Author: WKNC Admin

Categories
Playlists

Jazz Rap: a history lesson and playlist

History:

If you’ve ever heard any of A Tribe Called Quest, Anderson .Paak, Digable Planets, Quasimoto or Noname then you’ve heard of Jazz Rap. Jazz Rap emerged in the 80s and 90s, right along with the rap genre’s own beginnings. Jazz had been used to sample and reconstruct new soundscapes for lyricists to rap over. It was mellow, it was jazzy and it was paying homage to black music. While the music itself was historically aware, the artists who participated seemed to be as well by adopting lyrics about the intricacies of black people in America and throughout. Gang Starr was among the very first to popularize the genre with songs like “Talkin’ All That Jazz” which sampled famous jazz musician, Lonnie Liston Smith. 

In 1993, Digable Planets released a hit jazz rap record called “Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)” which sampled many a jazz artist including Herbie Hancock. After a time, jazz rap’s popularity began to dwindle in the mainstream sphere, but jazz still holds strong roots in the back beats of any rap song then and today. Jazz rap gave room for other experimental and unconventional forms of rap and hip hop as can be seen with MF Doom and Noname. 

Jazz Rap: a playlist

Award Tour: A Tribe Called Quest

Where I’m From: Digable Planets

Self: Noname

Blah Loops: Like ft. Kali Uchis

Running Shoes: Ivan Ave

Bluffin: Quasimoto

Me of the Papes: Jeru The Damaja

Dancing in the Rain: Blu and Exile

Mass Appeal: Gang Starr

They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y): Pete Rock & CL Smooth

93 ‘Til Infinity: Souls of Mischief

Poe Man’s Dreams (His Vice): Kendrick Lamar ft. GLC

The Strip: MED, MAdlib, Anderson .Paak

Next Levels: King Geedorah

4r Da Squaw: Isaiah Rashad

– cellar door 

Categories
DJ Highlights

How to Experience Music Differently

I never knew just how many ways there were to experience music until I came to college. It honestly blew my mind to see just how many different ways one could listen to music and how much that changes the experience, so I wanted to share some of my favorites

DJing – Of course the best way to experience music differently is by listening to WKNC 88.1 (the best in college radio) 🙂 but actually, it really does change the experience when you’re in charge of the music selection on the radio. Hearing your favorite tracks over the monitor and knowing that you’re able to force however many people are tuned in to enjoy it too is a feeling like no other. DJing also definitely changed how I experienced music on a first listen and how I think of playlists (I’m kind of addicted to making playlists now and have far more than necessary)

Live – Anyone who’s ever been to a concert for a band they love will testify to this, seeing the music performed live is such an intimate and mesmerizing experience and you feel the music in a way that only comes from a live show. Like most people I keep a list of all the shows I go to, but I know that even if I didn’t have it I would still remember. You never forget a good show and for a good while after you’ll feel different about that music/ artists.

Knowing/meeting the Artist – This is one of my favorite ways to experience music. Much like a live concert it just feels way more intimate but it also brings in this ‘aw i’m so proud of you’ feeling, almost makes you feel like a proud parent at your kids talent show. You get excited to show off your friends work and how talented they are, and when you listen you think ‘yeah definitely feels like them’. I listen to my friends music all the time because it’s the most inspiring and exciting thing to experience.

Making the music – This one is fun as long as you’re not too critical of yourself. Sitting back and listening to something YOU created, thought of, put into existence, etc. is an exciting and inspiring experience. You might stop and think ‘hmm I should’ve done this differently’, but it’s a learning experience and it just makes you want to do it again. Sharing your music with other people who make music can also be a scary thing, but hearing good feedback and being able to enjoy each other’s work is by far my favorite way to experience music.

Focus on Different Elements – Now this is something that studying music as a minor has added to my musical life. Structure, instruments, tempo, lyrics, etc. there’s just so much to hear when listening to a song and if you focus on a different part each time you almost feel like your experiencing it for the first time every time. This can also apply to where you are in your life and what your experiencing too. Like how a love song feels different depending on relationship status and how you feel about someone.

