Remember Kadawatha, the band that opened for Paramore’s Honda Civic Tour, no? Well, we here at Artison have their EP; so it seems fitting for us to fulfill our unsung promise of introducing what’s new and exciting in the art world by reviewing this EP.

Kadawatha is a pretty interesting group; they have a lead singer of Sri Lankan origin, a band bio that makes their namesake sound narcissistic, and a history that’s not even two years deep.  Yet their band, led by Daniel Kadawatha was an impressive enough act to be invited on tour by Paramore, so they warrant our attention.

Leading the EP is the track Gonna Stay which is more or less a punk rock ballad. It plays well and finishes strong. Daniel shows good amounts of vocal control while keeping with the pace of the up-tempo song. And for some reason there appears to be more character in his voice in this song. The pacing in the song is a nice contrast to the other songs and really sets the tempo for the rest of the EP

The Ranger has a strong assault of guitars, overpowering all else in the song including Daniel’s voice at times, although not in a thrash metal way. Unfortunately, the song doesn’t come off as powerful as it would at first seem as Daniel’s vocals don’t quite compliment the production at hand.

Agape, the last song of the EP, contains strong melodies throughout which carry the song, and Daniel really shows his vocal range sending his voice soaring high into the clouds; right up there with the airy production. The beginning has samples of a train station mixed with guitar strums; it almost creates the music video for your, a testament to the songs immense detail. The guitar riffs, played intermittently through the song, are distinct and have a pleasant effect on the songs rhythm and overall sound; which is of course the best song on the EP.

While this EP may be passed up by the frugal music lover, costing $5 or $1.67 per song, it comes with Artison’s approval and hopefully by now that counts for something. So the next time Kadawatha comes into your town, which you can check here, be sure to pick up their EP.

C.A.R.M.E.N., one of the latest ‘fab girl’ groups to come out of Baltimore, has been very busy doing big things these days, but this is no overnight success. These amazingly humble and sweet young ladies are seven years in the making. C.A.R.M.E.N., which is an acronym for ‘Chasing Aspirations Redefining Music while Enticing a Nation,’ is made up of three beautiful women. The founding members are Brittany and Roxie, who are two childhood friends from Baltimore MD, and they were later joined by Texas native, Lana.

Having asked the girls how they’ve been able to survive in this brutal industry for so long, they replied, “We really have an understanding of the music business being a business,” which is important in today’s music. The girls are involved in all aspects of their careers from approving tracks and writing lyrics to being closely involved with their manager, Christal McClendon, who was also present during the interview.

C.A.R.M.E.N. is not just three pretty faces and not your typical R&B girl group; these girls have plenty of style and attitude. “Our style is very eclectic, and we do have traditional R&B tracks. We also do Hip Hop, Rock, and Punk songs as well,” said the group in unison as we lounged and chatted. That quote is very fitting since they’ve been inspired by such female powerhouse artists like Pink, Kelis, and others. I asked the girls where I could hear some of their music and they said, “Right here,” and started to belt out Jodeci’s ‘Feenin’ right there in the restaurant! It was a wonderful experience. Not only did the group have one of the strongest harmonies I’d ever heard, I also heard each individual’s powerful voice. It was amazing, and by the time they were finished, all three floors of the Baltimore restaurant were roaring in ovation.

We ordered a round of drinks, and we began to really get to know each other. They’ve been very busy in the past few years having performed at Showtime at the APOLLO, and a tour with platinum recording artist, Mya. They opened for Bad Boy recording artist, B5, and former Roc-A-Fella recording artist Tierra Marie at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore. The group’s long road of ‘paying their dues’ did not go unnoticed; the girls were offered a deal and signed to Atlantic records. Unfortunately, they were dropped from the label. Knowing that was quite a devastating blow and something that was tough to deal with, one question arose in my mind and forced its way out of my mouth, and it was, “How did you girls deal with it?”

“It was hard and sad, but we just got over it! We really didn’t have a choice except to keep on going,” replied Roxie. Who would expect anything different from this very confident and determined trio? Lana added, “We want to take it to the top!” “They really didn’t know what to do with us, and they were focused on their present artist at the time,” said Brittaney. That huge disappointment does not stop the girls from believing they will be signed again.

