue of the song, but as the singer he’s also the centerpiece. As a band we’re working to create a great song, a song that allows Zafer to shine as our singer and frontman. He’s the best singer I’ve worked with and I knew it early on when I first met him. He’s virtually half the band as the bass player and singer (two roles) and he lays both the foundation on bass and the angel on top with his voice, so in many ways though we all work together towards a common goal, he’s really the defining presence in our lineup.
Zafer, the singer and bass player, is the Hamilton in our Texas Rangers Lineup. I’m the drummer, Nick, and I feel I’m the offensive and defensive line (think Dallas Cowboys circa 1993, now with two Hall-of-Famers) and Troy, the guitarist, is Cliff Lee — our ace. So as a Foot-base team we are offense-oriented, we beat you up and we shut our opponents down. Are you ready for some Foot-base? Isn’t that how that song goes?
LOTTO Interview: The Blistering Speeds – Room to Rock Artist
22 Aug 2011 5 Comments
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: "Acca of Hexam", Austin, Austin artists, Austin bars, Austin venues, Balcony TV, Field Dress, Justin Timberlake, LOTTO Interview, Maggie Mae's, Peckerheads on Sixth, Room to Read, Room to Read Austin, Room to Rock, Second Annual, Sixth Street, The Blistering Speeds, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: The LOTTO Interview was one of the features for my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, that was part of Zubterrain, the e-zine of the Zonisphere Media Group. That site is undergoing an indefinite overhaul; so, my column is currently on hiatus. For the purpose of this series of interviews, I’ve decided to use the LOTTO Interview format here at THE REAL popolio.
I will be MCing Room to Read’s 2nd Annual Room to Rock music showcase and fundraiser event on Friday, August 26, 2011, at Peckerheads on Sixth (6th and Trinity). Doors open at 7:30PM. Show starts at 8PM.
Starting today, to countdown to the event, I will be featuring a daily LOTTO Interview (through Thursday) with each of the featured bands – The Blistering Speeds, Feedback, The Shears, and Day vs. Night ( BTW, that is the order they perform in, but not necessarily the order of the interviews).
Get the 411 here, RSVP at the Facebook Event Page, and learn more about the organization at the official site.
Just as they will be doing on Friday, the Blistering Speeds kick off our Room to Rock LOTTO Interviews.
The idea is simple. I have a list of questions that are a mixed bag of musical, fun, serious, and silly. The Blistering Speeds chose five numbers from 1 through 100 without getting to see the questions. The questions they answered for this interview are the questions that corresponded with the numbers that were chosen. The list is currently holding steady at 100.
Watch the Blistering Speeds play “Acca of Hexham” from a Maggie Mae’s show captured on Balcony TV Austin. Read their LOTTO Interview below.
UR: What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
BS: Justin Timberlake.
UR: Tell me something good.
BS: …if you call in the next 5 minutes, they’ll double your order. But, you do have to pay separate shipping and handling.
UR: Have you created your magnum opus project, yet? If so, which one, and why is that it?
BS: Honest answer: We will probably feel that way about our first album. Because it will be three fucking discs long.
UR: If an “anglophile” is a fan of all things British, what do you call a fan of the good ole’ US of A?
BS: Patriot.
UR: You can do one song with any musician, artist, band or group, who is it?
BS: To keep this local, there’s this band in town called Field Dress that’s doing some interesting stuff.
LOTTO Interview: SALVO – ATX
09 Aug 2011 5 Comments
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: Austin, Austin artists, freddie beat, Freddie Rodriguez, hip hop, Lisa Marshall, LOTTO Interview, Out Youth Austin, popolio, R&B, SALVO, Sirens Salon, Stephanie Salvo, THE REAL popolio, Urb'l Remedy, Urban Cool Remedy, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: Zonisphere Media Group, home of the e-zine, Zubterrain, where my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, lived, continues to undergo a site overhaul, indefinitely. So, my column is currently halted. I finished out my June posts here at THE REAL popolio.
My articles normally went live on Tuesdays. I thought I was done for the meantime, but I have a few outstanding. Since this was in flux and submitted by the artist, I think it deserves to see the light of day. There is one more LOTTO Interview pending. Look for that one in September.
That said, I normally had a Cause of the Month interview that kicked things off the first week of each month. I had reached out to local R&B songbird, Lisa Marshall, to be my interviewee for August, but then I learned about the hiatus at Zubterrain. I do know her COM would have been Out Youth Austin. So, for these two August posts (one more coming at the end of the month), that’s what it will be. Click on the link to find out more about the organization and enjoy the interview.
