tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37694159961398713232024-03-13T15:06:24.385-04:00Fayth Hope presents...The Beautiful Experience..:::The online chronicle of an indie singer/songwriter's rise out of obscurity:::..Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-73297937094236127972012-11-18T14:17:00.003-05:002012-11-18T21:19:43.559-05:00EVOLUTIONWheeew! As some of you have seen already, I've undergone a total appearance makeover. Why? Well, our outer presentation tells us a lot about what we're going through on the inside. As for me, before the haircut, I may have looked okay at first blush. But if you looked closer you would have seen that most of the strands of my beloved afro were brittle and broken and I looked worn out and battle-weary all over the face. Truthfully speaking, I managed to hide how effed up I really was. There was a time period very recently where my life was nothing less than hellish. My armor seemed to be slipping off day by day. Thanks to God's saving grace, I was caught before I managed to tilt all the way off the cliff. I'm going to be straight forward with you guys; during this time my health was horrible, physically and mentally. I was in counseling trying to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and make some sense of them somehow. For anyone that knows me personally, my hair is the embodiment of who I am at the core: bold, daring, creative. Don't get this mistaken for vanity, this is totally different. My hair is an outward expression of who I am as a person and as an artist. So of course I was rather distraught...no...disassembled when I realized that my hair was withering away. The once full head of hair was now wispy and see-through in some areas. I tried different treatments to bring it back, but nothing worked for real. Everything came to a head on July 11th when I looked myself in the mirror and asked "What the hell are you doing? What are you holding on to? If it's not working, leave it alone! Do away with it!!" Later that afternoon, I walked into my stylist's shop (who had not seen me in almost 6 months) and the first thing she said was "What happened to you?" Marquitta sat me down in her chair and talked with me about everything I had been experiencing up to that point. We then discussed ways of salvaging what was left. What she said next was very affirming; "We could do a rod set to make it look fuller,<i> but that would not be you</i>. When I think of Fayth Hope, I think of natural and earthy." And I agreed. We both decided that it was best for me to start with a clean slate. By the way, my son was there the whole time. When Marquitta put that cape around me and prepared to cut my hair, Christopher came up to me, put his hand on arm and said "You'll be okay mommy. Just sit back and relax." I was floored!! Damn near cried!!! I mean, he was off playing while Marquitta and I were talking, thus unaware of the situation or discussion. Not to mention the lengths that I went through to conceal/protect him from the ordeal I was experiencing. So how did he know what to say?! Still baffles me. I guess my baby is intuitive like his mama lol. Anyhow, the clippers were turned on and all the days, months, and years of distress started to fall by the wayside, literally. When we were finished, Marquitta smiled at her work, and so did I. I felt so renewed, refreshed, rejuvenated.<br />
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People, when you are not moving forward like you wish to, you have to ask yourself what's holding you back. Is it YOU that's holding you back? Are you holding on to fear? Grief? Anger and disappointment? Those things weigh heavily and will stunt your growth on your appointed journey. There will come a time where you will have to let go of the things that are dragging you down. My hair was the personification of my own struggle with holding on to shit that's not worth being kept. That meant the shedding of old habits, old attitudes, old memories, old "friends" (yes, that's in quotations for a reason). The more familiar and comfortable we are with these old scripts, the harder it is to let go. But once holding on becomes more of a hinderance than a help, that means it's definitely time to do some pruning. Just had a thought; my very first post on this website was entitled <i>"Pruning Leads to Blooming"</i>. Funny how the Spirit works huh?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yGHt6XdSC6w/UKkypwo3YuI/AAAAAAAAAJM/pCBxuIVLdGs/s1600/Fayth+Hope+Promo+2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yGHt6XdSC6w/UKkypwo3YuI/AAAAAAAAAJM/pCBxuIVLdGs/s320/Fayth+Hope+Promo+2012-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: <a href="http://www.creativesilencephoto-design.com/" target="_blank">Chris Charles of Creative Silence Photography + Design</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Jewelry & Styling: <a href="http://rachelstewart.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Stewart</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Make-Up: <a href="http://www.sdotdavis.com/" target="_blank">Sharon Davis</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Hair: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spice-of-New-York-Salon-and-Spa/86882068491" target="_blank">Spice of New York Salon & Spa</a></span></div>
Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-5480590921151804622012-08-08T23:31:00.000-04:002012-08-08T23:31:18.744-04:00SOULTOPIAN SOCIETYObviously, as you can tell from my absence, I've been truly grinding my butt off. With the release of "Out Of Obscurity, Pt. 1" and other endeavors I have embarked upon (not to mention holding down the family and the day job), my hands have been more than full. But it's a good problem to have. Because you know what that means?! PROGRESS!! So let me go ahead and fill you in.<br />
