#BlackCountryBae: Tanner Adell

Credit: Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean

Happy Black History Month, fam! Today's Black country bae is Kentucky-born singer and songwriter Tanner Adell.

Now, I just recently learned about Tanner through the Black Alt Mag Facebook page, via a comment under the Chapel Hart (see how we work together)? I challenge you: Google this woman right now. There's next to nothing on her.

Overnight, Tanner has become a country favorite of mine, even as her detractors swear she isn't "really country". We seem to  be hearing a lot of that lately by people who really don't want Black women in country music. Which sucks for them because there are plenty of Black women already in country music and have been since Black people created country music.

#BlackCountryBae: Chapel Hart

L to R: Trea, Danica, Devynn

So my little rant about Lenny Kravitz making a good point got me thinking: I need to talk about a few, very specific Black country artists on here, because they're basically in the same boat as their alternative cousins (though admittedly a little better off).

Enter Chapel Hart.

#BlackAltBae: Tee Kitonyi

I've been friends with artist Tee Kitonyi on Facebook for a while now (where she likes to post a billion selfies a day), but I only recently found out she made music. It was a pleasure to complete this brief interview with her on December 17th, 2023.

So I finally sat down to listen to your music. You are a weirdo, lol. You are a Weirdo with a capital W. I've heard a lot of the electronic/metal/trap type of music, but you're in a class of your own, lol. How long have you been making music and what drew you to this style?

I love electronic music, what preferably drew to to this kind of music is FKA twigs and Sevdaliza and I've been producing, for a year but writing music and singing for a long time.

Lenny Kravitz's Point Still Stands

"I'm what the industry's missing / If you want the real tea / Then go ask about me..."
-- Baby Storme, "Bad Girls Club"

This whole Lenny Kravitz situation is pissing me off, so I'm just gonna say my piece and bounce. Because in my humble opinion, the Lenny Kravitz situation...isn't really about Lenny Kravitz. It's about a much bigger problem that is once AGAIN being ignored by our people.

As someone who has also never received an invitation to the Stellar Awards or a write-up in the Source Magazine, I understand Kravitz’s complaint. Sure, I don’t sing gospel music and I’ve never made a rap song but I also don’t know what the hell Kravitz would do at the Source Awards. The Soul Train Awards doesn’t even have a rock category and the last time Kravitz had a song on the top 40 Hip Hop /R&B charts, the BET Awards didn’t exist. Eminem appeared in multiple BET Hip Hop Awards cyphers because he is a hip-hop artist but haters like y’all insist on bringing facts and logic into this emotional argument. Iggy Azalea was nominated best new female hip-hop artist because … OK, I can’t explain that one, but still … (Source)

Let's start right there.

#BlackAltBae: Miles Strand

I stumbled across Miles Strand on TikTok when he did a metal cover of "Unholy" by Sam Smith. You may have notice I repost him a lot on Instagram. So when he answered my call for allcomers, I was ecstatic. I reluctantly concluded this awesome interview on June 27th, 2023...but I had to let the man get back to his life.

Miles!!! Your version of "Unholy" ruined all other versions for me, including the original (I accidentally heard yours first, and after that, no one else came close). How long have you been making music?

HAHAHAHA, oh man, I love that! Well, I started my first (real) band in high school, and that was the first instance where I started trying to actually write and perform my own stuff, so I guess it's been about 23 years that I've been making music!

#BlackAltBae: INVincible K

I had the pleasure of first meeting Kendall a.k.a. INVincible K on Instagram when I invited allcomers for interviews. He was my very first responder, and I loved getting to know him a little better during this interview we completed June 24,2023.

My fellow Houstonian!!! What a pleasure to meet you! Have you always been based in Houston? When did you start making music professionally? 

What's uppp! Yeah, I was born and raised in Houston. Started making music professionally around 5 years ago. 

Do you play any instruments?

