Paper Diamond

Throw back from Zeds dead Altered states with Paper Diamond. Paper Diamonds made an impressive mark on the music scene today, continuously creating music in many different styles from trap to hip-hop, EDM, and many more melodies and beats that make up a genre of their own. Paper diamond has particular sound that continuously evolves as he furthers his career. I’ve personally met paper diamond aka Alex B. Numerous times and continue to traditionally attend his shows, whether he's at a music festival I'm attending or just passing though Chicago or a neighboring state, you can bet I’ll most likely be there. Speaking of which I’ll be attending his show on March 7th at Concord Music Hall with special guest Gladiator and Louis Futon, as he embarks on his latest, “Rain Drops Tour”, supporting his upcoming EP. 

Paper Diamonds come along way from when he was going as his original artist name Alex B, to getting huge support as Paper Diamond from fellow artist such as Diplo, Bassnectar, Zeds Dead, and many more. Paper Diamonds appeared on Diplo’s infamous radio show Diplo and friends and has been apart of and made huge remix project for him as well with Diplo’s “Revolution” (Paper Diamond remix) track released on Diplo’s revolutions remixes and Bassnectar’s “Voodo” (Paper Diamond remix). He’s also been apart of some impressive collaborations with artist like Protohype “Paperhype”, and “temple run” with Buku, which these tracks appear on Paper Diamond’s Paragon album. You can get most of paper diamonds music via Soundcloud, Itunes and Beatport. He also recently released a huge bundle package with tons of unreleased music and loops he’s been using and working on over the past few years. If you get a chance take a look into Paper Diamond I bet you find something you’ll like. I will also be back to share some of my experience from his upcoming show March 7th, if you have nothing going on check it out I promise you won't be disappointed!

Bonnaroo Music Festival

Bonnarroo Music and Arts Festival, begins its annual four-day fest June 10^th this year, celebrating its 13^th year since 2002. Taking place at Greek Stage Park, what “roo” goers call the “Farm” in Manchester, Tennessee. Created and held by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Bonnroo originally began as manly a jam band and folk rock music festival, but has been diversified in the recent years. This year Bonnaroo brings big headlining acts such as, Munford and Sons, Deadmau5, Kendrick Lamar, Bassnectar and the legendary Billy Joel, plus many more. Bonnaroo brings more to the table then just music performances and art showcasing, but they have their own comedy club and cinema. Among numerous other activities like the silent disco, morning workouts,meditation, and save the planet project to add to your roo experience.

Traditional roo goers live by the Bonnarrovian code for the four days they live amongst the farm, as well as apply these rules to their everyday life even after the festival. As stated as the codes sixth rule, “Stay true to Roo”. Encouraging people to apply the experiences the gain at the fest to greater themselves as a person, as well as help shape the world for the better.

The first rule is prepare yourself, you’ll want to be ready for anything beings how your going to be living in tent city without the perks of everyday life. You’ll want to be prepared for any possible unpredicted weather changes and be prepared for living in the Tennessee summer heat. The second rule is to “Play as a Team”, consider the community and keep an eye on your friends. Extend those friendships to new ones too. The third rule, “Radiate Positivity”, leave you worries at home. For the few days you spend here this summer celebrate the best things in life. The fourth rule, Respect the farm”’ Clean up after yourself and others even if you weren’t the one to make the mess, be respectful to the festival and the land. And the fifth rule, “Don’t be that guy/gal”, nobody wants to deal with a Debbie downer, and you’re here to celebrate life art and music as family and experience life in a new way to always remember.

 Needless to say this will be my first year attend this festival and I’m more than excited to become a member of the roo family and experience the legendary farm first hand. I will be more than happy to check back in on this and share my experience at the legendary "Farm" with any videos and photos I capture. Till then keep an eye out!

