Jermaine and Saint O

/in , , /by

Today we’re talking with Jermaine St. Omer who is the bandleader for “Jermaine and Saint O”. The Band plays a special brand of Jazz known as “Afro Caribbean Jazz”, where they include a steel pan to give the music a very distinct island sound.

Tony Coke: Where are you from and how long have you been making music?

Jermaine: I am originally from the Caribbean island of St.Lucia,but have made Canada my home for a number of years.I have been exposed to music since the age of 17 ,playing with the renowned Tru-Tones on the island of St.Lucia.

Tony Coke: What are you currently promoting?

Jermaine: We are currently promoting our participation in a band competition hosted by Landmark Events, in hopes of scoring a recording contract with a major label. We have just been confirmed to move on to the finals on January 16/2016.

Tony Coke: Awesome! Congratulations! That’s very interesting, how does that work?

Jermaine: Whats interesting is that we get to showcase our talent to a host of industry professionals including record company executives, publicists, managers, producers etc., who wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see us on the festival circuit.

Tony Coke: Very cool, so is your goal just to get a record deal?

Jermaine: Our current musical goals are to take our show to the international market, where we can share our love for our musical genre, “Afro Caribbean Jazz”. The sky is the limit in our pursuit of the musical dream, to be recognized and respected as music professionals.

Tony Coke: I love it, what’s are you guys working on next?

Jermaine: We are currently working with our marketing team, web designer, videographer and media consultant to launch our band Jermaine and SAINT “O” for the 2016 jazz season both locally and internationally.

Tony Coke: Great, great. That sounds like a really cool genre and circuit to be on with opportunities around the world. Best of luck to you guys!

Stay up to date with Jermaine and Saint O on their website or Facebook page.

Website: http://saintocaribbeanjazz.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintomusic/

300x200_jermaine

Privazy Album Release

/in , , /by

I’m back again with Privazy, an artists who actually does what he says! After teasing a single with us, his album ‘Grey Habits’ is now out… on time! That’s pretty hard to do, there are so many things that can go wrong.

Tony Coke: What were the biggest challenges in getting this album done, and done on time?

Privazy: Before we get started man I just want to say I appreciate you for having me. Every bit of help is a stepping stone to helping me reach my dreams. But one of the biggest challenges of making this project was deciding which songs to place on it, and the exact track order. To me: the rollout is everything. How the consumers experience the product determines that special connection between the listeners and the artist. Timing wasn’t too big of a problem because I always plan to the worst case scenario. I try to record more than enough material, not only for you guys but for me; I really enjoy my own music.

Tony Coke: Walk us through the process of how you and Oliver North put a track together.

Privazy: So me and Oliver pretty much had the blueprint of this project laid down 4 months ago (That’s how long it took to piece it together). What we were aiming to do was give every song it’s own special moment & feeling. Just based off of how technology has changed the music industry and how people listen, I’m completely aware every person who clicks my music isn’t going to fall in love with EVERY song. That’s part of the reason it’s only 8 tracks long. So our objective was to make every song so different conceptually, that whatever the favorite song was, they could continuously play it back without feeling bored of it. Every song should have its own feeling or visually present something different over & over.

Tony Coke: Very cool. Is this a Soundcloud only release? Or can people purchase it else where?

Privazy: The easiest way for people to find it is www.privazymusic.com: but yes the main host of the project is Soundcloud and it can also be found on Audiomack. We don’t have it on iTunes just yet because it’s such a long process with the samples & paperwork but in time it’ll be listed on there as well.

Tony Coke: Why did you put this release together?

Privazy: The sole reason Oliver, Devin (Publicist), Zook (Visual Director) & I put this project together is to display diversity. I don’t like labels. I don’t like categories. We wanted to create music that no one would be able to put into a box. I look at my music as art, literally. Sounds cheesy, but I take it serious. You can tell me I’m good, you could tell me I’m bad, my response to you would be, “Compared to who”? Why is music the only art form we have to judge so harshly? When people go to an art gallery do you think they compare paintings from an artist to their previous work?

We want to change the way people think & experience music. It should be all about the sounds and pictures it creates for you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so to be completely honest, I don’t care who doesn’t like my music. All I care about is the people who like it. If I have one supporter, or millions, I’ll still feel the same way about my craft.

That’s the reason I don’t publicly display my view count, likes or whatever ridiculous stats that are out there. I have songs that have 20 thousand views and I have some that are at 500 views, does that determine the greatness of the song? Why do we judge artists based on their popularity and not their actual work? It pains me because a lot of my friends that are artists who make great material, they just don’t have the exposure. It shouldn’t be about anything other than the music that forms your opinion at the end of the day. Well, at least that’s how I see it.

Tony Coke: What’s up now that it’s out? How will you market it? What are your goals for the release? Are you already planning another?Privazy Light

Privazy: Now that it’s released, I just have to keep believing in my team and let them do the great job I know they can do exposing it to as many people as possible. All I focus on is the music and creating the best music I can create. I have to let it live it’s life on its own and let it grow; along with me as an artist.

And yes, I’ve already started on my next project. I’m not moving my focus from ‘Gray Habits’, I’m just simply working to perfect my craft simultaneously. This is only the beginning, I hope everyone is as excited as I am for my next release. I’m going to work my ass off on it to make it be able to stand great alone without comparisons to ‘Gray Habits’.

Tony Coke: Great, I for one am looking forward to it, and good luck with the release of ‘Grey Habits’.

Give ‘Grey Habits’ a listen at www.privazymusic.com.

