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Chantell Hayden

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Kalan.FrFr Drops “Light Breeze” Music Video, Talks His Album 222 And Giving Back To His Community

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

The West Coast is experiencing what some would define as a musical renaissance. For the past few years, there’s been a huge emergence of talent hailing from the city of Los Angeles and taking the nation by storm, including Roddy Richh, rap duo BlueBucksClan, 1TakeJay and Blxst just to name a few.

And joining that list is L.A. bred newcomer Kalan.FrFr.

But rap wasn’t always on his radar. After establishing a pretty solid football career at San Diego State University, a then 21-year old Kalan had to unexpectedly end his time on the field and shifted his focus to pursuing music full time.

His biggest song “Never Lose You” has over 5 million views on YouTube and his infectious discography has gained him 628,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

So, it came as no surprise when he caught the eye of Roc Nation and signed on the dotted line officially to be a part of the company founded by Jay-Z. He even made his Made In America Festival debut this year as a Roc Nation artist.

We caught up with the rap star to talk about his new album 222, his appreciation for fashion and his outlook on the music industry as a business.

We get deep and touch on his deep connection with his spirituality and how it’s impacted his career, as well as his dedication to fighting the negative stigmas surrounding special needs – an issue the rapper holds near to his heart.

Last month, the rapper hosted his TwoFr Day annual charity event, where he donates clothes, school supplies and more to his former community and high school in Compton, CA. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Compton Unified School District Special Needs Program.

On a lighter note, he also speaks about his genuine love for his job and making music, and how he’s determined to not let the pressures of life and work stop him from enjoying the fruits of his labor.

“I’m not gonna say I’m not having fun because it’s fun. This is fun, my job is fun. But, it’s still my job at the end of the day. So, I treat it like work. I feel like this next stage I’m at in my life, I’m gonna have a lot more fun with the perks of being a rapper” says Kalan.FrFr.

As for what’s next for Kalan.FrFr?

“The video ‘Light Breeze‘ finna drop. So, just get ready for the video, it’s gonna be fire” he said.

Fire would be an understatement. The new music video for the melodic trap bop off his 222 album follows the rapper around his city of L.A.

Kalan.FrFr may be a rookie in the rap game but he carries his self like a veteran. The lifestyle comes easy to him and it shows.

In the video for “Light Breeze,” released yesterday, he raps “All you can see is a light breeze, Sunroof back, A/C riding through the light, light speed” as he rides past palm trees in foreign cars from sun up to sun down.

Watch out interview with Kalan.FrFr below.

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Our Favorite Moments From ONE Music Fest 2022

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

ONE Music Fest shut down the city once again and this year’s show may be their biggest one yet.

With Atlanta being the cultural intersection of music, food and fashion, it was no surprise that this year’s event brought out more than 50,000 festival goers. Dozens of food trucks offering various cuisine across multiple cultures, a mini skating rink sponsored by BET and unique cocktail experiences provided by brands like Bacardi and Tito’s Vodka were spread throughout Central Park in downtown Atlanta.

Colder days are quickly descending on the peach state but that didn’t stop attendees from sporting some of their best festival looks; from fringed crop tops and maxi skirts to sweaters and bell bottom jeans.

The only thing more eye-catching than everyone’s fall fashion was the eclectic artist lineup.

R&B icon Lauryn Hill made a rare yet spellbinding appearance as she closed out Saturday night with a soulful live set. Her son Zion, famously referenced in the song “To Zion” from the singer’s 1998 debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, along with her grandsons joined her as they sang along to her some of her timeless classics.

City Girls put on for them hometown of Miami right before the duo brought out Usher for a surprise performance of their recent feel-good collaboration “Good Love.” Chlöe gave a show stopping performance with a sexy cover of Adina Howard’s “Freak Like Me,” and Jeezy resurfaced his popular snowman alter-ego rapping to “I Luv It” while Democratic Georgia Governor nominee Stacey Abrams cheered him on from just a few feet away.

Ashanti & Ja Rule, Juvenile and Tweet put on the 99’s and 2000’s and effortlessly transported the crowd back to 2002, performing songs from their early catalogs and hyping up the crowd as they didn’t miss a beat and recited every word.

Lil Baby set off an explosive performance (literally). Fans watched on as the stage dramatically lit up with sparklers as the Atlanta native rapped along to some of his biggest hits like “We Paid” and “Drip Too Hard.”

