“One Night” by Molina of SOULAJU w/ DJ Icewater (2010)
I recently heard an Rnb/Soul artist say that “Country is the only genre that still allows you to tell stories.” I’m assuming he was speaking about pop music.
Hip-Hop emcees are among the most skilled storytellers on the planet.
This story was inspired by various stories. Some mine, some not. Some imagined.
following “Like Magic” and “The People II”. If you like what you hear, click “download” above to purchase the track and support Soulaju music.
This week’s reflection builds off last week’s post, when I wrote about Wrong Ways (Aju Version). I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the my work within the male/female duo SOULAJU, especially since we are increasingly asked to speak and perform at events that focus on gender equality.
Working within the context of a male/female duo has profoundly impacted my ongoing development as a man.
“Like Magic”, Soulaju — Molina Soleil & Aju w/ DJ Icewater (2010)
Download this MP3 – (Right Click)
This is the first single off the forthcoming album Soulaju. This is one of the first tracks Aju and I recorded together in Oakland, CA back in December 2008.
On “Like Magic” we aimed for that ethereal sense of sensual energy that stops time. This multilingual track is one of three on Soulaju that explore themes of love, sexuality, arousal, sensuality.
I have largely stayed away from these themes because most of what passes for “sexy” in American popular culture is overdone and misogynistic.
The music we were given by DJ Icewater pushed me to be a better storyteller; to be adaptive, to be daring, to have fun with the music; to blend my experiences and what I have seen with what I can only imagine…