As both a solo artist and one-third of Dilated Peoples, Evidence has established himself as one of hip-hop’s most accomplished rappers and producers, working with Domo Genesis, Linkin Park, Beastie Boys, Defari, Madchild, and Krondon, amongst others.
His production work has already earned him a Grammy Award for co-production on Kanye West’s College Dropout, and two JUNO Awards for his work with Canadian hip-hop group Swollen Members.
As fans would expect, “Weather or Not” embodies the very heart of the hip-hop culture; clever wordplay laid over heavy boom-bap production, but Evidence also exhibits his gift for weaving moments of personal and introspective reflection into his writing, whilst remaining true to his hardcore hip-hop sonic and lyrical sensibility.
The album features an array of exciting collaborations including the likes of Slug (Atmosphere), Rakaa (Dilated Peoples) and Jonwayne, plus production from Evidence himself, Alchemist, Nottz, and DJ Premier.
After an array of spellbinding videos to compliment the album, his latest outing is for the track Bad Publicity featuring Krondon.
Directed by Todd Angkasuwan the video showcases many prominent locations of Los Angeles where it appears the whole city has been shut down with all the roadways clear of cars and people. The Nottz produced track features Strong Arm Stready rapper Krondon with his deep voice on the chorus, who has recently found new fame by playing the key villain Tobias Whale on DC series Black Lightning.
LINKS:
http://rhymesayers.com/evidence
http://facebook.com/misterevidence
http://twitter.com/evidence
http://instagram.com/evidence
http://youtube.com/rhymesayers
-
Lakes – Pine Barrens
What began as drummer Matt Shaw’s acoustic demos back in 2017 quickly developed into a six-piece band, bonding over a love of artists like American Football, Minus The Bear, and The Appleseed Cast. The group has taken influence from mid-western emo, math-rock, and alternative indie and combined those with Fleetwood Mac style dual-vocal pop melodies and twinkling glockenspiel to create their trademark “Glock-Rock” sound.
Earning their stripes in pubs and clubs of the Watford music scene, Lakes have been emboldened with a DIY attitude that was born from the frustration of life on the peripheries of a capital city. The group’s fiercely independent attitude has led them to record all their own music, produce their own music videos, and with families of their own – organize child-friendly matinee gigs in their hometown.
After self-releasing their first two EPs, Lakes joined The LP Cafe in the UK and Friend of Mine Records in Japan to release their debut full-length album in August 2019 entitled “The Constance LP”.
This led Washed Up Emo to label them “your new favorite band” and Punktastic to include them on their list of the most important bands of the next decade stating “it’s hard to look past their potential as future frontrunners of the UK emo scene.
With nods to midwestern emo giants in American Football and Braid, Lakes create a truly unique take on the genre interlacing shimmering glockenspiels, beautiful harmonies, and pop sensibilities in everything they do.”
The album was recorded entirely by drummer Matt Shaw in a spare room using a couple of mics and a PC over the space of a year. With no timing or financial restraints that would come from a proper studio, the band took their time crafting the songs and discovering their sound. This has resulted in a truly unique album, one that is completely holistic in its presentation with band members also taking control of photography, graphic design, web design and accompanying music videos.
Lakes’ ‘This World Of Ours, It Came Apart,’ was released in July 2020 via Know Hope Records in North America and The LP Cafe in the UK.
LINKS:
https://www.ourbandlakes.com
https://www.facebook.com/ourbandlakes
https://www.instagram.com/ourbandlakes
https://twitter.com/ourbandlakes -
Beauty in Chaos Ft. Dug Pinnick, Zakk Wylde & Ice-T – Un-Natural Disaster
‘Un-Natural Disaster’ (Collide Mix) is the first song to be previewed from the soon-to-be-released album ‘Beauty Re-Envisioned’, which will contain an extremely wide variety of remixes and alternate versions of many of the tracks that appear on their debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’. Both albums are produced by Ministry’s Grammy-nominated producer Michael Rozon at Ciravolo’s own SAINTinLA Studio.
This track breaks the constraints placed on the debut album, not only due to the addition of synthesizers but also in the wicked unleashing of a blistering guitar solo by guitar guru Zakk Wylde.
“Zakk plays more notes on this solo than I did on the entire album, but with taste, technique and a ton of flair,” Michael Ciravolo laughs.