Car, Biking, Skateboarding, Flying etc. – Last but not least, I do think listening to music during any kind of travel changes the experience. Freshman year my absolute favorite thing to do when I was stressed was get on my skateboard and jam out while riding around campus. Now that I live off campus I find listening to music while biking has its own spark too. There’s something about that breeze and flow of travel that really puts people in a mellow and bop mood. And I can’t forget to mention that ‘movie-like’ (and EXTREMELY satisfying) feeling when you pull up to your destination right as the song is ending.

If you have any other favorite ways to experience music please let me know

– DJ Psyched

Categories
Podcasts

EOT293 Shervon Cassism: Assistant Director of NC State Creative Writing Program, Jennifer Hall: Executive Director of the American Lung Association in NC 9/08/19

Categories
Festival Coverage

WKNC Breaking

image

After weeks of intense negotiation The Avett Brothers finally realize their dream of directing people towards bathrooms and beer.

-Andrew Evans 

Categories
New Album Review

Album Highlight // Pit Boss by Cecil Frena

 

Cecil Frena’s 12 track record ‘Pit Boss’ was released last month on August 21, 2019. The newly released album was a must listen for me because Cecil Frena’s first album ‘The Gridlock’ was the first album I ever reviewed for WKNC, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I was excited when I heard about this release and I absolutely loved the change of pace I felt when I had my first listen. This album definitely sounds like Cecil Frena but it holds its own unique sound at the same time (something I love to see artists do). 

From first listen the track ‘Are You A Cop’ really stood out to me and remains one of my favorites from the album. The guitars are memorable, as they are all throughout this entire album, and the use of screaming vocals (which are also used a good amount on this record) really add to the weight of his words. ‘The Rats are Winning’ also stood out to me that first time. With its fierce vocals and whisper like chorus this track really gets you feeling the intensity behind the artists words. ‘Baby you got this’ is definitely an anthem type track and i’m here for the catchy hook that I know I’ll have stuck in my head for a while now. And I’m alright with that.

I’d definitely have to say though, my favorite thing about Cecil Frena’s music is the experience of pulling up the lyrics on bandcamp and reading along side the track. His lyrical work is usually telling an underlying story that you only catch if you’re paying close attention, and it’s always a story worth hearing. Cecil hasn’t been afraid to talk on personal beliefs and political topics in the past and he doesn’t shy away from them on this record either, and it’s powerful.

– DJ Psyched

Categories
New Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW: POW! – Shift

Pow! by Shift album cover

BEST TRACKS: Peter, Free the Floor

FCC VIOLATIONS: Disobey, No World

This is it. We are now in the Cybergoth future that our parents and teachers warned us about. POW! is back – darker, noisier, and giving less of a damn than ever with their new album Shift.

Pow! started out in 2011 with four members but by the time the band released Shift, their numbers had dwindled down to just two: the extraordinary duo Byron Blum and Melissa Blue. With Blum’s cutting guitar, and Blue’s chilling vocals and brain-liquefying keyboard, they don’t really need anyone else.

This album came as a surprise. Based on the two albums that came before this release, it seemed like POW! was moving in a more pop direction. For some reason, they changed their minds and turned a complete 180…and we’re so glad they did! Shift is experimental, unnerving, and abrasive in the most ripping way.

This album is an avant garde explosion of self-expression. Picture oscillating synthesizers, robotic deadpan vocals, strange electronic whirring, and tinny drums being beaten to within an inch of their life. Any song from this album could go on the soundtrack of a post-apocalyptic movie about a motley group of computer hackers and mechanics trying to overthrow the government.

To give you an idea of how noisy this album actually is, I was listening to the fourth track, Free the Floor, in my car and thought the sirens of a firetruck passing by were just part of the song. I almost didn’t stop for it. A minute later, in the same car ride, I was vibing so hard to Peter that I missed my turn. SO yeah what I’m trying to say is this album is really good but bad for when you’re driving.

If you’ve ever worn glittery black nail polish or cosplayed as anyone from Invader Zim, you’ll probably like this album. Even if you’re not a cyberpunk menace, it might still amuse you to give this album a spin.