ONE Music Fest has successfully provided epic experiences for the Atlanta community for more than a decade and continues to push the needle in entertainment with the help of Toyota, Live Nation, Pandora and more, while promoting cultural innovation and social change.

Check out some of the most memorable moments from One Music Fest 2022 below.

PHOTO CREDIT: ONE Music Fest

 

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REVOLT Summit Brings Out Gucci Mane, Nene Leakes, DJ Drama and More

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

The 2022 REVOLT Summit was back in Atlanta this past weekend and featured two days filled with special panels, gaming, performances, food, a career fair, workshops and more. One of the city’s most popular venues 787 Windsor was the backdrop for the weekend, with vendors, sponsors and industry professionals lined up along every path ready to hype up and engage with the crowd.

Hosted by popular social media influencers Pretty Vee and DC Young Fly, the jam-packed event included a star-studded list of celebrities, executives and artists all committed to promoting community outreach by discussing social and cultural topics surrounding the black media.

In partnership with AT&T, the summit was hosted by popular social media influencers Pretty Vee and DC Young Fly, the jam-packed event included a star-studded list of celebrities, executives and artists all committed discussing social and cultural topics surrounding the black media.

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals

Master P, Bobby Shmurda, Nene Leakes and Amber Rose appeared on Saturday to discuss matters ranging from the socioeconomic effects surrounding minorities and marijuana on The Future of Cannabis panel, to the importance of financial literacy and building generational wealth on the Assets Over Liabilities panel.

Other panelists included Big Freedia, Dennis Rodman, Social Justice Activists Tameka D. Mallory and Tariq Nasheed,

Coi Leray, Tink, Smino and Ray J were also in attendance to contribute to the conversations. Other events included a dance competition and a talent showcase led by DJ Drama, Rapsody, Tek and more where up and coming singer and songwriter Bae Gii was awarded the $10,000 cash prize.

Both nights concluded with performances by Hip-Hop artists Dream Doll, Big Boss Vette, Rob49, Lakeyah, Kaliii, Baby Tate and Nardo Wick.

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Chicago Band Dehd Is TIDAL’s Newest RISING Artist

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

TIDAL’s RISING docus-eries is a popular platform introducing fans to up and coming artists in R&B, Hip-Hop and more. Artists like 21 Savage, Chloe x Halle and A Boogie with the Hoodie are just a few notable names from RISING’s alumni, and now the platform’s newest addition is Chicago-based indie rock band Dehd. And yes, it’s pronounced exactly how it’s spelt.

But the group’s name isn’t the most fascinating thing about them. It’s their relationship. And we get a special, intimate look at the inner-workings of the trio in their new documentary that releases on Wednesday, exclusively on TIDAL.

It follows Emily Kempf, Jason Balla and Eric McGrady as they navigate performing and creating together as a group. As three very different people with different personalities, they seem to blend together seamlessly and it shows throughout the documentary.

Emily is the risk-taker. She’s fearless and brave and we see it the most when she’s providing vocals and bass to their songs. Her style is unconventional, figuratively and literally. Her body is covered in bold tattoos and she sports a teal and gold grill in her mouth as she talks about the personalities of each band member.

Regardless of their differences, Emily assures that majority rules in this group. “If it’s two against one, then it’s like ‘alright, no questions asked’… that’s it. It’s not happening” she explains, while sitting on a couch next to her bandmate Jason Balla.

Jason plays the guitar and is pretty expressive about how he likes things done. Both him and Emily have a vision that they try their best to execute in the studio and on stage.

Something common amongst their audiences, is that no matter where the trio performs the audience always seems to be having a great time. Like during their set at The Hideout in Chicago there are no awkward bystanders just looking on, only genuine music lovers enjoying the contagious rhythms of the drums, guitar and lyrics. They sing along to the songs together and the energy is infectious. Everyone is there for the same reason: to have a great time.

But the heartbeat of the group is Eric and his unique style of playing drums. Eric isn’t a man of many words. In fact, throughout the 15-minute documentary, he doesn’t say one word. Jason describes him as being “terrified” of performing. But his presence is felt nonetheless, and it’s strong. Especially on the group’s latest album Blue Skies, which they describe as “the biggest statement that we’ve had.”  Jason and Emily made it a priority to make Eric’s drums the focal point of this project.

