::GET FAMILIAR:: PRO ERA

::GET FAMILIAR:: PRO ERA
by Nicole Queen

I guess you can agree when I say “all the greats come from Brooklyn?” Yes or no? Either way you cannot deny the noise being made by the collective Pro Era. Founded in 2011 by Capital STEEZ (RIP), Pro Era consist of a group of young, talented individuals who seek to challenge how people think about modern Hip Hop.

During the 1900s, the United States saw widespread social and political reform. It was during this "Progressive Era" that many of the more traditional and socially accepted ideals of the country were questioned by groups brave enough to challenge the system. The members focus on progression and growing in everyday life. For four years now, Pro Era has been a breakthrough voice for the up and coming youth in not only the borough of Brooklyn but all over the world.

Malia Obama was pictured wearing a Pro Era T-shirt early January. Now, why should this be a topic of discussion? Well, every teenager wears a t-shirt, right? However, because of Malia Obama's status and the somewhat controversial nature of Pro Era, many conservatives took it as, "support for a very 'shady' group." 

Very far from a shady group, Pro Era is a group that embraces all of the creative arts. Within the group you will find graphic designers, clothing designers, visual artists, and comedians. In total, there are 47 members of Pro Era with Joey Bada$$ being thought of as the group's "de facto leader."

Joey Bada$$, who recently released his album B4.DA.$$, is known for keeping his music raw and original while other rappers may take more subtle approaches. His album sold an impressive 56,000 units opening week making it the #1 Rap and #1 independent album in the country at that time. Once again, this is a major stepping stool for not only Pro Era but Joey Bada$$, who is gaining praise from some of Hip Hop elites.

There is an awakening happening in Hip Hop. Fans all over are beginning to understand its roots. Many artists are beginning to understand the full power and potential of Hip Hop as a tool for change. Among them, Pro Era is a collective that is doing their part to draw more and more people to conscious levels of awareness and causing them to think beyond 808s and traps.

Get even more familiar with Pro Era by following them on Twitter and Facebook.

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::GET FAMILIAR:: SAUN AND STARR

::GET FAMILIAR:: SAUN & STARR
Written by George Kilpatrick 

Timeless vocals and a fresh take on soul/funk music have made for the very fruitful career of Saun & Starr. This week’s get familiar Friday goes out to two vocalists, each with decades of experience in the music industry. 

Saun & Starr had been performing vocalists for many years but struggled to find consistent work. Their performance credits respectively included work with The Victor Wooten Band, Mel’isa Morgan, and most notably Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. 

Through their work with Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, they began to get opportunities to open for shows and eventually decided to formally become a group of their own. The genesis of their growth with Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings helped them to refine their sound and prepare for their solo career.

Saun & Starr’s sound can be described as old school funk & soul that leaves with a smile on your face. Recently, the soulful duo released their debut album LookCloser on Daptone Records. One listen to their music will have you dancing around your house reminiscing about the hey day of funk music when artists like Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, and Aretha Franklin were regularly serenading your ears on the radio waves. On their debut record, tunes like “Hot Shot” and “Big Wheel” are both memorable and timeless.  

Overall Saun & Starr are not new to the industry but embarking on a journey of affirming their talent and sharing good music with us. Saun & Starr are actively performing throughout the country and around the world. Their live shows are high energy and packed with feel good music. 

We are glad to feature Suan & Starr this week on #GetFamiliarFriday. We encourage you to give their music a listen and get even more familiar with Saun & Starr: follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook and be sure to check out their tour, in a city near you!

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::THESOULCIALISTA EXCLUSIVE:: THE VIDEO PREMIERE OF ANNABETH MCNAMARA'S "SURPRISE"

::THESOULCIALISTA EXCLUSIVE:: THE VIDEO PREMIERE OF ANNABETH MCNAMARA'S "SURPRISE"
by Daniel Harris

Last August, we asked you to "Get Familiar" with up and coming artist Annabeth McNamara. A recipient of the House Artist Grant, McNamara released her album, "Surprise" as part of the grant. Her natural talent, her ability to write and create complex lyrics and her level of skill as a musician and singer are all testaments to House Studio's ability to work with wonderful artists.

Today, Annabeth releases the official music video for her album's title track, Surprise." Recently, we had an opportunity to speak with Annabeth about her music, her experience with House Studio and how she developed the imaginative concept for her video.

