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D'Angelo talks da talk in brooklyn

5/26/2014

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PictureNelson George and D'Angelo in conversation
A few days ago saw a very interesting and informative encounter when the musician D'Angelo was interviewed by renowned cultural spokesman Nelson George, in front of a packed audience at the Brooklyn Museum in New York as part of the Red Bull Music Academy. The event billed as "A Conversation With D'Angelo' allowed the normally reclusive artist to open up for roughly an hour and a half on a wide range of subjects, including his very early church beginnings and his forming of a hip hop band called Intelligent, Deadly but Unique (I.D.U. for short). With some pride D'Angelo exclaims, "I was an MC and I was pretty fuckin' good, too. We weren't no joke". He went on to add, "We had a dj whose dad was also a dj and he had a huge record collection. His house was like a record store. That's where I went to school; it was hip hop and music 101. I eventually stopped listening to the record just for the breakbeat and started listening to the whole record."

Other interesting facts come to light during this in depth talk, including learning that D'Angelo, aged only 16 went to New York for the first time to appear on the famous Amateur Night at the Apollo, where he performed Johnny Gill's 'Rub You The Right Way' and at age 20, in 1994, he wrote and produced 'U Will Know' for Black Men United, a star studded collection of African American male r&b/soul artists which included such high profile names as R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Usher, Keith Sweat, Aaron Hall and Brian McKnight among their group. The song would end up on the soundtrack album for the film, 'Jason's Lyric'. One of the paths D'Angelo would like to take in the future actually harks back to his days of singing in the church. "I'm still fascinated by that world," he says, "I definitely want to do a (gospel) quartet album." The overall vibe of the lecture was warm and jovial between the musician and George who managed to elicit some juicy nuggets of information. In an enlightening, but sometimes painfully slow way, D'Angelo offered up his views of where his head was at during the making of his 2 previous albums, 'Brown Sugar' (released 1995) and 'Voodoo' (released 2000). That follow up record, which his fans have been waiting patiently now for 14 years, was never really mentioned, but there was talk of new music on the way. One of the most entertaining aspects of the evening was the inclusion of Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, all round music connoisseur and drummer of The Roots, who happened to be in the audience. He was brought up on stage and soon had the crowd hooked not only with his knowledge of D'Angelo and the music they had made together, but the obvious love and appreciation they both feel for each other. As D'Angelo said, "That's my brother." In actual fact, the musical bond between Questlove and D'Angelo holds so strong as to strengthen my belief that the elusive follow up to 'Voodoo' will eventually materialize. At the end of the interview I held favourable thoughts for D'Angelo's future. Yes, he has been away a long time, but his musical drive seems far from diminished and I await his next endeavour with much anticipation. Here is your chance to check out this 'conversation' for yourself.

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Review: janelle monae live at o2 Brixton academy 9/5/14

5/12/2014

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PictureA poignant moment in Janelle Monae's show
Grammy Award winning US soul/funk/pop/r&b artist Janelle Monae brought her current 'Electric Lady' tour to South London, totally rocking and entertaining the sold out crowd at the O2 Brixton Academy with a force and energy that seemed 10 times bigger than her small petite frame. Though lacking that major mainstream breakout hit record, Monae has secured a worldwide loyal following through her 2 albums, 2010's 'The Archandroid', her current effort, 2013's 'The Electric Lady' and the EP which was her introduction to the world, 2008's 'Metropolis: The Chase Suite'. These recordings, along with a very strong stage presence, have earned the singer huge respect from many quarters of the music industry, including such notable heavyweights as Prince, who even recorded a duet with her on the latest album. 

Her reputation as an outstanding live performer was enhanced greatly in the UK by her much heralded appearance at the Glastonbury Music Festival back in 2011, so there was a heightened anticipation among the audience as the stage was dressed for the arrival of Ms Monae. A white sheet covered the surrounding area, with the band appearing on stage, also dressed all in white, setting the mood perfectly for the monochrome image which has featured heavily in the singer's visual look. Her entrance was both dramatic and effective. To the sounds of  'Electric Overture' (the first track on 'The Electric Lady'), Monae, was wheeled out on a stretcher in a strait jacket, very reminiscence of the movie character Hannibal Lecter ('The Silence Of The Lambs'). The inference being a very dangerous individual is being let loose, this of course being Monae's alter ego, the outlaw android 'Cindi Mayweather' featured on her albums. When released from her shackles, Monae grabs the microphone with a vengeance, to the obvious delight of the crowd and launches straight into the second song from the current album, 'Givin' Em What They Love' (the aforementioned Prince duet). From the get-go she sings and dances as if a caged bird who has suddenly been given its freedom.


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    EON IRVING

     DJ, Remixer, Producer, Writer
    Involved in the music business since the very late 70's Beginning work at Island Records. DJing since the early 80's both in London and abroad, including the US and Europe. Along the way performing at many high profile events for such luminaries as Prince, Public Enemy and Lennox Lewis.
    Aside from radio and club djing, remixing and production work in the recording studio has meant working with the likes of Loose Ends, Junior Giscombe, David Morales, Gwen Guthrie, Sly & Robbie, Maxie Priest and Madonna.
    An intense lifelong love of cinema has blossomed itself in several ways including presenting to the UK public for the very first time such films as 'Boyz In The Hood', 'House Party' and 'A Rage In Harlem'.
    My passion for music, cinema and all other interests manifests itself through my writing. I am also a Contributing Editor for the music and entertainment website magazine, DeeperThe Beats  www.deeperthebeats.com



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