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If you read the "About Nia" section, you would know that I played the quads in a drum corp for four years. With that being said, you shouldn't be surprised that the following quad solo blows my mind every time I watch it.
I saw this video of Tim Jackson some time ago, but I just recently came across it again. It's still amazing.
It would be insanely nice if I could get on this level of awesomeness!
Did you like this? Let me know!
See you soon!
Have an iPhone? Follow me on Instagram at NiaDevereux.
Earlier this week, as I was jammin' to some Regina Carter and Yo-Yo Ma, I realize something. I hadn't listened to a violin duo by the name of Nuttin' But Stringz for a long time! That quickly changed, and I decided I should share some of their awesomeness with you all; plus, it's been a while since I've given you all a Music post.
Taken from nuttinbutstringz.com:
"Siblings Tourie and Damien Escobar are the creative geniuses behind the innovative group 'Nuttin But Stringz'(NBS). The brothers grew up on the rough streets of Jamaica, Queens but found a way to escape the adversity that many of their peers fell victim to, by having the opportunity to play an instrument that would become to them a way of life. At the respective ages of 8 and 7 the pair began to study the violin and became not only great musicians but learned to transcend their classical training to incorporate pop, rock, and hip-hop, creating their own unique sound. Having studied at the acclaimed Juilliard School in New York City, the two were exposed to Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and a host of classical composers. Due to their broad range of musical influence between school and home, their style is impossible to pidgin hole or label as suitable for only one genre.
This dynamic duo have grown immensely as artists from their earlier days as young teenagers, playing on the subways to help their single mother to take care of them. "We would play the trains and hold a captive audience, sometimes making up to $300 in a few hours" says older brother Tourie; "The subway was the equivalent of playing several performances in the space of a few hours. We did this every week and it gave us invaluable experience to prepare us for what was to come" adds Damien. What was to come for Nuttin But Stringz was a journey that would see them reach multi platinum status on their debut album, win two Emmy Awards, Grammy nods and a spot on numerous talk shows including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show with Katie Couric and more. They have been featured in the Major Motion Picture 'Step Up', America's Got Talent (2nd place season 3) and played shows with legendary artists Al Jarreau, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and The Isley Brothers to name a few.
In 2006 Nuttin But Stringz released their debut album, aptly named 'Struggle from the Subway to the Charts' marking a transitional period for them on their voyage to becoming men and respected musicians. Their elevated success has truly been a rollercoaster ride with amazing highlights already encompassing their self written and produced song 'Thunder' (off their first album) being used on both commercials and film, to performing at the inauguration ball for President Barack Obama.
Along with their success, these inspiring artists have worked with numerous charities to give something back, especially young children. Tourie and Damien make no secret of the fact that their love for the violin was their route out of a life that could have lead to self destructiveness in which either one of them could have ended up imprisoned or dead...
These cool, edgy and unique brothers have stayed true to their own style of music that has taken them from playing their violins on the subways of New York to headlining shows across the United States and Worldwide."
I think the whole album is pretty good, but I decided to share these two songs with you: "Broken Sorrow" and "Thunder".
I know that the tracks have more than simply the violins playing, but they're still pretty awesome, right?!
I've been a fan of these two men for a while now. I remember getting their album some time ago, and I'm eagerly waiting for another one. Being a violinist myself since the age of seven has affected my appreciation of these guys as well. There has been many a time where I have played "Broken Sorrow" or other songs from their album whilst listening to it. It's amazing, and it's great to be challenged by these talented young men.
So, tell me, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THEIR MUSIC?
You can buy their album, "Struggle from the Subway to the Charts", HERE. You can also buy their exclusive single, "Winner", HERE.
To learn more about NBS, their news and current events, or anything else, feel free to visit nuttinbutstringz.com
Part 1: "Un-be-liev-able" As an avid patron to local music venues in South Florida, and abroad, bearing witness to a night like this seems inevitable. It is unfortunate, but rest assured that even upholding a status as a seasoned veteran could not have prepared anyone for the series of events that transpired.
Aquaphonics and Marc PaperScissor Team Up
After months of mounting anticipation, the North Florida dub-fusion trio Greenhouse Lounge kicked off a two night run from Delray to Miami last night. Hailed as a staple act of Aura Music and Arts Festival, as well as garnering a strong support base on their turf, South Florida ready for a strong dose of homegrown live electronic music to get the weekend started.
