Darrell Kelley Interview

Sarah Sharp: You originally began your career in the music business as a gospel recording artist. Over time the content of your work has become quite political. What was the defining moment when you decided to change direction?

Darrell Kelley: After watching the national news one night I had to ask myself will racism ever come to an end. You know, I pray every day that black and brown people stop getting shot and killed because of the color of their skin.  It was then that the lyrics “We need to stand together, let’s put racism to an end. I’m so tired of black and brown people getting murdered over and over again and again.” popped into my head and I had the beginning to a song about Ahmaud Arbrey. Because when I saw and heard the news about his death, it just hurt my heart and it brought tears to my eyes. Ahmaud’s murder prompted me to do some research, and I came upon a story about George Meadows, a young black man lynched near the Pratt Mines in Jefferson County, Alabama, on January 15, 1889. It made me wonder if we’re still living in those days. I keep asking myself, Will racism ever end? As I pondered this, I decided to write a series of songs dedicated to all the innocents who got killed because of the color of their skin.

Sarah Sharp: Any other songs you’ve recently recorded that relate to current events that you could tell us about?

Darrell Kelley: Even before creating this song series I’d written a number, “Kneel (Believe in Something)”, about Colin Kaepernick, the NFL quarterback who put his career on the line to become a civil rights activist, and one called “Because of You” that addresses gun violence in America. More recently I released “Black Lives Matter” about the ongoing civil rights movement, “Police Brutality” that references what happened to George Floyd as well as the seemingly systematic racial injustice within our legal system, “7 Times” for Jacob Blake who was shot in the back by officers in Wisconsin, “Release the Transcripts” that’s related to the Breonna Taylor investigation, and I just recorded a song detailing what happened to Derrick Scott in Oklahoma.

Sarah Sharp: If you had the power to change anything in today’s world, what would you change?

Darrell Kelley: I’d change hatred into love, divisiveness into unity, and confusion into understanding.

Sarah Sharp: What political causes or charitable activities are you currently involved in? 

Darrell Kelley: Politically I consider myself to be an independent voter. I created my own charity foundation I call U.W.G.E.A.M. that helps others on a one-to-one basis. Without question, I’m also a powerful supporter of the Black Lives Matter organization.

 

Sarah Sharp: You’ve been traveling quite a bit now to attend events related to social justice for African-Americans. Please share with our readers a bit about that. 

Darrell Kelley: Since the end of spring, I’ve been to Minneapolis, MN, and Houston, TX, in support of the peaceful protesters and those commemorating the death of George Floyd. I was in Atlanta, GA, for the Ahmaud Arbrey and Rayshard Brooks events, as well as to help out at several BLM rallies. Next in my itinerary, I’ll be traveling to Oklahoma City, OK, to demand justice for Derrick Scott, another African-American man who died after a violent encounter with police.

Sarah Sharp: Do you believe others in the entertainment business have taken, in general, an adequate part in support of these causes?

Darrell Kelley: Honestly, some have done more than others. But isn’t that the way it always is? I’m not one to call out others for their contributions or lack of contribution; it’s just that there’s so much more we could all be doing. So, instead of playing the blame game let’s all just take a silent vow to do more for all our brothers and our sisters in the days to come, then carry through on that promise.

Sarah Sharp: Who are some of the people, past or present, that have inspired the new direction you’ve taken?

Darrell Kelley: I’d say the three people who have most inspired me to take this course would be Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Abraham Lincoln. These men did what the world around them said could not be done, they did so at an enormous personal cost and sacrifice, and by doing so they left God’s creation a better place by the time they departed the world than it was when they first came into it.

Sarah Sharp: Besides being involved in the music business you’re also an entrepreneur, a man of the cloth, and a social activist. Can you tell us a bit about that and how these activities sometimes crossover?

Darrell Kelley: In addition to being a professional singer/songwriter, I’m also a part of the business community. I’ve bought, managed, and sold restaurants and real estate among other ventures. I was a bishop in the Baptist church before creating a new religion called U.W.G. E.A.M. Much of my time is spent participating in social activism and in travel to support the Black Lives Matter cause and to call for legal and social justice for all. The place where these activities intersect and converge is that as a man of God I engage in all of them on the behalf of the Lord. 

Sarah Sharp: Could you tell our readers about what your method is when you write songs?

Darrell Kelley: It’s very simple: I let the Lord inspire me and to use my mind and voice to better His world. When God speaks I listen and use His words and ideas to create my songs.

Sarah Sharp: When you record, do you usually collaborate with other artists?

Darrell Kelley: I rarely do because I like to go into the recording studio on a whim, knock out a new track then mix and master it at the end of the same session. It’s just the way I’m comfortable working with so it’s difficult to coordinate my schedule to meet the demands of others. Perhaps one day that’ll change, but for now, it is what it is.

Sarah Sharp: How can people keep or get in touch with you?

Darrell Kelley: The easiest way to get a good overview of what I’m doing is to go to the “About” section of my Facebook artist page: www.facebook.com/darrellkelleysmusic

A New Song By Ava Cherry

By 1972, Ava Cherry 19 years old, was an aspiring model living in New York and working at the Genesis nightclub. One day, her manager told her that David Bowie was going to perform at Radio City Music Hall and gave her a copy of the Ziggy Stardust to listen to. Little did she know, listening to the album, that she would soon meet Bowie and her life would be changed forever. Then, at a Stevie Wonder after party where she rubbed shoulders with Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin, she was introduced to David Bowie who invited her to tour Japan with him.

As it turned out, that Japanese tour with Bowie, had to be canceled before it had begun because of health concerns. Even so, over the years, Cherry eventually did begin making music with the man who one day would become known as The Thin White Duke. Then she returned to Chicago, where she was introduced to another music legend, Curtis Mayfield. He signed her to his Curtom label and produced a single for her that she co-wrote with him. This was the start of a solo career that has spanned five decades. In 1986, she made her debut with Luther Vandross and spent ten years working with him, who during that period became one of the biggest names in R&B. 

Ava Cherry is now signed to the Wake Up! Music Group recording label, and is breaking some new ground. To kick off 2020 they released her “Let’s Dance” single. It was a cover of the Bowie classic hit song. Not only was it well received by Mainstream Top 40 radio, but it managed to crossover to Mainstream Hip-Hop/R&B, as well as Rhythmic radio formats. More recently she dropped a new single called “Testify Love”. It is currently impacting radio charts and being warmly welcomed by critics. Word on the street is that this is all leading to an Ava Cherry album that will be released before the end of this year.

avacherry.com

Alpha Cat - Thatched Roof Glass House

Straddling a fine line between human want and need, Alpha Cat could never be confused with the wishy-washy in music. There is a maturity and depth to the music that gets highlighted at all the right times in this offering. Not the typical CD loaded with 15 songs this collection is kept to a reasonable length. The music is all the better for it as well. Plus 7 is my lucky number. Starting with the song ‘Mockingbird’ the singer sounds like she is trying to communicate with something deep inside and is using the metaphor of the mockingbird to do it.
 
“Shoot the messenger if you don’t want to hear the news
 Stay away from him if you don’t wanna catch the blues
 Nonsense, too intense
 Cover up your eyes
 Never look in the book
 The cover will suffice
 Don’t glow, don’t shine, it’s a sin
 Mockingbird, never heard”

In this day and age of 24/7 media messaging and psychic overload, it is easy to understand the vaguely psychotic impulse to “shoot” anyone with a message you do not want to hear. I can get that way sometimes regarding everyone yapping at me about how they want to make my life better by changing the way I think along with my behavior. ‘Blackhole’ is where I have to jump back from the precipice a little. It is a deep dark though melodic lament that has it all laid out in a 21st Century version of ” Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.

“I’ve fallen into a black hole
 Looked like your heart
 Felt like my soul
 Now I’ve got nowhere to go
 From this side out looks like the end of the world
 Why’d you have to roll over me that way
 You mowed me like a wheat field on a patent black tractor
 With your back-ho jeering me from back at the farmhouse
 You got your baby cake”

The great thing about it though is the taught driving drum and guitar work that has an almost new wave sound to it. ‘Mona Lisa In A Comic Book’ keeps things moving in a good direction. The production and musicality of this CD shine on this track and a couple of other ones particularly. The title track, ‘Thatched Roof and Glass House’, also keeps the listener's interest. The most affecting song for me was the last one, ‘Reconsider Me’. Every human being alive has that one love wherein their mind, and regardless of circumstance, they’d come running.

“You’re all alone and you need someone
 Call me up and I’ll come running
Reconsider me, reconsider me
 If it’s still the past that makes you doubt
 well darlin’ that was then and this is now
 Reconsider me, reconsider me”

It can sound foolish and pathetic but to the ones who feel love, it sounds like a strong honest and humble response to one of the universally cruel elements of life when you are born in this world. Alpha Cat is a strong artist and her music and band reflect that through the 7 offerings here on this ‘Thatched Roof and Glass House’ album.

Face Stabber by Oh Sees

Face Stabber, the new triumph from Oh Sees, opens sounding like Seattle-flavored Nick Drake on beer, drawing influences from Daniel Johnson and Radiohead, with a knowing nod to (the criminally underrated) Nick Drake.

Face Stabber is the hair-soul-ers' attempt at baroque, accessible, spaghetti western scene rock.

Face Stabber is steadfastly non-commercial—for good reason: John Dwyer was writing this music in a cabin. Thus, Face Stabber marks a musical turning point, á la the Beatles' White Album (except it isn't as good).

"The Daily Heavy" echoes strains of a DJ Spooky-esque zen koan, with a penchant for effervescent guitar sheen and crowd-pleasing vocal epic, while the more stripped-down "Poisoned Stones" phones it in, reminiscent of MC5 on heroin. However, Oh Sees blurs layered vocals and acoustic bass into a gorgeous watercolor-hangover haze with "Captain Loosley". But such lack of design has its own charm. The result? plaintive, fey, blistering singer-songwriter-gaze. Perfect for squandering your trust fund during a breakup at the beach.

Tyrone Mr. SuperFantastic review

Coming from a background that appeals to this girl who takes the gym very seriously Tyrone Mr. SuperFantastic gives us an album called “Long Road” that could either be played while getting a good work out or it could be the perfect record to unwind after it. Tyrone is a fitness wellness trainer that shares this passion with music. There is an incredibly good vibe coming from even the darker material covered. There are some really romantic songs on this record. My heart skips a beat every time I hear “This Guy’s in Love”. I am not a guy but the lyrics and sentiments are everything a girl feels too. In fact, this whole record seems to have the feel of an old friend showing you his photo album and saying this is a snapshot of my life.

It appears from the choice of songs TMSF grew up listening to the music on the radio in the 1960s or 1970s. He even must have seen a few Broadway shows in his day. There is also a distinct Jazz flavor that goes in and out. The EPK of this artist emphasizes the R&B influence that is so clearly heard as well.  Very much a marriage between Motown and Blue Note Records and this marriage has resulted in a very personal and warm record. There are 70’s funk-inspired artists like Billy Preston covered here. The “Will It Go Round In Circles” benefits by having the raw soul elevated by TMSF’s intricate Jazz phrasing that he must have learned from the real masters like Louie and Duke or Ella or Anita.