-Safia Rizwan

Categories
Festival Coverage

vitamin e’s electronic music roundup baby!!

 its that time of year again folks! Here is the WKNC Afterhours approved lineup for the top 6 best electronic shows for the hopscotch weekend

  1. Channel Tres-  my #1 electronic show of the weekend, def going to be a good, super funky house music set: Friday, Imurj at 12:30am

  2. Spelling- Oakland, CA based artist, makes dreamy soul music with some electronic undertones: Saturday, Neptunes at 11pm

  3. Zah- Brooklyn, NY DJ and artist: Saturday, Wicked Witch at 11:30pm

  4. Shormey- Chesapeake, VA based artist,  makes light and sunny electronic music: Saturday, Imurj at 9pm

  5. Oak city slums-  Raleigh based DJ: Friday, Imurj at 11:30pm

  6. Gudiya- Raleigh based artist: Saturday, Wicked Witch at 8:30pm

stay dry out there n dance a lot everybody :0)
vitamin e 

Categories
Festival Coverage

WKNC Hopscotch Day Party Artist Feature: Emily Musolino

With Hopscotch right around the corner, and WKNC’s Day Party at Legends following closely in its wake– how better to promote both events than by give y’all a lil’ insight into our Day Party Line-up!

WKNC’s Day Party description is as follows.

This year has been full of milestones, and WKNC aims to celebrate them all. 2019 held Raleigh’s first ever Pride Festival, was the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and marks ten years of Hopscotch. With this in mind, WKNC’s Hopscotch Day Party aims to promote and celebrate LGBTQ+ affiliated artists from across the state to keep the Pride Party going all year long! Featuring Petrov, Emily Musolino, Juxton Roy, Through the Tallwoods, Black Bouquet, and To Julian, the party will be hosted on Saturday, September 7th at Legends Club. This event is all-ages and supported by the NC State GLBT Center.

This will be a series up until the Day Party, so the questions will be the same, but we can guarantee that every artist will add their own personal flare to each answer.

Emily Musolino has kindly agreed to do a stripped down set on the acoustic stage of Legends. Though typically done with a full band, the raw emotion and lyrical complexity makes this act my personally most anticipated set of the day.

  1. Give us a lil rundown of how your band got formed! When/where/how/why!  I’ve been writing songs for 20 years. it started out as a personal outlet for me when I picked up the guitar at age 10. When college came up, I chose Berklee College of Music because it had the reputation of being one of the top contemporary music academies in the world. After graduating with a degree in music production I decided it was much too cold to live in Boston so I moved back home and have been traveling around the southeast ever since playing music! 
  2. What can an audience member expect from one of your shows? It depends on what show. I provide myself on being very diverse – Sometimes the audience wants to party and have loud rock and roll, and sometimes it’s a quiet listening room where they want to be softly serenaded. I can do both. 
  3. Do you see performance as a task or an endeavor? In that vein, what part about performing is most challenging or liberating? I love performing. I feel more natural on stage then I do offstage most of the time. The most liberating thing about it is it forces you to live completely in the moment – no worrying about the future or regretting the past. Everything that matters is in the note you’re singing right now. 
  4. What does Pride mean to you? How do you embody those meanings in your music? In your everyday life?  I’ve been out and proud for 15 years and still to this day I’ll feel a twinge of fear when singing my original lyrics that are obviously gay. I despise that fear, and I hope that every time I sing one of my songs a little bit of that fear goes away not just for me but for the whole LGBT community. 
  5. What are you most excited about during Hopscotch?  Tough question! There are so many great acts, I’m just happy to be a part of it all and soak it all in. 
  6. For the tenth anniversary of Hopscotch, what would you ten years ago think about you now?  I think she would be thrilled! I’m living my dream of playing music full-time, I have a wonderful girlfriend and an ever expanding circle of multi-talented friends. life is good 🙂
  7. Please list some fun facts about your band!   This particular show will be solo, not sure about fun facts, you might just have to come to show to find out!