Yes, I play the guitar, the bass, and the piano; not the best at reading music though. I know all the basic stuff like notes and chords, took guitar in high school and piano as a kid, but eventually stopped. The reading part was always complex but the feeling...if I could catch the feeling...it then became easy to copy and to play with my other classmates .

#BlackAltBae: Sad Heaux the Goddess

I think I first came across Sad Heaux the Goddess on Instagram and started following her with the intent to research her more thoroughly at a later date. But when I saw a clip of one of her videos, "later" became a serious issue of "now." I immediately had to follow her on every platform and add her music to my library.

It was an absolute delight to complete this interview with her on January 31st, 2023.

So how long have you been in music and how did you get started?

Well I’ve been into music ever since I could remember. My and my father would spend so much time listening to R&B and jazz together. I wrote my first song at age 5, and we have tons of family videos of me doing performances at home. I also I have musicians on both sides of my family. On my mom's side I have a lot of family who rap, sing, and/or produce. On my father's side we have a proud history in the jazz genre. My great-great-grandfather was actually a part of the Southern Syncopated Orchestra, which is the jazz band responsible for spreading jazz music around the entire world from 1919-1921. My other great-grandfather played Sax in the US Army’s jazz band during World War II. So both my personal history and my family history with music instills so much pride and motivates me to keep going.

#BlackAltBae: Shola Aurora

Words cannot express the sheer glee I felt when Shola Aurora agreed to an interview. A New York-based artist who draws from a vast (and diverse) well of influences, it was the utmost pleasure to complete this interview with him on November 14th, 2022.

#BlackAltBae: Malxolm Brixhouse

Malcolm Brickhouse co-founded heavy metal band Unlocking the Truth, and now works as a solo artist in New York. It was an honor to complete this interview with him on October 3rd, 2022.

Malcolm, thank you so much for doing this. Now, you’re best known for your work in the now-disbanded Unlocking the Truth, a group that was known for being extremely talented and very, very young. How and when did you first get into music? How many instruments do you currently play and what’s it like being a prodigy?

I always say I was attracted to the background music in anime, wrestling and monster trucks. Then my parents had me enrolled in all kinds of activities (e.g., karate, gymnastics, soccer, magic, art, music, etc.). You name it; I've done it but I really liked the guitar.  My old drummer used to come to my house every weekend and we played band like girls played house and here I am.  At the moment, I play the guitar and the bass.  About being a prodigy, I'm too modest for that but I do love writing, composing, producing and engineering.

#BlackAltBae: @legothicpoet

With over 21,000 followers on Instagram, Alyx (better known as @legothicpoet), is a prolific alternative model based in New York. As my first subject in seven years, it was an utter delight to not only interview her, but casually converse with her as well. We completed this interview on September 30th, 2022.

Alyx, welcome to Black Alt Magazine! It's such a pleasure to have you.

Thank you for again for the opportunity to interview with you.

How long have you been modeling and what is it like?

I started freelance modeling in 2019 in the summertime. One of my good friends and mentors at WeJustWorkin invited me to come down to the studio for a photoshoot. At the time I didn't think of starting a modeling career, I just did it for fun. We took some great photos, and it was an amazing time. It wasn't till after that shoot another photographer had reached out to me that same day!  I was amazed, and thought to myself that it was a calling from the universe. Three years later here I am, modeling for alternative brands and being on the cover of magazines. I never would've though that would be me. It's almost like I'm looking into a mirror every time I achieve a goal in my modeling career. I give myself applause. 

Quick Update

I know it seems like I came straight out the gate with guns blazing and then...nothing. I assure you I've been busy.

I've sent out invites to interviews for the first round of artists, and I'm not just limiting it to musicians. You can also follow Black Alt Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and feel free to tag Black alternative artists you wish to see interviewed (@blackaltmag).

My first interviewee in several years got back to me and promised an answer to the first draft of questions by this weekend. Another has agreed to an interview; I just need to get some questions out to them. It's a process, but it's going.

Thanks for your patience and support.