VIBRASONIC FREQUENCIES

NOW MAGAZINE: “THE NIGHT’S HIGHLIGHT…HORN PLAYER OCTAVIO SANTOS…”

I’m gonna toot my horn here just because…well…I think it’s really awesome that NOW Magazine gave me props on what I did Thursday night (well really rolled onto Friday mornin’) at Wrongbar. Thank you, thank you!

What was the plan?

No plan.

Improv.

Pretty much.

Aside from the fact that Elaquent and I, the mornin’ of (NOTE: WE HAD NEVER MET IN PERSON UNTIL THAT GIG…AND WE HAD NEVER SPOKEN OVER THE PHONE UNTIL THAT DAY…jokes too might I add) had a little Tweet happenin’ on what was gonna happen more or less.

I had an idea.

I told eQ, let’s do somethin’ that…

a) That’ll make the crowd go OH SNAP!

b) I’ve never done before (nor has he).

I pretty much got him to switch up his set and add a little MIDI keyboard on the side.

Mildly planned was “Grey Poupon” (LOL @ the e-mails we had back and forth hours before the show…whatchu rub out…no…add that…3rd’s a charm, haha!) the lead single we collabed on and with “Dutch Canadian”, I wrote a really quick horn arrangement on it 3 hours before I landed in Toronto on my not so expected small receipt bill in regards to music purchases at Play De Record. Yo, I rack.

I like to wow people…that’s just me. No scandals. If I have done it to you, I’ve done my job.

I’m really not on some ostentatious shit like I’m a peacock flashin’ my plumage around…but I’m an artist. I’m a musician. I’m creative. I want to entertain. I’m full of energy despite not being a Red Bull (shit’s bad for you) or coffee drinker…just internal adrenaline…no I’m not hyper and ADHD (I did my studies in my undergrad on this) is not an issue. That’s just me.

So…this was experimental…

My plan…

Horns…live for sure, that was already agreed upon. However…I would beatbox, vocal scratch and manipulate my vocals like a sample while eQ works the MIDI keyboard with bass and synths.

Sounds like fun, eh?

50/50 it would turn out aight.

We had never done this before.

NEVER…EVER.

HEY! IT WORKED!!!!

Phew.

Jesse of ManifesTO was in the house to oversee what the hubbub was about and I’m glad I was able to show him that I can be of somewhat of a presence on stage. He did blog about us. Hey…you might see myself, eQ and Sunclef (Have you heard “Ists of The Isms”? SHIT BLAAAAOWS MY MIZZIND) on another stage sooner than not…and perhaps will see us on a ManifesTO stage (?!). Jesse kinda gave me the nod after that show. Hope it happens!

That’ll be a good look!

Oh…the article? READ HERE!

HAHAHA @ “clambered”!!! Yup…this is very accurate…when eQ called me up to the stage and was wildin’ out…it was kinda dark in the back of the stage and there were some wires and a big amp there too that I had to avoid. But me…it was bein’ free spirited…I didn’t have a care in the world. I was about to go on and about to do my thing. No one could that take away from me cuz hey…I live for the stage!

When things like this happen, it just tells me to not lose sight of what I want to do. I have so many things planned and like I said it in my last typed post…I have a promising project in the works that makes me want to drop everything I’m doing at the moment just because it needs to happen. I think the person wants it just as much as I do for it to happen…maybe I’m more enthused for it than she is. I can’t keep watchin’ the YouTube videos (and not to say they’re bad)…I’ve just played it over and over again and havin’ it on my iPod is just…well…lovely and all…but…there needs to be more of her.

Shouts to the new faces that introduced themselves to me that night and familiar faces that I’m glad were there.

I hope you’ve copped your copy of “The Scenic Route“…I’ve got my copies…unopened records, LOL. Yes, yes!!! I’m about to frame mine after this post signed by eQ! =)

P.S. I’m goin’ holy bajeebus the fact that “Grey Poupon” has gotten over 30,000 hits!!!! I wish I could use those hits as some sort of donation deal to a charity. It’s like for every hit, 50 cents or more would go to *insert name of charity here*.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

elaquenteq:

NEW ALBUM “THE SCENIC ROUTE” COMES OUT MARCH 28TH ON DIGITAL/VINYL

STILLMUZIK

Swanky says: Yeah…I’m on this =)

I’M PUTTING ASIDE SOME PROJECTS OF MINE TO WORK ON WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A PROMISING ONE…

…gonna have to turtle the rest unfortunately.

I’ve made my calls and I’ve gotten my share of “hell yeah”s. I’ve gotten those too from people I just happened to share what I believe to be somethin’ good.

Here’s to a vision and hoping for lots of great things to come.

P.S. Uhhh…any collaborations I’ve said yes to will happen. Maybe slow at it, LOL. But word is bond. I’m talkin’ about my own personal projects and my album. Stay tuned.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

I think this is GREAT!!! Ears are listenin’!! Check out this vocalist from Italy who laced the “Grey Poupon” joint with her vocals. I’m happy with this!!

