Highlights of CTR2, Part 7: The Sunspot Team

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe. This is the final entry of the Highlights of CTR2 series.

This was the only way I was going to end this series. There wouldn't have been a Check The Recipe at all if it hadn't been for the time and experience I've had studying, learning, and observing how these guys work; how they approach writing a song, deciding how to deliver, which lyrics would be best used and when. As I explained in a previous post, after years of gladly producing and working behind the scenes for mixtapes and albums, I had the idea of putting something out there that I could call my own. After the success the first Check The Recipe, I was already set to work on the second chapter of the series

J-Dub was an integral part of the creation of the Elite Eight and helped to dictate the initial idea of Still Raw. Runna lent his vocal energy to the songs "Lost Thoughts" and "Go Get Her," which was, originally, one of the very first beats I wanted as part of Check The Recipe 2. Runna also contributed in the sultry "Thinking About You," a self-contained story of a couple attempting to rekindle the heat in their relationship.

Thright Hook, known at the time of the release as Right Hook, was a major element in the creation of CTR 2. Hook was instrumental in developing the feel and pacing of the project. He also made a footprint on the vocal side of things, as he collaborated with many different artists, as well as writing his own song with a dancehall/reggaeton flavor entitled "My Way, Your Way." During the making of the mixtape album, C.Luk was working on the promotion of his release, "The Dead C Scrolls: Manuscript One." The vocal stylings from Check the Recipe 2 and creativity of the sounds helped the Mic Controller make his decision to start a live band, along with The Chef, an easier one. Shortly after the release of CTR 2, the gears were already in motion for the creation of Sunspot's live band: Not Sure Community.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 5: The In$idaz, Shizz, A-Class

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on some of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

The In$idaz are a rap duo from Lynn MA. They're making their name known in the hip-hop community with beats to make you dance and a back-and-forth rap style that makes any groove they ride THAT much more infectious. The In$idaz influence was felt in both installments of the CTR series. You can hear them together on the high-energy song "How We Party" on CTR2.

Shizz made his impact felt on CTR 2 with Still Raw, which features seven other emcees (collectively known on the track as the Elite Eight). This talented lyricist brings a smooth delivery to his approach, yet he still accentuates the energy of the beat. I thought that this quality made him unique and, therefore, a perfect candidate to blend with the Elite Eight.

A-Class is a classic example of the old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Hailing from Salem, MA, Class first linked up with Sunspot Productions on the One Night Stand project, featuring on Right Hook's "Mamacita." The positive feedback from that song led to a second team up between the two performers, which is how "IDK" was created. Here's hoping for future collaborations between Right Hook and A-Class!

Highlights of CTR2, Part 4: Ebbony Davis & POES

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

At just over 18 years old, Ebbony Davis, who sings Air to Breathe on CTR2, has proven that she is a youth with ambition. She first began recording songs under the tutelage of G. Jonz and Thright Hook about 7 years ago, but she's been singing since she could talk. Since then, Ebbony has been honing her craft with voice lessons and has become a more well-rounded entertainer by joining Runna's ITM Step Squad. As of this writing, she has already sung with one of Berklee College's Music Groups at Boston's former Mayor Menino's retirement party. Below is footage of Ebbony with others on the first of Berklee's "Corner Spot" video-bio series.

The man known as POES (People Only Envy Strength) has worked with Sunspot for years. He first made waves with the Sunspot team by performing on the first Check the Recipe project, blessing us with lyricism for "You Like It" and "Huntin For The Game". Later, he impressed the masses again with his production skills by composing 8 out of 13 songs on One Night Stand, Sunspot's first R&B/pop album. Since moving to New York, POES has not slowed down as he has linked up with Perfect Connect and other notable names in the music industry. While in New York, he was still able to help out G. Jonz by laying down lyrics to the CTR2 song, "Nobody Has To Know". He's a talent who won't let anything stop him from his goals. Below, POES takes a Moment to Speak in the heart of the city.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 3: HNL & Seth Chaos

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

Seth Chaos is a major name in the underground music scene in the Boston area. You've heard of the Six Degrees of Separation theory, right? Well, it'd be very rare for you to find someone in the Boston underground hip-hop scene who hasn't heard of Chaos. He's been working on music since the 90s and is involved in nearly all aspects of music peoduction. Rapping, vocals, DJing, filming - Seth Chaos is a man that wears many hats.

