r&b

August 10, 2009

Artist Impression: Recording Artist Javier Colon on V-Studio 100

Full of heart and soul, major label recording artist Javier Colon is set to release a new album and launch a new tour! No stranger to the stage, Javier founded a R&B acapella group while studying at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music, performed as lead singer of the neo-funk group, EmCQ, wowed Soulive’s guitarist Eric Krasno during an opening set, and spent a few years on the road fronting the Derek Trucks Band. For his new release recorded in SONAR, Javier breaks away from his Urban, R&B mold and grabs his acoustic guitar to sing some soulful melodies over more contemporary and melodic chord changes. Javier is now currently touring the world with a whole new sound, opening for the likes of Joss Stone and Andy Hamilton while also playing solo acoustic shows at 100+ colleges. In this video, Javier talks about the upcoming tour and tells how a mobile recording unit, like the SONAR V-Studio 100, can benefit making music while on the road and on the stage.

Artist Impression: Javier Colon on SONAR V-Studio 100
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May 18, 2009

Musicians Behind "Guilty'' (project demo in SONAR 8) Release New Album

On Purpose, the sizzling 4th album from Unified Tribe (nominee for ‘Best Live Band’, American Black Music Awards) and leader / front man Magic Mendez (winner, ‘Best Neo Soul Performer- Male’, American Black Music Awards) is a soulful R&B explosion. The new release showcases exquisitely-produced tracks recorded in SONAR.

The group’s new single, ‘Guilty,’ is the featured track in SONAR 8’s project demo. ‘Back and Forth’ (Funktional Family album) and ‘Do You Wanna Come’ (On Purpose album – Rap version) were also featured in past SONAR versions.

Mendez describes the group’s latest album, as “a rhythmic power play that delivers major musical mojo.”

“Its songs fuse jazz, blues, pop and soul, and range from sultry slow jams to blazing dance tracks. Def melodies, rich harmonies and themes from challenges to enchantment make ‘On Purpose’ a musical and emotional joyride that bridges genres and generations.”

The album was recorded at Magic Muzik Studios in Las Vegas, mixed by Rick Camp at Reeltyme Productions — Rick is also the live sound engineer for Chris Brown — and mastered by Ron McMaster at Capital Records in Los Angeles.

Unified Tribe (www.unifiedtribe.net) was nominated in 2007 for “Best Live Band” and is described by Richard Searling, DJ of Smooth Radio 100.4FM UK: “Getting a one class album together is one thing, making a second to take the breath away is rare, but to succeed with a third awesome soul set is just unheard of these days… but check this, Unified Tribe have the hat-trick, blessed with the gritty aura of a Will Downing or David Porter take… it’s most definitely hip and heavy, its the real deal… right on now, Unified Tribe, keepin the faith alive in 2009.”

Unified Tribe represents R&B, heart and soul – and they do it “On Purpose.”

May 6, 2009

Bonjour! Roland Europe & SONAR V-Studio Systems Visit France

Across the pond, Roland Central Europe has been very busy showing the new SONAR V-Studio 700 and 100 systems to potential dealers and aspiring producers. On April 23rd, Roland’s Cedric Verchere visited the world-renown school for multimedia, the SAE Institute in Paris, France.

French R & B Producer, Zoheir Mokkedem, was on hand giving live demonstrations, showing the audience how to make beats in SONAR 8. Zoheir is most known for his work with French chart-topper, Nadiya. He co-wrote, programmed and produced two songs on her platinum-selling, breakthrough album, Flashback. Both songs were tracked in SONAR.

Also in attendance was Loic, the founder of the first French SONAR users community, www.sonarfrance.com. Cedric was glad to finally meet him.

Like Zoheir and Loic, professional producers and musicians worldwide choose SONAR for its 64-bit audio engine, intuitive user interface, ease of creating tracks and beats, and ability to control EQ, effects and synths with ACT for their music production needs.

Roland Central Europe will make two more stops in France this spring. Check out the schedule below for more details:

Univers Clavier Percu
3, Rue du General de Gaulle
Brumath, FR
Clinic: Monday, May 25 at 3:00pm
+03 88645911

Aux Guitares
63 Avenue de Belgique
Illzach, FR
Clinic: Tuesday, May 26 at 3:00pm
+03 89464638

ALSO… Watch for Nadiya’s new album, Electron Libre, featuring former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland and the “Latin Casanova,” Enrique Iglesias.

