Music Archives - Ife Oshun YA Fantasy Author

New Project: Hosting the ODDDIO Podcast

By Ife Oshun | October 25, 2019 - 1:39 am |December 6, 2019 Events, Music, Odddio, Uncategorized

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I’m excited to announce that I’m now hosting the new Odddio podcast. It feels good to again embrace the roots of my professional writing career–music artist interviews. Wooohooo!!!

🎵 But this time, we not only spotlight the music, we also chat about weird, strange, and unusual topics–you name it–aliens, the paranormal, crop circles, mythic beings, all the fun stuff I love to explore.

Music + weird stuff. Sound familiar?

It’s the story of my life!

Some of the most amazing, and imaginative, conversations I’ve ever had are with music artists about topics that are nowhere near the beaten path. I’m grateful for this opportunity to chat with talented people in an environment that’s free of judgement.

The first episode sees me chatting with rock band Somerset about their debut album, and Area 51 whistle blower Bob Lazar. It was so much fun!

The full audio Odddio (get it, huh, get it?) podcast can be found on the Odddio website as well as a number of subscription platforms such as Google podcasts, and more. You can also check out video segments on the Odddio YouTube channel. Here’s a sample:

Please like and subscribe to the #Odddio channel on YouTube to see video segments, follow me on #Instagram or visit the ODDDIO website to download the full audio podcast, transcripts, and more.

I’m also grateful to connect with fantastic local artists for this show. There’s a lot of great talent out there. I hope you enjoy!

👍🏾😀🙏🏾🎶💖 Don’t forget to share!👍🏾😀🙏🏾🎶💖 This new podcast needs your support!

See you in the land of Odddio!!

Odddio Theme Song Credit: “Trans My Gray Shun” – T.Blackett, I. Oshun (TBlack Productions, Papa Grace)

Black Panther Score

By Ife Oshun | February 13, 2019 - 3:23 am |February 13, 2019 Music, Playlists

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The Black Panther Score

The last film score I bought and listened to obsessively was from the global blockbuster movie Black Panther.

The composer, Ludwig Göransson, recently won a (well-deserved) Grammy for it, as well as a song of the year Grammy for his work on Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.”

In fact, according to Variety, the Swedish-born producer “became the first artist to win song of the year and best score soundtrack for projects in entirely different music genres.”

It’s no surprise–the Black Panther score is absolutely epic. It hasn’t left my rotation since it dropped.

Here’s a video which explores the producer’s process in making the score. ❤

Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band

By Ife Oshun | March 2, 2018 - 3:42 pm |May 2, 2018 Music, Singers

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Currently rocking my world: Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band.

I listen to music all day, all night, and even sometimes when I’m sleeping. Filling out all of that listening time is every genre imaginable–yes, I listen to everything.

Most of the artists on my playlist can be shoehorned into a genre, but some cannot be defined. One of the latter types is Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band.

In the 1976 they dropped their classic, eponymous debut album, and to this day it is, arguably, still one of the most diverse, and amazing, albums known to humankind. The band successfully, according to Wikipedia, blended big band, swing, and disco, with calypso, rhumba, cha-cha-chá, and compas. Not many well-known bands can claim that.

40+ years later, the band’s work still rocks a music lover’s world. Their signature hit was the magical, diaphanous, and percolating “Cherchez la Femme/Se Si Bon”…

That and another of the album’s tracks, “Sunshower,” have been sampled by a slew of hip-hop producers, including Ghostface Killah who released “Cherchez la Ghost” on 2000’s Supreme Clientele.

Besides “Cherchez la Femme…,” my favorite pick is big band-infused, and uber-romantic “Mister Love.”

Oh, those horns!

In an excellent interview with the Shadow League, the group’s lead singer, Cory Daye, summarized their unique sound:

We were delivering what we called then, “Mulatto Madness.” Our music reflected our intercultural heritage – Latin, disco, big band, jazz. It was the original creation of fusion music.

“They” truly don’t make music like this anymore. Take a moment to discover this amazing group from the past, and let the music flavor your present. Enjoy!

Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist

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By Ife Oshun | March 26, 2015 - 8:12 pm |March 22, 2015 Heart To Heart, Inspiration, Music, Playlists, Singers, Uncategorized, Writing

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Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist

Like the Top 10 Audio list, this video list offers the top songs from the Heart To Heart Official Playlist, the sixty songs I played religiously over the roughly year and a half that it took to write and edit (and edit, and edit) Heart To Heart. There are also a few other songs from the official list that are thrown in here, just for fun.

Unfortunately, not every song has an official video, some are simply fan-made such as the Dark Shadows tune, “Go All The Way,” which was never officially released.

Artists on this video list include Lorde, Ellie Goulding, Santigold, Icona Pop, Florence + the Machine, and more.

Also check out the Official Blood To Blood Playlist so see what I listened to while writing the first book in the Angelica Brown Series, Blood To Blood.

Heart To Heart Top Ten Audio Playlist

By Ife Oshun | March 24, 2015 - 6:46 am |March 22, 2015 Heart To Heart, Inspiration, Movies, Music, Playlists, Singers, Writing

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Heart To Heart Top Ten Audio Playlist

If you read my last post, you’ll know I had sixty songs on constant rotation while writing Heart To Heart. Like Blood To Blood‘s playlist, the compilation of songs reflect my obsession with always playing music while writing or doing anything in general.

Some of the songs were played more than others, and I always like to check out the “Number of Plays” column in iTunes to get a glance at which tunes I played more than others. Most of this list features female artists that I pretty much wrote to non-stop. The wildcard in the bunch is a song from the Johnny Depp starrer Dark Shadows that was never even released (don’t ask me how it got it in my playlist, I’ll plead the fifth if you do). The only other soundtrack song comes from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; Santigold’s goose pimple-inducing “Shooting Arrows At The Sky.”

This audio playlist features the Top 10 of the list in order of plays, starting with the most played. For the entire official list check here. Enjoy the tunes!

I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)

My Blood

"Shooting Arrows at the Sky" - Santigold

"Lights" - Ellie Goulding

Heart To Heart Top Ten Audio Playlist

Heart To Heart Official Playlist

Blood To Blood Official Playlist

List of Artists – “Sun City” Video – Artists United Against Apartheid

By Ife Oshun | December 6, 2013 - 10:41 pm |December 11, 2013 Boston, Inspiration, Music, Playlists, Singers, Television

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List of Artists – “Sun City” Video – Artists United Against Apartheid

List of Artists – “Sun City” Video – Artists United Against Apartheid – Bruce Springsteen, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks Photo: 30daysout

It’s a day after the passing of the great Nelson Mandela and my mind is going back in time to when apartheid was brought to the attention of the world, and most importantly, youth such as myself, through music.

One thing that came to mind was this 80’s video. I’d seen it many times as a kid growing up in Boston on the awesome V66; a progressive, local music video channel that made MTV look like the joke we all learned it to be later.

While MTV balked at playing videos featuring black artists (Michael Jackson was the first in heavy rotation), V66 routinely played this political video which featured a new music called rap as well as legends of the industry such as Miles Davis. The video featured an exciting cross-section of genres, nationalities and generations; everyone from Ringo Star to Jimmy Cliff to a young-ish Bruce Springsteen to what was left of the original Temptations (David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks).

Below is a list of all the music artists, personalities and celebrities that appeared in the video. If I have missed anybody, please leave a comment and I’ll add after verification.

RIP Nelson Mandela!

Bonnie Raitt

Clarence Clemons

David Ruffin

George Clinton

Iqbal Akhund

Jimmy Cliff

Kashif

Lotti Golden

Melle Mel

Pat Benatar

Peter Wolf

Ron Carter

Scorpio

Shenkar

Sonny Okosuns

Stiv Bators

Via Afrika

Also see: Artists United Against Apartheid

Source: IMDB.com, Wikipedia

List of Artists – “Sun City” Video – Artists United Against Apartheid

Mortal Instruments Soundtrack Track Listing

By Ife Oshun | July 2, 2013 - 5:15 pm |July 2, 2013 Movies, Music, Playlists

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Mortal Instruments Soundtrack Track Listing

Mortal Instruments Soundtrack Track Listing

It’s here! MTV has posted the track listing for the upcoming “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” movie slated for August 21 release.

The flick is based on the uber-popular Cassandra Clare series of books and will star Jonathan Rhys Meyers among others.

Here’s the Mortal Instruments Soundtrack Track Listing:

1. Zedd, “Into The Lair”
2. Jessie J, “Magnetic”
3. AFI, “17 Crimes (LA Riots Remix)”
4. Demi Lovato, “Heart By Heart”
5. Youngblood Hawke, “Bring Me Home”
6. Colbie Caillat, “When The Darkness Comes”
7. Seven Lions with Myon & Shane 54 featuring Tove Lo, “Strangers”
8. Pacific Air, “Bear”
9. He Is We featuring Owl City, “All About Us”
10. Bassnectar, “Calling From Above”
11. Jetta, “Start A Riot”
12. Bryan Ellis, “Strange Days”

Thanks to MTV for the list!

Mortal Instruments Soundtrack Track Listing

Current Playlist: Top 3 Albums May 2013

By Ife Oshun | May 9, 2013 - 10:54 pm |May 9, 2013 Blood To Blood, Inspiration, Justin McCarthy, Music, Playlists, Sawyer Creed

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Current Playlist: Top 3 Albums May 2013

Current playlist: Top 3 Albums May 2013 – Ed Sheran +

I’m currently writing two pieces: the follow-up to Blood To Blood and a yet-to-be-titled piece revolving around one of its characters, Justin McCarthy. Although, I admit, the Blood To Blood sequel has taken a back seat to the Justin piece which is eating me alive. He’s a very intense guy, that Justin, a flawed character… and his world is intense. Anyone who knows me personally can testify that I am not the same, and it’s truly all Justin’s fault. That’s pretty much all I can say about it for now.

So anyway, here’s the music that’s been serving as a backdrop for my writing over the past month. I’ve been really getting into Ed Sheeran (although he’s more in line with Sawyer Creed’s character in all honesty), but I love his brand of hip-hop-powered acoustic soul and the way he just lays it all out there for everyone to see. The newest artist I’ve been digging is Imagine Dragons. I’m still soaking in their sound and have found it sonically in line with the mood in Justin’s head. Silversun Pickups remains on constant rotation from last month.

: Current playlist:
Ed Sheeran

: Current playlist: Imagine Dragons

: Current playlist: Silversun Pickups

Additional artists in current rotation:

Metric
Santigold
Jay-Z
Muse
Black Keys
Grizzly Bear
Cherry Bomb
Nirvana
Hole
Rihanna
Beethoven
Deadmau5

Current Playlist: Top 3 Albums May 2013

Muse 2013 – Boston

By Ife Oshun | April 13, 2013 - 10:46 pm |April 14, 2013 Music, Playlists, Singers

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Muse 2013 – Boston

Last night, I took some time away from tapping on the computer to see my favorite band Muse. This time around they’re touring North America in support of their latest album The 2nd Law, and, as always, they were EPIC. If you have never seen them live, go now.

I took some video; unfortunately the sound is terrible, but you can get a great feeling for the light show. A friend who works at the Boston (TD for the corporate purists) Garden hooked me up with the playlist before the show. I was very excited to see they’d be playing a good mix of the new stuff, not so new stuff (from the previous album Resistance), older stuff (as in Starlight from Black Holes and Revelations) and classics (“Time Is Running Out” and one of my all-time faves “Stockholm Syndrome” from waaaay back in the day). What I didn’t know was they’d nix one of the new songs (“Animals”) for one of my top 3 Muse songs, (“Map of the Problematique”), or that they’d do a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s version of the “Star Spangled Banner” or a great partial cover of “House of The Rising Sun” complete with the audience singing the lyrics. Need I say I was amped?

So now, more than 24 hours later I’m still high on Muse adrenaline. I’m no groupie but I would definitely travel to another city, or country to see this band. Believe me, there is no other band in the world I can say that about. Below you can get an idea as to why their’s is referred to as one of, and sometimes THE, best live rock show on the planet. Their laser shows gets sicker every year.

Muse Apr. 12 – Boston “Follow Me”

Muse Apr. 12 – Boston “Supermassive Blackhole”

Muse Apr. 12, Boston – Uprising

Muse 2013 – Boston

Current Playlist: March 2013

By Ife Oshun | March 31, 2013 - 11:57 pm |April 1, 2013 Blood To Blood, Inspiration, Justin McCarthy, Music, Playlists, Writing

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Current Playlist: March 2013

It’s happened. I haven’t done a weekly post in over a month. But I have a good reason…

You see, I am currently in a wonderful fog. This fog manifests whenever a character and/or his/her circumstances has taken over and demands that I write what is satisfactory and what is true. I have experienced this fog before, but this time it is thicker because I am working on two books simultaneously.

Some mornings I can barely see through this fog straight enough to drive my 9 year old to school.

I’m still learning how to operate successfully in this sometimes disturbing fog. When the characters get demanding, I streamline my life, focus on priorities and say “no” more often to things that can wait. So for now, I feel no pressure to keep up with weekly posts.

However, I must take a breather to tell you about some of the music I’ve been listening to. Since music is always a priority outside and within the fog, the tunes and artists take on a special meaning because they become a part of the creative process; the background as well as part of the fabric of ideas. Some of these tunes I listen to when I’m writing, some when I’m reading, doing research, and some when I’m turning over the plot and characters in my mind at a red light.
I’m currently writing two pieces: the follow-up to Blood To Blood and a yet-to-be-titled piece revolving around one of its characters, Justin McCarthy.

Current playlist: Santigold

Current playlist: Adele

Current playlist: Silversun Pickups

Artists in current rotation

Metric
Santigold
Muse
Alpha Blondy
System of a Down
Adele
Grizzly Bear
Silversun Pickups
Cherry Bomb
Kaskade
Van Hunt
Felix da Housecat
Bruno Mars
Deadmau5

Current Playlist: March 2013

Category Archives: Music

New Project: Hosting the ODDDIO Podcast

Black Panther Score

Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band

Currently rocking my world: Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band.

Heart To Heart Top 10 Video Playlist