Originally from Dominica, grew up there and spent rest of life and residing in Atlanta now- HESTON is truly a well-rounded artist.  Songwriter, Musician, Artist, Producer, Arranger and Father.   Talk about a multitude of talents and now– the public- YOU - finally can hear his creation.
His debut album - a collection of gorgeously moving and vivid picturesque songs that take you on a journey of pain, compassion, love, spiritual, heartbreak, desires, confusion, darkness, struggle and a ton of other emotional rides.

‘Storyteller’ is Heston’s long and endured creative baby.

Heston

Also- we’re doing a special CD exclusive sale with SOULTRACKS CD of the month.

Please click there and support… Be one of the first folks to have an autographed copy of Heston’s  dynamic

‘Storyteller’.

Big shouts to Soultracks and Music Choice this month!

Also- listening party for Heston at SUTRA on Wednesday, July 16th- LA’s  ‘Strictly Social’ - cutting edge soul music monthly coming to NY for 1 night only….

There’s a nice interview w/ me and my company The Bloom Effect.  Check it out.

http://www.themarksmen.net

Let me know what you think.

I got hip to this cool website a couple years back through Gabe Tolliver and Kimson and then Guy Routte who is a long time friend and then… My girl Maya Azucena was hosting the Monday nights and part of this production crew- - The Marksmen so I kept hearing the name- went to a few events– met Justine and low and behold….I started bringing my artists through.

I brought over Portuguese MC  Sam The Kid which went over really well.   Then we did Heston and Rahbi- that was highly entertaining and memorable.   Then hooked up Kissey Asplund who I started working with and now up coming is Bay Area, Cali’s  Jennifer Johns on June 23rd.

Was just there recently for Maya’s official CD Mix called  ‘Taste This’.    So frankly  - I love Monday nights at Tillman’s Lounge and got to big up my girl Justine Masters.

The other ironic thing about Tillman’s - an old dear acquaintance from my ATL days -  SAMIR has worked there since it opened…Small world.

See you on the 23rd!

So I left ‘The Upstairs’ a little early last night as I had my artist April Hill performing at SOL VILLAGE.   The place was packed.  Lots of anticipation for the really strong line up of artists.   Initially I didn’t want April going on first - but….The crowd was thick and ready for the first act to embrace as Eric Roberson at this point was freestyling and entertaining the crowd.   Opportune time for April to hit the stage- as the audience was engaged and eager.   I loved the intro- how Eric called April to the stage- it was a beautiful entertaining beginning of a very exciting show — in other words-  APRIL ROCKED it!   She performed 3 songs.  ‘The Search’,  ‘Manipulation’ which the crowd was chanting to and a  house remix version of ‘Wanna Be Free‘.   People went crazy!

http://www.aprilhill.com

Up next was MANCHILDBLACK who is always effervescent and high energy live.  Very entertaining…

The third act was very talented but quite honestly- wasn’t the right fit for the night—  the crowd thinned out a bit.  It was an acoustic almost Tracy Chapman/Corinne Bailey Rae vibe which is excellent but not suited after April Hill, Eric’s intro’s and Manchild-   Her name - MICHOU.   It’s normally each artist showcases 3 songs.  I think Michou must have done 6 at least.   A few minutes in to her last couple songs- we saw picket signs/poster boards being walked through the venue with the words   ‘ TL CROSS FOR PRESIDENT’.

Well- I must say– the crowd was thick again- packed- lots of ladies– it’s obvious that TL Cross has a huge fanbase of very pretty girls- well- watching TL perform- you’ll understand why.  He brought it back— to the 80’s- the hit covers and the audience went wild!  Lots of camera phones in the air.   He of course performed his own hits.  T.L has been on the scene a few years now so he’s no stranger to the industry or spotlight… With his dark shades and hat-  he looked very mysterious but even covered up- he lets you in and is very endearing.

It’s always tough for a last act to go on because audiences lose attention after a while.   Madafi who is fabulous- I discovered her when MC’ing the Nu-Soul Series at Frank’s Lounge.   She performed 2 songs– had a great attitude even whilst realizing that 3/4 of the room emptied out.

I encourage you all to check out Madafi.  She’s an amazing force of talent.

http://www.myspace.com/madafi

Special shouts to Jube who hooked it up as always and to the wonderful Eric Roberson.  Shouts to Alex D for pushing April’s name.

I met Rubytech in Barbados on my last trip!

His hit song  ‘REASONS’ is featured on Allhiphop.com

Check it out and leave a comment!

http://www.myspace.com/rubytech

http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__music/archive/2008/06/10/20076472.aspx

This weekly party is seriously becoming one of the hottest after work mid-week parties in the City.  For sure!!!

If you haven’t come through by now- you are really missing out.   Well, guess you won’t be missing too much out if you come this Wednesday.

This Wednesday will also be the book toast for Thembisa Mshaka’s  ‘Handle Your  (Entertainment) Business’.

Her book is finally a reality and will be out in The Spring ‘09.     All the subjects for her book, the agent and publisher will all be in the house.   I’m also a part of the toast as I’m featured in the book too.

Sagatiba signature cocktails.  Light fare from Chop Suey and the music is banging!   MONI and DHUNDEE on the decks!

6PM-11PM - every Wednesday night.

It’s a gorgeous Springtime day indeed!

