Category: Blog

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Miscellaneous

‘To Live Woke’ by Dr. Nacoste

 

Dr. Rupert Nacoste, the Social Psychologist who created the concept of ‘Neo-diversity’ and teaches the one-of-a-kind ‘Psychology of Interdependence and Race’ course at NC State University, brings us his fourth novel ‘To Live Woke’. In this novel, much like his teachings, he shares stories of his past experiences to aid in his teaching. Having grown up in the Jim Crow legally segregated south, and serving in the Navy during a time that involved Race Riots, he uses stories from his past to give the reader a taste of his perspective. He uses this new understanding to demonstrate why people must learn to not simply ‘tolerate diversity’ but to fully respect and embrace neo-diversity. Dr. Nacoste says ‘We can save the soul of America’ and he uses this book as a way to show us how we can contribute to this effort and actually understand what it means to ‘live woke’, not just by saying we are woke, but by ‘knowing how to act on this awareness’.

Neo-diversity is ‘that interpersonal situation in which we all have to encounter and sometimes interact with people from different groups by way of race yes, but also sexual orientation, religion, bodily-condition, sex-of-person, mental-health condition, gender-identity, age and on and on.’ (Nacoste 2017). 

Dr. Nacoste uses Social Psychological principles and real life stories to make the lessons he shares resonate with the reader. He shares his nine tips to ‘help you live woke’ which include; ‘never trying to interact with a person as a representation of a group’, ‘ask open-ended questions’ (‘not stereotype based questions’), and ‘when the person you are interacting with uses the language of bigotry, do not be silent: speak into the moment: do not argue, yet speak into the moment and object.’ 

Dr. Nacoste introduces a wide variety of topics that demonstrate how this new ‘neo-diversity situation’ impacts our social lives in every way. These everyday encounters of neo-diversity can often cause people ‘neo-diversity anxiety’. This book teaches the readers how to handle those anxieties and keep it from causing us to ‘crash’ in our interpersonal situations.

An important point Dr. Nacoste makes sure we understand is that ‘prejudice isn’t bigotry isn’t racism’. He explains the importance of understanding this because, as he put it, ‘Something old and anti-american needs to be addressed and changed: leftover demeaning language of hate about (neo-diverse groups), and leftover anti-group prejudice and bigotry (that is) aimed at America’s neo-diversity’

‘What are you prepared to do?’ Dr. Nacoste asks.

He gives us everyday interpersonal-strategies we can use to combat these acts of bigotry. ‘Let the person know your standards for continuing to interact with you’ when someone uses bigotry in front of you ‘Speak into the moment using your inside voice to say ‘I’m sorry, I would prefer not to hear that kind of (neo-diversity) slur/stereotype. It hurts me.’’ This method has been proven effective.

There is far more important, and incredibly useful, information in this book than I could possibly fit in a blog post. You can find a link to the book below to learn more about how ‘To Live Woke’. 

My advice when you read is to take it nice and slow. Read each chapter and give time for the material to set in before continuing. These are concepts and lessons I have been learning for over two years, since I first took a course with Dr. Nacoste, and I still find them powerful and impactful each time I hear them. I think it is important to stop and reflect on how these concepts relate to your life. Allow them to resonate and make sure they stick. 

Until next time

Let’s stay psyched about social psychology,

DJ Psyched

‘To Live Woke’ Hardback

Paperback

Dr. Nacoste Psychology Today

Categories
Music Education

Beginner’s Guide to Electronic Genres

Electronic music is one of those genres where tracks can transcend many different genres or even create a whole new niche sound. One could say that electronic music is on a spectrum where one track may flow between certain classifications but is awesome nevertheless. 

Some of the biggest electronic genres include electro, house, techno, trance, drum & bass, and dubstep. All of which have subgenres typically associated with them. This beginner’s guide is designed to explain these six main genres and fuel your own research into the crazy world of electronic music.

Electro – Inspired by the funky era of music and the 808 drum machine, electro music takes hip-hop and funk and combines it with the tempo of the likes of house music to produce an electronically based funkiness with groovy rhythms. This genre of music has come back into the underground scene as of the early 2000’s and has grown since.

