The girl that you now see standing in front of you  Keeps going on, because she believes…
In setting you free

The Sound: Nu Disco. Smoke Machines & Synthesizers. Glitter. House. Bass Chic. A triumphant Queen of Funk riding an otherworldly track.

The Scene: Ice Cream Parlors. Something Old, Something New. Cameras. Flashing Lights. Couture. Moves, on Moves, on Moves.

The Verdict: Róisín Murphy and Chaka Khan may just be distant love(hers). Influence is always uncanny because style is cyclical.

Watch This Space

This installment of Dime Dailies finds itself resting in the progressively nostalgic nook of Nouveau Music, as we listen to the monstrous melodies of Ben Carson:

Ben Carson is a musician, writer, rock n rolla, day dreamer and sweet talker rolled into one human being. Ever since discovering the guitar, his eyes were opened to the alternative world that would rule the rest of his life. Drawn into the world of teen angst and crunching guitar riffs, there has been nothing more interesting than the world of rock.

Carson’s debut EP rolls through this crisp Fall Manhattan Sunday afternoon like a much-welcomed, warm, and hazy Georgia breeze. The six-track sampler tastes a bit like beer-battered Ben and Jerry’s – hops and heartbreak – one part lover and one part lush: all parts rock, and rhythmic southern soul.

There’s Ben the melodic lost lover. “Bringing Me Down” opens with the bluesman crooning, “You say that you love me, but is it a lie; you act like you want me, why can’t you decide?” As the listener hangs on to the audioslave’s lingering lines, the track fades into a sweltering guitar solo. Carson’s axe is an extension of himself; the EP is a delicious dialogue between Carson’s own distinctive smoky tone, and his guitar’s signature spicy licks. “Isabella” is a lo-fi punch drunk love tale, a muted gem with no percussion or piano, just Carson and his guitar chords. “There’s danger in her eyes… I see her in my dreams…” serenades over a metronomic hi-hat, and riding bass in the subtle standout “Temptation.” There’s hints of Sublime, and a slight underscore of Deftones. Vocals fade left to right, with riffs and rhymes rolling ahead like an easy rider, as chords shift from heavy-hearted picking to heavy-handed with a touch of metal. The lover becomes the lush with “Wasted.” Carson infuses indigenous drums and rich acoustics; as he sings “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s how I feel,” it’s impossible to resist shared harmonic lunacy.

If the album is progressive nostalgia, the sound of a soulman with the soul of a rockstar, “Your Face” flips the script, and gives the old feel and new veneer. The track features Corinne Stevie and $$$’s collaborative tones, as their distant layered vocals call “If you want to get high, you should f*ck with me… I’m not easy, I just don’t feel like sleeping low tonight…” The melodic monster returns with melodic mania. The vocoder-laden vocals beneath automated acoustics don’t lose any of Carson’s signature sound, but rather show the versatility in his style: simultaneously dreamlike and nightmarish, just as a melodic monster should be.

As Ben says: “Yep, that’s it. I’m trying to make it short and sweet on that ‘leave them wanting more’ tip.” The Melodic Monster cover art tells the tale: a cloud of sonic vintage billowing from a gold-toothed grill. The album sings the same story: the blues spoken from the mouth of a young man with the sapient soul of a greatest generator.

In honor of Bitches Brew‘s recent 41st Anniversary, a cinematic parallel capturing the aesthetics of Miles Davis’ psychedelic fusion jazz masterpiece.

mytwocents: “Reminiscent Twilight” is the perfect description for an album that looks back to the classic age of jazz, but looks ahead to the future of innovated sound – acoustic distortions so tangible you can taste them, feel them on your fingertips, sound rich enough to enamourously fall into, mood so trippy one can’t help but stumble down the proverbial rabbit hole into Miles’ mindset at its most marvelously maniacal. Davis trumps our modern technological maneuvers with sheer soul, his aural schizophonic symphony has any 808 track beat, and this brilliant cinematic gem is a most-fitting trek through Miles’ synesthetic scape. #SATwordsonparade

Watch this space: all of this is to say… cheers to Bitches Brew, you twisted sister you… and top marks to your maker

I caught The FountNHead when they performed at a show at The Masquerade in Atlanta this past summer. The trio caught my attention instantly. Maybe it was the brash political message they exuded. They performed with a doll of Barack Obama onstage by the way. It could have possibly been the angst that I picked up in their tone. The same youthful angst that is propelling Tyler the Creator and the Odd Future movement. That same angst the propelled Nirvana in the 90′s and Linkin Park in the 2000s. All that said, it most likely it was the music. 

