Author Archives: alazebnik

“Our site grew dramatically through the word of mouth”- Winston Ford

Winston “Stone” Ford
Owner and CEO of thecouchsessions.com
Twitter: @couchsessions | @thisisstone
Email: stone@thecouchsessions.com

Sit on your couch and pop out anything with an internet connection, because The Couch Sessions will blow your mind.

Created in 2005, The Couch Sessions is the premier online destination for alternative urban music  and culture. The site is dedicated to spotlight the artists that are trying to make a name for themselves in the world of music. The site contains interviews with artists such as: Big K.R.I.T, Ryan Leslie, Dallas Austin, Dawn Richards, and many others. The blog is the brain child of Winston “Stone” Ford, who wanted to create an outlet where the music he liked would be spotlighted.

“I would spend weekends going through [my father’s] vast record collection when I was little. My father was a huge music nerd, but what he taught me was not to segregate my music choices. He was as huge a fan of a band such as: The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Commodores and Donna Summer. I also became fans of such artists as Marvin Gaye and Parliament Funkadelic. I feel like any artist who can pursue their art, remain happy, and expand their audience is an inspiration to me. There are so many names that come to mind that I would be sitting here for days trying to list everyone,” says Ford.

“Stone” began blogging in 2002 but instead of covering the art of music, he covered the art of war. Winston began covering the Iraq War and found himself disillusioned with politics. Who could blame him when most of the contradicting news articles were more confusing than Lil Wayne’s lyrics.

“I’ve always been musically inclined and I thought I could use the power of the Internet to make my voice heard. I felt like it was my obligation to give these artists their just due. Some of the artists that we’ve profiled have sold out shows after being spotlighted,” says Ford, who started the blog as mainly a hobby.

“When the site began, it was mainly an outlet to write about the music I liked. I would update the website when I got bored at work. I never thought that I would be making money from it at all. Now, it’s a business. While the content remains the same, we have advertising targets to meet and guidelines to uphold,” Ford says.

One of the main guidelines that The Couch Sessions upholds is their commitment to their fans and readers. In 2010, Winston met with the top one hundred fans of The Couch Sessions. In the five year span of its inception, the blog has maintained a growth in their audience. “Our site grew dramatically through the word of mouth,” says Ford. The word of mouth in 2011 includes the use of social media sites such as: Twitter, Facebook, Tumbir, and even Myspace (the three people who still use it). “I’m able to interact with fans from all over the world. I’m able to have instant and real time discussions with fans in Brazil, New Zealand,and the UK. When I travel to a new city, I always find new fans of the site to connect with. Social media has expanded rapidly, but I feel like the next five years will focus on cutting through the clutter and information overload. Social Networks will get more specific. There will be networks created based on your interests, says Ford.

Ford also thinks that music is expanding as well.

“It’s a very interesting time for the music industry. Music is no longer controlled by a few powerful gatekeepers and major labels will rapidly lose their market share to the indies. In the next 5 years there will be a pop star, who will forgo the traditional music route and create their own record label, while keeping a substantial share of profits and royalties. Music will also become more less of something you consume and more of a social and lifestyle experience. Services such as MOG, Spotify, Google Music, and Apple’s upcoming iTunes in the cloud will change the way the next generation of listeners experience music. I also see brands like Mountain Dew, who already has Green Label Sound, which is home to artists such as Chromeo, jumping into the music label game as well,” says Ford.

Whatever the case may be, The Casting Couch will be on the top of everything. With social media, television, and entertainment expanding, one can gather information right on the couch. Let the The Couch Sessions help you enjoy your sessions anywhere.

A Recent Video That Was Featured On His Site which features rapper Aloe Blacc
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/6aHHfsJo5VE" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

How did the colonialists win the Revolutionary War? With a massive army that could topple empires, the British still lost to the revolutionaries. Some people believe that England was losing too much money and were outmatched in enemy territory. Instead of honing their skills with guns and naval artillery, I believe they honed their skills with clarinets and pianos. I can proof it too. While it is not in any of our history books (insert a World War II fact), I could prove it by showing you anyone’s playlist.

