The following are excerpts from the liner notes of the full-length CD Wax Onomatopoeia (2009) by DJ Earl-e.
"Zsong" is sort of an interlude song, raw and uncomplicated. It is another song from the "93 Poway days (see "Wax On" liner notes), but this version is the second version. The original cut had some other elements in it, like a sample of a skateboard ollie for a snare, a sample of a pinball table flipper, and more, but a computer hiccup somehow lost the original version, leaving this simpler song in the mix. What I added later, to lend to the continuity of this album, was the intro which was taken from a late night session with my homies Juggla, Vegas, and Prose. I was house-sitting in a small trailer on a bout an acre of land on the outskirts of Iowa City in the dead cold of January 1994. This was one of those nights where we just played music and left the mic on record, capturing some fleeting bits of genius in between the ridiculous and ludicrous moments...I'm not sure what this part was, but it sure makes us laugh to this day. The Captain Z bit just had to go with this song.
The title "Zsong" comes from the guitar loop, can you guess why?
The next song, "Slayin'" is a newer song from Earl-e, but started with an old idea. Back in high school, I was in chorus, and we would sing a Christmas medley including "Jingle Bells" and "Sleigh Ride." I do think that I felt like slaying my chorus director after singing these for the 2000th time...
The song is really a (maybe not so) subtle commentary on the 24-hour media fed society and how many of these pundits, experts, and academics (the vultures) relish in the reportage of carnage.
11/20/2009
10/11/2009
Liner Notes II: Fly Into the Son/Reza-Nate
The following is part 2 of the liner notes from DJ Earl-e's album Wax Onomatopoeia.
As songs often do, these next two songs bring back memories of specific times and friends. "Fly Into the Son" was crafted around 1998 in the living room of my good friends, Sam and Mose. Some great reggae shows that came through Iowa City the previous summer, like Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, and Culture, and brought some positive vibrations and motivations to the mix. This song started as a reggae song, but as my songs often do, it sort of grew into something more. I was doing a couch tour then, living between Minneapolis, Iowa City, and Davenport with my wife traveling for work, so I had to make my studio on-the-go. The Akai S-20 is a cool, little, easily portable sampler that does just enough to be fun, make some tight loops, and record a 4-track sequence. Limited memory forces you to get creative with your samples, but it still lets you do some interesting chopping, and gives you a chance to let the song evolve organically, like playing an instrument. If you know my other albums, you will recognize the title from a (Roy Ayers) sample that I used in the song "great planes" on the Environ Mentalz album. This is part of a recurrent theme of using recurrent themes in my music.
The next song, "Reza-Nate," is a work that started as a collaboration with another friend into the realms of deep house/electronica (although my man Vince said it was almost dub step -but I'm still gonna call it hip-hop). Reza is the guy that you will always have fun with, you will probably do something you never tried along the way, guaranteed laughs, and is probably the friend that would have gotten you in the most trouble as a kid. He is always turning me on to new music, and inspiring me with his positivity, and love of life. So, Reza is a music lover and he wants to make some tracks. This is one of a couple that we started working on, and realizing the limitations of my GarageBand setup, left abandoned. I still think we'll make an album someday... I dusted this one off, added a few samples, mixed it down, and you get the name of our band, Reza-Nate.
As songs often do, these next two songs bring back memories of specific times and friends. "Fly Into the Son" was crafted around 1998 in the living room of my good friends, Sam and Mose. Some great reggae shows that came through Iowa City the previous summer, like Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, and Culture, and brought some positive vibrations and motivations to the mix. This song started as a reggae song, but as my songs often do, it sort of grew into something more. I was doing a couch tour then, living between Minneapolis, Iowa City, and Davenport with my wife traveling for work, so I had to make my studio on-the-go. The Akai S-20 is a cool, little, easily portable sampler that does just enough to be fun, make some tight loops, and record a 4-track sequence. Limited memory forces you to get creative with your samples, but it still lets you do some interesting chopping, and gives you a chance to let the song evolve organically, like playing an instrument. If you know my other albums, you will recognize the title from a (Roy Ayers) sample that I used in the song "great planes" on the Environ Mentalz album. This is part of a recurrent theme of using recurrent themes in my music.
