Oftentimes the art world can be an expression of serious, referential art. So it’s refreshing to come across someone who is truly having fun with it, and using a subject matter close to my heart, Prince.

Troy Gua is a Seattle-based visual artist, has been working furiously over the past five years, creating art that explores pop culture and his fascination with the social medias. His most notable exhibits are his Pop Hybrids, where he combines two iconic figures and reduces the personality into logo, reducing their individuality into a collective, and reduces the photography to a design, creating interesting images that force you to create your own meaning and subversion. His Colorbandz, are portraits at the speed of technology, a concept at first glance seem like bands of colour but as you grasp the concept of the Colorbandz, it begins to come clear. (See Troy Gua‘s self Colorbandz portrait at the end of interview.)

But it wasn’t until Gua tackled the project of making his own Gerry Anderson inspired marionette of his musical idol Prince, the Le Petit Prince, that his name traveled beyond the West Coast. As you will see below, the marionette captures the essence of Prince, from his hypnotic stare, and his perfectly defined lips, to this pristine and unique sense of style. Gua’s symbolic tribute to the artist who has inspired him throughout his life has garnered much attention, and we are sure to see more of Le Petit Prince in the future.

Muphoric Sounds got the chance to talk to Gua about his work and what sparked him to pay homage to Prince in what he calls, “a loving tribute, that is meant to be a parody” of his idol. Le Petit Prince is quirky yet perfect, all at the same time.

To view more of Troy Gua’s work, visit his website at www.troygua.com. You can also “Like” his Facebook page to receive updates on Le Petit Prince.

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INTERVIEW WITH TROY GUA

Muphoric Sounds: Who is Troy Gua?

Troy Gua: I’m a dude who just grew up expecting that I was going to be an artist. That’s what I got a pat on the head for as a kid. And I’ve been chasing that pat on the head ever since.

MS: Has it always been in visual arts?

Gua: Yes, since I was little kid I just liked to draw, constantly. I was the youngest of four kids. The next one was 9 years older than me; so I was sort of like an only child, spent a lot of time by myself, and liked to draw musicians and pop stars. I made a series of poor decisions in my late teens and twenties, married my childhood sweetheart, and kind of left my dreams on the wayside. And I kind of gave up on who I was supposed to become and played house for a few years. Became an alcoholic and a drug addict actually. [Laughs] I always had a job. I was married and responsible but I was kind of a shell of my real self, and medicated and numbed myself to that fact for a long, long time. Eventually, that all caved in, and my whole life flushed and it was a reboot. And I met this woman online named Catherine and we fell in love and kind of hit the ground running. We decided to get sober together and make a happy life for ourselves. That was around 2005 when we met and since then I’ve been focusing on getting that dream in order.

MS: You’ve been working solidly since 2008, what has been the best experience for you so far?

Gua: To be completely honest, this [Le Petit Prince]. This has been the most attention I’ve had. I’m in Seattle, which is a pretty insulated community, this bubble in the corner of the country and I’ve been working my butt off for about five years, constantly showing work, feeling like a rubber ball bouncing around the room not being able to break out. And I’d been frustrated for a while with that.

MS: But it seems to be working.

Gua: The funny thing is, as soon as I was discouraged enough, to say, ‘screw it, I’m not going to make this kind of art, it’s bringing me down, I’m just going to start having fun …and make myself a little Prince doll.’ [Laughs] That’s when everybody started to pay attention, which is amazing. But of course, it’s Prince!

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Fresh Daily is a Brooklyn, New York MC, graphic designer whose style draws from the old school boom bap era, yet has distinct new school elements to keep contemporary listeners nodding their heads and paying attention.

No newcomer to the game, Fresh Daily has worked with producers such as Illmind, Oh No, and Exile to name a few.

Teaming up with Complex Magazine and Converse to present his latest offering The Brooklyn Good Guy, a free 12-track album featuring names like MURS, Black Spade, Melo-X, Mike Baker the Bike Maker and Om’mas Keith, among others.

Excellent sample based, synth heavy, and bouncy production provides the backdrop for his well crafted, precise, down to earth, cocky, and confident rhymes. Stand out tracks include the Sam Champ produced, “Don’t You Agree,” featuring Om’mas Keith; “Cool Thoughts” produced by Russian beatsmith, BMB Space Kid also featuring Om’mas Keith, and the bouncy, hard to keep still to “Laced Up” produced by fellow New Yorker, Jinesis.

On vocoder laced, “Cool Thoughts,” Fresh Daily gives advice on how to maintain “positive thoughts in a negative world….” On the chorus, Om’mas Keith lends his patent harmonies making this one of the album’s standout tracks.

