Tag Archives: nisis Eyes

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Through the Eyes of NiSi: Episode 30 (A New Start)

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We’re back and we’re now streaming through Anchor/ Spotify. I’ve received some questions about how to hear the show so we’ll use the blog to answer some of the questions.

  1. Will the show air on Wednesdays at 10am? No, you don’t have to listen at 10am weekly, however, new shows will be uploaded on or before Wednesday morning. This makes it easy to find, and means you’ll be notified when new episodes are released.
  2. How can I hear the show? Currently, you can only listen via the Spotify and Anchor app.
  3. Do I have to have Spotify or Anchor app to listen to the podcast? Yes, you can go to Spotify webpage, or use the app. Most of my shows will include music, so you will have to add the Spotify or Anchor app to your phone. You’ll get a snippet of the music if you only have a free Spotify account. Spotify is free for listeners. Anyone with a free Spotify account can listen to podcasts. However, you’ll need a Premium account to download podcasts for offline listening, just like with songs and albums. If my show has music in it (most of them will), you will only hear 30 seconds unless you have a premium account.
  4. How can I follow? Click the Follow button next to the title of the show. If you’ve followed it correctly, the button should change to Following. You’ll be notified when a new episode is uploaded. To see your Spotify-followed podcasts, go to Your Library > Podcasts.
  5. Why can’t I hear the whole songs on the show? You’ll need a premium account to hear the full song.
  6. Do I have to listen at a specific time? No
  7. How can I find out what song was played on the show? When you select the episode, it gives you a track listing, the songs played during the show are displayed. By clicking the 3 dots to the right of the song, you can: Like, Add to playlist, Add to Queue, Share, Go to Radio, View album, View Artist, and Song Credits.

I’m enjoying the freedom to talk longer. You get to hear from me directly rather than me squeezing what I can into 15 minutes and typing the rest in a blog. Please feel free to let me know what topics you want me to get into and be sure you’re doll me so you don’t miss it. Also let me know what streaming service you normally listen to podcasts from, I’ll see what I can make happen (but for now, Spotify and Anchor).

Interested in being a guest on the new podcast? Click HERE to schedule a time to chat or feel free to email me at: info@NiSisEyes.com with the subject: Through the Eyes of NiSi: The Podcast

Click HERE to listen

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Through the Eyes of NiSi: Episode 13- Artist Spotlight: Sy Smith

Sy Smith is an underground soul recording artist who helped to pioneer and cultivate the nu-soul scene in LA more than 10 years ago.

Press PLAY. (audio replay available through March 1, 2022)

Moving to Charlotte, NC has allowed me to meet some amazing people and actually get to talk to them as people, not as a fan. It’s been about 2 years to the day since I met Sy. I worked at Middle C Jazz and she did an amazing show. I was able to pick her brain a bit, as well as see her interact with others who enjoy listening to feel good music. As I’ve told you all before, I love live instrumentation and it compliments her voice so well. Who do you know that can hit those Minnie Ripperton notes? And no, not the ones you’re trying to hit in the shower.

SIDE NOTE: Make sure you check out Sy’s tour schedule below!

“Some of the most progressive artists of this genre today came directly from Smith’s band line-ups (including Thundercat & Kamasi Washington). Her catalog of 5 albums includes the self-written/self-produced “Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete.” All have been heralded by critics for her lyrical/vocal/musical dexterity; her vocal range moving from a gritty alto all the way to a stratospheric soprano whistle register.
Her career began with her providing supporting vocals for Whitney Houston, Sheila E., Meshell Ndegeocello, Chaka Khan, Usher, Macy Gray, The Foreign Exchange and The Rickey Minor Band. She’s currently a featured guest with trumpeter Chris Botti (her noted performances include “The Look Of Love” on his Grammy-nominated DVD “Live In Boston”  and “The Very Thought Of You” on his 2018 PBS special “Great Performances”). 


Sy has won 6 LA Black Music Awards in 2019/2020. She’s also earned an Emmy nomination for her songwriting (Best Music/Lyrics, 2001), 2 NAACP Theater Award nominations; she contributed songwriting and/or vocal arranging to 2020 Grammy-nominated albums by both John Legend (“A Legendary Christmas”) and Chris Dave and The Drumhedz. As a voice-over artist, she’s known among gamers for her role as Aisha in “Saint’s Row” (for which she also wrote/produced songs on the popular soundtrack). Sy is a graduate of Howard University where she earned a B.S. in psychology magna cum laude. 

Sy Smith website

Sy Smith’s Instagram Page

VIDEO: Feeling Good feat. DominiqueXavier

Will you be at Middle C Jazz as we enter the Syberspace? Let me know in the comments below if I’ll see you there! If you can’t be there, a livestream option is available.

