Cheryl Waters

Gimme All Your Love! FDRMX magazine described the song as "sheer musical bliss deriving from the innermost corners of the soul". web.archive.org Alabama Shakes partnered with Genero and invited filmmakers across the world to create short films featuring "Gimme All Your Love" as the soundtrack! After receiving over 100 incredible submissions, the band chose this film by Larry Ismail & Marie-Laure Blancho as their Official Selection. youtu.be

Roebuck "Pops" Staples formed The Staple Singers with his children Cleotha, Pervis and Mavis. The family began appearing in Chicago-area churches in 1948. They signed their first professional contract in 1952. The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018. bit.ly www.rockhall.com

NPR interviewed Candi Staton about her 2018 album, "Unstoppable." On her favorite song on the album, "Confidence", she said: "I'm not afraid of anything. I've done everything that there is to do. I've gone everywhere. I've been all over the country, all over the world. I've gone on stages. I can talk to presidents. I can talk to anyone. I'm not intimidated, so I know now that I have the confidence that I wish I had when I was 20." www.npr.org

Seattle emcee DoNormaal offers surprise after lyrical surprise in the tightly packed, staccato rhymes brimming on her latest LP, 'Third Daughter.' Read the full KEXP interview here: kexp.org donormaal.bandcamp.com

Hello! Good morning! Thank you for joining us today on the Midday Show. 'But You Caint Use My Phone' is a mixtape by Erykah Badu, released in 2015. Following the release of 'New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)' (2010), Badu embarked on a five-year hiatus, during which she traveled to Africa in an attempt to record new music, though this never surfaced. After receiving a remix of "Bag Lady" from producer Zach Witness, Badu contacted him in order to record with him. Shortly thereafter, the pair met again and went to Witness's home in Dallas, Texas, and worked in his bedroom studio, where they recorded the album in 11 days. bit.ly

Indigenous to the Northwest, particularly the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Katherine Paul (Black Belt Eagle Scout) is a native woman, queer, a feminist, and an artist – among many other things. In this KEXP interview, she discusses every song on her wonderful debut album, 'Mother of My Children': www.kexp.org See her perform "Soft Stud" live in the KEXP studio from 2018: youtu.be

Twin-flame rock ‘n’ roll duo, Aline & Wes, are like a sonic hearth. Just as dual stars glowing in the dark night sky, the musicians blend the best of their musical essences to present a single-minded glow that lights everything in their wake. Powerful and thoughtful vocals mix with gravely electric guitars to bring forth an illuminated sound both new and numinous. It shines. alineandwes.bandcamp.com

Did you know Eva Walker is scared of spiders? Watch The Black Tones perform live KEXP in the KEXP, including this track, here: youtu.be You can support the Black Tones directly by purchasing music or merch via their bandcamp: theblacktones.bandcamp.com

Ibeyi is an Afro-French Cuban musical duo consisting of twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz. The duo sings in English, French, Spanish and Yoruba, a language spoken by their ancestors before being taken to Cuba as slaves in the 1700s. In Yoruba, Ibeyi means "twins". www.npr.org Ibeyi performed live in the KEXP studio. Watch the full session, including "Deathless," here: youtu.be

Judith Veronica Mowatt, OD is a Jamaican reggae artist. As well as being a solo artist, from 1974 she was also a member of the I Three, trio of backing vocalists for Bob Marley & The Wailers. Watch Judy Mowatt perform "I Shall Be Released" in 2016: youtu.be

Nigerian-French artist Arlo Parks was KEXP's guest DJ on Midnight in a Perfect World last month. Take a look at her very eclectic playlist, from Portishead to Yaeji to KAYTRANADA to Beach House to name a few: www.kexp.org arloparks.bandcamp.com

Solange Knowles started writing her third album in New Iberia, Louisiana, a town where her maternal grandparents lived until a Molotov cocktail was thrown into their home. That setting helps explain how 'A Seat at the Table' turned out drastically different from Knowles' previous output. Read more on the 5 star rating on AllMusic: www.allmusic.com

Janelle Monáe's cover of David Bowie's "Heroes." Monáe said of the track, "Bowie is part of my musical DNA in so many ways and ‘Heroes’ is one of my favorite Bowie songs. When you love your favorite song, you want to keep some of the beautiful qualities of the original, but we brought Atlanta in the drums and wanted them to be thick and hit hard. It’s like us reimagining it." Read more and watch Monáe's video for the cover here: www.rollingstone.com

Last year, Cheryl Waters selected "Gotta Get to Know Ya," a song from Seratones' 2019 release, 'Power,' as a KEXP Song of the Day. Subscribe and download here: kexp.org seratones.bandcamp.com

KEXP's Midnight In A Perfect World with Sampa the Great. Her mix includes 2Pac, Burna Boy, Fela Kuti, Erykah Badu & The Roots and Mos Def. Check out the full set here: www.kexp.org