House – House music got its start in the late 70s in Chicago with a focus on 4/4 time (4 beats per measure) and the “untz” sound that many casual listeners may consider as most electronic music. It is one of the most changing genres in this guide and has more subgenres than I have fingers and toes to count. Some sub-genres include progressive house, deep house, and electro-house that all deliver a fresh take on the bass-focused genre.

Techno – A Detroit-born native in the late 80s, techno takes a dystopic approach to the up and coming house music by focusing on darker, faster beats. Some of the inspiration for techno music arises from the automotive industry that was in recession at the time. The term “techno” was coined by the media to describe the new, darker sensation of house music. Techno is another genre with difficult sub-genres to classify, but overall try to stick to a darker, almost mechanical sound focusing on grit and subtle rhythms.

Trance – Trance grew in popularity in the 1990s in the US but was inspired by UK house as well as techno music from the late 80s. Trance is typically described as a focus on melodic synths and builds that seem uplifting with drops that attempt the opposite effect. Most trance music is divided into two categories: uplifting and progressive trance. Uplifting trance focuses on the emotional side of music, creating happy atmospheres that help cheer up listeners. Progressive trance draws from futuristic sounds with long, aggressive builds and slower, milder drops.

Drum & Bass – As the name implies, drum & bass relies heavily on drum rhythms and basslines to deliver a quick and dirty experience. Drum & bass is the type of music that takes after dubstep and breakbeat to create a high octane experience. Most songs in the drum & bass category typically clock in around 175 BPM and will get anyone’s heart pumping at the conclusion of the track.

Dubstep – Dubstep’s birthplace comes from UK Garage and Drum & Bass in the 90s, featuring bass that can only truly be experienced from massive sound systems. Dubstep focuses on the low-end, trying to consume the listener in bass and aggressive rhythms. Across the pond, Americanized dubstep, hailed “Brostep,” focuses on the mid-range with distortion and robotic sounds being the key characteristic. Dubstep also has inspiration from hip-hop and metal.

This is a good starting point into understanding the electronic music world but there are tens, even hundreds of different genres and subgenres that fit into the umbrella term, electronic. Even today, people are creating new sounds and new niche groups that don’t quite fit the norm of conventional genres, but that’s what makes the electronic world of music so incredible; its versatility and ever evolving nature.

-Tegan 

Categories
Non-Music News

BLM and Police Reform Podcasts

During the social movement of the Black Lives Matter protests and arguments for law enforcement reform, it is important for everyone to examine and understand the history behind issues of racism and discrimination, and view these problems through different lenses. These podcasts will help you expand your knowledge about current issues and can impact how you think about them. 

Left POCket Project Podcast 

This podcast contains a wealth of information relating the history of leftists of color, with specific focus on Black historical figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois. I especially recommend episodes 29 and 31 which cover Angela Davis’s Abolition Democracy. The podcast delves into racial issues in society including mass incarceration, discrimination, and abolition democracy. 

Hoodrat to Headwrap: A Decolonized Past 

This podcast reflects on modern issues of police brutality, health care disparities, and discrimination against Black Americans. Its creators give insight to modern racial problems with historical background. It’s good for easy listening and is well-organized, providing relevant discussion about recent issues such as COVID-19 and the BLM protesting. 

Stuff You Missed in History Class

This is a great podcast that dives into historical information typically not taught through American public education. Their series about Audre Lorde is especially relevant, as Lorde was an important historical figure often overlooked who helped spearhead the feminist movement as a Black lesbian and poet. 

Revolutionary Left Radio

The Revolutionary Left Radio podcast gives a leftist perspective on current events, philosophy, and activism. Some of their best episodes include The Black Panther Party and Prison Abolitionism. A lot of their episodes reflect on issues relevant to the Black Lives Matter movement and police reform. 

Beyond Prisons 

This podcast discusses issues related to prisons, including mass incarceration, the school to prison pipeline, and prison abolition. It contains interviews with experts, discussions of related literature, and how current events impact prisons and prisoners. I especially recommend the episode: Are Prisons Obsolete? (YES!). 

All of these podcasts are available on Spotify and other platforms. I have been enjoying going through these and am always looking for more. Check them out and let me know what you think! 

