UMS Artist Spotlight: DRAMA

DRAMA (Image taken from Facebook Page)

Chicago R&B duo DRAMA were nice enough to chat with us on the eve of their Saturday performance at The Underground Music Showcase.

Ultra5280: If you could sum up the essence of Drama what would it be?

DRAMA: The essence of drama is creating the concept of originality, art and feeling. In general, we’re friends who were brought together by way of music that is way bigger than us. We didn’t know what to expect when we started sharing our art, but our mission was always to love everything we put out and connect with people and their day to day feelings. If you listen to our songs, our hope is that you might find one that will strike an emotional chord.

Ultra5280: Tell us about your music influences. What styles have the biggest pull when you’re creating your music?
Via: Sade and Drake. 100% smooth, simple, clever, relatable and impactful.

Na’el: I gain my influence from many different producers of various different skill sets. Pharrell for his drums, Kanye for his sampling chops, Jon Brion for his beautiful arrangements and overall production. I could go on, but I’ll leave it there for now.

Ultra5280: What was the hardest song to write and why?

Via: Our new single ‘Give No Fucks’ for sure. The beat is unlike anything we’ve done and the process was relatively unorthodox for me. When writing a song, I usually spend a good amount of time listening to the music before words form. GNF came together relatively quickly. The majority of my lyrics come from a dark and cold places of mourning and loss which, for me, help songs write themselves. GNF musically felt like a party everyone was trying to get into, I didn’t even know where to begin. So I had to picture what that might feel like and “what would Pharrell and Bruno Mars do” and let just let it flow.

Ultra5280: I would say my favorite genre of music is sad dance tunes. Why do you think listeners gravitate towards sad dance music?

DRAMA: The same reason the earth is dying but the flowers are still blooming… life goes on.

Ultra5280: What can we expect from your live performance this weekend at UMS?

DRAMA: Lots and lots of love and laughs, possibly some tears and some make out session in the audience… haha. It’s an emotional rollercoaster with us. You gotta come expecting to experience the ride.

Ultra5280: What’s the next move for Drama?


DRAMA: A lot of touring! We’ll be on the road this fall with SG Lewis in North America and back across the pond for some shows in Europe. Looking forward to also releasing our first full album in 2020! :)

UMS Artist Spotlight: Jackie Mendoza

Jackie Mendoza by Tayo Okyekan

We had a chance to catch up with Underground Music Showcase artist Jackie Mendoza before this weekends festival to chat about a variety of topics including the growth of Latin music and wha it means to be a Latina artist.

Ultra5280: There has recently been a huge shift in the popularity of Latin music in the United States, what do you think attributes to the success?

Jackie: More Latin artists have been highlighted in the mainstream media and bigger artists have been collaborating with Latin artists too. 

 

Ultra5280: What are some of the struggles you still see as a Latin artist and what obstacles have you had to overcome to be where you are at today?

Jackie: I think any POC would face similar limitations like stereotyping or lack of visibility. I’m lucky to be able to share my music with people of all cultures and I’m proud to be labeled as a Latin artist but sometimes it feels like it’s tokenized. I’ve also been criticized for singing in Spanish and for “taking advantage of the ‘Latin trend’ ”, but this wouldn’t come into question if they knew my story. 

 

Ultra5280: Do you see the genre expanding? Why or why not?

Jackie: Yeah! It’s expanding because people from other cultures are incorporating the Spanish language and Latin sounds into their music. It’s cool to see how reggaeton has completely taken over mainstream hip-hop and pop. We also hear a lot more Spanish and even non-Spanish speaking artists are singing in Spanish too. 

 

 Ultra5280: If you could collaborate with any Latin artist past or present, who would it be and why?

Jackie: I would love to collaborate with Juana Molina. I would learn so much from her and I have a feeling we could make cool and weird music together. She’s mastered the art of looping and I make most of my music from loops and small little hooks. I think our ideas would flow and meet at unexpected points. 

 

Ultra5280: Where do you see the shift in Latin music in the next five years?

Jackie: I think there will be an even bigger blend of Latin music with other types of genres. 

 

Ultra5280: You recently signed to Luminelle Records, how has that impacted you and who are some of your influences?

Jackie: Signing to Luminelle felt like the official start of a new stage for my music. Now I have a full team of awesome people supporting me and helping me move forward. I’m really excited to be on a label with artists I admire and love. Anemone and Munya have become influences for me since I joined Luminelle; Munya’s songwriting and Anemone’s energy on stage. 

 

Ultra5280:  Finally what can Denver expect from Jackie Mendoza next weekend at the Underground Music Showcase?


Jackie: You can expect my silly dance moves, techno beats, a swirly-sounding electric ukulele, and lots of singing :) 

First Look: Queen Eider "Homebody" Video Premiere

We give you the exclusive premiere of the debut video and single from Queen Eider. The solo project comes from Melanie Steinway (Tyto Alba and Corsicana). Smooth layered rhythms complimented by Steinway’s usual lyrical mastery set the tone for the song while the video makes us feel comfortably creepy yet portrays the message being given.

