SOUND STAGE with Mara Hruby, Mic Holden, Mickey Taelor, and J-Louis

By | April 3, 2014 at 1:50 am | No comments | Featured Post, MUSIC, Recaps | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Zanzibar in Santa Monica became host to LA locals, artists and music purveyors alike for the release of Archaic Rapture, the newest EP from vocalist Mara Hruby, and a headlining performance by the songstress herself.
Illsociety Magazine, Project Live LA, and Nu-Soul Magazine came together to produce the Soundstage event.

The night was filled with sounds from various DJs – Spill, Mantron and Destroyer – spinning the likes of Jhene Aiko, The Weeknd, and ScHoolboy Q with a mixture of future bass, r&b, reggae and hip-hop. Attentive bartenders kept glasses full while H20$$$SPORTS$$$ came through for a special beat set, but had some technical difficulties so unfortunately had too cut their set short.

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The first live performance came from Mickey Taelor, a charismatic young artist. Her sultry vocal style is infused with a jazz-like scat while her stage presence is fun and laidback. Her set included tracks off past EPs Half Baked and Welcome to Hiigrade Vol. 1, and an energetic cover to Lil Wayne’s “HYFR.”

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Next came Mic Holden, a musician and emcee from Inglewood, CA. After performing original work and a few A Tribe Called Quest covers, the multi-talented artist switched gears to jam out on percussion with his drummer Jake Jamison and bassist Charlie Domingo.

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J-Louis of Soulection made a special appearance and played us some really cool tunes including his well known remix, All About the Panties (That Mara Hruby Flow).

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Finally, at a quarter to midnight, Mara Hruby arrived. She sparkled on stage in a black and gold embellished number as she powered through her set filled with treasured tunes both old and new. Hruby closed her eyes and grooved with her band in between songs from Archaic Rapture and her previous project From Her Eyes. She belted tales of heartbreak with true pain and delivered her flirtier work with just a hint of sex appeal.

After the show, Hruby chatted and took pictures with fans as they snagged copies of From Her Eyes along with bracelets and a strawberry, rhubarb and mango jam made by the artist herself. The one-on-one time with Hruby added a personal touch to an already intimate evening in the small, but spacious venue. Attendees left feeling a little bit closer to the creatives whose art they’ve come to love.

-Kelly Hawkins

All photos shot by Giovanni Vallazza

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