The heat lightening overhead lit up the sky above Atlantic Avenue. Ominous clouds threatened rain but more importantly served to set the tone for an eerie and hot summer night. Something in the air was off. I felt this even before I arrived. A cold beverage in the lot cooled my nerves and my body temperature. I was on time for once but the venue had the doors closed. This was odd given that every other establishment in the surround area was full and in swing. An unsettled group was forming outside but I wrote it off and readied my camera bag.
Things Go South
A member of the Cheesehead Productions crew hit me up and warned me to not come in. He came out and told me they just kicked Matt Beck out of the venue. As the head of Brotherly Love Productions and the promoter for the event, booting him would have some heavy repercussions. I made my way towards the entrance and caught up with him. A perfect storm of misunderstanding, mismanagement and inflated egos that stemmed from earlier in the evening had catapulted into the illogical decision to have him escorted out by a third party security personnel.
Given my personal interactions with Matt and Brotherly Love Productions, I know how much time and effort goes into bringing in talent and making sure every show runs smoothly for the band, the audience and the venue. He takes this very seriously and this was a big night for him, the bands and the local scene. Like any well oiled machine, the more simple things appear on the surface is usually an indication of more intricate processes going on in the background. In a nutshell the whole thing went awry when the venue kept the doors locked after the scheduled opening time out of some unjustified fear that no one was going to show up. When Matt stepped up to point out possible problem areas he was seen as a threat to the internal power struggle. Even as I write this it seems incomprehensible that a revered promoter could be penalized for simply doing his job.
Beyond that the staff was disproportionate with only 1 bartender and half a dozen security guys, complete with ear pieces and bad attitudes. The end result was a tragic case of too many chiefs distorting the truth and the upper level management of the venue letting his staff make executive decision based on misinformation. No matter what was actually said or not said, the way it was handled was completely unprofessional and a huge turn off to the concert goers and BLP Krewe faithful.
Despite the blatant mistreatment by the venue, Matt swallowed his pride and put on his professional face when he rallied for everyone to support the bands and tear up the dance floor for them. The venue realized they were in a bad place and decided to wave the $10 cover, thus sacrificing an easy $1,500 that would have been kicked back to the establishment and promotions. This kind of drastic decision making coupled with other revelations, such as a poorly stocked bar, may be an indication that this place is in trouble. Now we know why.
Music Saves The Night
Aquaphonics hesitantly took the stage around 10:30 PM to a decent sized crowd of eager fans. The vibe was tense at first but as soon as the music started all negative thoughts were out the door. This was the biggest stage I have seen them grace and they took full advantage of the sound capabilities. Images projections displayed local artist Marc PaperScissor's designs through psychedelic filters and sequences as the boys hosed the crowd with smooth electronic movements and reaching jam sections. Much like they have been doing in recent history, Aquaphonics was on point, playing up and the best I have ever heard them.
Aquaphonics
Taking a vow to never again monetarily support the current management of the venue meant heading across the street for a beer and shot combo before coming back to Sir Charles' electronic bass efforts. My research into his sound lead me to believe he would have a different approach, but the crowd was vibing to the hybrid dubstep-electronica. I could not help but place him as a generic rendition of producers like Derek Smith, but that could be a result of my limited exposure to the genre or the limitations of the genre itself. The guy believe in his music, which any music fan will applaud regardless of their own personal preference. His unending energy on stage proves it. I will give him another chance tomorrow.
Sir Charles
The Last Straw
It was getting late and Greenhouse Lounge took the stage. They band made a point to give a warm shout out to Matt that was met by a loud, positive response from the crowd. In hindsight I think that jab might have set the venue personnel off. The staff collected every piece of BLPJessiah, the drummer from Aquaphonics was tossed for an undisclosed reason. Those that protested and tried to question the security were also given the boot. It was an unreal turn of events and the most unsettling thing I have seen happen at a show. After the show was over I went back in to question the general manager. She had no idea who I was but went off on Brotherly Love Productions management and responded that the other patrons were forced out for rough housing. Having nothing to lose at this point, I called her out on this false information before being told to leave.
