Saturday, September 26, 2020

Singer-Songwriter Selina Albright Is 'Holding On'




DALLAS - Like so many Black people, R&B-jazz singer-songwriter Selina Albright is tired and her fatigue has nothing to do with becoming a mother for the first time earlier this year, which was the subject of her latest single to hit the charts, “Discovering.” No, Albright’s exhaustion and discouragement stem from “seeing videos of my brothers and sisters dying in cold blood, their deaths rooted in misplaced fear, their murderers allowed to live freely.” She co-wrote and co-produced her forthcoming single, “Holding On,” to call out social injustice and the urgent need for reform. The single drops October 16 and will be promoted at urban adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio formats.


Musically, “Holding On” is an anthemic, multi-genre aural quilt sewn from soulful R&B heart, modern jazz progressions and tones, dramatic rock changes punctuated by drummer James “JRob” Roberson, and ethereal pop vocal harmonies. But it’s the song’s subject matter and lyrical content that is radically new and different for Albright, who has etched her place on the urban-jazz scene with intimate love songs and autobiographical confessions such as those contained on her 2017 debut album, “Conversations.” Her most piercing and provocative cry in “Holding On” is when she passionately repeats “Burn it all to the ground.”                   

 

I frankly find it exhausting and infuriating to see ongoing evidence of oppression without much change. And because writing music is a therapeutic outlet for me, I couldn’t help putting pen to paper about my struggle to maintain hope for the freedom of my people - real freedom to pursue happiness, be our beautiful selves, and to live fully as is our inalienable right. Instead, our rights are seen as privileges by those who work to prevent the impending moment when Black people truly know our strength,” said Albright who wrote the song with her co-producer Chris “Big Dog DavisDavid P. Stevens, and Kayta Matsuno.

 

Although “Holding On” is a song that captures present life for Black Americans, its origins date back to a November 2017 recording session between Albright and guitarist Stevens. Stevens awoke with the chord progression in his head and played it for Albright when she arrived in the studio.

 

The lyrics were originally written to bring hope and consolation to people with emotional health disorders because at the time, suicides were hitting close to home. Something in my spirit told me not to release the song yet. Since then, the United States has been exposed around the world for its social injustice, the roots, and workings of which are so well hidden and indulged by a small fraction of our nation, but whose disadvantages are felt by multitudes,” said Albright, who plans to release an accompanying video for “Holding On.” 

 

As usual, Albright found a way to incorporate her own experiences into the lyrics. After having a series of discussions with friends about their similar experiences of being Black in America, she revisited the song’s lyrics in order to make them more specific to Black people and the fight for social justice.

 

“I remember the first time my parents told me that because I’m Black, I'd have to work twice as hard as my non-Black peers to accomplish the same result. They also taught me how to dress and behave when certain people were present so that the police wouldn’t be called, and I wouldn’t die. Wouldn’t die! They said my smile and ‘proper’ dialect would be my protection. I’m glad I was warned because the same has been true even in my adulthood. There’s really nowhere to run from it,” said Albright, the daughter of multi-time GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist Gerald Albright.  

 

Ultimately, Albright would like to see her message in “Holding On” become obsolete, a dark and distant memory of the past before “we started overusing our spirit of power, love and sound minds” to prevail over systematic racism.   

 

“Black people are being herded around the country like cattle, our culture and excellence exploited, rather than kept sacred. We are being poisoned by processed scraps of food, and then given the lowest quality of healthcare. I see many of us losing steam. We can’t afford to do that. We must continue to find the strength to keep holding on until the whole world knows that at the very least, we matter.”

 


Friday, September 25, 2020

Javon Johnson Set To Debut 'Still.' September 30

Javon Johnson is set to debut his newly commissioned work Still. on PlayhouseLive, the new digital theatrical hub created by Pasadena Playhouse. The production will launch online at PlayhouseLive on September 30, 2020, and is part of the Fall line-up of pay-per-view streaming theatrical events.

Stillis Javon’s very personal experience on the Black experience in America at a pivotal time in our history. Johnson blends powerful imagery, witty prose, and beautiful lyricism in this timely, unforgettable theatrical event. Johnson has appeared on HBODef Poetry Jam, BETLyric CafĂ©, TVOneVerses & Flow, The Steve Harvey Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, United Shades of America with Kamau Bell on CNN, and co-wrote a documentary titled Crossover, which aired on Showtime, in collaboration with the NBA and Nike. 

Johnson is also a renowned spoken word poet -- a three-time national poetry slam champion and a four-time national finalist.  He is also Assistant Professor and Director of African American & African Diaspora Studies and holds an appointment in Gender & Sexuality Studies in the Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Still. is directed by Donny Jackson, who has been a staple of the poetry community for over 2 decades, and is also a doctor of clinical psychology, and a multiple Emmy-winning Producer and Director in unscripted television, including CNN’s United Shades of America with W. Kamau BellR&B Divas for TV One, The Bachelor for ABC, A&E’s Teach, and Inside the Label for BET. Dr. Donny is also an NAACP Image Award winner for his producing duties on TV One’s music documentary series, Unsung.


Monday, September 21, 2020

Indie Film 'Killian & The Comeback Kids' Opens In Theaters Nationwide September 25


New York, NY - Indie film Killian & the Comeback Kids opened exclusively in theaters on September 18, 2020 and is set to roll out across the country on September 25. The movie is being distributed by Hope Runs High, the distributor of the groundbreaking theatrical re-release of Academy Award winner Lee Grant's documentary films, and the acclaimed streaming premiere of Jonathan Caouette's Cannes favorite, indie smashTarnation. 
The movie is about a millienial (who is mixed race) coming back to his depressed rural hometown after an expensive college degree. It features an original folk/indie rock soundtrack and provides a hopeful message even more needed in 2020.  It is written and directed by Taylor A. Purdee. Taylor plays the son of his real life father NAACP Image Award Nominee Nathan Purdee (One Life to Live, Superfly) as well as Emmy nominee Kassie De Paiva (Days of Our Lives, One Life to Live). Youtuber Maddi Jane has a cameo in it as does Oscarwinner Lee Grant.


It is produced by Karmic Release, Ltd. which produced Wallowitch & Ross THIS MOMENT (Oscar Shortlist) and Baghdad ER (Emmy winner). The movie is executive produced by Suzanne Ordas Curry (Equity, A Case of Blue) and Liam Higgins.

The movie also stars Broadway mains
tay Shannon O'Boyle (Once, Kinky Boots), Emily Mest  (Spring Awakening Nat'l Tour, American Horror Story, Ratchet), Shane Andries (Tomorrow Ever After, Blue Man Group) Andrew O'Shanick (Pitch Perfect) and newcomers John Donchak, and Yael Elisheva.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

CODE 404 Set To Launch on Peacock on October 1

 CODE 404, a new buddy detective comedy set in London in the near future, will launch on Peacock on Thursday, October 1.  We are excited to share all six episodes of this Peacock Original with you, which offers a hilarious and refreshing spin on the classic crime-fighting duo.

Synopsis: DI John Major (Daniel Mays, “White Lines”) and DI Roy Carver (Stephen Graham, “Boardwalk Empire”) are the best of the best as an elite police unit in London. After Major’s cover is blown and he is met with his untimely death, he is brought back to life with some glitch AI technology. Now, he’s better than ever – or so he thinks.

CODE 404  is produced by Kudos and Water & Power Productions, in association with Sky Studios, distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution.

CODE 404 stars Daniel Mays, Stephen Graham, and Anna Maxwell Martin.