What I say dosen’t matter, ‘the public rule and decide.
What is your creative process like?
Inspuration and hard work.
What is the main topic of your lyrics?
I write about everything.
Favourite album of the past decade?
I know it’s hard to believe but I don’t have time to listen to Albums.
For which moment in your carrer you are the most proud of?
My song, ‘Me My Body And I’ was put into all the Schools in Croydon Surrey. I really hope and believe in this song helping to stop a child self harming and worse, when you loose your child that way it must be tragic beyond belief.
Which book should we read while listening to your music?
That’s easy, the one book I wrote, ‘Message From A Star’. The Star is in the sky, it’s not me, but I got great reviews from Kirkus and Blue Ink, and 4/4 from book club. Published by Austin Macauley, it’s humorous with pathos !
Most Powerful Anti-War Film?
Yeah, you guessed it, ‘Don’t watch films, no time 🙂
Tell us a few things about Mr. Strange. What is the main idea behind it?
The track is about a woman who has basically given up on dating, and she has decided to fall in love with a plastic blow-up doll. Her fantasy becomes a bit too real, but it makes her happy. The bar for men is high, and the bar for women is too low; to put it mildly. The music video is cheeky; it’s not entirely serious. I want to show the world that even though there is a message in the track, that it’s good to not take ourselves so seriously all of the time.
Your sound has a pop sensibility blending trap grooves with indie pop elements. What is your creative process like?
I listen to and love many genres of music. I grew up listening to New Wave, early Rap, early Hip Hop, and arena rock. My creative process changes with my moods. Sometimes, I just get a hook stuck in my head, and I go into my studio and bang it out. Sometimes I collaborate with beat makers, and I take inspiration from their beats. I usually write my music on drums and synths. It could start with lyrics, music, or both. I’m in the moment with this.
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
Lately, I’ve been very inspired by The Weeknd, Max Martin, and ILLANGELO! Some influences from my past are Annie Lennox, Portishead, Massive Attack, DJ Shadow, UNKLE, Michael Jackson; Off the Wall is a banger! Luther Vandross, The System, Robert Palmer, New Order, Rose Royce, Curtis Mayfield, Clyde Stubblefield, Marc Almond, Donna Summer, Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, A Flock Of Seagulls, John Foxx, and a long list of classic rappers and DJs.
What would you change in the music industry?
Gatekeeping. If you have the cred, and you’ve put in the hard work, the industry should let you open up conversations, without you having to fight the music bouncers. That’s some bullshit!
Your music has an experimental tone. Should music as a form of art always challenge the listener?
I don’t think it’s as experimental as some might think it is. I like to mix genres, but so do a lot of other artists. I like the concept of having singles for your listeners, and the deeper cuts to let the weirdness out. I’m all about the balance.
Tell us a few things about your new song, You’ve Got Mail. What is the main idea behind it?
The main idea about it is I know everyone goes through a tough breakup in their life. I made this song to somewhat what I felt from this experience, but also to give a little twist from your traditional sad breakup songs.
Which is your most personal and honest lyric?
“Twenty years of life has been on my chest. Music is the only thing that’s releasing the stress.” – from an unreleased track.
Artists and people who have influenced and inspired you?
An arrangement of artists from Kirk Franklin, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Jimi Hendrix, Drake.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an artist so far?
The biggest challenge so far as an artist is overthinking. Knowing when to label a song as finished has been hard sometimes. I go back and listen to it multiple times, thinking a note or sound effect isn’t correct. Even from a promotional standpoint, I try to find the perfect snippet to display for people. Sometimes you just have to put out it and see the response to it.
When not writing music, how do you spend your time?
I try to keep up with sports such as football, futbol, & basketball. I also indulge in movies and TV shows. Outside of that, spending time with family & friends sums it up.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
Haha, I would say getting caught with a bottle of alcohol underage.
Jackson Whalan teams up with the up-and-coming producer SSQUIRE and together they bring Supreme, an instant banger that keeps the artist at the highest level. Jackson Whalan with his inspiring flow delivers some powerful lyrics touching on confidence and empowerment. The instrumental is driven by a jazzy riff that in practice can serve as a seminar on how to flip a sample in such a creative way. The beat has a J Dilla flavour, enriched with plenty of percussion elements and served with some added white noise. A hypnotic synthesis of old-school sounds with a more contemporary production. Listen below!
Throughout the two and a half minute long song which has arrived on December 5, Fungai claims his seniority. But is this enough to put him in the top 5? Well, let’s see up close. The beat incorporates some very chill old school elements. He definitely delivers his bars effortlessly, with the most hype. The instrumental is driven by a dreamy detuned loop which has a mesmerising fairy tale feeling. Is the audience voting in yet? Like him or not, you have to love him for his passion.
Where do I go? Hailing from Bulgaria, neo-soul artist Yana Obretenova delivers her latest work Path of sunlight, a well crafted RnB production with an experimental hint. The song has a tense, broken beat that blends nicely with an inspired, cheeky synth bass line. In addition, the numerous key lines give the song a jazzy vibe. Finally, the track is laced with atmospheric vocals complemented by harmony rich back vocals too. Yana Obretenova is showing the way. Follow her!
Deon Jones is a musician and artist with one of the most important voices of his generation. His first artistic project, a powerful rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” featuring Academy Award winning composer Jon Batiste has been hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as “transformative.” Jones was shot by police in the face with a rubber bullet during a peaceful protest in the summer of 2020. Redirecting this trauma into artistic energy, Jones extended a decade long collaboration with artist Glenn Kaino to produce the exhibition entitled “In the Light of a Shadow.”
Deon, a Truman Scholar, is an artist that embodies the paradox and opportunity of our time. He is a thoughtful and intentional artist with the performance tools to elevate his message and inspire audiences in any context.
Some of his other notable impactful moments spans from once managing projects at the Oprah Winfrey Network to associate producing the Emmy nominated documentary With Drawn Arms and developing Webby award winning apps with actor Jesse Williams.
A staunch advocate for the right to vote without barriers, Deon serves on the Creative Council at Fair Fight, an organization created by Stacey Abrams to end voter suppression and ensure fair elections. He is also a key proponent of abolishing youth jails once serving as the National Spokesperson for the Campaign for Youth Justice.
Harmolodica is the new instalment by MEM_MODS a project consisting of three seasoned touring musicians off the road. The breakbeat infused groove, that feels as time travelling through the 90s, drives the instrumental. On top of that, the track is characterised by the dub flavoured guitars while the added melodica adds the necessary unconventional element to the production. Heavily processed and filled with a plethora of effects, the track will be greatly enjoyed by open-minded music fans who can appreciate a bit of experimentation. Make sure to follow our Spotify Playlist feat. MEM_MODS.
