The Art of R&B: An Interactive Experience

Get ready to learn the ins and outs of making music in two interactive sessions. Spend an afternoon immersed in the technical aspects of R&B music with artists who are making their mark on the industry. Join us for an interactive panel on songwriting, performance, music production and the business of Charlotte’s music scene. Then discover what it takes to write, record, perform and brand yourself as an artist.

Schedule

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Interactive panel and Q&A about songwriting, performance, music production, and doing business in Charlotte. Panelists will share examples of their work. Featuring DJ SPK, Jessica Macks, Krystle Baller, producers 88 Meech and Master Kie, and Cyanca

1:35 PM - 3:00 PM

Following the interactive panel participants are invited to rotate through mini workshops:

• Intro to Production - Meech and Master Kie
• Performance 101 - Krystle Baller from Girls Rock CLT
• Intro to Writing and Recording - Cyanca
• Business & Social Media Tips for Artists -  DJ SPK and J Macks

About The Artists

DJ SPK

DJ SPK is an open-format DJ, producer, on-air personality, host, and creator/content-curator for StereoTypez.

Creative Loafing’s 2017 Best of Charlotte Critic’s Pick, she has solidified a host of gigs nationally to include BMW, PRIDE, HighUp LA, Big Beat Fest, Microsoft, BOOM Fest, Mick Jenkins, Move Party ATL, resident DJ for FunkShun, and a RAW Artists’ resident DJ. SPK is an official DJ of the revamped brand FuBU.

As a DJ for Radio One’s 92.7 The Block, SPK is quickly establishing herself as a taste maker in Charlotte’s music scene. She also currently has digital radio mixshows every Friday, Flood 93 from 6pm-7pm CST and FUBU Radio from 7pm-9pm EST.

Krystle Baller

Krystle Baller is a musician who amplifies the voices of women and children by teaching them how to rock! She is the owner of Pachyderm Music Lab, a music education hub in Indian Trail, NC, founder of Lady Rockstars (a band-aid for women), and creator of BabyPUNK! Baller is also the music director for Girls Rock Charlotte, a nonprofit that teaches girls to use their voices to stand up for themselves and others and a 2018 TEDx Charlotte Finalist.

Jessica Macks

Born in Queens, NY but raised in Conway, SC, Jessica Macks has always entertained friends and family members throughout the years. Macks pursued her dream of having a career in the entertainment business by attending and graduating from Johnson C. Smith University with a BA in Music Business. She has worked as an A&R director of an indie label, produced multiple concerts and events in the local Charlotte, NC area, and sang background for gospel artists such as Patrick Love and Jason Nelson. Macks is a proud member of National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment (NABFEME) and serves on the board of the local chapter. She also assists as a music teacher at Have Life Church, where she sings regularly with the youth praise team.

Master Kie

Master Kie first discovered her taste for music production in 2003. Sitting in a friend’s dorm room at UNC Charlotte, she stumbled upon a music program on his computer and the rest was HERstory. Her musical background (choir and piano) made producing second nature and has helped Kie to develop her signature sound that is heard today -- hard, with a soft feminine touch.

It wasn’t until the past year and the half that music became a serious part of her life. In November 2016, a Charlotte group, known as Radio Rehab created Sounds and Sixteens, a monthly networking event where producers can showcase their beats and artists are welcome to freestyle along with them. This created a musical outlet for many Charlotte producers and artists.

As Kie continues to grow as a female producer, she wants to encourage other aspiring females to use their girl power, their woman power, to always stay dope, support one another, and never give up. #kiesonthebeat

Meech P

Always having a passion for music since childhood, Meech P began creating her own music about 3 years ago. Her music is self-descriptive: laidback, chill, with lounge type vibes and an energy that engulfs you. Her musical inspiration is derived from Lofi, R&B, House and Hip Hop. Whether you’re a rapper, singer, poet, instrumentalist, DJ, etc., there is something for everyone with her music.

Cyanca

A smooth and cheerful aura combined with unique style and therapeutic vocals, Cyanca is gaining momentum with some of music’s best critics. Her personality and eccentric style capture your attention, but her voice commands it. The honesty in her music stems from personal experiences and Cyanca believes packaging and delivering her heart to listeners will provide them comfort, energy, and a heightened love of self.

Born and raised in Smithfield, North Carolina by her grandparents and cultivated in the church, Cyanca is not your typical “Southern Belle.” At six years old Cyanca found her voice and discovered she was great at playing the drums; she would later teach herself to play the piano. Influenced by acts like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and A Tribe Called Quest, Cyanca meshes jazz within an R&B constraint.

Not only is Cyanca a singer-songwriter, she is also a self-taught producer. Her production style is influenced by Ryan Leslie, Missy Elliott, Pharrell and Swiss Beatz. She states, “Swizz taught me to never delete anything I create because it could be worth gold later. Pharrell taught me how to expand my piano chords. Ryan taught me to make songs not beats.” Cyanca debuted on the festival circuit performing at the Made From Scratch Festival in Concord, North Carolina in July 2018.

Joni Deutsch

Joni Deutsch is happy to call Charlotte home as the host/producer of Amplifier, WFAE’s new music podcast exploring the Charlotte music scene.

Joni was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. After learning the radio ropes at WLUR 91.5 FM in Lexington, Virginia, Joni joined West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) in 2014 as the creator and host of the indie/alt music program A Change of Tune and the award-winning 30 Days of #WVmusic interview series. In June 2015, Joni became an assistant producer for NPR Music’s Mountain Stage, as well as the program’s youngest (and first female) guest host, making her the youngest host of a nationally syndicated public radio program at the age of 24.

Joni’s work has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition & Weekend Edition, NPR Music, Current, Poynter, and Nieman Lab. In 2018, Joni was included in Charlotte Agenda’s “30 Under 30” list and recognized by the 2018 Online News Association’s Women’s Leadership Accelerator.

In addition to Amplifier, Joni is producer for WFAE podcasts She Says, FAQ City and SouthBound. You can find Joni on Twitter @achangeoftune.