In the vast realm of hip-hop, an artist who goes by the name Herman “Nile Flame” Woods emerges. That’s me, founder of Majestic Gang, I’m not merely a rapper, I am a nomad, a visionary, and the self-proclaimed future king of hip-hop. As we delve into my narrative, we uncover the roots of my musical journey, the influences that shaped me, and the distinctive mark I aim to make with my sophomore album, H.L.W. 2.
by Tom Smith
For me the most important thing about music and song writing is creating community. I have spent periods of my life feeling quite isolated. In 2013 after 12 years in Brisbane having convinced myself I was excluded from the local music community, I realised I was in fact very lucky to know many musicians who turned out to be so generous and supportive they recorded versions of my songs for what became the ‘You Do It I Can’t Be Bothered’ project.
I’m a musician. I used to just make and teach music, but lately I have been consumed by climate activism because I love people and nature. I can’t continue living without doing something to prevent it all from disappearing.
E. E. Cummings wrote:
“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. That makes it very hard to plan the day.”
This describes pretty much every day of my life now.
October Books, the well-loved independent bookshop in Southampton, UK where I work was facing a rent increase and an uncertain future towards the end of 2017. What to do? My colleagues and I started to look at alternative premises in the local area and the city center in early 2018. We first viewed the former chemist next door, which had a smaller retail space and a lower rent, so we registered our interest. But it was not to be – someone else got in before us.
by Grant Hewson
Through many gigs and other sessions, I got to know some of the local performers in the Kimberley. I started to play and record with them, sold CDs to tourists and split the cash. We also made up a pretend recording company.
For some years now, this material has remained stored on hard drives in my wardrobe. Lately, however, my son has patiently skilled me up in the use of websites such as Patreon and Bandcamp. With his encouragement and the support of friends and family, I have now begun posting some of the best elements of this collection of recordings online.