TheSoulcialista: You released your album, "Surprise," as part of the House Studio's Artist Grant Program. Could you talk about the experience of recording your album, specifically, recording it with the help of House Studio.

Annabeth McNamara: I affectionately refer to my week at House Studio as "The Beyonce Treatment." I went from being a solo singer-songwriter to being THE STAR with a team of producers and songwriters and videographers, as well as state-of-the-art facilities at my disposal.

It was disconcerting and exhilarating to have over a dozen people gather together to make my dream album come into reality. What still seems crazy is that we fit it into a week. They put the pedal to the medal over there and stay on schedule no matter what. I regret that I didn't have more time to tinker with the songs and perfect them, but now it's just part of the aesthetic of the album. The seven songs turned out extremely well polished, with a few rough edges. I can relate to that kind of beauty as a human being.

The recording part happened really fast-- maybe because I have spent a good bit of time laying down tracks already on my previous albums and on other projects. It was fun writing lyrics to songs I didn't write, although writing lyrics with a co-writer turned out to be difficult for me. The week was all about STRETCHING for me-- trying new things, and going further than ever before. It was my biggest highlight of the year, and I would do it again in a heart-beat.

I titled my album "Surprise" mainly because I dreamed of creating a killer-quality album with pop aspects, but never ever thought it could happen because it would be so expensive. When I won the grant, and then it turned out to be even better than I imagined, it was all this crazy-big surprise.

TS: Now you are set to release a video for one of the songs on your album. Could you tell us a little bit more about the song, "Surprise?" When you wrote it, what message or feeling were you trying to convey through the song?

AM: When I moved back from France to the United States, it wasn't a very empowered choice. Life circumstances convened to bring me back to my home state, and when I moved to Charlottesville, it was with a lot of uncertainty and regret and a good dose of heart-break. I kept questioning if I was in the right place, doing the right things. 

Then one day an artist friend invited me on a bicycle ride. He showed me paintings made by rust, passionflowers blooming in an abandoned corner, a river flowing under the road that you could lean in and hear flowing through the gutter grate. He's from another country, so all of these details were absolutely enchanting to him. In that moment, I felt a new appreciation for mundane life blossom. He reminded me beauty is all around if you open your eyes to it.

While at the studio, when it came time to write the song, I took that feeling of promise and hope and beauty and wove it into a love song. Though more than a traditional love song, really it's an ode to a city, to a new chapter, to a new possibility of falling in love with my own life, as it is.

This song, and really the entire recording experience, is about how life can surprise you. You can think you've got it all figured out, what you want out of life and what's going to make you happy. But Life with a capital "L" can take you on a whole new trajectory, whether you like it or not. And it's up to you and your mind-set whether it's an exciting adventure or a harrowing tragedy.  

Surprise, to me is, is about what buddhists call a Begginner's Mind-- not getting attached to past experience and success to define how much you enjoy the present or stay open to the possibility of the future.

It's a song about giving in to hope-- sure, you don't know if this little bit of flirting is going to turn into your soul mate, but why not enjoy the moment?

TS:  House Studio producer David Knox was very instrumental in helping to create the song. Could you tell us about that process and experience? The process and experience of creating a new song, specifically creating with another artist/producer. 

AM: So, as a recording artist, when I hear a really good song, it hurts. I just sort of ache to be able to craft something so perfect-- that harmonious blend of lyrics and melodies and beats and chords, into something whole and wholly magical-- a song that resonates and gets stuck in people's head. It's gotten so bad that I prefer to listen to ambient electronica so it doesn't have this effect on me.

One such marvelous song is "Little Numbers" by BOY. It's a song about new love, as the singer is waiting for this guy to call her back and is filled with that blissed-out anticipation that is probably just a heady concoction of hormones. There is this simple piano riff, some great percussion, and a build to it that just gets me high when I hear it. 

The amazing thing about the House Studio experience is that they offered the opportunity to craft something as close to my favorite song as possible, except it would be my own lyrics and voice. David Knox was the producer on that song, so he set about creating the music before he even met me, based on the song by BOY. 

This may seem like creative theft at first glance, but you've got to realize that all artists are being influenced by their preferences. Art influences art. What that means is, when we find an artwork that we adore, it can become our next target mark-- just one of many gravitational pulls on our career arc. We can either let the osmosis happen subconsciously, or we can consciously step up to the plate and start to craft something as similar as possible. The beauty of the second approach is that while you set out to reproduce a sound, you can never possibly copy it-- my music is just too ME to ever sound exactly like BOY.  

