The new release from critically-acclaimed Afropolitan Fusion Sensation - Soulfège "Take Back the Mic" - Available on iTunes now!
Take Back the Mic (Full Soulfege Release Date: Jul 15, 2008 Genre: R&B/Soul (c) 2008 Left Turn Music
And as an added bonus for all our people, a message from the future...On Dec 31st, 2011 International Supergroup SOULFÈGE sat down for their first interview since saving the world... Part 1 of 3
LIGHT & SALVATION
Here's an acoustic song we played to close out a fundraiser for Obama on March 4, 2008. With so much fear being thrown into the mix by candidates lacking the ability to inspire their constituents, we thought it worth letting you all know that we are not and WILL NOT be afraid...and neither should you be. Freedom Forever.
SWEET REMIX
This is a great video we shot in ACCRA, GHANA and which wound up airing on stations across Africa, the Caribbean & in Europe. Check it out!
> Get this video and more from Heavy Structured (Plus)
Last summer we dropped a new video. Some of y'all might have peeped it on our boy Jamie Moffett's page, who directed this bad boy. Here's the video to one of the first songs we we ever wrote, "Sweetheart." Check it out:
The Core playa's in the band are: DNA - ld vocalist, rhythm electric guitar Jonathan Gramling - ld vocalist, Congas Kelley Nicole - ld vocalist Stix Bones - drums Alex Staley - electric bass Atta Addo - percussion
Nadirah-X & DNA, kickin' it at WME
Influences
Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Prince, Stevie Wonder, P-Funk, The Fugees, E. T. Mensah, Sam Cooke, Buju Banton, The Roots, Kool & The Gang, Prince Nico Mbarga
Sounds Like
Wailers/Black Eyed Peas/Antibalas/Arrested Development/No Doubt/hmm, kind of different from all of those...Why don't you see for yourself? Peep the videos:
So we've had a massively response from everyone about the recent video w/ DNA discussing our political life in this country. Still, we keep hearing this question in the media about whether young voters are simply naive in their support for Obama. We don't think so. We actually believe there are many informed and engaged young voters out there right now. Here's a way we to help give those voters a voice. Check out this latest video and join the movement at www.takebackthemic.com!
And of course here's the original video of our very own, beautifully bald, infamously political DNA getting "brutally lyrical" with a journalist outside the Obama/Clinton debate. It's been getting mad love on the web and we are proud to be supporting the Obama campaign (well, most of us...some band members are clearly cooler than others...ahem). Anyway, this is democracy in action y'all. Gotta' love it! Peep the second video w/ DNA's response as well. OBAMA '08!!! (Note: D added that last part)
And here is DNA's response to all the gazillion questions we've been getting on that interview, as well as a personal explanation of why he supports Obama. SI SE PUEDE!:
Afro-Diasporic Groovalicious Funkadociousness! If Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, The Roots & No Doubt were all jammin' with the same band, it would be this one.
Blending hip-hop, reggae, funk, and highlife, critically-acclaimed Global Urban fusion band Soulfège has electrified audiences from Boston to Ghana and beyond. The video for their first single, "Sweet Remix," from the album Heavy Structured (Plus), has aired in more than 50 countries across Africa, the Caribbean & Europe, and the band has been featured in such major media as MTV Africa, BBC Worldservice, NPR, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, MNET Africa and ABC CHRONICLE, blah, blah, blah.
Wow that sure sounds like an excerpt from our Press Kit. Oh wait...it is! Ok, ok, so we've had this lil' page up forever w/ like no "real" bio. Why? Because we are too busy running around playing music and starting trouble to get around to it. Well today I'm a give you a quick summary. Soulfège is a band that is about more than music - we are part of a movement of young people who refuse to be defined by the crap mainstream media continues to attempt to force-feed us. We believe that there is more to manhood than ignorance & violence, and more to womanhood than boobs & boody. We also happen to think that music is particularly nice when made by umm...musicians (as opposed to so-called thugs, "real" or "fake," we could care less).
But WAIT, There's more! The kids who founded the band all went to HAAAHVAAHD (read: Harvard) and are SUPER SMARTALICIOUS! :) "What?!" you say..."You people are young 'Hippity Hoppers' (no, really we've been called that) of a brownish-hue (some browner than others...ahem), and you are highly overly-educated, profoundly self-confident and not even PRETENDING to be criminals??? You my friends are fraudulent! You cannot possibly be "keepin' it real."
