Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and self-taught musician Ian Holubiak, who goes by the name Great Ian Alexander, has released the music video to his new protest anthem, written in response to the death of George Floyd and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“The Ballad of Michael Brown,” was originally supposed to be a battlecry for the late Michael Brown, a victim of police brutality. As the years have passed, the song has maintained its relevance, serving as yet another voice in defiance of the systemic racism inherent in America’s police forces. Great Ian Alexander presents a song to aid in the revolution, to form a new police system and oust the racism that has been perpetuated and brutalized through the 13th Amendment.
Written by Ian Alexander Holubiak, Larz Principato & Denis Lipari, the song is a part of Holubiak’s solo project, Great Ian Alexander.Holubiak, a self-taught musician from the age of nine has toured with the Atlantic Records band, Oh Honey, as both a member and co-songwriter. Among the other groups he has toured with include Beach Weather and singer-songwriter acts inducing Grammy award nominated Elle King.
At some point in our lives, we have all heard the classic hip hop refrain from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, “Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge.” However, despite the funky bass line and infectious hook, “The Message” was written to give insight on the life of a young Grandmaster Melle Mel, who grew up in the Bronx during the ’60s and ‘70s, following the wake of the Civil Rights movement, an incredibly trying time for the impoverished black community. “The Message” has a place in history that is more than a reminder of the true roots of hip-hop, but rather a landmark of socially conscious rap. “The Message” was one of the first commercially successful rap songs providing heavy social commentary. At the time of its release, it stood out among other party tracks that were the hip-hop market at the time.
The intro delivered by Duke Bootee sets the scene, “It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under.” Comparing life in the inner city Bronx to life in a literal jungle reiterates the hardships faced by the black community, struggling for survival and contemplating the will and self-determination that urge for survival takes. Then, on the verse is Melle Mel depicting the struggles of a poor black man who is on his last ounce of hope after repeating a cycle of despair desperate to escape.
Mel continues on the hook, “Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to lose my head,” which encompasses the song’s central message: life in the inner city is hard and the stresses constantly build up. The hook almost sings as a warning to people unaware of the realities of street life, pleading people to not “push” you off the edge in a means to preserve your own mental sanity. Melle Mel’s verses continue to cover topics of poverty and homelessness due to mental illness with bars creating images of a “Crazy lady, livin’ in a bag eatin’ outta garbage pails” makes clear that Melle Mel was on the front lines of poverty in the 1970s. Mel also comments on the broken education system saying he “Got a bum education” and is under financial stress due to “double-digit inflation” which all feed into the power of the refrain.
Despite its release nearly 40 years ago, the song remains highly relevant in 2020’s social and political climate. The struggles detailed by Melle Mel are still issues faced by thousands who are stuck in the cycle of poverty perpetuated by systematic racism, un-equitable access, and crime. Many of the topics Mel rhymes about throughout “The Message” are the same themes present day artists such as Kendrick Lamar (AKA Cornrow Kenny) are bringing back to the focal point in the conscious hip hop movement.
There is an almost predictable reemergence of these themes of depression and poverty expressed by the black community brought to light by artists generationally. The consistency of lyrical themes present in the late 1970s mirroring those of present day billboard topping singles reiterates the notion that not much has changed. Black America is still trying to survive in the metaphorical jungle Bootee sang about.
Over the past ten years, we have seen artists such as Kendrick Lamar, as mentioned earlier, releasing songs in a similar vein to “The Message.” Most notably, his 2012 critically acclaimed, Good Kid M.A.A.D. City, concept album which followed the life of a young Kendrick throughout his upbringing in Compton, CA. Throughout the album’s track list, Kendrick raps about several similar themes such as his struggles with poverty, crime, and depression. Whether cited as an influence or not, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message” certainly paved the way for projects making social commentary accessible for the hip hop audience of today.
The next time you find yourself nodding your head to the beat of “The Message,” or saying “Don’t push me,” keep in mind the original focus of Grandmaster Flash and consider the blessing that music has the power to carry these messages through sound from generation to generation.
The CMJ Virtual Music Marathon will return virtually this year, now under the ownership of Amazing Radio. Amazing Radio also has begun their new show One Night Stand, a weekly live performance which will feature up and coming artists broadcast on AmazingRadio.tv.
