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Andrée Belle
music love inspiration
Tag Archives: variety pack
STRATOSPHERIC SOUL: ANDRéE BELLE at Hotel Cafe
Join us for a VERY special sultry soulful Sunday at Hotel Cafe! Unveiling a new song from “The Soft Glow of Electric Sex.” Special guest Jaco Caraco on guitar along with supersonic force: Andre De Sant’anna, Bryan Velasco, and Leo Costa. See you there music lovers!
Sunday 7/31 7pm at The Hotel Cafe 1623 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, California
musical variety pack, musical segregation, f*ck demographics, the future of music
i am a self-proclaimed musical variety pack… i love so many genres of music- soul, funk, hip-hop, pop, jazz, latin music, rock, classical, blues, even country (they tell some good stories)! i think it’s interesting that as our world becomes more and more connected and accepting of diversity, more people are branching out to embrace other genres of music.
i remember being in 4th grade and in music class our teacher asked us what radio station we listened to and the class was divided in half… most of the white kids primarily listened to G105 (top 40 pop/rock station), and most of the black kids primarily listened to K97.5 (r&b, “urban”-i hate that term- station). when i told the class that i listened to 97.5, the kids were all shocked. that was one of my first experiences of segregation in music…. at 14, i remember my boyfriend’s friend making fun of me for wanting to sing r&b music because i wasn’t black.. that was right before Christina Aguilera came out (another 1/2 caucasion, 1/2 latina) singing r&b/pop music. people box each other in by what kind of music they listen to or as musicians we box each other in by what kind of music we play. why does it have to be that way? we live in an eclectic world and we can express our musical diversity in a cohesive and musically tasteful way…. my band is super versatile- they can rock all genres of music. they have played with jazz, latin, reggae, soul and pop… superstars!!
i think that sometimes industry people have a hard time figuring out how they can market me because i blend so many flavors into my music. but i say F*CK DEMOGRAPHICS… just make music that sounds good and feels good and has truth and it will resonate. TRANSCEND DEMOGRAPHICS. when i was in the studio recording last week with KRS ONE, he brought up the subject and how the label will ask him what group of people this record will speak to…. whether it will be targeted towards hip-hop lovers or reggae enthusiasts… i encouraged him to think beyond the boxing in…. why not appeal to both? and he understood what i meant, let’s not sell our audiences short… but it still goes back to the business side, the industry folks being visionaries and taking risks. and when you look at the state of music that isn’t happening. everything is safe. calculated. formulaic. dead.
i look forward to the day when the music industry will not be so focused on how to market to a specific demographic as if the music is a brand of alcohol. but let the music be free to connect with whom it resonates with…. i look at an artist like lauryn hill, or classic artists like bob marley, aretha franklin, etc. etc. and how they transcended being boxed in to only attaining fans from a certain age group, race, or socioeconomic background. their music possesses a truth and authenticity that goes beyond, that hits you at your core.
i think the next trend in music is integrating these various worldly influences and genres into our sound as we are becoming more globally influenced. i wonder how long it will take for the music industry to catch on….
Variety Pack Music Video Shoot
Behind the scene photos from our “Variety Pack” music video shoot with the brilliant Gale Tattersall.
Variety Pack featured on “Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian; Take Miami”!!!
“Variety Pack” was featured on “Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian; Take Miami”!!!
“VARIETY PACK” on 90210 Tuesday March 30th!!!!
Be sure to check out our song “VARIETY PACK” on 90210 Tuesday March 30th!!! Yay for getting M.U.S.I.C. to the masses!!! love and expansion your way!
Besos!!!!!
Andree
Click on this link to find her album on iTunes!
M.U.S.I.C.ally delicious update!
the universe is officially pouring in the goodness and i’m open to receiving! the year is starting off just as i hoped it would! DAMN good things are happening!
*i’m excited to say i just got my first music TV placement! yay! “Variety Pack” is going to be on 90210 (i remember watching the original show in elementary school! never dreamt i would one day have a song i created on the show!!!!) “Variety Pack” was the 1st song Dre and i wrote together and i’m so happy it’s coming out into the world in such a BIG way!!! amazing! be sure to check it out on the 3/30 episode!
*we are starting a residency at the sexiest martini lounge in all of southern California- NIC’S, 453 N Canon Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210!!!! i’ll be singing there with my ridiculously talented band twice a month- throwing a love party for all in attendance! our next show dates are 2/12 and 2/20 9:30-late night! http://www.nicsbeverlyhills.com/
*i’m doing a mini show this Friday night 1/29 8pm with up and coming drummer Gabriel De Sant’anna, the very gifted brother of the co-writer to my dreams Andre De Sant’anna @ Kulak’s Woodshed, 5230 1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91607! super excited to perform with these 2 gifted and beautiful Brazilian brothers! 
you can even watch the show online at: http://kulakswoodshed.com/webcast-high
*also, i’m starting to write the next EP! the 1st song is entitled “rebel soul revolution” and it is going to be powerful! i’m so excited!
yesssssss, the year is just beginning and i know it is going to be one of crazy, beautiful adventures, E X P A N S I O N, success, elevation, and inspiration through music!!!!!!
wishing u all of your dreams to come true! my success is your success cause we are ONE! one LOVE!
celebrating my inner pin-up girl as a VARIETY PACK 
Be fearless, be humble, give LOVE in all you do!!! My interview! :)
After doing the interviews with the band for the album release show week, Dre had the brilliant idea of me answering my own interview questions…
-what’s your 1st musical memory?
