This episode’s guest is DJ, music historian, and curator, DJ Amir Abdullah. Known for his On Track mixtapes with DJ Kon, Amir currently run his own record label, 180-Proof (founded in 2011), which owns the exclusive rights to release Strata Records’ influential back catalog and unreleased sessions. This is a re-issue of an interview I did with DJ Amir back in December 2018 for the Fresh is the Word Podcast that would fit well as a Renaissance Soul episode.

During our conversation, we talked about Amir’s roots in music, his collaborations with DJ Kon and the On Track mixtapes, becoming a music historian and curator, researching music to reissue/unearth, obtaining the Strata Records catalogue, the history and political activism of Strata in Detroit, and Charles Mingus Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden and the stories behind the recordings.

PURCHASE/STREAM: CHARLES MINGUS – Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden

Follow DJ Amir Abdullah:
Web: 180-proof.com
Twitter: twitter.com/djamir70
Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/djamir
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/djamir70
Instagram: instagram.com/180proofrecords
Instagram: instagram.com/djamir70
Facebook: facebook.com/DJ-Amir-161195730583168
Bandcamp: 180proofrecords.bandcamp.com
Twitch: twitch.tv/djamir70

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List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, I’m joined by Dave Stephens, founding member and vocalist of the Troy, Michigan metalcore band We Came As Romans, as we talk about their debut album To Plant A Seed. Originally released on November 3, 2009 via Equal Vision Records, a deluxe edition of the album was released on January 18, 2011 which includes one bonus track and a DVD titled To Plant a DVD. In covering this monumental debut album, we talk about the beginnings of the band through their early touring and their two EPs, Dreams and Demonstrations, both self released in 2008 before getting signed to Equal Vision. We also go track-by-track throughout the album and Stephens shares any stories he has about the song or making of it. We also touch on the vocal contributions of the late Kyle Pavone, who passed away in 2018, from this album.

We Came As Romans originally were going to tour this album to both celebrate it and retire the songs from it for live shows when the pandemic hit and were only able to perform a handful or so shows before all live music got cancelled. We discuss the reasoning for that tour as they are set to do a live stream on April 23rd playing To Plant A Seed in its entirety online. To purchase tickets and merch bundles, head over to thebarricade.live.

Follow We Came As Romans:
Web: romansmerch.com
Instagram: instagram.com/wecameasromans
Facebook: facebook.com/wecameasromans
Twitter: twitter.com/wecameasromans

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
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List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, I’m joined by singer-songwriter, musician, actress, and Detroit rock pioneer and legend Suzi Quatro to talk about her new album The Devil In Me, released on March 26, 2021 via Steamhammer / SPV. Now at the age of 70 with 54 years in the music game, Suzi Quatro helped kicked down the doors for the women who wanted to rock! The Devil In Me is the second time she collaborated with her son Richard Tuckey after 2019’s No Control, a decision made after both their touring schedules were cancelled due to the pandemic.

As you will hear, Suzi Quatro has a poetic mind as we talk about her longevity in music and how her career has always been a family affair since her early years with the bands The Pleasure Seekers and ‎Cradle‎ with her sisters. We talk about how the pandemic gave life to The Devil In Me, how working with her son was different on this album, as well as going track-by-track through the album, its videos, and the album artwork. It was an honor to have such a legend on the show who is still going strong after decades making music. Listen closely because she drops a lot of gems of knowledge throughout this episode!

Stream/Purchase The Devil In Me: SuziQuatro.lnk.to/TheDevilInMe

Follow Suzi Quatro:
Web: suziquatro.com
Instagram: instagram.com/suziquatroreal
Facebook: facebook.com/Suziquatrorocks
Twitter: twitter.com/Suzi_Quatro
YouTube: youtube.com/user/SUZIQUATROOFFICIAL

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, I’m joined by Chloë Drallos to talk about her debut full-length album DOOMPOP under the moniker of Zilched. Based on the grunge influences of her teens like Nirvana and Jesus and Mary Chain, this new face of Detroit’s rock scene hits it out of the park with DOOMPOP, a collection of dark and melancholy songs that’s dips into the psyche of the young singer/songwriter during those formative years approaching inevitable adulthood. Together, we go through each track talking about the stories behind them, along with life before writing DOOMPOP, and the making of this album.

Stream/Purchase DOOMPOP: linktr.ee/zilchedmusic

Follow Zilched:
Instagram: instagram.com/zilchedmusic
Facebook: facebook.com/zilchedmusic
YouTube: youtube.com
Bandcamp: zilchedmusic.bandcamp.com

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
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List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, I’m joined by indie singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and all around jack of all music trades, Fred Thomas, band leader of Saturday Looks Good To Me as we talk about their 2003 album All Your Summer Songs. Coming from the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area, Fred Thomas’ contributions to the Michigan music scene are just as prevalent in Detroit. With a couple local releases for Saturday Looks Good To Me in 2000, All Your Summer Songs was the first real album for this project of Thomas’ – released via Polyvinyl Record Company in 2003.

While many of us have a place in our hearts for this album, Thomas’ did face mixed feelings and confusion about what exactly this project is, which we talk about during this episode. The songs for this album were recorded between February 2000 and December 2002 mostly on four-track in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Livonia, and Detroit, Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky & The Grange Hall of Rhode Island. Along with diving into the origins of this project, we go track-by-track through the album with Thomas sharing stories about the writing/recording and the collaboration between all the players on this album. Around 20 years later, All Your Summer Songs is an important part of Michigan’s music history.

