Carbon Sound's Julian Green on his favorite music of the year
Carbon Sound content director Julian Green
Awa Mally for MPR
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: Well, as 2022 winds to a close, it's a good time to look back at some of the freshest music that came out this year. Now everyone probably has a different opinion on that, but we wanted to ask Julian Green. He's content director for Carbon Sound FM. It's an MPR-affiliated online streaming service celebrating Black musical expression of all genres. I'm so glad Julian that you're back. Good to hear your voice. How are you-- how have you been?
JULIAN GREEN: Doing well. Happy to be here with you, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Thank you. You sent us a few tracks ahead of time, so we're going to jump right in with some music.
[MUSIC - SUDAN ARCHIVES, 'FREAKALIZER"]
[LAUGHING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
My feet can't touch the ground, 'cause I can't seem to grasp what's going wrong. We need to settle down, 'cause we don't got time to sit and dwell on lies. And what's up with the frown--
CATHY WURZER: That's the song, Freakalizer. Musician is Sudan Archives. Tell me more about her.
JULIAN GREEN: Yeah. Sudan Archives is someone that's been on my radar for a bit, because I used to work at Radio Kay, and she was-- really promoted herself a lot, or at least her team promoted herself a lot to the college radio kind of crowd. Her album that came out this year is called Natural Brown Prom Queen. And it's just kind of a step in a more pop direction. And it still blends her experimental side as well. Whereas her older releases were much more experimental, much heavier on strings, too, because she plays fiddle.
I felt like this new album was a good mix of like being experimental and being herself, but also just having more enjoyable, more listenable, in my opinion, tracks. And Freakalizer is probably my favorite song from the album just because of how it sounds. I like how it sounds-- old and new at the same time. But also, she did a concert here at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, in early October. And it was just one of the most fun shows of the year.
I remember that song being a highlight from it, too-- just everyone dancing. You can tell she's having a great time, too. It's a really cool track, and I can't recommend the album enough, because it really has a message to it as well, while still just being really enjoyable music to listen to.
CATHY WURZER: What musical influences do you hear in her music?
JULIAN GREEN: With that one, specifically, it reminds me of something from the '80's, kind of synthy stuff. And then also on the whole album, too, I feel like there's kind of a 2000's pop kind of influence. But she's one of those people where the influences come together to create something so new it's hard to point out what the influences were. You kind of have to dig into the interviews and stuff to see where she's coming from with it.
CATHY WURZER: Mm-hmm. She almost sounds like Janet Jackson there for a while when I first heard the opening strains of her song. She reminded me of Janet Jackson there for a little bit.
JULIAN GREEN: Yeah, I could see that.
CATHY WURZER: She's great. Yeah. I want to listen to another one of your picks. This is "Tales From the Hood," by 454.
[MUSIC - 454, "TALES OF THE HOOD"]
I live my life on the cool lil' strict code. Stay me, never change, gotta get dough. Classic weekend was the [BLEEP] couldn't wait to get old. Life was really harder than I thought I had to 10 toe, 10-4 chirp Lil Ricky off the flip phone. Nextel, walk up to store to get my bitch something. Ain't have no money, poppa died, [BLEEP] was trouble, God made it happen, kept the faith, so I ain't feel struggle. Sixth try made the whole [BLEEP] bubble.
Cracking down on team, couldn't get to the muscle. In the kitchen everyday to make that work crumble. This life is like football. We try not to fumble. With tales of the hood, from the City of Wonders. I pray that we good. All we got is each other. On the news 'nother youngin' got knocked by his brother. All this weather we under, the pressure above us. More skeletons comin', the yellow is bussin'. It's nothing, you know that. This [BLEEP] pop my head like concussion. We get to the money from Monday to Sunday to Sunday to Monday. Til then--
CATHY WURZER: You're going to have to school me here. 454-- Four, five, four, "Tales From the Hood?"
JULIAN GREEN: Yeah, 454.
CATHY WURZER: Now, I saw Rolling Stone called his music cool, calm, cosmic rap. I love that. What makes it stand out for you?
JULIAN GREEN: So that song comes from his album that came out this year called Fast Trax 3. Basically, the way that it was released it was put out on SoundCloud and, literally, just as like a 35-minute song. And it's not one song, but it's basically-- it flows into each other. Every track flows into each other perfectly, especially the first three tracks. And what you just heard "Tales From the Hood," is the third track on there.
With that one, I like it so much, because it starts out-- the whole album starts out like super energetic. And then it winds down with the second track. And then it slows all the way down with that song. And it gets kind of emotional, kind of reflective. It just feels really emotional. It's like good for driving around at night, too. It just sounds really cool, too. I mean, his voice-- what he does with his voice.
He modulates it on pretty much every song. And it just works especially well on this one because I feel like it just comes together with the reverse and the chords and all that, too. It just doesn't sound like anything I really heard this year. It's really unique. And that's why I appreciate it.
CATHY WURZER: His first album dropped in 2021. And what do you think was noteworthy about his work this year?
