Starlight Beats & Breaks: PRESS

SPONSORSHIP EN ESPANOL:
Brands looking to align with Latin music are rolling out some of their most innovative sponsorships at the Billboard Latin Music Conference April 23-26 in Miami.

Dodge is using the event to position itself as a promoter of new talent. Based on a concept developed by branding company Rock River Music, multicultural marketing agency GlobalHue has fashioned a Dodge Avenger "keychain" that is actually a flash drive loaded with tracks by mostly indie Latin artists like Houston's Karina Nistal. Her music was used in a Dodge Caliber commercial last year.

Nistal has two tracks on the flash drive, one with video footage of a Dodge Avenger being customized for auction to benefit YouthAIDS, an organization for which keynote Q&A Juanes is a spokesman.

Through mobile/broadband partner Barrio 305, new artists can enter to win a Miami performance at the Dodge-sponsored DUB Custom Auto Show & Concert.

GlobalHue director of national events and promotions Griselle Colon says, "Whoever wins that showcase concert will be an influencer that we'll work with in the future. Maybe it's the next Daddy Yankee or the next Juanes."

Heineken is also scouting talent, bringing winners of its three-city Heineken Estrella singing competition to perform at the conference's "We Hear the Future" contest, to be held during the beer company's happy hour. The company is also continuing its Green Ribbon charity drive to benefit music education in Latin communities with a concert during the conference week.

As Latin consumers shift in greater numbers from mom-and-pop to major retailers, Target is upping its profile with a CD compilation of Billboard Latin Music Awards finalists on sale for six weeks. The awards broadcast on Telemundo will cut away to a Target-branded backstage VIP area for artist interviews..........

TOP BRANDS ZERO IN ON BILINGUAL BRANDING:

LOS ANGELES Brands looking to align with Latin music are rolling out some innovative sponsorships at next week's Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami.

Dodge is using the April 23-26 event to position itself as a promoter of new talent. Multicultural marketing agency GlobalHue has fashioned a Dodge Avenger "keychain" that is actually a flash drive loaded with tracks by mostly indie Latin artists like Houston's Karina Nistal.

Heineken is also scouting talent, bringing winners of its three-city Heineken Estrella singing competition to perform at the conference's "We Hear the Future" contest, to be held during the beer company's happy hour.

As Latin consumers shift in greater numbers from mom-and-pop to major retailers, Target is raising its profile with a CD compilation of Billboard Latin Music Awards finalists on sale for six weeks.

You dont have to be a Latin music fan to enjoy Karina Nistal's electropaella of dancehall beats, reggaeton zest, hip hop bravado and jazz-infused soul. Each song on her latest, NISTYLE, has something for everyone. On the album, Nistal explores every genre with a relentless verve then dashes the beat to put her own stamp on things. For Example, "La Fuente de Juventud" showcases her Latin roots, but instead of sampling the staid salsa rhythm, she replaces it with a chunky driven beat. However beats arent the only thing Nistal's got going. Starlight Beats knows talent when they see it and cuts like "Viviendo", with its lush tambourine, are the perfect backdrop for enigmatic rapping style. The album reflects her diverse range- "Miss You" is two step garage at its finest along with her soulful jazz tinged voice-and when she yearns for a lover on "Back to Bombay", you cant help but wonder why the guy ever left.

Fly Girl: Karina Nistal Steps into the Spotlight-
Carbon-copied divas beware: Karina Nistal is taking you out. Her mission: to inject this city with soul and a "reggaetron" groove. With a sound all her own and the talent to boot, Nistal is poised for serious stradom. Add that to her ambition and positive vibe and there's no stopping this singer or her infectious Nistyle.
If you haven't heard her yet, you will soon. Her debut, "Nistyle" reflects her upbeat message, and the music-electronic garage meets concious hip hop meets Latin percussion and jazz-is a spicy concoction that merits several repeats.

