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Rapper Prodigy of Mobb Deep has died aged 42

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Prodigy from the rap group Mobb Deep has died aged 42.

It has been reported that musician Prodigy died in Las Vegas, USA after having been hospitalised a few days prior for complications related to his sickle-cell anemia. Better known under his alias Prodigy whilst being part of Mobb Deep, Albert Johnson created a well-known and respected persona during the 90’s.

Prodigy was one-half of the influential rap group Mobb Deep who were active in the music scene since early 90’s. It was two of the albums that really shined and those were The Infamous (1995) and Hell on Earth (1996). Both of the albums gained respective status and became two albums that were listed consistently in best of hip-hop lists of all time.

The group publicist gave a quote to the magazine XXL about the sudden death of Mobb Deep.

“It is with extreme sadness and disbelief that we confirm the death of our dear friend Albert Johnson, better known to millions of fans as Prodigy of legendary NY rap duo Mobb Deep. Prodigy was hospitalized a few days ago in Vegas after a Mobb Deep performance for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis. As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth. The exact causes of death have yet to be determined. We would like to thank everyone for respecting the family’s privacy at this time.”

Tributes have come in via social media from fellow rappers and musicians.

The funeral of Prodigy will be held in  New York City on 29th of June. The public will be able to attend from 2 PM to 5 PM.

Interview: Miles Graham

Miles Graham has earned himself quite a name in the music world with his genuine, pure and simply emotional work.

With his latest single ‘Let It Shine’ released he joined us for an interview to talk about music.

Hi, how are you?

Good

So, how did you get into music?

Creative writing was in me from a young age so it was a natural thing that eventually developed into a total escapism from growing up in a deprived area in Dublin.Very cliche but creating music shone a light on life, throughout my life.

How did your song ‘Let It Shine’ come about?

The chorus was originally part of another song, however, the verses where outdated I felt so I re-wrote them. I do that a lot..

What are the challenges of making a song like ‘Let it Shine’?

Getting the production right is always a challenge. Getting what’s in your head down on a recording. I work hard on my lyrics, I’m no genius, I just work hard and will re-write and re-write until I’m happy with a concept.

What are your plans for the rest of 2017?

Release more music. I’m excited about some other songs I’ve written and co-written.

Describe yourself in one word.

Hardworking

Describe your music in one word.

Hope

What is your definition of culture?

Make art

To find out more about Miles Graham you can follow him here.

Radiant illustrations of Juliette Oberndorfer

Juliette Oberndorfer a Canada-based illustrator creates radiant illustrative scenes.

Her work is easily identifiable by the contrast of bright colours and the darker tones. Consequently setting the focal point and the atmosphere in her works. Furthermore Oberndorfer deliberately uses selective colour palettes and engaging compositions to create rich and saturated alternative universe that is brimming with story and is yearning to be explored.

The red waterfall

Lions

‘On Body and Soul’ wins big at Sydney Film Festival

Ildiko Enyedi’s film On Body and Soul won the ultimate prize at the 64th Sydney Film Festival, out of a total 12 films that were in competition for the prize.

It was a big win for the Hungarian filmmakers and female directors of the film industry after Enyedi’s film ‘On Body and Soul’ won the prestigious 10th anniversary Sydney Film Prize.

Enyedi won $60,000 cash prize for her ”audacious, cutting-edge and courageous’ filmmaking.” Whilst accepting the award, Enyedi said, “It was such an amazingly strong competition. It’s marvellous that such a film can move so many people, it gives me so much hope in cinema and in human communication.”

Jay Z announces new album ‘4:44’

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Rapper and entrepreneur Jay Z has announced that his brand-new album ‘4:44’ will be released at the end of this month.

After a few weeks of hints and teases, the album has been announced to be released at the end of this month, exclusively on Tidal which is owned by Jay Z.

It was announced by Tidal that the album will be released via social media. They also gave a preview of the song ‘Adnis’.

It will be the 13th solo studio album released by rapper Jay Z.

