Advice

I have a friend moving to Los Angeles from San Francisco. That friendly neighbor to the Bay but most times worlds apart. No need to point out shortcomings and positives of each.
I offered her three bits of advice:
1. Ambition beats talent everyday in LA.
2. Keep your toes in the sand.
3. Don't do porn.

I also told her to support her local hip hop artist:
Evidence "Letyourselfgo"

Cousin Chris Music

Refreshing sound from a local musician: Cousin Chris. He plays every instrument on his new album "Moon Paper" and he is hanging with the right guys: Jay Pellicci (Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu) engineered all sessions and Justin Phelps (Cake, The Mars Volta) mixed most songs.

His sound is subtle, Neil Young twangish, that must only come from living in Boston, then Jamaica and settling in San Francisco. Stripped down production and pure music.

Music supervisors have been calling...

Be Thankful For What You Got

i realized i have been buying vinyl for 20 years. Collection probably hit 15k at one point, but that included doubles, triples and a box of 50 or so of William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got" - with that green Roxbury label. Great record. Great mantra. An even better one is offered by DJ Bunny Ears: "Do what you can, with what you have, in the time you have, in the place that you are." I share this meesage with the musicians I consult with each week. Don't wait around for the big break to arrive. Keep doing what you do and find your niche. Music should be used to sell OTHER parts of an artist that can't be duplicated.