Jason Kraack – Turn Around

Published

3 years ago

January 4, 2021

Veteran performer Jason Kraack set to drop timely album ‘Turn Around’ in December

GREENSBORO, NC – Sometimes the greatest art comes from times of great adversity. For Jason Kraack, 2020 has been one of the most adverse times of his life. Like many others who faced a job loss, Kraack wasn’t sure what to do with the uncertainty he was facing earlier in the year. Having taught music to college students for many years and performed in professional theater for more than 15 years, one of the things he’d always wanted to do was create an album of his own. So while 2020 was filled with anxiety, it also presented him with an opportunity to chase his dream. The end result is the 10-song album “Turn Around.”

With a sound that could be described as experimental in some ways, “Turn Around” features a unique blend of progressive sounds and classic styles that also take a cue from some of Kraack’s biggest influences from Billy Joel to Thom Yorke from Radiohead. All of the songs on the album were written, performed, recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by him, and feature a bevy of instruments all played by him – including piano, guitar, bass, drums, sequencing and more.

“It’s kind of like a journey through the last year that we all shared,” Kraack said of the album. “It starts out with a little bit of self-reflection and then goes down a rabbit hole of sadness and longing born from the fear of losing people you love and this kind of new reality in which we live. It can be pretty terrifying, scary and unsettling, and this album explores what we’re all dealing with and the fact that it’s necessary. We have to analyze ourselves during this time and get better in the process. The last track on the album is also called ‘Turn Around,’ and it’s a story about a time that all the sadness and frustration we’re feeling can just disappear if we change our point of view. It is meant to help people realize this.”

Kraack said the idea for the album is something that’s been rattling around in his brain for many years, but the true inspiration came organically while spending a month-and-a-half in Florida writing and recording.

“I had this mojo going before I left for Florida, but when I got there, it just fell flat,” he said. “I couldn’t get anything going and it was gray and shitty down there that day. I decided to go for a drive and eventually when I stopped and got out of my car, I turned around and saw something totally different. The sky was beautiful and I heard the song in my head in a flash. I hurried back to the studio and laid it down in an instant. It was like no other experience I’ve ever had, and the rest of the album flowed from that session.”

The debut single from the project is a song called “Turn/Burn It Down” which is currently available across all streaming platforms. It’s the third track on the album and features a funky groove with a catchy hook. Kraack said the lyrics are topical to what’s going on today and encourages people to take a step back from all the animosity.

“If we don’t turn down the heat that’s happening, we’re going to burn down this really fantastic, beautiful thing that we have,” he said. “We can’t continue to talk at each other. We have to talk to each other. I want to be able to make music that’s accessible to people in their individual lives, and at the end of the day, I hope I can be considered as an honest songwriter. I want people to listen to this album and hear stories that they can latch on and relate to.”

The second release, the second track from the album, is titled I’ll Pay and is about the frustration that can be felt before admitting fault. “No one wants it to be their own fault when things aren’t working out,” said Kraack, “but sometimes it is.” The song is currently available across all streaming platforms.

The third single release from the album and the title track, “Turn Around” is now available on streaming platforms.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2EiROY3ijg]

To listen to Jason Kraack’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=wKGoUH9VbG4&feature=share

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdoRBtX8RbtYsS-zZIqL_Q

https://www.facebook.com/jason.kraack/

https://www.instagram.com/jasonkraack/ 

https://jasonkraack.bandcamp.com

Music

(Video) MUMU FRESH – “MY WHY” @maimounayoussef

Published

20 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Welsh

Grammy-nominated Washington, D.C.-based singer/songwriter/emcee Mumu Fresh presents her new single “My Why”. Produced by Carvin Haggins and Johhny Smith, “My Why” will appear on The Healing, Mumu’s forthcoming album which will also feature contributions from DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nile Hargrove, 14KT, Daniel Crawford, Vidal Davis, DJ Dummy and more. Mumu has collaborated with Lil Wayne & Tech N9ne (stream “Too Good”), Busta Rhymes, Salaam Remi & Black Thought of The Roots (watch the music video for “No Peace”) and Common (watch Mumu Fresh and Common perform “I Used To Love H.E.R.” live) and Tobi Nwigwe (watch the music video for “Tundah Fiyah”). Mumu has performed on two separate NPR Tiny Desk concerts (watch Mumu Fresh featuring Black Thought of The Roots & DJ Dummy on NPR’s Tiny Desk) and has performed worldwide at events like the Essence Music Festival, Montreux Switzerland’s Jazz Festival and Dubai’s Sole Fest DBX. “State of Emergency” marks another chapter in a career of self-described “art activism” for the Baltimore native who has performed and given lectures within the US prison system, The Congressional Black Caucus, I.M.A.N. Central in Chicago & Atlanta, The W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation and The Indigenous People’s Movement. Mumu is co-creator of the Recording Academy’s “Best Song For Social Change” trustee award which went live in 2023 at the 66th GRAMMY awards show and was presented by The First Lady, Jill Biden. The winner of Indigenous Music, Washington Area Music (WAMMIE) and Urban World Music Video awards, Mumu has served as Musical and Cultural Ambassador for the US State Department, Ambassador of The Black Music Collective and is a former elected governor of the DC chapter of The Recording Academy. Mumu describes “My Why” as “a tribute to that person(s), place, or thing in your life that is your “WHY”. Your reason not to give up. Your reason to keep trying and to push a little harder than you thought you could. You why reminds you of what you’re made of and brings out the best in you.” The Healing drops April 19.

Music

Santa Sallet X Nemizzo (MSP) – “Big Hands”

Published

21 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Welsh

DMV-based rapper/producer Santa Sallet and France-based producer Nemizzo are MSP, presenting their new single “Big Hands”. Sallet has been busy showcasing his brand of East Coast braggadocious rap across a slew of recent singles like “Camouflage” (watch on Youtube), “I Get Money” (watch on Youtube), “Championship Ring” (watch on Youtube) and “Chinese Funk” (watch on Youtube) in preparation for the release of Plutography, Sallet’s forthcoming album which blends salsa beats, southern trap, and eastern jazz with classic and conventional rap samples, reflecting Sallet’s international upbringing across South Africa, Dominica and the US. Sallet is planning a series of full-length releases, among them C.R.E.A.M. which recounts his journey from broke to financially free, and Women and R.A.P. which describe his pursuit of success in relationships and the music industry respectively. “This is the song that really started MSP Tunes,” Santa says. “Nemizzo had laid down his verse and I was like, let me try something on this and I just talked about what I knew. What I think is funny, the outro is actually me recording a bunch of potential beat tags. There was a miscommunication and Nemizzo extended the beat and made it the outro. I like it though lol.” Check out Santa Sallet merch here.

EP

(EP) 38 Hauncho – “First 38”

Published

1 month ago

April 10, 2024

Welsh

In a momentous stride forward, rising rap sensation 38 Hauncho has unveiled his latest EP, “First 38”, a bold testament to his unparalleled artistry and unyielding dedication to his craft. After spending the last 8 months incarcerated, 38 Hauncho came home and got straight to work. Within the first 38 hours of being released, these songs were created. Hence the title, First 38.

Crafted with precision and passion, “First 38” serves as a placeholder for his highly anticipated next project featuring his single “Smooth Nigga” and “Alter Ego”. The EP encapsulates his distinctive style, blending infectious beats with reflection of 38 Hauncho’s journey, drawing from his personal experiences and aspirations.

Featuring a dynamic fusion of tracks, each song within “First 38” showcases 38 Hauncho’s versatility as an artist, effortlessly navigating through various themes and emotions. From his gritty street narratives , the EP offers a multifaceted glimpse into the artist’s world, inviting audiences to immerse themselves into his trap.

Available now on all major streaming platforms, “First 38” is set to make waves across the industry, solidifying 38 Hauncho’s position as an artist to watch in 2024 and beyond.