A lot has transpired since my last post. For starters the Soul Dope album did NOT drop on Sept. 28th. It was pushed back which turned out to be a good thing. On October 17th, I took party in the Grand N Hand competition and won the R&B category. My prize was a distribution deal with Interscope. Woo hoo! LOL. I'm VERY exciting to enter what I like refer to as "Phase 2" of my musical journey.
A lot of people have asked me question about what this deal means for my career. So I will do my best to explain. First off, I am NOT signed with Interscope or any other label. I will remain and Indie artist. This deal means that my music will be digitally released and available to anybody in the world. The marketing portion of the deal will aim to push "Qamil" as a brand through through, radio, magazine, online outlets, shows etc.
In a nutshell, the hardwork is just beginning. The music will be a click away which is about 40% of the battle. The rest is doing the legwork to make people aware that I exist.
THE ALBUM
The new release date for the album is being decided BUT in the meantime we are going to launch a new single "Kryptonite". It's sexy. It's seductive and it won me the competition:) This will be my first song released under Interscope DD. It is getting awesome feed back and I am sooooo ready to shoot the video. I have something HOT in mind;)
I would like to thank EVERYONE that took the time to vote for me on the WUGR.BIZ site so I could get a spot in the showcase. I have amazing supporters and that is what makes the difference for any artists. The PEOPLE. Big thank you to WUGR for hosting the competition. Thank you to Lyfe Entertainment Muzik Inc. and to all the judges of the Grand N Hand competition for picking me.
People always ask me who my favorite underground singers are . When you're an artist it comes with the territory. Folks want to know who you think is good and who you think sucks. I personally see no benefit in listing the people that I am not a fan of. Now that doesn't mean I don't think there are some singers that should hang up the mic forever but I digress. I want to take some time to share some of my favorite Ohio artists . I have seen all of these artists perform, listen to their music or watch their youtube videos often. I am a genuine fan of what they bring to the Ohio music scene through their talent and drive. I have to say this. I am partial to SANGERS. Singers are cool too BUT there is NOTHING like a SANGER. I love an artist that can make me feel something and make me think. I love that connection of music and real life. These artists all bring that to the table. They know what they're doing and I salute each and every one of them. If you aren't hip....GET HIP.
All right. Here we go in no particular order....Qamil's Top Ten Ohio Vocalists...DRUMROLL....
I was introduced to Sam after his manager (S/o Rico) hit me up on Facebook about a Soul Dope event. I went to his reverb page and was BLOWN AWAY. I listened to every song on his page and fell in love with his voice. If Carl Thomas and Bilal had a love child it would be Sam Goodi. LOL. My fav Sam Goodi song is "Everthing & Then Some" which I had the pleasure of hearing him sing live. One word. #AWESOME
I was sitting in the audience at a comedy show the first time I saw Ella Starr perform. Prior to that day I'd heard her name thrown around a few times and listened to some of her original material online. I remember thinking she was so calm when she got on stage. She didn't look nervous at all. Then she opened her mouth and I knew why! She sang Chrisette Michele's "If I Had My Way" as if it was written for her. THAT is how cover songs are meant to be done. Here is the video from that night.
So he can sing AND he plays the sax? Why yes. In fact he can! Dave Speed is a great artist all around. He's a musician. His voice is smooth as hell. His original music is wonderful and he is a consummate professional. The last time I watched him perform I completely understood why he won the Ohio Hip Hop Award for best male vocalist.
Check out Dave Speeds video "The Way You Move" below.
Ray Woods as some MEAN eye contact. This guy is a serenading machine. I watching him make a woman's hand twitch as he sang to her. #FACT Besides that invaluable skill, he is also an awesome vocalist. Ray Woods is a pro at keeping the romance in music. He's all about the foot massages, flowers and bubble baths and that is something I believe is missing from today's R&B. I appreciate an artist like Ray and I'm sure there are many ladies who feel the same way.
I stumbled across Lolah Brown as I was filling out my ballot for the Ohio Hip Hop Awards. I never heard of her but she was a nominee for best female vocalist so I popped her name in youtube. I became an instant fan. I got to see her perfom at the awards show and thought she was great on stage. She makes good music that I can relate to as a woman. Her videos are dope and I love her voice.
When I hear this name I think of one word "RANGE". This guy can sing notes that I can only DREAM about singing. How many men can hit the same notes as Patti Labelle? I'll wait? Exactly. K. Eaddy is one of them. His voice is PHENOMENAL.
