Ok, ok… I know we’re already two weeks into the new year, but uhhh… I had no idea CentricTV chose ‘ManMade’ as the #3 Best R&B Album of 2013…. Dope!!
Tag Archives: ManMade
Zo! – “We Are On The Move” featuring Eric Roberson and Phonte (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
There are only two rules I have for watching this new video:
1. Leave your cool at the door…
2. HAVE SOME FUN.
The day before this video shoot, I was catching up with Eric Roberson in the car where we had the heat blasting as it was cold as shit outside (of course with today’s ‘Polar Vortex’, it probably seems like nothing now). Anyway, as we were talking… almost in mid-sentence Erro stops and said, “Hol’lup, we’re shooting (the video) outside tomorrow?” …To which I responded, “Yeah.” It was supposed to be 30-35 degrees (F) in the morning and top off at about 40 in the afternoon. We all met up at around 7:30a the next morning, threw a couple of dance moves together, looked at each other like, “It’s cold as hell, but we’re out here… Let’s have some damn fun.” And that is EXACTLY what happened…. Enjoy!!!
Zo! “We Are On The Move” featuring Eric Roberson & Phonte (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Directed by: Kenneth Price
Purchase ManMade HERE • Or on iTunes
Eric Roberson, Darion Alexander, Phonte, and I on set in NC (Dec. 2013)
2013 In Pictures
With 2013 being the most successful year in my music career, it’s only right that I share the pictures that documented it. Looking back, I released my newest album, ManMade, and had the pleasure of visiting Brooklyn, Baltimore, D.C., Chicago, Richmond, Philly, Pittsburgh, LA, Tucson, Detroit, Vegas, Seattle, Austin, Durham, Atlanta, Charlotte, San Diego, Houston, Dallas, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Cleveland in support of it – I was even asked to perform on the eight-day Capital Jazz Cruise at the beginning of November. I contributed to the new The Foreign Exchange album Love In Flying Colors with “Listen To The Rain,” and The Reworks with a remix for Phonte’s “Gonna Be A Beautiful Night”. I hung out with Bobbito and Crazy Legs of Rock Steady in NYC, began endorsing Lewitt Audio, released an ode to Sesame Street in the form of the “Count To Five” video, was the subject of my FIRST documentary, and even had a day named after me in Las Vegas.
Things to look out for in 2014…
• Making the music for Black Dynamite – The Animated Series (Season 2) with Fatin “10” Horton
• My very first trip to South Africa with The Foreign Exchange at the end of March + a world tour with +FE
• A brand new single + video from ManMade + more solo dates
• New, original music… Including a collaborative EP with…………………………
…….anyway, thank you, 2013… Here’s to one helluva productive and positive new year in 2014. Cheers!!
Zo! shirt spotted in these skreets!!
The Pittsburgh crowd awaits… (June 2013)
My first visit to Biscuitville in Raleigh, NC (Oct. 2013)
Full House in Atlanta for +FE (Oct. 2013)
@Sophia1922 with de Zo! shirt
The sun shining on Detroit (June 2013)
@LifeOfALibra rockin’ a Zo! shirt
Chuck Anderson, Richard Williams, Nate Mitchell, Me, and Dennis Garner
Autographed pre-orders! (May 2013)
Contributed “Listen To The Rain” on The Foreign Exchange’s ‘Love In Flying Colors’ (Sept. 2013)
Chantae Cann and I before performing on the Capital Jazz Cruise (Nov. 2013)
On the bass for “We Are On The Move” in Pittsburgh (June 2013)
Contributed to The Reworks album this year with “Gonna Be A Beautiful Night” Remix
Durand Bernarr and I after the Cleveland shows (Dec. 2013)
Photo shoot in NC with Creative Silence
Another Zo! shirt sighting!!
In Southfield, MI recording with Collective Peace (Oct. 2013)
Carmen Rodgers and I after our Atlanta Show (Aug. 2013)
Zo! shirt sighting!
Me + Sy Smith rockin’ twin Motifs at NAMM (Jan. 2013)
Zo! + Carmen Rodgers (Sept. 2013)
…just visiting vinyl sold out this year.
A view from the keys at the +FE show in Columbia, SC (Oct. 2013)
in Seattle (July 2013)
Looks like I’m singing… But I’m really just talkin’ shit.
