world music

Tribalism | The Other Tribe – ‘Sing With Your Feet’

Haha, I have found it! Okay, I didn’t exactly “find it,” because implies that I went on a search for it. I usually will go on a drastic hunt for songs I hear, but this time I didn’t do that.

So how did it happen? Well I ran across a track that I fell in love with while jamming to The Magician’s Magic Tape 27. He had a lot of good magical tracks in that mix, and a few of them were old-new favorites, while others I had never heard of.

One of the tracks I fell in love with was this great tribal tune that had a world music feel infused with beautiful percussion. But I had no idea who it was by! Yet, after reading some blogs today, I learned that the tribal track is by The Other Tribe and it’s called “Sing With Your Feet.”

“Sing With Your Feet” may sound like weird name for a song, but it’s an eclectic message from the Aztecs that is used to represent dancing. Apparently, their isn’t an Aztec word for dancing, so you must “Sing With Your Feet.” Pretty cool, right?

Sounds of Berlin: DJ/Producer/Singer Fritz Kalkbrenner

My mom and dad raised me to let the world be my home, and to never limit myself to a “hometown” mindset. Physically I may have been born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up back and forth between Maryland, Virginia, and Colorado, but my home is the cultures and sounds of the world. I couldn’t imagine staying in one spot my entire life and not broadening my horizons mentally. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to yet travel and see different places, it’s important to be socially aware of the world outside of the US.

World music is one of my favorite genres, which includes house from around the world. The US has a lot of good house music, but abroad their is a unique international flair that goes beyond electro & dance. I’ve heard some pretty good music from artists over in the United Kingdom, but I will say that right now I’m intrigued by German DJ/Producer Fritz Kalkbrenner. He’s an artist on the German label Suol and his music is a mixture of house/club and a few hints of subtle electro beats. A few of his songs feature him singing in soulful vocals accompanied by guitar melodies and harp like synths.

Fritz Kalkbrenner is quite the household name over in Berlin, and I’m glad that YouTube is such an international platform. Once again I have found yet another amazing artist in the endless waves of video on YouTube. As I continue to get immersed in the reservoir of world music, I find myself more anxious to eventually travel the world and soak up as much culture as possible. I’ve begun writing for a travel site and helping build their destination guide, but I can’t wait for the day to come once I’m in a position to embark on my first trip abroad.

The music of the world is beckoning my soul to catch a flight and come enjoy wonderful sounds live. But until that glorious day arrives, I will continue to discover more artists of the world and post them here on my blog to share with other nomads; so welcome to my nomadic playlist.

©Jasmine McGee.ThinkSoul25. http://thinksoul25.com

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My, Myself, and House

Since I’m finishing my degree online, it doesn’t really feel like spring break. My weekday’s usually consist of working on tons of homework every day, writing, helping my brother and sister n law plan dance workshops, and a good three to four hours of Black Ops, so spring break doesn’t really feel different than my usual week.

It’s getting kind of addicting playing Black Ops, especially when you play it so much and your start getting better. At first I was only getting like 4 kills every team deathmatch and domination, but now I’m getting up to 20 kills each round. Of course it’s not 30 or 40 kills like most of the hardcore Black Ops players, but it’s a good start considering the fact I just recently got into playing it online. Playing it online is way more fun then just playing local and the commentary from the other gamers cracks me up!

My bluetooth doesn’t work that well and I’m not a fan of talking to random people I don’t know (except via FB and my blog lol), so I tend to just listen to them while the match is loading. It’s hilarious to hear them get some upset over someone killing them, they go off so badly! I’ve heard some interesting conversations, even ones involving my gamertag and how this guy got upset that I kept catching him off guard and stabbing him. One thing I’ve learned about playing Black Ops, is to keep moving all the time and don’t stay in one spot too long. You think you’ve got this great hiding spot and unless you secure it with a claymore, someone will come up behind you and shank you. How do I know this? I’ve done it to people plenty of times and I’ve had it happen to me.

It’s a fun game to play and it can be addicting, especially when you get in a competitive mode and don’t want to take your eyes off the beautiful HD screen. Yet I do find balance and haven’t devoted my entire life to being a champion in the craft of Black Ops. I’ve actually been working on my book and deciding which direction to take the story. Not sure if I want her to have this fairytale ending or be proud knowing that she doesn’t need a man by her side to define her, but it she is still open to the possibility of love. The book is inspired by my dating life and some true events, of course names have been changed( I’m not that cuthroat, only in Black Ops).

For those of you who have been reading my blog, you know that I was in a brief relationship the past month but I had to end it, for reasons in which I don’t entirely feel like discussing. Let’s just say I’m quite content with being single and actually really missed the freedom I had, especially with men. Being single allows me to focus on my writing and fall deeper in love with house music. When I’m writing or relaxing in my room thinking about life, house music is always the soothing soundtrack. It’s always me, myself, and house.

I have the best of both personalities, introvert and extrovert, resulting in a fair balance. I enjoy going out and being in a crowd of people, but I cherish the moments I have alone. Being in a state of soltitude gives me so much joy and the house music creates a world of my own. House music is the soundtrack to my life. I wake up in the morning listening to house, I have it blasting from the Ipod dock while taking a shower, I walk around the house singing fragments of soulful house chants, and I fall asleep to the sounds of soulful house music and lounge music.

Deep House Cat, Deeper Shades of House, and SS Radio UK are my source for deep house tracks that will move your body and soul, even alter your mindstate. Next to God, my family, and writing, house music is something I love with a passion. I go out of my way to study every aspect of it and learn about different artists from around the world. When I feel like I have nobody else outside of my family to understand me, I sit back and relax to the enticing drums, keys, bass, and other resonating segments that make up house music.

