Saidah Baba Tailbah is one of the few local artists that can claim to be from Canadian musical royalty (see Salome Bey). Her latest project “Phone Demo’s” is out now on iTunes.

Peep Saidah’s Exclaim Magazine interview done by our own Kevin Jones:

Toronto’s Saidah Baba Talibah Invites Fans Inside with The Phone Demos
10/16/2009 By Kevin Jones

As conventional routes to even nominal success in the music industry become more and more difficult to define, making genuine, personal connections with an audience at the street level is now mission one for any artistic hopeful. But for Toronto, ON-based soul rock siren Saidah Baba Talibah, settling for the type of cursory interactions earned through MySpace and Facebook simply won’t cut it.

Her latest offering, frankly titled The Phone Demos, offers listeners a glimpse at the type of midnight musical machinations no doubt every songwriter endures during his or her creative processes by serving up just what the title suggests: cellphone-recorded song demos. The collection includes bare-bones versions of tunes destined for her upcoming debut full-length, due early next year, replete with that innocent, nostalgia-inducing crackle and grit familiar to any of us who recycled old cassette tapes back in the day.

“The Phone Demos came along because I was writing songs for the album, and it actually sounded kinda cool the way they were recorded on my phone,” Saidah tells Exclaim! of the process that sparked this uniquely raw and revealing EP. “People responded very positively to them, so I thought, ‘hmm, why not release them?’ because it would be another way for people to get to know me, and for me to just be me.”

Allowing people to know who she is on such an intimate level is definitely more important to Saidah than most, as the completion of her planned long-player may literally depend on it. Following the cues of pioneering hip-hop politicos Public Enemy, the singer is employing an ambitious fundraising tactic, dubbed Make Me Wanna (S)Cream, that employs the financial contributions of her fanbase in exchange for a host of gifts, ranging from complimentary dinners to a gracious performance in the living rooms of truly generous souls.

“[Public Enemy] are working on, what, their 13th album and they’re looking to raise $250,000, and they’ve got people investing anywhere from $25 to $100,000. So the whole model of making an album and reaching your fans — or the consumer or supporter— is changing, and I just thought it was a great [way] to connect with people, and essentially what will happen in the end is that, when the album’s done, everybody who’s invested in it will get an album. It’s not like they’re just giving money away for free — they’re actually getting the album [they’ve helped create].”

Look for The Phone Demos to drop October 20 on iTunes and other digital music providers, and learn more about Saidah’s Make Me Wanna (S)Cream loyalty program here, if you feel your inner philanthropist fighting to scratch that charitable itch as we fast approach the upcoming holiday season.

Seen at 1LoveTO!

I’d sum up this magazine as a stylish bit of all things creative mixed with a whole lot of Toronto, and they’ve been doing it pretty flawlessly for a year now.

(Shouts out to Trung for the look in issue 002!)

Congratulations to the entire Contramag staff!

Peep the new issue HERE!

Previously: Contramag Interview with Melanie Fiona

No fair that we JUST heard about this but if he raises $3,000 by tomorrow k-os will be at The Bay selling toys from 10:30 in the morning! See below for details and click here to donate:

“I’m doing a Dare for the Stephen Lewis Foundation!

Thank you!

“Sharing the success stories of Boi-1da, Luu Breeze, Priya Ramanujam (Urbanology Magazine), Big Norm, Paul Thurton & 2Badd.”

Mag can be picked up for free at various Scarborough Community Centres!

Toronto, ON – When Saidah Baba Talibah struts onstage, the room – any room – suddenly turns silent and then, almost instantaneously, bursts into applause. Applause that is intermingled with anticipation and perhaps, a bit of relief….one glance at the self-assured singer and the audience knows that she is going to deliver the goods.

On October 20^th the Toronto born singer delivers with The Phone Demos – an innovative 4 song EP of recordings where she used her cell phone to record the songs.  A project that has raised enough buzz with Nokia that they have given the artist phones to help with the promotion of the release.

The Phone Demos started after Saidah used her cell phone to record a song she and her guitarist were working on.   After sharing the recordings, the singer noticed that people not only loved the music but the grainy texture of the sound which reminded them of early vinyl recordings.  Bolstered by reaction, Saidah decided to share these songs for fans so they could follow her current journey of recording her debut, (S)Cream.  “The Phone Demos are a way for me to share the raw beginnings, the vulnerabilities, the flaws in the sound and, simply, the rough sketches of these songs.  I think it’s a cool way to build relationships with people who are getting to know me, the artist, by being invited into getting to know me in all stages of creation.”

Saidah Baba Talibah, a recent headliner at this year’s Manifesto festival, is known for her innovative ideas when it comes to sharing her music and hands-on approach to selling her albums.  Make Me Wanna (S)Cream, is a loyalty program that she created for her fans and supporters to participate in the production of her debut (S)Cream and upcoming projects.  The program consists of nine packages ranging from $15 – $3,000.  Based on the level of contribution, participants can choose from a collection of gifts and opportunities from dinners to private acoustic performances in the privacy of their own home.  “I am elated to have finally reached the place where I can, not only, share my music…, but invite you to be an integral ingredient on this journey to realizing this long time dream.”  Go to www.MakeMeWannaScream.com for more info!

Check out Saidah’s powerful and energetic performance at Honey Jam 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtYsxJSfjYw

Here what people are saying: http://vimeo.com/6993952

Websites:

www.sbtmusic.com
www.MakeMeWannaScream.com

The station has a hip-hop show and seems to actually care about music as opposed to the “music” channels currently on TV. Check out the station’s website here. Official Press Release:

AUX television is rocking straight out of the gate. The newly launched channel reached 285,000 viewers in Canada from October 1st to 7th during its debut broadcast week on Rogers Cable, according to preliminary data from BBM Canada. AUX music television is now available on Rogers Cable channel 107.

AUX (www.aux.tv) is the face of thriving music culture. It’s an interactive, multi-platform channel dedicated to musical groundbreakers in Canada and from around the world. Launched online in November 2008, it features a mix of music content including videos, live performances, artist interviews, in-depth profiles, behind-the-scenes docs, news, and insider reports on top industry events.  AUX plans to be available anywhere its core audience of 18-49s wants it, with a strong focus on reaching 18-34 year olds.

This is for those critics/bored members of the hiphop community that for ‘some reason’ thought Drake was slighting ‘Pac on “Fear” (sigh).

The beauty of words is they can be interpreted in many different ways by many different people.

The ugly of words is, well, they can be interpreted in many different ways by many different people.

Previously: New Music: Richie Wess feat. Drake & Yung Dred “Play Ball”

Another cool initiative from CBC Radio2:

“CBC Radio 2, Canada’s national music network, brings Canadians the chance to share their passion, and nominate their favourite locations in the country to be celebrated in song through THE GREAT CANADIAN SONG QUEST. Whether it’s a secret meeting place, a sensational signpost or a breathtaking wonder of nature, CBC Radio 2 wants to know! Canadians get the deciding vote on who writes and performs the songs from among Canada’s finest musical icons and emerging stars. The end result is an incredible cross-country playlist, with 13 brand-new, original songs for Canada’s playbook. Each artist will compose and record an original song, inspired by the locations chosen by Canadians from each province and territory.”

With the crazy wealth of talent this city’s got, I’m sure we can get some of our hip-hop artists in the running for this! Find info on nominating your favorite artist HERE!

Caught this on HHC! Click here for more shots!

Project T Dot was undertaken by Toronto-based photographer and photo-journalist, Ajani Charles to tell the story of Toronto Hip-Hop–a story of young people which must be told with a verve and flourish equal to their talent, determination, and resilience, as a record of their enriching contribution to the culture of Toronto and Canada.

The focal objective of the Project T Dot photo-documentary is to record, in text and a series of photographs, significant moments in the lives and times of young men and women who have been instrumental in the foundation and evolution of Hip-Hop music and culture in Toronto.

These are dedicated artists who have successfully balanced the love of their art and their day-to-day routines, not the least the activities related to the day job, which many of them must hold to survive.

While the work’s primary audience and readership are to be found in Canada, with proper marketing, the published and finalized version of Project T Dot should reach a larger audience interested in Hip-Hop.

More information on Project T Dot can be found at the following URL in the ‘Series’ section: http://www.ajani.ca

The newest edition of Urbanology Magazine is on newstands across Canada. The double cover features Classified (article by Jonathon “Bizz” Brown) and Q-Tip. (Q-Tip cover after the jump)

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