Kosha Dillz is embarking on a journey, he will perform 40 shows in the next few months. Judaism influencing his rhymes along with the world around him, he stopped in to talk to Cut & Sewn.

How and when did you rapping?
I must’ve began in 1999 at Braggin’ Rites NYC at Nuyorican Poets cafe.

How’d you know rap was right for you?
I really didn’t know that ’till recently. I knew I was able to hustle and like it and love it and I can of have a lost love for hustling anything. Music and me, its all great, when I started developing my artist identity, it becomes easier to know that its right for me. I just love hearing myself complete songs that move me and other people.

Who are your influences?
Pop culture. Food. Surroundings. Scenery. Current news. Spirituality. Israel. It can range from a number of things.

Tell me about your writing process.
It usually begins with an urge to write, sort of like caffeine withdrawal but with a pen. I just finished my LP Beverly Dillz in LA with Belief, a lot was done in socks on a couch. Just enjoying to force the creativity which i think it a great skill every artist must acquire. With another producer, someone forces you to write to beats you might not do so by yourself, in the end that can create a great song you might not have ever explored.

Keep reading for more questions and information on upcoming Kosha gigs. (more…)

Melinda Ortner started music from her father’s footsteps, now she’s recording her first full length album, making music videos and being shopped around for a record deal. After comparisons to Fiona Apple, Muse and Alicia Keys, she’s more than on her way. Lee had a chance to talk to her the other day.

C&S: So the first question has to be, how did you get started in music?
Melinda Ortner: Well, my dad was a music teacher and forced me, I was reluctant to play piano. I didn’t want to, but then I did. He made me practice. I couldn’t play with my friends until I practiced, which I’m very grateful for now. And then, I kinda dropped it. I wanted to do acting when I saw the movie My Girl. That was the moment, ‘I want to be an actress.’ Then I got recruited for the choir, because they needed girls. They didn’t know I could sing, I didn’t know I could sing either. So I said ok. And when I tried I and I thought, I’m not bad. And I went from there.

Which do you like more: singing or piano?
I like singing more, but I like doing both at the same time. That’s when I get  to my zone. But I also play a little guitar and I do play the flute. That was my first instrument.

Are you gonna bring any flute into your songs?
Honestly, I don’t think so, but after hearing things by Vampire Weekend, I could bring a whole world of sound to my music. Never know.

What music influences you?
I would say, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington are the two singers that I wanted to sound like. From there, of course, Fiona Apple and Muse were like the obsessions I had in the last two years, where all I listened to was that. I would say I’m really really inspired by classical music and I try to incorporate it into my songs. Aside from that, Radiohead, and other bands that add regular piano stuff with electronica sounds.

Keep reading for more great questions and 2 awesome mp3s. (more…)

Eliot Murray, a good friend of the company, is our first guest DJ. He is an aspiring screenwriter and shade-tree musician living in Los Angeles. He writes,

So, given the recent re-embrace of unity among the leaders of the world via our nuevo presidente, I decided to wrangle some sweet “International-themed” music together. Some are local, some are foreign, but all dig into the cross-pollination of cultures to produce sweet results. Tchuss!

Although they formed just six months ago, Graydon is finding its place in LA’s crazy music scene. Packing places like the Hotel Cafe, they’re putting the fans in the seats. They’re about to hit the studio to record their first album, which from what I’ve heard from lead guitar/singer Matt Miller’s solo work, will be nothing short of awesome. He took the time to talk to Cut & Sewn.

Lee Frank: How did you get into music?
Matt Miller: Growing up there was always music around my house. My family is all musical. My dad’s a musician, a guitar player, my sisters all play music, too. I guess to start my career, I was in Italy and I had my guitar with me. Some friends decided we wanted to play at a bar there. I was living there for 5 months studying. We started playing some shows there and it was incredible. We played 3 or 4 shows and by the end of the semester, bars were packed and we played for tons of people. I could just feel it, for the first time that it was something I really wanted to do for my career.

You play the guitar. Do you play any other instruments?
I play piano. And I sing, I guess the voice is an instrument.

Who are your influences?
Like everybody else, The Beatles are a big one. That’s the first band I remember growing. I remember 4th grade, my dad had introduced me to Beatles albums. I remember listening to one with a bunch of friends in my class. We were listening to Magical Mystery Tour and I think as kids that’s a little bit weird, it looks kinda like a kids CD when you look at it. But I told my friends “we gotta listen to it.” And they were making fun of me because it was before they realized who the Beatles were. I knew for the first time in my life, I don’t even care what these people think, this is it, this is the real stuff. Also, I love a lot of old stuff like the Rolling Stones. Nowadays, I love Coldplay and Radiohead. I love bands that do something bigger, they capture something bigger than a couple hits. They have vision past hits on the radio, becoming something more than that.

