Kimberly C. Gaines

Whenever Pharrell and Chad link up, whether music, fashion, or art something amazing is bound to be created.  But architecture?  Yea we are talking about Pharrell Williams, but he has linked up with a new Chad; Miami based architect Chad Oppenheim.

Together they developed and designed The Pharrell Williams Resource Center a 30,000 square foot, $35 million facility in Williams’s home town of Virginia Beach.  The tree house influenced design is located in a small wooded area in an otherwise over developed section of Virginia Beach. The protruding rectilinear volumes reflect the creativity and ingenuity Williams and Oppenheim hope to nurture in the children who will use this facility.

“I believe the architecture of a building says a lot about its soul and I wanted a building for the center that makes a statement to the world and the kids – something that will stand as a monument of optimism, and felt Chad was the only architect that could capture that.” said Pharrell. “We want the building to look like something out of the future, so it will inspire the kids in it to aspire to greater things.”

The PWRC will provide the youth with a safe haven to develop a creative process, while around the rest of the United States art funding is being cut at an alarming rate.  Hopefully upon its completion in 2013, the youth coming out of Virginia Beach can say there is more to do there than cook.

Here comes a nice, jazzy track from current New Zealand resident, Jane Deezy. “Venus & Mars” talks about what happens when two strangers, a man and a woman, meet and wonder if they can be more than friends. I hope that whatever happens, Jane keeps dropping dope track like this. Check out Jane Deezy’s “Venus & Mars” and you can check out here other music here.

#Discovery is a collection of hand-picked talent that best represent the world of R&B/Soul music. They are the next wave of artists to make their splash into the stream of music, and is TheNext2Shine.com‘s ongoing commitment to provide fans with fresh artistic point of views in the world of music. With over over 50K downloads on #Discovery (Volume 1) and continous support from the industry, it didn’t take long until Volume 2 was bound to be released. Discover new talent, re-discover real music.. “Every Artist was once an Amateur”. Check out #Discovery Volume 2 below and you can download it for free here.

Looking for a way to get everyone’s attention on the music scene in 2012?  All you have to do is use one word, “Festival”.  I could go on and on about what’s wrong with the year of the Festival, but the some of the gang here at The Couch Sessions decided to join in on the fun. So since “Festival” is the trending topic, we figured we’d talk about what lineup we would have grace The Couch Sessions holographic Festival stage.  Festival’s the new black…and so is our couch, so let’s waste no more time and show you our Fantasy Festival team.

John Richards, Writer, Social Studies Column

Sade - Besides the fact that I love this woman and she can do no wrong, Sade has remained relevant for almost 30 years just off the strength of her music; no reality shows or any other drama, just a classic catalog and a excellent stage show. A Sade show is an event, something you cannot miss.

Jamiroquai - This is purely selfish selection because I’ve never seen him in concert and why should all the European festivals have all the fun? I know I’m not the only one who wore out their Traveling Without Moving CD…but I’m probably the only one who tried to re-enact the “Virtual Insanity” video on an escalator.

Janelle Monae - The illegitimate daughter of James Brown and Tina Turner has an eclectic catalog and a killer stage show. It doesn’t matter if she’s playing small clubs like the Black Cat or the 9:30 Club (WDC) or in front of 10,000 people at Merriweather Post (Columbia, MD) she’s going to blow you away and dance a hole in the stage.

Chris, Writer

Daft Punk - I’m thinking one perfect act for a “holographic” Festival stage would be Daft Punk.  Their futuristic electronic sounds (Tron soundtrack anyone?) and funky spacesuit-looking outfits would be perfect for such a Couch Sessions endeavor.

Thievery Corporation - I’d probably select Thievery Corporation as my second choice.  Firstly, seeing guitar/sitar player Rob Myers perched on a platform in holographic form would blow my mind. Also, Thievery uses a lot of performers in their live performances so seeing a lot of holographic figures on stage would be visually stunning.

Public Enemy – Seeing a lot of figures on stage reminds me to select an “old school” pick, with Public Enemy.  Seeing all of those S1W guards and performers would also be pretty impressive.  A holographic performance would probably be the only way to get Terminator X back with the group as well.

Kari Elam, Writer, London, UK

The Gorillaz - The transition was present and definitive within each artist’s style. The Gorillaz are heavy hologram artists, they play off the character and animation – to see that live is an extension of their signature style, and sound: cyber-grime, a bit of acoustic 2.0, or something to that effect. Madonna is, well Madonna, she is a human robot – thus, half hologram and half fleshed out Pop Monarch. De La Soul, is, well, De La Soul: all IRL.

DJ Run P, Music Editor

Electric Wire Hustle – There are a lot of soulful groups outside of the country but few have been able to captivate the crowd at a live show this like this trio.  After inundating The Couch Sessions with some high quality Kiwi-Soul at SXSW to kickoff festival season, Electric Wire Hustle is past due for a repeat performance.

G-Side – Straight out of Huntsville Alabama, this duo has been consistently chipping away at the eardrums of people all around via Trill Hip-Hop with a dash of Southern fried Soul.  If you’re looking to really set the mood, St 2 Lettaz and Yung Clova are clutch.

Diplo – Few artists are able to traverse this musical stratosphere effortlessly, but Diplo is one of those people who will always find a way to make a way and get the job done with flying colors.  Never not injecting life into the party, Diplo would be a wonderfully energetic change of pace for a Couch Sessions Music Festival.

Winston “Stone” Ford, Owner and CEO

Kimbra – If you got a chance to see Kimbra at this year’s SXSW Music Festival, then you know that she’s hands down one of the best live performers in the game right now. The 21 year old Australian simply blows my mind with her amazing voice, use of loop pedals and sheer stage swag.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelcic  - After seeing Hall and Oates tear down the stage this month, I’m truly convinced that every concert can benefit from having an old school performer. I’ve seen George Clinton about a dozen times it seems and he always brings it 100% and plays for hours non-stop. Some of these young kids should take notes.

Calvin Harris – I’ve been a fan of the Scottish music maker Calvin Harris back in 2007 with his quirky single, “Acceptable In The 80s.” Since then, the dude has been making moves with his electro house sound, with the track “Feels So Close” charting on Billboard and his set becoming one of the surprise hits of Coachella this year.

Opening DJ: Just Blaze – When I saw Just Blaze in Toronto last year, the dude went from old school hip-hop, to electro, then back to hip-hop without breaking a sweat. He is hands down the most versatile DJ on the planet right now and a perfect compliment to the variety of music styles featured here.

America, it seems, has become obsessed with finding the next great singing sensation. Every since American Idol debuted here in the states in 2002, the proliferation of reality-based singing competitions has been incessant; The Voice, X Factor, America’s Got Talent, and brand new show Duets have all set out on the quest to find the next Whitney Houston (and, to be fair, they’ve done a pretty good job, if judging by Jennifer Hudson’s Grammy and Jordin Sparks’ Billboard Music Awards tributes to the late diva).

Click here to view the embedded video.

But what these shows don’t account for is the sheer power of stage presence, and the havoc that a dynamic performer can wreak on an audience. Early funk and soul pioneers such as Little Richard and James Brown are remembered just as much for their voices — recognized as some of the best ever, sure — as for their infectious, energetic performances, a type of full-bodied wiggle that emanated from the microphone through the soul of every member of the audience whenever they took the stage.

In the intervening years, funk and soul have been on similar roller-coaster rides of relevance, dipping in and out of the public consciousness, but though the musical form was never lost, for a while it seemed the art of the dynamic lead singer may have receded away.

Fortunately, that is no longer the case. Artists such as Sharon Jones and Nigel Hall have resurrected that firebrand-style of constant-motion-engagement, and after witnessing Vintage Trouble’s coming out party at their various SXSW shows this year, you can add VT front man Ty Taylor to that list as well.

Fronting his tight, on-point three piece ensemble, Taylor and his dapperly-dressed pals have a habit of drenching fine suits in a well-earned sweat shower that has nothing to do with the temperature outside and everything to do with the heat the band creates. Whether an evening show opening for The-Dream, indie darlings Poliça, and Lionel Richie or a noon start at a 6th Street bar, VT brought a level of hard-working professionalism mixed with unabashed fun(k) that made audiences forget what decade they were in and just surrender to the band’s flow. And while most genres have produced their own brand of the enigmatic frontman/woman, it is rarely as important and engaging as it comes across in funk/soul.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings delight audiences with coordinated dance moves and Jones’ habit of working every centimeter of the stages she graces. Nigel Hall works and caresses a microphone stand with a power that Steven Tyler wishes he could possess, and which James Brown turned into an art form. Taylor and Vintage Trouble, despite having only formed in California two years ago, are proving very quickly that they are more than worthy of joining their ranks.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Catch their debut album, The Bomb Shelter Sessions, out now, for a taste of that funk/soul/dirty blues that they’re bringing to stages around the country, and don’t you dare miss their stage show. It’s infectious.

Straight from Beijing comes music producer, SOulspeak’s new project, Sketches of Floating Lives. The instrumental album is dedicated to the dirt and beauty of a rapidly changing city (Beijing) and to all the lives of people who feel rootless in a city always in construction, demolition, and chaos. Check out SOulspeak’s Sketches of Floating Lives below and you can download it for free here.

Brunch (noun): A magnificent time of the day for delicious food and drink with amazing specials!

I’ve always walked by Tonalli Café & Bar, but never gathered up the courage to go in. However, today was the special day for me.

I walked in hoping to grab one of those fancy outdoor tables, but unfortunately, they weren’t seating anymore. Which means that I had to do takeout. Which means that I’ll need to do another review of the food in the future…which isn’t a bad thing at all.

Either way, I decided to get a basic crêpe.

Total cost of the order? Around $9.

Now, before I continue with this review, I have to warn you: I’m probably one of the few women in the world who doesn’t go crazy over chocolate. Needless to say, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, potential significant others will be in serious trouble if they don’t know this.

I could have said, “Ah, dear waitress, what is in this crêpe?” But I didn’t. Instead, I assumed that it would be a fluffy French crêpe filled with strawberries, syrup, and whipped cream goodness.

But I was wrong.

The Tonalli crêpe was filled with Nutella, bananas and blueberries. To any other human being, this would have been spectacular (I think…do chocolate lovers like Nutella?), but I was a little disappointed. (Chocolate lovers, you may now commence you hatred of me.)

And since it was takeout, the crêpe was also soggy. A soggy, chocolately crêpe that photographs quite nicely:

Dear readers! I ate this crêpe for you! I risked life and limb to go through the discomfort of chocolately non-goodness! And really, it wasn’t as terrible as I had imagined it would be (chocolate lovers, you may now begin to love me once more).

Overall, the crêpe wasn’t anything amazing, but I do plan to go back soon and do another review of the food as I’ve heard quite a few good things about the restaurant.

My review is definitely not over. Keep your eyes peeled for Part II!

Tonalli Bar & Café
3628 Broadway
Between 150th and 149th Streets
New York, NY 10031
(212) 926-0399
tonallicafebar.com

Living in NYC, we constantly convince ourselves that we’ve sacrificed space for the lifestyle. But French architects ECDM recently designed a compromise for those of us who live in mid to small sized lofts by literally suspending the bedroom from the ceiling. The design is functional and elegant as you can see with what they did with this 538 sq feet apartment. Very cool.

Photos by of ECDM Architects

Oscar award winning Director Darren Aronofsky’s films are recut into a symphony of sounds. Some of Aronofsky’s most notable films include PI, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler – all of which emphasize the coming together of the viewer’s visual and sonic senses.  As Forrest Wickman of Slate Magazine accurately analyzes: “They’re all pretty transporting”.

Dear Uncle Chuck,

You don’t mind if I call you that, do you? I mean…you are like an uncle to me in my head and I adore you like cooked food. It’s cool? Aww gee…thanks

How you doing up there? Wait…I don’t know if I am allowed to ask you that. At the same time, I bet anything is better than the pain you were feeling, yea? I’m trying my hardest not to cry right now. I did enough water shedding last week when I heard the news. I was at my desk when it came out. They had me over here working on helping people and all I could think about was how I couldn’t even help you. I was actually just talking about you too. YUP!  Telling the older ladies at work how awesome you are and how if they ever met you, they’d try to marry you. Maaaan, you could charm the hats off the church ladies and the socks off of a two year old. Haha.

Remember that time we met? I was a student at Howard University. The School of Business was having their annual fundraiser dinner and I got to sit with the big wigs. PricewaterhouseCoopers bought me a ticket to sit with their leading partners in the D.C. area and I was hecka nervous. I saw you in the hallway when I was on my way to the ballroom. You smiled at me. I smiled back. You even told me I looked nice and don’t be nervous. It was like you could just look at me and tell that I was a MESS. You remember that? All those fancy people in their expensive suits and here I was in my K&G Warehouse $20 separates that I just picked up earlier that day. I was trying to impress these folks. You told me that my smile alone would win them over. I never got a chance to tell you that it did. I got the job, Unc. They moved me to NYC and everything! You rocked the house that night though. I don’t even think I’ve ever seen Dean Harvey dance the way he did that night. You had everyone on their feet. I even I broke down my two step a little bit (couldn’t put the whole thing out…I WAS there to impress. I sure did want to though). I always imagined the day that I would meet you and we would just rock out like no one was around. That was how that moment was for me. You looked so happy up there. You and your guitar, hat tilted ever so slighty, that huge smile of yours, and in your suit that established you as the man of the evening. You were it. Haha. I know you had some of those men jeaaalloouuus–they way their women were looking at you. HAHA. In all seriousness, that one time of us meeting changed my life. You didn’t know me, but you spoke to me like you did. You made me feel comfortable. You gave me that extra boost of confidence I needed that night. I don’t even know how I could repay you for that.

I feel like I should apologize to you. I know…I know…I don’t have a reason to and blah blah blah..but can you allow me to rock out for a moment? Geesh. Haha. I feel like I owe you an apology because I didn’t cherish you like I should have. I didn’t appreciate you. Yes, I play your music frequently. I even get made fun of sometimes. Not everyone in NYC knows about you. Some do, but a few don’t. That is why I feel like I should apologize. I didn’t share you. I kept you to myself. I can be selfish like that sometimes. I can’t help it though. Now that I live up here, I feel like I try to hold on even tighter to the few things from the DMV that I love. You are one of those “things”. So I kept you to myself. I couldn’t share you. I didn’t feel like people would understand. Of course, I was clearly proven wrong when the news about you came out and my twitter timeline (yes..my twitter…I know you had one and I’m so glad that you never got fully invested in it). All I read were artists and fans from different parts of the country who expressed extreme gratitude to you for your contributions to music. I felt guilty because I didn’t realize just exactly how huge you were outside of home. I felt like you were the DMV’s best kept secret and no one outside of us would love you like we did. I was wrong. I wonder if you ever really knew how HUGE you were…well…are to folks who love music the way I do. You are a superstar.

I wish I had the opportunity to interview you. I wish I got the chance to tell you “thank you”. I was king of hoping that one day, when I made it big writing about music, that I’d be bold enough to call your people and request a meeting and they’d give me the okay. A whole bunch of should-a, could-a, would-a. That is okay. I’m going to make sure that those who don’t know about you become familiar. They are going to fall in love with you the same way I did. I promise do a little better on your behalf. In the meantime (between time), try not to party too hard with the angels up there. Dap Jesus for me and tell him I said “thank you” for sending me a gift wrapped up in you.

I miss you. I probably always will. I know you are watching over me (did you see me hit a mean dip on the train when “Chuck Baby” and “Wind Me Up, Chuck” came on? I was rocking wasn’t I? Haha).

Thanks, Uncle Chuck. May you soul rest in peace, your music live in beats, and your legacy thrive in our hearts.

Love,

Keya Maeesha

After realeasing the cover art with a reworking of the American flag as a barcode, Lupe Fiasco releases the first single off his next album, Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album. Fiasco brings his lyrical flow and political stance that his fans have known to expect. Yet he is not immune to controversy as the track samples Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s “T.R.O.Y.” and Pete is not really feeling it. Well you be the judge and check out Lupe Fiasco’s “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” below.