Category: Blog

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: Isaiah Rashad

Isaiah Rashad

Photo Credit: Brandon Artis

What’s going on butcher crew? I know my past few blog posts have not been about metal artists, but I wanted to highlight other artists that I like that are outside the realm of metal. We are throwing some flavor into the Butcher Shop!!!

I first started listening to Isaiah Rashad second semester of my sophomore year of college. I was hanging out with one of my friends and she was playing Wat’s Wrong and it caught my eye. I am a fan of songs that have a jazzy rap vibe with lo-fi beats. I don’t know if I describe that correctly but if you listen to that song you will understand what I mean, I promise.

I started listening to Rashad on my own and I loved his style. When I begin to really like an artist, I will listen to their entire discography. His overall style in my opinion is very calming and soothing. Rashad is very raw and blunt with his lyrics, it’s like reading someone’s diary and they are venting their deepest darkest secrets. He is very open about what he has dealt with and what he is currently dealing with. I like artist that are open within their music because they are being real. I can’t relate to mainstream rap that is played today, but artist like Rashad rap about issues that majority of people can relate to in one way or another.

I love and appreciate music that is raw and is open. This reminds me of bands like KoRn and Alice in Chains (two of my favorites). When listening to KoRn’s debut album, KoRn, Jonathan Davis is very open in his lyrics and you can feel the emotion of the song because of it. Likewise, Alice in Chains is the same. When listening to Layne Staley’s (RIP) voice, you can hear the pain behind it. I can hear this same style of raw emotions in Rashad’s music.

Rashad is a 29-year-old rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer from Chattanooga Tennessee. He began to seriously start rapping when he was in the tenth grade and him and his friends would record on their laptops. He then would record in local studios and his first breakout would be touring with rappers Juicy J, Joey Badass and Smoke DZA on the 2012 Smoker’s Club Tour.

In 2013, Rashad signed to Top Dawg Entertainment record label and in 2014 he released Cilvia Demo and then in 2016 he released The Sun’s Tirade (my favorite album).

Rashad’s music is characterized by its woozy, nostalgic tone and raw lyrics about depression, drug addiction, and family. There is a sense of vulnerability when listening to his songs. Although with this type of intensity, the beats are very smooth and give a good bounce and groove to the songs. Rashad also has some hype songs like my two personal favorites: Tity and Dolla and A Lot. Rashad is very open about his battle with depression and struggles with substance abuse. He wears his influences and emotions on his sleeve and shares it through the music he makes. Not only does his music help his listeners, but I believe it also helps himself.

Rashad’s last full-length, The Sun’s Tirade, was released in 2016. On April 22, 2020 he released the single Why Worry. I was very excited for the release because it has been almost 4 years since he has released anything. Some of Rashad’s fans have been desperately longing for new music and some of his fans have harassed him for a new album. I don’t understand this type of reaction because Rashad seems like the type of artist that wants his music to be true to him and not rushed. He will release music when he is ready. I would rather wait for Rashad to release an album or single when he is ready rather than the music being rushed and not being what Rashad wants.

So, Isaiah, you are doing great. You’re doing great sweetie, we will wait. Thank you for the single though.

Discography:

  • Cilvia Demo (2014)
  • Nelly (single) (2015)
  • Smile (single) (2016)
  • The Sun’s Tirade (album) (2016)
  • Why Worry (single) (2020)

Favorite Songs:

  • Wat’s Wrong
  • 4r Da Squaw
  • Sikk da Shocka
  • Tity and Dolla

Have you listened to Isaiah Rashad? What is your favorite song?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Live Show Blues

There's No Live Music Only Zoom image with Sigourney Weaver from Ghostbusters

It’s been 3 months without going to a live show and honestly… I don’t know how I am still sane. I am usually at a show twice a week so this new “normal” of no live shows for a while has not been a good time. I miss my friends and I miss seeing bands. I miss the energy a live show gives off and the atmosphere that a venue has when the crowd is as into the music as the bands are.

Not only is this a hard time for fans, but also for bands/artists, venues, and booking companies. Every show I had planned this summer is now cancelled and it is very discouraging to see. A lot of people make a living and have a career in music so this time is very difficult for them but also everyone else.

I believe that live music brings different people together because they all have a bond and a connection to the music. I have had some great social experiments and people watching at shows. I miss seeing a wide a variety of people and feeling the energy of the crowd during a breakdown.

