Fresh | AMMO: Esnavi | What You Need
Check out songstress Esnavi’s latest single “What You Need”
Meet one half of the hat wear brand Last Resort, Chad Balkum, as we discuss change, growing up, and men becoming the new “woman.”
1. What’s your AMMO?
My AMMO is knowing that everyday has the potential to be life changing and is an opportunity to have new experiences. To be where I currently am and know that there is still so much going on at this very moment that I have yet to see and experience motivates me to continually reach new heights.
2. What’s the story behind Last Resort?
Last Resort is a project that actually grew out of a prior business failure. We originally had a menswear collection that we were preparing a presentation to introduce. Between production costs and other unforeseen issues we ended up financially tanking and that was probably one of the hardest times of my life personally. We actually split for awhile but I had a few old hat designs I wanted to work into the menswear line that were never produced so we made a new plan and decided to restart on a smaller scale as Last Resort.
3. How did you two meet?
We met in college while staying in the same dorm. I was already working on menswear but my original partner at the time went his own way to work on other projects. Akeem began to help me with the business aspect of that original line of clothes and we’ve been hustling together ever since.
4. There seems to be an insurgence of feminism in men’s fashion. Where do you see this trend going?
I suppose men have steadily become the new woman. I like that it presently seems overall we are more comfortable in expressing ourselves through fashion but I think there should be a limit to the boundary femininity is expressed by men.
5. Where is Last Resort sold?
Last resort is currently sold online at www.last-resort.us.
Ester Rada, a singer all the way from Israel, performed at The Slipper Room in NYC on Monday and we were front in center. Her musical range is outstanding, lending a Jazz-FunkSoul vibe to the scene. After the show we chatted with Ester about her inspiration, sound, and who she’s listening to.
What’s your AMMO?
Alicia Keys. I just read an article about her on Mojo [http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/], how she started her career, and how she grew up in a tough neighborhood, like I did.
What is the sound of your music?
In general I don’t like to categorize my music, and put it into genres. But if you ask my dj, friends, and my music heads crew, they will say it’s a fresh mix of Ethio-Jazz and Groove, Funk and Soul, and some R&B Flavor.
How has your culture; being Israeli-born, Ethiopian-bred; affected your music?
Everything in life affects my music. I was born to a religious Jewish family in Israel, so I was inspired by Jewish spiritual and religious music. My Parents came from Ethiopia so I heard a lot of Ethiopian music, and then I moved with my family to the city, where I was exposed to the new sound of Hip Hop and R&B in the 90’s.
What has been the most exciting performance or moment thus far?
It’s hard to say, as I appreciate every moment and every show. I look at it as steps. I’m doing every day another step, and every show I’m excited about and I can feel the butterflies again every time. My first show was in front of 4,000 people, in a very well-known festival. I had my album launch concert in front of 1,000 people that came especially for me. Those two shows that I performed where definitely moments I’ll always remember. But as I said, every day and every show is special for me.
Besides your own, what music are you listening to?
I listen right now to Keziah Jones, Nneka, Laura Mvula, Aloee Black, Corinne Bailey Rae, Nina Simone, The Roots, Mahmoud Ahmed, Bombino and more.
Your favorite city?
New York – just arrived yesterday and I love the vibe of this city
What are some new things you’ve acquired since being discovered?
I just received a new Bass Guitar and an amp, a flute, a melodic, keyboards, and they keep coming.
Joining any music festivals this Summer?
Right now we are confirmed for Glastonbury in the Uk this summer, with some [more] confirmations soon, and hope to get some from the US and Canada too!
For more from Ester Rada and to listen to her music, click here.
Images by SeanJamar
– Deshawn Colbert
Artist Gabriel J. Shuldiner is trying his hand at jewelry design. His collection, Fleurs du Mal, brings a new meaning to the color BLACK.
My Fleurs du Mal collection draws direct inspiration from the beautifully dark, decadent, and erotic prose of one of my favorite poets, Charles Baudelaire. I reinterpreted the title he used for his own first volume of poetry, originally published in 1857, for my inaugural Fleurs du Mal collection. My collection has evolved into an ever expanding and ongoing series of work. I consider each one of a kind piece from my Fleurs du Mal collection a sort of poem of its own; one that tells its unique, mysterious, and romantic story from deep within the fragmented and fractured black.
To learn more about the collection and the artist check out his feature in the Spring 2012 issue of AMMO Magazine, here.
Name: Thesis (Sean), Noearth (Alex), Thawt (jimmy)
Hometown: Whittier, CA
What’s your AMMO?
