Image

Soul

JMSN x Ab-Soul – You’re Gone (IAMNOBODI Remix)

JMSN x Ab-Soul - You're Gone (IAMNOBODI Remix)

German producer takes JMSN and Ab-Soul really really deep like Mariana’s Trench inside a singularity deep, that and he manages to horn in that “hOoowwww” vocal sample from Cam’ron’s “What Means The World To You”. If you’re like us and that’s absolutely your lane than best to be getting familiar below. Singularity/Cam’ron.

IAMNOBODI (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.10

brown8

reviewed by
08-30-13

Mirror Signal – Broken Soldier

mirror signal

Very new artist, as in there’s little to zero information out there about dude on the interwebs, Mirror Signal a/k/a 19-year old Suffolk songwriter Steven Barker crushes B3SCI world w/ the very very soulful, (let the fact that bro is just 19 blow your mind again as you listen) “Broken Soldier”.

Mirror Signal england (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-30-13

Interview w/ BASECAMP

B-A-S-E-C-A-M-P-EP

Words and Interview by J.L. Greene

Described as R&BDM, Nashville based BASECAMP springs from Music City with a unique sound that combines everything you love about EDM mixed with the best of R&B. As the story many times goes, the band began with a few friends (also seasoned musicians) in the music scene hanging out and talking music. With a passion for the supreme, BASECAMP is a very unique amalgamation that leaves a lingering impression. In an email interview, I got to ask bandmates Aaron Miller, Aaron C. Harmon and Jordan Reyes a little bit more about their brand new baby.

BASECAMP’s self-titled EP is out now and you can have a listen below. You won’t regret it.

B3SCI: Tell me a little bit about how you guys joined together to form BASECAMP. Did it start organically?

Miller: We had a bunch of mutual friends and had worked together on a few projects for other artists in Nashville, and I guess one day we just sort of threw out the idea of doing a little side project together. Didn’t really have any plans of making it any sort of official ‘band’ thing, just thought it would be fun.

Harmon: Yea, the way everything clicked felt very organic.

B3SCI: Can you tell us a little bit about your backgrounds? Where are you from… school, etc.?

Harmon: Jordan and I are originally from Vegas. We grew up together.

Miller: Originally from California, but I grew up mostly in Nashville. I think we all kinda skipped the college thing. Hopefully that doesn’t come back to haunt us.

B3SCI: Why BASECAMP musique? Is there a specific reason you chose the French spelling?

Miller: There’s no particular reason, I guess. I think ‘basecampmusic’ and ‘basecampband’ were taken or something. Haha

B3SCI: For people considering checking out the EP, how would you describe it?

Miller: Well we started the project initially to try and get some placements in film & tv. So I guess we were leaning in a slightly more ‘cinematic’ direction at first. But yeah, I don’t know. I think my favorite genre description we’ve gotten thus far is ‘R&BDM’. Haha, seems to be the most fitting I’ve heard.

B3SCI: There’s a certain R&B aspect to the songs, especially in “Emmanuel”. Coming from Nashville, that’s pretty different. Why did you decide to pursue it?

Miller: We didn’t really consciously ‘pursue’ the R&B thing. We didn’t really set out with a strict set of guidelines, we just did what we liked.

B3SCI: How would you say this project is different from your past work?

Miller: I feel like we just had a little bit more fun putting this EP together. We did a lot of experimenting and playing around. And it’s really the first collaborative project I’ve been a part of, so there was definitely a feeling of having to figure each other out and build up a creative chemistry. There was maybe a little head butting here and there, but that’s natural (and typically healthy).

B3SCI: The EP is also a synthesis of so many other different sounds, making it a pretty epic experience. Can you describe the process of incorporating them all into the final product?

Miller: I think that goes back to the ‘experimenting’ thing. We had a limited amount of gear to make this record with, so we had to resort to a lot of unconventional means when it came to getting the sounds we wanted. Which in hindsight, I think was a really great thing.

B3SCI: How do you think you’ve grown musically as you worked together on the EP?

Miller: Again, this is the first serious collaborative effort we’ve all made thus far, so I suppose it’s forced us to learn how to make healthy compromises and find a good middle ground. That said, I think the most growth came from finding our balance with each other. Really excited about the new material we’re working up.

B3SCI: Can you tell me a little bit about your creative process? What does that look like?

Miller: Typically we start with the music. We build a track together, and once it’s to a certain point, I’ll take it home and start writing the lyrics and melodies. Then from there it’s lots of tweaking and polishing.

Harmon: Lots of tweaking.

Reyes: Yeah, usually changes pretty drastically from the initial idea.

Basecamp (Official)

Rating 8.0

reviewed by
08-29-13

Sundays – Hope It’s Enough

Sundays_HopeItsEnough_1500

Vancouver-based R&B golden hope (& new favorite of the site) Sundays delivers the intensely intimate and personal (and crazy good vocally) “Hope It’s Enough” from her forthcoming (self-produced!) Of Eros and I EP. When Sundays sings we listen; do not miss out on the genesis of a truly singular and phenomenally talented new artist. “Of Eros and I” is due in October.

Soundcloud canada (Soundcloud)

Rating 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-20-13

Justine Skye – Messing With You (feat. Joey Bada$$ & AZ)

justine

Brooklyn songstress Justine Skye hooks up everybody’s fave Joey Bada$$ (& apparently 90’s MC AZ, although it’s unclear just where he appears on the track) for the electro-tinged mid-tempo jam “Messing With You”. Justine’s “Everyday Living” EP is due next week, August 20th.

Justine Skye (Tumblr)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-16-13

Bo Saris – The Addict

bo saris

You may recall Bo Saris from his 2012 gem “She’s On Fire“–if not then it’s best you hit that link now and familiarize yourself. Today, Bo dropped his next ace “The Addict” which is like “She’s On Fire” rooted in the same golden Detroit Hitsville sound, except “The Addict” turns down the lights a touch while upping the heat with a notably darker tone that’s no doubt smooth enough to make our man James Brown (a very good litmus test) ‘feel (very) good’.

Bo Saris netherlands (Facebook)

Rating 8.49389

brown8

reviewed by
08-16-13

WE ARE TWIN – The Way We Touch

we are twin

“The Way We Touch” is new from (the aptly named) LA-based duo WE ARE TWIN. Bounding between several different genres and styles (current indie, classic soul & pop songwriting sensibilities), “The Way We Touch” is interesting not only for its variable stylistic qualities but for singer Gabi Christine’s excellent melodic/vocal choices. Good luck not humming this one for the rest of the day. WE ARE TWIN’s debut EP is out August 20th on A&M/Octone.

We Are Twin california (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-14-13

Phoenix – Trying To Be Cool (Remix feat. R Kelly)

phoenix trying to be cool

The Phoenix hommes link up w/ their bro Robert Kelly (you may remember their impromptu collab at Coachella) for this new “Trying To Be Cool” remix and as you may have suspected, it’s awesome. Nobody gets rich off the remix like The R.

Phoenix (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-14-13

Josh Record – Summertime Sadness (Lana Del Ray Cover)

josh record

New B3 fave Josh Record delivers an intimate, heartened, tasteful version of Lana Del Rey’s now in pop radio rotation lugubrious paean “Summertime Sadness”.

Josh Record england (Facebook)

Rating: 8.3

brown8

reviewed by
08-13-13