Jingles and Logos

Cliche music is the pits.

In the world of art, there seems to be a pull to fit in somewhere. We have to place our art in genres and appropriate venues so that fans can find it. We have to name ourselves and create an image that fans can grab hold to and get excited about. But once we've finished perfecting our "image"and "style" we often find that we've merely replicated old shit. After having compromised our vision for so long, it's hard to get back to what we intended in the first place.

Communicate Your Vision

Among many artists, "marketing" has become a dirty word. It gets a bad rap because marketing experts of old have convinced us that it means "selling ourselves" or "promoting ourselves" to "potential buyers"...which essentially turns us into objects that can be bought and sold. That sounds like chattel slavery and I'm not down with chattel slavery. 

Now, of course there are people who love that model. They thrive on it. They listen to, read, and look at things that have been popular in the past and work to replicate it to make themselves more marketable. Since people are already familiar with these popular things, another version of it can be just as appealing; people like things that are familiar to them. However, the artist who is creating from the heart who has a unique way to approach the world is discouraged by lack of attention and understanding...which wouldn't be a problem if the bills were paid. So, instead of fighting the misunderstandings by explaining the story behind their creations, some artists just say "folks ain't ready" and move on. But what if we believed in the potential of people to understand? What if we interacted with people who were ready? What if we exposed our conversation to the greater world in a way that a 6 year old could decipher? Is it really that hard to comprehend? Do we even know what we're trying to convey?

Q & A with Baba Dhati

"It began in 1991, somewhere around 8 o'clock. Master Percussionist Dhati Kennedy presented a group of students to a cheering crowd. Ngoma In Motion was born that day! NIM has evolved into a talented group of musicians, word warriors & drummers."

Photo courtesy of Everette Hughes & Baba Myron Buchanon

Every time I have a conversation with Baba Dhati, I walk away bewildered...mostly because his open, enthusiastic, curious, and otherwordly perspective rocks even my understanding of reality! A Master Percussionist, singer, and communally active independent artist in the St. Louis area, Baba Dhati is working to keep Afrikan culture, tradition, and music alive in the hood, teaching students the art of Afrikan drumming and even providing the public with studio recordings of works by Ngoma In Motion: an arts collective that is ever evolving. Citizens of the Universe, meet Baba Dhati!




 
BLUE: Where are you from and what hood do you represent?

Baba Dhati: I am from dimension 7. I represent marginalized, little thought of, and oppressed.

Feed Your Soul

Time and time again, I've gotten the devastating news that another indie artist has bitten the euphemistic dust. They've given up on their dream of being a professional creative due to lack of support, burnout, or some other unfortunate nail in the coffin of their hope. Then, they've continued to be taunted by the sounds of the blatantly untalented 1-hit wonders and viral internet sensations who make mockeries of the craft, only to be rewarded by society's ever increasing acceptance of bullshit. How did this happen? Will it happen to me? How can I keep from becoming a sad statistic in the record book of fallen artists?

Q&A with Kia Sleet

I met Kia Sleet in cyberlandia. She was music and culture blogging and I was reading and stalking. She did a Q&A on me and I was like "Aww man. That's nice." I discovered we both came from St. Louis and even had a gang of mutual friends, including the fun-loving Helen Marie of GoHelenMarie and UIB's own Magician, Fathom 9 (name dropping is FUN!). Then, I learned that she could sing and looked great in a pair of tights. At that moment, I knew this woman would be a superstar. Ladies and gentlefolk of the universe: Indie pop artist and guerrilla producer gone commando, Kia Sleet.

One Night in NYC...

Photo by Jackson Hidalgo

Q&A with lyfestile of Altered St8s and Plan-B

Internationally known hip hop writer/producer, emcee, human rights activist, comedian, radio host, indie artist advocate, promoter, arts entrepreneur, bird, plane, and superhero lyfestile (spelled intentionally with a lowercase "l") is a lot like an onion. Under each layer, you'll discover more potent flavorful magic that'll bring your collard greens to life AND make you cry uncontrollably all at the SAME TIME.

