Young recording artists, old souls
Oakland-based duo Christi n finds inspiration in the classics
By Brenda Payton, STAFF WRITER
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3095322
The singing duo Christión, made up of T. Ross (front) and Kenni Ski, made a splash with its “old school” sound. The duo's second CD, “Project Plato,” was released two weeks ago. (Laura A. Oda - STAFF)
YOU can hear Marvin Gaye. Curtis Mayfield. A little Prince. A little Sly Stone. The quality of the voices and the arrangements stand out. The hot singing duo Christi
n is "old school" and proud of it.
"We really wanted to pay homage to Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, the people who came before. We put a modern spin on it for our hip-hop generation. We felt something was lacking. People were sampling the old music, but they didn't know where it was coming from. It got good to us, and we created a different sound," said Kenni Ski, who started Christi
n with his brother, Allen Anthony, in the early 1990s.
Initially, their sound wasn't exactly an advantage. During a three-year period, they were turned down by every record company they contacted.
"They liked our voices, but they said Marvin Gaye was in the past. They said we were too old school. They wanted us to change our sound to be more like what was on the radio. We wouldn't do that," Ski said.
They performed songs from the CD "Ghetto Cyrano" at venues around the Bay Area. "Full of Smoke" and "Come to Me" were particularly popular. They passed out demos and word got around. Someone got them in touch with Jay-Z and Damon Dash, who produced the CD on their label, Roc-A-Fella Records, in 1997.
"It was pretty successful," Ski said modestly. It sold more than 100,000 copies. The two singles sold 700,000.
"We couldn't believe it. The stores couldn't keep it in stock. It was the same record people told us no one wanted to hear. People couldn't get enough."
It was every young aspiring singer's dream come true. But they didn't let it go to their heads. "We bought a lot of musical equipment, and that doesn't hold value," Ski said. "Other than that, most of the money went back into our record company, The Mint. We made a lot of money, but we haven't put a record out in five years."
Since the first CD came out, Allen left the group to pursue his interest in rock. T. Ross, a first cousin who sang background on the album, took his place. They started writing songs for the second album. "Project Plato" is a continuation of the first album, repeating the format of a diary with chapters.
"We put a dance chapter in this one. T. Ross brings a happy-go-lucky element," Ski said. In addition to singing, Ski plays keyboards and guitar, and Ross plays percussion. "Project Plato" was released two weeks ago. As with the first CD, Christi
n will tour nationally and in Europe and Japan.
"Growing up in Oakland, an underprivileged youth, you never dream you will see these countries," Ski said. He attended Berkeley and McClymond's high schools.
They already have two or three tracks ready for the next CD, and a title, "Tenement Testament."
Depending on the song, the music and lyrics come to him differently.
"Sometimes they come to me in a dream, in the shower, driving down the street. I might be reflecting on something in my experience. Like remembering seeing a friend shot on the 580 freeway," he said. "I might have a melody and play it on the guitar, then write the lyrics. Or I might have a poem or a spoken-word piece that I turn into song. I don't have a set process. It's just
however the creative energy hits me."
Oakland is full of aspiring musicians, singers and rappers. What would he tell them?
"If you are going to do this, take it seriously, as a full-time job. Put in the time, because it's going to take a minute. There are no short cuts. There are some success stories where someone gets famous right away. But 99 percent of musicians pay a lot of dues. Spend time, learn your craft. Don't listen to the radio. ... Learn where the music came from."
Christi
n will be at Rasputin Music, 2403 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, today from 5 to 7 p.m. and will perform songs from "Project Plato."
Listings
- Today — Once Upon a Time: Children's Book Illustrators, then and now, 5 to 7 p.m., artists reception and book signing, MOCHA, 538 Ninth St., in the courtyard of Swan's Marketplace, Oakland. Exhibit through Jan. 8, main gallery hours Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends, noon to 5 p.m.
- Today — Purple Hearts photo exhibit — Wounded Iraq Vets, photos by Nina Berman, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Gladstone Building, 461 Ninth St., Oakland, exhibit through Oct. 15. Free.
- Tonight — Spanglish Lab. Comedy with Bill Santiago, 8 p.m., La Pea, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, $15 general, $10 students with ID.
- Saturday — PROJECT: Parallel Investigations 1, noon, Pro Arts, 550 Second St., Oakland. Exhibit through Oct. 30. Gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
- Saturday — West African Highlife Band, 9:30 p.m., (8:30 doors, African dance lesson 9 p.m.), Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, $13.
- Sunday — Shawl-Anderson dance school open house, featuring artists-in-residence and a scholarship raffle fund-raiser, 2 to 5 p.m., Shawl Anderson, 2704 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley. Free.
- Monday — Photography Show of UC Berkeley Campus by Louis Cuneo, 2 to 5 p.m., an afternoon of photography and community get-together, Mario's "La Fiesta" Restaurant, 2444 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, free, children welcome.
- Monday — The Montclair Women's Big Band, 8 and 10 p.m., Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland, $14 at 8 p.m., $10 at 10 p.m.
- Thursday — "Yosemite in Time", photos taken from 1868 to 2003, featuring the work of Mark Klett, Byron Wolfe, Eadweard Muybridge, Carleton Watkins, Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, UC Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Exhibit through Dec. 23. For more information visit http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu.
