Robert Liu-Trujillo's Blog, page 25
August 5, 2023
Stuff I’ve Been Listening To – Synths
Always loved Loose Ends and this classic track from them.
Welcome welcome. Here is a new post with some of my favorite synths, mostly across soul, jazz, funk, hip hop, and rock. I didn’t always know that I loved synths, I just like good music. But after hearing some chatter about synths in general and some of the machines created to make the sounds, I thought I’d share some of my favorites, not the best synths ever. This is totally subjective. Enjoy.Little Dragon by Little DragonLittle Dragon (Sweden) - A Place to belong (2007)This is the first Little Dragon song I heard from my boy Miguel. Fonky.We Are King (Minneapolis/LA) – The Greatest (2015)
Agggh, one of the illest soul groups of recent to write and produce w/ synths!!Squarepusher (UK) – Plaistow Flex Out (2001)
Was turned on to Squarepusher by my homie and drummer Valentino Pink Floyd (UK) – On the Run (1973)
Always loved this Pink Floyd album! Kool & The Gang (Jersey City) – Summer Madness (1974)
Classic joint from a classic jazz, rock, soul band.
What is this?
This series is called “Stuff I’ve been listening to” and this is my place to share music that I listen to while I work, process, decompress, and live life. Some of it is new, some old. But I’m always listening. I share in the hopes that you will find something that inspires you. Please share with a fellow music lover.
Satoshi & Makoto (Japan) – Crepuscule Leger (2017)New! Don’t know much about these cats, but I dig it.Jneiro Jarel (Philadelphia) – Soul Starr (2005)
Discovered Jeniro aka Dr Who Dat? at the record store and became an instant fan. Björk (Iceland) – Hyperballad (1995)
Heard Bjork through one of my best friends in the 90s and was blown awayZion I w/ Mikos da Gawd (Oakland) – Saving Souls (2016)
RIP Zumbi, this is one of countless synth flavored Zion I songs
Did you miss the last installment of this series?
Stuff I’ve been listening to 23: More Jazz
Stuff I’ve been listening to 22: Instrumentals
Stuff I’ve been listening to 21: Raps
Stuff I’ve been listening to 17: Soul
Stuff I’ve been listening to 19: UK Artists
Sexual Harassment (Midwest US) – I need a freak (1983)
House party track tried and true. First heard it as a child.
Chaka Khan (Chicago) – What Cha Gonna do for Me? (1981)
Radio classic on kiss fm in the BayMarcos Valle (Brazil) – Naō Tem Nada Naō (1973)
Found this cut via Madlib!Kraftwerk (Germany) – Numbers (1981)
These cats are German, but this is straight up electro classic hip hop material.
Ok, one last one fam….Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (Austin) – Kids (2016)
Discovered the guys through the Stranger Things soundtrack which was both old and new, simple, yet amazing! Reminds me of 80s movies and that was the point! Keep listening to new and old music. There are tons of great artists still coming out with music. If you’re not sure where to look, check out your local DJ, playlists, mixes, and your local independent radio stations……
August 2, 2023
Inspiration board 43
Hey fam, I hope you’re well. It has been a rough one for me lately but trying to hold on to it. Check out some of these things that have been dope to me recently. Keep going.
Starting from top to bottom, left to right:
1. Major Taylor Iron Riders -video by The Pro’s Closet (Cycling/Fitness)
2. Odessa– Middle grade graphic novel by Jonathan Hill (book)
3. Giant Robot– Doc about an AAPI magazine/store (film)
4. Monica Martin– Vocalist, songwriter from the midwest (music)
5. El Michel’s Affair x Black Thought– I’m still somehow (music)
6. 1000% Me– Doc about being mixed by W. Kamau Bell (film)
7. Art of Cam Kendell from Fart Quest (art)
8. Hidari– Stop motion animated samurai (stop mo animation)
9. The Nakba– Educational video about the Nakba in Palestine (history)
10. Chang Can Dunk– Narrative film about personal goals (film)
11. Cymone Wilder– is an incredible lettering artist (lettering)
12. This Was Our Pact– All ages graphic novel by Ryan Andrews (book)
13. Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur– Animated show based on comic (tv)
14. Endea Owens – Where the Nubians Grow (music)
15. Turning Red– Animated film by Pixar (animation)
16. The Last of Us– Post apocalyptic tv show based on video game (tv)
Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more
What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.Who am I? My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube. You can also cop my first art book here.
Children’s Portrait 75 – Stella
Here’s a new portrait of Stella, commissioned by her Mama Sarah. And they have a cool tradition where the young ladies in her family take a photo with the exact same dress on when they get to be 5 or 6 years old. This is her sister’s portrait Eva.
What is this? Wow, we’re at number 75! I’ve been doing these portraits for about 10 years. Not rushing, taking my time, etc. But through family, friends, and community I have been able to keep making these gifts. I paint these by hand, each one unique from photo reference provided by parents, caregivers, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc. If you’d like to commission a portrait of a kid or a family go here.
Dig this? Check out this collage of children’s portraits.
Chinese pioneers in Reggae, Ska, and Rock Steady
Wow, the more you know. I LOVED listening to this video and it just goes to show there is so many stories yet to be told. I did not know that VP Records stood for Vincent and Patricia-two Jamaicans who were ethnically Asian and mixed! Wow. This video talks about several Chinese pioneers in Jamaican music and who consider themselves “Jamaican”, that’s it.
Check out this video that expands on Patricia Chin, co founder of VP Records who are known world wide for distributing reggae and dancehall music.
Dig this? Check out this doc about Giant Robot Magazine!
Sometimes it gets shelved 6- Worker’s union
Sup fam, been a while since I shared one of these. Its a shelved illustration for a west coast teacher’s union. For some reason this didn’t quite make the cut but we got almost to the end so I thought I’d share. Check out some of the process.
Thumbnails
Linework
Color samplesWhat is this? There are projects I work on as a freelance artist that never see the light of day. I mean , its possible that they get used but I think more often than not the organization or company is trying to do their best and sometimes it doesn’t work.
Final colorDig this? Check out this piece about Migration from a few years back
IG Live w/ Read Your World
This past week I was interviewed by Leanna from Read Your World aka Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Many years ago I did some artwork for their multicultural children’s book day. Check that out here.
Dig this? Check out this feature on Rightnowish
May 19, 2023
15 Tips from 15 Years as a Freelance Illustrator (PDF)
Check it out, this is a pdf with 15 tips that I’ve learned from, failed at, or screwed up on as a freelance illustrator. I started making art as a kid drawing for fun, doing graffiti, and then going to college to study and changing my major 3 times. After the second major change and becoming a dad I officially began freelancing, accepting money for my art and let me tell you it has been a bumpy road. Feel free to cop this for a young student who wishes to be a freelance artist who works for themself. I wrote the words, did the illustrations, and my lovely wife Joy did the design/layout for it.
COP THE PDF HERE
Is this useful? Check out this post about why I still use
business cards
