Thursday, August 16, 2007

Tayo-Fabriclive 32 Review for Urban-Breakbeat





Mix Review by Norman Mayers for Urban Breakbeat


As one of the minds behind the legendary Friction breaks night in the UK, Tayo is deeply entrenched in breakbeat culture. But he is more than just a breaks DJ, as his astounding mix Fabriclive 32 proves. More accurately Tayo is a bass junkie, blending an assortment of styles, genres, and influences for this eclectic set. Dubstep, baile funk, breakbeat, electro, and even reggae are dropped into this installment of the genre-jumping Fabriclive series. Tayo may not be as well known as his associates Rennie Pilgrem and Adam Freeland, but with this mix he is definitely one to keep an eye on. Tayo is taking breakbeat into the mashup future.



Read the full review here

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Bodypaint Photoshoot


A few weeks ago I did a photoshoot where I was bodypainted from head to toe. It took 4 hours but it was well worth it. The photos came out beautifully. I think I really got into character and everything came together. The team of photographer Danielle Masucci, her assistant Lisa, and makeup artist extraordinaire Ray Filipowicz all killed it. Excellent stuff!





Danielle Masucci's gallery

Make up artist Ray Filipowicz website

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Bobby valentino Review


Bobby Valentino
Special Occasion
Disturbing Tha Peace/Island Def Jam
6.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

There isn’t anything particularly special about Bobby Valentino other than the fact that he is wholeheartedly endorsed by Ludacris. That isn’t to say that he doesn’t make good music. On his sophomore release, Special Occasion, Valentino continues to make radio-friendly R&B with a hip-hop edge. The album is a suitable diversion full of mid-tempo club joints and syrupy ballads that works for the most part. The only thing that hinders things is the vocalist’s lack of personality.

Valentino has a voice that recalls that late-80s/early 90s mainstream soul. Artists like Guy, 112, Blackstreet, and Jodeci may come to mind. However, Valentino can’t seem to create an identity for himself outside of the normal loverman stereotypes found in the genre. Interestingly enough Special Occasion’s first single is the Timbaland assisted “Anonymous”. The throbbing club hit may as well be talking about the singer. Throughout the album excellent productions and guest appearances outshine the singer’s talents. Ludacris lends support to another standout Timbaland production, the slinky “Rearview (Ridin’)” while Fabolous livens up “Let Him Go”. The productions are mostly midtempo grooves such as the pop flavored “If I Had My Way” and “Only Human”. Things fall apart thanks to excessive ballads, self-indulgent interludes and a painful cover of Babyface’s “Soon As I Get Home”. Where Babyface brought sensitivity, Valentino merely brings competency.

Bobby Valentino's Website

Bobby Valentino on Myspace

Jamaica 360 Event on September 30th


September 13 (Thursday) – Jamaica 360 by LAX Entertainment & Recycling Inspiration

This rare and special event that unites music, countries and cultures for an explosive night of musical history. Uniting legends in the areas of Reggae, Hip-Hop, Jungle, & Dub-Wise. Be prepared for a spectacle of visual arts, state of the art sound and lighting and a once and a lifetime experience that helps make a change.



This concert is a benefit event designed to bring awareness and prosperity to the empowerment of Jamaica, by building schools and training facilities, training and educating students and creating jobs to an underprivileged but much appreciated country of Jamaica. This event is coming to Los Angeles after a successful Five day concert, empowerment expo and graduation celebration held in Jamaica.



In concert with this celebration, RI will announce its new initiative, RI Fellows Exchange Programme (RI-FEP), in partnership with HEART Trust/NTA. RI-FEP will spend six months to one year in Jamaica for the foreign exchange programme, which will include a two-week training course to be adept in teaching hospitality, business, administration and entertainment around the Caribbean nations.



Hosted by Comedian, Actor and Social Commentator



EDDIE GRIFFIN



Live reggae performances by



SPRAGGA BENZ

HALF PINT

FARENHEIT

ROOTZ UNDERGROUND

CEZAR

MARCUS-I



live hip-hop performances by



DOUG E. FRESH

JUNGLE BROTHERS

MASEO of DE LA SOUL

DANA DANE

NICE & SMOOTH

RHYTHMWISE

GLORY FOR THEPEOPLE



Area Two, hosted by GENERAL JAH MIKEY



R.A.W. b2b GENERAL MALICE

APX-1 b2b CRS?

JAYVON

JO-S featuring AUDIO ANGEL

SUBFLO

WHIZARD

HEAVY HITTAHZ

MC DINO

PHAT CAT



The Key Club, 9039 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California 90069.

8:00 PM till 2:00 AM.

18 and Over.

$25.00 Tickets available at www.wantickets.com



For press information please forward all inquiries to



The Foxx Firm 310-895-1188

MUSICLAWYER@MSN.COM

More information at recyclinginspiration.com

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Nu-Soul Special Event on August 30th featuring Peter Hadar



On August 30th join Nu-Soul Magazine for a very special edition of Strictly Social.

