MMWOS talks to Cookie Rabinowitz

Hello all my music lovers and leaders of tunes! I am so happy to bring you another great interview. Today, I had the chance to chat with Alt-Soul artist Cookie Rabinowitz. Cookie's musicial style is a fusion of funk, hip-hop, rock, and R&B! With roots in Philadelphia, you can expect to serious musicially style and flavor from Rabinowitz's latest album Four Eyed Soul!

What is your earliest memory of music? 

Cookie Rabinowitz: Ah, music. I was around nine, she was much older and made me a little nervous, but I felt an undeniable attraction that pulled me in. Eventually, she took me for everything I had.

What is the most difficult thing you had to endure in life? How did it affect your music?

Cookie Rabinowitz: We all endure difficult things, and it’s all relevant. An upper middle class man in the suburbs who comes home from work and finds his wife in bed with the gardener. A beautiful woman minding her own business, walking to the store to get an iced tea, getting verbally harassed and objectified by some jerk. People lose their loved ones, their health, their jobs. I’ve been through some shit, but I guess the music is affected more from just the pain than what caused it. Hopefully people will hear my music and will identify with it, and whether it makes them want to fight or f….ornicate, I’m good with that.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Cookie Rabinowitz: All the ones you recognize by one name: Stevie, Curtis, Marvin, and Sly. 

Lets talk about your lasted album, Four Eyed Soul. Describe Four Eyed Soul for all the MMWOS readers.

Cookie Rabinowitz: It’s a Cookie Rabinowitz Album. I write and record music all the time. There’s a band too. Tone Whitfield, Erik Horvitz, John Swana, Tony Reyes, and Neil Simpkins. We all make the music and I think it’s a “sound” a sound that is “Cookie Rabinowitz” “Four Eyed Soul”. It’s joy and pain translated through the mouths, fingers and limbs of six guys.

What is your favorite track from the album, why?

Cookie Rabinowitz: I can’t really pick one. It’s hard to listen to my own music that way. I can tell you my favorite song off of “Music Of My Mind” is “Girl Blue”.  Well actually, it’s a tossup between “Girl Blue” and “Golden Lady (Where Were You When I Needed You)”.

What song from the album best epitomizes the feel of Four Eyed Soul?

Cookie Rabinowitz: They are all very much, for better or worse, “Four Eyed Soul”. 

How do you feel about being a independent artist in the music industry?

Cookie Rabinowitz: From the perspective of an artist, it’s amazing.  From an industry standpoint, we all know it’s not easy out there and we all know why. I try to deal with that as an artist as well. I try to be creative in everything I do weather it’s writing a song, making a YouTube video, posting 140 words or less, a packaging concept for the music... talking to a booking agent. If I look at it as a business that I’m struggling in, I lose. However, if I look at it as something that I’m constantly creating and discovering it all of a sudden becomes an amazing creative “work in progress”.

What ways has Philadelphia inspired your music? 

Cookie Rabinowitz: Philly to me just has so much fucking soul.  So much more than I have.  So I just let it seep in.  

How will your music change the current state of the music industry?

Cookie Rabinowitz: I’m more concerned on how it might change the mood of a human being or maybe even a house pet. If a Cookie Rabinowitz song was playing and a child stopped crying and started dancing or a dog stopped barking and started wagging it’s tail, that’s the type of change I wanna make.

What has been your biggest challenge with your music and in the industry?

Cookie Rabinowitz: With everything it’s energy. I’m healthy and have a lot of gratitude for that.  I work and pray hard to keep my energy level high so I can keep it moving. Sometimes I get exhausted so I have to take a nap. Naps are good.

When can we all see you in concert? Where can we buy your music?

Cookie Rabinowitz: You can get all that info at my website http://www.cookierabinowitz.com I designed it and keep it up myself (and with the help of Google – HA!). It’s not very pretty and neither am I, so I think it’s a good fit.

https://www.facebook.com/CookieRabinowitz

https://www.youtube.com/user/electricroots

https://twitter.com/COOKIERABINOWTZ

http://instagram.com/cookierabinowitz 

Finally, what does music mean to you?

