Written & Photos: Michelle Honeycutt – Shellshott Photography
The Future X Sounds Project gives established award winning artists the opportunity to feature and highlight socially conscious uniquely creative new artists from their locale areas. On a sublime summer Saturday in Los Angeles the mutli grammy award winning Lala Hathaway with the help of music Icon DJ Battlecat, hosted and curated the FutureXSounds LA event, at the John Anson Ford Theater, spotlighting artists Gwen Bunn, Justus West and Anna Wise.
DJ Battle cat – took us all back old school mixing hip hop with soul favorites. He kept the groove moving and reminded the audience we are all ONE LOVE.. From James Brown to Bobbie Brown, the Gap Band to Biggie, the crowd danced under the stars joyfully united in appreciation all things funky. Reminding the audience that we are united as One Love, love of each other, love of our community and love of our culture.
Gwen Bunn – took the old heads in the crowd on a groovy smooth journey with tracks from her new album independent album Safe Travels, which she wrote produced and performed. Gwen Bunn is incredibly talented with a sound that is truly unique. You can get her album at: https://melodydungeon.bandcamp.com/
Justus West – Kansas City native, LA transplant has already established himself as a musicians musician, having worked with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Vince Gill, Alicia Keys, Mac Miller and more. At merely 20 years old, Justus West is a Singer, songwriter, producer, multi instrumentalist, that demonstrates a mastery of music way beyond his years. This young man never fails to impress. You can find more of his music at : https://justuswest.bandcamp.com/
Anna Wise, is a grammy winning singer, songwriter, performer and longtime Kendrick Lamar collaborator. She has recently made her debut both personally and professionally as a new mother and with the announcement of the release of her first full length solo album “As If It Were Forever.” due out in October this year. This brilliant creative musician captured the audience slowly and softly at first, laying down multi track harmonies and building them up into amazing stories of life and love. Anna’s performance was both beautiful and intimate. One such piece told the story of her yearning desire to become a mother, which wonderfully has come to pass. As Lalah Hathaway stated “Anna’s baby is so new the tags are still attached.” You can find more of her music at : https://annathewise.bandcamp.com/
Lalah Hathaway – What can I say to properly illustrate the beauty, grace and power that is Lalah Hathaway? This lady will give you chills and make you soon as she sings, moving you through a myriad of emotions with her music. The man next to me repeatedly beside himself said it best “ Come on NOW!, Stop it Lalah stop it… yes baby come on now.” – Her personality will make you smile and laugh at loud, there is a certain kinda joy she brings into any room she is in . A rare gift to experience truly.
And if this night could not get any better , there was a surprise guest appearance from non other than the incomparable icon and sining legend Anita Baker. The crowd understandably went wild when Ms Baker joined Lalah on stage for a duet. The love these ladies hold for each other was evident from the start. Her voice when she sang was magic, proving she still has it. The duet of Anita Baker and Lalah Hathaway was one of those special memories the audience will hold for a lifetime.
The Future X Sounds LA event was a night of recognition that art specifically music is truly one of the most powerful things on the planet. Music is medicinal and healing, it changes the vibration. The act of doing music is a powerful statement connecting it unites people globally through emotion and communication, giving a voice for change. Music, is a expression of integrity and journeys, story tellers and structures. These new artists demonstrate this by writing their stories in a progressive way and casting a positive spirit of love, unity, power, and communication through their music. This new generation of musicians are quite simply changing the world.