Shanksmear

Shanksmear has been through it all. We won't delve into his personal business, all we can say is when you listen to his lyrics, listen to every word he spits because every word is the truth. The delivery of his songs in the NatCave booth hold so much power you end up asking "why bother with a beat?, this man is spitting pure poetry". Like most upcoming artists, Shanksmear supports his music on the solo tip so while we don't see him in the booth as often as he deserves, we love him regardless. He is always in constant contact with us, calling the studio the very minute after he finishes writing a new song and no matter how busy we get, how could we refuse? Shanksmear is a lyrical master in his own right and we’re glad he’s part of The NatCave Family. Currently he has three fire tracks in rotation playing directly on NatCave Radio.

The NatCave Studio Meets Annie

Running sessions at The NatCave Studio we never know who we’re going to work with. Nat has set strict rules that anyone is welcome; no one is to be turned down regardless of what stage they are at in their career, so we just keep our fingers crossed and hope at the very least we get artists that are motivated .When Annie walked into The NatCave Studio, we knew fingercrossing was completely unnecessary. She came in ready to get down to business and made her vision crystal clear. It didn’t take long for us to discover that sitting in our studio was the complete package, she has the look, she has the talent, she has the drive, all she needs is the studio. What a perfect combination, a driven artist with a driven studio staff. Annie is working on a killer demo and came to us looking to add to the three songs she has already recorded. Needless to say we were we impressed with what she brought to the table. Before leaving the studio she allowed us to get a sneak peak at her video “American Girl”. We were so impressed with the video we asked her if she mind sharing with us who edited the video. Her answer floored us… “You’re looking at her!” There goes the old saying if want something done right you have to do it yourself. It’s frustrating for an artist to envision something and not have the right people around to help bring that vision into tangible form to share with the world. The smile Annie gave us at the end of her free session was priceless. She found her studio!

The NatCave Studio Meets Amira

Amira has been in communications with the studio for a few months now and her break from school finally allowed us the pleasure of meeting face to face. At age 14, she dazzled us with her ability to entertain as well as anyone twice her age. She came to us with a focused mission of producing her first recorded song from her library of songs she has written. She came to the studio with the support of her family including her parents and her older sister who is also a singer anxious to exercise her vocal chords inside the cave. When Amira recorded her reference vocal we were all ready to give her a standing ovation. She is set on finishing the details of her first sing “I’ll Live Up To Me” this summer and The NatCave Studio is working with her every step of the way.

The NatCave Studio Meets Harlam

Although The first session at the at The NatCave Studio is on the house, sometimes we get so wrapped up in conversation that we use the whole time getting to know the artist. This is how we were introduced to Harlam, an aspiring singer from… you guessed it, Harlem. Every once in a while we find that diamond in the rough. The thought of recording in studio can be intimidating especially for the first time so we help break the ice by inviting artists to come and discuss their aspirations with us before we get into project work. Upon sitting with Harlam, Nat, the Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio, playfully used the term “stingy” referring to Harlem’s obviously talented background but has yet to share his talents with the world. Even though Harlam is working on his first recorded song, he is an established singer/songwriter and has come to The NatCave Studio to take his career to the next level. Harlam also introduced us to his very supportive colleague Bekele who is an established pop artist and lead singer in the group Bekele and The Pretenders. After an enriched conversation and a tour of the facility, we assured them both Harlam is in good hands and granted us the experience of working together. We’re excited to have met Harlam and Bekele The NatCave is gracious for the opportunity to help broadcast his gifts to the world.

Bangaz Only

Only two words describe this team… Be afraid. For this group of multitalented individuals, shocking the world comes natural. Herp Bionic, one of the group members came to us last year and put down three blazing tracks partnering up with Blizzi, all original music. The last thing we remember hearing was “Wait till you meet the rest of the team”. They were right to warn us.
Herp not only performs but also makes beats for the group. One track that stands out for Nat, Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio is “2 Many”. This time we need three words… Oh My God. The beat that came through the studio system was so sinister, so dark, so demented. The instrumental alone shook the control room with it’s gothic vibes. Then the booth opens up and Herp steps inside, it was as if he dumped a can of gasoline in there and struck a match. To hell with a Grammy, the performance that came out was worthy of an Oscar.
Just when we thought it was safe to mix, the song wasn’t done yet. Sincere, sitting in the producers seat directly across from the other side of the glass coaching the sessions turns out to be the singer of the group. The song was so damn sick already, how could they possibly turn the heat up more? By lacing the track with an unbelievable hidden weapon.
After experiencing what Herp put on the track, Sincere spent about 15 minutes scribbling and scratching on a notepad humming to himself. Then he steps into he booth and shuts it down, everyone on the other side of the glass is flipping out. This is only one of a collection of tracks that clearly earn them the name Bangaz Only. These tracks include exclusive new music from Herp Bionic, Sincere, Blizzy, Knoxvill, Kannon The Kemist and more. We’re warning you now, get a fire proof case for your iPod!

