Musicians We Love :: Xoel López
Great music. Good people. Work to inspire. This comes to mind when describing Galician musician and songwriter Xoel López.
He has been composing since his teens and gained popularity the past decade as Deluxe. Three years ago, though, he decided it was time for something else and put that name to rest. Off to the Americas he went…
Foundations We Love :: Global Block Foundation
The Global Block Foundation, founded by the Hon. George Martinez (also GBF’s President), Clara Guerrero, and Jelani Mashariki, integrates hip-hop and community work through a group who is truly invested and inclusive in creating sustainable community.
Youth Programs We Love :: Save Sessions LA
My homeboy, DJ Phatrick, sent out a call a few weeks ago: a program he works with, Sessions LA, lost funding and they were raising the money to keep it going.
Musicians We Love :: Campo
¨I really respect and like the body of homeboy’s work. ¨ That is the thought (verbatim) that swirled through my head about Uruguayan producer and composer Juan Campodónico. I first learned about him through the music of fellow Uruguayan Jorge Drexler and soon after realized he was also involved with Peyote Asesino, Bajofondo… and I had been listening to some of their songs unknowingly. I’m slow on the uptake sometimes. -Jennifer Cendaña Armas
Musicians We Love :: Franny Glass
I traveled to Montevideo for the first time several years ago for an informal arts exchange (mainly with hip-hop heads) and Gonzalo Deniz, aka Franny Glass, popped up in a MySpace search of Uruguayan artists. There wasn’t anything remotely hip-hop about his profile, but I wasn’t fazed. Franny Glass is a character in my favorite book, Franny and Zooey, by J.D. Salinger; I was confident he couldn’t suck.
Festivals We Love :: Dance On Camera
Dance Films Association (DFA) was born in 1956 by Susan Braun to ¨further the art of dance film.¨ Fifteen years later, the organization began Dance On Camera. The annual touring festival showcases new dance films, retrospectives, photo exhibits, and gatherings for new projects and ideas to bubble.
Docs We Love :: All the Ladies Say
My B-Girling has taken a slower road than I thought (I proudly am up to 85 pushups a day, though). A good reminder to get my ass back in gear, however, is the documentary All The Ladies Say, directed by Rokafella, produced by Full Circle Productions with music by Kwikstep. I´ve been blessed to work with Rok and am moved by the team´s love and commitment to pushing the project forward. From dance floor to the home, the film tracks several B-Girls moving crowds stateside and abroad. It´s a perspective rarely acknowledged and for any lover of music or dance—especially if you consider yourself a hip-hop head—ATLS needs to be on your radar.
The final stages of production are coming up! A NY screening will be held at Dance New Amsterdam to help raise funds. Q & A will follow, and the evening closes out with live music and dance for everyone to work out their moves. Spread the word, show some love, and pay respect to the B-Girl. Admission $10. Learn more about the herstory of the project at www.alltheladiessay.com or www.fullcirclesoul.com.
CONTACT | BOOKINGS@DJMONI.COM
