Latest R&B Posts

[Event Preview] BUKU Music & Arts Project March 10-11

Posted by Mark McNulty - December 16, 2016

Every city in America has its own music scene, but in New Orleans, music is a way of life – a cultural infrastructure as essential to the city as its freeways and French Quarter. Jazzfest attracts the best in rock, folk and jazz to NOLA each year, but for those of us who want more youthful, visceral music and a more colorful, fluid experience, BUKU Music and Arts Project goes down on March 10-11, 2016 for the sixth year straight.

BUKU stands out in a saturated music festival market both for its timing (arguably the first big event of “festival season”) and it’s consistently nuanced lineup. No one is reinventing the wheel by stacking their lineup with hip-hop, indie, and dance music, but whom are you booking specifically? It takes balls and creativity to craft a card of eclectic, forward-thinking and often experimental artists like what BUKU has assembled. Where else can you see Deadmau5 and Travis Scott? Clams Casino and Troyboi? Shiba San and Thundercat? If you’ve answered, “I can see them at Festival XYZ,” it doesn’t matter, because that’s not in New Orleans.

BUKU is set just outside the city’s French Quarter on a sprawling riverside esplanade. The Power Plant stage is adjacent to the river and sits in the shadow of an abandoned industrial colossus. Two indoor stages diversify the vibe with The Ballroom offering an intimate aesthetic, and the Float Den serving as a massive gathering spot lined with Mardi Gras floats and craft vendors. A fourth stage, the Back Alley, is tucked beneath the Crescent City Connection bridge and offers an unbroken stream of dance music all day and into the night.
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Quinn XCII Speaks On New Track Straightjacket [TMN Interview]

Posted by Alisha Wieckmann - December 15, 2016

Quinn XCII
Straightjacket

Soundcloud

You wouldn’t think the temperature is starting to drop when listening to Quinn XCII’s music, including his recent single “Straightjacket.” This vocalist/songwriter has seamlessly melded electronic, hip-hop, soul, and pop and brought heat to everything he’s touched this year. His singles and EP’s have landed him a tour with Louis the Child, #1 spots on HypeMachine, over 40 million plays on Spotify, and regular spins at Top 40 radios around the country.

The single, produced by The Wiild, is a buoyant tune that floats just in between hip-hop and electronic, a skill that Quinn has mastered. The simplified melody keeps focus on the lyrics and the story behind them telling a relatable story that some, if not all, of us may have experienced when dealing with love. We were excited to catch up with Quinn and ask him more about his year and the single.

TMN: What got you into music? Have you always been a singer?

Q: I can remember being a fan of music since I could walk and hearing my parents play it around the house. That, and I was always into creative writing. It wasn’t until my freshmen year of college, though, that I really put the two together and started writing my own content and sharing it with friends. At the time it was actually more indie-rap stuff, but then I started focusing on singing and things started to evolve into my current sound.

TMN: Detroit is a huge hub for music and art in general, has growing up in Michigan influenced your music in any way?

Q: Definitely. The older Detroit music I feel has strongly shaped my writing in terms of melodies. Motown, du-wop style melodies that have that ear-candy quality about them has always attracted me, and I think have definitely crossed over into my own music.

TMN: A lot of your work is in collaboration with ayokay, did he help with “Straightjacket” or did you work with someone new?

Straightjacket was actually produced by The Wiild, a very talented producer from Australia who works with a lot of the pop acts out there. ayokay and I are still working very closely on my new music though, he’ll be producing majority of my next project again. We live together and have a studio in our house so we’re constantly writing new things together – it’s a really creative environment.

TMN: Almost a year ago you released the Bloom EP – Is “Straightjacket” just a single or can we expect something more after this? Another EP or LP?

Q: Straightjacket is the first song from my upcoming debut album. We’ll be releasing a few more singles from the project in the coming months and then we’re expecting to have the full album out by Spring/Summer of 2017!

TMN: Any specific inspiration behind Straightjacket?

Q: The idea behind Straightjacket was really about shedding light on the girl that has secrets, more bad ones than good. She acts a certain way in public and in front of your friends, but behind closed doors is a bit of psycho and can’t be contained. The two-faced mentality was very appealing to me to try to put into words and narrate.

TMN: You were on tour with Louis The Child, what was that like? What would you say was your favorite stop?

Touring with LTC was amazing. They’re both super talented guys and it’s really inspiring to see them at such a young age connect with people the way they have been. I’d say my favorite stop on the tour was in Minneapolis.. All the stops were amazing but that show has stuck out to me since getting off the road.

TMN: How would you sum up your 2016? Any specific moments stick out in particular?

Q: I signed with Columbia Records over the summer, which has definitely been one of the most memorable moments of the year. I’d say 2016 as a whole can be summed up as a big stepping stone for both ayokay and myself. I think we really made a big stride in our careers and are finally beginning to get placed on the platform we’ve been striving for. Now it’s just a matter of how much we want this to continue, and putting in the work is what will dictate that. I’m ready for it.

TMN: What’s 2017 looking like for you?

Q: 2017 will include the release of my debut album, a lot more touring, festivals, some really cool collaborations, and hopefully a lot more.

[R&B/Soul] Xavier White x Ronin – Real Company

Posted by Tyler Trew - December 13, 2016

Xavier White x Ronin
Real Company

Soundcloud

We weren’t sure if we were going to get another records from Xavier White before the end of the year, but we’re glad we did. He’s been killing it this year with some huge releases and here he adds another with “Real Company.” This one just dropped today with the Brooklyn producer Ronin.

