Tag: freestyle

INTERVIEW: Shannon (2012)

Shannon is often credited as having creating the freestyle sound. Her signature record “Let the Music Play” is the genre-defining classic which continues to be a massive club anthem to this day.? If you look around online, there are many conflicting stories about how the song came to be. At the Promo Only Summer Session in Atlantic City, I chatted with the legendary Shannon and got the real story.? Watch for a special 30th Anniversary “Let the Music Play” tour next year, along with long-awaited new material from the legendary Shannon.

Ron Slomowicz: You started as a jazz singer, how did you make it from jazz into dance music?

Shannon: Someone was looking for a singer and had a particular style in mind; I guess I fit the bill. The producers were looking for a singer because ?Let The Music Play? was a rap song and they had put a basic melody to it. When I came, I had a unique style because of the jazz, it was very sultry and yet I could really belt it. I have a pretty loud voice when I belt, I was belting out the notes and adding little additions to the song. They loved it and said I was their girl.
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Mickey Garcia and Giuseppe D Presents the MicMac Freestyle All Stars – ?Dance Club Mashup?

MicMac Records launched in 1986 under the direction of Mickey Garcia who has guided an entire generation of freestyle and dance artists to chart and radio success from coast-to-coast.

Remixed by Giuseppe D., this brand-new ?Mashup!? of MicMac artists is a fun and innovative reboot of their classics. As someone who has most of the original 12? utilized here, it was enjoyable to get lost for a few, though short (3:58) minutes in this brilliantly seamed production. The underlying arrangement is current, albeit at times has a seemingly appropriate ?fist-pumping? feel. Many of the songs used here are staples in the freestyle genre ? Two Without Hats ?Try Yazz? and Johnny O ?Fantasy Girl,? while others, Judy Torres ?Holding On,? (her only release on MicMac) are a nice touch and may introduce new listeners to a fantastic vocalist.

Those who missed the freestyle revolution would do well to check out this great megamix and hear lots of the classics. If you love freestyle, you can stay current with the Micmac website for their back catalog and new releases.

Image courtesy of MicMac.