My experience working with David Knox is that he has this mystical musical power deep inside. He puts on his head phones and stares at that screen and just dives waaaaaay into the music. He starts weaving all these elements in a genius way that when you hear it, it's MOVING. I get this image of swimming through an ocean made of outer space and stars, and he's just reaching around, weaving galaxies together and spinning stars into complex constellations. 

So yeah, he listened to Little Numbers a bunch and came up with the music for Surprise. I took it home, found a melody and jotted down some lyrics, and recorded them that night at the studio. He took my vocals, dove into that sacred musical space, and came out with what you hear. We worked together a little bit to make it more dynamic, and presto! We had our own frankenstein song. 

At first, it was my favorite song on the album. I made it the first and title track! Then I started to have my doubts because like most songs where I didn't write the music, I had a hard time really feeling it. But when I asked people which song they thought would be best for the music video, it was this song, hands-down. Can't argue with the crowd!

TS:  For the visuals, how did you come up with its concept?

AM: At first, it was just myself and the film couple. We would get together, giddy about working together, and then come up against the same wall-- we knew that we needed a good story, we just didn't know what that story would be. 

Then one day, I was strolling around a craft and vintage flea market and ran into a life-size pink deer made of tissue paper and paper machee. I knew I wanted HIM to be the star of the video. Or someone like him.  He happened to be a sculpture made by artist Jesse Fiest. Jesse is a highly-inspired, high-energy gal. I gave her my album and professed a love for her artwork, and she took the ball and ran with it. 

She came up with a bunch of possible plot lines. It wasn't long before we were batting odd little animal ideas around between Jesse, myself, and the filmmakers. We latched onto the idea of an animal dating site because it elicited the most giggles during our discussion. The rest of the story unfolded from there. Pretty much whatever sounded like the most fun, we went with that.

TS: Finally, what is the main thing that you would like your audience to take away from this video?

AM: Well, I didn't consciously put any kind of message into the film. But looking at it now, I am reminded of the time I took a bird-ecology class in college. At the end of the course, I was gazing out at this beautiful white egret on a lake in Arizona. We had just spent three months studying the complexity of bird behavior and their miraculous abilities.  I had come to understand that birds are just as intelligent as humans in different ways.

I think of them as extra-terrestrials, meaning that they aren't bound to the Earth, and their ways can be quite alien. But they are just as sentient and deserving of respect as people, because we have been co-evolving together on this planet for the same amount of time. 

As the class was ending, I was struck deeply by the need to communicate FOR these beautiful, mysterious creatures. If you're familiar with Dr. Seuss' book, "The Lorax," you'll know he says, "I speak for the trees." I became resolved in that moment to speak for the birds, who can sing, albeit not in our language. That one difference has made it so they have vastly reduced habitat and are threatened by all kinds of pollution.

Birds go through their life cycle, find mates, love and raise their chicks, and go on marvelous migratory adventures. The males practice and perfect their songs to impress the females, and molt to don handsome, colorful "tuxedos" in the spring, which fade into duller colors once they've wooed their mate successfully. I have nothing but awe and respect for birds, and can't wait for everyone else to see them as part of our extended family on this precious planet.

All this waxing poetic about birds aside, I think the main message that the filmmaking team wanted to get across is the idea that we often try to change ourselves to gain the approval of others, especially a mate. But actually, it is our true selves that the other glimpses when they feel that spark of romantic interest, and by being ourselves, they can fall better love with us.

Watch the official music video for "Surprise." Annabeth McNamara's album, Surprise, is available now on iTunes and Amazon. 

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::GET FAMILIAR:: ANTHONY DAVID

::GET FAMILIAR:: ANTHONY DAVID
by Dereck Rodriguez 

Photo by Daria Johnson for Gypsy Soul

Since 2004, soulful and tantalizing Anthony David carved his place in Soul music with perceptive lyrics and a traditional sound. Hailing from Savannah Georgia, singer/songwriter Anthony David, would find his voice in music in Atlanta, Georgia.

 Upon arriving to Atlanta, Anthony David met India Arie where they would produce music for India’s critically acclaimed album, Acoustic Soul. This friendship cultivated the talents of Anthony David and allowed for 3Chords & the Truth to be produced. 

