A singer-songwriter, composer, and performer from Nigeria, Temi Dollface is an upcoming sensation. Her sound is called “Drama Soul,” which combines influences from the past and the present with a futuristic vibe. I came across this video through AfriPOP magazine and fell in love with it. The fusion of afrobeat with 1950s decor and a hint of George Benson melody is really cool. She also has a witty sense of humor. Enjoy.
As some of you might know, I am a Michael Jackson Scholar. Thus, I rarely share or seek any posthumous productions that come from his Estate or anyone else. However, I came across this track, which I had never heard before, and noted a heated debate from fans comparing this to a Justin Bieber version. I did some digging and was able to connect the dots. For those who are interested, here is some MJ trivia to add to your collection:
At first, I could not understand how Justin Bieber could get a hold of an unreleased Michael Jackson track without the Estate’s permission, but I guess there are loop holes celebrities can jump through too. I heard a few seconds of the stolen version and it is nothing to get excited about. Honestly, I do not think anyone should be allowed to record any so-called duets with Michael’s pre-recorded vocals. It is rude and demeans his legacy. A duet with Michael was always earned. It should stay that way.
Now for the original single, which you can listen to below…until it is taken down from youtube, showcases Michael’s amazing passion and energy. I like the rhythm and I could see Michael creating a killer dance routine to it, but it would be nice to hear the original demo version with the 1990s beat too. It would have also been nice to hear all these unreleased tracks when Michael was alive to re-emphasize the fact that his musical brilliance never faded, but that discussion deserves a separate blog post. Nonetheless, it is worth a listen. Enjoy.
André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, actor, and the other half of the hip hop duo Outkast. For the past few years he has only done features for other artists’, but every time, in my opinion, he outshines them with his rhythmic poetry. André has a way with words that are so honest and thought-provoking. I recently stumbled onto these two tracks and loved the story line in both. Enjoy.
Dojo Cuts is a soul and funk band from Australia. Live instruments, contemporary funk, authentic soul, smoky vocals, and jammin’ fun. They released their second album in 2012 and it is packed with grooves I highly recommend you listen to. Enjoy.
Mafikizolo is a musical group from South Africa, producing fun jams since the 1990s. They have a unique style that re-adapts the genre Kwaito. Their two recent singles are so colorful and cool. The rhythm is moving and both of their voices are full of emotion. I love their style. Enjoy!
Prince released the official video to his latest single “Breakfast Can Wait” earlier this week and it is addictive! The smooth funk and soul that accompanies his familiar appealing voice blends beautifully in this new track. The even bigger surprise is the music video that features 18 year old dancer, model, and actress, Danielle Curiel, with a killer dance sequence and a female Prince impersonator. In an interview with Pitchfork, Danielle explained that Prince e-mailed her to create a concept video for his upcoming single. Talk about lucky! I think she did a pretty clever job with this. It is nice to see real choreography and fun acting makes it’s way back to music videos. Getting back to the music, if this single is a sample of an upcoming album, we have a lot to look forward to. Enjoy!
Dagny Zenovia 