Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Plastic Traps




What’s up Philly! I’m back after sitting down for a chat with The Plastic Traps, a Philadelphia based band who just released their debut album “Find a Home” earlier this month. They’re two brothers working hard, even through college, to make their music heard! Check out what they have to say and be sure to visit the band’s sites after so you can grab a copy of the album!

So how’d The Plastic Traps come about?

Gary: Well we were in another band and when that band stopped we just continued with our writing and we just wanted to keep making music together.

Congrats on releasing your debut album! How can you best describe the sound of the album?


Gary: I think there are some songs that are kinda my style, the one’s that I sing, and some of them are Andy’s, the ones that he sings. Kinda like a lo-fi garage indie. Reverb definitely characterizes the style, so it’s definitely lo-fi reverb.



What was the recording process like for your album?

Gary: We recorded it at home in our parent’s house. We used a 4-track recorder analog. I don’t know how long it took. We did it all ourselves and we didn’t use any outside producers or mixers. We did bring it into a recording studio to make it sound all digital for the album though.

Andy: We recorded all of our songs at the beginning of the summer. We had all the songs in line and once we had a bunch we decided to make all the nine into an album. We were shooting for an EP, but we wanted all the songs to come together it wasn’t like a planned ‘let’s make an album’ thing. It just sort of all came together.

You hooked up with Monster Entertainment and Redeye Distribution last year, how did that come about and how has it helped you so far?

Andy: Well, the way I found out about Isaac was when I found out about Revolution, I Love You who I found from online, or maybe from Hometown Heroes Delaware, and I found out they put their album out through Monster. I emailed them asking if they wanted to do a show, and they told Isaac about us and then he emailed us asking if we wanted any help with distribution and about a month later we realized we were at a point where we wanted to make the album happen. Monster has played an extremely important role in terms of helping us distribute and promote Find a Home. Without them, the album probably would not be on iTunes, Amazon, and literally everywhere else online. And it's awesome that they're based in Philly! The process has been great so far and we look forward to continue having their help with promotion this year.

I heard your music could be featured on eMusic, how is that process going for you?

Andy: A couple weeks ago, Isaac told us that eMusic wanted to feature our album and they are thinking about doing a free download of our song corridor. So, that’ll definitely be cool if they feature our single.

So Andy, you go to school in Baltimore and Gary, you’re here in Philly, does that have any effect on your recording or touring? Or does going to school in general affect the band at all?

Gary: It definitely has an effect cause we can’t get together to write and record as much.

Andy: As for touring mostly if you look at our previous tours they’re bunched around breaks, like around Christmas and Thanksgiving so it’s when were both off from school.

Gary you are about to graduate High School, tell me about that. Are you glad to get it over with?

Gary: I would have to say no I'm not glad about high school ending. I've met a lot of cool people at Spring-Ford and there's no one I have a problem with, so it's going to suck never seeing most of them again. And plus it's just one step closer to becoming an adult which I know is going to be okay but you only get to go to high school once so I'm trying to embrace it.

So, I’m assuming it may be a bit hard to book shows at the moment. When's the next show?

Andy: Yeah, this is the time of the year when I’m at school and Gary’s at home we don’t really have the opportunity to do that so the next time we’d be able to do shows is the summer unfortunately.



When you do get back into the swing of things... where's your favorite venue to play?

Gary: I like Kung Fu Neck Tie.

Andy: Yeah, I definitely like Kung Fu Neck Tie too.

Gary: Another one I like is Space, it’s really cool and really unique I’ve never really seen a place like that.

Is there anything exciting coming up for The Plastic Traps in 2012?

Andy: The eMusic single would definitely be cool for exposure and we’re still looking for some online buzz so we can start growing our fan base. We’re looking to play some Philly shows in the summer.

Gary: Yeah nothing too set in stone just trying to gain an online presence for "Find a Home".

So, if you could give a quick pitch to people out there on “Find a Home” what would it be?

