Articles by Kelly "K-Fresh" Frazier

Fresh is the Word November 23, 2020

Episode #236: Rick Spears – Author of YA Graphic Novel My Riot, Out Now Via Oni Press

The guest for this episode is Rick Spears, author of the YA graphic novel My Riot, recently released via Oni Press. My Riot, created along with artist Emmett Helen, is a riot grrrl story set in 1981 with its main character, a teenager named Val, struggling with finding her own identity while facing the pressures of conformity. It’s a story about how the counter cultures of our society have been influential to the people that we would later become.

Fresh is the Word November 19, 2020

Episode #235: Richard Sjunnesson – Vocalist of Swedish Melodic Death Metal Band ‘The Unguided’, New Album Father Shadow via Napalm Records

The guest for this episode is Richard Sjunnesson, vocalist of the Swedish melodic death metal band The Unguided, and they just released their new full-length album Father Shadow via Napalm Records. We get into how the band functions, fine tuning their method of operation of writing and recording the new album after a history of lineup changes and The Unguided being birthed out of Richard and Roger Sjunnesson’s previous band Sonic Syndicate. With Father Shadow, The Unguided go back to their harder roots blurring the lines between a melodic death metal and metalcore sound. And for a treat to their old fans, they even did cover versions of their own classic Sonic Syndicate tracks “Jailbreak”, “Denied” and “Jack of Diamonds”.

Renaissance Soul November 10, 2020

Renaissance Soul Podcast – The Majesty Crush Episode (w/ Hobey Echlin – Bassist of the 90s Detroit Shoegaze Band)

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.

Fresh is the Word Podcast Episode #234: Alla Xul Elu (Billy Obey, Joey Black, Lee Carver) - New Album MauXuLeum Out Now on Majik Ninja Entertainment

Fresh is the Word October 30, 2020

Episode #234: Alla Xul Elu (Billy Obey, Joey Black, Lee Carver) – Ohio-Based Horrorcore Hip-Hop Group, New Album MauXuLeum Out Now on Majik Ninja Entertainment

The guests for this episode are Billy Obey, Joey Black, and Lee Carver, the Horrorcore Hip-Hop trio from Ohio known as Alla Xul Elu making their return to Fresh is the Word to talk about all sorts of gross and horrific things, including their new album MauXuLeum, out now via Majik Ninja Entertainment. The new album is produced entirely by Detroit’s own Slasher Dave (producer of late 70s/early 80s influenced original instrumental horror/exploitation soundtrack music and member of metal band Acid Witch), so we talk about how it is to work with one producer for a whole album as we go track-by-track through MauXuLeum. We also talk about our favorite spooky tunes and horror flicks. It’s always crazy shenanigans when I have these Xuligans on the show.

Fresh is the Word October 28, 2020

Episode #233: Fenrier – Drummer of Varg, Pagan Metal Band from Coburg, New Album Zeichen Out Now Via Napalm Records

The guest for this episode is Fenrier, drummer the Pagan Metal band Varg from Coburg, Germany, who just released a new album Zeichen via Napalm Records. With this seventh full length release, Varg go back to their Pagan Metal roots, and in my discussion with Fenrier, we talk about the band’s vision for this album and their origins. We also go into Pagan history and how that is perceived in Germany, along with how his home place has been dealing with the pandemic along with social issues like the Black Lives Matter movement. It was great to almost exchange notes on the similarities and differences between our respective societal and political climates. It’s always fun to learn about different cultures through music and this episode with Fenrier is a good piece of education.

Renaissance Soul October 26, 2020

Renaissance Soul Podcast – The Circle Of Darkness Episode (w/ Eric Lauder, Guitarist of Detroit Thrash/Death Metal Band Plague Years)

For this episode, your host Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is joined by Eric Lauder, guitarist of the Detroit thrash/death metal band Plague Years, as we talk about their debut full-length album Circle of Darkness released September 18th 2020 via Entertainment One (or eOne). While the idea of the band has technically been around for about a decade now, the four guys of Plague Years only started to make it a serious band within the past few years with the release of two EPs, 2017’s self-titled EP and 2018’s Unholy Infestation EP. Eric shares with us the origins of the band, how they got signed to eOne, along with his vision for the band has the main songwriter going into making Circle of Darkness. We go track-by-track throughout the album, talk about the videos they shot, along with the album’s amazing cover artwork.

