Could Nick Drake Have Been Saved?

We always get attached to the tragic story, whether it be the star that never was, the hero that gave his life for others or a true love never realized. Left are question without answers and assumptions with out merit. What was, should have been and most importantly what could have been done to prevent such tragedy presently and in also in an alternate universe where second chances realized by all.

Particularity in the field of music, it seems that this feeling of tragedy has long been a prevalent theme in the realm of entertainment and arts as many lives have been claimed although their essence within music is left whole creating a mythical perception of a mere man whom can never again explain what was felt when the music left his/her internals and took on a mind of its own to be judged faithfully forever more.

Nick Drake, a handsome, well to do yet troubled young man from the U.K., who in the early 70's composed some of the finest pieces of music ever to not be recognized by a wide audience is once of these cases. A true aficionado with an acoustic guitar, Drake would effortlessly lay elegant backdrops with precision along with his bashfully shy yet sweet and careful voice singing thought provoking lyrics that would make your most distinguished Romantic Era writers proud.

Plagued by a late life anxiety disorder, Drake struggled with performing his material in front of crowds due to the relatively quite and non-repetitive nature of his music. He struggled to imagine finding an audience among the impatient pop hungry fans that were hungry for choruses and who had once given him a hard time for having so many tune ups during one of his few performances.

Frustrated by a lack of success, his anxiety grew ever more creating an interesting catch-22 as he continually dropped highly praised masterpieces without any recognition or press do to his inability to get out there and perform. The music also began to reflect that his health was obviously deteriorating as his newer songs sounded more and more effected by his mass depression and took shape as cries for help. 

Just two years after what would be his third and final album, Nick was found in bed at the house of his youth unconscious and surely dead from an apparent pill overdose. Arguably one of the greatest musicians to ever live yet he never sold more than 10,000 records in his life time.

Still today you'd be hard pressed to find a Nick Drake fan, and although he would certainly have be proud of the fame he attained in his aftermath, he is still largely overlooked by most publications when it comes time to talk about "Who Is Best" and what not, but I say all that to say this.

I firmly believe that if Nick Drake's people would have got him a backing band, maybe a rhythm guitarist, bass, cello, drums or whatever just to handle the live shows, he would have been able to get out there and not have to worry about handling big crowds all by his loan some. It's such a shame that we never got to know what made Nick tick, but as is the day... 

A Very Lonely Christmas

One of my favorite times of the year, where everything in nature dies and people all around you get inexplicably nicer and accepting despite a miserable and dreary backdrop that drags on for months.

Giving, loving, family, Jesus! What else could you ask for?

Well, if your all alone maybe some friends I guess.

Try not to have a dark Christmas and be with people who love you but in the event that you do, maybe this song will help console you.

The Punk Priest

The crashing and banging of drums, heavy bass licks and brash distorted guitars fill the air as a large plume of stale weed smoke hangs overhead like a thick fog after rain. This is quite the common scene that one would expect when attending your typical dive bar rock show but for A.Tone Da Priest, this is just a small part of an average day in the life.

The Atlanta MC turned rocker sits alone in his room on a Thursday night, smoking a blunt and feverishly attempting to perfect an improvised solo riffed on one of the many new compositions in his perpetually growing catalog. The crafty young man, who as of Fall 2012 had just attained a BBA in Marketing from Georgia State University, has long been a miser for getting things done proficiently and in a timely manner by never taking no or can’t as a legitimate answers. This sentiment has forced him to become an embodiment of the term “do-it-yourself” all while bringing new life to the punk ethics of old.

A.Tone, who has not only tasked himself with running his independent record label, Farsyde ENT, where his duties include but are not limited too; the creation/distribution of promotional materials and art work, video production and editing, and distribution and PR for himself and a handful of other local affiliated artist, but from the beginning he has also been his very own go-to producer and sound engineer. He commented on the topic:

 “It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it. Every fan I make or sale I get is directly because of work I have done, not because of a fad or some type of public herding… The criticism has been rough at times, but it’s easier to learn and adapt from when I can’t blame anyone but myself.”