One Night Stand was kicked off June 15 with a special introductory show featuring The 1975, Alvvays, alt-J, Daughter, and Wolf Alice and included informational interviews with Amazing Radio founder Paul Campbell and CEO DJ Andy Zicklin. One Night Stand will showcase two new artists each week through music and interviews. Starting June 19, the show will begin broadcasting regularly every Friday night from 8-8:30PM EST.
On June 19, fans can watch or listen to interviews and performances by Huw Edwards of KOYO (Leeds, UK) and Grace Gillespie (London, UK), and additional performances by Needshes (Moscow, Russia), Daring Greatly (San Diego, CA), Firstimers (Denver, CO), and James Alexander Bright (Hampshire, UK). The audience will be able to tip the artists directly.
Launched in England in 2007, Amazing Radio’s mission is to “[help] new and emerging artists get discovered and make money, without getting screwed.” Its North-American branch kicked off in 2018. Amazing Radio helps undiscovered artists gain media attention in an ethical way. Several iconic artists have been discovered by Amazing Radio, such as Alt J, Haim, London Grammar, Bastille, Chvrches, The 1975, Royal Blood, Sam Fender and Dua Lipa. Billboard called the station “a powerful promotional machine.”
Amazing Radio now also owns CMJ, the College Music Journal. CMJ was founded in 1977 and began hosting an annual music festival showcasing new, undiscovered talent in New York City in 1980. The festival helped artists like Lady Gaga, Mumford & Sons, and Arcade Fire gain notoriety. Unfortunately, the CMJ Music Marathon has not taken place since 2015. However, CMJ and Amazing Radio are happy to announce that the festival will be returning virtually this Summer. Although the festival cannot be in person, it will still maintain “its spirit of new music discovery,” and will now span “New York and beyond.”
All emerging artists can submit their music for the CMJ Virtual Music Marathon by becoming Amazing Artists on Amazingradio.us. Doing so offers the artists several benefits, including the chance to be considered for One Night Stand. Additionally, new artists who sell their music on AmazingRadio will keep 100% of their profits and donations.
Be sure to watch or listen to One Night Stand on AmazingRadio.tv or AmazingRadio.us respectively every Friday night from 8-8:30PM EST and submit your original work for the CMJ Virtual Music Marathon.
Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage is virtually celebrating the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The New York City concert series, now known as Summerstage Anywhere, is having a digital day of dance on Friday, June 19, with hourly tribute performances starting at 12:00 p.m. EST leading up to a panel discussion at 7:00 p.m. Originally planned to be held in-person, the Juneteenth event will be free and fully virtual on Summerstage’s Instagram and YouTube channels.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBiim-5npb4/
Performers include RudduR Dance, who will perform an excerpt of their three-part contemporary ballet “Witness” at 6:00 p.m. “Witness” intertwines art and activism to depict the past, present, and future of race in America. During his candidacy, current French president Emmanuel Macron visited a rehearsal. RudduR Dance was founded in 2015 by Guggenheim fellow Christopher Rudd.
At 7:00 p.m., Hope Boykin of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will host a panel discussion called “Reflecting the Times.” Boykin, an alumna of Howard University, is a three-time recipient of the American Dance Festival’s Young Tuition Scholarship. Following the panel, there will be a tribute performance of “Hanging Tree” featuring Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet (JGCO) Dance Theatre, vocalist Marcelle Davies-Lashley, and poet Carl Hancock Rux. For almost 25 years, JGCO has performed across the United States as well as internationally.
Observed annually on June 19, Juneteeth celebrates the end of slavery in Texas in 1865. Following the U.S. Civil War, Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation still had yet to be enforced in Texas until Union general George Granger issued an order in Galveston freeing the last remaining slaves in the Confederacy.
“As a Black woman in America, I am a direct beneficiary of the struggles and battles for justice and I stand on the shoulders of those who fought and continue to fight for my freedom,” said Danni Gee, Dance Curator and Music Programming Associate for SummerStage. “I am honored to be able to celebrate this important anniversary of Juneteenth in our country’s history on SummerStage Anywhere. I am proud to present this program even more so in light of current events and it is crucial to me that the communities we serve know that we stand with them.”