Black Sabbath

I was lucky enough to see the legendary Black Sabbath on their latest "Reunion Tour" in honor of their 2012 album release "13" produced by none other than Rick Rubin. Featuring Ozzy Osborne as lead vocalist for the first time since 1978's “Never Say Die!” Being Sabbaths eighth studio album, as well as original bassist Geezer Butler since 1984's “Cross Purposes”. I've grown up listening to Ozzy as a kid and always heard my parents talk of their experiences at Sabbath shows. Needless to say this was a part of history I felt very fortunate to experience; to see the Oz man himself was a landmark in my life’s time line that I’ll never forget. 

Black Sabbath Performing "Paranoid" 

GTA

     GTA (not the video game) duo producers, Julio Mejia, and Mathew Van Toth, have been making their way to the top with their mix of Trap, Dance, Moombahton, and House music. GTA's death to genre model has been bringing great success and exceeding fans of all kinds. Personally they've inspired me as an artist to not be limiting to just any particular styles of music. Ultimately opening the door for endless possibilities. GTA has been making their mark in the EDM community and I think its safe to say there here to stay. With big hit singles like “The Crowd”, “Hard House”, “Boy Oh Boy” with fellow producer Diplo and their newest hit making its way to the top of the charts “Intoxicated” with none other than Martian Solveig.  GTA’s death to genre outlook is best shown in their high-energy live performances and death to genre mixtape series. 

(GTA live at Electric Forest 2014 Playing System Of A Down's "Chop Suey")

     They play anything from Trap, House, Dance, Moombahton, hip-hop and rap to heavy metal. All in one performance! GTA’s been expanding all over, recently opening up for infamous trapstars, Flosstradamus on their latest “Hoody Nation Tour” to making spots on many festivals around the world and even headlining their own events. GTA’s known for making some of the most well known and played remixes such as Iggy Azalea “Fancy”, House Dj Destructo’s “Party Up”, and more recently Diplo’s,“6^th Gear”. GTA continues to further their success with nearly 150k followers via Soundcloud and with support from fellow producers such as RL Grime, Flosstradamus, Martin Solveig, Bro Safari, and many more. I think it’s more than safe to say GTA’s here to stay and I personally will be looking forward to what they have in store next for the world to hear next.

Throw Back to EDC Chicago

Throw back to infamous trap artist, Bro Safari at the first and so far only EDC Chicago taken place at Joliet, speedway. This had to have been one of loudest shows I've ever attend making headline news on local news stations due to the heavy volume of sound complaints form the surround residence. The  owners of EDC were instructed to bring down the volume of there stages and weren't granted permission to hold the Festival for following years. (apologies to the horrible sound quality, it was a powerful sound system)

Electric Forest Lineup

Electric forest releases its highly anticipated lineup for its 5^th  year. As Always Electric Forest goes bigger and better than before as promised. This highly impressive lineup has everyone talking. The news has been trending all over the Internet form blog sites, to multiple music news sites and Facebook pages. As known in previous year the forest tends to keep improving the event by providing wide variety of artist keeping bring plenty of diversity. With this lineup there’s well-known heavy hitters to the EDM scene as well as Jam and dubstep music. Electric Forest bring in famous headliners, Lorin Ashton, aka “Bassnecter”, Sony Moore, aka “Skrillex”, Fairly new and rising artist “Flume” and as always the infamous “String Cheese Incident”, scheduled to play three shows through out the weekend. Other Big hitters such as, Big Gigantic and Gramatik return to the forest for I’m sure some every surprising acts. The forest has been known for bring some of the biggest unexpected collaborations performances, being responsible for super group Big Grizmatik being composed of artist big Gigantic, Gramatik, and Griz. This Song is Sick; Facebook and blog site that keeps up with latest news in EDM music and entertainment was a big part of bringing this super group together. This song as sick, annually attends Electric forest setting up and bringing together artist for their own surprise performance. Each year the forest brings more surprise and suspense and I for one can’t wait to see what this year has to offer has to offer.