Jesse Boykins III Interview-----Ear Candy 3rd Anniversary

Mesmerizing. Engaging. Eclectic. These three words can be used when talking about Jesse Boykins III the person as well as his musical output. This next breed of world music artist infuses soul, jazz, funk, vintage R&B, reggae, and hip hop into a musical concoction of gumbo, ready for consumption by a hungry audience. One listen, better yet, one live experience will solidify the notion that the one christened Jesse Boykins III. Born in Chicago, Illinois on February 20, 1985, he was an immediate byproduct of the hip hop generation, but that timing didn’t limit his musical development. Much of his musical flair can be attributed to multicultural exposure, being raised and prepped in areas as diverse as Jamaica and Miami. These notions, and a few more, were discussed in detail prior to his performance at the 3rd Anniversary Ear Candy celebration, hosted by Gypsy Soul. Gypsy Soul has managed to bring top-notch, eclectic, and avant-garde music to Baltimore for three years and running, so it should come as no surprise that Jesse Boykins III would be added to the list of such underground and underappreciated luminaries such as Deborah Bond, YahZarah, Gods’illa, Megan Livingston, and others.

On this Thursday evening in early September, the weather outside may have been damp and dreary, but the energy inside Select Lounge was polar opposite. A musical energy could be felt as sound check proceeded with The Beauty Created, the live band that provides the sound palette for Boykin’s live performance. The artist of the evening was ushered to a meeting space away from the energized sound check, in order to provide myself, as well as Abdu Ali from http://eatonthis.com and Chasing Soul at www.chasingsoul.com. What resulted was a close to twenty minute dissertation on “world soul”, how Spike Lee and The Beauty Created are linked, and his experimental fashion sense. Check out the audio interview conducted by the three of us in a round-robin format, something that Jesse Boykins III said was a unique opportunity that he has never encountered.

Jesse Boykins III Interview (20:14 in length)

Jesse Boykins III Interview by Wisdom40

Jesse Boykins III has released two full-length albums, "Dopamine:  My Life On My Back" and "The Beauty Created".  His first album was released to critical praise in 2008, and he followed that up later in the year with the second creative endeavor.  "Love Apparatus" is the third album that should bring even more fanfare to this outside-the-box artist, who doesn't use gimmicks as a crutch.  Jesse Boykins III is an artist in every sense of the word, and if you haven't entered into his unique world, be sure to go to his website at http://www.jbiiimusic.com/ for further proof.

Congratulations, by the way, are in order for the Gypsy Soul family!  Not only did they bring another energized showcase to Baltimore, but they did it in grand style.  In addition to the show headliner, Baltimore's own Corey Mitchell and funk/soul artist Sophia Urista graced the Select Lounge stage, to the delight of everyone in attendance.  Gypsy Soul is a collective of like-minded individuals with very good musical tastes, headed by Ms. Gypsy herself, Kayenecha Daugherty.  I would like to take this time to thank the entire Gypsy Soul family for allowing me to document what this movement is all about.  It is a pleasure to be involved with such an organic and positive experience, and that is exactly what Gypsy Soul embodies.  Salute to you for three excellent years, and continued success as well as blessings.  Peace!

Soundcheck Series----The Floacist Presents Floetic Soul

Written by:  WISDOM
Photos by:  Lew Williams

Gypsy Soul once again is responsible for bringing the best and brightest talent to Charm City, this time in the form of Natalie Stewart, the “floetic” voice formerly of neo-soul duo Floetry. Held at Clutch Lounge, located in Canton, “Soundcheck Series----The Floacist Presents Floetic Soul” was billed as a meet and greet session. Patrons at Clutch would be given the opportunity to not only meet the solo artist, but also be treated to an informal listening session for the new album Floetic Soul. I was definitely anticipating this event, not only to meet The Floacist, but also to get a sneak peek of Floetic Soul.

Once I finally found an adequate parking space, I entered Clutch Lounge and saw a few familiar faces. Of course Gypsy Soul was in the house, providing an atmosphere conducive for this type of event. Clutch Lounge has a reputation as “Baltimore’s Premier Sports Bar and Lounge”, yet the aura within the walls of the venue was more musical and creative. DJ Bobby Rox was the host and deejay for the evening, setting the ambiance with smooth cuts from the second level of Clutch. For a small period of time, I had the opportunity to absorb the Clutch ambiance on the first floor, networking and chatting with friends and my wife.

The Floacist was scheduled to arrive 8 PM, and she wasn’t far removed from that arrival time. Once the artist of the hour was inside Clutch, the venue was abuzz with excitement. Various choice selections from Floetic Soul were played by DJ Bobby Rox, as Ms. Stewart met with adoring fans, took photos, and signed autographs. Her spirit was very positive and uplifting, much like the music has been known for during the advent of the 21st century. I could sense that those in attendance were in tune with the eclectic, melodic music blasting from speakers throughout Clutch Lounge.

