Taylor McFerrin Concert Review

On April 24, 2016April 27, 2016 By What It Do DKIn Chicago, Concert Reviews, MusicLeave a comment

In The Loop Productions and 1833 teamed up last week to bring out Brainfeeder‘s Taylor McFerrin for a very special show at East Room.

For a Thursday evening, especially at East Room , it is a rarity to see a completely sold-out crowd. My heart dropped when I got to the dance floor and I saw that Taylor was positioned up on the elevated corner of the room. Usually this is my go-to spot for the best viewing of whichever artist I am seeing…who is usually playing in the DJ booth. But it was so packed that not only did I have no chance at making it to the front, I could barely get glance of him because of the way the dance floor was positioned the crowds only option was to face him, as opposed to surrounding him. Although some kind people let me step in front of them to get a picture of Taylor and got this, lol.

Better than nothing, I actually really like this photo because of the two sets of curly hair.

His jazzing heavy and ambient hip-hop beats had me in the happiest mood because I love this type of music. Everyone was grooving and moving, these are the kind of nights I live for, good music with good people. Around the middle of his set Taylor, invited three random individuals to come on stage and freestyle rap with him. A women who was standing next to me, dropped her coat and purse and immediately ran up there. Thankfully her best-friend was standing next to me as well and was able to watch her stuff. I know this because the woman who stayed back kept yelling at the woman on stage, “that’s my best-friend thats my best-friend.”

Within thirty seconds there were three people on the stage ready to freestyle. Not knowing what to expect, the first guy started, made a DJ Khaled reference, of course, so 2016. He was just alright, nothing special, but next on the mic was the woman who was standing next me. She must have been a professional MC because right away she took a hold of the crowd and had everyone chanting along with her, abstract-jazz. She went into a sick freestyle, with impressive on the spot rhymes, the crowd was cheering for her and even recorded her! She even ended on a comment complimenting t the next freestyler’s appearance. The man that freestyled after her was just as good as the first guy and neither had anything on this woman. I had told the best-friend they needed to go to talk to Taylor McFerrin after his set, because maybe she could actually collaborate with him. I hope they did speak.

When I had arrived at East Room that night Taylor McFerrin had just begun playing, which meant I missed Chicago-native BoatHouse. This left me a little bummed because I had never see him live before and he just released a killer EP. Thankfully when Taylor ended, BoatHouse was played a B2B DJ set with another Chicago-native Aztek in the designated DJ booth. Not only was I ecstatic to see BoatHouse playing, Aztek whom I had thought just moved away from Chicago, made my night because I was delightfully pleased to have the chance to say goodbye to him.

On that note, good luck in Salt Lake City Mark (Aztek) Chicago will miss you dearly. Below is my favorite track of yours, so far!

Sylvie Grace at The Freeland Hotel Review

On April 18, 2016April 21, 2016 By What It Do DKIn Chicago, Concert Reviews, Event Reviews, Music, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Tuesday evening, I found myself at my favorite hostel The Freehand Hotel, which actually doubles as a hotel, . An artist who goes by the name of Sylvie Grace was performing in their bar, the Broken Shaker. I had gone out to support her and have an evening cocktail with a few friends.

I love the Broken Shaker, the food and drinks are always on point. I would highly recommend the naan-chos. Additionally this spot is a solid spot for an after-work get-together. My drink of choice is always their ever-changing punch special. You never know what you’re going to get, but I can guarantee it will be strong and tasty.

Now for this Tuesday night, the Broken Shaker was packed; surprisingly there almost wasn’t a spot for us to sit down. Thankfully we found a spot in the candle-lit den.

We watched Sylvie Grace perform, what a real treat this woman is. Not only does Sylvie sing, she plays the cello as well! Her soft melodic vocals combined with the notes strung on the cello began to fill the room with such grace and elegance. What was really cool was her use of an effects pedal, manipulating her vocals and notes on the cello, as she continually sang over.

A local singer-songwriter, poet, cellist Sylvie Grace is one to check out. Londonder Jay Prince has even recently featured her on his latest track Homecoming/Love is! Maybe if you’re lucky enough you may find her outside of the Apple store on Michigan Avenue busking! Listen to her latest interview below, and for more information you can follow her on Facebook here!

Mood&Feels Volume 3

On April 18, 2016 By What It Do DKIn Mood&Feels, Music, UncategorizedLeave a comment

This week you will see again, a lot of ambient, hip-hop, rap, UK grime, future bass/future beats, and indie tracks.

I would recommend further checking out tracks from the artists you enjoy!

MFv3

Join in the conversation using the hashtag #MoodnFeelsV3 on social media!

Mood&Feels Volume 2

On April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 By What It Do DKIn Mood&Feels, MusicLeave a comment

This week you will see again, a lot of ambient, hip-hop, rap, UK grime, future bass/future beats, and indie tracks.

I would recommend further checking out tracks from the artists you enjoy!

MNF2

Join in the conversation using the hashtag #moodnfeelsv2

Too Future Series Goroka – Gravez & The Whooligan Concert Review

On April 6, 2016April 7, 2016 By What It Do DKIn Concert Reviews, MusicLeave a comment

Damn Too Future back at it again with the sick lineup.

