Unicorn

Bio:

ORIGINS
:: Unicorn also known as Cynthia Blancaflor is a 31 year old Filipino artist born in Morocco and raised in Fort Washington, Maryland, where she was raised on Filipino food/values, R&B, go-go music, and pop culture. She began singing when she was three years old, following the foot steps of her father who is a singer.

By her early teens, she began writing political poetry and love poems, then in 1996 moved to Chicago for college where she found a thriving artistic community of spoken word artists, deep house, film-making and old dusty jazz records. She studied Journalism at DePaul University then discovered film-making through an intro course so she transferred to Columbia College where she found herself immediately behind a 16mm camera. Her first 45 second short film (b/w, 16mm), "Don't Walk" speaks on the racism she had experienced and seen on city streets. Her old homegirl Smokie got her into collecting old '70's records like Grover Washington, Jr., Steely Dan, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, Roy Ayers and the list goes on. . .her exposure to the Chicago deep house music, dance and DJ scene would help to shape her musical stylings to come. . .

IMPACT
:: Unicorn moved to the San Francisco bay area in 1999 and has since found a community where she has been able to perform as a spoken word artist, vocalist and video producer. She earned her degree in Cinema from SF State and is a certified video editor through BAVC. Check out Rising Star Productions (http://rising-star.net)!

In 2002, as a vocalist of drum and bass collective, Blaktroniks (Moving, Tokyo Dawn, Reflective), the group was awarded the SF Bay Guardian GOLDIE for music. "Raindrops" (move_d_remix) by Blaktroniks featuring 9 (aka Unicorn) remixed by DJ Mike Grant. "Raindrops" found on Blaktroniks : Truth & Desire EP : Moving Records. Dreamy nu-jazz, including remixes by Mike Grant and Domu

EVOLUTION
:: As a member of Kreatibo, a queer Pinay artists collective, they co-produced/co-wrote/performed in an original play called "Dalagas and Tomboys: A Family Affair" See the article in the Guardian http://www.sfbg.com/39/30/x_8days.html Kreatibo was awarded a 2005 Lesbian Theatre Award from Curve magazine for their collaborative work that mixed video, theater, poetry, song, and dance.

As DJ Uni, she currently DJs deep house/funk/soul sets at private parties and local events. She is working in the lab on some new original music. Stay tuned. . .

Her weekly internet radio show, "Her Blu Majesty" with DJ Uni mixes soulful, melodic grooves with in+studio guests, airs on http://9thfloorradio.com/ on Wednesdays 5-7PM and on Fridays at 11PM Peralta.TV; Channel 27, 28 in the East bay.

Check out "Rites of Passage," a young urban women's coming-of-age show, she co-produces on Peralta.TV. "Planetary Alignment," a live arts special TV event, aired on February 22, 2008 on Peralta.TV (Channel 28: Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville ; Channel 27: Alameda, Berkeley) & Live Streaming on www.peralta.tv. Also, check "Arts, Community and Culture", a 30 minute collaborative show featuring video and musical art work on channel 28 in Berkeley (Berkeley Community Media) or online at www.betv.org

Check out rising-star.net !!


Spread the word. . .


Check out my Internet Radio Show on 9thfloorradio.com, airs on Channel 27, 28 in the East Bay, CA! EVERY WEDNESDAY 5-7PM. Live Streaming & Free MP3s!!

Her Blu Majesty with DJ Uni Promo from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo.

..

Radiohead - Weird Fishes / Arpeggi from Stephen Blacker on Vimeo.

This is a video I created for the Radiohead song "Weird Fishes / Arpeggi".

Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Flash and Pixologic Zbrush.

Q-Tip - "Renaissance Rap" from Three/21 Films on Vimeo.

Q-Tip - "Renaissance Rap"

CYNTHIA = ARTEMIS: Moon, Hunt, Guardian of Women and Children



13th Century Buddhist Monk Nichiren Daishonin,
Founder of Nichiren Buddhism, NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO "the key to unlocking the Buddha-nature (light/wisdom/intelligence)
which resides within all life" from the LOTUS SUTRA by Shakyamuni Buddha

Yim Wing Chun, Founder of Wing Chun Kung Fu

..

Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Believe

RECENT PRODUCTION WORK:





JBoogie's Dubtronic Science at Mighty from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo.
JBoogie's Dubtronic Science at Mighty from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo.
JBoogie's Dubtronic Science at Mighty from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo.
JBoogie's Dubtronic Science at Mighty from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo.
All 4 One Dance Battle from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo.
Presented by Peralta.TV, Produced by Cynthia Blancaflor, Graphics by Mama Wisdom (Goddess Alchemy Project)

Planetary Alignment Intro

Add to My Profile | More Videos
"Planetary Alignment" on Peralta.TV, Laney Theater, Oakland, CA

Hairdoo on "Planetary Alignment"Part 1

Starchild Dance on "Planetary Alignment"
Starchild Dance on Planetary Alignment
..
"Do my ladies run this MOTHERLOVER!?!"

Goddess Alchemy Project at Fox Theater from Rising Star Productions on Vimeo...
MORE VIDEOS TO COME...STAY TUNED!!

Member Since:

October 14, 2005

Members:

For the songs above: Unicorn (aka Cynthia) on all vocals/instrumentation unless otherwise noted, "Overjoyed" (S. Wonder) - Aimee on djembe, "Sudden Rush" - Aimee on bass, keys. Just to put it out there for any other like-minded artists down for artistic collaborations: MCs, DJs, dancers, vocalists, musicians, visual artists, producers who are down to co-create, holla back. Blessings!

Influences:

Ancestors, Children, Kindred, Cosmologies, Heaven and Earth, Body and Soul in Central Park, John Beltran, Roy Davis, Jr., Osunlade, all drums from around the world, electronic/organic blends of Bjork, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twins, Lamb, Squarepusher, Recloose, Radiohead, Zero 7, Terra Deva, Loose Ends, Cameo, Zapp and Roger

Steveland Wondrous, Sting/Police, Prince, Isley Brothers, Me'shell N'degeocello, Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, Rachelle Ferell, Sade, Sweetback, 70's jazz/funk/folk/rock LPs, Roy Ayers, Santana, EWF, WAR, Gap Band, Ohio Players, Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius, Return to Forever, Chick Corea, Crusaders, Joe Sample, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Keith Jarrett, Isaac Hayes, Lonnie Liston Smith, deep house, dub, downbeat, Fela Kuti

DJs King Britt, Josh Wink, Cam, Chris Brann, Marques Wyatt, Sake-One, Daniella and Dedan at Brothers n Sisters, Casa Mena, Spinna, Ron Trent, Mark Grant, the Red Dog and Funky Buddha Lounge in Chi-town, Mike Grant, APT and Shelter in NYC, MAW, Fania All-Stars, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the Philippines, Island life/Oceansides, the BAY AREA community!!

All SOULful balladeers now and then, Omar, Dwele, Peven Everett, Jeff Buckley, Tama Waipara, Cassandra Wilson, Goapele, Steve Spacek, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Ledisi, India Arie, Laryn Hill, Fugees, Digable Planets, Every conscious hip-hopper in r/evolution, The Roots::Do You Want More?!!?, Black Star, Zion I, Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Genie, Bahamadia, Medusa, Mamaz, Colossus, Crown City Rockers, Naked, Ubiquity, Om, Guidance, Giant Step, Six Degrees, BBE, the IndiE UnderGrounD RePresenTs/SpeaKs 4 ITself, Everybody who FEELS it and KNOWS it and LOVE

Sounds Like:

Joy, Pain and Everything in btw

Record Label:

Rising Star