New To You Music Sundays – This Should Be In Your Playlist – SBTRKT (posted from iPad)

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Aaron Jerome, Basement Jaxx, Blue Lines, Hold On, iPad, ITunes Live Festival, Key Yemaya Walker, Little Dragon, London, N.A.S.A., Sampha, SBTRKT, Wildfire, Young Turks, Yukimi Nagano

Thanks to Little Dragon, and a delayed realization that their single with Yukimi of LD, was in my “Recently Added,” folder, I began to try to listen to their work.

Though, unfair to categorize these artists with N.A.S.A and Basement Jaxx, SBTRKT (Aaron Jerome) employ the same faceless artist concept, however they employ significantly less appearances by other artists. Supported primarily by Sampha on vocals and to a lesser extent relying artists on the affiliated Young Turks label, for support.

I was finally sold after their iTunes Live Festival in London performance, and had to more of their music. Opening the album with “Heatwave,” a wordless starter that cements that as something new and fresh. Followed by the similarly infectious “Hold On,” anchored by:

“…you’re giving me the coldest stare,
Like you don’t even know I’m here…”

It easily pulls you in, however convincing you that they have a distinct sound. Then comes the game changer as the Yukimi Nagano (Little Dragon) powered “Wildfire,” opens the door to the remaining 8 Tracks that follow.

Sampha continues to shine on “Something Goes Right,” and “Trials Of The Past,” giving this electronically album more of an classic (read not today’s sex and pop driven R&B) R&B and downbeat feel.

Highlights: the aforementioned “Hold On,” the Yukimi fueled “Widfire,” “Pharoahs,” and “Heatwave.”

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

This Should Be In Your Playlist:Music I Like – Artist Joi Gilliam & HotHeavy&Bad Download Link

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Aaliyah, Angie Stone, Atlanta, Big Gipp, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bridgeport, Coko, Connecticut, Da 5 Foota, Dallas Austin, Dawn Robinson, Devon Lee, Dungeon Family, Earwax Records, En Vogue, Erykah Badu, F.Y.E., Freedom, Freedom (Theme From Panther), Freeworld Records, Georgia, Goodie Mob, HotHeavy&Bad, Jefferson Street Joe Gilliam, Jill Scott, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Walker, Kriss Kross, Lisa Lopes, Lucy Pearl, Mario Van Peebles, Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte, Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Monica, Music I Like, OutKast, Pal's Lounge, Panther, Pastor Troy, Patra, Pittsburgh Steelers, Queen Latifah, Raphael Sadiq, Rowdy Records, Salt-N-Pepa, Sam Goody's, Star Kitty’s Revenge, Sunshine & The Rain, SWV, Tennessee, Tennessee Slim Is The Bomb, The Amoeba Cleansing Syndrome, The Pendulum Vibe, This Should Be In Your Playlist, TLC, Trumball, xXx, Yin Yang Cafe, Yo Yo

It took quite some time to gather the right thoughts to make this post. Joi Gilliam, Joi…Joi is virtually the best artist that for some reason the masses has not heard of. Now what do I mean by that? You’ve heard her music often, but you may have not known it. Not to compare her, or to say that she created a music movement, but before you (music listening public) had Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, etc., there was Joi.
In 1994, before I left Atlanta and Georgia I first heard the Tennessee born daughter of Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback “Jefferson Street” Joe Gilliam, Joi’s, classic, “Sunshine& The Rain,” on community radio in Atlanta (“urban” radio stations here would not play Hip-Hop, nor anything thing that was not a national R&B standard, therefore Atlanta natives Outkast, and non-MTV songs by TLC, or Kriss Kross (given for effect) would not make it to local radio). As I often discovered with independent radio, I would find a new song, but it was highly unlikely I would find out who the artists was. Armed with this tape recorded song, I pumped this unknown artist all the way from Atlanta to New York and Connecticut.

Luckily, Joi’s work was released and I remember walking into the Sam Goody’s F.Y.E. concept store in Trumbull mall and seeing the new release wall, and Joi had her entire placement of her debut, The Pendulum Vibe, there. Not knowing that this was the artist I had been bumping, I was always inclined to try out new music, even without having heard it (I returned home after my 2 years in Bridgeport with over 1K CD’s of music, all catalogued in a notebook). Well I picked the CD up, and saw the title “Sunshine & The Rain,” I felt like I had won the lottery, first I had a full length album of an incredible artist that I only had previously had a partial taped song, and a real artist was given the opportunity to put her work out. I walked around that store, until our group left clutching the $18.99 compact disc until it was time to check out. I dropped the disc into my Sony Discman on the way back to campus, and had my first true magical experience with her music. My life was changed. I own, 3 copies of the album, and have purchased copies for friends before it went out of print.

This Should Be In Your Playlist Tuesdays (Wednesdays) – The Weeknd – “House of Balloons”

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Blue Lines, House of Balloons, Key Yemaya Walker, The Weekend, The Weeknd, This Should Be In Your Playlist Tuesdays

Over the last weeks, I’ve come across some amazing music, both known and unknown artists. Last week, I wanted to bring you the first of two recent artists and new music offerings, until a certain Ms. Mara Hruby changed that up. Well the first of those artists is the aforementioned The Weeknd. You can download “House Of Balloons” here.

This Should Be In Your Playlist Tuesdays – Mara Hruby

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Andre 3000, California, Key Yemaya Walker, Mara Hruby, Mos Def, Norah Jones, Oakland, OutKast, Stereolab (Lose Myself), Take Off Your Cool, The Panties, The Roots, This Should Be In Your Playlist Tuesdays

More than a pretty face, and a voice…

I somehow stumbled across this artist Mara Hruby last night. I vaguely remember how, as these last few days have been a blur of work, thought, real work, limited creativity…everything just running the gamut, and somehow I “discovered” a new artist and listened to her offering “Stereolab (Lose Myself),” and pardon the pun, I lost myself in the track. I actually intended to suggest another artist recently, then was blindsided by Miss Hruby’s talent.

Upon further listening, and downloading her EP that she offers on her page, the work is a grouping of covers she performs with highlights spanning Andre 3000/Norah Jones’s epic “Take Off Your Cool,” and Mos Def’s “The Panties,” although I cannot forget the aforementioned The Roots cover.

This amazing collection sounds great to sit back and cool out to, write to, make love to…whatever to. AND shes from the beautiful state of CALIFORNIA too!!! I cannot wait for her own material.

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.