Meet L.A. Salami & The Intermission Project Posted by Lucas G. on 02/11/14 | Filed under Non Hip-Hop, Meet, Intermission Project, L.A. Salami

The main goal of these Meet pieces is to give y'all some new music that you (hopefully) have not have heard, which usually means I have to venture outside of the hip-hop world, because you rap nerds know everything involving a microphone. That being said, I still try to pick artists or songs that a hip-hop head would dig because this is a hip-hop site after all.

Today however, I am trying something way outside the box. I know it might totally doesn't at all come as a shock, but I'm making a departure from the norm I am giving you two new artists to check out; Meet L.A. Salami and The Intermission Project. I guess lets start with Salami.

Typically, I don't go for this type of music (the same goes for the Intermission project) but something about Salami drew me in. I know it's probably ignorant and makes me seem like an idiot, but sometimes, just an acoustic guitar and a singer can be kind of boring. Not with Salami. His songwriting and story telling is top-notch and it makes me much more invested in the music. The firs thought that I had after "Day To Day" was that he needs to be a ghostwriter. With such a stark, bare-bones instrumental, and a good voice but no means one that dominates, the songwriting has to be flawless...and it is.  Between storytelling cuts like "Day to Day" and more poetic ones like "My Thoughts, They Too Will Tire". I could go on-and-on about his songwriting but sicne we have another artist to get to I'll keep it short. If you like songwriting and strong, deep, lyrical performances than Salami is for you; he is more like a poet with a guitar, that's how powerful and striking his lyrics can be; I know hip-hop fans can appreciate a good storytelling lyricist.

While Salami and The Intermission project both deserve their own "Meet" pieces, I figure being that they are acoustically driven, British, great songwriters, and even better live performers, so its kosher to combine 'em. Moving on from Salami, but still keeping that same feeling of having your heartstrings pulled like a dog sled, it's time for some Intermission Project.

Wow, what a voice! Honestly, from such a young, unassuming guy, I was expecting something lighter, but lead singer, Jim Rubaduka, has an absolutely incredible voice; it is almost jarring how soothing yet powerful it is. he reminds a little of Michael Kiwanuka. I watched a few live videos and really dug 'em so I was worried about listening to their debut EP, Sorry, but I think I enjoyed it more than the live stuff. Naturally their sound is a little more refined on the recorded material and while it sounds better they don't lose their heart which comes through so clear on the live stuff.Plus the big drum build on "Come Away With Me" is much more effective on the EP; the song is so well arranged. For how young they are (or at least how young they look) these guys are tremendously talented. They already have a sound that grown men only dream of and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they become huge; the ceiling is higher than Wiz Khalifa at a Phish concert. Listen to the whole EP (please) but if you only pick one song, I beg you to check out "Sorry".

As I said, this typically isn't my scene, but talent is talent.  Aside form being British, playing guitar, and putting on a killer live show (along with he other similarities listed abL.A and The Intermission Project, are young and immensely talented and have their whole careers ahead of them. It's totally different from any other Meet I have done, but I think any hip-hop nerd can appreciate talent and they have it in spades. It won't be long before L.A. is ghostwriting for your favorite emcee while touring on his downright and that Mumford and Sons is opening for the Intermission project (seriously their sound is more authentic, and deep than Mumfords). I look forward to seeing these young, promising artists flourish, and I suspect you will to; hence why I wrote this.