More No Bird Sing in my Headphones Please (now available on Amazon)

So I know its been a hot minute since I poked my head in over here but I promise I've been working on some things that I think will be pretty awesome including another collaboration with Miss Samiha. Enough excuses, the real reason for this post is that I desperately need to get something off my chest: No Bird Sing is the best thing to grace my headphones in the last six months. Easily.

It is safe to say our excitement about certain projects gets tossed around pretty frequently around Lovefest and among our extended family. I love that on a near weekly basis I get that "ZOMG" 3am text from Samiha quoting the most recent "best lyrics I've ever heard." And when Georgia recaps a show in which her "soul was touched" I can't help but smile. No Bird Sing makes me want to text everyone I have ever met at 3am all the time. To those who have actually received that text... I'm sorry, I hope I didn't wake you.

I was actually first introduced to No Bird Sing when they friend requested me on myspace believe it or not. I admit I physically cringe when I get a new myspace friend request from a music page, but I always find time to give whatever it is a listen before hitting deny. I think I barely got through the one song on their page before I was demanding to know where I could find more, following them on twitter and google stalking them. To save you the trouble the group is made up of members of both Hyder Ali and Abzorbr, they're described as "a cross between Crescent Moon and Black Keys", their cd comes out September 11th and they give me chills.

By now I'm sure we all know that a reviewer/critic I am not. So here's the part where I let you listen and draw your own conclusions. Those in the Twin City area may have noticed a certain young man who treks out to various shows and sets up his audio equipment in the back of the venue rain, snow or shine to record the sets. In case you were wondering many of those recordings can be found on Empty's Tapes. Among those recordings you will find No Bird Sing at the Triple Rock. I actually met John a few years back during the Mel Gibson and the Pants residency at the Nomad. After reading over that blog entry I realised he actually told me about NBS almost a year ago outside some show or other. I really dropped the ball on that one huh? In addition to these live gems you can also download ars poetica over at Culture Bully (where you can find plenty of additional NBS into) as well as Dead Leaves ft. Bo Ramsey over at Midwest Broadcast.

If all that isn't enough to pique your curiosity their upcoming album also features Eyedea, Kristoff Krane and Alicia Wiley. I can pretty much guarantee this will be in my top three releases of the year so if you are in the Twin Cities area or passing through I highly recommend scooting your tails on over to Eclipse Records on September 11th and the Triple Rock on September 12th for those release shows. Did I mention the 11th is ALL AGES and Big Trouble and El Guante+Big Cats! will also be performing? No excuses youngins. For all the old fogies (18+) the Triple Rock show will feature Black Blondie (be still my heart), Kristoff Krane and James Diers. Oh and the most awkward redhead alive (yes me) just might be in town for both.

I know some of you probably can't wait all the way until the 11th to witness a live set and I feel your pain... but you don't have to because you can catch them earlier in the month on the 5th at the Clapperclaw Festival... but you better tell me all about it because the line up for that is really great. How pretty is that? You know you want one.

*Update* Digital album now available on Amazon, $8 well spent.

Hip Hop Matchmaking: the Dream Team Edition

We could talk music for days and not run out of excitement or things to say. Tonight, like one too many nights before it, we fantasized about what our dream collaborations and tour line ups would be. Few of these pairings came easily, since we have very different individual tastes. Salina is almost completely unfamiliar with Samiha's favorite collective while Samiha is just beginning to dip her toes into NW hip hop. We welcome the opportunity to learn from one another and exchange new and old favorites on a day-to-day basis, but when it comes down to picking three dream collaborations and three dream line ups, "convince me" becomes the theme of the evening. After much back and forth, some compromise, and a few "gimmies", we give you the artists we wish had met in space camp.

