Richie Stylz Live to 5: CIWS 102.7 Whistle Radio

 Friday May 14th Richie Stylz will have a guest appearence on Whitchurch-Stouffville's own 102.7 FM Whistle Radio. The show will run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will consist of an interview and live performances of original material off his not quite so finished debut studio album "Take Me Down".

 Whistle Radio is a not-for-profit organization driven by the passion of volunteers and a focus on local talent. They are a low powered 50 watt station that covers airwaves throughout the Whitchurch-Stouffville area. The station may be able to be picked up outside the area but may be a little muffled in sound quality.


For those of you who are familiar with Richie Stylz make sure to tune in. For those of you who aren't, you wont want to miss it. Remember that's Friday May 14th 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

JUNO'S APPROACHING!!!

The Juno Awards are 5 days away and will be explosive. The award show will be held in NewFoundland & Labrador and broadcast live on CTV so make sure you tune in.

There are a lot of outstanding artists up for various nominations. Michael Buble, who is up for 6 nominations, and Justin Beiber who is up for 3 are just a few to name. Both whom are running against each other in two categories; Pop album of the year & Album of the year.

So on sunday April 18th make sure your TV's are programmed to CTV. Show your support for Canada and its talented Artists.

WATCH OUT! VOL. 1, ISSUE. 1

WATCH OUT! is a once in a while piece acknowledging the accomplishments of established or up and coming artists in various sectors of the Canadian Music Industry. This month's area of interest is Hip Hop.

1. Kardinall Offishall: The tide is high, and Kardinal keeps moving on. Some call him the ambassador of Toronto Hip Hop, and some call him a rude bwoi. Since 1996 Kardinal has flooded the airwaves with tantalizing uptempo tunes and to this day holds true to himself. From his debut album "Eye & I (1997)", to his most recent album "Not 4 Sale (2009)", Kardinal continues to improve and impress fans and critics alike. With almost 14 years of experience, and finally settling down with Konvict Muzik/KonLive, Kardinal doesn't show any sign of slowing down.  Make sure you keep your eye on him in 2010 and lets see if he continues to do big things.

2. K-os: After spending time away from the music scene to find his true musical being, K-os finally decided to release his debut album, Ironically titled "Exit" in March of 2002. The first single ("Heaven Only Knows") soaked up a lot of attention while the second single ("Superstarr Pt. Zero") would receive a 2003 Urban X-Posure Award for Best Music Video. Just when 2003 couldn't get any better "Exit" won a Juno Award for Album Design of the Year and K-os was named Best International Hip Hop Artist at the Source Awards.  The August 2004 release of "Joyful Rebellion" would see 4 singles in Canada's top 100, with "Man I used to be" peaking at #12, "Crabbuckit" sitting comfortably at #23, "B-Boy Stance" trailing off at #76, and "Crucial" just hanging in at #98. Recently k-os hasn't had much chart topping success but damn, he makes some good music and is one of Canada's most prominent Hip Hop artists. Rest assured he will have something up his sleeve in 2010.


3. K'naan: Born in Mogadishu, Somalia and currently residing in Toronto, Ontario, K'Naan has lived the real struggle and experienced true hardships that most people in the world only see in movies or in there dreams. His debut album, "The Dusty Foot Philosopher", was released in 2005 and would later receive a 2006 Juno Award for Best Rap Recording of the Year. His second studio album, "Troubadour (2009)", would see world wide distribution through Universal Music Group and have the first single ("ABC's") feature on the critically acclaimed video game "Madden NFL 09". K'Naan's most recent project was released this past September and is a 3-disk remix collection honoring 3 music icons; Bob Dylan, Fela Kuti, and Bob Marley. It's clear from any point of view that K'Naan is a force to be reckoned with and will far exceed any expectations he or anyone else has regarding his musical capabilities.

4. Classified: Self produced rapper, Classified, is the definition of a true "indie artist". He releases music on his own label, Halflife Records and has other prominent artists alongside him. The Halifax native is one of the most under-rated Hip Hop artist on the scene, but his real-life, intuitive rhymes and melodic Hip Hop beats prove the complete opposite. Classified has dropped hit after hit in Canada and is internationally known. He has released 5 albums in the last 6 years, has been Juno nominated and won an award at the East Coast Music Awards. It's obvious that this guy is committed to his work and should be taken very seriously.


5. D-Sisive: Also know as Derek Christoff, this Canadian rapper showed promise after his EP release "The Book" was nominated for a Juno Award in 2008. Recently, D-Sisive was declared winner of the 2009 ECHO songwriting competition. "Nobody With A Notepad", the song that earned him $5,000.00 and a fist-full of bragging rights was featured on his sophomore album "Let the Children Die". The album was released on May 3rd 2009 by URBNET Records and sounds great. You can't deny that D-Sisive and the team at URBNET Records know what they want and know how to go about getting it. Keep an eye on D-Sisive. He has a solid track record.

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Canadian Blast @ MIDEM 2010; Submissions Welcome.

The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) has announced they are accepting submissions for Canadian artists to perform at Canadian Blast @ MIDEM. The event will be held January 26th 2010, at Morrison's Lounge in Cannes, France. The submission deadline is November 12th by midnight and must be submitted online to Canada Stand coordinator Kathy Hahn at tradeshows@cimamusic.ca. You must be a Canada Stand delegate to apply. For more information on becoming a Canada Stand delegate and how to be part of the event, please visit http://www.cimamusic.ca/.

Online submission criteria includes the following:

- Name of artist.
- City, Province, mailing address, and general location.
- Contact information for artist/Details of business representative.
- Musical genre.
- Label status.
- Web links.
- Instrumentation.
- A brief summary indicating how this showcase will strengthen and support said artists international business strategy.

Globally, MIDEM is the largest trade show for the independent music sector and boasts many positive opportunities for emerging artists who have the pleasure of performing there. Last year, MIDEM attracted over 300 performers from 23 countries and 8,000 Canada Stand delegates. This showcase is a promising network event that allows Canadian independent artists to be more visible in the global scale of the music industry. Attracting many music industry professionals and a broad spectrum of musical genres, MIDEM 2010 promises to be an event to remember.

Richmond Hill Artist Makes I.Rep.Canada Mix Tape Vol.2

- Local rap/hip-hop artist Willis, gets some recognition with a spot on the highly anticipated I REP CANADA MIX TAPE VOL 2. Willis proudly admits "To make volume 2 is a great feeling" and that he "hopes to make an impact on the rap and hip-hop community in Canada as a solo artist". The mix tape features some well known Canadian hip-hop names including Luu Breeze, Jae Murda, Cole Minor, and Drake.

Born November 7th 1983 in Hamilton, Ontario; Willis was introduced to Hip-Hop by his father at the early age of 8. He was immediately "hooked on a feeling". Lyrics that spoke about fun times, real struggle, and happiness accompanied by rhythmically innovative hip-hop beats are what Willis found himself creating day after day for many years. Willis has been busy the past year writing, networking, performing and working in the studio, so don't be surprised if Willis teams up with Mathieu Music Groups own Richie Stylz in the near future to release a digital album.

In an interview with Mathieu Music Group, Willis states that he hopes to be a positive roll model for poverty stricken youth, "I want to contribute to the success and uprising of those who don't have the opportunity to have a dream and follow it. The pursuit of music is constantly changing and making my life better, I just want to be able to pass it on." 

I REP CANADA MIX TAPE VOL.2 along with a compilation DVD of the artists will be available for download November 20th 2009 at www.hiphopcanada.com If you're a fan of hip hop or of any of the artists mentioned above make sure you check out the mix tape when it drops. You wont want to miss it!

10 Pieces to a Great Home Studio

1. Universal Audio: LA-610 Tube Compressor.

This is a great addition to any studio no matter what software you're running. The bright and crisp sound that this pre-amp/Compressor relays has been heard on numerous hit records across the universe,and to me, cannot be rivaled.

2. Digidesign 003 Factory.

Bring commercial recording quality to your own facilities with this 2 in 1 work station. The 003 Factory is a manipulative command center and a 4 input mic pre-amp, giving you ultimate control of Pro Tools without a mouse.

