Melisa Le Rue

I dont really know what this is. But I love it.

*Midtown Miami*

So on Saturday, I got my fair share of musical inspiration.

and thats what this trip was all about!

Talk about randomness…

The other day I had a wax down in mid-town Miami, (not something I would normally mention, but just so you know how random this is…!)

So, the girl doing my wax- super cool Croatian chick. She used to work at for Playboy as a bunny! A free spirited person.. parents were crazy hippies back in the day, and right now she does facials, waxing etc. in a cool salon that looks like a hut in Thailand.

We make the usual chat of ‘what to do you do where did you come from’ etc. Turns out she sings too in a rock n roll band. I tell her what style of music I like, Jazz/soul/hip-hop etc. and she says I should speak to this guy ‘Aaro Fishbein’, a multi-instrumentalist and pretty big time music producer. She writes his number down on a post-it note for me, and says I should give him a call.

So, next day I give him a call. Feel a bit weird, I hate cold-calling. Plus this guy is  makes platinum hits, I’m not there (yet )

But his response on the phone is super positive and cool. and turns out he knows Hamdan (ABRI) from Dubai. The world is small!

So, we arrange a hook up at the studio to chill and talk music.

The studio is a very cool open plan space… where so many hits are created!!

We drank green tea and I listened to the music he’s been working on. Really great stuff…

I played him some songs, and a few ideas on the piano.

I got to hear some juicy inside stories about what artists are like.. but we won’t be sharing those on the internet

So, its early days.. but I have a good feeling that I might need to come back to Miami soon to make music

Lets just say I got a 22 hour journey ahead of me and I’m gonna have my paper and pen out most of the way!

haha.

I joked to him ‘Wow… impressive, this is your modesty wall’

Funnily enough, it really is. These are just a few of the records he’s done.

Beyonce, Christina Aguilarez, Biggie, Method Man, DMX… the list goes on.

http://www.aaronfishbein.com

Thats what I love about America.

You can go for a wax and wind up in the studio!

At least in my crazy little world

Day didn’t stop there!

Straight over to Jazz in the gardens.

Well, I thought Dubai was the only place in the world that had a Jazz festival that wasn’t really a Jazz festival.. turns out its not! Jazz in the gardens is more like Soul in the gardens… but I wasn’t complaining! I’m a soul sista

What I love about a soul concert is that there’s no violence, its not like a hip-hop or rock gig where things can get a bit crazy. No drugs, no guns.  Families hanging out, everyone dancing and singing along.. feel good vibes.

We joked that the only way something would kick off, is if we ran out of chicken :-p

But luckily there was plenty to go around!

Saw Heads of state! Good ol’ Bobby Brown grinding on the ground! (we were scared )

Then saw Charlie Wilson…

Boy did he perform! He is a performer!! F***! back up dancers and all. The crowd loved him, he owned us! Incredible!!

There was a beautiful moment, Charlie asked us all to put our phones in the air.

There were 40-50,000 people in the audience..

Then on the large screens you could see all the phones shimmering like diamonds.

And lastly… the anxiously anticipated Ms. Lauryn Hill…

As you may have read in a previous post.. I’ve seen her twice and been a little disappointed..

I had heard mixed reviews of recent gigs, so wasn’t sure what to expect..

Well, she came on really late..

But I didnt mind waiting.

She brought the goods!!!

She was rocking a dope outfit and looked amazing!

I was so happy! ecstatic! Lauryn’s coming back!!

Half way through she seemed to really relax and enjoy the show.. she seemed like she was having a tough time with the sound (band was drowning her out)

But she smiled and gave it her all.. and performed all her great hits in new arrangements.

Her voice sounded beautiful..

Some people have given her bad press for performing the tracks so differently.. but its fresh! Dope live arrangements!

I hope her new album drops soon, and that her fans can give her a second chance

Despite all the controversy and rumours.. at the end of the day.. she is still one of the best singers, writers & rappers of all time!

Tags: aaron fishbein, charlie wilson, heads of state, lauryn hill, Melisa Le Rue, miami, miami jazz in the gardens, Music