+++
Cause of the Month: Out Youth Austin
SALVO is an Austin-based artist who raps and sings. Mixing hip hop and R&B, her pipes remind me of P!nk‘s. Being perfectly honest, I wouldn’t be mad at her if she decided to just simply sing. No disrespect to her rap skills, it’s just that I’m that taken by her vocal ones.
The idea is simple. I have a list of questions that are a mixed bag of musical, fun, serious, and silly. SALVO chose ten numbers from 1 through 50 without getting to see the questions. The questions she answered for this interview are the questions that corresponded with the numbers that were chosen. Up from the 50 SALVO chose her LOTTO numbers from, it is currently at 100.
Interesting fact about SALVO, she is a hairstylist/makeup artist during the day while she hustles and grinds on her music game the rest of the time. Watch a YouTube video of SALVO performing at a benefit for Japan at local beauty shop, Sirens Salon, on June 6, 2011. Read her LOTTO Interview below.
UR: Greatest movie of all-time?
SO: Ooooh, that’s a tough one…I’ll go with Scarface…it’s a classic.
UR: Do you believe in God?
SO: I have faith and I tend to think of myself as a spiritual person and all I know for sure………….is that no one knows anything for sure. Undoubtedly, something greater (a higher power so to speak) exists.
UR: Favorite meal?
SO: I’m Italian/Puerto Rican and I looove food, but my mom’s pasta and homemade meatballs never disappoints!
UR: What do you love about the music industry?
SO: Music and the industry have changed so much in the last 20 years in both negative and positive ways and continue to do so. What I love most about the industry is the potential to change someone’s day and make it better by sharing words and notes from my soul and inspiring others.
UR: How would you describe your sound?
SO: Soulful Hip Hop/R&B with a twist.
UR: Is it just me, or does Whoopi Goldberg never get enough respect for being one of those special few artists that has won one of each major award (Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Tony)?
SO: LMAO! Honestly…I’ve never thought about it; however, I can say that credit should always be given where it is due.
UR: Madonna or Lady Gaga?
SO: Madonna.
UR: How would you describe your personal fashion style?
SO: Ha! I’m not sure how to explain that…It depends on the day and my mood, but I always keep it fresh and original. I definitely love to shine, but being comfortable is imperative whether it be my Chucks or stilettos.
UR: Favorite piece of clothing you can’t live without and that you wear all the time?
SO: My skinny jeans.
UR: Why do you think that, arguably, music translates better globally than film or television?
SO: Music has the ability to affect and bring to the surface all of the most intense feelings people experience. Music understands when no one else does and there is no need for visual aspect in order to convey any message…a few notes speak volumes.
R&R: Hope for the Future
28 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: freddie beat, Freddie Rodriguez, popolio, Pride Month, R&R, Rant and Rave, THE REAL popolio, Urban Cool Remedy, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: Zonisphere Media Group, home of the e-zine, Zubterrain, where my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy lives, is undergoing a site overhaul that will take some weeks to complete. So, my column is currently halted. I plan to finish out my June posts here at THE REAL popolio.
My articles normally went live on Tuesdays. This is the last edition of R&R for awhile.
+++
Cause of the Month: It Gets Better Project
Not only will this be my last edition of R&R (Rant and Rave), but it will also be my last post at Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy for awhile as the Zonisphere website is revamped for about a month or so; maybe less. I don’t know what’s in store, but I’m excited to find out and to see what the new website will look like. Stay tuned for that!
As I thought about what I would write about I can’t help but just echo what I’m feeling to be true to myself in the moment. As a blogger, I write on the side of a day job that has nothing to do with my true interests or even what I went to school for. Though not an artist perse, I’ve always considered myself a creative. I feel frustrated and boxed in. Like that hamster on the wheel who goes nowhere. I have a destination in mind, but don’t know how to get there.
I guess this got me thinking if an artist came to me for advice and was feeling the same way as I am now what would I say to that artist. I don’t know what I would say, but some common phrases came to mind. “Cream rises to the top.” So, if you’re good and have talent, eventually it will happen for you. Now, you can make it happen yourself. Invest in yourself, release your own product, create your own label, your own company, etc. But, what if you don’t have those resources or like me don’t really feel business-minded and feel like you’d be better off teaming with someone who could better handle that part, but that person hasn’t really materialized?
So, then you’re like if it hasn’t happened, yet, then maybe I ‘m not good at it and I should give it up, because surely I would have “made it” by now. “Takes 10 years to become an overnight success.” Then there’s that. But, how long is too long? When should you throw in the towel and decide you’re just meant to have a “normal” life? Even though every fiber in your being wants it to be otherwise. If you’re cool with the starving artist bit, I say have at it, but I need some security, to pay bills, and insurance. Hence, the day job. Yet, I would rather make a living at what I am passionate about and something related to the degrees I earned.