Like red clay buried under heavy sun to be molded into something beautiful, Anthony David’s messages endures with compelling narratives about the everyday day. Lively lyrics coupled with a rustic voice create a classic sound of  R&B. Popular single Anthony David posses a vintage yet playful sound that creates a familiar feeling. Each song sounds like home and entangles the listener in a warm comfortable sensation.

Photo from Gypsy Soul's listening party for Anthony David's album As Above So Below

Photo by Leo Wilson for Gypsy Soul

Gypsy Soul has been a supporter of Anthony David for years and we are excited to see him grow more and more into the spotlight. Get even more familiar with Anthony David by following him on Twitter and Facebook. Also, be sure to get a ticket to his upcoming show at The Baltimore Soundstage on August 22nd.

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::GET FAMILIAR:: MICHELLE THOMPSON & HENRY LEE

::GET FAMILIAR:: MICHELLE THOMPSON & HENRY LEE
Interview by: Dereck Rodriguez
Over the past few months, we have seen countless stories of black and brown lives lost at the hand of vigilantes (both police officers and civilians.) From Travyon Martin to Freddie Gray, the nation watches and communities of color and those in solidarity fight over pockets of ignorance and insensitivity, to voice their concerns about their treatment by government officials and civilians. Helping to make those voices standout from the heartless and obtuse chatter are musicians who understand the cause and calls for justice.

Singer/songwriter/musician Michelle Thompson and composer Henry Lee have teamed up to create a piece called, "Black Lives Matter," that perfectly reflects the recent events and the overall cry for justice. Recently, TheSoulcialista's Dereck Rodriguez had an opportunity to speak with Michelle and Henry about their song, their roles as artists in social matters and the role we can ALL play to impact the #BlackLivesMatter discussion.

Dereck: Hey guys I just want to say I love the song and ask what compelled you to write this piece?

Michelle Thompson:  We have been a duo for two years now. I graduated from Seminary in 2014 and I’ve been involved in activism, and songwriting for some time. A former professor of mine Dr. Yolanda Pierce asked if I would share a song at a service that she was hosting, along with classmates of mine, called “7 Last Words: Strange Fruit Speaks in Trenton, NJ.” Basically the service was an adaptation of a 7 Last Words Service that typically happens in the Black Church on Good Friday (the 7 last words of Christ), but my colleague Nyle Fort, came up with the idea to have 7 preachers share the 7 last words of black men, women and children who have been killed by the police or vigilantes. So they focused on the 7 last words of people like Renisha McBride, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and others. Usually when I go to events and share, I like to share an original piece. I feel like my singing/songwriting is my contribution. Through writing songs, I find a way to reflect what is going on in society…and try to give voice to it. 

I came up with the lyrics while I was driving. I parked and pulled out my guitar and started strumming. It was a kind of haunting experience, but in that kind of revering way. The melody was very clear, although the lyrics really came out as gibberish at first. What stuck was “for her life mattered, black lives mattered.” I later spent some more time with it, and I was able to finish the verse. I showed it to Henry, and he started to add piano to it. We both were really emotional the first time we ran through the song. It resonated so deeply for us. It’s of course a deeply personal song; I don’t think I’ve written anything as meaningful to me as “Black Lives Matter.”

Dereck: Wow, Henry do you have anything to say?

Henry Lee: After hearing the first half of the song Michelle wrote, I started playing these four chords which she thought were very pretty.  She decided to use the chords for the refrain. I thought it was very nice for me to be involved in this. Unlike Michelle, I was not always involved in social justice. I’m aware of things but I’ve never been an activist. Through the song I was able to get more plugged in to what’s going on from a music and arts perspective.

"...it’s important to say black lives matter because our society shows us that our lives don’t matter."

Dereck: So I wanted to ask why is it necessary to state black lives matter.  Why do you believe black lives don’t matter?  Is it just a symptom of American culture or does this serve a function within America to keep us in a subordinate position in society. When people are saying that all lives matter now. 

Michelle: When folks say “all lives matter,”  I honestly try to hear them out, to hear what’s beyond the surface of what they’re articulating, although the first time I heard someone say, “all lives matter,” it was initially off-putting to say the least. I try to listen for why people are so threatened by us declaring that “Black Lives Matter,”  and why they feel the need to so quickly rebut. Saying “Black Lives Matter,” and truly living out the sentiment triggers something in many people. 

