Photos from last night. Wild Ones kicked off the second night of their tour in Philadelphia.
Second time seeing them, and they were just as great as the first. Danielle (the lead singer) has the most amazing energy on stage, you just want to smile the entire show. Check out their music and see if they're coming to a town near you HERE
To everyone who came out last night to join our little listening party we threw, thank you! Seriously, you all are amazing. To those who missed out... HOW DARE YOU?!
Kidding... not really, but also... you missed a really great time.
So last night I was FINALLY able to host 'The Spins' in my hometown, Philadelphia! The Spins is a World Wide Listening Party, thrown by 'Vinyl Me, Please', where vinyl lovers come together to share a couple of drinks, listen to music and celebrate the VMP Record of the Month. It's an event thrown one night, each month, in several different cities.
Now for the past two years, I've been fortunate enough to host this kick-ass event in Brooklyn. But all good things must come to an end. I got a big girl job and moved back home to Philly. Despite that slight detour, I've been dedicated to bringing this event back to the Philly region. Now I have tried for MONTHS (with zero luck) to have a Spins here. Seriously, no venues ever emailed back or they were not interested.
True Story: I even had a venue agree to host but then they burned down the next day.
I've never given up on trying. But then out of nowhere my prayers were answered and there was a light at the end of the tunnel, Milkboy on South Street agreed to let us host. Milkboy on South Street is the brainchild of Milkboy Studio owners Tommy Joyner and Jamie Lokoff. The location is part bar, restaurant and music venue, which made it the best fit for the monthly event. So last night, after two years The Spins was back in Philly!
I was able to meet tons of Philly VMP members and jam out to the record of the month we were giving away which was: Arctic Monkeys' 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'.
After being a member for over 4 years now it was great to meet other members IRL. Here are some the of photos I took throughout the night.
The general conscious was that last night was incredible and the Philly crowd loved it. It was a packed house by the end of the night, and we had a lot of happy campers go home with records.
Now if you missed out on the event last night, no worries, the goal is to have The Spins back in Philly permanently on a monthly basis. Keep your eyes peeled, fingers crossed and I'll see you all at the next one.
Between the array of great new music released on Friday, and the incredibly stacked bill at the Queen of Jeans show this Saturday, my ears were blessed all weekend long.
I was also fortunate enough to be able to interview Miriam "Miri" Devora, leading lady of Queen of Jeans, prior to their set. I'll have that interview coming later in the week. In the meantime, I'll fill you guys in on this past Saturday evening at Underground Arts, and share with you some photos from that night.
Harmony Woods
Harmony Woods kicked off the Female-Fronted event that evening. But can we back this up for a second first. I have to tell you all that my night started with me walking up to front woman Sofia Verbilla, asking " Hi, are you Harmony?" It was obvious I went into the show with zero knowledge of the opening acts, but left thoroughly impressed and a fan of both.
Harmony Woods
Verbilla's vocals were reminiscent of Hayley Williams (think 'All We Know Is Falling'), they were equal parts beautiful and haunting. It was clear that after having been touring for the past couple of months the group was a solid well-oiled machine. The only way I can describe their sound is to say:
You know when you were in high school and you were filled with angst? The first time you longed for someone who didn't even know you existed? Those moments when you were 17 and thought you had it all figured out? That's Harmony Woods. By the end of their set, nostalgia and emotions had flooded the entire room. I was completely in awe, a part of me wanting to hear just one more track before they packed up for the night.
Anika Pyle of Katie Ellen
Next up was Katie Ellen, an Alternative/Indie/Pop/Punk quartet from Philly. Leading the group was Anika Pyle, a force to be reckoned with. She spoke of the process of writing an album. Saying it takes about a year to write a record, about another year to record it, and then once an album is released... you're no longer in that state of mind you were in when you originally wrote lyrics. Pyle had the task of transporting everyone back into the head space she was in when she wrote the album Cowgirl Blues. If I wasn't already crippled enough from the Harmony set, Katie Ellen finished me off. Weaving in and out of tracks about love, life and imperfections, the set was brilliant. (Even with having a friend of Pyle's filling in on the bass for the evening.)