Whenever the conversation of dream collaborations come up, the first suggestion is ALWAYS "El Guante and Macklemore, right?" There are not many things that we instantly and wholeheartedly agree on, so when we do you know it is something special. There is the perfect symmetry of similarities and differences to make for a really amazing track (*coughalbumcough*). Both emcees bring a brave honesty to their lyrics. Just as Guante emphasizes the importance of crafting an insightful and interesting angle for every story he tells, Macklemore picks apart every concept, experience, and emotion to create his own original yet relatable take. At the same time, it's exciting and comforting to know that their collaboration probably wouldn't be entirely serious; both emcees have been known to occasionally let their humorous, sarcastic, and playful sides run wild. Guante and Macklemore could probably create the type of perfectly cohesive and balanced yet layered song (*coughalbumcough*) that rappers and fans just dream about. (*coughproducedbybudoandbigcats!cough*)

The second duo also needed no argument or clarification was Mac Lethal and P.O.S. Having already toured and recorded (unreleased) music together, the collaboration was easily a slam dunk. Coupled with the fact that the collaboration seems to be so close to materializing, we could not help but make one more plea for it. Their chemistry would be great; it would be like listening in on a hilarious and completely uncensored conversation between two friends. We can't of course take full credit for coming up with this one, but it's hard not to daydream about what they might come up with together over a Lazerbeat.

When Salina proposed Mike Mictlan and Invincible, Samiha had to take a pause to let the idea fully sink in. Mike was definitely on both our lists, but Samiha had him paired a little differently. After some back and forth it was agreed that this was undoubtedly a dream collaboration for both of us. The blend of sounds and two emcees who can not only match one another evenly but can also challenge one another to step it up intrigued us. It's just crazy enough that it makes total sense.

Creating a concert series of perfect line ups was a little more difficult than our first task. In fact, the only indisputable line up was the often-drooled-over-on-Lethalville teaming of Black Clover Records and Doomtree Records. With both labels bursting at the seams with insane energy and live talents, the possibilities are endless. Plus, what better venue to debut that Mac Lethal/P.O.S. track?

On a Northwestcentric note with a pinch of Midwest flavor, we thought of Thee Satisfaction, Candidt, Step Cousins (Macklemore and Xperience), and Muja Messiah. This would not be one of those nights where half the acts sound the same, while the other half lack the stage presence or crowd awareness to keep you from checking Twitter every few moments. Four acts with chemistry for days, they could offer a little something for everyone. Candidt would get the party started, Thee Satisfaction would get everyone vibing, and Step Cousins or Muja would burn the joint down. You'd dance, you'd bob your head, you'd wave your hand in your signature cool hip hop way, you'd get a full body workout.

After attending so many straight-up hip hop shows, it would be nice to do something a little different: a night of singing, piano playing, band performing, and rapping courtesy of Tonedeff, Louis Logic, and Dessa. Dream Team Unplugged edition. Ego and braggadocio would be set aside for another type of swagger. The three artists would put their raw talent on display, proving that they can sing ballads with just as much confidence, poise, and charm. And maybe there would be time for a jam session, one that would be so creative and productive that the three artists would then leave the show and head straight to the nearest studio to record a genre-crossing, mind-blowing album? *Sigh* If only we should be so lucky....

So there you have it. After much debate, good natured name calling, and endless "ZOMGS!" we give you matches made in Samiha and Salina heaven. We brewed them up with love and care in our super secret special Lovefest laboratory deep within our underground lair with the aid of a little love potion number nine and our Mr. Wizard chemistry kit. We prefer hate/love mail in the form of mix cds. Beware of dogs.


-Salina & Samiha

Welcome to the block (blog)

On Friday I was lucky enough to steal a few minutes of Crista's time so we could finally properly introduce her into the blog. (Cody you're next!) As I've mentioned before Crista is one of my favorite people ever (I think that goes for all the girls) so when you get the two of us together we get very excited and its hard to stay focused. So below you'll find what is probably the least organized of this series of aim interviews. I left it pretty close to how we discussed things, editing out only a few tangents because I think it really shows Crista's personality and passion well. We got cut a little short on this one so if there's anything we didn't touch on drop a comment and Crista will get back to you. Enjoy!

S: You go waaay back with the blog thing, like Livejournal back. What drew you to doing a collaborative blog?

C: a collaborative blog was something i have never taken part in - and blogging has been huge to me. I thought the concept was really great, I don't know a group of better ladies in the hiphop scene to be a part of something with. There wasn't anyone else out there doing this, or at least that I have found. As you know I have a lot of stories, I think when I get into it this is going to be a great outlet. i've loved rap for a long time.