Now bands are still releasing music which I am thankful for and some bands are doing virtual shows. I think this is very inventive and works during the time that we are in. But nothing will ever compare to actually being at a show. I have watched some virtual shows, but I tend to watch live sets on YouTube of my favorite bands. I will have dance parties alone in my room and I would just act like I am at a show. This is honestly one of my favorite things to do.

Here are some bands that I miss seeing live:

·      Upon A Burning Body

·      Miss May I

·      Knocked Loose

·      Kublai Khan

·      Boundaries

·      Dying Fetus

·      Obituary

·      Whitechapel

·      As I Lay Dying

·      Parkway Drive

·      Creeping Death

·      Burning Hammer

·      Jungle Rot

·      Wage War

·      And all of my Local Butchers

What bands do you miss seeing live?

Stay Metal

THE SAW

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist Highlight: Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara are an indie-pop duo composed of identical twins Tegan and Sara Quin. They began playing music together in high school and officially formed a band in 1998. The two have gained popularity as indie pop musicians and they have written nine albums and multiple EPs. Another fact not entirely relevant to their music is that both sisters are openly gay, and have throughout the past two decades actively and consistently promoted LGBT rights and marriage equality. This makes their music particularly appealing to me, as some of their music deals with self-acceptance and queer identity, which at the time of their releases was still very much controversial and rare. 

I was able to see the duo perform in Asheville in around 2015 at The Orange Peel. As a young teenager, it was really empowering for me to experience the expression of the two artists and the loving environment they cultivate within their music and live shows. The pair are so talented and brought great energy to the stage. 

My favorite albums by Tegan and Sara are So Jealous (2004) and The Con (2007), with the latter being forever the most impactful, best album to me; it was the first Tegan and Sara album I ever heard, and when I was younger my dad and I always listened to the CD in the car on the way to school. So Jealous was definitely impactful to the artists’ reputation. Tracks like “Walking with a Ghost” and “You Wouldn’t like Me” really solidified the artists as iconic in the indie pop realm, after multiple album releases leading up to the success and flow of the album. Their following album, The Con, is an absolute winner. Every single track on the album is beautifully crafted and each song flows into the next seamlessly. The Con is one of the few albums ever in which I truly enjoy and appreciate every single track from the album. 

The two continue to find success in music with their hit single “Closer” and their musical contribution to the LEGO movie. I am excited to see where their artistry takes them next. 

– Miranda

Categories
Playlists

Friday Favorites (5/29)

This week in Friday Favorites I’m focusing on indie tracks that remind me of summertime, in lieu of it getting closer and closer to the summer solstice. Hope you all enjoy and definitely check out these tracks – they are some of my favorites that I’ve listened to for years. 

Among Dreams – Ariel Pink 

Ariel pink is an excellent musician, and this song from his album The Doldrums is really summery. The instrumentals remind me of some of the Grateful Dead songs I listened to growing up so overall the song has a nostalgic feel. Very much picnic/laying in the grass vibes, 10/10. 

Have Fun – Bleeding Knees Club 

This song is super energetic and is descriptive of a young love or teenage friendship. It describes growing older together and reflections of growth over the summer. I love it, it’s a great upbeat song for summer. 

Sweet Thing – Twin Peaks 

This song portrays to me a picture of lovers singing to each other in a field of flowers. I like how the vocals sound rough though the lyricism is playful and light; the guitar strumming also really adds to this. I love it a lot. 

Offer – together PANGEA

This song has a really catchy melody and has that almost-punk sound that so many indie Californian bands have; this band is pretty unique. This song is simple but good and is perfect for a summer drive. 

I Think it Is Beautiful That You Are 256 Colors Too – Black Moth Super Rainbow 

This is one of my favorite indie songs. It has really gorgeous instrumentals and compelling drum beats, and the lyrics are melancholy but intriguing. It’s very much an end-of-summer reflection type of song, which is why I adore it. 

As usual, you can find this week’s tracks as well as all of my Friday Favorites from past weeks at this link on WKNC’s Spotify. Check it out! 

– Miranda

Categories
Playlists

The Saw’s Summer Invasion

What’s going on Butcher Crew? It’s ya girl, your Master Butcher, The Saw and school is out so that means summer is in!! Summer brings some happy vibes for me and summer is a great time to listen to music with your car windows down and soaking up the sun!