Katie Ellen
Towards the end of their set Pyle, gave a beautiful speech about how we should be remember to be kind to one another, build each other up instead of tear one another down. It was short, sweet and message she felt everyone should hear before they ended their set with 'Sad Girls Club'.
Queen of Jeans
Last up on stage was hometown favorites, Queen of Jeans. You could feel the excitement and love for this band bouncing around the room.
Miri ( & 1/4 of Patrick) of Queen of Jeans
Miri had mentioned to me, before the show, that she always gets nervous before she preforms. Watching the set, you would have never known. Her vocals that night were phenomenal and it was if the band had come into their own. The were comfortable with one another, it was as if they had nestled into their own groove. Which is not surprising after this past year they've had with touring, releasing their first record and being signed.
Each member of the band brought something to the table that made the performance spectacular as a whole. Matheson Glass and Nina Scotto, the band's guitarist and bassist, brought harmonies to the stage during the a capella portion of the set, that left the room wonder-stuck. Patrick Wall, the band's drummer, was the steady heartbeat of the quartet throughout the evening. And Devora completely outdid herself on vocals that evening. It was the same band we've seen on their self titled EP, but with more to prove and more to say.
Queen of Jeans
Queen of Jeans' music is all too familiar, in the sense that it nostalgic, taking influence from the 60's and 90's. But what gives the band it's ability to stand out in the crowd is the way to bring together these influences and cultivate it into their own sound. Ending the set with 'U R My Guy' was cherry on top for the evening. A clear crowd favorite from the new record, and it showcased Devora giving it her all vocally. All of their grinding and working hard had paid off with an album release and a packed room of family, friends and fans showing admiration for the band. If this is any indication of what's to come, Queen of Jeans has a lot more in store for us.
It's Friday and you know what that means, there's an obnoxious amount of new albums headed towards your nearest record store and digital streaming services. I don't know if today was "Lets Drop Gems Friday" but I am not complaining. Here's what to look out for...
'Expectations', Hayley Kiyoko's debut album, is first on the list of albums released today that you should take a listen to. Kiyoko encourages those who check out the record to listen to it from start to finish, as she intended it to be heard. This record seems like a long time coming from the former Disney Star who is carving out a name for herself in pop music. Listen HERE
Kacey Musgraves' third studio album 'Golden Hour' dropped today. If you need to be convinced to take a listen to the album, just watch her perform a single from the record 'Slow Burn' on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I was sold after the first note. Watch it HERE
The Weeknd's new album, 'My Dear Melancholy,' dropped at midnight. *Inserts joke about The Weeknd dropping a record on Friday* With hosting only 6 tracks, some are confused as to if it's album or just an EP. Take a listen to the new album HERE
Queen of Jeans Debut record 'Dig Yourself' was released to all streaming platforms. If you want Dreamy, Beachy, Nostalgic vibes you've found the right album. Take a listen to the band's new record HERE
There's been quite the buzz around the new Amen Dunes album 'Freedom'. Being noted as one of the best records released this year thus far. I just ordered a beautiful clear and blue pressing of the record that should be arriving next month. Until then them I'll be listening to the record HERE
COMING IN HOT! A NEW SINGLE FROM QUEEN OF JEANS! TAKE A LISTEN:
When trying to explain the sound of South Philly's female fronted band, Queen of Jeans, one would say (according to bandcamp) they're a "2016 revival of a 90s throwback to the 60s". As confusing as that may sound, it's terribly accurate. Yesterday the band released their second single titled "U R My Guy", from their upcoming debut album 'Dig Yourself'. The album, releasing March 31st, will be pressed on a Clear w/ Black, Blue & Green Splatter Vinyl LP pictured below:
They're a band I'm constantly wanting to hear new material from. Last summer I had the pleasure of checking them out when they came to Boot and Saddle and opened for Palehound last summer. They closed out the show with a cover of Aaliyah's 'Are You That Somebody' and I was sold. If you know me you know that Aaliyah is my GURL, and I'm very critical of anyone that attempts a cover. They drew me in with hypnotic harmonies and their self proclaimed "crockpot pop". After the show, I managed to nab a copy of their Self-Titled EP that night on this beautiful Pink and Baby Blue Splatter paint pressing.