What we’re experiencing today is a systemic issue. This is not anything new.  And it’s important to say “Black Lives Matter” because our society shows us that our lives don’t matter and that the lives of countless minorities, poor people, LGBTQ folk, all who have been oppressed in our society, don’t count for much. It’s obvious some people's lives are disposable, some people's lives are not worthy of humanizing press and media, when they are getting shot down in the street.  I believe it's systemic, it has to do with white supremacy that is deeply embedded in our culture. We’ve progressed in some ways, but the regression is so staunchly evident.

"People need to come together. This is not a segregated movement and it doesn’t have to be a segregated movement."

Dereck:  How do you feel art and music is necessary and essential to create a consciousness to change our world?

Henry: Wow these are some big topics you guys are talking about. I don’t know if I should say something because I don’t want to go in the wrong direction but I’ll tell how I feel from my perspective. Well obviously, I’m not black. You can tell that right from the video.  Oh there’s this Asian guy right there and I think that’s important, that’s interesting because in the US a lot of times we think of this black and white thing. It’s always a binary of black and white or black brown and white, but what about us Asian people, meaning people like me what do we feel

about it and what are we doing about it. Ok. I might be generalizing I don’t feel the Asian voice has been very loud. There’s been an absence of an Asian-American response to these social issues and that’s where I’m coming from. Something like this affirms that yes I also care and yes we can come together and through the video you cannot just only hear the song but see the image and maybe that’s what people are gonna think. I haven’t really got any comments about why are you Asian and involved in the black lives movement but I take this as a very positive thing. I think It shows that we’re here together.  People need to come together. This is not a segregated movement and it doesn’t have to be a segregated movement. It can be a movement obviously talking about a specific issue but its very integrated in the kind of people and the kind of ways people are using to get involved. 

Michelle: When we sent out the video to our network of friends and family, we wrote a blurb on the role of the artist. I’m really a big lover of Nina Simone and Harry Belafonte and listening to my artists-elders, for wisdom. I scourer YouTube for interviews of folks like Nina Simone, Betty Carter, James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, people who were thoughtful and productive artists, but also involved in the Civil Rights Movement or the Black Arts Movement, for example.

I truly believe that the artist is integral in shifting culture. Harry Belafonte for example has been an artist-activist, organizing creative types to participate in the movement, rallies and gatherings for justice. The role of the artist can be used to break through all of the divisiveness and touch a deeper place in folks. You’re really taping into a person’s spirit, their interior, tapping into their emotion, stirring up their humanity. The role of the artist

is to broaden the conversation and I believe that we are very important in this movement. There is a video of Nina Simone on YouTube and she talks about the artist’s role being to reflect the times. Being empathic, creatives reflect what we’re experiencing as a society. I think we innately do that. So while I’m not saying every artist has to be out in the streets going to rallies and protesting, I think that it’s important to speak to these larger issues through our art, both implicitly and explicitly. To contribute to the lifting of our human spirit, bringing beauty and truth to the world. 

"I think it’s important to understand our common struggle, that we’re all fighting a similar fight." 

Dereck:  So do you guys have any last words?

Michelle: I believe there is a lot of commonality that we as people share, and we need to find a way to tap into it. Solidarity is important. I think as people of color, it’s important to understand our common struggle, and that we are in many ways fighting a similar fight.

 So much can happen when we get educated and organized…when we have an ethic of love and compassion working in our midst. If our music can some how forge a way forward, bring truth and comfort, affirm the humanity of black folks and subsequently all who are oppressed…then I think we are moving towards something beautiful as artists. 

Dereck: Henry do you have any last words?

Henry: What you guys are talking about is right up my alley.  When I went to UC Berkeley, I doubled majored in political economy and music. But eventually, I became more of a believer in music than in political economy.  This might be just me, but when you guys talked about the macro and institutional changes, I thought those were going to be tough.  However, through music we can come together on a micro level, and break down discriminations, and create harmony with one another.  Maybe that is one way we can achieve this revolution, one from the bottom up instead of from the top down.

Dereck: Wow well It was wonderful talking to you both and we’re on the lookout for great music.

Follow Michelle and Henry on Facebook to get even more familiar!

