By Josh Fritz. Last night at the Masquerade, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Rawb and Joshy from Psychostick. Very amicable gentlemen, very welcoming and as soon as I sat down, I realized and was rather grateful that they had obviously not let their success go to their head. They were regular people, just like you and I. Rawb was working on sending out posters and Joshy was burning CDs. Like I said, just regular people.

Interview by: Camillia Harris. I met the R&B singer Ray Lavender at Café Nineteen in Atlantic Station to interview him. As I sat in front of Mr. Ray Lavender. His intriguing eye-catching, million dollar smile, with an innocent cocoa brown complexion, comforting a warm charisma captures my attention, to say the least. From the moment he introduced himself, I knew this interview would come at ease. Although I would have preferred him to sit across from me, he sat beside me and warmly introducing himself “Hello, I’m Ray Lavender”.

By Nikki D. Bosompem. Back in the 80’s, when hip hop was fresh on the scene, the industry was primarily dominated by males.  Female MC’s were few and a novelty.  The only female DJ I can remember who reached a semblance of notoriety was Spinderella from the popular group Salt-N-Pepa. Since then, there has not been much female representation on the turn tables.  The fact that men were always central and present behind the tables did nothing to deter DJ Princess Cut, of College Park, Georgia, from observing, learning, and then “touching the tables” herself in a quest to master the testosterone saturated world of the disc jockey.

Nikki D. Bosompem. Sitting down at Goatfinger Recording Studios in Decatur to talk with lead vocalist Michael Paul, of The Itopia Band proved to be an engaging experience. With a calm, lilting, voice, and deeply introspective demeanor, Mr. Paul introduced me to the elements that make his band unique. From the definition of the band’s name to the concept of “rotating band members,” Michael Paul gave solid and passionate reasons why he feels making music is his calling and that being a musician is more than about the money or living up to an image.

By Dee Corley. Nickelback at Phillips Arena on Wednesday, Traditional Irish Session at Fado’s Irish Pub on Monday, Danny Bhoy at The Punchline Comedy Club on Tuesday, Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks at Phillips Arena on Tuesday, Atlanta Braves Take On The Phillies at Turner Field on Tuesday, Swing Out Sister at Variety Playhouse on Thursday, Designing With Native Plants at Atlanta Botanical Gardens Thursday etc …

By K. Nola Mokeyane. Upon entering a metro Atlanta Barnes and Nobles on one warm, Monday evening to meet with a burgeoning African American female artist who belts melodies in the pop/rock music genre, I was greeted on the second floor by a mild-mannered, pleasant young lady who appeared rather nervous about our meeting to do this interview. Oscillating her attention between her mobile phone and the notes she took just in case she veered off track during the interview, Butta B-Rocka simply needed to sense that I was probably just as anxious to meet her as she was to meet me as she sat on the other side of the tiny wooden table. However,

By Camillia Harris. Please join me in welcoming, Atlanta’s own country music artist, Leslie Christian. Leslie is country music’s latest Black female vocalist. Leslie comes from a family of vocalists, which are her biggest supporters. Her mother and father initially met singing for various bands. So it doesn’t surprise you where Leslie’s musical talents derived from. She has been singing all her life. Leslie states that she always participated in talent shows and was always singing background for her sister in shows.

By Camillia Harris. Saila better describes herself as an, “Urban soul gospel recording artist”. You may wonder, what is urban soul in the gospel lime light? She describes her sound more like neo-soul and funk mixed together. She has a wonderful personality a hidden treasure of beauty and a testimony to acknowledge it. She released her first unsigned CD, “A Changed Soul”, in 2004. In 2005, she released yet another unsigned CD “Free to Be”, which earned her many tour dates in the US. She was featured within the TD Jakes MegaFest, where she was able to inspire, inform, and introduce to her audience that her sense of being free speaks through her music.

By Dee Corley. Moscow Festival Ballet, Tegan and Sara at The Variety Playhouse, Universoul Circus, Diana: A Celebration, at the Atlanta Civic Center, RuChDa Winetasting and 21 Flavors of Wings, Mudcat – Real Blues at D.B.A. Barbeque …

By Dee Corley. Traditional Irish Session at Fado Irish Pub, George Thorogood and the Destroyers at the Variety Playhouse, Wine Tasting at an Authentic Tuscan Kitchen, Taverna Fiorentina, Fiddler on the Roof at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, John Mayer at Phillips Arena, Malibu Grand Prix at Norcross, Megadeath, Testament and Exodus at Tabernacle