WKNC Interviews

River Whyless has taken the genre of folk music, one that many may feel has been driven into the ground by over-played and super-hyped acts like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, and have crafted songs that are as fresh and unique as they are rustic and traditional. Live shows may find the act shouting into violins for melodic textures, using bicycle wheels as percussive instruments, and frequent trade-offs of vocal duties. All of these facets come together to build one surprisingly cohesive but immensely diverse sound.

Throughout the hour, River Whyless performed three new tracks from their recent self-titled EP and discussed how a new approach to recording altered the sound of this release. Listen below for our full conversation and some gorgeous live takes on “Life Crisis,” “Maple Sap” and “Miles of Skyline.”

Many folks may be familiar with Wylie Hunter and Nick Jaeger from the plethora of projects they’ve both been involved with like Wylie Hunter & The Cazadores, Roman Candle, Max Indian, and the list goes on. One wouldn’t reasonably expect a new project from these two roots driven artists to sound the way Wild Fur does, a swirling mixture of synths, guitars, drum samples and smooth vocals that’s as rooted in Americana as it is electronic pop. However, Hunter and Jaeger aren’t satisfied with complacency, and that shows in their recent conversation on Carolina Grown.

Prior to their show on Jan. 23 at Local 506 with Floating Action and Dad & Dad, the founding members of Wild Fur joined us in the studio to discuss the band’s origins, songwriting techniques and news on when fans can expect to hear their heavily anticipated full-length. Check out our full conversation below along with the premiere of “Get Up & Go” the newest single from their forthcoming full length.

Last Friday the band stopped by Carolina Grown to talk about what it’s like making music in Wilmington, entering into a local music scene they knew next to nothing about, and how you probably shouldn’t throw away your Rock Band set just yet. Although the members of Astro Cowboy are still young, barely able to get into the bars they’re now performing at, they tackle relatable moments of hopelessness, despair, regret and longing with the poise of an aged songwriter. Whether they’re lamenting over burnt pale skin or brief teenage flings, Astro Cowboy is making vulnerability look cool again. Listen below for our full conversation with the band along with three tracks from their latest release Hedonism Colosseum.

After Stack$’s set, a teenager from the crowd sauntered on the stage wearing a paintball jersey and what had to be a fresh haircut. This teenager was none other than Carrboro’s own Cosmoe, a high school student pursuing rap and utilizing local venues to showcase this talent. Sampling an older Rihanna song as a beat is a bold move but I definitely respect it.The previous sentence more or less sums up the entirety of Cosmoe’s set.He’s young, with a lot of untapped talent and has a hidden love for Rihanna (who doesn’t).

Up next to the stage was the special guest G. Yamazawa and he definitely not only put the “spec” in special but also in spectacle. This guy is someone to watch. G. Yamazawa is 24 year old born and raised in Durham, North Carolina by Japanese natives. Small in stature but phat in rhyme. Immediately when he was handed the mic, G was spitting effortlessly constructed double entendres faster than the bartender could hand out Red Bulls to underaged concert goers. 

Completely blown away by the guest, everyone GUESSED that the next to the spit was none other than Charlotte native, Well$. With a few members of the audience wearing t-shirts repping Well$’s record label Immaculate Taste and everyone pumped on adrenaline, Well$ had his work cut out for him. 2014 was a big year for the rapper and I can tell he is planning to go even bigger in the new year. Over the past few years Well$ toured with Ab- Soul, performed with Pac Div and G-Eazy and also signed to record label Immaculate Taste. Something about Well$’s nonchalant manner and casual cool seems to draw people in and his music does not disappoint. He even stopped in the middle of his set to announce that people should mosh and those uninterested should step aside. If that’s not courtesy, I’d like to see what is.

ALL OF THESE GREAT PERFORMANCES AND WE HAVEN’T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE HEADLINER: PROFESSOR TOON.

photos from Facebook

Professor Toon is a Baltimore, Maryland native and a current resident of the 919, more specifically Durham. Also known as Toon from Toon and the Real Laww, Professor Toon had a crazy past couple of years. To clarify I mean crazy as in sharing the stage with names like Run the Jewels and De La Soul, while further establishing himself as an artist by performing at Hopscotch, and co founding the DURM Hip Hop Summit. The DURM Hip Hop Summit is a collective started by Toon and the Real Laww in 2012. They plan on having an event AUGUST 15th, 2015 (SAVE THE DATE.) The event is set to include the original 5 Pillars of Hip Hop:  DJing, Beat Boxing, Break Dancing, Graffiti and the MC. So for all of you complaining about real hip hop being dead (we’ve all seen your YouTube comments) come to its resurrection in August put on by the DURM Hip Hop Summit. Professor Toon brought his “A” game to the Local 506 and after sitting down one on one with the rapper his music and personality both leave little to be desired. The professor kept the crowd going while presenting himself as excited yet humble and truly appreciative for his fan base. Performing his new song “The Elephant” which manifests a part of Professor Toon’s childhood and his love for the special woman in his life that worked to give him a good upbringing, his mother. His mother was front and center at the show rocking a ReverbNation t-shirt, dancing her heart out and she wasn’t the only one.

Check out my exclusive interview with Professor Toon where he talks about Growing up in Baltimore, Lil Bow Wow vs. Lil Romeo, Female rappers and his up and coming ventures.

IMPORTANT DATES: JANUARY 24TH at the DUKE COFFEEHOUSE catch PROFESSOR TOON, TURQUOISE JEEP, and BARF TROOP

AUGUST 15th mark your calendars for the DURM Hip Hop Summit

-Dilemma, WKNC Underground Music Director