You can learn more about Emily Musolino by visiting her Facebook page or Instagram (@theemilymusolino) and, of course, by attending WKNC’s Hopscotch Day Party. It will be held at Legends Club on Saturday, September 7th and begins at noon! 

Literally be there or you will make baby deer cry!

https://emilymusolino.bandcamp.com/

Categories
Festival Coverage

WKNC Hopscotch Day Party Artist Feature: Petrov

With Hopscotch right around the corner, and WKNC’s Day Party at Legends following closely in its wake– how better to promote both events than by give y’all a lil’ insight into our Day Party Line-up!

WKNC’s Day Party description is as follows.

This year has been full of milestones, and WKNC aims to celebrate them all. 2019 held Raleigh’s first ever Pride Festival, was the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and marks ten years of Hopscotch. With this in mind, WKNC’s Hopscotch Day Party aims to promote and celebrate LGBTQ+ affiliated artists from across the state to keep the Pride Party going all year long! Featuring Petrov, Emily Musolino, Juxton Roy, Through the Tallwoods, Black Bouquet, and To Julian, the party will be hosted on Saturday, September 7th at Legends Club. This event is all-ages and supported by the NC State GLBT Center.

This will be a series up until the Day Party, so the questions will be the same, but we can guarantee that every artist will add their own personal flare to each answer.

Petrov, hailing from Charlotte, calls themselves “thicc rocc” which, although a joking title, is rather true. A sensual blend of guitars and smooth vocals overlayed onto a disco-inspired drum line makes it impossible not to dance. Petrov is our headliner for obvious reasons.

  1. Give us a lil rundown of how your band got formed! When/where/how/why!

    Craigslist actually was the original common thread of how we formed. Our guitar players Syd Little and Michael Backlund were in a band in Boone called Borrowed Arts. They both moved back to Charlotte and posted a Craigslist ad about wanting to start a new band. Garrett Herzfeld, the drummer, responded to the ad not even knowing that he had already played shows with them in the past. They all posted another Craigslist ad for a bass player (answered by Matt McConomy, who happened to already be familiar with the dudes as well), and then finally Mary Grace McKusick answered Garrett’s Facebook post about needing a vocalist. She had never been in a band before, but was encouraged by her friend to push through her hesitations worrying Garrett might think of her as not much more than just his good friend’s little sister. But we are so glad she did because she ended up being the perfect fit. And thus Petrov was born.

  2. What can an audience member expect from one of your shows? 

    Audiences watching a Petrov show can expect an excitingly punchy rhythm section, dueling yet complementary guitars, and an aggressively entertaining frontperson passionately belting out her feelings on topics important to her.

  3. Do you see performance as a task or an endeavor? In that vein, what part about performing is most challenging or liberating?

    We see performances as a welcomed endeavor. The feeling between performer and audience is irreplaceable. The biggest challenge is definitely between-song banter.

  4. What does Pride mean to you? How do you embody those meanings in your music? In your everyday life?

    Mary Grace: Pride means to embrace anything and everything about yourself. Our song “By All Means” is about me coming into my queer identity and relationships and moments that have shaped myself into said identity. I show pride in my everyday life by being unapologetic and owning the space I take up.

  5. What are you most excited about during Hopscotch?

    Mary Grace: Acne
    Garrett: Sunwatchers, Boris, Little Brother

  6. For the tenth anniversary of Hopscotch, what would you ten years ago think about you now?

    Hopefully the “us” of ten years ago would feel more approval than disappointment about our current selves.

  7. Please list some fun facts about your band

    The name “Petrov” comes from Stanislav Petrov, a Soviet officer who in 1983 trusted his gut that a nuclear missile alert warning that the United States had launched missiles was a false alarm. His decision to disobey orders by not immediately retaliating went against Soviet protocol, but most likely prevented full-scale nuclear war. So thanks, Stanny.

You can learn more about Petrov by visiting their Facebook page or Instagram (@petrovclt) and, of course, by attending WKNC’s Hopscotch Day Party. It will be held at Legends Club on Saturday, September 7th and begins at noon! 

