One of Sacramento's largest collaborations took place, as BLAQLight joined forces with Paul Willis, Madk@p, Cameron Eugene, and Coon The Poet on a mega track entitled "Spirits Of The Atlantic".
BLAQLight says, "The energy in this track is unbelievable. When I made the beat, I wanted to make something that had a soul element, but would also get this feeling of hype and awe for the Ancestors who didn't make it across the Atlantic, whether they jumped or were thrown overboard - their energy still permeates in the ocean, which is why I called the beat Spirits Of The Atlantic."
Paul Willis made sure the song honored the Ancestors and story of Igbo Landing, which was a final stop for ships in Alabama. A group of Igbo people from Nigeria, instead of continuing with their bondage, all linked up with each other and walked into the Atlantic waters, in essence "flying away", hence another example of the legend of Flying Africans.
Spirits Of The Atlantic is available everywhere under the BLAQLight artist profile.
Updated: May 31, 2020
A little over a year ago, BLAQLight opened for Marsha Ambrosius at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, CA.
"It was on the fly," says BLAQLight, "I got asked to DJ a near 3-hour set before Marsha Ambrosius performs, with only 2 days notice. Of course I said yes."
What BLAQLight did not know was that his set before the main headliner was actually filling in for another great R&B act, Elle Varner.
"That was wild to find out for me, that out of all the singers, musicians, and other DJs in the Sacramento area to choose from, they reached out to me to fill in for Elle Varner. Like, I know I'm really good at what I do, but still."
This event coincided with another milestone for BLAQLight as a DJ.
"When I opened for Marsha Ambrosius, I actually had just hit my 10-year mark of being a DJ. This was an absolutely amazing moment for me, well, 3 hours, plus watching Marsha Ambrosius perform, so an amazing night. This was how I brought in a decade of DJ'ing."
Though BLAQLight retired from DJ'ing in 2020, he is still producing and making beats, and sometimes makes a surprise appearance on a Live feed to do a quick DJ set.
August 20, 1619 marked the first recorded date that Africans were brought to what became the United States. While in bondage, there was a legend of "Flying Africans", who escaped bondage by "growing wings and flying away".
To commemorate the 400 year journey, BLAQLight collaborated with artists and activists Paul Willis and duskaftrdawn to release their new single, "Fly Away".
"This song is represents flight in many ways for me", says BLAQLight, "it has a different production style from me, while still maintaining the soul element."
"Fly Away" is available on all streaming platforms under the BLAQLight artist profile.