Ohsha Kai joins Mad Monk and Deet Family!

TAMPA – Indeed, rumors have persisted about Beatnik Castle but, thankfully, the rumors are finally over and it’s official! International singing sensation Top 10 Billboard artist Ohsha Kai is an official member of Beatnik Castle and the Mad Monk, Ltd Family! The fiery, soulful Philadelphia-born recording artist, according to Mad Monk CEO Quincy B. Scovill, will bring “invigorating soul, heartfelt aptitude, and a distinguished musical prowess” as well as a commanding stage presence and captivating yet distinct vocal aura reflecting an innate drive and determination notwithstanding among contemporary singer/songwriters. Ohsha Kai joins other Mad Monk Artists Blind Granny, Peasants of Posture, Beatnik Castle and Scovill Avenue.

Ohsha is no stranger to the world of high-energy dance.

A well-rounded session singer for many R & B, hip-hop, and dance artists, Ohsha Kai’s first single – “Free Your Mind” – an upbeat soulful dance stomper, skyrocketed to # 1 on Billboard’s Breakout charts in July 2006 and rose to # 6 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart. “Free Your Mind” also spent 15 weeks on Billboard and was on iTunes’ Top Ten list for dance recording downloads, Top 3 on Sirius Satellite Radio, Top 10 on the World Dance Charts, and recognized by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and placed on the Official Grammy Ballot for “Best New Song” in the 2007.

Ohsha’s follow up single “Out of My Mind” was release in May 2007 and, like its predecessor, hit Billboard’s Top 10 and stayed on iTunes’ Top 50 dance charts for several weeks. Her current single is a high energy dance remake of Nu Shooz classic “I Can’t Wait” and is on CAPP Records highly successful compilation series, Best of 80’s Dance Vol. 3. Following a stunning performance at the 2006 Winter Music Conference in Miami, renown dance promoter and DJ Harry F. Towers proclaimed that 2006 was “…the year of Ohsha Kai!”

“What’s really special is that I’ll be member of the Deet family once again,” Ohsha admits. “Harry has been my musical godfather these past few years and he never gave up on me!” Beatnik Castle’s current single and video, “Will U B Mine?” (featuring singer Francillia) is currently being played worldwide and promoted by Harry and Deet Promotions.

Ohsha’s first single and video, “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart (Like Mine)?” is, according to both Ohsha and Quincy, a stunning old school-style musical composition that features “plenty of backing vocals and 70’s style strings. Ohsha Kai and “Broken Heart” will be featured on Beatnik Castle’s sophomore release Spring 2010. In the meantime, Ohsha and the eccentric Mr. Scovill are diligently working on a much-anticipated full length album to be released Fall 2010 on Mad Monk LTD. According to Quincy, Ohsha brings an “impressive potpourri of musical talent” to an already unique, wild and whacky world of psychedelic dance/pop.

“Her voice is incredible,” exclaims an excited Quincy. “I’ve never worked with anybody so versatile and talented; her voice is an amazing pitchblende of Patti Labelle, Melissa Etheridge, or Anastasia but has the elegance, say, of Lisa Stansfield, Ce Ce Winans, or Karen Carpenter. So far, Ohsha has demonstrated that she can sing anything – R & B, Dance, pop, rock, even heavy metal! Wait until you hear the songs Windows, Without You, or Afterdark. Pure raw energy and musical power. It’s amazing!”

“Many folks are going to be pleasantly surprised by the direction and cohesiveness of the solo material,” Ohsha playfully warns. This eccentric but seemingly effective musical collaboration – currently brewing in Central and West Florida, promises to be both unique and refreshing. “Imagine a combination of, say, Swing Out Sister, U2, Fifth Dimension, The Commodores, Warrant, Lady Gaga, The Stylistics, Pat Benatar, Beyonce, Donna Summer, Kelly Clarkson, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Nightwish, and Michelle Branch, combined with Alice in Chains, Amy Lee, Karen Carpenter, Lisa Stansfield, Jim Croce, John Denver, and Metallica.

“ It’s such an incredible musical potpourri and I’m very tickled pink to get started! That’s all I can say right now,” she playfully winks. You can check out Ohsha Kai’s web site at www.Ohshakai.net! For information on Beatnik Castle, go to www.beatnikcastle.com.

Come out this Saturday, January 30th and see what all the buzz is about! Our good friend Motown Maurice has a new late night show and it really rocks! This is what the Tampa Bay area needs! Let’s support Motown!

Bay Area psychedelic dance/pop duo and Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia and local artist Phantom will perform a private performance for Metropolitan Ministries’ Outreach Convention Services Friday, December 18 at 1:00 pm at Morgan Park. Two days later, Sunday, December 20 at 8:00 pm, Beatnik Castle will be Phantom’s special guest at “Local Artists Who Care” – a non-profit charity musical event at La Sonrisa Cantina at 5016 East Busch Blvd, Tampa, Fl 33617. Co-sponsored with Metropolitan Ministries, La Sonisa Cantina (formerly Beer Belly’s Cafe), Bullzeye Entertainment, and Phantom Presents.

Beatnik Castle released their stunning debut cd maxi-single “Will U B Mine?” in summer 2009. Released on Tampa independent label Mad Monk, Ltd in Summer 2009, the CD features remixes from internationally known remixers Cato K, Lenny B and, of course, Quincy B. The single is currently getting airplay on over 100 dance/mix radio stations across the country, including XM/Sirius BPM and 18 radio stations in Europe, including the UK and Germany, as well as Australia and South America. The Bay Area’s hottest musical duo was recently added to Clear Channel’s New Discover/Uncover nationwide artist roster, including local station 95.7 The Beat and the single has over 18,000 spins.  The single made its national broadcast debut on Logo Network December 2009 and has been added to MTV, VH1, Spike TV, Music Choice and other audio and video outlets worldwide.

Since signing with promoter DJ Harry F. Towers of DEET Promotions in March 2009, Francillia and Quincy have been extremely busy – performing at the Winter Music Conference in Miami, Urban Music Awards in New York, the grand opening of Club Q-S.I.N.Y. in Staten Island, as well as personal appearances at local dance clubs, art exhibits, fashion shows, sporting and charity events, as well as performing their unique dance/club songs “unplugged” at coffee shops and private parties as well. The Tampa Bay Area’s most talented musical duo were placed on the Official Grammy Ballot in three categories, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Phantom, an extremely versatile Bay Area musician who recently released his Island/Def Jam distributed debut single “Just Another Day,” (produced by Law). In lieu of a cover charge, Cash, food, or toy donations will be accepted and all proceeds will go to Metropolitan Ministries, a nonprofit organization that has served the Tampa bay homeless population for over 35 years.

For further information on Beatnik Castle, please contact Barbara J. Sobel/Sirenia Records at 347-960-8153 or barbarajsobel@gmail.com or go to www.beatnikcastle.com. For further information on Phantom, please contact Chella at Phantom Presents 813 789-0708 or chellabullzeyeent@gmail.com or go to www.audiojammusic.com.

NewNowNext PopLab

The long-awaited music video “Will U B Mine?” from Tampa Bay Area psychedelic dance/pop duo Beatnik Castle Featuring Francillia, will make its national broadcast debut on Logo, the new LBGT network from MTV.  The video will appear on Logo Network’s “NewNowNext Poplab” program this Monday November 30 at 7:00 pm EST. The video also was added to MTV, VH1, Spike TV, AOL, and other national and international video outlets worldwide, including distribution by Promo Only.

Beatnik Castle lead singer/songwriter, Thee Lovely Francillia, will be DJ Bishop’s special guest and will perform the group’s hit single at Café Alma in St. Petersburg this Friday, December 4 around 10:00 pm. Café Alma is located at 260 1st Ave S # 100 St Petersburg, FL 33701-4364. For further information, go to http://www.cafealma.com/splash.htm

Set for release later this month is special dance/club remix cd of their worldwide smash single “Will U B Mine?” The new CD will feature several new dance/club remixes by such dance world notables as Josh Harris, Lenny B, Cato K, Georgie Porgie, Majik Boys, Tod Miner, Julian Marsh and, of course, the indescribable Quincy B. Also set for release 2010 is both an audio and video unplugged acoustic performance featuring “Will U B Mine?” and four songs from Francillia’s 2010 solo CD “Temptation”

For more information, please contact Barbara J. Sobel at BarbaraJSobel@gmail.com for bookings and more information. The videos can be seen at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxcFiqv1j-Y&NR=1 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySzo-v803BQ. Other links to the TBT article and Clear Channel site are http://blogs.tampabay.com/tbt/2009/11/new-beatnik-castle-and-francillia-video-will-u-b-mine.html and http://www.957thebeat.com/new2/artists/i/245678 respectively.

Here is the list of videos for the “NewNowNext PopLab” show airing on Monday, November 30th. This week’s show is a repeat of the Beyonce hosted episode. Premieres include Adam Lambert, Leighton Meester and Orianthi and, of course, Beatnik Castle!

1. Leighton Meester “Somebody To Love” (Logo Premiere)
2. Orianthi “According To You” (Logo Premiere)
3. Beyonce ft Lady Gaga “Video Phone (Extended Remix)”
4. Adam Lambert “Time for Miracles” (Logo Premiere)
5. Paradiso Girls “Patron Tequila”
6. LMFAO “La La La”
7. Cascada “Evacuate the Dancefloor”
8. Bebe Zahara Benet “I’m The It”
9. Foxxjazell “Split Enz” (Broadcast Premiere)
10. Beatnik Castle “Will U Be Mine” (Broadcast Premiere)

FACES Modeling Troupe fashion Show

Bay Area psychedelic dance/pop duo Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia will perform a special acoustic/dance number at the FACES Modeling Troupe Inc. (FMT) Semi-Annual Fashion Show at The University of South Florida Marshall Center, Student Center Ballroom on Sunday, November 15^th 2009 from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Titled “Primal Instincts: Remembering your Roots,” the Fashion Show’s theme will emphasize the importance of increasing awareness by embracing and subsequently maintaining one’s cultural roots within the local community as well as maintaining a universal camaraderie with colleagues and friends worldwide. Primal Instincts: Back to Your Roots will brilliantly display the progression of attire and fashion specific to primitive African cultures to contemporary designs. This special event welcomes all-ages and is open to the public. Admission is only $7 and $15 for VIP Access.

Headlining the November 15 Fashion Show are FACES models Amanda Faulk (featured in Tampa Bay Fashion Week, Bebe Couture Fashion, House of Ska and Clearwater Fashion Week), Jaidus Mondesir (featured in 2xist underwear shoots, Disney and SeaWorld ads), Roseanne Chery (featured in Untiltled Inc. Fashion, ENIGMA Fashion Show, and Dramatica Fashion Show), and designs by designer and former FACES model Nicole Chavanne. FACES also will be collaborating with other student organizations and community agencies such as ENLACE, Amnesty International, and The Poets: USF.

Beatnik Castle’s single “Will U B Mine?” is currently being played worldwide and was nominated by the national Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for Best Dance Single, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year for the 2010 Grammy Awards

For further information about FACES or the November 15 Fashion Show, please contact Daton Haywood, Director of Shows, at 352-988-7145, dhaywood@mail.usf.edu or go to www.facesmodelingtroupe.com.  For further information on Beatnik Castle go to www.beatnikcastle.com

Francillia with legendary trainer Jimmy Williams

Francillia at the Fights

Francillia with Nate "The Glaxxy warrior" Campbell

Special thanks to Terry Trekas at One Punch Productions and Fight Factory for making last evening’s Ballroom Brawl a most memorable occasion for Bay Area psychedelic dance/pop duo Beatnik Castle. Quincy B and Francillia watched local fighters Lamar Davis, Nick Iannuzzi, Manny Woods and headliner Keith “One Time” Thurman win their respective bouts.  Boxing luminaries such as former world champions Jeff “Left Hook Lacey, Hector “Macho” Camacho, David Santos, Ronald “Winky” Wright, and Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell intently listened as Beatnik singer/songwriter Francillia soulfully and gracefully sang the Star Spangled Banner to the celebrity-filled sellout crowd at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in beautiful but chilly downtown Tampa, Fl. Also in the audience were legendary boxing Hall of Fame trainers Angelo Dundee (Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard) and Tampa’s Jimmy Williams (Antonio Tarver, John Mugabi).

“It was really inspiring to see Jimmy after all these years, “said Quincy B. “Jimmy and I go way back; almost 20 years when I was just a know-it-all  kid from Kissimmee,” said Quincy B. “.Jimmy is a big fan of music and really enjoyed  Francillia’s performance.  He’s an amazing individual and his visionary wisdom was my primary inspiration to work with talented individuals.  My passion for music and entertainment was fueled by Jimmy’s wisdom many years ago. I can’t thank him enough. We’ll do anything to help promote whatever goodness and cheer he continues to spread worldwide “

Was Francillia nervous singing to such a star-studded crowd? “I was a little nervous,” she playfully admits. “But the butterflies quickly subsided and I had plenty of fun. Watching our local fighters win was enjoyable,” she said, adding that meeting and subsequently receiving kind words from Quincy’s mentor, Jimmy Williams also was an honor. “I wasn’t aware that Quincy and Jimmy knew each other! I can see where Quincy gets his passion and enthusiasm from.” Again, Mega thanx to Terry Trekas and Fight Factory for giving us the opportunity to help support the Tampa Fight Community! We’ll do it again!

Wide Awoke November

This is it for Motown Maurice’s local Tampa television show Wide aWoke Wednesday’s.A good friend and esteemed colleague, Motown Maurice started WideAwoke Wednesday’s two years ago and, 27 shows later, decided to conclude this series this November. The upcoming Wednesday, November 11, 2009 will be the last Wide aWoke Wednesday’s. Sadly, this excellant and thought-provoking series will be sorely missed! Motown and his crew are staunch supporters of Beatnik Castle and we strongly encourage you to experience Wide aWoke Wednesday’s before it becomes a piece of Tampa talk show history. We’ll there as well giving our support!

Don’t miss it or you’ll regret it.

Our dear friend and Deet mate Pepper Mashay will be playing Georgie’s Alibi this Friday October 16 at 11:00 pm! We love Pepper and Francillia and I are BIG fans! Come out and join us to welcome this marvelous talent and equally marvelous person to the Bay Area!!

Bay Area psychedelic duo and Mad Monk, LTD recording artists Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia have been invited by Universal Music Day to perform a special acoustic set at the Third Annual Universal Music Day Concert in Clearwater Saturday, October 10 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Accompanying Francillia and Quincy B will be guitarist Justin Elfils. Justin is a talented musician and a valued Beatnik musical friend who also will be performing solo that evening.   The concert will be at The UU Octagon Art Center at 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater, Fl 33764.

The Bay Area’s hottest dance/pop duo are performing rare “unplugged” shows in the Bay Area this month as they celebrate their  debut CD “Will U B Mine?” CD maxi-single being recognized by National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia are nominated on the Official Ballot for the 2010 Grammy Awards in three categories, including Song of the Year, Best Dance Single, and Record of the Year. This is the third consecutive NARAS recognition for Tampa-based independent label Mad Monk, LTD.  In 2007, Doom-metallers Peasants of Posture had four different songs from their debut CD CounterRevolution nominated in four different categories. The following year, hip/funksters Scovill Avenue’s Big House nabbed seven categories, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

“Will U B Mine?” is currently being played on over 100 dance mix stations across the US, including XM/Sirius and several countries in Europe.  The music video – which showcases Francillia’s stunning beauty and many alluring fashions, is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySzo-v803BQ for more information please go to www.beatnikcastle.com or contact publicist Barbara J. Sobel at barbarajsobel@gmail.com. For more information on Universal Music Day, please go to www.universalmusicday.org. or call 727-804- 4908.