One On One who’s hot in da streetz
a whole has recovered or
invites all the on-air (as well as just one avenue in which to keep
recouped from that dis-
on-line) radio stations to sit on the city buzzing over him. The
mal event?
the show’s panel. Artists then get group, consisting of Destro, T.
to perform in front of the panel of Bone, Shice and Ty Jonez himself,
radio personnel, submit their music currently has a cd in circulation
CC: I think techno was put
to them, and get an on-the-spot cri- titled, The We Want Shady Cam-
in a bad light, not because
tique of their songs as well as add- paign. The single Smoke Some-
of that event. Techno was
ed knowledge of the stations. With thin caught the attention of industry
already lumped in with
major radio station FM 98 WJLB’s big wigs such as famed producers
rave music as the con-
“What’s Next On The Menu?” as Cool & Dre, as well as Jazze Pha,
cept of rave parties, drugs,
the standout guest on the panel, with its uptempo clubbin’ beat and
all that kind of stuff. What many independent stations (7mile well-delivered verses. Motivated
happened in 2001 was Radio, Detroit Riot Radio 88.1, by previous encouraging respons-
my experience. That was Detroit Promo Radio 88.3, Black es, The Fac is set to release yet
just ego, straight and ut-
Ace Radio, Rep Yo City 24/7) have another cd titled Executive Deci-
ter ego. I’m not deflecting
eagerly assisted Ty Jonez in his ef- sionz very soon. Its single Feelin
the blame from myself. As
fort to “put Detroit and its rap artists My Swagg, laced with a mellow
well, it just became too big
back on top”. Isaac Hayes instrumental loop in
too fast. And when any-
Ty has also worked with many the background, is already getting
thing becomes too big too
of the local music scene’s other top airplay on WJLB FM 98.
fast, you have a problem.
promoters such as Landa D, Chris When asked what advice
Sometimes you are just
Promoter
Mason, John Drama, Moe Nitty, he’d give upcoming artists, Ty re-
Whosane, Don P, Ms Murda, Nikki sponded, “Be yourself”. With the
out there too early. You
don’t even think about the
Extraordinaire:
Cola, Ms Monae, and Gladiator to rap game lacking a few good men,
name a few. I’d like to see more artists “be like
C
future of the product. A lot
arl Craig
of people blame the cor-
porate influence, which it’s
TY JONEZ
As a member of the rap group Ty Jonez”.
THE FAC, Ty Jonez has more than To hear songs from and pur-
chase The FAC’s The We Want
possible that they had a
By Moe Nitty
Shady Campaign cd, go to cdbaby.
By Deanna Dunham lot to do with little aspects com/knockinmusic.
of it. It was just a whole
Have you ever been com-
For more info on upcoming
More than just a producer and deejay, trying to encapsu- lot of points that could be pared to someone and felt insulted?
Ty Jonez showcases, call him at
late Carl Craig in a lithe of words would be like trying to define blamed, but the reality is Well, I have. Like the time some-
313-447-6615 or log on to www.
the meaning of all things music-- it’s too complex. Evidenced techno was lumped into one said I look like Flava Flav. Now
myspace@myspace/knockin-
by the number of monikers he records under including 69 (pro- rave. You couldn’t throw a
that was the lowest of low blows!
musicpromotions.
nounced six-nine), Innerzone Orchestra, C2, Psyche, BFC, as party without Fox 2 coming
But for every 10 insulting compari-
(You can reach Moe Nitty
well as Carl Craig for over twenty years, the Detroit native has down with a camera.
sons there’s sure to be a flattering
at
myspace.com/mrmoenitty or
successfully made his mark as a second generation techno
comparison in there somewhere.
moenitty1@aol.com)
innovator of futuristic ambient, jazz and techno sounds. FP: Oh wow. As far as
Flattered, not insulted, is what I felt
In a candid interview with the FrontPage, Carl Craig revis- techno music, especial-
when someone accredited me with
ited some of his defining moments, the controversy surround- ly since mainstream is
the same
likenesses
ing his involvement at the DEMF and his insight on the future having such a horrible
of one of
In rOtatIOn
of electronic music. time trying to sell music,
D e t r o i t ’ s
they’re enveloped in the
most genu-
FrontPage: When you do become part of the techno/ piracy issues, how do
Fantasy
ine, pre-
house movement? you see techno music
miere show
Ride
evolving in the next five
p r o m o t e r,
Carl Craig: My cousin made a couple of records early on as years? Ty Jonez.
