BeatLife

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Fusion w/ Samantha James Live & Black Spade

This should be a hot event and its all for a good cause, so party with a purpose y'all!


Nu-Soul Magazine and NextAid are joining forces to bring you FUSION on Saturday April 12 at Skinny's Lounge in North Hollywood. This will be a landmark night of future soul and hip-hop featuring LIVE performances from acclaimed Om Records artists Samantha James & Black Spade. All proceeds will go to NextAid to support their mission in assisting children orphaned by AIDS in Africa!

Performances by Om Records newest stars:
SAMANTHA JAMES LIVE
samantha james live Songwriter/performer Samantha James has spent the past three years honing her estimable skills as a modern-day singer/songwriter within the dance/electronic/soul genre. Her sultry style, vocal cadences, and international rhythms are largely influenced by such artists as Sade, Basia, Amel Larrieux, Bebel Gilberto and Morcheeba.

On her debut album ‘Rise’ for San Francisco based indie label Om Records, Samantha teamed up with producer and co-writer Sebastian Arocha Morton-AKA ROCAsound (Sting, Vikter Duplaix, Fischerspooner, Fila Brazilia and Rick James for the classic finale’ of the hit film Little Miss Sunshine.)

www.myspace.com/sammyjmusic
Read the Samatha James Interview at Nu-Soul

BLACK SPADE
Black Spade LiveBlack Spade’s music is a melting pot of sounds hailing from St. Louis by way of New York, Detroit, LA, and everywhere that hip-hop has carved a distinctive and influential sound for itself. Writing and producing all his music along with MC’ng, Spade’s one man team approach is full of burbling synths, and off-kilter drums while his voice slides smoothly over choruses coated in multi-tracked vocals and skipping roughshod drums.

Spade’s cadence flutters up and down like Pharoahe Monch, but stays introspective like Common. Before you know it, he’ll switch to singing and suddenly his songs become less like hip hop experimentation and more like fully fleshed sketches. At his core, Black Spade is a producer who makes music because he loves to. His sounds are grounded in the past while still sounding futuristic, and most importantly come from the heart.
www.myspace.com/blackspade
Read the Black Spade Interview at Nu-Soul

DJs for the night:

Glenn Red
www.myspace.com/glenn_red
Jayvon
www.myspace.com/jayvon
Destroyer
www.myspace.com/djdestroyer

About NEXTAID
NextAid is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization committed to developing and implementing innovative sustainable solutions to the challenges facing African children. NextAid's mission is to promote community-driven environmentally, economically and socially empowering responses to the AIDS orphan pandemic. NextAid collaborates with individuals, businesses and nonprofits to produce culturally rich awareness-raising projects and music events involving technology, the arts, public education, and volunteer opportunities. From mega-events like the Miami Music Conference and WIRED Magazine’s “NextFest” in Los Angeles to small club and music-related activities, NextAid channels the positive energy on the dance floor across the globe to Africa, thus providing opportunities for concerned individuals to make a tangible difference in the lives of African children in need.
www.nextaid.org

About Nu-Soul Magazine
Launched in October 2006, Nu-Soul bridges the gap between the world of R&B/soul and the underground vibes of electronica, the common factor being a grounding in funk, soul and urban lifestyle. This is a place where the sounds of neo-soul, drum and bass, deep house and breakbeat are a part of the same family. Through fascinating articles, engaging interviews, and the latest reviews, Nu-Soul hopes to open minds to the incredible array of soul influenced music available today.
www.nu-soulmag.com

FUSION: A NextAid Benefit
$15 minimum donation
All Proceeds will be donated to NextAid

This is a 21+ event.

Cost: 15.00

Official Site: http://www.nu-soulmag.com


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Monday, March 17, 2008

Love Note To Little Dragon

My Dearest Little Dragon
I by no means fall easily but since the warm opening notes of "Twice" first caressed my ears, I was quickly smitten. Infatuation rapidly blossomed into something all the more captivating as I explored all that your Myspace had to offer. "Test", "Constant Surprises" and other delights revealed to me your innate rhythm, thoughtful lyricism and sweet melodies. I delight in considering whether I love your electronic nuances more than your organic expression, or whether it's your unexpected soulfulness that proved the key to my heart. It matters not, for you are best appreciated in your simple yet original totality.

