#binact

Candice Johnson is a force to be reckoned with. 

Her passion for music is what fuels her blog, @butimnotacriticthough or BINACT. 

But don’t get it twisted, she’s NOT a music critic.

But if you ask her what she thinks about a few tunes, you may just get a little more than: “it’s a bomb track” or “I liked the cd.” She’ll tell you all you need to know about an artist that could convert you right after the conversation.

I’ve watched this blog grow into something powerful -- from her own ventures to music concerts to sharing her friends works, to fan girling over her mainstream music favorites.

Don’t take my word for it --

there’s lots to explore on her brand new website, so check it out!

- Khadijah Dennis, Founder

Twitter: @KDennis94

Instagram: @lifethroughart 

It’s Monday and I’m in my mood to obsess over the same few songs for a week or two. Here they are:

waves (Remix)-Miguel ft. Travi$ Scott

I love this sexy ass remix. My friend, Olivia (@LivinColororg) has raved about this album and after hearing this remix I’m ready to dive in to WildHeart very soon.

Temple-Baauer ft. M.I.A., G-DRAGON

Good ole Spotify put me on to this one. Spotify has a playlist of new releases that updates every week and this song blessed my ears. Now I can’t turn it off and I’m running to hear the project.

Run Wild (Acoustic)-Jon Bellion

I stumbled upon this song last year and the acoustic version reminded me why I love it so much.

Applause-Lady Gaga & Replay-Zendaya

Two songs that match my current upbeat mood and overrall beaming happiness. 

Last Tuesday I was blessed to see two of my favorite songstresses live and direct: Katera and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Katera has been running the Columbia music scene all year long. I was so excited to hear that she was opening up for Corinne! She pulled a couple of my favorite covers and original songs out of her arsenal. From Michael Jackson to Aaliyah, Katera had the crowd jamming to each and every note she strummed from her guitar.

I waited for the stagehands to rearrange the set for the main act when something hit me: before listening to her newest album, The Heart Speaks In Whispers, about a month ago I hadn't listened to Corinne Bailey Rae in YEARS.  She's known for the singles "Put Your Records On" and "Like A Star" and those debuted TEN YEARS AGO. 

After feeling beside myself for a bit, Corinne graced the stage in an emerald green pantsuit to sing the house DOWN. She serenaded the crowd with her magical voice as she floated across the stage like the true faerie she is. She performed the oh so popular "Green Aphrodisiac" and I didn't know whether to clap or snap afterwards. Corinne brought out such a diverse crowd (my dad bought our tickets)! I was among aunties, grandpas, AND college kids. I was excited to hear "The Skies Will Break" but my new takeaways "Been To The Moon" and "Horse Print Dress" will have me jamming for weeks.

I made a bee line to the merch table to buy a copy of the CD for my car. The event staff got the crowd together to let us know that she would be signing CDs and my heart skipped a beat. Then this happened:

August really put some fire in me. Inspiration is at an all time high. In the past few months I've been missing out on all the tunes around me so I'm catching up. Today's WDW is a little different. Normally I prefer talking about full projects but for the next few weeks I'm going to do single tracks for this segment. You're okay with that right?

Mike McFly is a 28 year old product of the military who calls Columbia, SC his home. He's been making music since he was 11 years old. When I realized I was out of touch with music, his song was the first one to reel me in.  As a self proclaimed lyricist, he plans to achieve greatness through spreading his music organically. In a year he wants to expand his brand to create a heavy local following and continue to mold his artistry. In five years he plans to tour and secure his rise to the top.

Boyz II Jodeci came with raw vibes and unfiltered bars.

"Need the nose of Barbara Streisand when you breaking down my lines..."

That's just the first line of the song. If you know him for his previous project, PBS Mind in A MTV World, this song brings a completely different feeling. Mike makes sure to showcase his writing skills and versatility. The reason this song excites me so much is because it's so enticing. It's different and the emotions in his words are damn near tangible. The song is so fun to listen to. You can't help but to run it back to catch what he's dishing out.

I'm not going to pretend like I don't feel bad for taking a month long impromptu hiatus. I'm also not going to give a bunch of excuses. This isn't about me or my struggle. This is about her:

I had absolutely NO idea how much I needed this. I've needed a musical pick me up and this is exactly what I needed. I remember people talking about Jamila last year because of her vocals on Chance's Sunday Candy. My friend Asiah told me to check out her current project and here I am.

"HEAVN is a breath of fresh air. HEAVN is solace. HEAVN is comfort. HEAVN is inspiration. "

HEAVN almost leaves me speechless as it takes me on a journey through self love and nurturing. I love each and every song on this project. So much that I can't even pick a few favorites to discuss. I can listen to this project over and over again. Each time it puts me in a wonderful mood that makes me want to hug myself. It's so refreshing hearing her sing confidently about loving herself and spreading joy to those around her. It brings a burst of powerful vibes in the least expected way. 

I try to steer clear of being critical or ranting like a lunatic but I have to get this off my chest.

At some point we have to leave our love for nostalgic music in our mental attics, lockers, and storage bins.

By no means am I dismissing music of the past. In fact I am appreciative of the sounds that crafted today's tunes. I would like creators to find a way to appreciate it while staying true to their current styles. If I hear another 90's sample or remixed Aaliyah song I might lose it. If I hear another "the next *insert legend here*" comparison I'm going to snap. Point is we don't need another Whitney Houston, Prince, or Michael Jackson...because we already have one. The music doesn't die because they did. The music doesn't die because the album isn't number 1 on the charts or on the radio. Discographies and catalogs are easier to find now than ever. The music is still here, alive and well.