Regardless, being on one accord doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for them. The group can’t help but blend together. For Dehd, there’s no such thing as an odd one out. Their connection with each other comes so naturally that they are constantly creating together, even when they aren’t trying to. The complement each other well despite their individual quirks.

In the documentary, the band notes the uncanny synergy.

“In a band you come together as one for your music, but we also try to let each of our individualities shine through the different elements we bring to Dehd. It’s a balance that evolves with each new song we write and performance we do” says Dehd.

You can catch Dehd’s latest episode of RISING here.

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A Jam-Packed Recap of Made In America Fest 2022

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

Last weekend kicked off Roc Nation’s Made In America Festival held annually in Downtown Philadelphia, and this year’s star-studded lineup included Bad Bunny, Tyler, The Creator, Burna Boy, Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert and more. The 2-day festival featured an extensive lineup of performances, food, rides and some scorching hot weather.

To kick off their 10th year in the City of Brotherly Love, the festival teamed up with popular retail brand SHEIN to promote different organizations dedicated to various causes including fighting gun violence, social justice reform and voter rights.

Saturday brought a hype set from Detroit rapper Babyface Ray whose audience grew throughout his set once the infectious bass from his hits like “Idols” and “Sincerely Face” echoed across the festival grounds.

Photo by Shareif Ziyadat for D’USSE.

Before her set on the Freedom Stage, rapper Flo Milli stopped by the D’USSÉ Lounge to try her hand at teaching a mini cocktail class with D’USSÉ global ambassador Sullivan Doh. The finished product was a “Gold Fashioned,” a lavish spin on the traditional old fashioned but with a twist: chocolate bitters and gold dust.

While Flo was serving up tasty drinks, rapper Pusha T performed his greatest hits just a couple feet away on the Rocky Stage. Headliner Tyler the Creator ended the night with a bang and closed out the day with an hour-long set, rapping songs from his latest project Call Me If You Get Lost.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Pusha T performs onstage during 2022 Made In America at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 03, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Sunday started off hot (literally and figuratively) with a sexy performance from Victoria Monet. The R&B songstress the commanded the Rocky Stage while performing fan favorites like “Jaguar” and “Moment.” Snoh Aalegra continued to provide the vibes and delivered soulful melodies while donning bedazzled pants reminiscent of MJ’s fit in the “Rock With You” music video; crooning her early classics like “Fool For You” and her biggest song to date, “I Want You Around.”

Burna Boy brought Nigeria to Philly with a heated performance on the Liberty Stage. The crowd screamed the words to his summer hit “Last Last” while the Afrobeats artist danced around the stage, showing off his elite footwork.

The weekend ended with a show-stopping performance from Bad Bunny, showing a crowd of more than 25,000 people how Puerto Rico likes to party.

 

Other performers included Larry June, DIXSON, JID, Glorilla, Toro Y Moi, Jazmine Sullivan, Jenevieve, Tate McRae, KUR, Ryan Castro, Ambré, Young Nudy, Armani White and more.

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DIXSON Is Making His Solo Debut at Made In America Festival

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

The annual Made In America Festival is taking place in Philadelphia this weekend and the lineup is jam packed. Bad Bunny, Tyler The Creator, Burna Boy, Snoh Aalegra, Jazmine Sullivan and more are set to take the stage at the Roc Nation led music festival during Labor Day weekend.

The name DIXSON may be unfamiliar to some, but his work in the music industry precedes him. He’s worked with some of your favorites including Beyonce, Chance the Rapper and Yebba. His most notable work is his collaboration with the Queen Bey herself for her song “Be Alive,” written specially for the Venus and Serena Williams biopic King Richard which follows their journey to success with the help of their father and coach Richard Williams.

The song also earned him his first Oscar and Golden Globe nomination this year for Best Original Song. While receiving these accolades so early in his career is the ultimate goal for artists everywhere, DIXSON doesn’t shy away from being transparent about his journey to get to where he is now.

“If I were doing this for just the press or the look, it would invalidate the art in a way. It’s really important to fight for your visions, fight for your goals, fight for having the right team around you. That’s super vital,” says the R&B artist.

We spoke with the singer-songwriter 48 hours before making his solo debut at Made In America and he spilled on working with Beyoncé and Chance The Rapper, his desire to get back in to acting and how artists should strive to create regardless of life’s obstacles.

I believe this is your first Made in America, how are you feeling about it?

