Author: Roderick Thomas

Picture of the stage and lighting at the Summer Stage concert series
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SummerStage Concerts are Everything

SummerStage Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is yet again bringing forth an unforgettable free musical experience. I attended my first SummerStage concert and was blown away. I sat in my seat and I looked around at the impressive stage set up and lighting. From the bleachers to the grass, concert goers decorated the venue with picnic mats and colorful […]

Image from Black Masc. A man touch his own hair.
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Black Masc – A New Look at Black Masculinity

On the heels of releasing my first documentary feature Black Masc, I knew I had to talk to someone who understood Black Masculinity from experience but knew what it meant to be an entrepreneur. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jordan Green, owner of Exit18 Creative Agency. My interview with with Jordan Green below   Jordan Green: Hey Roderick […]

Award winning Trumpeter, Nabaté Isles holding a trumpet.
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Nabaté Isles Returns With Black Girl Magic

Grammy award-winning trumpeter Nabaté Isles is back with a new album, En Motion. His career boasts performances at the White House and collaborations with legends like Mos Def (Yasiin Bey), Jimmy Owens, and Jill Scott. And yes, Nabaté is still hungry to create and inspire us all to move.   My interview with the incredibly talented Nabaté Isles below. Roderick Thomas: […]

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Daytona Starsky: A hell of a concert in Purgatory, by Roderick Thomas

I walked into the colorful and dramatically lit club, Purgatory in Brooklyn. Everything about the space screamed Bushwick— offbeat aesthetic, yet not lacking any cool whatsoever. Daytona Starsky was performing tonight for an arriving crowd. I had the pleasure of speaking with both him and his management. More on his album, Reality Station, and live performance below. Reality Station begins […]

Daytona Starsky pointing a light beam. Promotional image
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Daytona puts on a hell of a concert in Brooklyn’s Purgatory

I walked into the colorful and dramatically lit club, Purgatory, in Brooklyn. Everything about the space screamed Bushwick— offbeat aesthetic, yet not lacking any cool whatsoever. Daytona Starsky was performing tonight for an arriving crowd. I had the pleasure of briefly speaking with both him and his management. More on his album, Reality Station, and live performance at Purgatory below. […]

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How to find yourself: Music and mental health, interview with Dylan Owen, by Roderick Thomas

Mental health has often been a topic discussed in hindsight. One musician is tackling the topic in a creative way with the release of his new short film and album. My interview with musician Dylan Owen below. Roderick Thomas: Glad to speak with you, how are you? Dylan Owen: Doing well, thank you! RT: Where are you from? Dylan Owen: […]

Singer Denitia with a guitar
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Highways: How Denitia is changing country music

Singer and songwriter Denitia is a talented singer who has been opening doors for country music, while identity politics and barriers could be an easy landing for any story about the talented country and folk singer songwriter, the real story is that she’s simply one hell of a musician. My interview with Denitia below. Roderick Thomas: Hi Denitia, so happy […]

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Camille Martin Redefines Luxury Skin Care for Women of Color by Roderick Thomas

By summer 2022, Camille Martin had managed to raise three million dollars to fund breakthrough advancements in skin care products designed with women of color in mind. As she enters a space now dominated by celebrity owned or endorsed products, Camille is staying focused on her mission to provide safe, luxury skin care for women of color––products that could change […]

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Meet the comedian who taught JLO and Keke Palmer how to Strip, by Roderick Thomas

Nightlife and New York City are almost synonymous. People from all over the world come to America’s most populous city to jump start their dreams or establish careers —- Jacq (Jacques) Frances was no different. Known as Jacq the Stripper, Jacq traveled to New York City, transformed into a nightlife guru and stripper, then worked with Jeniffer Lopez and Keke […]