- Avant
Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the “A” w/Souleo
In order to move forward, R&B singer-songwriter Avant had to go back to the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds where he found inspiration for his latest album, Face the Music. “I sat back and paid attention to how their music made me feel,” he says. “It made me feel special. I didn’t feel angry or overly aggressive like some of today’s music. So I want to give that feeling back from the old school and bring it into a 2013 format.”
In his efforts to update the classic sound of his musical influences, Avant reunited with his duet partner, Keke Wyatt, on the passionate single, “You & I.” Although he appeared on an episode of Wyatt’s “R&B Divas” reality TV show, don’t expect him to further pursue such opportunities. Avant prefers an element of mystery and is only willing to reveal his personal stories through his music.
“I try to keep it as private as possible and they keep telling me to open up. But with artists back in the day you didn’t always hear from them and it made you want to buy the record more. Now it’s so personal and it’s all about the image, but I still wouldn’t do a reality show,” he says.
Before reality TV was giving the public inside access to the lives of celebrities there was veteran entertainment journalist, Flo Anthony. On Monday, March 4, Anthony celebrated her birthday at Native Restaurant with an intimate group of friends, including noted theatrical press agent, Irene Gandy and private chef, Loren Locke. It was an evening of great conversation, laughter and reflection as Anthony shared her thoughts on living past 50.
“My dad only lived to 54. So I was always worried I wouldn’t make it much past that because his family had a history of dying early. So I am grateful to be alive at this age,” she said.
Anthony is also excited about her forthcoming book release, Deadly Stuff Players, which arrives on Nov. 19 via national bestselling author Zane’s Strebor Books/Simon and Schuster.
You can help your business come alive next week as Project Enterprise launches Entrepreneur Week with a range of events, including: a keynote address from Lowell Hawthorne, CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Grill on March 11; a panel featuring the industry’s hottest game changers in rising sectors (full disclosure: writer moderates this event) on March 12; a crowdfunding workshop for the Spanish speaking population on March 13 and much more.
To read the rest of the column please click here.