Not so far removed are the days of clunky “stock sounding” Fruity Loops beats all at 140 BPM, or complaints of mixes sounding jumbled, too quiet and ages away from radio quality. Time and experience has been the best friend for the “self-taught everything” A.Tone Da Priest (who still to this day records his vocals by running in and out of the booth) allowing for a refinement of his sound through many trials and some error, emerging as not just an artist who does a lot of things, but an artist who does a lot of things well.
With influences ranging from Punk, Motown and Pop, all the way to gangster rap, the accomplished rapper with two prior albums and several mix tapes already under his belt decided that it was time break trends and move hip hop to an uncomfortable place it had never been, stating:

“It all got so pretty and polished you know (music in general) all the synths so perfectly syncopated, drum patterns robotically static, lyrics nonchalantly predictable and bubbly, everything mixed so bright and tight… Shit got boring”

An old Johnson JS-700 Cali (Strat copy) from his youth would become the catalyst to the rebirth of Da Priest’s compelling new sound as he drew from childhood favorites Sum 41, Green Day and Nirvana, an unusual claim for most hip hoppers, that would result in the song “Not Waiting”, which was released as the lead single for his 2012 LP The Fi King. Aided by a self-directed and recorded music video released on VEVO, the song features a blend of rock styled singing along with razor sharp raps which detail frustration over society’s blissful ignorance. The video includes indicting imagery of industry heavyweights (Jay Z, Oprah, Miley Cyrus, among others) who seem to fit the shoe of A.Tone’s poignant accusations.

Although The Fi King, would only go on to contain 5 other guitar driven tracks out of a total 19, it would be these songs that would set the tone for his next album October Sky and potentially for the rest of his promising career as live instrumentation became the prominent feature. He recalled:
“Once I started doing more and more songs I fell in love with composition, and performing with the guitar live. It just felt so much more natural than trying to rock the crowd with my hand or something and not needing a chain to be interesting.”

The 23-track follow up more than pushed the limits of what anybody assumed music could or ever should be, as A.Tone flew through multiple genres ranging from salsa and new wave to synth-punk and hip hop, never once stopping to think if the changes were to abrupt for the average listener. The result is a plethora of enthralling yet at times dissonant sounds which utilize unorthodox mixing techniques, passionate rapping and key-defying welts of exasperation (reminiscent of early punk bands who packed in rawness for every bit of musicianship they lacked) to drill home a feeling of youthful resilience and a punk like attitude towards everything conventional.

With a mind for business, substantial amounts excitement and attitude that never seems disingenuous, A.Tone Da Priest comes across as an artist who really loves and appreciates music and is eager to connect with anybody who feels the same. Only time will tell if his immense talent and seemingly unparalleled vision will get recognition from major labels or if he will continue to keep it punk, but one thing is for certain. The path less traveled is one of many obstacles and criticism, but as A.Tone stated, it can prove just a fruitful for those patient enough to pursue what they love and feel, and not simply what will make them rich.

She Likes Me, No Really

My second official mixtape She Likes Me, the long awaited compilation of female oriented works recorded from around 2010 to this year, is available now for download.

The project dives in where my mind was four years ago as an young man who was looking for love in all the wrong places single and occupied.

As you progress, gradually but surely, the debauchery and promiscuity fades away and the infatuation with one creeps in as lust blinds and I sheepishly look to fill the desires of the woman who captivated my interest

The last and final section deal with the brokenness of post-relationship depression and the realization that love may not be a great a its cracked out to be if the cards arent lined up perfectly or the timing isn't right.

Though at first listen it may on surface level seem like the same old juvenile topics which plague a stagnant hip hop, but further investigation should reveal the maturity level present in discussing even the most obscene and childish of ideas.

Get yourself the mixtape for the FREE right now, it's worth it.

on Hulkshare:

http://hu.lk/atonethepriest

or on DatPiff:

http://bit.ly/14HXu4f

Sally & Me (SALVIA EXPERIENCE)

It's quite a change, to go from a whole to pieces within a matter of seconds. One deep breath and your mind is pulled from underneath you as you fall into an abyss of infinite vibration. Thoughts are independent from each other as limbs of existence sprawl out in all directions revealing the cycle for which we come to know as life.

