After three independent music releases and two years of youth advocacy and community work, the duo SOULAJU is officially on hiatus. 

BUT THE MUSIC AND THE WORK DON’T STOP. 

Molina and Aju are exploring music, arts, social justice and youth advocacy work on the solo tip for the tyme being.

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On Dec. 7th, MOLINA released a 45 single with DJ Icewater on 7” vinyl.  The single features "FAM BIZ”, with an appearance by Molina’s 7 year-old son. 

Producer Diles’ Albuquerque to Denver to New York MOOD STATIC compilation features two guest spots by MOLINA.

With the Moutain West / Southwest Denver to Burque connection growing stronger, MOLINA is set to release full-length album “NAME & TOWN” w/ Diles on January 18th, 2011.  The new album features collaborations with 303 emcee Mane Rok and Denver vocalist Venus Cruz, along with guest spots by Albuquerque artists Hakim Be and Sol.  A string of additional MOLINA works is set to follow early in 2011.

FOR ALL FUTURE INFORMATION ABOUT MOLINA MUSIC, visit www.molinaspeaks.com, where the MOLINA SPEAKS blog has also been moved. 

If you’ve been following Molina’s 52-week music blog: A.M. Soleil, Retrospectively, weeks 49 through 52 will be published at http://www.molinaspeaks.com/category/molinaspeaks/.  The entire blog series will be catalogued there early in 2011. 

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Stay tuned for AJU updates and a few SOULAJU surprises… when the tyme is right…

Thank you to all who have offered timeless energy and support.

A Mile High City mover, shaker and tastemaker recently blogged about SOULAJU. 

The General is a makeup artist, designer, event emcee, blogger, and in her own words “a bunch of other shit.  Ask about me.”

On SOULAJU:

“It’s the kinda shit that makes you wanna just lay back and close your eyes so you can feel every word. It’s like dark smokey vintage lounge sexy meets earthy nature sexy meets 3am urban sexy meets revolution sexy. If that makes any sense at all. But yeah, its that good.”  READ MORE.

SOULAJU spent some time in Trinidad, CO in May and June working with a group of young people connected to a criminal justice “Diversion” program.  Good kids, smart and conscious of their surroundings, who got in some minor trouble and luckily evaded more serious problems like juvenile incarceration.  These youth meet weekly and have to satisfy a number of requirements to complete the diversion program, including weekly meetings and community service.  We had worked with Tony Diego, the diversion program director, on other youth programs through an organization called OYE (Organized Youth for Empowerment).  He had an idea for a youth video project with flip cams.  We had limited time and funding was also limited, but this is what we came up with after a few trips down to Trinidad: a documentary about youth culture in Trinidad, Colorado: 

“Trinidad Undaground”

Our main goals in working with these young people were to empower them to tell their own stories and engage in a process of creating their own media.  Before we put cameras in their hands we ran some workshops with them, talking about their experiences, identity, their dreams, life beyond Trinidad, getting them writing their thoughts on paper.  The following video is a “making of” look at our work with this group of youth.

The Making of “Trinidad Undaground”

Soulaju is making some noise in the Mile High City and around Colorado.  Within the past several months, SOULAJU has been written up in Colorado Music Buzz, 5280 Magazine, and now the Denver Post online edition: Reverb. Molina & Aju were also recently featured in the indie art series Colorado Stand Up. 

COLORADO STAND UP

The “Colorado Stand Up” Project is, in two words, Colorado Hip-Hop. The design will focus on the Hip-Hop Community in Colorado and feature those who have put in blood, sweat, and tears to make the scene what it is today.   

Thomas Evans of Hip-Hop Congress Denver is the chief architect of Colorado Stand Up.  Check out the entire series at http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=426035&id=501575696&ref=mf

“SOULAJU’S POSITIVE HIP-HOP IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL”

Write-up by Eryc Eyl for the Denver Post. Eryc is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years.

“Molina Soleil and Aju released their first full-length album earlier this year. Produced in collaboration with Oakland-based DJ Icewater, the self-titled, 15-track collection bursts with head-bobbing beats, rhymes that flow like melted butter and melodic hooks that stick like maple syrup.

Its soulful jams and socially conscious lyrics recall Marvin Gaye and Gil Scott-Heron as much as the Roots and the Fugees. Strikingly professional and just plain good, ‘Soulaju’ would be a highlight for more mature artists, but is all the more remarkable as the duo’s debut album. In a way, though, it’s been years in the making…”

CLICK HERE to read the entire story.

The arrival of SOULAJU: Soul flows like water.  The long awaited album is finally complete.  15 solid tracks available for $5 mp3 download.

This story has many beginnings.  This moment is a culmination of past reflections.  The focus is on the Present, in these times, as we shape what will be.

SOULAJU is a fusion of lives, stories, styles, and cultures; this fusion is personal and universal.  Each track stands on its own, but the true jewel lies in the journey of the album, start to finish.

In the words of photographer Ric Urrutia, “Soulaju is creative, conscious, energetic, sexy, intellectual, and overall: bad ass.”

The reviews, the hype, and the celebrations will come in waves.  The album will soon be distributed by Itunes, Amazon.com, and other major distributors.  For now, as independent, community-based artists, we are excited to share this release with our friends, our supporters, and your networks and communities.

Thank you for your support.  Please help us spread the word.

Official SOULAJU album release: 15 tracks, $5 download: http://soulaju.bandcamp.com/album/soulaju

After many hours of learning pains and frustration, offset by a good dose of  inspiration, we present an edited short film documenting the SOULAJU Youth Jam and Youth Climate Justice workshop, organized w/ Josh Watkins and Jennie Nevin in conjunction with Green Spaces Denver.  The event took place on January 15, 2010.  We look forward to hosting future green events in the mile high city, fusing art and music with conscious and sustainable living.  Enjoy!

For more info on the event, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20th, 2010

Peace to our fans, friends, and supporters.  We came to a difficult decision this week.  We will be pushing back the release date of SOULAJU with DJ Icewater until March 23, 2010.

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Filmed by Jai Harris & Ro1 Films in Arvada, CO, benefit show for Family Tree, November 2009.

Music by Mannequin Rituals

Touted as the best small venue in Denver by Westword and the Denver Post, The Walnut Room will host the Soulaju release party on January 29th, 2010.  Bay-Area mixtape legend DJ Icewater produced the album and will be in town for the event.  The national street release date for Soulaju is January 26th, 2010.

DJ Icewater is the tour DJ for The Pharcyde.  Highly respected for his support of independent artists, DJ Icewater has put out over 40 mixtapes.  Most recently, he has mixed albums for international phenom Shing02 and up-and-coming Bay Area artist Jern Eye.  More events are being planned in connection with Icewater’s visit to the Mile High City.  Stay tuned…