INORI (Prayer) / Super High Speed Face Mapping

Incredible high-speed face mapping technique used in a video format.

This project is achieved as collaborative work between AYABAMBI, Ishikawa Watanabe Lab, TOKYO, responding the call for collaboration by Nobumichi Asai. Watch the making of here.

Interview: Dexter Maurer

Dexter Maurer

Dexter Maurer is a talented Swiss-based artist that creates imaginative, digital works of illustration.

With his work constantly gaining more deserved attention we interviewed Dexter about his work.

So, what’s your background and how did you become interested in illustration?

When I was a kid I use to draw a lot in my spare time: My favourites heroes of cartoons, comics, video games etc.
My favourites heroes of cartoons, comics, video games etc. My father is an art teacher so he taught me a lot of techniques and exercises that gave me a passion for this profession. When finishing the obligatory school, I attended Wallis, EPAC ( Professional school of contemporary art ) to follow art lessons. During my diploma project, I discovered that illustration was really the medium I feel more comfortable with.

Are you working on anything new and exciting? 

I’m working on a book with another artist and on two exhibitions for 2018.

How did you develop your style?

I think that I developed it without trying to find a style straight away. At the beginning I wanted to feel comfortable with a medium so, when I was in the art school, I tried a lot of techniques and aesthetics. Thanks to this, I was able to discover my strengths and especially the defects I have to work on. I supposed that my style is a mix of all theses experiences.

What’s your source of inspiration?

I’m a fan of Eyvind Earle, Hiroshi Yoshida, Gustave Doré, Tadanori Yokoo and Wes Anderson. I’m also really inspired by the Disney and Ghibli animations and influenced by random stuff like toys, music, photography, legends story etc. I think that I’m really sensitive to the narration of art, I love to imagine stories inside the different art pieces I’m watching.

Do you have any creative routines?

Yes, it starts with a coffee and a cigaret aha.

What role does the artist have in society?

For me, art is here to feed the spirit of the human. The man doesn’t need art for living in a physical way, so why did he start to paint meticulously in the caverns? I think we need it to build our soul, personality and to communicate our emotions

What do you hope to accomplish with your art?

Meet new people, discover new cultures and new horizons and share my passion with other artists.

Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years?

In the garden of a side country house with all my friends to drink wine and eat a fondue aha.

So, any advice for aspiring artists?

I mean art isn’t easy so, work hard, be patient and passionate because it’s one of the best jobs on earth.

LA TEMPETE by Dexter Maurer

Check out Dexter’s social media here Behance, Facebook, Instagram.

Alternatively check out our feature on some of Dexter’s work here.

Interview: Novo Amor

Known for his soft and stunning vocals, Novo Amor has created quite a world with his music.

With his latest EP ‘Bathing Beach’ released he joined us for an interview to talk about music and culture.

Hi, how are you?

I’m great. How are you?

We are great, thank you! So, how did you get into music?

I think that I just naturally gravitated towards music from a young age due to my Dad being a keen musician and studio owner. It was through skateboarding that I really got into music though: I’d find new songs by hearing what the skaters would have on their sponsor videos. Following this I just found myself playing drums in bands and delving into the how music was made.

How did your song ‘Colourway’ come about?

Lyrically, Colourway loosely plays on the idea of using colour as mental or physical states. I think the idea came about after watching a Bowie documentary following his death. Melodically, it’s three unused songs absorbed into one.

Who/what influences your work?

The inspiration behind what a song sounds like – the lyrics or why i’m making the song in the first place – will change. A guitar tone from another artist might inspire me to want to achieve something similar, while lyrically I’m more likely to be inspired by people, places and memories.

Describe yourself in one word.

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Describe your music in one word.

Absorbed

What are your goals for rest of 2017?

I’ve just been setting up a new studio space for myself so my main goal is to produce some new songs, release more music and play more shows before hibernating for a few months.

We ask this many artists that we interview. If you could give any advice to an aspiring musician what would it be?