The next song, "Reza-Nate," is a work that started as a collaboration with another friend into the realms of deep house/electronica (although my man Vince said it was almost dub step -but I'm still gonna call it hip-hop). Reza is the guy that you will always have fun with, you will probably do something you never tried along the way, guaranteed laughs, and is probably the friend that would have gotten you in the most trouble as a kid. He is always turning me on to new music, and inspiring me with his positivity, and love of life. So, Reza is a music lover and he wants to make some tracks. This is one of a couple that we started working on, and realizing the limitations of my GarageBand setup, left abandoned. I still think we'll make an album someday... I dusted this one off, added a few samples, mixed it down, and you get the name of our band, Reza-Nate.
9/16/2009
Liner Notes: Wax On/ Pacific Coastin
Every song has a story. The songs I put together are the stories that make up who I am.These are the first 2 tracks from my new album, Wax Onomatopoeia.
"Wax On" was made specifically as an intro song, but not necessarily for this album. Originally made around late 1994, the song was unofficially titled "Bring it On" and was made with just 2 loops. My production studio was basically two turntables, an Apple IIc computer and a program called SoundEdit. I had recently journeyed from Iowa with my boys Brian and Jonathan, in a beat up Chevy conversion van that used to belong to my grandfather, ending up in an apartment in Poway, CA . We were broke, and spent most of our time hanging out at the bowling alley, smoking, mixing records, making beats, and skateboarding. Those few hot summer months were productive and I made a tape of all the beats I had cranked out. "Bring it On" was the intro joint. For the new album, I wanted that same feel, so I revived the song and added some vocal samples of inspiring personalities (Kobe, Bob Sanders, Bergwood). You can go to my YouTube page to see the video for the song.
"Pacific Coastin'" is a remake of a song (called Lsong) that was made in that Poway apartment, and is sort of the follow-up to a song called "Drivin'" from my Environ Mentalz (2003) album. The song cruises like a drive through Malibu and rolls like the hills of Cali's Central Coast. As my story often goes though, this journey also has its beginnings in Iowa. In a record store. Filing through the familiar bins in Real Records (now gone) on Washington St. in downtown Iowa City, I heard a funky jazz sound. I asked who this groove came from and discovered 'Big" John Patton on a Blue Note re-issue. The smooth organ, cool guitar, and Latin percussion quickly became favorite listening and sampling material. Simple Citizens know what I'm talkin 'bout. Thats why I had to sample the vocal hook from their song "Variations in D Minor," which brings to mind this same vibe. I currently live about 6 blocks from the PCH, and I love bumpin this joint along the way.
Get the album here, or download individual songs.
"Wax On" was made specifically as an intro song, but not necessarily for this album. Originally made around late 1994, the song was unofficially titled "Bring it On" and was made with just 2 loops. My production studio was basically two turntables, an Apple IIc computer and a program called SoundEdit. I had recently journeyed from Iowa with my boys Brian and Jonathan, in a beat up Chevy conversion van that used to belong to my grandfather, ending up in an apartment in Poway, CA . We were broke, and spent most of our time hanging out at the bowling alley, smoking, mixing records, making beats, and skateboarding. Those few hot summer months were productive and I made a tape of all the beats I had cranked out. "Bring it On" was the intro joint. For the new album, I wanted that same feel, so I revived the song and added some vocal samples of inspiring personalities (Kobe, Bob Sanders, Bergwood). You can go to my YouTube page to see the video for the song.
"Pacific Coastin'" is a remake of a song (called Lsong) that was made in that Poway apartment, and is sort of the follow-up to a song called "Drivin'" from my Environ Mentalz (2003) album. The song cruises like a drive through Malibu and rolls like the hills of Cali's Central Coast. As my story often goes though, this journey also has its beginnings in Iowa. In a record store. Filing through the familiar bins in Real Records (now gone) on Washington St. in downtown Iowa City, I heard a funky jazz sound. I asked who this groove came from and discovered 'Big" John Patton on a Blue Note re-issue. The smooth organ, cool guitar, and Latin percussion quickly became favorite listening and sampling material. Simple Citizens know what I'm talkin 'bout. Thats why I had to sample the vocal hook from their song "Variations in D Minor," which brings to mind this same vibe. I currently live about 6 blocks from the PCH, and I love bumpin this joint along the way.
Get the album here, or download individual songs.
9/01/2009
New Release- "Wax Onomatopoeia" Official release!
