Brooklyn-based Musician, Aradia, has an uncanny way of drawing listeners deeper into the crevices of the soul through her multidimensional artistic world that stems from years of traveling the world and deepening her perception of life both within and around her. As an artist who has had her hands in a variety of endeavors, Aradia continues to trek forward with pride as she recently released her latest single, “No One Can Stop You”. Embracing her highs and lows throughout a lyrical journey taking listeners through a hefty dose of motivation, Aradia strips down to bare bones to show the world that there is nothing that could ever get in the way of your desires and dreams other than yourself. Through beautiful songwriting that metaphorically speaks to the wise with a line speaking of a butterfly emerging from chrysalis, Aradia approaches her artistry from her colorful and soulfully rich mind that is alight through the lens of endurance and strength.
If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as Charli XCX, Lady Gaga and Halsey then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Aradia on Soundcloud.
New York based record producer and musician, FaltyDL, has created a world of his own in which he dishes out enticingly dense, magnetically dark, and utterly captivating displays of musical craft that seduces you as it seeps under your skin. I caught up with the creatively rich human being who is on the cusp of releasing his sixth LP, ‘Heaven is for Quitters’, to discuss his upcoming projects and more.
First and foremost, introduce yourself to our readers. Who is FaltyDL?
My name is Drew, I am FaltyDL and I live in Brooklyn, NY. I have been making electronic music for about 12 years now. I regularly tour and DJ my albums. I have worked with a couple record labels such as Planet Mu and I have also created my own record label, Blueberry Records.
Is anybody else signed to Blueberry Records?
Drew – Yeah, I have signed a bunch of artists to Blueberry Records, but I don’t sign artists to a contract where they can’t work with anyone else; I wouldn’t want to do that to anyone. I sign artists per record, so to speak, but I’ve got a bunch of new artists and some old artists as well.
Jessica – That is quite liberating. I am assuming you know how it is in the record industry; a record company can tie you down and as a musician, you can ultimately sacrifice a lot of your career.
Drew – Yeah, definitely. I try to treat artists like I would like to be treated as an artist.
When did you begin peaking interest in techno/house music?
Around the early 2000’s. I got into electronic music through DJ Shadow in a way; trip-hop, electronica and genres as such in a way. Some weirder stuff like Aphex Twins and Squarepusher when they were already well into their careers. I sorta got to go back and check out all of the old records that they made as well. I was about 16 or 17 years old at the time.
Congrats on your LP, ‘Heaven is for Quitters’. Tell us all about the recording process.
I challenged myself on this album by recording with vocalists at my studio, which I have never done before; I have always worked remotely or they would just send me their vocals, mainly because they would live in other countries. But, I have a few singers like Hannah Cohen, and Jose James come over and record, which was fun and a little bit scary because they are artists that work in real recording studios. So, I challenged myself as far as the process of recording people and all of the mixing down on the record. I tried really hard to mix it down a little bit smoother this time and make sure it sounds good on a loud sound system.
Jessica – You mentioned that you brought in some vocalists from overseas. Who do you perceive was the most intriguing and fascinating vocalist that you’ve worked with thus far throughout your career?
Drew – Oh, that’s good. There are so many that I have worked with; there’s a few like Rosie Lowe who is on the track, “Drugs”, off the new album. She is such a pro. I mean, she records the vocals on her own and sends them to me and I usually don’t have to do anything to them. At times, I get vocals from a producer and I have to spend a lot of time getting it on the track, cleaning it up and editing it. But, when someone as professional as Rosie just sends you her vocals and it’s just perfect right away, it’s really incredible. I mean, I would love to work with Bjork or Thom Yorke, all those big names; that’d be incredible. But, realistically, it’s when I work with just really talented, hard-working and hustling vocalists that I feel really good about it.
Thoughts on Massive Attack?
They’re incredible. I grew up listening to the whole Bristol sound. You know, Rob Smith, Tricky; that whole Bristol sound is incredible. I like Massive Attack because they will go away for awhile and come back with a new album that’ll still bang. I respect that. It’s such a heavy sound. They also have an incredible live show and I really do like their visual performance.
You and I are in New York on a hot summer day. Where are we going to eat and why?