The song's a summery musing on where I'm at in life right now. Settled into a routine, but it's unsettling. Gently coasting through an existence where I'm filled with gratitude but also occasionally slipping into a strange dark place in my head where you question everything around you.

For the song the track ended up being very collaborative actually. Both Danny and Ben (Corsicana) helped out a lot with the recording. Danny programmed the drum track, Ben played and recorded the live drums, as well as recorded vocals, guitar, and mixing. Ben and Casey (Modern Leisure) sang back-up vocals and the track is mastered by Joe Lambert. Expect more from Queen Eider in the coming months.

Homebody Lyrics: 

A placid breeze became a hurricane

Now I can’t see straight

Don’t want my mood hinged on the weather

Who’re you gonna get today?

Who knew I could sleep so much

Disillusioned and out of touch

(chorus)

I can’t keep feeling old

I think I’m being told

I should get out of this house

I better come around

Anxiety’s resounding, drowning

All in it’s path

I gotta gotta get back


Just a self-indulgent twenty-something

With big things to do

And if you think you’re getting lucky

I got a surprise for you


Silence comes in short supply

Modern culture’s got me mystified 


(chorus x2)

11 Latino Artist To Watch For At This Year's Underground Music Showcase

The Underground Music Showcase is just around the corner and we wanted to celebrate the diversity and culture that this years’s festival will allow us to enjoy. Latin music has been around for many years and we are lucky to be home to quite a few bands here in our own city. This year’s UMS spared no expensive to give us a weekend to celebrate latin music at its finest. A slew of national and locals will grace the stages of venues all across Broadway next weekend to showcase the biggest growing genre in music today. (In no particular order)

1. Chicano Batman | Showcase Stage @ Goodwill Saturday, Jul 27 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the dapper four piece blends the soulful sounds of the 70’s with an upbeat and infectious romantic pop. The band pays homage to the early bands of yesteryear including the Los Angeles Negros and Los Pasteles Verdes. They have built a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in the industry due to their extensive touring and festival appearances. We are lucky to be graced with the amazing sounds for this years Underground Music Showcase.

2. Y La Bamba | Knockout Stage @ Punch Bowl Social Sunday, Jul 28 6:20 PM - 7:00 PM

Y La Bamba is gracefully evolving as a major player in the folk scene. Blessed by the vocals of Luz Elena Mendoza, the band takes us on a journey in which they step over boundaries to connect with their audience with rich narratives about heritage and legacies left behind. The creative songwriting is a warm welcome of a woman whose identity is shaped by her ancestry and we are fortunate enough to live to see the tale. It’s also a homecoming for Julia Mendiolea of Inner Oceans fame who returns to Denver as a member of the band.

3. ALTAS | Moe's Original BBQ Saturday, Jul 27 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM and Skylark Lounge Sunday, Jul 28 11:00 PM - 11:40 PM

ALTAS is one of the most underrated bands in Denver. They have been honing their craft for sometime and deliver with a sound unlike no other. Flanked by ambient sounds and lush dreamscapes the instrumental band reminds us of a latin Explosions In The Sky. The music is unconventional but demands your attention without you realizing you have already been pulled in.

4. Big J Beats | Blue Ice Saturday, Jul 27 3:00 PM - 3:40 PM

Big J Beats is the moniker of Justin Alvarado, hailing from the Mile High City. Ask any hip-hop head or beat junkie and Alvarado’s name slips off the tongue without hesitation. A marksman behind the beat machine Big J Beats delivers uncanny strokes and explosive finger mastery that eludes into a one-of-a-kind show rarely seen. A Denver legend in the making, you don’t have to see it to believe it, just listen.

5. Don Chicharrón | Showcase Stage @ Goodwill Saturday, Jul 27 4:00 PM - 4:40 PM

There is only one band in Denver that identifies itself as the Kings of Chicha. Don Chicharón plays a style of music that most of us can relate to as cumbia music. Only difference is they do it with a Peruvian flare that lights up their live shows into a full on dance party. The nine-piece band delivers with an array of sounds that channel folk, cumbia, psych rock and a percussion section that serves up all the fixings all on one plate. A band that truly honors those who came before them, they give the listeners something they will always remember.

6. iZCALLi | Skylark Lounge Saturday, Jul 27 1:00 AM - 1:40 AM

Long heralded as one of our favorite bands for the last few years iZCALLi deliver a supersonic blast of rock in Español. Anchoring the band is Miguel Avina (lead guitar/vocals) and sister Brenda Avina (bass) who deliver punchy guitar driven melodies and backed by the drumming of Luiggi Ramirez (who by the way we consider the best drummer in Denver, fight us!). The band spreads the importance of love and unity in its music and leaves a long lasting impression after all is said and done. We only know of one way to go out on Saturday night and it will be with iZCALLi.

