Influenced by the style and swagger of hip-hop as well as the soulfulness of R&B and singer-songwriters like Bob Marley and Tracy Chapman, soul hop is a new genre of music unlike any you’ve heard before.
But soul hop as a genre is fairly new and Tulani, who began working full time as a musician two years ago, had a long journey toward the sense of purpose he now feels in his work.
Tulani was born in Kenya and came to the United States at age 4. His mother is Kenyan but his father is from Chicago, so his family eventually moved here. Tulani grew up in the Roseland neighborhood before moving to the south suburbs at 15
Music has been a passion of Tulani’s for most of his life. His father was a percussionist and Tulani largely grew up listening to music from the Congo. Tulani’s parents wanted him to play piano to acquire a variety of music-making skills beyond guitar or voice. Tulani took the leap to a full-time music career in 2014 at 19, after receiving approval from his parents. He’s now 24. “I hate doing the same thing every day, but I do like the adventure of being an artist,’ he said. His diverse musical and cultural background led Tulani to create soul hop, a name that came to him a year into his career.
“I would often get the question, ‘How would you describe your music?’ And I had the hardest time describing to people what it was,” Tulani said. “It made me want to make up a name for it instead of having that generic answer in which I kind of rap or kind of sing.” He calls it Soul Hop. (Chicago Tribune)
Known for his edgy and unorthodox style, Chicago native Ty Riggs has no problem putting you in his shoes and giving you a tour through his hilarious world. From politics to relationships, he has something to say about it all. He is one of the original Martin Luther Kings of Comedy and can be seen all over the city killing the stage with his unmistakable hair and voice.
Throughout his wide-ranging career, Tim Lefebvre has amassed a reputation for being one of the world’s most innovative bassists. The Foxboro-native’s creative playing style is an addictive blend of jazz improvisation, rock undertones, and electronic grooves that can be heard on his appearances on over 150 recordings, ranging from Grammy award-winning albums such as David Bowie’s Blackstar to the soundtracks of classic films such as The Departed. From 2013 to 2018, Lefebvre was the bassist of the dynamic blues rock ensemble Tedeschi Trucks Band, and he can be heard on their three most recent releases, Let Me Get By (2016), Live From The Fox Oakland (2017), and Signs (2019). Before joining the group, he worked with artists such as Uri Caine, Chris Botti, and Leni Stern. Now based in Los Angeles, Lefebvre is currently the bassist for numerous groups, most notably with jazz-fusion guitarist Wayne Krantz, improvisational free-jazz group Whose Hat Is This?, and his Blackstar bandmate Donny McCaslin. He has recently performed with Chris Potter, Jon Batiste and Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Empire of the Sun, Carole King, Ben Platt, Knower, and Matisyahu as well. Lefebvre is also the producer for a diverse range of projects, which includes singer-songwriter Rachel Eckroth’s When It Falls (2018), The Garden (2021) and XXXX by Wollny Parisien Lefebvre Lillinger
For nearly two decades, Nate Smith has been a key piece in reinvigorating the international music scene with his visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming. He holds a diverse and ample résumé — which includes work with esteemed jazz leading lights such as Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Chris Potter, José James, John Patitucci, Ravi Coltrane, and Somi among many others. His 2x GRAMMY-nominated debut album, KINFOLK: Postcards from Everywhere, sees Smith fusing his original modern jazz compositions with R&B, pop, and hip-hop. He’s also ventured into the pop/rock world with recent collaborations with Vulfpeck spinoff band The Fearless Flyers, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) and performances with songwriters Emily King and Van Hunt. In recent years, through a series of viral videos, he has emerged as one of the most influential and popular drummers of his generation. His videos have been viewed millions of times and have inspired countless musicians and fans. In September of 2018, he released his first ever solo drumset album Pocket Change.
On Riddles, Music Beat begins their new life. Working steadily for two years in the apartment studio of close friend, electronic-pop maestro Dan Deacon, three evolving musicians pushed through an intense period of personal tumult and found purpose in the sounds they were committing to record. The result: a polished and passionate masterpiece of nuanced alt-rock.
MELT-BANANA is a band based in Tokyo JAPAN.
Members are YAKO and AGATA.
Some people say they are noise band, some people say they are so-called no wave band, some people say they are hardcore band, some people say their music is like roller coaster in an amusement park… It is hard to categorize their music, but basecally they are rock band with a spice of punk taste.The easiest way to find out is to listen to their music and you will find out.
