Hello again and sorry for my absence; the first few weeks of this semester have been crazy. Anyways, as many of you know I am not a huge fan of rap in general. Mike B. however has dropped an awesome album that is worth a listen and you best check it out if you’re a fan of music.

Interview: Swelo

Posted on August 13, 2013 by musicalmagnificence

Swelo is a one man act based out of New Orleans whose day job is as a teacher. He leads quite an interesting life outside the classroom, however; he has produced a genre-bending album that captivates the listener and can be found here: http://swelo.bandcamp.com. Without further ado, here is our interview with him:

Swelo

First off, how would your students react if they discovered your music?

Honestly, I think they would just laugh. I’m a pretty goofy teacher, so they would probably think this whole thing is pretty funny. I would hope that they secretly like my music though.

So many songs have such different vocals. Are all of the vocals done by you?

All the vocals are me, except for the spoken word verse in “This Step”. That’s by Jose Cotto, a good friend of mine who is an artist, poet, and and entrepreneur. Check him out at jccotto.com.

How did you begin experimenting with your genre-bending style?

The genre bending is really just a representation of all the types of music I listen to. My aim was never to really create a new genre or anything; I was just combing the best aspects of all the genres I like.

At points throughout your album, it sounds like you’ve been influenced by Cage the Elephant (Country Road), The Limousines (Brighton), Jack Johnson (Not Like We Used to Be), and Kid Cudi (2 AM Interlude). What genre/musician had the biggest impact on defining your style?

Huge question! That’s pretty tough to answer. I would say overall, hip-hop has influenced me the most because of the mindset that comes with it. It’s a genre that’s incredibly open to experimentation and boundary testing. Wu-Tang Clan and Kid Cudi are both considered hip hop, but their music is wildly different from one another.

What do you hope to achieve with your music (a career, fame, time killer, etc.)?

It would be great to be able to make this a career, but I’m honestly not sure at this point. If the current response I’m getting stays consistent, a career in music will start to seem more realistic.

Other than music, what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy teaching, of course. And eating. And generally being outside, if it isn’t too oppressively hot. And watching Doctor Who (David Tennant, obviously).

What/who is your favorite musician/band?

Today, right now, I’m feeling Stevie Wonder. Ask me again tomorrow and I’ll give you a different answer.

You can find Swelo on:

Bandcamp

Facebook

“Dust and Bones” – Night Terrors of 1927

Posted on August 7, 2013 by musicalmagnificence

Review: “Wild EP” by The Analog Affair

Posted on July 24, 2013 by musicalmagnificence

Wild EP by The Analog Affair (9/10): I first became exposed to The Analog Affair when band member Evan contacted me about doing an interview with him for his side project Light the Air (the interview can be found here: https://musicalmagnificence.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/light-the-air-interview/). After exposing myself to Evan’s style, he suggested that I check out his band called The Analog Affair. The Analog Affair is a combined effort of Evan and Cody (I also did a review of their previous album here: https://musicalmagnificence.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/review-good-vibes-ep-by-the-analog-affair/). The last album, Good Vibes EP, of theirs that I reviewed was a folksy one. Listening to Wild EP is like listening to an entirely new band; Wild EP is infused with electropop, indie pop, and indietronica mostly.

Wild EP

Now I typically cringe when a band tries to exit its genre because often it becomes apparent that the band is a one trick pony. The Analog Affair, however, pulls off the genre switch with ease. Every track on the album makes you want to move; be it dancing, working out, or even just writing an album review. So check it out, Evan and Cody have major talent that will assure they make it far in the business.