Cookie Rabinowitz: It’s my significant other. I love her. I’ve loved her since I was nine…. And I always will. 

(photo courtesy of Cookie Rabinowitz)

MMWOS talks to Painted on Water

Hello all my Music Maven! I have a great new interview for you all. Painted on Water is comprised of musical sensations  Demir Demirkan and Sertab Erener. Demir and Sertab combines their traditional tunes from their birth country Turkey with a kick of rock guitars, jazz, and pop polish.  Chicago-based  songwriter, vocalist and instrumentalist Demir Demirkan and songwriter and vocalist Sertab Erener will talk about their music, their latest album, and more!

Here is MMWOS talks to Painted on Water

What is your earliest memory of music? In what way did that experience lead to Painted on Water?

Demir: As a child I was a fan of 50's and 60's rock-and-roll. I had a mixed tape of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and the likes. Some of my earliest memories are singing along to that tape, sometimes recording my voice while tapping on the table and playing it back to listen to it. I think there are many elements of that rock-and-roll attitude in Painted On Water. 

Sertab: Like most children, I was singing and dancing in front of a mirror with a hairbrush in my hand. Now I do that on a real stage. 

What is the most difficult thing you had to endure in life? How did it affect your music? 

Demir: I lived in Los Angeles for a while after I finished studying at the Musicians Institute. I was working a few jobs and trying to make music at the same time. I was a hired guitar player for a few bands while I recorded my album at the same time with the money I earned. I was also delivering flowers and food and, you know, jobs like that. For about 6 months or so, I barely had enough money for food and I had no time to sleep. I was getting by on a couple of bars of chocolate, a multivitamin pill and LA tap water. It was not pretty. That experience taught me to concentrate on what I like doing even when it gets tough for longer periods of time. That's also the time you sort out your true friends from the fake ones. It teaches you to strip things down to their essentials. I have been involved in every part of the music business and musicianship. From guitar playing to songwriting to producing to singing, from African music to blues to rock, to metal and Turkish music, this diverse experience has helped me adopt different styles into the music I'm doing now. 

Sertab: I've had ulcerative colitis since I was 12. Most of my childhood was spent in hospitals. It finally ended with three major surgeries with all of my large intestine removed. I was home most of the time not being able to socialize and that got me into music. It was my best company. I decided to study at the Classical Conservatory and my family supported me on this, so I became a singer. 

Who do you think is a real game-changer in the music industry? 

Demir: Digital revolution or maybe involution I should say. While making productions and marketing easy, it killed the industry, well, almost. No one knows where it will go from here but only assumes or simulates scenarios. I think the age of recorded music is ending, and age of live performance is beginning again. I mean real performances by people who actually know how to play their instruments well and sing well. As a listener, I am tired of listening to derivatives of a few bands with the same instrumentation and sound. We need unique sounds. 

Sertab: I think way before that, when audio recording was invented, it all happened. It gave birth to the industry as we know it. People needed real people playing real time before recording was invented. From then on, music was in the air without the musician. I think it was Thomas Edison who invented the first phonograph recording and Alexander Graham Bell started made the gramophone. 

How has art influence your music?

Demir: As a practice for composing, I used to look at a specific picture for hours and get the essence of it and then made that into an audible form, a song or a piece of music. Composing music with your eyes is a very enlightening experience. You have only one mind and subconsciousness, and deep inside hearing, seeing, feeling, perceiving are rooted in the same base. It is a meditation really. Our band's name Painted On Water is a very visual name and it's taken from the ancient art of ebru, which is paper marbling. Abstract drawings have an effect on the conscience. When you look at art while listening to music, it feels like you're bringing together two loose ends of the same thing. 

What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Demir: I am fond of every step of the music making process, from lyric writing to mastering. I am chronically discouraged by the approach of record companies and radio to music and musicians. When the time comes for music to be monetized, if things lean onto the business side too much, that's when I think the listener is being degraded into a consumer. I think it is an issue about the music listener and not the music maker. I think listeners should take it into their own hands to choose what music they want to listen to instead of choosing what's being shoved down their throats by the industry. It's like choosing what you eat all day. 