Breezing through their set which featured many tracks off their debut EP Higher than Heaven, Still Blacker than Hell, I was sold. Their sound is unique, featuring equal parts of southern brashy rock and southern rap and crunk music. Booty Bass and Guitars are an unlikely pairing, but when it sounds this cohesive who cares about genre? Do yourself a favor and get into this one.

Download: The FountNHead – Bang, Bang, Bang

“I Feel” is the first leak from Corinne Stevie’s upcoming EP “Amalgam Nation,” scheduled for a October 27 Release.

The Song:

To get listeners ready for the new EP, Miami based emcee/painter Corinne Stevie is releasing the first official track from the project, “I Feel,” which is produced by Aussie musician Timeshare, whose previous work includes tracks with artists such as Muffy and Emma Louise among others. “When he first sent me the track I kinda freestyled to it,” Stevie explains on the pairing. “He sent it back, like ‘you can do better’, and then I went back and redid and made it what you hear now.” The album art was designed by the artist herself.

And with the self-described “hip-hop/sci-fi” track, Corinne approached personal matters with a lyrical precision missing from the average Hip-Hop song. “We all need affection, and art is my medicine,” Stevie spits on the first verse of “I Feel.” However she feels, we feel her.

Download: Corinne Stevie – I Feel

Lenny Kravitz recorded his new album Black And White America in near solitude in the Bahamas, an experience he says brought him closer to God. Well, there are copious references to the Man upstairs in the lyrics of what must be his most stylistically diverse album yet.

Opening is the title track, a horn-peppered retro funk ditty about race relations in America with the lyrics “In 1963 my father married, a black woman, and when they walked the street, they were in danger…. But they just kept on walking hand in hand.” “Come On Get It” is a raucous rocker which should please fans of his songs like “Are You Gonna Go My Way” or “Fly Away.” Other rockers are “In The Black,” “Rock Star City Life,” “Stand” (with lyrics encouraging self belief), the extremely catchy “Everything,” and the beautiful the Bowie-esque “I Can’t Be Without You.”

“Liquid Jesus” is a gently throbbing falsetto-sung piece while “Boongie Drop” is a slice of choppy funk featuring Jay-Z and DJ Military. “Superlove” is my favorite, a Disco-tinged Funk number with Chic-style guitar in the ending choruses. “Life Ain’t Ever Been Better” is James Brown meets Fela Kuti (he even name checks Brown in the dying minute of the song). “Looking Back On Love” is laid back and Jazzy, “The Faith Of A Child” is a groovy ballad, “Sunflower” is a sunny groove with skittery beats featuring Drake, “Dream” is a Lennon-style inspirational acoustic ballad, while closing is “Push” where he states that he will “Push until I find my way home.”

Stylish, proficient, deep, and fun all at once.

My great grandmother recently passed away, she was one of the few heroes in my life and I always looked towards her for some type of peace and humor. We’d had no spats, but when it concerned music. Her record collection was massive. Billie Holiday, Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, Hall & Oates, Jennifer Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles. My grandmother had at least five-hundred records of classic soul and R&B tunes, and when I attempted to compete with her, I’d lose. Not just lose, but get berated with comments on why the music was not good. “There’s no soul. Where’s the fun? Where’s the mystery, Myles? Where’s the story? Where’s the personality?” She was right. There was none. Until one day, in my sophomore year of high-school I played a song I fell in love with a song called “Bonafied Lovin’” by Chromeo.

It was my jam and in my grandmother’s South Carolina home, she over-heard me playing it while I was getting ready for the family’s bar-b-q. “What’s that?” Grandma Rosa-Lee said. I was scared to even attempt to explain to her what was bleeding out of my portable speakers and into her half-century year old home in the deep south. I responded timidly, “It’s a band called Chromeo.” She shot her eyes at me and gave a quick smile, “That’s the stuff, Myles.” She moved her eighty-something year old body to the beat and walked out, so I can continue to get ready. Yes, even in her late eighties my Grandmother knew how to shimmy.

Chromeo was the funky, electronic bridge between me and my Grandmother. If we were in the car, we’d actually be able to compromise. She’d play some Sam Cooke or The Ohio Players, and I’d play Chromeo. Chromeo is a Canadian band composed of vocalist/songwriter/producer Dave 1 and producer/songwriter P-Thugg. They gained top notoriety with aforementioned hits like “Bonafied Lovin’” and more electro-funk ditties that composed their breakthrough album, “Fancy Footwork.” Between stints on David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, appearances on “Yo! Gabba Gabba!”, and performing at Coachella, Chromeo released “Business Casual,” which is an more daring effort from the duo keeping faithful to their funkadelic roots, but in cooperating more bizarre sound treatments from French-folk and new-wave rock. Chromeo is keeping it fresh which must be difficult for a band founded so much in the vintage. “We never saw that [television appearances] coming. Now, that we’ve done it for a minute, we stay consistent and keep delivering quality product. I would never want someone like you to be like, ‘Chromeo is just my high school band’.” Dave 1, who is A-Trak’s older brother, stopped to speak with me on behalf of Chromeo. Sure, it’s my job. But really, I was eager to speak with them because I
knew out of any interview that I ever did, this is the only one Grandma Rosa-Lee would read.

Like I said, Chromeo is a band deeply invested in the past when it comes to their sound and even how they do their production, but they do know how to keep it fresh. “We listen to competition, other groups with cool stuff. We definitely keep our ears open [...] listen to old records for new inspiration.” All that chatting about vinyl and talk-boxes might have you forget that the futuristic time-taker that some like to call the internet has been their biggest tool to success. “It’s the canvas; it’s the biggest tools to get recognized. The internet is real life. Real life is just for sleeping.” Sleeping and when Dave 1 isn’t manipulating the internet for success, it’s for collaborating with his musical partner P-Thugg. Dave 1 explains collaborating with another creative mind isn’t as difficult as one might imagine. “P and I have been best friends since high-school. At one point, we decided to do this electro-funk thing.” He continues on collaborating, “[...] you really have to trust each other. We really trust each other.”

The collaboration was just as seamless when soul-pop vixen, Solange Knowles, collaborated with Chromeo for their latest single and hilarious new video, “When the Night Falls.” “I knew she was a fan and she’s friends with my younger brother, A-Trak. We reached out to her through my brother and she was happy to be a part of it.” The end result is the classic charm that Chromeo is known for that has Solange’s breezy, alto flirting with Dave 1′s come-ons. The video has a tongue-in-cheek feel with apocalyptic world filled with over-sexed, pregnant woman chasing the duo that is as humorous as it is thoughtful which is a rarity for bands that are less commercial. “It’s like we know you’re sitting in front of the computer all day, this is our way of you keeping you entertained until you see us on stage.” Entertained, indeed.

Dave 1 and P-Thugg will be in Atlanta performing on September 22nd at the Masquerade with Mayer Hawthorne. Now, that sounds like nothing to compromise on and I’m sure Rosa-Lee would shimmy all the way to that disco too.

Welcome to the world’s nightmare: hold it against me – we about to go H.A.M on Grey Poupon. Bourgie girl, grab her hand, f-ck that – she dont wanna dance; excuse my French, but I’m in France… I’m just saying: when in Rome – if you weren’t born a Caesar, might as well bard with Brutus #empirestateofdemise So do as the Romans do, and in such sit among those the elite who naturally bleed blue. Prince William ain’t do it right if you ask me, if I was him I woulda married Kate and Ashley – #jiggerishthings. Overt supremacy, with strong undertones of servitude to the throne of inherited American royalty at its most Shakespearean… Britney Jean Spears – don’t let she get in her zone, #toxictragedies Louisiana-style Lady Macbeth, Ophelia, Juliet… the illiterate that could write an American tale of nouveau riche royalty; Hov and Yeezy – Othellos in tow. Miami swelter, Carribean vibe, Bahamian drum and bass, Bermudian Triangle of Pop – inverted everything. Hov would never share the mic with Spears, but Yeezy would – and did; though they are at two ends of the spectrum, Hov and Jean earned their passports the old fashioned way: crime pays, sex sells – passports please. They played to our devious vices, you are the company you keep: welcome to The Crackhouse; where this is a problem, this is not music/I hope you find it – ‘cos we about to lose it.

Gorillas in Chinchillas (Slaves in Paris) by GreatEclectic

Earlier we put you on to “Vice,” the first drop from Savvy Society’s new mixtape Subway In Harlem 2: Breakfast in Philly. Today that said project is released. Presented by Art Nouveau, the project features original music with emcees such as Boog Marell, Taahir and Pape Jae. Never limited by genres, the tape also features Savvy’s smooth take on Katy Perry’s “Fireworks.” Listen and download  Subway In Harlem 2: Breakfast in Philly after the jump.

Watch this Space.

I don’t know about you but I for one couldn’t wait for the sophomore album from Speak Easy aka visual artist Sean Fahie. The new album, Coronas, Condoms & Cigarettes: The Musical Guide to Awesome Living is the follow up album from last years album Words Have Power and it continues where the last album left off, giving you that easy living feeling and powerful yet subtle messages that will inspire you throughout your day no matter what walk of life you come from.

