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Staying on the topic of videos for a minute, it’s worth mentioning that our area is chock full of remarkably talented directors and videographers. At OnStage we watch a lot of videos and post the ones we really like. We review or comment on all the videos we put up in the OnStage Video Showcase and as often as not you’ll notice we mention the quality of the videos themselves. There are some names of these new-age filmmakers that stand out and so, in no particular order, this is our shout out to them. If you’re making music in this area there’s almost no question you’re also looking to engage your fans and potential fans with a video that shows you at your talented best. These are the folks we think will really help you with that. We’ve taken the liberty of maybe merging the work of some directors with behind the camera folks without properly differentiating the roles but only because we don’t know the intricacies of all of the working relationships. But that’s what the comments section is for; we welcome your corrections and observations and invite you to follow us on Twitter @_OnStageDC.

1^st Impressions
Comprised of photographers, producers, directors and editors, 1^st Impressions is a very busy studio and a few examples of their work with local artists are prominent in the OnStage Video Showcase. We’ve got “Breathe” by Ashton Travis which has quality shots of Mt Pleasant as a background. And they’ve done work with Violet Says 5 on ‘Under my Back Seat” and of course their signature video, “Cremate Em” with Fat Trel. They’ve also done projects for Wale, Raheem DeVaughn, JR Writer, Cassidy, and an ever growing list.
Clipstar TV
Clipstar is an up and coming video production company with an already impressive body of work to stand behind their slogan “We make hit videos.” We like the gritty realism in the background of the Young Sir video “Rollin” which is featured in our Video Showcase. For a full sampling of what they do, check out their YouTube channel.
Cool Kids Forever Films
Some of the most popular videos of the past year are the work of Cool Kids Forever. They have credits on videos by Phil Da Phuture, KingPen Slim, Phil Ade, and Garvey The Chosen One. A video we especially like is “Told You So” by Uptown XO ft Diamond District directed by Langston Sessoms which you can also see in the video showcase. They actually shot this during Hurricane Irene. Talk about overcoming technical and logistical difficulties! If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery then Cool Kids Forever have a lot of admirers in this area because we see a lot of newer companies shooting the same panoramic backgrounds found on CKF videos.

Dro Victorious
We’ve mentioned our admiration for the work of Dro Victorious on our Twitter page a few times. That’s because you can almost feel the energy and fun that must be going on during his video shoots. We see it especially in the David Correy videos he’s directed, a number of which you can find in the OnStage Video Showcase, including our favorite, “Party For Me.”
Red Eye Films
This group caught our eye with the video “How To Love” shot with Don Juan. The message in his rendition of the song demanded the right setting and we thought Red Eye did a great job with that. You can also check out Don Juan’s “Get To Me” in the video showcase. That’s another great example of Redeye’s cinematic vision. Owner Edward Benitez is also a top DJ so artists looking to entrust their video production to Red Eye can rest easy knowing you’ll be working with someone who really does know music.

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Parent Category: Onstage

So, if We Recommend some YouTube channels from local artists, producers, and music companies there’s one thing you should keep in mind; there are a number of really high quality channels operated by folks from the DMV. So many in fact that what we decided to do was just throw a few links out there as a way of getting the ball rolling. Hopefully, those of you reading this will add a comment with more recommendations or just shout out your own YouTube channel. You can do that in the comments section below, or hit our Twitter page @_OnStageDC.

We think this is a good topic because there’s an evolution going on with YouTube and being in front of it is critical in the music business. Astute artists see the potential to do more than just share your latest video with the hope it may blast off and go viral and the next thing you know Baby or Rick Ross is calling you. There’s too much churn and over-saturation on YouTube for that to happen, even if you knock down 100,000 views in one month. To even get noticed you’d have to do something like 100,000 a day! So the trend is not to think of YouTube as your one-in-a-million shot, but as one of the main components of building your brand and developing a loyal customer base. Music is a business. A business needs customers. If you’re making music you should be using YouTube to acquire customers.

