At The Vanguard

Andy Stokes is a is an R&B Singer and performer who has been doing it for over 3 decades. He is soaring high with a his single "Best Day Ever" charting at 17 on Billboard charts. He is currently right behind Miguel's Skywalker and Ledisi's All The Way; not bad company to keep. Take a listen to our conversation! He is a wealth of knowledge, very humble, and a jewel of the Northwest's Soul and R&B community.

Tracks featured in this podcast are:

Right Now- Andy Stokes

Best Day Ever- Andy Stokes

We On Da Flo- Andy Stokes (Feat. Snoop Dogg)

Auni has dropped an awesome new swim wear line called Ciren Swim. You can go check out her website here. She is a model, althete, and business owner. Peep our conversation where we talk about a variety of topics like starting a business, body image, swiming and more!

Gifted Gab has one of the illest flows you will find in Seattle. She is a rapper born and raised in Seattle's Central District. She grew up singing with her mother, church choir and learning to piano since she was six years old. I have met and chilled with her on a couple of occasions. I have learned that she is a true wordsmith who is dedicated to the craft of lyricism. You can hear many of her influences when she rhymes like Tupac, MC Lyte, Bahamadia, and Queen Latifah. Here are the cuts that are featured in this podcast:

Come Correct- Gifted Gab

No Days Old- Gifted Gab

Photo credit: The Westerlies

Okay, first off, this the OG of At The Vanguard. Willem was my first artist interview and collaborative show. He is a great guy, has a killer sense of humor, and is a master of the emotional brass music, which he produces on his trombone. Willem is apart of a Seattle bred group of musicians called The Westerlies. Definitely, check them out at http://www.westerliesmusic.com/. Willem, Andy, Zubin, and Riley are all musicians from Seattle who either went to Garfield or Roosevelt High Schools. 

On the podcast talks about how he has been since he was last on At The Vanguard, plays the Westerlies' music, and plays a random game of jazz history. He only got to listen to about 8 secs or less, and got many of them right! 

Also- got ahead and check out the release of the Jazz and Protest radio show Willem and I did in 2015 by clicking the Live & On Air tab!

Rasheed Smiley is a dope Seattle based rapper. He is actually one of the first supporters of At The Vanguard too. We met at KEXP's Master The Hustle's finally workshop series. I was sitting in a chair, chilling out, and he walked up "your sitting over here like to own the place, whats your name?" Ever since then we have ran into each other around town. Our conversation definitely reflects those beings in we discuss a variety of topic in music, curator, coffee and more. You are in for a treat. 

The music played on this episode are:

Bottom- Rasheed Smiley Feat. Audrey

Talking to Ya- Rasheed Smiley 

Mr. Right- Rasheed Smiley

Frankie Starr is dope emcee in the Seattle band Lions Ambition. This group plays an interesting mix of Hip hop, soul, rock and jazz that translates to an awesome live show. I was able to check out their recent show at Nuemo's and found that their energy, variety of on stage personalities, and elasticity of their sound gave a little something for every listener regardless of their favorite genre. Frankie and I talk about a variety of topics relating to his musical past, band, and shared some track of their lastest EP "Portrait of a Muse"

Nimbus- Lions Ambition

Drifiting Away Lions Ambition

Brighter Days-Lion Ambition

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