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Some of you may have seen my Facebook and Twitter ramblings about <b>SOULTOPIA</b>. Sooo, what is <b>SOULTOPIA</b> you ask? Long story short, I have created and organized an event series here in Augusta. A jam session...the "Ultimate Jam Session Experience" as I have dubbed it. My music director/big brother from another mother (Brian "Bassman" Herrington) and I put our heads together in an effort to bring forth sounds that have never been heard before in an Augusta venue. We wanted people to fall in love with the music and artists that we have fallen in love with (yes I ended the sentence with a preposition; but this is my website and I have license to do such things; carry on...). Through the gifted hands of Bassman and his squad, <b>The Truth AKA The Abstract&Unorthodox Experiment</b> (cool name huh?), we offered event goers what they now know as <i>THE SOULTOPIA SOUND</i>---a fusion of soul, hip hop, funk, and jazz. Please take a look at the event highlights to see how me and my artsy friends throw down in James Brown Town USA!<br />
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Stay tuned as we are in the process of planning more dates for SOULTOPIA. Interested in becoming an event sponsor?! Hit us up at soultopia@gmail.com. And yes, this means that Fayth Hope is armed with a band now...finally. My prayers have been answered, wheeew!<br />
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P.S. This website is in need of a facelift. Don't you think? ;^)Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-13402680109158918602012-04-02T23:47:00.000-04:002012-04-02T23:47:32.078-04:00March Madness Recap!! (and no, not basketball)My oh my!!! So much has occurred since I last spoke with you guys!! First and foremost, my album preview party was a HUGE SUCCESS. The audience even had the chance to pick out the next single, so be on the watch for that. By the way, I have footage below of the party. Have a look and then subscribe to my new YouTube channel, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/FaythHopeTV" target="_blank">FaythHopeTV</a>, while you're at it. Second, my current single, "Love Didn't Mean A Thing" (after going from #5 to #3 to #2) made it to #1 on The Morpheus Soul Show Top 5 Countdown!!! Much love to Temporary Residents and everyone who voted for me. Click to <a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/17121595-e36" target="_blank">HERE</a> listen and download the show!<br />
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Third...I release my album, "Out Of Obscurity, Pt. I: From The Darkness..." on April 3rd (yep, tomorrow lol) through my website!!! Just go the "Buy Music!" tab and click on the method through which you'd like to purchase, i.e. Bandcamp, iTunes, CDBaby.com, AmazonMP3. Here's the mixtape sampler for the album to wet your appetite!<br />
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It's been such a long time coming. Can't believe that this leg of the journey is almost complete!! No worries, I don't see myself getting complacent any time soon; there's so much more left for me to do and experience! But until then, I'll kick my feet up and enjoy the moment. Talk to you tomorrow...Lord willin' the creek don't rise lol ;-)<br />
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DON'T FORGET TO WATCH "Out Of Obscurity, Ep. 3: Album Preview Party" and catch up on the other episodes and vids you haven't seen!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8FckjypTixU" width="560"></iframe>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-32170434919753566092012-03-06T11:21:00.000-05:002012-03-06T11:21:40.589-05:00I'm in the Top 5 Baby!!Good morning, afternoon, or night...where ever you are! I am so proud to tell you that 1) I have a new song out entitled "Love Didn't Mean A Thing", 2) it was picked up by <a href="http://themorpheussoulshow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Morpheus Soul Show</a> in London, 3) is on the show's Top 5 Countdown and has been for two weeks, and 4) jumped two places up to #3, right behind one of my favs, Robert Glasper!!!! Click the players below to hear the March 3rd installment of The Morpheus Soul Show and "Love Didn't Mean A Thing". More goodies are coming out the kitchen...hold tight!!<br />
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<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F36742974&show_artwork=true"></iframe><br />Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-89474004900672179382012-01-21T10:44:00.002-05:002012-01-21T10:44:44.522-05:00Fayth Hope on VIMEO!!What's good Fam?! I've reached into my goodie bag and pulled out a special treat for you! I am now chronicling the release of my album through video (cue the cheering Muppets)! Below, you'll find the first installment of my video series "Out Of Obscurity", directed and filmed by Armard Andrews of <a href="http://www.vidipop.com/" target="_blank">Vidipop Video Design House</a>. In Episode 1, I share intimate details on how/why I launched a singing career, what drives me to create, and the album and its release. Stay tuned, there are more episodes to come!<div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35183546?