Some advice for CU Artists: Move the Crowd!

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Now that I’m back from China, I’ve taken the past few weeks to check out a few shows and see what’s going on with artists on campus. I have to say, I’m quite impressed with both old and new. From new songs to entirely new EPs and albums, my iTunes playlists are blowing up. However, after attending a few shows, I feel that I need to share some advice with artists…that is, you need to MOVE THE CROWD!! You know, Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff “I Wanna Rock Right Now” style.

We’re in collegeWill Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, right? That means students go to shows to release some stress (esp. at Columbia), have fun, and hear some good music. Most artists have the good music part figured out, but the artists that really stand out are the ones that relate to the audience. How, you ask? Eye contact, call-and-response (you know, Taylor Simone style), reaching out to the audience…literally. Have you ever been at a concert, and the artist screams “Now, wave your hands back and forth like this!” All of the sudden, the crowd moves in sync – a certain energy spreads across the room. Everyone “vibes” together, as if the music unites us. That’s what we need in college. If you’re a rapper and the crowd is quiet, break out a freestyle. If you’re a jazz artist, make sure your instrument is heard in a solo. You’re in a rock band? Make everyone stand up. Impress, impress, impress. Do something different..it’s a live show, and we’re in college. It’s all about fun..right? Engage with the audience, and your show will be that much better.

Who wants to be a role model? Not Rihanna

Posted on by under Music News

I’m baaaaack!! I hope you’ve all had a great summer. I’m taking Bars and Chords in a slightly different direction this school year but before I get into all of that, I had to write about the interview with Rihanna and Oprah on Sunday. Simply put, I can’t help but notice that…

No one wants to be a role model!

On Sunday, Rihanna blatantly told Oprah that she doesn’t like the title of “Role Model.” Ever since then, a thought has been running through my mind…how can you have 11 number 1 hits, and not want to be a role model?!   In other words, I doubt she made it to the top without having someone she aspired to be like, so why wouldn’t she want others to follow her now? Still…now that I’ve had a bit of time to reflect, I’m starting to believe that most celebrities (especially music artists) would probably have given the same response.

To society, a role model isn’t just someone who tries his or her best. As RiRi pointed out in her interview, a role model tends to be synonymous with everyone’s idea of “perfection.” Whether you admit it or not, all of us expect perfection–for artists to fit into our mold of the A-List lifestyle. And when someone fails to meet expectations, record sales plummet, sponsors walk away, and your favorite artist is left to crawl to the top again.

Still, I can’t help but think about the words of Jessie J: NOBODY’S PERFECT. Technology allows our generation to gain a microscopic view into the lives of our favorite artists, which means that we can easily (and I mean EASILY) expose their flaws. What’s even more creepy is that we’ve listened to an artist’s entire album before the sound engineer finishes his final touches, an artist’s death becomes a trending topic while he’s still alive, a domestic violence case pulls two lovers apart before they even have time to blink…

So who do aspiring musicians look to in an industry where everyone makes mistakes (surprise surprise), and no one wants to be a role model? I don’t have the “perfect” answer for you, but I do know this: for aspiring artists, don’t focus on being a Good Girl (or boy) Gone Bad…start by creating your own dreams and goals instead of looking to live someone else’s. Also understand that fame is not the ultimate goal. In fact, it is often a by-product of hard work (and luck, or bad luck). Your talents, creativity and passion for music should drive you through obstacles.

So, I leave you with a bit of an oxymoron…

RiRi can’t be a role model, but she is, whether she likes it or not. It’s up to her to do her best to project a REAL image of herself, and up to us to stop asking for perfection.

Disagree or agree? I would love to hear your thoughts/comments below or on the FB page!

Summertime Playlist

Posted on by under New Music

It’s summertime, finals are over, and college graduates are wondering what to do with their lives. As everyone starts lining up for BBQs, parties in the city, and horrendous summer internship hours, it seems like only 1 thing will stay constant…the search for good music! To make everyone’s lives easier, I’ve created a playlist of some of the songs I think should be on your radar this summer. All of these artists are either from CU (conveniently highlighted in blue), the showcase, or recently graduated…and awesome. I’ve tried to include a spectrum of genres, but if you have some more artist suggestions, comment below/on the FB page or email barsandchords@gmail.com. 

Let me know which artists you like. Who knows, maybe I’ll do a special feature on one of them. Enjoy!

Note: Click on the artists’ names (or songs) for more info.