Escaper guitarist Will Hanza’s spirits are high as he and his fellow bandmates prepare for the highly anticipated release of their new album Apotheosis this Friday (June 19thRopeadope Records). Hanza spoke to NYS Music about the inspiration and process involved in creating Apotheosis as well as the future plans of Escaper with quarantine in mind.
Thomas Lent: The album art for Apotheosis by Matthew Chase is striking – what input and guidance, if any, did you and the band members have on the design?
Will Hanza: Oh the art is all Matt’s and he’s done a lot of work for us in the past but as far as our contribution goes he gets an advanced copy of the album, listens to it, and the we discuss what the album is about, what the meaning is, and then he creates the art. Apotheosis definitely feels like a breakthrough in his own art.
Tl: What was the songwriting process like for Apotheosis?
WH: It sort of depends on the individual track, the first few albums were instrumental but then we had some vocals.“Apotheosis” was one of our first tracks with vocals. A lot of our writing process comes from jams at first, and then we refine It from there. Open sky for example started as a solo acoustic. I brought it to the band and then fleshed it out more. For “No Strings” I remember Phil saying he wanted an “Ah Ah Ah!” feel, then we dug into that and then we started refining it into what “No Strings” finally became. The first track, “Vista,” was born out of us jamming after a song during a concert and a new sort of ‘danceable’ track came up and we decided to make it into another own song. We called it “Vista” because we felt the song elicits the feeling of climbing a mountain and reaching a new vista point.
TL: For the listener, what would you like the main takeaway to be from Apotheosis?
WH: We want this album to be a journey, start at “Vista,” goes to Open Sky – “Eye in the Open Sky”- then you realize that you are it, that we all can have that ‘Third Eye’ realization. I mean, the third track “Superhead” is all about your higher sense of self. Then when you make it to “No Strings,” it’s a fun song, once you find your sense of self, you can go onto the dance floor so to speak.
TL: Your “Escaper at Home” Youtube video series is a real treat to see. How was much of Apotheosis created in this virtual way during quarantine?
WH: Oh well ya that series was partly a treat for the fans but the album was created by us when we were together last year. It largely came out of our new drummer (Ricky Petraglia) and playing smaller shows and harvesting new material from the quartet and writing with each other late last year and refining it. Near the end of that year, we got to work with John Davis again and recorded and mixed the whole album in 6 days. Much of it was actually recorded live as well. “Res Magna” for instance had a lot of improv involved in its creation.
TL: Quarantine has made life harder for just about everyone, how do you see artists making it in this new lockdown environment?
WH: There’s a lot of hurt, it’s hard to complain about anything in my life, I don’t want to take away from other peoples struggles now with all of the new movements and causes but we scheduled this release 6 months out and had to cancel our tour we had planned with it so it’s hard. To compensate we’ve done these online things but were itching to play. We’ve looked at private parties, beaches, small events outdoors that can have a certain capacity. I know it’s somewhat controversial but music is good for people’s souls, and I believe people need that. Hopefully, by fall or next summer, we can be back on the road.
TL: What is one more thing you would like to impart upon the listener for Apotheosis?
WH: I’m hoping everyone will get it into their ears, now there’s vocals, songs with messages and important feelings that make a positive album. We’ve also tried to include the danceable part of it to have the experience and the grove as well since we’ve missed dancing with people at shows. Overall we’re very proud of the album, we hope it can help people “Escaper” a little bit.
Escaper will release Apotheosis on June 19th 2020, on Ropeadope Records.
Flushing Town Hall announced a tribute to the late Jimmy Heath, nicknamed Little Bird in the industry, who was an NEA Jazz Master and Queens Jazz Orchestra Music Director. Heath passed away back in January of 2020 at the age of 93 and was a jazz legend for his saxophone skills in particular. The event will be live-streamed on Flushing Town Hall’s Facebook page on Friday, June 19 at 7:00 PM.
Percy Heath (Left) and Jimmy Heath (right) performing in June 1977.