I love these two restaurants in my neighborhood, Diner and Marlow, they are both right next to each other. I would go there because A, they are local and I know all the people that work there. And B, they are so local that I don’t have to go too far from home, which I like. It’s a really good atmosphere and they play really good music at both spots.
Tell us about your artwork for your albums and the human beings that brought them to life.
All of the artwork for this album is done by an artist by the name of La Boca; him and a couple of his designers did one of my last albums called ‘Hardcourage’ as well. I just think he kills it at this smooth, radiant, and animated cartoony look that I feel a lot of people have been trying to emulate ever since he’s been doing it. I think it is really important to have the artwork be as accessible as the music in a way. I think that he always compliments my music really well and creates an image that people can sort of relate to and enjoy.
Jessica – Interesting. In a sense, syncing the energy of your music coming from your inner being into the external aspect as the musical creation tied to it’s artistry.
Drew – Yeah. I’m not a visual person, I’m an auditory person. So, working with another person who is talented into the visual aspect helps bring the other part forward, ya know?
If you had to give one piece of advice to an emerging producer, what would it be?
Just keep going. If you feel like you are running into walls either creatively or just trying to get yourself out there, just keep going. Also, make as many of your own opportunities as possible, because sitting around and waiting for someone to offer something can be very long and it could just not happen. So, make your own things. Throw a party. Start your own record label. Send out your own demos. Just try and do everything. And listen, take in everything you can, but try and just focus on what sounds good to you because that’s how you are going to develop your own sound. Try and ignore what Twitter is saying, how everyone loves this new album or that new album; forget about that stuff, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy what you enjoy and keep working. And don’t take shit from anyone.
Jessica – Yes. Both personally and professionally.
Drew – Yes. In life. Yes.
Last but certainly not least, any messages for your fans?
Yeah. I have this idea that if you have been following me for awhile, you have followed me through a bunch of albums and I keep throwing out curveballs. For instance, this album does not sound like the one before, and just thank you, very much, for sticking with me. I appreciate it. It means a lot, because it makes me feel like I’m not losing my mind when I’m about to put out an album that feels like something I have never done before. I am just honored. I meet people all the time that tell me that they are fans of my music and in the moment, I am just trying to get through that social interaction by being polite and being nice, but I take that all home and I think to myself, “Holy shit, I can’t believe that person reached out to tell me they like my music.” It makes me feel so good. I am very grateful.
Jessica – Are you quite introverted? Do you spend a lot of candid time on your own?
Drew – Yeah, I do. A lot of it is by design; it’s just the nature of the job. But also, I work at home. Their will be whole days where the only time I go out is to get a turkey sandwich across the street and I don’t see anyone or pick up the phone for a day or two. So, you start to get a little loopy. You know, you got out, you meet someone and you just start talking; you don’t know how to socially interact. So, yeah, I get caught off guard by people all the time when I am out of the house. But, I am definitely split; I enjoy being an introvert and I also like to have some human contact as well.
Jessica – Uh, yeah. I don’t perceive that you would make it on stage if you you had total introvert vibes.
Drew – Yeah. That is a weird experience. Being on stage and performing is this weird, made-up experience. It’s nothing relative to how people should act in the world. You know, you are on this pedestal; it’s a very unnatural thing. But, it’s also very dope.
Jessica – Do you feel like you go into a trance on stage?
Drew – Yeah, sometimes I do, and that’s nice, but it’s hard to do that when you see a thousand people staring at you. You just get into. You just roll with it.
Brooklyn Duo, Great Good Fine Ok, have racked in a consistent 1 million monthly listens on Spotify and continue to ride the high tide into the new year with their latest release, “Easy”. I caught up with the guys to discuss balance and making sure that you are taking care of your part in your interpersonal relationships, their three latest singles, escaping from stimulus while on tour and more.
“Change” and “Touch” are great introductions to what is to come within your upcoming album release. Tell us about your creative and recording process so far and what you have learned along the way.
The creative process has been the same since the very beginning. Luke creates the music, sends it to me, and I write the lyrics and the melodies. Or sometimes the opposite, I’ll have a melodic or lyrical idea and bring it to Luke and we’ll work that way. After that initial step, we go back and forth and polish up everything together, but it works for us to separately do the things that we are best at. This band has taught me the power of collaboration. Years ago I thought that writing with other people could water down my “vision”, but on the contrary, I was limiting my vision by relying solely on my particular skill set.
