Q&A with Aries Marquis

Louisianian singer-songwriter Aries Marquis creates music with a soul. Says Marquis about his debut album, Imperfection, "If you love music that tells true experiences, is passionate and has substance, then you will love the album!" 

Favorite artist? Although I do have a list of artists that inspire me, my favorite artist is Eric Benet. I feel that Eric and I have many similarities in vocal skills, lyricism, and musical arrangement. One of my favorite albums by Eric is True to Myself, which he sets the tone by letting listeners know to just be yourself and change for no one. If you have something, go forth with it, and do not follow what others do. That is how I have positioned myself in my personal music journey.

Favorite genre of music? My favorite genre of music at this present moment is pop. Today everything has shifted to such a crossover, eclectic feel, and I feel that pop has the greatest impact on reaching audiences on a large scale. I’ve incorporated a lot of pop and soul into my music. Pop can have a variety of different sounds, and that's what I look for in order to express myself through my music.

Favorite song? I have a ton of great songs that I wish I could mention, but my favorite uptempo song is "You’re The Only One" by Eric Benet from his Love and Life album. That song introduced me to Eric in 2008, and it was the epitome of how I envision songs should be: great production and arrangements that are not trendy but still appeal to the listener, mature lyricism, very groovy sound, and a soulful delivery. That song has yet to bore me.

What is your earliest music memory? My earliest music memories consist of me singing in church choirs as a child. Surprisingly, I didn’t do anything worth talking about, musically speaking, until the second semester of my senior year in high school. I had no clue that I would dive into music like I have, which is the funniest part. I had no clue that I would be writing, performing and making music that people would actually love!

What was the first LP or CD you bought? The first album that I purchased and listened to until it was destroyed was The Five Heartbeats soundtrack. Before that I just listened to Gospel music, R&B music, and a few other genres. I didn’t realize what type of music I actually liked at the time, so I couldn’t pinpoint why I actually loved that soundtrack so much. Now I can tell you that it was because of the soulfulness! My favorite song on that album was “Are You Ready For Me?” My family used to laugh at me when I played that song, but I couldn’t help it!  The song was on point!

What was the first artist you saw in concert? The first artist I saw in concert was the person that I WANTED to be the first person I saw in concert - Eric Benet! I was given some tickets to see Eric Benet at the River Center in downtown Baton Rouge, and my brother and I went. It was everything I expected, plus more! Great showmanship, a lot of energy, and Benet singing my favorite songs. If I could repeat that concert again, I would!

What hobbies and interests do you have? Outside of music, my second love is politics. I love talking about issues that impact people. I want to impact the lives of people in a positive way, and two of the most certain ways to do that is through music and politics.

Do you have a nickname? When I was in my military unit, my fellow soldiers used to call me “Choir Boy," ironically from The Five Heartbeats. Some of the ladies that thought I was stuck up called me “Pretty Boy," which is actually my favorite. I actually use that one from time to time. The women of my family call me "Reesee," and the men of my family call me "Rese."

Where have you traveled? Favorite destination? I honestly do not have a favorite destination, because I just love to travel. Long road trips are one of the greatest things on earth! You get to see new things, feel new atmospheres, and just get out. It’s a real stress reliever to know you’re not just boxed up in one location all of the time.

If you could hang out with anyone who would you pick and why? If I could hang with anyone, of course, I would pick Eric Benet. I would also pick D’Angelo and Jamar Rogers from The Voice. It would be fun to pick their brains on how they create their sound and what drives them.

Favorite food? My favorite food is seafood. LOVE seafood to the max. Nothing can top seafood! Fried catfish, shrimp, crabs, red snapper, salmon...I can go on and on!

Favorite book? Almost any book that is informative. I love to learn, and I'm a huge fan of history. I can’t waste my time reading things that are made up just for entertainment or are irrelevant to my existence when I can be educating myself.

Favorite movie? At this present moment, my favorite movie is The Pursuit of Happiness. It shows that many people that became successful had to struggle before the big break came around. I can easily relate to the things the main character went through. Like him, I strive to reach the day it all pays off.

Favorite holiday and why? My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday, in my opinion. It’s all about family gatherings and there is lots of food! I've never had a bad Thanksgiving!

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? If I could have any superpower in the world, it would probably be telekinetic powers. To be able to move whatever I want would make me basically unstoppable!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be? I definitely want to go to Israel. I would love to check out the many locations and artifacts that were discovered from one of the most historical countries in existence, especially the Biblical history.

What would people be surprised to know about you? I think people would be most surprised about my musical journey up to this point. The things that I’ve had to deal with, as I said before, will take you right to my favorite movie, The Pursuit of Happiness. I’ve done a lot yet I still feel like I have a long ways to go, which I am just fine with!

