Interview with Rizzo Avery

Rizzo Avery: LoveHurtPain Mixtape

I've had the pleasure of actually chatting with Rizzo on more than one occasion. He's a down-to-earth artist with a dream to succeed. Who remembers my first interview with John Paul? Well, it was he who introduced me to Rizzo. I had NO CLUE who this guy was; I received a link to his Sound Cloud account through this group chat on Facebook...I am always open for new music, but I was HOOKED with the first song..."I Promise You". I was determined to get an interview with this guy so, of course, me being who I am I asked and he obliged. Don't know who Rizzo Avery is? Well, you will after this!

With a preference for Neo Soul and singing since the age of 3, Rizzo's not just a recording artist but he's also a songwriter. With musical influences from individuals like Lauryn Hill, J. Cole, Cyhi the Prince, Big KRIT, and more, Rizzo describes himself as "unique". I couldn't agree more.

After speaking with Rizzo, I gathered that he's not like any other artist I've encountered. He's more driven and his ambition is impeccable. I asked Rizzo about his philosophy in reference to his music and this is what he had to say:

"It is important that when I write and perform to remember who I am and the position that I play. Music is powerful and if I use it right then it could change my situation. Not only my situation, but also the people that listen to it and what they are going [through]. Many artists get stuck into the lifestyle they're living and forget why they do what they do. Be yourself, be you".  

We need more artists like Rizzo. He's dedicated to his craft and knows what it takes to be successful. He's not just making music for fun; he knows it takes hard work and he's determined to push himself to whatever lengths in order to get the work accomplished. With people like friends and family supporting him, he has a major team and support system, coincidentally called #LoyalGang. He's only one person and he understands the importance of having a team that believes in him and his dream just as much, if not more, than he does. They work hard behind the scenes so he gets his music to the public efficiently with his current EP available in Swainsboro, Soperton, Dublin, and other cities in Georgia, I'm pretty sure you're best friend already has his music playing in their car! (I do!) 

Currently an #Indie artist, Rizzo is not yet signed by a label, but I predict it won't be long before he gets noticed. Claiming that 'it's in his blood', Rizzo states, "Music has always been a part of my life; without it I don't think I would've made it through." He goes on to say that just about everyone in his family "interacts with music" in some form so it was "destined" that he delved into it as well. Stating that his 'biggest fear' is 'not reaching enough people'. And with every Indie artist I interview, I asked him what were his thoughts on today's music: "It needs more substance...yet we have some AMAZING artists still out here making music". He took the words right out of my mind. 

Would you like to see Rizzo perform? He has an event coming up May 29th in Dublin, GA, at the Aces Lounge alongside another fellow interviewee, the talented #HarmyniStarr. 

However, Rizzo has performed at numerous locations, including the Cephora Lounge in Atlanta. I urge you not to miss this; mark your calendars! Yet, if for some reason you cannot make it out, don't fret because with talent such as that of Rizzo's, you'll have numerous other opportunities to watch him in action. 

Until then, you can follow him on #Instagram @theofficialrizzo, on Facebook @Rizzo Avery, and Twitter @loyalgang_rizzo.

For more on Rizzo, check him out here>> Rizzo's Artist Ecard. 

You can also check him out on #YouTube and #Soundcloud (click either to go to his pages). To remain updated on this artist and the other artists I've interviewed, check out their links. I'll be doing an artist update in a few weeks so stay tuned! Click his links, add him on #Facebook, follow him on #Twitter & #IG, subscribe to his #YouTube channel and his #Soundcloud. 

Thanks for reading; hope you enjoyed the content! Please follow the links herein and check out the artist. It's an #IndieMovement and we all work together for one cause: to make an impact! Leave a comment; let me know what you think, give the artist a shout-out on their social accounts, and come back for more...for there's more to come! 

Another site, but not just another blog...the home where we bring you artists with flavor and stories with substance: The Underground Artistry blog!

Yours truly, 

Rachel Marie

Double Aught Entertainment, L.L.C.

The Underground Artistry Blog

For more on the author of this blog, you can visit her website: Official Site for Rachel Marie, The Writer or on her Facebook page: Rachel Marie, The Writer. 

Interview with Harmyni Starr

The Rising Star: MS. HARMYNI STARR

I have had the pleasure of meeting the very talented and beautiful Harmyni Starr, known to friends and family as Mrs. Sheka Arline. She is the most down to earth person I have come into contact with in a long time. She is definitely a shining STARR!

When I conducted the interview with Harmyni, she was very candid. She's been singing since she was 5 and said her grandmother even has early recordings of her singing. Her inspiration for music began with her father, who had a gospel group called the Gospel Twilights. "My father was an awesome singer". I loved the way she spoke about her family; and in asking about them, she informed me she lost her mom right before she actually decided to audition for American Idol in 2008. "It took so much out of me to lose her; it definitely affected my performance and believe that is why I didn't make it on the show." After losing her mom, she actually 'stopped singing' for a while; she tells me her mother began speaking to her telling her to start back singing. Her response below:

"I'm very spiritual...someone spoke to me and I feel like it was my mother telling me to get back into singing...so I did. I started making YouTube videos of me doing covers of other songs under "Aries Hummingbird" [link below]. One day I posted one of the videos on my Facebook account and that is when Ripp Ross contacted me. He suggested the name change so we could portray a different image." Mr. Ross was in the process of emerging from the underground himself when he discovered one of her videos, so he decided to take her under his wing and make her co-owner and partner of his company: City Slicca Entertainment (C.S.E.).

Harmyni Starr is a firm believer that "music should touch your soul before the lyrics even start". From the first note to the last, "it should touch you". I couldn't agree more because there are too many artists nowadays just putting something out to say they have something. I'm proud to say that Ms. Starr is far from your average...remaining humble, Mrs. Arline is on her way to becoming an international STARR! 