If you could go back to day one in the studio, would you have thought that both singles would have turned out the way that they did?
Both “Change” and “Touch” (mainly “Touch”) evolved considerably since the day we started them. Hearing a song take shape over time is part of the joy of what we do. When we started “Touch” it had a very edgy electronic vibe that reminded me of the band Muse. As it progressed and we added lap steel and acoustic guitar it turned into something completely different.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
For me, 2018 was filled with a lot of life extremes. Love, death, joy, pain and everything in between. I do believe that you learn more from the pain, so in that sense, I am grateful. Looking at it like that makes it easier to overcome these things.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
Similarly to the way some people are more equipped to do drugs recreationally, and some people, for whatever reasons, should never do drugs, I believe some people are more equipped to handle the social media vortex. You only see the extremes. Famous/successful people, rich people, or people failing or battling hard times. Most of life is somewhere in between, and that is a much healthier place to focus. I use social media to reach our fans or connect with friends. Period. I try not to get caught up in just scrolling and I know that most of what I am seeing is not reality. Some people have a harder time with that, and it can be triggering and dangerous. I have mixed feelings about the digital world. In some ways, it is endlessly good, but I worry about what it is doing to the generation of people who never lived without it.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
Being a good friend, family member and partner is important to me. Interpersonal relationships effect me on an emotional level much more than my career does. I like when I can nurture those things. I take pride in being kind to others and making a constant effort to see the forest through the trees.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
There is a lot of down time and traveling when we are on tour, so we try to use those times to center and escape from the stimulus. We try to exercise, eat healthy, and explore different cities – helps us stay sane.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you have collected along the way.
I heard the frontman of one of the bands we toured with say something along the lines of, “You shouldn’t get nervous because wherever you are, you deserve to be there.” I am paraphrasing, but I often think about this sentiment.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with either yourself as a child or yourself as a wizened senior citizen, who would you choose and why?
I would definitely talk to the wizened me. I’d rather learn from myself, than teach myself. The child me would definitely benefit from talking to me, but he needs to learn certain things on his own. So does current me, but…I’d still love to know the things I’ll learn in the next 50 years.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
We are excited for the next chapter. Lots of new stuff coming.
Brooklyn Rocker, Lord Sonny the Unifier, may be the new kid on the block, but his upcoming full-length release, “Final Notice!”, is set to be dynamically rich way to introduce himself to the world of music and beyond. Having released his first single from the album, “Right in Your I”, Lord Sonny the Unifier refuses to be confined to societies ways and sticks it to the man and those who treat others poorly due to their own insecurities unabashedly throughout the track.
Incorporating the sound of the late 1970’s when the world of Rock ‘N’ Roll was full of human beings who refused to be controlled, the rebellious edge in which Lord Sonny the Unifier approaches his artistry is refreshing to independent thinkers. Through tying in instrumentals that don’t overpower the message and intent of the lyrical trajectory, Lord Sonny the Unifier is ahead of the game and understands that his future is in his hands.
We live in a world full of billions of human beings who are actively living out their own individual lives that have nothing to do with you unless you choose to personalize it. Lord Sonny the Unifier is a newcomer to the music scene that is all about equality and ensuring that those who are treating others well get the same treatment in return. If you’re a fan of fellow musicians such as The Clash, Dead Kennedys and Queens of the Stone Age, then keep an eye on the promising ride ahead for Lord Sonny the Unifier on Bandcamp.
New York Rock Hood Group, Shinobi Ninja, live out their intent of shaping a vibrant state of consciousness that includes and welcomes all throughout their music and artistry. Having ‘Bless Up’ under their belts as an album that speaks for itself, Shinobi Ninja are finding the wealth that comes from embodying their truest selves. I caught up with Vocalist, Duke Sims (D.A), to discuss how growing up in Brooklyn shaped the man that he is today, progress over perfection, becoming more confident in his talents, being a kid in the studio and more.
Congrats on the success of your fourth studio album, ‘Bless Up’. Tell us about the creative and recording process and what you learned along the way.
‘Bless Up’ was a collection of the songs we were working on right before our studio that we had been creating and working out of for the past 6 years closed. The goal was to complete these songs before the studio closed, so the album had a vibe of closure and also a positive outlook for what is to come for us in the future. The lesson for me on this album is that you may think that this song or that song is gonna be the one but in actuality it’s not that song you think, it’s the song you don’t think too much of that is going to be the song that people find and connect with the most. I had experienced that before with our previous album, but this album cemented that for me; to be open to whatever is gonna happen.
You guys carry the New York swagger so well, so naturally. Tell us about your life in the Big Apple and how living in New York has impacted your life.
I’m born and raised in Brooklyn and have been running around NYC my whole life. It’s all I’ve ever known. When you hear the phrase, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck then it’s a duck”, that’s me. Brooklyn formed me. It put me arm and arm with every nationality, age, race, sex, etc. that you could have. I grew up playing in the streets; street basketball, baseball, music, cutting school, getting in trouble, music, good times and bad times. The concrete jungle is the school I graduated from. I’ve seen all kinds of crazy things and I learned from all of it. It’s teachings are with me always.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
Life is a challenge. It just keeps coming. I’m still learning. Fear is something I’ve overcome over time. That’s the biggest challenge. Fear of any kind and choosing not letting it stop you in whatever it is your doing and want to accomplish. Progress over perfection was a key lesson for me. Perfection is perception and it doesn’t exist. Progress is real. You can see it. So I go for progress over perfection. Trying to be perfect used to lock me in. Now I don’t care about that. I keep putting in the work and moving forward. That’s a good feeling. When things reach completion and then you move to the next thing. Keep growing.
How has your experience in the music industry impacted your life? How was the man that is Dave changed every since you began with Shinobi Ninja?
Before Shinobi Ninja, I was still thinking about who I wanted to be and how I could become that person. Shinobi Ninja allowed me an avenue to succeed and to fail. With success, I became stronger and more confident in my talents and what I can offer the world through my art and music and my love for the people and the universe. Failure taught me about changing things that I was not doing well or things that were holding me back. It taught me to let go and to not hold on to expectations. The music industry is made of people. I love people. Shinobi Ninja gave me an avenue to be a Superhero. Now I can fly.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I think it is awesome. I think there’s quick fix meals out there that is the content we see everyday. There’s levels of substance. You can see something that entertains you for a couple minutes but doesn’t really change you and then you can see or hear things that make you really think. I love the digital age we live in because all the info is out there. Information is power. This is a great time for thinkers and artists. A lot of fuel for the fire.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I take pride in service. When I can be of service to people that is a great thing. However, I can be a positive contribution to the people is what it’s all about for me. Whether it’s a song, or a video, or a piece of art or a text message or a positive word to someone. A life is here and then gone, so for me it’s about being a positive influence and force while I’m here in this journey at this time.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
I don’t watch the news. I don’t watch politics. No murder killing type shows. If the Golden Girls is on then it stays on. I love to have anything that I’m going to hear or see be uplifting for my spirit and mind. Documentary’s are great information. Sitcoms have the laugh track. Laughing is good. Music is good. Hearing new music that will inspire my creativity to new realms. Being around good people. Smoking weed. Eating well.
Tell us about a day in the studio with you making beats. Are you experimental and willing to take major creative risks in your music?
My mom took me to a class when I was little that was a dude in a loft in NYC surrounded by things. He showed how you can make sounds with anything. He put water on a mirror and made noises. Then he took a hose from a vacuum cleaner and whirled it around his head and it made a cool sound; that impacted me huge. When I go into the studio, I’m still that little kid. I’m listening for that unknown. I’m down to try anything. If it sounds good then it’s a go for me. I’m there for the magic. I’m listening to what my body tells me is the hotness. I trust my instincts and I have fun. The most fun. Being in the studio for me is like a fish being in water. It’s who I am. I learned to breathe there. It’s like a bird flying. I could fly forever.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
Keep spreading the positive vibes. Move with compassion. Move with love. Take time to breath. Take time for yourself. Check yourself. Check your ego. Think about your goals for life. How will you accomplish them? What have you learned in trying different ways to achieve them? How can you adapt? How can you keep growing? Make the best of today. Keep moving forward. Every step adds up. Even if you only move an inch forward today. Inches add up to feet. Feet add up to Miles. Follow the yellow brick road. Keep dreaming. Keep striving. You’re not perfect. Nobody is. Have compassion for yourself. Your awesome and I want you to know your loved. I believe in you.