**excerpt from I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME GROOVE "Soul Sistaz" puts a new spin on the old boy's DJ/dance network.

....."Post-Millennium Funk"(or PMFUNK, for those who know), a weekly, DJ fueled, hip-hop/dance romp, holds a monthly night called "Soul Sistaz," where female DJs and vocalists come down and provide vibrant, soulful and often improvised grooves. Friends and friends of friends mamas show up to mingle, dance, support each other and get wasted off those bottles of Boone's Farm. "We're all just trying to promote the music, and we wanna put out, like, a Houston flavor- and it's not all male," says Kathi "DJ Scout" Bond, the show's executive producer. "We've got many great female DJs and vocalists, and we all wanted to see them step up."
Last week, the night celebrated its ten-month anniversary with resident deckmaster Tanya "Soul Free" Pelt working the wheels. Vocalist Diva Karina hosted the affair and led a pack of guest singers through some impromptu riffs. "It's very embracing," says special-guest spin girl Gracie Chavez Cardenas. "it's also sort of like a family, living-room vibe here while you are playing".........."

The Sweet Spot (Starlight Beats & Breaks)
BY MICHAEL SERAZIO
feedback@houstonpress.com
From the Week of Thursday, April 15, 2004

A 15-track hodgepodge of mellow groove and downbeat lounge, The Sweet Spot was presumably concocted to showcase the vocal talent of several breathy local divas. It's not so much that the ladies succeed -- although in most cases, they do -- they anchor. They're the glue that holds together the hodgepodge; the coat hanger from which the fusion dangles.
Joe B. and Mark Sound make up the Vineyard, the production duo that sprouted this luscious vision. Their varied textures and wily beats render each song an island of sorts, to be considered on its own rather than as part of a collection; the songs are really unified by only near-uniform vocal tones that slide from soulful to breezy, but not much further. Some tracks step to the fore and command your attention. "Muchos Chavos" is one, though it's more obtrusive than enticing.

Spacey, hypnotic and addictive, "Downtown" -- featuring the ghostly echoes of Thuy-Linh -- is the top offering, while album opener "Bring the Music" is as close to a median as you'll find on here. The eminently danceable, polished and poppy "Lies" also resonates. "That Kinda Love" shines, too -- it's a lovely way for the album to wander off, optimistic yet noncommittal, memorable yet coy. The same could be said for the disc as a whole. There is much promise to be found on The Sweet Spot, which touts its female contributors as "up and coming." While that may be true, none seems more up-and-coming than the Vineyard itself.

Various Artists>
The Sweet Spot
(Starlight Beats and Breaks)

This compilation features some of Houston's best female vocalists including Michelle Thibeaux, Karina Nistal and Margaret Menchaca. The beats are produced and remixed by regional artists such as Houston's Jake Childs and Austin's Juniper. Gavin Harkiss also contributes a remix of "Tantra" by Kash. Many of the women who perform on "The Sweet Spot" were once part of "Ladies Night," a live internet radio show. These soul sisters bust out some major emissions on this diverse cd. The music varies greatly and includes r&b, house, drum & bass and deep, jazzy grooves. Everyone seems to have their favorite two or three tracks on the compilation........."",you can't play this album through without getting the urge to shuck and jive. My favorite track is "Come Back with My Love" by Cyd Marie, which drips with attitude and soul.

Believe it or not, Houston isn't just a breeding ground for rappers with diamond encrusted grills, as recent discoveries MC's Mike Jones and Paul Wall have shown. There are other things popping beneath the surface, like female vocalists ready to add melodious sultriness to any alt-dance groove they get served. That's the best way to describe this compilation, which shows just how much talent Space City is keeping underwraps. Michele Thibeaux, Cyd Marie and Karina Nistal are a few of the grand dames who appear repeatedly throughout the album, with producers Rebel Crew captain Joe B. and Mark Sound choosing a bevy of sounds to accompany these ladies' vocal riffing. Whether it's Shina Rae getting the electronic dub treatment on "Threefold" or Kash getting exotically remixed by San Fran DJ Gavin Hardkiss on "Tantra", the album takes a different turn with each track. This makes The Sweet Spot one of the few dance albums that doesn't sound like a repetitive loop. This satisfying mix of women and song couldn't be sweeter.