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff78ff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><a href="http://vimeo.com/35183546">Out of Obscurity: Episode 1</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/vidipop">Armard Andrews</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-78460981261963165432012-01-15T20:27:00.002-05:002012-01-20T12:03:26.520-05:00Weebles Wobble, But They Don't Fall Down!After the umpteenth request from one of my students, I am sending you guys an update thats long overdue. Yeah I know, I gotta do better lol. Anyhow, last time you were here I was preparing for Cola-Con...which turned out to be a huge success!!! If you didn't go, shame on YOU because you missed one helluva show. At that last minute, Talib Kweli decided to emcee and to add to that, 9th Wonder (who was originally there to support his artist Rapsody) ended up djaying the improptu set. WHAT?! As for my performance, it was...let's just say it was a true testament of my fortitude. I'm gonna be very transparent and let you know what happened. Chances are, you're gonna laugh you're ass off. But that's okay, I invite it, because I laughed at myself too. <br />
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As you know, I performed on the all-female artist stage at the Cola Crawl (the multi-venue after party of Cola-Con). I had just changed into my stage clothes and was preparing to zone myself out as I always do prior to performing. The sun had already set and the people were walking the streets to all of the different venues. While strutting in my gold, platform Jessica Simpson slingback shoes, with my multi-colored clutch in one hand and a cup of Red Bull in the other, I felt a piece of the ground drop from under my left foot. My ankle caved inward, I fell hard on my knees, and somehow ended up flat on my back...on the asphalt...looking upward at the Columbia night sky...Red Bull still in hand. The adrenaline kicked in and I was out of breath as my ankle throbbed and ached. Then I panicked, because I remember seeing 9th Wonder and some of my Sounds Familiar cohorts close by (they were inside the Columbia Museum of Art in a room adjacent to the sidewalk near where I took the plunge. 'So what' you say? The room had a huge glass window facing the street. Now you understand?). So by now I'm thinking, "9th Wonder and Preach and Open Mike and everyone out here just saw me bust my ass!" Needless to say, I was mortified. But I took a quick peek into the room and saw they were still carrying on with their conversation. I was safe, whew! To add insult to injury, a museum employee came up to me while I was still laying on the ground, asking me if I was alright and if I needed an ambulance. In adamant protest I said, "No! I have to perform in a few minutes! I CAN'T LEAVE!!" Then he had the nerve to accuse me of having too much to drink when he saw my cup. I yelled, "I'M NOT DRUNK!! THIS IS RED BULL!!". He tried to help me up, but I told him I still needed a moment to get myself together. I paused and then I said to him, "Sir, I have a question for you." I held up my left foot for him to see. "Is my shoe broken?" Yes, I know. After all of that, I was more concerned about my gold, platform, Jessica Simpson slingbacks (my babies were okay though lol). I finally got up and I saw a friend of mine across the street and I screamed out to her what had just happened. Actually, it sounded more like this, "Hey! I just busted my ass!" She came to the rescue and the museum employee got some ice for my ankle. After dusting myself off (I had not one spot of dirt on me by the way), I limped over to the venue where I was performing, ice in hand, and sat and waited for my turn to get on stage. And just as I imagined, everything worked out. Once I got my bearings on stage, I was good to go! No one could tell that I had a sprained ankle. I had to do what I had to do. Like they say, one monkey (nor a busted ankle) don't stop no show!<br />
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Yes, I may have fallen down, but I wasn't down for the count. I got right back up. So in the grand scheme of things, it was only a wobble. There have been many setbacks and upsets on my musical journey. That's the nature of the beast. But I don't let the misfortunes deter me from what I'm seeking to accomplish. Forward movement is a necessity. You gotta summon your inner Weeble if you want to get somewhere in life. Because, say it with me, Weebles Wobble, But They Don't Fall Down! <br />
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<br />Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-54951185895188407242011-08-31T15:15:00.000-04:002011-08-31T15:15:52.841-04:00Just Breathe...Greetings!!! Finally, I have a breather, jeez!!! I miss writing and vibing with you! BUT, lots of changes and shake ups have gone down...good ones though. For starters, I have a sweet 9 to 5 as the counselor for the Upward Bound program at Augusta's Paine College (Fayth luvs da kids!). Secondly, I did some stewing and pondering on the direction of the album and decided to dig a little deeper (in my soul AND my pockets, lol) to give you guys a truer depiction of myself as an artist and connoisseur of music. Sooo, I have enlisted the soulphonic forces of my lablemates, The Secret B-Sides, to bring things on home for the album. I know I've made you wait for too long, but trust me...you'll understand once the record is playing through your speakers ;o) Oh yeah, click <a href="http://supersolarrecords.bandcamp.com/">HERE</a> to check out The Secret B-Sides' latest album <em>Flowers & Chocolate</em>. "S.O.L.", "Date", "Liberate", and "Franky Flowers" are my favs. Do your ears some good and go check the fellas out. I'm serious...don't wanna have to come put an afrolicious smack-down on that ass LOL!<br />