Sertab: I love to be on stage and share music with people at that given moment. What excites me the most is that music is made, witnessed and consumed at that moment and then it's all a memory. Studio process is discouraging to me. It feels like a lab without feeling – no audience. The smallest mistake is audible and music gets ruined while trying to get it perfected. As an artist, you learn when to stop correcting mistakes. 

How has your hometown played an influence on your music?

We take a lot of elements of Anatolian music and put them into our own music. They could be rhythmic, harmonic or melodic elements. I think it enriches the music. It's embedded in our souls so we don't necessarily have to think about implementing those musical elements into whatever we do. It just naturally comes out that way. 

What has been your biggest challenge with your music and in the industry?

Demir: When it comes to the point of give-and-take, it gets frustrating. It could be a production that I'm doing or my album, or some record company person who walks into the studio after the mix and says something that should have been said months ago. This happens very often to musicians. I think they train them at the offices to be that way, you know what I mean?

Sertab: Anything that comes in between the artist and the listener ruins that relationship, be it the record company or any media who has a say on choosing what to put out. One of the positive impacts of internet is that it eliminates that middle man. 

What other genre of music do you enjoy?

Demir: I listen to a lot of folk singers and songwriters. Most of them are not very well-lmpwm. Sometimes I want to just hear the song without arrangement or performer's interpretation. It feels very sincere to me. I also like a lot of electronic music like Shpongle, Juno Reactor, Klaus Schulze and solo guitar music from Bill Frisell to Joe Stariani. 

Sertab: I really enjoy classical music. I sometimes listen to rock/alternative like Muse, etc. and some electronic downtempo stuff like Massive Attack. 

What does music mean to you?

Demir: I have given up searching for meaning in things after I realized that searching is the outcome of  need, or an emptiness inside. It's like searching for the meaning of life, you'll never find it but run into many conflicts, endless discussions and illusions. I prefer to mean something to life and mean something to music. I perceive it from the opposite point of view: “how I can I make myself more meaningful to music, to life and to the world?”  It's a way to salvation on its own. 

Sertab: me too... :)

When can we all see you in concert? Where can we buy your music?

We are on tour right now. We've just played 2 shows in Chicago and one in Toronto. We'll be in Tropicalia, Washington DC on March 20th, in Drom, NYC on March 21st and Johnny D's, Boston on March 23rd. Our music is on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chicago-issue-ep/id729908398 and every other digital platform to buy or stream. To buy tickets to our performances, visit www.paintedonwater.com or www.dromnyc.com.

I would like to thank Painter on Water for the interview! 

MMWOS talks to Sahr Dumbar

Sahr Dummy is a hip hop artist, song writer and producer with a distinct, provocative style that reinvents the rap industry altogether. Compared to Busta Rhymes and Ludacris, Sahr “Dummy” brings his unique personality into the mix when it comes to producing his own music. Pulling inspiration from the devastating loss of his wife in 2012, Sahr was motivated to live life to the fullest and pursue his dream and passion for the music industry.

MMWOS: What is your earliest memory of music? 

Sahr Dumbar: Listening to Michael Jackson's "Beat It". In what way did that experience encourage you to become a hip hop artist, song writer and producer? I loved Michael Jackson's energy and his music was electric. Michael Jackson was an inspiration because of his unique talent as a singer and dancer. His dynamic talent inspired me to write songs and create my own music.

MMWOS: What is your favorite album of all time? 

Sahr Dumbar: Nas and Damian Marley- "Distant Relatives"

MMWOS: What is the most difficult thing you had to endure in life?  

Sahr Dumbar:  My wife passing away in 2012. How did it affect your music? It inspired me to live life to the fullest and create music that can never die.

MMWOS :How will your music change the current state of the music industry? 

Sahr Dumbar: I think my music can change the music industry because it will make you laugh and dance at the same time.  I want people to feel "entertained" after listening to my music.