After the jump the internet, belly dancing, and Little Richard. (more…)

So we missed a few weeks of playlists, major apologies. We’re making up for it big time this week with some fist-pumping, face-clenching rock jams.

This is the video for Money by the incredible N.A.S.A. (North America South America). The track features David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, & Z-Trip. Download. N.A.S.A. is bringing together crazy artists. The video features artwork by Shepard Fairey, of Obey and the Hope Obama poster. We’re really loving the N.A.S.A. tracks and looking for the album The Spirit Of Apollo to drop on 2/17/09.

Like a holiday sweater, this playlist is awkward even for Christmas.

Found this delightful video on Yes Yes Yall.

Black Thin King from combustion on Vimeo.

The Main Drag hailing from Boston is the latest to talk to Cut & Sewn. Playing a vast variety of instruments, including synthesizers and glockenspiel, they have a sound that many bands wish for. Their last album, Yours As Fast As Mine has earned them Salon’s Best Unsigned Artist as well as reaching #78 on the CMJ top 100. The track A Jagged Gorgeous Winter is being used in Rock Band 2. Enjoy the interview and mp3s at the end, too.

Lee Frank: I’m talking to Matt Boch and Adam Arrigo of The Main Drag. What instruments do you both play?
Matt Boch: Adam and I are both multi-instrumentalists. Most notably we’re the singers in the band, but we both play guitar, keys, bass, xylophone, and I play the trumpet on some songs.
Adam Arrigo: Yea, we’re the front men. We don’t need the other people. Wait, I’m kidding.

How long have you guys been playing music?
I first started taking piano lessons when I was 3 and I’ve played music ever since. Since then, I’ve played rock music.
I’ve been playing guitar since I was 8.

Where did the name “Main Drag” come from?
It could be a lot of things. It could reference the main drag of a town. But maybe someone could interpret it as a Death Cab for Cutie lyric, but that’s not really cool anymore.

So you don’t want them to attribute that to them anymore?
I used to like that band.
No more? You don’t like Narrow Stairs?
No, I really hate it.
We’re indie snobs over here, I guess. The earlier stuff is always better. That’s why we’re not making anymore records.

Who is the heart throb of the band?
Jon Carter.
Oh yea. Absolutely.
He has that cool laid back guitarist vibe. You that manly attractiveness that no one can resist.
He gets really sweaty on stage, too, which I’ve talked to some girls and they found that to be a turn on.

What bands are your influences?
I’d say Broken Social Scene, John Vanderslice.
The Notwist, Neutral Milk Hotel.
Hot Chip, Of Montreal.

What do you think of the current state of the record industry?
It’s a mess. I think that there was some arrogance on the part of the major labels. They thought their continual sales wouldn’t be hampered by new technologies and they were unwilling to flex even late in the game when they saw that the technology was actually changing the industry. As a result, the forecast isn’t great for the record industry as a giant corporatized institution. However, I think the opportunities for the individual musician have never been better. Over the next twenty years, we will see more bands with fanbases and more total number of bands with pockets of fans all over the country. The recording tools have gone from being multi-thousands of dollars just twenty years ago to under $1000 you can make a record that sounds pretty great. Music as an industry is always going to exist and there’ll always be opportunities to have people hear your music and make money by playing live shows, selling merchandise, and selling music. But the current state of the industry as a whole is somewhat depressing. That said, I can point out a huge number of artists that I have respect for that are on major labels that continue to play that game pretty well. I’m a huge fan of the new Lil’ Wayne record. He has his game. There’s money to be made and he’s making it. Obviously, I don’t think the same sort of strategies work with our type of music and we want to be more ad-hoc about the development of our band and fans and push forward. We just aren’t really a perfect fit for a major label given how we sound and what our ethics are like. And indie labels are like ‘you guys are a little too pop, you should talk to the major labels.’ We find ourselves somewhere in between, but we’re finding success in that place.

The interview continues after the jump as well as 3 tasty mp3s.

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This week’s playlist is a far jump from last week’s taking some of my favorite recent indie jams. Please enjoy.

In today’s playlist, I’m reaching back to some of the hits that remind me of my childhood. These songs have crafted me into the person you see today. What songs made you?

Admit it, this is the hottest playlist yet.