{ARTIST TO WATCH Q&A} Zacchaeus tha’ Great | @MKULTRAZACCHAE

Artist to Watch Q&A: Zacchaeus tha' Great 

I'm big on getting to know artists that I like listening to. Therefore I created a basic Q&A form for artists that will allow their followers to get a glimpse of the artist behind the music.

I get reached out to by a lot of artists. Few rarely take the time to actually check out my work or try to get to know what I do. Not only did this artist show interest, he filled out the interview request on The Underground Artistry site without even being directed to do so. I knew then this artist had drive that was one to be matched.

His single, "Ran Off", produced by Nard & B, is in regular rotation on Platinum Radio and is available on all major streaming sites: Google Play, Apple Music, Deezer, and more. Listen to the single below:


So, without further ado, get to know the artist in this week's featured Q&A: Zacchaeus tha' Great below:

Q: What's your name & email address?
A: Zacchaeus tha’ Great - bookztg@gmail.com

Q: What is your genre of choice?
A: Hip-Hop/rap

Q: What prompted you to want to do music? And how long have you been singing/songwriting/recording?
A: I fell in love with Hip-Hop as a child growing up in Virginia Beach. My parents always played all genres of music so I guess my artistry comes from an influential standpoint. Once I started doing random freestyles & it turned into me recording them a cappella on my radio shack boombox with the microphone built in. But it wasn’t till an old friend of the family showed me how to actually count bars that I began curating my own original songs. The subject matter changed once my day to day habits did. But it was more of a way to express myself. Then it expanded to actually wanting to learn the business to pursue a career. So all in all I’ve been writing and recording since 10 or 11 so I would say 16 or 17 years.

Q: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you still remember the title?
A: Yooooo, I actually do. And this was before I learned how to count bars and everything. The song was entitled “I’m Mean”. It’s crazy because I was like 10 or 11, and I was still in elementary.

Q: What’s your top 3 inspirations for your music?
A: It would have to be three genres of music that inspires me to create. 1. R&B, this genre helps me with melody. I’m not the ol’ melodic trying to out harmonize singers, but I do understand that it helps with yo flow and tone on the beat. 2. Reggae, hands down some of my favorite musicians are dancehall artists like Buju Banton, Sizzla, and Capleton. And of course Bob Marley but they have a way to speak for their people. They represent and echo the sentiments of the people were they are from. 3. Hip-Hop from the 90’s and early 2000’s when they focused more on lyrics and the flow sonically.

Q: What are some of the musical greats that inspire your music?
A: Artists like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, T. I., Ludacris, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton, Bob Marley, and I cannot forget my all time favorite Mrs. Mary J. Blige!

Q: What would you tell younger generations pursuing music as a career?
A: 1st you gotta love to do it. If you're gonna do music [bro/sis] it gotta come from the soul and you gotta deliver it. Learn the business. Get ya paper work right in order to be who you say you are. Go in the booth & make magic!

Q: If someone needed to contact you for a performance, how can someone book you?
A: bookztg@gmail.com or you can get in touch with my manager Mr. Brown .

Q: What do you feel makes you different from other artists?
A: The fact that I’m not afraid to be

Q: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate The Underground Artistry?
A: 10

Now that you've gotten to learn a bit more about the artist behind the music, you can #TuneIn to Platinum Radio to listen to his track, "Ran Off". You can also request the song by calling 616-841-5253. And be sure to follow the artist on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook to stay updated with his music. And don't forget to follow & stream his music on Spotify. You can stream his top tracks below via Spotify.

Got questions of your own for Zacchaeus Tha' Great? Sound off in the comments below & he'll answer them for you!

Well, that's all for this Q&A. Thanks for stopping by & checking out the new content. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions or comments, sound off below. If you'd like your own Q&A on The Underground Artistry click on the big blue button at the top of the page & fill out the questionnaire, easy as 1-2-3.

Until next time...

Enjoy the music? 
Support the artist. 

xoxo, 
Rachel Marie
Founder/Owner/Content Specialist, The Underground Artistry

Follow the Blog & the Writer:

The Underground Artistry on Instagram/Facebook

Rachel Marie, the Writer on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ARTIST TO WATCH Q&A} Moe Carter | @MoeCarter107

Artist to Watch Q&A: Moe Carter

As a fellow radio host on Platinum Radio, I'm constantly in search of great music to play on my show. I had no idea who Moe Carter was when one day my fiance was playing his song, "Neighborhood" from SoundCloud and I was like, 'Who's that?'. He told me & I was locked in. I asked if he could reach out to him and one thing led to another and he's now in our network of indie artists. *happy dance*

With an interview on Platinum Radio Online & a live interview with fellow host, Bruce Anderson during the Platinum Midday Grind, I felt it only right if I get in on the action & interview him, myself, because I'm interested in how he got started musically due to his lyrical ability being so eclectically impeccable.

