Singer-songwriter Cameron Elise has an old-school aesthetic, but she is always looking to move forward and expand her horizons. Her latest music video, Eternally, was shot while travelling in Mexico, and it shows her living many aspects of the things she speaks of. The video is as candid as the song is forthright, but it is definitely a glimpse into her soul and her love for making music that speaks to listeners.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight
Tagged cameron elise, chief, eternally, mexico, the doomsday device
One of the purest senses of joy I experience is releasing new art into the world. It’s been since late 2015 that I released any music, one of the longest gaps in my music making career. I spent 2016 recovering from a wave of personal setbacks, and 2017 was focused on getting momentum going in my film career. During both of those years, however, I never stopped writing, and as Fall of 2017 approached, I was beginning to form my upcoming release : A Memoir Called Noir.
Recording has gone smoothly, and I am now in the process of mixing songs while I wait for a handful of guest verses to arrive. In the meantime, I thought I would begin the promotional rollout, hence the release of the lead singles : Kickstart, a song about personal responsibility in the light of an ever-changing world; and Fifth Estate Amendment, a song about learning to be a wise risk-taker. These are extremely simplified explanations, but hopefully, you will be able to make your own connections to the material. Expect A Memoir Called Noir no later than March, hopefully, and then be on the lookout for the instrumental album also to be released in 2018, This Town Has Turned To Dust.
-chief
As poolboi blu‘s notoriety as a DJ and producer has risen, and as he clocks more and more time performing live, his confidence as an artist has grown. Even though the gap between sincere (volume 001) and sincere (volume 002) has not been a large one, the growth in execution and song selection is noticeable. sincere (volume 002) is a more upbeat affair, but it does not let up one bit on the thought-provoking and heart-wrenching nature of the songs selected. These are the kind of songs you dance to upon initial listen, and reflect upon once you become familiar with them. Hopefully, the volumes keep coming, as the first two have been stellar.
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged chief, dj, mixtape, poolboi blu, sincere (volume 002), the doomsday device
Virgil Wolfe has proven to be not only a man of considerable talent, but a man of good taste as well. If he recommends a piece of music, it is definitely not meant to be taken lightly. When he recently posted about sidequest 01, a project from Savanna, Georgia-based cunabear, I was so fascinated by the cover art that I had to listen. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. The music is as textured and mysterious as the album cover, and the beats take you to some very distinct places in regards of mood. Definitely top notch work.
-chief
Austin-based experimental folk artist More Eaze seemed to spend much of last year making efforts to branch out and explore new ideas, new roles and new connections. After a handful of releases to round out 2017, More Eaze has opened 2018 with the creation of a new record label, Hard Fun. Strictly digital (for the moment), the label’s initial group of releases shows a solid diversity right out of the gate. Dane Rousay‘s of SIRI is a free-jazz experimental monster… Bear Club‘s Waking Up The Light covers the pop and indie rock spectrum… and two collaborative efforts from More Eaze (a split with real life rock and roll band and a pairing with Derek Rogers) round out the inauguration day catalog. Knowing the love for music that More Eaze has, I am excited to see what comes of this label.
-chief
As 2017 came to a close, Austin-based MC Bern Ichus (one half of Homeroom) made it clear that he was a man obsessed, and had plans for expanding his repertoire. Already forever hungry for beats to feed his rhyme-writing output, Bern invested in an MPC and immediately went to work. In a relatively short time, he seems to be getting comfortable with his tools, and after roughly a month he is going public with beats. The first, Yasuaki, is incredibly textured and mood driven for an early composition, as if it did not need lyrics to exist and would be fine as an instrumental piece. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Bern Ichus as he becomes a more confident and skilled producer, because I know for certain that his love for hip-hop will shine through, regardless of what he does.
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged austin, bern ichus, chief, homeroom, mpc, the doomsday device, yasuaki
Those in tune to the Austin hip-hop scene are well aware of MDK (Mindz of a Different Kind) and all the moves they’ve been making over the years. Blackchyl and Chiclopz have teamed up with Fum Fum KO productions in an effort to express the essence of what they’ve been doing in the form of a short film. No Sleep No Breaks, from the looks of it, may serve to be an honest look at what it’s like to devote your heart and soul to the culture while still struggling to maintain from day to day throughout the worldy madness and obstacles. This is one that I am very much excited about, and hopeful that it gets the attention it seems to deserve upon release.
-chief
Matt Akins, owner and proprietor of the Yellow House, is making plans to turn the location into a traveler friendly hostel. The goal is to provide a safe space for travelers in central Texas, help raise the profile of San Marcos worldwide, and hopefully provide an opportunity for all involved to benefit, whether it be creatively or socially. Take a look at the video, and if you feel this is a project that you would like to support and see grow, definitely take action.
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, Spotlight
Tagged chief, matt akins, the doomsday device, yellow house hostel
Ben Buck stays working on the beats, rhymes and beatbox output, sometimes to an almost unfathomable degree. Like clockwork, you can expect Buck to drop new batches of beats every 4-6 weeks or so. His latest collection, Beat Tape #5, is a collection of mellower offerings than normal. Most hit around the 90s tempo (beats per minute and era of hip hop), and while a handful still have angular rhythms, most are good for lyrical vibe sessions or smoke sessions. Props to Ben Buck for his perseverance and dedication to his craft.
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged beat tape #5, ben buck, chief, the doomsday device
Baytown-based beatsmith kal.kal is becoming a fixture on this blog. The dude stays hard at work in the lab, and his sound variety is quite awe-inspiring. Right out of the 2018 gate, kal.kal finds himself experimenting with an electronic based, slightly dancier sound, while still managing to incorporate some of the trademark moods and textures he is becoming known for. The January EP may be more of a taste-tester project, or possibly it is a sign of the shape of things to come. Either way, we are certain that there will be more and more coming from kal.kal, and smart people are tuned in.
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged baytown, chief, january ep, kal kal, the doomsday device
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 