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 Resistor's Steve Goldberg

It isn't every day that you come across an album that successfully combines pop music and parody as social commentary.  Like Devo with their satirical humor or Talking Heads with their deadpan Delphian lyrics. Then along comes Resistor with First World Problems.  The first single from the album, "Narcissist," was immediately on my playlist because of its irresistibly catchy refrain.  It's equally irresistible to picture the narcissist in your life while the song plays.  Doesn't everyone have one?  The video for the track has all the elements of a Saturday Night Live skit set to music.  Funny and with cultural references that you will surely appreciate.  Note the nod to the iconic Say Anything boombox scene but with a twist.  Brilliant!  Steve does the Star Wars sleeveless t-shirt and red jogging shorts justice, I must say.  The rest of the album is equally cheeky. You'll have to give it a listen to know what I mean.

Resistor, the nom de synth of Philadelphian Steve Golderg, arose from the ashes of a previous band, Goldberg's financial and emotional resources were low, and he needed a way to make music quickly and cheaply without depending on anyone.  He began writing songs with only his computer and his voice, and Resistor was born.
Resistor's debut full-length album, First World Problems, was released on May 20th.  With a synthpop sounds reminiscent of The Human League and OMD, the record was recorded and mixed by Jeff Zeigler (The War on Drugs with Kurt Vile) in Philadelphia.  While songs like "Narcissist" and "Choose Your Parents Well" are tongue in cheek, the core of the record is genuine.  Over a bed of New Wave synths, energetic drum machines and multilayered vocal harmonies, Resistor parodies the pursuit of fame and questions the meaning of artistic success.  He wonders "Why do I crave the spotlight?  Do I deserve it?  And why should anyone care about what I have to say?"

Any special talents?  Immense physical strength.  My best squat, bench and deadlift to date are 405 lbs., 290 lbs., and 525 lbs., respectively.  By powerlifting standards those aren't elite or anything, but I think by like synthpop or hipster standards they are.  There are probably a lot of guys in metal bands who lift a lot more though.  Also I'm good at JavaScript; check out my 100% hand-crafted artisanal website http://resistorsings.com/.
Favorite movie?  Is it still okay if I say Annie Hall?  Woody seems like he's probably messed up IRL, but it's still a great film.
What did you plan to be when you grew up?  I really wanted to be an actor when I was in high school. Making the music video for "Narcissist" was a great opportunity to show off my acting chops, just really get into character and do some method acting like back in the day.  Plus it was my debut as a serious filmmaker. Look for my entry next year at Cannes.
Favorite funny story about you?  So a little while back I took part in this "fitness transformation" contest on the Internet where you had to post 12 week before and after photos.  I had taken my "after" photos flexing in a pair of Star Wars tighty whities and put them online for the contest.  Some months later, a friend told me that they'd seen my Star Wars undies photos on the Tumblr of Wil Wheaton, the actor from Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory.  It turned out that a random Internet person had posted them on his gay beefcake Tumblr, then they got reblogged on a satirical Tumblr called "Fake Geek Guys," then Wil Wheaton reblogged them, and then tons of other people did.  I just checked and the post has 11,176 notes, mostly from gay porn Tumblrs.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  That's probably been the peak of my fame to date.  Also, I didn't win that round of the transformation contest, but I entered it again the next time and took first place.  (Way to go, Steve!)
If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?  "Probably a shark riding on an elephant's back, just trampling and eating everything I see. Because it's sink or swim out there."
What three words would best describe you?  Curious / Sensual / ECMAScript compliant
What makes you laugh?  I like the Mel Brooks saying, "Tragedy is when I stub my toe. Comedy is when you fall down a manhole."
Favorite food?  Gonna go with the Shooter Sandwich. Check this shit out!
Do you have a nickname?  Some people call me "The Space Cowboy." Just kidding.  Nobody has ever called me that, but I probably wouldn't mind.
What was the first band you saw in concert?  I think it was Blink 182 at The Electric Factory in Philly.  I was really into Enema of the State.