It’s my first time performing as a solo artist. I performed in 2017 as a background artist. I feel good. I think I’ve been silently praying for this opportunity, to get in front of an audience. This is my first outdoor festival.

Spending years as a background singer, I played a bunch off festivals and I imagined being able to take one of the larger stages and this is really exciting for me at this point in my career.

One thing that really stuck out to me about you is that you play 11 different instruments. How did that journey start?

My parents made a conscious effort to let me explore the things I was interested in. So, my first instrument that I started playing was the drums and then I picked up the piano pretty quickly because my father was a pastor and he needed musicians. I learned how to play everything by ear, and as I got older my parents let me explore everything I was interested in. We always had instruments around the house.

So, it really just started with a home environment. When I was doing other things, I had an instrument in my hand. It was a desire. I really just wanted to know how these instruments works and how I can make them sound how I wanted them to sound.

Which instrument is your favorite to incorporate in music?

Lately my favorite is playing bass. It varies, it depends what I’m working on. But, right not I’m excited to get really good at playing the bass and I’m playing a lot of it on this upcoming project too.

DIXSON is set to release not one but two new albums this year. The first of the two-part project is 004DAISY and is dropping on September 16. His recent single “Cherry Sorbet” featuring Sevyn Streeter is a part of it and features a Beatles sample. The project also features appearances from Tinashe, Vic Mensa and LA-based band frontman Stolen Nova.

In the 70’s inspired music video, DIXSON and Sevyn are seen flirtatiously playing the cat and mouse game while singing about wanting to give in to their sexual chemistry.

DIXSON and Sevyn Streeter in “Cherry Sorbet”.

As a songwriter, you’ve written for films, like King Richard and albums like Chance The Rapper’s The Big Day and Beyoncé’s Renaissance. Is there a difference in the writing process when working on a song for a film versus an album? Is it easier to convey a message due to the visuals already existing, versus a song where you have to paint a visual with lyrics and your voice?

I don’t make one more difficult than the other. I try to approach every project with the same energy and passion. For King Richard, There’s not only visuals for the film but there’s also a mental picture. You go back and think of times you’ve seen Serena or Venus play on TV, or watch that many accomplishments happen in real time and you link those stories back to your own life and experiences, the experience of the artist that’s going to be delivering the song. There’s a lot of representation there.

Chance is an extremely visual person. So, as we work on songs he’s painting a picture for us as well. He’s telling us what he’s thinking, what he’s looking for. He is giving us his potential visual ideas so we had a lot to play with. I’ve been very fortunate to work with artists who have incredible visual sensibilities. I do too, I’m the same way. So, it works well for me that the people I collaborate with are also very visual thinkers, too.

When you’re writing for an artist other than yourself, how do you balance how much of yourself and your experiences to incorporate without going overboard?  

I don’t limit myself in that way. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter who you’re working with, whether it’s Bey or another artist I’m realizing more and more that the human experience is the collective experience. Obviously, there are variables. There are very wealthy humans, and very sad humans, very happy humans but it’s all a human experience. I don’t try to limit what I write based on who I’m with.

On your social media, you’re always talking about the importance of versatility. Are there any other creative ventures you’d like to engage in? You were a theater kid growing up and we see musical artists transition from the studio to a movie or TV set in their careers a lot. Are there any other creative ventures you would like to branch out to? Would you consider acting? 

I just auditioned for a role not too long ago for a TV show. So, I’m getting back in to it and just trying to make a soft re-entry back in to it. I haven’t been on a stage in a theater as an actor in a while. I have so much respect for actors and also just the workers in theater, television and film that I want to make sure that return in to that space is welcomed and not forced just because I’m having a rise on the music side of things. I respect all of these art forms deeply.

What advice would you give to independent music artists who are struggling with life’s limitations but are still passionate about creating?

One, you have to change how you speak about your work. Secondly, change your view of your experience as an artist. We could be struggling to pay pills, we could be struggling to manage family expectations, but if you have a gift and art that you’re making, as long as you’re not struggling to get those ideas out of your head and on paper, or whatever you record on.

It took me a long time to be interviewed let alone perform at Made In America. It took a lot of financial struggles and hardships to get to this space but you must stay in it. You have to stay in it because to not honor your gift is to not honor the giver and I think that’s the biggest mistake you can make as an artist.

If you stay in it, it’s bound to work. Your work will only get better and your audience will only get bigger.

