Prof has dropped his new video for the single titled ‘Squad Goals’. This has got to be the most original and interesting video I have seen this year, by a longshot. I know that’s a hardcore way to start a review, but this video demands that declaration. I mean, Mr. Rogers, PTSD, pill-popping, and more in under four minutes. Try fitting that many lucid subplots together in anything, even involving music.
Having said that, this music is brilliant. Steady. Rhythmic. Staccato. Each deserving itself as a sentence. One thing I like about the Rhymesayers artists is that they bring entertainment and introspective reflection back into music, but now Prof brings the fun.
Watch the full episode of The Week in #Indie HERE.
Click HERE to watch Season 6 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 5 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 4 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 3 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 2 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 1 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
ABOUT PROF
With an album, entitled ‘Powderhorn Suites’, set to drop on June 26 via Rhymesayers Entertainment, the Minneapolis rapper shows no signs of dampening his off the wall, no-holds-barred approach to music. Nothing is sacred in the “Squad Goals” music video as Prof returns to form as a truly eccentric entertainer. He delivers a nod to the “U Name It” challenge while masquerading as a roguish Mister Rogers—popping pills, dancing on set, and pausing for a Vietnam flashback. The madness escalates scene by scene while Prof effortlessly changes his vocal inflection to match each punchline in the track.
Anticipation for a new album has been steadily building since Prof teased fans with the release of his “Cousins” music video. The album loosely follows a singular concept of all the activity taking place in a fictional hotel. “There are so many different things happening in a hotel at one time,” Prof explains. “Somebody’s doing drugs. Somebody’s having sex. There’s a fight over there. Someone’s trying to get some rest over here. There’s just so much going on in one place.” The same can be said for Powderhorn Suites, a remarkable rollercoaster of a project that hits stunning highs and features dramatic lows.
Longtime Rhymesayers fans will recall a show-stopping performance at Soundset 2018, during which Prof cemented his reputation as an exceptional performer capable of simultaneously inspiring awe and laughter. While his touring plans have been grounded for the time being by the coronavirus, Prof hasn’t stopped connecting with fans. Airing a series of Instagram Live videos entitled “Prof’s Creative Academy,” the emcee has delivered a deep dive into his creative process, welcomed guests such as Murs and label mate Grieves, and proven that his razor-sharp wit can shine through any medium.
LINKS:
https://rhymesayers.com/artists/prof
https://facebook.com/profgampo
https://instagram.com/profgampo
https://twitter.com/profgampo
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Live @ Home for June 27, 2020
Live @ Home is a new chapter in discovering music, with artists performing straight from their homes into fan’s homes around the globe. Going through Jammer Direct’s multiple streaming platforms via PC/Mac, Mobile, Tablet, Radio, and Television in true HD and Dolby Digital surround sound that reaches a worldwide audience.
Brought to you as a joint venture between Jammer Direct and KES Entertainment!
With concerts, events, festivals, and concerts effectively canceled for the near future, even after things get back to somewhat normality people will be slow to get back out there. Musicians need a way to reach out with their music, Live @ Home is that game-changer that will let recording artists of all genres and levels reach out to fans along with gaining new ones.
If you are watching these performances on Jammer Direct’s official Roku Channel, you can use the QR Code embedded in the video to vote via your phone or tablet device.
These performances are also being simulcast on our flagship online radio station JammerStream One, which began at 12 Noon (U.S. Eastern) on June 27th HERE.
This Week’s Episode features performances by:
- Sarah Jordan & Matt Von DONATE TO ARTIST
- The DuShane Band DONATE TO ARTIST
Vote for your favorite artist this week!
[yop_poll id=”2″]
About the Artists
Sarah Jordan & Matt Von
Sarah Jordan & Matt Von
Sarah Jordan and Matt Von are a brother/sister duo that shares a passion for music that seems to be part of their natural chemistry. Being a seasoned pop soulful performer, Sarah brings pure emotion, while Matthew’s vocals are storytelling, understated, and pure. Sarah and Matt are independent singer-songwriters, who made a decision in 2019 to collaborate as a duo.
LINKS:
https://www.sarahandmattmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/sarahandmattmusic
https://www.instagram.com/sarahandmattmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oBIoUBSGc5v4nUgAQWykf
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/sarah-jordan-and-matt-von/id1459590335
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMlRiBtt80u4Fd1CXAWxkQ
https://soundcloud.com/sarahandmattmusicDuShane Band
DuShane Band
Formed in late 2012, DuShane is a culmination of southern rock and country. The band consists of vocals, electric/acoustic guitars, bass, drums, pedal steel, violin, and keyboards. Formally of the band, Law and Order (MCA Records), lead singer DuShane brought up on the Nashville/Memphis sound but also uses his New York City roots to create their “Urban Country” Americana sound.
The Band is a blend of acoustic and sonic texture that is reminiscent of classic country and southern rock and shimmers with modern studio sounds and arrangements.
Tutored by friends and former producers Joe Hardy, Mac Reinhold, and Shane Keister, The DuShane Band was able to produce and engineer and record their first independent record. DuShane’s first single “Alabama Rain” released in early January 2017 has received receiving warm reviews and gaining popularity from fans with different musical tastes, and with a release of DuShane’s first music video for “Summertime” the band hopes to gain popularity with the country and rock fans as well as appeal to a broader global audience.
The band’s newest video, “Alabama Rain”, opens up with an anthemic intro that brings a familiarity to the song, comforting the listener as they brace for the story’s impact. The line, “Johnny turned 20’s from the poor side of town” kicks off the first verse, putting you in the main character’s shoes. DuShane completes the verse with, “One day he got married and found a way / He had a new baby boy and landed a job / without any skills had to work twice as hard, working the steel mills 14 hours a day.”
Then, tragedy strikes- the mill shut down. What’s more? There is a second child on the way. Without a job or pay to support his family, Johnny hit rock bottom. He was left with no choice but to enlist in the military to make ends meet. The video ends with Johnny coming home a hero, reuniting with his family, and the fulfillment of his promise that they would never know that “Alabama Rain.”
All in all, “Alabama Rain” is a song of hope. The Johnny character featured in the story is all too relatable for a large portion of the United States right now due to the outsourcing of jobs and the shrinking of the middle-class. The lyrics in this song can speak to the hearts of those affected by these conditions and serve as a point of inspiration. The fresh sound and undeniable relatability of this song is sure to hook country and Americana music fans, and we’re so excited to watch the DuShane band flourish with the release of this video.
LINK:
https://www.dushaneband.comAbout Jammer Direct
Jammer Direct is a multi-platform and online promotional and media company that includes video, radio, and print entities in the form of the brands Jammer Direct, JammerStream Radio, and Jammerzine.
These multiple platforms are defined as follows:
- Jammer Direct is a video network consisting of a vast selection of music videos of every genre as well as live concerts, original films and documentaries, and original programming. This network now includes what is called JDTV, a television version of Jammer Direct found currently on Roku (channel link HERE), Amazon FireTV (channel link HERE), and soon to be on Pluto TV, TubiTV, and more this year (2020).
- Jammer Direct is also getting into original television programming and film with the TV show for independent musicians titled ‘Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie‘ (link HERE) and films such as the Beauty in Chaos’ documentary ‘Behind The Beauty: Remixing The Chaos‘ (found on Jammer Direct HERE, as well as Amazon Prime HERE, and AppleTV HERE).
- JammerStream Radio is a four-station radio network split into genres of music submitted to Jammer Direct directly from the artists, their labels, or their representation. The stations also have original content and programming. JammerStreams radio stations are also available on all online radio stream platforms (search JammerStream) as well on Amazon’s Alexa and Alexa for Auto (link HERE).
- Jammerzine is an online magazine featuring daily premieres for songs, albums, and videos, as well as exclusive interviews and content.
Collectively, the brand known as Jammer Direct (Jammer Direct, JammerStream Radio, and Jammerzine) generates over 2 million unique views per month with an average stay time of between 30 and over 40 minutes for the artists that they feature (links HERE & HERE).
LINKS:
https://jammer.direct
https://jammerstream.jammer.direct
https://jammerzine.com
https://twitter.com/jammerdirect
https://twitter.com/jammerzine
https://www.facebook.com/jammerdirect
https://www.facebook.com/jammerzineAbout KES Entertainment
KES Entertainment provides worldwide digital and US physical music and film distribution for record labels and artists. Our marketing and promotion team specializes in structuring tailored campaigns, assisting the artist with connecting to their fans, and creating new ones.
Our most popular services:
- Spotify playlist campaigns
- Social media marketing
- Vevo artist video channel
- (Vevo is the worlds leading music video and entertainment platform, reaching approximately 26 billion viewers per month).
- Radio Promotions / Mainstream BDS and Mediabase / College / All Genres
- Video Promotion
- OnDeckMagazine.com
LINKS:
https://twitter.com/kesindiedist
https://kesnetwork.com -
An Exclusive Interview with Slug from Atmosphere (The Week in #Indie Segment)
I love it when a guest in one of our exclusives is brutally honest and to the point. That’s the way the world should be. It cuts through the bullshit and things get done a lot faster and more proficiently. And today’s guest is a perfect example. That guest is Slug from Atmosphere. It’s that very honest, both with others and introspectively, that helped make Slug what he is today: A legend in the music industry and a founder of one of the most respected labels in that industry, namely Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Today I get to talk with Slug about the importance of being honest to one’s self, as well as their following. We also get in depth about ‘Mi Vida Local’ (My Local Life) and the meaning of the music and the process of making the album. We also get some updates of the Mi Vida Local Tour (tour information below) and the supporting acts.
Think of this more as a conversation with a true innovator.
Atmosphere on tour
US Hip-Hop legends Atmosphere return to Europe for the Mi Vida Local Tour. After extensively touring North America since the release of their ‘seventh’ album, Mi Vida Local, the kings of indie Hip-Hop will be coming across the pond for eight exclusive live shows this April.Mi Vida Local has received extensive critical acclaim since its October release and showcases their innovative and defining style of Hip-Hop. With over 20 years in the game and such a phenomenal back catalog, Slug and Ant promise a run of unforgettable performances.
Main support for the Mi Vida Local Tour Europe will be from newer Rhymesayers signee deM atlaS off the back of his debut album Bad Actress, which was produced entirely by Ant (Atmosphere) and was also released October 2018. The innovative rapper/singer/crooner also released his spellbinding 5-song visual EP, “Bad Loves Company” in line with the album. Additional supporting artists include The Lioness and DJ Keezy.
Featured image credit: Dan Monick.
LINKS:
https://rse.lnk.to/MiVidaLocal
https://rhymesayers.com/artists/atmosphere
https://www.facebook.com/Atmosphere
https://twitter.com/atmosphere
https://www.instagram.com/atmosphere -
Flor and the Sea Premiere ‘A Candid Lie’ Video (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Flor and the Sea have officially released their new video titled ‘A Candid Lie’. As if filmed in a different era where people could convene in harmony and not intervene for quarantine, ‘A Candid Lie’ surrounds the current state of things with a sonic atmosphere of inclusion and infusion of love and endurance in that ‘you are not alone’ and, after we survive, we should remember to thrive.
In regards to the album ‘Kings & Queens’, Grandiose is scope from that first track (A Candid Lie), and continuing the solid set of hooks throughout, this ambitious set of songs sets a style and mood within the confines of the audio that show Flor and the Sea as impressive songwriters as much as expressive artists.
While each track fits in the overall sound, each has its own personality traits that range from introspection to extroversion and everywhere in between. Progression and virtuosity in the guise of mainstream pop.
Click HERE to watch Season 6 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 5 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 4 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 3 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 2 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 1 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.ABOUT FLOR AND THE SEA & ‘KINGS & QUEENS’
The songs of Flor and the Sea’s debut EP Kings & Queens invite their listeners to surrender themselves to the stream of music: to dream, to dance and to defy the world’s insistent tumult for a moment. Rich in stylistic fusion, pop elements meld with electronica references throughout their songwriting, inviting a host of esoteric influences from dubstep to synth pop to trap to join them. It’s a melting pot of style that recalls the work of Flume, Miike Snow or Alt-J.
Co-produced by composer Dieter Dolezel and mixed by Moritz Enders (Casper, Kraftclub), the songs are a multidimensional exploration of sound. From the lilting, mythology-evoking arpeggios of ‘Arcadia’ to the propulsive electro ambiance of ‘Dark Minds’, and the bleak dystopian piano keys chiming throughout ‘Reconnect’, Kings & Queens reveals a restless group with a unique musical chemistry, one not keen on traveling the same musical road twice.
Munich-based indie/electropop duo Flor and the Sea was originally founded in 2015 as a five-piece project. With the release of debut singles ‘Hold Your Breath’ and ‘Shed No Tear’, as well as bigger live gigs at Digital/Analog Festival and the Muffat Winterfest among others, the band generated a lot of buzz in short time and was featured as ‘Band of the Week’ by the Suddeutsche Zeitung/SZ Junge Leute in early 2017. After the band split up later that year, Marc Aretz (guitar/synth) and Chaem (vox) decided to keep Flor and the Sea alive as a duo.
They redesigned their sound from scratch, incorporating influences from bands like Alt J, Radiohead, and Portishead. The singles ‘Dark Minds’ and ‘Reconnect’ were birthed from the rubble and led to widespread acclaim, receiving regular airplay on radio stations like Ego-FM, Bayern 3, M94.5, and BR Puls, and landing positive reviews on international blogs like Composer’s Toolbox and York Calling. Capping it all, the duo performed live on Radio Fritz ‘Live on Air’ for the first time.
Alongside the production of their debut EP Kings & Queens, Flor and The Sea also resumed live performances in 2019 and put together an elaborate new program with their own light show, visuals, masks, and the support of additional live musicians. The first taste of this show was presented at renowned festivals Theatron Musiksommer and Sound of Munich Now in 2019.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/florandthesea
https://www.instagram.com/florandthesea
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5HoDDKUkVEuqEEk5ZRDjMj