As we sat there and continued to chitchat over our cocktails, the girls were very warm and open. They were willing to share their personalities and lives with me, and seeing this made me realize that these three very different individuals have to spend an awful lot of time together, yet they’ve been together for seven years. The girls explained, “We never fight, we are all close, we know when someone needs space, and we respect that.” Hearing that made me think it was very commendable because after that amount of time most would break under the pressure of personal lives and business. As women so dedicated to their craft, I wondered if they had any plans of family, or if boyfriends are an issue. Roxie said, “I definitely want a family some day, and when the time comes that’s what I’m going to do.” Lana said she also wanted kids one day, and Brittaney has a beau in her life. “He totally understands my job and he is very understanding,” says Brittaney.

After a while we finally noticed the time. We’d been talking and having such a great time, and it felt as if we’d known each other well before this interview. We exchanged hugs, and all parted our ways in separate vehicles. With such creative spirit, raw God given talent, and wonderful personalities to match, we have no doubt that these females will be super stars in the very near future. So we proudly present C.A.R.M.E.N. as your artist to know.

by Niyeka Harris

“Claire Hux is more than music, it’s a movement”, says DLake, MC and half of the ultra futuristic and highly entertaining sonic duo. Claire Hux first came to fruition during a 2004 party where rapper DLake was working as a DJ. At the party, DLake invited singer, Symbol, to collaborate on a few songs; asking him to smooth out the tracks with his velvety vocals. The chemistry was instant, the performance electric; Symbol and DLake had discovered magic. “It was a really good reception to the first show, but we needed something better than Symbol and DLake”, says DLake. After a few messages back and forth over Instant Messenger, they finally came up with the name Claire Huxtable, which, for legal reasons, had to be shortened to “Claire Hux.”

Flashback, if you will, to the 1980′s sitcom, The Cosby Show. The character, Claire Huxtable, was an outstanding attorney, wife, and mother; the foundation of the iconic Cosby family. However, Claire Hux’s music does not reflect the innocence of its namesake, rather far from it. Their music is live and raw with topics that span from smoking weed to having sex after a night out at the club. When asked what makes them different from other groups, the answer given was surprisingly honest. “I don’t know too many people that got balls big enough to get on stage with some leopard skin tight pants, white makeup, bow tie, suspenders, and still pull the ladies” says lead singer, Symbol. “What separates us? That’s to be determined; you [the listener] got to decide. The only thing I like to do is entertain. I want you to have fun. I want to entertain you.”

Trying to determine what makes Claire Hux different from their fellow artist is easier than searching for invisible similarities. These hipsters say that their music falls under the category of “genre-less music.” However, for all intensive purposes, and the unequivocal need for the“real world” to classify music, one would say that Claire Hux is a mixture of Baltimore club, 80’s Retro, Electro, Hip-Hop, and Pop, laced with an array of pulsing synthetic beats. They are in the lab without the pen and the pad. “I don’t only want to make you dance,” says Claire Hux’s Symbol. “I want to make you have sex too!”

Claire Hux’s ambitions are not limited to entertaining the masses; they are actively preparing for complete and utter world domination. “We want to take over all forms of music and entertainment,” says DLake. “We got a lot to prove because people don’t know us yet .. that’s what keeps me hungry”. Claire Hux continues to work hard for their fans, making music that is new and innovative. “When you wake up in the morning, I want you humming my song. When you’re going to bed, I want you to do the same thing. I just want to take your soul,” says Symbol.

Capturing souls and the entire world will not keep Claire Hux from remembering their roots. They are inspired by greats like Prince, P-Funk, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Scottie B, and others. “Back in the day when I was coming up, everyone I looked up to were entertainers. You didn’t see anyone back in the coffee shop with jeans and a tee-shirt trying to sell you their shit,” says Symbol. Claire Hux holds themselves to a higher standard above most artists in any genre. They believe in giving the audience what they paid for, a unique experience they could only get at a Claire Hux concert. As Symbol said so eloquently, “Put the balls to the wall and let it all hang out.”

Check out the new Claire Hux mix-tape that dropped May 23 called “Claire Hux presents Black is the New Wet”. Don’t forget to listen to a few tracks; it’s something good to bob your head to.

by Jessica Mason

Robotic and percussive are two words that a local beat boxer would describe his work as being. That beat boxer is Shodekeh, hailing from Baltimore and those two words are pale in comparision to what he actually can do. Shodekeh realized his gift at the tender age of eight years old, back in the eighties when beat boxing was at it’s peak of popularity. Inspired by Dougie Fresh, Biz Markie and Rozelle; Shodekeh proves that he could very well belong to that elite group.