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::GET FAMILIAR:: WONDALAND RECORDS

::GET FAMILIAR:: WONDALAND RECORDS
by Daniel Harris

From left to right: Roman GianArthur, St. Beauty, Jidenna, Janelle Monáe and Deep Cotton

Something wonderful is happening in music. A renaissance of sorts. The people are speaking and they are calling for an overhaul of what has long been accepted as the norm. With the recent release and acclaim of albums like "Black Messiah," "To Pimp A Butterfly," and "2014 Forrest Hill Drive," music lovers are declaring that the Top 40 sound and celebrity worship isn't enough. Artists are almost required to be just that: artists!

When she hit the scene in 2007, Janelle Monáe's statement was loud and clear; She was here to make her music, her way. She would not let the industry or the public determine the direction of her art or her person. (as one Twitter user recently found out the hard way!) Since that time, she has enjoyed much success in her career. Additionally, she has become an inspiration, specifically to little girls, the world over.

Janelle's global success has afforded her the opportunity to reach back and help a community of artists who share her determination and drive to produce art and not succumb to the pressures and rigors of industry. What started as a gathering of minds and talent, The Wondaland Arts Society brought together artists with immense musical and visionary strengths. As a record label, Janelle Monáe and Wondaland Records seek to revolutionize the future of music, art and culture.

Although Wondaland Records' roster is small, it does not reflect their abilities. Roman GianArthur, St. Beauty, Jidenna and Deep Cotton each bring a high level of personal style, a unique sound and a genius approach to music. When these individual elements are brought together, the Wondaland collective is set to change how music, art and creativity are viewed in pop culture.

In February of this year, Wondaland Records began what is hoped to be a long standing partnership with music legend LA Reid and Epic Records. Reid says of Wondaland Records, "The collective talent of the Wondaland artists is awe-inspiring. I haven't personally witnessed a collective that sounds and looks this special in quite a while."

Want to get even MORE familiar with Wondaland Records? Check out the videos for "Yoga," and "Classic Man." Also, be on the look out for Wondaland's compilation EP, Eephus, which will be released this May.

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::GET FAMILIAR:: CHARLES BRADLEY

::GET FAMILIAR:: CHARLES BRADLEY
by Daniel Harris

My love for Daptone Records and what they do for music is neither a secret nor does it know an end. Co-founders Gabriel Roth and Neil Sugarman have taken an almost extinct genre and breathed life into music and the artists making the music. Charles Bradley's emergence on the music scene is a testament to Roth and Sugarman's ability to spot raw and untapped talent.

Charles Bradley's career in music reads much like a novel or screenplay. As a teen, Bradley ran away from home in search of a better life for himself. After many cold nights sleeping on the streets and subways of New York, Bradley joined Job Corp and trained to become a chef. It was here where

Charles overcame a fear to discover his true calling.

Co-workers often mentioned that Charles favored the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Through encouragement (and being literally pushed onto the stage) Charles began performing with friends and fellow co-workers. However, at the onset of the war in Vietnam, Charles' band was drafted and his hopes of stardom seemed to have vanished.

After living in places like upstate New York, Seattle, Alaska and Canada, Bradley moved to California in a continued search for a better life. He worked odd-jobs and took small singing gigs to support himself, never finding his break. For the next 20 years, Charles continued searching in California until he was asked to return to New York. Fate, it seemed, would finally intervene to give Charles his chance.

 

While in New York, Charles performed as a James Brown impersonator in local Brooklyn nightclubs under the moniker "Black Velvet." During one fateful performance, Daptone Records co-founder Gabriel Roth discovered the talent that is Charles Bradley. Finally, Mr. Bradley had found his big break.

Charles' raspy voice, incomparable style and no nonsense, straightforward lyrics are a true reflection of who he is. He is a man with lots of pain, love and life experiences. Daptone Records' analog recording style and deep appreciation for the Soul genre and sound make this label the perfect medium for Charles Bradley.

 

His latest offering, Victim of Love, finds Bradley moving past "heartache and pain" and moving toward "the promise of hope." A good message to have considering he is now a soul sensation and finally living his dream.

 

Charles Bradley's story is not uncommon. Many artists struggle when trying to find their moment. However, at 66 and having struggled for most of his life, Charles is a true testament of never giving up, no matter the odds.

