Sharon Jones is one of the most inspirational artists on the show circuit. It’s not just her soulful voice, nor is it her hard and heavy dancing on stage, nor her soothing retro sounds that are reminiscent of class acts such as ‘60’s female groups The Shirelles, The Marvelettes, The Dixie Cups, and others, that makes her such a powerful inspiration. Even Jones’ uncanny, pure energy and movements, that seem to be channeled from the late James Brown, don't make her such a rousing figure. The inspiration is her story: A struggling singer who worked at a state prison as ...
STYLES P (All-new, 2nd interview) by Dirty Angel
WITH A FRESH START, STYLES P READIES "SUPER" NEW ALBUM
By Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Dirty Angel
The streets may now rejoice...
When I first interviewed Styles P, around this same time last year coincidentally, the self-proclaimed “hardest rapper out” wasn’t in the best of moods. Although Styles’ sophomore album, “Time is Money”, was set to be released on Interscope Records, the moment was bittersweet. That’s because his excellent solo debut album, “A Gangster and a Gentleman”, had been released four years earlier in 2002. With the airtight singles like “Good Times” and “The Life” (featuring Pharaoh Monch) getting burn on the airwaves, Styles ...
Charlie Murphy interview: Big Name in the Stand Up Game
Although Charlie Murphy has appeared in countless films since the late ‘80s, there’s no getting around that most fans started to really get to know him during and after his appearances on The Dave Chappelle Show. Charlie’s skits, some based on his telling of real-life encounters with celebrities while he worked security in the early days of his younger brother’s career, have become larger than the show itself. Plays of some of Charlie’s segments on Chappelle’s show have exceeded the million-view mark on Youtube.com. There are very few people who follow pop culture that haven’t heard the words “I’m ...
Family Man Barrett of Bob Marley’s Wailers (interview)
Aston "FamilyMan" Barrett, the bassist for the legendary Wailers is responsible for the basslines and other creative elements on many of Bob Marley and the Wailers' classic songs. We discuss his thoughts about why Bob Marley and The Wailers' music continues to resonate with fans decades after its creation. He also discusses his thoughts on current state of music, and how he met and started working with Bob Marley. Yvad, the Wailers' Band's new vocalist shares his views on the power of Bob Marley and the Wailers' music.
Whether you're a musician or an artist, if you aspire to have a ...
What you can learn from harpist Merry Miller about succeeding in the music industry
Merry Miller is an extraordinary artist and businesswoman. Don’t take my word for it, she was named in Crain's New York Business magazine “40 Under 40” issue. She is the former Executive Vice President of Programming at the Learning Annex, and instrumental in building the organization’s revenue from $3 million to $100 million in three years. During that time, she coordinated visits from the who’s who of business and entertainment. She’s coordinated visits from some of the biggest leaders in the business, from Donald Trump to Russell Simmons. If that’s not impressive enough, Elle magazine named her one of the ...
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Place your music-related press release on InsomniacMagazine.com for only $19.99. With this service you can include one image in your music based press release and two links to your website, social networking page, or link promotional downloads on your site. The press release submitted cannot exceed 500 words and will include your heading as the title of the post on InsomniacMagazine.com. Press releases will contain a note stating that they have been sponsored by contributor.
Insomniac Magazine has been online for well over a decade and features interviews and coverage including some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, and media. ...
Talking with entertainment mogul Ice Cube: The “Are We There Yet” interview
When it comes to the pinnacle of entertainment, Mr. O'Shea Jackson, better known as Ice Cube to the world, arrived quite a while ago. As a performer, he's transcended from Hip Hop legend to movie star, all while maintaining credibility in both worlds. As an entertainment entrepreneur, he's successfully conquered the music, film, and now television industries. Counting the "Friday" and "Barbershop" movies, "Are We There Yet" is his third franchise film. This time, he's delivered one of his popular major motion picture properties to TV. The family-oriented sitcom stars Terry Crews (known best as Chris Rock's father on "Everybody ...
Teena Marie- 3 Decades of Soul, Funk and Classic R&B
In a day and age of commodity artists who are forgotten shortly after a year or so of a radio hit, and in an environment where hit artists of yesteryear are remembered only by those who were raised on their sounds, it is rare to find an artist who continues to resonate with new and old audiences decades after launching their career.
Teena Marie stepped on the scene in ’79 and continues to touch music fans with her amazingly soulful voice. Not only has her music swept her fans off of their feet for years, but she has also influenced new ...
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Julian Lennon discusses his new company, career, and the music industry
Insomniac Magazine recently participated in an interview with Julian Lennon to discuss his new release and a brand new company called theRevolution LLC. Lennon and music industry professionals Michael Birch (sold Bebo to AOL for $850 million) and Todd Meaghe (created the first 50/50 artist music store) started the company as a new approach to releasing music and working with artists. The company scouts talent, and then helps set up these artists with their own businesses. The company assists the artists with a variety of business endeavors including: finance, development, digital and physical distribution, promotion, and other important aspects ...
Speech, frontman for Multi-Platinum selling Arrested Development, talks Hip Hop and Music Industry
In 1992, Speech, along with his group Arrested Development, went on to receive countless accolades including two Grammy Awards and being named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone Magazine for the ground breaking “3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life of…” The album launched the band into stardom with constant video and radio rotation for their hit "Tennessee," and later for singles "People Everyday" and "Mr. Wendal." The funky and soulful blend of Hip Hop and R&B delivered socially conscious music in a manner that was palatable to the masses. Despite being adorned with admiration by ...
