During the month of September, we will bring you interviews with some of the most promising and innovative artist on the indie music scene.

This week’s interview will feature RatheMC, rapper from DC. Ra is signed to Studio 43 in DC and has been featured on the recent BET special “My Mic Sounds Nice”.

1. How would you describe your musical sound and style in one sentence?
It’s refreshing, fun, and reminiscent of 1996 hip-hop.

2. When did you first discover that you wanted to have a career in music?
When I saw the Fugess perform on Showtime at the Apollo back in 96. I’ve always been intrigued and moved by music but after seeing that performance, I wanted to do what they were doing.

3. You recently released RatheMC: Heart of a Champion, what was the recording process like?
It was the most fun I’ve had creating a project thus far. AB the Pro (Studio 43 artist/producer) and I really built each record from the ground up. Most of the album was more improv than premeditated concepts. I’d go to the lab and AB would have a dope sample on and we’d bounce idea’s or I’d write around him making the beat. It was easy to have that excitement and intensity in the booth when we were doing everything on the spot.

4. What artist do you look to for inspiration?
Kanye West

5. Is their any artist out now that you would like to work with?
Kanye West and Missy Elliot……There are sooo many artist I’d like to work with but those are my top 2.

6. How has the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) influenced your music and style?
I’d say the DMV area influenced me the most instrumentally. With DC being a staple for go-go and live music, I’ve always tried to incorporate a live sound into the tracks I pick as well as performing with a live band at my shows.

7. Everyone knows that Kenny Burns and Studio 43 has a great eye for talent, so was it difficult for you to make the decision to sign with Studio 43?
Not at all. I was in a really difficult place in my life when I decided to sign with Studio 43 and Kenny still welcomed me with open arms. You don’t find that too often in this business. A CEO who actually cares about his artist as people. Aside from that, I was already a big fan of AB’s production and wanted to work with him. After we did our first record for this project, I knew I was in the right place.

8. When I was preparing for the interview, everyone told me that you love fashion. Who are some of your favorite designers and where do you like to shop when you are in DC?
Some of my favorite designers right now are Jeremy Scott, Taz Arnold, Mark Clark, and Melody Ehsani. I don’t shop in DC too much, just because I’ve been spoiled by NYC lol but if I do shop at home it’s in Georgetown.

9. You were recently mention on BET’s “My Mic Sounds Nice” special, which mentioned your blossoming career and future endeavors. Where do you see your career going in the next couple of years and are their any other forms of entertainment (theater, movies, etc) that you would like to explore in the future?
I see myself growing artistically in the next couple of years and putting out better and better music. BUT touring and record sales is the goal of course! lol….I would like to explore any forms of entertainment God leads me to lol. I love performing and entertaining so I look forward to embracing all the opportunities that come along with that.

For more info about RatheMC and to download the album checkout the site:

http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/rathemc-heart-champion

Washington DC based artist RatheMC is prepared to bring a whole new sound to the music industry. Even though the name may sound new, Ra is not a new to the music industry. After being nominated for MTV VMA Breakout Artist, she is prepared to showcase her talent in a new way that may remind fans of Lauryn Hill. Visually Ra may remind you of Lauryn Hill, but when you listen to her music you can feel the pain, joy, and love that can only come across as original. 

She has a unique stage presence and a love for fashion that comes across in her music. Even though a lot of the songs may highlight the good life, Ra also deals with some real issues that she has faced in her career. Her single “Intoxicated” is a great song for any fan of hip hop and is sure to be a hit on the radio everywhere.

Right now the DMV(DC/Maryland/Virginia) is known for Go-Go music and President Obama, but Ra is set out to turn the DMV into a haven for good music.  Her new album is scheduled to be released under Studio 43, which is the record label headed by Kenny Burns. Burns has also worked with another DC rapper Wale in bringing him to the national stage.  Ra is set to hit the road this year with rapper Drake for the Sprite “The Spark” national marketing campaign. She will also be touring overseas for the “Certified Diamond Tour” which will also feature Lil Wayne’s Young Money All Stars.

Ra is definitely bringing back a sound to music that was last her in the 90’s by female rappers. Ra may have her peers in the rap game such as Nikki Minaj and Lil Kim, but she is able to stand toe to toe with each rapper and defend herself on the mike. This is one artist that is worth checking out.

http://www.studio43.com/

His story is different, as he is a rapper from Gadsden, Alabama and of caucasian and cherokee descent. When you first look at him he does not have the look of your average rapper within the Hip Hop world, but in the same sense he is exactly what hip hop is, in that he is different from the way he looks to the music he records. In a time where hip hop has been stagnant with repetitive styles and imaging, Yelawolf definitely goes against the grain. Yelawolf is dedicated skateboarder and attempted to go professionally until injuries forced him to quit. He then need to find a way to pour out his creativity, emotions, and drive into, and he found music. He signed to Sony  in 2007 but got lost in the shuffle when Rick Rubin came in and took over all creative control of the label’s direction. He did not give up, and followed Kawan “KP” Prather who signed him to his own label Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment and hit the road hard. Through hard work and recognition of others in the industry of his talents, he landed many features on singles including Slim Thug, Juelz Santana, and Big Boi to name a few.  He recently got signed to a record deal with Interscope in 2010 through Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment and has been on the road since. He is changing the landscape of music again bringing in at times some darker and colder feel to hip hop with deep emotion, which has been missed in hip hop music. Look out for his album  “Trunk Muzik: 0-60″ to be released on November 9th of this year.

Check out the music video to one of Yelawolf’s singles  below:

Yelawolf  “Pop The Trunk”

Located in the heart of DC, the 9:30 Club still reigns as the place to come and catch indie artist. Created in the 70’s, the club has opened their doors to an array of talent over the years that have gone on to become huge household names.

Artist such as The Police, Chuck Brown, The White Stripes, and more have all graced the stage at the club. The club has also become famous for its age policy, fans do not have to be 18 to get into the club and people gravitate to the club for its lax conditions.

Starting this year, the 9:30 Club will be starting their own record label to promote and market artist who have a unique sound and stage presence that is similar to the club’s culture. The first artist signed to the label is Justin Jones whose album “The Little Fox EP” will be released under the new label. Jones is an artist from Virginia who caught the attention of Seth Hurwitz, co-owner of the club, and Hurwitz is determined to do everything he can to promote the artist.

Justin Jones will be performing a special set at the club for local media, fans, and promoters in order to get the word out about his latest album. If you are a fan of the artist you can check out the 9:30 Club’s website and stay tuned for updates about his album and live shows.

http://www.930.com/

http://www.justin-jones.com/http:/

http://www.myspace.com/justinjones

What do whales sound like?

I don’t know, but Dirty Projectors are out to show the world that the sound of whales can be just as impactful as strong lyrics. Yale student David Longstreth has set out to combine the best lyrics and sounds into one project that can showcase the amazing range of a musician.

The first album from Longstreth was titled “The Gracefall Fallen Mango”. The tracks on this album were compiled and produced in the bedroom of the lead singer. This album combines different sounds from acoustic, to hard rock, to experimental sounds which would make any music fan happy.

The next major album from the band was the 2005 “The Getty Address” which is part experimental and part tribute to Don Henley. The former Eagles frontman provided a lot of inspiration to the band for the album and it also allowed the band to explore political themes and issues in their music. The band performed most of the tracks from the album and generated new fans from their mixture of combining sounds and themes.

In 2009, the band released Bitte Orca which featured a more colorful side of the band and it also gave the band a fresh new sound for their legion of fans who have followed them since day one. Even though the album was leaked before it was officially released, Bitte Orka still went on to recieve praise from Pitchfork Media and Brooklyn Vegan for their “Leaps and boubds made as a band.” As an Indie band, the group has caught the attention of a lot of people and will probably continue to experiment with new sounds and music styles as they continue to grow as a group.

The band is currently on tour and you can check out their tour dates and more information on their myspace and official website.

http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprojectors

http://www.dirtyprojectors.net/

I recently came across this artist/street performer called Dub FX that originally based out of Australia, and what I see here is something amazing. Dub FX is known for creating vibrant live music using nothing more than his voice, a sound looping device, and some effect pedals. He has built his name strictly through word of mouth via his live street performances and the internet as videos of his live performances have exponentially grown viral in order to help his cause. He tends to use a lot of Hip Hop, Reggae, and Drum & Bass elements while making his music as well, while some of his music has been referred to as the growing popular “Dubstep” music. He is currently distributing and promoting his music completely independent via his own label Convoyunltd. Check a video clip below of some of his work. This is a good way to see music at its grassroots along with a potential star in the making.

Video clip: Dub FX “Love Someone”

While I was in Atlanta promoting Onyx Player and introducing many people within the undeground, music, and cultural scene at the five star point in Atlanta, I met up with DJ Hotsauce (formerly from Germany) and Oomp Camp DJ, and he told me of this new group called Vonnegutt that was making noise in Georgia.

