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The R&B pop/funk band WRDFRNDZ is in a unique position. Not yet at the height of their career, the Miami, FL collective is going with the flow as much as they can, while intelligently forming a plan for their future. … Continue reading INTERVIEW: WRDFRNDZ
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Berlin rockers LOBSTERBOMB are “edgy,” but you won’t see them in a Gap commercial anytime soon. They scream. They shout. They are the future of post-pandemic rock. By JD Brant LOBSTERBOMB is a pandemic baby. Formed in 2020 on the … Continue reading INTERVIEW: LOBSTERBOMB on Berlin Punk Rock, COVID Life, New Single ‘Sense’
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By JD Brant “WRD-POP” is a style of music originating in Miami Gardens, FL, coined after the southeast fusion hip hop/electrofunk group WRDFRNDZ. Infused with smooth R&B tones, guitar shreds, and boss beat manipulation, #WRDFRNDZ, the self-titled album premiering today, … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: WRDFRNDZ
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BY NMESOMA OKECHUKWU Rabbits is a 2021 sci-fi and suspense cyberpunk story by Terry Miles. The book is based on a podcast of the same name, but the author promises that you’re absolutely fine reading the book without having prior … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Terry Miles – ‘Rabbits’
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BY JAGRUTI VERMA Sometimes, one hears music by ears, sometimes closed eyes, and sometimes excited feet. Some songs help you achieve it all, depending on your physical, mental and spiritual space. Aura Blaze’s Open-Mindedness is a three-track EP that does … Continue reading REVIEW: Aura Blaze – ‘Open-Mindedness’
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BY NMESOMA OKECHUKWU I’ve never read a book by Christopher Paolini before, so I went into reading without prejudice or any sort of preconceived notions. I have, however, previously heard of Christopher Paolini, though I can’t name any of his … Continue reading BOOK REVIEW: Christopher Paolini – ‘To Sleep in a Sea of Stars’
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BY JD BRANT Earlier this month, the United States’ neighbor to the north, Canada, announced border openings allowing vaccinated Americans to travel freely through the country. But the second-largest country in the world is still battling rising COVID cases. As … Continue reading MikeAll Talks the US vs. Canadian Hip Hop Complex and the ‘Each One Teach One’ Philosophy
Glasgow, UK sensation Katherine Aly has done it again with another Europop single and music video for “Rules,” a single she spoke to Eloquent Mag about at length earlier in the week. Sung with a beautiful, whispery intonation, a technique cleverly twilled by other contemporary Irish and Scottish pop singers such as Sinead O’Connor, Annie Lennox, and the late Dolores O’Riordan, “Rules” is a memorable piece with a visual earthiness; Katherine’s avant-garde outfit and wilderness backdrop center the experience, and we’re left wanting more from the visually stunning singer. Watch “Rules” below: Continue reading SINGLE STREAM REVIEW: Katherine Aly – ‘Rules’
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Alt-pop artist Katherine Aly is tracing new music to her master’s thesis as she explores themes of individual reality, boundary setting, and more. BY JAGRUTI VERMA Katherine Aly had started putting together “Rules”, her new single, back in 2018. It … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Katherine Aly on New Single, ‘Rules’
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TikTok entertainer Chantel Nicole has turned her personal brand of K-Pop entertainment into a humble empire. BY JD BRANT When you watch the personal YouTube channel of triple-threat extraordinaire Chantel Nicole, you’ll discover videos where she speaks honestly to her … Continue reading K-Pop Princess Chantel Nicole Talks Branding, Imposter Syndrome, and Owning Your Voice
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IAMEVE’s immersive LP is boundless and necessary during these times of strange. By JD Brant Mamas in Music co-founder and indie electronic musician Tiff Randol (IAMEVE) learned that, as a new mother, sometimes the best thing you can do for … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: IAMEVE – ‘Archetype’
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[This is a sponsored content post] Canadian singer/songwriter Jordana Talsky produces pure gold with a musical project that is deserving of all high remarks. Zahava, meaning “golden” in Hebrew, is a universal study on muscle and memory; all instrumentation is produced solely from vocal and body loops the artist created using a Roland Boss RC505 loop station. The Sara Bareilles look-alike has been praised before for her ingenious use of a capella technique by CBC Music and LA Music Critic, and her song, “RUN” was a finalist pick for the 2018 CBC Searchlight Contest. Jordana was also a finalist in … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Jordana Talsky – ‘Zahava’
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Sloane Angelou is a 2021 Eloquent Mag poetry winner for the theme // N O S T A L G I A //. The One Minute Man By Sloane Angelou this conversation with this man it started by the poolside there was no reason except there was a job to do we both had jobs to do; by the poolside I, minding my business was offered an apology which I took for no reason except there was a job to do we both had jobs to do and mine required some privacy so this conversation with this man it started … Continue reading Poetry by Sloane Angelou