HNL has been under the learning tree of music production for years, honing his craft and coming up many different R&B beats. His earliest beat that has been released can be heard on the One Night Stand album on the track, "Comfortable". Since then, the quick study that is HNL has also lent a hand in producing the Intro track for CTR2 and single-handedly composed the beat for "Take A Walk" from the Morning After album, featuring the voices of Runna, G. Jonz and J-Dub.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 2: Ladii Goddiva & Balan Braxton

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

Ladii Goddiva wears many hats. Not only is she a lyricist, but her catalog spans a long list of achievements. Born in Dorchester MA, Goddiva has written artist biographies for up and comers around her. She has also started the Ladii Diva Team, an all-female street team that cater to different events and needs in the Boston area. This female emcee can spit on any kind of beat and plays different instruments, making her one of the more well-rounded talents on Check the Recipe 2.

Networking is a major strength of Ladii Goddiva, as well as Balan. Ladii Goddiva linked up with G. Jonz because Balan was the mutual acquaintance for the three.

Balan, or Ξәƞῼβλα (zen-OH-bee-ah), is a multi-talented singer who has the distinction of being featured on Check the Recipe 2 more than anyone else. She is a musician-professional singer who writes screenplays in her spare time. She plans to put them into action through the making of machinima films & comic strips. Miss Braxton is a beacon of creativity and ingenuity, which is demonstrated in all her creative outlets. Whenever you press play on one of her songs, you will immediately be drawn in by the power of her voice. Balan is currently working on her own music project.

Here is a song featuring both of these musically-moving women: You're All I Need

2012: Most of the Year In Review, Part 2

Mid-July
Boston Community Showcase

Female MC Ladii Goddiva invited us to perform at an event she was hosting in Boston. We got in contact with Goddiva thru Ξәƞῼβλα, who is shown here with G. Jonz performing I Dare You.

Runna lighting up the stage with Sunspot's remix version of Turn It Up

This event is actually the first time that Runna and Balán Braxton (Ξәƞῼβλα) met each other. They recorded their song Thinking About You at different times and never spoke to each other before until this day. This picture shows them performing a snippet of it together with G. Jonz for the first time.

September
Not Sure Community College

Pretty self-explanatory, but I'll go ahead and explain it anyway. G. Jonz and C.Luk are in a band and no, Sunspot has NOT disbanded. (Disbanded... punny.) This is the first of many videos showcasing what the band can do. Be sure to Like the band on Facebook: Not Sure Community College
If you're on Twitter, so are we: @notsureband


HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON!

Year In Review, Part 1

2012: Most of the Year In Review

This is the time of year where everyone takes time to reflect on the past calendar year. What was good? What wasn't so good? How many epic fails did I commit? How many Facebook pictures did I like/share because if I "ignored" them it showed that I didn't care? (That one's for you, Thai.)

I figured I'd take the time to give my opinion on some of the things Sunspot has been a part of in the last year. I should have time to bang this out before this week's show.

February 21 - July 31
The Photo Shoot and Making of "Check The Recipe 2" This is actually could've been two different sections. "The Making of" started in February while "The Photo Shoot" started in the last week of July... but they're intertwined. So there you go.

If you've Liked my Facebook page (and if you haven't, you're really missing out on some (high?) quality quips), you noticed a series of photographs featuring the Sunspot crew and other musicians that promoted my second mixtape. The photo shoot was a lot of fun. It's one thing to put in work to promote your work, but when you're surrounded by friends and family, it really doesn't seem like work at the end of the day. It was also a bonus that I knew the photographer from my previous job and the graphic designer from high school. I can't thank them enough for all their hard work, especially when they had to race against the clock!
If you need photography or videography, hit up KKS Photography.
For graphic design of any kind, Wendy Carmona-Florencio - Illustration & Design.

As far as the making of the actual mixtape, I couldn't possibly fit every detail in one entry, which is why I started this. However, I will say that Check The Recipe 2 was more successful than I ever thought. To everyone who was involved in the making of it: artists, producers, writers, loved ones, fans, affiliates, associates and anyone else that doesn't fit into one of those categories, I say THANK YOU.

August 22
KAYA Lynn Out Loud Talent Show (or as I call it, The LAWL Show) Sunspot staples G. Jonz and The Right Hook assisted KAYA behind the scenes in putting together this 2nd annual showcase. Runna also helped in making the show a huge success as ITM's Step Squad and Dance Team both performed that night. The entire process was something I wouldn't trade. The youth involved were so inspiring and incredibly gifted. During practices, they supported each other and gave helpful tips. The other advisers, Lynda and Lyna, offered great insights to the performers. The pressure was on for many reasons, but once the music hit and the lights were on bright, it was showtime and positive energy overpowered everyone in attendance. New friendships were definitely made that night. KAYA Crew, if you're reading this, thank you for the opportunity. I can not WAIT to do it again!