By James Tibbs

With a profound mantra like ‘Music is the gateway between earth and heaven,’ you would expect either some hippie save-the-earth movement or some sort of religious organization. Misfitz Sounds however is neither of those things. They are an up and coming production company that has generated a lot of buzz in Baltimore’s underground music scene. The production company was founded in 2006, and began to accumulate artists on their roster around 2008., Misfitz is set up with two different sides. Misfitz Sounds is the record label, and Misfitz designs focuses on the more multimedia aspect of things.

The Artison team met with Misfitz for an interview and we learned a lot. We also got to hear some of the tracks and they are amazing. According to producer/artist J. Oliver, the best thing about the organization is versatility. “We are very versatile as far as music goes. We can produce anything. We can produce all genres and we even sample too. There is nothing that we can’t cover.” We asked the CEO/creator of Misfitz where does he see the organization in 5 years, and Andrew “GQ” Johnson replied, “At the Grammy’s. I want to be the Diddy of this city [Baltimore].” With the roster of artists they have, it may actually be a reality. Here is the team:

K. Halloway- A singer that placed in the top 40 of American Idol. She sings R&B, and is on the heels of Jill Scott or Jennifer Hudson.

Laced-A rap artist who can go neck and neck with Fabolous.

K.E.- A southern rapper who can be compared to Soulja Boy.

Flyboy- A rap artist for the ladies who resembles LL Cool J, Nelly, or Chingy.

Luminaty- The rapper with swag along the lines of Jeezy, Jim Jones, or Lil Wayne.

J. Oliver- A singer as well as a producer on the team.

The Producers consist of: J. Oliver, GQ (CEO), F. Major, and DL 40. They also have a composer they work with whose name is Salem.

by James Tibbs

It moved! That is what I said to myself while surveying the artwork of Bryan Collier, a local born, award winning illustrator whose paintings are currently on display at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Mosely Gallery. “Purpose and Promise”, the art of Bryan Collier’s exhibition, is the gallery’s Black History Month showcasing of the award winning collages, illustrations, and paintings, and of the award winning book illustrator and painter. The complexity of his works lie not in the brushstrokes of his well guided hand, but in the intricacies of doing a collage that maintains straight lines while having varying colors that coordinate from level to level. His illustrations in his books are collages as well, but you don’t get a feel for how intricate the details really are. I was particularly impressed with his paintings of the legendary singer, Marvin Gaye, and the boxer, Muhammad Ali. His paintings showed his talent for painting on a canvas because both were done in oil paint, both used great techniques of lighting, and both accurately portrayed each of his subjects.

Mosely Gallery, UMES
Art & Technology Center
11931 Art Shell Plaza
Princess Anne, MD 21853
www.umes.edu/arts

By Devin Morris

Since 2009’s inception, my curiosity for the wonders of art has grown. Longing to explore the depths of the visual art world has been a new interest of mine. Infatuated with art, I took it upon myself to get into the art community of Baltimore, searching for any and everything that pertains to art. Thankfully, I stumbled onto a fabulous event. It was one that combined the art of photography and love for vintage fashions. Ecstatic at the thought of satisfying my urge for fashion and my new found hunger for art, I instantly jumped at the opportunity to experience a merging of the two.

The Clothing Warehouse, barely a virgin to Baltimore’s fashion landscape, opened in the hip Federal Hill neighborhood in 2007, but has already made their presence aware. The passé essence of the store interests the fashionable citizens of Baltimore and the beautiful vintage fashions offered lures them in to buy. At their gratitude, they have parties for their loyal customers once a month. However, on April 3, 2009, they did something a little different. Wanting to promote a Baltimore artist, they had an exhibition of photographs titled “DANCERS: REVISTED” by local artist Rafael Soldi on exhibit, a first for the Clothing Warehouse.

Born and raised in Peru and now living in the United States for six years, Rafael Soldi is a senior at Maryland Institute College of the Arts, and he is majoring in photography. At the age of twelve, Soldi’s parents gifted him with a camera for him to take along with him on a class trip to an archaic town in Lima. Stricken by the beauty of the architecture of the historic town, Soldi only wanted to take photos of the city and never stopped taking photos since.

