Dwele has come a long way since his debut with Slum Village on “Tainted.” With his fourth album hitting stores this past June 29, he has established himself as a vocalist, writer and producer.

Dwele did not land into music by accident. He has always been inspired by singers such as Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder. However, Motown artists were only a fraction of his decision to become a vocalist. “A major thing that happened in my life that pushed me to go in the musical route was loosing my father. Before he passed he taught me about music. That’s a way to keep me with him.” Dwele used his loss as a way to channel feelings the studio. Dwele sold his demo The Rize, out of the trunk of his car which eventually landed him his first record deal. Since the music industry has changed over the years, he feels there are more advantages of getting your voice heard than when he first started. “Take advantage of the free promotion of the internet. It’s a whole new game. This is the time of the self made star.”

Dwele has been able to keep his personal life off the gossip sites, but he is not completely exempt from the media’s scrutiny. The crooner took a more comical approach when addressing certain rumors. Around his first album Dwele recalls hearing that he was gay. Instead of getting upset he took it as a sign that he finally made it.  “You know you’ve made it as a singer when they call you gay.”

When it comes to juggling his private and professional life, Dwele feels the two go hand in hand. “At the end of the day when you step off the stage, you have to go live a regular life. I want to be myself whether I’m on stage or not.”
Dwele is known for his mid-tempo and contemporary music. With every album he has been able to seductively sing his way into his fans hearts. The process of making an album can be tedious, and this time around, Dwele wanted to give fans something different. “I let the music dictate what I write. Really I just try to lock myself up. I grab inspiration from everyday living.” With each album the singer challenges himself by trying something new. Whether it’s an instrument or a concept, Dwele wants to keep growing as an artist. With W.ants W.orld W.oman he decided to express three different sides of him: the inner alter ego, his political awareness and his softer side (as he appropriately called it, baby making music). “I just really wanted to do something different and a little more creative. Its not saying I want worldly women, I’m just breaking it up into three different sections.”

Dwele has never been short of executing to his fans. From his first to his last, he has managed to deliver something new every time. With WWW hitting shelves next month, fans are sure to have a tasteful three-section album.

Words by Crystal Hardman

Mayer Hawthorne grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. He vividly remembers as a child driving with his father, and tuning the car radio in to the rich soul and jazz history the region provided. “Most of the best music ever made came out of Detroit,” claims the singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who count Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry, and Barry White among his influences. However, he draws the most inspiration from the music of Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, the legendary songwriting and production trio of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland Jr.

The “retro” tag is added to almost any contemporary work that sounds like it was originally recorded between 1966 and 1974. Hawthorne, among the newest contributors to the genre, is aware of how trends come and go. After being introduced to Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf by mutual friend Noelle Scaggs of the Rebirth, even his current boss was skeptical. “He showed me two songs and I didn’t understand what I was listening to,” Wolf recalls. “I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of – I couldn’t believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments.”

And after meeting in person, it was even harder for Wolf to believe that Hawthorne was also the lead vocalist. Few expect such heartfelt sentiment to come from a 29-year-old white kid from Ann Arbor, but he has caught the ear of his family at Stones Throw, as well as BBC Radio 1 host Gilles Peterson and producer/DJ Mark Ronson. Expectations are high for the admitted vinyl junkie who never planned on taking his crooning public. Hawthorne’s hanging-by-a-string falsetto and breakbeat production on his first recorded effort, the tender “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” are simultaneously Smokey and J Dilla – equal parts “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Fall in Love.” “It’s soul,” he explains, “But it’s new.”

Hawthorne has produced and played instruments for much of his life, but never intended to become a singer. He isn’t formally trained, and never sang in the church choir or in any of the bands he was in before founding the County (formerly the County Commissioners). But here he is, new school soul sensation, who has taken the Motown assembly-line production model and eliminated nearly every element, but himself and a few hired hands. “I think Mayer is the only artist in the history of the label that I’ve signed after hearing only two songs,” says Peanut Butter Wolf. “Sometimes, you just know it’s the right thing to do.”

And for those willing to believe anything is possible, be grateful to have Mayer Hawthorne on the scene. It’s not just throwback music anymore – this revival is all about progression.