KILLAH PRIEST interview by Dirty Angel
KILLAH PRIEST: AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME WITH LATEST "OFFERING"
By Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Dirty Angel
Brooklyn wins again.
After their legendary movement avalanched hip-hop’s landscape, the Wu-Tang Clan assisted a lion’s share of rappers who have gained notoriety on their own merit. Killah Priest, hailing from Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, is one of these alumni. Priest (as he prefers being called now) made his memorable debut in 1994 on “6 Feet Deep”, the first LP by The Gravediggaz (a group spearheaded by Wu-Tang Clan leader The RZA). In 1995, he appeared on two classic Wu-Tang solo albums: “Liquid Swords” by The GZA and ...
(L-R: Dave Lombardo, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Tom Araya) Photo Credit: Mark Seliger
For many, the gauge for success in the music industry is set by unit sales. However, those in the know understand that longevity is the true measure. There are few American groups in the heavy metal genre that have sustained longer success than Slayer. They are regarded by fans as members of the “Big Four” of thrash metal bands which also includes Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeath. Although the band has never reached Platinum sales status, they have enjoyed 30 years of success including embarking on countless tours, receiving multiple nominations and two Grammy Awards, having their music licensed for film and video games including Metallica’s Guitar Hero, and have also consistently sold music with six of their ten albums reaching Gold sales.
In this interview, acclaimed drummer and original member of Slayer, Dave Lombardo, speaks with Insomniac Magazine about his career in the music business with the super heavy metal band. He talks about working with Rick Rubin, comments on controversy over the band’s lyrical content, discusses his thoughts on the state of the music industry, and shares a secret for success in the music industry. -I. Vasquetelle
(Part One) Dave Lombardo addresses Slayer’s lyrics, censorship, metal culture, being true to the music, and longevity in the music industry.
(Part Two) In this segment Dave Lombardo discusses working with music industry veteran and producer extraordinaire Rick Rubin.
(Part Three) In this segment Dave Lombardo discusses the secret of success in the music business.
Similar article: Visit Insomniac Magazine’s interview with Anvil’s frontman Lips. He talks about the music industry and his history in heavy metal.
Gazelle MCI is a veteran urban music industry radio promoter who started out in the business as an indie label proprietor during the mid to later 1980s. Currently, he is the director of mixshow promotions at E1 Music (formally known as Koch Entertainment). Other duties provided by Gazelle include promoting videos to local video shows, as well as helping to coordinate promotional tours for the label’s urban artists.
In this Q&A, he explains the value and process of urban mixshow radio promotions today, and shares his views into this distinct and sometimes misunderstood aspect of music marketing. He also provides insight about the effectiveness and use of eblasts to build awareness for a release, and how these efforts correlate to the sale of music. [click to continue…]
John Lennon, the iconic musician/songwriter is chronicled in this new DVD release from MVD visual. Using original footage and rare video of the musical genius, we get a behind the scenes view of the legendary artist in JOHN LENNON RARE AND UNSEEN. [click to continue…]
Look around at the world of rap music- most of it is the same. This has been going on now for nearly two decades. However, new rap artists desperately want to be recognized. How likely is it to be seen when you do what everyone else does. Solillaquists of Sound and music video director X:144 approached the task of making a video for the track “Marvel” by doing something different.
Watch what they do, be inspired, and then do something totally different. If you want to get noticed, stop playing follow the leader. [click to continue…]
The following is a statement from Chuck D and his wife Dr Gaye Theresa Johnson Professor Of Black Studies and Chicano Studies UC Santa Barbara regarding Arizona’s new immigration law.
‘Jan Brewer’s decision to sign the Arizona immigration bill into law is racist, deceitful, and reflects some of the most mean-spirited politics against immigrants that the country has ever seen. The power that this law gives to police, to detain people that they suspect to be undocumented, brings racial profiling to a new low. Brewer’s actions and those of Joe Arpaio, Russell Pearce, the Arizona State Senate are despicable, inexcusable, and endorse the all-out hate campaign that Joe Arpaio, Russell Pearce, and others have perpetrated upon immigrants for years. The people of Arizona who voted for this bill, as well as those who crafted it, demonstrate no regard for the humanity or contributions of Latino people. And for all of those who have chosen not to speak up, shame on you for silently endorsing this legislated hate.
In 1991 I wrote a song criticizing Arizona officials (including John McCain and Fife Symington) for rejecting the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The same politics I wrote about in “By the Time I Get to Arizona” are alive and well in Arizona today, but this time the target is Brown people.
These actions must stop. I am issuing a call to action, urging my fellow musicians, artists, athletes, performers, and production companies to refuse to work in Arizona until officials not only overturn this bill, but recognize the human rights of immigrants. This should include the NBA playoffs, revisiting the actions of the NFL in 1993, when they moved the Superbowl to Pasadena in protest against Arizona’s refusal to recognize Dr. King. We all need to speak up in defense of our brothers and sisters being victimized in Arizona, because things are only getting worse. What they’re doing to immigrants is appalling, but it will be even more damning if we remain silent.’
Make sure to support Chuck by checking out his new release “Tear Down This Wall” and his new album coming in June “Don’t Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin’”
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(L-R: Dave Lombardo, Kerry King, Jeff Hanneman, Tom Araya) Photo Credit: Mark Seliger
