Stop.Look.Listen. Interview - Tall Black Guy (First Word)

Tall Black Guy is one of the most talked about soul artists of the year, with his latest album '8 Miles To Moenart' being met with rapturous praise right across the web.

The album is a real journey showcasing numerous musical influences in a multitude of styles. Through broken beats, disco drum patterns, hip-hop attitude and soulful melody, this long-player plays like a story, reading like a book that's impossible to put down. It results in a carefully choreographed selection that, much like a great novel, should be devoured in one sitting.

With such an obvious emotive and biographical undertone, it got me wondering about the personality behind the story, the influences, the inspiration. So I asked him. Here's what he had to say.

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BC: What’s your name and where d’you come from?

TALL BLACK GUY: My name is Terrel Wallace aka Tall Black Guy Productions and I'm originally from Detroit Michigan, moved around a lot so some people think I'm still in Chicago or the D but I currently reside in the UK.

BC: What three records would sum-up your musical influences and why?

TALL BLACK GUY:

1. Summer Madness by Kool & the Gang



2. In A Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane



3. I Can't Help It by Michael Jackson. They have all been instrumental in shaping the way I create my own sound.



BC: What was the last live act / DJ you saw that left a lasting impression on you?

TALL BLACK GUY: Benji B, I saw him perform at an Open event in Norwich. He knows how to pick some dope tunes and has a lot of skill as a DJ.

BC: Grab your choice of music device, press Shuffle and list the first three tracks that come up. Tell us in a few words why each has earned a place in your playlist.

TALL BLACK GUY:

1. Play Dis Only At Night by Pete Rock, from one of my favorite albums from 2001 I used to play this song consistently 5 times a week while driving around Detroit.



2. I Couldn't Love You More by Sade, I'm a huge fan of Sade...always have been. This song by far is one of my favorites.



3. Nighttime Maneuvers by Little Brother. To me Little Brother are one of the last hip hop groups to make music of this quality in 2004 aside from The Roots or De La.



BC: What’s the secret to your sound?

TALL BLACK GUY: Can't tell you that its a secret! Practice, practice and more practice is my main secret.

BC: What or whom most inspires you and helps focus your musical creativity?

TALL BLACK GUY: God and my family

BC: Which music producer do you think is going to be making waves in 2013?

TALL BLACK GUY: There are quite a few that I check for, but Kenny Keys, Diggs Duke and Doc Illingsworth are probably the ones I check for the most.







BC: What’s next for Tall Black Guy?

TALL BLACK GUY: To continue making music that I'm inspired to make with the artists that I respect. That's all anyone who loves music can ask for.

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Catch Tall Black Guy over at BANDCAMP | SOUNDCLOUD | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

'8 Miles To Moenart' is out now via First Word. Check the album sampler out below and grab yourself a copy from Juno Download here.

3 Reasons to Love Shuffler.fm

I recently happened across Shuffler.fm, a web and mobile app-based blog aggregating media player. I’m hooked. It basically uses intelligent music tagging and decent blog QA to help you find the best new music.

Here are 3 reasons why Shuffler’s floating my boat this week.

1.  Sango – Vem Vem

Only just caught the vibe on Sango this week. Sick, sick beats from the US, with atmospheric guitar riffs and a perfectly balanced b-line backing Kendrick Lamar’s vocal splices. Big props from Gilles P;  bigger props from Sydney. Grab the free download now!

2. The Jazz Jousters - Bones The Beat Head Sample Substitution (from 'Another Manhã - The Jazz Jousters Flip A Joe Sample')

Again, only this week have I discovered the Jazz Jousters series on Millennium Jazz. For this outing, the guys have worked some real magic with Joe Sample’s ‘Manha Do Carnaval’, featuring several brand new mixes reinterpreted and reworked for the beats generation. You might also remember Joe as one part of The Crusaders – what a band; check 'Spiral' if you haven't heard it already. Another ridiculously free beat tape - go grab.

3. Tall Black Guy - I Feel Good (James Brown Flip Up)

Lastly, a big thanks to Shuffler for sticking this cracking little wobbler in my lugs again. Another outing from the superb Tall Black Guy from late 2012, this saucy James Brown-sampling number came as part of First Word’s insanely free ‘Two Syllables Volume Eight’ comp. You can still grab it free from Bandcamp – and you should.

Shuffler – we salute you!

Colman Brothers - Remixed (Wah Wah 45s)

Greetings from Down Under! Not to make anyone in the UK jealous or anything, but I’m currently writing from a warm and peaceful balcony in Randwick, beer in hand, previewing some amazing new music. So onto my first post as a Sydneysider, and what a cracker it is too...

The lads over at Wah Wah 45s have been really busy over in the UK, with their latest offering the Colman Brothers Remixed long-player.

Whilst the Colman boys typically bring 60s Latin influences to the forefront of their material, this remix album gives their already accomplished style a razor-sharp edge, with the album a melting pot of styles and influences atop the Brothers’ outstanding trumpet and trombone work.

Reworks come from some well established names as well as some new faces. Sunlightsquare give ‘Some Other Wonder’ the US house treatment, label lovely Scrimshire brings his distinctive laid-back style to ‘She Who Dares’, and the ever popular Tall Black Guy puts his gentle, magical touch to ‘On A Better Day I’m Dreamin’.

The rest of the album almost reads like a who’s-who of the world’s nu soul talent, including remixes from Part-Time Heroes, The Herbaliser, and Renegades of Jazz.

‘Remixed’ is out 11^th March. Pre-order the album here:

http://colmanbrothers.bandcamp.com/album/colman-brothers-remixed

http://www.wahwah45s.com