-===-

This time there’s a different one, I took ‘Grey Poupon’ by my bro Elaquent ft. Octavio Santos on the brass, and the song is Alicia Keys’ ‘Girlfriend’ obviously.

Support eQ and buy ‘The Scenic Route’ people! http://stillmuzik.bandcamp.com/album/the-scenic-route

FEATURED ON EARMILK.COM?

I didn’t think this was a great deal.

Apparently it’s a good look.

Elaquent posts on my Facebook “u gettin famous bruh”.

Nuh uh…you’re famous. I just happened to be tagged along cuz I featured on your joint.

One of my co-workers said that it was pretty good to be on here and that’s how he discovered Chidlish Gambino.

Oh word?

I haven’t paid attention to this site.

I’m mostly an avid browser of Okayplayer.com.

That’s cool though.

I’m grateful. Very.

My name seems to have gotten a small buzz. I’ve been workin’ hard. Glad the hustle is payin’ off. I still think I’ve done nothin’, LOL. I need to do more.

Oh, what’s the article?

HERE.

It would make sense to post this pic after sayin’ all this blah, blah, blah…yeah.

I said I’d blog, but I’ve been busy…so busy.

My name seems to be circulating a bit…and next thing you know, I’m being called to do horn arrangements for people.

CHING CHING! LOL.

I’m tryna get a high profile person to do arrangements for…we’ll see if it pops…

So…yeah, I haven’t been on the Tumblr. Not like anyone cares ANYWAY, LOL.

Yes..I said I’d blog here.

I’ll let the pics do the talkin’…went to go see the Van Hunt concert (openers Tanika Charles and The Wonderfuls and Vintage Trouble - VT is some bad motherfuckers!) on March 24, 2012 with Elaine (she dipped after to see Ali Shaheed of ATCQ DJ…good to see some of the Wonderfuls members once again…Mike and Keisha) and then the Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy on March 31, 2012 with co-workers. I didn’t realize the tickets I got for everyone was 3 rows from the front!!! I got to meet Chicago native, Grammy Award-winning conductor, composer and record producer Arnie Roth and the music behind it all…Japanese video game composer Nobuo Uematsu.

It’s the first time I’ve seen a symphony orchestra go down…damn. Now I definitely wanna see Miguel Atwood-Ferguson in action!!! Oh…don’t know who he is?

Long live Dilla.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

I never gave this a proper Tumblr intro.

Womp, womp, womp.

LOL.

Uh…I said this.

-=====-

To my hip hop heads,

Here’s a track to serve up to your eardrums called “Textsperate” which utilizes Hezekiah featuring D.R.E.S Tha Beatnik’s “Cornbread” (watch the studio session) instrumental produced by Steve McKie and The Street Orchestra that Hez gave out to his DJ homies. The original is off of his LP entitled “Conscious Porn” out of Soulspazm Records.

FYI: 3Crates & Raw Koncept are excited to announce a Johnny Popcorn album entitled “The Crow” and will be available on March 20, 2012.

Lead vocalist and songwriter Hezekiah is no stranger to the music industry with 3 full length solo albums as a hip hop artist. He felt like he was neglecting his Southern funk/rock upbringing passed down by his parents from Kentucky and North Carolina.

Bass guitarist and all around producer Tony Whitfield would aid Armstrong on his punk/rock/funk/soul assault with a diverse spark of rawness and sound, the act needed for progress. Together they are JOHNNY POPCORN!!!!

It features their newest single “Hello To The Bad Guy” and “Next Episode” (its puppet-filled music video directed by Joshua Coyne is the first place winner at FirstGlance Philly 2010).

“Textsperate” was birthed out of a homegirl who confides in me with her life situations and problems. This one was an intriguing case because it was about a persistent stalker who wouldn’t get off her back with the amount of things he did. I told her that I know I keep everything confidential, but this one needs to come out in rhyme and asked if I could weave the story in the joint. She gave me her blessing and was totally laughin’ on the way to the studio. I love having laid out raw materials to work with. I coined the term “Textsperate” from the fact that the dude stalking seems to be a desperate texter. Aren’t I clever? With the stories she told me, I displayed it in 32 bars and then sent it to Hezekiah’s inbox just to tell him, “Eyo, I did somethin’ on this for fun! (…and this shit is messed!)”. He got a laugh out of it, LOL.

I’m pretty sure you will get a laugh out it too. But for those real hardcore stalkers out there who have intent to do harm…that’s no laughin’ matter. I suggest you seek help if you’re a victim cuz that ain’t cool.

Pass it on and give someone a laugh…and perhaps a raised eyebrow or two.

DOWNLOAD THE PACKAGE INCLUDING LINER NOTES + DIRTY/CLEAN VERSIONS + ACAPPELLAS HERE:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?bfcehb40e8kr8ie

Much love and Reese’s peace,

Swanky

Swanky - Textsperate

[O. Santos, A. Lett, S. Mckie, H. Davis III, A. McKnight]
Produced by Steve McKie and The Street Orchestra
Rap vocals by Swanky
Vocals recorded by Octavio Santos @ The Groove Cafeteria, Mississauga, ON.
Mixed by Anthony Vidal @ Vidal Recording Studios, Mississauga, ON.
Additional mixing by Octavio Santos @ The Groove Cafeteria, Mississauga, ON.