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Some of you may have seen me ranting and raving on Facebook and Twitter about Cola-Con. If you haven't, you've been in a coma or something, just kidding. Long story short, "Cola-Con is where hip-hop music and comic book culture intersect. The one day event will be held at the Columbia Museum of Art and be an event of comic book artists, vendors, visual artists, lectures, panels and music. Headlined by Talib Kweli (as a special guest DJ) along with some of the best hip-hop and alternative artists in the southeast, the event is a one of a kind experience compared to other comic related functions" (taken from the <a href="http://www.cola-con.com/">Cola-Con</a> website). I will be performing on the <strong>Cola Crawl</strong>, a series of shows that will take place up and down Main Street in downtown Columbia at venues from The Whig to the White Mule to the Tapp’s Arts Center. Some of the artists scheduled to appear are myself, Rapsody from 9th Wonder's Jamla Records, and other hip-hop and soul artists from the Southeast region. As you see, a LOT has been going on. By the way, I willl be debuting a new song at the Cola Crawl. The next time that anyone will be able to hear it is upon the release of the album. So if you wanna have a listen before anyone else does, you need to be there ;o) <br />
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RIGHT NOW!--head over to <a href="http://www.cola-con.com/">http://www.cola-con.com/</a> and purchase your Cola-Con tickets. When else are you gonna see Talib Kweli, Sanford Greene (graphic illustrator of the Spiderman comics; yep, for real), Speech from Arrested Development, and producer Supahot Beats (Eminem) under one roof along with dozens of other art and music officianados? Well okay then...get moving already!<br />
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***For in depth interviews and scheduling info for Cola-Con, click <a href="http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064227409&ShowArticle_ID=11013108112965491">HERE</a>***</div>
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Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-71804191391854656402011-03-13T15:39:00.000-04:002011-03-13T15:39:37.807-04:00Truly Deeply Madly (BusCrates 16-Bit Ensemble Remix)Hola mi familia! Hope you're having a great weekend. Got some surprises up my sleeve for you, but you're gonna have to wait. But I promise to make it worthwhile ;o)<br />
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My buddy <a href="http://buscrates16-bitensemble.bandcamp.com/">BusCrates</a>, a dynamic producer from Pittsburgh PA, decided to try his hand at doing a remix for me. Sounds Familiar tested it out at a Mo' Betta Soul event in Charlotte NC and got some pretty good feedback. So we decided to release it to the public on March 1st. The response was BANANAS! Within 24 hours of the release, the remix was played over 150 times and clocked in over 60 downloads. But that isn't all; four days later it was picked up by London-based hip-hop and soul radio show <a href="http://themorpheussoulshow.blogspot.com/"><em>The Morpheus Soul Show</em></a><em> </em>(yaaayyy!!!). So if you haven't checked the song out yet, now is your chance. Have a great one Fam!<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11276984&g=1">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F11276984&g=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/sounds-familiar-records/fayth-hope-truly-deeply">Fayth Hope-Truly Deeply Madly (Bus Crates 16-Ensemble RMX)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/sounds-familiar-records">Sounds Familiar Records</a></span>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-2683779010348782082011-02-14T23:48:00.000-05:002011-02-14T23:48:50.964-05:00Quick Update!Hey guys! In a rush...got some song writing to do before I go to bed. But I didn't want to get off the computer without giving you a quick update.<br />
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If you're wondering where I'll be performing over the next few weeks, I've just added new dates to the calendar. So be sure to check out the <a href="http://www.faythhope.com/p/show-dates.html">Shows/Events</a> section and come back periodically as I am in the process of confirming more shows.<br />
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I know that I've been hella quiet about the album. No worries, it's getting done. In due time everybody ;o)<br />
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We (Sounds Familiar Records) have successfully met our fundraising goal (and then some) for the Mo' Betta Soul Tour 2011!!! Check out our <a href="http://kck.st/dO4rCS">Kickstarter</a> page if you're interested in seeing how we did.<br />
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Next on the agenda: Please, and I mean, PLEASE follow me on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/idigfaythhope">@iDigFaythHope</a> and join my fan page on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/idigfaythhope">Facebook</a> if you haven't already. I'm finally realizing how important social media is for an independent artist such as myself (I've gotta make these two fish and five loaves work!). <br />
