Tag Archives: music

Album Review: Kiana Ledé drops debut album ‘KIKI’

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First recognized as a member of the children’s music group Kidz Bop, Kiana Ledé surprised many with her bold personality and incredible vocal skills. She later went on to release her 2018 EP Selfless, with its beautiful blend of acoustic R&B and effortlessly attentive melodies, but she aimed for a more commercialized vision with the release of her debut album KIKI.

Kiana opens “Cancelled,” the first track of her album, by sampling a quote made by famous content creator Jasmine Orlando, otherwise known as ‘Shawty Bae’. “I am a single queen, you know the f*cking vibes. F*ck men these days, f*ck them all. They will hurt everyone’s feelings and f*ck them all,” Orlando says. On the surface, it’s an aggressive statement, one that would throw off many. But the intensity of such a statement sets the stage for a very powerful album progression. 

KIKI’s theme relies on the insufferable pain and newly found self-confidence that comes after heartbreak. On “Labels,” Kiana teams up with Moneybagg Yo and BIA for a hip-hop/R&B track that explicitly states, “I ain’t wasting no more time on these labels / I done gave your a** my heart, and you played with it,” insinuating the lack of commitment and reciprocation from her partner. This track uses a loop of a synthesizer riff and a simple drum machine beat to create a catchy melody. “Attention” stands out among the other tracks because of its acoustic consistency. Along with the rawness of Kiana’s voice, she uses a piano melody and its dynamics to dramatize the pain and aggression she felt while writing the track. “No there ain’t no way, I can’t let you win / there could be no reason, ain’t nothin’ that you did,” the lyrics express as the instrumental reaches a forte.

Similarly, “No Takebacks” uses a soft and redundant guitar tone to reduce the track’s intensity. It’s not until Kiana says, “What you say, you can’t take back, no takebacks,” that the instrumental picks up with a bass guitar and piano chords to support the acute feeling she experienced having to plead with her partner. The album’s lead single, “Mad At Me,” a sample of OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean,” details Kiana’s dealing with hatred for her success post-breakup. “I been on my hot sh*t lately, can’t be mad at me / you been on some f*ck sh*t lately, can’t be mad at me,” she sings in the chorus.

KIKI hosts some of the most honest lyrics I’ve ever heard. Although there is quite a bit of profanity, I believe it heavily contributes to the album’s emotional intensity. This album is much different from Kiana’s typical acoustic R&B, a feeling that is often compared to other artists like SZA or Summer Walker. This is because she chose to conform to modern R&B and use layered percussion styles and 90s/00s samples. I have taken a strong interest in Kiana’s vocal performance. I can’t wait to watch her evolve as an artist and produce tracks much like the ones heard on her debut album KIKI.

Eagle Distributing 90th Anniversary Block Party

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Hunter Hale, Drummer for Jesse Jenkins
Photo by Michael Wells

On November 3rd, Eagle Distributing of Texarkana celebrated it’s 90th anniversary in the city of Texarkana by partnering with Busch Light to present rising country star Priscilla Block along with Jesse Jenkins and Lil’ Skinny. The first event of it’s kind in the area’s growing entertainment district, Eagle Distributing hosts the inaugural performance in the newly constructed concert venue known as ‘The Loading Dock’ located behind the Crossties building on Broad Street in downtown Texarkana. President of Eagle Distributing, Tim O’Neal oversaw the event’s festivities, bringing the famous Budweiser Clydesdales back to town in preparation for the concert. 

Priscilla Block is an up and coming country music star known for hits “Thick Thighs”, “PMS”, and her biggest song to date “Just About Over You”. During the pandemic in 2020, Priscilla took to creating TikTok music videos and skits featuring her songs which gained popularity and made her one of the first female TikTok country stars eventually gaining just over 1.9million followers on the short form video app. Her song “Just About Over You” rose quickly in the charts, becoming the number one song in the “All Genres” iTunes category, placing herself amongst other music stars like Harry Styles and and Billie Eilish and earning her a sponsorship with Busch Light. Priscilla was also nominated for her first CMT Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year in 2022 for “Just About Over You”. 

The concert venue featured various beer stands managed by staff members of Crossties, another local business in the entertainment district, merchandise stands for performing artists, several food trucks and an opportunity for photos with the Clydesdales. The event took place on a fenced off portion of E. Front Street Festival Plaza. Tickets were $40 for general admission and $60 for VIP packages that included exclusive seating closer to the stage. Mayor Allen Brown of Texarkana Arkansas was first in line to meet Priscilla Block during a VIP meet-and-greet. “It really is wonderful having [Priscilla]. I couldn’t think of anyone better to show off our exciting new entertainment district.” 

Lil Skinny (Right) and guitarist Curt Cassidy (Left) Photo by Michael Wells

The star power of Priscilla Block wasn’t the only thing on display at the new venue, local artists Jesse Jenkins and ‘Nashville to Nashville’ American-Idol golden ticket winner Lil’ Skinny performed alongside the female country star, highlighting local talent for a night of music on the town. Lil Skinny, (Ethan Kuntz) was raised in Nashville Arkansas. At 15 years old, Skinny competed on American Idol in its 15th season, returning at age 21 to compete a second time. Skinny won a coveted Golden Ticket which guaranteed a visit to Hollywood to further progress in the competition. “Even though I might not be from here, I cut my teeth in the bars here in Texarkana.” Songs of note include hits like his newest “Let’s Have A Ball”, “Running Wild”, and “Gunnin’ ”. “This place has always felt like home to me, its always treated me right.”, said Skinny. 