There are ingredients that make up house music and I know this for a fact.I once heard it in a house podcast I was listening to and this black guy was speaking in a deep soulful voice. He described the elements that make up house. After further research I found the song on youtube and the rest of the lyrics.

True house music consists of four main ingredients: a cup of spirituality, a tablespoon of love, a dash of togetherness and a pinch of soul penetrative beats. House music has the power to heal, to soothe, to comfort. It’s a music of love, a music from up above. True house music is an instrument of God and if this instrument is used wisely, it can change your soul. This is true house music!

I played this song on repeat for a good week and couldn’t get it out of my head, I didn’t want to. I didn’t want those words to escape my soul. I feel like house music completes a part of my personality, it’s something that I cherish deeply. True houe music, I’m talking that deep soulful pure house, has this astonishing quality of connecting with your soul. When I look at the lyrics from that song, C&M Production "True House Music", I can’t find any fault in the abstract ideas. House music does have the power to heal those who are sad, those in war torn countries, those who are heartbroken, lonely, and missing joy in their life. House music is that feel good music for the soul. Even when there isn’t vocals involved, every beat hits the soul in all the right places, and there is only that one beat that delivers that final KO…the beat that takes your body to dreamland.

True Ingredients of House Music

Mzee ft Candy Nurse – Mahuwelele (Boddhi Satva Mix)

Chic- Chic Mystique ( Little Louie Vega and Kenny Dope Gonzales Mix)

 My favorite version of this song by The System.

The System- Your In My System (Kerri Chandler Remix)

©Jasmine McGee

ThinkSoul25

http://thinksoul25.com

House Music Junkie

I don’t own the magical hands that are viciously throwing down on the turn tables. I’m not the DJ who knows how to get guys feet stomping and women’s hips rolling in a rhythmic serenade. I’m not the graphic designer who creates the flyers that hold the treasure maps to finding the groove. If I’m not a DJ, not a graphic designer, and not a house dancer…then who am I?

Simply put, I’m a House Music Junkie. I live, breathe, sleep, and eat all things house related. My obsession with house has become a part of my initial genetic makeup, the key codes for accessing house and understanding it our imprinted in my brain. I’ve been listening to house music since 00’, but my interest in electronic music began with my childhood pastime: videogames.

When I was younger I was the little girl that dressed extremely girly, had tons of Barbies (I was never big on baby dolls) and loved bright colors. But having an older brother, I had the opportunity to play with army men and throw down on some videogames. Even though I was extremely feminine, I was also a very creative outside the box girl. I wouldn’t play dress up with my Barbies, but instead have them be spies and create short films filled with espionage, love, and of course fashion.

When I look back on my childhood, I can still how my actions molded me into the woman I am today. I’m still a fashion diva, but I have a huge passion for filmmaking, writing, and videogames. The thing I loved most about the videogames, aside from the graphics and action, was the music. Remember the original Super Mario Bros? It had this catchy theme song, which made the game play even more exhilarating. The song accentuated every action that took place whether it was eating magic mushrooms and growing bigger, or going into the scary underworld…the music in Mario was revolutionary to game play. Playing Mario and other videogames opened my ears to the electronic syncopated sounds from Japan, Europe, and its influence in America.

First Experience with House

Aside from my older brother influencing me in the video game aspect, he also introduced me to house music. My brother is a professional choreographer/dancer named Jamile McGee and has been dancing since he was young. We are 7 years apart in age, but due to my maturity level we are able to kick it and relate. In the year 2001 I was introduced to the genre of music known as “house”. A British house music group entitled “Dirty Vegas” had released their debut track “Days Go By”.  I had never heard the song before, but was instantly hooked when my brother show me the official music video. The video tells the story of a dancer who shows up once a year to dance in front of this shop, in hopes of getting his lost love back. She left him because he couldn’t stop dancing, but bystanders also interject their perception of the story while he is dancing.

I played this song over and over for a few days in a row. The lyrics and the beat were so enticing. The beat consisted of these deep tribal drums that sync with the body and persuade your hips to roll and feet to tap. When I would close my eyes and listen to the song, I felt as though I was being pulled to an alternate universe. All the problems I had were frozen in a time capsule, and the only thing on my mind was happiness…

From that day on, I become a walking dictionary of house music. It was as though house was my mission in life, it was a school of life that I never wanted to graduate from. This hunger grew within my soul to have a divine understanding of this gift from God. It was a passion that flowed in my veins and grew into a love. I wouldn’t be the culturally and internationally diverse person I am today if it weren’t for house saving me. I owe “Days Go By” homage for changing my life and introducing me to the world of house. When I listen to house music now, I’m constantly analyzing the rhythms, creating my own lyrics, and diving into bliss.

I listen to many genres of music from hip-hop to jazz, classical to classic rock, and gospel to r & b, but nothing can quench the thirst in my soul like house. I played flute in the band since elementary school and had always been fascinated with musical composition. House was the music that feed my musical curiosity and inspired me to become a house music junkie. House is an international language that transcends race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural barriers. House is a uniting front that welcomes all those who are open to experiencing something spiritual and music filled with hope. Some house songs may be completely instrumental or be decorated with soulful vocals, but either way the interpretation varies for each individual. House music requires you to completely loose all inhibitions and be free spirited. Unlike hip-hop or r & b you’re not being bombarded with a story that someone else crafted. When you listen to house, the story is yours to formulate, dissect, and respond to.