Quick Hit Artist Interview: Christinna O

Christinna O at The Hi Hat

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? I would describe my sound as a new channel of R&B, submerged with influence from jazz, electronic, and soul . . .

What’s your favorite song/track (your own) and what makes it the favorite? The most honest songs always end up being my favorite. My next single ”Lay It Down” would have to be my favorite. It's honest about me finding that person that I can lay down my burdens with, to feel safe and valid in vulnerability and ultimately . . . love!

The Hi Hat: Purple Bite night

Purple Bite highlighted some of their current and former clients this past Friday night. The night was filled with variety of sounds and the crowd was filled with familiar faces.

Alicia Blue started the night off with some singer-songwriter sounds. I just recently saw Alicia Blue at a Wild Riot event at El Cid. I didn't even know she was playing The Hi Hat on this particular night and when I saw her coming on stage, I was thrilled. There is something magically about her vocals. And she had the comment of the night, "I've always been an old soul. Interestingly, all my recent boyfriends have been younger than me."

Alicia Blue

Dyllan has a pop sensibility. I happened to cross paths with Mikel of Purple Bite in late April and asked him about his new clients. He mentioned Dyllan. So yeah, I won't lie, Dyllan was one of the main reasons I showed up at The Hi Hat for this event. You can tell she has a passion for music and I can't wait to hear her throughout the years.

Dyllan

Molly Moore is someone I saw last year at Chinatown Summer Nights when she was singing in a band called Cosmos and Creature. Her set on this night brought the dance tunes to The Hi Hat. And I noticed that her guitarist brought her own fans with her. Just before their set was about to begin, a couple friends came over to the stage and gave her some waves and love.

Molly Moore

Magic Bronson turned up the funk volume. Or is it funk? I find it hard to describe their music. It is a sound that makes you want to Pogo dance. It is a sound that makes you want to form a mosh pit. Though no one formed a mosh pit, you could see folks in the audience having big smiles and going just a bit wild in their dance moves.

Magic Bronson

Georgi Kay is someone I've seen on various bills throughout Los Angeles for a while now. I've also seen her hanging out at various venues. I've just never gotten a chance to catch a set. Well, on this night, I got to do so. She's a one person show with her electric drum, computer and vocals. It was one enjoyable set.

Georgi Kay

Closing out the night was the Yip Yops. The Yip Yops have gone from a four piece to a two piece as two members of the band decided to head off to college. Yep, this band is still very young. I believe when I first came across the band, at least one of them was still 16. On this particular night, the floor lights flashed bright and the music was electric with slamming drums and guitar riffs. We'll have to see if they stick with the two piece or eventually add in new members.

Yip Yops

Quick Hit Band Interview: Badtalkers

Badtalkers at The Echo

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe the band's sound? A mixture of old school hip hop and indie rock influence. It's a blend of different sounds we grew up listening to.

What’s your favorite song out there and what makes it the favorite? "Sing a Song" by Earth, Wind and Fire. One of the greatest funk and soul classics ever made. Also, "Dead Inside" by Younger Hunger, because it slaps.

Own final thoughts: Is Elon Musk real? Have you seen his Twitter? Are we in a simulation? He wild.

The House of Machines: Holy Wars

It was off to the Art District to catch Holy Wars at The House of Machines. It was a cool setup for the night. It was opening night for artist Jonah Nimoy's gallery show: Demons in Disguise. There was an improve/technology mixer based music from Roy Mayorga who played throughout the gallery hours. It reminded me of my adventures to some of the more artistic type venues in San Francisco back in 2013. There was also a special enclosed installation put on by Holy Wars. Unfortunately, I got in line way too late and so have no clue what awaited people once they entered the installation. It must have been fascinating, because individuals spent up to 15 minutes inside the exhibit.

Though the night really did belong to artist Jonah Nimoy, one has to admit that a number of individuals showed up just to catch Holy Wars. Recognizable music fans started to pop into The House of Machines starting at around 10 p.m. As always, Holy Wars did not disappoint. The crowd was pressed up against the stage throughout the set. The band, as always, put their heart and soul into their set to the delight of the crowd. A couple new songs. Some crowd surfing. Video imagery. Use of props. Around 45 minutes of awesomeness. 

From The Hi Hat to The Satellite: Party Nails, Cannons, Greg Felden and more

There was some good music that hit the Los Angeles music scene a couple weeks back.

Over at The Hi Hat, Party Nails and Cannons closed out their west coast tour. Opening was Somme who just happens to be Party Nails' roommate. I had actually come across Somme in April at The Satellite. Her pop tunes got the night started off on the right foot.

Somme

Cannons came up next. This was my first time seeing Cannons though I happened to hear about the band back in 2017 when some photographers I know caught their Echo Park Rising set. They had their fans out on this night as The Hi Hat filled up nicely for their set. To me, their music had a low key type dance quality to it. I got a Twin Peaks vibe from this band.