For this project, Ciravolo – a New Orleans native – teamed up with King’s X’s dUg Pinnick, who previously lived in Houston. Their shared experiences and memories of the chaos caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, along with the ‘beauty’ of those who came to help the victims, profoundly shaped the song’s music and lyrics.
“When Michael sent me the music and asked me if I would sing and play on it, I immediately said yes. I think it rocks!! And some deep lyrics were my thoughts. Since I come from Katy Texas, where it flooded a few years ago very badly and, not very far away, it was the same for New Orleans, I thought it was appropriate to sing about the un-natural disasters that are happening due to man’s ignorance,” says dUg Pinnick.
“It was fun putting my bass part on the track and a big surprise being on the same song with Ice-T and Zakk Wylde. What a great opportunity, I’m glad to be a part of this project. And the video shoot was wet!! Lol! And so much fun… and even captures the serious topic of this song.”
Ice-T, famed rapper, actor and frontman of Body Count, also spits out a poignant exclamation point to the extent of these tragedies.
“This song really hits close to home as I was born and raised in New Orleans. I lived in Los Angeles when Katrina hit, but watched as friends and family lost everything. My elderly Aunt was evacuated as the city’s services shut down, and sadly she did not survive the move to Alabama. She along with at least 1200 others lost their lives as a result of this devastating hurricane,” says Michael Ciravolo.
Vicente Cordero, who directed the accompanying video, also directed the three previous Beauty In Chaos videos, delivers a visually stunning interpretation of this song. Production credit for all four goes to Industrialism Films.
Originally from New Orleans and now based in LA, Michael Ciravolo has played guitar in Human Drama for the past 30 years, most recently on ‘Broken Songs for Broken People’ (2017). Perhaps best known as President of Schecter Guitar Research, he has also played live and recorded with Michael Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel since 1998.
The debut album ‘Finding Beauty in Chaos’ features numerous music luminaries, including Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Simon Gallup (The Cure), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Pete Parada (The Offspring), dUg Pinnick (Kings X), ICE-T (Body Count), Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Dirk Doucette (Gene Loves Jezebel), Ashton Nyte (The Awakening), Pando (A Flock of Seagulls), Evi Vine, Betsy Martin (Caterwaul / Purr Machine), Marc Danzeisen (The Riverdogs), Kevin Kipnis (Purr Machine / Kommunity FK), Rudy Matchinga (Red Scare), Johnny Indovina (Human Drama), and Tish Ciravolo (StunGun/ Daisy Rock Guitars).
On June 21, ‘Beauty Re-Envisioned’ will be released via LA-based label 33.3 Music Collective on deluxe CD and limited-edition heavy-weight colored vinyl. It will also be available digitally across online stores, including iTunes, and streaming platforms like Spotify. CDs and vinyl can be ordered from the Beauty in Chaos website at https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com/music-store.
“Families left homeless screams and cries. Harvey comes people lose their lives’ – ‘what can I say?… this track came out dope!”
– Ice T“When Father Mike asked me to put a solo on The New CRUSHINGLY STUPENDOUS BEAUTY IN CHAOS song & be in the Video with dUg & Ice-T, I was kind of hesitant about doing it, But when Father Mike said he’d thrown in a Thin Crust pizza from Joe & Pats in Staten Island, NY along with a BEAUTY IN CHAOS T-Shirt I knew THIS WAS MY DESTINY!!!”
– Zakk Wylde“What started for a fleeting moment as my ‘solo album’ quickly blossomed into so much more. My role as President of Schecter Guitars certainly put me in the enviable position of meeting a lot of great artists whose albums are a big part of my record collection. The beauty from all of this is the friendships that I have developed. . It was mindblowing to be able to put together artists that have never been on an album together, much less perform on a song before BIC. Two of the most recognizable voices in rock n’ roll … Robin Zander and Michael Anthony together on ‘Drifting Away’. Two goth-rock icons, Wayne Hussey (The Sisters Of Mercy and The Mission UK) and Simon Gallup (The Cure) on ‘Man Of Faith’ is another example of the magic on ‘Finding Beauty In Chaos’. Many of these artists are looking forward to being part of the ongoing evolution of BIC. I sincerely hope that whatever notoriety this record garners opens the door for other artists to want to join in. I do have a ‘wish list’ 😊. On a purely personal note, with the help of Michael Rozon, my dear friend and producer, I was able to create the record I have always wanted to make”
– Michael Ciravolo“Intense hurricane-themed song… The King’s X frontman’s poignant vocals and booming bass add gravity… An ominous Ice-T rap rounds out the powerhouse song. sleek electronic drums… full of dramatic string bends and speedy, head-spinning shred”
– Rolling StoneLINKS:
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com
https://www.beautyinchaosmusic.com/bic-blog
https://www.facebook.com/beautyinchaosmusic
https://www.instagram.com/beauty.inchaos
https://twitter.com/MichaelCiravolo
https://soundcloud.com/33-3-music-collective
https://beautyinchaos.bandcamp.com -
Mint – Goodbye Beautiful
Mint drop their new video titled ‘Goodbye Beautiful’. Music with a message is more important than ever in these weird times that we live in and it’s nice to get those subtle reminders from time to time. Do we listen? Sure, sometimes. Sometimes not. But the important thing is that it is highlighted.
The music is upfront and in your face in a way to capture the mind and captivate the motivation. Combined with the contemporary visuals you get a contemplative look at contemporary times. Feel the need and urge to wake up and speak up. Some people won’t listen. But some will. Get the ones that will speak up with you.
We’re as scared and angry as any other person our age. If we can provide a soundtrack for people that can relate then we have made a difference. We’re not a protest band and not every song will be a protest. We can’t afford to take a day off work and travel to London to add our voice. But we’re not just going to watch TV and read online either.
ABOUT ‘GOODBYE BEAUTIFUL’
On ‘Goodbye Beautiful’ frontman, Zak has written a song that encapsulates the diverse issues his generation faces. Memories of hearing ‘Bella Ciao’ sung by the sole Italian family in his area inspired him to write a song to voice the resentments, fears, and concerns of the young over the environment and their future, as well as wider issues such as racism, animal cruelty and societal division. In three and a half minutes, Mint channel the broad scope of the song into a high-octane imperial march towards certain doom. Guitars careen through the mix mounting to an explosive and unforgettable chorus. It is a powerful statement of intent from a group that see the emotional resonance of music as a potential platform for uniting people. The accompanying video is compiled from footage taken by a friend of the band on his travels, interspersed with suggestive images: icebergs, waste, oil spillage, animal suffering, and protesters clamoring for revolution.
As they were developing the idea, the group reached out online and contacted organizations, bloggers and social media. “It was an amazing response and took us by surprise” confirms Sam (Veggie). “Most people were delighted to be involved and all added thanks and support.” “We’re hoping that we will touch upon people enough to make them think” Zak adds. “We hope that it will inspire them to do their bit”. Fans of the song can expect a raw honky-tonk acoustic version forthcoming too.
ABOUT MINT
Mint comes from the dolorous landscape of West Marsh, Grimsby. The northern and eastern boundaries are formed by Alexandra Dock, while the western edge is subsumed into the smog of the Pyewipe industrial area. The south is bordered by impassable railway tracks. It is an area with little hope, no tourists, and the dried-up husk of a once prosperous fishing industry. Zak, Veggie, Lenny and Bambi all attended the same school, though the semantics of the word ‘attended’ is loosely applied here. They formed a close bond while locking horns over their different music tastes. Guitarist Lenny drew inspiration from the avant-garde sounds of Nick Cave, The Birthday Party, and The Pop Group, while the other three members leaned towards indie classics and the harder edges of rock. They went on to study at Grimsby Institute and the idea to form a band was soon realized and became serious in 2018.
Being half Palestinian and sporting wild hair in an area affiliated with skinheads, frontman Zak Rashid had it hardest coming up, and started to look outside of his home town. He was a young pro skateboarder and surfer by day and taught himself graphic design by night. When he is not gigging he runs the (only NE) local surf shop and designs artwork for artists such as Lucy Spraggan, Black Honey and False Heads. Lenny works in the cafe next door whilst Bambi and Veggie work shifts in soup canning factories. Mint has enjoyed UK radio support from Radio 1 and playlisting on Radio X and has performed at all major UK festivals. In mid-2019 they started to realize their sound, an idiosyncratic fusion of indie melodies set to beefier instrumentation. Recently they have begun work with award-winning production team Sugar House and taken on management.
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/wearejustmint
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3P1VGtEN58XJY7P0TzIapp
https://soundcloud.com/wearejustmint
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreJustMint
https://twitter.com/wearejustmint