Renaissance Soul Podcast Ep.10 - The Everything Has To Fall Apart Eventually Episode (w/ The Messenger Birds - Chris Williams & Parker Bengry)

Renaissance Soul October 21, 2020

Renaissance Soul Podcast – The Everything Has To Fall Apart Eventually Episode (w/ The Messenger Birds – Chris Williams & Parker Bengry)

For this episode, your host Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is joined by Parker Bengry and Chris Williams, just two guys known as The Messenger Birds. The Detroit alternative rockers releases their debut album Everything Has To Fall Apart Eventually on October 7th, 2020. We go into the origins of the band as both guys, who have long been close friends, found themselves in countless other bands before finally coming together in 2015 to form this duo. We also go on a track-by-track breakdown of Everything Has To Fall Apart Eventually along with discuss their videos, the album artwork, and having Third Man Records press the vinyl version of the album. While written and recorded throughout 2018 and 2019, the outlook on the world we are living in shown to us by The Messenger Birds on this album is very relevant for 2020.

Fresh is the Word Podcast Episode #232: Skeme Richards - Global DJ, Cultural Ambassador, Foodie and Pop Culture Preserver, Purveyor of Rare Gems, and Runs the Website Nostalgia King

Fresh is the Word October 16, 2020

Episode #232: Skeme Richards – Rock Steady Crew, Global DJ, Cultural Ambassador, Foodie and Pop Culture Preserver, Purveyor of Rare Gems, and Runs the Website Nostalgia King

The guest for this episode is global DJ, cultural ambassador, foodie and pop culture preserver, Skeme Richards, and you can read and listen to all his experiences online at his Nostalgia King website. He recently dropped a new vinyl only (NO DIGITAL) 7″ for “Rock Latin Steady” b/w “Bimbo To The Beat” via RBMBoots that sold out quickly.

Fresh is the Word Podcast Episode #231: LP Giobbi – Oregon-born, Los Angeles-based DJ, Producer, Creator of Femme House, Co-Owner of Animal Talk, New EP Playing My Role Out Now

Fresh is the Word October 14, 2020

Episode #231: LP Giobbi – Oregon-born, Los Angeles-based DJ, Producer, Creator of Femme House, Co-Owner of Animal Talk, New EP Playing My Role Out Now

The guest for this episode is the Oregon-born, Los Angeles-based DJ and producer LP Giobbi. She just released her new EP Playing My Role (featuring Hermixalot) via Thrive Music, the follow up to her summer club smash “Meet Again” (featuring Little Boots). LP is co-owner of Animal Talk, a hybrid publishing company (a joint venture with Third Side Music), event brand, traveling party and artist collective she co-founded with GRAMMY-nominated electronic duo SOFI TUKKER. LP also founded FEMME HOUSE, an educational platform created to address the lack of representation and equity in electronic music by empowering women to learn the language of the studio. During our chat, we talked about her upbringing in music, becoming a DJ and producer, and linking up with SOFI TUKKER. We also get into her motivation in starting FEMME HOUSE and the reasons it important to continuously fight for representation and equity in electronic music.

Renaissance Soul September 29, 2020

Renaissance Soul Podcast Ep.9 – The Branding of Detroit Hip Hop Episode (w/ Illustrator & Designer Mario “Khalif” Butterfield)

For this episode, your host Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is joined by designer, photographer, illustrator, film director, fashion designer, Mario “Khalif” Butterfield to talk about the branding and marketing history behind Detroit hip-hop. We get into how he first found himself in the Detroit hip-hop scene as a designer and photographer, who he met, what he learned, and how he networked throughout the city. Once he got comfortable in his skills, he was able to help improve the visual aspects of Detroit hip-hop starting in the mid 90s advocating that the full product package is important for a music artist.

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