Learn how to produce your own music, even just to the standard where you can make your own demos. Persevere: there’s a lot in involved in being an artist, producer and musician that I don’t find easy. Just keep playing and making the music that you want to make. If you like it, the odds are that someone else will too, whatever the purpose of the music might be.

So, what is your definition of culture?

What I think culture is? my opinion on certain areas of culture? Culture as a whole? I’m not sure how I can define it. I live in the UK, so the culture here is vastly incomparable to that of China or Saudi Arabia. The culture that surrounds me, my culture, the people I know and interact with, the conversations I have, the knowledge I have and the interests I have… they’re are mainly rooted in the arts and in my case, music. I’m not interested in sport and I think religion is fairly ridiculous.

To find out more about Novo Amor click here to follow him on Facebook.

Interview: Dagny

Her career is going up and up, musician Dagny has not stopped making great music since she started and continues to do so with her latest single ‘Wearing Nothing’

With her new single out now, Dagny joined us to talk about her and her music.

Hi, how are you?

Hi, I’m very well thank you!

So, how did you get into music?

I’ve always been into music, and grew up with musician parents who play Jazz and Bossa Nova. I started writing my own songs during my teenage years, probably to get some “love frustration” out. Haha.

How did your song ‘Wearing Nothing’ come about?

It came about in a studio in Stockholm with Ludvig Söderberg and Alx Reuterskiöld. They had an idea going that I immediately fell in love with and connected with. We worked on it for a few days but then didn’t get together again for another six months to finish the lyrics. We took our time and it was a really good process in which we really considered every single line to make sure we got the message across.

What are the challenges of making a song like that?

We wished to write a song about being completely open and bare with someone. We wanted it to be intimate, and play on the idea of being naked with someone but without being too literal. That was a fine balance! I’m also used to doing big chorus with tons of energy and production, so it was new to me to make a song with a chorus that drops down.

What are your plans for the rest of 2017?

I’m doing 32 festivals this summer, so at the moment we’re flying between cities and performing lots, which is awesome. And I’m just finalizing all the songs I’m releasing this year. Lots of goodies to come!

Describe yourself in one word.

Kind. I think! I hope!

Describe your music in one word.

Energetic.

What is your definition of culture?

Exciting. And I want to experience as many different cultures as I can.

To find out more about Dagny follow her here on Facebook.

 

Interview: Wallaby

Wallaby are becoming a talked about name in the world of electronic dance music.

With their latest single ‘Messin’ Around’ released with Armada featuring Ke’nekt, the duo that forms Wallaby joined us for an interview to talk about music and culture.

Hi, how are you guys?

Great! Really happy about everything we’ve been putting out lately!

So, how did you guys form?

We met during college, we studied music production together and started working right away. We had a different name back then though, we formed Wallaby in January 2016!

How did your song ‘Messin’ Around’ come about?

We had a really simple beat, piano and drums, with kind of an hip-hop vibe. We sent it over to Ke’nekt and she sent back this really laid back, chill vocal, so we went with that. We used her voice to make the drop sound, and replaced some of the piano parts with synths and guitars, and added some male vocals as well. It was a lot of fun!

What are the challenges of making a song like ‘Messin’ Around’?

We think the real challenge is keeping the vision, channeling the ideas you have in the right direction, without loosing focus. Not overdoing things is not as easy as it seems!

What are your plans for the rest of 2017?

This summer we are working on a lot of new material that we’ll be releasing this fall, so we are really excited about that! We are also often co-producing other artist’s records, so we’ll definitely spend a lot of time in the studio in the upcoming months.

Describe yourselves in one word.

Is “Wallaby” a valid answer?

Describe your music in one word.

Definitely Wallaby on this one.

What is your definition of culture?

We think culture is the impact that trends and movements have on the people who follow them, and everybody around them. Growing up during the explosion of the Electronic Music culture felt like going into untapped territory with every new song you listened to, and keeping that excitement alive is what keeps things going and what makes this movement always bigger and stronger. Having a platform on which we can mix the influences of all the cultures that inspired us growing up is ultimately what excites us!

To find out more about Wallaby follow them here on Facebook.