Q & A - Superhuman Happiness

I asked Stuart Bogie a few questions, and he kindly answered them. Find out some things you didn't know about Superhuman Happiness, their approach to music, and Stuart Bogie's role in the Fela! Musical. *Just noticed this wasn't published when it should have been, oops.

1)Labels can be helpful but they are not always accurate when it comes to music. If you were to label the genre or sound of the music Superhuman Happiness makes, what would you call it?

Labels for music always carry baggage - baggage that gets re-appropriated and served back to people. It seems more helpful to speak of movements and eras and geography - whether physical or not. Superhuman Happiness' music is often compared to Talking Heads (a band i grew up listening to a great deal of) and modern groups like MGMT (who i only discovered after people made the comparisons). Our group is from New York (like Talking Heads, LCD Sound System, Liquid Liquid, etc) but i am from Chicago - home of Tortoise, Isotope 217, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the Jesus Lizard and many other groups that influence our music. So you could say there is some Chicago in our music, too. Couple that with the fact that we also play a good deal of Afrobeat music in the style of Fela Kuti, and you can kind of get the gist musically.

Throwback Thursday - Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff "Brand New Funk"

I forgot Will Smith actually had skills back in the day.

Throwback Thursday - LL Cool J "Around the Way Girl"

Don't we all need an "around the way" girl? Okay, maybe not. Haha, I have done almost all those dance moves at a club at some point. No, I'm not old enough to have done them in a club when this song came out. Lol at all the old white people in the audience who don't know what they are watching or how to follow the beat. No offense old white people.

New Music Video - Lupe Fiasco "Bitch Bad"

I've heard so much about this video, and haven't had the chance to see it until now. Lupe has been one of my favorite rappers for so long now, I still don't understand why he is so underrated. Anywho, my best friend was right when she said "the video should be shown in every class as a PSA." I could go on a whole moral tirade, but I'll leave it at this; great concept, great song, excellent execution, underrated rapper.

New Discovery - Ophelia Cache 'All Things Blue'

Ophelia blends smooth R&B beats with jazz like vocals; similar to Chrisette Michelle, Little Dragon, and Estelle. Honestly, that vocal style is annoying to some, mainly those who want the standard Monica type of vocals. But for those of you not annoyed by it, give Ophelia a listen.

"Cupid's Prayer" and "Pity Party" are standouts.

New Music - The BB Batts "Rock the Catwalk"

Sounds like something Ru Paul would have done for Drag Race. Fun and simple. It could use a little more enthusiasm though.

Cover Stories - Kate McGill "Too Close"

Sang it child! If you hadn't heard Alex Clare's version you would think this was her song. If you like this so much you want to own it, get it herehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif for FREE! And check out more of her stuff while you're at it.

New Music Video - The Grey Area "Sugar, From You"

Get More:
The Grey Area, MTV Hive,
MTV Hive Videos

I was waiting for her to kick him down the stairs at the end. Or stab him or something, haha.

Virgin Mobile Free Fest 2012 Announced

Finally!!

Album Review - Copperfox 'From The Den EP'

Copperfox, Lisa Garcia and Rory Mohon, created a small collection of mellow, calming music. The type of music I listened to while studying Organic Chemistry, praying I would remember the required equations. I didn't, but I did remember the words to Cat Powers "The Greatest." But I digress.

The lyrics are sufficiently moody, "Lover," and emotional to go along with the music. So no depressing melody backing jolly words of trips to Disneyland. All the tracks, including the mid-tempo Wallflowers-esque "We Know," fit in with the 90's melodrama television soundtracks. I can see a scene in Felicity, one of my favorite shows, where Felicity and Ben make up as Garcia sings "you got the best, you got the best of me."

And I can definitely hear "Be Careful" on Grey's Anatomy; probably a scene between Owen and Yang. Someone make it happen.

New Music - JoJo "Demonstrate"

Not overly sexual, while still being sexy. I am really routing for JoJo to break out of one hit wonder status. This may not rocket up the chart, but it is a reminder of where she can go.

Just Cause - Lachi "Bug Out"

Who doesn't want to forget about all the bs in the world and have fun? I like how much this reminds me of a video Mindy Kaling would make. And the end makes me want to go to a concert and just bug out.

New Music Video - Odd Hours "Long Lost Lovers" (Live)

I love the theatrics of it all. And the fact that he is in his underwear, so bold. haha.