Love for the music, and the energy we feel at every show whether it’s negative or positive it’s all part of Tha Process, a part of learning and growing as artists and human beings in general. Knowing that at least one person can be affected by our words alone is enough to keep us working on this music thing forever.
How did you guys get your start?
We came together a year after graduating from high school, each one of us coming from a musical background. Thawt plays drums, Thesis and Noearth play the guitar and we all played in different metal bands throughout school together and with other people. Shortly after independently producing, writing, and recording, over five tracks in 2006 without a group name, “Tha Process” was formed by Thesis and Noearth who then soon saw potential in fellow Whittier locals Thawt, and Kontra. We spent about two years working on material before we decided to take it to the streets and released our first single “press play” which we put out independently on a free mix tape. We were approached to do an all paid for music video that at the time would make a visual impact on what people thought about us as a group. We started getting more serious after the video came out leading us to set up our first shows, and make our first connections in the music industry. After our first show in late 2008 we were on a mission to be heard, recording and releasing two albums since then and playing many shows with notable artists around southern California. We’ve attracted certain attention in the hip hop community that couldn’t be ignored, so with our not so typical “rapper” look along with the unique flow we each brought to the table we knew we had something that we could introduce to the people that they haven’t heard since the golden age of hip hop.
How would you describe your music?
A new school take on an old school hip-hop flavor, we try to be positive, creative, and thought provoking. A lot of people compare our style to the pharcyde, tribe called quest, and even beastie boys. Hard hitting bass, catchy flows, tons of energy… pretty much just a good time in an oddly wrapped package.
What are your style and fashion influences?
We’re definitely influenced by the hip-hop and skateboarding scene as whole but collectively we each look like were into very different things. If you catch Thawt on a good day he looks like he’s straight outta the 90’s haha. We have a couple clothing companies that support us so we rep them when we can, 3WM and GG Clothing. We like to shop at Globe Clothing Store (GCS) in the OC, and a local La Mirada skate spot called Family Sports, pants from target or marshals you know how it is.
Are there any artist that you look forward to working with?
There’s a grip of artists that wed love to work with its hard to name them all, but a few that are high up on the list would have to be Grouch and Eligh of Living Legends because we been listening to them for years and have mad respect for what they do. Slug of Atmosphere is another great mc that we definitely want to have track with in the near future. Any of the dudes from Rhymesayers Ent., Strange Famous, or Stones Throw got the good look from us, much love.
What are your top 5 essentials?
Computer, microphones, notebook, 7-11, weed
What new projects can we look forward to from Tha Process?
We got our debut full-length album “Listen to Me” dropping in June! Were gonna have some really good collaborations on that album with some really dope artists like Sleep of Oldominion (Strange Famous Records) from out in Washington, Qwel (Typical Cats) from out in Chicago, an LA underground vet Rifleman a.k.a. Ellay Khule (Project Blowed), and somebody we met out in Minnesota we think has a lot of promise Prof (Stophouse Group). These alone are something to look forward to, so we hope that everybody is ready for this piece of art that we all put a lot of our time, effort, and heart into.
For more about Tha Process go to, thaprocess.com
For more Fresh Ammunition, click HERE.
Malcolm Peterson has taken his interests in producing his own instrumentals to a new level of innovative and complex sound for his first album. Peterson’s interests matured from producing Hip Hop instrumentals inspired by artists like “the Neptunes” and Kanye West, into a more serious platform for creating his acquired and skillful sound that he possesses today. After his experimentation with Hip Hop and drum beat based sound, Peterson shifted his sound into a, “…more electronic phase focusing more on abstract sampling of more obscure jazz, dance and funk tracks along with synth that can be smooth or harsh depending on the song and more of DIY approach to drums, showing a surprising amount of attention to the experimentation of compression and drum modulation.” Peterson continued to evolve musically and went on to create a new type of sound under the name of SHORE, which he is now recognized by. His newly released EP, “DEMO” consists of four tracks featuring a layering of modulation effects, such as echoes and delays, and the use of DJ equipment. “DEMO” showcases Peterson’s, “skill for heavy instrumentation and musical arrangement” and is the predecessor of his first album, “PMAM” featuring three out of the four tracks on the EP. SHORE is a member of the collective, “Robotic Treehouse” under which his album will be released. “PMAM” is to be released in the upcoming months, but for now check out SHORE’s track, “LOVER” and visit his website for the remaining tracks at www.aboveshore.com.
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