- Thursday — Holla Back, a weekly Open Mic session for poets, songwriters and theater artists, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Eastside Arts alliance, 2599 International Blvd. Donations
Oakland-based duo Christi n finds inspiration in the classics
By Brenda Payton, STAFF WRITER
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3095322
The singing duo Christión, made up of T. Ross (front) and Kenni Ski, made a splash with its “old school” sound. The duo's second CD, “Project Plato,” was released two weeks ago. (Laura A. Oda - STAFF)
YOU can hear Marvin Gaye. Curtis Mayfield. A little Prince. A little Sly Stone. The quality of the voices and the arrangements stand out. The hot singing duo Christi
n is "old school" and proud of it.
"We really wanted to pay homage to Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, the people who came before. We put a modern spin on it for our hip-hop generation. We felt something was lacking. People were sampling the old music, but they didn't know where it was coming from. It got good to us, and we created a different sound," said Kenni Ski, who started Christi
n with his brother, Allen Anthony, in the early 1990s.
Initially, their sound wasn't exactly an advantage. During a three-year period, they were turned down by every record company they contacted.
"They liked our voices, but they said Marvin Gaye was in the past. They said we were too old school. They wanted us to change our sound to be more like what was on the radio. We wouldn't do that," Ski said.
They performed songs from the CD "Ghetto Cyrano" at venues around the Bay Area. "Full of Smoke" and "Come to Me" were particularly popular. They passed out demos and word got around. Someone got them in touch with Jay-Z and Damon Dash, who produced the CD on their label, Roc-A-Fella Records, in 1997.
"It was pretty successful," Ski said modestly. It sold more than 100,000 copies. The two singles sold 700,000.
"We couldn't believe it. The stores couldn't keep it in stock. It was the same record people told us no one wanted to hear. People couldn't get enough."
It was every young aspiring singer's dream come true. But they didn't let it go to their heads. "We bought a lot of musical equipment, and that doesn't hold value," Ski said. "Other than that, most of the money went back into our record company, The Mint. We made a lot of money, but we haven't put a record out in five years."
Since the first CD came out, Allen left the group to pursue his interest in rock. T. Ross, a first cousin who sang background on the album, took his place. They started writing songs for the second album. "Project Plato" is a continuation of the first album, repeating the format of a diary with chapters.
"We put a dance chapter in this one. T. Ross brings a happy-go-lucky element," Ski said. In addition to singing, Ski plays keyboards and guitar, and Ross plays percussion. "Project Plato" was released two weeks ago. As with the first CD, Christi
n will tour nationally and in Europe and Japan.
"Growing up in Oakland, an underprivileged youth, you never dream you will see these countries," Ski said. He attended Berkeley and McClymond's high schools.
They already have two or three tracks ready for the next CD, and a title, "Tenement Testament."
Depending on the song, the music and lyrics come to him differently.
"Sometimes they come to me in a dream, in the shower, driving down the street. I might be reflecting on something in my experience. Like remembering seeing a friend shot on the 580 freeway," he said. "I might have a melody and play it on the guitar, then write the lyrics. Or I might have a poem or a spoken-word piece that I turn into song. I don't have a set process. It's just
however the creative energy hits me."
Oakland is full of aspiring musicians, singers and rappers. What would he tell them?
"If you are going to do this, take it seriously, as a full-time job. Put in the time, because it's going to take a minute. There are no short cuts. There are some success stories where someone gets famous right away. But 99 percent of musicians pay a lot of dues. Spend time, learn your craft. Don't listen to the radio. ... Learn where the music came from."
Christi
n will be at Rasputin Music, 2403 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, today from 5 to 7 p.m. and will perform songs from "Project Plato."
Listings
- Today — Once Upon a Time: Children's Book Illustrators, then and now, 5 to 7 p.m., artists reception and book signing, MOCHA, 538 Ninth St., in the courtyard of Swan's Marketplace, Oakland. Exhibit through Jan. 8, main gallery hours Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends, noon to 5 p.m.
- Today — Purple Hearts photo exhibit — Wounded Iraq Vets, photos by Nina Berman, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Gladstone Building, 461 Ninth St., Oakland, exhibit through Oct. 15. Free.
- Tonight — Spanglish Lab. Comedy with Bill Santiago, 8 p.m., La Pea, 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, $15 general, $10 students with ID.
- Saturday — PROJECT: Parallel Investigations 1, noon, Pro Arts, 550 Second St., Oakland. Exhibit through Oct. 30. Gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
- Saturday — West African Highlife Band, 9:30 p.m., (8:30 doors, African dance lesson 9 p.m.), Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, $13.
- Sunday — Shawl-Anderson dance school open house, featuring artists-in-residence and a scholarship raffle fund-raiser, 2 to 5 p.m., Shawl Anderson, 2704 Alcatraz Ave., Berkeley. Free.
- Monday — Photography Show of UC Berkeley Campus by Louis Cuneo, 2 to 5 p.m., an afternoon of photography and community get-together, Mario's "La Fiesta" Restaurant, 2444 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, free, children welcome.
- Monday — The Montclair Women's Big Band, 8 and 10 p.m., Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland, $14 at 8 p.m., $10 at 10 p.m.
- Thursday — "Yosemite in Time", photos taken from 1868 to 2003, featuring the work of Mark Klett, Byron Wolfe, Eadweard Muybridge, Carleton Watkins, Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, UC Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. Exhibit through Dec. 23. For more information visit http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu.
- Thursday — Holla Back, a weekly Open Mic session for poets, songwriters and theater artists, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Eastside Arts alliance, 2599 International Blvd. Donations