MMWOS: How do you feel about the that state of hip hop today?  

Sahr Dumbar: The current state of the music industry is very "cookie cutter" and isolated to the chosen few artist who are able to get played on commercial radio. 

MMWOS:How would you fix it? 

Sahr Dumbar: I think it will self correct itself over time with the help of the internet and internet radio. The originality and quality of music will improve with the development of more choices to listen to.

MMWOS:What 3 elements do you need to make the perfect track?

 

Sahr Dumbar: Amazing lyrics, a great instrumental and a theme that people can relate to.

MMWOS: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most? 

Sahr Dumbar: Writing new music excites me the music. Promoting the music discourages me the most.

MMWOS:When can we all see you in concert? 

 Sahr Dumbar:  Hopefully soon. I have several potential opportunities with Reverbnation I am waiting to hear about in 2014. 

MMWOS:Where can we buy your music? 

Sahr Dumbar: My music is available on my website: http://www.sahrdummy.com/music

On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-about-to-go-down!-ep/id768237747?uo=4

It is also available on CD baby, Google play, Rhapsody, Amazon and Spotify to name a few.

MMWOS: Finally what does music mean to you? 

Sahr Dumbar: Music is everything to me. It is my inspiration for life. It is an autobiography of my life. It can never die.

MMWOS Talks to Desi Valentine

Hello all my music lovers. I have a great interview to share with you. I would like to introduce to you, Desi Valentine. Desi is a talented singer/songwriter from London with a soul voice and crazy good lyrics. With a unique musical style and tons of experience in the music industry, Desi is a must listen to!

Here is MMWOS talks to Desi Valentine

MMWOS Talks to Kingsize

Hello all my music lovers! You all know that I love sharing new music with you all. Today I have a exclusive interview with rock band Kingsize. Kingsize is a great mixture of a classic rock band meets punk. With a love of music and a unique sound, Kingsize is a band that should be known. So without further ado , here is MMWOS talks to Kingsize! 

KINGSIZE started as a simple jam session between Jason Gordon and Cary Beare. Bass player Matt DelVecchio  later join the group performing around town. KINGSIZE first debuted The Good Fight EP on their own Good Fight Music label in 2008. As the title suggests, these were songs that had come looking for a fight. A few months later, KINGSIZE released a sister EP to The Good Fight. The Bad Night EP. From the opening bars of “Nice Dress Pt. II” to the final fade of “Tourniquet Queen,” these were songs that spoke of the loneliness of the city and the mistakes we can make while trying to escape it. The band has finally finished recording their debut album All These Machines, now available for purchase.

Aside from producing their romantic, defiant sound, one of KINGSIZE’s most important achievements is the huge part the band plays in the lives of children battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Music Gives to St. Jude Kids is a new campaign created by Jason with the sole purpose of raising money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through music-based initiatives. Jason’s grandfather, Danny Thomas, founded the hospital in 1962.

MMWOS: What is your earliest memory of music? In what way did that experience encourage you to become a musician?

 Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Music was always there from the start. My old man took off on us when I was pretty young. We didn't talk much about our feelings but, my mom, sister, and I would spend hours at record stores together. Then, we'd go home and everyone would go to their rooms and live inside the music they chose. It was kinda how we got by. Being a musician is probably a natural extension of that. 

MMWOS: How did Kingsize come to be? What is the meaning behind the band's name Kingsize?

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Cary and I had been close friends for years but never played in a band together. We started writing songs one day and it stopped us cold. We really dug what we had going but he was through with the music scene, through with singers, through with LA. I said, "We gotta form a band and play this stuff!" He said he'd only do it if I sang my own lyrics. I wanted to play drums and get a singer but he refused. So… I gave in to be in a band with the bastard.

The band name has no meaning. Although I've heard some interesting ones...

MMWOS: What is the most difficult thing you had to endure in life? How did it affect your music? 

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Enduring yourself is demon enough. Put three other guys in that mix. There's your music.