However, in today's world there's not many indie artists that have completely free schedules so I simply sent him a list of interview prep questions to get the ball in motion & you can expect a live interview with me & this artist on my show, Rise and Shine with Rae in the upcoming weeks. Check out his Q&A below & be sure to follow Moe Carter on Twitter & Instagram. Also, check out his official website & sign up for his mailing list to remain updated on all things Moe Carter.


Q&A:

Question: What's your name & email address?
Answer: Moe Carter. moeknowswede@yahoo.com

Q: What is your genre of choice?
A: Hip-Hop/rap

Q: What prompted you to want to do music? And how long have you been singing/songwriting/recording?
A: Simply it's just where my heart is at, CM big stars that I looked up to do it made me want to emulate that my own way. I have been song writing for over 15 years and I have been recording for roughly 3 years.

Q: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you still remember the title?
A: My first written and recorded song was named Off My Block featuring a local friend of mine that took place in another friend's uncle's basement. Ever since that my pen has been steady in motion.

Q: What’s your top 3 inspirations for your music?
A: I like the fashion it is one of the pillars that holds the artist together, appearance is everything. Flow is almost everything to me it's what gives me the urge to pickup the pen and write ASAP, wordplay makes up a huge percentage of my songs. And "recycled originality" which in my explanation is by studying the greats that give me drive, do it my way and pay the homage when I do it to the fullest

Q: What are some of the musical greats that inspire your music?
A: Biggie, The Lox, G-Unit, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Jay Z, It is way too many Greats to name maybe I'll write a short book about this topic one day.



Q: What would you tell younger generations pursuing music as a career?
A: Learn and invest in your career most importantly this music is your life in your hands. And don't chase the bag right away that takes some time until perfect your craft and follow the dream all facts.

Q: If someone needed to contact you for a performance, how can someone book you?
A: My Email Is moeknowswede@yahoo.com or simply just dm me on Instagram at sgmg_mc. I also can be found at my personal site which is MoeCarterSGMG.com

Q: What do you feel makes you different from other artists?
A: My mindset in an artistic way; I got a knack for adapting to beats and mood patterns. My songs are a little off-beat but eye-catching, I give off diversity that you rarely see in the rap game these days.

Q: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate The Underground Artistry?
A: 10

And that concludes the Artist to Watch Q&A; but, stay tuned, because in the upcoming weeks, you'll be able to listen to so much more during the audio for the live interview. So hit that follow button to the side & be sure to follow Moe Carter on all his social platforms, as well as SoundCloud. You can enjoy Sour Bunga & Neighborhood, two of the singles from Moe Carter, via SoundCloud below.

As always, if you're feelin' the song, drop your comments below & let me know what you think. Hit that share button. Follow the blog. Also, click the hyperlinks herein to be directed to Moe Carter's other channels. Thanks for visiting, reading, supporting. I love you guys & I hope you enjoyed the content!

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.



xoxo,

Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry...another site, not just another blog.

If you'd like more from this writer, visit her official Facebook page here & The Underground Artistry on Facebook here. You can also follow her on Twitter here.

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ARTIST TO WATCH Q&A} Sarah Breeding: @sarahbreeding #Twitter

As the host of Rise and Shine with Rae on Platinum Radio, I am constantly searching for new music & candid artists for my listeners to experience & enjoy. Well, as a Jhene Aiko admirer & supporter, I was searching to see if she had any new music available in the dj pool I could add to my show's track line-up. Fortunately, she did...however, I also came across another artist in the midst of my searching for Jhene Aiko music: Sarah Breeding.

Get Ease Your Mind on iTunes

Now, if you look up her single: Ease Your Mind via YouTube, you'll find it listed as a Jhene Aiko track uploaded by Eardope. However, in the description you'll notice the real artist singing is a young singer/songwriter listed as @sarahb via SoundCloud. Then it links you to her SoundCloud account where you can listen to the song via its original artist.

Now, I will admit I was kind of disappointed towards the uploader because it seemed like click bait where someone had uploaded her song under Jhene Aiko's name to get clicks...but when you hear Sarah's voice...and you actually listen to the song...you'll see that it was just a mere promotional tactic because her artistry is worth that connection...because the similarities are there. And, I'll be honest, I actually thought I was listening to Jhene Aiko there for a split second. And I was feelin' it, therefore I wanted to read the description...which led me straight to Sarah.

