Hip Hop artist leaves you Wanting More!
When you think of Hip Hop music, the ideology of the Dancehall boom is a natural blend in styles that should come to mind.
Rapping, dancing, talking, chanting, and rhyming lyrics on rhythmic tracks is a natural ingredient on any hip hop album set. The sounds of the old school songs by the likes of Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, The Drifters and Fats Domino coupled with modern day Dancehall sessions by the likes of Beenie Man, Movado, Sean Paul, Shaggy and Damian Marley infuse what is Kapital A and most notably, is what is laid down on his latest CD entitled, Why Not: Special Edition.
The full length 20 song album has extreme flair that dramatically grows the art and style combining both formats in its complexity. Rather than raps and shouts, the melody and color are what make up this great set being released this week at Don Lichterman's Sunset Urban label. Kapital A's music ingrains that colorful flair in those melodies in every song all the way through the entire CD which is set underneath the red-hot lyrics.
Kapital A began playing at neighborhood parties and at festivals throughout Ohio and in Jamaica while incorporating and introducing these two huge influences while laying the groundwork for what would become Rap/Hip Hop fusion with a Dancehall style. Today HipHop, coupled with Dancehall music and even what can be described as a Reggaeton style have carried itself across the globe into America and into Jamaica to bring together new fans of both genres. "Hip Hop has gone through many stages of growth with many sub-formats and sub genres which is the not only the beauty of it, it is also the fine line of it” says the head of Sunset (Urban) Don Lichterman. “As an Indy label, releasing Hip Hop music into what is a wide opened field and while garnering the roots of the deep culture from before say it when it became commercialized into the mainstream is key, otherwise we are competing in a field of major recording artists with a ton of money behind its marketing push and as a matter of fact, most of rap and hip hop today is all based on how much money is behind it” explains (Don) Lichterman whose latest hip hop artist is a releasing a CD that has received rave reviews since setting up its release this month (January 2015).
"In reality and in my opinion with regard to the music industry, the early to mid-90's was one of the most creative periods of growth into the mainstream marketplace for hip-hop music," states Don Lichterman, who' was working at MCA (Records) back then while Indy Labels like Interscope and Geffen were breaking HipHop bands in huge ways and “from nothing to something” which is “our (Sunset) business model” today.
"Hip hop music today is basically Pop Music today and we are not competing with it on that level and with what are artists that are on the THREE (3) or FOUR (4) major labels,” Don Lichterman expresses himself more about the landscape of the HipHop format and genre today. "And, by adding that so called Jamaican flair and by incorporating what are great lyrics with colorful melodies is a thrill to me rather than working straight up pop Rap and this guy (Kapital A) is underground and Indy, but he is also very melodic with his music which makes it very easy for me to work!"
“The other thing I love is working anything with added value and therefore selling a 20 song CD for say $9.99 a unit is great for the label," Don Lichterman ends the conversation by reiterating the Why Not: Special Edition CD is a bargain with 20 songs on a full length and extended CD set.
1 Intro
2 Kapital A
3 Fix Ya Face
4 Aint That Funny
5 En Fuego
6 Lookin At Me
7 What It Is
8 Same Window
9 So Many Problems
10 Nod Ya Head
11 Every Word
12 Warreeyaz
13 U R Fam
14 Talkin Bout Me
15 Ran
16 I Am
17 Doe Rae Mi
18 Fly Away
19 Um Um Um
20 Fallen Angels
The album is in store on January 20th and will be available at any place that sells CDs and that allows plays with Streams along with paid Downloads. The song Warreeyaz is also placed on the Tropical Party CD being released in February (2015) and two videos (Warreeyaz and Doe Rae Mi) are being worked, serviced and are now available at all popular video outlets (VEVO, YouTube, WhoTune, Pure Volume, VHX, Amazing tunes, Amazon, Grammy 365, StereoKiller and NoiseTrade)
Sunset Urban
Featuring Multi Platinum selling recording artist Gina Thompson, the up and coming artist, Kapital A and featuring compilation CDs like How Weed Won The West and the HipHop Party CD, Sunset Urban is one of the fastest growing Indy Labels.
Mov Sessian Project Available From Sunset Classics this month
Clarinetist Claudine Movsessian is one of the most acclaimed classical artists that has manifested in music today - renowned for her melodic, polished, dignified, imaginative, creative clarinet work and for her broad undertaking in delivering a modern day classical tradition to broader and youthful avid listener. Over the past few years, she has recorded many musical works including some of the best clarinet repertoire of the current day. Now, Sunset Classics is proud to announce that (Claudine) Movsessian has brought together two other music aficionados (Ema Dei and Dan Handrabur) for what is the first time recording of a full length album of masterpieces on its' debut self titled CD with Sunset (Classics). On this first release at the Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J) company, (Claudine) Movsessian performs her glorious clarinet works, along with a never-before-released 'clarinet and orchestral' arrangements of sound recordings, on a twelve (12) song full length album. The self titled debut album, is available in stores on February 10.
“This is one of the most traditional American klezmer albums that I have ever heard” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset, although that applies to the klezmer component of this intriguingly melange of music in general. French clarinetist Claudine Movsessian has gathered friends and created something quite different, yet timeless. Movsessian's clarinet is driving on the first single and the first video entitled "Heyser Bulger", as the trio blends in Rom fiddling to "Oi mama, bin ich verlieb." “There is also a sense of improvisation that pushed its' music to the edges of classical styles, yet it is very accessible for any avid music listener,” (Don) Lichterman continues to say about the self titled CD. “Overall, it is indeed a tad different from typical American klezmer music but there is that international feel throughout all of the recordings on it” states (Don) Lichterman.