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Jagruti Verma is a 2021 winner of the Eloquent Mag poetry theme // N O S T A L G I A //. Missing By Jagruti Verma your hand would clutch the handlebar tight eyes twinkling at the thought of mine your bag would sling over your shoulders hiding away groceries I listed in the morning your back would lean against the hard metal resting as you laugh over my recent rant your sweat would spill all over your shirt forcing my perfume to come undone your feet would find a way home tracing steps from when we could love ABOUT … Continue reading Poetry by Jagruti Verma
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By JD Brant “We spend so much time fighting to be who we are, and not evolving.” – Racquel Jones on being a woman (IG video post) Racquel Jones has gumption, a required trait for those seeking longevity in a forever-shifting industry. Gumption is not to be confused with grit. Grit is doing what it takes because it is expected of you. Gumption is doing what it takes with no perceived expectation. Despite the odds. Despite no odds. Regardless of the consequences or what people think. Gumption is correcting the uninformed with a megaphone. Whether they are receptive to the … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Racquel Jones
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if you haven’t noticed i’m plagiarizing By Brian Sheffield When the last poem is ever written there will be a tempest of leaves falling away from the giggling face of a hoary ash tree in the front yard. The sun will be angled in the sky like the lure of a deep sea fish; and though there will be no teeth, there will be lights, a crash, and then a mother bending somewhere to pick up broken shards with a torn rag she intended to throw away three months ago. As a given hand — shaking either in gawking old … Continue reading Poetry By Brian Sheffield
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DISCLAIMER: IgnoRANT is not for the pansy class. Middle-aged white dudes, beware. This album should be blasted in residential neighborhoods at peak volume. Anything else is unacceptable. On her latest album, IgnoRANT, MC Racquel Jones weaponizes stereotypes against women and hurls them in the other direction. She’s not afraid to puncture an existing wound or stab a man fresh off a new transgression. The trip-hip, R&B, calypso, and electronic hip hop album is hyper-conscious, hyper-sexual, and highly stimulating. Her daggers are her words, the music a sounding board for higher frequencies of high-speed voltage to bounce off of, and Racquel … Continue reading Dark, Brooding, Fierce, Powerful: Racquel Jones’ IgnoRANT is No F*cks Given
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What exactly is it about the Spice Girls that make them so insatiable that fans still bring them up in 2021? 25th Anniversary of ‘Wannabe’ is upon us! Continue reading How the Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe’ Changed Pop Culture Forever
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By JD Brant THE MULTI-HYPHENATE Monique DeBose is a storyteller with intent, this much is clear. As I listen to her album You Are the Sovereign One I hear a resilience in her voice, years in the making, that only a true-to-grit jazz singer can upholster into a luxurious 16-track music anthology, each chapter in her story more intimate than the last. The award-winning musician, entrepreneur, and coach is breaking free from any singular definition of “artist” and reinventing what it means to be MORE in today’s entertainment age. Monique is a multi-hyphenate wielding the universal power of music to … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Monique DeBose and Her Brown Beauty
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G.B.C. By Michael Grandsoult 2 22, born and raised in Scarborough Ontario. Dual/duel, 2 nationalities I bear and hold carried over the border by my parents through customs cultural baggage of a Guyanese substance, bubbling in my body tropical hot blood like casareep in pepper pot. Declared not native to this nation foreign fruit that doesn’t take root, “climatic unsuitability.” Snowbound by cold racism, withholding growth. Soils used to maple, palm trees be gone please rejecting me to go back home. But home is unknown. Only folklore fork loads of food musical milieu, cultures much more. My exotics whitewashed, … Continue reading Poetry by Michael Grandsoult
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Submissions are now being accepted for the first Fall 2021 digital ISSUU of Eloquent Mag. Theme: // N O S T A L G I A // Each writer can submit up to three poems. If we print your piece, you will receive an honorarium. Submissions will be published in the first Fall 2021 ISSUU of Eloquent Mag. The publication will cost $2 to download, but published writers will receive a free download. Email your submission with a small bio and photo/headshot to editor@eloquent-magazine.com. Google docs format is preferred, but we will also accept Word format. Deadline: August 15th. Continue reading Poetry Submissions Now Open
By JD Brant // Contributing Writing By Saliek Ruffin Hip hop has come a long way since the OG days of “Rapper’s Delight.” The track was the first hip hop song to reach Billboard’s Top 40 at a time when music by young black musicians was easily misunderstood. Now, almost 40 years later, hip hop still dominates Billboard charts. Streaming numbers have nudged the genre, yet again, into familiar hybrid pop/rock territory (Does anyone remember Blondie’s “Rapture”? That’s where it all started). At its core, hip hop is a political movement, and contemporary artists’ attempts to smash the status quo … Continue reading Social Justice in Music: Emerging Indie Artists of the Pandemic