Soldi’s project “DANCERS: REVISTED” is a follow up to his previous collection, “Portraits of a Dancer”. Thankfully, Soldi went on to add another visual of dancing, and in the end he made a splendid piece of art. “Seeking to portray dancers as vulnerable and human by way of a simple portrait, I was very interested in portraying the ugliness of the process,” says Soldi.

“DANCERS: REVISTED”, is a marvelous look into the soul of a dancer. Wanting to be more intimate with his work, Soldi used the ancient palladium process which is a more time consuming and tedious technique. Soldi first established a relationship with his new project, falling in love with it came next, and the end result is truly astonishing. Soldi captures the roughness of dance but still exposes elegance in this black and white photo series. With his clean, refined, and sophisticated style (similar to that of the great Coco Chanel), Soldi produces a dignified collection. “I enjoy simple and straight-forward compositions that are almost deadpan and confrontational. I like soft colors and bold shapes/bodies/faces,” Soldi explains.

My artistic appetite was definitely fulfilled by the works of Rafael Soldi and the sights of vintage wares presented by The Clothing Warehouse equally satisfied my thirst for a fashion fix. Rafael Soldi is an artist to watch. With his next voyage of starting a life in the grand New York City, he hopes to flourish in photography and also contribute to helping out other up and coming artists in a non-profit organization. It was a true pleasure to see his art before his departure, and to dance the night away through art.

by Abdu Eaton

Parenting children of special needs is always a touchy subject, but even harder is to confront these difficulties on screen.  Director Daniel Barnz shows us the challenges of these parents while allowing us to escape into Alice’s wonderland.  Phoebe in Wonderland follows Phoebe (Elle Fanning), an elementary school girl that is dealing with her behavioral disorder through her role as Alice in, “Alice in Wonderland”.  The film delivers imagination, creativity, and common challenges gracefully.  The movie will hit hard at the eyes as you watch a mother believe she is the reason her daughter is ill, but there is only joy to be had when phoebe’s imagination takes her to wonderland.  The film keeps balance which in turn will have you glued top the screen.  The acting is not far from superb.  Phoebe in Wonderland is a pure creative success.

by Eric Murphy

ATE, an acronym for Ancient Thread Empire, has a thought provoking name as well as logo. Actually, even the name of the CEO, Esmel Meeks, brought pause and intrigue as to where such a name could have derived from, let alone Ancient Thread Empire.  However, mind bogglers aside, ATE has substance, a cause, and a message behind all of its names. For one, the logo is a silhouette of a naked woman standing with an apple in her hand which is held above her head. Her head is leaned back as if she were attempting to take the most sumptuous bite of the apple.  Coiled around her body is a snake who is also attempting to bite the apple; for all who haven’t figured it out, the woman is Eve of the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve, and the apple is that of the forbidden fruit. As the story goes, Eve eats the forbidden fruit, and man has to wear clothing because of their sin. Therein is the tale of ATE. We don’t wear ATE because we have sinned. No, we wear ATE because Eve ‘ATE’ the fruit, and now we wear clothing, so why not the styling’s of ATE?.  As Ancient Thread Empire goes, the tread tells the history which lies in its weaving. In that fashion we offer you the history and mind behind ATE:

Who is the mind behind ATE?
The mind behind ATE is Esmel Meeks, the creator, founder, and creative engineer. There are also several other graphic artists behind ATE such as Ryan Winn, Danny Fraley, and Richie Pope.

What does ATE symbolize as a fashion brand?
ATE symbolizes the creation of a new style to the fashion world. It aims to incorporate influences from today’s inimitable generation as well as ancient culture to formulate a unique street label. Ate symbolizes excellence and success, and proves that anyone can build what they believe in into a success. In addition to this, ATE uses an apportioned amount of every sale to go towards a tuition scholarship for underprivileged students.

Who is the target customer for ATE?
The target customer for ate is the fan of exclusivity because ATE is sold manly in boutique stores, and is made in limited quantities to a high demand.

What was the inspiration for the creation of ATE Clothing?
The inspiration behind ATE was to create something new, so I brainstormed how clothing for mankind began. As far as my beliefs, when Eve ate the fruit, she felt naked and had to cover herself, therefore beginning the evolution of clothing. I wanted to start a brand that was original and didn’t leave off where another started, and so began the production of ATE.