By Ronnie Reese

Motown has molded the hearts and minds of music lovers all over the world. From Michael the Moonwalker to Dream Girl Mary Wilson, the House that Berry built has produced countless hit makers for the last 51 years. So how befitting that it is the recording refuge for Canadian songstress Melanie Fiona whose voice is as timeless as her personal elegance and style.

Her debut album, “The Bridge” was released in November of 2009 as the feverish follow-up to her 9 month old single “Give it To Me Right”, and ode to self pleasure when her love interest doesn’t quite measure up. Fiona’s freshman release is a cohesively clever composition of songs that speak to the minds and hearts of men and women who’ve experienced hard love, strong love, crazy love, and all points in between.

With model perfect looks, one would believe the talent of this gorgeous Guyanese goddess could simply hinge on having a marketable look and good studio production, the common anecdote for today’s most popular musicians. Yet Melanie is the antithesis of the “Pop” one hit wonder. Her throaty runs on heartbreak and misguided devotion are anthems to cure loss love with a simple whirl and twirl on the dance floor.

2010 will definitely be a break out year for this star, yet she remains humble. You can tune into her Vlog on Youtube where she chronicles her tour experiences and frequently extends to fans acapella renditions of some of her favorite songs from the Softones, Martha and the Vandellas, and the Zombies . A variety of the tracks on her album like “Monday Morning”, “Walk on By”, and “Teach Him” borrows from the soulful syncopations of yesterday to add a refreshing flair into the modern day matters of the heart we all face today.

The musings of Melanie Fiona will truly add some stank to your step as you channel your inner Naomi on your next trip down the catwalk. Far from the risqué rhetoric that clogs musical airwaves today, Melanie was made to soothe and serenade the lover in you!

Words by Raygon Fields

Philadelphia’s own, Phylle (pronounced Philly), is inspired by music that is therapy for the soul. “The One” represents real love from the beginning to the end.

As the sound and allure of once hard-edged and in-your-face Hip Hop morphs into more radio-friendly tunes with a pop crossover appeal, new artists such as Phylle (pronounced “Philly”) have suddenly appeared and begun to assume their position in the game. Larry “Phylle” Carter, whose stage persona represents his hometown’s (Philadelphia) nickname as well as a hybrid of his parents’ names, presents his debut project The One. The album features half-hustler lyrics and half-crooner style melodies for those willing to enter the psyche of a semi-schizophrenic entertainer’s two toned spectrum of ideas. As the founder/CEO of Real Talk Music, LLC and the first artist to be signed under the imprint, Phylle’s also developing his entrepreneurial hand as well as presenting the world with something to whet its appetite for the young artist’s slow-burning career.

Reminiscent of a few of the top-selling rappers and producers of the last decade who’ve taken on a happier, more sing-along style of lyricism (of course in an attempt to broaden their consumer fan base), on The One Phylle awkwardly straddles the fence between two vastly different fields of music. Boasting with the type of bravado evident in the male dominated world of Hip Hop, Phylle’s imperfect phrasing seems to fall short of inspiring and rides steadily into a less combative subgenre. Instead, his topics of discussion mostly dwell on overt sexual innuendo with records like the lead single “Making Love,” “Wet Dream” and “Digital Sex” – the latter of which climax with total runtimes that indicate interludes rather than potential radio singles. Each are attempts to suggest Phylle’s yearning for intimacy in song, but like the old saying, Phylle must remember that less truly is more.

When he’s not trying to grab your attention with a clever rhyme scheme, Phylle’s right hand is stuck in nostalgic R&B. Singing in an underdeveloped tenor’s tone, an often pitchy projection and that “mack daddy” attitude, Phylle may have a hard time persuading a global market of whether or not he’s an up-and-coming R&B vocalist from yesteryear (think Ginuwine and Bobby Valentino) versus the star rapper of tomorrow. Yes, the vocal arrangements and a few harmonies are indeed creative, but they lack the strength and continuity of past hits and the catchy compositions we’ve come to know and love from rappers/singers of this sort. One might even suggest Phllye choose which side of the game he prefers before the next offering. In fact, it seems Phylle hasn’t completely convinced himself whether he wants to make you two-step in the clubs by “singing over Hip Hop beats” or if audiences are expected to be enlightened by what he has to say.

