What recent projects have you worked on or working on?
Well in the past 10 or so years I have participated on over 25 records which includes 6 soundtracks most notable the Oscar Award Winning film of 2005 Crash at the time I was a Lead Vocalist/Rapper for the group KansasCali. At that particular time a song was also nominated from the movie but it wasn’t ours but we had the single off of the Inspired By CRASH album and our music video for the song “If I…” made it into the “Special Features” section of the DVD. Before anybody knew the movie was going to win, my group had already won! We weren’t suppose to be the single, but we were and the DVD had already dropped with our music video on it so when it was announced as the Oscar winner, it went on to sell close to 10 million units, if not more.
My other notable soundtracks includes Mr. & Mrs. Smith (International Soundtrack), Haven (by Orlando Bloom), ESPN’s Once In A Lifetime, Kicking It Old Skool and the 911 First Responders Docu movie.
You have produced as well for TV.
Yes, I have created theme song for Emmitt Zone by Hall of Fame Running Back Emmitt Smith. Theme song for Lil JJ – Almost Grown comedy show, theme song for TV One’s George Wilborn’s Comedy Special I Don’t Want To Be No Star & Lav Luv’s TV One special, I Think I’m Gonna Get In Trouble Tonight.
In the past couple years alone I have been featured on over 30 Mixtapes by DJ Hustle of HustleTV, AllHipHop.Com and WeTheWest.
You are extremely prolific!
Well, if you count the mixtapes then you could say I have done well over 60 or 70 records in the last 10 years but hey over 25 is still not a bad number considering people are just getting to know me!
Explain the difference on working on music soundtracks then working with artists for featured albums.
Soundtracks are meant to describe and or set a mood and tone to the motion pictures theme that engages the consumer in a way that they connect with a particular scene or overall premise of the movie. So all the musical thoughts that go into that are really specific, as was done with Crash. At the time, the movie was already done; we watched it and then came up with the song. However today, very rare and few get to watch a movie and create a song, 9 times out of 10 the Music Directors select the songs from the artist albums, unless the Executive Producers want to pay an artist to go in the studio and record a song that’s exclusive to the movie.
Now with working with artist for featured album it’s almost the same process except it’s not a movie, it their album or yours and your songs are orchestrated around the theme and premise of the album. Actually I guess you could say it’s the same now that I think about it. It’s just that you don’t have a music director selecting your songs it’s just you.
I heard you are also into poetry.
Yes, I have a poetry book hitting the marketplace called 50 SHADES of L.O.V.E. – (Learning Our Various Emotions) 50 pieces of thought provoking poetry formulated to stir conversation. Everyday we go through various challenges, whether it’s the highs or the lows, where the mood swings and the emotion change depending on the moments. Love is governance, is a genetic part of who we are, in acknowledging that and committing to understanding that, a person is committed to L.O.V.E.
Musically, what’s next for Emcee N.I.C.E?
My album “However U Want It” just dropped and a along with Kelly Keys I feature other notable producers such as Ralph “Phantom” Stacy, DJ Fat Jack, Shawn J and Young Kros. Legendary singers & writers such as Emanuel Officer & Dennis Bettis, features included Suhana Machete, Natasha Marie, Dennis Lorenzo, D.B.I., Jus Blake Smith, Maisha “Mrald” Johnson, Manny B, Jakkai Butler and also 9 time Grammy winner Bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon and Trumpet Player Jon Barnes. The record has a real classic feel to it Recorded & Mixed by Super Engineer Dan “Deezy” Naim, Mastered by Eric Labson of Universal & Executive Produc
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Jon Barnes / Blog
Jon Barnes Coffee Talk Jazz Magazine Article
Check out the Music Articles. People Helping People...Music in education! http://issuu.com/ms.bridgette/docs/ctjm_spngsumr2015_preview
Enjoy!
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Emcee N.I.C.E New Record featuring Jon Barnes Horn Arangements
What recent projects have you worked on or working on?
Well in the past 10 or so years I have participated on over 25 records which includes 6 soundtracks most notable the Oscar Award Winning film of 2005 Crash at the time I was a Lead Vocalist/Rapper for the group KansasCali. At that particular time a song was also nominated from the movie but it wasn’t ours but we had the single off of the Inspired By CRASH album and our music video for the song “If I…” made it into the “Special Features” section of the DVD. Before anybody knew the movie was going to win, my group had already won! We weren’t suppose to be the single, but we were and the DVD had already dropped with our music video on it so when it was announced as the Oscar winner, it went on to sell close to 10 million units, if not more.
My other notable soundtracks includes Mr. & Mrs. Smith (International Soundtrack), Haven (by Orlando Bloom), ESPN’s Once In A Lifetime, Kicking It Old Skool and the 911 First Responders Docu movie.
