Album review for The Bushido Project by Brevner

Hey guys this week, I took a step back from the interviews because I had to do a review of this amazing album by Vancouver's very own Matt Brevner. Released back on November 11 2012, this album titled "The Bushido Project" kind of flew under the radar to most who are not active in the underground local scene. For those of you who don't know what the term "Bushido" means, it means "The way of the warrior". This 14 song album has some great tracks with some great features like "Fishes" ft Erma La Douce, "Pride" ft Stevie Ross" , and "Dark side of the moon" ft Mr. Macdonald. One track of the album called "Sinners" is my personal favorite song, simply of the sample from Metrics "Artificial Nocturne" off their "Fantasies" album. When asked what his favorite lyric on his album was Brevner was quoted as saying "I don't know if I can pick a favorite lyric, Each one is equally important to me." And when I asked him his favorite track he said "My favorite song on the record though is definitely "Not To Blame" because I think it's helped a lot of people deal cope with stress and lack of self confidence." If you don't have this album in your library yet head to http://thebushidoproject.bandcamp.com/ and pick it up now. Until then check out the video for the song "Dark side of the moon" ft Mr. Macdonald here

Intervew with Nicki Meier

Hey friends welcome back to another week with Inside The Scene, where we continue to showcase local bands and artists. This week, I was joined by 15 year old Nicki Meier, a talented and beautiful country farm girl, who has been singing for about 8 years, and has recently advanced to the top 6 in the Valley Voices Vocal Competition (We will get to more of that later). Nicki has been working with some amazing names in the local music scene such as Ben Klassen, Willis Taylor and Victoria Duffield. I'll let Nicki explain to you guys what she's all about.

ITS - Hi Nicki I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.

Nicki - "Thank you so much for choosing me for this!  I am so excited."

ITS - Explain a little bit about yourself briefly.

Nicki - "My name is Nicki Meier, and I am a 15 y/o pop country singer.  I spend most of my time on our dairy farm, and I love it.  I have been singing since I was about 7 years old."

ITS - What inspired you to pursues a career in music?

Nicki - "The music itself has inspired me in so many ways.  Music is an expression and the words of a song help to inspire and motivate many people.  It just fascinates me how something as simple as a song can do that.  Music can be taken to so many levels.  Every age, every culture, even male and female can all relate.  It can be used for every part of life.    This is all inspiring to me, and I love having a part in it.   Just knowing that I can be on stage, and whether I am singing the anthem, or at a funeral or a wedding, or even a competition, I have the ability to touch people with my music.  Amazing."

ITS - Who has been the biggest inspiration for you?

Nicki - "Dean Brody.  Because, like me, he started in a small farm town and his music is amazing!  He has a way of telling a story in a song and it comes across as if you are watching it on film.   It was my dream to sing with him, and last year I got to do just that.  JRFM had a night with Dean Brody at their radio station, and told him about me and a Facebook page I had started called, "I Wanna SING With Dean Brody", and he allowed me to stand beside him and sing a song called "Bob Marley" with him and it certainly was a dream come true.  While I was star struck, he still seemed to be just a normal guy.   But it was a memory that I will cherish forever!  Taking the time for a 14 year old girl, was something that I will always appreciate!!"

ITS - Talk a little about becoming one of the top 6 finalists in the Valley Voices Vocal Competition.

Nicki - "I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Valley Voices Vocal Competition!!   There is such an amazing pool of young talent in BC and it is really hard to get out there and find venues, or good quality competitions to compete in.  This is one that you know you are getting great advice each round you are in.  It started as an audition, which led to them choosing the top 25.  I made it to the top 25, and then they had a Facebook voting segment.  The top 15 would advance to the Semi-Finals.  I tried my hardest to get as many votes as I could but came up shy and didn't make the top 15.  To my surprise, the organizers, DarcyD Vocal Studio, Brad Styba, Lisa Witt and Angela Harris of Fairwind Entertainment, called me the night that voting ended, and told me that they had decided to make it a top 16 instead and award me the Wildcard.  It was such a shock and such a great surprise because a Wild Card vote had never even been mentioned!  They said that my talent, and the way I have handled myself throughout the entire competition was something they were so proud of, that they couldn't let me not advance. I was shocked!   So, I made it to the top 16! 

    The top 16 competed for the top 6 in the Semi-Finals.  The songs I chose to sing, were "Not Ready To Make Nice" by The Dixie Chicks.  I chose this song to encourage others that they do not have to sit down and take bullying.  This song has inspired me when I was a victim of bullying, and it's words were so encouraging to me.  The other song I sang, was "My Hallelujah Song", by Julainne Hough.  A song that to me, speaks of "That Moment" when you know you have done well, and things are going just right.  THAT...is your Hallelujah song.  Our judges were Victoria Duffield, Chiko Misomali, and Ryland Haggis.  I respected and learned so much from each of their comments, that win or lose, there was still opportunity to learn.  I was so excited to hear I was chosen as the top 6!!

    So now, we will be competing on Monday, August 2 at AgriFair in Abbotsford in the Finals.  All 6 that were chosen are amazingly talented.  It is going to be a really tough competition!"

 

ITS - Who are some artists you would like to work with (local or not) and why?

 

Nicki - "I would LOVE to work with Dean Brody because I find him to be a very inspirational person, as well as an amazing writer.  Sitting down with him would be the most amazing thing!  I am a pop country singer, but my heart always stays with the old time country music.  I love Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Don Williams, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton...they are all amazing!  And being in the same genre as any of them, to me, is amazing.   I try to always add a couple of old school songs to every set when I perform because I feel, without them as the platform for country music, I wouldn't be doing what I do now.  On an even bigger scale, I would also love to work with Carrie Underwood because she is a crazy powerhouse singer and I love challenging my vocals with her songs.  And...like her, I started out singing to the cows on our farm."