I then became voracious. I had to have more, to truly own you. Emusic allowed the fruits of your brilliance to flow into my possession. Yet 12 tracks of your genius leaves me insatiable still. Although your music consumes me and I embrace you without restraint - at home, in the car, at the gym - I still long for more. Your Swedish soul is deeper than anything I have encountered of late - refreshing and invigorating. Oh Little Dragon how I love thee...all others fail miserably in comparison. Thank you for shining your light into my world. I can only attempt to repay you by helping you do the same for others.

twice


Constant Surprises


Test video


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Friday, March 14, 2008

Kissey Asplund Video

Kissey Asplund is on some progressive 'ish...her album "Plethora" is due out March 24th on BBE. Here's the official blurb:

"Plethora is the debut album from Swedish soul sensation Kissey Asplund, and is a genre-defying journey through jazz, hip-hop, electronic soul, all with a fresh future twist. Kissey takes us through a range of day to day stories of love lost and found, friendships betrayed, relationships on the rocks and even astral travelling. The album was entirely produced by Paris based hip-hop collective Papa Jazz Crew, and is a unique combination of future electronic soul beats and sweet jazz vocals. The album features the dope singles With You, Caos and Fuss'n'fight."

Check out the video for "Fuss n Fight":

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Thursday, March 06, 2008

Remix The Politik Contest



Here's a great opportunity for all you would-be producers out there. A chance to remix The Politik album and artwork, and have your work included on the official Remix album. The official blurb and linkage follows:
"Bembe Segue and Mark de Clive-Lowe welcome you to The Politik Remix Album + Artwork Competition. We had a lot of fun making this album in London and Vancouver and now it's your chance to have a go at flipping it. We've uploaded remix parts for the entire album plus the original raw artwork.. share this link and info with everyone who might be interested!

This competition is open to anyone and everyone who'd like to have a go at remixing one (or more) songs from The Politik's debut album. The winning remixes will be compiled into the official remix album The Politik Remixed to be released on both physical and digital formats. The second part of the competition is an artwork remix competition for the cover art of the official release. Download the original artwork by Joshua Mays and have a go at reworking it in the spirit of the Remix."

All entries must be received by April 14, 2008.
For more information, download links for all the files and the submission info click:
http://remixthepolitik.blogspot.com/

myspace.com/thepolitik
thepolitik.imeem.com
coopr8.net

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Friday, February 08, 2008

Free Download from Concrete Project album

Grab yourself a free MP3 from newly launched Mahasa Music's Concrete Project release, compiled by DCee. The track is the futuristic "Atomic Light N’ Sound", produced by Rustie and featuring the vocals of Kissey Asplund. Download here

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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Samantha James Live At Hotel Cafe

Om Records' artist Samantha James played a live show at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood last night - Feb 4th 2008. Check the show review HERE, courtesy of MobileUnderground.

If you missed this one, she's performing again in LA at King King on Feb 22nd. Check her Myspace for details.

And if you've been sleeping on Samantha James and need to get up to speed - grab yourself this podcast via Om Records where she talks about her excellent debut album Rise and plays select tracks from it. Also head over to Nu-Soul Mag for this feature interview with James.

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Monday, January 07, 2008

4Hero - "Morning Child' Digital EP

Milan Records have just released a digital, iTunes-only remix EP of 4Hero's Morning Child. There are 8 mixes, including a Daddy G Remix, Landau Orchestra Remix, L.A.O.S D&B Mix, and Danya Vodovoz Midnight House Mix.
They have also been nice enough to offer a free download of the radio edit


Tracklisting

1. Morning Child (radio edit)
2. Morning Child – DADDY G (MASSIVE ATTACK) remix
3. Morning Child – THE LANDAU ORCHESTRA remix
4. Morning Child – L..A.O.S. D&B remix
5. Morning Child – Midnight House Mix by DANYA VODOVOZ
6. Morning Child – Original instrumental
7. Morning Child – Daddy G instrumental
8. Morning Child – The Landau Orchestra instrumental

Cop the EP here:

4hero - Morning Child


Check out the video:

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Free Samantha James/ The Southerner Mix

Get this while it lasts - a free DJ mix from Om Records' Samantha James, and the Southerner.
http://www.mediafire.com/?dmnhekxym39
Don't forget to pick up her excellent debut album "Rise" available HERE.

