Mona Lisa: former contestant on Season Three of VH1's reality TV Show, "Flavors of Love". This woman is one of the most electric human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Not only is she hilarious, but, boy, does she have some insight for you. It's not as though she's demanding you to live life a certain way, but rather showing you the ropes. Ms. Mona Lisa describes her co-star Flava Flav as "an icon". However, she also describes reality television as "90% editied, 10% real", as well as calling the genre of television "re-LIE-aty television". After stating that she was a paid actor for this re-lie-aty, Lisa began to breakdown who her "character" was; the girl you either loved or hated, the one that "got you glued to the TV" stating that "that's what they wanted" and she had to keep it a secret. Following her time on the show, her big personality and confidence landed her multiple gigs, writing songs for big musical influences like Ne-yo. One of the main ideas she focuses on is keeping your circle tight and doing what's best for you. There is one thing Lisa said that I believe will stick with me forever, and that was, "Do not be anxious for nothing...you best slow down and think about what YOU wanna do".
Flop or Not: Vampire Weekend's Father of The Bride
March 30, 2020
Vampire Weekend’s new album, Father of The Bride, will bring the group’s fan base down to earth with its folky style and departure from their eccentric indie/alternative rock vibe. As their most recent album in six years, Vampire Weekend’s front man and lead singer Ezra Koenig pays homage to other genres; his eclectic taste in music is referenced throughout the album which include some hip hop and R&B in songs like “Sunflower” featuring Steve Lacey and “Flower Moon” also featuring Steve Lacey. While it may sound like an experimental folk album, the sound had me nostalgic and reminiscing about their previous albums like Modern Vampires of the City and the self titled Vampire Weekend through familiar guitar riffs that hearken back to their original style. While many of the tracks on this album sound alike in that the tempos match each other with their upbeat and chipper manner, there are also others that stand out such as “Bambina” and “This Life”; two trademark tracks on this album. These songs exhibit a classic Vampire Weekend tempo and rhythm. Similarly, we hear the guitar as the most prominent instrument in many tracks, as it always has been. Tracks like “Spring Snow”, “Rich Man”, and even “Married in a Gold Rush” remind me of Paul Simon or George Harrison; a comparison I never in a million years thought I’d be making. The way Vampire Weekend has managed to merge various genres such as R&B and folk throughout its album without it sounding like a convoluted mess, deserves praise and recognition. Not many artists can pull together such a feat. I’d recommend this album to any music enthusiast rather than just an avid indie-alt listener.