First of all, I need to apologize for the lack of recent updates, especially as I had planned on taking care of that during my holidays. Things didn’t work out quite as I hoped they would, but I am soon to start a new chapter in my personal and professional life which will give much more time, energy and focus to share even more music with you. With that said, the next few posts will be a way for me to tell you about some projects that have been waiting for a few weeks or even months and that I really wanted to present here but somehow got overlooked as time passed. This blog is clearly not about all the latest, brand-new music though, and it’s mine anyway so I can do whatever I want (yep, that’s how it works).

Now let’s deal with the matter at hand, which is Prosthetik Intelligentz and GravityMovement’s EP The Sounds & Wonders, that was released back in December. I have to admit I didn’t listen to it on repeat as I should have then, since I was slightly overwhelmed with music at the end of 2011, but I am catching up and making up for lost time. Why will I listen to it regularly now? Well, first of all, it’s 6-track EP, which makes it quite easy to hit the replay button. But most of all, it’s amazing!
In case you are not familiar with Prosthetik Intelligentz yet, I would recommend you start by having a look at the interview we did recently for Word Is Bond, where they dropped gems and shared their thoughts on life, music, hip-hop and more. Since I discovered Ezzie B. and B. Doom aka Prosthetik Intelligentz, I am more and more interested in their music and it is always a pleasure to listen to the combination of wonderful production reminiscent of the “Golden Era” of hip-hop with the witty and thought-provoking lyrics. This association of great musical background and lyrical skills is once again present here, but the producer responsible for the former is GravityMovement, who teamed up with the duo to add a slightly different touch. When it comes to the lyrics, Ezzie B. showcases his amazing skills once again and provides the listener with very interesting thoughts as well as technical dexterity (as is obvious with the incredible Pieces of the Movement which had me marvel at his seamless flow). From the introduction with a sample taken from the film The Dictator, where Charlie Chaplin gives a scarily accurate description of what the world could/has become, to the closing “shouts” by people met by B. Doom along the road during his travels in Africa, your mind will be solicited but your head too, as you most probably won’t be able not to nod to the rhythm of the beautiful instrumentals. The Sounds & Wonders EP is therefore the perfect combination of entertainment and education, as is explained in another quote at the end of Investment. One last thing about this project: if the voice saying “Prosthetik” that you can hear here and there over the tracks sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s mine (I couldn’t not mention it, right?!). Big shout out to the guys for this, it is much appreciated and makes me feel part of the project, somehow.

Now that you know a bit more about it, and if you haven’t done so already, I highly recommend you give The Sounds & Wonders EP a listen and of course support by purchasing it. If you get the physical CD you will also receive some lovely goodies, which is always appreciated. Head over to Prosthetik Intelligentz’ Bandcamp page or simply click on the link below.

Because there’s never enough goodness, let me now tell you that you can also discover the latest project by B. Doom, half of Prosthetik Intelligentz, a beautiful beat tape dedicated to Sade, simply entitled The Sade Experience. If you order the CD, you will get this one as well, but if you prefer digital, head once again to the Bandcamp page, or click on the link below.

Find out more about Prosthetik Intelligentz on their website, Facebook & Twitter and about GravityMovement on Facebook & Twitter

I haven’t updated the blog in a little while, as I am on holidays and don’t necessarily find the time to do that, but I wanted to share a little something with you. My last video blog dates back to September/October, so I thought it would be nice to show my face again and share some of my experiences with you. The Wonderful World of Carminelitta episode 4 was all about Chicago, music and my newly-found love for travelling and this new episode is an extension in a way, as I tell you about my more recent trips to Pittsburgh, Marseilles (France) and Orte (Italy), where I am now, until the end of the week. I hope you will enjoy this little sneak peak and be inspired to explore the world yourself. More updates are coming soon, with some new music so stay tuned!

Before I leave you, here is one of my favourites pictures of Orte, a lovely medieval village surrounded by mountains. It is very peaceful and a great change from busy London.

