Welcome to the Archive, Sweet People.

Smoke from all the Friction (1/07/2020)

Duality, tension, contemplation, dynamism, resolution: all of these qualities are what I look for in a cup of coffee. Coincidentally, they also appear in the work and personalities of local electro-pop band Smoke From all the Friction (don’t at me on the genre title. That’s what they said, okay?), whose members include founder Cam Gillette and percussionist/everything-else-ist Kenny Andrews. Honestly, putting instrument roles next to either of these fellas names is a bit pedantic — they seem to do it all, and relish the ever-evolving nature of their craft.

I am so lucky to have had the chance to chat with Cam and Kenny about their music, philosophy, and approach to life in general. We got into the nitty gritty, reflecting on the difficulties between taking a richly produced in-studio sound to an in-the-moment live performance — we also got into the broad and contemplative, considering what spectacle means to us personally as well as the music-goers of the populace at large.

You can follow Smoke From all the Friction on Facebook here.

Peep the full interview here, replete with two never heard before tracks at the time of airing.

Tre Mars (12/17/2019)

Align your chakras and get your vibes vibin’, because this is one groovy interview. Tre Mars is a rapper, entertainer, promoter, graphic designer, photographer, and so much more. I know he’s got some talents he’s still keeping on the DL. Tre leads the Raleigh-based group The Kids Downtown, a jazzy hip hop outfit that keeps bodies moving and minds working.

He and I chatted about the music industry and what the Triangle’s hip hop scene has ahead in terms of potential for growth. We also bumped two tracks off of Tre’s recent album, Now or Never. You can stream the full album wherever you do that sort of thing. Follow Tre here, and the Kids Downtown here.

I love spending time with the relentlessly positive people who mill about our planet, sharing their treasure troves of optimism and joie de vivre on a whim with those lucky enough to cross their paths. Tre Mars is one of those people. Don’t miss out on his next show. At the very least, flag him down if you see him cross your path, and invite some insight unto thyself.

Peep the full interview here.

Scott Jones (12/10/2019)

Ah, so very typical: your run-of-the-mill tech biz wiz/hip-hop jazz drummer/spiritual medium/father of two. Having met Scott briefly through musical connections, I can truly say that I was not expecting the richness and complexity of this man as we walked into the studio. But boy, was I delighted.

Scott’s the drummer and organizer of an improvisational, constantly changing cast of characters band called The Upward Dogs. He’s also a member of alt-country band The Gone Ghosts. In our conversation, Scott delves into his personal history leading up to the here and now, his philosophy behind improv music and music in general, and there’s a whole lot we dabble in along the way.

Follow the Gone Ghosts on Facebook here. They play around the Triangle semi-regularly. Follow The Upward Dogs on Facebook here. They are also regulars in some of the smaller venues around town, such as the Cave in Chapel Hill — don’t miss the novel arrangements of players that Scott puts together on a dime!

You can peep the full interview here, replete with a never-before-attempted Instagram recording of the Upward Dogs played live on the radio, and a full studio version of a Gone Ghosts tune.

Diego Avilez (11/26/2019)

Bandleader, pianist, and a reflective thinker all in one package — Diego Avilez is no joke. I had known Diego through mutual friends and music scene stuff for about a year, but had never got the chance to chat one on one with him. In our conversation, I learned a great deal of what inspires Diego to create and perform music — as well as the intentional respect and research that goes into carrying on traditions from cultures around the world. One of the sweetest and most thoughtful people I’ve had the pleasure of talking with, Diego was eager to wax poetic on the many facets of being a musician like himself in the Triangle.

Diego Avilez is the bandleader of Tumbao, a latin jazz group based in Raleigh. Their shows are electric, dance-fueled, and endlessly delightful. Follow them on Facebook here. There’s a sneak peak of a new track on this interview (as of 2/05/2020, still un-released!) titled “AoA” — be sure to catch that near the end.

He’s also the pianist for Sons of Paradise, a reggae group also based in Raleigh. Carrying the tradition of reggae music in the gentrifying world of the Triangle area may seem a delicate task, but these cats are dedicated to the craft of respecting and uplifting musical traditions such as reggae. You can follow them on Facebook here.

Learn more about their practices in the interview with Diego here.

Tanajah (11/19/2019)

Tanajah Raps? Oh, yes she certainly does.

My first experience interviewing live on the air was with Tanajah, a twenty-something female rapper who reached out to me via Facebook. She and I had briefly met a while back but I couldn’t say I knew what I was getting into — mind you, I was also choosing to do my first ever interview live on the air, with a person I did not know/have previous knowledge of. Suffice to say I was a bit nervous.

Cut to Tanajah hopping out of her car, huge smile on her face, crocs proudly on her feet, and reassuring me that this is all gonna be great: “I’m not really a morning person”, she says, introducing herself to me. I’m already on board.

Tanajah has a delightful sense of humor and realness that I was lucky to experience in just the brief hour we spent together. Her music speaks to the trials and triumphs of being a young black woman in our modern times, all through the effortless flow that she has on lock. Her studio beats are solid, always putting the vibe before the complexity of the thing — but don’t sleep on her live performances. The full band dynamic behind her is a force of nature. I’m saying, think Tank and the Bangas intensity. She’s got a lot in store this year with a new EP coming out this Spring, so stay tuned. Follow her on Facebook here.

Peep the full interview, with two of her songs featured, here.

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