Jazz-inflected artist Brittany Bosco is on the come up with the release of her EP Spectrum.
The internet is a big place, with an even bigger amount of content at my disposal anytime I need it. Beyond reading M.I.S.S. (shameless self promotion, whatup!) daily, my first point-and-clicks of the day typically lead me to a host of music blogs so I can listen up on any tracks I might have missed whilst my brain napped for the night. With about one billion blogs covering every genre of music possible, it’s probably easy for an artist to get lost in the interweb shuffle. But when I see a name pop up over and over on several sites, I know the internet is trying to tell me something. In this case, it’s trying to tell me that songstress Brittany Bosco is insanely dope.
Bosco's record is a mix of contemporary electronic influences and throwback instrumental-based jazz sounds.
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, the graduate of the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design is responsible for creating an EP that captures the growing diversity of Atlanta’s underground music community. Although Spectrum is strikingly contemporary thanks to lightly synthesized beats and a subtle inclusion of electronic-based sounds, the EP is a work of throwback perfection. Bosco, who has described her sound as “Gnarls meets a new-age Janice Joplin mothered by Sarah Vaughn”, knows where her roots are — on the track “Billie’s Song”, Bosco’s smokey rich voice croons: “I’m a child of jazz/ And a little bit of blues/ A dibble and dabble of funk down in my shoes. It’s obvious that Bosco is a believer in the old schools of jazz and blues. While many could describe her work as falling under the NeoSoul umbrella, Spectrum delves further into traditional jazz and blues sounds than the other crop of new artists in the genre. While, like her counterparts J*Davey, Bosco does strive to include electronic-funk elements on the album, her work is based around the inclusion of instruments like piano, the sax and the xylophone. Although jazz and blues are driving elements of Bosco’s music, the tracks never sound outdated, nor do you feel like you’re listening to someone trying too hard to create a throwback.
Bosco: She's just like us (She kills it in Scrabble)
Bosco’s lyrics are what keeps the record charging forward into the future. Her voice rises and falls on the beat about topics such as the complexities of distinctly modern relationships, the desire to create, and rediscovering identity. Thoroughly modern, Bosco relates to her audience on a personal level– she, like the rest of us, is lost sometimes, confused other times, joyful still, and has a heart built to love. Standouts like “Glich”, in which Bosco uses a metaphor to the digital world to talk about freeing herself from a controlling relationship, showcase Bosco’s playful innovation, which is well appreciated in an era when hits are as complex as “turning your swag on” (#FAIL).
Being an art student has played a major part in Bosco's style.
Besides being innovative in her lyrical content, Bosco is also taking major risks when it comes to her style. The singer rocks a mix of androgynous cool reminiscent of stars like Janelle Monae and even Andrew 3000. With her closely cropped hair and penchant for bamboo hoops, the pierced and tatted Bosco balances street, high fashion, and a touch of edge in an original and primary-color inflected way. Two thumbs way up from M.I.S.S.!
Style, grace, and a smiling face– the interwebs did not fail me when it came to Brittany Bosco! Since I can’t sang for crap, I’ll be humming her praises and am certain that 2k10 will be THE big year of Bosco!
M.I.S.S. Music Recap of Artists, and the Year Ahead
It’s been an eventful past year at M.I.S.S. and we’re happy to share it with all of you lovely readers out there. At the beginning of 2009, we shared with you just how music-savvy our writing staff is and started fresh with new music columns in addition to We Got The Beat called M.I.S.S. in the Mix, Fashion Meets Music, Reminisce with M.I.S.S., and Funky Expeditions.
We started fresh last year with new music columns giving you more than just a DL link and a few good words.
But I’m happiest to say that we introduced some of the new talent to you first, giving you more than just a DL link (support your artists!)and and a few good words.
At the top of the year, we introduced you to The Noisettes, a soulful, bluesy, afro-punk band fronted by the fashionable Shingai Shoniwa.
Then along came Little Dragon, who’s ethereal and ambient music captured our interests and softened the hardest of hearts.
Then came Lyyke Li, who’s angelic voice got one of the biggest mainstream shout outs when another Breakout Artist of 2009, Drake, imposed a duet of her song “A Little Bit” on his “So Far Gone” Mixtape.
What's in store for 2010? Hopefully another groundbreaking year for artists who push the boundaries...
What’s in store for 2010? Hopefully another groundbreaking year for artists who push the boundaries in every way imaginable AND a place for them to be supported over here at M.I.S.S. So go ahead and use your new giftcards to support and if you have any tips on who’s the latest amazing artist on the scene, feel free to hit us up! We’re ushering in another New Year of Artists right here at M.I.S.S. Headquarters.
(P.S. Kudos especially to Isis, Jenessa, Gee, and Randi and Valerie for their ah-mazing contributions and musical breadth…couldn’t have done it without you ladies!)