The good people at LynnHappens.com has the entire show on video. Here's the link: http://lynnhappens.com/?p=5932

I looked at my list at what I wanted to write about. I realized that, while I didn't plan to make this a mini-series of blogs, that's ultimately what this will become. All 3 parts will be done before the new year. And possibly before Sunspot's show this Friday.

Highlights of CTR2, Part 1: Walnut & Mara Bettencourt

Check The Recipe 2 is my latest mixtape which features 18 musical talents from the 781 area and beyond. I'll be giving some background info on two of the people involved in CTR2 in this entry. Sit back and take in some insight on the Recipe.

From left to right: Walnut, G. Jonz and Blak C admiring the beauty of Mara Bettencourt.

Walnut is a veteran in hip-hop culture. For over 20 years, Da Lyrical Geni has solidified in his name in the Boston area as one of the most diverse and conscious lyricists to ever hold a mic. CTR2 isn't the first time that Walnut and Sunspot have crossed paths. Walnut made an appearance in C.Luk's Extradimensional album as well as the critcally-acclaimed short film, "Captain Asian America." G. Jonz and C.Luk also lent a hand in producing two songs ("Next On the Mic" and "You Need to Stop") from Walnut's 2011 release - "Love Is In Your Face." C.Luk performs on "Next On the Mic" along with Big Brotha Sadi and Zullo Crew.

During the calendar year, Walnut hosts a series of Community Building parties where artists of all genres come together and promote positivity, have jam sessions, and generally have a good time. This is how G. Jonz met the vocalist/musican/songwriter Mara Bettencourt.

The Chef brought up the idea of making a second mixtape and explained that he wanted to expand his skills as a producer and delve into pop. Bettencourt agreed to help with this and stated that she wanted a sound that would be reminiscent of a "celestial" dance pop sound. About a week later, the beat was brought to Mara and the aural artist of Azores went to work on creating the lyrics. Soon, Love At First Sight was created and was instrumental (ha.) in leading the pop sound on CTR2. Mara's newest CD is scheduled for release sometime in January 2013.

You can listen to Walnut and Mara and get free downloads right now! Keep checking for updates as I highlight the remaining 16 voices of Check The Recipe 2!

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, this happened:

July 16, 2011 - A Night Out With Sunspot:

Since then, we released The Morning After and now, we're getting ready for the next evolution in G. Jonz production. A new mixtape compilation: Check The Recipe 2.

We're bringing hip-hop. We're bringing R&B. We're bringing pop. We're bringing new material from artists like The Right Hook, Runna, P.O.E.S. and The In$idaz. We're bringing artists that are working with Sunspot for the first time such as Balán Braxton and Mara Bettencourt.
Also, we got surprises... PLENTY OF SURPRISES!!

Tuesday, July 31st is the date - GET READY FOR A HOTTER SUMMER!!

When No One's Looking, I Be Doin Some Thangs...

...like this. GoAnimate.com: CTR2+promo1 by GJonz


Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

For more singles from Check The Recipe 2, click below or click this link and press play! Free downloads too! Tell the WORLD!

Some Music Insight and Reflection

As I prep the finishing touches to Check The Recipe 2, I was listening to songs from the Morning After album. It's always a fun challenge producing songs. This is especially the case with R&B and pop. The artists, writers and producers must pay attention to differing cadences, levels for all singers, finding the right keys for harmonies and layers... It's a lot to juggle.

Let me be clear, this is NOT me complaining about the song-creation process. As challenging as it is to make all the elements work in a song, it's also one of the best parts. When deciding what to add/not to add to a song, certain thoughts float around:

"Will the audience understand the point I'm making when they hear this line?"

"Ooh! I can't wait until they get to THIS point of the song! They're gonna be ROCKIN to that!"

"When [insert a specific person in your audience] hears this, she's never gonna think about Oreos the same way! Ha!"

Creative juices are pumping from the moment the first kick drum is inserted into a project file to make a beat, to the writing, to the recording, all the way to the final listen of the song. It's an adrenaline rush!

Check The Recipe 2 is going to be amazing. I promise you that! A promo vid will be up shortly, but for now, listen to the song that inspired me to write this blog: "Milky Way" from 2011's The Morning After by Runna & Right Hook.