Cannons

Like, Somme, this was my second time catching Party Nails. This band brought the dance party to the 11 p.m. hour. I half figured that lead singer, Elana, worked off more calories than I do in a week. She was in constant motion and during that whole time she never had to catch her breath.

A couple days later it was off to The Echo to catch some Grand Old Echo bands. Greg Felden opened up the late afternoon with his Americana tunes. It was also his Made of Strings LP release party.

Greg Felden

Sons of the Southwest came on next. Actually, the band gave part of their time to their lead singer's father who played a couple songs. It was cool seeing a father and son playing the same show.

Sons of the Southwest

It was Game of Thrones night, but I had to stick around for part of the Jessie Williams and Coyote set. I happened to catch one of their sets in 2018 at The Hi Hat. Also, Jessie Williams in in The Lonely Wild. I'm not sure if The Lonely Wild is still active, but they're a band I first came across years ago and have caught their sets a number of times. If they're not active, it is great seeing Jessie Williams continue on her own.

Jessie Williams and Coyote

Jason Hawk Harris happened to be playing between sets out on the patio. I got to pop in and out to catch his country western vocals.

Jason Hawk Harris

Quick Hit Band Interview: Velvet Starlings

Velvet Starlings at Hotel Cafe (Rove LA/Baltisoul event)

Interview with the band (with Christian). Enjoy:

What is currently having an influence/impact on you? My “Generation” and authenticity of what the message should be. It would be cool if everyone opened their eyes to be honest with themselves and to be cool with not following the social media herds. Really, it is as if we are living in a time where "following" is the coolest thing. We might even "like" things just because someone might not like us if we don’t. I feel the next Lennon, Dylan, Joni Mitchell or Cobain might come around if we start going against the grain a little bit. Everything seems a bit manufactured and contrived, and it isn’t just music, it’s everything right now. We need some authenticity. Per Lennon, "Give me some truth.”

What’s your favorite Velvet Starlings' song and what makes it the favorite? Off our current EP: “Sold Down The River”

“Sold Down The River” is our most controversial song, at least lyrically, as it’s chorus message is kind of on the nose. It’s got a Lennon solo era vibe. It was our idea of an anthem for anyone who feels like our generation has been ‘sold’ out or sold an idea of something that isn’t real, whether it is of a political or religious nature, or the establishment's idea of what you should be taking to heal your body, mind and soul; or silly out dated ideas, such as what is right or wrong when it comes to relationships.

It feels sometimes like you’ve been waiting or hoping for something to change, but it never does. Too many false promises, lies, betrayal and deceit from a corporate America and government that have no conscience. What is left for our generation and those that come after us? We can no longer accept what is being "sold" to us. “We’ve been searching for a diamond in a coal mine and we’ve been praying for a single ray of sunshine.” It’s all in the lyrics. Anything we’d been thinking about along those lines made it in.

In fact, there were twice as many lyrics as the verses needed. Definitely some socio-political commentary along with some attempts to be Dylan-esque with a heavy splash of Lennon “We’ve been sold for pennies on the dollar when they promised us a new tomorrow. We’ve been Sold Down The River, been sold to the highest bidder. It’s hate and gold that make the sinners don’t take all from the givers. We won’t be Sold”.

If you’re talking musically at the time, we’d been messing around with a few song ideas, as we are always continually writing. A lot of our writing includes the Vox continental, in this case, the organ riff with the main verses and choruses of the song finished. Then the rock n roll bridge sort of happened which was needed to get the point across, as halfway through, it goes to an unexpected groove completely off the map of the typical pop rock arrangement.

Own final thought:

4 favorite songs with color blue in their titles -

“Love is Blue” - Paul Mauriat, 60s / harpsichord & general European Bacharach vibe . . . Beautiful instrumental.

“Blue Orchid” - Jack White, it’s just an awesome song with rocking riff.

“Behind Blue Eyes” - The Who, one of my favorite or rock ballads of The Who or anyone for that matter.

“Blue Monday” - New Order classic, Peter Hook bass line.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: MAWD

MAWD at Hotel Cafe (Rove LA/Baltisoul event)

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

How would you describe your music? It's all over the board. One day I want to rock and the next I want to play a pretty folk song with some sweet harmonies. I'd say it's a mix of indie rock, folk rock, folk, with a splash of good ol' rock n' roll.

You mentioned you grew up in Placerville. Any interesting culture shock stories related to your move to Los Angeles? I've grown up going to San Francisco a lot and lived in a few other bigger cities, so there wasn't too much of a culture shock. However, I think the biggest shock of them all is the traffic! The small town I grew up in people would ask you how many miles it would take to get somewhere because generally 5 miles meant it takes 5 minutes. In LA, you have to say about how many minutes (or hours) it takes to get somewhere because miles mean nothing! 5 miles could mean up to an hour!

Own final thoughts: I guess one of the more unique things about me is my pet chinchilla Caper. She's always the star of the party. I've had her about 5 years and she is one of the loves of my life!