Greenhouse Lounge Kills It
Unfortunately the peripheral events taking place were a distraction from what was happening on stage. That being said, Greenhouse Lounge took the crowd on a trip through heavy dub lead by Dave Sweeny's thunderous bass and robotic posture. Skillful hip-hop vocal samples from the likes of Ole Dirty Bastard incorporated well with their break beat tendencies. The tones were on point, especially Zach Welnert's clean space guitar. I had to shed my own predispositions about how they might take the hypnotic composed sections to soaring peaks and improvisational segments. Instead they rely heavily on grooving textures and strategic effect sequencing that aim to capture the ear and no necessarily fulfill tension and release junkie's desires.
Greenhouse Lounge
The set was much shorter than expected, but for obvious reasons. I enjoyed some of the darker moments in the music and was impressed with their tight transitions. The crowd put in a good energy for the band and seemed more than satisfied with the performance. It was only night one and the general consensus was to get out of there reasonably unscathed was a major plus. See you guys in Miami tonight!
Greenhouse Lounge
Set 1: Bebot (Up Until Now Remix), Koto, Backdoor Deal, Sands, Let's Go (Trick Daddy Remix), Empires Fall, Scream (Michael Jackson Remix)
Aquaphonics Set I: Sip, Spooky, In Dub/In Dew, Animal, Super Moon, Waiting For It, Fingerbreaker
Videos Courtesy of Mark Duclos - Cheesehead Productions!
Aura Music and Arts Festival 3 - March 9th, 10th, 11th 2012 - Forever Florida St. Cloud, Florida
AMAF 3 Logo
Last Friday, July 1st, 2011 the good people over at Aura Music Entertainment started the holiday weekend off right by dropping the initial lineup for the 3rd annual Aura Music and Arts Festival. Serving as both a showcase for rising tenderfoot acts and a reunion party for blossoming veterans alike, the festival's self-proclaimed goal is to highlight the underground jam music spectrum with an assortment of genres being properly represented.
Inside The Tent
A delicate balance between change and tradition is a tight rope that fledgling festival promoters must not only face head on but embrace as a catalyst for thriving under the exterior pressures of expectation and expansion. AMAF boldly elected to keep the Forever Florida festival site they sold out last year and maintained a gang of notorious headliners, while controversially choosing to switch up the dates to more competitive live music month. The pull for locally hailed bands in the vein of The Heavy Pets, Cope and Aquaphonics combined with resident transplants Papadosio and The Malah was an enticing post-New Years reprise last year. Does that same sentiment hold true in the month also boosting super-gatherings like Ultra Music Festival, South By South West and even Florida's very own Suwannee Springfest?
As if by design AMF anticipated the need for a tipping point among spring breakers and rounded up plenty of newcomers to sweeten the deal. The North East and Mid-west will launch an auricular assault on the tropics lead by Ohio jam wrecking crew The Werks, New England electronica technicians Dopapod, Michigan shredders Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and Virginia's overly crucial Former Champions. As an added bonus for natives, the most exciting of all the additions is the highly anticipated return of Florida's very own Brother Bean to the rotation. As it stands now AMAF pulls its own weight at $55 per ticket and has the advantage of time to pick and choose complimentary acts. Throw in a baker’s dozen of unannounced top notch DJs and what we have here is an old fashioned throw down of Florida proportions. It sold out last year so this leads me to believe history will repeat itself. Jump on it!
The Tower de Aura
What: Aura Music and Arts Festival 3 When: March 9th-11th, 2012 Where: Freedom Florida in St. Cloud, Florida Who Is Coming Back: Papadosio, The Heavy Pets, The Malah, Cope, Aquaphonics, Damn Right!, Lingo, Third Nature, Nick Noyes, Ancient Intelligence Who Is New: The Werks, Dopapod, Brother Bean, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Former Champions, J2K, Newton Crosby, The Fritz, Elephantgun and Ketchy Shuby Read more...
Hey guys! I know this is the THIRD post in a row in which the label is "Music", but I promise I have good stuff coming your way real soon.
Anyway, I quickly wanted to share with you Beyoncé's "Move Your Body" video for the NABEF and First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" initiative. The movement is all about promoting exercise and eating right, which are two things that are very dear to my heart.
In this video, you will see what is called the Flash Workout, which is a pre-choreographed dance/exercise routine.
Whether you like Beyoncé or not, I encourage you to watch this video.
What'd you think? Yeahh I'm going to learn this. =)
P.S. Again, stay tuned! I'm coming with some good stuff for you all really soon! Have a great day!