You have produced as well for TV.
Yes, I have created theme song for Emmitt Zone by Hall of Fame Running Back Emmitt Smith. Theme song for Lil JJ – Almost Grown comedy show, theme song for TV One’s George Wilborn’s Comedy Special I Don’t Want To Be No Star & Lav Luv’s TV One special, I Think I’m Gonna Get In Trouble Tonight.
In the past couple years alone I have been featured on over 30 Mixtapes by DJ Hustle of HustleTV, AllHipHop.Com and WeTheWest.
You are extremely prolific!
Well, if you count the mixtapes then you could say I have done well over 60 or 70 records in the last 10 years but hey over 25 is still not a bad number considering people are just getting to know me!
Explain the difference on working on music soundtracks then working with artists for featured albums.
Soundtracks are meant to describe and or set a mood and tone to the motion pictures theme that engages the consumer in a way that they connect with a particular scene or overall premise of the movie. So all the musical thoughts that go into that are really specific, as was done with Crash. At the time, the movie was already done; we watched it and then came up with the song. However today, very rare and few get to watch a movie and create a song, 9 times out of 10 the Music Directors select the songs from the artist albums, unless the Executive Producers want to pay an artist to go in the studio and record a song that’s exclusive to the movie.
Now with working with artist for featured album it’s almost the same process except it’s not a movie, it their album or yours and your songs are orchestrated around the theme and premise of the album. Actually I guess you could say it’s the same now that I think about it. It’s just that you don’t have a music director selecting your songs it’s just you.
I heard you are also into poetry.
Yes, I have a poetry book hitting the marketplace called 50 SHADES of L.O.V.E. – (Learning Our Various Emotions) 50 pieces of thought provoking poetry formulated to stir conversation. Everyday we go through various challenges, whether it’s the highs or the lows, where the mood swings and the emotion change depending on the moments. Love is governance, is a genetic part of who we are, in acknowledging that and committing to understanding that, a person is committed to L.O.V.E.
Musically, what’s next for Emcee N.I.C.E?
My album “However U Want It” just dropped and a along with Kelly Keys I feature other notable producers such as Ralph “Phantom” Stacy, DJ Fat Jack, Shawn J and Young Kros. Legendary singers & writers such as Emanuel Officer & Dennis Bettis, features included Suhana Machete, Natasha Marie, Dennis Lorenzo, D.B.I., Jus Blake Smith, Maisha “Mrald” Johnson, Manny B, Jakkai Butler and also 9 time Grammy winner Bassist Kevin “Brandino” Brandon and Trumpet Player Jon Barnes. The record has a real classic feel to it Recorded & Mixed by Super Engineer Dan “Deezy” Naim, Mastered by Eric Labson of Universal & Executive Produc
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Jon Barnes New CD by Emcee N.I.C.E.
http://ermag.co/2015/07/emcee-n-i-c-e/ Emcee N.I.C.E. Tiffany Soroyia Emcee N.I.C.E., talented producer, writer and recording artist, has worked with legendary artists such as 2Pac, Nas, Aaron Hall, K-Ci Hailey, Melissa Molinaro just to name a few, opens up to ERM about his music, busy life and dreams.
Being one of he top producers in the music industry, what influenced you to get into music?
Listening to all of the musical stories that the different melodies by various artists would tell, the different emotions delivered and the moods that the rhythms would evoke, that allowed that particular song to resonate with your spirit, soul & life. So for me, having the ability to create songs that would describe what I see, hear, and feel is what drove me. Imagine the first time you heard Biggie, Jay Z and or Pac better yet Sade and or Brian McKnight. They all created records that set the moods and tones to peoples lives and for me, that’s what I wanted to do, and that was the influence.
Explain your experience on working the legendary Tupac and Nas.
Working with 2 Pac is an experience, you can’t really put into words. For me when that moment came, 2 Pac had already died but that album Better Dayz was the first album after his passing. Either way, when the album was being constructed, the label had stashed everyone involved with the initial recordings up in Modesto, California where everyday the 2 Pac hard drives were brought in everyday under armed guard and when the sessions were finished for the day they would take them out. I, myself thought that was the weirdest thing, although 2 Pac wasn’t alive at the time, they sure made you feel like it!
How did you get into this project?
I wasn’t originally suppose to produce on the album, at the time I was in a group called KansasCali and my former partner who was a phenomenal producer was asked to do like 10 or 12 songs, he was being tabbed that “next” guy. I had produced a song that featured the Outlawz that made it to the second wave of selections for the album but ultimately didn’t make the album. The song that did Thugz Mansion feat. NAS (Acoustic Version) turned out to be the single for the album.