You can check out her website here: Official Site for Harmyni Starr

You can also check her out on the links below: 

Harmyni Starr on Facebook

Harmyni Starr on Twitter 

Before there was #HarmyniStarr there was #AriesHummingbird...you can see her before the name change here.

However, you can purchase and download her NEWEST SINGLE as the beautiful #HarmyniStarr here:  Waitin' by Harmyni Starr 

With influences such as Whitney Houston, Patti Labelle, X-scape, Keyshia Cole, K. Michelle, Tamar Braxton, and Aretha Franklin, Harmyni is bound to be playing through your speaker systems for a long time coming. Don't be shy: click the links in this post...visit and follow her on her many sites. Tweet a shout out to her! Tell her where you read her interview or just to say 'hi'! 

Thanks once again for reading...hope you enjoyed the content. It's an #IndieMovement and we all work together for one cause: to make an impact! Leave a comment; let me know what you think, give the artist a shout-out on their social accounts, and come back for more...for there's more to come!

Another site, but not just another blog...the home where we bring you artists with flavor and stories with substance: The Underground Artistry blog!

Until next time...

Yours truly, 

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry 

For more on the writer of this blog, visit her on Facebook or check out her website: Official Website for Rachel Marie, The Writer

The Rare Interview with @JesusGang Ali via #Twitter

First things first, I was told that this interview was rare due to the fact that this artist has turned down all other interviews...so when accepted for this, I was beyond flattered. So, let me start by saying:

I am utterly grateful to have been the “chosen one” when it comes to the interview with the exceptionally talented Jesus Gang Ali.

There I was one day, scrolling my Twitter when I received a mention from an individual wanting me to check out a Sound Cloud account owned by Jesus Gang; I must admit I was not jumping at the chance to check out another artist because I had been sent so many videos and links, videos and links, …did I mention I received a ton of videos and links?! I wasn’t busy at the time and I took a few moments to actually check it out. I was taken aback by the message in the song and the lyrical ability of this guy! I was surprised to say the least and extremely glad that I didn’t just pass on this particular mention. In the process of rebuilding my repertoire, I jumped about a million feet outside of my comfort zone and contacted the individual that mentioned for me to check out the song.

I reached out and replied to the mention: “Hi, I’m interviewing artists for my underground artistry blog and would love to feature @JesusGang” (paraphrased) and added the link. They replied and asked if it were print or video, “Print”, my coy response. “Great; I’ll let his management know”. 

Wow. That was easy! I stepped outside of my comfort zone for a minimum of 10 seconds to post a 140 character or less tweet and got a reply that was beyond what I expected. A couple days go by and I receive a direct message from his management asking me for details and we built rapport that I can honestly say I feel more secure in than some of those I speak to and see on a daily basis. Professional and prompt, I enjoyed our conversations and even more so the answers received to the interview questions. 

“Toying with the idea [of rapping] since the age of 16 or so”, Jesus Gang is more than seasoned. He has had time to explore his craft and hone it. He has taken advantage of the simple, yet all too real fact that being “normal” just “wasn’t going to work”. In ‘trying to ignore [his] calling’, he finally came to his senses and began listening to that voice in his head that told him this is what he was supposed to be doing. 

As I was sifting through his answers to the interview questions, the one that stuck out the most to me is his answer to “Who are your musical influences?” His answer below:

“None of my musical influences are musical really. Jean Michael Basquiat paintings make me wanna write music...the old people at old churches who sing old hymns in a way that give off that pure God-energy...not religious...pure, healing, God-energy; watching Project Camelot interviews, or I may find some obscure documentary that moves me to tears, like when I saw the recent Angela Davis documentary. Oh, and Louis Farrakhan speeches will always make something in me move creatively...even if I don't agree with everything he says...it's an energy thing..." 

I believe this is the most out of the box answer I have ever received. Usually, it's the name of another artist; the uniqueness from his answers made him a perfect interviewee for this blog. He is TRULY underground. For he stated, "I will never give control of the message and energy I have been sent to emanate...; these artists need to realize [record deals] don't exist anymore. The labels sign you to 360 deals that gives them control of your energy and of how you get your art to the people..."

"I'm careful with my heart and reckless with my art"... Jesus Gang Ali doesn't confine himself to genres (labels); in fact, he states he hates "labeling art". To him, "a song is an individual art piece, like a painting or a sculpture". I couldn't have said it better myself. Music is a craft, an artwork; and if someone is passionate about it, it will show. Dually noted, I asked what was his thoughts on today's music. In reference to today's #IndieRevolution: "It's become a tribal thing...completely independent of labels or rules. [I] love it. Technology has made it so the people that like what you do can get to your art with virtually no middle man; it's evolving into what it was always meant to be." And I can't agree more.

 I suggest you just press play: "HIGH PLACES" by #JesusGangAli:

For MORE on THIS artist, please don't hesitate to visit & subscribe to his #YouTube channel:
@ JesusGang Ali/YouTube 
Or his #SoundCloud account:
@ JesusGang Ali/SoundCloud
Also, be sure to check him out on #Twitter & hit the #FOLLOW button when you get there:
@ JesusGang Ali/Twitter


Thanks again for reading; hope you enjoyed the content! Please follow the links herein and check out the artist. It's an #IndieMovement and we all work together for one cause: to make an impact! Leave a comment; let me know what you think, give the artist a shout-out on their social accounts, and come back for more...for there's more to come!

Another site, but not just another blog...the home where we bring you artists with flavor and stories with substance: The Underground Artistry blog!

Yours Truly,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry Blog
For more on the author of this blog, you can visit her website: Rachel Marie, The Writer: Official Website or find her on FaceBook: Rachel Marie, The Writer