Marcus “Ritmo” Figueroa – Origins

Published

5 years ago

April 23, 2019

Southern California musician Ritmo ‘speaks’ with his guitar through instrumental album ‘Affectivity’

LOS ANGELES, CA – A magical thing happened when Marcus “Ritmo” Figueroa first picked up the guitar. As a child, he was always a fan of music and felt a burning ambition for something more. When he was given a guitar and found a natural ability to make music, it was like he had discovered his purpose in life.

Fast-forward about 15 years and Ritmo is living in Los Angeles, California where he writes and creates music for films and television. Often working as a session guitarist for other artists throughout Southern California – something he loves to do – he spends most of his time using his unique gifts, talents and abilities to meld music with film. Most recently, he had the opportunity to write the score on a forthcoming film called “On His Own” and he’s anxious to find the next big project on which to showcase his skills as a composer.

“My goal is to basically be able to compose for TV and film for the rest of my life,” he said. “Every song I compose, I want people to get a feeling of the emotion when I play my guitar. I really get lost in that, and my goal is to let the audience paint their own pictures to my music.”

Ritmo – which means “rhythm” in Spanish – said he has always loved instrumentalists who could go beyond merely playing the music written on the sheet and into developing a sound that is definitively signature and unique. He points to world-renowned guitarist David Gilmour as inspiration and said the same way Gilmour “speaks with his guitar” is the same way he hopes to use his music to connect with people.

“That’s what I’m trying to accomplish too,” he said. “People can definitely pick my music out from the crowd now, and I hold that dear. I have that one-of-a-kind signature sound which most people would probably say is chill or vibey or ambient.”

That signature sound is put on full display with a new album set to drop April 28. Called “Affectivity,” the album is one that Ritmo intends to elicit an emotional reaction from the listener.

“That’s why I personally make music, to make sure my instrumentals connect with an audience on an extremely emotional level,” he said. “I want to truly connect. I want to have someone have a reaction from it, whether that’s good or bad. I definitely make music that will cater to both extremes of emotions. But mostly, I’m touching the masses with my music and helping them feel how I felt when I was making it. That’s why a lot of people describe what I do as atmospheric or ambient.”

In addition to making music for films and TV and in between serving as a session guitarist for other artists, Ritmo said he loves working with the hip-hop community and hopes that he can collaborate with more artists within that genre going forward. He said he has also opened for a number of bands throughout Southern California and is planning to have some live performances throughout the summer.

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

https://www.instagram.com/therealritmo/
https://twitter.com/terealrithmo
https://soundcloud.com/mritmo
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2d5uOMJoIeuGCaBT7rPG6D?si=Ow_bkKJISdGCwyawAqIuBw

Music

(Video) KING FAME – Goin thru it

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2024

Welsh

Buffalo’s own rising star, King Fame, sets the music scene ablaze once again with the release of his latest visual spectacle, “Goin Thru It.” Shot on location in the heart of Buffalo.

With his signature blend of his raw delivery and poetic lyricism, King Fame invites listeners to join him on a journey of his pathway.

Turn the volume up as ” King Fame 👑delivers powerful bars like this one, “The ones that wish you blessings, be the ones that curse you,” viewers are captivated by the raw honesty and lyricism.

Tap in with King 👑 Fame via
Facebook : Stmb Fame
&
Instagram @Stmb_kingfame

Music

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

Published

7 days 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

7 days 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.