What three words would best describe you? Ambitious, determined, and focused.

What three words would your friends use to describe you? Gifted, intelligent, and hard working.

Any special talents? I am a great public speaker, which I taught myself how to do. I have pretty decent mechanic skills, which my best friend, and I learned on our own. I taught myself how to write, produce, and perform. I think maybe my greatest gift is the ability to teach myself whatever I want to know!

Best compliment ever received? The best compliment that I’ve ever received would have to be a compliment that I received a week after I won a showcase at Southern University in 2011. I was told, “Man, you are the greatest singer in the world." I just chuckled but stopped short after I realized that this guy was serious. Although I've received some really great comments, that is ranked number one!

Who has inspired you? Eric Benet, Luke James, and D’Angelo are among those who inspire my artistry. Tyler Perry is a great inspiration due to the struggles that he faced in order to fulfill his vision, Will Smith for his inspiring movie, but he also came from lowly circumstances. I mainly relate to those who’ve been down the road of tribulation in order to reach the pinnacle of success.

Any funny stories about you? One of the funniest things that ever happened to me was in the 8^th grade. It was time to leave class when out of nowhere, my reading teacher football kicked someone’s science project across the room. I laughed so hard that my homies pushed me into the wall, and I was still laughing!

What did you plan to be when you grew up? When I grew up, I actually planned to be a computer technician, a computer programmer, or a computer engineer. I'm good at computers, and I'm self-taught. My best friend always calls me up when he has problems with any computer he has, and I tell him how to fix the issue. Music never crossed my mind.

Biggest misconception about you? The biggest misconception about me is that I'm arrogant. In actuality, I’m a very humble and very caring person. I do have confidence in what I do and who I am, but I don't put myself above anyone else.

Are there any issues you feel passionate about? I do have quite a few issues that I am very passionate about, especially pertaining to American society. I have a strong issue with violence and crime in America, with the judicial system of America, and about the domestic situations of citizens in America. I feel that this country needs an overhaul As far as the music industry, I feel substance has taken a backseat to kiddie lyricism, and originality has been replaced with follow-the-leader sound. There are a lot of music fans that feel that this is leading to the decrease in album sales and music quality overall.

Visit Aries Marguis's website here!  Marquis is on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. He promises to follow you back if you follow him and mention Imperfection!

Q&A with Danny Van of sMALLTIME

I'm excited to unveil a new profile feature you'll be seeing regularly on The Knix Mix blog where readers get to learn a little bit about their favorite artists in the artist's own words!  Danny Van, front man for the rock outfit sMALLTIME, has graciously accepted the challenge of answering my inaugural artist profile Q&A.  sMALLTIME is a unique rock outfit from Orange County, CA consisting of Danny on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, Kenny Goorabian on lead guitar, Steve Clayton on bass guitar and Dusty Slaybaugh on drums.  Their music is a mix of rock, blues, country and soul with an inspiring message of grace, recovery and redemption.  It's clear this band of musical veterans knows how to use their God given talents.  Danny explains, "We try to write songs that stand the test of time.  A good rock song, in my humble opinion, is honest and simple and sometimes 'simple' is very allusive, but that's what we aim for."  The sMALLTIME EP was released May 20th and is available everywhere.  sMALLTIME has just finished their video for "Ya Never Know," which you can see on YouTube.  Planning for a summer tour is underway and details will be announced on their website.

Ten Questions and Answers with Danny Van!

1. Favorite band?  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
2. Favorite genre of music?  Straight ahead honest ROCK!
3. What was the first band you saw in concert?  Jethro Tull @ the Fabulous Forum in LA
4. Do you have a nickname?  Our drummer, Dusty, does.  His given name is Daniel.
5. If you could hang out with anyone who would you pick and why?  Jesus, He has all the answers.
6. Favorite food?  Most everything, look at me! (We think you look great, Danny!)
7. Favorite book?  Green Eggs and Ham.  There's a moral in there somewhere.
8. Favorite movie?  It's a Wonderful Life
9. Favorite holiday and why?  Christmas 'cause we get to watch It's a Wonderful Life.
10. Are there any issues you feel passionate about?   sMALLTIME is all about the message.  God's BIGTIME we're sMALLTIME.  We're just trying to be as honest as we can. That's where good rock music comes from.  We want to write songs that are good today and still good twenty years from now. I love any rock performed with passion.  Like if AC/DC's “Highway to Hell” comes on the radio, I gotta listen.  That rock cord progression is one of the best ever written, and when Bon Scott sings “I'm on the highway to Hell,” I believe him.  I don't agree with the message but I love the song.  I'm hoping I sing our songs with that same passion.