Gary: If I had to pitch Find A Home I would just suggest that someone listen to it and form their own opinion about it. If they like it, great. But if not, that's also no big deal because in the end, the album was made purely for me and Andy's enjoyment. We love music. Its hard to put into words the sound of the album.


http://www.facebook.com/theplastictraps
http://theplastictraps.bandcamp.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/theplastictraps
http://www.youtube.com/theplastictraps
http://www.twitter.com/theplastictraps

Thanks again to The Plastic Traps and I bet everyone out there hope to catch one of your shows this summer, I know I do!

Lauren Resnick
Monster Entertainment LLC
lauren@wearemonsterent.com
www.wearemonsterent.com

Friday, February 24, 2012

Black Ink MMG Welcomes Renn Woods

As the newest addition to Black Ink MMG, Renn Woods is a legendary icon in stage, TV and film, an amazing vocalist and talented emerging playwright. It’s difficult to say what she is most known for, but some of her most memorable roles include: Fanta in the Emmy Award winning TV mini-series Roots (1977), her unforgettable interpretation of “Aquarius” in Milos Foreman’s movie musical Hair (1979), and Dorothy in the first national Broadway tour of The Wiz (1975), a performance that was hailed by the critics as a new musical theatre standard for the young performer. Not to mention by age ten, she and two girlfriends had taken the show business world by storm, as their group, Sunday’s Child, was adored by such celebrities as Bill Cosby, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Johnny Carson. Below, Renn takes some time out of her busy schedule to talk about her play, the new album, and what the future may have in store.

What’s your average day like?

Girl, where do you wanna start? When I’m behaving myself my day starts with yoga around 6 a.m. I find that it really calms me down and helps dump my stress because let’s face it; I can’t get to the gym! I just can’t block that time. So I have a little DVD that I break out with the computer, you know what I mean? I’m Ghondi in here, haha! So I try to start my day that way no matter what. Then I have a few minutes of prayer and silence, and then it’s off to the races. A lot of it has been working on the record which I’m really excited about.

Tell me about this album, what is the time table for it?

I’m hoping it’ll be out by June. I’m kind of working with some of the writers conceptually. You know how you see Frank Sinatra do duets with everybody that’s only the best in the field? That’s what I’m doing except with songwriters, haha. So I’m talking to the most famous songwriters I know like Diane Warren, Ally Wilson, just people I’ve known for years that will collaborate with me. Mostly they’re composers that are looking for poetry, so that’s kind of the concept of the record. It’s called “Starlight”, which is my favorite song on the record so far. I wanted to encourage people in this chaotic and angry world. The music will be romantic, encouraging and enlightening, and will make people want to be happy.

So would you say that’s kind of the driving force behind your project?

It is for me. But that’s been my driving force as an artist since I was born: to empower.

What was it like being a young actress?

I had no real interest in acting except that I was really cute, and I was a teen ager! I didn’t really study acting until my late teens. Most child actors start at 6, 7, 8 years old and I didn’t start until later because music has always been, as Phoebe says, “my life”. It’s just really what I love.

What started you singing then?

Here’s the story, now I’m too young to remember, but this is the story my mother would tell. When I was three or four we were moving from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest. We got on the train, which was segregated at the time, in the Negro section and a white, angry, drunk bum walks on the train and starts cussing us out. My mother says I jumped out, 4 years old, and started singing! And the man was mesmerized, that old evil white son of a bitch was mesmerized! And then he just left the train.

Well that’s inspiration for you, haha.

Yeah! And I think my four year old mind perceived that to be a healing, transformative experience. So, I have always been singing as far back as I can remember.

Where would you like to see this new project go? What makes it special for you?

Well the songs will be unique and all originals that will inspire women, men and children. Being really young and surrounded by extremely famous and rich people taught me that they don’t need nothing you can afford to buy them, but everybody needs to be inspired; everybody needs encouragement. We can’t face our day without it.

Who are you inspired by?

