Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
Cookie Monster Galaxy: Interview
"My name is Belaidi Samir but in my dream I’m Cookie Monster Galaxy (Instrumentalist, Pianist, Composer, Producer, Beatmaker, Designer, Gamer, and Dreamer)
from Paris."
from Paris."
How did you come up with the name Cookie Monster Galaxy?
I wanted to choose something weird but breathable you know what I mean?
When did you first start producing?
I started producing when I was 17 … My first instrument was a casio piano that I bought in a flea market with my best friends. I had a myspace and it was cool! Myspace was amazing! I published a remix of Nujabes in 2009 on Myspace. But I needed a computer and a drum machine to start, I worked at the Adidas store when I was a teenager in order to pay my first mac computer and my first Akai MPD 32. Good memories !!!
Which albums or songs bring back good memories?
(ALBUM) METAPHORICAL MUSIC BY NUJABES !
(Song : Man on the moon by Kid Cudi from « A kid Named Cudi ») This is my very first mixtape that i downloaded on the internet, in 2008. Daaamn !!!!!!!!! I listened to the track on itunes .. 2450 times …
When you were growing up what did you mostly listen to?
I grew up in Paris, Paris is a beautiful city, It's history and architecture is very inspiring for my work. I listened to a lot of jazz when I was young (Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal) and I remember people laughed at me because I listened to jazz ahhahaha! It might be awkward for them as a teenager to listen to jazz. I remember that I listened to a lot of jazz on an old iPod that I bought for $5 in a flea market.
What is the music scene in Paris like?
There are hugely talented artists but unfortunately there's not a lot of underground music events. LA for example, there's a big underground music community (Low End Theory).
What are the musical differences between Paris and LA?
Openness is better in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a very open musical mind. That is why all the producers, rappers, and beatmakers want to live in Los angeles. I would like to meet with Flying Lotus, drink a coffee with him and play Marvel VS Capcom 2 with him
How would you describe the music you make?
Relaxing and Inspiring
What did you hope to achieve by releasing the BLUE EP?
BLUE EP was released one year ago now. I decided to stop projects to focus myself on my work at Italdred Records, Modern Filth Los Angeles Records and Laruche Records.
Who are the best new producers out right now?
The best producer does not exist. They exist only as artists who express their stories. If you told me "which producer inspires you the most"? FLYING LOTUS !!! His journey is beautiful, motivating and inspiring!
In which ways has Nujabes inspired you?
Nujabes inspires me a lot! He was shy, he was discreet but above all he was humble. Each album has a story .. His story ... The story of an artist who gave a chance to other artists to express their story. The saddest thing about Nujabes is that he left behind a brother, a mother, and her daughter.
Rest In Peace Seba Jun
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cookiemonstergalaxy
- Bandcamp: http://cookiemonstermusic.bandcamp.com/
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Best Hip Hop Artists of 2014
- Signor Benedick The Moor
- PRhyme
- Amerigo Gazaway
- Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
- Open Mike Eagle
- Loyle Carner
- Isaiah Rashad
- Your Old Droog
- Moodie Black
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Chiara Noriko: Interview
1995
Berlin
Vocalist
https://soundcloud.com/chiara-noriko
http://instagram.com/chiara_noriko
https://www.facebook.com/ChiaraNoriko
http://instagram.com/chiara_noriko
https://www.facebook.com/ChiaraNoriko
What's your definition of music?
Well, it's kinda hard to put it in words. It's more of a feeling you have to experience to understand what it is. It's timeless. Music is the way to expand your mind. It can be perceived very individual and therefore be something very personal to each one of us. It's so impressive to me that music is able to take control over us while we're either creating or perceiving it. It's so powerful and yet there's something so innocent about music. It is hiding until you open it up yourself. Yeah, it's something you just fall into and get lost in. I think to understand what music is, you gotta trust. Because you never know what happens.
At what age or moment did you start taking music seriously?
Actually there was no certain point in my life I started taking music seriously. As a little kid I was never conscious of how much in need of it I am and how important it is to me because music was something so self evident that has always been part of my life. So I've always perceived music as something valuable and serious. Whether I was aware of it or not.
Which musicians have inspired your sound?
A lot. I feel like most of the time I get inspired unconsciously. Sometimes the combination of different sounds of artists is what inspires me. But to name a few it would be Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Amerie, Frank Ocean... These were probably one of the first one's inspiring my sound that I'm still working on. Well, not really working on but more letting it happen and letting it find it's way with time. And Weirddough definitely. Such an amazing producer, very inspiring. Then also J Dilla, The Internet, Jhene Aiko, James Blake, Little Dragon... After I got more into Soundcloud I discovered a bunch of producers and sounds that inspired me right away and where I could see myself in, too. I remember Full Crate and Mar being one of the first. Stwo, Kelela.. and a lot more.
