Friday, November 29, 2013

Album Review: 'Afrodisiac' by Teni

After just hearing the excellent vibes A-B-E provided, I figured we'd go into something even more diverse. Such a spectrum of music to cover, and I've only just scratched the surface of an otherwise endless range of melodic possibilities. It is truly astounding how much music can be produced on the internet, no one person could ever hear everything. Enter Teni, a London born singer and producer with a knack for creating smooth vibes across a range of genres. Included but not limited to: afrobeat, blues, and reggae.


Featuring 10 tracks and displaying a sexy cover that's styled very modern; showing bare skin...you get the idea that this album is close to the heart. Raw emotion being transferred here. Her voice is powerful and profound and it covers a wide range of frequencies. You can tell the emphasis was put on the vocals to display an uplifting, verbal experience. The artist's bio reads:

"Afrodisiac" is the debut album by London born soul singer and producer Teni who is influenced by Sade, Marvin Gaye and Fela Kuti and creates an eclectic fusion of afrobeat, jazz, funk and soul. Afrodisiac is a timeless, soulful, sensual inspired piece with sultry vocals, dirty bass lines and hypnotic afro guitars by this innovative singer-songwriter who explores new genres in her compositions. Her message of unity and upliftment and powerfully sensual live performance are sure to help her take the music world by storm..."

Starting out with the title track of the album, 'Afrodisiac', you really get a sense of what this artist is about: smooth basslines, sensual vocals, and raw talent. There's a few things I could say in criticism though: The vocals seem to overpower some of the tracks. The overwhelming presence can be a little distracting however, most of the tracks seem very well balanced. It's a style that fits well for the most part; the melodies are catchy yet, sometimes, I'm left feeling the dynamics on some of the samples are a little plastic-y. A good example would be "When Would It Be". Seems as though the track is made with an ethnic flair in mind however, the intro could have used better samples.

"When Will It Be"


However, with most of the songs - as I said - it's very, very smooth. Everything just seems to flow from one track to the next. I imagine myself sipping on some alcoholic beverage in a club sitting in a booth with some friends, talking about old memories. It's peaceful and it feels raw, in a good way. It's a special thing when an artist can create their own style, and bring something out into the world that no one else can.

"Wilderness"


This is probably my favorite song off the album. Being a big fan of reggae already, I dig the funky licks on the bassline and the Marley-esque peace vibes that emanate. Parts of this make me wish I could just plan a trip to Jamaica right now. The instruments used in this all feel very pleasant in my ears; it's mixed very well.

"Your Love is the Key"


The 3rd single from 'Afrodisiac', and this is probably the most popular track of the bunch. It features a four on the floor beat, and is very reminiscent of 80's house. I start imagining a more mellow D-Train, Jomanda, or Class Action. Very cool stuff. I picture bright clothes, large dancefloors, and neon colors sprayed everywhere. This is sure to be a beat that really gets the crowd moving.

Teni brings a unique variety of flavor to the world of afrobeat/jazz. Her style is diverse while at the same time reminiscent of artists she is influenced by. The few critiques I could make on her debut album are minuscule. I can say, with complete honesty, that I have not heard something like this before. Similar styles? Maybe. But this is a rich collection of songs that is both inspirational and appeasing to my ear lobes and is very well worth listening to. Try something new out; keep yourself open minded about the world of music because sometimes you might just overhear something you didn't expect and be transported into a new realm of genres.

The best part is, is she's all over the place! Unlike the last artist I reviewed, Teni has done quite a bit of social networking. She's on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Pick up a copy of 'Afrodisiac' today from iTunes, Amazon MP3, or just visit her personal website for a glimpse into her future endeavors: http://tenimusic.org

Thanks for reading!

Facebook: http://facebook.com/Tenimusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TeniMuse
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MakedaHouse
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/teni
Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulsiren

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Artist/Single Review: "Real Wit Yaself feat. Melinna Bobadilla"

Let's face it.

Rap at its core - when it's good - is all about expression in the most soulful and elaborate way possible. Its depth is measured by the content heard in the lyrics and its production is systematically placed by utilizing harmonic blocks in a digital audio work space. When you're listening to hip-hop, the idea is to pass along a message in a unique approach as to create an exclusive signature. In other words, get people to say, "This s*** is dope."


The artist, A-B-E, does just that. From the start, we have some superb strings playing in the back with an expressive jazz guitar. The groove is polished and the drums are smooth; it carries the song until the vocals provide the melody telling a story along the way. More than its production values, this is a very inspirational song. From the title alone, the message is "to be yourself". Don't lose your values or dignity as a human being; each person has their own set of freedoms. The artist makes it clear that this song is meant to trigger motivation and inspire those with a less than a fond perspective of humanity.

...and on top of that, there are some sexy vocals spread out in-between sung by Melinna Bobadilla.


If you're into intelligent songwriting, captivating rhymes, smooth beats, and uplifting messages...A-B-E is someone to look out for. I really liked this track and I hope there will be more like it. The only thing I could say in criticism is that I wish it was available through more outlets such as Soundcloud or Bandcamp, since it's only on Spotify and iTunes for now. More outlets means more advertisement/exposure and this is an artist who deserves it.

Thanks for reading!

Check out A-B-E at these places!

Links:

Spotify:
https://play.spotify.com/artist/6iY6jD1hPT9bTqVJRh5WK9

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/mt/album/real-wit-yaself-feat.-melinna/id721659939

Monday, November 18, 2013

Random YouTube Video: Texting, Talking, Checking Mail (TTCM) by BrothersP

Haven't spoken for a while, how's everyone doing?

Great, because here's something I found that's quite different. A comedy/country music song that focuses on the sole purpose of emphasizing the over usage of phones. Trying to go out on the date with a beautiful girl just isn't what it used to be and sometimes the phone can be a bastard.

Who knew?

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of country (Johnny Cash, has and will always be exempt from this)...I listen to most things that are out there today and it just doesn't click. Comedy, is another genre though. Putting these two together in most cases...just seems like you'd be putting bread and mustard on your already well established pork and beans. But instead, you have Oreos and milk.

Overall, a good story; one that a lot of people will find enjoyable. The kind and polite gentleman meets a lady that has a phone plastered to her face. He continues to press forward with the date as the lady is exploring the latest apps. It's clever, the dialogue is witty and it features a number of varied backgrounds to keep the listener going!

Nearly 5 mins; starts to feel a little long, but this song is great! Albeit the lip syncing was a little strange, but given the nature of things...it's almost meant to be off in a comedic fashion. Everything makes sense, and gave me a good chuckle. Good work, BrothersP!



Check out the rest of their stuff here.