 

ITS - Final question - If you could choose one type of food to live off of what would it be and why?

 

Nicki - "Definitely Mexican!!  I don't know if that counts but a lot of my family is from the states, and having Mexican is just something that reminds me of the time spent with my far away family.  Last year I was invited to sing at a wedding in Arizona and the friends we stayed with made Mexican food every day for us!!  Best food ever!!"

 

Again Nicki thank you for doing this. I just want to be the first to say, the way you have handled yourself through you young career is already amazing. Remember to stay as humble as you are and strive to become the best, and WE the people of Vancouver will rally behind you no matter what.

 

If you want to contact Nicki or follow her journey on social media you can on:

 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicki-Meier-Music/828555227169657?ref_type=bookmark

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphbjSf-c22Wwh4TVzi3MEg

 

Watch the video here of the song that launched her into the Top 6 here. Nicki Singing "Not Ready To Make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks.

 

 

CD Review for Celeb The 1 Lost From Love Mixtape

This week is a late entry, but hey better late than never right? So this week I decided to do a review on a mixtape put out by Celeb who has brought us recent hits "Second Chances" ft KT and "My Boo" ft Craig Smart. Produced by "Jazze Pha" who has worked with artists such as Missy Elliot, 2Pac, Notorius B.I.G. the "Lost From Love" mixtape is definitely a great introduction to the world on the talent that the first Lebanese Canadian rapper that is Celeb. Working with XOXO Entertainments very own Adam Hurstfield (Elise Estrada, Desire, Ray J) is a big jump in his young career and will surely bring out some amazing hits. The title track "Lost From Love" ft. Sid has a great beat being joined by a piano all while Celeb raps about his struggles of finding himself as an artist, while trying to find the love of his fans. And his track "Next 1" ft. Sid is straight and to the point letting us know that he is the "Next 1" to look out for in the industry.



 
If you want to follow Celeb on social media you can in the following ways

 
ITunes - https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/celeb/id296785818
Twitter - https://twitter.com/celebthe1
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Celeb/261589137200604
Instagram -  @CELEBTHE1
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Celebthe1
Download The Mixtape Here - http://www.celebthe1.com/lfl/

Check out "Second Chances" ft. KT here

And Also "My Boo" ft. Craig Smart here

Interview with Fighting For Ithaca's Justin Mattock

Hey Ithacans so this week I thought I'd do a quick interview to help get to know the newest member of Vancouver based Fighting For Ithaca, (Read first interview for that one)  Justin Mattock. As you are all aware Adamm Strange left the band (on great terms) to pursue school and just didn't have the time to devote to us Ithacans. Cue Justin Mattock.

ITS - Who has been your biggest influence in your life to want to become a musician and why?

Justin - "My influences come in different phases that I go through. When I was younger I was all about Metallica, Lamb of God, Avenged Sevenfold and those types of bands. Solo guitarists like Joe Satriani and Neil Zaza played a big part in my style as well when I was really big on lead playing. What really pushed my to become a musician was bands like All Time Low, A Day to Remember, Yellowcard, The Story So far and a bunch of others. The music was catchy and it looked like they were having a great time doing what they loved so I knew that's what I wanted to do."

ITS - Were you a fan of FFI before becoming the newest member? And how does it feel being part of the band?

Justin - "I had heard the name but I never really got around to checking out their music. I thought they were just some local band who played a few shows in Vancouver, so I didn't realize how lucky I was to get the spot. Once Curtis sent me the songs to learn I was stoked because the music was awesome. It feels amazing to be apart of FFI. All the guys are great, they welcomed me right away. The fans are very cool too, and I can't wait to meet them all!"

ITS - So taking over for Adamm Strange there are definitely some big shoes to fill, what are you bringing into FFI and what made you stand out over the rest?

Justin - "I never met Adamm, but I've seen videos and he's an awesome guitarist. Hopefully I'll be able to try and contribute as much as he did (nice hair included). As for why I stood out I'm not quite sure, I just went in and played for them, and I was lucky they were nice guys so they were easy to talk to. They said I had a good balance between personality and playing guitar, so I guess that's what it was. I'm hoping to bring some ideas to the guys and help them out with writing, and stage presence during the shows. Also lots of high-fives and smiles. You always need high-fives and smiles."

ITS - So if you could choose one type of food to live off of what would it be and why?

Justin - "Toaster Strudels hands down, those things are unreal. Probably peanut butter too but Toaster Strudels for sure."

ITS - What song are most excited to perform and why?  

Justin - "I'm actually really stoked to play all of them, there's not one song I don't like playing. If I had to choose one it would be "Out of Time". It's catchy right from the get go and the Chorus has been stuck in my head since the first time I heard it."

 

Thanks again Justin for taking the time to do this. And I want to be the first to say welcome to the Ithacan Army. And ladies he's single ;). You can all catch Justin in his first gig with FFI on August 8th at Olympia Pizza in Surrey. And to coincide with this, it will be Phil Maloney's (Drummer) last show with the band. While this came to a surprise to the Ithacan Army, its understandable with 2 children, a full time job, and the band, family does always come first. I'm sure however this will not be the last we see of the Philthy "Mother Lover". So be sure to get your tickets and lets give Phil the sending off that he deserves. Best of luck to the future Phil.

 

If you want to follow Justin on social media you can on

Instagram - http://instagram.com/justinmattock

Twitter- https://twitter.com/Justin_FFI

and Facebook - Justn Mattock.