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RoleCall Theater Presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream In Atlanta

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

RoleCall Theater is a non-profit independent theater company that provides a safe space for creatives to display their talents. From short plays and films to workshops and improv shows, RoleCall Theater introduces a new wave of talent bringing a fresh perspective to the theater community.

The quaint space is located in Downtown Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, an eclectic historical building that was remodeled in 2014 and houses various cuisine-focused restaurants, trendy retail stores, comfortable outdoor spaces and a rooftop with a view that is to die for.

Right between a parking garage and Pancake Social, a trendy brunch spot, is RoleCall Theater. It’s tucked in to a small corner, and if you’re not paying attention it’s easy to miss. Their outdoor theater space, when not in use, is a typical 3-tiered seating area for patrons.

But what it lacks in space it makes up for in culture.

This summer, RoleCall Theater is the home of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

You can catch the Shakespearean tragedy live from Thursday to Saturday until August 20th.

Only evening shows are available, which is perfect if you’re trying to avoid Atlanta’s almost unbearable summer temperatures. But even the sweltering heat isn’t enough to ruin this quirky yet entertaining depiction of one of the playwright’s most popular works.

Given the feel of this play and the many times it’s been done by other theatre companies, it’s expected of the cast to convey a comedic and zany approach but in an exciting, energy-packed plot of confused romance as well as pleasurable, weird schemes.

Trevor Poli as Demetrius, Nicolette Acosta as Helena, Molly McInturff as Hermia and Sully Brown as Lysander.

Directed by RoleCall’s in-house director and producer Lyssa Hoganson and Evan Fields, the famous play was brought to life with a talented 7 person cast and just a few props.

The last time I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream was in High School, and I hadn’t thought about it since. The old Elizabethan English left me confused and 17-year-old me didn’t quite have the appropriate attention span to absorb all five acts. But it all started to come back to me once I took my seat inside the RoleCall Theater.

This time, despite the frequent switches between the fairy world and the human world, following along was pretty easy – which is a testament to the memorable performances of each cast member.

Most people already know the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s a play within a play, and it follows four lovers, an upcoming marriage and a group of amateur actors. A few fairies are sprinkled in there, too.

The cast features The Knockturnal’s very own Nicolette Acosta as Helena/Flute/Cobweb, Madeline Brashier as Puck/Philostrate/Egeus, Sully Brown as Lysander/Nick Bottom, Evan Fields as Oberon/Theseus/Snout, Molly McInturff as Hermia/Starveling/Peaseblossom, Kaley Pharr as Titania/Hippolyta/Snug and Trevor Poli as Demetrius/Quince

Every group eventually ends up in the same place at the same time. Mischief takes place at every turn and themes of love and heartbreak come up often, thanks to the inevitable side effects of overdosing on love potions. There are romantic and physical chases due to mistaken identities and an obnoxiously dramatic wedding all delivered in to a wonderfully bold performance.

You may not remember how this adventure plays out. I know I didn’t, initially. But it doesn’t matter because the performance, while enigmatic, was as magical as a fairy-enchanted forest.

Above all, the whole production organically flows together with Nicolette giving a magnetic portrayal of scorned lover Helena, and Molly conveying the opposite side of the spectrum of adolescent love in her character Hermia. Sully and Trevor do a great job of commanding the room during their heated love-ridden arguments as Lysander and Demetrius. Evan and Kaley accomplished the difficult task of presenting the beautiful yet dangerous realities of marriage between Oberon and Titania.

And no one could have played the role of Puck better than Madeline, with her adorable charisma and playful demeanor.

With a sense of baffling foolishness and wonder, the play concluded.

I caught a Thursday night show, so it wasn’t too packed. The box-sized room with long, black curtains adorning each side was tight. I remembered thinking “Surely, this cast of seven can’t give us, the audience, a compelling performance in such a tiny space?” There was a sturdy, black step ladder situated on top of a few vintage rugs in the middle of the room. The set up was almost too simple. I wasn’t sure what I had walked in to, but I left feeling happy that I did.

You can purchase tickets to RoleCall Theater’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream here.

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Usher, Maroon 5 Light Up the 2022 Beloved Benefit In Atlanta

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

The 2022 Beloved Benefit returned for their annual event in Atlanta on Thursday night and it included show stopping performances by Usher and Maroon 5.