Memorable tracks from the album include “Let Me Love You” for its blustering horn arrangement and the throwback “Oh Sheila” featuring guest rapper Al King. The most random part of the effort is Phylle’s “Santa Please” – a sampled request written and sung to Old St. Nick for the girl of Phylle’s dreams which really just seems out of place with the stuttering momentum of The One. Either way, whatever he decides to do, Phylle’s in a vulnerable place and might soon be forced to abandon Hip Hop altogether and increase his study of R&B in order to perfect the next project. In the meantime, listen to The One with open ears, but get ready to experience a mack down.

Connect with Phylle and check out more music by visiting www.phylle.com and www.twitter.com/phylle.

By Terron D. Austin

Terron D. Austin is a contributing editor and music writer currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Photography by Ryan G Photography

Newcomer Andy Allo hails from Cameroon, West Africa with her guitar as her companion and a charming sound she says has been influenced by real musical royalty such as Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Hip-Hop’s spacey duo OutKast and even the late King of Pop himself – Michael Jackson. She’s quickly stepping into her own, however, with a brand new genre she affectionately calls “Alter.Hip.Soul” – a self-made concoction carrying the weight of alternative, Hip Hop and soul undertones, but for now, we’ll just call each of the 12 tracks found on UnFresh, Andy’s official debut purely feel good music.

Having been making music as well as performing live with her band for just under a year, Andy Allo is poised to become one of the industry’s breakthrough artists if she retains the momentum set forth by her debut offering. Released independently this past fall, UnFresh features a girl with grit, spunk and a style all her own. Though it hasn’t been long, the cool chemistry between Andy and her band plus their oscillating ode to Hip Hop’s golden children The Fugees among others (check out the breezy opening number “Fly Away” featuring The Tones to see what we mean) is what makes this group of musicians so unique. Taking that kind of daring musical approach and blending it with strong lyrical content draws first-time listeners in with ease. It’s not too far out there nor is it so familiar that you’re too comfortable and taking it for granted.

UnFresh lacks one thing though – that surefire hit many new artists need to make their mark. Filled with mostly lazy Sunday afternoon tunes or those sweet joints some of us like to ride to on those long vacations and car drives, UnFresh does boast a few must-haves. Check out the title cut (which falls halfway through the album’s full sequence) with its atmospheric string and funky vocal arrangements. Coupled with a few monotone bars by a guest emcee known as Flave and Andy’s swift transition between rhythm, rhyme and rhetoric, “UnFresh” is actually a clean take on the future of soul/Hip Hop fusion and is definitely a tune you’ll bob your head to all day long.  There’s also the stripped down “Knew You At All,” a brave acoustic tale about a former love and the symphonic samples strutting through the funky “Dreamland” (featuring guest artist Blu) like a Disney movie soundtrack. If you’re gearing up for something left field, you won’t find that pinch of alternative you might be looking for. Instead, UnFresh adds to the mix a few stellar choices to keep Andy out of the one-hit wonder category for quite some time.

All at once sincere, passionate, beautiful and liberating, Andy Allo’s subtle sound and writing skills on UnFresh are remarkably refreshing. It only adds to the mix that she’s undeniably striking with that captivating smile and unforgettable “girl next door” energy. Easily placing her in the league of guitar-strumming and soul-singing sisters Vivian Green, Corinne Bailey Rae, Laura Izibor and Alice Smith, this record launches the promising career of a new starlet whose full potential has yet to be fully introduced to the world.

To learn more about Andy Allo, visit www.andyallo.com. Twitter: www.twitter.com/andyallo

By Terron D. Austin

Terron D. Austin is a contributing editor and music writer currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Photography Jesse Vasquez | Makeup Artist Melody Mora

Rarely does an artist impact the music industry with a seemingly continuous stream of new music like singer/songwriter/producer prodigy Ryan Leslie has done. Nearly eight months following the release of his critically acclaimed self-titled debut, Ryan delivers his sophomore set Transition (released November 3^rd on Universal Motown), a sincere sonic saga detailing some of his most intimate musical recollections of the highs and lows of a summer love.

Emotionally charged, cleverly written, and precision produced are each of the 11 tracks (14 if you can get your hands on the special edition version) featured on Transition. Ryan again proves his musical genius by continuing to showcase the many gifts he possesses and sharing with the masses what we’ve come to know and love him for since the instantly classic first album which spawned radio hits “Diamond Girl” and “Addiction” – his music tells a story, it’s music we can feel. The self-taught pianist and multi-instrumentalist returns to the spotlight dressed in the best brand of soulful R&B-infused garb and trust us when we say he wears it well.