This group was not what I expected, it was a four piece band out of Marietta, GA which include two founding members Kyle Lucas (rhymes/vocals) and Neil Garrard (guitar/vocals) who had been developing a buzz in their area. They later added members Patrick Postlewait (bass), and Taylor White (drums) to complete and essentially formed as they are today in 2007. Their buzz grew quickly while performing, which later lead them to landing a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in Atlanta. This opportunity catapulted them to more opportunities to perform along the side of artists like B.o.B., Donnis, and Big Boi (Outkast). In that same year, they joined Killer Mike and Janelle Monae by signing with Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon Entertainment.

Because they were signed to Big Boi, I was thinking it was going to be a Hip Hop band like maybe the Roots or something in a southern style, but I feel they really have more of a rock and pop edge to them with some hip hop spices blended into their music. This might become something refreshing to the Hip Hop Crowd, while definitely being something that the crossover college crowd will accept to help them blossom.

Vonnegutt currently has an EP “The Appetizer” for sale on iTunes with four songs that should give you a good sample of what you can expect from them.

Click here to watch Vonnegutt EPK

Music Video: Follow Us (Big Boi ft. Vonnegutt)

New York band Francis and the Lights are new to the music scene, but they sound like they have been around for years. Led by Francis Farewll Starlite, the band is known for their live shows where two drummers play in conjunction with sequenced percussion.

For all of the fanfare surrounding the band, they have remained relatively consistent at creating original songs and performances that speak to their core group of fans. In 2007 the band relesed the album “Striking” which features the songs “I’ll never forget about you” and “My Goals”. They have gone on to release three more albums in 2008 and 2010.

With comparisons to Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Francis has a lot to live up to but the singer say’s that he is fine with performing on stage and he cherishes the moments when he can produce tracks in the studio. He credits a lot of the sounds from his album to the sights and sounds found around New York. Since NY is an ecclectic city, if you listen closely you can hear inspiration from the city in his music.

While touring with rapper Drake, Francis was asked to donate a track to the rappers upcoming album. SInce Francis did not have any tracks planned he gave the rapper the track that is now known as “Karaoke”. Karaoke has become a classic track for the rapper and has taken the track farther than Francis could have imagined. 

http://francisandthelights.com/

http://www.myspace.com/francisandthelights

Musician, actress, and lead singer of the band Elevator Fight is now the new face for NY based fashion designer Alexander Wang.

Kravitz will be featured in the newest advertising campaign for the T collection and will also be wearing some of his designs on the red carpet. The pictures were shot by photographer Terry Richardson and features Zoe in black and white images.

This is not the first time that Kravitz has teamed up with Wang. She is often seen wearing his collection to award shows, concerts, and parties.

Also, Zoe is set to star in X-Men first class which will be released June 3rd, 2011.

http://www.alexanderwang.com/

Living in south florida and being in the music scene you hear about a few music making some noise, and one of them is a unique group that well diversified among its group members making it seem like something fitting for Miami which is a massive melting pot of people, but that is not the case. Among a scene that is heavily filled with Hip Hop, Latin, and Rock music scenes, they are something different and in between.

They inked a deal to an indie label Southbeat Records and began making a name for themselves in 2006 and URB magazine quickly placed them as one the 20 next artists to watch for, while MTV placed them as one of their Fresh Five artists. They premiered their first video single “Groundhog Day” ft. Cee Lo Green & DJ Craze in that same year on youtube and broke at the time a record setting 2 million views in less than 2 days. This later lead to “Groundhog” being featured on Entourage along with other song features on NBA Street Homecourt 2007 and ABC’s 2009 season of “Lincoln Heights”.

With the dissolved Southbeat Records gone, MAYDAY! finds themselves owning all their masters along with their future. They have since also added more band members to complete the group and released two critically acclaimed EP’s “The Thinnest Line” (Feb. 2009) and “Technology” (June 2009). With all this buzz and an incredible live show, they picked up the attention of rapper Lil Wayne which he has featured them in many videos that he filmed before going to prison. They are currently working on their sophmore album “Stuck On An Island” to be released independently on October 12th, 2010.

Check out more from ¡MAYDAY! including their EPK below:

¡MAYDAY! EPK

¡MAYDAY! “Technology” music video

¡MAYDAY! “I’ll Be Gone” music video

WWW.MAYDAYONLINE.COM