sMALLTIME website

sMALLTIME E-mail

sMALLTIME Facebook page

sMALLTIME on Twitter

sMALLTIME on YouTube

Lawrence Preston

Eclectic Soul may be Lawrence Preston's first widely released album, but he is no newcomer to the music scene. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay area, Preston comes from a musically gifted family. His parents once had a gospel band called The Sensational Travelers.  As a child, he joined his family in a group dubbed The Gospel Jackson Five. The multifaceted Preston is not only a talented singer, he is also a musician with a particular affinity for the bass guitar.  He began by the trombone in a jazz ensemble as a teen and by learning lead guitar at home from his dad.  As he progressed, he began to play the bass guitar, even playing bass for Dorothy Morrison's gospel band.  With Eclectic Soul, Preston tries his hand as a solo artist.  The album, says Preston, "comes from the heart."  Eclectic Soul has an R&B sound with a side of funk, but Preston's early exposure to gospel is an influence that can be heard throughout.
Preston says "What is close to me about the CD is it's a collection of some of the first songs that I wrote that I had an opportunity to evolve to this level."  Preston feels the album authentically represents him as an artist. He also was able to develop his hand as a songwriter.  "As a songwriter you want to be a story teller. I'm proud of that, that I got to tell my story and tell other stories too.  Some tracks on the album are derived from his own experiences and some are based on the experiences of others. Preston says "Driving Me Away" is autobiographical while the inspiration for "Stood Up" came from observation and talking to people. Preston likens it to hanging out at the local barber shop and hearing the stories, which he describes as a "collage of experiences."  Preston's experience of creating Eclectic Soul was a positive one.  "At this point, for me, it's becoming easier because I'm understanding more of who I am as an artist.  Musically, in that context, it helped me with the direction I want to go."
Preston says that Eclectic Soul is doing well nationally.  He's looking to start a tour and response to the album will determine where dates will be set up.  Preston can be found online at his website as well as iTunes and YouTube.  If you want to give him a shout out, he'd love to hear from you on Twitter!  You can find links below as well as the audio from the on air interview.

Live Interview on Soundcloud
Lawrence Preston Music
iTunes
YouTube Live Performance

Pretty Lights at Alfond Arena

On Friday, September 20^th the eager crowd stood in long lines snaking all the way out to the parking lot.  Something big was happening at Alfond Arena.  Indeed, self-described electro soul hip hop producer Pretty Lights aka Derek Vincent Smith was in town to perform.  A reported 2600 tickets were sold for the event, which “surpassed expectations” according to Sarah Goode, VP of Student Entertainment.  I’d had a chance to speak with Derek about his new album “A Color Map of the Sun” on The Knix Mix the week prior, and I was happy to be in attendance to show my support.  Derek, a Colorado native, was particularly looking forward to this show because a close friend and artist on the Pretty Lights label went to school here and raved about Maine at this time of year.  Naturally, I agreed since I am a Maine native and highly prejudiced in this regard.   I also highly recommended Derek try a Maine lobster while he was here, and he promised he would.    The Pretty Lights performance at Alfond was one of the last of his summer touring cycle and the production was perfected on the festival circuit.  Derek vowed Maine concertgoers would hear Pretty Lights “at the top of his game in a synchronized multimedia show.”

On The Knix Mix, I asked Derek about his inspiration for “A Color Map of the Sun,” which was recorded in Brooklyn, New Orleans and the Pretty Lights studio in Denver, Colorado.  He composed all of the songs and wrote most of the lyrics.  Interestingly, some of the lyrics are reworkings of old gospel songs and members of the Harlem Gospel Choir contributed vocals.  Derek’s goal for the album was to make something “classic and timeless that is emotional and intriguing while also being interesting sonically.”  While all the tracks on the album speak to him, he particularly likes “Color of My Soul,” which is the track that originally inspired the album.  Pretty Lights has always employed a free download model, which has become “a philosophy of creation and artistic expression.”  Still a surprising 15,000 copies of A Color Map of the Sun sold in the first week while another 100,000 copies were downloaded for free, placing “A Color Map of the Sun” high not only on the electronic charts but propelling it to number 24 on the Billboard Top 200.  Derek is currently busy with his directorial debut, which will be a music video for a remixed version of “Color of My Soul.”  He says that the song inspired the video and the video in turn can come back and re-inspire the song, which will make for “a cohesive piece of art.”  “An audio, visual, emotional experience.”