There is a young man by the name of Joe Edmonds who I just recently came to awe. I stumbled on this video by chance and was instantly taken aback. The timing, precision, and carefulness it takes to pull this off is imperative.
So watch Joe Edmonds as he plays "Clocks" by Coldplay and "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens in a multi-track violin mash-up.
Did you like it? I really appreciate this being a fellow violinist.
If you like Joe Edmonds, subscribe to his youtube channel HERE.
I decided to quickly do a favor for a talented young man named AJ Rafael.
Taken from the AJ Rafael fan page:
"Reigning from Los Angeles, California, Arthur Joseph, otherwise known as, “AJ” Rafael has grown up all around music. His journey into music started at the age of four when we explored the play the piano, little did he know that decades later, music would be his passion.
AJ Rafael began his singing career in the summer of 2004 when he wrote his first song, "How's San Diego Pauli". The following year in 2005, he had his first show where he gained the respect of local bands in Moreno Valley, his hometown. He began to play in local cities in which he had the opportunity to discover and learn more about the music industry. Later that year, AJ produced and recorded his first own album in his garage and was released by the end of 2005. With the help of MySpace.com, AJ showcased his new songs to his friends and fans. In 2006, AJ was proud to start the MoVal Concert Chorale (MVCC), a choir which he founded and is currently directing. Through MVCC, AJ created the movement: Music Speaks. Music Speaks is a benefit show that supports families with Autism and contributes to the world renowned organization Autism Speaks. AJ began to perform in places out of Southern California starting in 2008, nationally and internationally.
Within the past three years, AJ has performed at UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, Portage Theater in Chicago, Boston University, Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Australia and Honolulu. From New York to Florida to Virginia to Canada to the Philippines, AJ thoroughly enjoys indulging and expressing the art of music to people all throughout the world.
AJ gained partnership with YouTube and hit over 250,000 subscribers and over 45,000 as a secondary channel. For the past years, YouTube has given AJ the opportunity to showcase his original music to people all throughout the world. With over 250,000 subscribers and 40 million views on YouTube, 130,000+ Facebook fans, 11 million plays on MySpace and over 50,000 followers on Twitter, AJ is well-known and popular throughout many social networking websites.
Today, he AJ performs with the “AJ Rafael Band”, his full, live band, consisting of Noah Bartfield on the bass guitar, Andrew Rhim on the guitar, Danny Morledge on the drums and himself on the keys. The band brings forth a new sound that AJ Rafael is proud to express to the audience. The “AJ Rafael Band” is coming out with an album in the Spring with their first single, “We Could Happen”.
“I was born to play music. I grew up to live for music. I have learned to breathe music. I already feel successful in a sense that I have touched someone else's heart with my music. I only hope to inspire more people to have music in their lives: that's all it's about. Popularity, money, attention, I mean all of that's nice (not that I get much of it), but that's all temporary... music is FOREVER.” –AJ Rafael. "
He just recently put up this video, so watch and enjoy this song called "Without You".
AJ is currently recording his new album, "Red Roses" in San Diego, CA (THREE CHEERS FOR SAN DIEGO!).
BARE WITH ME GUYS! I'm going through a lot of crazy stuff right now, making it difficult to stay on the blogging grind. Hopefully, I can get it together soon...
Meanwhile, a singing group, by the name of RaidR, just recently formed, and I felt like I could do a post to promote them (and give you something to read).
Taken from RaidR's Facebook fan page:
In an industry inundated with manufactured talent, it’s hard to find artists with star quality in their blood. For the three Riley sisters, that notion is the furthest from the truth. RaidR, comprised of Deja, Taja and Bobbie, have all the makings of an international sensation. As the daughters of musical icon, Teddy Riley, the trio learned from a young age that while talent may get you in the door, perseverance, ambition and practice is what guarantees longevity. Growing up in Virginia Beach, VA allowed the trio to live a life outside of the spotlight, in an environment where these three qualities were ingrained and instilled in them. While they spent most of their young lives focusing on dance, they knew a career in music was their destiny. After working alongside the likes of Denise Wall, Debbie Allen, Janet Jackson, Laurie-Ann Gibson and Lady Gaga, the trio decided it was time to focus their talents on themselves. RaidR, created at a café in North Hollywood, CA, is a true reflection of each of the girls’ personality: Deja’s sexy and sultry R&B vibe, Taja’s vintage/punk rock style, and Bobbie’s bubbly pop sweetness. After years of honing their vocal and songwriting skills, they’re ready to raid the industry with music that crosses multiple genres and appeals to a variety of listeners. Get ready world, RaidR is on the scene.
