Currently Jamming to – Theophilus London

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Nuri posted a round-up of her favorite artists from 2010 early this year and she mentioned Theophilus London as someone to look out for. Considering this is the same lady who brought the phenomenal Esthero into my life, I gave him a chance. I certainly don’t regret it.

His most recent mixtape, “I Want You”, has him covering the songs of other artists such as Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. While he hails from Brooklyn, the elements of the city he’s named for are seen in his music, which blends seamlessly with the classic soul beats and electronica influences. I’m not usually the type to listen to a CD from beginning to end, and definitely not more than once, but this mixtape is the exception. Last.fm lists similar artists as The Cool Kids, Jay Electronica, Wale (though I don’t really see that one), and Kidz in the Hall. If you’re a fan of any of those artists, definitely check him out.

His newest album, Lovers’ Holiday, is out now on iTunes and you can download his mixtapes for free. If you still want more, you can also check out his official website or his blog.

What are you currently listening to? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Tara

Music Feature – Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding, aside from having an amazing afro, is a jazz musician from Portland, Oregon, and my latest girl-crush. While she’s reached some exposure in the jazz world (and beyond), I still think that she is sorely under-exposed.

More about her, via her official website:

If “esperanza” is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.

If “esperanza” is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.

I have recently had the pleasure of seeing Esperanza Spalding perform – and she is amazing. Absolutely amazing. This talented bassist (although she plays other instruments too) is only twenty-five (!) and has performed for the likes of President Barack Obama at his Nobel Prize Ceremony.

Even though I went to her concert at the Byham Theater kind of tired – it had been a long day, alright?? – I was captivated by her soulful performance and the sheer passion she exuded. Every note seemed to light her on fire and the radiant smile on her face was a testament to how much she loved music. Even when she paused her playing, she would close her eyes and hum along to her band, the Chamber Music Society. And while she writes her own music, it amazed me how she was able to play intricate musical compositions while singing along. Take it from a former piano player: that is NOT easy. I became an instant fan.

For more information on Esperanza Spalding, check out her official website. To preview more of her music, listen to the player on her website or her fan station on last.fm.

If you have any music you’d like me to check out, leave me a comment or send me an email! (Contact info in the about me page)

xoxo,

Tara

Music Video – VV Brown: Shark in the Water

When I found out that one of my favorite artists, VV Brown – who I’ve featured on this blog before in my first ever music feature – had released a new music video, I knew I had to post it here. This video was done in collaboration with Teen Nick and Degrassi (who here watched/watches Degrassi? Don’t be ashamed!)

As usual, VV Brown looks fly, fresh and fierce in this carnival motif (speaking of carnivals, I just mentioned the one I visited in my last Slowed Down Sunday post!)

Wikipedia says:

The song is a metaphorical record about anxiety, and was inspired by Brown’s experience with infidelity by a past boyfriend who liked to stalk her in his free time. The song is her first single to get high airplay on U.S. music channels and radio (neither “Leave!” or “Crying Blood” were able to achieve this). The song was also used as a promo for the summer run of the tenth season of Degrassi (previously titled Degrassi: The Next Generation).

Another random fact: The song was also re-recorded in the Simlish language of The Sims and is featured in The Sims 3: Ambitions. Huh. I can’t wait to hear that remake.

To keep the VV Brown-Degrassi connection going, here’s a bonus video of her covering “Best I Ever Had” by Drake, a Degrassi alum:

Are there any music videos that you’ve been enjoying lately? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Tara

Music Video: California Gurls by Katy Perry

This is seriously one of the cutest videos I’ve seen in a while. It combines many of my favorite things – Candyland, Snoop Dogg and pastel wigs. Cotton candy clouds and lavender hair? LOVE. If it had only included unicorns and mouse ears, I would have given it the title of video of the year, hands down. After I buy a lilac afro wig, of course.