 We spoke about the inspiration for Pretty Lights’ characteristic style.  Derek said his musical taste is deeply rooted in an early appreciation of vinyl and a love of hip hop.  Different than a lot of producers who started with synthesizers or computers, the foundation on which Derek built his style is the record.  He said he spent a lot of time digging through flea market record crates.  Derek said he discovered he was especially drawn to a certain era of sound, particularly a 60’s soul sound, when sampling records.  He also uses sounds from music genres, vocals and instruments, some bizarre, that span an entire century.  He takes the best of everything and works it together in a new and interesting way.   In a live setting Derek manipulates songs, using a number of tracks he and friends remixed off the album, mixing and producing on the fly, throwing a party with Pretty Lights tracks that make you “dance and drop hard.”  The result is that each performance is fresh and innovative.

As the crowd poured into the arena, I took up a position in the middle rear of the floor, so I had an ideal view of the stage and could surreptitiously people watch.  The concert goers, mostly college students, were doing their best to emulate the festive party atmosphere of an outdoor music festival despite the indoor arena locale.  The uniform de rigueur appeared to be neon.  Lots of neon.  And glow accessories.  Lots of glow accessories.  The girls were bedecked in booty shorts and tank tops in shocking shades of pink or green, and the boys favored board shorts and brightly colored tees.  To me, it’s a look more at home on the boardwalk at Old Orchard Beach, but what do I know?  When I was at UMaine, all my friends wore black and listened to morose bands like The Cure and The Smiths.  Our party music tended towards angry industrial like Ministry and Nitzer Ebb.  Notably, a number of the girls were rocking a boho-chic headband around the forehead look while the boys favored trucker style caps.  Emblazoned on more than one were the words “Sorry mom.”  Indeed, there was twerking a la Miley Cyrus going on, which would give most parents a coronary.

One of the unique things about Pretty Lights’ music is that it is appreciated across music genre boundaries.  What I like to call “alterna-kids” were represented at the show, though in lesser numbers than the neon clad masses.  I was visually stalking a boy wearing all black from head to toe except for a red skinny tie.  He had long New Wave style crimped bangs peeking out from a porkpie hat.  He couldn’t have stood out more than if he was plucked from 1986 and deposited by a DeLorean onto the arena floor.  It’s a look I love but haven’t seen much of since Flock of Seagulls topped the charts.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you are not my age, and you should look up Second British Invasion immediately for reference.  There was a group of hippie chicks wearing flowing dresses and sporting dreadlocks who admirably owned their corner of the floor, dancing ethereally in a manner I associate with the Cocteau Twins.  Also seen were three people sporting multicolored light up LED gloves who joined together to face off in a battle of the neon fingertips.  I’m not sure who won.

There was reserved seating at the show, but the majority of attendees took up a position on the floor.  So many were pouring over the short wall between the seats and the floor that it reminded me a bit of that scene in World War Z where the zombies were spilling over the fortress wall.  You know the one.  A rousing chant of “USA!  USA!” was heard before the lights went down.  The crowd erupted when opening act, producer and DJ Kap Slap, started his set.  Club remixes of popular songs had the crowd cheering.  People danced, girls were hoisted on boys’ shoulders for a better view, and there was even some crowd surfing going on.  There was a bit of a snafu before the second opener, producer and DJ 3LAU, went on.  Dean of Students at UMaine, Dr. Robert Dana, announced to the crowd that the performance would not continue until people who held tickets for reserved seating got off the floor and into their seats per the fire marshal.  Those who were allowed to remain on the floor were wearing the requisite wristbands.  It took about 20 minutes and an impassioned plea from 3LAU, who had driven all the way from Las Vegas the night before after his flight was delayed, for the crowd to disperse.  The mood was dampened slightly, but it wasn’t long after 3LAU’s set began that people were back in a party mood.  3LAU’s set included his original mix “Escape,” which was received with much enthusiasm.

When Pretty Lights took to the stage, he delivered on his promise to be at the top of his game.  Derek’s gear was set up high on the stage and he is tall in stature, so he is a commanding force on stage.  One has the impression of a genius maestro at play.  The Pretty Lights stage production is a spectacle to behold in itself.  At the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2009 Derek was the first to unveil a video screen on stage, which was commonplace by the time he played at Bonnaroo for the 3^rd time, this year, so he decided to “go backwards to go forwards” and take the video screen out.  Instead he created interesting light effects using state of the art lighting fixtures and lasers, hidden disco balls and filament bulbs.  He employed three dimensional laser shapes onstage instead of simply laser beams.  The result is a visual delectation.  Most importantly, Derek seemed to be having fun on stage, which was infectious, and the crowd responded in kind.  When Pretty Lights’ headlining set was over, the crowd pleaded for an encore with a chant of “One more song!”  Derek obliged with a 20 minute set.  As I left Alfond to head to my car, I noted that most of the people leaving en masse were sweaty but upbeat.  A definitive sign of a good show if you ask me.  My only remaining thought was “Hmmm.  I wonder if Derek ever did get to try a Maine lobster?”