I remember being surprised that it was a colored pressing when I got home that night, which was a delight. Paralleling my evening I saw them preform, they were a present surprise, and a band that puts on one hell of a show. I suggest you take a listen to the new single, and find out when you can catch them when they come to town. The tour kicks off in Philly with an album release show on 3/31 at Underground Arts and to find the remaining dates head over to their site.
Let me put you on to this beautiful release from Vinyl Me, Please. The February Record of the Month 'Hasabe' also known as 'My Worries' is the first official compilation of Ayalew Mesfin's music. In the 70's Ayalew, an Ethiopian Funk legend, was jailed and banned from creating music. He was seen as a threat to the country's communist regime, his music along with Ayalew was locked away. Now after more than 40 years, his music is now being released to the world thanks to Vinyl Me, Please.
Coming home to the slightly marble looking raspberry pressing was a delight. Everything about this package is spectacular. From each track having been pulled from Ayalew's own collection of singles, to the in-depth photo booklet and liner notes. You can tell that the contents of this month's record were thought out. Spinning this for the first time I focus mostly on the emotions it invoked. Not because I had no clue what Ayalew had been singing (which was valid), but because I wanted to be fully submerged into an album generated in an entirely different era. One of my favorite tracks from the album is probably Libe Menta Hone (My Divided Heart). It's a track so funky you can't help but to bob your head or move your feet. To be honest this entire compilation is captivating.
I am appreciative of the fact that a record like this, which holds so much historical and cultural value, was released on Black History Month. Looking back at past VMP releases for February, 'Hasabe' shares great company. Main Source's 'Breaking Atoms' and Big Bill Broonzy's 'Big Bill Broonzy Sings Folk Songs have been the releases years prior. These releases have shed light on albums that have been overlooked yet culturally significant. Sure, they could have just dropped some ol' regular degular shmegular (shout out to Cardi) hip-hop release, but they didn't. For black history month for the past three years, they've put time and effort into these releases, and they have been handled with TLC.
As a member month becomes exciting to see Vinyl Me, Please try and outdo themselves. Check out their site here if you haven't already.
Natalie Prass is back ladies and gentlemen, with
a song that makes me want to get up and dance. Today she dropped the first single, vinyl pre-orders and a new video for
“Short Court Style”. The track is from her upcoming sophomore album, The Future And The Past , that drops this summer on
June 1st. The single, which feature’s Prass’ soft and soulful voice,
feels like a 70’s pop/funk throwback.I am very excited for this album and upcoming tour she’s
going to bless us with. You can also pre-order vinyl on her website, which includes a choice of Bronze or Red pressing in the form of a single record or a bundle:
But back to this video she dropped, it's an absolute
delight to watch. Would doesn’t want to watch her frolic in the woods in a
green jumpsuit? Thank you Ms Prass for making my Monday morning a whole lot
better. Make sure you take a listen and see when she’s coming to a venue near
you.
Watch and listen to 'Short Court Style' below.
Check out her tour dates and where you can find pressings of her new album here
I was fortunate enough to snag this album this past weekend while shopping in Amoeba. It's not something I had actively been searching out for, but it was something I'm happy to come across. When I popped into the soul selection of the store, the goal was if something screamed out at me I would buy it. Little did I know it would be Barbara Cheeseborough, on the cover of Maggot Brain screaming at me while digging for records.