And I'm not complaining.

Her voice is smooth & sultry...seductively soothing, if I must label. The lyrics just flow like placid lakes. The vibe is mood music.

As a new admirer of her artistry, I--naturally--wanted to include her within the loop of The Underground Artistry. And due to the fact she's somewhat new to the scene, stating she's "un-managed", means she's truly independent and considered underground.

So, I reached out to her via Twitter; you can find Sarah on Twitter here.

And I was candid with her; I told her how I came across her music, how much I liked the song and that I'd like to interview her for The Underground Artistry. She obliged. However, she's in the midst of graduating high school--like I stated: she's a young singer/songwriter--so, she's experiencing a few time restraints at this moment, yet she mentioned she'd "love to". So, I typed up & emailed her a list of interview prep questions: a simple Q&A. She answered & emailed them back, which you can find below.

Q&A:

Me: What's your name & email address?
Sarah: Sarah Breeding @ sarahbreedingmusic@gmail.com

M: What is your genre of choice?
S: R&B

M: What prompted you to want to do music? And how long have you been singing/songwriting/recording?
S: I've always had a passion for music since I was a little kid. I always sang along to the radio when I started talking & my parents realized that I actually could sing. They put me in choir in 4th & 5th grade & I began to grow my appreciation for music. In 6th grade, I started band & played sax. I'm about to graduate high school now & I'm still in the band! My middle school conductor, Mr. Divers & my high school conductor, Mr. Caldwell really helped me grow an appreciation for all types of music aside from the genre I sing.

I started recording about a year ago when I did this song called, Front.

Get  Front on iTunes

My friend, Keezy, asked if he could throw a verse on it & put it on his album. The people in my city went crazy over it. In August [2017], I recorded my first single, Ease Your Mind & I didn't release it until Valentine's Day this year [2018] because I felt like people wouldn't like the song. But, I was proven wrong!

I had so much support from people all over my city & different states and even people in different countries. So that definitely motivated me to keep writing and recording.

M: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you still remember the title?
S: My first song I ever wrote was called, Take it Back. I was about 14 or 15. I performed it for a Key Club benefit talent show that raised money for families in need in Africa. The second time I performed it was at a Relay for Life Walk-a-thon. Both shows had pretty big crowds; the second one had 1,500 people, so that actually helped me with getting over my little stage fright phase.

M:What are some of the musical greats that inspire your music?
S: Jhene Aiko, H.E.R., Kehlani, Ariana Grande, Khalid, Sza, Rihanna, PartyNextDoor, 6lack, Bryson Tiller. All of their voices are so soothing & they all have a story or meaning behind their music. They make the type of music that hits your soul when you take in the lyrics & that's exactly how I want people to feel when they hear my songs.

M: What would you tell younger generations pursuing music as a career?
S: If you feel like this is your passion, go for it. Figure out what you need to do to start on your career and do it. If music is the only thing you see yourself doing in the future, then go after it...but be patient!

M: If someone needed to contact you for a performance, how can they book you?
S: I'm currently un-managed, since I'm new to this and just turning 18, so if anyone is actually interested then they can contact me through email or any of my social media accounts.
[Twitter/ Facebook/ SoundCloud]

M: What do you feel makes you different from other artists?
S: I put my entire soul into every song I write. When you're listening to my songs, you're actually listening to my heart speak & you're hearing all the emotions that I had to let go of when I was writing the song. Writing songs is the only true way I can vent & let certain things go that weigh on my mind. I never hold back anything I'm feeling because I know there's someone out there who's going through the same situation. I just want people to know that everyone has heartache and trust issues, but I wanna make music that can relate to those people's situations so every time they're going through it, they'll pick up their phone and start playing my song to feel better.

And that concludes the Artist to Watch Q&A; but, stay tuned, because in the upcoming weeks, you'll be able to listen to so much more during the audio for the live interview. So hit that follow button to the side & be sure to follow Sarah on Twitter & SoundCloud. You can enjoy Ease Your Mind, the first single from Sarah Breeding, via SoundCloud below.



As always, if you're feelin' the song, drop your comments below & let me know what you think. Hit that share button. Follow the blog. Also, click the hyperlinks herein to be directed to Sarah's other channels. Thanks for visiting, reading, supporting. I love you guys & I hope you enjoyed the content!

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.



xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry...another site, not just another blog.

If you'd like more from this writer, visit her official Facebook page here & The Underground Artistry on Facebook here. You can also follow her on Twitter here.