Rockin’ out at Fox 5 Vegas in the Gibson Showroom
Carmen and I after +FE’s Atlanta show (Oct. 2013)
Rocked with Original Blackbyrds member Allan Barnes at my boy Tate McBroom’s wedding in September.
Keys • Photo by Creative Silence (July 2013)
Me and Carmen in Houston, Gary Mayes on drums (Sept. 2013)
Helluva year for +FE Music
On the keys in L.A.
Brand new interface in the studio (Oct. 2013)
The crown…
Me and Gwen Bunn after shooting the “Count To Five” video in NC (May 2013)
All day… • Photo by Creative Silence
The Zo!Tif in Richmond (June 2013)
Me and Larry Graham (Nov. 2013)
On keys in Vegas (July 2013)
Zach Cutler, Deborah Bond and I in NYC (June 2013)
Yep, that’s a ManMade cake, bruh. Made by @TheCakeLadyNY
On keys for The Foreign Exchange in Raleigh, NC (Oct. 2013)
Dr. Lonnie Smith MURDERING on organ at NAMM (Jan. 2013)
The L.A. Crowd (June 2013)
The Island of Curaçao (Nov. 2013)
Live painting of me by Demont “Peekaso” Pinder on the Capital Jazz Cruise (Nov. 2013)
On the Road to NC (Dec. 2013)
@Hicksont77 rockin’ a Zo! shirt
Jarrard Anthony, Me, Jon Bibbs, and AB
Setup at Indianapolis’ Jazz Kitchen (Oct. 2013)
Anthony David, Carmen Rodgers and I after our show in Atlanta (Aug. 2013)
Atlanta Skyline (Oct. 2013)
One of my FAVORITE spots in Detroit… Bucharest Grill. (June 2013)
Tucson, AZ (July 2013)
Lewitt Audio Microphone for the road…
With Sy Smith performing at NAMM (Jan 2013)
At the Gibson Showroom @ Fox 5 Vegas going over the gameplan…
Lewitt Audio LCT 540 condenser microphone looking nice in East Wing Studios
Twin Motif set-up in Tucson (July 2013)
Richmond showed up… (June 2013)
First stop on the ManMade Tour was…. Brooklyn on its release date.
Me and Bobbito at the D.C. showing of his street ball documentary, “Doin’ It In The Park” (May 2013)
Having fun on stage in Durham (July 2013) • Photo by FroLab
Phonte on stage in Durham • Photo by Meri Hyöky Photography
“Count To Five” got some love in July on “Numbers Never Lie” (July 2013)
On the bass in the Gibson Showroom – Vegas (July (2013)
@Eclectic1914 rockin’ the Zo! shirt
After rocking our Charlotte Show (Aug. 2013)
Me and Carmen in St. Louis (Oct. 2013)
Photo by Meri Hyöky Photography
@Ms_Toni with the Zo! Shirt
Showing Sy some key parts in Detroit (June 2013)
Ideeyah, Monica Blaire, Sy Smith, Darius Mitchell, Me, Kristopher Crosby, Brandon Williams, and Saxappeal after a helluva homecoming show in Detroit. (June 2013)
Deborah Bond going IN (July 2013) • Photo by Meri Hyöky Photography
Live interview/meet and greet at Moods Music in Atlanta (Aug. 2013)
Final touch of fatassedness on the Capital Jazz Cruise (Nov. 2013)
Me and Deborah Bond after rockin’ in Philly (June 2013)
Deborah Bond and I in Durham (July 2013)
Me with Michael Coylar (Nov. 2013)
Soundchecking in Pittsburgh (June 2013)
Me and Phonte before the “Count To Five” video shoot
Sy Smith and I rockin’ out in Seattle (July 2013)
Bobbito, Me and Crazy Legs in NYC (July 2013)
Ursula Rucker and I in Philly (June 2013)
Still can’t believe I have my own day in Vegas. (July 2013)
Show love after EVERY show. In Dallas (Sept. 2013)
First single from ManMade… “The Train”
On bass at the Detroit Show (June 2013)
Eric Roberson, Darion Alexander, Phonte, and I on set in NC (Dec. 2013)
Durham Crowd Participation • Photo by Meri Hyöky Photography
Signing a fan’s keytar in Houston (Sept. 2013)
ManMade – Released on May 21st
In Detroit (June 2013) • Photo by Norvell Molex
Me and Carmen rockin’ out in Cleveland (Dec. 2013)
Carmen Rodgers and Phonte going in on a game of Operation (Oct. 2013)
