Due to Perform at Java Soulnation Festival 09 .... Atlantic Starr

Atlantic Starr was among the top urban contemporary acts of the '80s and fared well in the adult contemporary market as well, but their roots were '70s soul and funk. The East Coast outfit was formed in White Plains, NY, in 1976 by three brothers: lead singer/guitarist David Lewis, lead singer/keyboardist Wayne Lewis, and trombonist/percussionist Jonathan Lewis. After the Lewis Brothers hired lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth, saxophonist Damon Rentie (who was replaced by Koran Daniels in 1981), bassist Clifford Archer, drummer Porter Carroll, Jr., and percussionist/flutist Joseph Phillips, Atlantic Starr's original nine-person lineup was in place. 

Influenced by '70s funk/soul bands like Earth, Wind & Fire, the Commodores, New Birth, and L.T.D., Atlantic Starr started playing around the northeastern U.S. They had only been together for about two years when they signed with A&M and started working with Bobby Eli, a well-respected producer/songwriter from Philadelphia. Produced by Eli in 1978, Atlantic Starr's self-titled debut album wasn't a mega-platinum blockbuster but did reasonably well and contained the funk hit "Stand Up" (which made it to number 16 on Billboard's R&B singles chart). Eli went on to produce the band's second album, Straight to the Point; while that 1979 release did OK, A&M knew that Atlantic Starr could be bigger. So in 1981, the band changed producers and enlisted James Carmichael for their third album, Radiance. It was a wise move; Radiance and its hit single "When Love Calls" established Atlantic Starr as a supergroup in the R&B market. It was on Radiance that the charismatic Bryant (who was featured on "When Love Calls") really blossomed as a singer and her lead vocals played a major role in the band's success. Carmichael went on to produce 1982's "Brilliance" (which contained the number two R&B single "Circles") and 1983's Yours Forever; the latter includes "Touch a Four Leaf Clover," another major hit featuring Bryant. 

Although Bryant was never Atlantic Starr's only lead singer -- Wayne and David Lewis also provided their share of lead vocals -- she was a major asset. So it came as quite a disappointment when she left Atlantic Starr in 1984 to pursue a solo career. But all was not lost. The talented Barbara Weathers was hired as a replacement and 1985's As the Band Turns -- Atlantic Starr's first post-Bryant album and sixth album overall -- found the outfit unveiling a smaller lineup that consisted of Weathers, the Lewis Brothers, and Phillips. Sudderth, Daniels, Archer, and Carroll were all gone, but despite those personnel changes, Atlantic Starr was still distinctive and recognizable. As the Band Turns, which contained the major hit "Secret Lovers," turned out to be Atlantic Starr's last album for A&M; in 1987, they moved to Warner Bros. and fared well with the album All in the Name of Love and the smash hit "Always." A syrupy adult contemporary ballad, "Always" reflected the Lewis Brothers' desire to have the type of crossover success that Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie had been enjoying in the '80s; they got their wish when "Always" soared to number one on both the pop and R&B charts. 

After All in the Name of Love, Weathers left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Porscha Martin, who was featured on 1988's We're Movin' Up. Martin was around for a few years before being replaced by Rachel Oliver (Atlantic Starr's fourth female vocalist) in the early '90s. Atlantic Starr's relationship with Warner Bros. ended after 1991's Love Crazy, and in 1994, the band recorded one album for Arista: Time. That album was a commercial disappointment and the single "I'll Remember You" only made it to the fifties on Billboard's R&B and pop singles charts. Time (which was David Lewis' last album with the band) found a fifth female singer, Aisha Tanner, replacing Oliver. And when 1999's Legacy was distributed by the small, independent Street Solid label, Atlantic Starr unveiled yet another lineup -- one that consisted of two Lewis Brothers (Wayne and Jonathan) as well as Oliver (who had returned and replaced Tanner) and a new male singer named DeWayne Woods. Although Legacy received very little attention, Atlantic Starr hung in there and was still performing for die-hard fans when the 21st century arrived.

Atlantic Starr will perform at Axis Jakarta International Java Soulnation Festival 2009 on 31 October

Check out their Youtube video HERE

Due to Perform at Java Soulnation Festival 09 .... DMC

Darryl McDaniels or "DMC" as most of the world knows him, first made his start in the music business as one third of the groundbreaking rap group Run-DMC and quickly became the most popular in terms of fans and influence. He has been in the public eye for the past 20 years, since forming the now legendary, defunct group, RUN-D.M.C with Joseph (Rev. Run) Simmons and the late, great Jason (Jam Master Jay) Mizell. Also one of the founding members of this multi-platinum music group, selling over 30 million singles and albums worldwide, it would be hard to overstate his influence on popular culture. He helped transform Rap and Hip Hop into the most popular music in the world, while building a fan base that rivals the biggest acts in Rock 'n' Roll. 

