Interview: FairPlay Entertainment and SotaSound Music Festival's Brandon Pulphus

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The Minneapolis music scene is slowly crawling it’s way back from the almost death-blow that was the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hip-Hop’s corner of that scene was no different with several of the venues that gave a platform to up-and-coming MCs to start paying their dues forced to close permanently as the shutdown dragged on. Brandon Pulphus, one of FairPlay Entertainment’s artists, plans to help the rebuilding with more than just his words.

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Early Eyes "Look Alive!"

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Their early music fits perfectly into the indie pop genre, matching the vibes and quality of well-known bands at the height of the indie craze of the 2010s. Naturally, their sound has been shaped and evolved over the years, adding more electronic elements and taking risks by including aspects that push the boundaries of indie pop, such as experimenting with horn lines, something we are seeing becoming popular in indie music in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

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KYM & Dark Bunny - "Not 4 U" EP Anniversary Celebration

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On Saturday, July 18th, I attended KYM’s “Better Late than Never” show celebrating the second year anniversary of the “Not 4 U” EP. With the hopes of an EP release show in 2020 being dashed by Covid - Kim Schneider (vocals and guitar) did not give up on sharing and celebrating her hard work. “Thanks for waiting two years with me!” Kim called out to the fully packed room of friends, family, and fans at Icehouse. Kim was joined onstage by Drew D’lakes (bass), Riley Jacobson (drums), Alia Jeraj (vocals), and Dierdre McQuillan (vocals). “March 2020 I released an EP and think, “I'm gonna hold a big EP show!” and here we are two years later.” This celebration was, without a doubt, worth the wait. KYM was supported that evening by Foe and Dark Bunny.

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Jesse Norell "Aorta Borealis"

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Albums like Jesse Norell’s Aorta Borealis are why the independent music world needs to exist. While it’s more chaotic than the wild west when trying to standout from the crowd of countless artists, there’s a level of creative freedom that allows your music your way. You can try and emulate what is topping the charts, or you can write a concept album.

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Visual Artist Interview Series Vol. 1: Pat Jensen

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Pat Jensen is an awesome human and an acrylic painter and illustrator from Minnesota. His curiosity, sense of humor, and positivity speak loudly in his art. He has created artwork for Sage Francis, Del The Funky Homosapien, Carnage the Executioner, Toy Machine skateboards, Strange Famous Records, Ecid, and countless others.

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Art-a-Whirl 2022

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On the last Sunday of May, I was able to catch a friend of mine, Alyse Carbonell, play on the Q.arma (pronounced karma) stage in Northeast Minneapolis before playing a set with my own band, Foe, on the same stage. Art-a-Whirl is a three day extravaganza celebrating art, creation, and local businesses in Northeast Minneapolis. Events are hosted at countless venues, drawing thousands of people who are interested in local music, visual art, food, and drinks - to name a few. The weather cooperated brilliantly, giving us beautiful weather over the weekend, allowing participants to enjoy exploring the event, trying out food from local food trucks, and sipping on beers and iced coffees comfortably.

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