This will be the Official LA Listening Party for Hidden Beach Artist Keite Young. Come experience the Rise And Fall Of Keite Young!
CD Giveaways!

Keite Young's Myspace Page

And there will be a special LIVE PERFORMANCE from Nu-Soul artist Peter Hadar!

Peter Hadar on Myspace

Read the Peter Hadar Interview
This event will take place at the fabulous Skinny's Lounge in North Hollywood

Strictly Social wsg Peter Hadar
Thursday August 30
@ Skinny's
4923 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Admission is absolutely free!!!!
21+
9pm-2am

Gay Erotic Expo 2007

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Win tickets to see Joss Stone & Raphael Saadiq in LA

joss-image.jpg

British soul singer and songwriter Joss Stone will perform at The Greek Theatre on August 27 in support of her latest album, Introducing Joss Stone. She will be supported by Raphael Saadiq of Lucy Pearl fame.

To enter for your chance to win a pair of tickets please email your name, email address and phone number to info@nu-soulmag.com with the subject: Joss Stone tix

Ten winners will be chosen! All entries must be received by noon PST on August 20, 2007

An electrifying mix of warm vintage soul, ’70s-style R&B, Motown girl-group harmonies, and hip-hop grooves, the album is the one that Stone describes as “truly me. That’s why I’m calling it Introducing Joss Stone,” she says. “These are my words, and this is who I am as an artist.”

Stone first emerged on the music scene as a preternaturally gifted 16-year-old with a “rich, deep, soulful belt,” as the New York Post put it, calling her “unlike any singer of her generation.” In 2003, she released The Soul Sessions, an album of covers of obscure soul tracks, hit the road for a year, then recorded Mind, Body & Soul, her first album of original material. Stone was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2005, including Best New Artist, and performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with Melissa Etheridge at the ceremony.

Over the course of her career, Stone has also appeared onstage with James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Mavis Staples, Donna Summer, Smokey Robinson, Rob Thomas, John Mayer, and John Legend. She has performed for more than 200,000 people at the 2005 Live 8 concert in London and most recently wowed the crowd with her rendition of Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man” at the UK Music Hall of Fame Awards in November. Now 19, Stone has sold over 7.5 million albums worldwide.

Joss Stone's website

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Sublevel California September 1st



Sat Sept 1st
Message for all the music lovers
“Bring your passion not your fashion
& a good pair of dancing shoe’s for
a night of Deep Underground Mental Vibes”
With DJ's:
DOC MARTIN
& PAUL T
+ Sublevel Live PA by LILLIA
Limited capacity, pre sales advised...
We will also have Sublevel merchandise available on the night.
Must be (Age) 21+
This event will run from the hours of 10pm-6am
Please Call 1 323 960 4400 for directions on ! the night
Or go to the website to get info
www.sublevelcalifornia.com


SUBLEVELMUSIC
WEB:SUBLEVELCALIFORNIA.COM
E-MAIL: HOMEBASS@SUBLEVELCALIFORNIA.COM
1-323-960-4400

Nu-Soul Presents Orchid Milk: Future Soul in NYC August 9th

*ORCHIDMILK| NYC'S FIRST & ORIGINAL FUTURISTIC SOUL PARTY
CLOSING PARTY FOR THE SUMMER
THURSDAY AUGUST 9TH
9PM-1AM
SUTRA LOUNGE NYC


WHERE DID THE TIME FLY PEOPLE!!!?!?

IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING SUMMER AND THE ORCHID MILK CREW IS GOING TO BRING
IT LIKE WE HAVENT BEFORE FOR OUR FINAL PARTY BEFORE WE GO INTO
HIBERNATION DURING THE FALL....

RESIDENT DJ'S JUNIOR & JOHN BRUNELLI & HOST MITA WILL BE JOINED BY
VERY SPECIAL GUESTS TAYLOR MCFERRIN & PURSUIT GROOVES...

TO KEEP THE PARTY VIBE EXTRA SPECIAL THIS TIME AROUND, WE'VE MOVED TO
SUTRA LOUNGE L.E.S. SO BE SURE TO REMEMBER OUR CHANGE OF VENUE!

SPECIAL THANK YOUUUUUUUUUS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US ...EVEN
BIGGER THANKS TO OUR PAST GUEST ARTISTS THIS SUMMER: MALENA
PEREZ/CUBANITA GROOVE RECORDS, DJ AMIR & DJ TABU.