Can we talk about an album cover that matches the record so well? This album is timeless. Every time I put it on I can help but shake my head in disbelief at how well it aged, and how I find something else to love about it. It kicks ass. I mean George Clinton is a genius, (and everyone involved is as well of course) the production is superb. I cannot fathom that when this album came out, there were people who were critical of the record. Usually, I would suggest a couple of tracks to listen to but this is something I find is best played from start to finish. No skipping, no interruptions, just an album played how it was meant to be.
I would describe this album best as funk-rock. It's so much more and very difficult to pin into any one genre. Weaving in and out of each song you'll hear multiple guitars, a keyboard, a cow, a fox and a variety of percussion instruments. I'm not even kidding, 'Wars of Armageddon' holds a mixture of those sounds and some. My favorites from this album, if I had to choose, would be 'Can You Get to That' and 'Super Stupid'. This album like I said this is timeless. I would love for a another pressing of this to be re-released with something that reflected how crazy this album is. Maybe like a spatter or marble design would be perfect, something similar to the multicolored label it comes with. If this were released today, it would be applauded as innovative and fresh. Its sound is distinct, and I'm happy to have it added to my collection finally.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Amoeba Music this past week. Let me say that it lived up to the hype. Before this mini-vacation, I had asked some ‘Vinyl Me, Please' members, which record store I should visit while in LA. The verdict was unanimous:
Now usually when I walk into record stores I pretty much have the same experience. (I will state this is not all the time, but it does happen more often than I would like.) When I've shopped in some stores, the vibe is usually super pretentious, and I'm so uncomfortable I just leave. I've spent 24 years as a black woman; I know when I'm not wanted somewhere. I will say that Amoeba was none of those listed.
Walking into its Sunset Boulevard location, I initially was impressed by size waking in. The size is comparable to like a BJ's or Walmart. The fact that I was handed a map steps after walking in showed me that this was not your typical neighborhood record shop. I came with a group of friends who had no interest in shopping for Vinyl. The good thing is that the store holds more than just records. DVDs, CDs, Cassette Tapes, Posters, Candy, Dogs, iPhones, Coffee Beans, Ect. I may have fabricated the last few items... but in a store that big I wouldn't put it past them. The crowd inside was just as eclectic as the items the store held. I loved the fact that everyone inside was looking for something different. But you could see that they would find what they were looking for inside the same store. Twenty minutes in, I spotted my friends gushing over their DVD collection, leaving with a bundle of disc.
About two hours later, my friends had to pry records out of my hands. I had now spent well over $200 and still didn't want to leave. I felt as though I had only experienced one-fifth of everything that store had to offer. It looks like a place that takes days on end just to eventually see every crack and crevice. Anytime I'm back visiting Amoeba I will be sure to:
1) Bring more cash because their collection of records is so extensive, you'll want to leave with EVERYTHING
2) Spend an entire day just browsing. I feel like I did not get that much time to take in as much as I could have.
My goal this year is to check out more record stores. Anytime I travel to a new city or place I'll be popping into crate dig and feel the vibes. I know you guys are also wondering what I spent 200 dollars on in Amoeba. Being a record collector, you guys know that could range anywhere from 4 to 10 albums. Later this week I'll be uploading a haul of all of the records I got while in LA! Can't wait to show you guys.
I preface this with saying I will not accept any slander regarding this album.
It's day three of the new year, I'm doing really well
with this an album a day challenge. *Pats self on back* Today I was going to
listen to Gucci's El Gato... but after track two it was looking like it was
something I would have to come back to. Nothing wrong with the album, just
something I wasn't vibing with at the time. After closing that out and looking
for what would be my album of the day, I stumbled on to Fab and Jada’s 'Friday
on Elm Street'. Now I had listened to The Breakfast Club interview when these
two were promoting the record. A lot of doubt was cast because we had been
waiting so long on this to drop. To be honest I had forgotten that they were
even still going to release a collab. Me being a longtime fan of Fab and a supporter of any underdog, this was the album I was going to rock out with today.