The Beloved Benefit raises money yearly to aid in the advancement of Atlanta’s many communities. The organization is big on unity and bringing people together, and donates the money raised to nonprofit organizations throughout the city.

The night took place Downtown inside Mercedes Benz stadium with hundreds of local community leaders in attendance, all working together to help improve the city.

Jeff Foxworthy. Courtesy of Beloved Benefit

Guests wined and dined while listening to speeches by some of the city’s biggest playmakers, including the mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens, Comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and Chick-fil-A and Beloved Benefit exec Rodney Bullard.

Other notable attendees included Kandi Burruss, Donnell Jones, Ernie Johnson Jr., and legendary news anchor Monica Kaufman Pearson. NBC sportscaster Marie Taylor hosted the night and kept the guests entertained while bringing awareness to the important issues confronting the city like gentrification, poverty, and crime.

“Only 4% of people who are born into poverty will ever make it out”, was an upsetting statistic repeated by many throughout the night. In 2019, The Beloved Benefit raised more than $5 million in funds for Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods.

Maroon 5. Courtesy of Beloved Benefit

 

Maroon 5 performed songs from their extensive catalog, showering the crowd with nostalgia with “This Love”, hyping them up with songs like “Moves Like Jagger” and their #2 Billboard hit “Sugar”, then slowed it down with their 2018 collaboration with Cardi B, “Girls Like You”.

Between performances, heartfelt speeches, and an emotional tribute to the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis who died in 2020, a QR code lit up the stadium, allowing guests a chance to donate to the cause right on their phones.

Courtesy of Beloved Benefit

 

By the end of the night, $6.3 million was raised for 8 non-profit organizations fighting to strengthen the neighborhoods of Atlanta. Atlanta CareerRise, Center for Employment Opportunities, The Goodr Foundation, Goodwill of North Georgia Career Training Center, Latin American Association, Quest Community Development Organization, The Village Market, and Westside Future Fund were all praised throughout the night for their selfless efforts to positively impact the city.

Usher. Courtesy of Beloved Benefit

Usher closed out the night donning a white oversized jacket and baggy Rick Owens pants, occupying every inch of the stage with his hypnotizing dance moves. “Caught Up”, “Nice & Slow” and “U Don’t Have to Call” are just a few of the lucky songs that made it on his setlist.

Maria Taylor. Courtesy of Beloved Benefit

We asked the emcee to describe her favorite thing about her hometown, despite the drastic changes it experienced within the past few years.

“The most beautiful thing about the city is that I truly believe it is a melting pot of ideas and cultures, and it’s also aspirational. People can come to Atlanta and decide they want to be movie stars and there are opportunities to do that. People move and start a business and it’s possible. It’s not economically out of reach like it may be in other cities. And maybe for them, the aspiration is owning a home that’s a nice, 3-bedroom home and that’s possible in this city. It’s aspirational, it’s inspirational, but I also believe it brings people together from all walks of life with that southern culture that you can’t find in any other city,” said Taylor.

You can learn more about the Beloved Benefit here.

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Sevyn Streeter Is Going Through the Motions Just Like The Rest of Us

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

R&B vocalist Sevyn Streeter was enlisted by Mary J. Blige to perform at The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in Atlanta this past weekend. The show took place at The Tabernacle on Friday night, where she performed alongside Kiana Lede, Rubi Rose, Emotional Oranges and more.

In 2021, Sevyn released second album Drunken Wordz, Sober Thoughtz. On this project, she exercises a great amount of transparency and gives some insight on where she’s been these past few years. It has its introspective moments on songs like “Fall Back” where she speaks directly to the other half of a toxic relationship that is coming to an end. Then, there’s songs like “Wet Dreamz” featuring singer Jeremih and “Change My Mind” where Sevyn shows off her naughty side while delivering addictive harmonies.

The album is the perfect balance between sweet and sour and perfectly encapsulates how the singer has grown musically and personally.

The catchy melodies and flawless vocals are what draws people in to the world of Sevyn, but it’s her duality that hooks you. And at the end of the day, Sevyn is just like us. She, too, has her fair share of problems and emotions to sort through. The only difference is that she used those emotions to create one of the best projects of the year.

We spoke with Sevyn to discuss the inspiration behind the album, touring and what it’s like working in the studio with music industry vet Jermaine Dupri.

The Knockturnal: How have you been?

Sevyn: I’ve been amazing and in a good space, just creating new music.