Once I had the opportunity to speak with The Floacist, I gathered that the vibe you get from her recordings is true to form. She was all I expected and more----a very kind, humble, intelligent spirit indeed. When I asked her about her excitement level for her album release on November 9th, The Floacist said she was extremely anxious for birthing this project. This gifted artist said that there wasn’t a favorite cut on the album because each of the thirteen songs was a unique piece in completing the sonic puzzle that is Floetic Soul. Between photo ops and a brief discussion, I was very happy in meeting Ms. Stewart.

Other fans of the musical stylings of The Floacist had the opportunity to also meet and greet her for the better part of an hour and a half. A majority of songs from Floetic Song were previewed for the relatively crowded walls of Clutch. “Forever”, the debut single with Musiq Soulchild, was blended with various other Floetic Soul songs. Titles such as “Let Me”, “Keep It Going” (with Raheem Devaughn), “Breathe”, and “Need You” alluded to an album full of love and emotion. DJ Bobby Rox “kept the soulful vibe alive by playing plethora of smooth joints, including “Music Ok” by Allegra Dolores, “Punch Drunk Love” by Common and Kanye, “Prototype” by Andre 3000 (an all-time favorite for me), and “Crown Royal” by Jill Scott. DJ Bobby Rox kept the event flowing like the alcohol being served at the bar at Clutch Lounge. If you haven’t checked out this brother, he has an internet radio show on www.rocktheflow.com, playing similar music to what was offered at the very dope listening session for The Floacist.

Many familiar faces were in the house, enjoying the good music and vibes. Local artists such as Komplex and Ahmed The Last Born Child, CVEG CEO Lew Williams (who was also the unofficial photographer for the evening’s events), writer and sports aficionado T.J. Hightower, DMV-based independent filmmaker Toneka Abdullah, and numerous others were peppered throughout the crowd. All in all, this was a win-win situation for everyone involved. As fans, we know that Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart has created a very dope piece of artistry, and the lady of the moment realized that Baltimore is a very supportive locale for her. On November 9th, make sure you purchase a copy of Floetic Soul, showing your support for a lady keeping her “Floetic Soul” alive.

AUTHENTICITY ALBUM LISTENING PARTY AT TEAVOLVE

Written by: Wisdom

Even though my raffle ticket 938105 didn’t result in any prizes, “Gypsy Soul Presents The Sound Check Series Featuring Authenticity By The Foreign Exchange” at Teavolve was a very nice event. With music from The Foreign Exchange as the backdrop for the evening, the mood was set to preview the third release from Nicolay, Phonte, and crew. DJ Lil Mic manned the wheels of steel for the event, sponsored by Gypsy Soul in conjunction with Teavolve. Gypsy Soul definitely has its finger on the pulse of urban music in the Baltimore area, and this Thursday evening was no exception. Kayenecha Daugherty and the Gypsy Soul team are becoming quite accustomed to providing an atmosphere conducive for good music.

Authenticity, in my opinion, is the perfect soundtrack for fall. From the foliage-colored album cover to the autumn-themed musical content, the album fits like a glove during this season. DJ Lil Mic played many cuts from the current album, including “The Last Fall”, the title song “Authenticity”, and lead single “Maybe She’ll Dream Of Me”. I could tell that the Teavolve crowd was enjoying the soul vibe that permeated the air. The Foreign Exchange is the rare group in today’s musical environment that can conjure up this type of excitement just on pure musicality. I am an avid fan of the group, so I may seem a tad bit biased when discussing all things The Foreign Exchange. I loved the fact that I could vibe and discuss the album and group with others in the venue, including my wife and CVEG CEO Lewis Williams. We talked about various things relating to the album, including how it fits into the overall catalog of music for Nicolay and Phonte.

Throughout the evening, you could sense that the album was being enjoyed by the professional, progressive crowd in attendance. I didn’t sense any disappointment from anyone at Teavolve. With the album being released on October 12, 2010, you could tell that quite a few had purchased the album, including myself. The album fits nicely with the other albums from The Foreign Exchange, Connected and Leave It All Behind. DJ Lil Mic managed to play some songs from those albums as well. He even played a nice blend of Slum Village’s “Players” mixed with the a cappella from Michael Jackson’s “Butterflies”. The overall atmosphere was spirited and merry, thanks to a balance of great music and like-minded individuals in attendance.

All in all, the night was lovely! Authenticity is another gem from the musical minds of Nicolay and Phonte Coleman, and I’m pretty sure that those who attended The Sound Check Series at Teavolve are in agreement. A special thank you goes out to Gypsy Soul, Edith Williams from Diamond Digital Portraits, DJ Lil Mic, Lewis Williams and Teavolve for a beautiful evening filled with special music and good vibes.  If you haven't yet attended a Gypsy Soul event, make it a point to do so!  Stay tuned for my comprehensive review of Authenticity, by far one of the best releases for 2010.