 

Get even more familiar with Charles Bradley, follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook

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::GET FAMILIAR:: #HAPPYSOUNDSLIKE THESE 10 SONGS

::GET FAMILIAR:: #HAPPYSOUNDSLIKE THESE 10 SONGS
by Daniel Harris

Today (March 20th) is International Day of Happiness. This day was started by the United Nations to show that "progress should be about increasing human happiness and wellbeing, not just growing the economy." You may remember during last year's celebration, Pharrell Williams' smash hit, "Happy" was played for 24hrs straight.

To celebrate this year, the UN is inviting people to take part in the #HappySoundsLike campaign. This campaign uses the power of music to inspire people and hopes for a better tomorrow. Artists like John Legend and James Blunt have joined in this effort.

Naturally, we had to hit you with a list of what #HappySoundsLike to us. Check out these 10 songs:




Now it's your turn! Hit us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and let us know what #HappySoundsLike to you!

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::GET FAMILIAR:: 5 ARTISTS THAT COULD HELP SAVE JAZZ

::GET FAMILIAR:: 5 ARTISTS THAT COULD HELP SAVE JAZZ
by Daniel Harris

Jazz is declining in popularity among American listeners, according to Nielsen's 2014 Year-End Report. In fact, Jazz albums on all formats fell to an all time low of 2%. That equals to 5.2 million jazz albums sold by all jazz artists.

"5.2 million? What's the problem" some of you are probably saying. Well, consider this: The Jazz Line reports that in the last two months of 2014, Taylor Swift sold nearly 4 million copies of her album 1989. 4 MILLION! Therein lies the problem. One popular artist has sold almost the equivalent of an entire genre.

Jazz is, without a doubt, America's genre. So the news of its decline in popularity should be troubling.   Music discovery is at the core of what we do here at TheSoulcialista. Often times, it takes finding one great artist to spawn finding other artists. Here are five Jazz artists who we feel are great starting points to discovering Jazz and helping to save it from obscurity.

Derrick Hodge
Best known for his work with Common and Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge is a widely respected bassist, producer and composer. While the elements of Jazz are ever present in his own work, Derrick Hodge brings a refreshing and innovative approach to the genre. His album, Live Today, brings together all of his experience in multiple genres and fuses them together, turning them into a masterful offering that both embodies the spirit of Jazz artists who have come before him and embraces a new wave of sound without boarders.

Vertical Current
Individually, the members of Vertical Current have performed with artists ranging from Tye Tribbett to Earth, Wind and Fire. Collectively, they bring together the appeal of Pop, the soul and movement of Gospel and the charm of Jazz to create a truly unique experience. Their most recent album, Bright Side of Midnight, is a perfect example of their distinctive blend. Much more than a collection of Jazz songs, Bright Side of Midnight seeks to inspire listeners to "outlast the darkness" and "race toward the light."

Gregory Porter

With is unmistakable baritone voice, Gregory Porter represents an element of Jazz not traditionally recognized, the vocal element. As a singer, songwriter and actor, Porter brings to the genre an overwhelming sense of vitality, life and honesty. His latest album, Liquid Spirit, showcases his mastery of the Jazz genre while adding elements of Gospel, Blues and R&B into the mix.

Christian Scott
Scott is a gifted and talented young musician who fuses the traditional elements of Jazz with some very impeccable new school flavor. A product of New Orleans, Christian is described as being very driven and "Jazz's young style god." His passion for his culture, his heritage and his craft are very evident on each of his 8 studio albums.

One of his most recent albums, Christian aTunde Adjuah is an album with deep meaning for Christian. This album represents the artist in his most complete state. Christian went on a journey that would see him add "aTunde Adjuah," connecting him to his African heritage and beginning a legacy of his own. The 2 disc album captures the emotion, trials and joys of Christian's journey.

Joel Holmes
Baltimore may not be the first city you think of when it comes to Jazz. However, legends like Cab Calloway and Billie Holiday have called The Charm City home at one point.

Joel Holmes is an accomplished pianist, composer and product of both the Baltimore School for The Performing Arts and the Peabody Conservatory, two of Baltimore's most prestigious performing arts schools. As a result of his education and his raw talent, Holmes has literally traveled the world becoming an ambassador for Jazz. His traditional approach demonstrates his classical training. However, there is an undeniable since of soul and passion that comes from a deep love and appreciation for the genre when listening to his music.

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