Uses instrumental Cornbread performed by Hezekiah and D.R.E.S. Tha Beatnik (Soulspazm - 2010)
Produced by Steve McKie and The Street Orchestra
Recorded and mixed in My Damn Room
A. Lett (BMI). S. McKie (ASCAP). H. Davis III – The Crates of Porn (BMI). A. McKnight (ASCAP)

I can get creative nutritionally too ya know…not just musically.

You can hire me for parties now…I’ll make your spread look bomb.

Thank you Sy! =)

Thanks for reachin’ out Van!

I had such a great night last night at the Van Hunt concert…I’ll talk more about my day #2 of CMW…well no, my ENTIRE SATURDAY afterwards. I’m exhausted from all the musical craziness. But if you know don’t know who Van Hunt is..well, shit…watch:

Day #1: 22/03/12 - Canadian Music Fest @ The Garrison w/ Orijin, Mighty Rhino, Matthew Johnston, 88 Days of Fortune, THE SLAKADELIQS and Kids & Explosions.

Pic above L-R: Shad, Justin Nozuka, Slakah The Beatchild MasterCard authorizations.

Let’s just say the line up was amazing!!!! Sound set up at The Garrison though was extremely hiccupped left, right and centre. It didn’t do justice to some of the performers even though they’ve fully capable of wreckin’ business.

It was a plan for Elaine and I to go see yet another concert. A text from her if I was gonna see The Slakadeliqs live and I said I already had my ticket to see my boy Slakah. Followed by, “Ok, I’m gonna get my ticket too!“…awesome!

The Mighty Rhino is just unbelievably CRAZY!!! HIS ENERGY IS THAT OF A RHINO’S CHARGE!!!! CHECK HIS SHIT HERE!!!

Ryan de Rushe was the first to approach me…Scott Ramirez’s DJ. Scott came through after. Drummer Da-Rell Clifton (the remix we have to finish) recognized me from behind, LOL!!! He was giggin’ with Matthew Johnston. Drummer Davey Adjei recognized me as well…oh man…high school reunion (though he’s 3 grades below me or 4?). KJ was performin’ and when he saw me, dude be like, “OH SHIT!“…hahaha!!! Been awhile!

I finally met vocalist Keisha Cameron, recognized me from behind too, LOL!!!! Facebook friends for some time…and now, in person! LOL! Yes!!

When Elaine finally reached, she had texted me in advance that she was kinda havin’ a bad day so she was lookin’ forward to this concert. Well, I thought I had to try and brighten up someone’s rest of the night. Right thing to do right?

When Slakah went on stage for set up, I signaled him that we gotta talk after the show. I needed answers for things, LOL!

The sound…man…The Garrison just couldn’t do The Slakadeliqs justice.

Shad (host of the event, but performed for Slaks), King Reign, Maya Chilton and Justin Nozuka all popped up as features.

By the end of the night, when they performed “Love Controls The Sun”, I knew that it would be one of the best tracks of the night…summery and mellow. I told Elaine it would be and I was right. Best closing song.

When I reached out to Slaks backstage, we spoke about past music stuff and I also asked him to sign my copy of “The Other Side of Tomorrow” made out to Elaine saying “Smile even during bad days” (The brighten up your night aspect, n’est pas? Thanks Slaks!) and also to sign me just a plain one. They were CD-Rs cuz they were only digitally released. I got Justin to sign it and he recognized me from a past event I did and we talked for a bit. Slaks was talkin’ with Glenn Lewis and I was like, “Oh shit, it’s Glenn!”.

He asked my name and he said, “DAMN, I LOVE THAT NAME! I THINK I’M DEFINITELY GONNA NAME MY KID THAT“…more or less those words. DOPE!!! Slaks’ girl tweets me and says to tell Slaks that they’ll name their son that too cuz it sounds like a “CONQUER THE WORLD” name…hahaha!!! Awesome!!! There was Twitter confusion cuz she was tweetin’ me through Slakah’s account and I’m like…wait…me tell Slaks…but you are Slaks…haha!!! Nice to Twitterly meet her! I didn’t know he had a girl…I told her no wonder he’s always inspired =)

Shad inked it too and he was lookin’ at me funny at first…I told him, “It was digital only remember? It was free and I still paid for it, I swear!“…hahaha!!!!

It was a great night seeing new faces, old faces and of course goin’ to concerts with Elaine is always a treat.

I’m goin’ for another day…Van Hunt tomorrow at The Great Hall! Keisha will be singin’ back up for the opener which is Tanika Charles and The Wonderfuls. Elaine’s tossin’ up to see Van Hunt with me for a quick check or see A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad DJ at Cheval (Uhhh…watch Van Hunt with me!). If anybody else is goin’…I’ll see you there!!!

“ Which of my favourite Toronto musicians *don’t* you know?

— Cameron (the dude who approached me at The Rex during the Snarky Puppy concert recognizing the “J Dilla Changed My Life” shirt from back in October…good memory kiddo!)