VIDEO: NIGHTS (FEEL LIKE GETTING DOWN)

Be sure to leave your comments and any feedback in the comment section below.

SPONSOR:

Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi

NEXT SHOW – MARCH 2nd AT 10AM EST– www.WDRBMedia.com

You can stream the show on iHeart, iTunes, Streema, TuneIn, etc.

Make sure you check in next week when we start our series on Bridal Beauty and what goes into being a Bridal Makeup Artist.

Interested in free advertising or being a guest on the show, click HERE to schedule a time to chat or feel free to email me at: info@NiSisEyes.com with the subject: Through the Eyes of NiSi radio show

Always with a Brush,

NiSi

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Through the Eyes of NiSi: Episode 8 HIStory

This week started out with celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hopefully, you had a chance to enjoy time off or at least reflect on his impact on the world we live in. Sadly, in some instances you can’t see that impact.

Martin Luther King, Jr., original name Michael King, Jr., (born January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.—died April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee), Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. His leadership was fundamental to that movement’s success in ending the legal segregation of African Americans in the South and other parts of the United States. King rose to national prominence as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which promoted nonviolent tactics, such as the massive March on Washington(1963), to achieve civil rights. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

We have so many influential men that have placed their mark in the world because of standing up for what they believe. Below are a few other amazing African American men to remember.

Sidney Poitier, (born February 20, 1927, Miami, Florida, U.S.—died January 6, 2022, Los Angeles, California), Bahamian American actor, director, and producer who broke the colour barrier in the U.S. motion-picture industry by becoming the first African American to win an Academy Award for best actor (for Lilies of the Field [1963]) and the first Black movie star. He also redefined roles for African Americans by rejecting parts that were based on racial stereotypes.

Harry Belafonte, by name of Harold George Belafonte, Jr., (born March 1, 1927, New York City, New York, U.S.), American singer, actor, producer, and activist who was a key figure in the folk music scene of the 1950s, especially known for popularizing the Caribbean folk songs known as calypsos. He was also involved in various social causes, notably the civil rights movement.

Paul Robeson, in full Paul Bustill Robeson, (born April 9, 1898, Princeton, N.J., U.S.—died Jan. 23, 1976, Philadelphia, Pa.), celebrated American singer, actor, and black activist.

Marvin Gaye, by name of Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., (born April 2, 1939, Washington, D.C., U.S.—died April 1, 1984, Los Angeles, California), American soul singer-songwriter-producer who, to a large extent, ushered in the era of artist-controlled popular music of the 1970s.

Click the links below to stay connected to these businesses and artists:

Marvin Gaye Music (YouTube)

Harry Belafonte Music (YouTube)

Sidney Poitier Films (YouTube)

Paul Robeson (YouTube)

Faith Fitz You, LLC– Official clothing brand launched January 1, 2022

What other influential men have made an impact in your life? Comment below.

NEXT SHOW – JANUARY 26TH AT 10AM EST– www.WDRBMedia.com

Artist Spotlight: Chantae Cann

Interested in free advertising or being a guest on the show? 

Feel free to email me at: info@NiSisEyes.com with the subject: Through the Eyes of NiSi radio show

Always with a Brush,

NiSi

Citation:

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Grammy Award”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Sep. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/art/Grammy-Award. Accessed 18 January 2022.

Albert, Melissa. “Fred Shuttlesworth”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Oct. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fred-Shuttlesworth. Accessed 18 January 2022.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Harry Belafonte”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Feb. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-Belafonte. Accessed 18 January 2022.

Ritz, David. “Marvin Gaye”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Mar. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marvin-Gaye. Accessed 18 January 2022.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Paul Robeson”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Apr. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Robeson. Accessed 18 January 2022.

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Through the Eyes of NiSi: Episode 7- Resolutions, Manifestations and Vision Boards

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Have you wrote your vision and made it plain? Have you wrote down your goals or created a vision board?

January 1, 2022 at the strike of midnight, I had a glass of peach wine and my son, Bryson had a watered down soft drink as we said to each other, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Not long after, it was bedtime. We woke up later that day, no resolutions made, business as usual on a weekend- relax, chill, clean up, etc.

I’ve heard it called Re-solutions, so many people make the same resolutions year after year because the last ones didn’t last through the first month. Are you making resolutions? Throughout years past, I’ve had goals. Most times, the few days leading up to January 1st, I look back through photos to remember all that I’ve accomplished in the year prior. It’s very heartwarming to look at that list with a sense of accomplishment.

