Nice-Styles

"It’s important to realize that creating something you love is the main purpose of making music. If..."

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:32:33 -0400

“It’s important to realize that creating something you love is the main purpose of making music. If you wouldn’t bump it on repeat how the hell can you expect someone else to?”

- The Last Skeptik

The Last Skeptik 'Thanks For Trying' Q&A

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:30:59 -0400

The Last Skeptik 'Thanks For Trying' Q&A:

Next month London’s own The Last Skeptik will drop his first instrumental solo album Thanks For Trying with BBE records, so here is a little feature and Q&A I did with Skeptik in anticipation of the release …

"All I really have to do is be honest, and hopefully you’ll get the joke. I don’t intentionally..."

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:09:21 -0400

“All I really have to do is be honest, and hopefully you’ll get the joke. I don’t intentionally offend and it’s because I feel that most people who are going to listen to my music are intelligent. So, it’s made with a respect to the listener.”

- Mr Len, on striking the balance with humour in his music.

Sunday interview buddy Mr Len .. x

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:04:04 -0400

Sunday interview buddy Mr Len .. x

Mr Len Interview

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:53:57 -0400

Mr Len Interview:

I remember discovering Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus back in my final year as an undergrad, and how quickly I became obsessed with it’s unique atmosphere. Hard-hitting beats, subtle nuances, smart lyrics, and refreshing rawness permeate the whole record.

It was an absolute pleasure to chat to Mr Len earlier this month for Wax Poetics about his latest project The Marvels of Yestermorrow. The instrumental EP, coming out with High Water Music (shout out Sucio!), is a brilliantly experimental and creative work. Read the interview to learn more…

"It seems to me like the expression is neither intentional nor deliberately nonconforming. I think..."

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 08:02:04 -0400

“It seems to me like the expression is neither intentional nor deliberately nonconforming. I think these artists are just pure originals.”

- L.A. Jay, on the artists in the Anomalous jazz mix.

Mixtape cover art (an homage to Thelonious Monk), and me with...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 07:57:45 -0400

Mixtape cover art (an homage to Thelonious Monk), and me with L.A. Jay in September 2012 x

"Anomalous" A Jazz Mix by John "L.A. Jay" Barnes III

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 07:53:00 -0400

"Anomalous" A Jazz Mix by John "L.A. Jay" Barnes III:

In Autumn 2012 when I was working out in Los Angeles for a few months, my friend John (aka L.A. Jay) began running some ideas for a jazz mixtape by me, and in the process educating me on the aural wonders of artists like Sun Ra and Mulata Astatke.

Earlier this year we decided to share the final Anomalous mix with Wax Poetics, so take a listen and read the feature to learn more about the music and L.A. Jay…

Top 5 : Political Bay Area Videos (curated by Chazz Shabazz)

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:02:35 -0400

Top 5 : Political Bay Area Videos (curated by Chazz Shabazz):

When my Bay Area homie Chazz Shabazz dropped the video for his song “Militant,” I was struck by his use of imagery from the Black Panther era. Thinking on the lineage of the Black Arts Movement and old-school hip-hop into the new, I asked Chazz to select his five favourites music videos with political overcurrents. And, I was humbled by the poignancy and personal tone of his response. Check the feature out for some profound insights into the work of E-40, Tupac, Spice1, Paris, and The Click…

Countless Gems .. x

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:32:32 -0500

Countless Gems .. x

Classic Black Mixtape + Q&A with Induce

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:30:05 -0500

Classic Black Mixtape + Q&A with Induce:

Having found a forgotten mixtape in his archives from a series he calls Classic Black, Induce got in touch with me at Wax Poetics. So, it’s a pleasure to present Classic Black Volume 3, a dope mix of classic and obscure disco and boogie gems. Check out my Q&A for a little extra context .. x

When the Bizarre Ride Live crew were in London earlier this...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:36:22 -0500

When the Bizarre Ride Live crew were in London earlier this month, we managed to squeeze in a very last-minute freestyle session at Tim Westwood’s crib in between soundcheck and the main show at Jazz Cafe… Camden to Hammersmith and back again, with hip-hop and neons all the way!

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde 20th Anniversary Mixtape + Q&A w/ Chris Read on Wax Poetics

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:28:00 -0500

Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde 20th Anniversary Mixtape + Q&A w/ Chris Read on Wax Poetics:

To mark Delicious Vinyl’s 20th anniversary celebrations of Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde, as well as Bizarre Ride Live’s sell-out European tour, London’s own Chris Read crafted this special Anniversary Mixtape. We put it out through Wax Poetics last month, and pinned the man down to a little Q&A while we were at it … So read and listen up people! x

"Things always come back to full circle. I feel like the eighties and the nineties are the best of..."

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:22:00 -0500

“Things always come back to full circle. I feel like the eighties and the nineties are the best of music. There was a great feeling. I love seeing it come back around.”

- Bowlegged Lou of Full Force

Full Force Get Busy 1 Time!! x

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:57:00 -0500

Full Force Get Busy 1 Time!! x

'Bowlegged Lou, I Want You Just For Me!' Interview w/ Full Force

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:55:00 -0500

'Bowlegged Lou, I Want You Just For Me!' Interview w/ Full Force:

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Bowlegged Lou in NYC. One sunny morning in Manhattan’s Alphabet City we chatted growing up, Full Force, UTFO, Lisa Lisa, and House Party. Thank you Lou! x

During a whirlwind visit to LA for my last weekend in...

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:07:22 -0500

During a whirlwind visit to LA for my last weekend in California, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down for a tete-a-tete with ‘LA’s Queens of the Space Age’ Vally Girl and Brooke Candy for the Fantasia issue of Dazed & Confused (guest editor: Nicola Formichetti). Where else would we get creative and cerebral than Hollywood Boulevard home-from-home Freak City?? Added bonus was shooting with the fantastic LA photographer Matt Fry once again.

"Women are always pushed down for one reason or another, it’s never-ending. But I feel free..."

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 09:45:00 -0500

“Women are always pushed down for one reason or another, it’s never-ending. But I feel free when I’m performing. People tell me I make them want to not give a fuck. Inspiring them to not care, and just be.”

- Brooke Candy

My Vally Girl & Brooke Candy Head2Head Feature in the...

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:20:00 -0500

My Vally Girl & Brooke Candy Head2Head Feature in the Fantasia issue of Dazed & Confused! x

Hollywood Hills setting for photoshoot and interview with the...

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 21:49:00 -0400

Hollywood Hills setting for photoshoot and interview with the beautiful and inspiring French actress Roxane Mesquida, and truly gifted photographer Matt Fry x