Posts Tagged ‘ music ’

I hope you dance

I’m a dancer.

No, I’m not classically trained and no, I haven’t been doing it all my life. But, I’m a dancer. I woke up one day and realized I wasn’t happy with where my life was going. I wasn’t creative. I wasn’t being free. I wasn’t…me. I knew it was time. It was time to do what I wanted to do. It was time to be completely content in where I was at all and any point in my life. It was time for me to get back to me. Operation Take My Life Back was born.
So, I sat down and took a long look at myself. I have dabbled in many things in my life, but two things have remained constant: my love for writing and my love for dancing.
As a kid growing up, I used to write books and plays just to entertain myself. My first book, “Kidnapped,” was written in the sixth grade. It was about a young girl who was kidnapped by a family member. The motive? Her trust fund…of course. I got a few chapters in and just lost motivation. However, I can tell you it was her aunt who did it.
Then there was dance. I’ve always been a performer and really started to explore my love for dance in elementary school. However; as a ten year old, I thought I was too old to start dancing. I mean, look at me. I was practically a senior citizen. So, I found replacements that I enjoyed as well. I started taking gymnastics, which eventually lead to cheerleading. Both had elements of dance. That was my favorite part. Although I gave up gymnastics when I entered high school, I continued to cheer until my senior year. Then college came. I decided to step out on a limb and try out for the school dance team. I made it. JACKPOT! I don’t think I loved being a part of anything more than I loved being a member of the Majestic Dance Troupe.
As a public relations major and dancer in college, I dedicated the next four years of school to my loves: writing and dancing. P.R. gave me the opportunity to write and combined it with the glam, or perceived notion of glam, which came with public relations. After graduation, I dropped the dance and dove head first into my career.
Five years and a significant amount of accolades later, I woke up one day (April 11, 2010) and looked at my life. Why do I remember this day? It was the day my brother died. My brother was a true free spirit in every sense of the word. I was a free spirit once, but once life happened (work, bills, house, career) I suppressed my wants for my “needs.”  If there is one thing my brother’s life taught me, it was that I should always live life the way I wanted it. I should do what I needed to do to be happy. So, a few months ago I enrolled in dance. I’ve started writing more. As each day passes, I’m taking the steps needed to focus on my passions and really love what I do.
Too often, we get stuck in what we feel we have to do instead of what we want to do. Don’t let another opportunity pass you by and think, “I’ll just catch the next one.” You might have just missed the opportunity for you! Pursue your dreams. Period. Turn words and plans in to action. Period!
I hope you stick around and tune in as I explore this new journey, this new chapter in my life. I hope you are inspired to start new chapters in your own life.
I find inspiration in music. So, I’ll leave you with this on point message from Lee Ann Womack. I’m sure you know it…
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances, but they’re worth taking
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth making
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance…

ReKaSte brings alternative hip-hop flair to the Hampton Roads Pop Rock Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Contact:
Meredith Mobley
Meredith@GrandpaProductions.com
(757)234-1018

ReKaSte brings alternative hip-hop flair to the Hampton Roads Pop Rock Festival

Hampton, Va.− (March 24, 2010)−On March 31, 2010, music lovers throughout the Hampton Roads area will meet in Newport News, Va. to celebrate the melodic sounds found at the Hampton Roads Pop Rock Festival. The lineup for the evening is comprised of some of the best raw talent the Hampton Roads area has to offer, including the up-and-coming alternative hip-hop group, ReKaSte.

Supported by Grandpa Productions, ReKaSte delivers an alternative hip-hop sound that is unique to the Hampton Roads area. With musical influences ranging from Bach and Beethoven to Marvin Gaye, J*DaVey and Jay-Z, ReKaSte seamlessly blends pop, rock, classical and R&B influences together to create a sound that can only be described as “hip-hop on Ecstasy.”

In addition to ReKaSte, The Hampton Roads Pop Rock Festival spotlights Holly Would, a four-piece pop/punk band based out of Newport News, Va. and the “original rock and roll band,” Life’s Only Lesson.

The Hampton Roads Music Festival puts local musicians, bands and producers in the spotlight, exposing them to a diverse audience and allowing them to showcase the talent in the local area. As the premier lounge on the Peninsula, Blurr Bistro and Ultra Lounge will be a melting pot of rock, pop and hip-hop with an alternative edge as it plays host to this year’s event. Doors open at 8 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased for $5. Tickets sold at the door will be $10.