Traxx from da Waxx Vol. 1(Starlight Beats and Breaks)
"AH, some fresh hip hop. None of that stuff that sounds factory-manufactured from the CEO of Bling-Bling, Inc. Crisp hi-hats, dirty beats and talk about the good old days are abundant and preferred over the cliched cash, money, hoes spiel. Traxx is a collection of artists who prefer substance over style. The beats get funky with Joe B. with Love Sun and Baby Roo on "For all You Graff Heads", and the interlude dubbed "Reco=Hide the Mic" surprisingly shout-outs to Vision Street Wear and Tony Hawk. Basically, this is no nonsense hip hop, probably summed up best on Sissboombah's Freestyle at the Rebel Base when he spits out, "We do this shit just because." Word

Singles Review
Experimental.
Abstract

El OriginalP Psychedelix B-Boy EP
(Brownstone)Houston's DJ Psychedelix B-Boy and his posse known as the Rebel Crew have been making some crazy hip-hop and abstract beat shit for years now. This new EP is a nice example of some of the skills coming out of the Lone Star State. "The Wind" has a tripped-out, electro-type beat with this cool tweaked horn and some slow, funky drum breaks. It's kind of spooky and dark, and there's this weird female vocal sample that transforms in and out. "Brownstone Break" is a funky uptempo percussion jam with some nice string action. "Echoes" is a breakbeat track that refrences and samples all sorts of breakdance and electro cuts. Quite slammin'! "Freestyle Brotherhood" is an ill mish-mash of different grooves, tempos and samples. If you happen to come across El Original Psychedelix B-Boy, grab it, because this kid is on some shit.

"They whose name must be screamed"
From the depths of the Houston music scene, for ten years the infamous name remains. Fans scream "Rebel Crew" before every show, and clubs know that printing their name on a flyer will guarantee a great crowd. Rebel Crew remains the ruler by which local performance and music is measured. They have withstood the brutal test of time while their vision has evolved, and their fan base and touring schedule grows larger and larger".

REBEL CREW
TEX MEX EFX
Sunburn/US/LP/CD
Slices of uprocking electro funk, Latin flavors and b-boy fundamentals make for piffle of futuristic hip-hop that is as chewy and delicious as anything fresh out of the oven. The breaks are large and nasty, as many live and electronic elements accompany with gritty fluidity. Joe B.(Psychedelix B-boy) and Rick Partida(Lion 808) have been backing up the Rebel Crew sound for more than 10 years straight outta Texas. On this fifth release, they take influences not only from the Southwest, but also West Coast and South London to give us a package of rude boy originality. Imagine sweaty revelers busting and grinding as you lay one of these treats on the turntables. Unlimited sounds from the crew of b-boy futurism that is letting us realize the true power of the funky breakbeat that is coming at us full speed in the new millennium.

REBEL CREW "Tangle Wit Me"
Sunburn Recordings- After a distinctly mild winter it's now time for a bit of Sunburn. Rocking the beats in that ever funky Hardkiss way, the Rebel Crew do San Fran's finest proud. Pick of the bunch is the sparse electroid breaks of "Spodie Odie". Dark and spacey, perfect for late nite play. The jump up drum and bass energy of "Tangle Wit Me" is also worth a listen, but as the EP is limited to only 500 copies you'll have to be quick if you want to pick one up. ****

THE REBEL CREW
Tex Mex EFX- Sunburn
As the album title suggests, Rebel Crew are a bunch of Latin Americans from Texas. Houston, Space City to be precise. They're also old-skool b-boys and modern day breaks-headz and all of these influences can be heard coming together on their debut album, a raucous blend of thumping break-beats, wired electro, dub-heavy bottom-end and Latino punk rock, all delivered with healthy amounts of cocky hip-hop attitude. With raw-edged live playing fused cleverly with dirty electronic production, the freestyle metallic funk of "Tex Mex EFX" is nasty as fuck with it's own highly distinctive flavor. Thus far, Texas' main contribution to dance culture has been as an early centre of Ecstacy manufacturing, but maybe the Rebel Crew are the ones to change that.