– Miranda

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Música de Indie

 

As I said before, a part of the reason I started doing Musica de Indie was to get closer to the Spanish language since I’m trying to learn right now. So I just wanted to give another little tip that I found useful, find artists you like and follow them online. The more you read, write, and listen to the language the easier it gets~ And the music is amazing, so it’s a win win. This week on Música de Indie we’re talking about…

  • Yemayá by Mexican Institute Of Sound – This track has more of an ‘indie electronic’ vibe to it. There are more layers of background instruments including more electric guitars and synths. The vocals blend amazing with the music. This track became an instant favorite of mine. The hook ‘Ye-ma-yá carino’ really highlights the extremely catchy track and makes it irresistible.

  • Volcanes by Pilar Cabrera, Ceci Juno, Juliana Velasquez- Juliana and Ceci work the vocals on this track. The track uses volcanoes as a metaphor for understanding the strength of humans and our vulnerability. We learn to take breathes even through the ashes, but sometimes we explode. This track is a very slow and soothing one, with an acoustic guitar taking lead. The swap of vocals between the two women adds a ‘back and forth’ dialogue sound. The singing is carefully paced, and when it picks up in the chorus it’s hard not to sing along.

  • Entre Mis Venas by Ceci Juno – The title translates to ‘Between my veins’, and in the track the artist talks about ‘carrying songs for every flag’ and keeping ‘postcards for each moment’. The artist brings up themes of embracing her culture and that of others. She also talks about being a ‘non-conforming’ artist, and expresses her thoughts that not everyone has the same luck in life. She is one of the singers from the above track and her work is just as amazing as that collaborative piece.

Thanks for tuning in to Música de Indie today, what are your favorite songs from the last two weeks?

Until next time

Let’s Stay Psyched,

DJ Psyched

Categories
DJ Highlights

2k Indie Online

 

‘I’m DJ Psyched and you’re reading 2k Indie online. In this show I highlight new Indie releases from the last few weeks or so. This week we’re starting the segment off with Period by J.P. Plains, the track comes from the artist’s newest EP. I was Psyched about it’s release, so be sure to keep it locked as we explore some new Indie today.’

  • Period by J.P. Plains – I’ve been a huge fan of this artist for a year now and his releases never fail to end up on 2k Indie because of his phenomenal songwriting skills. This track is a heartbroken track about a complicated relationship. The first thing that stuck out to me was his vocals. The artist usually has a bit more effects on the vocals but this track feels really laid back and minimal. The guitars are soft, the drums are a slow steady pace, and the clean-electric guitar that comes into the hook picks up the sound but maintains this minimal sound. It is thoroughly enjoyable and exciting to hear the artist play around with a different style from the previous record and singles. The four track EP this track comes from definitely shows growth and change in the artist.

  • Emotional Rent Control Cheekface – This track reminds me of the front bottoms in an interesting way, but it’s also really unique in its own mix of elements. The ‘talk singing’ portions make it a really fun tune that sounds like a speech, and the song is definitely a statement piece. The rock influence makes it catchy as well, especially with its chorus. This is one that takes a good few listens to hear everything being said, and it’s worth it.

  • Dead and Gone by Lanie Rose – I fell in love with this song at first listen. The artist’s voice is so smooth and has a beautiful timbre. The hook is instantly mesmerizing and digs deep into the heart of the listener. Starting the song with ‘sometimes in this world I feel unseen’ really sets the tone for the powerful message the artist is putting across. He talks of wanting to be ‘held close’ before he’s ‘dead and gone’, and says ‘I’m done giving up now’. He just wants to see love and change in the world while he’s around to enjoy it, it’s a beautiful track and I highly recommend giving it a few spins.

‘Those were the top tracks of 2k Indie Online for the week, if you have any requests for next week please let me know. Keep it locked because there’s more to come’

Until Next Time,

Let’s Stay Psyched about Music

DJ Psyched

Categories
New Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW: Remo Drive – A Portrait Of An Ugly Man

ALBUM REVIEW: Remo Drive – A Portrait Of An Ugly Man

BEST TRACKS: A Guide To Live By, Easy As That, If I’ve Ever Looked Too Deep In Thought

FCC clean

Remo Drive has been one of my favorite bands even since the release of their album “Greatest Hits” in 2017. You might remember it as the iconic pink album that contains some of Remo Drive’s best songs such as ‘Yer Killin’ Me’, ‘Crash Test Rating’, and ‘Art School’. With the release of “A Portrait Of An Ugly Man,” Remo Drive has given up their emo days in favor of a more romantic age.