“This album is a collection of songs inspired by a summer of secret love,” Ryan stated just before the album’s release. The album transcribes messages within his heart and tells the story of Ryan’s struggles to make sense of his relationships with women. It celebrates the liberation found in living and loving freely. “In the end, I chose you and you chose the life that you had before me,” continues Ryan. “Nonetheless, the world will forever have this music and I will forever have the memories.”

Transition is powered by the lead single “You’re Not My Girl,” a guitar-laden funk/R&B jam that’s equally infectious as it is full of Ryan’s raspy vocals and his witty conversation starters. The tune tackles life with the kind of macho attitude and ego it takes for a guy to sweep a girl completely off her feet. Ryan also co-directed a documentary-style video called “The Making of Transition” which features interviews and footage from the creation of the new album and the experiences Ryan says inspired him to write the music. Furthermore, Transition is highlighted by the endearing ballad “I Choose You,” the mellow vibe of “All My Love,” and “To The Top” which showcases Ryan’s ability to soar through a song with his signature sound.

But if you’re recently catching onto the phenomenon known as Ryan Leslie, you must first get acquainted with the tenacious star’s business-savvy intellect. Currently traveling abroad and living between Harlem and Hollywood, the 1998 Harvard University graduate earned his degree in Government with a concentration in political science and macroeconomics before signing with Casablanca Records/Universal Motown in 2003. The world was then slowly but surely introduced to the distinct sound Ryan spent many a night during his college years perfecting. After a brief production internship with producer Younglord and a series of calculated movements, Ryan’s genius began impacting the airwaves with hits like sexy pop/R&B singer Cassie’s “Me & U,” which became the #1 R&B and #3 song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006 due in part to strategic online marketing campaigns and sharp viral promo through the use of YouTube, Myspace, Facebook and most recently, Twitter.

Today, Ryan is busy being a musical pioneer. He’s signing new acts to his music and multimedia company NextSelection Lifestyle Group all while touring, promoting, and churning out the hits for some of modern R&B’s biggest acts from Mary J. Blige, Keri Hilson, Jazmine Sullivan, Fabulous and Chris Brown. It seems like this R&B crooner’s real transition into the stratosphere of superstardom is just beginning.

www.twitter.com/Ryan_Leslie

By Terron D. Austin

Terron D. Austin is a freelance editor and contributing music writer currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Twice Grammy nominated R&B sensation Amerie returns to the music scene with a resounding bang with In Love & War. The sexy songstress serves up her daring trademark harmonies and heavy dance rhythms tailor made for progressive R&B fans. Amerie, 29, is hotter than ever on her fourth studio offering complete with a collection of intense club bangers and sexy slow jams.

Let us remind you just who she is though. As one of the many pretty faces whose careers were launched by Rich Harrison, the D.C. producer who gave Beyoncé her mega-hit “Crazy in Love,” Amerie’s journey began after her introduction to Harrison and their collaborative chemistry. From there, the two developed a solid hybrid of spacey R&B with both Hip-Hop’s no nonsense attitude and the high energy, drum-and-bass evident in D.C.’s funk sub-genre of Go-go music. Thanks to Harrison and Amerie, this signature sound and syncopation catapulted her to the top of the charts with such career defining hits as 2002’s summer anthem “Why Don’t We Fall In Love,” the first single lifted from her debut release All I Have, and “1 Thing” from her sophomore disc Touch. (Ironically, Touch was also the last time we’d actually see the singer/songwriter and producer duo working together amicably.)

Since then, Amerie has struggled repeatedly to encounter the type of commercial success of her previous hits and has since ventured out on her own with the absence of longtime collaborator Harrison on her third album Because I Love It, the coveted 2007 European-only release. Later that year, she announced she’d left Columbia Records and reportedly began work on bold mixtapes and musical featurettes. Only true Amerie fans knew how to get their hands on them until she formally returned to center stage under a new label/production deal with her imprint Feenix Rising Entertainment through Island Def Jam Music Group.