UK Release
The REBEL CREW
(Brownstone Breaks)(Beau Monde)
Stunningly original hip-hoppery from the Lone Star State. Using a flattened double bass break to anchor the title track, Tha Crew add spicey live drumming and potent rap poetry to inflict a stern message. Check the drum breakdown and realize that this is all recorded live. Flipped we've got the rough and heavy drum work-out of "Love Sun" and the beat flippancy of "Just a Kid". Beau Monde have done well to pick up on this unique collection of drummers, DJ's, rappers and electro-dicers. Stick with this label, it's all seeing, aye. *****

"The Girl DJ Next Door"
DJ Soul Free
Suggestive of her name, DJ Soul Free's style knows no limits. Tanya Pelt is best known as Houston's "First Lady of Hip-Hop" and everything soul. A polite "girl next door" DJ with a strong Southern upbringing. Soul Free lived overseas in remote areas of Indonesia and Singapore and in a decade has inspired many girls (and guys) to DJ too. She recently DJed Fridays at chic hot-spot Ling & Javier's, a comfy Galleria-area lounge/bar and exotic Asian/Cuban restaurant.
Soul Free lays down a fusion of acid jazz, downtempo, reggae and soul music with an off the cuff flare for any mixed crowd on any dancefloor. An integral part of Rebel Crew, Soul Free also runs Starlight Records with fellow DJ/Producer Joe B. and is a featured DJ on "Post-Millenial Funk" on Earthwire.net Tuesdays. Amid a busy schedule, Rice Addict caught up with this femme de force.
RICE ADDICT: What made you start DJing?
SOUL FREE: Well, of course it was the beats and the breaks...It's just part of the whole underground culture. I view DJing as an art form that can't be duplicated because every DJ's tracks are different. It's like painting a picture, except it's for your ears.
RA: Do people and other DJ's treat you differently when you play?
SF: I don't feel like I'm being treated differently. But, some guys come up to me while I'm spinnin' and give me extra props, I guess, because I'm a girl. But as far as DJing goes, it's all about the skills and not about the sex.
RA: What do you enjoy about the music you play?
SF: What I love about the music is the breaks and transistions. The music I love to play is bass-heavy, funky, soulful and classic. I'm way into the new UK garage(2 step) and some hip-hop instrumentals right now. I spin a variety of music and always look for the most unique hooks and tones-harmonic tonality.
RA: Finally, what's your favorite rice dish?
SF: Jambalaya chicken and sausage!

1. DJ Soul Free-Houston
"Music" is a channel that breaks all the negativity we are faced with these days," says Texas-based DJ Soul Free. With a strong faith and eclectic musical taste, Soul Free can make a seemingly-odd pairing of gospel and a Beastie Boys track blend well together. Mambo one minute, reggae the next; an obstacle to some is a fresh opportunity for Soul Free. A solid mix from start to finish, Soul Free's selections don't slam you over the head with pounding 4/4s or arpeggiated organs; they're just fluid sounds that keep the day at a tranquil level. When not making mixed tapes, she can be found hard at work with her fellow DJs in the Rebel Crew who've formed their own indie label, Starlight Records.

Last Call: 25 Most Intriguing People, 2002.

rounding out the top ten - Rebel Crew DJ's Joe B. and Soul Free for bringing old school beats into the new millenium.