Jimmy Heath received three Grammy nominations over the years. He was nominated for Best Historical Album with John Coltrane: The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (Album) during the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance with Little Man, Big Band (Album) during the 36th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993, and Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group with Live At The Public Theatre (Album) during the 23rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1980. Jimmy Heath was also a recipient of the 2003 NEA Jazz Masters Award and in 2004 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Human Letters. With performing in over 100 albums and writing over 125 compositions Jimmy Heath was truly a legend in the Jazz world.
Flushing Town Hall plans to honor him with this special tribute by including appearances by many celebrated musical artists who have crossed paths – and taken the stage – with Jimmy Heath throughout his career. People on the docket include Jimmy Heath’s wife, Mona, and jazz legends Albert “Tootie” Heath, Barry Harris, Jimmy Owens, and Dorthaan Kirk; and members of Queens Jazz Orchestra, including Antonio Hart, David Wang, Jeb Patton and Douglas Purviance. On top of the musical component of the tribute there also will be testimonials about Jimmy Heath from special guests such as New York City Council Member Francisco Moya.
Flushing Town Hall seemed like the right venue for this tribute for Jimmy Heath according to Town Hall Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek because, “Jimmy Heath was an iconic presence at Flushing Town Hall. Whenever we would announce that our Queens Jazz Orchestra would return, performances would sell out – because people wanted to come together to experience the music and the man.”
The event will take place Friday, June 19 at 7:00 PM and can be viewed for free on Flushing Town Hall’s Facebook page. Donations will be accepted to support the Jimmy Heath Fund at Queens College. They can be sent to: The Jimmy Heath Fund, c/o Mike Lipsey, Queens College Music Department, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, Queens, 11367. Donations are also being accepted for the Jimmy Heath Scholarship Fund at Queens College. They can be made by writing a check to the QC Foundation (and putting “Jimmy Heath Scholarship” in the memo), and mailed to: Queens College Foundation, Keily Hall, Queens College, Queens, NY, 11367, or by calling Joann Acquista, Queens College, Director, Donor Relations, at (718) 997-5864.
For more information on the event visit Flushing Town Hall’s website.
Award-winning blues and Americana vocalist Shemekia Copeland has released her new song, “Uncivil War.” “Uncivil War” takes no sides and speaks to every person’s desire to be safe and free. Featuring iconic mandolin Sam Bush, dobro master Jerry Douglas and background vocals from popular alternative band The Orphan Brigade, the song is simultaneously comforting and challenging, as Copeland sings, “Same old wounds we’ve opened before / Nobody wins an uncivil war.” Copeland delivers the song with passion and insight about the uncertainty in the world while still finding hope for the future. The song, written by John Hahn, will be featured on Copeland’s upcoming Alligator album.
Copeland express the message she communicates in this song:
It’s not just a song. I’m trying to put the ‘united’ back in the United States. Like many people, I miss the days when we treated each other better. For me, this country’s all about people with differences coming together to be part of something we all love. That’s what really makes America beautiful.
When she first came onto the scene at age 18 with her debut album, Turn The Heat Up, Copeland quickly became a blues and R&B force to be reckoned with. Copeland’s previous album, America’s Child, won the Blues Music Award for Album Of The Year, and was named the #1 blues album of 2018 by MOJO magazine. Copeland recently received the 2020 Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist Of The Year, during a special online ceremony. Copeland is currently hosting her own blues radio show on SiriusXM’s Bluesville.
On Tuesday, Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media jointly announced in a statement that the national show ‘Live From Here with Chris Thile’ will come to an end, along with 28 jobs will be cut due to budget concerns that have occurred since the start of COVID-19. Also canceled is ‘The Hilarious World of Depression,’ a podcast hosted by John Moe.
These cuts come after much consideration to keep MPR and APM running as is. Last month 14 staff members took voluntary staff buyouts in hopes of saving other staff members jobs. Among those announcing they’re leaving MPR/The Current is multimedia producer Nate Ryan and podcast producer Jeyca Maldonado. Despite these buyouts and money raised through emergency fundraising, the staff reduction and program eliminations could not be avoided.
Additionally MPR and American Public Media stated that executive pay will be cut by 20-35 percent, all 2021 pay raises are canceled and the reduction of working hours. At this time any unionized journalists and staff will not be effected by the cuts according to MPR/APM union representatives.