If you know Sean, he’s always full of laughs and art but knows how it is to struggle in this thing we call life. From his various points of views from negative to positive, he exploits all of these feelings thorough his words on this new album. Topics range from girls (or should I say youngins), motivation and basic living situations which are all lyrically expressed over jazzy, old school music that will put you at ease.

Art Nouveau got the chance to catch up with Sean Fahie for a quick interview in the midst of the preparations for his album release party.

Art Nouveau: First I have to ask, what led for you to call yourself Speak Easy? Is there any significance?

Speak Easy: There was a needed change happening in my life. [At the time] I was just moving from Savannah,Ga and I had a bunch of craziness going on in my life. One night I was hanging out with my friend, catching up and talking about music and the thought occurred to me. “Words have Power, Choose your words wisely, Speak Easy.” I was like, Yo I’m changing my name to Speak Easy. Done and Done. My homie was like yea roll with that. I also like the thought that it is also the name of the secret night clubs of the 1920′s and 30′s and I kinda hang out a lot in Atlanta.

AN: I know you debut with your album Words Have Power almost one year ago… what was the inspiration to do another one?

SE: Honestly, I just kept writing (After Words Have Power was done) and getting beats from my homies but had no where to record at the time (then my homie Sean Carter came through with his spot and i got to finish the album). I originally wanted to do a mix tape called the Black Dynamite mixtape (based off the movie) , but as the projected evolved it turned into this album that was kind of describing parts of of my summers here in Atlanta. By the by this album is a pseudo concept album. It’s all taking place in one weekend and it ends with Moment of Clarity (when the party finally stops and you have to take a retrospective look at your life). At that point it’s early Sunday morning and you wonder, “What is this all for?” and the bonus track it the process starting all over again.

AN: I also noticed that you have two collaborations on your new album, one song with Lario Emu Iji and another one with Bosco where on your last album you had none… was it a conscious decision to have collaborations on this album?

SE: Yea a little. My last album I had to get a lot of things of my chest and wasn’t even thinking about features or anything. I just wanted to rap and vent. This time around, I’m feeling chill about life and I wasn’t out looking for features but they came. My homie Lario was chillin at the house listening to beats and that beat came on (that he’s on the song for) and he was like, “Yo I gotta get on that track” I was like cool. Done and Done. The collab with Bosco came about, because I was spitting the verse to another friend of mine and he was like, “you need to have a girl singing on that hook, it would really make the song.” I thought it about it, and agreed. I gave Bosco a call and she was down to do it.

AN: You are a true artist and I know as an artist there are no genres… however, if you had to give your music a name or a genre, what would you call it and why?

SE: I’m a purist of this Hip-Hop at times man. If I called it anything it would be Hip-Hop. If I had to name it, I would like to call it “that Friday night chill music to ride to while chilling with people that matter in your life.” lol. That would be the genre.

AN: You have some pretty strong messages in your music that anybody can relate to… what kind of impact do you hope that your album(s) will have on the people that listen?

SE: Something Positive. Being the fact that I’m a Hip-Hop head and how hip hop has affected me. I listen for lyrics heavy (with a blend of an amazing beat). I know what I want my spirit to be feed, and I want to give the listener a little bit of that Goodness for their day. That PMA (Positive Mental Attitude).

AN: Sean, you seem always on the go, doing your art, attending concerts and participating in different shows around Atlanta, and you are also the star in a new documentary called 20 Somethings… how are these projects coming and can we expect anything else from you by the end of the year? Can we expect any shows in support of the new album?

SE: Music shows? I’m so over performing. [laughs] For this album though I may start performing here and there. Me and music have love hate relationship. Art’s my wife and music is my Mistress. If I get asked to do a show, i may or may not do it. But I do have a couple of art shows i’m working on. Curating a show with Eyedrum and one with Mint Gallery, I have some art work in the upcoming City of Ink show. Working with Burnaway (I think I said that right) a non profit. Doing some art work for an up coming project. I don’t know, I’m just trying to stay busy. Trying to prove to myself that it can happen when you love it and work hard for it.

AN: I like asking hypothetical questions so here’s one for you… If you had one whole day to yourself where you could do anything you wanted to do EXCEPT art, what would you do?

SE: I would bring my Grandma back and hang out with her for the day.

AN: One thing that I like about your album is the chill, laid back, freedom vibe that it gives off and it seems to be a trademark for your music… who helps you produce and create the music for your albums and what is the process that you usually take in preparing for an album and actually creating it?