Singing and dancing to Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga.” I thought I was Gloria in my living room!
-what’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened while you are on stage?
I haven’t really done that many shows… I guess the craziest thing was our album release show! The energy was crazy! There was so much love in the room. It was a good crazy!
-what’s your ultimate dream in music?
My musical intention on my site sums it up beautifully: to inspire adventure, creativity, and the inner artist- to give praise, to heal, to manifest love, to allow you to feel your own truth and power through my voice, to make music that evokes emotion, thought, mood, and passion, to connect with others on levels they didn’t even know existed within themselves, or simply to create something that you can shake your ass to…
-if you weren’t doing music what would you be doing?
I would be the next Oprah! Lol! Seriously I’d do the things I already do but in a grander way- dance, write poetry, inspire others to live their dreams….
-songs that changed your life…
Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” it’s soulful AND conscious… Donny Hathaway’s version of “A Song for You…” Ella Fitzgerald singing live “Mack the Knife”-I’ve never heard another singer use her voice as an instrument the way she does… Oh there’s too many…
-most influential artists to you and why?
Prince (his music is beyond sexy), Erykah Badu and Jill Scott-soulful/poetic/conscious writers and singers- I adore them!, Nina Simone/Billie Holiday/Ella- their unique interpretation of the lyric, their tone, their phrasing…. Bjork-she’s innovative, takes risks, she’s her own entity…Chaka Khan is fierce… Stevie Wonder-such an incredible song writer… I love Yerba Buena- how they fuse so many genres with Latin music. James Brown- I saw him live-puts on such incredibly electric performances, so funky. I could go on and on and on….
-what makes an amazing song?
A song that makes you feel deeply…
-what’s your theme song?
I wish it was Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” lol! But at the moment I’m more Gnarls Barkley “Crazy!” lol! I don’t know. It changes. You tell me!
-do you have musical nickname?
Not a musical one, but my nickname is Bella.
-what song were you most likely conceived to?
My parents were into jazz… hmm… but then again I was conceived in the Caribbean… so…
-first concert you ever went to?
New Kids on the Block… but I’ve redeemed myself by going to incredible shows ever since I promise!!!
-first album u ever bought?
I would just borrow from my parents they had a great collection.. the first single I bought was TLC’s “Ain’t too Proud to Beg!”
-how can we revolutionize music?
By creating music that is true to who we are. By exposing ourselves to music that is not just mainstream.
-indie or major (what’s the way to go?)
After interning at 2 major labels in college, I really don’t think that most labels do very much. They have the connections that CAN catapult an artist to stardom but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will. An artist can get their album shelved even if they are signed…or if the album is released they might not get the funding/attention/marketing to get it to the masses… I’d love to be free of all that… autonomous like Prince. He’s revolutionary as a music business man as well… But if I was offered an amazing deal I would be open to the possibilities…
-what inspires you musically?
Reading something inspiring, exposing myself to new things, having adventures, my community of amazing musicians, artists with something unique to express, love, passion, dancing, altered states (occasionally), spirit, growth…
-what can an artist do (that you’re backing) to make your job easy and fun?
Well I’ve done backing vocals… and usually back ground singers are the least respected in the band it seems. So just showing respect. As a singer- don’t be afraid to let your back ground singers shine and be who they are – there’s enough room for everyone. I’ve been lucky with the performers I’ve worked with.
-what’s your favorite song from the album?
“Moments” or “Te Necesito” are probably my favorites. They are poetic and intimate and sensual. I love what “Variety Pack” is about- it’s a sexy female empowerment song! “Discombobulator” is so out and funky…. and I love the vibe of “Overflow.” But for some reason my bond is strongest with “Moments” and “Te Necesito.”
-advice for up and coming players?
Be fearless! Be humble! Give love in all you do!
-what do you hope for the show?
I wanted to elevate the room with LOVE and inspiration! And we succeeded! It was a beautiful first show!!!
variety pack
this was the 1st song Dre and i wrote. i thought of the concept after hearing this man telling another man that he can’t be with just one woman cause it’s like eating the same cereal everyday… and i thought well maybe he needs a woman that’s a variety pack…lol… and why should women be limited to only be thought of as one flavor…we are complex creatures- with many colors/layers/and flavors if you will… (there are many things that make us up and maybe if he’s bored with his one woman- he’s just stopped rediscovering her… because we are always evolving… but i digress… )
lyrics:
being with one woman/heard a man say/is like eatin the same cereal/every single day/but what he don’t know/bout women like me/the variety pack/kinda woman that you need
give u what u lack with my apple jacks/get u back on track on honey smacks/come on baby for a little midnight snack/you’ll keep coming back to this variety pack
salty one day/so so sweet the next/satisfy your every taste/ one you can’t replace/you’re craving for me cause i got what you need/delicious lovin all varieties
give u what u lack with my apple jacks/get u back on track on honey smacks/come on baby for a little midnight snack/you’ll keep coming back to this variety pack
you like my coco puffs/yeah i can give it to you rough/with my frosted flakes/all natural/nothing fake/come get a scoop of my fruit loop/i wanna make your day like some special k
give u what u lack with my apple jacks/get u back on track on honey smacks/come on baby for a little midnight snack/you’ll keep coming back to this variety pack
listen to the song on http://www.myspace.com/andreebelle