MMWOS: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Every aspect has incredible moments. From writing to recording to playing live. You can get high from all of it. For me, the hard part is the down time. I'd like to be on tour. But, soon….

MMWOS: How do you feel about the that state of the music today? How would you fix it?

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Not a huge fan of what passes for music today. Whatever that crap is they shill on MTV and most radio. You fix it by not looking in it's eyes. 

MMWOS: Who do you think is a real game-changer in the music industry? 

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Kingsize & Milan Malan Word On the Street, baby!

MMWOS: What has been your biggest challenge with your music and in the industry?

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Because of piracy, etc., music has become kinda disposable in a lot of people's minds. What's happened to record stores is criminal. And it'll hurt our culture in the long run. Music needs a physical church to be worshiped in. It's a communal thing that I hope comes back at some point when we realize what we've done. But, artist development has suffered as well. That hurts young bands. There's fear in the marketplace which hurts music, which hurts radio, etc. So, what ends up selling is pre-packaged pop for kids at shopping malls. 

Ramones aren't just a T-shirt from Hot Topic. They're a fucking rock 'n roll band!

The challenge is to not let that affect morale within the band. To believe in what you're doing regardless of what you're up against. We all have our moments but we're holding up alright. High five!

MMWOS: Tell us a story about a day in your life.

Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head...

MMWOS: What advice would you give to fellow bands?

 Jason Thomas Gordon of KINGSIZE: Songs first. Shoes second.

I would like to thank Kingsize for the Interview! Make sure you check out Kingsize latest at http://thisiskingsize.com/

Oh yeah, here are a tons of other links that you can see the latest from Kingsize ! 

Music Gives: http://www.stjude.org/musicgives - (This is a great cause, check it out!)

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsKingsizeTV

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisiskingsize

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisiskingsize

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/artist/kingsize/id281823536

Rockband: http://www.rockband.com/songs/artists/Kingsize

MMWOS talks to Kali Joe

Hey all my music lovers and courtiers. I have a new exclusive interview with Kali Joe.

Kali has graced his with with tons of artist including The Pussy Cat Dolls , Trey Songz , The Presidentz, Wes Felton, and many more. With a love for hip hop and lyrics to reflect that, Kai Joe has a lot of of great music to tell and more to share on Milan Malan Word on the Street. 

Here is Kali Joe! 

MMWOS: What is your earliest memory of hip hop? In what way did that experience encourage you to become a rapper?

Kali Joe: MY DAD WAS A LYRICIST ALL OF HIS LIFE HE'S NOW AN ENTREPRENEUR IN THE SAME FIELD (www.starrmediagroup.com) SO THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND ME, MY WHOLE LIFE. AS A CHILD MY FATHER WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME THAT I WAS BUILT FOR THIS! HE AND MY MOM WOULD PUT HEADPHONES ON MY MOTHER'S STOMACH WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH ME... ONE DAY AT A FAMILY BBQ MY DAD WAS LEAVING TO GO TO THE STUDIO AND I WANTED TO GO WITH HIM BUT DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT COMES WITH THE STUDIO HE DIDN'T FEEL THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE... LONG STORY SHORT MY MOTHER FOUGHT WITH HIM TOOTH AND NAIL FOR ME TO GO AND I DID... THIS IS THE RESULT OF THAT DAY; I MUST HAVE BEEN 9 YEARS OLD.

MMWOS: What is the most difficult thing you had to endure in life? How did it affect your music?

Kali Joe: LETTING MY PARENT'S DOWN WHEN I WENT TO JAIL WAS HONESTLY THE MOST DIFFICULT THING I'VE DONE IN LIFE, HOWEVER, GOD WAS ON MY SIDE AS WELL AS MY FAMILY IN THAT SITUATION AND BECAUSE THE CRIME I COMMITTED WAS MY FIRST OFFENSE IM LUCKY TO EVEN BE FREE TODAY. WHAT I CAN SAY IS THE WHOLE TIME I WAS IN JAIL I WAS FORMULATING AND BEING STRATEGIC WITH THE THINGS YOU SEE TODAY AND THE BUSINESS VENTURES YOU'LL SOON SEE IN FUTURE.

