King Kendrick dropped today. We don't die. We multiply. Period.
Though this tune didn't make the album, it hits my heart. Can't wait to listen to the full project.
Have you heard it? Thoughts?
"To Pimp A Butterfly" on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/untitled/id974187289
Myself and an amazing cast of characters spent last Sunday afternoon stomping our way through Brooklyn and coastin' on the G Train to get our pre-production shots for the Downtown video. The amazing visuals team Ashton Alexander and video co-producer Tameeka Colon of Artisntegrity were on set and we had a blast tossing around ideas!
Can't wait for you all to see this song come to life - coming soon!
For the third installment of #musicmonday, I must share my dearest Feist. Her music is mystical to me and has such depth. This song is called "The Water" and though I'm not exactly sure what the lyrics mean (I have my theories), I've always been taken by its ability to be both heavy and light simultaneously. There is a haunting quality, but because it's paired with her soft vocals and the light vibraphone colors, it achieves an incredible balance.
She allows her vocals to soar and and her lyrics to be very forward and unhidden. There is a confidence in the melody and in the repetition that makes me see how effective simplicity can be, when done right.
There are also a lot of tonal surprises, some of which they achieve in the video below, but even more so in the recording. Different instruments enter and layer at interesting moments, so there's never a lull, always a rocking and motion - just like water right?! Ugh, so good.
What do you think of her music?
Last Wednesday I had the unique pleasure of hitting the legendary Apollo stage! I competed in the famed Amateur Night @ the Apollo and I can say it was nothing less than an adventure. There were mostly singers in the competition as I expected, but what I didn't expect was how much fun it was to see how different everyone was and listen to them sing and dance their hearts out.
I performed a rearranged version of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, which I love! I've sung it many times and wanted to give the audience a new twist on a great song. The crowd had mixed feelings - some loved it and some didn't. The most fun part was that people felt something. They listened and there was a lot of love in the place. As I finished my song and took my bow I could not have been more proud. I did it! I sang my heart out for the famed Apollo crowd. My best friends and my partner were in the crowd and their love was everywhere.
After the show, we stomped the city streets and got some beers at a dive bar. I woke up the next day to a Manhattan sunrise. Nothing like it - seriously. I couldn't help but feel like, "Yes, this is exactly what I came here for."
Thank you APOLLO!
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