The Knockturnal: I saw you linked up with Jermaine Dupri, so were you guys working on something?

Sevyn: We are working on my new project. We just started but we’re having a great time. He’s the G.O.A.T. and such a legend and it’s such a honor to work with him. He’s super cool and so talented. To sit there and watch him make a beat last night, I was just staring like “yo, you really that n***a.”

The Knockturnal: How are you enjoying Atlanta?

Sevyn: I love Atlanta. I’m a Florida girl, I’m a country girl. So, Atlanta feels very close to home for me.

The Knockturnal: I have been a fan since your first project Call Me Crazy, But… You’ve came a long way since then and you’ll only get bet bigger. But, I have been waiting to ask you this: you released your EP Shoulda Been There Pt. 1 seven years ago… your fans have been been begging for a part two since then. Will we be getting a part two?

Sevyn: Listen, Twitter is gonna love you for this cause they be on my head about that! I mean, Shoulda Been There was a little moment. I don’t know if I’ll ever do a part two, I’ll be honest. I feel so bad because I was gone for four years and left you guys but I’m not gonna do that anymore. I promise to give an abundance of music. That’s where my head is, just to give you guys more music and more visuals.

The Knockturnal: You released your album Drunken Wordz, Sober Thoughtz last year. What inspired the title of that album.

Sevyn: When you hear drunken words and sober thoughts you think, “Okay, Sis had one too many drinks and is telling all of her business.” And it’s a little bit of that because I definitely had a couple of drinks and told some of my business. But, when I really think about it in my mind when I was creating it, I felt like you can be under the influence of a million emotions. Anger, heartbreak, jealousy, love, so many different things. I wanted to write from all of those different spaces. I just like that at any given moment, no matter what you’re going through, you can pick one of those songs off the album and if you’re under the influence of a certain emotion then you can play that record.

I started a lot of [the album] before quarantine and I finished it during quarantine. We were all under the influence of different emotions during that time. Some days, I was sad. Some days, I was angry. Some days, I was so at peace and happy to be home. I just allowed myself to not be afraid of those emotions and just dive right in to them, then write from that space. That’s really where the title came from.

The Knockturnal: You hit 5 different cities during your tour for this album and it was very intimate but will we be getting a bigger tour from you soon?  

Sevyn: We’re in talks of doing a bigger tour. It was a little warm up for me and I hadn’t seen [the fans] in so long. So, I wanted to be able to be so close that I could touch them. To be able to yell at them and they could yell at me back, it was very close and intimate and I love that. But, we are going to do a bigger tour and have more fun. I love live shows and going tour because my Street Team is crazy. They be yelling at me, telling me what songs I should sing. I live for it, though.

The Knockturnal: If you could open up for any artist who would it be? And don’t say Beyonce because everyone says that.

Sevyn: Actually, my old girl group RichGirl opened up for Beyonce’s I Am Sasha Fierce Tour back in 2009. That was fun. But that’s a great question. I would have to say Rihanna. I would love to open up for Rih, I think that would be so much fun. Once she has the little baby, if she gives us this album that we’re dying for then I would love to open up for Rih.

The Knockturnal: As a woman, where do you find your strength from and what is your greatest strength?

Sevyn: I find my strength from a number of different things. The older that I get, I find that I get a lot of strength from what I call my trinity: my mother, my aunt and my grandma. The three of them keep me together. I will call that four in the morning if I need to cry or vent or talk or just get some knowledge on things. We’re talking about three different women who have obviously lived different lives but they have so much wisdom to offer from their experiences, the good, the bad the ugly. They won’t lie to me and that’s what I love the most. Even when the conversations are not so great, they always end up in a positive light. There’s always something to be learned.

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Kiana Lede Talks Atlanta, Mental Health and New Music at Strength of a Woman Fest

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

April 3rd marked two years since R&B singer-songwriter Kiana Lede released her critically-acclaimed debut album KIKI. Despite dropping an album at the height of COVID-19, KIKI debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on the top R&B Album charts.

Releasing a major body of work during a fairly new global pandemic could be looked at by some as a risky move, but Kiana is fearless. Not only in her songs, but in the way she carries herself and how she speaks as well. She speaks in a way that is honest and transparent. She’s funny, quirky, a little awkward (but who isn’t?) and her confidence follows her in to every room, towering over her 5’2” frame.