After a bit of a printing mix-up, the new album has arrived and is ready for shipping. Copies will be available for ordering or download by Sept. 10. My first facebook contest winner will be getting his copy by the end of the week. More contests to come...stay tuned.Full liner notes for the album will be posted here in the next few days as well. I feel that every song has a story, and as I go, I will tell these stories. Earlier postings have songs from the album, but as a celebration of the release, I'm making 1 song available as a free download for a limited time.
PURPLE GRACKLE
8/08/2009
7/16/2009
Soul Scribes- July 4 Video
This was taken at our show in Ventura, CA on July 4. The event was "The California Music Fest" with over 150 bands playing in several venues on the Main St. and an outdoor stage as well. There were probably 20,000 to 30,000 people out that day, but not many with wristbands ($25 bucks a pop), and therefore, not much traffic inside the venues. Played with some other great artists including Big Joe Hurt and Keaton Simons.
Our regular bass player, Trever, was in Switzerland for over a month working on a movie score, so Charlie- the original bass player in the band, jumped at the opportunity to get down. Sal, our guitar player, was also M.I.A., so Justin stepped his game up and held it down nicely. Your favorite DJ even got on the mic, but the lyrics belonged to the legendary Rakim- a tribute to a hip-hop classic, "Paid in Full."
We play next @ the Airliner in downtown L.A. on Thurs. July 23-FREE, and then a FREE SHOW Thurs. July 30 after the "Twilight Concert Series" on the Santa Monica Pier at Rusty's Surf Ranch. I will be spinning a DJ set that night as well, so get yer ass down.
6/10/2009
New video for "Wax On" by DJ Earl-e
Finally, a new song from the new album, Wax Onomatopoeia, out this Summer from DJ Earl-e. "Wax On" is the intro song to the CD, so it is only fitting that it is the 1st release. I actually made this beat sometime in 1993-94, with the idea of it being an intro for an album like this. In fact, many of the beats on this album were mined from the vaults, giving them that crusty sound and authentic feel. I will detail the production aspects later, but for now, "sit back, relax, and listen to some hip-hop."
5/09/2009
Check the remix.
Did this remix for a contest. Let me know what you think.
Open Happiness- featuring Cee-Lo Green, Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Janelle Monae, Tracis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes).
Open Happiness - soul scribe vibe mix - DJ Earl-e
Open Happiness- featuring Cee-Lo Green, Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Janelle Monae, Tracis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes).
Open Happiness - soul scribe vibe mix - DJ Earl-e
4/11/2009
Soul Scribes to rock the Santa Monica Pier
We are stoked to be playing at the legendary Rusty's Surf Ranch located on the Santa Monica Pier. 2009 is the 100 year anniversary of the Pier in Santa Monica, and the rides are still running. A new solar powered ferris wheel was installed last year to replace the old one. The roller coaster is rickety, but you know I'll be riding it Friday night. Hope all can come out to support the band, and I look forward to having some good times with the peeps. We are also working on a new song or two that we hope to debut that night.
We start at 8:30 sharp and have a full hour to get down. Hope to see y'all there. $7 at the door w/I.D. ($12 under 21 without parent)
4/01/2009
Friday Night with Soul Scribes
The latest flyer for Soul Scribes designed by DJ Earl-e.
This is always a fun night with lots of friends and family that come through. Soul Scribes usually plays 2 sets with me spinning select cuts from the crates. Last month I went with funk, the month before was Bob Marley Day...so I went with strictly roots that night. Still haven't picked a theme for the night this month. Any ideas?... It is a tiny dive bar, but the bartenders are cool and it's like family when we play a show there. I'm still hopin' Prose will be comin thru with some songs. Last month my boy Andrew came down and he ended up with a free CD. Soul Scribes plays at the Witches Brew on the first Friday of every month. Stay tuned for posts about Soul Scribes playing live on May 8 @ Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier!
2/10/2009
New DJ Earl-e Mix-Tape Out Now!
New mixtape from DJ Earl-e. Remixes of classic and new hip-hop tracks. Download the entire mix for free now! Available for limited time only!!!
53 minute mix perfect for rockin on your iPod or burn a copy for your homie. Help spread the love...
Parental Advisory: Explicit lyrics
53 minute mix perfect for rockin on your iPod or burn a copy for your homie. Help spread the love...
Parental Advisory: Explicit lyrics
1/10/2009
Updated DJ Earl-e Blog: Easewax
The official blog of DJ Earl-e. Updated information on where you can get music, watch video, and contact DJ Earl-e.
www.djearl-e.com
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