Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Santa Monica-based producer Ben Shirken AKA Beshken, partnered up with Soraya for this simply enjoyable song, “Right Time”. It starts off slowly, with only Soraya’s voice softly caressing our ear drums alongside a keyboard, after which melds with an uptempo medley of drums and organ sounds. Occasional manipulation of vocals, and breaks in tempo add character to the song. The R&B […]
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Sometimes it is necessary to take a break. There was a point yesterday where I was siting at work (yes, we work in offices with horrible fluorescent lighting and mandatory skirts too) and nearly cried when I got another request for another project due two days before I ever saw it. It is these times […]
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
“I can’t get you off my mind, no matter what I do.” So begins one of the funkiest tracks you’ll ever hear, Moon Boots’ “Off My Mind.” This gem came out over two years ago, and provides a nice into to what Moon Boots is all about. “I don’t like the term nu […]
Thursday, November 14, 2013
By now you’ve heard of Lorde, the 17-year old pop sensation who has taken over international airwaves with a slew of stripped-down, subtle hip-hop crossovers. It’s exciting when someone so young comes out of nowhere to score a huge hit, especially one with such an “authentic” image (in these days of Photoshop and costumery, anyone […]
Saturday, October 12, 2013
There really is something special about KAASI’s sound. When you get to the root of what makes a great recording shine above a field of hundreds, it’s usually the combination of sonic quality, texture, and an emotional connection you can’t fake. Each of KAASI’s tunes has that deepness that can’t be explained in necessarily tangible […]
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
In 1999 TLC released their chart topping hit Unpretty to much acclaim, not only for it’s R&B almost mainstream pop status but for it’s message. Those who lived that decade know well plastic surgery and alike are much more socially accepted today than they were back then. Anyway, once a while comes someone out of […]
She describes it as “dirty shine.” One drop of her sultry voice and crafted rhythms, and you’ll be swimming. ZZ Ward breaks through a crack somewhere between Amy Winehouse and Erykah Badu. Her voice is soulful and sexy while her rhythms meld the blues of her childhood with the hip hop of her teens. The […]
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Face it, with the likes of T-Pain and friends at the forefront of the genre, it’s hard to take mainstream R&B serious these days. I won’t say the music is bad, there’s just very little authenticity. Still, a rose grows in Brooklyn, or should I say Atlanta. Dead smack in the middle of crunk & […]