I’m actually not a huge fan of the song – it begins to grate once it’s been stuck in your head for a few hours – but I had to get the video on my iPod. A perfect example of how my sister and I are completely different, once I told her how much I enjoyed it, her first reaction was: “I’m going to think it’s overdone, tacky and obnoxious, aren’t I?” Much like Times Square, Las Vegas and Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, she was proven right and we were at odds over our taste levels (or lack thereof) once again.

Her multicultural backup dancers are cute too, as are her various costumes and props. (Other than the girl wrapped in cellophane – that was a bit creepy.)

Here are a few more images I really liked from the video:

All photos from I ♥ Katy Perry on Tumblr.

What do you think about the video? Are there any you’ve been into lately? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo, Tara

Icon: Michael Jackson

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On June 25th, 2009, the world lost a legend.

It’s pretty amazing how fast time flies, isn’t it? I can hardly believe it’s been a year already. On the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, I intentionally avoided the many tweets, facebook statuses and blog posts paying heartfelt tribute to the King of Pop. When television stations aired his videos in a constant loop, I changed the channel. If they came on the radio, I switched the station.

Honestly? It was much too upsetting even to listen to.

To say that I was a fan of Michael Jackson is a supreme understatement. I was literally raised with his music – it’s been the soundtrack of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve dressed as Michael for Halloween (circa Jackson 5), learned the moves to both Beat It and Thriller, secretly kept my parents’ original vinyl copies of Thriller and Off the Wall and even managed to try my hand at the Moonwalker video game.

When I heard about his death, I was at work. My sister sent me a text message. I remember my heart skipping a beat and everything slowed to a standstill. The last I had heard about MJ, he was talking about his massive comeback, the This Is It tour (I would have loved to see it – especially after that amazing movie) it shocked me. He seemed so frail but I also never considered that his health was in such a precarious state. He seemed mythic, in the truest sense – for some reason, I never expected him to die.

While I was glad, somewhat, that the public seemed to realize his legendary status, it was bittersweet to realize that he only regained the respect that he deserved after a sudden and tragic death.

While I mourn the loss of a musical genius, I also mourn the loss of a life – one that endured pain and disrespect until the end. I mourn for the young child who was denied a life due to a vicious father, and the man who was denied a private life due to our celebrity obsessed culture that I’ll admit, I feed into every now and again.

I hope he is at peace, although he leaves family and millions of heartbroken fans in his wake.

One thing that does give me comfort is his enduring legacy – his charity, his spirit and probably most famously, his music. His albums, from beginning to end, will be a great listen. I look forward to them becoming the soundtrack to the lives of many others as the years go by.

I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite Michael song, even if you narrowed it down to his solo work and excluded the Jacksons and Jackson 5. I would probably say Human Nature, or maybe Rock With You, or possibly Off The Wall. Honestly, there are too many to decide – just thinking of those three made other classics come to mind, like Beat It, Lady in my Life and many, many others. But for any hardcore MJ fan, I highly suggest the excellent mixtape by DJ Jazzy Jeff, He’s the King and I’m the DJ. It highlights his greatest hits, but also more obscure (at least to me) classics that I have fallen in love with, like Never Can Say Goodbye and Heartbreak Hotel.

RIP, Michael. You will be missed.

xoxo, Tara

Music Video – Kelis: 4th of July (Fireworks)

The first music video from Kelis’ album Flesh Tone, Acapella, set a very high bar with costuming, artistry and overall “wow” factor. I was mesmerized from beginning to end and I fully expected her second video on this album for 4th of July (Fireworks) – which, coincidentally, is my second favorite song on Flesh Tone – to hit some sort of sophomore slump. There is no way, I reasoned, that this video could live up to Acapella.

While I am not as blown away this time around, I can certainly say it lives up to its predecessor. She revisits desert theme from Acapella, as well as the tribal motif that made use of ornate headdresses. As in Acapella, Kelis can also be found in a contemporary club scene, this time in a darkened hall with neon magenta strobe lights and a venue that eventually (spoiler alert!) goes up in flames.

Of course, the costuming is never lacking – with every scene change, Kelis is dressed in a notable, eye-grabbing outfit. Then again, I firmly believe that everything is better with sequins and glitter, so your mileage may vary.

