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!
影響
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
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!!
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
UNICORN???!! i just noticed that for the first time!! unicorns r beyond magical! i will now be one and pop into your head, but no worries my horn is not too be feared!! ha ha if only i was a guy that would have been a good one!! callameeeeeeee i need to fill u in! big big hug n kiss m
BLESSED LOVE!! I've thought of you a few times this week. I hope that means all is well in Oakland. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! Hope to make it down south again soon to see all you warm hommies.
Peeaaace... Not sure if you peeped this yet. It's had a good run on MTV-u Let me know what you think.
4ward Eva! AZEEM...
.. "Open Em Up" from AIR CARTOONS [Oaklyn Records] for NEW MUSIC and the FULL VERSION of "Open Em Ep" [lyrics included] check out: Oaklyn Records MySpace Page
Thank you for allowing Me into Your Circle of Friends. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know You! All of Your Unique and Amazing Gifts and Talents that You have to express to the World. Thank You for sharing!
CHECK OUT GODDESS ALCHEMY PROJECT on HER BLU MAJESTY with DJ UNI
on 9THFLOORRADIO. COM on Wednesday, November 12th 5-7PM
Airs on Cable Channels 27, 28 in the East Bay, the following Friday 11PM-1AM
**FREE DOWNLOADS ALL THE TIME**
Bringing a new musical science they call "Open Source Floetics," Goddess Alchemy Project will be dropping some cuts from their new album, "Frequencies of the Motherland," out in stores 11.11.08 and giving us a live set and interview. Check out one of their upcoming shows!!
CHECK OUT JBOOGIE'S DUBTRONIC SCIENCE on HER BLU MAJESTY with DJ UNI
on 9THFLOORRADIO. COM on Wednesday, November 5th 5-7PM
Airs on Cable Channels 27, 28 in the East Bay, the following Friday 11PM-1AM
**FREE DOWNLOADS ALL THE TIME**
J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science will be dropping cuts from the new album, a live set and interview!! Check out one of their shows, listings at myspace. com/dubtronic science.
The new J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science album “Soul Vibrations” is out now on Om Records. It’s available on iTunes, Amazon, Om Records, and select retailers in your area. The album features Lyrics Born, Deuce Eclipse, Zion I, Crown City Rockers, Lunar Heights, Ohmega Watts, Rich Medina, Rebirth, Capitol A, The Mamaz, Jennifer Johns, Jazz Mafia and more.
CHECK OUT CLIMBING POETREE on HER BLU MAJESTY with DJ UNI
on 9THFLOORRADIO. COM on Wednesday, October 29th 5-7PM
Airs on Cable Channels 27, 28 in the East Bay, the following Friday 11PM-1AM
**FREE DOWNLOADS ALL THE TIME**
While on their Hurricane Season: The Hidden Messages In Water. As part of a 50-city national tour that obliterates the boundaries between performance and activism. The fierce poetic duo will be dropping some cuts from their album: AMMUNITION, with a live set and interview.
Be sure to check them out live in SF and Berkeley!! Show info below.
HURRICANE SEASON w/CLIMBING POETREE hits the BAY this week:
Oct. 24&25th La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA Doors open @ 7 pm, show at 7:30pm sharp! Tickets $10-20
Oct. 30th Cell Space 2050 Bryant St San Francisco, CA Doors open @ 7 pm, show at 7:30pm sharp! Tickets $15-20