7. Jackie Mendoza | Knockout Stage @ Punch Bowl Social Sunday, Jul 28 4:20 PM - 5:00 PM

An artist we recently discovered at SXSW, Jackie Mendoza is one of the many latin growing artist we are seeing blossom. Hailing from Chula Vista, California ( a bordertown with Tijuana), Mendoza delivers electro-pop and performs in both English and Spanish giving her a unique dynamic which barely exists in the genre. Her songs often relate to the modern day complexities of love and relationships which emphasize the importance of loving yourself to equate happiness in its most complex forms.

8. Los Mocochetes | 3 Kings Tavern Sunday, Jul 28 10:00 PM - 10:40 PM

No other band has equated to the success Los Mocochetes have in the last three years here in the Mile High City. Our 2018 “Band of the Year” has outdone themselves to become a staple in the Denver music scene. Their message of positivity and love comes at a time when it is most needed for us and they explore those relationships through the magic of music. Their sound can only be described as a cornucopia of various elements that exude funk and latin infused elements of cumbia, and socio-political agendas that resonate into their live performances.

9. Vic N’ The Narwals | Showcase Stage @ Goodwill Sunday, Jul 28 1:20 PM - 2:00 PM

Cut from the same thread as fellow surf rockers Los Growlers, Vic N’ The Narwals deliver a live performance unlike no other. The band takes its influences from 60’s rock and and a sound that maintains originality but also infuses a hint of The Doors. The band is slowly leaving their mark on the Colorado scene and is only a matter of time before they get discovered and introduced to the world to enjoy.

10. Joshua Trinidad | Banded Oak Brewing Co. Friday, Jul 26 7:00 PM - 7:40 PM

Joshua Trinidad has been a consistent mainstay as one of the hardest working musicians in our city, an accomplished trumpeter, Trinidad evokes the craftsmanship and extensive list of performers he has had the pleasure to sit in with. Hailed as one of the best Trinidad continues to impress and gift us a sound that is distinctive and one of a kind.

11. Lady Gang | Denver Distillery Saturday, Jul 27 10:00 PM - 10:40 PM

Nobody works as hard as Jen Korte who also goes by the name Lady Gang. Also fun fact, not many know Jen comes from a latino background (we did our homework). Lady Gang isn’t a musician or band, it is more of an experience than anything else. We love witnessing creativity at its finest and with Lady Gang we get that and a second plate to take home. Stepping outside the boundaries of conformity Lady Gang gives us a blissful array of sounds from a loop machine and guitar. We highly recommend catching her set at this year’s Underground Music Showcase.

First Look: Nuancer - "Feel Good Hit of The Summer"

We give you the exclusive first look at the new Nuancer video for “Feel Good Hit of The Summer”. The video channels its inner Dire Straits video nod for “Money For Nothing” with an array of visual characters brought to life with astounding vocals. The video features an all start cast of vocalist such as Babelord, Casey Banker (Modern Leisure) and Melanie Steinway (Tyto Alba). We are digging it, so should you.

Video created by Noel Afan Billups

Post edits by Daniel DiMarchi Song is "Feel Good Hit Of The Summer"

Written, recorded, mixed & mastered by Nuancer nuancer.bandcamp.com

Westword Music Showcase Celebrates 25 Years

Bishop Briggs providing one of the best sets of the day. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Earlier this month we had a chance to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Westword Music Showcase here in Denver. The entertainment outlet has been putting on this amazing festival for years and lucky for us we have had a chance to cover a handful of them. Taking place in the Golden Triangle neighborhood of Denver, the festival went all out for this year’s lineup which featured everything from indie to electronic dance. With temperatures in the mid 90’s it was a perfect opportunity to grab a White Claw and Breck Brew Summer Pils to cool off. Festival goer’s were able to escape the heat taking refuge inside venues along Broadway to see some of the best local music bands from our area. From rockers Citra to up and coming star Bailey Elora, the lineup catered to the masses. This year Breckenridge Brewery took hold of the main sponsorship and their presence was felt as a “Breck Brew Camping” area adorned the parking lot between the main stages offering games, live art installations and a silent disco. Standout performances included main stage acts Yasi, Bishop Briggs, The Knocks, Slow Caves, Jai Wolf, and CHVRCHES. Local acts that shined included Adiel Mitchell, Los Mocochetes, CITRA, The Velveteers, Briana Straut, Corsicana, Vic N’ Narwals, as well as DJ sets by Erin Stereo and Polyphoni.

The festival itself has always been the unofficial kickoff to summer in the mile high and provides an amazing day with an amazing layout to be able to catch multiple stages. This years talent was as good as any of the previous years we have covered. Cheers and hopefully we get to celebrate the next 25 years with the Westword Music Showcase.

-Robert Castro

Photo Gallery: Robert Castro

The elegant and dazzling Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES. (Photo Credit: Kate Rose)

Crooked Colours shined. (Photo Credit: Aly McClaran)