Were there any set-backs when creating your line of clothing?
Time and Money. As an independent working college student who is the sole financial provider of this company, it is difficult to support myself along with establishing a company. Being that I am the sole provider, I can’t afford an accountant, marketer, lawyers, etc., so I act as all of these. It is a challenge juggling school, work, a relationship, and a clothing company.

What are your design influences?
I am an admirer of Roberto Cavalli, Guccio Gucci, The Hundreds, and Ralph Lauren, but ATE’s main influence is the community and the young children that fill them. Living and attending school in Richmond, VA, I see children each day who are not even thinking about furthering their education in college because they are not being motivated by their peers or at home. I was lucky to have parents who wanted me to go to college. I am influenced to design clothes so that they can benefit those who are not as fortunate as I was growing up.

Who benefits from ATE?
Financially, ATE benefits impecunious students. An apportioned amount of every ATE sale goes toward the (ATE) Achievements Through Education scholarship fund. Aesthetically, ATE benefits the world. It is a fresh creative brand that anyone and everyone will feel good wearing, and everywhere I go someone asks what it is or what ATE means.

What are some of your future plans for ATE? I.e. expansions, new collections, etc.
We are very excited about our summer line, but we are going to keep our designs under wraps for now because I don’t want to spoil it. I will say we will “be on board.” We look forward to growing as a company and becoming known and respected in the community and the fashion industry, and we hope to collaborate with more creative designers/artists. Look out for our events.

What advice would you give to an individual who is trying to start his or her own clothing line?
Perseverance is one of the keys to success. Push till there’s nothing else to push, then find more and keep pushing. Educate yourself and find what you do best that is different, and then perfect it. Always remember you are the determinant of your own success.

Esmel Meeks
EsmelMeeks@ateclothing.com

by Devin Morris

Remember when you were young and life was just a big playground filled with joy and candy? Well, I know somewhere you can have all the candy you want. It is a place filled with fashion’s nostalgic wonders, and it’s DoubleDutch Boutique, where the clothes can satisfy any woman’s sweet tooth.

DoubleDutch Boutique is a fabulous store that opened just three years ago by owners Leslie Jennings and Megan Luther, two women who wanted to serve all the women of Baltimore with notable retro fashions. “There is an audience in Baltimore, tons of women who do not always want to shop in the mall. There is a need here and we said ‘let’s just do it ourselves!’”, says Megan Luther. This store carries everything a lady needs, from trendy accessories, fine clothing, to a pumping pump. Yes, the DoubleDutch Boutique is a well needed store here in Baltimore that already has garnered a positive media frenzy by winning awards like Best Local Women’s Clothing Boutique by City Paper, and Best Fun Shoes by Baltimore Magazine.

When I skipped into the store, I instantly fell in love with everything. The interior is fun, yet sophisticated, and is also filled with a spirit of fashion glee. The clothes, outstandingly, are a major compliment to the interior design. Most of the pieces have fun prints, funky colors, and fabulous construction that make you want to run to the dressing room. The store mood is girly, retro, and fun.

The collections of clothing are to die for. Leslie and Megan know exactly what they want when it comes to picking out pieces. They carry designers from the likes of ‘the working girl at her home sewing machine to some of the larger labels, and the smaller labels in between.’ They go for a mix. They look for designers who have a vintage mod aesthetic. The designers’ works are very commendable. Every piece is built with taste and style.

Don’t get worried, ladies, DoubleDutch is the place for your recession-istas. Their prices are surprisingly affordable. “The bulk of our merchandise is under $100. Sometimes we do get merchandise that’s over $100, like a silk dress or special handbags, but we try to keep things affordable,” says Megan. They also have this wonderful event called Shopper’s Socials, which is a party held at the store every 1st Friday of the month. Drinks, food, and music are all served at the party including a 10% discount on all merchandise purchased. How fabulous!!

The DoubleDutch Boutique is simply chic. It quenches the thirst of fashionistas in Baltimore and beyond. Leslie and Megan have plans to launch their online store to satisfy all women who would die to be fabulous. Also, if you love candy, you definitely want to take your wardrobe licks at DoubleDutch Boutique until you reach the core of your fashion paradise.

By Abdu Eaton