MMWOS: What ways has California inspired your music?
 

Kali Joe:CALIFORNIA'S INSPIRED NOT ONLY MY MUSIC BUT MY LIFE IN SEVERAL WAYS, ONE OF THOSE WAYS BEING THE INFLUENCE OF HOLLYWOOD, THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, THE STARS YOU SEE ON THE REGULAR... YOU KNOW, AS A KID BEING FROM VENTURA COUNTY AS SOON AS YOU DRIVE OVER THAT GRADE (INTO THE VALLEY/LOS ANGELES) IT'S LIKE A WHOLE NEW WORLD. HOWEVER ON THE OTHER HAND CALIFORNIA'S UNDERBELLY, FOR EXAMPLE: GANGS AND DRUGS IN MY CITY (OXNARD) NOT ONLY INFLUENCED MY MUSIC BUT IT INFLUENCED MY DRIVE TO LEAD A MORE POSITIVE AND FRUITFUL LIFE. I PRIDE MYSELF IN SAYING THAT I'VE BEEN EXPOSED AND WELL LEARNED TO BOTH SIDES..... BUT, STARDOM, SUCCESS, AND POSITIVITY ARE THE ROAD I AM DRIVING ON NOW.

MMWOS: What has been your biggest challenge with your music and in the hip hop industry?

Kali Joe: GREAT QUESTION BY THE WAY, IN ALL HONESTY MALAN... AND NOT TO SOUND COCKY... I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING MY MUSIC ON THE TECHNICAL OR EMOTIONAL ASPECT, BUT!!! AS A FIRM BELIEVER THAT ART CAN'T BE RUSHED, AND THAT EVERY WORD, SUBJECT, VERSE, NOUN, CHORUS ETC. SHOULD BE PERFECT, I FIND IT REALLY CHALLENGING TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THE RIGHT INSPIRATION. BASICALLY MY MIND IS ALWAYS ON THE GO I'M ALWAYS WRITING/RECORDING NEW MATERIAL TO STAY CONSISTENT... MY MIND IS FIXED ON CONSISTENCY AND QUANTITY, BUT MY HEART IS FOCUSED ON PRODUCING QUALITY.... SO THAT'S LIKE A BIG CHALLENGE FOR ME... BEING PATIENT

AS FAR AS THE HIP HOP INDUSTRY GOES MY BIGGEST "CHALLENGE" WITH THAT IS JUST ADAPTING ALL OF THE TIME YOU KNOW, BUT IN THIS BUSINESS YOU HAVE TO ABLE TO DO THAT AND I CAN. IT BASICALLY TIES IN TO THE WHOLE QUALITY/QUANTITY ISSUE... LONG STORY SHORT MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS LOOKING AT THE MUSIC I MAKE FROM THE QUANTITY ASPECT AS A CONSUMER AND NOT AS THE ARTIST. ALTHOUGH I'D LIKE TO SAY I CAN PROVIDE THE INDUSTRY WITH BOTH!!!

MMWOS: Who do you think is a real game-changer in the music industry?

Kali Joe: MR. CARTER (JAY-Z) TURNED THE GAME UPSIDE DOWN FROM AN ENTREPRENEURS VIEW, CANT FORGET CURTIS JACKSON (50 CENT) I'D LIKE TO SAY THEY CHANGED THE GAME SONICALLY AS WELL. THEY'RE MY INSPIRATION IN THAT ASPECT. ID ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE THAT MR.SHAKUR (TUPAC) CHANGED THE GAME BY MAKING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ARTIST AND LISTENER MORE PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL HE'S ALSO AN INSPIRATION FROM THAT VIEW POINT!

MMWOS: How do you feel about the state of hip hop today? How would you fix it?