SE: My homie RJM out in Cali has been doing a lot of the production. He did a bulk of it for Words Have Power, and he had like 4 tracks on this album. But also this go around Danny! and Unda really came through with a lot of chill relax bangers that helped to evolve the sound that i’ve been looking for. That summer time in Atlanta feel, you know. I want my music to be a wavy ass woman that changes your life. [laughs]

If you ask DJ X, the DJ world has become “over-saturated with bass thumping electro, dutch house, b-more, dubstep and most recently moombahton mixes.” Rather than follow suit, the Atlanta based, New York raised DJ went got together some of his favorite “lighter” musical moments. The mix features some Art Nouveau favorites such as SBTRKT, Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie XX, James Blake and Chase & Status. Chill out listen and download Damage Control after the jump.

Watch This Space.

On a typical evening walking down the streets of Five Points in Atlanta, Georgia, it is usual to see street vendors, the homeless walking around with their usual business, a man playing the harmonica like his life depends on it and travelers from all over rushing to catch the next available train/bus to their destination. Last Friday, August 26, Five Points looked a little bit different than its usual face. On this day, sponsors provided entertainment for all who cared to witness for the debut art extravaganza called Elevate, an art and music event hosted in the middle of Five Points where passersby could participate if they wanted to. There was much to be entertained with as there was an art demonstration that took place as well as a grand performance by Atlanta’s own party band Noot D’ Noot. With all of the festivities and excitement going on, the more interesting perspective of the night was the mix of people that came together to enjoy this exciting event.

As I exited the Five Points train station, I could already tell there was something different about the blustering environment. There was a noise that I’ve never heard before and I found myself slowly gravitating towards it. As the noise got louder, I found myself in the middle of something that I had never seen on the streets of Five Points in my entire 25 years of living in Atlanta. On the top steps towards the entrance of the Five Points station were a group of people dressed in white, anti-bacterial suits standing in front of a raggedly dressed woman rolling around on a black exercise ball with a red ball attached to it by a thin string. The group of people simply watched the woman as she rolled down the stairs and finally stopped at the bottom of the stairs. One member of the group broke away from the rest and approached the woman, pretending to spray her with a sort of anti-bacterial spray. The rest of the group followed and soon the one who broke away wrapped “caution” tape around the group and they began to surround the woman. They soon backed away and allowed the woman to roll to another direction where they again, began to follow her. Onlookers of this demonstration were quite perplexed as to what was going on yet nothing stopped them from pulling out their camera and video devices to make a memory of the event. As the demonstrators left the area, the music died down and the night continued.

I began to walk around to explore what else was going on in this peculiar night and ran into some good friends of mine. The streets were filled with newer vendors selling food and beverages and there were also other art demonstrations going on as well. Atlanta’s well known artist Fahamu Pecou was one of the artists who was hosting a demonstration were people could walk up to what looked like a tree stump and attach random objects to it to create a colorful mix. There was also an artist who created a bicycle out of copper and exhibited that to the audience. Atlanta’s own non profit group, Wonder Root had their own part in the event where the provided chalk for anyone interested in making their mark on the streets of Five Points. My new friend Starletta and I took the liberty to do a couple of drawings and I did my usual “peace sign.” With all the things going on, there was a lot to keep your attention going, but the climax of the night was yet to come.

There was a loud thump in the distance that could only come from a drum kit followed by the blare of a saxophone which could only mean that Atlanta’s popular party band Noot D’ Noot was ready to get the party started. Before they began to play, their mc Dookie Platters urged the crowd to move closer to the stage just before Karima Harrison aka Electro Siren began to sing as they prepared to rock the house down. As the party began, it was just a few people in the audience, but as the night went on, everyone within earshot of the music came over to join the party. As I took a moment between taking footage, I couldn’t help but notice the blend of people that were in the audience. Everyone from all walks of life including black, white and even the local homeless people were all dancing together as if they were the ones hosting the party. It was all laughs and awkward dancing as Noot D’ Noot performed some of their popular songs including “Know That Feeling” and “Fingers Like Steeples.” They even opened up their set with a new song called “Noot Baby” which got the crowd into the set. The night was also the debut of Noot D’ Noot’s new guitarist Ben Coleman aka Kid Pyramid who partied out to the songs as if he had been apart of the band all along. The party died down after an hour of jamming to the tunes of Noot D’ Noot where they ended with a grand finish.

What the sponsors of Elevate have done for Atlanta on that very night had not been seen at least from my eyes in a long time if ever. There’s nothing like having an unexpected good time on the very streets that you walk on a daily basis and the ride was a fun one to be apart of. It’s a great thing if you can bring different people together to enjoy a similar event that all find enjoyment in. Since this was the first successful installment of the event, I’m sure there are many more to come so look out on your local Atlanta newsletters for more on this event.