Working Flawlessly

You've heard the rumor that Jay-Z Drops his vocals in one take with no paper right? Well imagine seeing the same effect inside The NatCave Studio from a killer artist less than half Hova's age. Believe it! We saw it with our own eyes. He goes by the name of Flawless and the name says it all.

Flawless came to us with his manager/uncle Lavox last month and since then has built a 'flawless' reputation of dropping all the vocals for his songs in under 30 minutes after which Nat, Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio, himself jumps in the drivers seat and conducts the song mix.

Flawless and Nat working together is a prime example of chemistry. When an artist as skilled as Flawless walks into your studio, it can be quite embarrassing not being able to keep up. Inside The NatCave Studio we're always ready to find and develop that chemistry and from the minute Flawless stepped in the booth we knew he was not the average rapper and we had to keep up with his delivery. First meeting Flawless he showed us his business side: calm, cool and eager to get the ball rolling. Once that record button was hit we witnessed a transformation that rivals most live stage performances.

Flawless has completed four new tracks at The NatCave Studio (we dare you to find one that isn't fire) and currently he is shopping for new beats worthy of his hypnotic lyrics. We blessed him with some original instrumentals from our secret stash and we can’t wait to see what this young genius has in store for us.

Juice Cannon Working On 2nd NatCave Release

Even while promoting his already released hit album International in 23 Days (recorded & mixed at The NatCave Studio), Juice is anxious to drop album number two which he has already promised to have more controversial content and a fresh new view of the world according to Juice Cannon.
The major upgrade we see with this project is Juice is now in the producers chair as well as behind the glass. The first song contributed to the new project “Fuck You, Pay Me” features original melodies delivered straight from the mind of Juice Cannon himself. Nat (Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio) helps out by adding his unique drum style to the mix. The results came out fierce. Tempted to sell the beat for a couple grand, Juice decides instead to bless the track with his dominating lyrics.
Juice liked the producer’s seat so well it wasn't more than a 24 hours later that we got a call with next song idea. Juice and Nat are again working together to recreate that mind-blowing effect that comes from their collaborations.

Edidi & French Connection

Next to Nat himself, Edidi is by far the hardest working man inside The NatCave Studio. He books studio time with us so frequently we're considering charging him rent instead of a studio rate. His dedication to his music is both inspirational and absolutely captivating and we're thrilled to be apart of the movement he is creating.

For those who have not yet experienced Edidi, he is a native of Africa, or as he so boldly puts it “The Motherland”. He spent most of his music career in France and has already worked on a vast number of tracks. When Edidi first walked into the studio we had no idea his vision went so deep and four months later he is even more focused than when he started with us. Although Edidi speaks fluent English, his music is performed in mostly in French. The amazing thing about Edidi’s work is that he is not focused on the spoken language, rather the language of music itself.

The only word we can use to describe this experience is “ENERGY”. The energy that bursts out of Edidi when he is in the booth is so raw and powerful, it often feels as if the glass between the booth and the control room will shatter. Aside from being an established rapper, Edidi produces his own music and sits in on every mixing session. We had that honor of providing Edidi with a few beats for his upcoming release “French Connection” but unlike most artist who take the beats as-is, Edidi molded each instrument to match his unique rapping style and in some cases brought in live musicians to spice up the tracks even more.

One of the things we love about Edidi is he does not settle. Sometimes with working with an artist it’s hard to tell them “Your music needs more” because if they are on a budget they look at it as spending money they don’t have. Edidi understands that it’s not about the money, it’s about making music that people want to hear, if that’s not your goal then you’ve got no business in the studio to begin with.

The NatCave Studio Meets Ruby Collins

Meeting Ruby Collins was an absolute joy. She filled us in on the journey she has had putting together her previous three album releases and expressed her enthusiasm to get number four in motion. Established singer/song writer describes Ruby’s foundation however her talents don’t end there. Walking into The NatCave Studio with her guitar case strapped to her back, Ruby did not hesitate to symphony us with some brand new material she has in the works. Check out her work on her website www.rubycollins.com as well as www.myspace.com/merubycollins. We are looking forward to working with Ruby on her future releases.