JULIAN GREEN: I became a fan this year. I know he's been making music for a while and, producing, and stuff like that. What I like about him is just that he is just a very unique person. He's able to blend his influences really well, like Sudan Archives. If you listen to the whole Fast Trax 3 album, he's rapping on everything, but the beats. Which a lot of them, he produces himself. He's very in control of the art direction of everything, too.
But there's a lot of electronic music influences, too, like stuff with drum and bass and jungle. Also kind of R&B tinged production, too, mixing that with rap, and everything like that. I think he's coming into his own. He's still very much new and kind of underground. I hate that word, but that's the only thing I can use to describe for him. So I think he's really coming to his own. He's actually coming to town, I think, in March, too. So going on tour and everything like that, too. So I'm excited to see where he goes from here.
CATHY WURZER: Let's have a final track here. This is Kelela with "Happy Ending."
[MUSIC - KELELA, "HAPPY ENDING"]
Too far away.
[VOCALIZING]
You're too far away. Always knew we could've been something.
[VOCALIZING]
And you went right through me. I know you're done.
CATHY WURZER: Mm. Does she have a beautiful voice. Wow. What do you like about this song?
JULIAN GREEN: So, to me, it kind of sounds like walking in to like a club and the music's bumping and it's just like a room full of people. Maybe you see somebody you didn't feel like seeing. It'll make more sense if you listen to the whole song, but especially with the lyrics, too. But that's just how it makes me feel. And it's just so dreamy and ethereal, especially with her voice. But it's still like NOx, too, because of the production and just how hard the drums can hit, when you listen to it in the right environment.
Kelela, she's just such a cool artist. And her album that will be coming out that this is a single from, I think it's called, "Raven," it will have been like five or six years since her last project, too. She's very reclusive, only says something when she has something to say. But it's just really funny, because the last thing she said before this album roll out-- her Twitter got hacked, so it was like, who wants a PS5? And everybody was like, what?
This is not Kelela saying this. So it was very relieving to hear, she's-- it's actually her. It's actually new singles. She's had a run of singles in the back half of this year. This is-- "Happy Ending" is my favorite from it. I can't wait to hear the rest of it.
CATHY WURZER: You mentioned that she's been around for a while. How did you find out about her?
JULIAN GREEN: Her 2017 album, "Take Me Apart," it was on a lot of those like "Best of the Year" things in 2017. So that's how it got on my radar. She also did some work with Solange on Solange's 2017 or 2016 album. And then ever since then, just getting into the "Take Me Apart," album, which is also just really excellent. And then just like starving for the last couple of years, just waiting for more new music.
But with people like her it's good to take your time and appreciate what you have and look forward to what they're going to offer next, because with artists like--
CATHY WURZER: Julian Green from the streaming platform Carbon Sound the celebrates Black musicians of all genres. Thanks for listening to Minnesota Now.
JULIAN GREEN: Doing well. Happy to be here with you, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Thank you. You sent us a few tracks ahead of time, so we're going to jump right in with some music.
[MUSIC - SUDAN ARCHIVES, 'FREAKALIZER"]
[LAUGHING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
My feet can't touch the ground, 'cause I can't seem to grasp what's going wrong. We need to settle down, 'cause we don't got time to sit and dwell on lies. And what's up with the frown--
CATHY WURZER: That's the song, Freakalizer. Musician is Sudan Archives. Tell me more about her.
JULIAN GREEN: Yeah. Sudan Archives is someone that's been on my radar for a bit, because I used to work at Radio Kay, and she was-- really promoted herself a lot, or at least her team promoted herself a lot to the college radio kind of crowd. Her album that came out this year is called Natural Brown Prom Queen. And it's just kind of a step in a more pop direction. And it still blends her experimental side as well. Whereas her older releases were much more experimental, much heavier on strings, too, because she plays fiddle.
I felt like this new album was a good mix of like being experimental and being herself, but also just having more enjoyable, more listenable, in my opinion, tracks. And Freakalizer is probably my favorite song from the album just because of how it sounds. I like how it sounds-- old and new at the same time. But also, she did a concert here at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, in early October. And it was just one of the most fun shows of the year.
I remember that song being a highlight from it, too-- just everyone dancing. You can tell she's having a great time, too. It's a really cool track, and I can't recommend the album enough, because it really has a message to it as well, while still just being really enjoyable music to listen to.
CATHY WURZER: What musical influences do you hear in her music?
JULIAN GREEN: With that one, specifically, it reminds me of something from the '80's, kind of synthy stuff. And then also on the whole album, too, I feel like there's kind of a 2000's pop kind of influence. But she's one of those people where the influences come together to create something so new it's hard to point out what the influences were. You kind of have to dig into the interviews and stuff to see where she's coming from with it.
CATHY WURZER: Mm-hmm. She almost sounds like Janet Jackson there for a while when I first heard the opening strains of her song. She reminded me of Janet Jackson there for a little bit.
JULIAN GREEN: Yeah, I could see that.
CATHY WURZER: She's great. Yeah. I want to listen to another one of your picks. This is "Tales From the Hood," by 454.
