Meet Ejaaz, a 20-year-old rapper from Indianapolis, Indiana. At 17, Ejaaz arrived on the scene with his critically-aclaimed debut mixtape "Ideal Blender". Ejaaz also released his debut album "+ IDEAL +" in the Summer of 2013. In these short three years, Ejaaz has garnered a household name around his city and other surrounding areas. He even had the opportunity to perform at SXSW back in March. Ejaaz offers a genre-bending approach that draws from a range of different styles. He cites Kid Cudi, Kanye West and Pharrell as a biggest influences.
For more information on Ejaaz, check out his official website EjaazTheSpazz.com and follow him on Soundcloud.
Last week, we introduced you to underground singer Sphie. Check out the simplistic yet creative visual for her single 'Music In The Movement' from her 'RE:REvolution' EP, available for purchase here.
Today’s tune is brought to you in courtesy of DJ Bangs Nicely, an Indianapolis native, who financed his way through college by spinning records. This smooth mix titled ‘Seeing Stars' is an eclectic blend of smooth sonic sounds, certain to to lighten the mood.
Bangs Nicely describes the mix to Weird Tribe:
I wanted to kick you this mix I think you will dig. It’s a slow burner of vibes and feels and sonic imagery that can be used as a focal point of thought and consciousness. Music to think to, music to emote by…or to let bounce off your surroundings while you cruise through existence. The theme is based on the personal relationships we experience and their direct impact on our thoughts, mood, and actions. The music choices reflects those lessons,emotions, and all the times it’s just weird being a human. At the very least the mix is great to play while you cook dinner. Get in to your zone or don’t, and let it ride! I love you.
For more information on Bangs Nicely check out his Soundcloud page here.
Misty Jo is an artist from Easton, MD. Spirituality above all, there's not many boxes you can place this girl in. Misty is a photographer, vlogger, blogger, fashionista and occasional "hut builder". Captivated by Misty's curious life, Weird Tribe caught up with the free spirit for some deep conversation.
Who is Misty Jo?
My birth name Mernisha. At birth I was given two names, Mernisha and Misty. My mother gave me the name Misty because she said my eyes always looked as if I were about to cry. The name stuck with family, friends, and everyone else who comes around calls me Misty. Jo represents the first two letters of my last name, Johnson.
What can't you do?
I never put a limit on what I think I can or can't do. There isn't much I cant do, that is actually an obsession of mine. I like to learn new things and try things just to see if i can do them. I dance, sing, paint, build art, meditate.
I also do reiki, currently learning 3 languages at one time; Japanese, Korean and Hindi. I can lucid dream; but these are just hobbies. I do random things, like build huts, haha! I like reading really old books, nothing electronic, real books. Oh, and I have an unusual bond with animals, even wild ones...
We noticed you vlog a lot about spirituality, on a deeper level than most, when did you make the transition?
I guess the first time I meditated was about 5 years ago, but I really took it for a joke until about 3 years ago. I was partying a lot, experimenting with drugs. You know... my life was headed for a terrible dead end. I hated myself and the people around me. My biggest problem in life was contentment and humility. I grew up the youngest in my family so I was very spoiled and sheltered. This caused me to live a life believing if you didn't have anything material to offer me than you were ultimately useless to me. The more I meditated the more I begin to release materialistic gain and I could see myself humbling. Before, I associated humility with being humiliated because I thought when your humble people will take advantage of you but that was complete ego. That opened up another door of "I have to make sure no one takes advantage of me", so I put up barriers. I am a very content person now and my humility is coming in to perspective more and more. I am still very cautious with people around me but I am not as defensive as I was.
With enlightenment comes loneliness, have you felt weird or lonely through the process?
Definitely! Immediately I lost tons of friends because I no longer wanted to party. My interests changed. Over time family members became distant because of similar reasons. No one wanted to hear about meditation, reiki or astral projection. I think even some people thought I had lost my mind, lol. I realized after a while that although I was not connected to people physically, I was still connected spiritually. I don't have friend but I am not unhappy because of it. I hang out and meet people but it can be hard sometimes because the ego mind set's in and tells you you're worthless without people to attach to. I feel there is nothing wrong with having a circle but a person who HAS to have friends, is afraid to walk through life alone.
You often dress up as a Mori girl (explains the blog name) and you have even sported bindi's before. Is this creative expression or something deeper?
I never do anything without meaning. I love wearing bindi's, The vibrations you receive spiritually through your third eye can be centered with a bindhi. When switching levels of awareness, you may start to feel things like tingling in your forehead, or pressure. Sometimes you may even experience headaches. When I place the bindi on my head, it acts as a grounding center for all my third eye energy. Mori is the style I have been looking for all my life. I love the forest and nature and animals. I want to live in the forest but that's unlikely. Mori means Forest in Japanese.
Do you ever get weird looks because of it? Do you care?
I get a lot of weird looks, I don't care. People in society are afraid of anyone who is sure of themselves.
What is your idea of peace on earth?
Compassion. I once heard from a guru that sex was the lowest form of love, almost animal-like. Love is in the middle but compassion was above all, with compassion anything can be beat.
If you could give advice to anyone reading this article, what would you tell them?
You don't need anyone's advice. You were built with everything you require.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
I don't see myself years from now. I only see myself, right now, in this moment...