As the first and greatest of Hip Hop's superstars, Run-DMC succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams - their own included - by embodying for the world endlessly creative subculture of young black New York. They were the first rappers to earn a gold album, the first to earn a platinum album, the first to go multi-platinum, the first to have their videos played on MTV, the first to appear on American Bandstand and Saturday Night Live, and the first rap band to grace the cover of Rolling Stone and Spin. 

DMC has recently added another list of firsts to his life - his first book entitled "King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility and My Life with Run-DMC" (St. Martins). The book, written by DMC with Bruce Haring with the forward by rapper/actor Will Smith, offers a flavored tale of his rise within the music business while stressing the importance of respect and responsibility in today's society. It has received rave reviews nationwide. Entertainment weekly called it "strangely compelling, bravely honest... plenty of entertaining anecdotes about life back in the day to keep you turning the pages. Like Will Smith, McDaniels is a born charmer." Publisher's Weekly says the book is "hard hitting yet sensitive... he (McDaniiels) argues astutely that 'very few of the rappers will admit they're creating a fictional character,' and thereby create problems for themselves." 

In addition to the new book, DMC released his own musical project entitled Checks, Thugs, Rock-N-Roll.

DMC will perform at Axis Jakarta International Java Soulnation Festival 2009 on 31 October

His Myspace

His Website

Check out his Youtube Video HERE

Due to Perform at Java Soulnation Festival 09 .... T-Five

T-Five is one of Indonesian RnB group that was formed in 1999. T-Five are   Andi Rustandi  a.k.a. And One (Piano/Keyboard), Aswin Anshari a.k.a. Ice Win (Synthesizer/Keyboard), Tabriz Muhajier E.M.S a.k.a. Tabriz (Guitar), Paul Arnold a.k.a. P.A. (Vocal/Soprano), Gordon Abraham a.k.a. Gordy (Vocal/Tenor),  Christian Marcus Nino a.k.a. N9NE-O (Vocal/Baritone – Rapp). 

On the 20^th July of 2008 T-Five reached his 9^th anniversary and with the new formation T-Five doesn’t stop making hits, but continue to give contribution to Indonesian music industries.

  On their newest album “The Legacy” there are several hit singles. One of them is called “MENDUA”; this song is based on a true event from one of T-Five members. The song is about: triangle love phenomena and packed neatly with an R&B flavor. “MENDUA” is a continuation from T-Five’s single “TAK AKAN HILANG” which has been released also by Twister Five Entertainment on the early of July 2008. T-Five’s 4^th album The Legacy already distributed on your favorite music stores around Indonesia region from February 2009. T-Five’s R&B/Hip Hop genre indicates that T-Five still exist on that, and this fact is already known from the year 2001; the year when T-Five release their first album.

This 4^th album is a remedi to cure the yearning of T-Five’rs around the globe, as we all know almost 2 years (from 2006 to 2008) T-Five haven’t been productive. T-Five’s live performace concept aslo hasn’t changed, still filled with awesome performance, still filled with beautiful harmonized vocal, and all of that is dedicated to their loyal fans around the globe (T-Five’rs).

T-Five will perform at Axis Jakarta International Java Soulnation Festival 2009 on 30 October

Their Myspace

Check out their Youtube video HERE

 

The "SOULNATION 2" CD is Coming Your Way

Wait, the fun does not stop there. We have a special promo offer which combines the double delight of owning this awesome CD and attending an equally awesome event, Axis Jakarta International Java Soulnation Festival 2009. The offer is as follows:

- a 10 percent discount to Daily Pass price

- a special price of Rp 55,000 for the "Soulnation 2" CD

om.

This offer will be available soon through the Java Soulnation Festival's website www.javasoulnation.com

Note: the "Soulnation 2" CD you purchase will be able for collection at the Universal Music Indonesia's booth during the Festival.

Due to Perform at Java Soulnation Festival 09 .... DJ Spooky

While prolific and highly regarded as a writer and conceptual artist, Paul D. Miller is probably most well known under the moniker of his "constructed persona as "DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid". Miller has remixed and recorded with a panoply of artists ranging from Metallica to Steve Reich to Killah Priest, and has performed in a uniquely wide variety of situations throughout the world. His latest CD - a compilation of classic reggage tracks - is In Fine Style, DJ Spooky Presents 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!!! Other recent releases are Drums of Death, with Dave Lombardo of Slayer and Chuck D. of Public Enemy; the groundbreaking Optometry (Thirsty Ear Records); and Millers award-winning book Rhythm Science (MIT Press). He is currently touring the world with his multimedia/film/performance piece DJ Spookys Rebirth of A Nation. 

DJ Spooky will perform at Axis Jakarta International Java Soulnation Festival 2009 on 30 and 31 October

His Myspace

His Website

Check out his Youtube video HERE