Dec 8, 2017
Calvin Markus
seen from Azerbaijan
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Poland
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Italy
Calvin Markus
BURNT TO THE GROUND
New Post has been published on https://videopress.newonline.help/2020/11/20/burnt-to-the-ground/
BURNT TO THE GROUND
“I’m mad as hell. I woke up wanting to see the world burn down yesterday because I’m tired of seeing Black men die. He casually put his knee on a human being’s neck for nine minutes as he died like a Zebra in the clutch of a Lion’s jaw, and we watch like murder porn over and over again. So that’s why children are burning it to the ground: they don’t know what else to do. And it is the responsibility of us to make this better. Right now. We don’t want to see one officer charged. We want to see four officers prosecuted and sentenced. We don’t don’t want to see Target’s burning, we want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism BURNT TO THE GROUND.
Now is the time to plot, plan, strategize, organize, and mobilize. It is time to beat up prosecutors you don’t like at the voting booth. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs.” – Killer Mike
BLACK LIVES MATTER
The protestors came over the Manhattan bridge at exactly 8:46pm on May 31st, 2020. They came to protest the killing of George Floyd. It was peaceful, but a few individuals began looting. The police swarmed, the situation escalated, and the city burned. It felt surreal to just be there, not unlike the dystopian police states we see in sci-fi films. But what we’re experiencing isn’t a movie. This is real. This is just one of many protests across New York City and across the country.
Because of the situation we’re in, the faces of any demonstrators who were recognizable have been obscured for their own safety.
Featuring: The Voice and Words of Killer Mike The Protestors of NYC
Directed by Law DoP/Editor/FX: Law Chen Music: Calvin Markus – Fall Forward Colorist: Tiffany Shi
Special Thanks: Taina Thermidor Eric Holljes Hagan Wong Cullen Fairchild Likes: 50 Viewed: source
Minorstep x Calvin Markus. Blue Light.
Calvin Markus - Hopeful Patterns
New Calvin Markus Video - "Enjoy This"
An on-going AFIN favorite and also previously appearing on the Vulpiano Records label with the soundtrack to Three Days of Sound, Calvin Markus, has a new music video out for "Enjoy This", a song from his upcoming release The Abstraction of Calvin Markus. Shot in wide-screen (writing, direction, and photography by Elliott Sellers and Bryan Dos Reis), the video is as cinematically impressive as the song itself. The Markus trademark of being emotionally evocative of the joy of songwriting and performing itself continues on, taken to further levels with an invigorating arrangement and an unexpected, and epic, guitar solo towards the end. Definitely looking forward to hearing the new release in full when it comes around! Calvin Markus "ENJOY THIS" from Elliott Sellers on Vimeo.
Interview With Calvin Markus (Dead Times) II
Previously interviewed here at A Future in Noise in October, 2009, Calvin Markus (from Dead Times) has kindly granted us the opportunity for another Q&A session! Their latest release I Love Myself and I Want to Live, currently available as an AFIN exclusive, is discussed within as well as Markus' solo soundtrack album on Vulpiano Records Three Days of Sound...: ---
A Future in Noise: How have you and Dead Times changed since our last interview (music-wise and/or otherwise)?
Calvin Markus (Dead Times): Not long after that interview, we went through an unseen inner collapse. Travis and I didn't even talk about Dead Times for awhile. We did other things. This was most likely because a lot was promised to us that never happened. I think we felt like a lot of our efforts weren't going anywhere. Dead Times has made no profit. We have only lost money throughout this project. The only form of payment we get is from people enjoying our music and telling us that they do. We are in a stage of rebuilding. We haven't given up. We need to keep getting better. Continuity, progression, and honesty is what matters. We are making music for the sake of music.
AFIN: What is the main inspiration behind making I Love Myself and I Want to Live?
