Music Addikts

What’s in a name? Hopefully everything. What to expect lies in what you end up hearing through your earphones, laptops or the woofers in your vehicle. That’s why the D.C. based collective Subwoofer Science had my interest based on their name.

Going through various efforts on their Bandcamp page I explored their latest project “On Love” as the first track “You Know What Love is…” begins as a electro-soulful offering that is reminiscent of some of Fat Jon and then eventually goes into a boom-bap feel. The music is sprinkled with moments of Dilla, Native Tongues and 4hero and still have an identity of their own.

Followed by the aptly titled track “You KNow What Love Ain’t…(In 3 Parts)” is more aggressive, something that the opposite of love would conjure up.

Then I went over to the “Subwoofer Science EP” and explored the first song “Afro’s N Twists.” The song features strong distorted guitar riffs and lyrics that embody afrocentric themes and a chorus “raise black fists with black twists.” Unfortunately sentiments we wouldn’t hear on the top radiowaves but thankfully they don’t care.

There’s somethings that overtime will help make the songs more cohesive, but from what I’ve heard it’s a step in the right direction. Songs about liberation, love and music? What else do we need? Keep your ears open. You can check out the 10 track EP available at http://subwooferscience.bandcamp.com

Subwoofer Science – “I Luv U”
 

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PJ

**Preach Jacobs (PJ) is a contributing guest writer based out of Columbia, Southcarolina**

Not long ago, we featured Kyonte’ in our ADDIKTS APPROVED section.  Be sure to check out what the ADDIKTS thought.  Now, we have some visual stimulation to go along with his lovely voice.  Check out the new video for the track, “What’s That Sound?”!

DMV ADDIKTS!!! We’d like to call your attention to an epic event.  This is something you do not want to miss.  Hell, I’m even contemplating catching a flight up for the weekend.  A good friend and supporter of ours is directly involved with putting this together, so please support.  Can you imagine all of these artists(Navasha Daya, Eric Roberson, Rhonda Thomas, Bilal, N’Dambi, and Roberta Flack) on one stage…with an orchestra behind ‘em? Now that’s some GROWN ish! You might just see the ADDIKTS in the building!

Check out the flyer for more information. To purchase tickets, please visit www.ticketmaster.com.

keep you soulHIGH!

Congratulations are in order for singer/songwriter/producer/composer, Muhsinah on her recent Grammy nomination for her vocal contribution on The Foreign Exchange’s “Daykeeper”.  Muhsinah is not only an underground talent, but a bit of a genius who is making her mark with an eccentric jazz-infused R&B.  She hails from Washington D.C., graduated from Howard University and currently resides is Brooklyn, New York.  The classically trained pianist began playing at the age of 11, but did not begin singing until she was 19 or 20.  Her style influences range from classical, to psychedelic, to jazz to world music; and all can be found throughout her seven-album resume.  Specifically she cites Alice Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and J Dilla to be among her major musical influences.

Also dubbed, The Golden Girl, Muhsinah creates music from a core of big drums, big bass, and Indian samples.  While the instrumentals have a life of their own committing to no specific formula, her complex yet cohesive vocals are rich, well-seasoned and gracefully weave themselves throughout each track sounding like stringed instruments.  If you’re not careful, you can easily get caught in her sound-web, unaware that the music also has a message.

While taking the musical road less traveled, she has managed to be noticed and sought after by artists such as the Foreign Exchange, Little Brother and Common.  Phonte (of Little Brother and Foreign Exchange), heard her track “Construction” from her album, The Oscillations: Sine and decided to give her a call personally for a collaboration. Her latest album, The Oscillations: Triangle was released earlier this year.

Although the world has yet to recognize Muhsinah in the mainstream arena, her vocal finesse and futuristic composition has allowed her to run parallel to those who take the beaten path. For more on Muhsinah, please visit her site and Twitter page.

Check out her video for “Construction”:

Discography:

The Oscillations EP (CD/MP3)- Self Release 2005
day.break (MP3 Only) – Rxlngr 2007
pre.lude (CD/MP3) – (Japanese Release) Circulations 2008
day.break 2.0 (CD Only) – Rxlngr 2008
The Oscillations: Sine (MP3 Only) – Rxlngr 2008
The Oscillations: Triangle (MP3 Only) – Rxlngr 2008
The Oscillations 2XLP (CD/MP3) – Rxlngr 2009

*C Notes is a contributing guest writer covering events in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area.