In Love & War delivers fully on the modern rhythm and blues spiced up by Amerie’s percussive vocals and intense songwriting. The first half of the album features the distinct combination of live drums, rock fused with R&B and over-the-top synthesizers strategically placed over familiar samples and haunting Hip-Hop interpolations. There’s of course The Buchanans-produced lead single “Why R U” derived from the Ultramagnetic MC’s fave “Ego Trippin’.” The single premiered earlier this year and received rave reviews in NYC on Funkmaster Flex’s radio show. Flex reportedly played the record for listening audiences for 15 minutes straight stating he “never thought this record would ever be flipped so well” and lauded Amerie for her latest and most impressive work to date. Also check out “Pretty Brown” featuring another underrated R&B talent Trey Songz and the ‘90s classic Mint Condition sample “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes).” Proceed to the second half without rewinding or stopping to hit the repeat button and you’ll soon fall in love with the lush “Red Eye” and the sometimes dreary yet honest balladry of “The Flowers” and “Different People.”

Today, Amerie still gives us top notch production and a serious groove. As for the more casual fans of contemporary R&B, some might agree that Amerie possesses a much more pleasant albeit sometimes thinner vocal ability than Beyoncé, but Amerie also lacks the larger than life persona of her fellow diva counterparts due to the incredibly unfortunate label promo and support. In spite of it all, Amerie more than makes up for not consistently over saturating the marketplace by remaining the type of female R&B artist who chooses to be completely in control of her own imagery, production and songwriting. She proves once and for all she can do it all on her own. In Love & War also proves however that she’s quite comfortable with perseverance – knowing her boundaries and ignoring limitations all at the same time.

www.twitter.com/itsmeAMERIE

By Terron D. Austin

Terron D. Austin is a freelance editor and contributing music writer currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Riding the winds of change can sometimes cause even the strongest to waver in their faith. As the music industry’s systematic number-crunching schemes and the multitude of new sources where a consumer can discover new music all seem to change at the drop of a dime, one thing stays the same and that’s good music. Two-time Grammy Award nominee and singer/songwriter Ledisi proves that once again she can flow right along with this period of change as she returns to the scene with her spectacular new musical offering Turn Me Loose, her fourth studio album and sophomore release on the Verve Forecast imprint of Universal Music Company.

Ledisi fans who are familiar with her powerhouse vocals, the incredible range and versatility she possesses and that polished stage presence will find this new collection of music more than rises to the occasion. Featuring 14 stellar selections primarily written/co-written by Ledisi, Turn Me Loose shifts seamlessly from spicy soul on “Say No” and progressive R&B on “I Need Love” – courtesy of top producers Carvin Haggins, Ivan Barias and Johnny “Smurf” Smith – to the Buddy Miles’ 1970’s soul-rock classic “Them Changes,” the very song Ledisi claims she built this project on. The album, which began to take form after Ledisi’s startling six-month writer’s block, proves evident the singer’s growth and perseverance, but also catapults her further into the realm of R&B mainstays like Chaka Khan, Sade and Anita Baker. After a friend presented her with the new music, Ledisi was inspired to explore such liberation as she explained in a recent interview.

“I had never heard it [“Them Changes”] before,” Ledisi says. “Once I heard it, I wanted to be able to be free on the new album. On my previous album, I was contained a little bit, but I said on my next project that I was going to be off the chain vocally.”

And so the chains were broken as Ledisi chose to flex her creative muscles with more adult contemporary selections driven by exquisite production elements from high profile Grammy-winning collaborators including Raphael Saadiq (“Love Never Changes”), Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (“Higher Than This”) and Carl “Chucky” Thompson (“Everything Changes”) all detailing Ledisi’s life experiences with love, womanhood and the pressures of global fame and success.

The New Orleans-native/Oakland resident doesn’t stray too far from what made her an instant mainstay on her Verve debut Lost & Found (2007). Instead, she continues to draw you in with her soaring vocals and a series of courageous songs like “Knockin’” – a funky, upbeat tune that easily drums up the attitude and strength of Tina Turner in her prime. Ledisi also reunites with Lost & Found contributor Rex Rideout on the lead single “Goin’ Thru Changes.” If you’re wondering if this is a new Ledisi you’re hearing, indeed it is. Today, she’s stronger than ever and more confident in her blend of rhythm and blues, classic rock, sassy soul and gospel. Even in the midst of change, Ledisi turns loose her inhibitions and goes for what she knows best – the freedom of making great, timeless music.

