The sophomore release from multi-instrumentalist Zo! (of the Foreign Exchange fame) was everything we have come to love about the talented artist. Classy, head nodding soul music with some of the best singers in the game including Sy Smith, Choklate, Eric Roberson and more, Manmade was a master class in modern R&B/soul.
Back in April, I received an email basically out of the blue from Gene Avery Hogsett asking me about doing a show in Vegas. I had NO idea after setting everything up with him that come July, I would not only play the show, but leave Las Vegas with a day named in my honor AND enough video footage for Suite Sessions to put together an excellent 44 minute documentary about my activities while the crew and I were in town. Now, y’all have to understand… I am a documentary FANATIC. With THAT being said, to be the subject of one that I enjoyed watching is HUGE for me…
This is my first, so you all enjoy!
Zo! – Keyboards
Carmen Rodgers – Vocals
Zach Cutler – Guitar
Darion Alexander – Bass
Tim Scott Jr. – Drums
LaDarrel “Saxappeal” Johnson – Saxophone
Back in July… I went to Vegas to perform and my people from Suite Sessions decided to document the entire trip starting from the moment the crew and I stepped off of our planes.
Below, is the FIRST trailer…
Zo! – Keyboards
Carmen Rodgers – Vocals
Zach Cutler – Guitar
Tim Scott Jr. – Drums
Darion Alexander – Bass
LaDarrel “Saxappeal” Johnson – Saxophone
ManMade by Zo!
Source: The COCO Magazine
Author: Ann Marie Collymore
The Foreign Exchange camp holds a great reputation for releasing nothing but goodness. They steady deliver quality mood music, party music, vibe out music – you name it, they have it. The latest project to come out from the FE camp is the stellar album ManMade by producer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist Zo!
From the first track all the way through to the last track, ManMade is a roller-coaster ride of trip beats (which is short for trip hop beats), house, soul, and hip hop – all produced and written by Zo! Not only is the album written and produced by Zo!, but he also manages to outdo himself and play pretty much all the instruments as well. The result is an album that not only holds your attention from the start, but also has you leaving the entire CD on repeat.
The skip along, feel good vibe of ‘This Train’ featuring Sy Smith as well as the simplicity and sing-a-long catchiness of ‘Count To Five’ featuring Gwen Bunn will turn the grouchiest of persons into a gold dust sprinkling fairy. All right, it’s not that altering, but it sure does come close. Chokolate and Phonte’s ‘Making Time’ is very sexy. Particularly, with Choklate cooing:
“flow it up just keep it nice and steady/yeah/I miss your kisses and for you I’m ready/Yeah/you don’t have to make the time it’s already here/so when you gonna come and get it? “
The delivery in her come-hither nuances, flow sweetly over the hard drumbeat. ‘We Are On The Move’ featuring Eric Roberson will bring the house fever out of you, even if you’re not a house head. Step, spin, soul clap and repeat. You dig?
Zo!’s project ends on the usual quiet storm accent, with Sy Smith laying it down slowly and provocatively on ‘Body Rock’.
For a fair evaluation of the album, every track deserves a full out mention. Artistic growth is always anticipated, and Zo!’s growth surely is reflected on ManMade. Each song is touched with brilliance from each artist, while Zo!’s vision, ear, and production show no signs of letting up – giving you exactly what you need. The album is deservingly riding the Billboard charts and is already a favorite for many. Feel the groove.
The Seven Mellow Concepts of Zo!
Author: Hector De La Rosa
Source: Mellow Concepts
Detroit native Lorenzo Ferguson, known to the masses as Zo!, is a Multi-Instrumentalist/ Producer deemed genius. His recent release ManMade and his affiliation with Phonte (of Little Brother) and Foreign Exchange further enhances his artistry while fueling his creativity to stellar heights. Zo! sits down with Hector De La Rosa of Mellow Concepts: The Mellow Hang Suite and expands on the seven given concepts pertaining to his life, love for the art form, and the profound impact J. Dilla had on his artistic approach in music.
† Zo on the Concept of what makes his artistry unique:
Independent is one word that describes my artistry. I make music on my own terms, which is of huge importance to me in having creative freedom especially in a music industry that dictates how music as an art form should be marketed. It is necessary to have my hands on the distribution and marketing aspect of my music to have some kind of knowledge of where I am heading as an artist and entrepreneur. If I bring something creative to the table, I must make sure my product will not be shelved or flushed down the drain because it does not meet a certain music industry criteria or standard. I firmly believe music that comes directly from the head foremost heart is of purest form.
The 2013 SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Awards finalists were announced the other night and it looks like I made the list in two categories…
Independent Album Of The Year
Zo! – ManMade
and
Song Of The Year
Zo! featuring Eric Roberson – “We Are On The Move”
Make sure you click here to subscribe and VOTE between October 18th and 30th of 2013. The winners will be announced via international broadcast on December 9th. Let’s make it happen! Thanks y’all…
It looks like “Making Time” from the ManMade album received some love from Bossip.com for being one of the “10 Essential Cuffing Season Anthems”. If you don’t have a clue what “cuffing” is, I suggest you find somebody special and get tah discovering… In the meantime, shouts to Bossip for showing kats love.
Author: Carlton Hargro
Source: Creative Loafing
The North Carolina-based Foreign Exchange Music group – founded and fronted by the hip-hop/soul duo also known as the Foreign Exchange (rapper/singer Phonte and producer Nicolay) – has been dropping some of the indie soul scene’s most acclaimed music for years. One of the company’s most prolific artists is the producer/musician Zo! Coming straight out of the Detroit area, Zo! has dropped a bevy of retro-modern-flavored soul albums, including 2010’s Sunstorm and 2011’s … Just Visiting Three, among others. His latest project, ManMade (which features vocal support by local notables such as Anthony David, Carmen Rodgers, and newcomer Gwen Bunn), hit stores back in May, and he’s currently on tour supporting the album. Zo! makes is making his way to Atlanta for a live chat session on Fri., Aug. 9, and a live show on Sat., Aug. 10. Before passing through town, he hipped us to the making of ManMade and life as an indie artist…
Richmond, VA provided us with a helluva good time captured by The Cheats Movement, here are some shots from that night.
Personnel: Myself on keys (as well as shit talking on the mic), Deborah Bond on vocals, AB on vocals, Zach Cutler on guitar, Jon Laine on drums, and Dennis Turner on bass
I’ll just tell y’all this… It was already an honor to get an email from the brother Bobbito Garcia not too long after checking the D.C. screening of his new street ball documentary Doin’ It In The Park letting me know that the door is open to be a guest on his brand new radio show whenever we could schedule a time to do so…. AND to sit in on the show for its entire duration (two hours)…. But on the way up while cussing out every toll booth I passed through giving money away to roads and freeways that never really improve, my day flipped real quick. I learned that Crazy Legs, the president and one of the original members of the LEGENDARY Rock Steady Crew would also be on the show with me. I was buggin’ out, calling folks like, “YOOOOOOOOO!!”
Anyway, it was real dope to be able to kick it with two kats whom I consider to be legends and who have both played pivotal roles in not only hip-hop music, but culture overall. The great thing about it all is that it was documented and archived so those of you who missed it live can check it out right here…
Zo! 