With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at what DMV music folks are doing on YouTube and offer a few examples with our observations and suggestions.

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Parent Category: Onstage

Here’s another entry in our #TheOnesToWatchIn2012 series. We caught up with DC native Daryn Alexus whose new mixtape release Vintage Heart. Modern Love just dropped on datPiff on Valentines Day. We were impressed with the styling and classiness of the intro video and added it to our OnStage Video Showcase for your viewing pleasure. As you can see from her responses below, Daryn is a sophisticated, confident artist and we think the future is full of big things for her. Welcome to the Stage, Daryn!

Daryn, tell us a little about yourself….

I grew up in DC. Lived in NE but uptown, NW, was my playground; running up and down Georgia Ave. Playing kick ball with friends on Brightwood Elementary playground. Shepherd, Alice Deal, Wilson, and Duke Ellington all played a huge part in who I am. I met so many different amazing people. The culture in DC is insane! Even as a child I loved it. Most of all Caribbean day every summer, ‘The Ave.’ filled with people. All these things inspired me as an artist, from my sound to my personal style. A sense of freedom just reigns over DC and I’ve embodied the spirit of my city. Now, being in Chicago for college, just really extends that whole vibe.

Describe yourself as an artist, and your approach to your music…

To describe me, Daryn Alexus, as an artist, would be like trying to convince a smoker that cigarettes kill. You could probably do it, but getting him to quit is an entirely different effort. I say that for many different reasons. None in a cocky sense, as in to say, “I’m indescribable,” “I only do me,” or “I’m one of a kind.” I say it’s difficult to describe me because at any given moment, I may change. I don’t like too much of the same thing all the time. I’m a heavily emotional person, and I like to go off what I feel. I’m a huge believer in destiny and following your heart, trusting your intuition, and if something doesn’t feel good, don’t do it, and If it does feel good, dive face first directly into it. I treat my music this way. I make music based on what I’m feeling at the time, based on what feels good to me. ‘Vintage Heart. Modern Love.’ felt good this time around, but for my next tape, that sound may not feel good for me. I can’t make music based on what I think people will like, and though I want the world to love my music just as much as I do, that can’t be my main focus. If I like it, I’m going to write it, I’m going to sing it, and just put it out there.

What’s the future hold for Daryn Alexus?...

The future is so exciting to think about! I really want to finish college and focus 100% on music. If any amazing opportunities come along before I get to finish school then that’s even better. The sooner I can just do music the better. Though ‘Vintage Heart. Modern Love.’ just dropped on Valentine’s Day, I’m already working on my second project and I’m super excited about it. It’s also being produced by Dee Lilly, who’s also a DC native, and it’s sounding great already. It’s going to be set to release this summer! But Before then I’ll be releasing full length videos for some of the songs on ‘Vintage Heart. Modern Love.’ and I’m also really excited about that. So the near future is looking very bright! As a newly emerging artist I just hope to continue to learn and grow as an artist, and meet more and more talented people to work with. All in all, I’m just a hippie, I want to, create art, change the world, and live free. That’s all.

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Parent Category: Onstage

One of our favorite artists, Aaron Evans, has just released the debut single and video, “I’ve Been Blessed” from his upcoming album F.A.M. OnStage viewers will remember that we also featured one of his earlier videos; “Jazz Is Freedom” which we thought was artistically and stylistically very sharp. This video also lives up to that description with a positive message and spiritual hip hop imagery that showcases both his fertile graphic imagination and his impeccably nuanced flow. It’s a candlelight vigil to positivity that pays the ultimate tribute to his fans. Aaron Evans is a gifted artist who’s put years into refining his craft. He’s the founder and president of Dove Ink Records, founder of the Green Brothers, a poet and author, a frequent contributor to numerous online and print publications, and a yoga enthusiast. He’s got a style of his own which is why we appreciate and salute him. Check out his recent interview with Toke Of the Town magazine for an insight on his thoughts and visit his website aaronevansImagination.com for more info.