The Beatles

Pink Floyd

The Rolling Stones

Oasis

The Sex Pistols

Black Sabbath

Judas Priest

Led Zeppelin

The Who

Before I get carpet tunnel by pressing enter again, I have to admit that I was taken back by the amount of music that is exported from Britain. It still hurts me that people who made “Stairway to Heaven” were not hippies from California.

While there is great talent from the United States, they are not in the same league as the Brits. Americans rock hard, but the Brits rock harder. Even today, the British are well represented in music. With bands like Muse, Franz Ferdinand, The Artic Monkeys, and Coldplay selling out venues, the English are well represented today. What makes them stand out.

Dominic Brown, the drummer for Muse once said in an interview with ilikemusic.com that he likes music because “it makes [him] feel the most free [he has] ever felt in [his] entire life and gives [him] the freedom to do anything without much consequence.”  What makes them stand out is how free their music. Supposedly the United States is the home of freedom, but yet music is limited by Record Companies. Unique and different does not sell. Once an artist starts to break out they have to water down their product to accommodate the norm.

Band of Skulls

The XX

One of those accommodations is the role of women in Rock music. Once a female artist begins to become a brand, she is quickly adjusted to Country or Pop Music.  Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland and Haley Williams from Paramore are exemplars of this transition. Rock Music should not be a male dominated avenue, but the facts still remain that these women have made more money on dropping the bass and drums kit for more album sales. The XX and Band of Skulls are two unique British bands that are beginning to gain notoriety with their uniqueness and their lead singers.  Both bands have both a female and a male lead singer. The XX consists of vocalist Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim [bass]Baria Qureshi [guitar] and Jamie Smith [beats/production]. Band of Skulls consists of Russell Marsden [guitar/vocals], Emma Richardson [bass/vocals], and Matt Hayward [drums]

Honestly both female leads sound identical but it is evident that both bands have a different voice. I rather hear this on the radio then most of the “music” on the radio.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/Pib8eYDSFEI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/aY8RcFD3m_k" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/fKL2prSqDQI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

A Picture From The Couch Sessions

Just saying Tamar-kali gives me headache. Her song “Pearl,” which feature Jean Grae is actually a single on her album, “Bottom Black.” Even Jean Grae could not save this song. She was actually forgettable, which is suprising considering her collaborations with other artist such as: Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco and Chrisette Michele.  The video features a lot of close-ups, a train, and a sofa on top of a roof. The video did n othing for me except give me a headache.

With the release of Radiohead’s newest album, Kings of Limb, Radiohead released a music video for their single, Lotus Flower. The video features Radiohead’s lead singer and ex-lead singer of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell. Throughout the black and white video, Chris Cornell basically pranced around like he smoked a lotus flower. Just like a classic Radiohead song, Cornell was just “Being Himself.” Unfortunately “Lotus Flower” is not a classic

On March 22, 2011, Adrian Leblanc, author of “Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble and Coming of Age in the Bronx,” had a reading at the Newman Library Conference Room. This reading dealt with both Random Family and her newest investigation in stand-up comedy.  “Stand-up comedy is similar to journalism. It takes time to find your voice,” says Leblanc. It took her ten years to find her true voice in completing Random Family and she remained resolute throughout the process, which is very inspiring. Leblanc, this spring’s Harman-In- Residence, took many questions from the audience of enthusiastic fans, students, and professors. “I think I am a genuine person,” says Leblanc. Her genuineness is evident in the way she takes every investigation.  She puts herself in every situation that may come her way, which is refreshing.  I found the experience very insightful and I hope to read her future work.

Am I the only the person who does not like cheeseburgers? Why does everyone insist on ordering it only? I like variety. I enjoy variety.  As a well-nourished person, I like and enjoy variety in my meals. Why take a menu or why even order in the first place if you’re just going to eat the same thing over again?

I am a man, who likes his burgers. I believe that the cheese ruins the taste of the most important aspect of a hamburger, the beef. Whether I use Angus or a piece of ground meat, I consider myself an expert in this delicious craft. One may call me a George Foreman Grill technician.  Do not expect this technician to use any ketchup!

A well done 9oz hamburger from Kool Bloo, 221 East 23rd Street, New York

Adding ketchup to a burger is like adding makeup to a woman. Does ketchup make the Burger taste better? Does makeup make a woman look better? Did I just compare hamburgers to women? In my opinion a good hamburger, just like a good women, is hard to come by.