In “A Portrait Of An Ugly Man,” the anxious, forlorn punk rock style of “Greatest Hits” is replaced with more maturity and artistry. The drums are less frantic. The guitar thrashes less, but twangs and flourishes more. Vocals are much more refined, and there is no signature emo punk rock shouting and whining. Erik Paulson has done a full 180 on his vocal style, becoming tender and wispy, and incorporating breathtaking vibrato into bellows which seem to resound and bounce off of the walls. This album incorporates a lot of dark, southwestern desert rock elements into its instrumental and melodies, most notably in track 4, ‘If I’ve Ever Looked Too Deep In Thought’ with its rattlesnake-esque tambourine, cinematic 80s strings, and wet, reverberating guitar strums.

Though I might miss the mischief and youthfulness that has disappeared from Remo Drive’s radar, I can’t really blame a band for growing up. It looks like emo was just a phase after all. Nevertheless, “A Portrait Of An Ugly Man” has all the energy and charm of a Remo Drive album, only with more impressive vocals. Not to mention, the lyrics are still as hard-hitting and clever as ever. A line from this album that really stuck with me is “If all that goes up must come down how long do I have before I hit the ground?” from the last track ‘Easy as That’. I recommend this album if you love bands like Beirut, Andrew Bird, and Dr. Dog, and Pet Symmetry.

-Safia

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Slept On: Gabriel Garzón-Montano


To French-Colombian multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Garzón-Montano, genre has never been a consideration. This is apparent in his laundry list of musical influences that range from Stevie Wonder to Jeff Buckley to Radiohead, and is reflected in his small, yet impressive discography that draws from styles of funk, soul, R&B and reggaeton, to name a few. After listening to his work, I am frankly surprised he hasn’t reached a wider audience. In fact, you may have heard GGM’s work already and haven’t realized it yet: his track “6 8”, featuring his fragile voice cradled by soft piano chords and patient percussion, was sampled in Drake’s hit “Jungle”. H.E.R’s cover of the same song earned him a Grammy nomination as a songwriter.

His 2014 EP Bishouné: Alma del Huila was his introduction to the world and contains “6 8”, the song that put him on the map. All instruments and vocals were painstakingly recorded to tape by GGM himself to achieve a warm, organic sound. “Everything is Everything”, with its syncopated vocal harmonies, funky bassline, and addictive chorus, speaks of solidarity in the face of universal suffering – easily one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard in the past few years. Another highlight is “Keep on Running” which features plunky piano stabs and woozy organs, on top of which GGM sings about the dangers of running from one’s problems.

2017 saw the release of GGM’s debut studio album, Jardín. As a concept album, many of its tracks contain recurring motifs of fruits and plant life, giving the project a strong sense of cohesion. Standouts include “Fruitflies”, which showcases GGM’s vocal prowess, and “Crawl”, whose rubbery bass and backing vocals serve as a callback to Bishouné’s funk sensibilities.

Gabriel Garzón-Montano has proven himself to be a gifted singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, all at the beginning of his career. I can’t wait to see what he does next!

DJ Mango

Categories
Playlists

Friday Favorites (7/10)

This week’s Friday Favorites include some of my favorite recent tracks by Black female musicians. Malcolm X said that “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Modern discrimination against Black women is rampant, and so I want to highlight some powerful artists filled with talent despite the societal obstacles they’ve faced. 

Build (ft. Arin Ray) – Justine Skye

This song by Justine Skye reflects a tumultuous relationship. The disappointment and push and pull of an unhealthy couple. The music video for this song is very powerful as well; it helps raise awareness of domestic violence and encourages victims to seek help. 

Another Lifetime – Nao 

This alternative-R&B track by Nao reflects the emotions following the end of a relationship. The melody is pop-based but her lyrics and harmony used give the  track endless depth. 

Hello – Erykah Badu

Badu constantly pushes the envelope with her experimental tracks, veering in between R&B, pop, and rap. This lesser-known track has always been a favorite of mine. It has a beautiful melody and meaning. Give it a listen for sure. 

