BORN INTO MUSIC: Lunchmoney Lewis was effectively born into the music business.

By Geoffrey Rowlands


Gamal Lewis has taken a surprisingly long time to find chart success. The 27-year-old Miami rapper was effectively born into the music business. His father, Ian Lewis, and uncle, Roger Lewis, formed the Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae-pop band Inner Circle. Only Bob Marley was more popular on their island.
After moving to Miami, they enjoyed mainstream chart success with Bad Boys, which became the theme music for Fox Television’s COPS. They also had a massive world-wide hit with Sweat (A La La La La Long).
Ian and Roger founded Circle House studios, the recording home of artists such as Trick Daddy, Pitbull and Flo Rida. But if young Gamal grew up among the elite artists on Miami’s music scene, his privileged position did not initially translate into any great desire to perform.
“I was more interested in songwriting and producing. I didn’t really see myself as a performer. I’ve always been a pretty big guy so I’ve never had the typical music star physique. It took a while for me to feel comfortable about actually performing my songs.”
Some of Gamal’s work attracted local interest. Adopting the stage name Lunch Money, his first solo track of note was Get Grown. Performed in a fleetingly popular R&B style known as jook, the song did not become a major local hit but certainly led to interest being taken in his future releases. One of these, a more traditional rap entitled Loose Change, is still occasionally played on Miami’s hip hop radio stations.
Yet Loose Change was released in 2011. It was three years later before the wider musical world heard anything from Gamal. Having decided to add his family name and combine the two words in his rap name, LunchMoney Lewis was the featured artist on Trini Dem Girls, a track from Nicki Minaj’s third studio album, “The Pinkprint.”
“Nicki had guests on the album such as Beyonce, Drake, Lil Wayne and Jeremih. Then there was me, the guy who nobody knew.
“I’d co-written a track for Jessie J called Burnin’ Up and worked on songs for Juicy J and Chris Webby. I’d written tracks with Dr. Luke and producer Jacob Kasher so Nicki got to know me through them. They worked on her album and introduced me to her. I co-wrote Trini Dem Girls and Nicki gave me the opportunity to guest on the song.”
With his name in the spotlight, the time was right for a LunchMoney Lewis solo track. His international smash hit single, Bills, came about through a happy accident.
“I’d just moved to Los Angeles trying to make it as a songwriter and had got an apartment in Burbank. It’s a nice area so the apartments are not cheap. I also had all kinds of other expenses so I guess these financial commitments were on my mind when I was in the studio doing a writing session.
“My producer, Ricky Reed, had this infectious beat which I loved. The first words that came out of my mouth were ‘I got bills I gotta pay.’ The whole thing came together in about half an hour and I knew it was the song to launch my career.”
Bills has caught the imagination of pop fans around the world. It spent two weeks atop the chart in Australia and was just edged into second spot in both the UK and Belgium.
“I’m so pleased by the response to Bills. The only problem is finding a follow-up. I’ve got the ‘Bills’ EP which also features three more of my songs but I’ve got to get more music out there.
“I’m working on an album which should be released by the end of the year. The songs are like Bills in the sense of being very pop influenced so I hope people are going to like it.”


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The Arcs

The Black Keys guitarist/singer Dan Auerbach has created a new side project. He recorded a solo album, “Keep It Hid,” in 2009 but has now formed The Arcs with an eclectic mix of his musical friends.
“I wanted to work with (keyboard player) Leon (Michaels) and (bassist) Richard (Swift) in particular. They’ve been touring musicians for The Black Keys, we’ve produced together and played on various projects of each other’s. We’ve collaborated for longer than many bands stay together.
“The others (Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, Kenny Vaughan and Mariachi Flor De Toloache) got involved as our songs developed. We’ve made an album together which we absolutely love.”
The LP, “Yours, Dreamily,” will be released on September 4. Lead single, Stay In My Corner, can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHCO6CRTLT8
The B-side, Tomato Can, is also posted online. A lyric video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTWaSGQPC8w

Dear Rouge

Vancouver-based synthrock duo Dear Rouge have gradually built a solid fanbase on the Canadian music scene since their formation in 2009.
Consisting of married couple, Drew and Danielle McTaggart, Dear Rouge issued a pair of EPs in 2012. But little new material was heard from them until earlier this year when they released their debut album, “Black To Gold.”
Videos for two singles, the album title-track and Best Look Lately, can be found at www.youtube.com/user/DearRougeVEVO
Each track on the album, plus several more Dear Rouge songs, can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKq53_imZzs&list=PL7yMfDJ0wrgQndjpT-obSOjCx3mGsczrN

Baio

Vampire Weekend bass player Chris Baio issues his debut solo album, “The Names,” on September 18.
Credited simply to Baio, lead single, Brainwash yyrr Face, was released last month. The house style track is available to hear at www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnjlofyAfUo
Chris describes the nine tracks on his album as “Bowie and Ferry-influenced pop songs and dumbsmart arena techno.” The Bryan Ferry Roxy Music era style of singing is clearly evident on Baio’s next single, Sister of Pearl.
His earlier EPs and other work can be found at (no www.) soundcloud.com/cbaio. Sister of Pearl is not yet posted here but can be heard at (no www.) pitchfork.com/news/59968-baio-vampire-weekends-chris-baio-shares-new-song-sister-of-pearl/

Frank Turner

You never know what to expect from Frank Turner. His folk-based solo work starkly contrasts with the hardcore punk sounds of former band, Million Dead, and his current side project, Mongol Horde.
It’s a return to his solo career, backed as always by The Sleeping Souls, for Frank’s latest musical output. His sixth studio album, “Positive Songs For Negative People,” is set for release on August 7.
Produced by former SouthGang and Marvelous 3 guitarist/singer Butch Walker, the follow-up to 2013’s “Tape Deck Heart” was recorded in Nashville over a period of just nine days.
“The album is everything I wanted it to be,” Frank smiled. “The songs capture the atmosphere of my live performances. I feel it’s my definitive statement, a summation of my first five records.”
Lead single, The Next Storm, is an uptempo number. The official video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4IZbCl6iR4
Some of his earlier promos are available to view at www.youtube.com/user/FrankTurnerVEVO/videos

The Maccabees

English indie rockers The Maccabees return with their fourth studio album, “Marks To Prove It,” on July 31.
There was a time when the band feared the new album would never be made. Guitarist Felix White revealed the recording process had been “painful, tricky and traumatic.”
The album title-track has already been released. The official video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kt3aN6Ey8w
Next single, Something Like Happiness, will be released on the same day as the album. It can be heard now though at www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7fc35VAUjA


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