To hear more from ReKaSte, listen to their sample C.D. on iTunes or visit their blog at ReKaSte.com. Follow ReKaSte on Twitter and Facebook

For ticket information, contact Devin “Calypso” Armstrong at devin@grandpaproductions.com or (917)-841-2440.

About Grandpa Productions

Headquartered in Hampton, Va., Grandpa Productions, LLC is a music production company that promotes superior music through the use of diverse styles including rap, R&B, neo-soul, hip-hop, rock, pop, and country. Providing custom scoring and composition for jingles, movie scores, plays, and audio for Internet websites and recording artists, Grandpa Productions, LLC offers a vast spectrum of services. In addition to produce high quality sounds for a plethora of outlets, Grandpa Productions, LLC also offers affordable studio options and maintain excellent relationships with a slew of industry professionals—a great tool for emerging artists looking to enhance their career development.

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ReKaSte brings music lovers to their feet with newly released single and video for “Throw It Up”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Devin Armstrong
Devin@GrandpaProductions.com
(917)-841-2440

ReKaSte brings music lovers to their feet with newly released single and video for “Throw It Up”

Hampton, Va.− (March 4, 2010) −“Throw It Up,” the hard-hitting single by the New York trio ReKaSte has hit the airwaves. An international party theme and certified club banger, “Throw It Up,” the fourth single off “Jambalaya” is now available on iTunes.

The release of the new single coincides with the launch of the “Throw It Up” video, which debuts today exclusively on http://www.ReKaSte.com. This high-energy, gritty, and alternative video takes you coast to coast while everyone from party goers to extreme athletes show you how to “Throw It Up” in style. Click here to see the video.

As the chefs behind Jambalaya’s eclectic sound, ReKaSte was formed by group members, Leaveil “Recipe” Armstrong, Kyle “D.J. Kal” Lawerence, and Allen “Stevie Visionz” Hargrove. The group came up with the name ReKaSte, by combining the first two letters from each group members’ nickname. As music technology engineering majors, ReKaSte met on the campus of Hampton University. Backed by Grandpa Productions, a Hampton, Va. based music production company, the group uses their eclectic backgrounds to merge alternative, hip-hop, jazz, pop and R&B to form a sound that can best be described as “hip-hop on ecstasy.”

About Grandpa Productions

Headquartered in Hampton, Va., Grandpa Productions, LLC is a music production company that promotes superior music through the use of diverse styles including rap, R&B, neo-soul, hip-hop, rock, pop, and country. Providing custom scoring and composition for jingles, movie scores, plays, and audio for Internet websites and recording artists, Grandpa Productions, LLC offers a vast spectrum of services. In addition to produce high quality sounds for a plethora of outlets, Grandpa Productions, LLC also offers affordable studio options and maintain excellent relationships with a slew of industry professionals—a great tool for emerging artists looking to enhance their career development.

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Sidebar: Ready for some good music? Read this…

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Maybe I’m biased, but I definitely think ReKaSte is prepared to take the world by storm. You’ve never heard a group like this before. Whether you’re into hip-hop, pop, R&B, alternative or rock, ReKaSte has a sound that pleases the most versatile ear.

In October, the group released their first sample CD, called Jambalaya. Jambalaya is an eclectic fusion of melodic pop, edgy alternative, and hard-hitting hip-hop beats.  The unique sounds found in Jambalaya will be sure to leave your ears hungry for more. The CD contains three tracks, each with their own distinctive vibe. “Blade” delivers a futuristic style and electrifying beat that will jolt you to the core, while “She Make Me Say” brings an uplifting yet sultry tune that is sure to keep heads nodding. The final track and certified club banger, “Throw It Up” is sure to make listeners jump out their seats and move to the dance floor. Download Jambalaya by clicking the CD cover below, and oh–prepare to keep this CD on repeat….

Just in time for the holiday season, the group recently released their holiday single, “Christmas Time is Here.” The song really takes you back. It’s a feel good song that makes you want to be near family and friends, celebrating the holiday together. Don’t take my word for it! Click on the cover below and hear it for yourself!

Learn more about the guys that make up trio by visiting my “Talent Spotlight” page OR http://www.rekaste.com.