To continue with this busy and productive start of 2012, I now present my first interview of the year, with Binghamton/Pittsburgh MC and producer Idasa Tariq. I can’t remember exactly when and where I discovered the talented young man, but I have been following his releases for a little while and really appreciate his work. Idasa is among the most driven, focused and hard-working artists I know and he is definitely an inspiration when it comes to taking the right steps to achieve your dreams and goals, as well as staying as independent as possible. With a new record label, websites and other endeavours, he is clearly going places and it is a great pleasure for me to see him do his thing. In this interesting video interview, he tells us about his musical path, Pittsburgh and Binghamton, future projects and collaborations among many other things. Without further delay, let me present to you Idasa Tariq, in his own words…

Now that you are more familiar with Idasa Tariq, and in case you missed it, discover Pissed Off Soul Man. You can head directly to his Bandcamp page or simply click on the link below. Enjoy and spread the word.

Find out more about Idasa Tariq on Fresh Air Flavor, Facebook and Twitter

Inspiration is such an amazing thing! I was chilling at home after a long day at work and didn’t think my evening would be very productive when I stumbled upon a link to an interview that reminded me of a project I should have listened to and purchased a while ago. Erika Lernot is a beautiful and very talented French singer I discovered many years ago on MySpace (yes… you know, when it was a great way to discover new artists) and she was among the singers I checked out regularly and whose page I visited often to listen to the music, especially the incredible La Vague, which left such an imprint on my mind I still remember about it now. Time passed and I found her again on Facebook in the past few years and even if I haven’t been following her closely, I saw links here and there that enchanted my ears (and eyes, with her latest video). This project I was talking about at the beginning of the post is her debut EP, entitled Le Voyage (the journey), which came out last October. I don’t know how I managed to miss this release but I’m glad I was able to catch up and discover this musical gem today.
Four tracks deep, the EP clearly sounds like a journey, both musically and metaphorically, as we explore different rhythms, themes and atmospheres. While Oyaya (La joie !) opens the project with tons of positive vibrations, Si je te donnais raises the levels of  energy a notch and got me to dance as if my body was possessed. I can’t dance but I still could move my body and probably invent some moves to the incredible rhythm and melody. Once again, the song is very positive and deals with a beautiful love story that transcends social status and expectations. I’m actually listening to this song right now and it’s quite fun, if only a bit difficult, to type on the laptop that is on my lap (doh!) while shaking all that I can in that position. The follow up, La dame de la mer is slightly calmer and a bit sad but incredibly beautiful and emotional, taking us on a different path and allowing Erika to explore different emotions, as well as deeper vocal ranges. Finally, we can enjoy Les jours d’été (summer days) with a lovely and once again uplifting song where the singer reminisces over those special moments when she can simply enjoy life, the sun and a somewhat slower pace. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the incredible talent of Siam Lee, Erika’s composer and guitarist, who provides the excellent musical background to this gorgeous project.
As I am on my third listen, I can feel my mood getting better and better every time and I have a feeling this EP will be all I listen to tonight, while smiling hard, dreaming, dancing and simply loving life.

To give you an idea of what Erika Lernot’s music is all about, let me share her video for Oyaya (La joie !) with you. You’re most welcome!

Now that you are completely hooked to Erika’s beautiful voice and uplifting music, all you have to do is run to iTunes or Amazon and purchase Le Voyage. I know it’s in French, but hey, music is a universal language! 

Find out more about Erika Lernot: Noomiz, Facebook

What better way to start the year than with great music? I actually left you before Christmas with some music by Diggs Duke and this first post of the year presents his brand-new project, in collaboration with Bama Love Soul. I actually discovered him and Gravity on the great blog and it’s a pleasure to see that what they were saying about him releasing more music very soon was true. I was not expecting it to be that soon and I am therefore both surprised and very happy.
While Gravity had a very smooth and sensual vibe, making it the perfect soundtrack to a late night dancing/love making session, Black Gold sounds more energetic and lively, making your head nod and putting a smile on your face as you enjoy the feel-good factor of the music. When it comes to the lyrics, it’s more varied as well and Diggs Duke explores different topics besides love, which is always interesting. I find the concept quite beautiful as well, since it’s all about enjoying the little things in life and turning those into “gold”, as opposed to trying to reach some seemingly unattainable and unrealistic goals.
As the singer says when comparing this second EP to the first one, Black Gold ”seeks to expand on the musical concepts and vibes that were presented to you on “Gravity.” He explains: “You will hear the same layering of instrumental sounds. You’ll hear the same character in the vocals. [...] But, you’ll also hear something different in the tone of the music. No better, no worse. Just another take on the Diggs Duke style of music.“  Even before listening to the music, I really appreciated this description and how Diggs Duke aimed at staying true to himself while experimenting and exploring different sides of his talent and personality. His voice is as smooth as ever though, which will make it very easy to put the (once again) very short EP on repeat, as was the case with Gravity. Both projects complement each other very well and present some of the varitey of music the singer can explore. Stay tuned for more, probably sooner than later!

You can listen to and download Black Gold on Diggs Duke’s Bandcamp page or directly on the link below. You can also find more information on Bama Love Soul. Enjoy and spread the word!

Find out more about Diggs Duke: Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter

Oh, what a year! Wait, did I already say that last time? Well, it has been a very interesting year indeed and I’m very proud and happy to celebrate the second anniversary of my blog today. After the success of The Wonderful Year of Carminelitta, I now present to you Volume 2, with this new compilation that gathers artists I featured on the blog during the past 12 months. As usual I am very grateful and thankful to them for taking part and for inspiring me with their music.
While 2010 was the birth of the blog and was therefore very exciting, a year of great progress and discovery, 2011 was a bit more difficult for me, both on the personal tip and for the blog, but it was nonetheless a good one that saw me grow and embark on new adventures, with Word Is Bond and Ness Radio among others. It was also the year when my dream of travelling to the States finally became a reality and my trip to Chicago was definitely a highlight of this year, followed by my recent express stay in Pittsburgh. I met amazing people and artists in both cities and it is only the beginning of my love story with the US!
2012 will be much more focused and I will push all my endeavours further, to share much more music, words, and aspects of my art and personality. I’d advise you stay tuned if you want to witness those. For now though, it’s time to celebrate and spread the word about some very talented artists, with The Wonderful Year of Carminelitta Vol. 2. Once again, big thank you to everyone on there, as well as all the artists I featured and got in touch with in 2011, without forgetting all the fellow music lovers I met along the way and those who have supported me from day 1. Your love and support are much appreciated and I am very grateful for you.

Tracklist:

“New Year”, Shade Cobain
“All Games” feat Word Chemist (prod by Shade Cobain), Shinobi Stalin (exclusive)
“Flood Watch”, AMiAM
“Exhibit K”, Kap Kallous
“Retroactive” (prod by Shamalex), L.I.F.E. Long (exclusive)
“Our Dilema” (prod by Young Fury), Pugs Atomz
“Feel”, Phenzwaan – “Now & Forever”
“Trinkets and Shit” (Anniversary mix), Starchild
“The Sound” (prod by Shade Cobain), Varsity Squad (Jon Quest & Beedie) – “New School Boom Bap” (coming February)
“THE WORLD IS YOURS” (prod by BusCrates 16-Bit Ensemble), DiViNe SeVeN
“Raw Beauty”, Evil Needle
“Skipping Through Leaves”, Fathom 9
“This Is For You”, Eric Lau
“The Fader”, Martin Parks
“Twinkle”, the A.M. (ArinMaya x Blackdaylight)
“Sail Away” (prod Marc Mac), Dezaray Dawn – “Deep” EP
“Ce soir” feat Aldrick, JLS Musique – “DES MOTS [dé] NOTENT”
“Weightless” (Spinnerty Remix), Nadia Alfadel
“Would you let me” (prod by Spudd Brown & Mahewa Wazuri), Maleiva Kem – “Scraps: Meet & Part Company”
“Yenki Vou (Only You)”, Meemee Nelzy – “Kréyòl Seasoning”
“Something About You”, Stevy Mahy – “The Beautiful Side of a Kreyol Folk Trip”
“Hills”, Greg Spero – “Acoustic”
“Key Of Life”, The Ones (Yaw & Khari Lemuel) – “Community Service” (coming soon)

P.S. A huge thank you to Alvin Black III aka alvinthethird for my beautiful logo! Check out his art, mixes and more on his website.

You can listen to The Wonderful Year of Carminelitta Vol. 2 on Mixcloud or on the link below and download it HERE. Please don’t hesitate to spread the word, it’s all about sharing!