Well, as I call her, Michelle O, haha. If it was someone dead or alive, I would say Shirley Chisholm and Aretha Franklin. Don’t you know women are amazing creatures; it’s amazing what we overcome and what we’re expected to do! The bar is high! I’m trying to think of a male because my friends call me “Macha”, haha. Oh, Jamie king! I think he’s a genius.

What’s next as far as acting?

Well I have an offer to do an independent film. The director, Foster Quarter, is someone I’ve known for years and I really like. And we’ll see, a lot of the elements have to fall together. But it’s in LA and so we’ll see if I can work out the details.

How was it working with Whoopi in Jumpin’ Jack Flash?

I’ll tell one of our funny moments. You know how white people think she was the only person with dreadlocks? Well I was dread for 15 years, and I had already booked Beauty and the Beast with dreadlocks so I was like, “I’m not straightening my hair, deal with it.” I remember I got called into the room with Joel Silver and the Jumpin’ Jack Flash director, Penny Marshall, and they basically said, “Well, Whoopi is the only one who has that hair”. Then Whoopi comes sneakin’ in there and insisted I kept my dreadlocks. And I said, “They think your hair is some kind of special and unique thing. They think you woke up and your hair was dreaded like that!” Haha. So I told ‘em I wouldn’t straighten it but I did braid it.

How about Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in The Jerk?

That was nothing but fun darling! It was nothing but a great time every day, it was a party! I mean Steve Martin just makes you laugh. And you know those two were in love at that time. They were together for a few years, which is a long time in Hollywood. Bernadette was just the sweetest, hardworking girl. We had a great time.

What made you choose Black Ink MMG for your album?

My friend Ken, who I met 10-12 years ago. I was in Santa Monica working with a little dance company to help get kids scholarships when I met him. I would just talk to him as a writer and we became friends. We’ve known each other all these years and he’s always known my work. He called me up one Saturday in October and says “Renn, don’t fight me on this, you gotta do it”. And that’s how it went. We’re gonna do some incredible things!

Where would you like to see your singing career in a year? Five years?

The rest of the year we goin’ number one! I don’t care how many TV shows I gotta get on, we’re gonna be the top of the chart. And five years… still number one!! My goals are high. My momma says, “You gotta be greater than, always, in every field”.


Stay tuned for more info on Renn’s next album release!

Black Ink MMG
Renn Woods Official Website


Alexis Canary
AlexisCanary@WeAreMonsterEnt.com

Live in the Present

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Walk Off the Earth.... and to the Top of the Charts!

So I'm sure a lot of you have heard Gotye's incredible break up song, "Somebody that I Used to Know". It's so emotional and the harmonies are great. Couldn't get any better, right? Wrong! Walk Off the Earth almost knocked out the original with their insane cover of the song where all five members play together flawlessly on a single guitar, all contributing different parts. It's really unbelievable. So unbelievable that it has over 60 million views compared to the over 80 million views that Gotye has. But remember Walk Off the Earth posted their video exactly 6 months after Gotye. They've won acclaim from celebrities on Twitter, appeared on Ellen, and even signed a contract with Columbia Records just a couple weeks ago. So you decide, do you think the cover will get more views than the original? Who's gonna win?! Let me know, indie-monsters!

The Cover


The Original


Lauren Resnick
Monster Entertainment LLC
lauren@wearemonsterent.com
www.wearemonsterent.com

Melissa Cox





Hello Indie-Monster fans! I’m Lauren from Monster Entertainment and this is my first, but certainly not last post on the I-M blog! I’m super excited about sharing with you guys a great interview I recently did with Melissa Cox, the newest edition to the Monster line-up and a wonderful addition at that. Melissa talks about her latest album Harmonious Maladies, her experiences on the road, and her plans for the up-coming year!



Well first off, welcome to the Monster family! So how and why did you connect with Monster Entertainment?

I met Isaac through the local music scene. A few years ago he asked me to play a small women's singer night in Philly. He is also friends with several of my colleagues in local radio and music promo. I think Isaac and I are of the same mindset that music is business just like everything else is business, so that's why we work well together thus far.

What sparked you to pursue your music solo without Mythica?


Well to clarify, I am still with Mythica. Mythica has a very specific sound which we classify as "Celtic Fusion". Because Mythica has been branded so strongly as Celtic/Irish/Scottish/World, I felt that I needed to pursue my other musical interests without disturbing the Mythica brand. So I pursued my interests in rock, progressive, alternative and acoustic on my own and with the "Melissa Cox Band". But the bottom line is, what you hear at a Mythica concert is significantly different than what you'll hear at a Melissa Cox or Melissa Cox Band concert.

Your latest solo album, Harmonious Maladies, is your first concept album so can you give a little insight on the idea of the album and did you come up with the concept before the songs or vice versa?

The concept of the album is "juxtapositions and diametric ideas". The songs came first really, but the concept followed soon after. The album is a culmination of a very rough few years of my life. I experienced several sad deaths in my family. Some people close to me were dealing with alcohol and drug abuse. I left my life-long home of Delaware to move to Denver, CO for 18 months. I had been a full time musician and was flat broke and struggling. On the flip side of the coin of life, I was traveling a lot, seeing a lot of beautiful places, spending a joyous time with my husband (also the bass player in my bands), and making music.

That's a very inspirational story of how the album came to be and I could definitely get that vibe through the album cover art. I saw you just filmed a music video for your song “To Carrie Fisher, with Love”. How was that? From the pictures it seems to be some sort of creative chaos! When can we expect the video out?

"To Carrie Fisher, with love" video will be out hopefully next week. I don't want to reveal too much because it's going to be a surprise, but I have a very good feeling that this video will turn heads. It was a ton of fun to shoot, and I have to thank my husband Matt, my friends Kristina and Ryan Goverts, and my intern Ben Gutierrez for their help, and my uncle Gregg Rummel for the videography.

After reading your blog, I can tell you experienced a lot from touring the road with your touring partner Reign Lee. From camping in the canyon, to UFO sightings (props for the “I Want to Believe” poster from X-Files!), you seem to have fought the elements as well as the time crunch between shows. Did you find the touring process any more difficult as a solo artist?

Touring is difficult no matter what - doesn't make a difference if you're solo, with a tour partner, or with a band. I've only gone on a long road trip tour 100% alone once, when I drove from Delaware to South Carolina all by myself. I would say while that was very nice to clear my head, I missed companionship. Also I felt I really had to watch myself being a woman alone traveling. It's safer with a travel buddy. But luckily I play places like churches where everyone is very hospitable and kind. Unlike some bars which can be sketchy.

I could definitely imagine, that far by myself would definitely scare me quite a bit, but that's awesome that you managed to take that on.

I will say if you can ever just take a road trip totally by yourself, it is very rewarding for a day or two. Because if you think about it, you are never totally alone.

You went to Hawaii last year too, was that your first time playing there and if so how did you go about forming a tour route?

My first time in Hawaii was actually 2007, which was just a vacation and not music related. In 2011 I submitted Mythica for consideration for the Hawaiian Scottish Festival on Oahu (where Honolulu is) and amazingly we got in, which I wasn't expecting. But the booker loved us so we got booked at the festival. From there I built a tour around that "anchor gig." We played 2 churches (including the one that Obama attended and where his grandmother was laid to rest), a house concert, and some restaurants. Unfortunately, it's very expensive to "island hop" in Hawaii (plane tickets are $300 round trip a pop), so we just stayed on Oahu, but luckily Oahu is the busiest and most populated of the islands. We cannot wait to go back this March.


So you’ve set your sights on the East Coast this fall, any exciting plans for the new tour or new material that your fans can expect?


Yes, the tour will be from Delaware to Florida and back. We are working on contacting venues now and will have dates firmed up by May. I'm excited because I haven't toured in the southeast too much, so it will be nice to bring my music to new ears in that part of the country.

Awesome! I’ve never been but I definitely hope to go someday! What’s your favorite part about being a musician, the live performances or recording or something else?

I love performing and recording equally. Performing is medicinal, truly it is. I can have a migraine, or the flu, or feel awful and when I perform, I don't notice it at all. I am in another dimension. But recording is different. That is true art. I love the recording, engineering and producing process. My least favorite part of being a musician is actually writing music. It's terribly difficult sometimes and a lot of musicians will tell you that.

Creativity isn't something you can just force out so I can only imagine how hard that must be. So, any last minute advice for the emerging independent artists out there?

My advice to independent artists is do NOT play for free. When you are starting out, it's okay to play some open mics to work on your stage presence, and it's okay to play a few "pro bono" shows. It's also okay to play shows for free to charity. But don't keep playing the same bars all the time for free. Because it doesn't just hurt the artist who is playing for free. It also hurts other musicians in the local music community. Why would a bar agree to pay me if they can get Joe Schmoe Band for free? It hurts the entire musical community. Musicians need to start asking for money. Even if it's just $50 to pay for gas, it's still something. When I lived in Denver, everyone paid for music, because all the musicians demanded it, so the venues had no choice but to pay up. For some reason around here, musicians will play for free over and over and over again, and bars take advantage of them. Not just bars by the way, other venues too. So that's my advice: demand to be respected, demand some money for your time.


Melissa Cox gave a great interview and insight into the life on and off the road for an independent artist! Be sure to keep an eye out for her East Coast tour this September 1-9 on “The Harmonious Maladies Tour”. Check her out:

www.melissacoxmusic.net
www.myspace.com/melissacox


Thanks again to Melissa for her wonderful advice and until next time, indie-monsters!

Lauren Resnick
Monster Entertainment LLC
lauren@wearemonsterent.com
www.wearemonsterent.com

Monday, February 20, 2012

Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival

Check out this article, courtesy of Deli Mag Philly, recapping The Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival. The entire week was jam-packed full of great acts ranging from Gang and Catnaps to Ron Gallo and Early Ape. The Deli's article covers Saturday's show on 2/18 with The Extraordinaires. - LINK



Young Statues - Spacism (Music Video)

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The FIGHT! Against Cancer


It's not everyday in the music industry that you get to speak with such an inspirational and united group of artists. Da Rezarekt is a one of kind band with a killer sound, and an intense, high energy live performance. Self defined in the genre of "FunkRokHop", this description says it all. Recently, one of their four members, Guitar Grrrl Marisa, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Below is an emotional, honest portrayal of the groups current battle against the disease.


How did your FunkRokHop sound begin?

Supreem: For me, it really began with P-Funk, James Brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Roots. Being a Hip Hop fanatic, I just put my love for rhyming and Hip Hop with the Funk/Rock that the rest of the band brought to the table. And as we evolved the sound evolved and gelled.

Puffy: I have always felt a deeper connection with skate punk type stuff, especially considering my entire teenage years were spent on a board. When I first heard Ice T’s “Freedom of Speech, Just Watch What You Say” album, it was ON. I have been somewhat of a b-boy from then on. But one (fateful?) night I went out to a show at the then Chestnut Room (now The Blockley) on the advice of my good friend Jim Thorpe (Thorpe Productions), to see this band called “Simple & Supreem”. They were a fantastic eye opener and sounded just like the Chill Peppers with Busta Rhymes as the front man. I knew immediately where my vision was leading and at that moment I thought, “If I can work with that frontman (Supreem), the energy will be perfect, and we can achieve a melding of everything I love in music”. Two months from that night the opportunity arose, and from then until now it has been an ever evolving process.

Marisa: When I joined the band, I dug the FunkRokHop sound. It was full of personality. Puffy, Preem and our then drummer Tina’s personalities came out loud and clear. Puff was the funk, Preem was the hop and Tina was the rok. So, it was a big melting pot of different influences. Music should be like that; a conglomeration of personalities, a joining of forces for one common bond.

Talk about the new single, “Fight”. Why did you record it? What was the recording process like?

Marisa: The single to me is a battle cry. It’s a war against cancer, debilitating diseases, or any battle in life that has to be reckoned with. We all go to battle each and every day and stand united against anything that is supposed to make us fall. On an eerie foretelling note, 2 years ago I wanted the front cover of our album to have a boxing ring telling of a battle. Never knew it would be my battle.

Puffy: It was originally a song we just loved to jam around on. Dar had a drum beat, Preem had some lyrics and Marisa and I would just jam along. It was kind of a get warmed up at practice type of thing. One night after Marisa got sick it just seemed to take on a new meaning to all of us, and she felt we just had to record it before she went in for an operation. She wanted (needed?) to have the song with her to help her mindset throughout treatment, and was afraid she wouldn’t get the chance again.

As far as the process, a friend of the band, Ron DiSilvestro, heard about this and wanted to offer his help. Ronnie has been working at Forge Recording the last few years, and offered to donate his time in the studio to make this work for Da Rez and Marisa. With his expertise we were able to go in and complete the entire recording process in one night. It was like it all just “clicked”, ya know?

Have you received a lot of positive feedback from the new release and the new FIGHT t-shirts?

Supreem: Seems like everyone loves the song as much as we do. Plus everyone loves Marisa so they are really in her corner and behind the meaning and purpose of this song. People are really donating as much as they can and buying the t-shirts and hoodies.

Puffy: Yeah, there has been an amazing response, although it still may not have been enough to help her all the way through the treatment. Currently all of the donations go directly to Marisa for support, but the long term goal is to donate the balance of any proceeds to a great charity like the Music Cares foundation. I feel I need to mention that Music Cares has been absolutely amazing and jumped in immediately to assist Marisa with her medical expenses. A great charity that definitely deserves more credit and attention than they do.

Marisa: The fans and musicians in the community and all over the country are amazing. I can’t thank them enough. The proceeds go towards my survival and for others in the same boat. On a different note, our fans were asking how come this wasn’t on the recent album; “Bang Da Bricks”….The cancer diagnosis was well after the makings of that album.

Tell me Marisa’s story.

Supreem: Well the band was in need of a good guitar player and a great one came in to audition. Da Rez had been operating about a year before she came but everyone said we need two guitarists, one for rhythm and one for lead. Marisa came and did the job of both. We haven't skipped a beat in that department since she came and five years later, it feels like she been with us from the beginning.

Marisa: I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 5 years old. I played in a cover band throughout high school to make money and ventured to the Philly area to pursue my dreams. In the 90’s I played with a metal act, Fake ID, which became Wicked Stepmother.. I went back to school in 1995 to get my college degree and didn’t come back to the music scene til 2005. During that time I joined Shiragirl (all girl electro pop punk) and traveled all over the country in a pink RV in the Warped Tour. I joined the Kaitlin Sweeny band, then Leiana and then Da Rezarekt in 2007. At that time I had two other auditions, but jamming with those guys was like being re-acquainted with an old friend. Everything fit. The chemistry was right and it was a lot of fun. Afterwards, my friend Leslie told me, “You better join that band, I’ve never heard anything like them”. I totally agreed with her & history was made, haha.

Describe the emotions you all experienced when you first heard the news of Marisa’s cancer.

Marisa: Well I felt like I knew I had cancer before the diagnosis. I had been losing weight, and I was severely anemic to the point of landing in the emergency room for a blood transfusion. I had been falling asleep at work, behind the wheel, or even sitting down. My body was worn out, I felt like I was dying. So when I received the diagnosis, it was devastating. I didn’t know if I had any time left, how bad it was etc…I didn’t know how to tell the band. I felt like everything went on a downward spiral. I was very scared and angry everything had to be put on hold.

Puffy: For me it was a tough combination… she had been feeling non-descriptively “sick” for some time building up to her diagnosis. We had all been very concerned, but did not know how to help since we didn’t know what was actually going on. The news of the diagnosis was the worst but most necessary piece of information required to begin the treatment and start the path to healing. It was very much like taking a spoonful of the foulest tasting medicine knowing that it’s required to help you heal.

Supreem: I was devastated and sad. I felt like with the release of the new album and a possible deal on the table, that this was a very cruel joke and a vicious slap to a band that works so hard and fights for every victory, big and small. I also felt sad for her because she’s a great person and guitar player and she was rolling in a band that she loved. I just knew this would take some of that wind out of her sail. Frustrated!

How has it individually (personally) impacted your lives? How has it impacted the band?

Puffy: Individually, it obviously has made things very difficult. I am currently also helping my father with his battle with carcinoma (lung cancer). He was diagnosed just a few weeks before Marisa and at times they have their chemo treatments on the same days. Days like next Friday I will be going to an appointment with Marisa in the morning, and then taking my father to his chemo in the afternoon. It is very emotionally, physically, and financially taxing on all of us.

As far as the impact on the band, it has entirely delayed and/or stalled everything we had been building up to at this point. We had just released an album at almost the exact same time Marisa got really sick. We are not able to tour to support the album, and can only occasionally do what we love most and that is playing a live show. However, we’re working when we can in between treatments to develop some of the new material that we have wanted to do but didn’t have the time.

Supreem: It’s put a lot of free time on my hands. So instead of going totally crazy like most of us do when the band stalls, I decided to put out a totally funked out EP with David Ivory and Chuck Treece, do some shows with my DJ and best friend DJ Xzotic D, and explore a sound that's been in my head for a minute but wasn't something that would fit Da Rezarekt's vibe. As far as the band, it has put the brakes on a band that loves to keep moving and stay super busy.

Marisa: Personally, cancer brings out all kinds of emotions in me; fear, angst, anxiety, sadness. But there is a fire and anger to continue and to plow ahead. Because if I let everything get to me; if I don’t FIGHT!—cancer wins. It has changed my life completely. I’ll never be the same. I take absolutely nothing for granted.

I can’t speak for everyone’s emotions, but from what I feel, the band and our manager, Jim Thorpe, have been very supportive in showing their love for me. They are my brothers, my extended family. I love them. They told me to fix myself—get everything right. Get better before anything else.

What are the plans for the band in 2012?

Puffy: GET MARISA HEALTHY! Beyond that if all goes well we hope to be able to hit the road and get the “Bang Da Bricks” album out to the people. There is a good chance we will be working on a new EP for 2013 as well, but this band is driven off of the live show and the adventure of the road.

In the meantime, I have built a home studio and have been working with a few great producers and engineers at other studios to hone my skills behind the boards. I am also doing some gigging and writing with friends, and Marisa and I have been working on some song ideas. Dar has been working diligently rehabbing a house to live in.

Supreem: Right now we are doing whatever shows Marisa is up to doing and we are playing the Wimbash at the Blockley April 21. We’re re-releasing “Bang Da Bricks” and pushing the Fight song to promote the re-release. We just want to get back on track and pray this experience makes us stronger, healthier and wiser.

Marisa: That’s a tough one to predict. I don’t know the length of my healing time. After chemo comes another surgery, and then radiation. While I can still play I hope to continue writing & recording more songs. Our video of the FIGHT! song is currently in the works by our good friend Anthony Caroto. It will be released soon.

Talk about Thorpe Productions and what you’ve been able to accomplish through the partnership with them.

Supreem: Well Jim always gave us good plans to follow to achieve different goals and once we follow that map we usually have good success.

Puffy: He’s the best game planner/coordinator in the biz. He keeps the train on the tracks, and provides direction and motivation when it lacks within the band itself. Jim has also been instrumental in getting us in the door at conferences like Dewey Beach and SXSW.

Marisa: They’ve guided us in our career for the past few years. Jim is good people and has helped us keep the ball rollin’.

What’s your favorite aspect of performing in front of a crowd?

Marisa: Plain and simple, I feed off the audience. Watching them get in to it & make a connection is like a high within itself.

Puffy: For me it’s all about the interaction. You can really feed off the energy in the room and at times that can transport you to a different place.

Supreem: The love and the energy from the band to the crowd and vise versa. Plus performing the songs that we worked so hard on and getting received so well from our fans and friends is the BOMB!

Where do you get the energy for your live show?

Puffy: In Da Rez we all play exactly the music we’d want to be listening to and that makes it real easy for us to get into. I believe that honestly can and does translate to an audience. When you add the band feeling what they’re doing, to a crowd feeling what you’re doing, then the crowd giving that energy back, there is just no way I can describe that intensity in words. Almost all of Da Rezarekt’s live shows have had that magic since Marisa and Dar have been in the band.

Supreem: For me, God, because this is what I was created to do. But on stage, the band energizes me to come out and wreck, and the crowd makes me wanna keep going harder.

Marisa: From the audience and from the love of just playing.

What other challenges do you face as a band?

Puffy: Ha ha ha, the same most other bands go through. How do you support yourself and your group in this ever changing and down-trending business? How can you keep multiple, entirely different personalities working harmoniously at all times?

Marisa: And the challenge of getting back to schedule is huge in itself. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.

Supreem: Being diplomatic and making four different people operate like one well oiled machine. And of course the game of the music business and all the turns that it makes. It's tough sometimes trying to keep up with the new trends and keep up with the Jonses and still stay true to ourselves and our music. Also,dealing with bad business people, getting overlooked for things we deserved and earned, and bouncing back from broken promises.

Where do you see yourselves heading in the next few years?

Supreem: Hopefully touring and making a new album. Telling people our incredible testimony of how we survived cancer and came back badder than before.

Marisa: Making music for a living, traveling the country & living the dream….

Puffy: Great question, and as long as we can get Marisa back healthy enough, the shows going to hit the road. HARD.

Check out these links to make a positive impact on Marisa's battle, and others struggling with the disease around the world.

Download the "FIGHT!" song
Official Website
Facebook
MySpace
ReverbNation

Learn about the MusiCares Foundation
here.

Buy tickets for Wimbash at the Blockley (April 21- $20 in advance, $25 at the door) here.


Alexis Canary
Alexis@WeAreMonsterEnt.com

Monday, February 13, 2012

Milkboy Philly show photos (2.9.12)

If you were one of the unlucky ones that didn't make it out to Milkboy Philly this weekend, here's a nice visual recap:

Ben Cady


The Day Life


















Black Taxi






Crills Wilson







A big thanks to all the bands for a great show!


Alexis Canary
For any photo inquiries, contact: AlexisCanary@wearemonsterent.com

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Whitney Houston Dead at 48


Today we lost a legend, an icon, a hero and an inspiration. Whitney Houston dead at age 48.

I remember the first time I heard her voice. She set the bar to what I knew a female singer could be. One of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth. Six time Grammy winner leaving us on the eve of the 54th Grammy Awards. She was a TRUE talent. No auto tune needed, no backing needed, no fancy production... just her beautiful voice. She didn't make music, she MADE music. Whitney, you will be missed. You have been missed. We will always love you!

There will be special tributes tomorrow on the Grammys. CNN is reporting a tribute to take place from Jennifer Hudson. Tune in tomorrow 8/7c on CBS for The 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

www.grammy.com
www.latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/-whitney-houstons-death-hotel-guests-stunned-at-news.html
www.music.yahoo.com/news/whitney-houston-superstar-records-films-dies-005927033.html
www.cnn.com/2012/02/11/showbiz/whitney-houston-dead/index.html
www.rollingstone.com/music/news/whitney-houston-has-died-20120211

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Josh Cribbs at ESPN party

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!


Only 3 more years and I will be wearing my Browns jersey on this day... right!  Right? Look at Cribbs lookin' PEMP

Note: Browns WR Josh Cribbs is in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI and will be sharing his experiences throughout the week on NFL.com.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2012/02/04/josh-cribbs-mingles-with-shaq-soaks-in-drake-at-espn-party/