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By JD Brant “It is really surprising to see his name in giant letters above an entire list of Black artists. Very strange approach especially during this time when people are being more mindful about their bullshit?” — Facebook commenter and music journalist Tia Brown expresses an attitude many Twitter commenters share about the Roc Nation MADE IN AMERICA tour announcement. — This week Roc Nation announced that a “new generation of musical greats” would headline the 10th annual MADE IN AMERICA tour. The only problem is this: Justin Bieber, one of the headliners, is from Canada. Not only that, but Bieber … Continue reading Why Justin Bieber Headlining a Roc Nation Tour is a Huge Disappointment
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By Katie Powers Zimbabwe-based songwriter So Kindly first emerged in 2017 with his debut EP “Warmest Place,” which earned him praise for his vulnerable storytelling and warm arrangements. On May 28, he made his triumphant return to the music scene with the release of his latest single, “The River,” where he sings about the distinctly human problem of being faced with a tough decision in love and the accompanying emotional fallout that follows. The track showcases So Kindly’s earnestly charming vocals and innovative sound, which blends electronic and indie rock influences into an effortless and inviting package. “Down by the … Continue reading SINGLE STREAM REVIEW: So Kindly – ‘The River’
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LHĒON is a Neo-Soul singer from Melbourne, Australia who floats like a butterfly and sings like a bee: her May release, Full Disclosure Pt. II, is anything but boring. The EP is her follow-up to Pt. I, released in March. Eloquent Mag asked the singer about the project in full, her inspirations, and more below: Q: Sonically, what were you going for on Full Disclosure Pt. II? Love the musical embellishments and rich tones in the instrumentation so much! A: Thank you so much! I believe in this song’s first incarnations, it was more of a ballad and at some … Continue reading INTERVIEW: LHĒON and Her Wings of Neo-Soul
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“…And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you.” ~ Nietchze, Beyond Good and Evil, Aphorism 146 solus this somnolent night we sleep with doors open when the void stares back we do not stir our body as solus our shadow – the empire our hearts – the color of fire W.D.H.: “This poem was written May 10, 2020 for Ahmaud Arbery.” columbia capitol hill rites of empire suffering in stone shaping a consortium of one beat by beat by beat capitol fantasy language for hire and a little blue flag still things, still lives … Continue reading Poetry by Wayne David Hubbard
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Birthstone A garland of mortician’s rubies hangs Itself, drooping Over now marred, once Porcelain skin Does anyone else hold themselves up like rubies? Birth stone rare Collecting each moment like it could gleam off the titrates of my once-too-there Collarbones. The collarbones drive you away, The collarbones caved inwards until you, at last, completely Stared there. At least I have a garland of rare, As I’m shouting at the black hole that is depression, or a set of dampened stairs. Slicked shouting at the stars to marry me – stone cold soberly, Notes tinged with once almost vertical sunsets, The … Continue reading Poetry by Leslie Cairns
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Photo courtesy of the Colored Musicians Club The Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo, NY was the portal to the rest of the world for working-class musicians in the early 1920s. A renewed interest in the club is paving the way for jazz redux. By Jessica Brant Buffalo, NY is a city that rumbles with age-old tradition, and because of this, progress sometimes comes at a cost. Even so, there exist enclaves of younger, ungrudging supporters, those who honor the older traditions in art Buffalo is famous for. This ecosystem of young rubbing off on old, old rubbing off on young, … Continue reading Where Tradition Meets Vision: The Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo
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By Jake Sabers Foreign hip hop fans are in luck: Benjamin Elias and Soul Special released their first official collaboration titled Reflections off their record label, Mad Talk, out of Tel Aviv, Israel. Benjamin Elias, born in Denver Colorado but relocating to Israel at the age of 13, and Soul Special, an Israeli artist and producer who left high school and went on to graduate from the Rimon school of music, add multiple layers of unique perspective and experience to their latest undertaking. The track was mixed by Brendan Ferry, a grammy-nominated mix engineer who has worked with YBN Cordae, … Continue reading SINGLE STREAM REVIEW: Benjamin Elias and Soul Special – ‘Reflections’
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By Debesh Suvat As an ally in the struggle for equality and against discrimination and bigotry in all forms, perhaps the most beneficial thing I can do is listen and learn from the struggles of others. I Wouldn’t Trade Being Black For Anything (produced by UrBan Nerd Beats) from Tha Capital G (out of Boston, see also Giddy) is a great piece of listening for other non-black allies who could do well to sit down and pay attention to someone with lived experience. “If The Police Kill Me” handles the disturbing truth of the precarious nature of survival unique to … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Tha Capital G – ‘I Wouldn’t Trade Being Black For Anything’