Off limits are truly understanding however as comfort is a far from a domestic concept. Unfamiliar images fill your train of thought as you begin to doubt your prior existence as an ego possessing human being with physical ties to a real solid world with rules and consequences. 

A cold acceptance of has and always will be replaces memories of warmth and belonging as you struggle to contemplate where exactly this "you" that has never existed fits into all this madness and if its was really just a dream that time was of the essence.

A subtle familiarity however clings to the axle of this conscious wheel throughout, as it slightly pokes fun of your inability to comprehend this realm, giving you clues as it toys with thoughts of childhood bliss and maternal necessity. She never speaks to you directly but instead points you away from distractions and towards the meaning of it all as you get closer and closer.

But you can never look, because it is your own eyes that have been truly deceiving you this whole time. Soon enough, the comfort is back, and the grip is tight, but the hold onto the ego is loosened as you realize its ALL in your mind.

Story Of A Struggling Artist

The days are gone of waiting for someone to come save you from your nightmares of bills, stress and mediocrity. More than ever, people are being forced to take things in to there own hands and strive to succeed, in spite of and not because, of the people who would have traditionally provided a place for this life improvement.

Who cares how hard it may seem, or how unfair it is that the person standing next to you was 100 times less talented but still gets a paid 100 times more than you and is praised for his small accomplishments while you are criticized for your many. It's this same analysis over time that will keep most people captive, or deter them from what it was that initially inspired them to do what they do in the first place.

It's a battle against what is real and what is fake, what you are willing to do to fit in to the mold, or what you are not willing to do to break it. A long hard journey for anyone who wishes to be contrary to the norm, because the norm comes with numbers. Building a subculture isn't an easy task, because the majority of people don't want to support something no one else know about. This creates a catch-22 for any outsider wishing for inside acceptance with foreign thoughts.

It takes charisma, determination, and persistence because who knows, all the seeds you reap today may not bear any fruit for years. It is only through your faith that you will eventually fill your garden with the ripest gain because you never gave up on replanting ideas or giving nutrients to old ones despite other's lack of discernment.

It is the long haul that counts, your ultimate mission that once accomplished you can truly be at peace with yourself. Material things are only temporary and although it is comforting to possess beautiful objects and build your palace here on earth, the onset of spiritual death for instant gratification, is one that most will have to deal with for an eternity.

Creation cannot be contrived and/or forced and have the same effect of something that came about organically. It is impossible to duplicate emotions, especially when they did not originate from you, which will lead to disappointment and abandonment once it is realized that you cannot live up to your original standard, because it wasn't original at all.

Your best bet, is stick to you despite what the money and people may say. Someday it will be worth it.

Top 7 Singer/Song Writers

No offense to guitarist that don't sing, but since I was a kid, it was always the ones who could strum and belt out vocals who earned serious cool points with me, even idolization. This list is appreciation for the singer/songwriters, who didn't mind taking on a double duty. The guitarist who inspired me to pick up an ax just cause they looked so damn cool doing what they did. 

7. John Lennon

Their overexposure always kept me at a distance and it wasn't until recently that I really started venturing into the Beatles & Lennon's catalog his story, and i'll tell you, I've certainly been long over do. Lennon had a bouncy way of playing his guitar on stage that brings me to my feet every time, despite him being fairly unsophisticated in technical skill compared to his contemporaries. It was his song writing and energy that truly had me enamored. In addition his desire to speak up and not always say the right thing resonates deeply with me because I am the same way.

6. Jimi Hendrix

Admittedly, I was never into Hendrix as much as I probably should have been, at least till now, but I was familiar with his image long before I even appreciated his music. He created the template for being a cool rock star in my eyes and showed me that skin color didn't matter when you are that cool (or at least it shouldn't). His cool demeanor when he picked away at his Strat and his even cooler blues style singing had me won from the get go. Nobody was a undeliberately awesome as this guy, check his interviews. He has a shy confidence that I see in myself.

5. Buddy Holly

There is just something so quaint and perfect about this guy and his music. Seeing him perform with rapid down strokes and his confident "your gonna love this" swagger and sway, as if he was in a whole nother' era, caught my attention instantly. When I first saw his live performances, words couldn't capture just how ahead of his time this guy really was or just how impressed I was in seeing it so long after the fact. Besides that, I've always longed for the simple things he talks about in his songs. He made love sound like such a good and easy thing.