Sober – Mahalia 

Mahalia is an influential British R&B singer who has recently gained recognition in the modern R&B scene. This track is a love song with smooth vocals and a bit of jazz influence within it. It is a really pretty track. 

Black Truck – Mereba

This song is ethereal and light. Mereba is a multi-talented musician: she produces, writes, sings, raps, and plays guitar. This song portrays the story of her pursuit toward success in the music industry despite the barriers she faced.

As a reminder, you can find all of my Friday Favorites from this week and past weeks on WKNC’s Spotify page, found at this link. 

– Miranda

Categories
Playlists

New Music of June

 

Another month of good music releases is over, so it’s time to go back and reflect on some of my favorite tunes from June 2020. There will be a playlist with more songs linked below, but for now I’m going to highlight a few…

  • House by Baba Ali – I’ve talked about this track on the blog before, but given that it’s one of my favorites i’m going to talk about it again. This song highlights the feeling this singer has about how economic struggles can get in the way of a smooth and easy life, making a house not feel like the home it should. The message sticks by me every listen and it’s one I frequently come back to for its funky and unique sound. The track is genre-bending and blends elements of Pop, Funk, Dance and alternative/ indie. It’s one I came to for the sound and stuck by for its lasting impact.

  • Easy by Justin Starling – This song drew me in in the first few seconds and kept me hooked with its ear catching and confidence building chorus. The song is a hip-hop and rap mix that the artist uses to tell their story. The story starts with what it was like growing up for the artist and how they worked their way up to where they are now. The track is inspiring and so is the video that comes with it. The video was shot in Puerto Rico, and the artist got the opportunity after writing, recording and producing the track on his own. That’s definitely not an easy task, but just like he says ‘I know (he) make(s) it look easy’.

  • Sick of Feeling Useless by Neon Dreams – Need another track to boost your confidence and relate to? That’s what I love so much about this song. I’ve talked about it briefly in a post I made about the artist a little while ago, but the track definitely deserves some more recognition. The anthem-like chorus makes the song one that repeats in my mind long after a listen, and knowing just how much it took for the artist to get to this point makes it all the more powerful. ‘Scream out but nobody listens, try hard but it don’t make a difference’, but it makes all the difference to the listeners.

There are more at the link, including ‘Black Dog’ by Arlo Parks that I also recently made a post about. So if you’re looking for more new tunes, check it out here.

Until Next Time,

Let’s Stay Psyched about Music,

DJ Psyched

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Band of the Week: Citizen

I was with one of my friends, heading to Taco Bell when she started playing Jet by Citizen. I loved the vibe of the song and the soothing, but raspy vocals. When I got home, I looked up Citizen and quickly started listening to them more and more. Now, their music is sad. You can hear the vulnerability and sadness in the lyrics and vocals, but complimented with the musicianship, it makes for a beautiful song.

Citizen is a rock band from Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Some have considered Citizen to be indie rock, grunge, or post-hardcore. Citizen is currently signed to Run For Cover Records. The formation of Citizen started in 2009 when Mat Kerekes departed as the drummer from his previous band, Sound of Glory, a metalcore band. The early material of Citizen was characterized as melodic hardcore which is unlike their most recent work.

After signing to Run For Cover Records in 2012, Citizen recorded a Split EP with labelmates, Turnover. This Split EP marks the growth and maturity of both bands as helped them evolve from local bands to national artists. My favorite album by Citizen is Youth (2013). Every song on this album is so good and you can feel the emotions that the song is projecting. People have described this album to be emo, grunge, or post-hardcore and I get those vibes from the album. I am a big fan of grunge and the grunge I listen to, for the most part, is sad. Citizen gives me that impression, and I never get tired of listening to it.

Discography:

Youth (2013)

Everybody Is Going to Heaven (2015)

As You Please (2017)


Current Members:

Mat Kerekes (vocals)

Nick Hamm (lead guitar)

Ryland Oehlers (rhythm guitar)

Eric Hamm (bass)  


Favorite Songs:

Jet, Roam The Room, Sick And Impatient, The Night I Drove Alone, The Summer

What are your favorite songs by Citizen?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW