Mo Audio — Slo*Mo Media’s podcast all about Atlanta’s soul music and culture scene — returns with a new, longer format … featuring an interview with special guest Tasha LaRae. Plus: We’ll be spinning tons of soul sounds straight outta the ATL (and beyond). Listen up!
Atlanta-based singer Tasha LaRae
If you catch a glimpse of — or take a listen to — singer Tasha LaRae, there’s a good chance you may recognize her as a member of the famed hip-hop crew Arrested Development or as a vocal contributor to noted producer DJ Kemit’s most recent album, “Together.” But it turns out those collaborations paved the way for a project of LaRae’s very own: her debut solo EP, “Light,” which dropped in March. On the new six-track collection of original material, the Atlanta-based Nebraska native (and the entrepreneur behind the “Racism Sucks” clothing line) presents lyrics that explore a range of human experiences, and music that’s dreamy and ethereal but still danceable. We recently sat down with LaRae to talk the science of going solo and to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Light.”
Janelle Monáe: “Django Jane” + “Make Me Feel”
You probably don’t need us, the good folks at Slo*Mo, to tell you that Janelle Monáe released two new singles — the Prince-flavored “Django Jane” and “Make Me Feel,” a hook-less, boasty rap tune — in late February. But, hey, she’s one of Atlanta’s most celebrated music matriarchs (overseeing her Wondaland label/clique) and these new tracks take her into sexy, dangerous realms that she has yet to truly explore, so we had to drop a dime on ’em.
More info: www.jmonae.com.
This issue of Atlanta’s soul music and culture magazine — aka Slo*Mo — throws the spotlight on rising indie singer/songwriter Kameron Corvet, chatting with him about creating music “by any means necessary.”
Plus: We’re giving some shine to a bevy of new music by some of the top soul artists in Atlanta (and beyond) — folks like St. Beauty, Tasha LaRae and more.
Kameron Corvet
When you’re an indie artist, getting your music into the hands of fans can be a helluva feat. Case in point — Kameron Corvet: The Atlanta-based singer/musician has been releasing acclaimed pop- and rock-tinged soul music since 2006, but without the backing of a label, he’s been forced to wear a multitude of hats — artist, publicist, A&R, etc. — making the task of dropping albums extra tough.
Despite the obstacles, Corvet has steadily cranked out new sounds on a regular basis … as evidenced by his newest EP, “Early Riser,” which hit the streets Dec. 1, 2017. The album is a continuation of the guitar-driven brand of music he’s become known for, and once again, he brought the project to life via the hard work of his-own-damn-self and that of his team. We recently checked in with Corvet to get a look at the challenges of making of his latest project — from a creative and a business POV.
Tasha LaRae: “Light”
Atlanta-based singer Tasha LaRae is known by many in music circles as an acclaimed collaborator: She’s a member of the legendary Arrested Development crew, recently provided vocals for DJ Kemit’s “Together” EP, etc. But in January, LaRae is stepping into the spotlight with the release of her new solo project, “Light.” She describes the six-track EP as a “blend of soul, house and R&B music with lyrics that echo real life situations of love, loss, and living the human experience” — but we see “Light” as a fitting showcase for a talent deserving way more shine. More info: tashalarae.com/light-project.
Brenda Nicole Moorer
With summer now a (not-too-distant) memory and fall rolling in with cooler temps, we figured that it was a great time to survey the soundscape and take an inventory of some dope, locally produced music that’s been released in the past few months. Fact is, Atlanta-bred and –based artists, particularly those of the soul-flavored variety, have been busy this year, dropping tons of good stuff to listen and groove to. And to help you find the very best sounds to put in your earholes, we’ve compiled this list of 12 hometown notables with projects you need to grab. Take a look — and then take a listen.
Photo: Dejah Greene. Model: Raven Best.
The year 2017 is gonna be a big one for Slo*Mo Media. Now, that’s not some flippant prediction or straight-up boast — it’s just a fact, based on some carefully considered strategy. In other words, we ain’t bullshittin’ you.
Looking forward to next year, although we can’t reveal all our plans, we can safely say that you’ll be seeing a lot more of us: in print, on the web and in the flesh. Keep your eyes and ears peeled to all the stuff we make (the zine, the Mo Audio podcast, the website, our social media content, etc.) to stay in the loop on all of the newness and expansions.
But before we go knee-deep into 2017, we thought it would only be right to look back at the year in music — specifically the soul music that came out of Atlanta this year.
Check it out Fela Kuti fans … Slo*Mo is offering two chances to snag tickets to Spread Love’s annual celebration of all things Fela: Spread Love presents Shakara — Saturday, October 15, 2016 (featuring DJ Kemit, Rich Medina, Mausiki Scales & Common Ground Collective and many more)!
1.) WIN a pair of FREE tickets — For, Slo*Mo fans who’ve “Liked” our Facebook fan page — https://www.facebook.com/SloMoMagazine — message us your name via Facebook, and we’ll pick a winner randomly and hit you up by Thursday, Oct. 13!
… OR …
2.) Purchase a discount ticket — Go to the Spread Love website (http://spreadlove.us) and use the promo code SLOMO to get advance tickets for $15!
Go for it NOW! More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1502084450101355/
Last July, the good folks at Slo*Mo (that’s me, Carlton Hargro, and Larmarrous Shirley) rolled out our very first special issue — which we dubbed the Summer of Soul. Our goal was to highlight the people, music and events that lovers of soul music and culture should be checking out throughout the warm weather months in Atlanta.