Samantha James Myspace

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Victor Bermon "Arriving At Night" (Hefty Records)

If anyone knows soulful, glitchy, melodic downtempo, its Hefty. Home of Eliot Lipp and Telefon Tel Aviv, their most recent release comes from Victor Bermon. Arriving At Night is quite beautiful and simultaneously confounding to describe. With beats that at times manage to reference both sparse "post-techno" as well as jazzy gems unearthed in dusty crates, Bermon envelops everything in warm melodies and acoustic accents. You can preview all the tracks on the Hefty site and it definitely sounds like an accomplished album from start to finish.

Grab a free MP3 "Farewell Lunch For Laura" HERE
BUY the album from Hefty's site

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

New Groove Junkies Mix CD

The Groove Junkies are getting ready to drop another mix cd, this time on Swank Recordings. Fresh off the buzz on their Leela James remix & their latest releases on their MoreHouse label, the Groove Junkies are continuing to build their rep as fine producers of funk-fueled, uplifting, foot-stomping, take-yo-ass-to-church house music. You can pre-order the new CD, "Late Night With Groove Junkies" at Amazon

Tracklisting:
1. Mr V - Put Your Drink Down
2. Dennis Ferrer - Transitions AND Mistura - Think Positive (Accapella)
3. TC Moses - Free Your Mind (Groove Junkies MoHo Vox)
4. CeCe Peniston - I'm Feelin' U (Ron Carroll Mix)
5. Groove Junkies & Andy Caldwell ft. Alexander Sky - I Believe In Dreams
6. Groove Junkies ft. Robert Max - Get Deep, Go Undaground (GJ Afro Roots Dub)
7. Hideo Kobayashi & Pheeko Dubfunk - Sahara (Afro Soul Mix)
8. Kiko Navarro fr. Omega - More
9. Underground Ministries ft. Kenny Bobien - I Shall Not Be Moved (Brian Tappert Re-Edit)
10. Leela James - Good Time (Groove Junkies Moho Dub)
11. Groove Junkies ft. Indeya - Music's Gotcha Jumpin' 2007 (Jay-J's Shifted Up Mix)
12. Darren Glen - You Gotta Have Hope (Jay-J's Electrofied Mix)

http://www.morehouserecords.com/
www.myspace.com/morehouserecords

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Players Association

Just discovered a new site, well new to me, for listening to DJ mixes: The Players Association
DJs can create a proile and upload their mixes, and users can listen and rate the mixes. Another cool feature is their mini-player which you can embed on any site. You'll find mixes from Eleonora (of underground-soul.com), Saru, Chicken George and many others.
Check out Eleonora's "A Darker Side" mix:

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

New 4Hero Album

Finally, after 6 years, the UK's 4Hero are back with a new album. Play With The Changes drops Feb 27th on Milan Records. We've heard it and with their sound still as fresh as always, it definitely won't disappoint their diehard fans while hopefully attracting some new ears.

TRACKLISTING
1. Morning Child - feat. Carina Andersson
2. Take My Time - feat. Jack Davey
3. Look Inside - feat. FACE
4. Sink Or Swim (No Choice For Me) - feat. Lady Alma
5. Give In - feat. Darien Brockington & Phonte of Little Brother
6. Play With The Changes - feat. Talita Long & Larry Mizell
7. Something In the Way - feat. Bembe Segue & Kaidi Taitham
8. Stoke Up The Fire - feat. FACE
9. The Awakening - feat. Ursula Rucker
10. Sophia
11. Superwoman(Where Were You When I Needed You?) - feat. Terry Devos
12. Why Don’t You Talk?
13. Bed Of Roses - feat. Jody Watley
14. Gonna Give It Up (Wanna Quit) - feat. Lady Alma
15. Dedication To The Horse

For more info:
http://www.4hero.co.uk/
http://www.milanrecords.com/

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