Bay Area hip-hop veteran Lyrics Born releases his new album Real People this week, and to mark the occasion, KQED caught up with him at Jingletown Recording for a sneak preview of the title track.
“With the title track ‘Real People,’” says LB, “I really wanted to open the album with something that you could really see what I experienced as a kid – immigrating to the United States, single mom, being in a situation where maybe it wasn’t ideal, but still there was support and there was love in the family. And especially in the business that I’m in, we have such overblown images and ideas of who artists are. So, you know, I just wanted to do something that was real.”
The band performed Real People and Rock Rock Away live in the studio while Starita captured the magic with help of Lee Bothwick. The tracks were then mixed at San Francisco’s Different Fur Studios making for a great all around Bay Area recording.
You never know who you’re going to work with in the Bay Area and these sessions were a testament to that. Eric Rachmany of Rebelution went into Different Fur Studios with Starita to lay down vocals and guitar on several collaborations. Amp Live of Zion I came through making for a very interesting day. We can’t say anything yet but, let’s just say there are some amazing things to come from these sessions!
Joseph Israel and Jerusalem Band have been holding it down on the Reggae scene for years. In 2006 Joseph Israel was signed to the New Door Records; a division of Universal Music Group. Joseph was the sole reggae artist to be signed to Universal Music in recent history, which is an impressive accomplishment with the record label that is home to Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Island Records catalog.
Joseph is in the final stages of a new release and brought in world-renowned percussionist, Leon Mobley, for a late night session while he was in town playing with Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals. In working with one of the top percussionists in the world, the room has to sound amazing. The obvious choice was Hyde Street Studio C which houses one of the best sounding rooms in the Bay. The guys tracked numerous songs and even got around to tracking Leon’s famous signature djimbe.
Keep an eye out for the new record from Joseph Israel and The Jerusalem Band!
Recently, the multi-talented recording artist and actor, Childish Gambino, ripped through the Bay Area performing a one off, sold out show at The Greek Theater with legendary artist Erykha Badu. Amazingly, he managed to pull this off while being deep in production for the upcoming film, Magic Mike 2, due out in 2015. While in town, Childish Gambino and Starita went into Jingletown Recording to lay down a new track for a new secret project that is sure to please. Stay tuned for updates on the release!
Last week guitar slinger Tyler Bryant ripped through the West Coast with his band The Shakedown in support of his new record “Wild Child”. The 12 song rock n’ roll masterpiece reached #3 on the iTunes charts in the first 2 days of it’s debut and “Say A Prayer” was Single Of The Week. Needless to say, this band is kickin’ ass and takin’ names while blazing their way across the country leaving crowds asking “What just happened?!” The crew teamed up with Starita’s Bay Area Music Collective to track a couple of tunes at San Francisco’s famed Hyde Street Studios while BAMC’s Visual Mastermind Steve Rosenfield captured the magic. The boys all headed up to Sacramento to deliver Harlowe’s one of the best rock shows to date and to participate in Rosenfield’s nationally renowned photo project, What I Be, aimed at helping people find strength in exposing their insecurities.
Robert Francis is an internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter whose single, Junebug, went to #1 in France and the top 10 in Germany and Switzerland. Robert is no stranger to music having been one of the only students of John Frusciante (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and growing up with a family of musicians. Starita was pleased to record Robert for the 1st series from Bay Area Music Collective, a community based project bringing together all facets of the local scene and industry.
His new record drops TODAY, 5/22 on Vanguard records and he will be gracing the stages of Bonnaroo this year. Make sure to keep an ear and eye out for the release of Rob’s sessions with BAMC!
