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.
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.
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…”
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.
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!
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.
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…
On July 4th, 2009 CHiTT Productions released My America—a benefit CD for Papers the movie. Molina spent months compiling music for the project, which features artists from across the United States, including Denver, Albuquerque, Oakland, Harlem, and Minneapolis. The CD is raising awareness about immigration and racial justice issues, and it is steadily bringing in funding to support the Papers movement. Special shoutout to the Tru Ruts collective out of MN for contributing almost one half the music on the album. WireTap Magazine recently wrote about My America. The story ran Thanksgiving Day.
A Mile High City mover, shaker and tastemaker recently blogged about SOULAJU. 
