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Alex . Thee . Voice . Isley .

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Every once in a while you meet a voice. A voice you never thought existed. Perfect as an angels whisper, and as sweet as pure agave in a porcelain tea cup never sipped from. Alex Isley is one of the purest voices that will ever touch you ears. Blessed with synesthesia (aka color hearing  that allows her to see a color according to the musical note) this classically trained Jazz singer and graduate of UCLA’s music program paints beautiful portraits for ears like no other vocalist I have known. If her last name looks familiar then duh she’s an actually Isley as in Isley Brothers (her father is legendary guitarist Ernie Isley). With royal blood running through her veins she has a legendary voice blessed with perfect pitch tucked behind her very coy and humble aura.

 

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I believe it was January 6th 2014 when I first heard her cover/remix of James Blake’s two songs “Retrograde” (which miiight be the best song of 2013) and “Wilhelm Scream” (which is actually a cover James Blake covered of a song called “Where To Turn” by his father, James Litherland).
There are few times in your life when you hear a cover that could actually be better than thee original.
Alex actually  replayed and re arranged both songs from scratch and makes you feel every inch and lyric within both songs. “Retro / Wilhelm” actually allows you to hear how powerful the lyrics are in the original song.
Retro / Wilhelm

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/127478105″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Her cover is easily the most beautiful piece of a wav form I have heard all year (yes, it is only February, but still this is that good!). Please do share it if it moves you.

 

Alex’s most recent project  “Dreams In Analog” is all completely self written and produced and is available NOW. “For The Stars” is my favorite gem from the project. This song puts you in such a dream like place with just a touch of  euphoric to bounce it.

For The Stars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ_w6ch5Pr4

 

When I listen to music I try to close my eyes and have my own iTunes visualizer going on, when I hear an Alex Isley Isley song I visualize that it is the perfect soundtrack to human levitation. If you’ve still got the chills please do let you ears be covered in another cover of the late Amy Winehouse’s extra soulful “HeCanOnlyHoldHer”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/23295154″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

 

Alex is not without collaborations as well on her resume. I’m thankful to say she has also blessed my art with her vocals on a duet  from my most recent project “//Neon . Summer .//”

“∂eƒ sound – Fine . Line (S) feat. Alex Isley” 

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/110528297″ params=”color=f84ca4&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The harmonies carry the track to a new realm and allow a smile to dance across your face effortlessly. Whenever I hear her voice on a song it makes me think of the Radiohead song “Everything In It’s Right Place.” because it really is!

 

Channeling the pure bliss of reciprocation her song  “About Him”  is an amazing dedication that begins with her sampling a pitched up version of herself. Every line feels so honest like a love letter you wrote back in the day and asked her to “do you like me?” and she could circle yes, no, or maybe (I never put the option of maybe, I needed to know the real off top even as a 8 year old.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJNLCWZvXS4

She is a breath of the sweetest air. The brilliantly bright lyrics she lays out on “The Other Side” are something to write home, work, an ex, or even just the person who works @ Target about. She allows herself to be an instrument and play her own voice as a trumpet toward the end of this one.  

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87291001″ params=”color=00cc11&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

 

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Even if she is the daughter of a legend she is creating her own lane on her own freeway. In a world of hype,  twerking, and gimmicks she just lets her art speak volumes even if she has to whispers murals into your earlobes.

Follow her on Twitter @loveAlexIsley

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Download “Dreams in Analog” 

 

 

-∂eƒ

Brenna Whitaker: Sunday Kind Of Love

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If you are tired of the electronic dance music that is pounding through massive speakers in all the Hollywood clubs these days, you might want to switch the night that you are going out. You may also want to switch the place.Sunday Night’s at the W Lobby in Hollywood, the crowd pours in dressed to the nines. The atmosphere is sexy and charming, so is Brenna.

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all photos courtesy of BrennaWhitaker.com


Brenna’s voice is so full and powerful it is like there is a heavy-set southern gospel singer bottled up in her diaphragm. To say she has pipes would be an understatement, she is a plumber  working those pipes and making them squeal, rattle, and roar.  She has been performing since the age of 11 and  to see her comfort on stage it is no surprise. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT8-D0GuY9s&feature=youtu.be]

If you are looking for a departure from the average Hollywood experience, this is an event that you will certainly want to stop by. Drinks continue to pour and the company is of the highest caliber. It is a place where locals, celebs, and a few savy tourists can rub shoulders and dance. Brenna is Los Angeles’ very own jazz maven and she is keeping live music not only alive  but in quite good health.

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It is a different type of feeling to be in the presence of live talent. It is not so surface, and neither are the connections with the people there. It is a night of laughter and dancing and a reminder that the old Hollywood glamour is still thriving. Special guests like Steve Wonder and Michael Buble have been known to stop by and it sure to be packed after every award show. To have live music on a consisten basis in the center of Hollywood is a special thing and is made even more so by a special woman.

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Instead of getting waking up from Saturday night with a long list of regrets check our Brenna on Sundays at The W. Guys, try ditching those whiskered jeans and put on some slacks. Ladies, here is a great excuse to pull out that sequin dress you’ve been saving.

Don’t be afraid to dress up, you deserve it.

Brenna Whitaker

The W Hotel

6250 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

ports

The Ports: Alien Investors

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I had first heard of Kelly and Holly Port as “the cool older couple that is not lame” via Def Sound about two years ago. He hailed them as a fine example of how to grow up and not grow old. Kelly Port is a special effects manager for big block buster movies, Holly Gable Port is a children’s portrait photographer. They also happen to moonlight as music video directors for the likes of J*Davey, Joya Mooi, Novena Carmel, and most recently bass prodigy, Thundercat.