May 4, 2009

Tani Diakite's New Reggae / R&B Track Featured At Kicksville

Tani Diakite of Mali, was recently featured in the first edition of Kicksville’s The Singles with a new project entitled Kalamaya or ‘it’s not good to fight’.

Kalamaya was built around an ‘incredibly haunting’ melody and a kamale ngoni (an African harp) with reggae and R&B influences. The track was recorded and produced using SONAR.

Kicksville is a ‘political movement, a virtual community and a musical collective.’ Everything is created from scratch by Kicksville’s citizens, a team of musicians, artists, and technology wizards who commute to Kicksville from twelve different cities on three continents and who’ve worked with a dizzying range of other artists ranging from Laurie Anderson to Van Halen and dozens of others, including Queen, BB King, King Crimson and members of the Grateful Dead.

March 9, 2009

Producer Wyshmaster Finds Niche in Hip-Hop and R&B

After 7 years of dedication and focus, Wyshmaster is finally cutting himself a new niche in the hip-hop and R&B worlds for his ferociously unique beats; and Cakewalk is at the forefront of his game. Most recently, Wysh has been busy creating music for The Lonely Island -“I’m on a Boat” feat. T-Pain (as heard on Saturday Night Live), Jeremy Greene – “Rain” feat. Bossman, and Nelly – “U Ain’t Him” feat. Rick Ross on the Brass Knuckles album.

“I primarily use Cakewalk synths because they give me the power to create unique sounds. With so many people in the game now, you have to choose your tools wisely so you don’t sound like every other cat. That’s what Cakewalk and SONAR do for me, they allow me to create and sound how I want to sound.” – Wyshmaster

February 13, 2009

Surefire Music Group: Producing Left Eye's 'Legacy'

Surefire Music Group of Boston, MA (U.S.) had the honor of producing th late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes’ posthumous album, Eye Legacy. Formerly of TLC, Lopes began working on her solo debut album, originally titled SuperNova, in 2001. In 2008, Koch Entertainment, the Lopes family and Mass Appeal Entertainment collectively decided to finish the project and named it ‘Eye Legacy’. Surefire Music Group composed nine songs on the project, which featured TLC’s T-Boz and Chile, Missy Elliot, Bobby Valentino, Chamillionaire, Lil Mama, Bone Crusher, Ryan Toby, and more. The album was released on January 27, 2009 and is now available on Itunes and at select music stores across the country. Read more about the project at http://www.lefteyelegacy.com/.

July 16, 2008

Artist Spotlight: Malik Williams

Wearing the Many Hats of a Busy Synthesist

Songwriter, engineer, actor, and film & t.v. music producer Malik Williams

By Randy Alberts

If some commercial jingle writers’ first gigs were in garage bands, fewer still of those went on to also write and produce music for film, reality t.v., the Web and hip-hop, pop, dance, rap, R&B and rock artists. It takes a lot of control room savvy and musical chops to wear that many hats. But from this even smaller group of first-call music and audio professionals, there may be just one—Malik Williams—who can say they’ve written a song for a movie in which they’ve also starred.

“Yeah, I’m a real Hollywood kind of guy,” jokes the 41-year-old Williams, a Bostonian since birth who values his role as father and family man over his Sunset Boulevard connections. “What I mean is that I feel real comfortable in front of the camera doing these bit parts. It’s not really something that I’m pursuing as a career. I’ve just stumbled upon this acting thing, but so far it’s been a positive stumble.”

Malik’s song contribution and bit part as a cop in Boston Girls, a “dark horror comedy” film released this year, are two recent entries to an impressive credits list. His unique balance of old and new school music writing and production skills have been tapped for a host of song and album (Charlotte Church, Bobby Brown, Elton John, Mya, Britney Spears, Danity Kane, Tyrese, Earth Wind & Fire), feature film (Sony Pictures, Miramax, Disney, Lionsgate, Stage 6 Films) and television (CBS, ABC, MTV, VH1, TruTV, Showtime, HBO, E!, Bravo) productions. If you’ve seen Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Tila Tequila’s A Shot At Love, Pimp My Ride, Cribs and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew or happened upon some of his various ad spots running on numerous channels, chances are you’ve heard some of Malik’s music, too.

“When you think of all the types of projects I work on—film, t.v. shows, ad jingles and hip-hop, pop and rap albums,” says Williams, “you’ll see my music and audio production tastes are all over the place.”

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