THE ILLUSIONISTS
MAKING THE REAL SURREAL
The Illusionists are a production duo who are influenced by and offer a wide array of musical styles in their compositions, but dwell primarily in the arena of a mellow fusion that combines Hip-Hop, Soul & Jazz. The goal of the tandem is to create surreal, relaxing soundscapes for all types of listeners and all types of situations, from long trips to house-cleaning to subtle, underlying bed music for a friendly get together/event to sharing passionate moments with a loved one. Or, if nothing else, simply for closing your eyes and allowing your mind to take you wherever you wish to be -- the laid-back grooves of The Illusionists will sweep you away, taking you there. The timeless melodies created by the duo, on their debut long-player Masks & Facades (The Paper Label, 2007), are products of the heart & soul's deepest caverns, meant to convey warm, positive vibes that will take the listener on a journey to be retraced time and again. That very feeling, in and of itself, is genuine magic.
THE BACKSTORY
Nate Smith and K.D. White met at a small, relatively unknown junior college in West Central Texas in 1999. Smith was in the midst of pursuing the dream of basketball stardom, while White had taken advantage of a musical scholarship as a part of the school band. As dorm room suite mates, the two realized they had similar tastes in music and began to expand upon their commonalities, quickly sprouting a kinship that would catapult them into their current positions as partners in music.
White realized Smith's passion for music and quest for knowledge in the field, production in particular, and introduced him to a small Zoom Rhythm Track drum machine. From there, White taught Smith the basics of tracking a beat, a little theory, a few chords and blessed him with a plethora of knowledge pertaining to the musical sphere. After many months of working, piecing together tracks -- the two built a massive catalog of beats, proving that their chemistry was virtually undeniable. From there, after acquiring an allotment of new, more capable equipment, the two forged a unit known initially as Blacklight, creating track after track for the next 4 years (even after parting from junior college ranks in 2001). Recently, due to name/location conflicts, the duo shifted, changing their collective name to The ILLusionists. Their debut album, Masks & Façades (The Paper Label, 2007), is the wonderfully mellow, melodic result of their unlikely friendship, brotherhood and, above all else, their undying love for the music.
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CREDITS:
All Songs Produced by: Nate "The Kid Flames" Smith, K.D. "Boogie Breeze" White for Back Roads to Eastland
Mixed by: N.Smith at The Orpheun, Plano, TX
Additional Mixing by: Deonis "Pumah" Cook at The Spot, Dallas, TX
Artwork by: N.Smith for FocusPoint Media // www.fpmedia.net
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