Kali Joe:AS FAR AS THE SOUND AND WHATS WIDELY ACCEPTED IN HIP HOP TODAY I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING, I THINK THESE UP AND COMING ARTISTS SUCH AS MYSELF ARE BRINGING WHAT WE THINK IS FIXING THE GAME AS FAR AS SOUND GOES ALREADY... HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK A SINGLE THING IN THE GAME NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THE CREATIVE SIDE OF THINGS, ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS HOWEVER, I THINK HIP HOP NEEDS TO EXPAND AND BECOME MORE OF AN ACCEPTED HOUSE HOLD ITEM.

MMWOS:  How will your music change the current state of the rap game?

Kali Joe:MY MUSIC IS 100% ME, NO ONE PERSON IS EXACTLY ALIKE, SO I DON'T THINK MY SOUND WILL CHANGE THE GAME I THINK MY SOUND WILL SUPPLEMENT THE GAME, OR INSPIRE THE ARTISTS WITH IN IT, IT'S ORIGINAL... MORE PERSONAL... DARK AT TIMES... UPLIFTING ETC. AND HONESTLY I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THE GAME NEEDS A LITTLE DOSE OF MY WORLD TO LEVEL OUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S OUT THERE. I MEAN I'M VERY VERSATILE I CAN EITHER RE-ENERGIZE THE STATE OF THE RAP GAME OR SUPPLEMENT IT.

MMWOS: What new projects are your working on today?

Kali Joe:YOU'LL SOON SEE MS.MALAN! ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS "THE THRESHOLD" IS ON THE WAY SOON. WE'RE AIMING FOR MARCH 13TH.
 
MMWOS: When can we all see you in concert? Where can we buy your music?

Kali Joe:I PROVIDE MY LISTENERS AND FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION ON MY TWITTER WHICH IS @KALIJOE.

MMWOS: Finally what does music mean to you?

Kali Joe:MUSIC TO ME IS THE SOUND OF EMOTION.

I would like to thank Kali Joe for the interview. 

Check out Kali Joe at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaliJoe805

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaliJoe

Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/joekaliclark

MMWOS Interview with Tracy Cruz

Hey everyone! I am happy to present you all a great new independent artist, Tracy Cruz. Tracy Cruz music has  hit the music charts all over the world. With a new remix album coming out and some rave reviews from her 2011 album Universoul Symphony, Tracy Cruz is a the next big singer that the world needs to listen to. Here MMWOS Interview with Tracy Cruz!

MMWOS: What is your earliest memory of music? 
Describe the moment in you life when you knew that you wanted to be a singer and songwriter?

Tracy Cruz: My earliest memory of music would have to be singing Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All" to my family. I was five years old at the time and I absolutely loved singing that song, especially to my grandfathers. They would often ask me to perform and then they would give me money afterwards-it was my first  gig (smiling)! Also I remember seeing and hearing my mother and grandmother sing around the house. I saw how happy they were and wanted to experience that same type of joy through music so I sang along. I knew I wanted to be a singer when I was 12 years old-that's when I started actively performing at various church functions, community and cultural events as well as competing in talent contests. Singing allowed me to fully express myself in the most creative way and gave me the opportunity to emotionally connect with people of all ages and walks of life, which I thought was extremely beautiful and powerful. At the age of 19, I realized I wanted to be a songwriter. I carried a journal and pen with me everywhere I went and wrote down my thoughts, goals, ideas, fears, dreams, insecurities, struggles, etc. Those words became poems and those poems became songs. I was inspired to share my stories with the world. 

MMWOS: You music has hit the charts all over the world and you worked with some of the best in the music industry, Is there anyone else in the industry you would love to work with?

Tracy Cruz: I'm humbled and grateful that my music has hit the charts over the world. I still can't believe it (smiling)! There are so many people I would love to work. I would love to collaborate with Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Jill Scott, Dianne Warren, Robert Glasper, The Foreign Exchange, Amel Larrieux, Eric Roberson, Common, Talib Kweli, The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, KING...just to name a few. 

MMWOS: How do you feel about the state of R&B and Soul music today? 
How would you fix it?