So, here is RaidR's first single called "ATM".
I think the song is good for a first single. What do you think?
As I was thinking of something to post up here, I suddenly thought, "Oh my goodness! How come I haven't showed them some Naturally 7 stuff?!" But then I remembered I did in August in a post called NATURALLY 7 - Not a cappella, VOCAL PLAY. (I encourage you to look at that post after you see this.) But then I thought, "I could show a video of them on BET!" So that's what I'm going to do. But first, here's some background...
In my last post about Naturally 7, I said, "Many people say that Naturally 7 is an a cappella group, but they're not. They created and practice the art of vocal play. What is the difference between Vocal Play and a cappella? A cappella is defined as singing without instruments. Vocal Play is singing AS instruments, and BECOMING an instrument with the voice." This is still true. Everything they do, every sound you hear is coming from their own human voices.
The members of the band include: Roger and Warren Thomas, my uncle Garfield Buckley, Rod Eldridge, Dwight Stewart, Armand "Hops" Hutton, and Napoleon "Polo" Cummings (who just recently replaced former member Jamal Reed 3 months ago).
So here's the deal. Last week on February 22, 2011, Naturally 7 performed at the BET Honors 2011 to pay a tribute to musical legend Herbie Hancock. The video below is their performance. Watch and enjoy.
What did you think of that?! Clearly, Herbie and everyone else in the crowd were amazed. For the record, they don't only do instrumental stuff...they do a little bit of everything. I encourage you to look at more of their stuff, and if you need a start, you can watch the videos in my first post about them HERE.
N7 is popular in parts Europe, but they're really trying to make a breakthrough in the U.S.; however, people ANYWHERE are invited to enjoy their music! Thanks for reading and watching and PLEASE support them!
P.S. This will NOT be my last post on them. I'm always trying to promote this group. =)
Soooo Willow Smith is not even ten yet and she has a voice like this?!?! What?!
I saw a few people on Facebook talking about Willow and at first, I paid it no mind. But as I kept seeing people talk about her, I decided to check it out.
The buzz is about Willow's new song "Whip My Hair". I still cannot BELIEVE this girl has a voice like that. That's good for a nine year-old. The announcement was made today that she has been signed to Roc Nation.
All I gotta say is, Willow has a bright future.
Here's the song.
~Nia A.D.L.
*Like this post? Dislike it? Comment! Any feedback is appreciated.* No Copyright Infringement Intended
So today I decided to give a shout out to a musical group called NATURALLY 7. The members include: Roger and Warren Thomas, my uncle Garfield Buckley, Rod Eldridge, Dwight Stewart, Jamal Reed, and Armand "Hops" Hutton.
Many people say that Naturally 7 is an a cappella group, but they're not. They created and practice the art of vocal play. What is the difference between Vocal Play and a cappella? A cappella is defined as singing without instruments. Vocal Play is singing AS instruments, and BECOMING an instrument with the voice.
Everything you hear (with the exception of clapping in "Wall of Sound") is coming from the human voice. Amazing right? And PLEASE believe me, there are NO INSTRUMENTS USED. If anyone knows that, I do.
The group is huge in Europe but they are really trying to make a breakthrough in the United States so please check them out.
This is N7 on a subway in Paris singing "Feel It (In The Air Tonight)"...I threw this in there just to prove they sound amazing no matter where they are because all they need is their voices.
Here is their latest music video called "Wall of Sound"
To see this video in better quality click HERE (Embedding it was disabled)
Oh and just for the record...this video is pretty sweet too, it shows how they break it down. You might need your headphones for this one.
So, what do you think?
Check out NATURALLY 7 on iTunes! *Discography ~Non-Fiction (2000) ~What Is It? (2003) -My FAVORITE ~Live In Berlin-DVD (2004) {Out of print} ~Christmas...It's a Love Story (2004) {Not on iTunes} ~Ready II Fly (2006) ~Live At Montreux 2007 -DVD (2008) ~Wall of Sound-Single (2009) ~VocalPlay (2010) {Not on iTunes yet...but on Amazon!}