9PM-1AM
SUTRA LOUNGE, 16 1st Avenue between 1st & 2nd Street. F train to 2nd avenue.
*For more details visit Orchid Milk on myspace

ALSO!! check out these youtube's of our guests:

Taylor Mcferrin performing a live
beatbox at A.P.T (NYC)
Click Here

Taylor Mcferrin Live Instrumental/DJ mix set July 13th @ Broken Vibes in
Djoon Paris:
Click here

& A video montage by Pursuit Grooves showcasing her travels along with
her music:
Click here

sponsored by
Nu-Soul Magazine
Styleaholics.com
Cpp Marketing & Production

Monday, August 06, 2007

Meeting Chrisette Michele



This weekend I had the honor of attending the Musiq Soulchild/Chrisette Michele concert. Thanks to Def Jam for hooking me up with tickets. The show was excellent all around. Chrisette opened up with an assured vocal performance. The crowd was still small but she made the best of it. Her voice was amazing. Just how you would imagine her sounding. Just like the album with that little bit of grit that makes her sound so appealing. The highlight was when she played away on the piano to the gut wrenching ballad "Love Is You".
After the show Chrisette went out into the lobby to sign autographs and talk to new fans. She is quite adorable in person. She is really young but you would never know it from that old voice of hers.

Musiq Soulchild killed it. I never knew he could sing so well. His band was amazing dropping some classics as well as some new cuts. The new tracks were pretty damn good, ramping up the energy. The best part of the show was when he got everyone to stand up so the normally chill LA crowd could get their dance on!

Read my interview with Chrisette Michele

Read my review of Chrisette Michele's I AM

Friday, August 03, 2007

Peter Hadar Interview up on Nu-soul



An electronic, soul, and hip hop blend, Peter Hadar’s album Memories of The Heart reflects true musical originality. Peter Hadar is confidently putting his music out on his own record label, Cool Weirdo Music, merging business, fashion, and music.

Read the Full Interview by Porschia Baker

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Strictly Social - New Thursday Night Event in North Hollywood



Check out this new Thursday night weekly event. Strictly Social at the brand new swanky spot Skinny's in North Hollywood is all about eclectic soul fusion. Beautiful music in your new favorite venue. Trust me this spot rocks!
Get all the details here

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

2007 International Soul Music Summit

Last week I went to the International Soul Music Summit in Atlanta, Georgia and boy am I glad I did. It was an excellent networking conference for the soul music community. I was able to network with lots of industry insiders from around the world, meet artists and publicists face to face that I only knew through emails, get lots of important information on how to make my business grow, and of course, catch some amazing performances from some of the best talent in the underground scene. I managed to snap some pictures in between all of the networking and business card passing. I suck but you get the idea.
Peter Hadar performing at Bicentennial Olympic Park
Salakida performing
Underground artists panel

Me and Nu-Soul writer Bren Hererra
J-Rawls on the decks at a rooftop party
Fiona Bloom, Asya Shein, Will Griggs and others at the Grassroots Marketing panel
Rahbi at Fiona Bloom's Soul at Midnight Showcase @Apache Cafe
With Lucy Beer of Elemental Consulting
With publicist Jen Farris
Jennifer Johns @ Apache
Carrol Riddick blowing me away

With Okovie Ulukpo
Yahzarah killing it

Creative Cause Event in Atlanta




Click for more info on this event

Tuesday, July 31, 2007


The Chemical Brothers
We Are The Night
Astralwerks
7.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

The Chemical Brothers have long been considered among the electronica elite, a place inhabited by the likes of Fatboy Slim, Moby, the Prodigy, and the Crystal Method. But more than any of those other artists, the Chemical Brothers have managed to change their style throughout the last decade, surviving the Big Beat boom of the mid-90s before moving on to Grammy accolades. On their latest release We Are The Night, the Brothers pull out all their tricks, delivering a satisfying album of euphoric psychedelic electronica, quirky guest appearances, and danceable grooves.

One thing is definitely true about the Chemical Brothers: they create some of the most original dance music out there. We Are The Night is evidence that the Brothers have not lost their edge. In fact, they seem to have gotten their groove back, delivering an album full of plenty of body rocking club joints that are sure to appeal to their long-time fans. “Saturate” stands out among the high energy cuts, crackling like sunbeams across the morning sky. Filtered bass is surrounded by spastic drums that build into a delightful crescendo. This one is sure to be a major underground hit! Electro-tinged grooves permeate the percussion-laden “A Modern Midnight Conversation” and the Sexy Back flavored “Do It Again” featuring Ali Love. But the Chemical Brothers have always been about sonic experimentation and there is plenty of that on We Are The Night. The tracks that leave the biggest impact are the ones that combine downtempo electronica with psychedelic folk rock. “The Pills Won’t Help You Know” featuring Midlake is a gorgeous number that rides a solid snare drum over waves of building strings and electronic pulses. Similarly, the album closer “Battle Scars” with Willy Mason offers up a slightly rock edge amidst all the electronic bleeps. The Pharcyde’s Fatlip turns up on the nu-skool breaks of “The Salmon Dance”, a light track with more sense of humor than anything else on the album.

As one of the artists that rode the initial wave of electronica success, the Chemical Brothers continue to make quality music a decade later. We Are The Night is proof that innovation and experimentation is alive and well within the genre.

Chemical Brothers Website

The Chemical Brothers on Myspace

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