“Laced Up” sees Fresh at his most braggadocios, reminding us on the DJ Screw-esque chorus, that we can find him “rolling through laced up, everything fitted…” . He sounds mature and self aware without sounded dated. Jinesis‘ production matches the rhymes perfectly making this either a zone out, lay back, chill track…or something one could put on to get their swag back.

Check out a couple of tunes below then head over to LiveMixtapes.com for this free download.

“Cool Thoughts”

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“Laced Up”

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One thing that can be said about Georgia Anne Muldrow, is the velocity in which she releases music. From the start of her career has been a steady flow of music – highlighting her closeness to funk with heavy basslines and a grit that holds a certain level of masculinity, yet delicate enough in its femininity.

Seeds, set to release next week, March 27 on SomeOthaship Connection features a difference – this is the first time GAM has worked with another producer outside of partner, Dudley Perkins. GAM has joined forces with hip-hop heavy weight producer, Madlib. The musical union between GAM and Madlib, is somewhat of an extension of previous works, with more grit and experimentation while still having her unique ability to create that rugged old soul we’ve grown to love over the years.

In an exclusive arrangement with Canadian music mag’s web Exclaim!, you can hear Seeds in it’s fully entirety before it’s release next week. Go check it out.

We’ve been waiting for this moment to come for a while now, and it’s almost here. With full endorsement from Wonderful Ear Records, Mar will be releasing his self written and produced debut EP, Seeing Her Naked at the end of the month. Not sure of the details, or if there will be any collaborations but the strategy to keep things to a minimum, as not to lose the element of surprise and anticipation, is the best way to go. The Mar Variations definitely kept us eager to hear more.

The first taste from the EP is “Our Attempt,” a sexy arrangement of bare drums, keys, and a haunting guitar that enters with a yearning that is ever-present in Mar‘s music. The accented break in the track adds a breathtaking silence; you can only imagine what can be done to this!!

Check it out below and stay tuned for link nearing release.

Blaktroniks are interesting, to say the least. This Oakland, California group comprising of Edd Dee Pee and X-Ray are certainly doing things differently and Ready Set Blow is filled with production surprises, that are inventive.

Ready Set Blow is what they call an ‘electro-boogie-robot-soul-funk-hop’ journey through sounds. Tokyo Dawn Records, the label they have been touring with for the past 10 years says the album is “like a pendulum between tearful joy and laughter to keep from crying, between ugly beauty and beautiful funk, between inner peace and outward frustration.” It’s future music that is unafraid to explore new territories, whether it’s from the pulsating beats to the melodic vocals Edward Robinson on “Sky Scrapers,” which flows like a Nina Simone Verve Remix, to Alicia Renee (aka Blue Eyes) on the soulful “It’s All Right Now.” There is something on Ready Set Blow that will blow your mind.

Check out a couple of tracks below, then head over to Tokyo Dawn Records to hear full streaming of Ready Set Blow, which will be released March 28th.

“Sky Scrapers” feat. Edward Robinson

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“Computers Do It Better”

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With Bobby Womack resurfacing on the Gorillaz‘s Plastic Beach in 2010 after what seemed to be a long hiatus, was a clear indicator of an artist exploring different sounds. The 69-year-old legend will be releasing his 12th studio album on XL Recordings, the same label Gil Scott-Heron last recorded on, and this will be his first solo release in twelve years.

“Please Forgive My Heart,” a free download below, is the first single off his forthcoming album The Bravest Man In The Universe, scheduled to release in June 12. What’s beautiful about this song is its minimalism, which only further highlights Womack unfaltering vocals. Sounds oh so good.

If you missed the Unsung episode on Bobby Womack, check it out here. An incredible talent, with an incredible story. Glad to see him fully back!! Now let’s light some candles for a collaboration with Omar.

Evy Jane categorise themselves as experimental R&B, while others are deeming them as textured-pop. If we were to compare Evy Jane, they are what Little Dragon started with, minus the soulful vibe and heavy hitting bassline – which therefore makes them a unique listen. They’re more experimental, drawing sounds from UK’s drum and bass, and fusing electronica into it.

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Evy Jane are Evelyn Mason and Jeremiah Klein, who have been working together for the past two years, performing at festivals, with Klein DJing at some of Vancouver’s exclusive parties.

The EP features two original tracks, “SAYSO” and “OHSO” followed by remixes from Canadian producers Max Ulis, Taal Mala, and Andy Dixon Dutch producer Julien Mier, each spinning their own doses of future on the two songs.

Evy Jane are “definitely” artists Muphoric Sounds will keep an eye on. Check out their latest video and tunes below, then head over to their Bandcamp for purchase.

EVY JANE – Sayso from Evy Jane on Vimeo.