How have people responded to your YouTube covers and your own songs on Soundcloud?
People on Youtube responded very differently to my covers. I started putting up videos when I was about 15 and I had no clue about how I wanted to present myself or how people were perceiving my music and videos on Youtube. I started more for myself, I was trying out a lot while putting it out on public. I had people telling me how to be and how not to be... I had all kind of responses really, from negative to positive. It was all interesting to me. You know, watching a video can help and provide a feeling but sometimes it can put the music in the back, too. People on Soundcloud are giving me a lot of positive feedback which makes me feel motivated to give even more. I enjoy putting up my music on Soundcloud because you can completely focus on the music itself and nothing else.
Which producers would you like to work with?
A lot honestly, a lot of different producers. I'm currently working with different ones. Well, I don't wanna say a lot. Be patient and stay tuned my friends.
Although you live in Berlin right now do you plan on moving once your music career grows?
Yes, I'm definitely planning to move out of Berlin once my music career grows. New York is my goal, I decided it for myself when I was 14. The urge and curiosity for something completely new keeps growing and I wanna see myself trying and making moves.
How would you describe life in Berlin?
Berlin is a city full of different people and cultures. You have a lot of opportunities. Considered from the outside, Berlin seems to be a very free place. Yeah, kind of easy going the city itself. On the other hand I feel people over here are very stressed and uptight. They can also be quiet rude to be honest. That's something I almost enjoy though. Sometimes I just sit in the train and watch all these peoples faces and I feel some kind of dissatisfaction. However, I'm actually very glad I spent my last 10 years growing up in Berlin. I'm thankful for what I learned in this city. Still i have to say that i realize more and more that the way I developed over the years and the way I think about things and life made me want to reach out for something completely different from what I'm used to. It feels like I haven't arrived home yet. Not at all.. And i feel more and more that it's time to move out to go experience different places and mentalities. I need to go places where I have the chance to get deeper into the music scene I am interested in.
Why is it important to express yourself through music?
Because there is no other way for me to fully express my thoughts and just myself as a whole. There is so much inside me that I can't put into words, that's why it is so important to me to express myself through music. It helps me to expand my mind and to discover so much. Music is what I need to grow as a person and also what I need to give. To reach and connect with people is seriously the best feeling in this world to me. It makes me feel so good. So good, that I realized it's what I need to keep myself alive. To express myself through music is not something I chose or what I like to do, it's what i need to do to keep going.
Throughout your 19 years of life what's the most important thing you've learned so far?
That's a hard question. I would probably say, to trust myself. To be able to come back to yourself by the end of the day and know that all you need is trust in yourself. Between all the chaos in this world, your surrounding and people telling you what's right and what's wrong, you gotta be able to remind yourself of the power you own and that it's you deciding what's right and what's wrong and it's you moving forward at the end. Get inspired and most importantly, listen to what people say while you're still able to go back into your mind and think for yourself and trust yourself.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Neijah Lanae: Interview
 |
| Singer, lover, pizza eater |
OAKLAND GIRL IN LA
What makes a subject good to write about?
I literally just write about what I'm going through or what the beat makes me feel. I don't plan out subjects haha. But as a listener I like to hear musicians dig deeper than the surface and say things in a clever way, the combination of the two not only impresses the listener but also allows more people to relate.
Which musicians have inspired you?
I really love everything about Prince, I'm also a huge fan of Kanye and listened to a lot of different types of music growing up.
How have people responded to your Sapphire EP?
People seem to get it and that makes me happy. People seem to get the whole idea behind who Sapphire is and that's really important to me. For me, this EP marks a big chunk of growth within my music and creativity. I'm excited to keep exploring that.
What can we expect from your next release?
I'm working on some visuals and other things for Sapphire vol 1, and when the time is right I'll be releasing Sapphire vol. 2
What are your favorite things to do during your free time?
When I get a chance I really love spending time with my friends and family. We usually watch movies or eat and always talk for hours. I live in LA right now and love taking trips up to Oakland every chance I get.
In what ways are the music scenes different between LA and Oakland?
Oakland is a smaller city than LA, so from my experience growing up there it's easier to identify who does what and build a platform. In LA there are so many people and so many artists and so much commercialism, a lot of what's going on tends to get lost in the noise. You really have to dig to find what's going on or what you like in LA. In Oakland, it's right there in your face and everyone is rockin with it. It's a wider sense of community, whereas in LA there are specific scenes for everything under the sun. Two completely different worlds.
Lastly which musicians from California should people be listening to?
All of them! But lately I've really been into this rapper named Kool John and this singer Rayana Jay.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
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