This playlist will be something different. These are some of my favorite songs to listen to in the summertime! The majority of these songs will not be metal BUT that does not mean that they do not slap!! I like to listen to a wide variety of songs, and this is the playlist I use when hanging out with my friends by a bonfire during the summer. This playlist will give you a taste of the other sides of The Saw.

This playlist consists of rap, rock, and psychedelic music that always puts me in the summer mood. I hope this playlist provides you with some good times, good laughs, and fun during your summer break!

Summer Invasion Playlist (some of my favorite songs)

·      Rockstar – Dababy

·      Savage – Megan Thee Stallion

·      Juicy – Doja Cat

·      Special Affair – The Internet

·      Diamonds & Gold – Mac Miller

·      Versace – Migos

·      South Beach – Ty Dolla $ign

·      Distraction – Kehlani

·      I’m Different – 2 Chainz

·      Steamroller – Domo Genesis

·      Act Up – City Girls

·      My Type – Saweetie

·      Bootsy Bellows – Wiz Khalifa

·      Amphetamine – Smino

·      Nights Like This – Kehlani

·      Runnin’ Thru The 7th With My Woadies – $uicideBoy$

·      1800 – Snoop Dogg

·      Murder To The Mind – Tash Sultana

·      Overflow – Bootleg Rascal

·      Drive – Incubus

·      Savin’ Me – Nickelback

·      The Red – Chevelle

·      Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zepplin

Click here to open up the playlist in Spotify! 

What are some of your favorite summer songs?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

Categories
Playlists

Música De Indie

 

Learning a new language can be hard and frustrating sometimes, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. I’ve found a hack to get the best of both worlds, not frustrating and rewarding: listening to music in the language. Music is a universal language and this method of learning is both enjoyable and effective. I’m learning spanish right now and I recently started listening to the language more for practice. At first I stuck to the music I knew and grew up on, but then I decided to checkout Indie music in spanish, since I love indie and spanish, and I absolutely love it. Música De Indie will serve the same purpose as 2k Indie, just with Spanish music. I’ll be giving you some of the new spanish indie of the week starting with:

  • Secuestro Al Corazón by Katzu Oso : Roughly translating to ‘A Kidnapping to the heart’. This track uses crime to describe what love feels like. The singer is conflicted as to whether their love is a mistake or not, but doesn’t want to admit it, they feel as if the love they feel is out of their control and they’re being held in this love unwillingly. The synths provide a very smooth and groovy vibe, and the mix of electronic noises, and other unique sounds used in the instrumentation, really make the music stand out in this one.

  • Epitafio by Caloncho : Epitafio translates to Epitaph, something similar to a eulogy. This song is about a man who wishes not to hurt those he loves when he passes. He wants them to know that he will move on to better things and leave the world happy. This song also instrumentally sounds as cute as its lyrics are. The soft vocals are accompanied by beautifully simplistic music full of acoustic guitar, some soft steady drums, and a slow but sweet electric guitar solo.

  • Todo tiene un precio by Niños Mutantes : This song has been incredibly helpful for practicing pronunciation. Being able to pull up the lyrics and sing along is really nice because I absolutely love this track and it’s repetitive enough not to be too difficult. The title translates to ‘Everything has a price’  and just as its title implies it’s a warning that everything comes with a price, and it’s not always money. The catchy and repetitive nature has made this my absolute favorite recently, and one I’d definitely recommend to anyone wanting to practice some singing in Spanish.

Vamos a emocionarnos con la música

DJ Psyched

Categories
DJ Highlights

DJ Psyched’s First Set Review

 

2k Indie didn’t have a name when it started on September 1, 2018, but it did have the same mission: showcasing great new indie music and artists. At the time, my music library was much smaller then it is now and I was way less familiar with the genre. Anyhow, when I was still in the DJ training course I decided that I wanted to make my first playlist the best playlist I could come up with, so I started making this playlist two months before it aired. Since it was put together so particularly I wanted to look back at the playlist and see how much the show has changed and go down memory lane a bit.

‘On Your Mind’ by Jaguar Club was the first song I ever played on air, I absolutely loved, well still do love, this track. The song has played on 2k Indie a few times since, such an amazing track having so little exposure just really makes me want to get it out there. The band hasn’t posted anything new since, at least not that I can find, but they sure dropped a banger two years ago. 

