why mariah carey matters

Why Mariah Carey Matters by Andrew Chan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

for complete transparency as with my review of mariah’s memoir, i am a 🐑. additionally, i am a friend of the writer-scholar of this book, so fully acknowledge some bias, however this book undoubtedly does a great job uncovering mariah’s place in pop and r&b history. it goes well beyond the well-known hits to celebrate her talents as a songwriter, producer and vocal arranger.

unique voices for feels

in the past week,  i've been able to savor two artists with distinct voices in a crowded landscape of music. 

Contralto (noun): the lowest female singing voice. Amongst the belters, Jasmine Rose Wilson, better known as Baby Rose, has been slowly rising in the ranks of R&B songstresses with her lower range. Her somewhat rare register has garnered the vocalist a Grammy nomination for her contributios to J. Cole’s “Self-Love” and co-signs from peers SZA and Kehlani. Having opened for Snoh Aalegra and Ari Lennox, the singer toured with material from her 2019 debut To Myself. This April she launched her sophomore effort Through and Through, which continues the throwback feels that she generated in her first release. Joined by fellow soul singer Q, the rising R&B artists embarked on their Through the Soul tour to support their recent releases. Baby Rose filled a sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg with soul and all the feels Thursday night (June 22).

here's a little vid from my favorite part of the show.

flip to last night (june 28), where my pandemic find, november ultra played bowery ballroom. i was gutted when i snoozed on her mercury show last fall, but rectified that. ethereal. that's the first thing that comes to mind when i hear her voice, and during the pandemic it sounded like solace in a dark world. apparently, she blew up on tik tok (which i am not subscriber), rather i stumbled upon her on IG. dare i say she's still an under the radar find. she's got an easy stage demeanor that rivals adele's open and story-laden delivery. her voice enraptures in multiple languages that transcend comprehension.

it's a breathe of fresh air to hear these voices amongst the current era. baby rose and november ultra harken back to bygone artists.

2019 mixtape invitational

my friend-coworker sam puts together an annual collation of top song for the year end.  here was mine from last year. this year's below and the full collection of lists here. i went deep into my 90's r&b feels last year and it's evident in artists that made my mix. only three of my artists (sharon van etten, normani and king princess) made it on other lists. 


 

mariah - genius level

often i miss out on events when i'm traveling and kick myself for the the ill timing, but last week was the worst time that i can recall. a friend had managed to get us on an exclusive invite to an intimate interview with mariah carey, one of my all time favorite artists, on the eve of the release of her 15th album, caution. a few dear friends made it. they are featured at the top of the video and at the 7 minute mark. this is one of the most deep and honest depictions of the singer beyond the diva facade. it's over an hour, but i dare anyone to watch this and not be won over by mariah's talent beyond her voice.

 

annie!

when you gonna get a real job?

new york

current mood

avalanches return!?!?!?

omg i was late to the memo but avalanches have a new album. weirdly, this month has been a trip down memory lane covering jenny lewis's 10th anniversary touring for rabbit fur coat and rocky votolato's 10th anniversary of makers. omg and upcoming tour to the states come early 2017. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeexcitement!

evening calm

i created a little playlist for my good friend michelle over at roxwell press for the chilly season and spring that soon shall be with us. listen here.

ethiopia skate

The title track from The Very Best’s latest album Makes A King.

Featuring Ethiopia Skate, started two years ago by a peer group of young skaters, led by then 16 year old Abenezer Temesgen, who shared only 7 boards between 25 youth in Ethiopia’s capitol, Addis Ababa. With time they connected with older skateboarders Addisu Hailemichael, Buzeyo Julien, and Yared Aya who each brought their neighborhood crews to the mix- creating a citywide network of youth interested in skating. With no place to buy skateboards, the crew created the beginnings of a skateboard scene and start a community organization to support it.

American photographer Sean Stromsoe documented this process by taking photos and making videos to inspire the movement. Since then, Ethiopia Skate has been able to get over 100 kids skateboarding with boards donated from Austria and America. They use Instagram to connect with various skaters and travelers, even getting the attention of CNN- who did a story on the movement in 2014.

In a place where there are no proper skate spots, this generation shows how to make do with what you have- power sliding down steep hills in the Piassa district or dropping in on their homemade mini ramp. They aim to buildEthiopia’s first public skatepark and spark a movement that lasts long into the future.

Shot & edited by Sean Stromsoe
Produced by Ethiopia Skate

drum fill friday

4/5 on the drum fill quiz but pretty pleased with my drum fill prowess. i'm sure this guy would have gotten them all right. 

sxsw lullabies

of course, npr has the best coverage of sxsw and these vignettes, sxsw x lullaby are the bestest. also, super psyched for a new mynabirds album.





torres

belated galentines champagne kisses

sorry gals i was distracted by some nba all star weekend, but here's a belated galentines video from jessie ware, who is going haute art for "champagne kisses." maw!

road dawgs

efterklang: the last concert

“It’s nice to remind yourself that things don’t last forever”

www.nowness.com/story/efterklang-the-last-concert

sunrise, sunset

"When I've been in Brooklyn for too long, it feels like I can't hold on to any thought. I'm just chasing things. I'm never on time and never really present for my life. I'm just sorta watching it go by in a series of feelings that relate to the sense that I'm missing out on something or that I'm not keeping up."

 

tough love

new jessie ware...SWOON! thanks v for the heads up.

shar rocks the drums

i'm really digging these npr music quizzes.  i've already blogged about sole of the band.  on the drum fill quiz, i got a perfect score! maybe guest quiz master s. carey and i are just drumming sweethearts.

the sole of the band

this was a fun silly quiz bob boilen at npr put together. i got 2/3.