[RH Interview] Sandra Vu of SISU
Transitions aren't easy. For some, change comes easy and they slide into the new routine, for others it's a bit more difficult to adjust. Sandy Vu of the Los Angeles-based band Dum Dum Girls falls somewhere between the former and latter. Vu, who entered the scene as the drummer for Dee Dee Penny's all-female project steps out from behind the drum set on a new venture of her own, SISU. Where she was a moving part in the Dum Dum Girls, Vu is free to creatively express herself with the new band, moving about from on instrument to another and crafting a sound that is wholly hers. The transition hasn't been an easy one though. As anyone with a lot on their plate can attest to, starting a new band while in another is no easy task. I caught up with Sandy, who plays The Empty Bottle in Chicago tomorrow night, as she was just getting out on tour with Dirty Beaches in support of her upcoming album, Blood Tears, out on Mono Prism September 17th.
Jake: Tell me a bit about the tour and opening for Dirty Beaches.
Sandy: We have been super excited to play with Dirty Beaches, I met him about two years ago now when Dum Dum Girls did a tour with him and it's just going to be special because we're all family at this point. Their tout manager is our good friend and stuff so it's kind of like a big reunion party.
Jake: What was the transition like coming from the Dum Dum Girls?
Sandy: The Dum Dum Girls have been in town rehearsing and learning the new songs for the new record and we're doing rehearsals for the tour for SISU, so if I didn't have anything else to do and I just had to go to these rehearsals it wouldn't be that bad but my days are just stacked with things I needed to do to get ready for the tour. Switching gears is not hard, it's maybe a little bit stressful learning a lot of new material in a short amount of time. Going from Dum Dum Girls to SISU, in itself, isn't that big of a deal to me.
Jake: Do you ever find yourself at a Dum Dum Girls rehearsal accidentally playing a SISU song?
Sandy: No (laughs), I think it occupies two totally different areas of my brain to just play drums compared to leading the band so it feels so different. In Dum Dum Girls it's like I kind of turn off my brain a little bit. That band is set up so I just learn all of the songs and just play them (laughs).
[Video] Nico Segal: "New Bisness"
Donnie Trumpet/Nico Genius/Nico Segal himself took some time while on tour overseas with Frank Ocean to shoot a video for "New Bisness," off his solo project, Donnie Trumpet. The video, shot and edited by Andy Singh, was actually shot on the last day of the California Live Tour in Melbourne, Australia. The former Kids These Days member gets his workout on in the hotel gym and spends some time strolling the halls in a fresh robe. If you haven't gotten the project yet, it's definitely recommended because, as Nico lays out in the video below he's "gonna be somebody."
[youtube id="5assBsJZzxE"]
[Mixtape] King Chip: "44108"
Cleveland's own King Chips (Chip The Ripper) dropped a new mixtape today, 44108. Having not heard much from Chip in a minute it's one that I'm personally excited to dig into. With features from Kid Cudi, Travi$ Scott, Pusha T, Scarface, Fat Trel and GLC and production from the likes of Lex Luger, WZRD, Cardo and Trakksounds, it shouldn't disappoint. Give it a listen here below.
[Video] SD: "New World Order (Remix)" (feat. Danny Brown)
Danny Brown is known for his intrepid choice of collaborations with other artists, and even though a track with GBE's SD isn't as left-field as some songs he has done in the past, it was still something that caught me by surprise. "New World Order (Remix)" is a great song though, and the two emcees did not hesitate one second to shoot a video for it, which was released yesterday. Check it out after the jump!
http://youtu.be/zihmUl7pZMs
Lorine Chia: "No New Friends (Drake Cover)"
Lorine Chia, Ohio's neo-soul songstress, gives Drake's epic chorus and verse on DJ Khaled's "No New Friends" an interesting spin in her brand new cover. Focusing almost entirely on Lorine's vocals, the track also has an ambient-type instrumental that really works with the songstress' powerful voice. Listen below.
[Video] Alex Wiley: "K-Swiss"
Alex Wiley's Club Wiley has solidified it's place as one of the year's best releases with its Summer anthems ("Earfucked", "K-Swiss", "The Woods" & "Creepin'" all come to mind) and great replay value throughout. Today, Wiley gives the project an extra push with a new video for the fan-favorite "K-Swiss", directed by Visual Mecca Ent.. You should already know before watching the video that it is as fun and goofy as the song itself, which samples a classic basement party track and was recorded half-jokingly by Wiley and Co. Without giving too much away, expect an epic footwork battle, hilarious user-submitted videos and, of course, a pair of K-Swiss.
http://youtu.be/np8OCyeTU9c
[Mixtape] Lucki Eck$: "Alternative Trap"
Much has been talked about Lucki Eck$ and his debut project Alternative Trap after he popped up on the local radar with records suchs as "Untouchable Lucki" & "Count On Me" and shortly after on a nationwide scale with "No Troubles" & "Everything Out$ide". Today, the whole 'tape dropped and you can stream/download below for your enjoyment. Production credits go to Hippie Sabotage, Plu2o Nash, Hippie Dream, Hytman, Nate Fox, Doc & Odd Couple and the only two features are by Chuck LI and Monster Mike.
[Free Album] MPulse: "Sofa Gun: The Sequel"
Mpulseis back better than ever with the official follow up to his Sofa Gun mixtape, Sofa Gun: The Sequel. Over more than a year's work, the Chi Town emcee reinvented his sound and strived to write down his illest lines to date, the result? A more confident artist is heard through the speakers with witty lines and well thought out concepts over clean and original instrumentals provided by Keef Boyd.