Looking back at this playlist I find a lot of other tracks that have made more than one appearance on the show, a lot of these tracks ended up taking spots on my personal playlists as well. The thing that shocks me most looking back is that I didn’t play Cecil Frena during my first shift, their album was the first I ever reviewed for WKNC and to this day it is one of my absolute favorites.

I’m happy that there was a decent amount of variety in this playlist, something I try to be conscious of (especially since I started as Daytime Music Director). ‘What’s so Great, Britain?’ and ‘End of an Era’ are definitely the ‘heaviest’ songs on the playlist. I’ve said it many times, but since ‘indie’ is such a broad and undefinable concept I sometimes test the genre’s limits and see what unique music I can get to fit in. I find a lot of different styles can fit nicely into an indie playlist without standing out too much, punk/grunge is definitely one of them.

It’s also pretty neat seeing so many artists that I play on my segment now/ put in rotation for WKNC, especially considering I didn’t really know many artists back then. Cape Weather’s tantalizing track ‘Never Say’ made the list, and they were also recently put into rotation for the full length record they just released. Modern Diet has also been releasing a lot of new music lately and was the ‘perfect ending’ I had in this playlist. I was really obsessed with starting and finishing this set with two of my favorites, and this habit has definitely stuck since, start strong and finish even stronger. Overall I’ll give this playlist a 7 of 10, and not for the music itself, but because I sent two months making it and a good few of them weren’t as ‘new’ as I aim for on the show. Though I give myself props for that cheesy meme above that I used as the playlist cover.

Until next time, Let’s stay Psyched about Music

– DJ Psyched

Categories
Music Education

The Booms and Baps of Music Production

The Booms and Baps of Music Production – DAWs

With a very wacky semester we experienced, I began my journey in music production. I have learned many things in the last few months from the likes of YouTube and personal experience and I want to share tips with those wanting to pursue music production.

The first thing a producer will need is a Digital Audio Workstation or DAW which acts as the base for all music production. A DAW is the software for a producer to actually make and organize music into full fledged tracks or for live performances. As it is hard to learn an entirely new software, it is important to choose the right DAW for your preference of music.

If you’re a college student like I am, then pursuing music production has to be a reasonable venture. There are free DAWs such as GarageBand for Apple users which is a quality way to get started. For Windows users, Audacity is a great option, however it is lacking in many of the features that other DAWs have.

On to paid options, I will mention that many paid DAWs have free trials and offer college students discounts for licenses. When it comes to beat making and creating full tracks, FL Studio or Ableton Live are considered the best. FL Studio is typically preferred by Hip Hop artists since it is particularly designed for creating beats from scratch. FL Studio also has a very sleek design and has powerful instruments/effects to help get you started. If you are into electronic production like me, then Ableton is the way to go. Ableton’s interface is in my opinion the easiest to learn and makes it easy to create music. For NC State students in the music program, NC State offers a Songwriting with DAWs class (MUS 270) which uses Ableton to explore music production, so if you are interested in taking the class I would recommend choosing Ableton. You cannot go wrong either way with the DAW you choose since many of us have access to YouTube and can learn as we go. However, I personally prefer Ableton Live myself.

There are other DAWs out there as well for producers working with video content. Logic (Mac) and Cubase (Windows) are great options for composing music for films or video content because you can actually upload videos into the DAW and have an easy-to-use music notation system.

There are many choices we all make, but I hope this information can help you make the right choice when it comes to producing music, since music makes the world turn! I plan to share more tips about the world of music production as I learn them, so we are all in this together! Keep creating!

– Triskelion

Categories
New Album Review

IDDTFM EP Review

Allan Kingdom is a Canadian-born rapper and record producer most known for his forays into hiphop music, membership in Thestand4rd music group, and his feature on Kanye West’s hit, “All Day.” His last album, LINES, came out in 2017; and his newest project, the EP IDDTFM was released less than a week ago. With only four tracks, it’s one of his shorter works, but it packs a strong punch. The acronym IDDTFM stands for I Don’t Do This For Money, reflective of Allan Kingdom’s continued commitment to explore different sounds and follow his personal musical passions. 