Are there any music videos that you’ve been really into lately? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo, Tara

ps – If you like what you read here (and I hope you do!), don’t forget to nominate me for a Black Weblog Award. For more info, click here!

Music Feature – Ebony Bones!

(In case you were wondering, yes, the exclamation mark is mandatory.)

If you haven’t noticed, I usually start these posts with a video of some sort, showcasing a song by the artist that I particularly enjoy. In this case, I started with an image – because if you couldn’t tell, this lady’s look is utterly fantastic. From the large fabric chains around her wrists and neck to her Josephine Baker inspired skirt, she is truly a sight to behold. (And a prime candidate for super-fangirling.) Hailing from London, England, this talented lady is a musician, singer-songwriter and actress.

Ebony Thomas – also known as Ebony Bones! – is the kind of artist I tend to react strongly to – you can feel the heart and emotion in her music and it certainly suits her image – it has a colorful, eclectic, almost raw vibe about it. By her description, she serves up a “post punk, tropical, melodramatic pop” sound. She tends to use very topical subjects, as evidenced by her song “We Know All About U”, which depicts a Orwellian London. As you go through her fantastic journey, you can feel her carefully constructed musical path even through the eclectic sounds and vocals.

Here is more information on her, via her Wikipedia page:

A self-taught musician performing under the stage name Ebony Bones! in 2007, she anonymously uploaded music onto a blank myspace page, writing, producing, her own material and playing her own instruments.

Noted for her sense of fashion, and antics during live shows, Ebony Bones! performed her first tour supporting The Slits and performed live for Massive Attack’s Meltdown (festival) at The Royal Festival Hall, appearing at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival and again in 2008 headlined by Jay-Z.

So what is she up to now? She released her debut album, Bone of My Bones in 2009 and it is available in music retailers worldwide. She is working on a follow-up album, entitled Blood is the New Black. Reportedly, she is recording this album in Mumbai, with the Symphony Orchestra of India, which will in turn be documented in a film featuring live concert footage. She also was the driving force behind her music video The Muzik, which features 30 different directors from across the globe, armed with only a digi-cam or camera phone.

When asked about her inspiration for her debut album Bone of My Bones, she had this to say:

‘‘Sometimes the best way to get a message across
is through comedy and color,’’ says EBONY BONES!,
whose riotous punk stage act is all the proof one needs.
‘‘You don’t have to be glossy or shiny to be creative..’

To learn more about Ebony Bones!, visit her Official Myspace Homepage.

Thoughts? Or are there any artists that you can’t stop listening to? Let me know in the comments!

ps – Don’t forget to nominate me for Best Teen Blog at the Black Weblog Awards (if you haven’t already). Just click that shiny yellow button.

xoxo,

Tara

Florence + The Machine – Cosmic Love

Ever since this video was released, I have been intrigued. I had never heard of Florence + The Machine before, but after one viewing, I knew I had to get their CD. After getting my hands on Lungs, I have had it on constant repeat. (That is, when I’m not listening to Archandroid and Flesh Tone, but that is a completely different story.)

Hours of listening later, I am happy to report that I am officially a fan. And this magnificent video only makes it better. The artistry is gorgeous, from the stars in her eyes to the pulsing of her heartbeat in the light-bulb.

About Florence + The Machine:

Florence and the Machine (sometimes stylised as Florence + the Machine) is the recording name of Indie Pop artist Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Florence and the Machine’s sound has been described as a combination of various genres, including rock and soul. The band’s music has received praise across the music media before they gained mainstream success, especially from the BBC who played a large part in Florence and the Machine’s rise to prominence by promoting her as part of BBC Introducing.

Give it a listen and learn more at their official site.

What have you been listening to? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo,

Tara

Music Video: Kelis – Acapella

If you want the full effect, I suggest viewing the video on the original Vevo page. They have it in full 1080p, so turn on high-definition and watch it in full-screen!