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And last but not least, spread the word about Fayth Hope! Take care everybody! MUAH!!Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-23674008070848435552011-01-19T15:44:00.002-05:002011-01-19T17:10:38.382-05:00Playing Catch Up!Happy Chrismakwanzaanewyearahannukah Fam! Hope that you're holidays were merry and bright. And I also hope you didn't declare bankruptcy trying to by gifts for everybody (snickering). I had to give myself a little break from the website. But never fear, I've brought you all sorts of goodies back from the land MIA. For starters, I have new video footage (yay!). Take a look below!<br />
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Next in my goodie bag is an interview I did with London-based music journalist Marion Lombardi from the music blog "The Wonderful World of Carminelitta". Click <a href="http://carminelitta.com/2011/01/13/interview-fayth-hope/">here</a> to have a read; you might wanna sit back with a glass of wine on this one ;o)<br />
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Just wanted to let you guys know that I AM still performing and working on the album. But I am also wearing my businesswoman hat, which can get a little tricky when trying to balance with the artsy side. I, along with <a href="http://www.preachjacobs.com/">Preach Jacobs</a> and Noura Gordon of Pyramid Music (Augusta, GA), have started the Augusta franchise of "Mo' Betta Soul". Stay tuned for details on the upcoming installment...it's gonna be good! Speaking of MBS, Sounds Familiar Records is working to take this show on the road. With that being said, we have launched a big campaign to help us reach this goal. It's a huge undertaking, so we definitely need your help. Please check out the fundraising page for the <a href="http://kck.st/dO4rCS">Mo' Betta Soul Tour 2011</a>.<br />
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Well, I think that's about it! I still have more to tell you guys, but I want to save a little for later. Until then, stay soulful ;o)Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-4311369692065156972010-11-01T18:44:00.001-04:002010-11-01T18:46:39.268-04:00Progress ReportHey guys! I know I've been ghost for moment, but it's been for good reason. Sometimes you have to go into a seclusion in order to get some things done. With that being said, lots of steps and strides have been made on the album. Had some hiccups here and there, nothing to cry over though...just refining and polishing the diamond in the rough. You don't get it right until you get it right, and that takes time. I want to bring you nothing but my best because anything a smidgeon less than that is half-assed (and I don't do half-assed lol). Can't wait for you guys to hear the end results. <br />
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In the meantime, I want to share with you a little sampling of my venture with Sounds Familiar Records. These cats are something special and I want you to really see what it's all about. More videos will be posted at a later date - so stay tuned!!<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15938747?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/15938747">MoBettaSoul</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3681313">Mark Phillips</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-26071407037359598842010-09-24T15:29:00.001-04:002010-09-24T16:11:23.930-04:00Sounds Familiar/New Single!!Wheeew! I've finally found a moment to catch my breath and give you an update on all of the latest news. For starters, the EP has been pushed back. Instead, I will be releasing a single entitled "Truly Deeply Madly" on Sept. 28th on iTunes and CDBaby.com. I am really geeked about it (does anyone say that word nowadays?). Click on the media widget to the right of this page so you can have a listen. Also, I proudly announce that I am officially a part of the Sounds Familiar Records family. The goal of SFR is to shine light on artists of the Southeast and promote the creation and distribution of GOOD music, plain and simple. Words cannot explain how enthused I am to rub elbows with such talented individuals. To learn more about SFR, please visit <a href="http://www.soundsfamiliarrecords.com/">http://www.soundsfamiliarrecords.com/</a>.Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-5261227249912647372010-09-13T13:48:00.000-04:002010-09-13T13:48:49.187-04:00Opening For RES!!!!Okay, I think I've held the suspense long enough. A few weeks ago I posted a Res video. The reason why is because on Thursday, September 30th, I will be opening for her at <em>Mo' Betta Soul: Unplugged</em> in Columbia, SC!! If you don't know who Res is, shame on you! Just kidding. She was previously signed to MCA Records, where she churned out hits such as "Golden Boys" and "They Say Vision". Now she's striking a chord on her own as an independent artist and showing people that Black Girls truly do Rock! Speaking of, you can purchase her new album "Black.Girls.Rock!" on iTunes.<br />
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I hope to see you guys at the show. It's going to be a beautiful experience ;o)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TI5iOM8bNbI/AAAAAAAAAEk/AdNT8c1qntE/s1600/resimacemail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TI5iOM8bNbI/AAAAAAAAAEk/AdNT8c1qntE/s320/resimacemail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-79646082597439355542010-08-21T16:26:00.000-04:002010-08-21T16:26:23.558-04:00I LOVE WOMEN IN MUSIC!!!Hey Fam! This is going to be a short and sweet one. I am a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and also helped to charter the Kappa Delta Chapter at my alma mater, Clark Atlanta University. Through this organization, I've come to meet and respect many exceptionally gifted women in music. Case in point, one of the young ladies that pledged under me, Ms. Jamie Cooley, is a budding producer with a style all her own...and I truly dig it. I was moved to share a little bit of her work with you guys. ARTISTS: If you would like to work with Ms. Cooley, please shoot me an email and we can make it happen. Let's get it!!<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fms_cooleymusic%2Fminnieripperton-perfect-angel&secret_url=false">
