laye - milk n honey

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY:

laye is known to draw upon her life experiences when she writes her music and we truly admire her for that. In fact, laye incorporates these artistic references into everything she does. Inspired by art and photography, to painting and interior design... laye is an expressive artist from the inside out and we love the way she applies her creative energy to anything and everything she touches.

Her new video proves exactly that. For fans of dreamy pop, catchy melodies, or expressive lyrics—you'll fall in love with laye's 'milk n honey'.

Listen to 'milk n honey' here: http://smarturl.it/layemilknhoney

WHAT THE ARTIST HAS TO SAY:

"The song really resonated with me. Despite all the things going on in one’s life – the good, the bad - whether it be relationships or life in general, you try to keep a positive outlook on things 'I ain’t gonna trip, not me - I'll be keeping it sunny, finding your jokes funny - It’s all milk n honey.'"

— laye

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST:

facebook / instagram / twitter / spotify

Opening: Key Observation Point, Friday August 31

What's Happening:

Working with materials from the Los Angeles Contemporary Archive, Susanna Battinwas inspired by the "Landscape Scenic Quality Scale," a metric used as a means of environmental preservation in the early days of urban development. Playing with the bureaucratic nature of of human dominion over land, these reflections on the landscape are vivid and unified in their presentation. 

By examining the archive within itself, Battin investigates the perspectives of city planners and the motives behind space and situating a city. Take a look at her intimate paintings reflecting on her time with these archival materials.

Details:

Friday, August 31, 6pm - 10pm
Los Angeles Contemporary Archive
Tuesday through Thursday, 12pm - 6pm
On view through September 28

Opening: TAG Gallery Group Show, Saturday September 1

What's Happening:

A group show at the mid-city TAG Gallery opening this weekend, this collection is sure to deliver on an individual and juxtapositional basis. 

Artist Pam Douglas presents Artifacts of Grace, which explores human connection through the vessel of the female figure. This work also grapples with the humanitarian crisis and atrocities occurring on our shared border with Mexico. 

K Ryan Henisey has on view Mythologies, a mixed media collection the artist describes as a 'queer celebration of the wind' — Henisey has integrated his social media presence into this work, creating a fluid barrier between the IRL and URL.

Boris Litvinov displays End of Privacy: generally a stone carver and sculptor, Litvinov has shifted to found-object collage and sculpture. Engaging with the corrupt nature of global powers and propagandic emergence in the last 3-5 years, the Soviet born artist faces the toxicity of digital media head on.

TAG President Karen Sarrow will also be showing work; a collection of paintings called FEM. Again using the body as a site of action and conflict, she goes one step further and connects the body to the earth and the urgency of climate change. 

Details:

TAG Gallery
Opening September 1, 6pm - 10pm
Artist Talk September 15 3pm
Through September 22
Tuesday through Saturday, 11am - 5pm. 

Pop Up: Girls Art Show, Friday August 31

What's Happening:

A night of live music, art and pop-up shops from women and female owned businesses. $7.

The Details:

Hosted @leiminspace gallery
Friday, August 31, 2018
8:00 PM  11:00 PM

Lauren Halsey is Still Here, There

Who Lauren Halsey
What Site-Specific Installations
When Through September 3

we still here, there is Lauren Halsey's mesmerizing, cave-like installation at MoCA. The annexed gallery space was unassuming among the more prominent Real Worlds photography retrospective. However, Halsey's cavernous exploration of the spectrum of Black experience in South Central LA was so dynamic that it was hard to move on to the other works on display.

So, naturally it was exciting to see Halsey on the roster for the Hammer Museum's Made In L.A. biennial. Where her MoCA installation turns inward, meandering in and out of the psyche of South Central's visuality, The Crenshaw District Hieroglyphic Project (Prototype Architecture) at the Hammer is upright and outward in its presentation. Reminiscent of The Met's Egyptian hall, but with indicators of Halsey's hand almost instantly apparent, this project dominated much of the mezzanine at the Hammer and received the $100,000 Mohn Award from the museum.  

By exploring Black LA within the framework of classic 'origins' of culture (a cave, an ancient temple), Halsey redefines the perceptions of Black iconography and Black stories in the context of a larger fabric of the human experience.  

Follow the artist.

Sammy Adams shares catchy new single 'Action' — Stream it here

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY:

Sammy Adams makes his big return with his new single 'Action', available now on all major streaming platforms.