So in 2021, I:

  • had my artwork, Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi featured nationally with Sarah Norman’s platform
  • had a long-awaited photo shoot with DRL Toons
  • held/shot a gun for the first time
  • was blessed to have more time with my mother, as her Multiple Myeloma went into remission
  • spent more time with my immediate family- Mom, Dad, Tina, Nick
  • wrote more poems, painted more art
  • Lead/Assisted with more Bridal makeup
  • became part of a bridal beauty team
  • rode on a motorcycle
  • traveled to Atlanta and New Jersey as a Makeup Artist for 2 pageant Queens
  • launched beauty/makeup classes
  • started the process of recording music and my poetry
  • co-authored the book, Yonitry

Click the links below to stay connected to these businesses and artists:

Faith Fitz You, LLC– Official clothing brand launched January 1, 2022

All Things NiSi

Toni Jones

Vision Board tips

Courtney K Beauty

Black Girls Rock workout– Tuesday/ Thursday at 11am EST/ Sundays 10am EST

Let’s create our vision boards together! Comment below if interested.

Be sure to leave your comments and any feedback in the comment section below.

NEXT SHOW – JANUARY 19TH AT 10AM EST– www.WDRBMedia.com

Interested in free advertising or being a guest on the show? 

Feel free to email me at: info@NiSisEyes.com with the subject: Through the Eyes of NiSi radio show

Always with a Brush,

NiSi

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Through the Eyes of NiSi- Episode 5: Artist Spotlight- The Soul of L.I.V.

Liv Warfield

“L.I.V. talks from her soul…,” I heard these words in one of the first songs I heard from Liv Warfield. It was a live version of the song “Brotha Man.” This amazingly talented woman definitely told the truth and is most definitely one of my favorite artists.

About Liv: “A former track star and gymnast, Peoria, Illinois-born Liv Warfield began building her legend, in of all places, Portland, Oregon. Despite having no formal background in singing, she gained the respect of local superstars and became an icon in her own right.

While she takes cues from musical influences like Nina Simone, Etta James, Sade, Tina Turner, and Mary J. Blige, Warfield has carved out a style all her own, which can best be described as “alternative soul with a lil bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In 2006, she self-released her debut album “Embrace Me.” By 2009, she caught the eye of the one-and-only Prince and ultimately joined his group the “New Power Generation.”

 After touring for several years and soaking up as much knowledge as she could from the ultimate music mentor, Warfield made her big splash on the national scene in 2014, first as a featured artist for Vh1’s “You Oughta Know” campaign, and then with the release of her major label debut album “The Unexpected,” which was executive produced by Prince. What followed were show-stopping performances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and “The Arsenio Hall Show;” a 2014 Soul Train Music Award and nominations for two others; a BET Best New Artist Award nomination; an interview with National Public Radio; and high-profile cosigns from Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper, and Nancy Wilson of HEART. That same year, Warfield’s performance closing out Essence Fest was hailed as one of the most memorable after shows at the New Orleans House of Blues. In 2015, the accolades only kept growing, with Warfield and the NPG Hornz being named one of the top 10 bands to see at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. It’s no wonder she has left celebrities like Letterman declaring it’s time to “cancel show business!” ~from Liv’s website

I don’t remember the day, nor the hour but I was watching The Arsenio Hall Show and the musical guest was Liv Warfield backed by Prince’s New Power Generation and her soulful background singers singing, “Stay (Soul Lifted).” From that day forward, I have been hooked.

Where it all began…

It’s something about live instrumentation and stage presence… its something about Liv leaving it all on the stage; not caring if her hair is messed up or if she’s making faces- she is providing you with an experience. It’s Liv being her authentic self in her live Instagram videos for Whiskey Wednesdays or allowing us to take a peek inside her experiences, breathtaking views, or simply just living in the moment when the music overflows from her soul.

The amazing thing about having my own radio show, is having the ability to introduce the world to music that I love; to the amazing musicians that I’ve encountered whether in person or through their gifts.

New video: #TOYLAND By Ray Angry feat. Questlove, Black Thought, Marcus King, Pino Palladino & Liv Warfield

Click the links below to stay connected to these businesses and artists:

Faith Fitz You, LLC– Official clothing brand (website will go live) launch January 1, 2022

Marcus Anderson’s Instagram page

Adrian Crutchfield’s Instagram page

Shelby J’s Instagram page

Liv Warfield website– Music, show information, etc.

Be sure to leave your comments and any feedback in the comment section below.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2022 LOADING…

NEXT SHOW – JANUARY 5TH AT 10AM EST– www.WDRBMedia.com

Make sure you check in next week when we discuss Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi- how it started vs. how it going?

Interested in free advertising or being a guest on the show? 

Feel free to email me at: info@NiSisEyes.com with the subject: Through the Eyes of NiSi radio show

Always with a Brush,

NiSi