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<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fms_cooleymusic%2Fminnieripperton-perfect-angel&secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/ms_cooleymusic/minnieripperton-perfect-angel">Minnieripperton Perfect Angel</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/ms_cooleymusic">Ms_CooleyMusic</a></span>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-74845350447523901472010-08-15T20:28:00.000-04:002010-08-15T20:28:02.718-04:00Golden Boys by ResWhat's up Family?! I'm posting this video for a reason. In a few weeks you will find out why. So stay tuned! And by the way, don't forget to pause the music player at the bottom of the page; I want you to be able to enjoy the video ;o)<br />
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f_gkoKnaDc0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-14952075631256323352010-08-11T16:07:00.005-04:002010-08-15T18:45:17.807-04:00What's In A Name?--OR--A Blessing To Be A BlessingGood day to all! Glad that I've been blessed to bring you another blog entry. Speaking of blessings...<br />
<a name='more'></a>Me and my family were on the way back from Florida when I voiced a craving for Cracker Barrell (snickering). Although the hubbie was tired from driving 6+ hours, he aquiesced. Didn't want to be inconsiderate, so I decided to make it a to-go order. After reading the menu and deciding what I wanted, I waited for the two servers consorting in front of me to finish up their business. One looked over at me, turned back to the other server and said, "Can you take her order for me?" I don't know, maybe she had more pressing things to do besides take <em>my</em> order (smirk). Anyhow, the server, who I will refer to as Elizabeth, came over with a smile and took down the order of chicken & dumplings for me and the little one and a breakfast platter for the hubbie. When I concluded, she asked for my name. After telling her, she looked as if she'd seen a ghost. Putting her pen and pad down very deliberately, she confided in me that earlier that morning she prayed to God for more faith in her life. Her eyes began to well up with tears when she said "And here you are." Elizabeth told me that she felt our encounter was God's sign that He would provide what she needed and that she didn't need to worry anymore. The conversation led me to disclose with her how for many years I wrestled with my own faith. And it was then that my eyes started to well up also, lol. Despite it being my name, I didn't even understand the concept of having faith...not until I went through a struggle (that's funny, I struggled with my faith and found it through struggle; crazy!). Upon leaving, Elizabeth and I hugged and nearly started crying again as we bid our farewells. She said, "Thank you so much." I replied, "No, thank you...because you've also been a blessing to me".<br />
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By the way, prior to this encounter I was reading a chapter in Joel Osteen's <em>Your Best Life Now</em> about learning how to seek opportunities to bless others. It's so easy in this capitalistic, "I, me, mine"-driven society to turn inward and focus on our own wants and needs. But we need to make the time to reach beyond ourselves and be a blessing to someone else. It's a supernatural thing; sowing seeds in another person's life can cause growth in your own life. It's like we're investing in ourselves without actually investing in ourselves. Many people cannot fathom this concept. And for those who can't, I would advise them to try it out because the experience itself will explain it all. <br />
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Just as Elizabeth was looking for an increase in faith, I was looking for the chance to be a blessing...not because I was looking for something in return, but to give thanks for the onslaught of blessings I've been receiving lately. As my prophytes use to say when I was in college, "To whom much is given, much is required." Who would've known that my food craving would in turn satisfy someone's spiritual craving, not to mention my own? All I have to say is, those chicken & dumplings were heaven sent!Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-58228558023417473702010-07-27T17:11:00.002-04:002010-07-27T19:08:25.265-04:00Creative SilenceI couldn't let another day go by without giving you a little teaser of a photo shoot I did with Raleigh's own Chris Charles of Creative Silence Photography (<a href="http://www.csphoto-design.com/">http://www.csphoto-design.com/</a>). In the last blog entry I spoke of many blessings pouring into my life...this was one of them. The atmopshere during the shoot was magical. You could tell there was something in the air. All of that positive energy around us translated through the lens and onto the film. But enough talking, I'll let you see for yourself ;o)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9JlfZjXpI/AAAAAAAAAB4/bntanwsuR6M/s1600/p152745915-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9JlfZjXpI/AAAAAAAAAB4/bntanwsuR6M/s320/p152745915-5.