“Hey There” is one of the most commercial sounding cuts on the album. Lyrically, it is like the pep talk that every girl wants to hear from her BFF. Sound wise it has the New York City strut that is most evident in a song like “New York New York”. It is muted but it still comes through. The only one that breaks up the good-time vibe is “Mr. Bojangles”, which kind of made me cry. When you see a homeless or street person out and about with a dog, you start to feel really bad for the dog. It was just too sad for me and I was happy to be back on Broadway instead of skid row. Overall all though I like this record a lot and could definitely see me and my hubby putting this on after dinner, when the kids are asleep and dancing under the stars (in our living room of course!)

tyronemrsuperfantastic.com

Album Review: Adult-oriented Introspection With The Abrasive Islander by Field Comment

Adult-oriented Introspection With The Abrasive Islander, the new sophomore effort from Field Comment, opens sounding like Austin-flavored Link Wray on psilocybin, drawing influences from Lee Hazelwood and DJ Spooky, with a knowing nod to (the criminally underrated) Radiohead.

Adult-oriented Introspection With The Abrasive Islander is the low-funk-ers' attempt at dreamlike, raw, brilliant statement rock.

Adult-oriented Introspection With The Abrasive Islander relies on the safe, universally beloved trick of noisy, atonal jams that last for several minutes—for good reason: Hansen Firmin was writing this music in a cubicle at a telemarketing job. Thus, Adult-oriented Introspection With The Abrasive Islander marks a musical turning point, á la the Beatles' White Album (except it isn't as good).

"Soapbox Magic" echoes strains of a Brian Wilson-esque attack, with a penchant for raw guitar apocalypse and pivotal vocal death, while the more jaded "Copper Javelin" provides a perfect counterpoint, reminiscent of Sun Ra on coffee. However, Field Comment returns to form with "Invited Arbor". But such lack of design has its own charm. The result? profound, fey, hip garage-jazz. Perfect for drinking alone during a thunderstorm at school.

9 stars. RIYL: The Velvets.

Matt Warren - "Music Is My Life" Review

House Music has gone through many changes through the years and has branched out in many directions. We have the Family Tree of House Music starting to grow in Chicago back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. We have seen the branches of Trance grow out of it, we have seen Acid House, Balearic Beat, Deep House, Diva House, Tropical House, take root and grow. Now we have Nu House, where we find Matt Warren one of the founding pioneers of Chicago House music scene coming out swinging on the new release called Music Is My Life.
The track Music es Mi Vida, is one of the premier examples of the Latin Nu House style and sure to be a big favorite out on the dance floors of Chicago, NYC and Miami. The DJ/Producer/Artist reaches out across the generations and hooks up with established House music divas like Janis McGee and Pepper Gomez, and younger artists like Sharkeyes alike. It is a mix and match deal only a seasoned producer has the chops to pull it together at this kind of level.  The song Sometimes is a great example of the creative sparks that fly when a seasoned producer and DJ collaborate with a promising young artist. There is something futuristic about the way the track is written and produced that bodes well for the House Music tree to keep branching out into greater and greater creativity. This is the type of Nu House Music song that can potentially have several exciting remixes done to it. 

The sound of the overall record is as solid as anything I have heard recently coming out from any Artist /Producer/DJ. The experience and artistry of the producer and engineering deserves to be noted. It shines through on Get on Up, and the title track itself. Also, there is some nice touches added to the song La Rosa, that gives it a South Beach flow.  Matt Warren also takes a stroll down memory lane with his inventive update of the song Bang The Box. The song never loses its original creative kick, or its dance floor swagger. It resides very nicely within the Nu House context of the production. 

The single from the album is Get on Up, and it is easy to see why the powers that be picked it. It is a relentless beat and sizzling bass line that will get you up whether you go to the tippy top or not.  Catch Me If You Can is another stand out number that one can imagine many remixes for. The Disco mix especially, shows how this music could live forever if the crowds keep coming to dance and the DJ’s keep giving them the sound to do that to.  All in all, having Matt Warren back doing music and putting out records is what a man of his talent and experience should be doing. Hopefully more to come.