October Spotlight

spot·light   noun \ˈspät-ˌlīt\  : a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage

OCTOBER

Week.01

• Well, it looks like October is going to a South Rakkas month, folks!  D-Rakkas and T.Power are currently working on an EP with RDX, who are touted as Jamaica's most creative dancehall duo.  If you'd like a taste of RDX's style, check out some of their riddims on YouTube.  "Dancers Anthem" is but one of their many tracks that showcases their gritty, yet dynamic dancehall vocals style.
• 3 RDX tracks are currently on the go, as well as a T.Power Remix for one their tracks.
• The feedback: "Go Hard or Go Home", which is the first track that T.Power was involved in, is tearing up the airwaves in Jamaica!
• Sit tight: All other Drum and Bass projects, such as the Remix for Archie Cooper's "Mercy" and T.Power's "Mr. Royal" track will fired up again shortly. 

Upcoming DJ Mag Article

Almost a decade after the release of "Shake Ur Body" by then partners, Shy FX and T.Power, the Drum and Bass track is still touted as one the biggest Drum and Bass hits of its era.

Here's a preview of the upcoming article by Carl Loben for DJ Mag that will be available in hard copy and online at DJMag.com.

September Spotlight

 spot·light   noun \ˈspät-ˌlīt\  : a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage

  

SEPTEMBER

Week.01

• Did someone say Drum and Bass and T.Power in the same sentence? 
  Spread the word and you can download T.Power's latest Drum and Bass track from the MUSiC4LiF3 album for FREE - "Just Like An Angel"
• Glitch Hop anyone? 
  Archie Cooper's Capricious Heart Mix of "Just Like An Angel" is nothing short of...well, fantastic. 
• Vaudeville meets microtonal Drum and Bass? 
  Check out T.Power's new Remix for Studio Rockers - "JazZstePpa" Featuring Jessi Lee Burn - I-doser

Week.02

• South Rakkas Mixdowns for the following artists:  RDX, Mercci and Ryo
• "Gangsta Revival Remix" Mixdown for Mat the Alien
• Glitch-House Remix of South Rakkas and RDX track "Go Hard or Go Home"
• FREE download of new T.Power's Drum and Bass track "Just Like An Angel" made available on SoundCloud

Week.03

• Upcoming Article in DJ Mag by Carl Loben:
  "Game Changers - Seminal Tracks That Altered Dance Forever:
  Shake Ur Body" by Shy FX and T.Power 
• More Drum and Bass anyone?  "BLCK BRD", the follow-up to T.Power's track "Just Like An Angel", will be available shortly
• A Drum and Bass Remix for Archie Cooper's "Mercy" track will begin this week.  Watch for it!

The Spotlight

spot·light   noun \ˈspät-ˌlīt\  : a projected spot of light used to illuminate brilliantly a person, object, or group on a stage

  

You know he's back.  You can tell by his Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud accounts that he's up to something, but what else has he got up his sleeve?

Every month, the "Spotlight" will feature TPower's most current activities in the form of weekly bulletins.

Updates will include the latest news on:

• TPower's new album, MUSiC4LiF3 and available track previews;
• Adastra Recordings;
• The South Rakkas Project;
• Current collaborations and remixes; 
• Available free downloads; and
• News on up and coming projects. 

Keep your ear to the ground and your eye on the "Spotlight".

Adastra Recordings

If you want to know all about Adastra Recordings, you might want to brush up on your Latin. “Ad astra” is a Latin phrase meaning “to the stars”, but unless you’re a songwriter for Broadway musicals, “to the stars” just doesn’t cut it if you’re known for unfathomable basslines and abstract melodies.

Adastra Recordings is the most obvious step forward for a music producer like TPower who, after more than twenty years of defining and redefining his craft, continues to indulge in the relentless pursuit of the purity of tone and the injection of science into sound that’s extrinsic to the creative process itself.

In essence, there's a much deeper understanding of music going on here and an immense feeling of reverence for the artistic methodologies from which music is born. It is TPower’s continuous exploration of the humanization of the electronic process and the seemingly effortless translation of waveforms into an orchestration of sounds that are relatable and communicable that characterizes the bulk of his extensive collection of work.