Goroka, the tribal gathering and cultural event indigenous to Papua New Guinea, is one of the longest and largest running global tribal gatherings. It is an annual festival that is held around the country’s Independence Day, September 16th. Thousands of global tribes gather to “keep the Spirit alive”. Interesting enough, this was the theme of Friday’s show, which was a first for the Too Future events. Never before has there been a particular theme for a show. I was very interested to see how this would all play out.

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Above: Artist Ava Hoyer painting her subject, captured by Steph MacDonald.

Right as I walked in, the Goroka vibes were flowing. DrmBt was displaying his intricate, tribal-inspired project mapping on to the walls. One of my favorite local multimedia artists, Keith Smith aka @Afrokilla, was starting his very own 1-D live painting. Other artists were demonstrating their tribal interpretations through live body-painting. I was delightfully intrigued; the Goroka theme was well-represented by these different art installations alone.

https://soundcloud.com/edamame/silverlining

(Press play as you read about Edamame below)

The first set the night was Canvas-Chicago native Edamame, who was playing when I had first walked in around 9:30 pm. His sounds of soft melodic instrumentals mixed with tribal percussion samples set up the mood for the night quite nicely. As the sold-out crowd began to shift in, Edamame had me feeling as if I had stepped forth on to a gondola gliding down the Amazon River.

Above: Edamame performing, captured by Steph MacDonald.

Next up was the Sky Society B2B Equator Club set. Equator Club contributed to the Goroka theme by playing some African influenced dance music as well as some of his new tracks (you can find them up on his Soundcloud page here). Sky Society complimented the vibe with his own tribal melodic tunes. Together, Sky Society and Equator Club shifted the mood into a more future–beats, hiphop-esque feel in preparation for the headliners.

Above: Sky Society standing next to Equator Club mixing, captured by Steph MacDonald.

The first headliner that played was Soulection’s The Whooligan. Not only is he a DJ on the Soulection roster, he is Soulection‘s Director of Worldwide Bookings and Strategic Partnerships – pretty cool in my book considering Soulection is my all-time favorite label. The Whooligan‘s set was as if you were sitting in a live recording session of the Soulection Radio Show (minus the Joe Kay voiceovers). Instead, you were hearing voice overs from The Whooligan himself, Julio Galvez. A real crowd pleaser, Galvez knew exactly how to keep the crowd dancing and vibing through his set. Fans claimed it was their favorite live Soulection set to do date. Props, Julio.

Above: The Whooligan performing live, captured by Steph MacDonald.

The final set of the night was HW&W‘s Gravez. He stole the hearts of many when he played a very special tribute to our dearly beloved Chicago hometown legend, Kanye West. Attendees told me he was their favorite set of the night. Between playing original songs and his very own fantastic remixes (which I have attached a few in the link below), the young Atlanta native Gravez truly displayed his talent of infusing futuristic sounds with today’s R&B and hip-hop.

https://soundcloud.com/gravez/sets/remixes

(Gravez ‘s Move That Dope Remix is my favorite) ^

A special thanks to In The Loop Productions and Canvas for putting on such a specular event. The line-up, location, atmosphere and even the crowd, was on extremely on point. One of the best parties of the year, and I can not wait for more!

Positivity Pointers

On March 31, 2016January 16, 2017 By What It Do DKIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The key to a leading a happy and successful life is to always stay positive. No matter how difficult things may get, no matter how many curve balls life may throw at you, you have to stay positive, trust me.

I am always a very happy positive person. I was not always like this, but with the points I am about to share with you, you too will learn how to conquer the negativity in your life.

1.) Always be thankful
Even in the darkest of times, there is always something to be thankful for. Seriously, the fact that you are able to see, read, have access to the internet, and even breathe clean air, are all things to be extremely thankful for.

Personally, when I wake up, I start saying to myself all the things that I am thankful for in my life. I am thankful for my electricity, my bed, my home, my food ect. I even list things that do not directly relate to me. For example, on my way to work I always pass a grade school, with parents dropping off their kids at school. I say to myself, that I am thankful for the parents who are taking care of their children and taking the time out of their day to be there for them.

2.) Create mood shifters for yourself
A mood shifter can be anything from a song, memory, activity, a meme, anything that will shift your mood away from that negativity.

Brainstorm with yourself right now! What makes you laugh, what makes you happy, what will make you smile this very instant? Now, hold on to that, and remember it for the next time you are feeling down.

My #1 go-to mood shifter, is saying out loud the things I am thankful for, until my sorrows go away. Sometimes I say to myself 100 different things that I am thankful for. Which does not only just turn my mood around completely. My attitude and gratitude allows myself to become a magnet, that attracts that same positive energy I am putting out into the world.

3.) Remember to smile
When you find yourself frowning, turn that upside down!

It is scientifically proven that smiling releasing endorphins and serotonin.

So the next time you are in a bad mood, force yourself to smile, make yourself resemble this emoji. Even if you have to force it, soon enough it will not be forced.

grinning-face-with-smiling-eyes