They are spending their time and resources feeding a culture of which they are not natives and receive no quantifiable benefit from participating in. That is to say, they are not mining for talent. You might wonder how a middle aged Culver City skateboard mom and dad ended up in the petri dish that makes up Los Angeles’  urban alternative music scene. They are aliens from another world, and it’s no surprise that they were jettisoned here on a ship called Facebook.

Holly says, “Def Sound was my first Facebook friend. I plugged in all this obscure music information for search by interests and I messaged him. He shared his music with me I loved it. It all sort of snowballed from there.”

Holly has shot Bilal, Quadron, Nikko Gray, Van Hunt, Amber Ojeda and others, you find her crouched in below a stage monitor at live shows or popping up from the croud like a meerkat.

Holly grew up in Santa Barbara,  in the 80’s, which is a far cry from central Los Angeles in a cultural context . She was listening to Sex Pistols and David Bowie in high school. “I heard De La Soul in college  and ‘The Magic Number’ changed my life. It opened a door to a whole new life. I was hooked… When Pharcyde came out they became my favorite hip hop act, and still are today.”

Mrs. Port is definitely the propeller in the duo, she is embedded in the scene and reaches out to artists but most of the collaborations seem to come about organically. Kelly is on the technical side of things mellow, always welcoming, warm and inviting as well. They make a great pair.

What intrigues me is that they are not harvesting talent for their own personal gain or even making any money off of the projects, conversely it is not a charity gig either. There seems to be  asymbiotic relationship between The Ports and the artists they work with, both getting equal value out of the projects.

Holly shares, “I do this for the love of it all, I think it might detract from it if we pursued profits… I was just so grateful Def [Sound] was open to letting me hang out and take photos and trusted us with his first video.”

She told me it feels like home, which you might think is odd because home is so different. Holly is one of the few moms dropping off their kids to their japanese school and bumping hip hop on the way, when we speak it is sometimes apparent. We have to compromise on the culture references we use because of age and background but I still feel what she is communicating. “I think we are all aliens, and that is what brings us together, why we all get along.”, Holly explains.

The Ports are not without their goals, Kelly would love to do a video with Little Dragon, and Holly has her sights on working with Erykah Badu.

Holly credits her music education to KCRW’s Garth Trinidad and as she comes into  an understanding of this culture, she is no longer and alien, and more of naturalized citizen.

THE PORTS

Website

Facebook

Here is the latest from Thundercat in collaboration with The Ports, Austin Winchell, Adam Tillman- Young and a star-studded cast.

 ENJOI

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qGigIMM1Vw&w=853&h=480]

loose change cover

Music: Loose Change Vol. VI Presented by Def Sound

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One of the most eclectic people I know, and my personal music appreciation tutor, Def Sound proudly presents Loose Change Volume SIX.

[Download]

As you listen to the music,feel free to learn a little about the artwork.

Def Sound’s Loose Change mixes have fed so many of my photo shoots and gatherings I felt compelled to give back a little and I asked if he wouldn’t mind collaborating on this project and we came to the idea that I might be able to provide a visual to accompany the mix a.k.a. the coverart.

I thought it would be great to do Def’s face in coins and that was the initial idea. I hadn’t realized I only had 24 hours to finish the job.
The night I was supposed to finish I almost gave up on the idea because i couldn’t get my head around it but I called up Mr. Sound and he was really passionate about the idea. I knew I didn’t want to let him down.

I dug in my pocket and literally pulled out the all loose change I had. It was a little over a dollar in quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies these coins ended up making one of the draft covers.
Below are a few of the images that inevitably led to the final art which you see at the top of the page.

I had almost given up completly on the idea of the face but ofcourse I was listening to the wrong music for creating the art. As soon as I put on LC vol. 6 I finished the art and sent Def the final version.

It is a true MIX  meaning that is thought out selection of vibes designed to make you feel good, and you will.

 

Happy Holidays Citizens

 

 

Tracklist:

Loose Change Vol.6:My.Presence.Is.A.Gift.

My.Presence.Is.A.Gift

X Mas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio

You Could Easily Have Me by Metronomy

I Got Bass by Busta Rhymes

Scars by Basement Jaxx

Bright Lights Bigger City by Cee-Lo Green

You Know My Style by Nas

I’m Loaded by Droop-E

Cher Chez La Ghost by Ghostface

All Talk by Kid CuDi

Don’t Stop by CRS

End of Your World (Mama’s Back) by J*Davey

My Step by LittleDragon

Still Sound by  Toro Y Moi

The Drifters by Mike Nova

The Snooze By RC

Shiny Suit Theory by Jay Eltronica, Jay-z and The Dream

Xmas in Harlem By Kanye West and a bunch of people

Luchini by Camp Lo

Shrimp by Mr. Scruff

Just Being Myself by Dionne Warwick

Help Yourself by Amy Winehouse

AM/FM by !!! (Pronounced chic! chic! chic!)

SlnGBNGrs! by Blu

Goal/Wide by Javelin

SLR by Lupe Faisco

Piece of Mind by Linkwood

Time 2 get it togetherby Marvin Gaye

Just Dreamin’ by Richard Wright & Belvi feat. Def Sound

Blow Your Head Up by Chase N Cash

Galaxy in Janaki by Flying Lotus

She Lives In My Lap by Andre 3000

SunGoesUp by Nikko Gray feat. Def Sound

Little Suzie by Kelis

Flippers by Art Vs. Science

? by Andre 3000

phd (peace.hope.dope.) by Miss Jack*Davey

It Takes A Muscle by MIA

In The Muzik by Ebony Bones!

C Town by Javelin

Whatever ROUGH by Def Sound & Joya Mooi

Yank My Chain by Tanya Auclair

I SAid by Full Crate & Mar

Letters.2.My.Self. by Def Sound

Enjoy

&

Pass it as a present 2 friend

-Def