We love the carefree energy in Sammy's lyrics and throughout the instrumental. While Sammy is no stranger to delivering catchy hooks or hip-hop classics, the recording artist has the stats to back it up—garnering nearly 800,000 fans across his social media platforms since getting his big break back in 2012.

The hip-hop artist has gone off to work with some of the most well known and respected influencers in the industry. Artists such as Pharrell Williams, Ryan Tedder, Enrique Iglesias, Mike Posner, and Afrojack just to name a handful. 

With now over tens of millions of streams from his previous releases, 'Action' is the sound we've all come to love over the years. Feel free to share this with your friends and don't forget to subscribe to Sammy online to stay up to date on what's happening next. Enjoy!

WHAT THE ARTIST HAS TO SAY:

"Action is an adventure. It brings me back to the early stages of my life, being a troublemaker, chasing crushes, and finding my own way in the world. It’s about chasing what you want (not just the girl you want), and being fearless regardless of the outcome. Take risks, fall in love, take L’s, learn from your mistakes. If you ain’t living, you're dying." - Sammy Adams

CONNECT WITH SAMMY ADAMS:

http://www.sammyadamsmusic.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/samadamslive/ 

https://www.instagram.com/sammyadams 

https://soundcloud.com/samadamslive 

https://twitter.com/SammyAdams

Listen to Cautious Clay's brand new single 'Crowned' here

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY:

Cautious Clay is no stranger to these parts of the land. The rising singer/songwriter has been a favorite around the Gems & Secrets office, and for good reason. Clay's self-awareness and calm energy are the roots of all of his music releases. His lyrics and writing style are not only calming but relatable and passionate.  

If you're looking for something that's not only emotionally developed or intellectually stimulating, you'll recognize all of these traits in Clay's lyrics and vision.

Kick back and relax and fall in love with Cautious Clay's 'Crowned', now streaming on all platforms. Enjoy!

Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/0APOlpsf4r…AyQ5SjlhxwIxHPQw

Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogcOZI1Tyms

Tidal: tidal.com/track/93580262

Listen to previous releases:

Cold War

Blood Type EP

RESONANCE EP

Blood Type Remix EP

LYRICS:

Black white yellow and browns ok
Pools side drinking we came to stay
Got me thinking up ways to pray for my sanity

But you crown
Ya you crowned with the likes of us

Yeah you crown
Crown with the likes of us

You said I could call you any name that I want
Imma call u any name

I don’t want the bag
I don’t wanna go figure

You fishing cus it’s all the same

Check me when you needed me
The most
I ain’t event get to talking bout a toast

Quite on the set I don’t need to stress bout things that you want anything that you want

Rolls that you want
Signs you making bread
No coupons
I can’t even make you famous
It’s everything beside the way you make me feel

Black white yellow and browns ok
Pools side drinking we came to stay
Got me thinking up ways to pray for my vanity
But you crown

Ya crown with the likes of us
Yeah you crown
Crown with the likes of us

So While you eating craft singles
I been switching phones

Trying not to think about the terms of it all
Wrapping up your life in cellophane

But that 911 on the lot is what you loving
We got 0-100 calls
We got Models with their egos on ya shelf
Choking up you on the run
Not enough to say while you back in

Check me when you needed me the most
I ain’t event get to talking bout a toast

Quite on the set I don’t need to stress bout things that you want

Black white yellow and browns ok
Pools side drinking we came to stay

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST:

Cautious Clay — Instagram | Twitter

Shadient releases his best work yet, listen to 'Collider' here

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY:

Well, this is quite possibly Shadient's heaviest and most impressive release yet. The electronic producer released their new track 'Collider' a couple weeks back and if you haven't had the pleasure of checking it out yet, it won't disappoint. For fans of heavy bass and grimy sound design, Shadient brings a fresh perspective to any fan of electronic music.

Enjoyed what you heard? Don't forget to subscribe

WHAT THE ARTIST HAS TO SAY:

"in july 2017, i'd just returned back from playing a show with the mad zoo crew in LA, both my first dj set and first time visiting the states. i flew home incredibly inspired and wrote "collider" within the space of a couple weeks. this tune was probably one of the 'easiest to produce' tracks I've ever made! it all came together so naturally. what can one expect after spending a few days in the studio with Mat Zo!" - Shadient

A post shared by morgan (@shadientmusic) on Aug 14, 2018 at 10:05am PDT

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST:

Shadient:

https://soundcloud.com/shadient

https://twitter.com/shadient

Listen to Majestic Minds - Oxygen (feat. Haides & Marlie)

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY:

Well it's Sunday Funday for a lot of our readers and to keep the good energy up and going we wanted to share this new dance record from Majestic Minds. Titled 'Oxygen', the new track features a groovy instrumental and an impressive vocal style from featured artists Haides & Marlie. If you're looking for a nice pick-me-up, look no further because this new record will have you up and dancing on a moments notice. 