Weaves performed live in the KEXP studio back in 2016. Watch it here: youtu.be

Poly Styrene explained this song to Mojo magazine: "Most people thought the song was about tripping, but I was using images of artificiality. I grew up in a generation where all we had was brown paper bags in the local store, but gradually everything became more colorful. Day-Glo symbolized the shift from natural to synthetic. We weren't buying cotton any more but Bri-Nylon. It was a great time, people were discovering things with technology. Bri-Nylon you could wear to school and your mum didn't have to iron it." bit.ly

Last week, Tkay Maidza shared a live set recorded exclusively for KEXP. She performed "My Flowers" and spoke with DJ Morgan. Watch it here: youtu.be Takudzwa Victoria Rosa Maidza, known by her stage name Tkay Maidza is an Australian singer and rapper, born in Zimbabwe in 1996. In 2001, her family moved to Australia when she was five years old. “I’ve never really been an overly outspoken person politically, and I think that’s just from being really sheltered. But I think now, if you don’t know what’s happening in the world you’re being ignorant,” she nods. “And [with the next EP] there definitely will be moments of me addressing how 2020 has made me feel, because for me it’s brought up a lot of repressed trauma.” Dive into the weird, wonderful world of Tkay Maidza here: diymag.com

For much of 'Santogold', Santi White is channeling and recombining a series of indie icons: Debbie Harry, Kim Deal, Ari Up, Joe Strummer, and Karen O. On "My Superman" she captures the imperious swoop of Siouxsie Sioux and drapes it over the kind of stern electro Goldfrapp used to make. "I'm a Lady" marries ska-pop verses to a strutting Elastica chorus. "Lights Out" finds a fascinating middle ground between the Pixies and the Go-Go's. Read the full Pitchfork review of 'Santogold' here: pitchfork.com Watch Santogold perform "Lights Out" live here: youtu.be

Seattle-based DJ and producer Reverend Dollars (and KEXP DJ) was host of Midnight in a Perfect World back in 2017. Check it out: www.kexp.org www.kexp.org

Xenia Rubinos performed live in the KEXP studio in 2016. Watch the full session, including "Mexican Chef," here: youtu.be

Angelique Kidjo transformed a dismal office into a free-form dance party in the video for her cover of the Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime.” www.rollingstone.com

Lizzo's debut full-length album 'Cuz I Love You' was voted by KEXP listeners as the best of 2019! Watch her perform LIVE in the KEXP studio in July of 2017: youtu.be

Cold Specks performed "Let Loose the Dogs" live in the KEXP studio in 2014. Watch that full set here: youtu.be coldspecks.bandcamp.com

R&B/soul songstress Deva Mahal has been creating buzz all year, even before she released her debut album 'Run Deep'. The daughter of legendary blues musician Taj Mahal, her powerhouse vocals and songwriting skills have earned the respect of both critics and peers. "Snakes" was an early single and included on the self-titled EP that was released a couple months before Run Deep. Cheryl Waters selected "Snakes" as KEXPs Song of the Day in 2018. Subscribe and download for free here: www.kexp.org devamahal.bandcamp.com

Grace Love & the True Loves performing "Fire" live in the KEXP studio back in 2016, chatting with Kevin Cole. Watch the full session here: youtu.be

Let's call this song exactly what it is (What it is, what it is, what it is) It's a funky and lowdown feeling (what it is) Move your hips from left to right (what it is) What it is, is I might be doin' this funky dance all night, ah (What it is) (Put your hands up in the air) (Got a feelin' you ain't got a care) (Wouldn't you wanna take this burn?) (That sail us all inside) Rock steady, rock steady baby Rock steady, rock steady baby "What it is?" Is Aretha Franklin taking us on a musical ride here while we "Rock Steady" to her incomparable groove! Live from 1971: youtu.be

Jeff Tweedy wrote this song for Mavis Staples. He said: "That came out of a conversation with Mavis, where I told her my theory that all music basically says the same thing, which is: you're not alone. Even a kid in his room listening to the most abrasive punk rock or heavy metal, what they're really getting out of it is, 'We're in this with you.' Somewhere down deep there's a communication happening that's sustaining. So after we talked, I thought that'd be a good song to try and write for this record." Mavis Staples said "I must be the luckiest old girl, second to Betty White." Read more here: pitchfork.com Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy perform "You Are Not Alone" together: youtu.be

This is a marvelous cover of a classic Nina Simone song from the 2020 Blues Hall of Fame inductee, Muskegon-born, Detroit-raised singer Bettye LaVette. Read more about the inductee here: blues.org

Here is Jamila Woods' 2017 performance live in the studio: youtu.be

We were honored to have Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings perform live at the KEXP's New Home Grand Opening celebration. Watch the legend here: youtu.be An Amphitheater in South Carolina to be renamed after Sharon Jones, honoring the late soul singer. pitchfork.com