The way the song came about, was the original production by my former partner needed a guitar on it and the label flew out a world renowned guitarist by the name of Fish to play along with the existing melody. As we sat right outside of the studio listening to the recording, I instructed the engineer Claudio Cueni to mute everything but Pac’s vocals and the guitar. At the time, one of the Executive Producer‘s Molly Monjauze was there, and I conveyed to her how that record would hit the heart of a lot of non Pac listeners as well as his core, because of the passion that 2 Pac exuded in the song and the way his vocals cut through would resonate with a lot of people. At the time Molly was excited talking about maybe doing a whole Acoustic Tupac album because in that moment, she seen it and felt it. So that’s how Thugz Mansion came to be, they added NAS and J. Phoenix and it became prolific. Almost didn’t get credited for it, but that’s a topic of another conversation.
The newest single “Tonight”; explain the concept behind the song and the production process.
My song and single Tonight was actually produced by Kelly Keys who created a cinematic musical backdrop and when I heard it, I immediately started seeing images in my head that I could use to lyrically paint the picture of what I was hearing. That vision became the plight of the modern day consumer, you know, “to live like a star for a night and not worry about a thing in that moment”. While the modern day stars live it everyday, the average person just wants to experience it for a night if they could! Big shout out to Director Slick Two Three for giving me an excellent video for it as well as Lil Bankhead of Streetz945 FM.
What recent projects have you worked on or working on?
Well in the past 10 or so years I have partic
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USPS Maya Angelou Stamp, Jon Barnes Music Honors
APR 7 2015 | 9:00 AM USPS Honors Maya Angelou with Stamp says Oprah Winfrey & Jon Barnes Who: Jon Barnes Orchestrations | What: Maya Angelou Stamp Event Where: Warner Theater in DC. | WHEN: April 7th, 2015 , 9:00AM OPRAH WINFREY & QUINCY JONES AND MANY OTHERS ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE MAYA ANGELOU HONORED WITH USPS Maya Angelou and here body of work is a major voice in American Culture that speaks of love, hope, charity, music, art, and education to a global community for more than half a century. She inspired the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and generations of writers, educators, businesses, government leaders, churches, poets, students and ordinary people from around the world. Her words helped to invent a better future, says Jon Barnes - Virginia Tech Alumni. Her poetry has taught us to share, care, and fight personal greed to develop better working, social, educational, and religious environments helping others get along . Maya Angelou's personal struggles and accomplishments teaches us how to have a spoken, yet poetic voice in our own communities, making changes as needed and inspiring ourselves. Maya Angelou didn't need people to tell her to rise up and go to work. Her pencil drove her thoughts to create master pieces sprinkled with love, says Alex Bailey - Berkeley School of Music Alumni. Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey loved working with Maya Angelou on many projects, since she was such a shining light of hope to all who knew her. We are delighted that Dr. Maya Angelou, the author & poet, is being honored in this manner, says Quincy Jones. Please join us in honoring Maya Angelou in her new USPS! - Kirston Bailey www.JonBarnesOfficial.com www.BarnesAndNotes.com Jon Barnes Music itunes
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Arturo Sandoval day in LA, congrats Jon Barnes
Enjoy your da Man!
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Jon Barnes with MIMS MOTORS New Electric Cars
New Music with New Electric Cars! http://www.amazon.com/Mims-Motors-Jon-Barnes/dp/B00U0VDW6S
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Enjoy The Weekend Jon Barnes
This weekend, I get a chance to rest, relax, and reflect on how good God is! Enjoy Peeps!
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Jazz Workshops with Jon Barnes, Coffee Talk Jazz Magazine!
I'm having a blast teaching with Music in Education in California and many schools are putting more money into their music and arts programs. Keep up the Good Work! nes Take a peek at the August issue of CoffeeTalk Jazz Magazine proud 2 feat: Music ICON Sheila E. Check-out Jon Barnes article he has much to share about Music Education. http://issuu.com/ms.bridgette/docs/ctjm_summer2014_preview (Share our link) To purchase your physical copy SHOP our website http://www.coffeetalkjazzradio.com/......
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Janis Joplin Stamp with USPS Jon Barnes
This was a great event more pictures to follow! Take a peek at the August issue of CoffeeTalk Jazz Magazine proud 2 feat: Music ICON Sheila E. Check-out Jon Barnes article he has much to share about Music Education. http://issuu.com/ms.bridgette/docs/ctjm_summer2014_preview (Share our link) To purchase your physical copy SHOP our website http://www.coffeetalkjazzradio.com/#!__coffeetalk-jazz-radio/sweet-shoppe You’re welcome to share our link with your friends.
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Jon Barnes Swings with the Big Band in Santa Cruz
We had fun touring, swinging and selling my new CD last night. Check out the new Magazine with Sheila E. http://www.coffeetalkjazzradio.com/ Right On, Jon Barnes
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Click on the link! http://www.coffeetalkjazzradio.com/