Donna Mitchell

Donna Mitchell

LA | ATL
Saturday, 11 March 2017 18:31

Top 6: The Internet Singles You Should Know

The Internet recently paid a visit to Center Stage in Atlanta on March 2nd and 3rd, so we at IdOMUSIC want to tell you a little about the Grammy-nominated R&B band in case you aren’t familiar. They are definitely ones to watch, so here is a list of what we believe to be the Top 6 songs from their discography, along with a little background on the young artists.

  1. Girl feat. Kaytranada - Ego Death
  2. Dontcha - Feel Good
  3. Cocaine - Purple Naked Ladies
  4. Get Away - Ego Death
  5. Gabby feat. Janelle Monae - Ego Death
  6. The Garden - Purple Naked Ladies

Originating in LA, the band was formed by Odd Future members Syd (vocals) and Matt Martians (keyboards/vocals) in 2011. Since then, they have released three studio albums and three EPs. Ego Death, their most notable work to date, was nominated for a Grammy in 2016. Their music follows an alternative route to R&B music, combining hip-hop and electronic sounds.

In a 2016 interview with Hot 97, the group credits Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) and fellow artist Tyler the Creator for opening doors and normalizing a different sound.  This allows audiences to be more receptive to their style of music. They group themselves with artists like Anderson .Paak or Thundercat, who both have a contemporary R&B sound with heavy jazz influences.

Syd spoke on the band’s first two albums saying their debut work, Purple Naked Ladies, had it’s own sound and their second release, Feel Good, was “too chill.” A testament to trial and error, Ego Death perfects their sound, finding the perfect mix of classic soul and the new-age rhythm and blues that borders on experimental. 

The band definitely has a following, with a decent number of fans who have been with them from the beginning, but also a large number of people who, upon hearing “Girl,” started to pay more attention. They are set to release their next album in Spring. Three of the group’s members, Syd, Matt Martians, and Steve Lacy, have released solo projects leading up to their next collaborative work.

Matt Martians, the groups keyboardist and vocalist releasedThe Drum Chord Theory on January 27th.  The album features 12 tracks of experimental hip-hop heavy in live instrumentation. His work caters more to an unconventional group, “Alotta Women/ Useless (feat. Kari Faux)” is my favorite track.

Martian’s solo work was followed by Syd’s Fin on February 3rd. Her work features 12 tracks of classic R&B vocals, reminiscent of Aaliyah, and her lyrics exude sensuality and maturity. “Body” and “All About Me” are my personal favorites.

Steve Lacy’s Demo is the solo release from the band’s guitarist Steve Lacy. His project, released on February 24th, features 6 songs with only a 15 minute duration. Be sure to listen to the whole demo, but “Ryd” is a personal favorite.   

In an interview for Pharrell’s OTHERtone Podcast, the group noted that their solo projects will only help them as a whole, rather than dividing them. The albums allow you to get to know 3 out of 5 of the band’s members as individuals. It allows you to understand what they each contribute in order to find their sound as a whole. They are strong alone which only makes their collaborative efforts that much stronger. Be on the look out for their next release Spring of this year and take a listen to some of their earlier works to see just how far they’ve come.

Friday, 17 February 2017 12:48

Ms. Lauryn Hill Did It First

Love was in the air, along with clouds of smoke, at the Lauryn Hill Concert on Tuesday. Her visit, one of many on her “Diaspora Calling” tour took place at the Tabernacle and just so happened to fall on Valentine’s Day. It provided a perfect opportunity for couples to grab a drink and snuggle up in their seats as they awaited Ms. Hill’s arrival.

Saturday, 04 February 2017 18:53

Album Review: Big Sean - I Decided

Coming off the early release of singles “Bounce Back,” “Moves,” and “Halfway Off the Balcony,” rapper Big Sean delivers in his fourth studio album I Decided.

I Decided. is Big Sean’s love letter to himself featuring his past and present self on the cover. He decided that he is the best rapper and proves himself with his hard hitting verbiage. Big Sean has come a long way from Finally Famous. For this album he worked heavily with up and coming producer and keyboardist Amaire Johnson, which provides a consistency and fluidity with each track. You can hear the Kanye West influence in tracks “Bounce Back” and “Sunday Morning Jetpack.”

Tuesday, 27 December 2016 18:14

Artists to Watch 2017

As the 2016 year comes to an end, a new legion of artist are pushing to the front with singles and EPs that seem promising going into the new year. With legend after legend being taken away, we must give attention to the new voices of the generation. The way music is consumed today it is easy to miss all the amazing talent actively werking. Lucky you have programs like Cookies and Lemonade which keep you updated on the new records coming out! I have compiled a list of 10 artist you should put an asterisk beside for 2017. These artist range in musical style and content. Simply click on image to go to respective Soundcloud page. Enjoy.

Friday, 16 December 2016 14:17

Why Gucci Mane Won 2016

Gucci has done more in the six months since his May 26th release date from federal prison than some artists have done in a decade of their career. The Return of East Atlanta Santa is the third release from Gucci in six months. It was the first album he wrote outside of his prison time as opposed to his previous two that were written during his sentence.