Artist:
Channel One and he made Technicolor along with Juan At- His constant
kins back in 1984. When I was in high school, through him CC: I would say that I’m grind as a
Ciara
I got to meet Jeff Mills and do lights at Cheeks when it was not a crystal ball. I have
promoter at times has even made
in business--when Jeff Mills used to perform as The Wizard. no idea what is going to
me feel like a slacker!
Release Date:
So I had an early start, just being able to hang out with him happen in the future. But I
Ty Jonez, the leader of the
at clubs. So I guess I was part of the movement in an indirect think the great thing about
‘Knockin Music’ music movement,
5 May 2009
way back when I was about fifteen-years-old. But it didn’t start electronic music is that it’s
is never hard to find. Aside from Review by
professionally until I met Derrick May and that was in 1989. independent and there’s
standing out as a 6’3” Black man
Crystal Riehl
no depending on major
with a mohawk haircut, all of De-
troit’s music scene knows who Ty
FP: What was your defining moment of success as a companies to fund projects
I’ll start off by being completely honest, I was excited about
Jonez is, and where to find him.
techno artist, producer, deejay? because we fund our own
Ciara’s latest album, Fantasy Ride, long before it hit shelves. The
You can find him every Friday
projects. I think that is the
at the Suite 100 Lounge (15789
reason I was excited was because the first single off the album,
CC: I guess my defining moment was when I did my first dee- only way to go right now;
Schaefer) on Detroit’s west side
“Love, Sex, Magic,” features Justin Timberlake and it seems like
jay gig in Antwerp, Belgium at a place called Café De Beers. is to find ways to showing
where he routinely holds his share
everything he touches turns to gold.
Why it was really defining for me was because I was playing your product yourself. And
of some of Detroit’s hottest show- What I didn’t realize is how much I would love the rest
with my idols basically. It was Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, that’s what has kept elec- cases. Although he has been a rap
of the album. Although her sound hasn’t changed all that much,
me and I think even Juan Atkins was there. tronic music respectable artist for over 15 years, it has been
Ciara knows how to hold her audience’s attention. Her voice is
because we just took the the work he’s done in the past 2½
sultry and has a new level of sex appeal and you can’t help but
FP: Let’s talk about the Techno Fest. There was a lot of bull by the horn, took our
years as a promoter that has made
dance (or at least catch yourself moving just a little bit) to the
controversy surrounding the techno fest when you were destiny in our hands, and
him a household name.
involved from an organizer’s standpoint. Is this the first we’ve been able to sur-
Having promoted at clubs
more up-tempo tracks on the album.
time you’re playing the techno fest since that incident? vive.
such as Club Envy (Downtown
Ciara isn’t trying to be the next Beyonce. It seems like
For more information
Detroit), HQ, Club Sierra and Club
she’s just a girl who loves music and wants to have fun perform-
CC: No. I did 2003 with Derrick May, Marcus Belgrave and on Carl Craig, visit www.
MVP where he got his start as a ing it. She succeeds at that but I would put money on her never
Amp Fiddler. It was kind of a big deal that I came back to
carlcraig.net.
promoter, his credentials need
winning any sort of Grammy.
never be questioned. Ty’s current
do something. Last year I deejayed, I did the closing perfor- To read the complete
She’s hot, she can dance, and she knows what makes singles
running event, The “Detroit Radio”
mance on the main stage. in depth interview with
rise to the top. Half of the artists these days can’t even get that
Showcase, is truly geared towards
Carl Craig visit www.
much down. Congratulations, Ciara, just stay real and don’t try
helping Detroit artists gain more
FP: Now after that incident, it seemed like people put
frontpageconnect.com.
exposure.
to get too deep and I think this album will give you fans for
techno in a bad light. Do you think the techno industry as
The Detroit Radio Showcase
life.
26 The Michigan FrontPage • May 29, 2009
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