Newsflash my yute. It don't get much realer. We are artists, we speak from the soul and we rep for more than money and misogyny. We love people, we love art, we love making music and making YOU dance. We are poets, lyricists, instrumentalists, scientists of sound & thought. We trade in ideas, not idiocy. We are opinionated yet open-minded (or so we think...). We are funny, talented, super cute, smart-as-hell and just as humble as lil' church mice. We swear we are intellectually gigantanormous, but somehow we still live in a sitcom. We ROCK A PARTY LIKE NOBODY'S BIZ! We will gleefully embarrass you if you try to play us. We will hug you after the show and squeeze your cheeks if you let us (usually the ones on your face, unless it's a Saturday night).
Sidebar: after much debate amongst the band and in the wake of a few unfortunate "incidents" we have decided the following regarding the squeezing of band member buns.
"Heretoforthwith there will be no squeezing of Kelley buns w/o Level 3 security clearance. Jon & Stix are married, therefore consent must be sought and approved by management prior to any squeezage. Alex is too young, you'll go to jail. DNA on the other hand is fair-game...squeeze away (no pinching). Oh, and if Steve is at the show you'll just have to get in line w/ the rest."
Ok, back to the matter at hand. Yay music, yay freedom, yay love-for-self and yay love for YOU! :) You've just met the best band you ain't never heard of (yet). We are honored. Thanks for reading, now go do something beautiful!
Ya'll have my full support, I am emailing all my friends and family! See you at the grammys!! I was wondering of you could do me a favor, can you to go http://www. akwabaanet. com and check out my NEW REDESIGNED website!! I wanted to get some input and advice before I start marketing and advertising it again. I need some feedback, like/dislikes,does it flow and opinions on the presentation. How easy is it to use, all that good stuff..
I am moved by what you all are doing. The music. That mic (we will get it back).
You mean something to me. I Feel the world. Feel it.
This is how I am thinking right now:
Wear Black on Saturday
Shit is getting serious Tell everyone you know Everyday is a holiday when you can be with the ones you love and like...
The time is now No more holidays Parties Without acknowledging Who can’t be there
Wear black on Saturdays Be with those you Love Every moment you can Every day Don’t delay Go
...but wear black on saturdays for those who can’t be at the party babies and children killed by aids or leftover landmines treatable disease starvation.desperation preventable f’in death wear black on saturday celebrate...
...and when someone asks, buy them a drink and tell them why You wear black on saturdays tell them who you wish could be there....
*Brought to You by You. The revolution won’t be on the news; that’s because it begins with You. We need more than one Answer. We need each other. We need to all be stewards.
(continued) Or are they an unselfish overflowing of generosity That adds to the pool of love around the earth, Growing it so that we all may benefit, Growing it as we forgive and understand and tolerate each other, Growing it so that all of our hearts Will one day beat in time with each other. Tabitha Lowdon 2008
Hey Derek!! I'm back... Are you still coming to Australia? My poems have been manifesting my life into unimaginable possibilities that even I didn't see coming! I have a new poem... Love and Desire Do you love humanity enough To surround yourself with people who love you more than they desire you? For when people spend time loving rather than desiring, The whole of humanity benefits. Love is a giving, And desire is a wanting to take. Do the people in your life love you with consistency, Or do they just desire parts of you intensely? Do they desire to play with your body? To look at your prettiness? To have you entertain them? Or do they really put effort into enriching your life? Do they believe that in “having” you Your presence will fill up their spaces And complete them? Is this what attachment is: Desire and neediness when someone does not feel whole?
When someone is satisfied with their own body, Their own mind, Their own spirit… When someone is satisfied with their own way of life, And their own company… Then they will concentrate on love more than desire; On the giving rather than the getting.
True love is about showing forgiveness: Not condoning behaviour that does not work, But accepting the person who wants to grow. By showing forgiveness You help people to forgive themselves, And this is the path to a whole, satiated spirit. True love is about searching for understanding: When you understand someone’s past, Someone’s feelings, someone’s actions, Compassion is sure to follow. True love is about showing tolerance for other’s imperfections; When you are patient and uncritical And allow someone to find their own right path, It is far more effective than having them follow yours.
True love is given as a contribution to humanity; Are your words and actions dressed up as love Because you want someone else to love and desire you in return? Or are they an unselfish overflowing of generosity That a
Derek & Co...you guys are great! Love your vibe and your great messages.. When are you back in LA to play? Let's get you some gigs! If you're free on June 14th, come check out an event I'm co-producing in Venice at the Blankenship Ballet Studio. It's called the Venice Cabaret Theatre. It will be a monthly event. Would love to book you for an upcoming date -much love, Lauri
