Music
ONE AFRICA MUSIC FEST
The genre of Afrobeat made a MAJOR statement this past weekend during the One Africa Music Fest in Brooklyn. The biggest and brightest stars from Africa came together as one to put on a memorable show. All who were fortunate enough to be in the Barclays Center or subscribed to Tidal witnessed history.
Tiwa Savage and her dancers put everyone on notice that this wasn’t going to be a relaxed affair. Her energetic performance kept everyone’s eyes trained on the stage and clamoring for more. Thanks to her recent signing to Roc Nation, it’s safe to assume our wishes will be fulfilled.
We all know rare jewels come from the mother land and Diamond Platnumz proved to be no different. The Tanzanian sensation performance of “Kidogo“ had us dancing and partying on our feet. Besides delivering the catchy tune, the choreography introduced will have you seeking a dance class or two.
Ayo Jay may be one of the newer artists on the scene but there’s a good chance that you’ve already heard his joint “Your Number” feat Fetty Wap. To say he has a promising career ahead of him may be quite an understatement. I expect him to put his economic degree to good use as he watches his numbers rise exponentially.
Seun Kuti smoothed things out with his live band belting out Afro Jazzy sounds.
Banky W wore a couple hats during the music fest. Not only did he perform but he also served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. As a veteran on the scene with a fair share of accolades, the double duty didn’t phase this natural talent at all.
He plays the drums, guitar, keyboard and sings. But thanks to the ladies, it was tough to hear. Their screaming was evidence enough that Flavour had exactly what they needed and then some. Evidently he’s not a 10+ year vet for nothing. 
The classic man showed up in style and enjoyed every minute of it. Jidenna kept his gloves dirty and his hands clean as he charmed the audience and strutted his way back and forth across the stage.
Timaya and Machel had the ladies shaking everything they possibly could. Bum Bums and flags were waving like labor day came to Brooklyn early. “I concur” that Don Jazzy helped keep things in order by keeping the masses in rhythm.
If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that Davido was performing in his hometown. The love was loud and real from start to finish. The call and response had the arena shaking during “Aye“.
No band?…No problem. Wizkid improvised like a true artist and closed out the show on a high note. Besides running through his hits with the help of thousands of back up singers, he brought out Swizz Beatz to hype em up even more. He also gave notice that his crossover appeal will dance on with another collaboration with Drake in the near future.
At this point you must be wondering how you managed to miss this event. The funny thing is…so am I!
Much props to Carefree Nation for making it happen!
Janita’s newest album Here Be Dragons is another in a progression of finely crafted hymns for the empowered. Whether by love, as in the silky “I Do,” or by subverting expectations, in the Beatlesesque “Not What You’re Used To,” Janita draws on lessons learned during a positively unique career that spans decades and continents. We caught up with Janita on the heels of her latest single “When It’s All Up To You” to find out three songs she’d love to have written.
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Elliott Smith — “L.A.”
This is one of my favorite songs by Elliott Smith. I listened to the full album Figure 8 a lot while I was writing the songs on my new album, and it was a huge influence on me both melodically and lyrically. This song in particular has also informed some of the production choices we made later, like the heavier guitars you hear on my song “Not What You’re Used To.”
“L.A.” is incredibly melodic, but there’s an elusive, haunting quality to it. It feels like you’re always trying to reach it, catch up to it somehow. The backing vocals accentuate that feeling. In my mind, the song paints such a vivid picture of the ephemeral, fickle nature of L.A., and the similarly transient nature of the main character. Elliott Smith himself? I don’t know exactly how he does (did) it, but I’m certainly in awe of it.
Radiohead — “There There”
So hypnotic. So badass. Could the production possibly be any cooler? The melody is intricate and beautiful, and I can relate to the lyric from every which angle: as the singer, as the one being sung to, and whether in love relationships, friendships, or with total strangers. The subject matter simply comes up in life in so many ways all the time… I recently tried to express similar notions as I was writing a song, only to remember that it was already done here perfectly. Goddammit.
Punch Brothers — “Julep”
This song is simply magical to me. It’s made me bawl my eyes out at a Punch Brothers concert two separate times. It’s like that viral video that was circulating some years ago of a baby moved to tears when her mom sings a sad tune. I’m that baby when it comes to this song. It simply hits some sort of primal button in me and keeps pressing it until the very end.
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While you’re at it, check out Janita’s video for “Digging in the Dirt,” a funky and faithful rendition of the Peter Gabriel classic.
Jay Som’s Melina Duterte and Palehound’s Ellen Kempner join forces as Bachelor – a musical powerhouse whose new record Doomin’ Sun drops May 28th on Polyvinyl.
Kemper and Duterter recorded the album during two weeks of mutual appreciation in California. Three visceral singles have been released in the lead-up, including the Pixies-flavored “Stay in the Car” and the sprawling “Anything At All.”
Bachelor has also announced the Doomin’ Sun Fest, a one-day livestream featuring Tegan & Sara, Courtney Barnett, Adrianne Lenker, Jeff Tweedy, Japanese Breakfast, Julien Baker, and more.
Two men that look suspiciously alike meet outside a fictitious Brooklyn hot-spot – six feet apart.
MC Krispy E: Very nice to meet you. (squints) Have we met before?
Electronic Device: Maybe?
MC Krispy E: Is the rest of the band joining us?
Electronic Device: (pause) I am the rest of the band.
MC Krispy E: You are Electronic Device? What’s that about?
Electronic Device: Uhm, yeah, it’s like a pen name. You know what that is, right?
MC Krispy E: I have some idea.
Electronic Device: It was actually the name of one of my dad’s companies back in the day before…
MC Krispy E: (looking at his watch) Wonderful. So… it says here you have a new single called “All Things Come to an End” inspired by the death of your brother.
Electronic Device: Yeah, after my brother died I recorded songs as a form of therapy in his old bedroom in Staten Island.
MC Krispy E: And now I read that you have cancer. Am I supposed to feel extra sorry for you?
Electronic Device: Uhm…
MC Krispy E: It sounds like this album is going to be super depressing.
Electronic Device: It’s not, I swear. I was looking for some happiness while recording these songs, there’s not much of an agenda beyond that.
MC Krispy E: What kind of music is it?
Electronic Device: I wasn’t really thinking about influences while recording, but listening back I hear some Concrete Blonde, some Cracker.
MC Krispy: So bands no one is interested in?
Electronic Device: What the hell, man?
MC Krispy: Sorry, it’s almost like I can’t help it. What’s the single about?
Electronic Device: I hate saying what a song is about because everything is up for interpretation.
MC Krispy E: Humor us.
Electronic Device: I can say that “All Things Come to an End” has multiple narrators, some of which are unreliable.
MC Krispy E: (stares)
Electronic Device: And that one day I was at my Dad’s house and when I turned the corner into the hallway my Dad thought I was my brother for a moment, which was super sad because of course I couldn’t be.
MC Krispy E: And then you wrote a whole song about that.
Electronic Device: I guess so. When you put it that way…
MC Krispy E: (yawning) Tell us when the single come out.
Electronic Device: The single is out now. The album comes out in 2021.
MC Krispy E: Well, good for you. And good luck with that cancer thing.
Electronic Device: Yeah, you too.
MC Krispy E: Thanks. What?