Neo-Soul/Jazz:

1. Taylor Simone – Bottled Up

2. Lucky Chops Brass Band – Syeeda’s Song Flute (click song name for link)

3. Sam Yulsman – Violet

Pop/Rock:

3. Jake Snider – United States of Anywhere (click song name for link)

4. Melaku – Painkiller ft. Donju Min

Hip-Hop:

5. Lubeen – I’m Dope

*Bonus Artists* 

6. Kameron Corvet – Going Under

7. Chance Fischer – Celebration

8. Euro League – P.O.V. (Lost in the City) feat. Ashli James

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this post is to promote these artists and their music. I do not own any rights to the music posted here. Should any of the artists represented here desire their music to be taken down, please email barsandchords@gmail.com.

Artist Showcase: Olivia Harris

Posted on by under Artist Showcase

Olivia Harris, a sophomore in CC, wears multiple hats in the music business. From guitar player, to singer, and songwriter, she seems to do it all. So it was no surprise last week that she performed a few of her self-written songs, while seamlessly jamming on her guitar. A crowd favorite was her song “Coming Home.” She also had her own show on Sunday at Garfield’s Lounge in Brooklyn. In case you missed her stellar performance at the showcase, here it is:

Upcoming Shows for the Rest of April

Posted on by under Upcoming Shows

As April winds down, ensembles and a cappella groups seem to dominate the music scene on Columbia’s campus. Don’t miss your friends perform in their final performances of the semester. Check out the April 2012 calendar for upcoming shows, beginning as soon as tomorrow.

Also, in case you’re not struggling to pay that last tuition bill, you will notice a few concerts highlighted in orange that you may want to attend. Here are the details:

Death Cab for a Cutie: 4/27, 8 pm @ Madison Square Garden: Beacon Theatre
Tickets

The Weeknd: 4/28, 8 pm @ Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, New York, NY 10002
Tickets

The Shins, St. Lucia: 4/29, 7 pm @ Terminal 5, 610 W 56th Street, New York, NY 10019
Tickets

Remember, if you want to see a show on the calendar, email barsandchords@gmail.com or visit the facebook page.

Artist Showcase: Euro League

Posted on by under Artist Showcase

The artist showcase for Bars and Chords Ent. was not only about showing off the best artists on Columbia University’s campus, but also about showcasing raw talent. Thus, it was only fitting that a real MC on his way to the top stopped by to perform some tracks from his most recent project. After experiencing some technical difficulties, Euro League displayed his ability to adapt to any situation, performing his songs a cappella. And if you’re new to the hip-hop scene, this is a pretty rare occasion for a hip-hop artist (unless he’s part of Young Money or something).

Here’s some more information about Euro League:

Euro League is an NYC native MC hailing from the Uptown Bronx. The combination of his genuine, heartfelt lyrics and clever word play over innovative production by MP Williams form an unforgettable sound that the music collective he reps, REELIFE (pronounced real-life) is gaining notoriety for. His most recent project, Euro Trip, has netted him the attention of notable hip-hop producers like 9th Wonder and Willie B of Top Dawg Entertainment.

So in case you thought the showcase was too much of a tease, here’s Euro League’s full album, titled Euro Trip:

P.S. Email barsandchords@gmail.com or comment below if you’d like booking info.

Artist Showcase: Wedding Xperiences

Posted on by under Artist Showcase

Wedding Xperiences (featuring Daro Behroozi, Charlie Hack, Jesse Chevan, and Sam Yulsman), started off the night right on Wednesday as curious guests funneled inside to hear their music. It is much too difficult to categorize this band into one genre, as remnants of jazz, rock, and even hip-hop can be deciphered in their sound. What we can say though, is that they truly are an “Xperience.” They immediately captivated the audience with their improv skills and unique sound. They definitely need to be listened to live order to soak in the ingenuity behind their tracks, but in case you missed it, here’s a sample of their music:

 

For more information on the pianist, Sam Yulsman, look under the artist tab. You can also email barsandchords@gmail.com to request further information about the band.

Artist Showcase: Taylor Simone

Posted on by under Artist Showcase

Wednesday night was definitely a night to remember as Taylor Simone made her debut appearance after a year long break from the music scene. Despite it being her first performance back, Taylor did not disappoint. She began her set a capella, virtuously displaying her soulful voice and letting the audience know that she was back in full effect. She then moved onto the classic MJ song, “I Can’t Help It,” and finished off strong with her own song “Best Friends.” For links to her music, check out her page under the artist tab. Here’s her performance of the last two songs from the showcase: