The Triumphant Return of Elyson

Now before I begin allow me to dispel any notions of a bias from the start. It is true that I have been friends with Elyson lead singer Colin Batty for years. However when he told me he was the lead vocalist of a new band three years ago no one thought he'd fail more than I did. When I heard Elyson for the first time I was surprised at the maturity and talent in their music. But still something was lacking for me. I enjoyed their music but always felt something holding back when I listened to them. For those of you who don't know them Elyson is 5 piece screamo/ hardcore band from New Hampshire. They have been around for around three years and have released one EP and a video and played shows like madmen. Around six months ago two members left the band. For most bands this early in their career this could be devastating, but Elyson has proved that they aren't most bands. Elyson has come back with two new members; bassist Chris Pierson and guitarist Matt Munoz and have released a new song, "Exodus". "Exodus" marks the triumphant return of Elyson and has showed me the missing element of the old Elyson. Their older songs seemed to have intensity but always failed to truly explode or erupt into a heavier sound, think Underoath post Dallas Taylor. However "Exodus" is a song that does not hold back and gives you that explosiveness. Elyson is a new and revamped band with a fire no one can put out. With shows on deck and more songs on the way Elyson is on their way to being the next big band out of New Hampshire.

Please Visit myspace.com/elyson

J.C.I.T.Y Interview

J.C.I.T.Y. Interview September 23^rd 2010

By Ryan Whitfield

I have now worked with J.C.I.T.Y (Jason Simon) for almost 2 and a half years. I heard the Boston rapper for the first time when I began Rescue Music in the late Spring of 2008. He was in fact the first rapper I began promoting and is now the only original Rescue Music Artist left. Now 2 and a half years later both of us have gone through a lot. I have grown my company and experienced a lot within this industry. In fact the only common denominator between now and then would be J. Now I sit here writing this interview for New England Hip Hop which was just a dream when we began working together. And as for J.C.I.T.Y, he has grown, grinded and released 2 new albums with the third dropping soon. This new album is called “Sky Writing” and already gaining a buzz around the Bean. From the tracks hes leaked onto newenglandhiphop.com it is clear that J.C.I.T.Y has artistictly reinvented himself again with another strong new sound. So a week ago I interviewed the up and rising artist from Boston about his new album “Sky Writing”. We talked about the album, what it's about, what the name “Sky Writing” means, and even the business side of how he plans to market the album and what it means for his career. It is clear that when “Sky Writing” drops everyone will be paying attention.

What does the name Sky Writing mean?

It means the Sky is the limit to my writing creativity. I feel free to write about anything I want to while still keeping it real with myself and knowing and providing what people want to hear; Dope music.

What is Sky Writing about?

Nowadays I feel like a lot of artists all rap about the same thing or they find their lane as an artist and never move out of it. Many artists are afraid to take risks with music and go left sometimes. Meaning they never try nothing different like switching up their flow, subject matter, style of beat they rhyme over, look, or just overall vibe or sound. It’s almost like you know what to expect from many artist before you even hear a new song because you know they’re probably going to do the same thing you always hear from them. As an artist I feel that you need to be able to take risk & go left sometime in order to grow and become better. You keep feeding people the same thing over and over people become uninterested with you.

When you write and record do you have any rituals or routines or ways to get you in the zone?

Naw I don’t need anything special to write or record. All I need is a dope beat and the rest is history. Many times it starts off with a few lines in my head. Usually the first 4 bars of a verse, then the other 12 bars come when I get a pencil & paper. Usually once I get the first 4 bars in my head the full 16 bars comes pretty quick. If I hear a beat first that inspires me to write I start thinking of lines or I might start writing. If it’s not flowing like I feel it should I stop and come back to it hours later or sometimes even days later. I never like to write my first thought. I like to explore all the possibilities of a line before I finalize the line or full rhyme: Therefore I know it’s the best I could have done wit that verse or song.

How will this album differ from your past records?

Before I started recording for this album a friend a mine said to me “Jason you always rhyme over the same style beat, I’m starting to know what to expect from you; try writing to beats with different sounding instruments then what your use to.” I used this statement as inspiration of making “Sky Writing”. Overall, and specifically sonically this album sounds different than my previous albums. A lot of people know me for rhyming over east coast style beats with soul samples in the hook or a heavy bass southern beat. Although I gave people want they want on a few tracks I tried to stray away from that on most of the album. That’s why you’ll hear songs like ‘Wanna Feel it”, “Skywriting 1 & 2”, “God Made me Funky”, “Venting Pt 2 and a few others. These songs I felt I went left because you never really heard me rap over beats like this. Granted I didn’t force anything or just did a track because it was “different”. I wanted the songs to sound natural so I still kept it J.C.I.T.Y on the tracks and provided ya'll with that lyrical creative art people love.

How do you plan on marketing this album?

I plan on providing a free download link and passing out thousands of hard copies to people in the streets and stores. The free download link will be on any and every hip hop website I can put it on. Of course newenglandhiphop.com will be one of the first to have it.

Whats Next for JCITY?

Shows, radio interviews, videos, tv, road trips, then ultimately a record deal. Yeah Yeeeeaaaaaah!

Its been a long grind in this game for you, would you change any part of the path you've taken?

Although I have made a few mistakes a long the way I wouldn’t have changed anything because I’ve learned from every mistake and have become a better artist because of them. With every album, show, video, song, event or opportunity I’ve had in this industry I’ve always think of ways I can do it better the next time around. That’s why you see my music is a lot better, sound quality is better, my graphics are better, my videos are better, my performances are better. It’s all been a good, fun, and entertaining learning experience. I’m fortunate to have this gift.

Rescue Music Update!

A lot has been happening over the last few months. I first off want to thank everyone who has supported us thus far. We will soon be updating weekly on video blogs on our youtube station. We have our Global Warming Mixtape coming out this Fall and will be constantly updating about that. We have a bunch of promo coming out this Fall as well, so please stay tuned in. Love ya'll!

J.C.I.T.Y bring us "Back to the Future"

There are few unsigned rappers gaining a bigger buzz in 2009 the Boston's own J.C.I.T.Y. Since the release of J's fourth independent album he has been tirelessly on his grind through radio interviews and distribution. When I first heard J.C.I.T.Y in 2008 and I knew there was a star like quality to his music and an intense drive to make that known. Rescue Music has been promoting J since that point, which now equals a year and a half. Aside from his strong flow, intricate word play and all around catchy sound J.C.I.T.Y has an element that few rappers have. This would be his all around strength as a writer, and I mean a real writer, a real artist. Not only is his word play clever but he also manages to bring the idea of concept albums to the hip-hop game. He first implemented this on his third album "From the Bottom to the Top" and has one upped it with the release of "Back to the Future". J starts off with the sounds of the old East Coast soulful hip-hop and then takes us back to the future where he shows us where the game is headed. This not only makes for a bold concept album but also shows the bravery and creativity to venture into new sounds. Even in the corporate hip-hop game few acts attempt this like Lil Wayne and Kanye. The album is mixed with poetic tracks and club hits and songs that are so atmospheric you transcend to an imaginary world while listening to it. This creativity is almost non-existent in todays music scene and is a refreshing change. J.C.I.T.Y should not only be commended for attempting such a daring artistic move but for also accomplishing it so perfectly. "Back to the Future" is an album that stays true to the underground but could easily cross into the mainstream. To sum up what I'm saying J.C.I.T.Y is way past yall. Check out J at myspace.com/jcitymusic

Crash Love- AFI sheds the shell of everything they were to write a classic album

When artists create an album or a song it is a reflection of what the writer is feeling and often influenced by their own current musical tastes. AFI's eigth full length album "Crash love" is no exception to this. The band has not hidden their current love of pop music and on "Crash Love" it shines through. AFI has always been a band centered on the idea of constantly evolving, this is evident from every album to the next. However, now that AFI has been releasing full length albums for 14 years the broader picture is one of a complete musical change. The four founding members came from the bay area punk scene, though you'd never know now. In fact lead singer Davey havok is more likely to listen to Imogen Heap now instead of The Misfits. Image and music wise AFI resembles almost nothing of who they were in 1995. Through all the years though, there is two common threads through out their long careers; their ability to deliver great music, no matter what genre you call it, and the support of their devoted fanbase.
The new album is a surprising change and almost stunning to hear at first take. Although it seemed innevitable, I for one never thought Davey Havok would completely abandon his scream that has been adorned by AFI fans throughout all the years. Though Davey still keeps some of his classic rasp on some of the tracks like, for instance "sacrilege", it certainly isnt the Davey of old. All in all "sacrilege" is the most classic AFI song on the album and one of my favorites. You will be hard pressed to find a more biased AFI fan than myself but to be honest after my first listen to "Crash love" I told friends that I liked 2 or 3 tracks at most. But being the die hard fan I am, and understanding that this happens with every new release from this band I decided to listen again and find what I liked. And, as bold as this seems, I say that Crash Love is by far the best AFI album to come out. It's definantly a pop record for rock kids, but they haven't lost their edge completely. Many fans were upset when Jade gave up his crunchy, full sounding riffs on 2006's December Underground, but Crash Love is Jade's triumphant return. While a few tracks still rely on an atmospheric sound ie. "Okay I feel better Now" and "Darling I want to Destroy you", the album as a whole bridges together the sound of Sing the Sorrow and December Underground. Jade returns with heavy riffs and dominant lead parts evident in the first single "medicate".When talking about "Crash Love" Davey said in interviews that they did not set out to write a timeless record but he feels they truly did, and I could not agree more.

Stand Out Tracks

1. Beautiful Theives
2. Medicate (first Single)
3. Okay I feel better now (Softer but a great slow song)
4. I am trying to be here (Daveys Dictator voice, with march beats, a Manson-esque song from the Anti-Christ Superstar Days)
5. Sacrilege (A sure favorite of old AFI Fans)
6. It was mine (One of the softest songs in AFI history, almost sounds like Chris Issack's Wicked Game, but the best pop song AFI has ever written.

Should've been left on the cutting floor

1. Veronica Sawyer Smokes (Almost unlistenable)