Man Without Country

Man Without Country

Let's say you are walking down a normal-looking street going nowhere in particular with the sun directly above. Just one of those ordinary days. All of a sudden, the sun plummets beneath the horizon causing complete darkness while you are transfixed by flashing colorful lights making it feel like a seizure is ripping through your body. To top it off, your ears are pierced by an electronic sound made up of a melody and harmony that helps you to see that the moment is welcoming and something that you have been longing to feel without even knowing. This is what it felt like at Knitting Factory on Saturday March 9 when Man Without Country hit the stage. The band from South Wales absolutely blew me away, to say the least. Get to know the band from the video interview below.

Man Without Country Interview from Lailaa Salaam on Vimeo.

Upcoming Shows:
- April 26, 2013 @ TBD: Focus Wales 2013 (Wrexham, United Kingdom)

Albums:
- Foe (Coming June 2013)
- Closet Addicts Anonymous (2012)
- Puppets (2012)
- King Complex - EP (2011)
- Inflammable Heart (2011)

Website: ManWithoutCountry.com

Kimberly Nichole

Kimberly Nichole

There are so many words to describe the musical artist Kimberly Nichole. She is a talented musician that has sweet passion behind her powerful vocals and has a fun, creative, and colorful style. On Saturday 3/2/13 at Mercury Lounge, Kimberly Nichole performed an array of songs, including the covers "Seven Nation Army" and "What's Up?" (see the videos of the songs that night below). She may wear a ballerina-inspired wardrobe that looks innocent, but she is a true rocker that will kick you in the face with her music. I guess that is why her nickname is The Rock Ballerina. I suggest you get the experience too at her upcoming performances listed below. Also, read the exclusive interview with Kimberly Nichole after the videos!

Interview with Kimberly Nichole

(MD=Music Dosage, KN=Kimberly Nichole)

MD: Can you give me a brief history of how you came to be a musician? 

KN: There are a lot of  musicians in my family, so I believe it really started with my mom who is a piano player and singer. She sang gospel and in an R&B band in Seattle when I was kid. She nurtured me and my sister at a very young age in musicianship and performing. I've been performing since I was a little girl in church. 

MD: Can you describe the meaning of your song "Little Girl New" (lyrics and how you came about writing the song)? 

KN: That song is special to me because I woke up one day with the melody and lyrics. It was like I dreamt the song and it became a reality. It's just a story about the journey, what you experience during it, the doubts and uncertainties and not letting any of that stand in your way. 

MD: Who are your top three favorite musicians of all time?

KN: That's a hard one! I love so many. I'll say the three that are really teaching and inspiring me at the moment are Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Nirvana and James Brown.

MD: What is that one song that you cannot but sing in the shower?

KN: One of the new songs I'm writing. There's no title yet, but it's paying homage to Seattle's grunge movement... in the musicianship and how I'm vocally delivering it. 

MD: Why do you call yourself The Rock Ballerina? 

KN: I actually pulled it from an interview Andre Leon Talley did with my mentor Valerie Simpson. She said I was a "rock ballerina...wild and wonderful". It really fits my style. I typically wear skirts onstage that are inspired by ballerinas and my show is very wild, so I just ran with that saying.  

MD: What is one major milestone thus far in your musical career?

KN: My goodness. There have been a few. Releasing my debut album and funding it myself, and writing it with my creative partner Q Kegler. Also, I received the ASCAP foundation's Reach Out and Touch Award in memory of Nick Ashford. There have been a few more, but I'm just so grateful for every opportunity and door that has been opened for me.

MD: You have great fashion sense. What inspires you to choose the clothing that you wear? 

KN: Thank you. I'm inspired by many things - classic style, rock style, modern style - hell, life and how I'm feeling inspires what I wear. One of my style idols Iris Apfel once said style is a reflection of who you are and it comes from your soul. I believe that. 

MD: Can you describe the feeling when you hit the stage live to perform? 

KN: It is such a natural high, like a spiritual high. I feel like I can conquer anything when on stage performing. I don't think words can fully describe the feeling. It has to be personally experienced.

MD: Do you have a particular routine before you perform live? 

KN: Not really. I try my best to not get too stressed before a performance. I almost treat the day like it's any other day, so I won't feel pressured or too self conscience about what may or may not happen during the performance. Cardio and vocal warm-ups are a routine before a performance as well. 

MD: What is one of your favorite lyrics from any song?

KN: "At first flash of Eden we race down to the sea, standing there on freedom's shore, waiting for the sun, waiting for the sun." from The Doors' "Waiting for the Sun". Also one of my favorite groups :)

Upcoming Shows:
- March 14, 2013 @ 11:30p (SONY City Showcase): Hanger Lounge (Austin, TX)
- March 15, 2013 @ 4:30p (Swing House/Hype Showcase): Rusty's (Austin, TX)

Albums:
- YBJ Reloaded - EP (2012)
- The Rock Ballerina (2011)
- The Yellow Brick Journey (2011)

Website: KimberlyNichole.com

Paper Lions

Paper Lions

Paper Lions performed at the Rockwood Music Hall in NYC this past weekend. Before they performed, I had the pleasure of interviewing them at a bar around the corner from the venue (see below for the video interview). They are nice gentlemen hailing from Canada who traveled a long way to entertain us with their soothing and fun music. They came onto the stage ready to jam until the very last note of their set. Their energy and sound resonated off the walls, making the venue a very special place to be on Saturday 2/16/13. For a piece of the action, see the video performances below of "My Friend" and "Travelling".

Upcoming Shows:
- March 7, 2013 @ (Time TBD): The Palace (Halifax, NS)
- March 9, 2013 @ (Time TBD): The Marquee (Halifax, NS)
- March 10, 2013 @ 8:00p: The Cunard Center (Halifax, NS)

Albums:
- At Long Creek - EP (2012)
- Trophies - EP (2010)
- Paper Lions (2007)

Website: PaperLions.com

Kooley High

Kooley High

Kooley High made the stage their own at Public Assembly this past Wednesday 2/6/13, and I was happy that I was apart of the large crowd of fans. Tab One, Charlie Smarts, Foolery, and Ill Digitz (unfortunately, Rapsody and The Sinopsis were not able to make it to Public Assembly this time around) had a mix of an old-school hip hop style with fresh and fun lyrical lines. As stated from the interview below with Charlie Smarts, he says that "hip hop is simple at the end of the day; dope beats, dope rhymes." For proof, watch the videos "There You Go" and "Let It Rock on You" performed that night and check out the interview, all below.

Interview with Charlie Smarts from Kooley High

(MD=MusicDosage, CS=Charlie Smarts)

MD: How did the group form (did you guys know each other before forming the group)? 
CS: Charlie worked at FootAction with Rapsody. Charlie met Tab-One at a Party. Charlie later joined Tab's band Inflowential. Foolery met Digitz at a Party while 9th Wonder beats were playing. Charlie met Digitz at the University Radio Station. We had the first H2O meeting and Foolery brought Sinopsis then magic soon started. We all graduated college and formed Kooley High.

MD: How did you come up with the group’s name? 
CS: We had a boatload of bad names picked out. Rapsody said how about Kooley High, and we said Perfect.

MD: Being that there are six members in the group, is it easy to collaborate when writing a song? 
CS: Sometimes yes, Sometimes no. It seems like there is a different process from song to song. We live in New York and North Carolina right now so we do a lot of Internet speak. Sometimes a member will come up with most of it on their own and pass it to another member. Sometimes more than one member is in the same place and they bounce ideas until the collaboration is complete. Making songs isn't that difficult though. It's what we do.

MD: What is the significance of your most recent album title David Thompson?
CS: It was an album created while four members lived together in Brooklyn. You can hear the cohesiveness and the hunger of Kooley High as a group. I feel like New York impacted our music in a positive way. We also represented our home state and University whilst living elsewhere. It reminded people that we know how to make JAMS. Hip Hop is simple at the end of the day; dope beats, dope rhymes.

