Gil “You & Me”

We had a great series of sessions tracking vocals on “Sometimes A Man", the debut contemporary-jazz record from Gil. The large part of the project was done earlier this year, with Gil flying back & forth from Charlotte to tracking dates at The Disc Ltd. Recording in Michigan (with producer/engineer Greg Reilly). The music was pretty much wrapped up in Detroit with a team of absolute bad-ass musicians (basically Earl Klughs full recording & touring band). The lineup features Tom Braxton on saxophone, Al Turner on bass, Ron Otis on drums, David Lee Spradley on keys and Al Duncan on keys and strings. Spradley also produced his cover of Klugh’s “Wishful Thinking”.

“You & Me” is the 2nd single from the album & is a Rockie Robbins cut from 1980. Gil's version is a little more jazzy, “smoothed-out” & ready for stepping. Check it out!

You can hear more from Gil here.

Upcoming Releases from Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon & Kil Ripkin

I’m super stoked that we’ve just wrapped up 2 really great Hip-Hop projects this week!

We finished “Beautifully Black", a 11-track release with Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon and Navy Blue on production. The stripped back, jazzy chops support Jah-Monte’s voice perfectly & features guest spots from MESSIAH! & more.
This album will be available for streaming on all the standard streaming platforms in a few weeks……..with a vinyl release following soon behind! Seriously, many of y’all will already know, but this guy is so prolific right now - he won’t slow down!!! It’s been pretty inspiring to watch what’s been happening over the past few years for him & his team.
You can check out previous releases from Jah-Monte here & Navy Blue here.

”Self Medicate” from Kil Ripkin is a 10-track album with production from Jah Freedom & features from Skyzoo, Torae & more. Tbh, we finished “Self Medicate” just before the pandemic shut everything down. Of course it became clear really fast that Kil & Jah would have to put things on pause while they figured out how to deal with the situation (like everyone else). Soooooo, when we were not as busy at the studio, I decided to completely remix the album while we waited for the best time to release it. I think it turned out amazing & it’s finally time to let it out!!!
Check some previous releases from Kil Ripkin here & Jah Freedom here.

It’s worth noting that both of these projects feature the artist with a singular producer. It really keeps the vision unified & cohesive throughout the respective album (and not this disjointed “compilation-sound” when the tracks are coming from everywhere).
I feel like there’s a natural flow that is is just THERE on projects like this.

Tracking a new EP w/ Johnny Rockett

We recently had about 4 & a half days in the studio w/ Johnny Rockett and Alex Charles (flying out from LA) on the production for Johnny’s 1st EP & we crushed it. We tracked all the vocals and guitars in CLT (& Alex will wrap it all up on the West Coast). These guys are super-talented & worked together flawlessly!! Ya gotta love teamwork like this, it really makes all the long hours & work so much easier. Anyway, I can't wait for this to come out!!

You can catch him playing these songs for the 1st time out at 8:30pm tonight at The Kodiak Bar & Lounge (42 Union St S, Suite A, North Concord, NC 28025).

Kompleks Konversations “Hustle, Flow and Bodega Flowers”

How do you approach music from a business standpoint? As an entrepreneur, musician and writer, Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo is the epitome of a one man band. Since becoming friends in 2005, he and Tobias Rose have been thought collaborators on entrepreneurship and hip hop. Hear Skyzoo’s unique approach to the business of music and how he continues to pursue the music he wants to make. He also discusses how he pivoted his business during the pandemic, including increasing his streaming efforts and building a studio in his basement. Skyzoo speaks about the future of the music industry and the making of his most recent album “All the Brilliant Things.”

Check out Skyzoo on the Links below:
https://www.instagram.com/skyzoothewriter
https://twitter.com/skyzoo

Follow Konversations:
https://komplekscreative.com/konversations-podcast/
https://www.instagram.com/konversations_
https://twitter.com/Konversations_

“U Da Party" DamarTheEmcee

“U Da Party” is the 1st single from DamarTheEmcee’s Rejuvenation & U. This is the second 13 song full-length we’ve done together over the past few years - his beat selection is always on point & I’ve always loved the unique way he kind of smoothly just floats around the tracks.
Give the project a listen!!!

Kompleks Konversations “Do They Really Want that Old ‘Thang’ Back? Post-Pandemic Policy”

We’ve recently been working on audio post for 8 episodes of Kompleks Konversations Season 2. This season of Konversations features some really interesting perspectives in regards to conducting business during the pandemic. Give their channel a follow - you will learn something!

Fighting with love for social, economic and environmental justice for all Durham residents. Durham City Council Member DeDreana Freeman sits down with Tobias Rose to discuss how it felt to govern the City of Durham during a pandemic. They look to the future by discussing the long-term effects of the pandemic on cities and predicting what Durham will look like in 2040. Freeman also provides insight into her personal journey in politics and hopes for the Durham community she represents.

Konversations is a business podcast hosted by Kompleks Principal and Creative Director Tobias Rose featuring special guests on a variety of topics. From entrepreneurship to leadership and everything in between, we discuss a different subject during each Konversation. Season 2 of Konversations explores “The New Economy” that has resulted from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow Konversations:
https://komplekscreative.com/konversations-podcast/
https://www.instagram.com/konversations_
https://twitter.com/Konversations_

Black Wall Street's SpeakEasy '21 (Vol. 2)

Black Wall Street: SpeakEasy is a political awareness program to raise awareness about public policy in Durham, NC. In collaboration with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Kompleks Creative, the inaugural SpeakEasy event will consist of a political forum with 2021 city council and mayoral candidates.

It was a pleasure to assist the team with the audio post production.

Mary Massie Band / Friday October 22nd

The Mary Massie Band is performing an early show today at Eastside Local (at 6pm). For those of you who may not know, the Mary Massie Band is basically made up of the members of Hardcore Lounge - but a different feel & fronted by Mary. They’ve been working hard on the material & I’m looking forward to getting in the studio and tracking these guys very soon.

This will be their first performance since the “before time” & it’s outside, so slap a mask on your face and come out...

**sidenote — I will forever have a soft spot for that Eastland logo

Black Wall Street's SpeakEasy '21 (Vol. 1)

It was an honor to be on the team & help Black Wall Street, The Durham Chamber of Commerce & Kompleks Creative wrap-up the audio for SpeakEasy ‘21.

Black Wall Street: SpeakEasy is a political awareness program to raise awareness about public policy in Durham, NC. In collaboration with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Kompleks Creative, the inaugural SpeakEasy event will consist of a political forum with 2021 city council and mayoral candidates.

Illmind BLAP:CAM 029 @ Asylum Digital

We hosted I!!mind in the studio a few weeks back for his Pass the Aux production workshop. It went well, was informative & everyone had a great time!!!
Here are some highlights from the evening via the Blap-cam....

Special thanks to Roger Cooper for assisting on this date.