Connect with us
Ace Clarke Ace Clarke

Artist Spotlight

Exclusive Interview With Ace Clarke, A fast Rising Rapper Who Is Making Waves In The Music Industry

Born & raised in Wakefield uptown, Bronx, Ace Clarke is a well-polished rapper who is climbing his way up the steepest of steps to becoming the greatest of all time. His competence as a lyricist is clear to anyone hearing the complexities within his rhyme scheme bars. 

The NY rap artist/songwriter has risen from the ashes and built an audience from the ground up, displaying rare talent and true emotion which you may have been missing from your daily playlist. His craft is the highlight of this generation’s class of rappers, and the recognition has been pouring out from veterans and newcomers in the rap game.

Advertisement

Hi there, welcome to Honk Magazine. Can you tell our readers about what really inspired you to write music?

Ace Clarke – I always loved music growing up. My moms used to bump the Isley Brothers, Whitney houston, Toni Braxson, etc, every friday night, my pops used to bump Bob Marley, Zig, Elephant Man, Pac, X, Big, all the time along wit my big brother, so i always had a knack for it. What really had gotten me into writing was environmental stress. Family drama, financial bills, just being a youth in a bad neighborhood, we always tend to gravitate to outlets. Music was always mine, I could recall sitting in my room about 10 years old listening to “It’s Dark & Hell Is Hot”, particularly “I Could Feel It” & “Prayer” in how deep music & emotions could touch a soul. That was like the initial spark to start writing, and it’s just been up from there.

Advertisement

When did you realize you were going to make music professionally?

Ace Clarke – I was about 15. Me & my cousin JV had started hitting studios uptown & around making songs in high school just for the fun of it though, but the traction we would get out of it only fueled my desire for it more. I knew what we were capable of making happen at the time, & from the shows & just naturally feeling at such peace with myself while performing, making music, I knew it was something i wanted to make happen. Somehow, somehow, I was going to make it happen.

Advertisement

Tell us what is so unique about you and your music?

Ace Clarke – What I feel like I bring to the table is simply put from the soul. I lay my heart out in my songs, my art & that’s not to be replicated by anyone. I respect everyone, & i feel like everyone, from fans, supporters to peers know what I bring to the table through my journeys & experiences i paint my heart to connect to.

Advertisement

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Ace Clarke – Oh I got you! I remember my first show I performed at LIU college back in like 2013, & my anxiousness then was really getting to me. I was trying to control it as best as i could but boy i had the jitters to say the least. So anyway, I hop on stage, & try to turn that nervousness into passion, but I end up tiring myself early on into my set. I didn’t think it was that noticeable at the time, but thinking back on it, my pacing was off in my rhythm so that had to look crazy. I’m like a perfectionist so if I make a mistake or think I made a mistake I’m the type to obsess & work my ass off until I reprimand the flaw, but thinking back then moving like a rhythmless chicken is definitely up there.

Advertisement

Can you tell us about your latest releases and what inspired you to create them?

Ace Clarke – Home & Trauma are personal pieces, either from internal or external povs & experiences that I’ve gone through in life. They both tell their own stories of reflectiveness, I would say love is the inspiration for them, hence the cover art of my 4th birthday. It meant alot to write, work with Farai Milion & Kayy Hunter on it because they’re famous. Always makes the process more enjoyable.

Advertisement

Can you give us a brief insight into your upcoming projects?

Ace Clarke – I’ve been working on my upcoming debut tape “Shenanigans & Antics” which is about 95% ready as of this point. As the title presumes, i’ma be giving my audience a lot of shards of my soul on my experiences, the fun, the anxious, the downs, very personal project from me to y’all with this one. Besides that, rehearsing & sharpening my craft daily for these shows I’ve been blessed with, looking forward to sharing that stage with Only one Theory for her Somewhere Over East tour this July 24th, collaborating with other artists, there’s plenty in the vault I got for my supporters this year!!

Advertisement

What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?

Ace Clarke – Would say honestly just how important it is to wear multiple hats in this industry. You should be your own graphic designer, editor, marketing/promo team, engineer, and wear as many hats as possible in this game, because it’s ALL about saving for the next move. The difference between the ones who make it & the ones who don’t besides opportunity is who’s paying attention to their spendings. With everything being so costly, to save yourself a lot of money in the process, I would recommend learning not just how to record, but dabbing in a bit of everything. You’ll be surprised at just how creative it could get y’all.

Advertisement

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Ace Clarke – Don’t force anything. Anything forced isn’t natural, let things come to you but be aggressive for the things you want. Writers block & creative blocks are APART of the process, they don’t mean you’re lacking, they mean you just need to do something different you probably don’t do in your daily life. Also remember that you only live once, so try to make the best of your days by having hobbies & other outlets you could take a break to whenever you need from music.

Advertisement

What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?

Ace Clarke – Whenever I feel like I need a slight break from music, I tend to watch something I probably usually wouldn’t watch, read something I probably wouldn’t usually read, go play basketball with the fellas, a comfortable date night with my girl, anything to get my mind on other things. I personally love cooking too, I picked up both music & cooking at the same time but trying new food has always been therapeutic for me!

Advertisement

Any last piece of advice for those artists who just started making music?

Ace Clarke – Just keep going if you love it & stay true to yourself. You know what makes you special, what makes you bring your flair so you don’t have to force it, the people will catch on. Always work on your craft, remain a student, ALWAYS do your research, the motivation will come & go but the discipline to be the best you can be should stay sharp.

Advertisement

How can our readers follow you online?

Ace Clarke – I’m never too hard to find guys, tune into me on:

Advertisement

Instagram: @Ace.Clarke

Twitter: @Ace_Knightz

Advertisement

TikTok: @Acekangshun

Advertisement
Advertisement

Stay updated! Click the Google News follow button for more news and updates.

Follow on Google News

Artist Spotlight

An Intuitive Conversation with Love Power the Band’s Ananda Xenia Shakti

Ananda, congratulations on the release of “Songs From Source”! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this twin release and what listeners can expect from the two tracks, “Are You Looking For Me” and “Hare Hare Dance”?

Hey, thanks so much it’s been really a total labour of love, every project is every song feels like you’re birthing another piece of your heart, but this one especially feels that way to me. The songs are  inspirational life-affirming tracks that are EDM style, and that something really new for our band, but it just came naturally with the songs

Advertisement

We understand that “Are You Looking For Me” draws inspiration from the 15th-century Indian mystic poet Kabir Das. How did Kabir’s poem influence the creation of this track, and what elements did you incorporate to capture its essence?

Are you looking for me? Is the name of one of Kabir‘s most famous poems and and in essence what he’s talking about is our confused seeking for divinity when in reality, it lives right inside you it is the person who’s sitting next to you You  can never be separated from it.

Advertisement

I used a number of lines from his poem for the lyrics of the song and then I heard some new ones that I dared to add. I feel like he would be really happy that I did that. Because he was all about breaking form and bringing in what’s  fresh and new. He lived in India at a time when tradition was basically the whole experience of life, and he broke it over and over again, because he saw a different truth.

“Hare Hare Dance” is described as an adaptation of an ancient Krishna chant into a modern dance song. Can you share more about the process of transforming this traditional chant into a contemporary musical experience?

Advertisement

When I’m living in India, I live in a city called Vrindavan. It was the home of Krishna and his consort Radha when they were embodied and it is the home of  Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion. In the path of devotion, as  our acts of prayer and meditation we sing and dance. Mostly we  sing what most people call the Hare Krishna  mantra. Its constantly going through your mind because you’re hearing people chanting it and singing it everywhere you go.

You recorded “Hare Hare Dance” in Vrindavan, India, during Krishna’s birthday celebration. How did the atmosphere and energy of the city during this time influence the recording process, and what was it like to capture that magic in the studio?

Advertisement

Krishna’s birthday in  Vrindavan is a massive celebration and this past year it actually fell on my birthday, which I happen to be alone in India for. To celebrate I was singing  and dancing in a traditional way, then  I started to hear some beautiful tunes coming through,  then the vision laying them down  on top of dance beats activated. I got so excited about what I was hearing that I contacted the engineer that I usually record with and asked him if he j happen to be free and he said to come right over When I told him it was my birthday too, he was so excited, in  India birthdays are really special. So  there we were Krishna‘s birthday and my birthday,  I told him what I was hearing and we started to create it was pure magic. It over flowed  with love and it was the easiest track we have recorded together

As the lead vocalist and primary composer for Love Power the Band, how do you approach songwriting and composition to create music that embodies the band’s message of love, joy, and gratitude?

Advertisement

The music that I write, for the band is inspired by the Intuitive Readings, and the Angelic  Realm guidance that I receive for people in their healing journeys. I hear certain pieces of wisdom being shared from the subtle realms, and they start to turn into songs.

It happens out of pure love, an inspiration. It’s never a sit down effort. The songs  birth out of joy, and hopefully they inspire joy and others!

Advertisement

Your background includes a successful career in the punk scene, touring with bands like the Clash and singing with Blondie. How has your journey from the punk scene to Bhakti yoga influenced your musical style and approach to performance?

Advertisement

Having been a performer in the height of the punk world, with world famous acts I was used to performing in large venues to a lot of people. I was used to performing in ways that were really high energy and innovative and I was used to the music creating a very dynamic vibe with the audience. I was also used to what I consider to be the unfortunate dynamics of fame, and the separation that it creates out of idealization.

Love Power The Band concerts are described as unique happenings where the audience becomes part of the interactive music experience. How do you create this sense of oneness and connection between the performers and the audience during your live shows?

Advertisement

So with Love Power I wanted to do some thing different. I wanted us to be high energy, but I wanted to include the audience as a true part of the music because what I’ve come to understand since those Punk  days is that we are the music. Therefore separation between audience and performer  is adding to the disempowering pain  of separation , which does not awaken new consciousness. To me a musicians obligation at this time in the world is not to merely entertain it’s to awaken the music within those that come to share that sacred  space with them.

Could you share a memorable experience from one of your live performances where the audience’s participation truly enhanced the energy and atmosphere of the show?

Advertisement

Every time we play an interactive show, the smiles on peoples faces when they start to drop into the fun of it is so inspiring I can’t put it into words. They never want it  to end, and either do we !

What do you hope listeners will take away from “Songs From Source” and the music of Love Power the Band as a whole?

Advertisement

I truly hope that our music inspires listeners to enquire within  for their wholeness for the connection to divinity and to awaken a communion  with Oneness and the festival of life. I hope their hearts and lives are led by the beautiful melodies rising from within them directly from source frequency. This is really what the title songs from source means

Finally, where can listeners find “Songs From Source” and stay updated on your upcoming releases and live performances?

Advertisement

Songs  from source can be found on all of the major platforms and fans are invited to join our  You Tube
Quantum Awakening & Love Power the Band  to see our beautiful music videos And have access to many quantum  healing posts. And follow us on Insta @lovepowertheband

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Artist Spotlight

“Luna Azul” by Love Ghost stirs the melody of solitude

LOVE GHOST

Luna Azul,” Love Ghost’s newest sonic exploration of solitude, delicately balances on the precipice of vulnerability and empowerment, unfolding a symphony of Emo-Pop-Rock infused with the soulful echoes of modern Spanish guitar. From the first note, it’s evident that “Luna Azul” is the harbinger of their upcoming EP, ‘The Speed of Dreaming,’ which delivers a glimpse into understanding oneself.

Advertisement

Love Ghost collaborates with Mexican artists Helian and MONDE to create an enriching musical composition that transcends cultural nuances. The song is co-produced by Mexico’s BrunOG and MONDE, and the production masterfully immerses quality. Each note reverberates with sincerity and palpable emotion, drawing the audience to explore the depths of their feelings in a realm where vulnerability reigns supreme and emerges renewed. The result is a cohesive sonic experience that artfully intertwines diverse influences into a singular, powerful work of art.

Advertisement

Luna Azulis a musical masterpiece that delves into the universal theme of loneliness. The song celebrates the transformative power of solitude as a catalyst for personal growth and self-realization. Love Ghost invites listeners to immerse themselves in introspective lyricism and embrace moments of solitude as an integral part of the human experience. Through its evocative melodies and poignant lyrics, the song offers opportunities to find solace and soar amidst the stars of our own making.

Love Ghost’s collaborative spirit shines through “Luna Azul,” reflecting their musical versatility and reputation as global trailblazers in the music industry. The song pushes boundaries with its innovative sound, captivates audiences worldwide, and is a must-listen melodic odyssey for enthusiasts of authentic musical expression.

Advertisement

For more information about LOVE GHOST, please visit [website]. 
CLICK HERE TO STREAM LOVE GHOST’s Luna Azul on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH LOVE GHOST | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook |

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Video Of The Week

Trending