L Debois The Return of Soul

How did you get your start?

I’ve been doing music since I was little. I grew up with music in the house, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, that’s what I grew up listening to. I started off imitating other singers. I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to do music. I learned to play the guitar, piano, harmonica, I play a little drums too. I just love making music. I was doing music in Atlanta for a while. Then I moved to LA, and I was recording with a friend of mine and I got signed to Def Jam. The label was going through some stuff at the time. I asked to be released from my contract, they said ok. So I’ve been doing music independently. Now I have an album out on iTunes, it’s called “Acoustic Voyage”.

Who are some of your influences?
Donny, Stevie. Michael was a big influence when I was younger. He was an influence on everybody. I listened to Jimmy Hendrix and Curtis Mayfield. Most of my influence comes from older music. Even now I still listen to a lot of old music. I want to know where everything came from, to understand it. I listen to some new stuff just to stay up to date. I listen to India Arie, John Legend or some Anthony Hamilton.


What makes your music different?
I try to bring a moral consciousness to the music, that’s one of the main things. I tell the young people to respect the elders, tell women to protect their chastity, to be the best you can. We’re missing a since of morality. The music that does have that element isn’t being promoted. Most of the music we here on Black radio is sex, drugs and partying. It’s the sad truth. I’m not knocking what anyone else is doing but we need to encourage something different and give an alternative solution.

What do you want people to know about El Debois?
I’m here. I’m going to continue to bring good music that hopefully will inspire you to make change. It’s more to me than just the music, it’s the message. It’s not about the money; I’d do this for free. I want to change the hearts of people. I want to benefit society. I also want people to they can get the album “Acoustic Voyage” on iTunes. It’s a live album. People on Youtube liked what they saw and requested it. So now it’s here.

LISTEN UP: Saudia Mills

How did you get started?
Saudia: I started much later than some of my peers. A friend I went to high school with, Damian Knapp, heard me singing at work one day. He said “I didn’t know you could sing”. He had a band and he asked me to join a couple times but it took me close to a year before I actually joined the group. Performing with them was my first time in a club atmosphere. As I continued to work with them I got more confident, I eventually joined other groups and then I started doing my own shows. When I saw the reception I got from my solo shows I was hooked. Shortly after that, I started writing music and doing spoken word, networking and meeting new people. Some years later, I quit my well paying job to come to LA and pursue my dreams of being an entertainer. Once I got here I started acting and modeling and still singing. My acting has included some extra work but I’m most proud of the theater productions I’ve been a part of; “Momma Christine’s Colored Girls,” “Man Lies”, and “The Battle is not Yours”.

Who are some of your influences?
Saudia: My mom didn’t listen to a large variety of music. She didn’t listen to all the Motown stuff. I think her favorite artist was Denise La Salle, a Blues singer. Some of my favorites are John P Key, Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Mario and NeYo. He’s kind of changed it up a bit for the men. Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Faith Evans and a few.

What makes you different from other artists?
Saudia: Like Gladys Knight said “Everything’s been warmed over” so it’s not a whole lot you can do to make music so much more different any other music that has be out there. I think it’s more of the personality you give your music that makes it different. How you tell the story. I’m more of the girl next door, positive lyrics. I try to draw people to me. I talk about stuff I can relate too, stuff that’s tangible. I try to show my personality in the music. We all have a little Blues, Soul and Hip Hop in us so I hope to show that in my music.

How would you describe you style?
Saudia: I wrote poetry first before I wrote songs. So a lot of my songs have that kind of feel. At this point it’s combined. Then put a melody to it and its hot. I call it “afrolificposingertry”. That’s black people speaking in poetry and song.

What do you want people to know about Saudia Mills?
Saudia: I’ve grown musically, spiritually, and my appreciation of family and friends has strengthened. I’m stronger now. As I enter the industry, I know I can handle anything. I don’t know everything, but I know God will bring me through everything. Otherwise I just hope people like and embrace what I’m doing. They can find me at www.relicent.com http://www.reverbnation.com/saudiamills email me at saudiamillsmusic@gmail.com

LISTEN UP: Fly Gypsy

How did you all get started?
FlyGypsy/Komplex: We met a few years ago at Bar Nun in DC. That’s a place that has a lot of history. Raheem Devaughn and Wale’ both were are regulars. A lot of cats been through there. But one day we were outside in a cipher, just jamming. That’s when we met. But as a group, Alexei was in the studio and he had one track that he wasn’t able to find anyone who fit the track. He called me, I liked the track, and wrote a rhyme on the spot, he liked it and it just kind of grew from there. Everything fit well. We did a few other songs and then we realized, that we may be on to something. I’m a poet, spoken word artist. But I love Hip Hop. Alexei is a musician, he loves Hip Hop. He plays different instruments: percussion, keys, guitar. I love performing with a live band behind me, so it just worked out for us that way.

Who are some of your influences?
FlyGypsy/Komplex: We come from two different worlds. But we both like good music. The Marleys, The Cure, we even have one song, Go, that’s straight rock. We both like Outkast, The Fugees, Linkin Park and on the HipHop side, of course, its Common, Mos Def, Talib, Rakim, and those guys.

How would you describe your style?
FlyGypsy/Komplex: What we’re doing is what Hip-Hop needs right now, what its missing right now. We’re well produced, lyrically sound. It’s not some of the corny stuff you hear now. When I say, were what Hip-Hop is missing, I mean, it’s not disrespectful or derogatory to women, not insulting. Its smooth feel good music. It’s something you can dance to, clean your house to it, or ride in your car too. We’re compatible with anything you play. If you play a track by any artist and then play us, it still fits, People aren’t going to feel like the DJ just cleared the room.

What makes FlyGypsy different than other groups?
FlyGypsy/Komplex: Were different for a lot of reasons. Look at us, a Jamacian and a Russian dude making Hip-Hop music. We are a band and perform as a live band. Alexei plays different instruments throughout the show. He’s not just a producer, he’s a musician. We call him the one-man band. Lyrically, I’m just as good as the big name MCs that are out. If you play one of our songs, my verse fits in with the others that you hear. Our talent cannot be denied. Our live show is ridiculous. A lot of hip hop shows don’t have a show anymore. We do outfit changes and we have even a belly dancer.

What do you want people to know about Fly Gypsy?
FlyGypsy/Komplex: They can go to www.flygypsy.com and download the album for free. It’s called Vodka and Rum Mixtape. You can download it for free. We know people are going to like it and we want to get the word out. They can go to our site or hit us on Facebook under Fly Gypsy.

LISTEN UP: K Lipsey

How did you get started?
I started in gospel, singing in church as a kid, in the youth choir. Then that that led to a gospel/ soul childrens choir, and I did some solos with them too. I was a self taught on guitar, I played in the band, I played snare drum, and guitar in the jazz band. I stopped music doing music for a while and started it again when I was in the military. But then I was going to studio, and trying to be a rapper. A lot of my boys were rapping, I was hanging with them and ghost writing. Then I did a hook on a joint, they liked it and from there I just got back into it, and stuck to singing.

Who are some of your influences?
Marvin Gaye, Eric Benet, Raphael Saadiq, Mint Condition and Prince, those are the first ones who come to mind. If you listen to each of their styles, they don’t do a lot of vocal tricks, it’s more about the emotions. They have a connection. Marvin, they way he sings, it makes you wonder how he came up with that melody, I like Prince for his swag and they all write and sing. I listen to Al Green and Curtis Mayfield too.

What makes your music different?
My music is different from a lot of the stuff you hear on the radio. It has a emotional connection, most stuff now its pop, everyone one want to be Chris Brown and make dance music. My stuff is for the grown and sexy. It can remind you of a situation that happen. My songs are about me. Not fabricated stories, but stuff that I went through.


What do you want people to know about K Lipsey?
I’m a real cat, bringing real music, nothing fabricated, and I do it from my heart. There’s a reason I did the album, and named it “The Treatment”, a good friend of mine who passed away inspired me. I went thru a period when I was lost, trying find my way. He used to always tell me to write about it. I wrote about what I was going through in my life and put it together. It’s a therapeutic. It’s cathartic. If you like it, you can hit me on Myspace.com/klipsey or Facebook too. Also Mississippi Poor Boy and Have Mercy are both on iTunes. If you grown and sexy, look me up.

LISTEN UP: Ife

http://www.ifemusic.com/

How did you get started in music?
When I was young I sang in church and in school. But I did more acting then. I was doing a lot of music theater at the Seattle Childrens Theater. Music didn’t really come to the forefront until I went to college. I started doing it more seriously when I was in DC. I was part of that music scene there with Raheem DeVaughn and Amerie. I was singing in a couple bands and doing some background work too. Then in my senior year I went to school in London. I had a lot of time on my hands and that’s when I really started writing. Then after college I moved to LA and the whole solo thing just grew from there.

Who are some of your influences?
There’s so many that I draw from. As for females, I love Chante Moore and Rachelle Ferrell. And for men I like Al Jarreau and Stevie Wonder. Stevie is everything to me. I respect a lot of other people. As writers I like Luther Vandross and George Michael too.


What makes you different from other artist?
Well it’s a little different from what’s currently out. It’s a more genuine presence. I call it soul music. Not just R&B, but soul. It comes from the soul. Also my voice is unique, the songs are melodic, they’re real and honest. I feel like what I bring is needed right now. It’s not formulaic. It’s genuine artistry. Hip Hop is taking over but R&B is still alive and well.

What do you want people to know about Ife?
Well you can go to my site www.ifemusic.com and you can hear all the music there. Also you can see the video there too. You can buy the two singles “Aim To Please” and “Fly” from the site. You can hear all the songs on the site too. There’s five songs on the EP, which is called Crescendo. I called it that because I love that word. It’s a musical term that means to build or get louder. That’s what I’m doing. It represents my energy I’m building and making a bigger impact. In addition to the music I want to do some humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors eventually. But for now, please visit the site, check the music and let me know what you think.

LISTEN UP: Matt Cusson

http://www.mattcusson.com/

How did you first become interested in music?
Music is all I’ve ever known, and all I’ve ever did even since I was a baby. My mom was a classical piano teacher. So there was always a piano around. I was always banging on a piano. My dad was a choir director/arranger. So that’s part of it. But between all my family I heard lots of different genres. My brother was in to Billy Joel and Rock. My sister was really into Funk, and R&B. My listened to Balladeers and lots of Classical music. My dad was a straight Jazz cat. So I became this melting pot of music and that’s why I like so many styles.

Who are some of your influences?
Oh My God, there’s so many. Michael Jackson, Stevie. Miles Davis is a huge influence, Coltrane and those cats. Oscar Peterson. Djavan, is a Brazilian cat, that some people may not be familiar with. He’s incredible. I like a lot of Gospel. Kim Burrell, I like her. Take 6 is another one. It’s really too many to name. It’s a never ending answer.

How would you describe your style?
That’s my least favorite question. I don’t know if it fits into just one genre and that’s the problem. When we talk to industry execs, they don’t know how to categorize it. If you listen to the album, there’s a lot of Jazz, and Soul. There’s a Country song, a lullaby. It’s a little of everything. There’s an accapella cut too. Just a lot of stuff. I don’t like to be pigeon holed. Miles Davis didn’t like to be called a Jazz cat. He said good music is good music. That’s how I feel too. Like Quincy Jones said, let the song write itself. On I-tunes I’m Jazz, on Amazon I’m listed as Pop. I let them worry about that. I just make the music.



What makes your Music different?
Well one thing is, I don’t limit myself. Some people change what they feel because the label won’t like it or because radio won’t play it. I go there-all the time. I want you to hear something that you haven’t heard before. It’s really musical, and its Jazz based. But it’s ear friendly to everyone.

What’s next for Matt?
Well right now I’m working on the new music, but I’m still doing dates here and there of my music. I’m also still playing with Brian Mcknight too. He has a late night show coming and I may be in the house band. It’s still too early to say for sure. But I am definitely working.

What do you want people to know about Matt Cusson?
I’m easy to find. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, all that stuff. They can find the music on I-tunes, Amazon and even some FYE stores. The album is self-titled. I’m working on a 2nd one, to be out by spring next year. But really I’m just a regular guy who loves music.

LISTEN UP: Matt Cusson

How did you first become interested in music?
Music is all I’ve ever known, and all I’ve ever did even since I was a baby. My mom was a classical piano teacher. So there was always a piano around. I was always banging on a piano. My dad was a choir director/arranger. So that’s part of it. But between all my family I heard lots of different genres. My brother was in to Billy Joel and Rock. My sister was really into Funk, and R&B. My listened to Balladeers and lots of Classical music. My dad was a straight Jazz cat. So I became this melting pot of music and that’s why I like so many styles.

Who are some of your influences?
Oh My God, there’s so many. Michael Jackson, Stevie. Miles Davis is a huge influence, Coltrane and those cats. Oscar Peterson. Djavan, is a Brazilian cat, that some people may not be familiar with. He’s incredible. I like a lot of Gospel. Kim Burrell, I like her. Take 6 is another one. It’s really too many to name. It’s a never ending answer.

How would you describe your style?
That’s my least favorite question. I don’t know if it fits into just one genre and that’s the problem. When we talk to industry execs, they don’t know how to categorize it. If you listen to the album, there’s a lot of Jazz, and Soul. There’s a Country song, a lullaby. It’s a little of everything. There’s an accapella cut too. Just a lot of stuff. I don’t like to be pigeon holed. Miles Davis didn’t like to be called a Jazz cat. He said good music is good music. That’s how I feel too. Like Quincy Jones said, let the song write itself. On I-tunes I’m Jazz, on Amazon I’m Pop. I let them worry about that. I just make the music.

What makes your Music different?
Well one thing is, I don’t limit myself. Some people change what they feel because the label won’t like it or because radio won’t play it. I go there-all the time. I want you to hear something that you haven’t heard before. It’s really musical, and its Jazz based. But it’s ear friendly to everyone.

What’s next for Matt?
Well right now I’m working on the new music, but I’m still doing dates here and there of my music. I’m also still playing with Brian Mcknight too. He has a late night show coming and I may be in the house band. It’s still too early to say for sure. But I am definitely working.
What do you want people to know about Matt Cusson?
I’m easy to find. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, all that stuff. They can find the music on I-tunes, Amazon and even some FYE stores. The album is self-titled. I’m working on a 2nd one, to be out by spring next year. But really I’m just a regular guy who loves music.
www.mattcusson.com