SOUNDTRACK: D SMOKE-Tiny Desk (Home) Concert #28 (May 29, 2020).
The lineup of musicians for the Tiny Desk Home Concerts has been a fascinating mix of known and unknown folks.
I have never heard of D Smoke. Apparently it’s not surprising that I don’t know who D Smoke is because
last year, the rapper and pianist, born Daniel Farris, rose to national acclaim when he won Netflix’s MC battle show Rhythm + Flow.
Winning allowed him to quit teaching and produce music full-time. He plays four songs.
D Smoke’s songs here — taken from his latest album Black Habits, out earlier this year — acknowledge the disparities impacting the black experience that are simultaneously personal and universal. The opening selection, “No Commas,” is a heart-wrenching lament on injustice and inequality. The gentle touch of D’s fingers moving across the keys complement the song’s poignant lyrics, which he raps in English and Spanish.
I am really quite amazed at what rap sounds like without a beat, with no percussion of any kind. These songs are performed with just the piano. Stark and powerful.
I enjoyed the lyrics to “No Commas”
I told ’em I’m the one for the job, no commas
And I’m serious, period, no commas
Wanna enjoy my family and my friends with no drama
The song segues into “Closer to God” which has a more jazzy/lounge vibe. He sings the chorus and has a lovely voice.
This is his first time playing and rapping “Seasons Pass.” Although he is rapping, his is very musical about it, kind of singing more than straight ahead rapping. But when he gets rapping, his flow is fast and impressive.
He also performed “Black Habits II,” the affecting finale to Black Habits, for the first time in a live setting.
The album is about his upbringing growing up, for the first nine years, with a single mother and then his pops coming home [from being incarcerated] and being a good role model.
He cautions us that it’s his first time playing it live so, “If I stumble a bit we gonna pick it back up.” He does stumble a bit but it sounds great.
[READ: May 25, 2020] “Demolition”
It’s always interesting to read a story set in a different country. I guess one always imagines a story is set somewhere familiar unless you are told otherwise. It wasn’t until about half way through the story before I realized it was not set in the States. And I think it was very close to the end that I realized it was set in Australia.
But the setting doesn’t matter so much because the story is about the house across the street which is being torn down today.
Eva lives across the street and is sad that the Biga house is being torn down. Her husband, Gerald, is happy to see the eyesore go. As they looked through the blinds, they watched people come and take souvenirs from the place.
Then came the media.
Eva had been in the house as a child, back when the Laineys lived there. When the Laineys moved to Sydney, they rented the place to a series of tenants, including the Bigas.
The media is here because Paul Biga, the child of the family grew up to be a murderer.
While they were looking out the window a woman came to the door. It was Kate Hawkins. Eva knew her well; they had spoken at length in 1995. Hawkins had written a book, Hunter on the Highway: The True Story of a Monster Among Us about Paul Biga.
Kate had interviewed everyone who lived near Paul Biga for her book. She made sure Eva had a copy because Eva was quoted in it.
Hawkins had come very quickly after the news of the murder broke. She said she’d only had a month to get the book out if she wanted to be first–payment was double if her book was first.
Kate said that she was now doing a follow-up story. Eva knew Gerald would disapprove–he didn’t think much of the reporter the first time. The questions now are about how she feels now that the Biga house is being demolished.
Eva says what she’s been thinking all along. That it is the Lainey house, not the Biga house. Eva has very fond memories of being in that house as a child.
She also remembered when the Bigas rented out the house. Teenaged Paul worked in Eva’s garden. That bit of information was very interesting to Kate Hawkins and she tried to find something about it. But Eva only said he was always very polite.
Every time Kate would say something about he Biga house, Eva’s memories would flash back to the Lianey house. Her best friend Josie Lainey. Spending time in her room; playing the game of which classmates they would save if their house were on fire. There had never been a face, or lips, or arms more beautiful to Eva than Josie Lainey’s.
Kate asked how the Laineys feel about Paul Biga. The adult Laineys are long dead. and she has lost touch with the children even Josie.
Kate is still looking for a scoop. But Eva gives nothing about the Laineys. So Kate switches back to Paul and asks if Eva often hired students to do yard work–Eva was principal at the school Paul had attended). Eva told truthfully that no, he was more of a neighbor than a student.
The only thing unusual about Paul was the note he’d written Eva that last summer he worked there. It was a love letter of sorts–but it was specific and crude. He spelled “cunnilingus” correctly, but “specific” incorrectly. He asked her to run away with him. Of course she never considered it. She never told anyone about it either.
Kate anticipates that Eva, that anyone, must feel relived that the house was down. Obviously, Eva doesn’t feel so assuredly that way.
I really enjoyed the elliptical nature of this story. I only wish a bit more of the timeline was given. How old was Eva when Paul wrote the note? How much later were the murders?
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