Rehearsal in Atlanta (Aug. 2013)
@Cocoa_Cheeks_ rockin’ a Zo! shirt
Stevie at NAMM (Jan. 2013)
Me and my brother, Waajeed in Detroit (june 2013)
Made it to CentricTV’s “13 Best Indie R&B Artists of 2013” (Dec 2013)
Eric Roberson, me and my stank face that made a few appearances during the show. (Nov. 2013)
Fall in Michigan (Oct. 2013)
Rockin’ on the Capital Jazz Cruise (Nov. 2013)
Rockin out in Dallas with Carmen Rodgers, Lock Johnson on the drums (Sept. 2013)
Chicago Show (June 2013)
Another one added to the wall…
+FE Soundcheck in Raleigh, NC (Oct. 2013)
Me with Saxappeal, Zach Cutler, Tim Scott Jr., Carmen Rodgers and Darion Alexander after smashing the Las Vegas show (July 2013)
Video Shoot in NC (Dec. 2013)
ManMade held it’s own on iTunes at #2 on the R&B charts the first couple of days out…
“Count To Five” video (May 2013)
Gwen Luh De Keeeds (May 2013)
ZoTif, Nord Lead 2X, and the Moog Little Phatty… D.C. set up (May 2013)
‘ManMade’ Listed as one of SoulBounce’s “Best Albums Of 2013”
Zo! ManMade [Amazon][iTunes]
The “jheri curl jam” connoisseur had a great 2013. After releasing the album ManMade in May, Zo! took the year by storm with videos (muppets included), a tour and even a documentary. The album stood out for its execution and production, staying true to Zo!’s brand. Injected with funk, soul and jazz, ManMade was a relaxed, yet exciting project, which solidified Zo! a spot pretty high on our favorite producers list. With appearances from soul royalty Phonte, Eric Roberson, Sy Smith, Jeanne Jolly, Carmen Rodgers,Anthony David and many more, ManMade had some great, organic moments that easily made it one of the best albums we’ve had the pleasure of listening to this year. — Mercy
Revive Music places ‘ManMade’ at #4 in their “Revive’s Top 5 Albums of 2013”
This is a nice look from Revive Music… They placed ManMade at #4 in their “Revive’s Top 5 Albums of 2013”.
4. Zo! – ManMade (+FE Music; May 21)
The Foreign Exchange has carved out a great piece of the rock for themselves that continues to grow with each project from their expanding camp of collaborators. Chief among them is Zo!, Nicolay’s and Phonte’s keyboardist and key production collaborator. His debut Sun Storm was a gorgeous extension of +FE, only with own brushstrokes of soul. His follow-up, ManMade is nothing short of an amazing record. With Phonte co-captaining much of the ship in co-production and vocals (lead and backgrounds), this album is a cohesive work of inspired song craft. ManMade has songs that make you dance (“We Are On the Move” with Eric Roberson), get you hot (”Body Rock” with Sy Smith) and make you praise the Lord (title track with Phonte).
‘ManMade’ is #8 on Nu-Soul Magazine’s “Top 13 Nu-Soul Albums of 2013”
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.
Zo! ManMade Tour Vegas Documentary …by Suite Sessions
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
Suite Sessions | Zo! ‘ManMade’ Tour in Vegas Trailer #2: “Greatest Weapon Of All Time”
The ManMade Vegas show documentary by Suite Sessions releases this week… Here’s a second trailer for it…
“Greatest Weapon Of All-Time” Trailer
+FE Music Is For the Children…
Sent to me last night from @missmalumo from South Africa… This is her niece Zawadi Lalah who has decided to pick up her pink microphone, introduce herself, groove to the intro music some and then sing the first 7-8 bars of “We Are On The Move”….
Maybe I need to consider having Zawadi on the next album…. I love it!!
‘ManMade’ Album Review in The COCO Magazine
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.
Zo! 