I know it’s not Christmas yet, but since I’ll be away during that time, I might as well treat you with as much music as possible. It is actually quite rare for me to be that inspired these days so I am definitely taking advantage of it and sharing all this beautiful music with you. Yes, I am generous like that.
After ELQ’s futuristic funk and boogie, I’m now showcasing a smoother EP that is none the less very appropriate for a Friday evening/weekend, simply for a different mood and atmosphere. With this debut EP, Diggs Duke presents a beautiful collection of soul music which sole flaw is to be way too short. The good news is, the singer promises us a new EP soon, as well as a future full-length whenever possible. I discovered Diggs Duke and Gravity on Bama Love Soul as I was doing a most necessary and long overdue catching up on blogs a few weeks back, before realising I had an email waiting for me where the artist presented the project. I promise, I will do better with emails in 2012! Where or how I heard about this project doesn’t really matter though, as what is important is that I fell in love with the music and had to share it with you.
Diggs Duke voice is smooth and warm, the perfect remedy to this winter’s cold and greyness. The different tracks have a beautiful soulful and jazzy vibe, where the horns add some sensuality to the voice and lyrics, making a rise in temperature inevitable (whether you are dancing solo or with a partner, or simply imagining what you could do with that special someone). Clearly, this is soft, baby-making music and it should definitely help you chase your blues away whenever that is necessary. Because the project is so short and the combination of music/lyrics/vocals so smooth, there is an addictive element in Gravity and it should be rather difficult not to put the EP on replay. Repeatedly. This is what I have been doing while typing this little write-up and I will probably continue to do so for a little while, to make my evening/night sweet as chocolate-dripped strawberries (or anything else you fancy). As you probably understood from those previous lines, if you are a soul music lover, I highly recommend you give Gravity a listen and support Diggs Duke and his music. You will thank me later.

Discover Diggs Duke beautiful (albeit too short) debut EP Gravity on his Bandcamp page, or simply by clicking on the link below. Enjoy and don’t be selfish, spread the word!

Find out more about Diggs Duke: Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter

I told you about Jon Quest and his latest mixtape very recently and I already have some new music made in Pittsburgh for your ears. I actually find this quite appropriate as I am about to visit the place for the first time next week, something I am of course very excited about.
East Liberty Quarters (ELQ) is the coming together of three talented producers from the City of Bridges, Grand Ear, BusCrates 16-Bit Ensemble and Nice Rec. While I told you about the first two numerous times, I have to admit I was not familiar with Nice Rec and his music before hearing his collaboration with them. The trio already delighted our ears with their debut release, the East Liberty Quarters EP several months ago and they are now back with some funky niceness to make you move your body and forget about the cold. This winter treat is soberly entitled East Liberty Quarters 7″ and is a two-track project that has had my head nod seriously for the past ten minutes or so. Trust me, it is almost impossible not to be hypnotised by the rhythm and get in some kind of trance while following the beat. The three producers added a great dose of synthesisers that give both tracks a futuristic and spacey edge.
Holiday and Streetlight are the perfect Friday night/weekend tracks and they should get you in the mood before you head out for the night or help you release the little energy you have left when you come back home. Right now, it is a great way for me to release the stress and tension from this long working day and it sure puts me in the mood to enjoy a nice, productive and music-filled weekend. I have a slight preference for Streetlights, which takes me even further in this exploration of future funk/boogie and puts a huge smile on my face while I let my head and body be possessed by the music.

You can discover East Liberty Quarters 7″ on ELQ’s Bandcamp page or simply by clicking on the link below. The EP is available as a digital download from the site, but also in vinyl, which I highly recommend. I know I’m getting mine when I’m in town! Enjoy and spread the word.