7. Renee Dion (Columbus, Oh)
Renee Dion is the quintessential soul singer. You have to be deaf to miss the jazz influences in her sound. That sound is the reason she is on my top 10 list. Whether she is beating a tambourine on her hip or just grooving to the music, the audience can tell that she FEELS every word that is coming out of her mouth. Her voice is rich and warm. She creates thought provoking music and she sings about things that really matter and I LOVE that about her. She is an artist full of substance.
8. MJ TheStar (Columbus, Oh)
MJ is my FAVORITE favorite. I really believe in my heart and soul that he is a superstar. The combination of his voice and stage presence makes him a standout. He executes songs in a way that leaves you wanting more. I believe he is at his absolute best when he sings Soul music and there is nothing but him, the mic and the music....and his dope ass blazers. Can't forget about that! MJ is known for his fashion choices just as much as his stunning voice.
I will NOT be satisfied until I see him sing this "Purple Rain" cover for myself. (Comes in at the 2:10 mark)
9. Matt Seward (Columbus, Oh)
Lead singer of the band Carpe Diem and born crooner, Matt Seward is an incredible vocalist. This dude's voice is like BUTTER. Seriously. I have heard him sing more than a few times and I honestly can't pick a favorite song. Ok I lied. LOL. I know which one is my fav. His cover of Musiq's "So Beautiful" is perfection. I have a wish that one day in the near future I will have a Matt Seward album to play in my house, car and job:)
10. Daleah Wilson ask Lyrikal Goddess (Columbus, Oh)
LG has strong voice AND she is a dope rapper. That in itself is special. I'll be honest. I'm not a big fan of female rappers. They kind of bore me but I couldn't help but be impressed when I saw this woman on stage. She switched from soulful songstress to fire breathing MC in the blink of an eye. LOL. My favorite thing about watching LG perform is her stage presence. She's comfortable and confident and audiences love her:)
So there you have it ladies and gentlemen! Do yourselves a favor and keep and eye on and two ears open for these people. If you see their names on a show attend and support. I promise you won't be disappointed. They definitely represent some of the best talent that The Buckeye state has to offer. I predict big things from each of them in the future:)
The same elements that go into making GOOD love should also go into making GOOD music.Spontaneity. Creativity. Focus. Passion.
~QAMIL~
As the release of my album, SOUL DOPE, approaches I have so many thoughts racing through my mind.I can’t think of many words to describe what I felt after I recorded the very last word on the project.I suppose a roller coaster analogy would be most appropriate as I truly felt a wave of emotions.One minute I was ecstatic then I was relieved to be done with the 10 hour recording sessions THEN I was sick to my stomach.Hell, I even panicked a little bit as I thought, What if I didn’t say enough?What if I said too much?What if I would have sang this or that note differently? What if nobody likes the music?
It took me a year to finish SOUL DOPE.The song lists changed.The producers changed.The direction changed.The sound changed.My LIFE changed which meant the things that I had to say changed right along with it.This is not really a bad thing but it does create a challenge for an artist that is determined to write about things that are authentic and true to their life and experiences.I am one of those artists.
The number one reason that I was so adamant about being the sole writer on this album was because I didn’t feel like anyone else could capture my thoughts, feelings and experiences better than I could.I didn’t want to make songs that I THOUGHT people wanted to hear.I wanted to make music that was REAL and the evoked some kind of emotion inside of me when I created it.By taking my time and really focusing on exploring musically and lyrically I was able to do just that.
SOUL DOPE is my BABY.This project and the process of seeing it come to life has changed me.It has made me more confident in my abilities as an artist.It has made me feel a renewed determination to do my part in bringing back and promoting REAL music.Personally, I feel like real music never died.People just stopped looking for and buying it after radio decided to stop playing it BUT that is a totally different topic so I digress (for now).I am proud to be a part of the solution and not the problem and I PROMISE to always make GOOD MUSIC!
"Tell me I can't have it and I'll TAKE IT. Tell me I can't do it RECORD BREAKING."
I'm sitting here typing and smiling as I flashback to the video shoot for this song. It was my first video and I was nervous as HELL but totally calm on the outside. It was HOT and the shoot took almost 7 hours but we got some truly amazing footage so it was worth every minute in that 90 degree weather. The video was shot and directed by Kimistry of Shotsbyheardinc and it will be premiered at the SOUL DOPE album listening party on Thursday, Sept. 13th between 6:30-9pm @ Lounge 62.
This video is conceptually inspiring as it tells the story of people who overcome obstacles and channel their inner dreamcatcher to make their goals become accomplishments. I hope to inspire and motivate people through this song. It has done that for me and listening to it makes me feel GOOD and ready to take on the world.