The middle eastern style drums help make up the rhythms on the several klezmer and Yiddish ensembles and (Claudine) she has gathered musicians from around the world, that make up the diverse group. Influences include not only klezmer styles and what be described as Yiddish, its Middle Eastern rhythms are accompanied by clarinet krechts, that make up a lively and what has been described as syncopated classical compositions. The trio that make up the Mov Sessian Project blend itself gently together which creates a powerful group and moreover, a high leveled album from the beginning to the end of it.
(Claudine) Movessian's clarinet playing is second to none and the percussion work is a great blend for fans of world music and of klezmer styled music. The approach to building the songs on this debit album with Sunset (Classics) has been continuously evolving for many years. It just happened to culminate on what became this self titled album. “What fascinates me is how the beauty of the music shines through each song in such a lively way” says (Don) Lichterman, and is “performed in such a 'romantic' way too which is hard to accomplish this day and age.” (Claudine) Movsession has had the ability to now collaborate with two amazing crossover music artists, Ema Dei and Dan Handrabur, two music 'specialists' that have helped revolutionize the way that world music and electronic styled music is looked at today. They have all incorporated their own musical philosophies to create this very unique movement if you will, in this international style of music.
In its approach to making a 'modern' yet rooted group of songs on the CD, the hope is to fuse the old with the new, which is key to being a viable classical music artist in this modern day. Claudine Movsessian and her Mov Sessian project has only been an exclusive Sunset Classical artist for less than year, and they have already captured the attention of classical music listeners in no time at all, and in essence is alluring its audiences worldwide with her breathtaking playing and with the overall tones that are just wonderful to hear.
For more information on the Mov Sessian Project, please visit www.MovSessianProject.Sunset-Classics.com.
Mov Sessian Project Track listing:
1 Carrefour
2 Electro Transe
3 Cosmos
4 Kaleidoscope
5 Haiser Bulgare
6 Babilion
7 Hora
8 Tsumpa
9 Oxygene
10 Parfums D'Orient
11 Le Berger
12 Espace Intersiderale
Sunset Classics
A world renowned classical and orchestral record company with old school classical styles
blended with modern day artists that make up its musical works and great repertoire.
Richtaste, the Swiss alternative rock band led by creative mastermind and lyrical genius Stefan Frankhasuer, is now setting up to release their sophomore album Lights And Shades (Sunset) on September 23rd. The first single from the album is "Good Days Are Gone." The entire CD was produced by Pat Aeby who is the drummer for the multi platinum Geffen Recording artist Krokus. The songs on the Lights and Sounds CD recount Stefan's life experiences pursuing a career in music and growing the bands repertoire for the new CD.
Richtaste is a band made up of Stefan Frankhasuer (Vocals & Guitar), Rafael (Guitar), Roger (Bass), Marc (Drums) and Retro (Keyboard). The new album shows the growth and ripeness the band has gained by playing large stages live over the last year. And, Lights And Shades is produced by Pat Aeby (Krokus) who elevates the bands to the top of their game. The songs are done a high level with lyrics that are compelling and accessible throughout the entire CD. Coupled with the proficient musicianship, Lights And Shades is an appealing and awesome second CD.
The band's debut self titled album has received amazing amounts of critical acclaim by all sorts of media outlets around the world. The debut CD also had a great amount of radio play in the United States due to the label picking up the CD for the rest of the world outside of Switzerland and Germany. Sunset Records released the debut to help set up the Lights And Shades follow up CD. “We are working five (5) singles to radio starting this week,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset. Lichterman goes on to say that he “must strategically work this album. One of the guys is going into the military service from late October until February of next year. We are doing key bookings in America before and after at industry conventions before doing a Europe tour after he is done with his service.”
The band, recently just played the main stage at the sold out The annual Open-air Etziken preparing for the Lights And Shades sophomore title. The group and producer Pat Aeby spent a lot of time with over 30 songs to choose these strong 14 tracks for the upcoming release. “This is really a considered a debut although we did use the self titled to help introduce the music to media, radio and retail,” says Lichterman about bringing the band to the US. “And then conversely with Lights And Shades we will work with Universal in Switzerland to deliver the music.”
"When I hear our songs today, I really feel we could not be better in a better place today," says singer and songwriter Stefan Fankhauser. "Our sound has more eggs (nuts) than before! Our expectations were not met," admits Fankhauser and relates to the new support the band has in place that has opened up their musical ideas and the production pieces it all together perfect.” "We were busy with the production for so much time, that we already were filled up to the top with new ideas when releasing" Frankhauser says with his enticing European accent. Unapologetically the five now dare to face also critical issues. Richtaste know that light and shadow in the real world are as close together as in the show business. "Supermen" i.e. simply states that at least a dozen blue dressed superheroes is needed to save the planet before the impending demise. And "Tom Rocket" deals with the question of what drives a man to spend the nights slaughtering anything that moves in a video game using what can be described as its pseudonym.
It is not out of the blue for bands to boast about their latest album release well before it even gets to retail stores. From the opening track, Rocket Man, you can hear the high level of confidence. The pace never slows down with the first single Good Days Are Gone, the driving dark foreboding second track, to the outrageously catchy, Superman and Night Of 1,000 Dreams, the obvious hit singles waiting in the sings if there ever were hit songs. Frankhauser couldn't let the year’s political landscape go without directing his songs right at the US government, as he does in Superman. And, then all the way down to the final few songs on the CD, the uplifting Night Of 1,000 Dreams and Duke Of WestPoint, gives Richtaste fans 14 of the strongest alternative rock and pop songs of the year.
With Lights And Shades, Richtaste will gain many new fans in the United States along with keeping their European fan base excited about the new CD