Tracy Cruz: I honestly feel that some of the content of R&B music today needs to improve, especially those that are consistently being played over the airwaves and shown on television. There needs to be more uplifting, positive, and motivating songs. Songs that touch people's hearts and change lives. Songs that children can listen to. It seems as though the songs that receive the most airplay are monotonous as far as message and style. What happened to songs like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" saturating the airwaves? Those songs were musically compelling and inspired change and love. 

On the other hand, there are several R&B/Soul artists who continue to create high quality music such as Jill Scott, Ledisi, Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, Eric Roberson, Rahsaan Patterson, Lalah Hathaway and so forth. Their music consists of intricate musical arrangements, emotive voices, and thought provoking lyrics. Good R&B/Soul music exists, you just have to take the time to find it. As far as fixing the current state of R&B/Soul music, I will continue to do my best to create music that is heartfelt, honest, and inspiring. 

MMWOS: Let talk about Electricity and Struggle Reprise, from your latest album Universoul
Symphony. I love these songs. How did these songs come to be? 
What was your inspiration behind these tracks? 

Tracy Cruz: Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy that you love those songs. I came up with the concept for "Electricity" after I heard the music that my husband Allen composed. The vibe of that song was very fun, upbeat and energetic. The sounds made me think of electricity, lights, and the colors bronze, gold and silver. I decided to write about the different stages of love-attraction, romance, passion, intimacy and commitment and tie in words that corresponded to the theme of "electricity". I wrote the song "Struggle" back in 2004 because I was struggling to follow my dreams. I didn't think I was good enough. I didn't believe I could have a successful music career. I was afraid that people wouldn't like or understand my voice and music. I wanted to give up. But then I thought to myself, "Why would God give me a voice? Wasn't I meant to use it?" I wrote "Struggle" as a personal reminder to always have faith and never give up on my dreams no matter. I remade "Struggle" in 2011 and renamed it "Struggle Reprise" and included it in my sophomore album "Universoul Symphony". It now includes a bridge and has an additional message with states "stronger than I've ever been, wiser than I've ever been" because I'm still following my dreams (in music) and will not give up. 

MMWOS: What is the one thing you would like new fans to know about you and your music?

Tracy Cruz: I've been an independent artist since 2005. My husband Allen Ross and I have been managing all of the creative & business aspects of our music. We  are a 2-person team-we handle all of our songwriting, promotions, marketing, booking, and so forth.  We have released an EP "Illuminate Love" in April of 2005, debut full-length album"Feel'osophy" in September 2008 & sophomore album "Universoul Symphony" in August of 2011. Being a 2-person music team is not an easy task. It can get stressful and overwhelming at times, especially when we're also working full-time jobs and raising our two little ones. However we completely enjoy creating music and sharing it with the world! 

MMWOS: I read that R&B singer Ledisi was your vocal coach. What is the most important lesson did you learn from her? 

Tracy Cruz: The most important lesson that I learned from Ledisi is to always stay true to yourself and your art. Don't ever try to be something that you're not. Your music always has to be an honest and complete representation of yourself. 

MMWOS: What new projects are you working on today?

Tracy Cruz:  I'm currently finishing up my remix album for "Universoul Symphony". I'm  really excited to share this project because it will showcase the various interpretations of my music from DJs and music producers from around the world. I also plan on releasing another music video before the end of this year. I would also love to travel with my band and perform across the United States and overseas. 

MMWOS: When can we all see Tracy Cruz in concert? 

Tracy Cruz: I'm currently lining up some shows for the summer. 

Please stay tuned at www.facebook.com/tracycruzmusicpage

Twitter:   www.twitter.com/tracycruzmusic 

Website: www.tracycruz.com. 

MMWOS: Finally what does music mean to you?

Tracy Cruz: Music is a powerful tool. I believe that it is meant to uplift, encourage, inspire, motivate, and unite people. Music is medicine. It is very therapeutic. It enables us to transport ourselves into a different time and space. Music also helps us to remember our fondest memories and relieve our daily stress. 

I would like to thank Tracy Cruz for the interview!
Check out more about Tracy Cruz at

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/tracycruzmusicpage

Twitter:   www.twitter.com/tracycruzmusic 

Website: www.tracycruz.com.