Film and music are two amazingly beautiful elements that come together to create something quite magical. Actors and singers have been granted the most glorious platform that allows their undeniable talent to shine bright like a diamond for the entire world to see. Cynda Williams has known the gift of song since she was a little girl. Growing up in a family of singers, it would be her move to New York which would spark the beginning of her professional acting and singing career. Her debut film Mo’ Better Blues was an unforgettable journey that showed the world she was more than just an amazing actor. Her song Harlem Blues went #1 on the R&B charts and will forever be a classic. Cynda has acted in numerous films and television roles and she has no plans to stop anytime soon. As an actress, singer, producer, screenwriter, songwriter, author, and inspirational voice, Cynda continues to show the world she has a beautiful voice in more ways than one.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, you also spent part of your early childhood in Indiana, where you sang in your grandfather’s church. What do you remember most from this time in your life? I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago up to about fourteen years old and then we moved to Muncie Indiana. My father stayed in Chicago, and my mother, my brothers, and at that point, my first youngest sister all moved to Indiana because the crime was getting quite bad where we lived. It was what they call The Wild 100s now. It was beautiful for the time we were there, but then the drugs and all of this and gang activity were starting to take over. I was so excited to go to Muncie because that's where my grandfather Reverend J.C. Williams was pastor of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Methodist churches are known quite well for, you know, orthodoxy and stuff like that but our church was very different than that. It was a mixed congregation which was not very often seen in those days. We were a very creative church, there was a lot of music, a lot of dancing, acting, and writing. We did at all. I was very excited and throughout my childhood, I'd gone there every summer. I was a part of the choir and everything but unfortunately when I moved to Indiana things kind of fell apart in my family. My parents ended up divorcing, my grandparents ended up divorcing, my aunts and uncles. It was like everything fell apart, the church fell apart, so it was a difficult time in my life, so that's when I really started focusing on school primarily. I had some wonderful teachers in high school that really encouraged me and it was a huge departure from my Chicago experience where I had primarily black students, and teachers, but now it’s almost all white. There was quite a bit of racism. My teacher Nancy Krause was an English teacher and a theater teacher and she did all the shows. She made so many opportunities open up for me against the will and wishes of many of the other parents, and of the students, but she didn't care and I will never forget her for that and that saved me. The music that I sang, I sang in the choirs and that really got me through that time of division in my life. It was one of the most difficult times in my life but it changed me and sent me in a direction. As a lover of music, I lose myself in the way a singer is able to deliver a song and make it unforgettable. I am mesmerized whenever I hear Harlem Blues. As perfect as perfection can be, you have an amazingly beautiful voice and to put it simply, you sang that song! Did you have any idea this song would have such an impact on shaping the culture of music? I have always been a singer and that's where I began before acting, before writing, before anything else, I was a singer. My uncle, James Williams taught me how to sing when I was a very little girl, he was a professional singer at the time and so he really knew what he was doing. More importantly to me, it wasn't just about the vocals because my parents both sang, a lot of people in my family sang, my grandmother sang, she sounded like Billie Holiday. Had a lot of singers, but what he taught me that was so important was how to perform, how to perform that song, and how to interpret the music. When I got the opportunity to do Harlem Blues I was very blessed by that because it was such a beautifully written song and it was originally by W. C. Handy. Raymond Jones came in and took the lyrics from that turn of the century song, put a more contemporary sound on it, and changed the melody, but they stuck true to those lyrics and it was impressive to so many people. To be honest, I really wasn't thinking about the impact that it was going to have, I really didn't know, it didn't even occur to me. I was just singing like I’d always been singing. I'm very thankful that people love the song. I look forward to the day when I can do more music that they recognize and love.
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A world without music is far too hard to imagine. Imagine going through life with no melodies to snap your fingers to, no rhymes to memorize and recite throughout the years, and no special ballads to celebrate the good times. Music is without a doubt as important as the air we breathe. The artists who we love and adore, the producers who work to bring the magic to life, and those who discover some of the greatest superstars of our time.