Then you hear the stories about those who give up and decide this is there last project. An actress in a film, for example. That if this doesn’t work then they will go live that “normal life” and BAM! it works out for them. Jodie Foster, anyone?
Is it about the right person seeing what you can do and providing an opportunity? Is it about you getting in front of that right person to see what you can do so you can create an opportunity for yourself? You’ve got fire and passion and follow-through, but you get burned out and tired, too. You’ve given it your all time and time again, but still it’s not enough. So, what do you do? The other option, I suppose, is taking breaks when you feel burnt out and then just going back to it full force once you feel it again. This, in stead of, stopping all together.
I guess I would say to that artist to follow your heart and pay attention to your instincts. I think there are opportunities that come along that we miss sometimes. You don’t have to do everything, just what feels right to you. I think once the right thing comes along and you start working in that direction the pieces start to fall in to place. I hope that’s what is in my future and I hope that for all of yours.
peace, love, and all that jazz
freddie beat
Not So Random Videos: Homohop
22 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Urb'l (Urban Cool) Remedy Tags: "fly-brotha", "Ice Cream Truck", "Love You Better", "Not Ready", "Rude Boy", "The Worship Song", Cause of the Month, Cazwell, Dreamweaver Mixtape, freddie beat, Freddie Rodriguez, God-Des, God-Des and She, heart breaks open, hip hop, homohop, It Gets Better Project, LGBTQ, LGBTQ hip hop, Miss Money, Not So Random Videos, NSRV, Pick Up The Mic, popolio, Pride Month, queer, queer hip hop, R&R, Rant and Rave, Rihanna, She, Soce, Soce The Elemental Wizard, THE REAL popolio, Tim'm West, Urb'l Remedy, Urban Cool Remedy, William Shakespeare, Zonisphere Media Group, Zubterrain
Editor’s Note: Zonisphere Media Group, home of the e-zine, Zubterrain, where my weekly music column, Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy lives, is undergoing a site overhaul that will take some weeks to complete. So, my column is currently halted. I plan to finish out my June posts here at THE REAL popolio.
My articles normally went live on Tuesdays. This edition of Not So Random Videos (NSRV) is what would have posted yesterday, June 21, 2011. Look for next week’s edition of R&R (Rant and Rave) as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, June 28, 2011.
+++
Cause of the Month: It Gets Better Project
With it being Pride Month across the country, June’s Cause of the Month interview highlighting the It Gets Better Project, and my declaration that it is also Pride Month at Urb’l (Urban Cool) Remedy, I wanted to feature something that packed a punch for this edition of Not So Random Videos (NSRV).
So, this time around I’m featuring homohop (or LGBTQ or queer hip hop) at NSRV. I wouldn’t call myself a hip hop-head, but certainly I am of the hip hop generation and have been influenced and touched by it. Who hasn’t it at this point? It permeates the culture. I will say that I do take issue with the sexism, homophobia, and materialism that often runs rampant through the musical form. For those reasons, it’s interesting to me that LGBTQ people would want to emulate it. For those very same reasons, I think it’s important. Something about it, I think, helps deconstruct it or bridge the gap or something like that.
But, to be fair, there is a whole spectrum of points-of-view, topics, sub-genres, styles, sounds, etc. in hip hop and it’s not a black and white subject. Homohop is no different. Neither are people. We all come in different shapes, sizes, and colors and we can each be ambivalent or ambiguous or contradictory as human beings at times. We’re all the same, but different. I think that’s the point, really. It’s a concept that’s kind of simple and complicated at the same time.
These artists were all featured in the 2006 documentary film about homohop, Pick Up The Mic. I first heard about it a few years back and I have always wanted to check it out, but have yet to do so. I tried to pick songs from these artists that ran the gamut of the spectrum I mention above. Collectively they show, but are not limited to, humor, religious faith, spirituality, hope, love, desire, covetousness, sexuality, intelligence, silliness, and lewdness. I hope no one will be offended by the fact that I included a religious video with a highly sexual one. But, like I said, I wanted to show the range of these artists and this genre.
I’d like to close with a wise statement, but I can’t think of anything that won’t come off corny. The famous quote, “To thine own self be true,” by William Shakespeare is all that comes to mind. Hope you enjoy the videos!
peace, love & all that jazz
freddie beat
Soce, The Elemental Wizard “Not Ready”
Miss Money “The Worship Song” freestyle to Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” from the Dreamweaver Mixtape
Tim’m West “fly-brotha” from independent film, heart breaks open
God-Des and She “Love You Better”
Cazwell “Ice Cream Truck” NSFW! Mature Audiences Only!