Danny Blu

I recently had the opportunity to interview artist Danny Blu on The Knix Mix in support of his album "Do Your Worst."  Danny calls his combination of the industrial sound he grew up with and danceable electronic beats "Industrial Pop." He blends the theatrical make up and costumes of glam rock with the intentionally provocative flair of shock rock for an overall effect he describes as musical theater.  Danny Blu, the character, was created in 2010 during the writing stage of the album.  "Big Blue" was a childhood nickname that Danny modified to "Blu" to denote a loss of innocence.  Danny's rallying cry is "Remember to live life without hate or regret and without fear of the Freak within."
In exploring Danny's website and online videos, it is apparent he is multi talented.  In fact, Danny has experience as an actor and attended the NYU Tisch School of The Arts in 2009.  The Danny Blu team includes an artistic director and a creative director in addition to the band and sound director, which serves him well in an era where the Internet makes having a consistent and visually appealing web presence a necessity for music acts.  It also doesn't hurt that most of the actors and dancers in his music videos are beautiful people in various states of undress.  Check out his video for the song "Sebastian" to understand what I mean.
Danny is very visible in the LGBT community and is a strong advocate for LGBT rights.  Danny has also given tremendous support to anti-bullying, a topic that has repeatedly been in the headlines in recent years. High school can be a place where a bullying culture flourishes, and we have seen tragic consequences in the proliferation of school shootings and teen suicides.  There is an increased risk of being the target of bullying for LGBT teens.
Danny describes the track "Set Me on Fire" as an anthem against oppression.  The video for the track is a visually stunning short film that forces viewers to confront the issue of bullying by using religious imagery and theatrics.  "Set Me on Fire" takes the story of the betrayal of Jesus, and the role of Pontius Pilate, who sentenced Jesus to be crucified, as a metaphor for the misfits who are persecuted as outsiders in high school. Danny experienced the ultimate revenge fantasy of the left of center kids by returning to the scene of the actual New Jersey high school he once attended to make the video.  Danny was happy to have gained the support of the school administration in his efforts.
I grew up in homogenized Brewer, Maine; the sister city of Bangor, the second largest city in Maine and hometown of Stephen King.  High school in the late 80's was very much like The Breakfast Club without the kumbaya Hollywood ending.  Groups were separate but not equal, and the jocks and cheerleaders ruled the school with relish.  Teen suicide and school shootings were not yet de rigueur on the evening news and the word "bullying" wasn't on our radar, but misfits (which I was) were not well tolerated and homophobia was prevalent.  In 1984, the year I was 14, Bangor was the scene of a dark moment in history that galvanized the community to begin to take a stand against intolerance.
Charlie Howard was a 23 year old Portsmouth, NH native who was bullied in high school for his sexual orientation.  In 1984 he was living in Bangor and was harassed by three teens as he was walking downtown with a companion.  The teens chased the pair and threw Charlie off the State Street Bridge into the water below, even as he pleaded that he couldn't swim.  He drowned.  The incident didn't have the national attention that the death of Matthew Shepard would have, but in Maine there was a strong reaction. EqualityMaine grew out of the aftermath of the incident.
Things have improved since the time that I was in high school, but there is far more work to be done.  Danny Blu is exactly the kind of unconventional role model that LGBT teens are apt to look to for navigating the angst of self discovery, and he takes the role seriously albeit in a very Danny Blu way.  Danny responds to fans personally, and he recently heard from a teen who credited Danny with being an inspiration in broaching the subject of sexuality with family and friends.  Danny described that exchange as the best Christmas present he could have gotten.
Danny's eleven track debut album "Do Your Worst" was originally released on a smaller scale in 2011 and is in wider release now with a second album, "Saint," planned for a spring 2014 release.  Danny Blu performs in the NYC area frequently and is hoping to plan a tour in Japan.  Check The Factory Blu website frequently for updates.  In the meantime, take a cue from Danny Blu and let your freak flag fly!

The Factory Blu
Danny Blu Facebook
Danny Blu YouTube Channel