Kid J Interview

/in , , /by

Going against the grain is the best way to be heard. Kid J is a Christian Hip Hop artist from Cali, which certainly sets him apart from the typical persona portrayed by rappers today.

Tony Coke: Are you a Christian that found rap, or a rapper that found Christianity?
Kid J: Actually Tony, I was raised to know God but never had a personal relationship with God and was not saved till I was 14 when I started Christian rap. So I guess I found them together. Which is how I knew that’s what God wanted me to do.

Tony Coke: On your track, “Livin My Life”, there is some looped guitar. Do you play guitar as well? Where did you lay down that track?

Kid J: Actually I can’t play any instruments I can only rap ha! Pariecee McGriff out of 777 studios produced the beat. Very talented producer.

Tony Coke: Where are you located and what is the music scene like there?

Kid J: I’m located in small town Tehachapi California the music scene is filled with hiding artists but I’m the only Christian artist here.

Tony Coke: I hear you have a big show coming up, give us the down low on that.

Kid J: Yes I do, I have a few shows coming up. But the big one is November sometime not decided yet, but it will be with a good friend M.A.D (Bruce yokley) and other good names. But the word is Stevie Stone (tech9s last featuring artist) will be main eventing. My first shows huge! Gods blessing me.

kidj
Tony Coke: What’s on Kid J’s agenda for the rest of 2015 and how can people connect with you?

Kid J: I’ll be touring California doing shows. I’ve got more songs coming out soon. Just gotta stick to God always. You can connect with me through my Facebook page, kidjentertainment.

Tony Coke: Good talking to you, best of luck!

Kid J: Thanks God bless.

Facebook: Kid J Entertainment
Instagram: Kid J Entertainment

Wes Kardigan

/in /by

wes_at_def_jamI talk with a lot of talented, up and coming musicians, but it’s a real pleasure when I get to sit down with someone who has been in the industry as long as I have. Wes Kardigan is a Hip Hop “everything”, out of Chicago. He can write, he can produce, he can record…

Tony Coke: You’ve been at it a while and have a long list of accomplishments to your credit. What are you most proud of in your music career?

Wes Kardigan: The ability to say that after all of this time and money put into this, I still have the faith, talent and hunger to go even harder at working towards achieving my goals and getting my dreams out. #PushingForward

Tony Coke: That’s very humble of you! What projects do you have in the fire right now?

Wes Kardigan: By the time this interview is published, I will be pushing my new single, “HUSTLE”, which I also produced, and will be available on iTunes and all other major music digital outlets. #Progression

Tony Coke: Great! Can’t wait to hear it, pass it on over to me. I heard you recently went to New York to meet with Def Jam Records? What’s the story there?

Wes Kardigan: The meeting itself came about as part of this event called The Major Record Label Showcase (New York Edition). During this event, artists from Chicago traveled to NY for an opportunity to meet with A&R’s from such companies as Def Jam, Atlantic, and RocNation. I was blessed with the chance to sit down and talk with Polo from Def Jam. He listened to, and liked, “Ah Yeah”, while checking out my write-up in the 2015 “ARTISTS TO WATCH” section of the “FRESHMEN CLASS ISSUE” of the XXL MAGAZINE (PAGE 69). From there, he gave me some advice about what he would like to hear more from me as an artist in order to:

  1. Make him a fan of my music, even more, 1st and foremost.
  2. Increase my chances of creating a bigger buzz, which in turn, increases my chances of getting signed.

Although I traveled with about 6 other acts, I was the only one that got to perform live for Polo in his office. Definitely a memorable experience for myself. #2ThumbsUp

Tony Coke: I really like the beats behind your tracks, especially on “Someday” and “Ah yeah”. They have a lot of diverse instruments and sound. Do you do all your own beats?

Wes Kardigan: First off, thank you. It means a lot to know that people are feeling my style of production. Hopefully, I can continue that trend with “HUSTLE”, which is available on iTunes and all other major music digital outlets. Yes, I do make all of my own beats. For that, I thank my god-brother, Byron Norfleet, for teaching me how to make tracks. However, even though I am meticulous when it comes to production, I am open to hopping on other producers’ beats. #DualThreat

Tony Coke: You’ve worked with a lot of great people… who’s the biggest dick, and who’s the most professional people you have worked with?

Wes Kardigan: Well as far as the biggest jerk, lolbvs, I’m not going to waste my breath giving anybody with that kind of aura/label any type of publicity, time or shine. I stay focused on the positive things because I have a lot to be positive about. Showcase (Founder of H3 Ent.), Boaz McGee (CEO of GoSity Ent.) and Kitt Addison (Owner of PipeDown Productions/Recording Studios) have been some of the most professional people that I’ve worked with and those brothers know how much I appreciate them. #Salute

Wes_Kardigan

Tony Coke: What’s on the horizon for Wes Kardigan and what’s the best way for people to join your clan and keep up with you?

Wes Kardigan: More music, more traveling, more networking, and more interacting with potential fans. Follow me on instagram, twitter and TSU, go like my music Facebook page and check out my music on Soundcloud and Reverbnation.
In conclusion, I would like to say peace and blessings to everyone involved in making this interview possible as well as a big thank you to you “The Readers”.
Support real hip-hop ladies and gents and go purchase “AH YEAH (SHE NEEDS ME)” and “HUSTLE” available on iTunes and all other major music digital outlets. #OneLove

Tony Coke: Thanks Wes, best of luck and I look forward to hearing the new tracks.