[MUSIC - 454, "TALES OF THE HOOD"]
I live my life on the cool lil' strict code. Stay me, never change, gotta get dough. Classic weekend was the [BLEEP] couldn't wait to get old. Life was really harder than I thought I had to 10 toe, 10-4 chirp Lil Ricky off the flip phone. Nextel, walk up to store to get my bitch something. Ain't have no money, poppa died, [BLEEP] was trouble, God made it happen, kept the faith, so I ain't feel struggle. Sixth try made the whole [BLEEP] bubble.
Cracking down on team, couldn't get to the muscle. In the kitchen everyday to make that work crumble. This life is like football. We try not to fumble. With tales of the hood, from the City of Wonders. I pray that we good. All we got is each other. On the news 'nother youngin' got knocked by his brother. All this weather we under, the pressure above us. More skeletons comin', the yellow is bussin'. It's nothing, you know that. This [BLEEP] pop my head like concussion. We get to the money from Monday to Sunday to Sunday to Monday. Til then--
CATHY WURZER: You're going to have to school me here. 454-- Four, five, four, "Tales From the Hood?"
JULIAN GREEN: Yeah, 454.
CATHY WURZER: Now, I saw Rolling Stone called his music cool, calm, cosmic rap. I love that. What makes it stand out for you?
JULIAN GREEN: So that song comes from his album that came out this year called Fast Trax 3. Basically, the way that it was released it was put out on SoundCloud and, literally, just as like a 35-minute song. And it's not one song, but it's basically-- it flows into each other. Every track flows into each other perfectly, especially the first three tracks. And what you just heard "Tales From the Hood," is the third track on there.
With that one, I like it so much, because it starts out-- the whole album starts out like super energetic. And then it winds down with the second track. And then it slows all the way down with that song. And it gets kind of emotional, kind of reflective. It just feels really emotional. It's like good for driving around at night, too. It just sounds really cool, too. I mean, his voice-- what he does with his voice.
He modulates it on pretty much every song. And it just works especially well on this one because I feel like it just comes together with the reverse and the chords and all that, too. It just doesn't sound like anything I really heard this year. It's really unique. And that's why I appreciate it.
CATHY WURZER: His first album dropped in 2021. And what do you think was noteworthy about his work this year?
JULIAN GREEN: I became a fan this year. I know he's been making music for a while and, producing, and stuff like that. What I like about him is just that he is just a very unique person. He's able to blend his influences really well, like Sudan Archives. If you listen to the whole Fast Trax 3 album, he's rapping on everything, but the beats. Which a lot of them, he produces himself. He's very in control of the art direction of everything, too.
But there's a lot of electronic music influences, too, like stuff with drum and bass and jungle. Also kind of R&B tinged production, too, mixing that with rap, and everything like that. I think he's coming into his own. He's still very much new and kind of underground. I hate that word, but that's the only thing I can use to describe for him. So I think he's really coming to his own. He's actually coming to town, I think, in March, too. So going on tour and everything like that, too. So I'm excited to see where he goes from here.
CATHY WURZER: Let's have a final track here. This is Kelela with "Happy Ending."
[MUSIC - KELELA, "HAPPY ENDING"]
Too far away.
[VOCALIZING]
You're too far away. Always knew we could've been something.
[VOCALIZING]
And you went right through me. I know you're done.
CATHY WURZER: Mm. Does she have a beautiful voice. Wow. What do you like about this song?
JULIAN GREEN: So, to me, it kind of sounds like walking in to like a club and the music's bumping and it's just like a room full of people. Maybe you see somebody you didn't feel like seeing. It'll make more sense if you listen to the whole song, but especially with the lyrics, too. But that's just how it makes me feel. And it's just so dreamy and ethereal, especially with her voice. But it's still like NOx, too, because of the production and just how hard the drums can hit, when you listen to it in the right environment.
Kelela, she's just such a cool artist. And her album that will be coming out that this is a single from, I think it's called, "Raven," it will have been like five or six years since her last project, too. She's very reclusive, only says something when she has something to say. But it's just really funny, because the last thing she said before this album roll out-- her Twitter got hacked, so it was like, who wants a PS5? And everybody was like, what?
This is not Kelela saying this. So it was very relieving to hear, she's-- it's actually her. It's actually new singles. She's had a run of singles in the back half of this year. This is-- "Happy Ending" is my favorite from it. I can't wait to hear the rest of it.
CATHY WURZER: You mentioned that she's been around for a while. How did you find out about her?
JULIAN GREEN: Her 2017 album, "Take Me Apart," it was on a lot of those like "Best of the Year" things in 2017. So that's how it got on my radar. She also did some work with Solange on Solange's 2017 or 2016 album. And then ever since then, just getting into the "Take Me Apart," album, which is also just really excellent. And then just like starving for the last couple of years, just waiting for more new music.
But with people like her it's good to take your time and appreciate what you have and look forward to what they're going to offer next, because with artists like--
CATHY WURZER: Julian Green from the streaming platform Carbon Sound the celebrates Black musicians of all genres. Thanks for listening to Minnesota Now.
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