Jesse Jenkins Photo by Michael Wells

Jesse Jenkins, the opening act of the event, is the only Texarkana native to take the stage, previously releasing his debut album “Texarkana” to local acclaim. Jesse may be new to the music industry but music isn’t new to him. Jesse has spent years performing bar-hopping and small format gigs in the city of Texarkana and surrounding areas, releasing singles like “Make Me Stay”, “Go to Hell”, and his newest song “Lie to Me” which was released alongside the biggest performance of his career to date. “As an up and coming artist this event was such a blessing because it allowed me to share my message.” said Jesse. Speaking on the importance of concerts that present local talents, Jesse said “I think There are a lot of voices that need to be heard. There are so many musicians and artists that don’t have a stage, but need to share their talent. Events like this allow that to happen.” 

An estimated 1,200 concert-goers attended the event, packing into The Railyard’s standing room venue. Highlights include the awarding of a $10,000 Folds of Honor scholarship to recipient Jordan Rogers of DeQueen Arkansas. FOH is dedicated to providing military and first responder servicemen and women and their families an opportunity to pursue higher education with financial assistance. Other featured highlights include Jesse Jenkin’s repertoire of original music, Lil’ Skinny’s “Long, long legs”, and Priscilla Block shotgunning Busch Light’s like they were water. The event highlighted small town’s, local artists, and a night of country music enjoyed by many.  

JMBLYA 2019

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The JMBLYA is back for 2019 and ready to invade the city of Dallas (May 3rd) and Austin, Texas (May 4th).

Photo Courtesy JMBLYA 2018.

JMBLYA is a recurring outdoor music festival featuring artist from all over the world.
This year’s lineup includes Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, Kevin Gates, Gunna, Sheck Wes, Youngboy Never Broke Again, Bhad bhabie, Blueface, City girls, Maxo Kream, P-Lo, WhooKilledKenny, and 10K.Caash

JMBLYA is a rain or shine event and will open festival gates open at 12PM on Friday, May 3rd (Dallas) and Saturday, May 4th (Austin).
Children 3 1/2 feet tall and shorter are admitted FREE if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. There will be no children under the age of 14 allowed in without the supervision of an adult.

General admission ticket pricing begins at $109.00, along with four different selections (Pinky Ring, Gator Boots, Fur Coat, Drop Top) of VIP packets to choose from. JMBLYA has a strict no-pet policy, with exceptions only for service animals as specified by federal and state law.

Photo Courtesy JMBLYA 2018.

JMBLYA will offer multiple free water refilling stations. You are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, however, just be sure to have them empty upon entry. There will also be water and other non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase at the bar.

To ensure the safety of our JMBLYA family, all vehicles, persons and property are always subject to search, failure to consent to a search will result in denial of entry or ejection from the event.

Parking will be available at both festival sites. Stay tuned for more details.

Ticketing questions can be directed to support.frontgatetickets.com
For more on ticket information click here.

For rules of JMBLYA click here.

Luke at the Possibilities

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Local talent isn’t hard to find if you know where to look, even in a place like Texarkana. Chatter in the halls of Texas A&M – Texarkana suggests that local Millennials and Gen Z groupies aren’t satisfied with the local attractions, mostly because there are few. But, things might be changing, especially for the local music community. Hopkins Ice House downtown hosts a mic night and Scotties Grill offers events promoting local artists.

“Owl Fest,” Compliments of the Owl Crisis Media Website

These events are nothing like Shreveport’s Owl Fest. It’s an hour’s drive, but interactivity and community involvement makes it worthwhile for young adults looking to just hang out and support local talent, a place for people to feel welcome and to embrace their gifts. One story has altered my perception of such small venue events, that of Luke Lindsey.

Compliments of Owl crisis Media, from the Owl Crisis Media Facebook Page

Owl Fest is a collaborative showcase for R&B and Rap artists. Isaiah Polk is its mastermind. Polk runs a multimedia group called Owl Crisis Media which travels throughout the tri-state area to compete in video game events and enhance the lives of talented musicians and poets.

Luke Lindsey met Isaiah at a competitive gaming event and they’ve been working together ever since, bringing a once-shy Luke into the limelight, or at least the dimly lit budget stage where many have cherished closeness with those in the community.

Luke goes by the stage name Sad Boi, but he’s full of cheer and motivational spirit. His friends keep him motivated. “Expressing yourself through music is like the best thing ever,” Luke says. He frequently uses his friends as critics.

Photo by Allison Hall Luke Lindsey Left, Isaiah Polk Right

The importance of local outlets for local talent is paramount. Since Owl Fest, Luke has recorded several tracks and performed for audiences he might not have been able to tackle alone. The goal of events like Owl Fest, he says, is to “help each other grow.” “It’s easier when you have someone there to help.” All participants help each other. They get on stage and hype each other up. For Luke, it’s all about “hyping ya’ boy up.” He says one has to support and encourage for those around you, and that’s Luke motivation in life.

Photo by Allison Hall

Bottom line, such community events bring to light a community’s richness. Luke uses the word “depressing” to describe his feelings toward the lack of similar events in Texarkana, mostly because his main goal isn’t to pursue music as a career. He just wants to promote fun and goodwill for those willing to share their time. And that could be what anyone might want from these events. At TAMUT alone we have so many musical, graphic, and literary artists. Maybe if we all came together like Isaiah’s group and worked hand in hand to make a place for ourselves within Texarkana, we could begin to lift each other up instead of spending our time wishing we had something to do.

Here’s an inside look into the mind of Luke and his take on the life of using talent as a hobby, filmed by Allison Hall.