Oh yeah! Push it real good! The jackets the ladies wore in the video - the ones with an "S" on one sleeve and "P" on the other - are icons of hip-hop fashion. They were made by the Harlem outfitter Dapper Dan and designed by Christopher Martin, who is "Play" of Kid 'N Play. 1986 flashback for your pleasure: youtu.be Salt-N-Pepa hated this song, as they thought it undermined their rap credibility and didn't have any lyrical direction they could support. They didn't think much about it though, as it was considered just a throwaway cut. Little did they know it would become their most popular song. The lyrics to "Push It" are really an afterthought, just there to support the beat and add a lascivious flavor. The song was perfect for club play, where lyrics like, "come here, gimme a kiss, better make it fast or else I'm gonna get pissed" can get lost in the groove. The big hook is the "Oooh, baby, baby" section, which complements the percussive production. Another memorable section is the vocal interlude, where Hurby implores us to get on the dance floor, but "only the sexy people." bit.ly

Queen Latifah told the Huffington Post in 2015, “I was never the kind of person that was gonna take something lying down. … I was raised to protect myself and stand up for myself and speak my mind and be true, even if I had to stand alone.” She won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance and later performed this song at the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize concert. www.huffpost.com

Verve Remixed is a series of albums released by Verve Records centered on the concept of classic tracks, remixed by contemporary electronic music producers and DJs. Nina Simone's take on this traditional spiritual song is remixed by Felix Da Housecat. There is a great scene in 'The Thomas Crown Affair' where the main character played by Pierce Brosnan is chased in the heist with "Sinnerman" playing. Excellent scene setting with the music: youtu.be

Atlanta, Georgia's Sa-Roc released 'The Sharecropper's Daughter' in October. Get it here: sa-roc.bandcamp.com Sa-Roc grew up in Southeast D.C., at the height of the crack area, with neighborhoods plagued by poverty and disaffection. Her early experiences shaped her understanding of the world around her, deepened her emotional sensitivity and cemented a social consciousness that would later feature heavily within her work. She was born three-months premature and didn’t make a sound during the first fourteen months of her life. This struggle to find a voice — both literally and creatively — would later be critical in shaping her lyrical expression. Sa-Roc was on the verge of graduating from Howard University as a biology major but decided to leave college and, eventually, to leave Washington D.C. for Atlanta. It was in Atlanta where she was introduced to famed DJ and producer, Sol Messiah. Inspired by one of the acts he was working with, Sa-Roc decided to record some of her poetry and rhymes to his beats. rhymesayers.com

"Smooth Operator" was released in July 1984 on 'Diamond Life'. The song became Sade's first top-10 entry in the US, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100! Watch the music video here: youtu.be

Whitney Mongé just announced on her Facebook page that she will be part of Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare - SMASH “Songs of Hope” Benefit this year, on Sunday, November 22. She will be performing a song with Allen Stone + The Head and The Heart. More details available here: smash.kindful.com whitneymongemusic.bandcamp.com

Song by local singer, Taylar Elizza Beth, White Center raised. taylarelizzabeth.bandcamp.com Taylar Elizza Beth played live in the KEXP studio, chatting with Stas THEE Boss, back in 2017. Check it out! youtu.be

It's all part of the process We all love looking down All we want is some success But the chance is never around Stay strong out there! "Part of the Process" was released in 1998 on Morcheeba's second studio album, 'Big Calm.' Watch the video here: youtu.be

Rihanna's cover of Tame Impala's "Same Ol’ Mistakes." youtu.be During the initial writing and development of the album, Rihanna wasn't sure how she wanted 'Anti' to sound. Ultimately, she decided she wanted "honest" music and a body of work that reflected and represented her at that time. Nevertheless, the singer stated that during the recording process she was evolving and she didn't have the answer of who she was at that point. According to her, she was feeling disconnected from her emotions and "numb" during the album's conception. During her creative struggle, Rihanna rented a house in Malibu over a couple of months and started extensively writing and composing music with her team consisting of various musicians. Reflecting on this Rihanna stated: "It was in that moment that I trusted myself, trusted my ear, trusted my gut, trusted the way that my music made me feel. I had no idea how it would be received, neither was that something I considered. I just wanted to make a body of work that felt right!" www.vogue.com www.instyle.com

A clear reckoning, "South Gotta Change" is also a love song — "I won't leave you," Victoria sings, her voice breaking. Instead, she tells the land that she considers a living being, she will "drag you into the light.": www.npr.org This was KEXPs song of the day last month! Subscribe and download it here: www.kexp.org

Black Parade is a single for celebrating Juneteenth and support black businesses. Play it loud! youtu.be On her website, Beyonce says that "Black Parade" benefits BeyGOOD's Black Business Impact Fund, administered by the NAACP, to support Black-owned small businesses in need. She has a directory of Black-owned businesses there, too.: www.beyonce.com