In The Same Tongue cast with audio engineer Putri and DJ Mo Wilks

DJ Mo Wilks interviews dance theater cast from In The Same Tongue!

written by Mo Wilks
Audio – Chidera Ugwu Ojobe
Photography – Bryan Edouard

Secret Spot host DJ Mo Wilks sat down with performers from the dance and music theatrical production of In The Same Tongue, which is performing at Paramount Center in downtown Boston through September 29, 2024 courtesy of ArtsEmerson.  The production is a creation of choreographer and modern dance legend Dianne McIntyre.  Dianne has been creating dance and music/dance works of stage and screen art for over 50 years. This is the first time her works are being showcased in Boston, Massachusetts. Thanks to music director Gerald Brazel, along with principal dancers Kamyrn Vaulx and Christopher Page Sanders.

 

There are still chances to get tickets for the Saturday evening 9.28.24 and Sunday 9.29.24 matinee shows.  Go to ArtsEmerson.org for more informaiton.

Rapsody performs at BAMSFest

Rapsody shares her ‘gratitude’ with ERS+ before performing at BAMSFest!


Rapsody photo

written by Bryan Edouard aka Bishop Toussaint

During June’s Black Music Month, I had the honor of interviewing Marlanna Evans who’s known to the world as the three-time Grammy nominated Hip-Hop emcee, Rapsody. Rapsody is known for her lyrical bars, cadence, direct openness, and beyond. She’s been a professional rapper for over a decade and continues to reign supreme.  Rapsody recently dropped her newest album, “Please Don’t Cry”, this past May 17th, 2024.

Rapsody graciously sat down with me for an ERS+ a phone interview prior to her performance. We talked about her career path thus far, her album  “Please Don’t Cry” and memories about why she enjoys performing in front of a Boston audience. She shared thoughts about how covid assisted her creative process. From the cover art, to making new friendships like the one she formed with Erykha Badu, and overall growth she forged, Rapsody continues finding herself and provides first hand testimony within her music projects.

Rapsody will be performing in Boston, Massachusetts for BAMSFest aka  Boston Arts & Music Soul Fest June 29th and June 30th at Franklin Park Playstead FieldFor more information about this festival an other scheduled local and national acts go to bamsfest.org

Bryan Edouard aka Bishop Toussaint

Drummer Corey Fonville

Butcher Brown’s drummer sat down before they throw down at this year’s BAMSFest!

Drummer Corey Fonville

written by Bryan Edouard aka Bishop Toussaint

Our series of installments highlighting June’s Black Music Month artist musician interviews continues. For the upcoming BAMSFest, we have Butcher Brown’s percussionist, Corey Fonville. Corey sat down and shared a few minutes with us providing insight into his role in a unit of five producers. Butcher Brown originates from Richmond, Virginia and is inspired by a variety of music genres. From Jazz to Blues, Hip-Hop to  Electronic music, you name it, Butcher Brown incorporates it. Butcher Brown tries to include all music artforms for they have been inspired by music as a culture and not as a sub genre. This was displayed on their debut album in 2014 named, All Purpose Music.

Corey Fonville thoroughly enjoys music, but highly respects all who contributed to not only his growth but the growth of the drummer culture as a whole. Corey discussed his love for music, when and why he started drumming, who and what helped him develop his style, and how Butcher Brown was able to just take their love and passion and apply it in a way that rewards them by going to different cities and performing for people. 

Corey along with his Butcher Brown brethren will be taking BAMSFest’s stage in Boston, Massachusetts June 29th at Franklin Park Playstead Field. BAMSFest stands for Boston Arts & Music Soul Festival   For more information about this festival and other scheduled local and national acts go to bamsfest.org

Bryan Edouard aka Bishop Toussaint

DJ Wheres Nasty

DJ “Where’s Nasty” chopped it up with Mo Wilks prior to droppin’ beats at BAMSFest!

DJ Where's Nasty

DJ Where’s Nasty

written by Bryan Edouard aka Bishop Toussaint
interview by DJ Mo Wilks

Our second profile guest for June’s Black Music Month is a DJ performer and producer who will be showcasing his talents this summer at BAMSFEST, which happens for two fun days, Saturday and Sunday, June 29th and 30th. Jason Almeida goes by the DJ name  Where’s Nasty  hails from neighboring Providence, RI. Nasty, who first caught the desire to move the crowd at the young age of 16, specializes in crowd rockin’ family fun.  His DJing abilities have allowed him to travel nationwide as well as led him into the remix production sphere.  Using digital production software, he has created numerous mixes and remixes, which can be streamed on SoundCloud like Formation by Where’s Nasty and Heard It All Before by Where’s Nasty.  His philosophy is to keep the party jumping no matter where his spinning travels take him.

Nasty’s entrepreneur endeavors also extend into managing companies. He is the co-founder of Stay Silent and Trade, which are both non profit organizations. He not only sets the mood for parties to vibe, but creates an eventful series that continues to grow, not just in numbers, but inside communities in and out of Boston.

Where’s Nasty will be performing in Boston, Massachusetts for Boston Arts & Music Soul Fest aka BAMSFest June 29th and June 30th at Franklin Park Playstead FieldFor more information about this festival an other scheduled local and national acts go to bamsfest.org

Bryan Edouard aka Bishop Toussaint

New Editions to ERS+

Meet ERS+’s New Editions!

Happy 2024 and Black History Month!


ERS+, Boston’s Black Experience is pleased to be not only in it’s new year, but also have the privilege of introducing two of our newest Urban Coordinators and content creators. Meet Kathia and Bryan. Below are a few little snippets about them and what we can expect in the months ahead.

Urban Coordinator Kathia

Urban Coordinator Kathia

Hi all! My name is Kathia Dawson and I’m a senior student at Emerson College studying journalism. I have always loved music of every genre, and I am so excited to be working at ERS+. Looking to the future, I hope to continue writing about music, sharing my opinions and learning more about the music world.

Meet Urban Coordinator Bryan

Urban Coordinator Bryan

Ayo! What’s poppin to all the boppers out there reading this. My name is Bryan Edouard. A.k.a Fry and I’m from Mattapan, Boston, Massachusetts (Have to let y’all know). My artist name is Bishop Toussaint and I’m a MC who was inspired by the golden era of Hip Hop. I was born in 1999 but lived as if I was a mid teen in the 90s. Getting into music was bound to happen for i used my resources to obtain music and my main 3 was the Radio, Film, and video games. It was a process because outside of life experiences, Friends and mentors in the game like Devin Ferreira who now works at Berklee, KEI who brought home a BMA, Back to Back, Jo Saza, who’s up and coming and so on and so forth. Being a Bboy first and now being a MC who films is really something that brings me joy for It became my purpose to help show that hip hop isn’t dead… If anything it’s being recycled and revamped. Hip Hop isn’t just a culture to people like me and with differences. It’s life and a life saver and that’s ILLmatic, word up.