Track one 'F vs J Intro' they set the mood and
start the track with horror movie ad libs. This beat can be best described
as if a rapper went to a morning radio show to spit a freestyle, they
gave them a beat and added an organ to it. Now imagine that and go listen to the
track. Was I accurate? Moving on past the first 30 seconds of the track, Fabulous and Jadakiss take a couple bars to
introduce themselves as their horror film counterparts. On paper, this album
sounds like a terrible idea. Two ol’ heads get together for a collab album and
rap as Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. But as an album, it worked out in
their favor. I never had any doubt about these two MC’s ability to spit bars, I
was just nervous as to how they could pull this off. After finishing the first
track and continuing the rest of the album, most of my worries were put to ease.
Some of my favorite tracks:
Soul Food (A song my mom and I can both bop to)
Principles
Stand Up (Remix)
In 2017 there was a lot of rap with substance (Jay-
Z, Vince Staples & Kendrick) and well as rap without it. No shade, I’m not
going to list it but we all know the rap tracks from this past year without
substance. This album is for the people who needed to fill the void between the
two. Yes of course
there’s political and social commentary (‘Talk About It’ & ‘Principles’) on
the album, but mostly it’s a throwback to an era when rap lyrics were more
focused on wit. In Soul Food fab drops:
We all
need a little culture/A little time away from bird ass niggas and vultures/I
tell you what you need to hear and not try to insult you/I'm too old to kid
you, I gotta adult you/Listen, the shit is getting outta hand/Like fumbles in
football, I humbly put y'all/In y'all fucking place, that's my OCD/I give a
bitch a little bit, but it's mostly D
Also later
in the song Jadakiss spews:
Do something
and stop stalling, that's silly (haha)
The bul over
there just drawlin', that’s Philly (woo!)*
*(That’s in
no way a hot line, I just get really hype because he references Philly slang)
That’s a track you bob your head to the entire time because
the beat and lyrics are equally fire. The one pull back I’ve heard regarding
this album is the fact that it’s past due. If this had dropped after Loso's Way in '09 or '10,
I guarantee that would have been a banger. But just because it was released
after it was supposed to be, doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a solid
record. On the track 'Theme Music' (which samples Marvin Gaye's 'Far Cry') they take a moment to touch on the fact that this "that theme music, some back on your deen music". Essentially calling this album somewhat of a throwback.It’s definitely not the greatest that was dropped of 2017. But it’s
still a great record, refreshing and something that is pleasant for any rap fan to listen to. I believe
it’s their sort of “Don’t sleep on us” record. If you haven’t taken a listen
yet I suggest you do.
My goal this year is to listen to one album a day. Last year sucked and I missed out on so much music, because I was just busy or lazy. This year I refuse to let that happen again. I'm back on that New Year, New Me bullshit that everyone else succumbs to. Yeah I know... It's the first of the year and optimism is high. I'm going to ride this wave as long as I can and see how far I get listening to an album a day. Waking up January 1st I was dehydrated and starving, and wanted something that would possibly put me in a better mood. I looked on to Charli XCX's Mixtape Pop 2. I've heard nothing but positive things about this project. I figured why not start my year with something that would uplift me.
Starting off with the opening track Backseat, and I'm like damn this is fantastic. This track alone is a foreshadowing for the structure of the entire album:
Bomb ass collabs
Bomb ass beats
Avoiding the real world, dealing with crippling sadness, and being alone.
We see all of this repeated throughout the entire album. At this point I'm in my kitchen New Years Day, eating leftovers wondering if this really the album I am to start this year with. I was looking for something to uplift me but definitely picked the wrong one to do so. Turns out I picked the right one. When you take a moment to look at the lyrics, there's some real shit she's singing about. On the last song "Track 10" she takes an honest look at being with someone just to feed her own ego:
Sorry, I'm a little scared
But no one ever really cared
I took you for granted
Just a big misunderstandin'
I just wanna spend the night
Fuckin' in your bed tonight
Watch a little TV
I love it when you need me.
