A Venus Sings Weekend on WRIU - Oct 24

Picture here is me, Reza Rites (aka Venus Sings, aka DJ Reza Wreckage) during one of my broadcasts on WRIU. The station is part of the University of RI, and the studio is located in Kingston, RI.

by Reza Corinne Clifton

KINGSTON, RI - Well, I've done it again. Before my finances could fully announce readiness, I went and picked up a bunch of music. Once again I went "global" with my selections, picking up artists like the Afro-Puerto Rican artist, La Sista and the band Ocote Soul; the afrobeat band Aphrodesia; and the reggaeton (male) duo, Jowell and Randy. And while I won't be playing Jowell and Randy, necessarily, I am excited to present these and other artists tomorrow, Saturday, October 24 on Venus Sings Radio.

Broadcasting live from 9-11 am (EST) on 90.3 FM in and around RI and streaming online at www.wriu.org, tomorrow's show should be exciting for several reasons. First, I'm going to be transporting and using home equipment to do a live-mix show in the studio - instead of using in-house stuff. The effect should equate into tighter and smoother transitions between the songs and more fun on my end. Second, I'll be dj'ing later on in the evening at the Isis Storm On the Rise event in Pawtucket, and I'm going to want to inspire you to come out, so I'll be playing lots of upbeat selections and achingly wonderful tunes to bewitch your ears and soul.

Tune in tomorrow and the second and fourth Saturday of every month to catch Venus Sings Radio on WRIU.

Sunshine and laughter,
Reza Rites

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For more information about archives, other programs, and WRIU as a whole, visit www.wriu.org. To view previous playlists, to track the schedule, and to read more about women in music, visit www.VenusSings.com.

New Location for Oct 24 Isis Storm Event

Pictured here is singer, drummer, and pianist, Nisha Purushotham. She will be one of the featured performers at the October 24 Isis Storm show.

PAWTUCKET, RI - Do not be alarmed, but there is a NEW LOCATION for the October 24 On the Rise event presented by Isis Storm. The date, time, and city is still the same, there will still be free food, and some of the best artists in the region - female or otherwise - are still on-board to be there. Take note below of the details and slight change.

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Isis Storm Presents On the Rise:
An artist showcase and networking reception spotlighting female musicians, poets, and emcees.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM

Mixed Magic Theatre
171 Main Street
Pawtucket RI, 02860
$5.00 cover charge, free food, BYOB

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To sign up as a performer, call Kal at 401-207-5717 or call Reza at 401-497-5246. For more information about the Isis Storm initiative and collective, and for more about women in music, visit www.IsisStorm.com or www.VenusSings.com. For more from Kal and Reza, tune in to WRIU (90.3 FM or streaming online at www.wriu.org) on Thursday, October 22 from 3-6 PM and on Saturday, October 24 from 9-11 AM, respectively.

A Guest and a Playlist: Reviewing the October 10 Venus Sings Radio Show

by Reza Corinne Clifton

KINGSTON, RI - On Saturday, October 10, 2009, I had the pleasure of hosting poet, artist, and scholar Indigo Bethea on my biweekly radio show, Venus Sings Radio. Venus Sings Radio is part of Voices of Women - a weekly program produced by four rotating hosts that airs from 9:00 to 11:00 am (EST) on WRIU, 90.3 FM in and around RI and online at www.wriu.org.

While the purpose of Voices of Women is to air music by and about women, the aim of Venus Sings Radio is to dig deeper, with interviews, podcasts, events and coverage from local and international shows, artists and organizations. October 10 was a great example.

Bethea, whose poetry was recently featured here, on VenusSings.com, and on RezaRitesRi.com, divides her work between art and research. By day, Bethea is a cultural anthropologist and college professor, but by night - weekend, and when she likes - she writes poetry, paints, dances and creates. With a book of poetry AND a children's book coming out soon, and a style and voice that builds from and often refers to music and the African Diaspora, the invitaiton was lain, the opportunity seized, and the feedback immense for great on-air conversations and a guest-infused playlist. Check out the tunes we selected below or visit wriu.org to download and listen to an archive of the show (and the last few 15 minutes of the show before).

(Artist, Song, Album)

1. Ayo - Only You - Joyful
2. Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me - Lessons to Be Learned
3. Adele / Crazy for You / 19
4. Etta James / All I Could Do Was Cry / Etta James Rocks the House
5. Corinne Bailey Rae / Since I've Been Loving You / Corinne Bailey Rae, disc 2
6. Leela James / It's a Man's World / Let's Do it
7. Lauryn Hill / So Much Things to Say / Lauryn Hill Unplugged 2.0
8. Melissa Laveaux / "Venus Sings in Spain" Exlusive Interview w. Reza Rites
   
9. Melissa Laveaux / I Want to Be Evil / Camphor and Copper
10. Clara Moreno ft. Carlos Fonseca and Joyce / Sabe Quem / Meu Samba Torto
11. Angelique Kidjo / Sedjedo / Putumayo Presents Acoustic Africa
12. Iyeoka ft. Sweetback / She Doesn't Know Her Beauty, the Remix / DJ Reza Wreckage Mix
13. Indigo on-air (including reading poetry)
    
14. Melissa Laveaux / Scissors / Camphor and Copper
15. Ghislaine ft. Holger Hiller / Hair Piece, the Remix / DJ Reza Wreckage Mix
16. Indigo on-air (including reading poetry)
17. Angelique Kidjo / Djin Djin / Djin Djin
18. Zap Mama / Hello to Mama / Recreation
19. Zuco 103 / Peregrino / Republicafrobeat (vol. 1)
20. Afro Soul Toasting All Stars / Music is the Weapon / Republicafrobeat Vol. 3
21. Indigo on-air (including reading poetry)
    
22. Les Nubian / Embrasse Moi (Deep Mix) / Les Nubians Presents Echoes: Chapter One, Nubian Voyager

Catch you next time.

