Sorry Neosouljas,

Since I started using Tumblr, I’ve been neglecting this old WordPress blog. These days the best way to keep up with me is over at Tumblr, Twitter and Google+.

Long and short of it – I cancelled my full length debut album “Emanate” and am instead releasing a new EP entitled “Chapter 0: REINKARNAL” which you can find out about at chapter0.s-endz.com. The first track, “Alone” will be released on February 11th with subsequent songs being released every two weeks.

This WP blog will likely go completely out of commission soon, I just haven’t figured out where s-endz.com should point to, instead. Most likely I’ll build some sort of page that has various links to different social media presences… and shit like that. Peace and be wild.

S

No update blogs in a while, but I’m sure those of you who follow me on Twitter, Tumblr or Google+ aren’t complaining. And if you aren’t following, you should be! All the links are on the top right of the main page.

“Emanate” is a work in progress, but I’m probably gonna trim some fat from it. The problems of being a perfectionist. Still, I aim for completion soon. No rush. The new Swami album #UPGRADE, however, is very very finished. Minor mixing and the odd vocal overdub will be done in the next few days, then time for mastering! Our manager Luc has recently been in NYC having some strategical meetings with some people that will be partnering with us for the release. It’s gonna be epic. Total domination for 2012 is the aim.

Some real interesting developments with my solo work too. Let’s see what we can make happen. I have 9 ideas in mind already for the follow up to my debut. Shame starting ideas is so much easier than finishing them.

Love as always, peaceandbewild

S-Endz aka Casey Rain

x

It’s been a long time in the making. But the tracklist is finalized. The artwork is done. The songs are written. They just need mixing, which my cousin Subs and I should hopefully be starting this week. With a Swami tour also starting on Wednesday, there’s a lot going on.

Unfortunately there’s one song that still needs work, and it happens to be the most intensely personal song with the most musical depth and dynamic…… aka, the most work. All the other songs are done. I considered leaving it off. Unfortunately it’s the title track. And it’s hard for me to even think about the things it needs to be finished. It’s a tough one. But I’m determined to see this through, because I need to release this soon. I feel like I’m repressing ideas and visions for the next album I make and that’s not good. As they say, it’s much easier to start an idea than to finish one. But it’s a learning process, and over the past 4 years that I’ve been making this album (admittedly – on and off at times), I’ve learned so much, and I don’t think the next one will take as long. And hopefully it’ll be just as good.

I’m very proud of this album. But it’s scary to share some of your most innermost thoughts with the world. Not all of the album is like that – there’s tracks that are simply about having a good time and made to blast loudly at the world. But there’s a story weaving through all of the songs, and it’s my story. My life. Good times and bad times. I’m the creator, the protagonist, the antagonist, the hero, the villain, the narrator and more. I hope you enjoy it, but if you don’t, that’s OK. Because I didn’t compose this music and write these songs for anyone. Just myself. My Neosouljas, you know this already and I’m eternally grateful to all of you that have decided to join me on this ride.

This is only the beginning.

One love… S-Endz
x

Enjoy…. don’t forget to download the track here!

Be there.

]]> http://turimusic.com/blog/2010-06-s-endz-live-at-cargo-london/feed 0 http://turimusic.com/blog/2010-01-what-is-neofunk http://turimusic.com/blog/2010-01-what-is-neofunk#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:25:45 +0000 S-Endz http://turimusic.com/blog/?p=371

I wish to clear up the misconceptions surrounding neofunk for all my neosouljas reading.

First of all, neofunk is a MOVEMENT, a gathering of like-minded minds for the purpose of definition. Definition as in defining ourselves, our identity. We don’t fit into your preconcieved notions or boxes. We don’t fit into your narrow minded marketing sectors. We love hip-hop and rock. We love folk and metal. We love electronica and blues.

Sometimes we wear tight clothes and sometimes we wear baggy. Sometimes we appear thuggish and sometimes we appear effeminate. We can rock tattoos and makeup, and we don’t care if you try and demoralise us or make snap, uninformed judgements about our lifestyles, our appearance, our sexuality. It doesn’t matter how you try to slur us – We’re comfortable with who we are – how about you? We are NEOSOULJAS and we run circles around your backwards, non-progressive asses. We’re all the way in 2020 and you guys still haven’t caught up to 1999.