Essentially that's dating in a nutshell in this generation. To be honest I had to face the realization that I picked the perfect album to start the year off right. One that's fire and off the bat better than what you're expecting it to be. Hopefully this is the path my 2018 goes down. No being with someone to feed my own ego of course. But a year of being honest with myself, and having a good time doing so.
Some stand out bangers that you can dance alone to when no one else is watching are:
"Out Of My Head"
"I Got It" (w/ Brooke Candy, Cupcakke and Pabllo Vittar)
"Delicious" (w/ Tommy Cash)
"Porsche" (MØ)
Props to her for the collabs, they're all perfection. I personally, would love to have her added to any and every song that's dropped in 2018. Also can someone do a remix of 'Delicious' and Arctic Monkey's 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High'? Bc that's a club mix classic waiting to happen. From start to finish this mixtape is a work of art. It's what I wish pop would be in the future if all artist took risk and where true to themselves. She's a great example of an artist that has crossed over to the mainstream yet maintains musical integrity. I guess that's why she released this as a mixtape. With the release of an album, I'm guessing an artist would have restraints and just a whole bunch of nonsense they would have to deal with. With a mixtape it seems like there is more freedom, and she took plenty of creative risks that worked out for her. With a cluster of artist she carves out her own path in pop. If I had listening to this when it originally dropped I would have raved that it was the perfect tape to end 2017. Instead I'm am late to the party praising it in the new year.
Better late than never right?
I'm very happy I started off my year with this gem. It makes me insanely optimistic for everything else I'll be listening to this year. Thanks for reading and I'm excited to be with you all on this ride this year.
This past week I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking to The SuperPoor Kids. They’re an art duo, bothers Lu and Jay Reyes, that come from Camden, New Jersey. As artist they’ve become a jack of creative trades with their paintings, digital works and even create custom clothing. The most prominent thing they’ve been recognized for is their The Saddest Story on Repeat exhibition. A series of work in which they recreate Dr Seuss works to reflect influential moments in Black Lives Matter movement.
They’ve recently focused their talents on a new project, custom hand painted Ready To Die covers. Last month Vinyl Me, Please released the September record of the month, Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 classic Ready to Die. The SuperPoor Kids decided to put their own spin on the package, which features the original artwork for the first time in over a decade
SPK Lu & SPK Jay: The both of us have always been drawing since we were children. We’d draw our favorite cartoon characters for hours on any given day. However, it wasn’t until we were hired by Miskeen Originals that we started to take art seriously. Miskeen Originals was a company that had artist hand paint original works of art on multiple articles of clothing to be sold in stores across the country. We were about 15 and 16 years old when we got hired so we were able to soak everything in like a sponge. We were working alongside older, more mature artist who had been painting and creating for several years. We learned so much from all of the artist that we worked with, when the company closed down we had enough experience to go out into the world and create on our own.
Desuana: I know you tend to do socially conscious pieces, things that make a statement or shed light on things happening in your community. What are some of the things that’ve influence your work as artist?
SPK Lu: A ton of things influence me personally as an artist. The one that sticks out the most to me is probably fashion. A lot of the art that we create is on actual clothing pieces, I enjoy when fashion designers step outside the box because it encourages me to look at art and clothing differently. I’m also a huge fan of children books illustration, I’m a sucker for a cartoony illustration style. Obviously other artist are always an inspiration as well. On Instagram we follow a ton of artist that also help us push ourselves harder to continue to grow as creators.
SPK Jay: To piggyback off my brother, I also get influenced by fashion. Loved it since I was a child. When I told my mother as a youngster to buy me a pink polo button down, that’s when I knew I fell in love with fashion. Just the thought of being different and customizing your own clothes makes me happy. I get influenced by a lot of other things as well. Just walking down a street, I might see things that make my creative juices flow. Being around people on a day to day basis, and seeing how different people react to certain things influence me. Women influence me a lot as well. The female body is art. Women are beautiful, emotional, passionate, strong, and I can keep going on and on. I tend to paint a lot of nude women with flower heads, symbolizing growth, strength, beauty, and emotion. Other things that get my juices flowing are scenic places, shapes, and colors. I can go on and on about what influences me so I’m going to shut up now. Ok Bye.