Find out more about ELQ on Facebook

There are days when I wake up with a smile of my face and a great feeling about what’s to come. Today is one of them. As I switched my computer on and started my daily activities, I was sent a link to a wonderful album that I can’t but share with you now.
If you are a regular reader of the blog, you are already familiar with producer Sinitus Tempo and his amazing music. Among numerous other projects, he started working with singer and musician Kitty Wong to create the group OneofUs and they now present their first album together, the incredible Disengage. I very rarely post a blog article about an album I just listened to, but this touched me so deeply and made me feel so good that I had to spread the word about it. Just when I felt inspiration was somehow deserting me again, I find hope and faith again, something I am really grateful for.
Disengage is one of those albums that can change my mood completely and make my day as beautiful as the music it contains. In addition to Sinitus Tempo’s spotless production that is heavily inspired by jazz, we have Kitty Wong’s perfect musicianship and her soft, angelic and enchanting voice, which constitutes an incredible combination and puts a stupid smile on my face as I can feel goosebumps starting to appear on my arms. The atmosphere is very relaxed here, which is quite appropriate for a Sunday morning and enables me to envision beautiful possibilities for the day. As my mind wanders to far away places, I imagine I am flying over luxurious sceneries, admiring the beauty and mystery of nature. I can also picture myself dancing on a beautiful white sand beach or in the middle of a green forest, to the rhythm of the melodies and Kitty’s voice. I know I am getting carried away here, but if you read my previous posts about Sinitus Tempo, you will notice that it is usually what his music does to me. I find it quite wonderful that an arrangement of some notes into a melody, a voice singing some lovely words and some jazzy samples can make me feel this way and I don’t want it to ever stop. This is yet another manifestation of the power of art and music, which makes me feel so blessed to be alive and be able to witness it.
Another great thing about this album is that it allowed me to discover the amazing Kitty Wong and definitely makes me want to know more about the singer and musician. I watched a video the other day, where she was singing and playing the keyboards and I have to say I was really impressed by her talent. If you are not familiar with her music either, I would recommend you do some research, which is what I will do as soon as I have posted this. I need to thank Sinitus Tempo for this excellent discovery and for putting such a talented artist under my spotlight.

Now that you know more about OneofUs, it is time to discover the incredible Disengage and to immerse yourself in its beauty and purity. You can head to their Bandcamp page or simply click on the link below. Don’t hesitate to share with your friends and family!

P.S. The magnificent cover artwork is courtesy of rf3rd.com

Find out more about Sinitus Tempo on Facebook and Twitter & Kitty Wong on Facebook

I already had this discussion (hmmm… monologue, really) several times, so I won’t lecture you again about the appropriateness of the label “newness for your ears”. To make it short, any music that is new to your ears can be described as new music, without there being any need for “late passes” or other shame-inducing tokens of any sort. Now that the debate is closed and the issue settled, let me tell you about this mixtape that came out back in October…

I actually first heard of Pittsburgh-based MC Jon Quest with volume 1 of his Real Adventures last year and it was a great pleasure for me to discover the second season of said adventures, as it is now making me quite happy to share my thoughts about them.
Growth is a beautiful and exciting part of life, which is all the more appreciated when it is expressed through art. With this new mixtape, Jon Quest proves that he is indeed a very talented and worthy member of the hip-hop culture. While The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest was a sort of introduction, a way for people to get familiar with his music, this second opus is a confirmation of his talent and a testimony to his evolution as a man and as an artist. Also, as was the case with the first volume, the MC surrounded himself with the best producers and artists that Pittsburgh counts and the project sounds like a family reunion of sorts. Something that is quite rare with mixtapes is that most of the production is original and I need to give a big shout out to all the producers involved, as the musical background is quite exceptional here (special mention to Shade Cobain, BusCrates and Geeman).

When it comes to the content, that is where Jon Quest’s growth is most obvious, with an improved flow, his trademark writing and story-telling skills, as well as more introspective and serious topics (PSA Parents, Cold Heart and Bad Mother are a few of my favourites and struck me by their darkness and insight). Another highlight for me is Old Timer, where the MC explores a vicious circle of evil and presents different points of view by entering several character’s bodies and minds. To help Jon Quest shine and showcase his skills, several artists from Pittsburgh take part in the project, including his Varsity Squad partner Beedie, present on several tracks and singer Ricardo Iamuuri, who gives Cold Heart even more depth and beauty. As this is a mixtape, most tracks are quite short and I have to say this really made me want to listen to more from the young MC and hope for an EP or full-length in the near future. While I cross my fingers, I’ll be listening to The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: Season 2 on repeat and encourage you to do the same.

You can download the mixtape HERE. Don’t hesitate to spread the word! Now, to give you something to enjoy right now, here is the video for Season 2 Intro (Step Up), produced by Shade Cobain. Visuals are most of the time a great way to enjoy music even more and this is clearly the case here.

Find out more about Jon Quest: Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp