Simply Six: The Movement Fam

The Movement Fam is originally from Australia.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later.  Is there such a defining moment for you?

Notion: For me, I would say when I wrote my first full song and recorded it... "Feel It Comin'". I knew I really wanted to be an emcee and perfect this craft! It spoke to me in volumes! It was at the end of my only freestyling stage, to the beginning of writing my shit down stage, I had always written verses upon verses but never made a full song. Once I heard it back and sat with it for a while, it just made me realise I can make a "song" as opposed to just 'rapping' and I could really have something here. 

Bekah: Absolutely! My very first time of stage was me singing at my sisters 18th birthday party in front of 250 family and friends. It felt right, I felt so comfortable and I knew from that moment on that music and my being on stage was something that I always wanted to do.

Cee: Music has moved me more than anything in life since as far back as I can remember. But as far as the moment that I wanted to be an MC, it was probably when I was around 15 and I put a proper rhyme together; that was when I knew I could do this as well, if not better, than the dudes I grew up idolising. 

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites?

Notion: Lately, emcees such as J. Cole, Talib Kweli, Emilio Rojas, B.O.B., Royce & all the rest of Slaughterhouse, to cats like Cee-Lo, Melanie Fiona, & Jazmine Sullivan. It's the overall sound and feel that it bangs out that just gets the creative juices flowing. I'm talking about the beats, melodies and lyrics of all of the above. 

Bekah: I will listen to almost anything. I do listen to a lot of Alicia Keys, India Arie, Melanie Fiona, Jazmine Sullivan - ALL the DIVAS :)  and I like to check out local up coming talent too. Because I know how hard this industry is to crack so I like to show some support.

Cee: These days I listen to everything. Right now, I'm bumping cats like Collie Buddz, South Dakota soul rockers Showbaby, Alexisonfire, City & Colour, Classified, Laura Marling, Daniel Merriweather, Plan B, Adele, Raul Midon, Ben Harper, Jamie Woon, Ellie Goulding, British India, Jason Mraz, Shad…I could go on for days. Even though I'm an MC, I don't really listen to much Hip Hop any more.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

Bekah: Every gig has its awesome moments. I don't really have a favourite. All my music memories are back in Melbourne. I have done two gigs in Canada so I can't comment on being here!

Cee: I'm very proud of releasing the compilation album 'The Soul Movement Originals' with Bekah. Even though it was just a compilation album, it's still a solid reflection of our career as a duo to date, and I'm really vibed we did it. 

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events?

Notion: Absolutely, i think that music has an invisible power… or something like that. It can change moods and create harmony in anyone that truly listens and or feels it. 

Bekah: Music is a massive influence to everyone. I love how music brings everyone together. And for those who have been blessed to be able to make music - I love being around those people. Everyone can appreciate it. There is also a lot of respect too.

Cee: Hells yes. Just like music is what moves me the most, it's the same for millions (if not billions) of folks on this planet. It's quite possibly the only universal language, and it's a method of getting across a feeling and an emotion rather than just a message. Music is essential to life as human beings.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician? 

Notion: With the likes of the social media giants, the internet and these applications and mediums have completely revolutionised it, in that, it has made it easier for people to communicate and reach that audience, wherever in the world, that they weren't able to before. We are a prime example!

Bekah: It has certainly made it easier for us all. 

Cee: The technology that is available now has changed everything. We now own two separate studio set ups which we took to the other side of the world, which saves us thousands in studio hiring costs. And we can directly contact our fans via tools like Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc. It's made the field MUCH more competitive, and as it has broken down the barriers of entry to the industry, it's allowed a lot of garbage in that folks have to wade through to get to the good stuff. It's gotta be a positive thing overall, though.

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Notion: Jordan 6's. They were my favourite shoes back in the day, although I never got a pair, every time i see them I just drool. I want people to do that when they see me.

Bekah: No idea. A comfortable pair... 

Cee: A pair of black size 13 Chuck Taylor's. A tried and true classic that everyone can mess with.

Blind Boys of Alabama

I’m not much of a church-going man, but strangely I find the music of the church has a soothing effect. The call and response of the Spiritual infuses me with an almost religious feeling of joy and happiness. There is so much emotion in the musical shouting of these songs. This week’s voice to hear is a veteran gospel group of over sixty years. Also along with a voice this week we’re also going to talk about a specific song.

The group is the Blind Boys of Alabama. The group was formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind. Two founding members, Clarence Fountain and Jimmy Carter are still performing with the band. They’ve added a few newer members in the years following their debut. The Blind Boys of Alabama worked the traditional gospel circuit for over 40 years, releasing albums that primarily found an audience with the Christian following.

In 1982 they made something of a cross over between the religious audience and the secular one with their appearance at the World’s Fair in Knoxville. The next year they appeared in a smash musical drama off-Broadway The Gospel at Colonus. During the nineties they released a couple of albums that had some cross over potential, but never quite made the reach across between the pop audience and the religious one.

All the changed in 2001 when they released Spirit of the Century. Their booking agent and producer decided to self finance the album that he knew the group could make. This album brought them to the attention of the music world outside the gospel one. It was the start of a string of Grammy Awards for them. The music on this album mixed traditional gospel songs with contemporary songs by such writers as Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Their version of “Amazing Grace” was sung over the tune of the traditional blues “House of the Rising Son.”

“Amazing Grace” has become one of those songs that has become more than just a standard. Everyone from gospel singers to jazz to rock to punk rockers have covered this song. This song is so ingrained into the fabric of our musical heritage, but what do we know of it?

The song was written by a former slave trader, John Newton, who reformed and became a Christian minister. Newton was captured and held prisoner on Plantain Island off the African coast for close to a year. After being rescued he converted to Christianity on the trip home. Years later he wrote the hymn after he became a minister.

They hymn crossed the Atlantic in the early 1800s and was put to the now familiar music by a singing instructor from South Carolina. The song spread throughout the South with the growing revival tents that moved from one Southern town to another.

Today the song is heard performed by everyone from Elvis Presley to KC and the Sunshine Band to Tori Amos to Ani Difranco to Dropkick Murphys to…well the list is just about endless.