WJM Premiere: Phil Augusta Jackson

I first met Phil very randomly – through a mutual friend, all playing some music together at a retirement home during a volunteering event back in college.  His musical talent was able to turn the rest of our mediocre performances into something really special.

And now, all these years later, he comes out with his debut mixtape…and it’s pretty hot.  We’ve been talking a bit more frequently since last year when he was really heads down getting this together, and I’m excited to finally be able to share his finished product here with everyone.

First, a short bio:

Well, my name is Phil Augusta Jackson. I’ve been living in New York City since 2006, and I’m originally from a small town just north of Philadelphia. Musically, I’d say that I’m a child of pop and hip-hop. I write songs about my life…the things I see and experience.

I have an ear for melody – I think that’s partly because I’ve been playing the piano and saxophone for several years. My overall sound weaves in and out of hip-hop, house, and even rock based sounds and themes. Sometimes I rap, sometimes I sing, and sometimes I pepper tracks with spoken word – whatever feels best. And I write and produce all of my own music.

I’ve been experimenting with sounds since middle school, and in high school I created a record label called Oluponya Records – basically selling tapes and then cds out of my locker and backback.

I then went to the University of Virginia where I launched Oluponya on university grounds – had the opportunity to write and produce for a lot of great talent. I’ve since graduated, but the label still exists down there.

Sometimes I listen to Michael McDonald’s “What a Fool Believes” while I’m walking through the streets of New York and also on the subway. You should try it – it feels like you’re living in the midst of a film – a romantic comedy of sorts.

It was after my time at UVa that I was formally introduced to Jim’s awesomely eclectic music blog. As a fellow UVa graduate, we were fortunately reconnected through a mutual friend who accurately forecasted that our passions for music were aligned.

Now onto the mixtape:

Phil Augusta Jackson - The Workman

The Workman is hosted by DJ Benzi, and the sound of the project is pop and hip-hop – often vocally driven, with a lot of influences like rock, house, and spoken word evident in the arrangements. I also produce all of my own work. It’s a look into my life, thoughts, and experiences over the past several years.  It’s good music that is an honest reflection of the things I’ve experienced while pursuing goals and finding purpose. The result is a project that I think many can relate to.

I have listened to this album several times since I first downloaded it yesterday, and it’s pretty awesome.  It’s definitely mostly rap (which is not usually my forte), but it’s very pop-influenced, very approachable and enjoyable, and is spot-on with the current trends in music.

Out of 13 songs on the mixtape (can we just call it a debut album yet?), I pretty much love half of them, but I certainly wouldn’t push next track on the others.  I think you’ll all really like this.

I love the beat that comes in around 1:45:
Phil Augusta Jackson – “Put In Work”

You all know by now that I’m a sucker for upbeat, house-y songs like this:
Phil Augusta Jackson – “Stratosphere”

This is just so catchy, and it features J. Ivy, from Kanye West’s song “Never Let Me Down”:
Phil Augusta Jackson – “Glory Fall (ft. J. Ivy)”

I have literally had the chorus of this song stuck in my head all day long, and I can relate (all too well!) to the many awesomely old-school references:
Phil Augusta Jackson – “Hotwheels”

If you liked those samples, then head over to
http://TheWorkmanMixtape.com
to download the whole album for free (and stream more of the album!)

You can read more about and follow Phil at:
http://PhilAugustaJ.com
http://Facebook.com/PhilAugustaJackson
http://twitter.com/PhilAugustaJ

And follow Phil’s sponsors at:
Harboring Hearts @ http://HarboringHearts.com
The Fojo @http://Twitter.com/TheFojo
DJ Benzi @ http://DJBenzi.com

To anyone who’s ever lost.
To anyone who’s ever been doubted.
To anyone trying to be better than they were the day before.
To anyone working to navigate her or his own course.
This is your story too.

– The Workman, Phil Augusta Jackson

Galkin’s Top 115 of 2009, Part 2

Here is part 2 of Galkin’s list.  I know it probably seems sooo behind the times to keep talking about 2009 songs, especially while there is so much new music already out this year (Yeasayer, Hot Chip, Ok Go – dare I even say Ke$ha? – to name a few) but Galkin’s list is easily still my favorite playlist on my iPod right now, and it needs to be completed.  Besides, didn’t you need some new stuff to stream at work?  We’ll get to 2010 soon enough, don’t worry…

85. Eminem – “We Made You”
Much anticipated comeback was good, not great. Good to see he still likes to make fun of people though.

84. The National – “So Far Around The Bend”
On the Dark Was The Night compilation – check it out, seriously

83. Manchester Orchestra – “I’ve Got Friends”
Band that you can distinctly hear maturing over their last 3 albums

82. Muse – “Undisclosed Desires”
Need to see these guys in concert. Will be epic.

81. Say Anything – “Hate Everyone”
One of my favorite bands, but didn’t connect with the new album like previous ones

80. Paramore – “Ignorance”
Hayley Williams is adorable. That is all.

79. Anderson – “Trevor On The Dancefloor”
Fun electronic dance-y song you’ve never heard of from a band you don’t know. It’s my list.

78. Yes Giantess – “Can’t Help It”
Michael Jackson-like sounding lead singer makes me miss MJ…the non-crazy, black version

77. Pony Pony Run Run – “Walking On A Line”
Don’t care for the band name, good thing they make catchy music

76. Classified – “Choose Your Own Adventure 3”
White Canadien rapper, eh? I’m as surprised as you are. Also known as the Steve Nash of rap (may or may not have made that last part up)

75. Jay-Z – “Run This Town”
Excellent chorus by Rihanna along with Kanye kept in check made this a winner

74. Peter Bjorn And John – “Nothing To Worry About”
Including singing kids generally makes things better

73. Shakira – “She Wolf (Villians Remix)”
Heavy breathing also makes things better

72. Taking Back Sunday – “Sink Into Me”
A favorite band from high school still has something left in the tank

71. Flight Of The Conchords – “Carol Brown”
“…hoping that you’ll stick around” – would have enjoyed another season of FOTC

70. Harlem Shakes – “Strictly Game”
Good band that unfortunately broke up…luckily it was after I got to see them live

69. Neon Indian – “Deadbeat Summer”
Trippy.

68. The Sounds – “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake (Viking Remix)”
An already good song, but the additions in the remix put it over the top

67. Norah Jones – “Chasing Pirates”
Classiest song of the year

66. Wale – “90210”
Disappointing live, but still one of the top rappers IMO

65. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Zero”
Spin’s song of the year – not mine, but still really good

64. Simian Mobile Disco – “Audacity Of Huge (Dada Life Guerilla Remix)”
The ones who usually do the remixing get remixed themselves – what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right?

63. The Big Pink – “Dominos”
Methodically paced and catchy song about girls falling like dominos

62. Glee Cast – “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Best song by a fake Glee club

61. The Bird And The Bee – “Love Letter To Japan”
I feel like The Bird and the Bee are a hidden gem – have always enjoyed their quirky songs.

60. Jay-Z – “DOA”
Electric guitar and soprano sax make this much more than your regular rap song

59. Owl City – “Cave In”
Called Owl City a year and a half ago…you’re welcome

58. Parachute – “Under Control”
Charlottesville/UVA band that is gaining popularity – this should have been a bigger hit

57. Florence And The Machine – “Dog Days Are Over”
Florence’s haunting yet fierce voice make the first track of the album stand out

56. The Drums – “Let’s Go Surfing”
Old school sounding song of the year…think a modern indie Beach Boys