Xavier is one of the best underground R&B acts you will come across. His sound has so much potential, don’t be surprised when he’s rivaling the top artists in the entire industry. You only need to look so far as any of his singles, but his newest is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can find. “Real Company” is a soulful venture into a bit of a lighter sound for Xavier, whose aesthetic is generally of a darker tone. Thing is, Xavier can do anything he puts his mind to. Enjoy this single and get ready for whatever this cat has stored for 2017. Big things coming.

R&B
Soul

[Secret Ninja Pass] This Week at Beta – 12/1 – 12/4

Posted by Clayton Warwick - December 1, 2016

Winter weather is finally here! Along with snowboarding, sledding, snowball fights, and schnapps-spiked hot cocoa, we can also look forward to a winter stacked with top-notch talent at Beta Nightclub. Per usual, we’re making it incredibly easy for you to get off your couch and head down. Why’s that? Because we’re hooking you up with free entry.

Here’s how:
– Head to the front door and enter the club before 11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Get there before 9:00 on Sunday
– Show this post to the cashier (Valid for 21+ only).
– The deal is valid for FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY this week.

Porter Robinson & Madeon DJ Set - 12/1

’Porter Robinson & Madeon – Shelter’

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Dirtyphonics / Dubloadz - 12/2

’Skrillex & Alvin Risk – Try It Out (Dirtyphonics Remix)’

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’Ookay – Thief (Dubloadz Remix)’

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Ceelo Green - 12/3

’Semi Hendrix feat. CeeLo Green – “Sex Pistol”‘

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Sonny Fodera - 12/4

’JAHKOY – Still In Love (Sonny Fodera & Lauren Faith Remix)’

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[R&B] Steven Christopher – STAY

Posted by Hank - November 25, 2016

STEVEN CHRISTOPHER
STAY

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An R&B song that stands out is a hard earned accomplishment in today’s music world. Without diving too far into one electronic genre, Steven Christopher uses a touch of future beat and trap elements to bring a modern sound to the genre. His latest release, “Stay,” is a straight up R&B hit largely due to the impressive vocal work. The track’s arrangement and production make it forward-thinking while staying true to the style’s roots. Check it out and keep an eye on Steven for new music.

R&B
Soul

[Album Review] Uyama Hiroto – Freeform Jazz

Posted by Mark McNulty - November 16, 2016

Sometimes an album catches you off guard, rising from nowhere and roaring into your ears with new sounds and ideas. Such an album grows on you over time, and eventually can reorient what music and sounds you thought you liked. Freeform Jazz, released on November 1 by Japanese producer and multi-instrumentalist Uyama Hiroto for Roph Recordings, is such an album. Emotionally rich, culturally diverse, and technically brilliant, it’s the artist’s third full-length release, his first since 2014’s Freedom of the Son, and it appeared with little to no fanfare or publicity in the United States.

Little information exists about Uyama Hiroto online, but he could first be heard playing the saxophone and clarinet in the music of deceased Japanese beat legend Nujabes, whose blend of jazz and hip hop was known for its technical precision, immaculate sampling, diversity of influence and melancholic vibe. Though Nujabes, real name Seba Jun, passed away in 2010, Uyama Hiroto has been driving forward the Japanese jazz/hip-hop sound and style, which itself has roots far deeper than Nujabes. Hiroto’s prior releases are excellent, but they don’t stray too far from Nujabes’ work. Now, high artistic risk pays off with a high reward on Freeform Jazz, which elevates his own sound and the Japanese jazz style to even higher ground.

The beautiful artwork on the album’s cover is representative of the musical elements which make the album so magical. First, like the painting, the music is rooted (although not exclusively) in prior Japanese musical tradition. Pentatonic scales and warm, emotive piano phrasing saturate the record, and recalls the work of 1970’s-1980’s jazz piano player Ryo Fukui. Constant melodies from the xylophone mix with the piano to establish a backdrop which sounds the way a Japanese maple garden looks in the autumn. This wash of colorful sound can be most clearly heard on “Yamato Damasii”.

’Yamato Damasii’

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The album’s cover has a certain liquidity to it, a fluid rearrangement of the traditional horseman image which looks as if it’s being reflected in water. Similarly, Hiroto filters his acoustic material ever so delicately, resulting in music which sometimes sounds like its being played in a glass of water. Listen to “Skipper” for that effect exemplified.
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Benta – Lover In Dark (AObeats Remix) [TMN PREMIERE]

Posted by Clayton Warwick - November 4, 2016

With good vocals, good remixes will follow

It’s a phrase as old as time. Well, at least for as long as us Ninjas have been writing. That’s certainly what we have on our hands today, as Massachusetts-based AObeats offers up a stunning, sultry, and bedroom-ready remix of Benta’s “Lover in Dark.” Before we dive into the remix, we should probably introduce you to the man behind those sensual vocals. Mysterious in nature, Benta is somewhat seasoned in the music biz, having experienced success at an early age. Yet, that early success didn’t quite fulfill his artistic ambitions. Following suit with so many other musicians, a solitudinous approach proved to be the key to proper expression.

That’s where “Lover In Dark” comes in, the lead single from his debut EP, Noir. After releasing this dark and twisted R&B track, in tandem with a charitable cause, Benta is ready to have a handful of artists let their imaginations run wild.

Let’s circle back to AObeats. Seeing his name on our site shouldn’t come as any big surprise. We’ve covered his soulful future bass and trap releases over the past few years, continually finding ourselves impressed with his offerings. This time around, he’s dialed in an interpretation that’s true to both artist’s name and personality; a fusing of two worlds, if you will.

Using the original vocals as the hook, this remix maintains the seductive vibes of the Benta’s work. Yet, as much as those passionate R&B vibes are front and center, AObeats flips the track upside down with a heavy kick, smooth bassline, and sonic synths. The end result is a tune truly worthy of your “Netflix and Chill” playlist.