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9JtyQmGnI/AAAAAAAAACA/VYp72obvtLg/s1600/p862520282-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9JtyQmGnI/AAAAAAAAACA/VYp72obvtLg/s320/p862520282-5.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9JxyDQS5I/AAAAAAAAACI/Ia_hGkKtXq8/s1600/p191258918-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9JxyDQS5I/AAAAAAAAACI/Ia_hGkKtXq8/s320/p191258918-5.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9KGdAkcmI/AAAAAAAAACY/E5z6AYMQo54/s1600/p564835842-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9KGdAkcmI/AAAAAAAAACY/E5z6AYMQo54/s320/p564835842-5.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9KJ3Hv-0I/AAAAAAAAACg/V366dzD9aqs/s1600/p1032944313-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pc-615Be3qw/TE9KJ3Hv-0I/AAAAAAAAACg/V366dzD9aqs/s320/p1032944313-5.jpg" /></a></div>Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-51751782112355909132010-07-27T16:53:00.001-04:002010-07-27T19:12:13.079-04:00A Dose of My Own MedicineGood day Family! Last time we talked about how pruning leads to blooming. Wellllll, since then I've undergone a major pruning campaign in my project. There were people I had to separate myself from and other...what's the word....BS...that's it...other BS I had to free myself of because not only was it dragging the integrity of my project down, it was also dragging me down as a person. Funny thing is, when I did let go of all that stuff, it seemed as if a supernatural power swept through and allowed the treasure box of my life to fly open with all sorts of blessings. I've heard many wise individuals say before that God will release blessings into your life once you make the decision to let go of the things that are clearly not working in your best interest. However, never in my life had I experienced such an occurrence, be it in my own life or seeing it through someone else's. All I got to say is that the wise elders were RIGHT! Although the original path of this musical journey has dramatically changed, it has changed for the better. I'm moving forward like how I never imagined I could. Talking about getting a dose of my own medicine!Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-13614557483773121912010-05-17T13:05:00.007-04:002010-08-15T18:46:36.800-04:00Pruning Leads To Blooming/Love It & Leave It AloneWow! It has indeed been a while since I've written you guys. A lot has happened...good, bad, indifferent. But I'm still here.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Did you guys know that one of my favorite flowers is the azalea? Let me tell you about it. It comes every spring, showing colors of pink, purple, white, and red. Ever since I was little I've been in love with these flowers. I couldn't wait for spring to come so I could see them bloom one more time. When I became a homeowner, I figured it was time for me to plant my own garden of azaleas so that I can have a piece of the beauty to keep for myself. That was back in 2004. Spring after spring, I waited to see the flowers bloom. But for many years, nothing came. We (me and the hubbie) watered them, fertilized them, pruned them...but once again...nothing. Thinking that our efforts were all in vain (or so we thought), we left our barren azalea bushes alone, only providing it with the bare necessities. We kept it free of weeds and allowed God to water it whenever He chose to do so. <br />
Over the past couple of years the bushes grew in mass and many of the spaces in the garden where you use to see dirt and mulch were now covered with shrubs. But still, no azalea blooms. We stayed faithful to our dear azaleas. We wanted to give up and pull them out of the ground, but we knew that one day that the unseen will soon show itself. And that day came.<br />
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You guys are smart enough to connect the dots and see how this story pertains to my personal journey in music and the pursuit of self-actualization (google it if you don't know what that is; it's good reading). You may dream over night...but dreams don't come true over night. It's not just about the destination, it's also about the journey. The journey is a grooming process that shapes and molds you so that you may be ready and prepared for what you're going to face once you reach your destination. You might have to cut some things off and let them go in order to grow properly, and it may hurt. But as my religion and philosophy professor, Dr. Ural Hill, said, "Pruning leads to blooming." By the way my father, one of the best leisure gardeners I know, told me after the fact that it takes azaleas at least 3 years to bloom. Maybe I should have talked to him in the first place. Go figure LOL!<br />
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I've also learned in this musical journey that sometimes, you gotta leave stuff alone in order to move forward. There have been times in this music project where I tried so hard to rectify bad situations to no avail. Some things we simply are not in control of...and we leave those things up to The Creator to handle for us. That's what I mean by love it and leave it alone. If there is a situation where it seems things are not working out no matter how hard you try to make it work, blow it a kiss and send it up to Him. Your sanity will thank you. <br />