CM: The inspiration came from wanting to turn a depression into something positive. I started drafting the framework for it in an art history class I was taking last semester. It's all I could think about. I wanted to make an album that was uniquely enjoyable and life-affirming. I felt that Dead Times had covered a lot of dark, obscure, and moody territories with our previous releases and it was time to offer something new. The idea was that the album would start out in the depths of despair and gradually climb up until it reached a pinnacle of joy. I consider the album a "how to" guide on handling an existential crisis. Creating meaning for yourself even when existence seems firmly rooted in meaninglessness. Taking responsibility for your life, finding your passions and becoming an individual. There are no religious or spiritual undertones to it. It's elegant and concrete. The title of the album is a direct play on the Nirvana song "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die".
AFIN: What was the recording process on the new album? Everything seems to sound very crisp and professional, while maintaining your unique sound.
CM: The crisp and professional sound is due to Robby Fronzo producing and engineering it. We recorded most of the album at his home studio. We also recorded in the basement of a barn and a racquetball court.
AFIN: Your previous solo release was the soundtrack to Three Days of Sound - how did making this soundtrack come about?
CM: Elliott Sellers, the creator of the film, used to play drums for Job For A Cowboy. Josh, the manager of my previous band was once the manager for JFAC. Josh introduced us once Elliott and I weren't playing in our bands anymore. We jammed a couple times but never started any official projects. Elliott played drums on a Dead Times song called "Wet Static" that was released last year. Soon enough Elliott ended up moving to Hollywood to go to film school. He made "Three Days of Sound" and asked me to do the music for it. I feel really lucky about all of that. He's one of the most motivated and creative people I've ever met.
AFIN: What was the experience of doing a film soundtrack like?
CM: It's something I've always wanted to do and hope I get to do again in the future. This particular soundtrack was an intense experience. I was working 3-8 hours a day on it for about a month. It was stressful but awesome and worthwhile. Hopefully the film will be out later this year.
AFIN: Is there anything in particular you're hoping listeners gain out of I Love Myself and I Want to Live in particular, and your music in general?
CM: I recommend listening to it alone, from start to finish on decent speakers. I hope they gain some kind of satisfaction from listening to it. --- Calvin Markus - Official Site | on Last.fm Dead Times on MySpace Music | on Last.fm Tumblr: Dead Times | Voidism
Dead Times - I Love Myself and I Want to Live
I Love Myself and I Want to Live is the new release from Dead Times (originally released under Calvin Markus), currently only available as an exclusive download from A Future in Noise. Featured here with a soundtrack release on the label I started recently, Vulpiano Records, with Three Days of Sound: Music From the Film and an interview and originally on AFIN with Dead Times' Midnight Glass in 2009, an album I am still recovering from the aftershocks of cool from, somehow this guy has managed to create an even more epic work. Tying in his usual themes of blending pop and soul into more mystical, obscure elements in a genre-defying fashion, it's kicked up a notch with a new intense sense of drama and urgency. "Inside of You" and "No Time Never" open the album with softer elements prefacing the near-folky, plodding "Neither of Us". The music echoes Markus' lyrics, the sense of life commentary and occasional frustration and cynicism, taken to gospel heights in "Everything is Crooked". My favorite on the album, "Realizations", sweeps onto the scene, wild and Western-tinged, transforming into a repeated refrain based around "the realizations of gloom". "A Way Out" is one of Markus' greatest achievements yet - if there was a radio single from this album, this would be it - a powerful and memorable moment in a series of many from this talented artist. "Becoming" and "You'll See" add some sleek electronica into the mix, and here is where Markus' fondness for Justin Timberlake makes sense. "Sing Soul" is yet another particularly epic, cinematic moment, summing up what Markus is after in his work in music. "So Good" closes the album with a peppy rhythm and a bright, optimistic glow. I am quite impressed with the way Calvin Markus has been able to pack so much feeling and true musicianship and talent into an album clocking in at 27 minutes - anyone who is interested in way-above-and-beyond average independent music and, heck, just music in general, should know who this guy and Dead Times are and be digging into their material. I know I say 'highly recommended' a lot around here because I tend to cover music I especially like, but I Love Myself and I Want to Live is one such very highly recommended album and already a strong favorite for the best of 2010 while the year is still young. Download Dead Times - I Love Myself and I Want to Live Dead Times: MySpace Music | Tumblr Calvin Markus: Official Site | Last.fm | MySpace Music | Tumblr