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By Katiee McKinstry Forrest, also known as sleeplessinflatland, is an abstract visual artist and beatmaker from Norman, Oklahoma. In their latest project, Precious Cargo, they pay homage to their family and friends who they once referred to as precious cargo. In this exclusive interview with Eloquent Mag, Forrest delves into their past, present, and future; talking all about their music and career. From releasing music during the COVID-19 pandemic, to giving advice for aspiring artists, Forrest truly believes in the power of artistry. Having a somewhat conventional upbringing, Forrest finds solace in their art and is able to use it … Continue reading INTERVIEW: Sleeplessinflatland on music, art, and his Precious Cargo
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Ellenswood is a perfect example of how you don’t have to be completely off the wall to be experimental, but utilize creativity, multimedia inclinations (just ask painter, wood/metal worker, sculptor, and musician Kyle Meldrum), and interpersonal connections to create something bigger and better. Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Wurdd Jenkins – ‘Ellenswood’
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Physical activity doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Get up and move around! By JD Brant If you’re anything like me, then you’re not the biggest fan of workout videos—YouTube tutorials included. Nothing beats the experience of live instruction … Continue reading A New Year Advice Column
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By JD Brant Detroit crooner Anna Burch has released a spectacular holiday single for us all, “Your Heart May Be Heavy,” a delicate and glowing seasonal tiding that belongs in the scene of an old-timey romantic movie (or a modern-day Netflix version, maybe Dash & Lily), one where the couple takes a walk through Central Park and indulges in an innocent kiss under shimmering orbs. The single is the pause some of us are in need of, especially to ward off the ghosts of 2020’s past and remember simpler times. 2020 has been quite the year, but what many can … Continue reading SINGLE STREAM REVIEW: Anna Burch – ‘Your Heart May Be Heavy’
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There’s Nothing Wrong With Being Single at 30. Here’s Why. By JD Brant The first time I was aware that my status as a single woman made people uncomfortable was on a business trip to Boston a year and a half ago. We were nearing the end of our trip and waiting for our return flight home. The gaggle of girls I was traveling with sped up in front of the new hires (there were three of us), and headed for the gift shop at the other end of the airport. One of the lead sales people turned around, and … Continue reading Womxn and Romance
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ALBUM REVIEW: MELD – Words of the Water By JD Brant Nashville’s got soul, and a helluva lot of it. I previously wrote about a handful of womxn-identifying musicians taking New Nashville by storm, and I’m continuing the love with an album drop from a soul singer whose pipes are the source of much envy. MELD (government name, Melanie Dewey) recently performed songs off of her August debut, Words of the Water, live from the iconic Music Marathon Works in Nashville. During her live set, the ocean spilled from the movement of interpretive dancers and poetry from soul strummers Katie … Continue reading Music Reviews
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Alessia Cara Delights Fans with Surprise EP Holiday Stuff By Katiee McKinstry This past week, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alessia Cara surprised fans with a holiday-themed EP, Holiday Stuff. The EP features Cara’s past holiday hits, from covers such as “The Christmas Song” and “Moody’s Mood for Love.” Likewise, the EP also has Cara’s previous holiday hits including “Make It To Christmas” and “The Only Thing Missing.” However, “Make It To Christmas” got a makeover—the song sounds completely different from its original, Cara’s holiday treat to her fans. “Surprise! Holiday Stuff, a (very impulsive) 4 song EP of festive tunes coming … Continue reading Music Reviews
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ALBUM REVIEW: Bartees Strange – Live Forever By John Mccracken Bartees Strange’s Live Forever is a pulsing, sonic conundrum, released on Music Memory and mastered by Grammy-nominated producer Will Yip. In the first minutes of Live Forever, the Washington D.C. songwriter paints with an ethereal brush. “Jealousy” opens with soft piano chords, birds chirping, and an almost unintelligible Strange delivers lines about anger, missing pieces of the self, and a missing but needed voice. Distinct sounds like his will stop you in your tracks when you first hear them. Music’s ability to mold memories with reality is palpable with brilliant … Continue reading Featured Review
Eloquent Mag and Patty John from Perspective Words blog came together to test a new podcast idea, M.L.P. Chat. It stands for Merging Listening and Perspective. Bare with us while we figure it out (Yes, the audio is nowhere near pristine condition, but remember, we are new at this and testing it out). Here’s episode 1. We discuss the Roe v. Wade overturn, why abortionist activists dislike the Handmaid’s Tale, and what we were taught about abortion and women’s reproductive rights in school. Below is a brief slide show clarifying some of the news articles we discussed during the chat. … Continue reading M.L.P. Chat Episode 1
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