There were so many people involved in the shoot that I MUST thank: Lee "s7" Martin, Nicole Weathers, Carla Jackson, David Wright, Robert Berry, Aminah Wright, Caiden Martin, Diggy Dulche, Kei Mari, Young Wise, Ev Jones, Brandee Baboski, Lucianda Scott, Jeremy Rogers, Jermar Reese, Larry & Diana Jackson and little baby boy Jackson (LOL), chess champion Diamond, whoever delivered the Gatorade (I LOVE YOU) & ShotsbyHeardInc. I apologize if I forgot anybody! Just comment and tell me I suck and I will edit this. LOL
I wish we would have taken some footage of some of the funny behind the scenes moments liiiiiike me being strapped in a torture device all in the name of beauty and my hairstylist Lucianda Scott cussing the ice cream man CLEAN OUT. LOLOL. See what had happened was....she bought some icecream for the kids but the ice cream man didn't have change for her $20. Sooooooooo after collecting money from people on set who had cash, the kids were $1 short. The icecream man had the NERVE to tell her to have the kids bring their half eaten icecream back! Let's just say things got interesting. LOL
You really have to be a SUPER JERK to ask kids to return their icecream. I mean....Come ON SON!
Anyhoo, all was well and the big bad ice cream man left unharmed:D
Here are a few behind the scenes pics from the shoot!
Mentally checking out from the heat between takes.
Wardrobe change!
w/Diggy Dulche & Kei Mari of Empire Ent.
Larry, Diana and baby Jackson <3
Ev Jones is BOUT THAT LIFE (LOL)
Touch up time! Nicole doing her thing.
The youngest cast members, my daughter Aminah and Caeden posing after their big scene:)
w/11 year old 7 time national chess champ Diamond and her father
Music is as much a part of me as the blood pulsating through my veins. I need it for survival in a world so consumed with pain, disappointments and unpredictability. I've been singing for as long as I can remember. To be exact, I remember my first solo as if it were yesterday. I have what some would call a LONG memory. I remember standing in front of my grandfather's church. I was about 3 years old and I sang the same two lines over and over again, "I'm just a nobody, tryna tell everybody about somebody who can save your soul. I tell you he can save...save...save your soul."
I always loved music. I always loved to sing. I never wanted to be a singer.
By the time I got to middle school I knew I had a gift. Unfortunately, shyness and insecurity would plague me for many years to come. I held back in choir classes because I couldn't find the nerve to tell the teachers that I WANTED THAT SOLO. So I sang alto in the choir and I watched form the sidelines as my classmates took the solos.
Fast forward to my freshmen year of college. I started singing around campus and decided that I was ready to record an album. LOL. I worked with a few of my classmates from the now defunct groups Not To Be Forgotten...NTBF. LOL...again. Asaf Fulks, who has gone on to be an incredible producer out in LA and Franklin Grace who is making his rounds as an actor were there every step of the way. GOD I hope that project never resurfaces! WHEW! I wrote the whole thing and I was proud of myself BUT my new found dream of becoming a singer were sidelined by my chronic and mind numbing stage fright. I tabled that aspiration and eventually went on to write a couple books.
Eight years later I found myself at home, bored and ready to record a few songs. Thanks to the encouragement of my friend Dewayne Johnston....okay more like harassment, I started to work on my first mixtape "DOPE". "DOPE" was a collection of cover songs such as "Unthinkable", "Ready For Love" and "Moment For Life". It is available for free download at www.reverbnation.com/Qamil. I recorded it for fun with NO intention of starting a music career. I honestly believed that ship had sailed. I was wrong.
In August of 2012, I was literally put on the spot at the now closed Suite 143 when I was TOLD I would be singing and the band already had my song. (S/O to Jhade Barnes of Renaissance Events in Columbus, Oh). I stood on that stage singing "Rolling In The Deep" having an internal panic attack but I made it through! That night set off a chain of events that I didn't see coming.
Here I am, ONE year later and I am a month away from releasing my first (sort of) album, SOUL DOPE. I have performed all over Columbus and have dates booked in other cities. I shot my first music video and I host my own radio show. My current project "THE PREVIEW" is doing very well (also available for free download @ www.reverbnation.com/Qamil). (S/O to my producer Lee "s7" Martin for working magic on that project). My songs have been added to rotation on various stations here in the US and overseas in the UK and Australia.
If anybody had come up to me a year ago and told me that all of these amazing things would happen in such a short time I would have laughed in their face. Although, I didn't plan for any of this to happen I am so GRATEFUL and BLESSED for everything that has happened. I am beyond ready for what's next and I have an incredible of team of people by my side who are supporting me.