Follow Fred Thomas:
Twitter: twitter.com/fredthomasmusic
Instagram: instagram.com/fredthomas

Follow Saturday Looks Good To Me:
Bandcamp: saturdaylooksgoodtome.bandcamp.com
Polyvinyl: polyvinylrecords.com/artist/saturday_looks_good_to_me

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, we go back in time with legendary jazz clarinet player and saxophonist and co-founder of Detroit’s Tribe collective, Wendell Harrison. Back in the end of 2019, the London-based Strut Records released Hometown: Detroit Sessions 1990
-
2014, the first compilation bringing together the modern era recordings of Tribe, Detroit’s acclaimed independent jazz collective.

Tribe began as a musical ensemble in 1971 co-founded by saxophonist Wendell Harrison and trombonist Phil Ranelin that soon expanded into a broad amalgam including a live collective and independent record label. Ignored by the mainstream, many African American jazz artists in Detroit and across the US began creating their own small imprints and Tribe emerged alongside other cultural entities to express self determination goals in the city.

Recorded at Harrison’s home in Detroit since 1970, he was not short of stories when it came to the Tribe legacy. After talking about the roots of Tribe, we dived into the modern era represented in the compilation learning how the music of Tribe continued stay relevant throughout the changing of generations and technological advances, along with the timeless social and cultural representation of this legendary collective.

BUY: strut.bandcamp.com

Follow Wendell Harrison:
Web: wendellharrison.com
Instagram: instagram.com/wendellharrisonwenha

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

Support via Paypal
If you don’t want to do Patreon, you can donate via Paypal: PayPal.Me/kfreshistheword

For this episode, we are joined by Detroit hip-hop artist T. Calmese, member of the creative counter-culture collective The Black Opera, and his debut album Time and Time Again. Formerly known as Illite of the Subterraneous Crew (OneBeLo et al), Detroit native emcee T. Calmese has released several solo mixtapes, as well as collaborative albums with fellow Michigan emcees Octane (currently known as Ro Spit) and Vaughan T (of Athletic Mic League).

After taking an extended break from making music, the feeling never fully left T. Calmese and a few years ago, he started to pick up the pen again in a journey that would lead us to Time and Time Again. Along with a track-by-track breakdown, Calmese shares with us why he took a break from writing, the joy of just being a fan of hip-hop, and what lead him back to making music that would result in finally making a proper debut solo album.

Stream / Purchase Time and Time Again: smarturl.it/T.CalmeseEveryday

Follow T. Calmese:
Web: theblackopera.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TCalmese-173487686010515
Instagram: instagram.com/t_calmese
Twitter: twitter.com/T_Calmese

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

Support via Paypal
If you don’t want to do Patreon, you can donate via Paypal: PayPal.Me/kfreshistheword

For this episode, your host Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is joined by Hobey Echlin, bassist of the early 90s Detroit shoegaze band Majesty Crush. They were an anomaly in the Detroit music scene as they were compared to bands with the shoegaze sound that typically comes from the UK, but they were oddly connected to so much within the city of Detroit. They were surrounded by other artists who also didn’t fit in any creative box while their lush, dreamy sounds along with the colorful members of the bands (especially vocalist David Stroughter) made them memorable around the city. But it was the passionate lyrics of Stroughter that set them apart and defined them. Majesty Crush captured a vibe of Detroit while pulling from their global influences.

The story of Majesty Crush is just as relevant today. With two of their members being Black men (drummer Odell Nails and vocalist David Stroughter), they would have to endure much of the same bigotry that we are still fighting against in the current Black Lives Matter movement. As for Stroughter, he would died during an altercation with the police in Los Angeles in January 2017, as this would be another instance where bring Black, having mental health issues, and how the police deal with such a situation come into discussion.

With Majesty Crush, it was as if they were too good of a band for this world. As you’ll hear with this conversation with Hobey Echlin, Majesty Crush were somehow in the most interesting places at the right times, but circumstances were not always on their side. They were definitely a band with a flame that shined too bright. They were special, but sometimes that means that flame burns out that much quick.

The story of Majesty Crush is done yet. Third Man Records is set to release Southeast of Saturn, a collection of music from Detroit’s space-rock/shoegaze/dream pop scene of the ‘90s, to be released November 20, 2020 digitally and on vinyl, and it will feature Majesty Crush’s “No. 1 Fan”. Listen in on this episode for an amazing story about how this came to be. Hopefully we can get all three of Majesty Crush’s main project re-released in the future, because as you’ll hear in this episode, it was one of David Stroughter’s last wishes for his music to be heard.

Stream “No. 1 Fan”: orcd.co/no1fan

Pre-Order/Pre-Save Southeast of Saturn: orcd.co/southeastofsaturn

Majesty Crush:
Bass – Hobey Echlin
Drums – Odell Nails
Guitar – Michael Segal
Vocals – David Stroughter

Discography
Love 15 – (LP) (1993 Chameleon/Dali)
“Sunny Pie” – (7″) (1991 Vulva)
Fan – (EP) (1992 Vulva)
“Grow” – (7″) (1992 Davies)
Sans Muscles – (EP) (1994 Eternal Funk)
“If JFA Were Still Together” – (7″ split with Spare Snare) (1995 Che)

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.