MD: Can you describe the meaning of your song “Regular S**t”? 
CS: We make hot songs on a regular basis. Most people think it's outstanding. It's just another day at the office for the crew.

MD: Do you have a particular routine before performing live? 
CS: Smoke or drink or neither. We all come together and say a prayer and do a motivating speech. Then we commence to rocking faces off.

MD: If you could make a song with any other musician, who would that musician be?
CS: Kanye West. He's the Tits (even tho Rick Ross has bigger ones).

Upcoming Shows:
- February 14, 2013 @ 8p: The Pour House Music Hall (Raleigh, NC)
- April 27, 2013: TBD
- May 10, 2013: TBD

Albums:
- David Thompson (2011)
- Eastern Standard Time LP (2010)
- Kooley is High (2009)
- The Summer Sessions EP (2008)
- Raleigh's Finest (2007)

Website: KooleyHigh.com

Kishi Bashi

Last Monday 2/4/13 at The Housing Works
Bookstore in New York City was a blast.
Kishi Bashi did what he did best, excited the
audience by performing and playing his
spectacular music. Many fans packed the
bookstore, making it hard for me to find a
good spot to stand and record (this is evident
in the video recordings below of the songs
"Bright Whites" and "Manchester," where
some fans would accidentally bump into me
making the camera shake. Sorry in advance for this ha). You may have heard his song "Bright Whites" in that Windows 8 commercial (Youtube link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBmtde_XNBs).

Upcoming Shows:
- February 9, 2013 @ 7p: The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA)
- February 11, 2013 @ 8p: The Great Hall (Toronto, ON)
- February 12, 2013 @ 7p: The Grog Shop (Cleveland, OH)
- February 13, 2013 @ 8p: The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom (Pontiac, MI)

Albums:
- 151a (Debut EP) (2012)
- Room for Dream EP (2011)

Website: KishiBashi.com

Lincoln Durham

I went to Lincoln Durham's 
amazing performance at The 
Living Room in NYC on 
Friday January 25, 2013. 
His voice oozed with soul, 
and it seemed as though the 
music was bursting through 
his skin. Even though he was 
unable to do an interview for 
MusicDosage, his music makes 
a statement. See the video 
below for his song "Mud Puddles" 
performed that night.

Upcoming Shows:
- February 9, 2013 @ 10p: Mercury Lounge (Tulsa, OK)
- February 15, 2013 @ 10p: Lambert's (Austin, TX)
- February 22, 2013 @ 10p: Smitty's Bar and Grill (Denison, TX)
- February 28, 2013 @ 10p: Blue Moose Lounge (Austin, TX)

Albums:
- Ep (Debut EP) (2010)
- The Shovel vs. The Howling Bones (2012)

Website: LincolnDurham.com

Back Again

Youtube.com is making me mad. I have tried uploading videos that I recorded of an artist that performed in NYC but it keeps giving me the message "the server has returned an invalid response". I don't have tiiiiime for that mess. Due to this, I am moving back to BlogSpot, which I should have never left in the first place. Please forgive me, BlogSpot and subbies! People make mistakes ::::::tear:::::

I am going to change how I do things here at MusicDosage. Instead of video recording musicians who perform their music live in NYC, record video interviews, and write musician biographies, I will keep the former, delete the latter, and keep the middle (but written interviews only). If that is a bit confusing (even to me it is and I wrote it), read the clearer description below:

1. Video record musicians who perform live in music venues around NYC.
2. Musicians will answer my interview questions in written-form only (no more video interviews).

I am only doing written interviews now because the quality of some of the video interviews that I recorded in the past are not up to par (the videos have a dark contrast because most of the interviews are done at night before or after the musician performs, and it's hard to get good lighting in a music venue). Because of this, video interviews are out, for now. Maybe in the future I can have my own interview spot like Oprah. Ha funny (Yes, I laugh at my own jokes).

All in all, let's get it started, again. As always, I will be holding contests/giveaways/sweepstakes/whatnots.

Don't miss out!

Sincerely,

MusicDosage