- Reza Rites

Isis Storm Presents On the Rise at the Poets Place on Saturday Oct 24

This month, the Isis Storm event will happen at the Poets Place, which is a Mixed Magic Theatre Project. If you are a female artist who wants to perform, call 401-497-5246 or call 401-207-5717.

PAWTUCKET, RI - Are you ready for the healing and calm that comes after a storm?

On Saturday, October 24, Isis Storm Presents On the Rise at the Poets Place: An artist showcase and networking reception spotlighting female musicians, poets, and emcees. The event goes from 8 PM - 1 AM, and it will be held at 235 Main Street in Pawtucket, RI - at the Poets Place.

The event will be hosted by Kal Champlain and Reza Rites (DJ Reza Wreckage) - the founders of "Isis Storm." To sign up as a performer, call Kal at 401-207-5717 or call Reza at 401-497-5246.

For more information about the Isis Storm initiative and collective, and for more about women in music, visit www.IsisStorm.com or www.VenusSings.com. For more from Kal and Reza, tune in to WRIU (90.3 FM or streaming online at www.wriu.org) on Thursday, October 22 from 3-6 PM and on Saturday, October 24 from 9-11 AM, respectively.

For more information about "The Poets Place," which is a Mixed Magic Theatre Project, and a space for smaller organizations and community members, call 401-305-7333 or visit the Mixed Magic Theatre site at www.mixedmagictheatre.org.

October 10, 2009: Your Next Venus Sings Radio Fix

It is official: Venus Sings Radio is now coming to you live twice a month - the second and fourth Saturday every month. This means more music, more interviews, more special guests, and more surprises brought to you by me, Reza Rites (aka Venus Sings, aka DJ Reza Wreckage).

I hope you'll tune in for my next show: Saturday, October 10 from 9-11 AM on 90.3 FM (in and around RI) or streamable online at www.wriu.org.

Sunshine and laughter,
Reza

Voices of Women Playlist: September 19, 2009

KINGSTON, RI - On Saturday, September 19, I entered the WRIU studio for a regular Venus Sings Radio show, only to learn that I would be training one of my colleagues from Voices of Women. Venus Sings Radio is part of Voices of Women, a program that airs weekly - on 90.3 FM in and around RI, and online at www.wriu.org. With a new purpose in mind, I co-produced the program, and selected some the following tunes.

(Artist Name / Song Title / Album Title)

• Elaine Silver / How Could Anyone / Fairie Goddess
• Adele / First Love / 19
• Ayo / Help is Coming / Ayo
• Duffy / Distant Dreamer / Rockferry
• Amy Winehouse / Wake Up Alone / Back to Black
• Etta James, All I Could Do is Cry / Etta James Rocks the House
• Aretha Franklin / Why I Sing the Blues / Spirit in the Dark
• Enya / Only Time / Women & Songs
• Goddess and She / Get Your Bike / Three
• Po' Girl / Til It's Gone / Home to You
• Melissa Ferrick / Everything I Need / Everything I Need
• India Arie / I Choose / Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
• Zap Mama / Bandy Bandy / Ancestry in Progress
• Billie Holiday / It's Funny That Way / Billie's Best
• Estelle ft. John Legend / Back in Love / Shine
• Sara Tavares / One Love / Balance
• Laura Izibor / What Would You Do / What Would You Do
• Erykah Badu / Orange Moon / Mama's Gun
• Amel Larrieux / Weary / Morning
• Laura Izibor / From My Heart to Yours / Let the Truth Be Told
• Goddess and She / Spin the Bottle / Three
• Black Patti / Happy / Black Patti
• Reina Williams / Let it Flow / Full Circle
• Janelle Monae / Violent Stars, Happy Hunting / Metropolis: The Chase Suite, Special Edition
• Kelis / Milkshake / Tasty
• Wunmi / Good Foot Charlie / A.L.A.
  

Charted and Improvised: A Poem by Indigo Bethea

(Photo from the RezaRitesRi.com photo archives. Captured is Sonny Andrews of the reggae band, The Zioniers.)

Charted and Improvised
by Indigo Bethea

I want you to listen to my music,
I’m playin my finest for you.

Listen to the rise, fall, flow of my heart as I double this,
Quarter that and give, give, give

Nothing less than rhapsody
Nothing less than reverie
And speed, baby speed.

Changing tempo right, here

Suddenly a modulation

Then a change of key

Starting slow, ending low
But in between, oh, in between

That’s where we play

Patterns that climax and sigh
Harmonies that blush in surprise
At being so bold.

Daring you, lost soul, to find your way back to me.

Follow the bread crumbs of a Mile’s Kind of Blue
Bend at that curve of Coltrane for Lovers

A path lit by jazz notes, charted and improvised.

Nothin less than rhapsody
Nothin less than reverie and…
Speed, Baby, Speed

This give, give, give bartering your take, take, take
All in the syncopated rhythm we call…life

In between those silhouettes of sound
I want you to hear my calls for you
Trombone wailing on high winds
Bass throbbing on the lowness of night

Music sheets, bedroom sheets
Maybe it’s a different space
But it’s all the same pace, all the rhythm

Hear this trumpet sultry and wide
Tremble with this treble from a generous saxophone

Cause it’s all jazz baby, it’s all love Papa
Whatever the sheets, we’ll call it heaven

Charted and improvised

Just stay in that in between, a little longer let’s just play
The best of you meeting the best in me
All in the exchange of the give, give, take.

Whatever the sound
No matter the space
We’ll know it’s heaven Papa,

Charted and improvised.

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To read more by Indigo Bethea, click here. To read her bio, click here.
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