Dance tonight (on Saturday), revolution tomorrow.

https://petrovclt.bandcamp.com/releases

Categories
Festival Coverage

WKNC Hopscotch Day Party Artist Feature: To Julian

With Hopscotch right around the corner, and WKNC’s Day Party at Legends following closely in its wake– how better to promote both events than by give y’all a lil’ insight into our Day Party Line-up!

WKNC’s Day Party description is as follows.

This year has been full of milestones, and WKNC aims to celebrate them all. 2019 held Raleigh’s first ever Pride Festival, was the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and marks ten years of Hopscotch. With this in mind, WKNC’s Hopscotch Day Party aims to promote and celebrate LGBTQ+ affiliated artists from across the state to keep the Pride Party going all year long! Featuring Petrov, Emily Musolino, Juxton Roy, Through the Tallwoods, Black Bouquet, and To Julian, the party will be hosted on Saturday, September 7th at Legends Club. This event is all-ages and supported by the NC State GLBT Center.

This will be a series up until the Day Party, so the questions will be the same, but we can guarantee that every artist will add their own personal flare to each answer.

This is ~officially~ To Julian’s very first interview and WKNC is very excited to have this alumnus, friend, and artist share their insight with us.

Read their answers below 🙂

  1. Give us a lil rundown of how your band got formed! When/where/how/why!  When I was 19, I felt like I was stagnating and living without a passion. I grabbed my friends and went to a pawn shop down the road from the house I was raised in, and bought my first guitar for $70. I never took a lesson, never sat down and learned with anyone; I just labored and labored until I was proficient and stuck my hands in weird places on the guitar. and so came to be ‘to julian’!
  2. What can an audience member expect from one of your shows?confusion? Everyone always comes up to me afterwards and relays the fact that they don’t know whether they should be really happy or really sad. 
  3. Do you see performance as a task or an endeavor? In that vein, what part about performing is most challenging or liberating? In many ways, it’s both. I have horrible performance anxiety to the point where I can’t eat anything the day of a show or else it’ll just come back up the way it came, so managing that has been a challenge. But in the same way, it’s extremely liberating to grapple with that anxiety and win. I’ve trained myself to just think that the stage is my bedroom – now everyone gets to see exactly who I am. 
  4. What does Pride mean to you? How do you embody those meanings in your music? In your everyday life? Pride is nurturing and holding. The queer community has always held me, understood me, taught me, and given me strength in a way that no one else has. It’s allowed me to be exactly who I was meant to be with nothing held back; which is essentially exactly why I make music. I make music because one day, when I have a child, I want them to know that I did it! I figured out the way to feel most like me and now I get to spend the rest of my life flying into myself. I figured out how to hold nothing back and show everyone exactly who I am and be proud of that person too. 
  5. What are you most excited about during Hopscotch?  Honestly, this is the first year I’m not attending the festival as a whole but rather just the day parties, so I’m excited to get some rest for my feet so next year I can walk twice as fast. 
  6. For the tenth anniversary of Hopscotch, what would you ten years ago think about you now?  12 year old Michael was so simple; I listened to Queen, Gorillaz, Deftones, I just learned how to ride a bike (I know I was late!), and I always itched to be different, but didn’t know how to. I’d be so proud of myself. shocked, but proud. 
  7. Please list some fun facts about your band!  ooooh … I already discussed a couple of these but … I’ve only been playing guitar for 3 years! I can do this weird thing where I sit criss-cross on the ground and without using my hands, bring my feet into the lotus position? and then since my legs are essentially knotted and unable to move freely, I walk around on the floor using my arms as legs. Real good party trick! One last one … my sister and I were born exactly 4 years apart on April 8th, which just so happens to be my favorite song by neutral milk hotel, which is also my favorite song on earth. 

You can learn more about To Julian by visiting their Facebook page or Instagram (@2222Julian) and, of course, by attending WKNC’s Hopscotch Day Party. It will be held at Legends Club on Saturday, September 7th and begins at noon! 

Pre-game the show by previewing all of the acts discographies on bandcamp! To Julian’s bandcamp link is as follows. 

https://tojulian.bandcamp.com/

Just like the show…… listening to their bandcamp is free too.