MUSIC
Interview: King P Shares Insights on His Musical Journey
Discovering your own musical style is a unique part of every artist’s journey. What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
• Because I am a true musician first makes me unique. I actually incorporate live instruments in my music. Certain songs I’d record sax parts and other songs I have get a live bass player. Also I prefer my beats to musical with progressions, chords and changes. Some songs don’t need all that and I learned that simple is better so I can have fun on a less musical beat as well.
• Another thing that makes my music unique is the combined style of Hip Hop, Dance Hall, R&B and Pop genres within my music. Certain songs are more dominant in one genre but if you take a listen to my catalog then you’d understand exactly what I mean. All in all I make feel-good music or as the title of one of singles, I make “Good Vibes” music!
“Slip N Slide” is captivating from the start to finish with a combination of unique beats and catchy lyrics. What was the inspiration behind the single?
• THANK YOU!!!!
• Slip N Slide is a fun vibrant song about being on my grind as I quote, “We rock dem shows but they don’t know, these lonely roads, make my dreams unfold!” and I think the first part of the hook says it all melodically, “Straight Vibin, I’m shining, we sticking and rolling….” As it is said in Jamaica, “everything irie” that’ the “straight vibin” part; the “I’m shining” part is the grind coming to light and the “sticking and rolling” part is the fun juke dance style of Miami. To sum it all up, I’m having fun while on my grind! Slip N Slide has the essence of Florida, more specifically, south Florida, particularly a Miami sound. While on my All or Nothing Tour in Los Angeles, California early 2020 (pre-pandemic), just listening to some beats from producer Rockomal of the rap group Suns of Atliens, he played the early stages of this beat and I loved the sound immediately. I wanted to write about LA vibes which I was able to reference a little but the music sounds feels and is Miami. I wrote the 3rd verse and completed the recording of the song in Tallahassee, Florida. We filmed the music video in Miami, Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021 and the video is set to release on Friday May 28, 2021 which is Memorial Day Weekend.
What draws you to your preferred genre?
• Growing up in Miami but also being deeply rooted in the Jamaican culture is what connects me to my sound! Miami is known for fun, vibrant and bounce juking sounds that make you want to dance. Jamaica is known for dance and just pure Good Vibes! Put this background, experiences, sounds and traditions together and through King P, you hear songs like Slip N Slide and Good Vibes and I can’t wait till you hear the songs I have in the vault to be released in the near future!
Which one of your songs has the most memorable story for you? Whether it’s the writing process,
recording sessions or release of the song.
• Good Vibes – On October 1st (missed flight home to Miami and almost couldn’t get another flight) made it to Miami about 11pm and went straight to club Fate where I was a guest appearance for my birthday on October 2nd. We stayed there till about 5 am. From there my friend Camile and I hung out all day and later going to the Ginger Bay restaurant/club before going to the beach and
staying there overnight till midday the next day on October 3rd. As I’m driving, taking Camile home the mood of the song hits me so I call the producer James “Boowie” Murphy and asked if he was available for a session within the next hour; he said yes. “Great, I’ll be there” was my reply. We hung up but he called me back shortly telling me to bring a bottle and asked what vibe I’m looking for so he can already begin to feel it. I described the mood perfectly. When I pulled up to his studio, Boowie had a shell of the Good Vibes beat playing as I walked in and I was smiling ear to ear saying that’s it! We dibble dabbled on the lyrics and before you knew it, we co-wrote GOOD VIBES. It didn’t take long! As we played it back, goosebumps took over my body and I instantly felt like this song will break into the mainstream in a major way.
We made a few more songs that day that had me so caught up, I almost forgot about my flight that I almost missed. I started the release process for Good Vibes immediately; however, I ended up holding the song for a year before releasing after Boowie told me he was shopping the song to major artist. Although that opportunity was huge, I was disappointed. Anyway, months down the line, I had a private listening session with TJ Chapmen, the manager of artists B.O.B. and Trap Becham. When I played Good Vibes, TJ looked at me and said, “what are you waiting on to release this”. I began the Good Vibes campaign soon after and the song began to spread fast as I got calls from everywhere even as far as Germany.