Don't forget to connect with the group online to stay up to date on any upcoming releases and enjoy!

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST:

Majestic Minds - Instagram

Cassie Marin serenades the 'Guilty' in new single, listen here!

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY: 

Cassie Marin makes her return with her brand new single, 'Guilty'. A charming record that highlights some of Cassie' best vocal work yet. As summer comes to an end and the taste of fall creeps closer and closer, Cassie matches the mood of the changing seasons with her gentle voice and elegant writing style, a style that could stun even the most casual of music listeners. 

It's no coincidence the talented musician has a knack for writing such beautiful words. The artist published a poetry book several months ago that you can check out and read more about here. 

Buy Cassie Marin's 'Spilling' here - Amazon

Don't forget to connect with the artist online to stay up to date on what's happening next. Enjoy!

LYRICS:

wash me like the rain, would ya?
can you minimize the pain, could ya?

I would run so far away, so fast, lose track,
not coming back for you-

I'm not coming coming back,
I'm not coming coming, 
I'm always running away,
teach me why I'm so afraid

can you fix the mold that's been made?

I'm guilty
I'm guilty
I'm guilty
(x2)

take a little space, you're right to feel everything you do at night,
needed you to know that I'm alright, just sorta barely alive-

it's alright to fall apart, at least if you do you're in my arms,
I will try my best to piece you back, qualities that I lack to you

I'm not ever coming back,
I'm not ever coming back,
I'm not ever coming back,

I'm guilty
I'm guilty
I'm guilty
(x2)

sorry I fell short I'm not more than
sorry I fell short I'm not more than
sorry I fell short I'm not more than me
(x1)

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST:

Cassie Marin — Twitter | Instagram

Ruben Young delivers nostalgic modern-soul single 'Rachel Green' (feat. Hodgy)

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY:

Well for starters, we love how nostalgic Ruben Young's new record is. Titled 'Rachel Green', if you were a fan of the hit 90's TV show 'Friends', you'll recognize the references throughout the song. Ruben's talents go unnoticed, his ability to write catchy harmonies while remaining original is an art form in itself and we absolutely love his creative writing and vision. 

The track features rapper American rapper Hodgy—the iconic member of the hip-hop collective Odd Future. Together, the two artists bring a diverse and entertaining element to the record and for that we give the track our stamp of approval. 

Stay up to date by connecting with the artists online and don't forget to subscribe. Enjoy! 

CONNECT WITH THE ARTISTS:

Ruben Young - Instagram | Facebook

Hodgy - Instagram

Exhibit: Made In L.A., Sunday August 26

WHAT'S HAPPENING:

It's the second to last weekend to catch Made In L.A.!

Curated by the Hammer's lead Anne Ellegoodand assistant curator Erin Christovale, Made in L.A. displays the work of 32 Los Angeles based artists. Engaged with core cultural themes of our 'now,' these artist hold common their grappling with issues of representation, marginalization, cultural practices, pressures placed on the body, and interpretations of ancient forms of knowledge.

featuring
Carmen Argote, James Benning, Diedrick Brackens, Carolina Caycedo, Neha Choksi, Beatriz Cortez, Mercedes Dorame, Celeste Dupuy-Specer, Aaron Fowler, Nikita Gale, Jade Gordon & Megan Whitmarsh, Lauren Halsey, EJ Hill, Naotaka Hiro, John Houck, Luchita Hurtado, Gelare Khoshgozaran, Candice Lin, Charles Long, Nancy Lupo, Daniel Joseph Martinez, MPA, Alison O'Daniel, Eamon Ore-Giron, Taisha Paggett, Christina Quarles, Michael Queenland, Patrick Staff, Linda Stark, Flora Wiegmann, Suné Woods, Rosha Yaghmai

DETAILS:

 The Hammer Museum
On display until September 3
Free
Tuesday through Friday 11 - 8
Weekends 11 - 5