4. Nick Drake

I recently stumbled upon Nick Drake by accident on a Google Images search for whatever doesnt matter now. It amazed me that I had not known about this guy earlier or that he isn't even really discussed by critics at all. The mystery surrounding this guy, his death, and his perfectly doomed music is so enthralling for a person like me who deals with allot of internal strife. Listening to his Pink Moon album, it is like he said everything I've been holding in for the past 5 years in a less than 30 minute, stripped down to the bare, masterpiece, and did I mention how superb this guy was on the guitar? I don't think I've ever heard anyone play so clear and beautifully and then sing on top of it with such an angelic voice that just completely takes my breath away. This passively disenchanted man to me, is as cool as it gets. I cant get enough. It's a shame that their is no live footage of him playing, perhaps that is what jades people from giving him the credit he deserves. By far my favorite solo guitarist ever.

 

3. Bille Joe Armstrong

This little ball of energy inspired me to seriously pick up the guitar for the first time in a long time and forget about how hard everyone was telling me it was to play period, let alone play and sing at the same time. I was watching the "Long View" video for whatever reason in 2010 and the sheer simplicity and ruggedness of the video and his lyrics coupled with his crazy faces and perpetual head rocking really got me excited as shit after a period when I was getting really sick of music's monotony. The flashiness and his everyday loner topics got me back to a more familiar/real place when it came to writing lyrics. Seeing something so rough come out of someone so small definitely invoked a resurgence in me. As a matter of fact, the first song I ever learned to sing and play in it's entirety was "Welcome To Paradise" and then "Holiday" shortly after. Although sometimes I find some of their newer music "assembly line" quality, I rarely hit next when a Green Day track comes on the shuffle. His voice, image, and whole attitude have made me a life long fan.

2. Kurt Cobain

I swear sometimes that he is singing about my life. Kurt Cobain was/is the epitome of a soul that just said "fuck it" i'm not going to be like you and I never really was. His whole attitude coupled with his ferocious music, which was like pure unfiltered emotion, gave me somebody to listen to whenever i felt like shit, which is always lol. The fact that he didn't really have a great singing voice, or couldn't really play the guitar that pretty were the main things that made me obsessed with him, his band and his death. This guy was contrary to everything, as I am, and seemed like such a benevolent soul who was just seeking happiness. Another thing about Kurt Cobain that changed the way I approached music forever was his writing. Never had lyrics caught my attention so much I guess because growing up as a hip hop/r&b/soul guy, the words those artist say usually tend to be extremely literal. Post listening to Nirvana, I started to attempt to say allot more with less in my songs, as I felt it was something truly worth emulating that gives the music a timeless quality. It's crazy, but I have a feeling I am just like this guy in allot of ways (minus the weird gay shit and being dead).

1. Deryck Whibley

Initially, before I even thought it was possible for me to strum some power chords and make a song, I was a huge fan of Sum 41 mostly due to their punky lead man and his shyness that I related to immensely. Thinking back, at about 12, I really didn't even understand something as simple as what instruments I was hearing, or what the hell he was even talking about 100%, but when I heard All Killer No Filler and saw the accompanying videos, I was ready to dress just like him, do the things he did, hell I even started trying to spike my hair (i had an afro!). One thing that always caught me about him, is that even though from the beginning his band got lumped in with jokesters like blink-182 and Good Charlotte, never once did I hear a song from Mr. Whibley that I thought was the slightest bit corny (which I sure as hell cant say about the latter). Even on their most commercial efforts, it seems like the topics that they cover are very universal with a serious tone and can apply to many things across the board. I remember "Rhythms" was my theme song for that summer and would always remind me of the way I was feeling about this one chick I had to move away from... but I digress. Deryck Whibley is the whole reason, in my mind, why I write the way I do when it comes to making music. Also, for the record, Dave's riff from "The Hell Song" is the first thing I ever learned to play on a guitar. Not to mention that they, as a group, have never put out an album I couldn't listen to the whole way through... Only artists, that I have everything they have ever recorded on my iPod. Sum 41 4 Life!