3. KRK Rokit 5 G2 Studio Monitors.

A great all around studio monitor. The Rockit 5 G2 measures about 9 inches in height and 5 inches in width and length. This monitor offers great low - high range frequency monitoring for mixing. We at MMG love the sound quality of these monitors, plus they look really really nice.

4.  Edirol PC-50 49 Key MIDI Keyboard.

Having a Musical Instrument Digital Interface brings numerous instruments to the tip of your fingers. If you plan on adding a little drums, piano, or virtually any other instrument in your track it might be good to know a little music theory.
The Edirol PC-50 has 49 velocity sensitive keys, has a slim space saving design and a pitch bender offering bright dynamics to virtually any sound you can think of.

5.APEX 460 Tube Condenser Microphone.

The APEX 460 tube condeser is not your ordinary condeser microphone. This mic offers crisp, clear, and bright mid - high end pick up for vocals- is great for drum overheads- and great for recording acoustic guitar. The APEX 460 will be a great addition to your home studio and how could you go wrong for $250.00?

6. Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone.

This is a great microphone for live musical applications as well as in the studio. Please keep in mind that the Shure SM57 is NOT to be used for vocals in a studio recording unless it is a creative approach to the project. This microphone is best suited for live applications of vocals and studio applications of drums or guitar (electric or acoustic).

7. A Pop-Filter.

A pop filter is essential to properly record vocals. The pop-filter practically removes plosive sound from a vocal. Plosive sound is the emphasis that the mic picks up on words that begin with the letter P, F, S, and T. Words that begin with these letters usually carry plosive sound, but that is also dependant on how articulate the Artist is and how strong his/her performance is in the booth.


8. Audio Recording Software.

We at MMG use nothing but our beloved friend Pro Tools. we find that it is the most easiest and most efficient audio recording software on the market. THANKS DigiDesign! There is 3 types of Pro Tools; M-Powered, LE, and, HD. Depending on your budget and your level of experience, you should choose accordingly.

9. Good Headphones.

Please NO earbuds! It's always good to have GOOD headphones. Studio headphones can cost anywhere from $80 - $300, and the quality wont always improve in higher costing headphones. If you have a mediocre budget, it''s better to spend more money on the more important equipment (pre-amps, microphones, monitors, etc) and buy some good quality headphones for a cheaper price.

 10. Melodyne Essentials.

Ever heard of Auto Tune? Well Auto Tune ain't got shit on Melodyne Essentials. This is the perfect pith correcting software, the best out there. This gives a vocal the correct aspect of pitch without the aspect of sounding computerized. Many Artists have used Auto Tune such as T-Pain, Akon, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and one of the first, Cher with her hit "Life After Love". Melodyne is very easy to use. Weather you're just staring out or a pro, Melodyne is the now, and the future.

The Digital Boom

The evolution of digital downloading promises just as much for the future as it has for the past. The world of digital album sales has helped many independent artists abroad find a niche and make money in domestic and international music markets. Some may disagree with the fact that going digital is nonsense, but look at the benefits. You're music is open to over 300 billion customers, no record label is taking "hidden" fees from your earnings, and you get to establish yourself as a worthy artist without a push from the majors. That to me is a reward itself.

Look at it like this; it costs about $20 to upload and distribute your album via digital music download sites, and they are usually sold for $9.99 and sometimes less. On the other hand, lets say you're planning on pressing, printing and packaging 500 copies of your first independently recorded phonographic album. This move, which may make you look cool in front of your friends, is not a smart financial decision. Pressing, printing, and packaging 500 compact discs can cost anywhere from $600 - $1000. So now you've got 500 copies of your CD, a limited market outreach, and a long time before you see that $600 - $1000 back in your pocket let alone any profit.

Another reason I promote the simplicity and financial success of the "digital boom" is that there is no print & packaging stage in the manufacturing process. This cut in the manufacturing process makes digital downloading Eco friendly and allows the consumer to have immediate access to the product.

So this proves to you that releasing you first phonographic album the digital way is not only cost effective, but environmentally friendly as well. If you don't feel like taking my advice on the fact that digital music sales are profitable and promising for the future years, just take another gander at the Nielsen SoundScan digital track and album sales posted above the article for some positive re-enforcement on the topic.