Category Archives: Spotlight

Artists of all varieties that I know and work with.

Even Flow :: The Vapor Caves Release ‘Hurry Up & Wait’

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The Vapor Caves are back at it again, and this time they’re not playing around.  Their music has always been high quality, but man, Hurry Up & Wait hit me right in the ear and the heart perfectly.  BoomBaptist stuck his foot in this track, letting all of his funk, boogie and R&B influences shine at full force, while Yadira Brown‘s voice floats through the track like a leaf on the wind.  Dig what Yadira has to say about the track :

““Hurry Up and Wait” is a phrase uttered in frustration, referring to an unnecessary rush or the pressure to accommodate yet remain unfulfilled.  A huge part of being a human has been experiencing this again and again, in different forms.  But as we break old social programming patterns and dismantle systems of oppression, we remove the pressure to fall in line.  We can be our true selves.  The veil is lifting.  Hindsight is the gift that keeps on giving.”

As per usual, the duo also hit us with some crazy promo to accompany the track :

Stay tuned for more from The Vapor Caves, as it looks like they’re just getting started.

-chief

Kombat Mode :: No1mportant Stops By ‘Rappers Playing Games (RPG)’

If you don’t already know, I personally think that the Baby Lion series known as Rappers Playing Games (RPG) is one of the best things happening on YouTube right now, and it has nothing to do with the fact that Protextor is someone I consider a friend and a peer.  For the latest episode, the infinitely talented no1mportant stopped by for a quick session on the Sega Genesis classic Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate, as well as a stroll down memory lane.  Both of these guys are incredibly smart, cultured and have a diverse set of knowledge, and their conversation certainly reflects that.  Get hip to this show if you’re not already, share it around so others can do the same, and feel free to leave a like or comment (if not both) for good measure.

-chief

Summer Vibes :: The Kid Crio Drops ‘May Weather’

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Austin-based artist The Kid Crio hit me up recently to let me know about May Weather, the Kydd Jones produced track he recently released, and I’ve gotta say that it’s a nice change of pace.  The Kid Crio sets aside rapid fire bars for a more stream of consciousness type of flow full of lyrical references, positive affirmations and observational statements, all of which are delivered with energy and enthusiasm.  The track bangs as well, but with Kydd Jones on the production credit, that’s a given more often than not.  This one will definitely make a mix or two, and it’s certainly worth checking out… leave a comment, and share it around so others can dig it as well.

-chief

Homeward Bound :: Abuzayed The Free Goes Bluegrass With ‘Crossed On Over’

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Abuzayed the Free has never been one known for sticking to the normal paths and methods of music making.  Her love for her culture and diverse musical education has always been present (especially on her strong debut), but after a move to New York, the last thing anyone would have expected was a bluegrass song.  This, however, is exactly what Abuzayed the Free has presented us in Crossed on Over, effortlessly mixing her inspirational and mystic lyrics with the rhythm of a string band.  The result is an interesting dance between styles, and one that I wouldn’t mind seeing explored a bit more in the future.

-chief

Master Teachers :: Winter Fires Blesses KTSW’s ‘Studio C Sessions’

The Austin – San Antonio corridor is chock full of diverse musical talent that spans many genres, so naturally, it becomes hard to pick a favorite when asked.  One band that always comes to mind, however, is the Seguin-based collective known as Winter Fires.  Recently, they made a stop by the KTSW video production known as the Studio C Session to show off the talents that they learned after first connecting at the Texas Statue University school of music.  As per usual, the performance is a moving, riveting and dynamic one, with the members getting a proper chance to each show off their talents and range to the fullest.  Give it a like, leave a comment, and share it around for others to see as well.

-chief

Power Moves :: Protextor And Willie B Talk Shop And Play ‘TMNT : The Hyperstone Heist’ On ‘Rappers Playing Games (RPG)’

Rappers Playing Game (RPG) recently sat down with Austin local hip-hop legend Willie B over a game of TMNT : The Hyperstone Heist (keeping in line with TMNT Month for the show), and the two had quite the interesting conversation.  Topics as diverse as the chemistry of the TMNT team, Willie B‘s numerous creative projects, his musical journey, influences and more are all touched on.  (RPG) has gone from being a good idea to a wonderfully insightful bit of programming, and it improves with each episode, so if you’ve not done so already, definitely subscribe to Baby Lion to be in on the ground floor when new content is released.  As always, leave a like or a comment, and be sure to share this around!

-chief

High Rise :: BlackLight And Aline Align For ‘Skyline’ Video

BlackLight out of Austin is on a mission to prove that you can be successful without compromising your vision or integrity, and up to this point, he is making all the right moves.  His latest music video, the visual love letter to Austin that is Skyline, features he and singer Aline pontificating on manifesting your vision, making money, and keeping your head to the sky in an energy-filled track.  The visuals show a lot of the usual downtown Austin suspects via drone footage and artistic dutch angle shots, and the parking garage performance echoes one of my favorite eras in hip-hop.  I’m definitely all for this creative streak that BlackLight has been showing, and I hope it resonates for quite a while.

-chief

Radio Waves :: ‘QUITE TRILL RADIO SUMMER EDITION PT. 1’ Now Available

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One thing I really respect about Mirage the Gr8 is the scope of his vision, which also allows him to provide context.  Be it his role as a teacher, the creation of his QUITE TRILL WORLDWIDE network (web, podcast and visual entertainment), or his compelling live streams, Mirage has always been one to make sure that the bigger picture is addressed.  For summer of 2019, Mirage decided to do a three-fold mission for the first edition of the QUITE TRILL RADIO summer series : a selection of hip-hop and soul that influences him, interjections of information to get everyone on the same page moving forward, and a tribute to the late-great Nipsey Hussle.  Check it out, spread it around, and stay tuned for future episodes as they premier!

-chief

Banding Together :: Fem-Fest Compiles The Third Edition Of ‘A Chronicle Of Martian Melodies’

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Not only does San Marcos possess a vivid artistic and creative community, it also has a community full of supportive people that provide assistance for most anyone in any situation.  One of the more well-known and respected San Marcos institutions is the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, a non-profit organization to help victims of domestic abuse and violence.  Normally, Fem-Fest puts together an event as a fundraiser to help, but due to logistics, the 2019 event did not come together.  Luckily, a laundry list of talented San Martians chipped in a song for a fundraising compilation : Winter Fires, Youngsville, Water On Mars, Sp_aces, Elevaded, Plain Zane, Shelly Webster, Cameron Elise, Lizzie Karr, Nix Nova, and Marcus Morales all contributed songs in hopes that the compilation can raise a sizable donation.  If you’re looking to help support, stop by the Bandcamp page and grab a copy… there are people out there that will certainly appreciate it.

-chief

Isolation Drills :: V3C0 Barely Misses NPR Deadline With ‘Inside A Cage’

V3C0 has already proven his talents in the realm of rock music, acting, graphic design, modeling and more, but with NPR announcing it’s annual Tiny Desk competition, it seemed like the perfect time to flex some musical muscle in a slightly new format.  Armed with a microphone, an array of synthesizers and keyboards, a few cameras, and a heartfelt message, V3C0 pours his all into the four and a half minute performance that definitely had the potential to make waves.  Unfortunately, he missed the deadline by an hour, and unless I’ve missed an update, I do not believe it is in the running for this year’s competition.  Let’s spread this one around, however, and maybe this time next year, V3C0 won’t need a competition to make a name for himself.

-chief