Desuana: No no, I l love hearing about that. You guys are so passionate about the work you do.
Now can you tell me about this VMP x Super Poor Kids collaboration you’ve decided to do. What’s the background on this, were you fans of Biggie at all growing up?
SPK Lu: When the opportunity was brought to the table to work with Vinyl Me, Please we were super excited. Then we found out that we’d be working on a Biggie vinyl and that was the cherry on top. As kids we would hear our older cousins blast Biggie all the time, of course we were too young to understand what the music was about but we would bop along to the music just to look as cool as our cousins. It wasn’t until we got older that we could see the impact Biggie left on the world of hip hop and music in general.
SPK Jay: I was excited to hear that Vinyl Me Please wanted us to hand paint exclusive Biggie records. We love to paint on different things instead of painting on canvas all the time. Just having a unique project such as this one is a breath of fresh air. I feel like me and my brother grew up similar to Biggie, but just going in two different paths. All of this is just so nostalgic to me simply because I remember as a youngster hearing my older cousins play Biggie. Working on this project just brought back some memories.
"Then I just go in! Most of the time I don’t sketch anything, I just paint whatever I’m feeling."
Desuana: Can you tell us a little about how your creative process works? Where’s your point A in starting and how are ending up at these grand intricate finished pieces? SPK Lu: When creating art, we usually tend to freestyle most of the work. We’ll generally have an idea of what we want to do or how we want the piece to look but there isn’t much planning when creating. We sort of just dive into the art and let everything fall in place. We’ve worked like this for so long that it’s kind of how we operate when creating anything. There isn’t much sketching or pre-planning we just get to work and await the finished product. SPK Jay: Like Lu said we just freestyle a lot of times. Most of the time when we working on something together we will have a little creative meeting. We shoot out ideas and when the right ideas come to play that’s when we execute! We argue a lot and I might curse him out, but that’s just how we operate (laughs), I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The final product always turns out to be impeccable. When I’m working alone, sometimes I just stare at my canvas for a long time before i start painting. Then I just go in! Most of the time I don’t sketch anything, I just paint whatever I’m feeling. Desuana: Final question, I’m curious about the music you guys listen to. What did you grow up listening to? And is that any different from what you’ve been listening to today?
SPK Lu: Jay and I have similar and different taste in music, as weird as that sounds. I grew up listening to rap music because of our older cousins, however when during my preteen/early teenage years I started to branch out of listening to just rap. I’d listen to everything from N’Sync to Fall Out Boy, from Usher to Dipset, but hands down my favorite artist during that era of music was Eminem. Although I don’t listen to much Eminem now I found myself drawn to Tyler, The Creator. Maybe due to the fact that he was another artist who was “anti-establishment”, and spoke whatever came to mind but I couldn’t get enough of it. I listen to Tyler, Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, Toro Y Moi, Lana Del Rey, A$AP Rocky, and Bruno Mars just to name a few.
SPK Jay: Besides my mother blasting Marc Anthony throughout the house on a Saturday morning, my older cousins AJ and Jason definitely had an influence on our music selections. Growing up they would listen to a lot of Bad Boy. Diddy and Biggie was definitely on rotation. JayZ started to become a part of my rotation as well. Hard knock life was my SH*T! I also had the soft side where I would listen to Usher haha. As the 2000’s approached I started to like Fabolous, Dipset, Kanye, and Lil Wayne just to name a few. I still listen to them until this day. Now I can listen to almost anything that sounds appealing to me. From Lil Uzi and Young Thug to Childish Gambino, Frank Ocean, and the Weeknd. I’ve gotten into Soulection and Kaytranada lately. I listen to their mixes all the time now. I like to say my ears has matured in the last couple of years.