It was two questions that I kept getting asked: 1. Where’s the music video for Good Vibes? 2. Do I have a follow up ready? I had ran out of money at that time so no music video was happening and although I had more songs lined up, no song I thought matched Good Vibes at the time, so no I didn’t have a true follow up to Good Vibes at the time. I just continued to work the song including making Good Vibes merch and launching a series of “Good Vibes shows”. I had a concert at the local premiere club, The Moon with almost 400 people in attendance. Unfortunately, I didn’t finish that concert due to a severe storm randomly hitting that night and turning off power for hours. While continuing to work the song, months later the idea hit to raise money via a Kickstarter campaign so we could film the music video. The goal was $15k and with the support of fans, friends and family we did it! That campaign was intense and hard work, no sleep type of grind! We secured a production team in Jamaica and the rest was history. There were some hiccups on the trip but overall the experience was great and even better the trip allowed me to unite and meet my father’s side of family for the first time in Kingston Jamaica
(https://youtu.be/0CLMQZb-__c). We documented everything, every day of the ten days there we filmed something outside of the Good Vibes set.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it?
• I allow the music to speak; it tells me what to write about based on my emotions and experiences. I never force the creative process, so if I feel nothing, I move on. Sometimes the melody comes first and sometimes the verses come first. The title always comes last and that can change multiple times before finalizing. If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
I’m open to collab with anyone as passionate and serious about their music as I am. To collab with the current industry, giants would be amazing. Artists like Drake, Roddy Rich, DJ Khaled, Kanye West, and even Jay Z would be a huge accomplishment! I specifically like Roddy Rich because I see that he is a real musician using orchestras in his live performance. He has a taste for music and musicianship as I do!
What is one message you would give to your fans?
• Learn yourself, love yourself, be true to yourself and everything will fall in place! Good Vibes to the World!
For our final question, is there anything else you would like to add?
• Last but first I want to share my brand statement: King P (born Phillip Solomon Stewart in Miami, Fl.) is a Jamaican-rooted Hip Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist currently residing in Tallahassee, Fl. who delivers an unmatched level of energy through his Dancehall flair.
• WHAT’S NEXT – Featuring in a major film as the star actor and performing on the biggest festival stages as the world opens up from the pandemic are my short-term goals. What’s immediately next for me is the release of my Slip N Slide Music Video on May 28th. Then releasing more music and more already filmed unreleased music videos for songs like Top Notch, Tonight We Party, Aloha and My Life in Time. Then as an independent record label owner (PALACE MUSIC RECORDS aka KINGP ENTERTAINMENT), I have a special artist single and EP we are getting ready to release in the next couple of months. I am very excited about this project just as I am excited about my projects!
Catch Up With King P on:
Katika wimbo wao mpya wenye mchangamsho “Play Your Clarinet!”, Into the Blood wanaunganisha midundo ya kielektroniki inayoshika kwa urahisi na mgeuko wa kusisimua: solo la klaneti lenye mionjo ya jazz kutoka kwa Peter Fuglsang. Uchezaji wake unaongeza mguso wa uchezaji wa moja kwa moja unaokamilisha msingi wa kidijitali wa wimbo huu, na kuunda tukio la kipekee kabisa la kusikiliza.
Wimbo huu utazinduliwa kimataifa tarehe 22 Novemba katika lugha 11 tofauti—ikiwemo Kiswahili, Kifaransa, Kiingereza na Kichina n.k.—pamoja na toleo lisilo na sauti za kuimba.
Jiunge nasi katika safari ya kimataifa
Acha “Play Your Clarinet!” ikupeleke kuvuka mipaka, sauti na tamaduni. Wimbo mmoja. Lugha kumi na moja. Utasikika kwenye majukwaa yote makubwa ya kusikiliza muziki mtandaoni, na video za maneno ya wimbo zitapatikana kwenye YouTube. Jifunge mkanda na ufurahie safari!
Orodha ya video za “Play Your Clarinet!” – video za maneno ya wimbo katika lugha zote 11 kwenye YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuQcCz0vhEKyPigEcJ1-Du7YhrzZdLrex
“Destination 11” – video ya muziki:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8l72BtPBd8
Kuhusu Into the Blood
Duo la Into the Blood—Jens Brygmann (sauti za kuimba na ngoma za kidijitali) na Carsten Bo Andersen (kinanda na sintesa)—imekuwa ikifanya kazi tangu mwaka 2016. Muziki wao umekuwa ukipigwa kwenye vituo mbalimbali vya redio duniani, vikiwemo vya Uingereza, Australia na Ufaransa.
Toleo la asili la “Play Your Clarinet!” pia linapatikana kwenye rekodi ya vinili ya inchi 12 kama sehemu ya mradi wao mkubwa wa Destination 11, unaojumuisha video ya muziki ya dakika 11. Video hiyo imewahi kuonyeshwa katika matamasha mbalimbali ya kimataifa ya filamu fupi, na hadi sasa tayari imeshinda tuzo mbili nchini India, kufikia hatua ya fainali kwenye East Village New York Film Festival na Las Vegas International Film & Screenwriting Festival, nusu fainali kwenye Seattle Film Festival na robo fainali kwenye Synergy Film Festival huko Los Angeles.
Mradi wa Destination 11 umefadhiliwa na White City Consulting na Custom Coaching.
Upakuzi kupitia Dropbox – Hapa unaweza kupakua nyenzo za promosheni:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/sai0udu4imfwdmktxf5cj/ADqWOKnmQZjDm3PsXL3yzvs?rlkey=75i1ctld2guy8tcp6snp112j9&st=jtgfu546&dl=0
Salamu za muziki kutoka
Into the Blood
Jens Brygmann & Carsten Bo Andersen 📧 [email protected]
Into the Blood – mitandao ya kijamii:
https://linktr.ee/intotheblood
MUSIC
Van Hechter’s “Boy Problems” Is a Deep and Danceable Bilingual Anthem for Anyone Tired of Lukewarm Love
Montreal-based pop sensation and LGBTQ activist Van Hechter is back with “Boy Problems,” a stunning new single. The track merges his signature upbeat charm with rare emotional depth. Hechter, known for hits like “Disco Brother,” “Hot Damn,” and “Love Elastic,” reveals a new side to his magnetic electro-pop personality, offering a message that is both radiant and raw.
At 4 minutes and 24 seconds, “BoyProblems” is a bilingual (French & English) eruption of glitter, melancholy, and empowerment. It’s built on irresistible synths, glossy production, and pulsing basslines. The song invites listeners into a world where heartbreak beats in rhythm with liberation. The melodies feel euphoric on the surface, yet are stained with a haunting vulnerability, proving that dancing and deep feeling can exist together.
At its core, the song is a manifesto about refusing to settle for half-love. Van delivers lyrics that make you sway, smile, and suddenly pause; the truth stings. If love isn’t loud, real, and fully given, he’d rather walk away. It’s a reminder wrapped in rhythm: loving yourself means refusing the small version of what you deserve.
Filled with Hechter’s signature humor, glamour, and optimism, “Boy Problems” is a club anthem and a soul-stirrer all at once. The bilingual lyrics expand its emotional reach. The track feels at home anywhere, from Parisian dance floors and New York rooftops to headphones on a bus or speakers at Pride.
This is a jam that makes you feel like you’re flying, free from pretense. It’s definitively dance-pop and unmistakably Van Hechter, though the smile has a real heartbeat underneath. Listeners will hear that signature flair; he’s still cheeky, stylish, and unapologetically queer. His artistry is simply sharpened with new emotional honesty. This is a growth moment, delivered with a wink and a synth hook.
“Boy Problems” is a significant step beyond a simple catchy single. It’s a toast to self-worth. A glittering rebellion against lukewarm love. A reminder that the dance floor can be a place to heal. This sonic centerpiece belongs on your playlist, and on your friends’ too.
Catch Up With Van Hechter on:
MUSIC
TR Craze brings his South Sudanese story to the gritty drill anthem “Tule Tule” with Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko
Sometimes a song shows up like that friend who kicks open the door without knocking, grinning and saying, “get your shoes, we’re leaving.” “Tule Tule,” the new single from South Sudanese artist TR Craze featuring Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko, moves exactly like that. The track is bold and charged, carrying the weight of lived experience while stomping over a dark, menacing drill beat that feels built for the streets as much as the club.
TR Craze’s backstory reads like a movie script Hollywood studios would fight over. He was born in South Sudan, shaped by the trauma of civil war, and pushed into the harsh realities of refugee life. He literally survived the treacherous routes through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. This man distills survival into rhythm. On “Tule Tule,” you can feel that heart, that urgency, and that fire in his delivery, channelled into a raw, assertive drill performance that cuts through even if you don’t understand a single word of the opening verse. At its core, “Tule Tule” is a raw, assertive drill track that isn’t afraid to bare its teeth.
The word “Tule” comes from Nuer. It refers to youth games and the electric thrill of chasing something, whether that’s victory, joy, or destiny. TR Craze uses that spirit like a drumbeat beneath his voice. The choruses hit with a communal, call-and-response warmth but here that playfulness is flipped into a gritty, chant-like hook – “Tule Tule” – that feels like the rallying cry of a crew on the move. Even without translating the lyrics, the tone tells you everything. This is about motion, pursuit, celebration, and refusing to stay stuck in the past, all wrapped in an unapologetic, high-adrenaline atmosphere. Lyrically, the track leans into street life, dominance and crew loyalty, matching the tension in the beat.
Behind them, producer Kyxxx builds a dark, tense soundscape, stitching drill drums with Brazilian bounce and Bhangra-flavoured rhythmic elements that keep the track constantly on edge. The result is a gritty, energetic and unapologetic atmosphere that pulls you straight into their world.
Then Caine Marko slides in for the second verse, and the whole energy pivots into a sharp, swagger-heavy bounce. His flow is clean but gritty, confident and confrontational, shifting between braggadocio and sly charm.
“She knows I’m a wolf and I run the pack,” he starts, classic alpha talk, but delivered with a laid-back grin. “She come first like running track,” he continues, flipping between affection and athletic metaphors like a man who’s too used to moving fast.
Then he opens up the verse more: “Doing dirt and getting with a bitty, I only pretty… then back to the city. Got me some liquor then it got me some weed.” It’s lifestyle rap, but the reckless, unapologetic kind. It’s the messy, outside-at-night, live-in-the-moment vibe that balances TR Craze’s more grounded narrative. When he ends with “you going to hang with the gang,” the energy snaps into a group-hyped finale, a reminder that music like this isn’t meant to be consumed alone, underlining the crew-first loyalty at the heart of the record.
“Tule Tule” works because it blends worlds without softening its raw, street-hardened edge. It merges East African emotion, Caribbean-UK swagger, drill and hip-hop grit, Brazilian and Bhangra textures in Kyxxx’s production, diaspora storytelling, and a spirit of joy that refuses to be dimmed by pain.
Let “Tule Tule” run while you’re walking, cooking, texting, or plotting big dreams – or getting ready to step out with your crew.
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MUSIC3 months agoMarius Billgobenson Has Returned With an Uplifting New Single, “In Paradise – Just Another Day,” a Smooth, Jazz-Infused Track Carrying a Deep and Inspirational Message of Hope.
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