Aryeé the Gem | To It
Born in Wisconsin, Aryeé The Gem moved south to Mobile when she was a little kid, then made her way to Atlanta — which she’s now made her artistic home — for college at Clark Atlanta University. A classically trained vocal performance major, Aryeé is a versatile instrumentalist as well, having learned saxophone and violin while growing up.
This track is the first single from her forthcoming extended play, which is set to be released this summer. Aryeé said in a statement that she gravitated toward her current style of artistry because “R&B and soul music bring me joy. It’s been that guiding light throughout my entire life.” (Photo by Andrew Salama)
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Victoria Blade | Easy Together
Ah, summer . . . a time to romp around the park, get lost and goof around. In that spirit, we have the latest work from actor/musician Victoria Blade, who recently left Atlanta for the City of Angels.
Her latest music video appears to have been filmed at Los Angeles landmark Griffith Park’s creepy, abandoned, turn-of-the-20th-century zoo. Like L.A., Atlanta is full of these kinds of haunted-feeling empty filming locations. It’s what makes the two cities kin! So we’re glad that Blade must be feeling right at home. Here, she and her band have fun jumping rope, spinning and playing their instruments — all in keeping with the theme of breaking free. Be sure to keep an eye out for Blade’s TV work, where she appears on such shows as Swarm and WandaVision.
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Blind Willie McTell | Brokedown Engine Blues
Anyone interested in the blues in Atlanta will tell you to check out Blind Willie’s on North Highland Avenue, which has stood as a hub for the best local and touring artists of the genre since 1986. But did you know that the namesake of the joint rose to prominence in Georgia almost a century ago?
Born William Samuel McTier in Thomson, Georgia, right around the turn of the 20th century, the artist who would later make a name for himself as Blind Willie McTell was a pioneer of the Piedmont blues — with his dexterity on the 12-string and slide guitars and his velvety tenor voice rolling through the airwaves. (And, yes, his nickname came from the fact that he was born blind in one eye.)
His musical legacy and influence is everywhere. A few examples: The Allman Brothers Band famously covered his song, “Statesboro Blues,” and Bob Dylan penned the tribute tune, “Blind Willie McTell,” in 1983, more than 20 years after McTell’s death in Milledgeville in 1959.
And, hey, anyone who’s driven down our fair city’s pothole-ridden streets can probably relate to the lyrics of our Vintage Track of the Week, which released back in 1933: “Feel like a broke down engine, mama / Ain’t got no drivin’ wheel; lord have mercy.” What is a day in Atlanta without that sentiment?
Check out the ArtsATL Atlanta Soundtrack Playlist on Spotify:
