There are very few artists whose album I would recommend you rush to pick up without having taken it for several spins first. Lorenzo “Zo!” Ferguson is one such artist. Don’t believe me? Google him and do his resume.
I was first introduced to the Detroit native as the man on keys at Foreign Exchange performances. I would always note how fine he is his eyes sparkled as he performed. I know. Odd to notice that Zo! has mastered smizing. He just always looks truly looked happy to be there doing what he loves with his fam. I got schooled quickly that he was an artist in his own right with a discography dating back to 2001. Zo & Tigallo Love the 80′s and the ….just visiting series in particular stay in constant rotation. This man simply knows how to make good music.
ManMade, Zo’s second release with Foreign Exchange Music after the epic Sunstorm, features the vocals of Phonte, Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly, Carmen Rodgers, and Anthony David. With a lineup like that, I already know this will make many Best of Lists for 2013.
As a social media professional, I also have to note that he did an amazing job creating build up to the release. On Facebook and Twitter, he took fans along for the ride every every step of the way from concept to completion. Artists should definitely consider Zo! as a case study on how to engage your fan base leading up to an album release.
I’m just back from celebrating my birthday in Vegas and this album is the perfect gift. I know it will be in heavy rotation because that’s what the super talented FE+ artists do—consistently put out hits.
Support real music and purchase Zo’sManMadehere or on ITunes (where I hear he is holding down the #2 spot).
Show Zo! some love in person at a listening event or release or release party near you. Dates are being added so if you don’t see your city, stay tuned!
Two months before the release of Robert Glasper’sGrammy award-winning album, Black Radio, I saw the track listing and declared it a winner.
Before I proceed, if you don’t have this album or have never heard of Robert Glasper (actually put someone on the other day who hadn’t), please get familiar post-haste. He is one of the premier artists redefining jazz right now. Black Radio is simply a phenomenal album blending jazz, hip-hop and R&B fluidly. On vocals, you have some of the best voices of our time: Lalah Hathaway, Meshell Ndegeocello, Erykah Badu, Ledisi, Bilal, and Stokely (of Mint Condition).
If you didn’t think it could get any better than that, Eric Roberson shared this today on Facebook:
This is the possible collaboration list for part two of the album, Black Radio II. This go round, in addition to frequent collaborator Bilal, looks like we may hear the likes of Faith, Jill Scott, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Dwele, Common, Eric Roberson, and Anthony Hamilton over the smooth sounds of Robert and the band. I was a bit surprised to see “R Kelz” on the list but regardless of how some may still feel about him, it’s sure to be a dope track.
If you’re not hype yet, these tweets might just do it for you:
I am already stoked about this project and have already declared it worthy of another Grammy nod before even hearing the first note. As soon as I get more info on a release date, I’ll likely tweet it first so connect with me there!
I was first introduced to the musical powerhouse that is Alice Smith several years ago at what would be the last Black Lily Festival (RIP). Black Lily, based in Philly, was a multi-day event showcasing the best in women’s artistry: music, film, visual arts, and more. That last festival in 2008 would be the only time I got to see Amy Winehouse perform. But this ain’t about her!
I still remember being completely awestruck as Alice, a tall, striking beauty took the stage in jeans and a ponytail and blew me away with her four octave vocal range. I don’t remember what she performed. She likely performed music from her debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers and Me (which you can stream on Spotify) which was released back in 2006. I just remember how the music made me feel. And I never forgot her name.
After a long absence from releasing new music —though not from performing— (thanks Industry Rule 4080!), a year ago, I saw posts about a Kickstarter for a new album she had in the works. I now want to kick my damn self for not getting around to supporting it because as soon as I pressed play, SHE went on my “Best of 2013″ list. There is not a single song on this album I don’t like. Did you hear me? There are absolutely no skips here. It’s a stone cold groove from the first to last note. If this is what crowdsource funding for an album produces, more artists need to get into it!
Check out Alice performing one of my favorite tracks on the album, “The One,” a slow groove with the refrain, “I’m not the one, don’t play me son, don’t you play, DON’T YOU PLAY IT!”
You’ve probably seen or heard the killing she put on Cee-Lo’s “Fool For You,” which has been floating around the interwebs for over a year. [Watch here] So glad that gem made the album.
I’ve seen so much excitement about this album from my real music loving friends all across social media. I’ve also seen a lot of “I’ve never heard of her!” That’s why I’m here — to let you know that you need to get familiar quickly and cop the new album today!
Alice is also touring so stay locked in to her website, Twitter and Facebook feeds to see when she is coming your way. Her stage presence is mesmerizing and this is an album you’ll definitely want to see come alive on stage. DC music lovers, we’re fortunate to have her in the area twice in the coming weeks so get your tickets now!
Support real music. Cop SHE today and spread the word!
In honor of International Women’s Day , here is a short list of women artists from across the globe whose music stays on repeat. By NO means is this list all-inclusive. Just a small sampling of artists that I enjoy that you should consider letting take up a bit of space on your hard drive.
Alice Russell
I have loved Alice Russell long time and I have the receiptsvideos to prove it. The way she sang and shook her shimmy on stage in pink tights made me a fan for life. This British powerhouse is criminally underrated, as her lane is a bit crowded. I’m hoping that her upcoming release, To Dust [read review] will finally put her on the map. It’s already one of my favorite albums of 2013. Take a look at a performance of “Hard and Strong,” one of my favorite tracks from the album.
It was love at first listen when I heard the sweet vocals of the female half of the Danish duo Quadron, the lovely Coco. When they performed in the DC area a year and a half ago, I was front and center grooving to tunes from their self-titled album released three LONG years ago. While we wait impatiently for the release of some new joints, enjoy Coco performing with Tyler The Creator on Jimmy Fallon and sannnnging on this banging new track, “Hey Love.”
The video above is a performance at The Google a couple of years ago. I chose it because she starts to acts all the way up at the 2:30 mark and it is everything I will ever need in this life and the next.
Hollie Smith
If I wasn’t so lazy busy, I would dig through my Twitter archive and find the multiple tweets I sent out raving about the Band of Brothers Vol I album featuring the sweet sounds of New Zealand songstress, Hollie Smith. It was my first introduction to the ‘Kiwi soul sister’ and I accepted my late pass because she was hardly new to the game as you will see in the video above. I cannot get enough of her voice and you won’t be able to either.
Joy Denalane
Last time I blogged about the beautiful German singer-songwriter was when she joined Bilal, Tweet, and Dwele on the Dresden Soul Symphony album/DVD compilation. I have been a fan since I heard her first English language album, Born and Raised, back in 2006. Since then, she has released her third studio album, Maureen, which is entirely in her native tongue. Although I can’t understand a word of what she is singing, the album gets frequent play. After all, the language of music is universal. In the video above, she performs the title track in English.
Kimbra
I just can’t get enough of that Kiwi soul. My soul brother from across the pond, Soul UK, introduced me to the sweet sounds of GRAMMY winner Kimbra, who recently won Record of the Year for her collaboration with Goyte on “Somebody That I Used To Know.” I can’t imagine it gets much better than receiving your award from Prince and him saying he digs the record. I mean, it just don’t seem like he digs much so it’s really an even bigger deal than the Grammy. Last year, Kimbra released her debut album, Vows, and it topped many best of lists. Enjoy this dope live performance of one of my favorites from the album, “Settle Down.” Kimbra, if you’re listening, DC awaits!
Tawiah
I have probably been a fan of British singer Tawiah the longest of all the artists I’ve mentioned in this post. I introduced you back in 2008. You’ve had five years to catch up! I hoped we would have gotten a full length effort since the EP, In Jodi’s Bedroom. But still we wait. A ray of hope came just today in the form of a video for a single from her upcoming mixtape. Let’s hope this is a signal of good things to come. Enjoy the new video and the hauntingly beautiful acoustic performance above.
Please support woman artists near and far during women’s history month and beyond.
Put me on to some of your favorite international artists in the comments.
Watch: Bilal’s Musicians at Google interview and acoustic performance
A few short months ago, I was gearing up for Bilal’s album release and it’s here! During my blogging hiatus, he blessed us his third studio album, A Love Surreal, which immediately soared to the top of the top of the Itunes R&B/Soul album charts. Three cheers for folks supporting real music.
I have been super impressed with the wide variety of promotion the album has received so far, which can likely be attributed to a change in record labels. His team is working it! As an online professional who would kill to be on Bilal’s online marketing team, I was also extremely excited to see that his official website is finally complete and his social presence is expanding. [Get all the links on his blog.] It’s been a long time coming!
The latest promotional effort for the album, Musicians at Google, was released today. He joins artists like Raphael Saadiq, Eric Roberson, and Lady GaGa in being featured on this series. Very good company. Filmed a month before A Love Surreal was released, the showcase began with an interview, one that had its moments. However, where he really came alive was during the intimate acoustic performances of ”Back to Love,” “Longing and Waiting” and “Never Be The Same” from A Love Surreal and “All Matter” from Airtight’s Revenge. It’s definitely worth taking a look at, even if your ADD causes you to have to just skip ahead to the performances.
As for my thoughts on A Love Surreal: I listened to it three times before it was officially released thanks to the First Listen series on NPR. I didn’t fall in love with the entire album from the time I pressed play. Although I have stanned for Bilal since before the term existed, I can admit that. There were certain songs like “Slipping Away,” ”Never Be The Same,” “Longing and Waiting,” and “Butterfly” that drew me in right away. Others it will take more time. Seeing them come alive on stage in a couple of weeks will surely have me listening to the album with new ears. Watching some of the performances that have popped up on YouTube have already done just that.
One thing that immediately struck me about the album is the live instrumentation. It’s simply breathtaking. Unfortunately, it’s a rarity to hear real instruments on albums today. You will find them here. I appreciated hearing about the process of making this album on the two-part (very well done) video series, Welcome To A Love Surreal [Watch Part 1 and Part 2]. Bilal breaks down everything from where he goes to write, what inspires his creative process, the evolution and maturation of his writing, and working with King and Robert Glasper, the only two guests on the album. He also shares how he likes to record by the beach because it calms him. Me too! Twinsies!
Listening to Bilal talking about the road to the making of this album, which was originally supposed to be just a five song EP, enhanced my appreciation for his growth as an artist. Although the long lost Love for Sale remains my favorite, I am more than willing to let him move on. Bilal is at the top of his game and is hands down one of the most gifted vocalists making music today. I may not like every song he releases but as long as he stays true to his art and takes care of that voice, he will have my eternal support!
Be sure to cop the album. Spread the word to your music loving folks to buy it and to support him on tour when he comes to your city.
There are very few artists whose album I would recommend you rush to pick up without having taken it for several spins first. Lorenzo “Zo!” Ferguson is one such artist. Don’t believe me? Google him and do his resume.