This video, quite simply, is the reason I decided to feature music videos on this blog instead of just artists themselves. (It certainly helps that it came out fairly recently.) As can be clearly seen, I love it. While the song took a little more time to grow on me (On the livejournal community Oh No They Didn’t, someone described it as having a “generic gay dance club beat” which I can grudgingly see), I have grown to enjoy it as well, although I prefer to listen to it accompanied with the video instead of on its own.

In Acapella (no idea why it’s spelled that way and not a capella), an ode to her son Knight, Kelis takes on a multitude of looks and finds herself in a variety of settings and I absolutely love them all. The video had me hooked throughout, except for maybe towards the end when she’s standing in the desert. I mean, really Kelis, you could have at least moved your arms!

The coloring in the beginning – monochrome with touches of pink and yellow – strikes you immediately, and it fits with the tribal beat. People have complained that Kelis seems to be aping the movie Avatar with both this scene and the one where she is lit with blue light with a crystal masquerade mask, but I don’t really see it. If that were the case, any artist using a “tribal” motif could also be accused of stealing from Avatar, when that movie certainly wasn’t the first to do it.

Even the segment of the video where she is painted gold and is singing among a pack of huskies (just watch) is visually appealing, when I originally expected to give it the side-eye. Where she got these ideas, I do not know.

One thing I do know is that this video has me really excited about her upcoming album, Fleshtone.

What did you think? Are there any music videos (or music in general) that have caught your eye lately? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Tara

Music Monday – Amanda Blank

This sounds sad, but…this will probably be the last Music Monday. Ever. But fear not! This blog isn’t going anywhere, and neither are my music features. I have decided to restructure my blog a bit, and will post my lengthier articles on Mondays (the ones that are usually on Wednesdays) and move these posts to Wednesdays. Also, instead of music, I’ll feature a wider variety of things, like art, photography, poetry and anything else that strikes my fancy – that way, this blog won’t be as restricted to one thing. Sounds good? Sounds awful? Let me know what you think of these changes in the comments!

Today in Music Monday we’re featuring one of my favorite new artists, Amanda Blank. Here’s more on Amanda, courtesy of her wikipedia page:

Blank, whose given name is Amanda Mallory McGrath, took her nom de rap from Jerri Blank, the character played by Amy Sedaris in the 1999 Comedy Central series “Strangers With Candy.”

Blank signed to Downtown Records in 2007.  She worked on her first solo album, with producers XXXChange of Spank Rock, Diplo, and Dave Sitek. The album “I Love You” was released on August 4, 2009, with her first single being “Might Like You Better”.

Speaking of Might Like You Better, you can watch it right here:

I love Amanda Blank because of her sound (her rapping kind of reminds me of Peaches, another artist I have nothing but love for) and attitude, as well as her clothing style. I am a big fan of the colorful female hip-hop of artists like Kid Sister and M.I.A. I’m also glad that there are more female emcees on the scene, especially since I’m not entirely positive about my opinion of the ones there are now – namely, Nicki Minaj.

She has a unique sound and I love her music videos. I hope she sticks around and we hear more from her in the future – she’s much better than a one-hit wonder.

More on Amanda:

She is a collaborator with the rapper Spank Rock, most notably on the track “Blow” off of the mix CD Bmore Gutter Music and later “Bump” off the album YoYoYoYoYo released in 2006. Furthermore, she appeared on Bmore Gutter Music, which was produced by Aaron LaCrate and Low Budget of Hollertronix. Her songs have appeared in HBO’s Life Support and the CSI: NY episode “Buzzkill”. In 2007, she was featured on the official Eli Escobar and Doug Grayson remix for Britney Spears’ hit single “Gimme More”. In early 2008, Blank was described as being part of “a new crop of young, multicultural, female hip-hop acts in the wake of M.I.A. causing a stir on the internet and in indie-label conference rooms.” She was recently featured on the song “Loose” on the Spank Rock and Benny Blanco are Bangers & Cash EP. It is reported that she is to make a guest appearance on Uffie’s forthcoming album in 2009.

Amanda can be found on her official website. You also can purchase Amanda’s CD on Amazon.com and wherever else music is sold.

What music are you listening to this Monday? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo,

Tara