Photo credit: Brantley Gutierrez
MPR says the cuts it made were done in a way that “aligned with our mission, values and long-term vision” and “protects our core strengths” in an effort to provide programming that their audience wants while maintaining in a time of financial uncertainty.
MPR added, “We will find new ways to give you more control over when and how you listen, and greater access to our content on your favorite media devices. We’ll offer fresh, distinctive programming that deepens our value to you and attracts new audiences. We will double-down on trusted, in-depth information that engages and equips you to make informed decisions about your health, the economy and our democracy. And we will invest in understanding and addressing the systemic issues of racism and inequities further exposed by the killing of George Floyd.”
‘Live From Here’ started in 2016 with musician and songwriter Chris Thile at the wheel after the phasing out of ‘A Prairie Home Companion’. Broadcasting via public radio for two hours weekly from legendary Town Hall in New York City. With its blend of musical performances, comedy and audience interaction delivered by Thile and his wide range of guests, the show was an unique experience for audiences nationally.
Chris Thile expressed his excitement and hope for the show when he told NYS Music during an interview in September, “We have this two-hour canvas that we get to paint every week and there is a lot of space for things to happen and it feels good being in a place like this where on any given night there are hundreds of wonderful things happening”.
Up-and-coming LGBTQ artist Nicolas McCoppin has released the new song “Remember That Night” that recalls his first queer relationship just in time for Pride Month. Co-written with Krysta Youngs and produced by Nick Trapani, the song is about McCoppin’s memories driving down the beach, staring at the stars, and walking down Arthur Avenue in the Bronx with his love interest.
Continuing the streak of 80s-inspired dance-pop explored in McCoppin’s previous singles, the song is reminiscent of other pop artists with strong LGBTQ fanbases such as Charli XCX, Hayley Kiyoko, and Troye Sivan. “Remember That Night” shares their catchy melodies, danceable beats, and romantic lyrics, making it a natural pride anthem.
Pride isn’t the only social movement associated with the song, though. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement and protests against police brutality, McCoppin is donating proceeds from “Remember That Night” to the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Association, a collective made up of Black trans artists, activists, and educators helping protesters with resources, medical care, and bail. On Twitter he shared that he tried to postpone the song’s release, but since it wasn’t possible he decided to donate the proceeds instead.
as i release this song tonight, I just wanted to share my thoughts with you 🤍 pic.twitter.com/t5O5W5yL7Q
— nicolas mccoppin (@nicolasmccoppin) June 5, 2020
“This song’s concept is a puzzle piece of a bigger idea from my debut EP,” McCoppin said. “I’m so excited to finally have this song out in the world.” “Remember That Night” is the third single off the debut EP from Nicolas McCoppin, due out later this summer.
Long Island’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is shutting down according to a Bloomberg report and will be shut down indefinitely until new investors can be found. Nassau Coliseum is just one of the many venues suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phish Performing December 1, 2019 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Photo taken by Thom McKenna.
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum opened in 1972 and is used for all sorts of events including sporting events, large exhibitions, shows as well as trade shows, and of course concerts. The coliseum hosted big names like Elvis Presley, The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beach Boys, Queen, and many, many others. The coliseum went through renovations back in 2015- 2017 and currently has a seating capacity of 14,500.
According to posts on Bitcoin Prime, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov’s Onexim Sports and Entertainment who operates the venue decided to shutdown the coliseum indefinitely while they seek investors to take over operations. Once they have found a new investor they will have the lease turned over to the new investor and have them pick up the remaining debt on the building which is roughly $100 million in loans on it in return.
According to the Bloomberg report, Onexim Sports and Entertainment’s explained that, “The unforeseeable and unprecedented Covid-19 crisis has had a devastating effect on the operations of the Coliseum and its finances. While we still believe in the enormous long term economic value of the Coliseum and the development of the surrounding land, we recognize that such value will be best realized by other parties.”
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum has been an essential part of the entertainment scene on Long Island for many years and hopefully will be able to continue to do so once they find a new investor. For more information read the Bloomberg report or visit The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum’s website.