Today, Kiana is still riding on the high of her first album, dropping new songs here and there and performing at festivals. Her most recent stop was in Atlanta, where we caught up with her  before her performance at The Tabernacle during the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit. Organized by R&B legend Mary J. Blige, Live Nation Urban and Pepsi, the 3-day weekend included a Friday night concert with an all women lineup.

Before she shared the stage with Rubi Rose and Omerettá the Great, singer Inayah, pop duo Emotional Oranges and MK XYZ, we caught up with Kiana to talk about her love for Atlanta, the importance of therapy and where she finds her strength from. 

The Knockturnal: How’ve you been? How are you enjoying Atlanta?

Kiana: I’ve been great, thanks for asking! I love it here. I always love it here. I can’t wait to see some titties.

The Knockturnal: Is that like, a normal thing when you come here?

Kiana: Yeah, what?!

The Knockturnal: At your shows?!

Kiana: Strip clubs. I hope [that happens] at my shows!

The Knockturnal: I haven’t seen you live yet but do your shows get crazy?

Kiana: I mean, I might have to tell [my fans] to show me their titties now.

The Knockturnal: I know you’re from Arizona, does the heat in Atlanta compare to back home?

Kiana: I love the heat here cause it’s humid and I love humid! It’s good for your skin. Dry is just… ugh! It’s like your face is cracking. I love when my hair is curly from the humidity, I just like when my hair is crazy.

The Knockturnal: You recently dropped a single titled “Unpredictable” with Destin Conrad, how did you guys link up?

Kiana: I’ve known him for a really long time, since I was 16. We’ve always kept in contact and he’s a really sweet dude. I saw he was taking music seriously and how incredible he is. He’s an incredible writer and an incredible singer. I think he’s, like a really rare singer that we have right now and people are just finding out. I just wanted to support him! He sent me the song, I loved it and we just went from there.

The Knockturnal: It’s been about 2 years since your debut album KIKI dropped. Are we getting new music soon?

Kiana: You… are getting new music before the end of the year.

The Knockturnal: Is there anything else you can tell us about it? We’re in Atlanta, there’s a lot of producers here. Have you been working with anyone we may know?

Kiana: I have…

The Knockturnal: Can we get a hint?

Kiana: (Shakes head) Mm-mm. The hint is that they’re from Atlanta. You can guess but I’m not gonna tell you, though!

The Knockturnal: Switching gears to a more serious topic, you made a post on Instagram back in December about people calling you underrated and how, in spite of where people may think you should be career wise, where you are right now as an artist and a person is enough and you’ll only get better. I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to so what do you have to say to those who may feel like their progress just isn’t enough?

Kiana: It’s hard because I’m still figuring it out every single day. One of the things that makes me feel good is what my therapist told me, “you are exactly where you need to be at the time you need to be there.” Something she told me recently was, “today, you are the person that you needed when you were younger.” So you’re always growing. No matter what it is, we are always growing and getting somewhere. We may not know where that somewhere is cause we don’t know where we go after this but it never ends. We just have to enjoy every single second and realize, wherever we are, we need to be grateful.

The Knockturnal: I think that’s very interesting because I’ll always see people on social media say “my therapist said…” and I wonder do I need a new therapist? Because mine just stares at me like I’m crazy for an hour.

Kiana: They’re important, therapists are really important. I ran away from different therapists that I was talking to. I got diagnosed with Bipolar [Disorder] during COVID, almost 2 years ago. I had that diagnosis before by a couple of people and I ran away from it because I didn’t trust it. I didn’t feel safe. But, I found a black female therapist and that is where I felt the most protected and safe. I felt like she would understand some of the cultural things I’ve been talking about, you know? When it came to family and just culture in general, and my experiences as a black and mixed woman. So, I didn’t have to explain shit, she just got it and that’s what made me feel safe enough to accept the diagnosis and move forward from there.

The Knockturnal: This is the Strength of a Woman Fest so I have to ask, where do you find your strength from and what is your greatest strength?

Kiana: There are so many things I work on feeling strong in. Even my work, even writing songs. That’s where I should feel the most strong and I almost have to convince myself to feel strong in those areas. But, I think where I feel the most strong is in conversations like this. Being open enough and opening up other people that probably wouldn’t be able to talk about these topics, by opening up myself. I think that’s something really beautiful. That’s actually a strength that I have and when I feel the strongest.

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