Artist Feature: Tim Williams

In our travels around the USA in 2008, we were lucky enough to get to hang with, and record with, musician Tim Williams in Atlanta, GA. Tim is an extremely talented musician, who astounded us by playing a right handed bass upside down. Amazing. Tim recently released his album 'Sunny Day', and we managed to catch up with him to find out about it.

Cee: Hey Tim, how's things man?
Tim: I'm doing great!

Cee: Give the people a bit of background on yourself.
Tim: I'm originally from the coast of Mobile,AL. I presently live in Atlanta,GA. I started in music at the age of 10 playing the trombone. I switch to bass in college after my room mate showed me the fingering. I recently release my jazz cd Sunny Day. The cd is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/twilliamstunes.

Cee: When we met in Atlanta in 2008, you knocked out some basslines for us and I still can't get over the fact that you play lefthanded on a righthanded bass!! How did you manage to learn to play upside down?
Tim: When I started playing bass I taught my self how to play on a right handed bass because I did not have my own. I got so comfortable playing it upside down that I really don't think about it. Even though I'm lefthanded; if you gave me a lefthanded bass I probably would not be able to play it.

Cee: Alright, so you've just released your new album, Sunny Day. Tell us about that.
Tim: Sunny Day is a combination of contemporary, latin, reggae and traditional jazz mixed with R&B vocals. I have a group of talented musicians playing on the cd. The instruments include me on bass as well as sax, flute, trumpet, keyboards, drums and guitar.

Roderick A. Smith on sax and flute
Cedric Young on trumpet
Tony Carter and Charles Brown on keyboards
Edgar Clay on drums
Nathaniel Williams on guitar
Serretha Ransom on vocals
Sylvette Parker-Monroe on vocals
David Barnes on vocals
Victor Speakman and Andrea Smith on vocals

Cee: Was this a long time in the making?
Tim: I wrote some of the music several years ago but it only took us a couple of months to record it.

Cee: Who are you main inspirations musically?
Tim: A couple of my inspirations musically would be Stevie Wonder, Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire, jazz artist Grover Washington, Joe Sample and Stanley Clark.

Cee: You recently performed at Bay Fest, tell us about that experience.
Tim: Performing at Bay Fest was a great experience; they have thousands who attend the event anually.

Cee: You've opened for some big names in your time, how has that shaped your music?
Tim: Opening up for R&B Funk groups like The Commodores, The Bar-Kay's and Con Funk Shun was great. I grew up listening to their music. It was an awesome experience!

Cee: What's the plans from here?
Tim: My plans for now is to continue promoting the cd by touring and air play on the radio.

Cee: Hit us with some contact information where the fans can hear your music and buy the album!!
Tim: My music can be heard at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/twilliamstunes. The music can be bought at this link also. I can be contacted at thetimwilliamsproject@yahoo.com.

Model Feature: Erica R

Erica Rutledge is a 26 year old college student who also models for fun and exposure. Currently, she is a Health Science student, but will start nursing school within a year. Erica already has a Bachelor's from the University of South Carolina in Broadcast Journalism. Erica works for the state full-time and part-time at her local mall. In her spare time, Erica enjoys shopping, traveling, exercising, cooking, and watching Lifetime Movie Network. Something that you may not know about this bombshell is that she can speak French and she is West Indian, African American, and Native American.

DJ Grain: What’s your name?
Erica: Erica R.

DJ Grain: Where are you from?
Erica: I'm from all over. I am a military brat, so I consider myself from everywhere. My father was in the Air Force. We traveled as far as Panama, and we were stationed in Columbus, MS. Then, we were stationed lastly in Charleston AFB, SC. Originally, I am from Montevallo, Alabama, and I was born in Montgomery, Alabama.

DJ Grain: How many years have you been modeling?
Erica: I have modeled ever since 1998 in fashion shows and stuff. But, I started to be serious about it after I graduated from college in 2004 with a Bachelor's in Journalism.

DJ Grain: What are the misconceptions people commonly have about models that are untrue?
Erica: Well, some people are stupid enough to think that we're all stuck up and that we're loose which is so untrue. I do know of some models that fit that criteria, but I am totally opposite. Some people also think that we strip or that we do escort services...lol! I am sort of nerdy but sexy at the same time.

DJ Grain: What shows, videos, magazines, etc. have you been featured in?
Erica: I was featured mainly in magazines, like Sweets Magazine, Source Magazine, Don Diva Magazine, CandiJewels Magazine, BET.com's B-Girl web feature, Seagram's Gin 2008 Calendar Feature Model, and Fyne Dymez 2008 Lingerie Magazine feature. I was in an old underground music video called, "Say What" a few years back, but I don't think it ever made it to BET as promised :(. I do want to be in more videos, however, I live in South Carolina and all of the videos are shot in Atlanta. I do plan to make a trip to some auditions in between school and work.

DJ Grain: What photographers have you worked with?
Erica: The wonderful Shawn Dowdell, Energetice Scott Krause, talented Majiq (David Blayne) from PhotoMajiq, Emanuel Photo, arsty and bizarre Kevin Stewart, Atlanta's own Paul Lawson, Glenn from Complex Photo, David from Visual Cocktail, and nice ole-Martin Drysdale.

DJ Grain: What photographers would you like to work with?
Erica: I would like to work with Maya Guez, Jarek James, Craig Sims, Frank Antonio, Leo Marshall, Raquel Riley Thomas, Craig Huey, Laurens Antoine, and the list can go on and on!

DJ Grain: Can you describe the grind of a model trying to break into the industry?
Erica: Someone who plasters themselves all over MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Also one who creates a website to market themselves. Honestly, I kinda slack up on my grind, because of school. I'm pursing a career in nursing and it takes up all my time. But I do communicate with my fans online via my personal website www.experienceerica.com and on www.myspace.com/ericarutledge.

DJ Grain: Any words for the ladies out there that have aspirations of entering the modeling industry?
Erica: My advice for aspiring models is to think smart and stay away from "too good to be true" offers! I was scammed once, so I learned my lesson. I wouldn't want anyone else to have to go through the same thing that I experienced. Also, beware of some men that claim they are professional photographers, because a lot of them are just trying to get a quick nut. It's sad, but it's true. Oh yea...also ladies need to understand that if they want to be taken seriously in the business that they must have perfect photos. In order to be booked, clients like to see photos that show the "real" you and they have to be professional, unless if they only want a recent snapshot. So, aspiring models should invest in a good photoshoot. They won't have to drop a grand for a photo shoot, but somewhere in between $250-$500 for a credible one.

DJ Grain: How can people contact you for booking?
Erica: If anyone is interested in booking, they should contact me at my website www.experienceerica.com or at caramelledfancy@gmail.com. Also, they can go by and add me as a friend on www.myspace.com/ericarutledge.