Except- the allergies are kicking in and the pollen is so high-  as I sit here sniffling and talking through my noise and my head feels light- oh boy  but that doesn’t stop a girl like me from going out.  Hell no!

I’m off to ‘The Upstairs’ at The Renaissance Hotel Times Square.  The classy hotel lounge/bar and restaurant - very swanky and it’s great to entertain your clients or take a meeting or impress someone.

Sagatiba Brazilian White Spirit signature cocktails all night- and light fare from Chop Suey.

Musical treats provided by MONI and DHUNDEE- my favorite pairing.  Come out and you’ll see why.

Last week we kicked it off- April 30th and it was jumping from beginning till end.

Let’s keep it up….It’s a residency- 10 weeks– if it does well and they decide to extend it– we’ll all be happy!!

This weekend I’m in Atlanta for The Bob Marley Tribute at Sugar Hill- Saturday, May 10th that HESTON and Julie Dexter are performing on and the 500 Songs for Kids that April Hill is on May 9th at Smith’s Olde Bar.

Monday, May 12th although I won’t be here-  is  the wonderful Maya Azucena who’s just back from S.Asia on a mission tour of all the Countries there with some incredible experiences to share.

She’s performing at The Blue Note.

She also has a mixtape dropping May 15th exclusively through Allhiphop and then available to rest of world a week later–  ‘Taste This’ is the name of it and Amore of Fat Beats acclaim mixed it.

Listen to it- love it…You’ll even hear a familar voice- a crazy British chick with a drop on the mixtape- that be me…

Canadian singer/songwriter  Kate Schutt is in Philadelphia this weekend for Mother’s Day Brunch at World Cafe Live

1-3PM-

http://www.kateschutt.com

Have fun-  embrace life-  Enjoy!!!

Must be all the work with Sam The Kid.  All that outreach and Sam made such an impact over in the States- his first trip here and NY- obviously it made a difference in Portugal and other artists and industry over there are checking for my work- very exciting.

So Sam– STK– bring me some more Hip Hop acts from Portugal.

Sam produces a lot of the talent over there as well as being a  talented lyricist/writer.   When asked - which does he prefer– Production or being on the Mic- on stage and spitting rhymes!   He said ‘Being an MC’.   He’ll never not have anything to say.

Sam is keeping busy- on the road- performing at big festivals this Summer as well as The Diversidad Experience project that will come together in Vienna in mid-June.  All the MC’s from around Europe will come together and perform this theme song that was recorded in Paris end of March.  They shot a video too.

http://www.myspace.com/samthekid

I am now very interested in Buraka Sound System.  I first heard of them at MIDEM in January when my friend Pedro Perriera told me about them.  I come to find out that Ines Valdez who manages Sam The Kid also represents Buraka-  small world!

Sam The Kid recorded live from JSM Studios will broadcast on Woozyfly on May 20th- world-wide.

http://www.woozyfly.com

Also- Sam The Kid featured on Allhiphop.

log on and leave a comment.

http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__music/archive/2008/05/05/19794852.aspx

People are wide open in  U.S hungry for something different from the usual hip hop fodder.    We’ll be seeing and hearing more on the Global Hip Hop tip so stay tuned.  It’s an open forum!!!

This past Wednesday- April 30th was the kick off to a new weekly residency at The Renaissance Hotel Times Square.  ‘ The Upstairs’.

An after work- kick back hang out and chill listening to great musical vibes, interacting with beautiful and friendly people in a gorgeous atmosphere.    The interiour lounge/bar and design is breathtaking.

We had signature cocktails by  Sagatiba Cachaça.  This is every Wednesday.   Milk Honey designed the cocktail list.

Light fare from the restaurant Chop Suey-    Chop Suey has one of the best views in Times Square.  Come over and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Musical treats provided by the wonderful chemistry/synergy of Dhundee and Moni.   People were going crazy with the musical selections this past Wednesday.  Dancing, vibing and heads bopping all night.

The place was packed.

Shouts to Soul Commune, Ubiquita and Fusicology for spreading the word and the love and of course as always your support.

To Human Photography for coming through on the last minute.

Hoping he’s our resident event flicker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/humanphotography/sets/72157604826526784/show/

Everyone from MTV, Spike TV, The U.N, BET on -air crew, Media Bistro, The Hilton, McCann Erickson,  Rhapsody, The Orchard, ADA, SESAC,  Bill Bragin, lots of DJ’s including OP, Carol C, Geology, DJ Parler, Michael Adasco, Kind B and others.

We had actors, MC’s including Pharoahe Monch,  Manchildblack, Filmmakers, fashion designers, bloggers, photographers and trend setters.  Davey D was even in the house!

Words can’t describe how beautiful this first time event was and that it’s shaping the way The Renaissance does business going forward and the overall experience and re-branding.  A cultural make-over-   The heads of Marriott were there taking notice- making observations.  Fingers crossed we keep it up– build the momentum even more and keep bringing new people- making introductions and increasing bar/restaurant business.

So that’s just an idea who came through last week.  So don’t miss out- don’t get left behind-  join the party!   You won’t be sorry.

You’ll love it!!

It’s Ebenezer’s birthday- May 7th-  of World Up and it’s Aiko Tanaka’s birthday 2 days later.   More reasons to celebrate.

See you there!!