The EP opens with the song “BLESSED,” initially released ahead of the EP as a single with a music video. The song is simple lyrically with a melody and vocals similar to his classic sound. The song reflects a little about Kingdom’s recent trip to Africa, which he reportedly took to strengthen his spirituality and reconnect himself with his musical passions. The song reminds me of the message of “Blessings” by Chance the Rapper – being grateful for what you have. The next song on the EP is “YERRRRR” which is really unique sonically and is more upbeat than the previous track. Kingdom’s vocal talents really come through on this track, in which he plays around with different pitches and flows. With references to pop culture, materialism, and family, this track is possibly the most impactful of the EP and is definitely the most catchy, personally. “GLOSSY – Gloss Gang” has a sound much more comparable to most top-100s hip-hop. The vocals on this song sound slightly autotuned but still esoteric, like an indie Travis Scott. The EP finishes with “BART” in which Kingdom opens by singing out I don’t do this for money…. This song is classic Peanut Butter Prince, reminiscent of past hits like “Wavey” and “Achilles”. One thing special about this track is the focus on Kingdom’s rap verses, paired with harmony-like vocals layered in between them. 

Overall, the EP is definitely one in a million. I have really appreciated Kingdom’s work since being introduced to him through his verse on Kanye’s “All Day,” and have loved his collaborations with some artists I like within Thestand4rd. I recommend these projects, as well as his album Northern Lights (2016). The new EP is worth mentioning as a great new addition to his discography. Let me know what you think! 

– Miranda 

Categories
Band/Artist Profile

Artist of the Week: Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion is on the rise as one of the hottest rappers right now with her hit singles, styles, and fierce attitude. The first time I heard of Megan Thee Stallion was a few years ago when she participated in the Houston Cypher freestyle. In my opinion, she stole the show with her freestyle. It had attitude, flow, and rhymes that no one could match! Her lyrics are provocative and I think the genre is missing this type of style from female rappers.

Megan Thee Stallion was born as Megan Jovon Ruth Pete on February 15, 1995 in Bexar County, Texas and raised in the South Park neighborhood in Houston. Her mother, Holly Thomas, rapped under the name “Holly-Wood” and brought Megan to the studio instead of putting her daughter in daycare. So at a young age, Megan was introduced to the music industry and to the rap genre.

Megan began writing her own raps at the age of 16. Her mother thought her lyrics were too suggestive for her age and suggested she pursue her rap career when she turns 21. She. Graduated from Pearland High School in 2013. Also, in 2013, a clip of Megan went viral when she participated in a rap battle (cypher) against male opponents when she was a student at Prairie View A&M University. The video ended up going viral and helped enlarge her social media presence. She curated more fans by posting her freestyles on her Instagram while in college. She adopted the name “Megan Thee Stallion” because she was referred to as a stallion during her adolescence due to her height (5’10”) and looks. After taking time off school, she resumed her studies at Texas Southern University in health administration and hopes to establish assisted-living facilities in her hometown of Houston. She is a third year student as of 2019.

Megan released her EP Tina Snow in June 2018 before signing g to 300 Entertainment in November of 2018, making her the first female rapper on the label. She is known for her confidence, sensuality, and vulgar lyrics. She presents her sexuality throughout her lyrics, videos, and live performances. In an interview, Megan stated that her songs are not just about being sexy, but being confident in her sexuality.

Megan has various alter egos that she has referred to. One of those alter egos is Tina Snow (also the name of her debut EP). It was influenced by Pimp c’s alias, Tony Snow, and has similar confidence and sexually dominant delivery. Hot Girl Meg is another alter ego that Megan embodies which is her college, party girl side. Megan is also accredited to last year’s “Hot Girl Summer” due to some of her tweets and the song of the same name that she released in 2019.

Even though she has been very successful within her rap career, she has had some struggles in her personal life. Her mother died in March 2019 from a longstanding battle with a cancerous brain tumor. Her grandmother died in the same month. I look up to Megan because of her grind. Even with personal hardships, she is pushing through and working hard. I find it very impressive and motivational to see Megan in college, making banging hits, and persevering through hard times. Megan is a role model not only for women, but for everyone.

Discography:

·      Make It Hot (2017)

·      Tina Snow (2018)

·      Fever (mixtape) (2019)

·      Suga (2019)

Favorite Songs:

·      Savage

·      Tina Montana

·      Captain Hook

Stay Metal,

THE SAW