S: I've seen the photographic evidence, exactly how far do you and rap go back? What was your first hip hop show?

C:oh man that's so hard - i really don't know. It's going to date back to when i was around 15 so about 8 years ago... Taking the 21 bus to uptown. I have a lot of memories of this is when I saw who, kind of. But really no idea what sparked it. It was one of those things the kids talked about. I got into it and it consumed me. Growing with the greatest music I have ever heard at my fingertips was lucky. I was really lucky to fall into what I did.

S:You grew up listening to a lot of these artists most of us have just started talking about over the last few years, what's it like seeing all these different hometown secrets becoming more known?

S:That was the worst run on sentence in the history of my life btw.

C: still a good question

S: I have too many words

C: it was crazy - it still is crazy. I feel proud. i saw some of these kids bust there asses for so long. I've seen atmosphere at the triple rock, and the entry. I've seen doomtree shows with less people then I can count on one hand. I think doomtree is who I saw grow the most. And I still can't get over it. And now I am watching some of my friends do it - my generation. It took a lot of these people until there mid to late 20s to start rattling the trees. I am excited to continue to see growth. I am excited to see what comes out of the woodwork next.
Ahh I thought of another one, I saw brother ali play a block party in the Minneapolis warehouse district once... the smallest little stage in an an alley ever... and now he is selling out venues. it's insane.

S: Who should I be checking for to bust loose in the next year or two?

C: oh man i don't even know, this is where i disappoint myself and admit I don't look for music like i use to. Some of my friends are doing some things that i'm excited to see progress.

(at which point we dissolve into a gushy love letter to the Nomad until...)

S: Sound Set! Who should people be checking from the local stage?

C: I'm really stoked on Guante right now, check him out for sure. His spoken word is goosebump worthy. You can tell he is still learning the ropes but its endearing. I've only caught him a few times but he seems like a stand up guy. Which is refreshing.

S: Haha I'm a little embarrassed by my recent Last.fm playcount

C: haha i've never done the last.fm thing but i am really hooked on that genius shit on itunes - it owns me.

S: I missed Guante opening for Muja last summer, I was running on rap time and showed up way late. So I'm glad to have a second chance

S: Oh man I can't get into Genius

C: i think his face is going to keep coming up - he has big things to say and a lot of passion.

C: I LOVE GENIUS. I'm one of those I only listen to this one album 25 times a day. So this adds some random into my life but keeping the same flow. Addicting.

S: I think Guante has something ridiculous like 500 plays from me on last.fm this week. I'm currently combating all that conscious with some Rick Ross.

C: i've been listening to the responsive chord a lot.. a lot a lot... and astronautalis the mighty ocean and the nine dark theaters... just those two that's it....

S: Ah! I was so hoping my copy of Responsive Chord would arrive today.

C: you are going to love the responsive chord

C: I was a lucky little bird and got it a couple weeks ago

S: You've had that for a while now, how does it compare to K's other releases.
I think I noticed a few tracks from my beloved "Does it Matter"?

C: he's loud, he will always be loud. But he is growing. that kid has so much talent. i'm really lucky to call him a friend. his music honestly blows me away and would even if i didn't know him. kid has worked hard. i'll say that. But this album just seems polished, thought out and is solid. the site is going to be amazing too - botzy has been cranking that shit out. the entire package they put together for this release is amazing.

S: So excited, I listen to that mix Botzy burned me on the regular.

S: You mentioned someone from my region earlier, Astronautalis. You and Jamee caught him in AZ, what kind of reception is he getting on the road?

C: honestly i was shocked i think the crowed was better in arizona then in mpls. mpls it was the uptown bar and 21 up, i loved it but it wasn't a huge draw. I think for cecils set it was me maybe 5 others and astro watching. In AZ it was at this little coffee shop/art gallery with a live in cat. Everyone who was there was there to go to that show, they weren't watching a show that happened to be going on at the bar they were drinking at.

S: That's so weird to me, wasn't the AZ show on a Sunday night too? Those kids must be starved.

