April 2012
19 posts
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Bullets
Baby we did it! First song.
1 sleep 'til the single release! Thank You's
1 day!
Here is a sneaky still from the video out tomorrow!
Man! 1 sleep till this video is out. I’m mad excited! It’s been a long time coming, a lot of work, a lot of fun and a lot of learning. For me it feels like a big deal to finally have something finished and it feels good!
I am so grateful to everyone who is supporting me and what I do especially you people who have been bugging me for a release over the last few years haha. I’m sorry it took me so long to give it up. I woud like to make a special mention of those who were involved in the music video.
Director - Ralph Matthews. Ralph’s work is awesome. He has made a very eclectic mix of videos and ‘Bullets’ is something different to anything he has done yet. He also used to work with Special Problems and not only directs but does animation which, is pretty sweet.
D.O.P - Andrew Stroud. Andrew’s work is pretty amazing. He’s responsible for beautifully filmed music videos like ‘No Way’ by the Naked and Famous and ‘Ordinary Life’ by Smashproof. He also happens to be a super nice guy and awesome to work with.
Hair & Makeup - Christelle McIntosh. She is the most lovely lady and so talented. She did an amazing job with my face.
NZ on Air - These guys make it easier for musicians to put out music and still be able to eat and make rent every now and then. Would have been a lot harder to put out this music video without the funding and support from the team at NZ on Air. Massive thanks to David Ridler, Tania Dean and Brendan Smyth for everything you do xo
Bullets is being premiered on FOUR Live tomorrow (16th) between 4.30pm and 6pm but most likely around 5pm. The video will be uploaded onto Youtube at 6pm on this channel… http://www.youtube.com/user/JanineandtheMixtapeX
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Count down to the single release - My 14 most played albums in 2012
2 days! Feels good.
Here’s 14 albums I’ve been cranking the most this year. 1 for everyday since the count down of the single release started. It doesn’t even touch on all of my favourite stuff of all time but all of these albums have influenced my songwriting and production in some way.
All of these names below link to some of my favourite songs from each album.
The Weeknd - House of Balloons
Notorious BIG - Life After Death
Kanye West - My Dark Twisted Fantasy
Jay Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne
I also wanted to mention some recent local NZ Albums/ Mixtapes that you need to get yo hands on..
ZU - The Fruits of My Labour W/LVE
Get Well Soon - Get Well Soon EP
Ethical - This is still being worked on at the moment but is honestly something really special. He’s got some things to say with this. It’s a new mature writing with substance over some really well selected beats.
Count down to the single release - Lunch break photo shoot
3 days!
I wanted to say a massive thank you to Coralee and Alex for coming over during the video shoot for Bullets and taking photos. Not only did they take some amazing behind the scenes film photos (HERE) but they also took these babies in the 15 min lunch break.
You can view these on facebook xo
Count down to the single release - Basketball, AND1 Mixtapes and Janine and the Mixtape
4 days!
I’ve always been into playing basketball and watching AND1 Mixtapes. That’s actually a part of how the name Janine and the Mixtape came about…
The name relates to three main parts AND1 basketball mixtapes, Hip-hop mixtapes and a mixtape you would make for someone you care about. It combines that tough ass hard working no bullshit attitude with a bit of cuteness and care.
I play live with a very sweet band. Nik, Will and Oli. These guys work super hard and put up with my over enthusiastic way of music. Not only that but they do it for the love. That’s what we are all about!
Here’s some pictures of the band playing Rhythm and Vines
Off to band practice now and in the morning hoops in the park is on.
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Count down to the single release - Filming Decent Exposure for FOUR TV
6 days!
I wasn’t planning for this to be a part of the count down blogs but I had such a good time filming the interview for ‘Decent Exposure’ today and the guys who filmed it were so lovely I thought I would share some photos. I’m excited to see how they cut this together after running around a bunch of sweet places. Up on FOUR TV next Monday WOOP.
Hurr are ze photos!
XO
Count down to the single release - Single Cover
7 days till ‘Bullets’ Premieres on FOUR television!!
Since theres only 1 week to go till ‘Bullets’ is out I thought you should see the artwork…
HURR IT IS!
I’m not kidding when I say I made 150-200 single covers before deciding to go with this one. I needed to put it up now so I can stop making new ones like a mad woman. Massive thanks to Eloise Handricks and her team for taking this photo!
Photography- Eloise Handricks (retouched by Janine Foster)
Count down to the single release - Frank Ocean and MIA - SONG - Hold Me (Introduction) (demo)
Janine and the Mixtape
Count down to the single release - Frank Ocean and MIA
8 days!
Frank Ocean has been a big influence to me over the last year. This guy deserves a whole bunch of respect for his smooth voice, deep lyrics, songwriting and work ethic. He said in an interview that in between college and being signed … “I worked my ass off doing 13 jobs… I had so many jobs because I was always getting fired for being late. I used to be in the studio til’ 5 in morning and then have to get up and go to work”
The above little part of a song I wrote is something that was heavily influenced by Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Miguel, Drake and Aaliyah. But mostly Franky on this one.
MIA is pretty amazing, she has a cool voice, produces her own beats, she’s super sexy, intellegent and has ‘mad steez’. I’ve always loved the creativity and originality she brings to her music and been influenced by it.