Most TPower fans describe his past works as “progressive” or “experimental”. Fair enough. Those are the best adjectives for describing a style of music that doesn’t quite fit into “button-down” labels or categories. By no means has this been an intentional digression from “mainstream” or “popular” music on the part of TPower, but rather a candid and somewhat naive curiosity for exploring the boundaries of music and unlocking caged frequencies that are capable of stirring untapped human emotions.

When asked to describe the underlying intention behind the creation of Adastra Recordings, TPower replies, “It’s about being grounded in what TPower was originally about. It’s about going back…but with new nomenclature, new mathematical expressions for music and understanding what’s possible with sound and harmonic theory…and taking the timing and pitch off the grid. It’s about orchestrating waveforms so that they’re emotionally all-encompassing. It’s about workflow and music production based on judgment rather than luck. Most importantly though, Adastra Recordings is about separating art from product.”

Fundamentally, the creation of Adastra Recordings is proof that TPower is coming home, except this time he has a new set of master keys. 

But don't be mistaken.  TPower won't be relying on his past accomplishments to stake his ground as a reputable and well-respected music producer.  Adastra Recordings marks the evolution of TPower as a musician, composer, producer and most importantly, as an artist.  

"When I look back at what I've done musically, I know that there were holes in my production...I can honestly say that the success of Self Evident Truth of an Intuitive Mind and Waveform was based more on luck than actual judgment and process.  I knew it back then and I know it now, and the difference being that I now have the tools and knowledge to bring my production to a higher level of sophistication and refinement, probably the highest I've ever been able to work with...and now that I'm beginning to understand and actually apply the intricacies of sound and harmonic theory, the possibilities are endless.  For the first time in my life, I can hum a melody in my head and transcribe it note for note.  I wasn't able to do that before because the notes in my head are not part of the equal tempered scale."


For the fans who have patiently waited for a follow-up album to either one of these TPower classics, it likely won't happen.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that a new TPower album is now in the works.  MUSiC4LiF3 has two main intentions: to remind fans as to why they waited in the first place and to reassure them that their wait was well worthwhile. You could even throw in a third intention and say that TPower has never been a fan of complacency.  After all, the evolution of a true artist necessitates the ability to adapt and change for the sake of preserving one's artform.  And evolution often results in "longevity" and this is exactly what TPower is after.

Adastra Recordings welcomes you to the new era of the TPower sound.

It's Time

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON GENIUSKILLS

Due to differences in artistic development and creative intent, I would like to formally announce that Mr. Sofalumpkins is no longer a part of the Geniuskills record label and all projects associated with Geniuskills as of April 2011.

Though the decision was not an easy one, I firmly believe that preserving the integrity of my work, which consists of over two decades worth of music production, was and will always be of greater personal significance than any creative investment in a project that does not represent an authentic commitment to an artistic vision, solid work ethic and high level of production standards.

All music production under my authorship during my time with Geniuskills remains the intellectual property of Marc Royal.

In appreciation of all the great support I received as an artist during my time with Geniuskills, I'll be uploading a selection of completed, full-length Mr. Sofalumpkins tracks as complimentary high-quality MP3 downloads via the Sofalumpkins SoundCloud account within the course of a year.  All new uploads will be announced on the Mr. Sofalumpkins Musician/Band page on Facebook and all future Sofalumpkins releases will be available as time permits.

Although I have mixed and mastered the track titled, "Same Thang", this particular release is the intellectual property of MC Emotionz (Dave Nelson).  As such, it will not be available for download.

In addition, the four tracks titled "Free from Sin", "Smith and Wesson", "Stonecold Party" and "The Nebulizer" that I have produced, mixed and mastered will remain the intellectual property of the Geniuskills label.

On a more positive note, I have since moved onto new and exciting projects, including a collaborative partnership with Dennis "D-Rakkas" Shaw.  I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with him on all future South Rakkas projects and look forward to sharing this creative venture with all of you.

I have also designated my new record label, Adastra Recordings, as the home of all future TPower releases.

All other up and coming projects of which I am a part of will be announced within this year.

- Marc Royal