Cover songs: one of the trickiest balancing acts in music. Artists face the tremendous pressure of putting their own stamp on a time-honored classic, while still paying homage to the original. Add extreme skepticism from purists to the mix, and it seems like a no-win situation for musicians simply trying to wear their influences on their sleeves. Still, against all odds, these artists’ renditions manage to not just make the cut, but even surpass the original versions in the eyes of the ORANGE music staff.
This year’s South By Southwest had its fair share of glaring issues, as does everything that happens — ever. Some of the more pressing matters concerned fan safety, the evermore-exclusionary atmosphere and the oversaturation of big ass businesses. But please, save the commentary on Austin’s increasing corporatization for a more pretentious article. There is a more minute, but infinitely frustrating problem that has been making its presence known at every live music event, be it at Red 7 or Austin Music Hall.
Somewhere within Austin’s ever-emerging hip-hop scene, Megz Kelli and Chris “Dougie Do” Beale have created their own space as Magna Carda, melting the lines between local R&B and rap to create something all their own. Their latest project, Van Geaux,boasts a polished, yet underground feel, focused on establishing their own identity rather than trying to mimic those at the roots of hip-hop. The laid-back charisma between the two cool kids resonates clearly on each track, with Kelli’s rhythmic, stop-on-a-dime flow and Beale’s instrumental flourishes making the perfect bedmates.