Her latest music video “Bad Girls” is so insanely good, I must have watched it at least 20 times. If you haven’t watched it yet make sure you do. The best thing about it is that all those crazy stunts that you thought were made on a green screen are actually real.
This is the behind the scenes for the “Bad Girls” video. Super inspiring in all aspects.
Count down to the single release - Kicks & Chains
9 days!
Today’s not exactly anything deep but kicks and chains are a couple of my obsessions and they pop up in the ‘Bullets’ music video- photos here if you missed em. I love high tops and ‘dookie’ gold rope chains. By gold I mean metal/plastic painted gold. Mine’s pretty sweet but it kind of rattles - fake it till we make it homie.
I have a growing selection of Nikes and Adidas hi tops in my wardrobe. Doesn’t leave much room for woman shoes but I’m all about the sneakers. Big thanks to my man Daysh for throwing me a couple of pairs of Adidas Attitude Juniors. Yes I said Juniors, those babies above are size 3.5. Little boys shoes for my feet, so good. Here’s a few of em that haven’t been misplaced or thrown out…
Basically I want to be RUN DMC.
I found this sweet blog post by Complex about the 50 Greatest chains in Hip-hop it’s super interesting if you are into it. Nigo’s $-Sign and Bape Heads add up to $4,000,000 worth. CrAY SOn.
xo
Count down to the single release - Recording the song
10 days!
I know this sounds crazy to any normal person, but I produced about 50 versions of ‘Bullets’ (maybe even more) and if I counted mix bounces we’d be in the 100’s. I produced all the beats and synths at home using real synths and drum samples. Personally, I can’t handle software instruments. The drums are a selection of home made samples, sounds cut from Motown songs, and some samples from the likes of Kanye and Just Blaze that I have messed with to make a bit different.
Everything I put in has been tried in a few ways by being cut, reversed, stretched, effected and then if they weren’t deleted after that they were lucky and have found their way into the mix. I recorded the vocals over a couple of nights at Roundhead studios (by nights I actually mean till 3am). It was pretty crazy and I ended up with a pretty massive stack of vocals to choose from.
Thanks to the people who helped in putting the song together - Oli Holmes for recording in Mopho bass, Will Henderson for recording Waldorf and Korg R3, Bassy Bob for mixing, Jason Huss from Roundhead for tracking, Hayden Gyde for letting me steal his computer, Aaron Nevezie from Bunker Studio NYC for a sneaky synth I left in from our session, Nik Donaldson for being a sweet live drummer even if it’s not in this song and Chris Gehringer for mastering. Love you guys xo
Count down to the single release - Aaliyah!
11 days!
I love my 90’s Hip-hop and R&B and Aaliyah is one of the most inspirational females in that for me. Her voice was so smooth and the vocal melodies were pretty amazing. It was simple but soulful. The beats were pretty special too. More hip-hop heavy than your average R&B.
Apart from the fact that she was extremely talented she was also very loved for her humility and warmth. I like that she came across strong and sexy with her gangsta-ass mentality but was also intelligent and sweet. My kind of woman.
It’s a real shame she’s not around to collaborate with Drake and The Weeknd.
This still makes me tear up like a baby…
Count down to single release - Nana x
12 days!
Nana was the most beautiful person. She inspired me with her strength and her dedication but most of all, I was inspired by her kindness.
The last card she gave me said “Wishing you love in your heart and peace in your soul always” I keep that card by my bed and try to live by that. She is a big part of who I am and this world hasn’t been the same without her.
I wrote a song for her and some of my friends who have passed away recently. You can read the lyrics HERE
I painted this picture for her while I was still in school with her favourite scripture that she used to keep open on the dinner table
Miss you nana xoxo
Count down to single release - BIGGIE!
13 days! So we can get to know each other a little better every night at 7.30 until the single release on the 16th of April I’m posting something or somebody that has inspired me for the song (or just something I’m into.) Some of it is gonna be deep, some informative and some just dope things.
If you know me well enough you probably guessed this was at the top of the list… My man, Notorious B.I.G
For me music is all about the voice and the beat. That includes the lyrics. (Yeah, sound choice is important too, clever 80’s synths always get extra points) All of those things should make you feel something.
Biggie’s lyrics were raw and honest and he had a way of spitting them out so clear you didn’t miss one word of genius. There is no bull-waffling, even the simplest thing is said so well that if it doesn’t hit home, you weren’t meant to hear it.
AND the beats…well 90’s hip hop beats are pretty amazing but his are really poppin. Even the kids who say they don’t like hip hop will down a couple of brews and start yelling “It was all a dream!” when juicy comes on.
He’s pretty inspiring musically for me and what I do. If you didn’t know well now I guess you do know.
Release time WOOP
OK SO HERES THE NEWS! My first single and music video ‘Bullets’ is going to be premiered on FOUR live on the 16th of April!! Thats is 2 weeks from today. WOOP
In order to celebrate I am going to post something or somebody that has inspired me or… something to do with the song every night at 7.30 on my blog www.janineandthemixtape.tumblr.com until the 16th when you can see it on FOUR, C4 and youtube! I am so excited. It has been a long time coming but I’m so blessed that the wait is coming to an end! Can’t wait to show you.
A heads up that tonight is some behind the scenes photos! Booyah. Love your faces. xoxo
