{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 SPOTLIGHT: INTERVIEW} RJ Griffith | @rjgmusic

Artist Spotlight: Interview

RJ Griffith

May 22nd marked the very first of many Artist Spotlight interviews on the Rise and Shine with Rae radio show on Platinum Radio. I've been doing interviews on The Underground Artistry for a while now; ever since I accepted the position on Platinum Radio as their morning show host, I've been anxious to start incorporating interviews on my very own show.

And everyone who knows me knows I love good music & good vibes. And when the music encompasses the latter, it's even better. Well, below you'll find the interview I had with RJ Griffith, an inspirational R&B artist coming out of Chicago, IL! I was so excited for this interview because his music is so different. It's on another level from what's on the radio nowadays.

I wanted to make this interview available to my readers who may not have had the luxury of tuning into the show to catch the interview. I will allow you guys to listen to it yourself below. The interview is followed by his single, Good Day. I hope you guys enjoy this artist as much as I did because he was so candid; it was like talking to a friend.

You can find his song Good Day on iTunes, Amazon & other streaming sites like Spotify. And now you can call 616.841.5253 to request his song on Platinum Radio! [And be sure to tune into the Rise and Shine with Rae morning show every Monday through Friday from 8am to 12pm EST.]

Press play below & let me know what you think about the song in the comments.

RJ Griffith on Social Media:

Twitter

Facebook

SoundCloud

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
Entertainment Blogger, The Underground Artistry 
Senior Publicist, Platinum Sound Promotions

Want more from this author? You can find The Underground Artistry site on FaceBook here; and you can also follow her on Twitter & make sure you show your support by following her writer's page on FaceBook 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*

Sarai Juelz: Artist Interview

I came across an amazing singer/songwriter in 2015. I was going through a time in my life where I felt I was losing everything. Her lyrics spoke to me. They helped me through that moment in time where I felt like giving up. 

 

Her name is Sarai Juelz. 

The first songs I heard by this artist were "Damage", "Just Because You Fall in Love", and "You Did That". I fell in love. My ears were crying from the truth in the lyrics. My eyes watered as a lump grew in my throat as I cried it out and let it go. I was done with that pain and her music helped me move forward. 

Today, I introduce her as one of the best R&B vocalists and songwriters I know that is from my neck of the woods: Soperton, GA, but resides in Atlanta. 

She will be that voice you won't forget. 

She is that voice you want to put on replay.

I am honored to have been able to connect with and interview her. 

So, who is Sarai Juelz?

By birth, she's Kimberly Michelle Howard. I had the privilege of connecting with her online through Facebook about 2 years ago. However, we never really spoke much though we were in a couple groups together. One day I started this blog...and in the light of needed artists to interview, she was one of my picks. So, here we are.

I asked about the name change, which she was more than open to explaining, for I did previously know how it came about, yet I didn't know the full story. 

She tells me she 'floated around a lot', which gives way for all the names she accumulated over the course of her career as an artist and writer. Names like Kay Michelle, because her grandmother wanted to name her 'Kay', she tells me. She also went by Mandeeza, Yaa-Theory, SWOAN--which stands for 'Someone Without A Name'. She informed me that she was writing in her journal one day and missing her children, who passed away due to pregnancy complications: her daughter, Sarai Imani and son, Zion Juelz. She gets to the end and signs it, Sarai Juelz. "That's the first time I felt connected", she states. Finally settling upon Sarai Juelz in memory of her children, she's now moved from the Red Clay central of Soperton, Georgia to the hometown of some of today and yesterday's hottest artists: Atlanta.

I go on to ask her about the musical greats that may have been inspiration to her. As such a young artist, singing since she was 3 years young, she's had her share of musical greats that have been inspiration for her. From the likes of artists such as Diana Ross & Janet Jackson to Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu. She stated, "overall Aaliyah, Chante Moore, and anything that Dino from H-Town sings". She also pulls musical inspiration from her brother, Ness Lee. She states, "The way he has mastered his craft is amazing, and to witness it was even more awesome.  I strive to have his work ethic when it comes to music." 

When she was around 7, she wrote her first song for her mother: "Ride that Train to Heaven". She stated, "I knew she was chasing a rainbow that conflicted with her faith, and I wrote it for her." Which moves us right into the question, what's the top 3 inspirations for your music? She states, "pain, love and life in general". I can't agree on a better trio. 

I asked Sarai, what makes you different from all other artists that we hear or have heard? She goes on to say, "I only write and sing what I know.  I won’t ever do a song for myself just to sell records.  If I record it, it will be something that applies to me or my life in some aspect." She goes on to state that if she does write a song that 'isn't her', she'd 'sell it or let someone else sing it' because she only makes music that 'makes sense' to her life. 

Continuing the interview, I go on to ask her: what would be some advice you'd give to younger generations that may want to get into the music industry?

"Get all the vocal training you can get. I haven’t had any and the voice I had when I was younger is no longer there.  You can absolutely lose it if you don’t train it.  Learn the business side of it. Always create the music you want to represent you, even if you’re the only one who likes it, because you’ll always be able to explain who you are and the purpose of your music.  If it’s not true to you, it won’t be true to who’s listening to it." And she lives by that. One of her mottos’ is "The best person you can ever be is you", and that is nothing but the truth. Going on to say she lives by 2 other mottos’: "I never lose: either I win or I learn" and "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear".

I can honestly say this has been one of the most inspirational interviews I've done to date. Her music moves you. Her lyrics speak to you. What more can you ask for in an artist? She has a long career ahead of her.

If you'd like to contact Sarai Juelz for booking, you can call (404) 942-9270 or you can email saraijuelzmusic@gmail.com. Her website will be available soon, but for now you can preview and purchase her album, Sarai vs Love, on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, and CD Baby. You can also visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, and SoundCloud. Just search for her name: Sarai Juelz. Or, you can click on the links herein.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my interview with this amazing artist and songwriter. Be sure to check out her links and share when you get there.

As always, thanks for reading and be sure to follow The Underground Artistry because more updates are coming. You won't want to miss those. Interviews from artist, Thi Hays and small business owner, Lavish Fad coming up over the weekend, so be sure you follow if you want the updates!

As always, it's great to bring you awesome content. Please be sure to share this post and others alike; I'll be glad that you did! :)

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

You Need to Know Artists

You Need to Know Artists: 

As an entertainment blogger and underground music feign, I tend to come across A LOT of amazingly talented underground artists. In this ongoing list, I will be bringing you hot underground artists that you may or may not have heard of; please be sure to subscribe to their channels &/or follow their social media platforms to stay updated. Each artist will get a feature on the blog.
They will be featured for 1 week.

If you know an artist that would fit right in with this group of underground 'You Need to Know Artists', place their name and a link to their social media page(s) or their website in the comments section. I'll get in touch with them.

This list is updated daily.

Be sure to follow #TheUndergroundArtistry blog to make sure you get the updates.

As always, I'm looking forward to bringing you some hot artists. 

Thanks for reading, sharing & following. 

Sincerely, 

Rachel Marie, the Writer

The Underground Artistry

Another site...not just another blog.