C: Yeah it was a sunday night, he played a saturday night here.

S: I think here in Seattle and sometimes you guys in Minneapolis take for granted how much there is to do and how much talent we have in our cities.
Who do you see getting more love in your city touring acts or local folks?

C: Oh i know i do, on the regular. My job actually wants me to move to San Diego, and one of the really big things holding me back is the culture out here. I'm so comfortable and so used to any act I want to see being at my fingertips. I was talking to one of my good friends the other day about acts we haven't seen that we want to and my list is small really small. I'm insanely lucky.

C: oh any RSE homecoming show is pure chaos.

S: Haha I've had battle wounds that will attest to that!

C: And it just depends on the tour. Most touring hiphop acts are going to pull some locals on as openers. But that's a great thing about hiphop in general. I LOVE how much they support each other in other cities. The other kind of strange spin on it is most of my favorite rap isn't from mpls.

C: yeah i will not do crowed for homecoming shows anymore - save me a seat at the bar.

S: I like the action, keeps me young

S: Lets talk favorites, who are you die hard for?

C: as far as hiphop goes? Aesop Rock is always going to top the list, Sage Francis has said some of the best words I've ever heard, I love Buck 65 & Astronautalis. And at the top of my minneapolis list - Cecil Otter. Sense a theme here?
and that's really just skimming the surface, the list could really be endless.

S: Godbless nerdy white rappers

C: hallelujah.

C: reading these interviews with the other ladies - we are all so different. it's crazy.

S: Yes! That's why I wanted you guys specifically because everyone has so much to offer but its all so different. I don't want us sitting here gushing about the same shit every week.

S: There's such opportunity for great discussion... I can't wait.

S: So last month there was kind of a big announcement, no Scribble Jam this year. I know you've gone to that several different years, do you think it will be back or has it been outgrown?

C: stab me in the heart. scribble jam is some of the best times i have ever had in my life. they've talked about ending it for a few years now so it really wasn't that shocking. it was never a huge pull. but it was a completely different sense of community. people started on that stage. i've seen almost every hiphop act i ever care to see on that stage. i've met some of my best friends because of that festival. i hope it comes back, i really do. I could go on about this forever - i'm cutting myself off.

S: You've seen me I get so nerdy/overexcited talking music

C: talking to you about it i'm getting super hyped too, can we please have a hiphoplovefest meet up in my living room?

S: Yessss!

C: i think combining us girls in one room might be one of the most insane experiences of my life.

S: That would be bliss

S: You and me have that travel bug, we could be very dangerous together.
I was eyeing my duffel bag last night and was sooo tempted to start packing. I think three weeks in advance is too early.

S: You mentioned community and I know we've talked about this before but our little universe keeps getting smaller and smaller thanks in large part to the web etc. Do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?

C: i think it's got its ups and downs. i've meet some great hip hop friends through the internet. damn i had two kids from london fly over to stay with me and drive to Cincinnati for scribble one year, only knowing one of them from live journal. it's a way of meeting great like minded people and for artists to really network. you and i have the luck of living cities that do have culture, but damn those people living in population 300 cities - f that noise.

S: And yet we're the ones always desperate to break out of our cities

C: i know i have friend moving to NC in august and wants me to come out. and i still wanna see Seattle!

S: Yes! Seattle!

C: sometimes it's overwhelming, shows in other cities are different because no one knows you. I can't go anywhere without someone knowing me here. Really nowhere.

S: I think the best way to rekindle a romance with your city is by sharing it with someone new.

C: or going somewhere with no culture

C: i love minneapolis every time i get back from phx
that last trip really refreshed me
i'm stoked on my city again

S: I know I see so many of the same faces at Mpls shows

C: and it's not just shows. the coffee shops, the bars, the record stores.
walking down my street...
hahah my neighborhood is tiny

S: Haha I mostly frequent shows out there
But yeah I've had people come up to me on the bus etc. in midtown/uptown a few times like "hey you!"

C: i think i will end up leaving eventually for a period of time, but i will definitely settle here. it's a good city.

S: I think I'll end up somewhere truly random I'd never expect

(this is where we dissolve into tattoo talk and then have to bail)