The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by English rock band The Smiths. Released on 16 June 1986 in the United Kingdom by Rough Trade Records, and on 23 June 1986 in the US by Sire Records, it spent 22 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number two.
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Stolen Sun blends elements of metalcore and hardcore to create a truly unique sound that is both aggressively energetic and chaotic. FFO: Every Time I Die, Slipknot, Norma Jean, & Stray from the Path. Chaos, dissonance , and mayhem are what we strive for. Stolen Sun is Anthony Ofenloch (vocals), Cooper Kleinke (guitar), Michael Krupp (guitar), Dakota Newman (bass), and Bobby Dalheim (Drums). More Money Riffs Per Capita.
The cosmic death lingers ever closer, looming in the back of all of our minds, channeled through our amps, drums and guitars. Playing these riffs is a form of life affirmation to us. To remind us that we are still alive and we have the power to wield our pain through the catalyst of our instruments.
Let It Be is the twelfth and final studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970, almost a month after the group’s break-up, in tandem with the documentary of the same name.
Somewhere between sermon and strip tease…old school funk and dj dance club… sincerity and innuendo… lies Planet Booty. Live shows leave unexpecting audiences soaked in sweat and inspired as Planet Booty’s unrelenting energy and sexual positivity infuse their explicit, highly charged dance anthems and occasional heartfelt ballad. Their ability to transform any venue into an inclusive, sexually charged safe space catalyzed by a never ending fountain of showmanship has earned them a fiercely dedicated, cult-like fan base across North America and Europe, and opening spots for Lizzo, Big Freedia, Ninja Sex Party, Sisqo, Peaches, K Flay, Capital Cities, TWRP, Escort, and Turquoise Jeep.
Planet Booty’s core trio — Dylan Charles Germick, Josh Cantero and Rob Gwin — combine multiple live instruments and electronics into a mixtape of pop, R&B, 90’s house, 70’s funk and classic hip-hop that might have been made by your strangely attractive high school gym coach. Their fourth full-length album “YES”, released in September 2021 and featuring an all-star cast of national and Bay Area musicians, is Planet Booty’s most mature and articulate delivery of their unique brand of irreverent west coast party funk preaching body positivity and acceptance.
Forged in steel in the dark woods of rural Sweden, Screamer flies their banner high! With their feet firmly planted in the deep traditions of Heavy Metal, Screamer never lose sight of what’s really important; good tunes, good brew and good times! ‘Cause with Screamer every night is Friday night and every Friday night deserves to be a party!
As ruthless Swedish peasants, the band grew up on meat and potatoes on their plates, and that’s what’s blazing out of your speakers when putting on any of the Screamer albums. That’s why Screamer never strays far from the proven sound of roaring guitars and pounding drums that works equally well in the war pit in front of stage as when blasting through your stereo. In their music you can hear the classic foundations laid down by the hard rocking heroes of old. With a combination of straight-forward choruses of the likes of Dio, guitar works in the style of ‘Maiden or ‘Lizzy on speed and the pounding beat of Judas Priest, Screamer has carved out their very own essence of heavy metal that stands the test of time.
With their latest album the songwriting has become even more focused and hard hitting. For the first time the band has been able to build on the last release with an intact set of members. This has really allowed them to build on their strengths and grow as a song writing unit. And, also for the first time, they’ve been working with an external producer, Gustav Hjortsjö from Bullet, who has really helped hone every song to be the best that they can be. Whether it’s the brutal Halo, the sing along friendly Out of the Dark or the anthem-like title track Highway of Heroes, all songs truly carry their own weight and together they fulfill the bands goal and war cry for this album; “All hits, no fillers”!
This also goes hand in hand with Screamers continuous efforts to play their music for all and everyone who dares hear it. So far those efforts have had them playing on countless stages in North America, Japan and of course all around Europe! To this date Screamer been on tour with Bullet (2012 and 2018), Striker (2013), Evil Invaders (2013), Night Demon (2018), Satan (2019), RAM (2019) and many others. They’ve also played festivals such as Headbangers Open Air (2013), Rock Hard (2014), Summer Breeze (2014), Muskelrock (2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019) and Bang Your Head (2019). And this is only mentioning a tiny portion of everything and everywhere they’ve played, by now they have well over 300 shows under their belt. And rest assured that whenever and wherever Screamer plays, they always deliver an energetic show and a good time!
Still, they are not done yet by a long shot! Having previously released the albums Adrenaline Distractions (2011), Phoenix (2013) and Hell Machine (2017) on High Roller Records they have now decided to switch to The Sign Records for the latest album to get the ball rolling even faster!
So grab a cold one, crank the stereo to eleven and join Screamer on an epic journey down the Highway of Heroes!
Screamer is:
Andreas Wikström – Vocals
Anton Fingal – Guitar
Dejan Rosić – Guitar
Fredrik Svensson Carlström – Bass
Henrik Petersson – Drums
From San Francisco, California. Hell Fire pulls influences like the twin guitars and soaring vocals of New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the late 1970s combined with the speed and intensity of the early 1980s Thrash Metal Scene
Fernando Rosa has gathered his extensive musical knowledge and research for the launch of his new Project ALIVE: taking to the live stage his own versions of hit songs alongside a trio including Jamiroquai’s drummer Derrick McKenzie.
Born and raised in the suburbs of São Paulo, he learned to play at the age of 8, beginning his professional career as a 14-year-old. An artist who remains truly authentic, Fernando plays whatever he feels like playing. A clever researcher, he goes beyond music. During the pandemic, he began producing dozens of videos for his social media pages, all of which are as simple and creative as they are powerful and revolutionary.
Just him, his bass and a camera travel through the universe of classics from Black, Funk and Disco Music.
From John Coltrane to Flying Lotus, Mateyko Jazwinski blends an incredibly wide variety of influences into his music. Mateyko has played in prominent venues such as SFJAZZ, has appeared on ABC 7 Chicago’s Windy City Live, and hosted a 10-week residency at Andy’s Jazz Club. Mateyko has also performed at several charity events for Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the Children’s Heart Foundation.
Born with the heart condition Tetralogy of Fallot, he could not engage in contact sports with other children while growing up in a sports-heavy community. Music gave him an outlet to express himself and connect with other people. Mateyko’s dedicated passion for upright & electric bass, composition, and performance provide a sense of escape and exploration to those around him. Mateyko is currently pursuing B.M. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He studies with Matt Brewer, Scott Pingel, and Sharay Reed.
The Band Royale was born out of love for big guitar riffs, an appreciation for the finer things, and a mutual obsession with science fiction. And they are able to sneak these things into their sound without scaring off the opposite sex.
Since it’s release on New Years Day, …As Long As The Money Lasted has sold in over 59 countries worldwide and featured in SPIN, Consequence of Sound, AV Club, NYLON, Chicago Tribune, Modern Drummer, Bass Player Magazine & more.
Brothers Joel, Nate, and Zach Bauman grew up in the working-class town of Kalamazoo, MI, each with an immediate passion for music (passed down from their parents — their mother, a music teacher and their father, a school principal). At an early age, their shared obsessions with music, sports, and culture made the pursuit of playing in a band together an obvious choice. Once they moved to Chicago, they teamed up to make the heaviest music they could that would inspire some serious baby-making.
Our music will always be free because your money is not why we do this. The Band Royale’s goal is to redefine what being a “successful” band means in the New Music Industry, and using the Internet and social media to put our music in people’s hands whether or not they’re in the same hemisphere we are. The world is a smaller place than it used to be, and the “old ways” of promoting your band simply don’t matter to us.
Born Zarif Wilder, theMIND is an alternative R&B and hip-hop artist from Philadelphia. He began writing music when he was 9, as a means to cope with being in and out of different foster homes; eventually, he was taken in by a teacher, who supported Wilder’s dreams of pursuing a music career. He moved to Chicago to study music business at Columbia College in 2007, and subsequently forming the production group @THEMpeople the following year with 4 other friends. Though a Philly native, Chicago has adopted Wilder. Since moving here, the singer has worked with a handful of notable Chicago artists, including G- Herbo, Mick Jenkins, Noname, and Chance the Rapper and so many more. As theMIND, Wilder released his latest tape Summer Camp in 2016, and recently released the single “Miss Communication” with Soulection producer @Da-P, via Zane Lowe. Wilder’s forthcoming project “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” is out now.
Drawing on the anthems of Face to Face and Midwestern pop punk, The Distractions have carved out their own niche of melodic punk. The band has been writing and playing the type of music that they find personally appealing with little consideration for a trendy stylistic approach.
