Latest Posts

Saint Opal Drops Video for New Single

February 17, 2016

Saint Opal may be relatively new on people’s radars, but one thing is certain; she has announced herself in a tastefully bold and dramatic way with each and every single that’s been dropped. The newest release for “Lilac Corona” is no exception. The song is brought to life in the accompanying music video, produced by Haute La Vie, which is both creepy and hair-raisingly poetic. There’s a moment in the video where Saint Opal submerges herself in a tub of black water and kind of tussles with the heavy garments she’s wearing, wrapping them around herself. It’s a perfect representation of how I felt listening to this tune —  totally enveloped in the phantasmal imagery and weighed down by the melancholy timbre. The video also features two dancers, Max Darling and Angela Lopez, who beautifully make use of movement to represent some sort of vexing relationship between the two characters.[...]

Top 20 Buffalo Tracks: 5 Close Calls

December 14, 2015

It’s that time of year again, where we re-think and dissect every local song that we’ve come across organically or via submission. This is our fourth year counting down our top songs and this year, like every other year, has been difficult to whittle down. Like we always remind people, this list is subjective and not the end-all be all. I am sure there are amazing local songs that aren’t on our radar, but from what we have heard, we as a group have determined as the blog are our favorite songs of 2015. Here are five great songs ALMOST made our top 20. The Slums – “Plain Pine Box”  The Slums always deliver the perfect thrash song but “Plain Pine Box” might be the most perfect yet. “You can call me first and final nail in a plain pine box, I said I’d keep you separate but I guess[...]

Dean Chatham Drops Dean’s List 2

November 13, 2015

Eight months after the release of the original Dean’s List, Buffalo rapper Dean Chatham is back with the follow up record, Dean’s List 2: The Aftermath. The project is the first from the Black Sol member since he signed with Style Music Productions, and demonstrates the progression of Chatham as an artist over the last year. Chatham kicks off his scholastic follow up with the smooth opener “Kage,” in which the rapper projects his pride for the rise he’s seen as an artist recently. The original Dean’s List came when Chatham viewed himself as a student, while this project sees a more confident rapper showing off what he’s learned as he’s found his style. This theme of self -discovery and development continues on tracks like “Lucid Dreams,” where Chatham explores his introspective side. “Black Panda” is another substantive track in which Chatham discusses the positive state he’s currently in and how it relates with a darkened[...]

200 Kids Outside Drop New Vid Featuring Saint Opal

October 30, 2015

The last few months have seen a ton of collaborations between different crews and groups in the Buffalo hip hop scene. The theme continues on the latest song from the melodic rap duo 200 Kids Outside, who’ve dropped a new video featuring Saint Opal of the Black Sol  crew. Titled “It’s Lit,” the song is just that. 200 Kids producer Minel cooked up a wild beat, featuring some swirling retro synths and knocking drums for singer/rapper Neetchy to go to work over. He duets with Black Sol songstress Saint Opal pairs his chill electronic voice with her Rihanna-esque sound. Harmonies and expert vocal layering have always been a key component of the music from 200 Kids, and on “It’s Lit” is more of that great use with the addition of Opal’s powerful chops. The composition of the song is great as well, filled with vocal and instrumental breaks showing off the[...]

Tonight: Anti-Venue Tour Kick Off

July 2, 2015

Haute La Vie, a new-to-the-scene Buffalo entertainment company, will launch its Anti-Venue Tour later this evening at the 464 Gallery on Amherst Street. Aimed at bringing musical and artistic performances to non traditional spaces, the series is spread-headed Shawn Patterson, a Buffalo born, Southern raised entrepreneur who recently returned home to find himself part of the city’s growth and development. Musical support for the Anti-Venue kick off showcase will be provided by EKL roster members Truey V and Radarada, plus Saint Opal from the Black Sol crew. Keep up on the future installments of the Anti Venue Tour, which runs weekly throughout the month in Buffalo before moving on to cities like Rochester, NYC, and more, by following the series’ hashtag. The event begins this evening at 7pm and runs til 10pm. Entry is free of charge.

Tonight: Marion Walker

June 17, 2015

Dreamland is the best. In a city with plenty of great rooms to take in live music, the front room (parlour?) at the Franklin St. space has emerged as the front runner, with it’s intimate setting, color absorbing white walls, art on display, and a glorious chandelier presiding over all of it. It’s hosted some fascinating shows since opening, and that continues tonight with Seattle’s Marion Walker, with support from Buffalo’s own Saint Opal, Bobby Swayze, and Milsep featuring In and Out Music Group. Presented by the D.O.P.E. (Dismantling Oppresive Patterns for Empowerment) Collective, this show will be all about breaking down barriers and bringing peoples together. From the hip-hop beats from Bobby Swayze and Milsep and crew to the dreammy R&B of Saint Opal, and the towering psychedelic rock of Marion Walker, diversity will be key. Meanness, negativity, and your racial or gender baggage, on the other hand, will[...]

Saint Opal Returns with More Dark RnB

March 4, 2015

Saint Opal is the alien tune songstress of the Erie County hip-hop RnB collective, Black Sol. Her first single, “Glass Jars,” got our attention for the dark undertones fueling Opal’s lovely singing voice. Her latest, “Secret Flame,” is in this same vein of the new wave of RnB: heavy on mystique and ambiguity. Seeming to be about a scorned love, or one that never came to fruition, “Secret Flame” exudes a longing that hurts even the listener. “I knock.. but you won’t answer me,” she cries out to conclude the track. Her vocals themselves are worthy of praise, but Opal’s admirably bleak songwriting and lyricism have turned her releases into the total package. Give it a taste below, and stay tuned for more from Opal and the Black Sol crew.

Saint Opal Does a Futuristic Croon on Debut Track

January 28, 2015

In the past we’ve featured music from Ez Amadi including his track “Dali,” and now we’ve received news that he’s started a hip hop-RnB collective known as Black Sol. Included in this collective is Ez, recently featured rapper Dean Chatham, and singer Saint Opal, from whom we first hear from below. Floating on a acid-y beat, Opal croons over other-wordly synths on this ambiguous track of longing and apprehension. Her vocals are consummated with a trailing, echoey effect that makes the track ever more haunting. The Black Sol crew is hard at work, with two new tracks on their soundcloud in the past three days. Stay tuned for more from the Erie County crew. I’m anxiously awaiting some more stuff from their other two members, Melo Nymbus and Eddy Haze.  There’s a lot of talent on that roster.