McDonald’s burgers are made out of plastic.  Burger King’s burgers are elastic.  Wendy’s burgers look Jurassic. Not all burgers are created equally. There are places where quality out rules quantity.

What you can expect in Burger Bistro

Burger Bistro is where fancy burgers meet casual prices. This burger establishment joins many gourmet restaurants on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. What separates this small and cozy restaurant from the others is that anyone can customize their meal in any way they want. This customization does not only include how you want the meat cooked. From caramelized onions to guacamole, one may add any topping on their menu.  Even if you’re crazy to like cheese on your burger, do not expect to only have American cheese on their menu. One may put chesses such as: gouda, asiago, pepper jack, and etc. The quality was great and the portion size was just right.  I had a well-done burger on whole-wheat buns with Portobello mushrooms and peppers.  It was great.  I love to eat hamburgers but just do not put cheese and ketchup on it.

A sword by itself rules nothing. It only comes alive in skilled hands.

If you needed subtitles, that quote is from Couching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Ang Lee’s film, centers on a bunch of people fighting over a sword called Green Destiny. Many individuals gravitated towards the action and the story of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. One of those individuals was Ling Li.

A scene from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Not to be confused with the main character of the movie, Master Li Mu Bai, who is played by Yun- Fat Chow, Ling Li was not part of the cast that helped collect ten Academy Award nominations in 2001. It won four Academy Awards, which includes: Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Art Direction, and Best Foreign Language Film.  In 2000, Li, who everyone calls Leo these days, was just a child when he saw this critically acclaimed movie.  “I just really like that movie. I guess that is when I started to love film, says Leo. Leo Li was born and raised in China. As a young adult he emigrated to the United States with the same dream and passion in film.  After going to Baruch College for a year, Leo Li transferred to Columbia University.  After contemplating an accounting career, Li decided to go study his passion.  He joins a student body that amounts to nearly thirty thousand people.  Fall enrollment in 2008-2009 was 25,459 people.  In 2008-2009, 1865 students were awarded Bachelor Degrees and 5526 students were awarded master degrees.  Only fifteen students were awarded a bachelors degree in Film Studies. There are more students who take Art History as a major. Seven more people! Even more people take statistics for a major. Who really would want to take that?  “I don’t know if I truly wanted to do a business degree. It’s always in the cards if this film thing doesn’t work out. I don’t think I would be happy if I were to do a career in finance or accounting,” says Li.  “I liked my time in Baruch, but Columbia is where I wanted to be.”

What’s the difference between Baruch and Columbia? “It’s the price obviously,” Li jokes.  “There isn’t a huge camaraderie in Columbia also. Maybe after a couple more semesters, I will be more accumulated to the film department,” he says.  Alex, a film student in Columbia and a person who is too shy to give out a last name, believes that Columbia is “very difficult.” “You can get lost in the shuffle,” Alex says.

Leo likes his classes very much. “They are interesting but challenging. I have to know the conceptual aspects of the films. One class I like particularly is Chinese Film,“ says Li.

Columbia University

Richard Pena teaches his Chinese Film class.  Pena, who teaches Topics In World Cinema every semester, serves as the Program Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Director of the New York Film Festival since 1988. Filmmakers covered in this class includes: Xie Jin, Chen Kaig, Zhang Yimou, Jia Zhangke, King Hu and Wong Kar-wei.

Richard Pena serves as the Program Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Director of the New York Film Festival since 1988

Leo has two other film classes where he spends a couple of hours watching a film. If he manages to stay awake then he has to participate in a class discussion of what he and fellow classmates saw.  “While that sounds fun, I have to watch older movies. Some are good and others are just there,” says Li. He plans to join an alumnus that includes Lisa Cholodenko, Kathryn Bigelow, Henry Alex Rubin, and Albert Berger. They all went through the same program and achieved success in recent years.  While ‘The Kids are all Right” and “The Hurt Locker” were huge successes, Leo Li will pave his own way through the film industry. One day he is sitting in a classroom and the next day he is standing on a podium accepting an award. Li hopes to own the Green Destiny of Film.

“Without Green Destiny, you  are nothing!”