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ NEW MUSIC } "BANKROLL" by @BCole206

B. Cole's New Single "Bankroll" Sets the Bar

Photo Cred: JennThePR

B. Cole dropped his latest single, "Bankroll", on April 8th. And even before he released the full song, fans & supporters were retweeting, regramming, reposting everything "B. Cole" & his new song, "Bankroll". This single is definitely one to be in your hip-hop playlists & is getting more traction by the second. With over 10k plays on SoundCloud, it's setting the bar for upcoming hip-hop releases. With one of the lines from his new song: "If you fuck with us, you fuckin' with the winnin' team" being an absolute statement, B. Cole's "Bankroll" is defining how you 'win'. 

Following the release of his prior single, "F'N Wit You"--which, by the way, is still getting major play, the popularity of "Bankroll" is growing rapidly & if you haven't heard it then you're definitely missing out on one of the hottest releases to date. 

Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure it won't be long before you do with so many people sharing it, for one of your friends is probably already adding it to their mp3 playlists as I type. But I'm going to help you out a lot, for you can listen to it on SoundCloud below:

You can follow the journey below:

B. Cole on:

Twitter 

Facebook 

Instagram

And don't forget to follow his #SoundCloud when you get there.

As always, I hope you enjoyed the content. Be sure to follow the artist & support their grind; and in doing so, you help the underground become the new mainstream! And be sure to follow the 'photo cred' link under the photo to read the another post on B. Cole written by JennThePR. And be sure to leave a comment & let me know what you think about the new song.

#SupportTheUnderground

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

If you want more by this writer, you can follow her main page on Facebook here & you can follow The Underground Artistry on Facebook here.

*Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for the "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be considered infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.*

{ YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST } H.E.R. @HERMusicx

Who is H.E.R.? 

Despite how grammatically incorrect that sounds, if you were like me when first hearing this artist, you did not know who it was. You knew you liked the songs. You knew you were addicted to her voice. You knew you couldn't live without one or all of her songs on a playlist. You knew you had to have her album. You knew you wanted to hear more. You knew all of that. Except her name.

She literally took over the world with her first self-titled EPs, H.E.R.: Vol 1 and now she's stealing new hearts and making old fans fall in love all over again with H.E.R. Vol 2: The B Sides. Named in Forbes list of 30 Under 30: Class of 2018 & named "Artist to Watch" from Pandora, she definitely is leaving her mark on the industry...and the world. Her tours are sold out. Her singles are being downloaded at alarming rates. Her EPs are outselling some of the biggest albums of the year. Not to mention, there's a lot of people who still do not know H.E.R. name.


Ready to learn about the artist behind the moniker? Gabi Wilson is the name behind the silhouette you see on her covers. There was speculation after a few weeks. The vocals were similar, the vibes were remembered, sooner or later true fans were bound to put one with the other and find out who this mysteriously talented beauty was and how to let the world know just whom they were listening to.
H.E.R.'s debut project bolted to the No. 1 spot on the iTunes R&B chart. Not to mention, it's been streamed more than 12 million times on Soundcloud. Spotify? Up to 1.6 million MONTHLY listeners. All this without any real promotion of her project or pushing it to radio.
In earlier interviews, the woman behind the acronym said that music isn't listened to "for what it is" anymore and people are always so worried about who the artist is, what they're doing, what they're wearing, who they're friends with, etc...she said she just wants to let people judge the music for what it is without having to deal with the other part of the industry, which is the ever so annoying paparazzi wanting to record and photograph your every move. Nonetheless, she covers her face in photos to keep the mystery going & allows people who listen to H.E.R. to feel the emotions behind the music.

With her velvety tones, dynamic harmonies, soul snatching lyrics, and heart stealing melodies, this artist--whether you know her real name or not--will be the force that awakens real R&B and brings back the music we used to love.

Her latest: "My Song" off Vol. 2: The B Sides, released January the 2nd, is climbing the R&B charts and ever so gracefully showcasing her beloved talent. {audio video below}

Follow H.E.R. by visiting the Links Below:

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Official Website

You can purchase your copy of the album {both old & new} as well as her latest single by following the links below:

iTunes: H.E.R. Vol 1 :Amazon

iTunes: H.E.R. Vol 2: The B Sides :Amazon

iTunes: My Song {the single} :Amazon

Well, as usual I appreciate you visiting the blog and reading the content. I hope you enjoyed this week's You Need To Know Artist. Leave your comments below to let me know what you think about the artist and the music.

And...as you know:

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

Until next time....

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry

Find me on FB here and Twitter here! Be sure to visit & leave a like on The Underground Artistry's FB page here. 

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*