Bryant Reid, a native of Cincinnati Ohio has always had a love for music and his 20+ year background as an entertainment industry executive proves just how deep that love really is. Bryant has held the positions of Senior Vice President of Artist and Repertoire at both LaFace Records and Atlantic Records and was the mastermind behind discovering Grammy award-winning superstar Usher as well as assembling the team of writers and producers to create mega-star Toni Braxton’s multi-platinum selling debut album. Reid has worked with Atlanta-based Grammy award-winning trio TLC, the best-selling American girl group in music history, selling over 65 Million albums worldwide as well as working with the Grammy award-winning rap duo Outkast, ranked No. 7 by Rolling Stone on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. Wearing many hats as a television producer, fashion designer, consultant, businessman, and philanthropist, Reid founded The Reid Foundation for Lupus in 2018 and continues his legacy of hit-making with his launch of the HitLanta brand which started with a modern collection of high-quality, men’s and women’s casual sportswear. An outstanding career for a truly creative and inspiring genius. The ability to make hits is a gift and Bryant Reid shows us just how gifted he truly is. Born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio, you were in the top 10% of your graduating class, a member of the National Honor Society, and voted the most outstanding male senior. What was your driving force to aim high and achieve your goals and did you always know you would one day work in the entertainment industry? My mother was my driving force. She was the most loving, supportive mother a child could have. She just had this unique skill at making me feel that I could excel. She always supported my extracurricular activities which included academics, music, sports, and fashion. She fully supported me when I chose to take the college English 101 course during the summer of my junior year in high school. I passed the course. The camaraderie with my classmates was certainly a factor too. I've always loved music. When I was a child, I wanted to be like Michael Jackson, but I was not a naturally gifted singer. While playing percussion in my High School marching band I became a serious consumer of music, purchasing every genre and spending countless hours during the summers making compilation music cassettes. Later, I promoted music parties. One of the biggest was an after-concert party I threw for Bobby Brown during his "Don't Be Cruel" album tour and it was a huge success. I had the bug. Eventually, my brother, L.A. asked me to come work with him as an A&R executive at LaFace Records. I like things. In abundance, not too much, just enough to make my space feel like a nice warm hug. Not sure when the obsession started, that is, the need to have balance in the form of sculptures, pictures hung throughout the house in a museum-type vibe, and an endless amount of trinkets. Treasured gifts from friends cause those creases in an upward motion on the side of my face. Also known as a smile. Sentimental items that I treasure and tuck away and pull out when I need to be reminded. Mainly gifts that I have given myself. Remember that balance I spoke of? Well, there you have it. If I waited for all the things I loved from others I might be waiting a while, and I am somewhat particular in my design approach. I'm a fan of treating myself, so I do it from time to time. As I walk through my home I am in awe at how much I have accumulated. Never a need to ask why because I already know. In as much of a visual sense, space has become a feeling for me. I crave the energy of a room as much as I crave the sunlight. It's a definite necessity at this point, so I ensure that I am never denied of that need. I have accepted the fact that I am the collector of things. My niece spent the weekend with me. We laughed, a lot, ate very well, visited a couple of antique stores, and had so much fun. If you like things as much as I do, you know what walking into an antique store feels like! And here comes that balance again. Amazing how that keeps inserting itself where needed.
It's early for some on this amazingly beautiful Sunday morning. The sun is shining and there is a breeze that feels like it was meant for the weekend. I stepped outside to pick fresh vegetables, chatted with a neighbor, and stepped back inside to sit for a moment. My mind is in full observation mode. What can I add to this space here or remove, I wonder? Never clutter, always purposely positioned so I have no worries there. For now, I will just enjoy it. Not some of it, not a portion to be saved for later, but all of it. I should mention that at any given moment an urge will hit and off to a store I go, to gather nails for hanging a new picture, or a plant to go in that space that feels somewhat empty. Hey, the universe didn't create all of these great things if they weren't meant to be enjoyed. ~AJ The Fountain of Youth, described as 'A mythical spring that is said to restore the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters.' Where is this magical fountain and is it possible to bottle up enough of its mystery and power to last a lifetime? Will one drink be enough or will it wear off after a period of time? I believe without a shadow of a doubt if this fountain truly existed the curiosity from within would prompt one to embark upon a a mission to find it and jump right in. You know, just to see what happens. As daydreamy as that sounds, it really makes you think. With so many changes all around us, what reason would we have to believe that our minds and bodies are exempt from it all? We cautiously step through life making our way through the ups and downs, the opinions of others and becoming more conscious as time goes on, yet we tip-toe through aging as if we are somehow going to dodge Father Time. Coming to a realization that the pressures of the world are a reality and no longer something our parents were saying to frighten us. Let's take a step backwards to the days when you felt as if time was forever on your side. When you truly believed you were invincible and there was nothing that could stop you from doing whatever you desired. Days that turned into weeks, that gracefully became months, that flowed into years filled with no worries of aging. No covering of grey hairs. No calorie counting or carb control. No fear of the unknown and no reason not to believe that these moments of youth would not last forever. So it begins, the never-ending chase to restore what we once were. Society and social media play a huge part in the way we respond to and handle change. It is never strange hearing a person say how they want to look and feel, it's the process in which we take to achieve it. Drastic measures, enhanced appearances and flawed notions just to feel better about one's self and fit into a box that most definitely isn't one sized fits all. I do it, you do it, who says it's right, wrong, or indifferent. Perhaps it's just the course of life and we are simply going through the motions while attempting to age gracefully. From a visual perspective, the majority of us are aware of what makes us feel alive. The style in which we choose to wear our hair. The types of clothes we buy, the jewelry we adore and the way we feel when we see the reflection in the mirror. There is not one single being who has to be you, except you. As a die-hard believer in doing what makes you happy, I support change. I encourage healthy growth in finding the essence of what makes you tick. Not your partner, or the love of your life, just you. It's likely no surprise that I am a huge supporter in fairytales and anything mythical in nature. So, if by any chance you want to take this journey in finding a certain magical fountain, count me in. I buy amazing road trip snacks, and I don't mind taking a late night dip or two. Whatever it takes to tighten up a few things here and there.
Remember, you are as young as you feel and believe you are in your dreams. ~AJ It takes a certain drive and determination to be great at what you do. Gifted and talented on levels we can’t begin to imagine, Erick Walls plays his hand at all things music and he delivers a striking beat that we want to hear over and over again. A multi-instrumentalist, Grammy award-winning, Emmy nominated songwriter, producer, and powerhouse in the grand world of music, he got his start at a very early age playing in his father’s church. With faith as his foundation, he has taken his childhood passions and dreams and turned them into his reality. Erick has a musical resume that runs deep working with some of the most powerful names in the industry. As a founding member of the international recording Alt-Rock duo, Black Waat3r, Erick shows us his true love for everything that is the creation and art of music. To love music is to know it has the power to create something very magical, a combination of beautiful melodies meeting for the first time to deliver lasting memories. It’s easy to strive for something, however, when you truly want it there is nothing that will keep you from achieving it! Without further adieu, pull up a chair, get cozy and dive into this open and amazing conversation with a true MVP in the music world.
Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina you developed a taste for music at an early age by playing in your father’s church. As a multi-instrumentalist, you are an MVP in many aspects. Talented on the guitar, bass, drums, and piano you can switch gears without skipping a beat. Would you credit the time spent playing in the church as what shaped you musically, and what is your fondest memory from that time in your life? My early musical education came from being around my late father, George Walls, who was a gospel singer, recording artist, and preacher. All my earliest memories are of watching him release and going with him to the studio, church, and everywhere else. I vividly remember being very young and realizing how special being surrounded by music was! My fondest memory of that time was performing on stage with him and his group when I was around six years old. I actually have it on Beta video tape somewhere in the archives. The life of a musician seems to move quite fast at times and your resume truly tells a story in itself. Having worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. From Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, The Black-Eyed Peas, Shirley Caesar, Rihanna, Usher, and the list really does go on and on. How do you remain grounded and focused working with such an eclectic array of talented musicians? My faith foundation is my absolute anchor. Navigating the music business is tough and has many challenges. My understanding is that God allows us to be in possession of our gifts, we don’t own them. We’re simply vessels. Good stewardship over the gifts yield returns and sustainment. The Bible states “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16 KJV, and basically knowing that allows for me to feel like I belong in every room I might find myself in. Music is always and forever a vibe. A connection that is both personal, and memorable. With poetic and infectious energy, Susan Carol is entering the music scene smoking hot. She has a voice that makes you sit up and pay attention to truly immerse yourself into the experience of her sultry and captivating voice. Raised singing in her family’s church choir, music was and still is a huge part of her life. Changing the game one freestyle at a time, you will fall into her care-free and classically perfect Neo-soul trance. Come along, because this is a ride you surely don’t want to miss.
I believe that music is one of the truest forms of love and expression. Tell us a bit about your background and how your musical journey began? My dad was a pastor so I was raised singing in my family’s church. My whole family was musically inclined in some way, so music always played a huge part in my life. The REAL musical journey or artistry that you guys see today, started in 2010 when I went away to college. I really found my voice and writing style in those years. That’s when I decided to start performing and releasing music, essentially becoming Susan Carol - The Artist. Your freestyle sessions are addictive. I am certain I watched nearly all of them. You are giving classic, care-free, Neo-soul with a slightly raspy and sultry voice and it’s insanely infectious. How does it feel when you are completely uninhibited and in your zone of creativity? Thank you so much, I love that you love what I do! I love it! – When I’m in that creative space, I feel an extraordinary amount of liberation. That’s when I’m the most vulnerable and real. In that space, I can truly express my feelings without judgment and transform them into something beautiful to give to the world. Uvalde Texas, a small town with a population of a little over 15,000 and predominantly Hispanic is located in the South Texas region approximately 50 miles east of the United States-Mexico border and sits at the crossroads of the nation's two longest highways, U.S. 83 and U.S. 90. These highways go from Canada to Mexico and Florida to California. Honey from Uvalde hives was well known across the country and Uvalde was named the honey capital. A small town of citizens who dream big and take pride in their community. [1]
For most, routines are part of the norm. Hit the snooze on the alarm just enough times so you aren't late starting the chores of the morning. Crawl out of bed, wake the kids, make breakfast, get them off to school and start your day to accomplish all the things you need to before it's time to pick up the kids from school or meet them at the bus stop. Hearing their voices, feeling the warmth of their hugs and the coolness of their wet kisses on your cheek is at times the only things you need to make everything right in the world. How does one go about preparing themselves to pick up the pieces after such a horrible tragedy? Why does the same nightmare keep happening all over again and how do we begin to fix this problem? You've found your perfect home. The location is ideal for many reasons. Close to family, a 20-minute commute to the office which isn't that bad considering the rise in gas prices, and you are close to shopping which is your favorite past-time! The price could have been better, but you truly got a great bargain so complaining will do you no good, and besides, no one is gonna listen anyway. The only thing left to do is start packing to prepare for your grand adventure.
If only it were that easy! In most stories there is often a 'but' somewhere just waiting to jump out and yell, surprise! If 'caption this' was an option it would most certainly be UGH! Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting adventures. It's a blank canvas for new beginnings, crafty ideas, and a heaping pile of DIY projects that are brewing in your mind. As you begin to visualize your space, both inside and outside of your home, there will be many ideas. Some will allow you to add just the right amount of appeal, however, they might not be too friendly for the budget you have set aside. Other ideas look nice but you aren't quite sold on what you are seeing. Trust me, if you have to look at it more than 5 times to convince yourself this is the one, you won't be happy with the end result. So, back to the drawing board you go in hopes of finding the perfect solution that will not only be easy on the eyes, but allow you to remain inside the boundaries of your budget, and a project that is well within the possibilities of doing it yourself. Late nights and early mornings. There is something about the anticipation that keeps me awake. Reminiscent of that little kid who was invited to the birthday party and picked out their outfit weeks prior because they were so excited. Keeps me wondering and eager to embrace the inevitable. That is, greeting of friends, familiar places, and the smells of what I used to call home.
It's been a while since I have traveled. I grew fearful of what society told me to be afraid of and in the midst of that I stopped living, just a bit. Being at this altitude there is a certain freedom that comes along with it. A certain frame of mind and an escape into my imagination. That is a wondrous place to be. If you know me, then you know. Life has shown me so many things. While I travel from one side of the world to another I miss the new place I call home already, but I cannot wait to embrace the familiar memories. The best friend, the dog who truly loves me and the energy that I will soak up like a sponge in a never ending stream. I realize that I have missed this. All of it. Well, this is just the beginning. I'm flying high and enjoying this journey and taking all of you along with me. So...pack your bags and let's go! ~AJ ✈️ I decided to join along in protecting my mental health today and especially every Friday! Holding my middle finger up high for any of the BS that we all might encounter from time to time! Take notes, this is major!
Fuck it Friday is in full effect with no apologies, so let's go!!! ~AJ #FuckItFriday |
AuthorAJ is a creative writer and storyteller writing from her home in Indiana. Archives
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"This is how you do it; you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it's done. It's that easy, and that hard." -Neil Gaiman
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