By Terron D. Austin

Terron D. Austin is a freelance editor and contributing writer currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sherman Modeste is no stranger to music and its affect on the masses. This very shy man (and very kind) has the ability to draw attention to him without him even trying. His presence alone makes you feel like you’re in the room with a long lost friend.

His first recording project, Modest Conversation is exactly that, modest – with a twist. This cd of mellow moods, smooth ballads, sultry uptempo with Gospel influences will put you in the mind of Musiq Soulchild or Maxwell but on Sherman’s terms.

Sherman took the time to answer some of our questions about what he prays for and his music:

Where are you from? I was born and raised on the island of St. Croix, USVI. I have lived in Connecticut, Florida, New York, and Georgia. I currently reside in Rochester, New York.

When did you start singing and where? I started singing as a child in church. I can remember exactly when that was. It was a Sunday night testimony service, a friend of mine went up to sing a song and asked me to join her and I did. They tell me I got up there and stole the show. I’ve been singing ever since.

How did you get involved with music? Growing up I spent most of my time at home, school, or at church. Music was embraced all across the board. At home my mom played a variety of Gospel, Country, and love songs. In school, I sang in chorus, concert choir, show choir, madrigals, gospel choir, vocal jazz, and glee club….LOL…whew!

Who have you worked with? Currently, I sing tenor with Ricky Dillard & The New Generation Chorale (New G). In the future, I would love to work with Donald Lawrence, John Legend, Musiq Soulchild, Fantasia, and Jill Scott just to name a few.

Who inspires you through your music? Just living the natural course of life gives me all the inspiration I need. My mother also inspires me. Her strength is amazing.

Why did decide you to do an album? I’m most passionate about music and it is time to share my music with the world. Instead of sitting at home praying, hoping, wishing, dreaming about my place in music history, I decided to take my own advice and act now by stepping out on faith and making an investment in self.

You call you album ‘Modest Conversation’. Can you explain the title? When I sat down to consider the direction of the album, I wanted to make music and write songs that music lovers will related to. My goal was to create a dialogue between me and those listening.

Do you consider your album Gospel or R&B? A mixture of both. If I had the power to create my own genre, I would categorize my music as ‘life’ experience music. Each song has a real life story attached to it and was written out of a personal life experiences.

Do you feel Gospel artists are losing their roots? No. Gospel has evolved and will continue to evolve like every other genre.

I looked at the credits in your album and noticed you wrote all of your songs. Why was it important for you to write your own songs? As a singer/songwriter, it was important for me to write all of my songs to keep the conversation authentic and genuine.

One of my favorite songs on the album is ‘Star Struck’. Explain the meaning behind that song? I’m the epitome of a hopeless romantic. I wanted to write a song that will be played as brides are escorted down the aisle and I found the lyrics of “Star Struck” in a conversation I had with a friend about the joy of loving someone.

How do people find out more about you? www.shermanmodeste.com www.myspace.com/spottedmusic Stay tuned. I promise to keep making great music. My goal is to become a world-renown/top-selling artist.

Where can people buy your album? My CD is available at www.cdbaby.com.

When you aren’t doing anything musically, what do you do? I’m a home body. I enjoy being home entertaining family and friends. During my down time, I read, watch a little TV, I enjoy walks in the park and long drives.

Random: When you go to the movies, what do you go to see? I like romance, comedy, suspenseful thrillers, and movies based on true stories that depict courage, strength, triumph, bravery, and hope.

Super duo Damon Trueitt (left) and A. Salih (pronounced sah-lee, on right) are bringing a revamped version of what we hear today in music.

The twist to their unique sound is their use of pure vocals without instrumentation. The non-use of instruments sounds interesting when you have Pop music taking its reign again with mega stars like Lady GaGa and Britney Spears. No-Midi is making it known that they are here to make their presence known by giving you a taste of their eclectic dance grooves.

The ‘Midi’ in their name means (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Midi an industry-standard protocol defined in 1982 that enables electronic musical instruments, such as keyboard controllers, computers, and other electronic equipment to communicate, control, and synchronizes with each other. I sat down with these talented men in their first (definitely not their last) public interview to ask their stance on the music industry currently and about their contribution to the industry short and long term. The humility they share resonates in their music and in their private lives.