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If you feel it's time to prune, then prune. If you think it's time to hand it over to a higher power, do it. Trust your gut; it's your soul trying to get through to you and it won't let you down if you just listen. Everybody is in charge of his or her own whip, with divine help of course; stay on your path and pay no attention to backseat drivers. One luv.Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769415996139871323.post-57493677416303612962010-01-25T15:47:00.004-05:002010-08-15T18:49:53.868-04:00Ready, Set, GO!!!Time is ticking and the race is on!! Thankfully, the only person I'm racing against is myself; but that can actually be a bad thing. For years I've been in a race towards the freedom of expression and self actualization. But I must say, it's hard to win a race when you're too afraid to run.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ever since I was 4, I knew that music was a part of me. I heard music differently compared to my peers. Something always stirred my soul when my father would spin his vinyl in our downstairs den at 221 Fair Oaks Drive. Many Friday and Saturday nights were spent listening and dancing to The Gap Band, Deniece Williams, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and other soul greats from the 80's on back. Music was fun, it was a release. But at the same time I was very frightened of it. I had a singing voice, but was too scared to use it. Such a shy girl I was. Unfortunately I could not shake the shyness off enough to step out of my shell and begin to truly develop my gift. Yeah, I took voice lessons, performed in countless recitals and concerts and even studied voice in high school (what's up Alabama School of Fine Arts?!), but I could never manage to connect with the crowd and make the songs I was singing my own--because I was too scared that the people wouldn't like me and what I had to offer. Even as a college student at Clark Atlanta University who was heavily involved in music on campus, I was still wary of singing elsewhere other than a choir concert setting. So instead of getting out there and feeding my God-given talent, I starved it with my fears and lack of confidence. And when a living, breathing organism isn't properly nourished, it goes kaput!!<br />
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Fast forward with me to my mid-twenties. I hadn't been involved in music since college graduation day. So when I attempted to start back, my voice didn't treat me kindly. And I don't blame it, because "I" didn't treat it kindly. The only thing I gave my voice up to that point was silence. Can you imagine an athlete deciding to get back into the game after he has benched himself for 2 or 3 years without any workout or practice regimen?! Pitiful! And more than that, PAINFUL! Not just physically, but mentally. It's a big blow to the spirit to realize that what you once had has all but withered away. Unable to cope with the difficulties I was experiencing with resurrecting my voice, I once again went on a hiatus. With the exception of singing in the church choir, I wanted nothing to do with music. Like I said before, pitiful!<br />
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One of my professors in school talked about the way of the Samurai; how he works day and night perfecting his comabt skills only to abandon them and take up......painting. Painting? What in the blue hell does painting or some other leisure activity have to do with being a Samurai?! According to my wise professor, these unrelated activities were needed for the Samurai's body and brain to rest itself so that it could completely soak in what it learned during combat lessons. And then what happened after they painted or did needlework or whatever for that period of time? Nature, that's what happened. They would engage in combat and believe it or not, everything they learned would naturally come back to them. Just think of how you have to reboot your computer after installing new software...same principle. Now what does that have to do with moi? During my hiatus, I began promoting events--music, art, and poetry showcases. Whenever I was handing out flyers people would always ask me, "Are you gonna be singing?" And I thought to myself, "Why are they always asking me that? Do I look like a singer? Is it stamped across my forehead?!" I would always tell them no. But as fate would have it, several times I had to fill in and do a song at my events for the sake of stretching out time. Didn't think twice about it, because it had to be done. So busting out a tune became common place for me. And for some odd reason (well, I thought it was odd), people actually liked it! Me? I'm just Fayth, I put on events, I don't sing...not for real! But I guess it was real enough for them. And another odd thing, I didn't feel scared or intimidated anymore...and my voice felt good for the first time, like it finally formed into what it was suppose to be in the first place. <br />
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I must admit, I've been my own worst enemy all this time. My own hold up. But that's alright, because I'm right where I need to be now. I learned so many lessons with this particular obstacle and I can now apply these lessons in other areas of my life in addition to music. You can't be afraid of your gifts. Why waste the gifts that God gave us? If nothing were to become of it, then why would He have bestowed it upon us to begin with? To whom much is given, much is required. And we're required to use our gifts to the best of our ability, no half-stepping. As for me, I'm no longer afraid to run my race. My knees may get weak sometimes, but I still keep going. And as Ice Cube said to Omar Epps' character in <em>Higher Learning</em>, "Run, n&#%@, run."Fayth Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418522761649891188noreply@blogger.com10