Critical
Praise for Tanya Morgan:
"This Brooklyn-Cincinnati hip-hop trio summoned old-school cheer, goofy skits and indelible hooks for a left-field masterpiece." - Rated #1 Album across all genres for 2009 by Steve Smith, Time Out New York's Music Editor
Brooklynati featured in dozens of Best Of 2009 lists including AllMusic.com, The Village Voice, eMusic.com, Amazon.com, Onion AV Club, Time Out New York, PopMatters.com, LAMusicBlog.com, TheSmokingSection, CokeMachineGlow.com, TheUrbanDaily.com, and more.
(January 19, 2010 - Brooklyn, NY) Donwill, one third of acclaimed hip-hop trio Tanya Morgan, is proud to announce the release of his debut solo album, Don Cusack in High Fidelity. The album, ingeniously inspired by the plot of the celluloid classic High Fidelity, will be released on March 23rd, 2010 via Interdependent Media.
Don Cusack In High Fidelity is Donwill’s musical representation of the movie from which it took its name. Not only is High Fidelity Donwill’s personal favorite film, but he identified with John Cusack’s character, Rob Gordon, so much that he created an entire album inspired by the movie. Donwill incorporated personal stories of falling in love, fearing commitment, hating his job, and learning life lessons, to create a clever and deeply personal musical interpretation of the film. Skillfully and artfully crafted using direct subject matter and quotes from the cult classic, the 16-track personal odyssey will resonate not only with fans of the original movie but also with anyone who has spent time trying to figure out the opposite sex. "The album is based on being in a state of perpetual pre-mid-life crisis," says Donwill. "Nothing in life will give you all the answers, but this album will help people find some of the answers they might be looking for."
Donwill faced unique challenges in creating his first solo record. Similarly to how lead character Rob Gordon managed the behavior of his record store employees, Donwill assumed the responsibilities of an orchestra conductor, guiding his featured guests to embody a key character from the film. Opio from Souls of Mischief assumes the role of Ian, Rob’s ex-girlfriend’s new lover while Che Grand assumes the character of one of Rob’s unruly record store employees, Barry, who was portrayed by Jack Black in the film.
Further exhibiting a new chapter in his career, Don Cusack also marks the first time Donwill displays his productions skills. In addition to enlisting Tanya Morgan producers Von Pea and Brick Beats, as well as A-Plus and Keelay & Zaire, Donwill also produced one of the album's 16 tracks, for the song "December 27th." "Originally, I was going to use the concept for a short EP and had made all of the beats myself," says Donwill. "One of those beats was a clear standout, so when I decided to expand the project into a full-length, and really give the album its proper due, I brought in other producers and used their beats along with mine. It really was just figuring what beats fit together best to create a common thread for the album's narrative."
For Donwill, one third of Tanya Morgan, a critically acclaimed group well known for their creatively themed releases, undertaking the challenge of creating an album based on a film is a natural progression. Other group members Von Pea and Ilyas will also release thematic solo albums this year; Pea’s Got to Have It in the summer and Hello, Hell in the fall, respectively. Tanya Morgan collectively views this string of solo releases as a trilogy of albums, each adding a key piece to the Tanya Morgan foundation.
Check out the unmastered version of "I See You." Featuring Ragen Fykes, the song will be the official first single: http://media.audibletreats.com/Donwill-I_See_You-Unmastered.mp3
"Laura's Song" Max-single buy link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lauras-song-maxi-single/id3157597101
The
Background:
 Donwill is one-third of hip-hop group Tanya Morgan, formed in 2003, who recently released their third full-length album Brooklynati in 2009. With the high praise from Rolling Stone and Time Out New York that Brooklynati garnered,Donwill is now ready to release his own album, Don Cusack in High Fidelity on March 23rd, 2010. The maxi-single of "Laura's Song," complete with the album version, radio edit, instrumental and a couple of remixes is now available for purchase on iTunes. The album will be released by Bay Area label Interdependent Media.
About
Interdependent Media:
Founded in 2006 in the Bay Area by Evan Phillips, Interdependent
Media has built unique strengths in the development, production, and
marketing of recorded music via new methods of marketing and promotion. Armed
with a comprehensive understanding of both traditional and emerging methods of
marketing, iM has successfully created multi-faceted methods
of raising awareness and interest in their projects. Industry veterans Ian "ID" Davis and Dominic
Del Bene head operations at iM and are credited with discovering and/or
developing artists such as 9th Wonder, Little Brother, Tanya Morgan,
Blackalicious, Del the Funky Homosapien, the Hieroglyphics and more.
In 2010, iM will be releasing multi-media projects from artists Donwill, TRUTHLiVE, Canibus, Von Pea, A-Plus, and more. For more information,
please visit http://www.imculture.com
Donwill is available for in-person and phone interviews. Web editors contact
Dan for interview requests. Print editors contact Michelle.
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