I met lyfestile around the way on some hood shit, but once I caught the attention of this hip hop powerhouse, I wanted to learn more. Everything he touches turns to DONE, SON! He's humble; probably because he's too busy grinding to care about appearances. He shared stages with the likes of Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Pharcyde, brought down houses all over the Midwest and beyond, and is working to put St. Louis indie hip hop on the map. He co-founded the annual St. Louis Underground Music Fest (SLUMFest), showcased at SXSW, and mothers love him. Ladies and gentlemen, meet lyfestile.

Q&A with Lady Rose

“And although you gave me my last name, I took your first, so that Roosevelt Hampton could still walk the earth.”

~ Lady Rose

Bio: La Toya (Lady Rose) Hampton, a native of Portland, Oregon, is a poet, spoken word artist, educator, and youth mentor. she interweaves imagery of mirrors, Christianity, and sensuality into her writing to explore what it means to be a woman, Black, and Christian in the 21st Century. She has performed on stages in Portland and Los Angeles and recently completed the production of her first one-woman show entitled "Holes of a Piece of Me: An Introduction to Lady Rose."


I met Lady Rose (LaToya Hampton) while doing shows in Portland. We would rap after last call and she would tell me about her desire to be more bold in her creativity and performance. I had an opportunity to see her perform at Mo's February art gallery opening. Though somewhat quiet and reserved in conversation, her performance was so genuine and passionate that she kept captive the attention of everyone's eyes and ears. I began to see Lady Rose's fire and hear the emergence of her story. In the desire to abstract her story further, I asked Lady Rose to participate in an experimental Bio Abstraction Series. This Q&A came out of our first interview for the series. I figured I'd shoot my questions out of left field in my provocative, satirical fashion and see what she could do with them...a playful challenge. However, after reading her responses, I was floored by Lady Rose's witty candor and youthful honesty. Ladies and Gentlefolk, I present to you, Lady Rose. 

Q&A with The Mistress of Death

The thing that intrigues me most about Elizabeth Vega is that she talks the way she writes. I'll never forget the many conversations we've had, whether sober or over drinks, during which Elizabeth has poured her heart out to me. Each word that comes from her lips or her fingers conveys the passion of 20 orgasms. The love she gives to people who are experiencing loss, joy, pain, life, and death fills their hearts during their most desperate and vulnerable moments. To call this woman friend is truly an honor. Meet Elizabeth Vega: The Mistress of Death.

Blue: Where are you from?

Elizabeth: I’m a brown skinned girl from New Mexico. My feet took their first steps in the borderland of Deming and Las Cruces. Surrounded by red rock, yucca and stony mountains, I was immersed in all the historical and cultural contradictions contained within that desert soil. Green Chile on Cheeseburgers, Michael Jackson blasted at quinceneras, pick-up trucks and low riders cruising down Main Street on a Friday night.

B: Tell us a little about your background.

E. I am pretty unconventional and have my own life rhythm. I have two grown sons and have called many places home – New Mexico, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri. I have had many strange jobs including hot dog vendor and singing telegram performer. I have had an array of “careers.” I was in the Navy for four years, a fact that surprises most people who know me because I question authority OFTEN. However, my chief did tell me that I was the only person he met that went through the experience completely unaffected. To this day that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me.

Reading Really Is Fundamental. Even for Musicians.

I once heard that if I learn everything there is to know about music publishing, I'll pretty much know
everything there is to know about music business. I figured that knowing everything there is to know about music business is kinda how to make money while making music. This sort of implies that knowing absolutely nothing about music business is kinda how to not make money while making music. If I make music and people like what I do, I should be making money, right?

All these thoughts running through my head. I went to Powell's Books and found This Book. Then, I sat down and read it because nothing is learned through osmosis, no matter how hard I try. I now know a little more about music publishing. And it was pretty simple once I saw the structure. I took some notes. Then I put the book back on the shelf because fuck spending money.

The more you read, the smarter you are. I encourage everyone to read more...especially about their chosen career path.

Love,
Blue