Hey Fellas! How are you?
We are fine man. Thanks for asking.

Explain the meaning behind your name?
A. Salih – It’s pretty self-explanatory as long as u knows about making music. No-Midi means we don’t use any midi to import sounds from synch modules. We only work with audio files, specifically vocals, for all original production.
What are the roles of each member?
Damon – We both come up with the song reverb concepts and lyrics, then I take over for the visual interpretation and A. Salih takes over for the audio interpretation.

How did you meet?
Damon – We met through a mutual friend, recording artist Gaelle and when I had “I Refuse” on the charts, as a solo artist. A. Salih was dancing for Crystal Waters. We stayed friends and did collaborations over the years, which led us to eventually come up with the concept for No-Midi, after we couldn’t get any tracks from producers that fit our eclectic style to write to.

Where are you guys from?
A. Salih – I was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to South Orange, NJ to attend what my parents called a better high school…LOL. I’ve been here ever since and still love the city. Damon – I was born in Aspen, CO but being an army brat, we moved a lot around the world. We lived in Bermuda, Italy and Germany. Luckily for me, my family ended up in New Jersey. Currently I reside in Maryland.

Do you have a church background?
Damon – I was raised in an African Methodist Episcopal church myself. My grandfather was a
reverend and I’m still very involved. A. Salih – I was raised Roman Catholic, but have since chosen to walk a more spiritual path rather than to associate with any one religion.

Your style is very unique. What is your production process to create the No-Midi sound?
A. Salih – Usually after Damon and I come up with song lyrics or a melody line, we will lay down one “vocal instrument”, like a “synth” or a “bass”, to get the harmonic structure and then build the track simultaneously as we record the lead parts to really lock in the groove. After that I’ll go back in to tighten up the vocal instruments and add the effects that are appropriate for that particular record as well as work on the arrangement of the background vocals.
Damon – Well, like we said earlier, we only use vocals, meaning we manipulate our voices to sound as much like whatever sound is needed and then add audio effects to get some more authenticity. This way the listener feels as if they are really hearing a kick and snare, or a keyboard or an electronic bass, and we get exactly the track we want, to do our thing.

What inspires you to be musicians?
A. Salih – Damon and I have a deep love for musicand the way it can evoke any and every possible emotion. We just want to fulfill what we believe to be our role in the universe right now and to keep people inspired and thinking for themselves more. And, of course, we plan on having a bit of fun while doing it…LOL.

How do you separate yourself from other recording artists?

Damon – To say, we are not inspired by other artists would be completely untrue, and so in a sense we trying to rally a better sense of community among our peers, and while we’d like to think that we’ve pushed the envelope enough to be in our own lane, we’re really looking forward to doing as much collaboration as possible with other artists so we can all come up together.

With the music industry in such a financial crunch, how do you expect to survive?
A. Salih – I know people say this all the time, but for Damon and me it’s so not about the money.
We love, love, love making music, and, speaking for myself, if I have to work at Burger King every weeknight so I can record and rock out on the weekends, guess what….. “Mic check, one, two…. Do you want fries with that? LOL”.

Do you have a website for our readers to visit?
Yes sir! Check us out at: www.nomidi.com. There you will find links for our Facebook, Myspace and Twitter Pages.

Random Question. When you guys aren’t doing music, what do you do in your spare time?
A. Salih – I love reading and gardening believe it or not. I have a thing for taking care of living things. Oh, I LOVE EATING FRUIT! I know, random…LOL. Damon – I have a thing for poetry and I am a huge follower of Octavia Butler books. And, since A. Salih was random, I LOVE PIZZA…LOL!

Lastly, What advice do you have for independent artist trying to break through?

that one piece you need to move to the next step in your career. And, if they tell you that you soundA. Salih – Be that bite they didn’t take. Don’t stop being original. Don’t think it can’t happen and don’t look back. For all those people that say no and don’t want to help, just smile back and do all that you can do today. I promise you someone will see and hear you. People genuinely will want to help you with ridiculous, then you simply say…“Good, that’s what I was going for!”

Bonus: Listen to Nomidi’s first interview on The Jay Mad Show. Listen Here

Story by Jerris Madison