Janelle Monáe, the Grammy nominated singer has been on our style radar for awhile now. The Bad Boy/Wondaland Arts Society artist comes to us via Kansas, New York City, Atlanta, and now she is in the land of Metropolis (year 2719) championing the neo-rockabilly look with an unforgettable mega pompadour. Although she regards her style as “Just Monae,” “minimalist and classic,” her tailored signature style compliments her avant garde R&B sound beautifully. There has definitely been a revival of the rockabilly (1950’s Americana) look on the runways. Sonia Rykiel and Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony both showed Fall 09 collections paired with creepers shoes, a rockabilly staple. I’m into the androgyny of this look. Monae makes it her own with the grandiose pompadour and feminine details, like bow ties and mod-style earrings.
Star on the rise - Androgyny meets Preppy Classic
Check out this interview where she talks about her “big brothers in the industry” Big Boi and Andre 3000, challenging creativity, inspirations, and her life long commitment to art.
Style Hunter
Shop the Retro look!
- Marc Jacobs Knitted Wool Cape available at mytheresa.com
- Stella McCartney Knitted Paillette Pants also available at mytheresa.com
- Lahaie black and white flats over at Aldo Shoes
- Super matte black basic wayfarers available over at OAK NYC - Tuxedo pants by MCQ can be found at theoutnet.com - Jeffrey Campbell’s Winkle Studded Creepers in Blue Suede at one of my favorite sites Nastygal.com
- Splice Neck Tie by Cheap Monday at Karmaloop.com
- Ribbon-trim textured-stripe shirt from The Gap
If I could grow my hair, this is what it would look like
Hailing from Kansas City, Kansas, Grammy-nominee Janelle Monae renovates R&B with her robotic and bluesy style. Her one-of-a-kind mix of soulful cabaret expresses lyrics beyond basic human companionship, entering an ultramodern interstellar story of love, identity, and amity. From her fantasy tale “suites” (or EPs as chapters to her collaborative project ) to an upcoming film and graphic novel, Janelle Monae is quickly establishing herself as an architect of musical fantasy.
We Got the Beat: Janelle Monae
After high school, Monae made the decision to attend New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Let down by the small amount of roles provided for African American’s pursuing Broadway, Monae left her school for a move to Atlanta. In her bio, she says:
“I had an intuition about Atlanta. I knew that really creative people like Outkast had come from here, so my subconscious was telling me that I should stay. I felt like this could be a place where I could start my own movement.”
Atlanta was a clever move for Monae, indeed, as she performed at open mics, various colleges, restaurants, and eventually caught the attention of OutKast’s Big Boi. He offered Monae a feature on his project Got Purp? Volume 2 in 2005 and later made way for her release of Metropolis: The Chase in August of 2007, the first of four suites. After Monae posted a few songs on her MySpace, including the soon-to-be internet hit “Violet Happy Stars” P.Diddy got in touch with her, signed her to Bad Boy Records and re-released Metropolis.
Get Familiar with Chester French: Jacques Jams Vol. 1 Endurance
Back in November, I hipped you all to Chester French. I’ve been seeing them pop up in more and more media outlets as of late, so I’m back to hit you all with the latest chapter in the Chester French saga. With the help of Clinton Sparks, Chester French has released their new mixtape, Jacques Jamz Vol 1: Endurance – featuring the artistry of some old faves, new hit makers, and fellow up and comers on the scene, such as Diddy, Pharrell, Talib Kweli, Lady GaGa, Mickey Factz and Janelle Monae. After the jump, check out the tracklisting, and you can download the mixtape at ChesterFrench.com. Their album Love The Future drops April 21st.
Throw on your bobby socks and jump on the saddle! Saddle Oxfords, the traditional footwear for school-girls and sock-hoppers, are making a comeback outside of the classroom and off of the dance floor thanks to Elle Accessory Designer of the Year, Rupert Sanderson. Sanderson’s design philosophy, “less is more,” truly shows in his version of the classic style.Keeping the simplicity of the original Oxfords allows for nostalgic feelings, but creating variation in the color updates the retro look.With saddles in navy, olive, and even red, Rupert Sanderson’s saddle shoe, the Dolly, will be the comfortable spring companion for anywhere you go, even if that’s back to class.
As part of the release of her book, Miss Universe, Ruby Veridiano-Ching has put together a soundtrack for Miss Universe. The soundtrack includes songs that inspired her journey and healed her along the way as well a little commentary from Ruby through-out. From Kanye to Stevie Wonder the playlist really helps to create an even more vivid picture of Ruby’s world and that of Miss Universe. Join Imeem now and listen to the Intergalactic Soundtrack of one Miss Universe.
Stay posted for more info of Ruby’s book release party at Milk in SF on Oct. 26th! Peep the flyer after the jump!
Seems like making short films or videos is the new blogging. The newest video-based website we’ve come across is VIMBY – Video In My Backyard – “a video content company devoted to capturing young lifestyle and culture all over the nation.” They have videos covering music, fashion, cars, travel, action sports and night life. We checked it out and there’s definitely some good content – check out some of our favorites below.