Procrastination In The Studio

What is the difference between a great thought and a great action? Pretty much the only difference is...getting off your ass! Running The NatCave Studio for so long I have seen countless artists walk though the door. The artists that last are the ones who have that voice in their heads that commands them to take action on their ideas. It is so sad to see an artist come into the studio fully aware of their talents and abilities yet does not utilize the will to complete the thought. Its like showing up to a marathon, stretching, tying your shoe laces, on your mark, get set, go... "Ah screw it", then walking off the track.

Fortunately for me, the phase where these type of artists were the majority ended long ago but every now and then someone stirs up the deja vu. Within these group of procrastinators that come to the studio, the favorite procrastination engine is studio cost. That's the easiest one to dish out. I used to try and encourage these "sort-of" artist but what I've learned is its not about cost, its about value. Cost is determined by the studio. Value is determined by the client. Clients who appreciate the rate in the studio are the ones who understand the value that they get in exchange for the studio rate. So the 13 year old using his moms computer to illegally download instrumentals and software will not understand paying $50 an hour for studio sessions. Its just not in the brain chemistry. They have predetermined what they do to be a hobby and create a ceiling that no one can break for them, they alone must choose to take their gifts more seriously.

I was once asked do I take it personally when someone decides not to record at The NatCave. Honestly, when I first started it would bother me. I wondered what I might be doing wrong. Then I discovered that when an artist comes to the studio, my job is usually not to sell artist on using the studio, my job is to sell the artist on themselves. Most new artist lack confidence, intimidated by negative thoughts. The artists that keep coming back to the studio are the ones that don't hear these voices or if they do, cancel it out of their mind, confident that when everything is said and done, there will be a new track in this world, one that would not exist had they not fought for it to be here. Witnessing this happen time and time again is what keeps me enthusiastic about new projects and always ready to encourage someone who can't see the potential of their gifts. Yes, it cost something, so does everything else that holds value in this world. How much is your music worth to you? How much is it worth if gets you that record deal your dreaming of or perhaps that goal of 10,000 units sold independently?

If money stands as the first procrastination, time stands right next to it. There once was I time when I felt I didn't have time for things. What broke me out of that excuse was a simple time management exercise. As a matter of fact its so basic that it can easily be overlooked but I personally guarantee its success. Time was invented by man. We use time as a tool to identify when things happen or the duration of a task. Time is represented in numbers... so count them up! How much time do you really have? You'd be amazed. Most people work with the understanding that they don't need to plan out their days because things happen regardless. Gotta go to work, gotta eat, gotta sleep, etc. Unlike money, time is spent whether you choose to or not so once you acknowledge that you have to spend time, your job is to map out what your time will be spent on. If you choose nothing, guess what, time gets spent anyway, if you choose the wrong thing, the time is wasted.

Procrastination comes in the picture when you ignore the idea that time is passing. Sometimes we justify it by dropping excuses, doing something instead of what your procrastinating on, yet that's when value comes back into the picture. Just how valuable is that which you are procrastinating? Is it something important to you or is it an idea you're playing with. The difference between the two is crucial to your life. Ignoring a dream that feels real to you turns into torture as time passes. Everyone has their challenges in life and the rewards come to those who push harder than the others.

One bonus reason why artists procrastinate is they feel intimidated by the superstars. I've heard fantastic singers say "I don't have a body like Beyonce" or rappers say, "I'm not a gangster, how do I compete with 50 Cent?" The advice I give is again quite simple. The superstars we are all familiar with have one thing in common, there is a whole team of people that are working to keep them superstars. No one does it alone. When you're looking at a performer on television, you might as well look into a mirror because the individual you see is just as capable of accomplishing the same achievements. A team has to believe in you. They have to feel your success as strongly as you do. Eventually when you get the right combination of professionals together, you get the superstar you see on your television screen. There's only one way to attract professionals and that is to be a professional yourself.

Professionalism and procrastination simply don’t mix. So now in the event a talented artist decides against exercising their talent in the studio and they talk themselves out of a future they deserve, I have to shake my head and realize in some crazy way, it’s actually better for the real artist that they are not distracted by false competition. God bless ‘em!

Nathanial Foreman

The NatCave Studio

Brooklyn, NY

(888) 603-3587

studio@thenatcave.com

www.TheNatCave.com

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