Second of all, neofunk is a sound. I created that sound, but although I invented it, I don’t exclusively own it. Back in 2007, the word entered my consciousness. I did interview after interview whereby the question was repeatedly asked of the nature of my solo material. Genre after genre after subgenre after subgenre entered my head, all of which had influenced me one way or another. But like I said – I don’t fit into your checkboxes. You aren’t going to label me that easily. I’m going to label myself. I’m going to describe my own style. Thus NEOFUNK was born and I invite you all to join me. This is our categorization. This is our identity, for anyone that feels trapped within existing boxes that society says you can’t transcend. We are NEOSOULJAS and we transcend all of that through NEOFUNK.

Finally, there are biters out there. I see them ripping off our words, our styles, our sounds. But they are making weak imitations. They try and brand things together for their own purposes – things that don’t fit. They haven’t thought it through. These people are only out for themselves. They claim to be progressive, but their claims are fraudelent. They don’t understand the conceptions and the definitions of what is behind our movement or what is under the surface, yet they still attempt to copy, without realizing. NEOFUNK is like an iceberg! What you see above the surface is only a small fraction! Copy, copy, copy, is all they do, while we continue to innovate at every turn.

Neofunk is a movement that will continue to spread. We have ways, means, plans, and most of all – a tangible identity that only seeks the truth. No matter how much they try to imitate, there is only our truth, and the people know what it is. Don’t think your imitation is going unnoticed and don’t mistakenly believe that your actions do not have consequences.

THIS IS NEOFUNK.

Peace out, NEOSOULJAS

S-Endz AKA Casey Rain The Neosoulja

So in 15 hours or so from the time of writing, it will be a new decade here in the UK. I for one welcome it with open arms and happily say "Good Riddance!" to the Noughties. Click the "Read More" link to find out why:

The Noughties sucked as a decade. I mean, really. Think about it. Of the years 2000-2009, 8 of those years had George W Bush controlling the worlds most powerful country. I mean, who let this guy in? OK fair enough, you guys made a mistake voting him in the first time. But you realized and then…..the bastard cheated his way back in. Obama’s first year in office hasn’t been anywhere near enough time to counter the damage done by the Bush Administration, but I am certain that over time, Obama will be able to lead the country and the world in a better direction.

What about music? Well, the record business died over the last decade and it seemed like cultural movements did too. Where’s the movements like there were in every decade prior? Grunge and the rise of commercial hip-hop and alternative rock in the 90′s, electro, new wave and post punk in the 80′s, metal, punk and funk in the 70′s, rock and roll in the 60′s……well what the hell does the Noughties have to show for itself musically? Nada.

2009 felt like it had to just outdo the suckiness of the whole rest of the decade on it’s own. Economic recession. The death of the king of pop. In my case, more heartbreak and personal issues than I care to even waste another second getting upset about. In short, a terrible, terrible year. I’m confident that the Tens is going to be a GREAT decade though. I can’t explain why right now, since we’re not even in it yet. But I CAN feel it. There’s something stirring, an energy that some forward thinking people will harness. The Noughties has left us all downtrodden, resentful and angry. This anger is our gift and the force that will guide us to a better tomorrow.

I plan to start off the Tens with a bang. The release of my long awaited, years in the making solo album (I PROMISE it’s nearly done!!!)….the new Swami album that is our most ambitious project to date and will hopefully elevate us to previously unseen heights……THIS IS THE NEW BEGINNING.

But don’t just take my word for it. Drop me a line and let me know why you feel the Tens is going to be awesome. I can’t be alone in feeling like the draught of the Noughties will lead to a new renaissance of the Tens. I mean, once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up, right? Happy new decade to all of you.

Peace love and be wild.

Casey "S-Endz" Rain.

P.S – Big shout out to Bobby Friction and all the listeners of the FRICTION show on the BBC Asian Network who placed ‘Sugarless’ as the #2 song of 2009 in the Top 50 songs countdown show. Hey, I guess 2009 wasn’t all bad

NeoSoulja’s worldwide…..peep this!

Peta Cooper from Urban Desi Radio and Desiclub.com just did an online interview with me via Twitter!

Click here to check it out and see me drop some cool new hints about the new Swami album, the status of my solo debut album ‘Emanate’ and more!!

Here, as promised, is the scan of the article/interview with me that ran in last week’s (Nov 6th ’09) issue of Eastern Eye newspaper here in the UK. Hope you managed to grab a copy!

Click on the picture to see the full size version. Enjoy!

Peace…

S-Endz

xx

Neofunk Vlog #1: Filmed on Android G1 Phone….S-Endz talks about ‘Outer Space’ and show you a newly published interview he did with the UK’s ‘Eastern Eye’ newspaper – scan of that interview coming soon!