MARBIN is a progressive jazz-rock band based in Chicago, IL, with a unique story that stands out in today’s music world. With a do-it-yourself approach, Marbin started touring extensively in 2011, bringing their original instrumental music to every part of the United States. Through word of mouth, Marbin has gained hundreds of thousands of devoted fans all over the world and has sold tens of thousands of albums. Marbin has released eight albums: Marbin (2009), Breaking the Cycle (2011), Last Chapter of Dreaming (2013), The Third Set (2014), Aggressive Hippies (2015), Goatman and the House of the Dead(2016), Israeli Jazz (2018), and Strong Thing (2019). Marbin regularly plays in clubs all over the US and in jam and jazz festivals around the world.
Raquel is a classically trained violinist with 20 years experience. She has taught both adults and children via in-person and online lessons for the past 9 years. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Lakeview Orchestra in Chicago. She has spent the last five years as a studio and live musician for various bands throughout the midwest.
She studied music and audio engineering at the University of Colorado Denver (class of 2017). She had the honor of serving the Metropolitan State University of Denver orchestra as their concertmaster in 2016. Along with playing in the current Lakeview Orchestra season, Raquel is currently collaborating with several musicians for string arrangements, composition, and chamber ensembles in addition to her own Sonic Creations series.
Raquel has been a sponsored artist member of Synth House Chicago Museum since Fall 2021. The museum generously loaned her a Lyra-8 synthesizer to compose music with her violin. She creates lush soundscapes, ambient drones, and experimental string music in her home studio. She has composed and arranged string parts for bands throughout Chicago. Raquel remains an active violin teacher and enjoys applying music theory and improvising concepts to her lessons.
Psychedelic thrash band Sadistic Ritual have returned, spewing their very metal take on Americana, infused with enough electrifying energy to propel them into the bright future they surely deserve. Ripping their way into 2022 with a freshly inked deal with Prosthetic Records, and the release of their sophomore album, The Enigma, Boundless, on the horizon. Their debut album, Visionaire of Death, was described by Decibel magazine as ‘a fearsome thrash ripper’, whilst other publications leveled comparisons to the likes of Kreator, Watain, and Sodom. The 2019 album was released after honing their craft – on the road and in the studio – and refining the vision that Charlie Southern (guitar and vocals) first brought to life back a decade prior. Sadistic Ritual delivers classic thrash licks in spades, set against a backdrop of chugging, headbang-worthy tunes. The accessibility of their songs – which will delight metalheads across subgenres – belies the thought and consideration that goes into each element of Sadistic Ritual. With a disdain for authority, and themes of real world horrors – specifically spiritual and political fears being confronted – running through the album, there’s a dark and sometimes paranoid undercurrent to the lyrical content on The Enigma, Boundless, penned by Southern. Throw in an affection for LSD and the psychedelic part of ‘psychedelic thrash’ starts to become further apparent to annihilate the fallacies of a fabricated reality.
In Chicago, it’s not fun with the names of groups. Urine Hell was not only noticed for [their] name but especially for [their] first (virtual) demo in December 2020. The group returns with Weakling, a four-track cassette on Already Dead Tapes and the jet is monstrously good. And corrosive, wickedly incisive. Not really noise-rock in the historical lineage of many bands from Chicago but a little bit with Chat Pile or Bruges inside and Dazzling Killmen also in the intentions, that is to say a more unhealthy, tortured, distressing approach, a song between the spoken and psychopathic mode for a unique result which takes the guts to better return them. Diabolically intense and hellish like the end of Judas Song.
–Perte & Fracas (translated from French)
BANGLADEAFY is back with a new beast. Housefly brings you thirteen anxiety-ridden compositions exploring the industrial influences of the duo’s youth such as Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, and Devo.
Armed Forces is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 5 January 1979 in the United Kingdom through Radar Records. It was his second album with the Attractions–bassist Bruce Thomas, drummer Pete Thomas (no relation) and keyboardist Steve Nieve–and the first to officially credit them on the cover. The album was recorded in six weeks from August to September 1978 at Eden Studios in London under the working title Emotional Fascism. Produced by Nick Lowe and engineered by Roger Béchirian, the sessions saw Costello exert more control over production compared to This Year’s Model (1978), while Nieve contributed more to song arrangements.
GhostSigns is a hard rock band based in Chicago Illinois. The band was formed in 2020 by Wayne Garamoni and John Hackett, two of the founding members of Who’s Who, during the shutdown in live music caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The band is putting together an album of originals culled from several newly written songs and songs written over the past 10 years. GhostSigns has its roots firmly in classic rock influences, but it also incorporates elements of punk rock and heavy metal combined with lyrics influenced by the pandemic, political upheaval and polarization, and the protests taking place across the country.
