Dana La Rock is Eargasm Alumni.  The southern Cali native first caught our attention with her whispery seductive, yet substance laced vocals. She took a little time out to give us her perspective on, “The new breed of Female MC”.

“In the midst of a fresh resurgence of the fading reappearance of Female Artists, I’d humbly like to lay my admiration out on the table for the New Breed of Females emerging in Music.”

Women have been grinding for a taste of Industry life since the dawn, and are often sidelined or given propositions to sell an over-sexualized figure or guided to portray a hardcore identity among other standards. This is Music right? Sure. Personally, I’d be thrilled if the “material girl” appearances/gimmicks were eliminated, and it’s evolving. Since the Internet is heavily dominating, the term “Indie” has become a forefront of productivity. Along with it there’s been ample freedom surrounding noncommercial Female Artists to find success around being mainstream. Today we’re hearing clashing sound fusions, organic-galactic beats, artsy fashions on average Jane’s, and cult followings that curve the need for radio play. The New Breed of Female in Music.

Over the past few years the world has been introduced to veteran artists MIA and Philly-bred powerhouse Santigold (formerly known as Santogold), who put the clamps on microphones and gave non-traditional Female Artists opportunities to run wild. With regard, these ladies aren’t the first, though they’ve been successfully noteworthy for today’s Female Artists who don’t fit into the classic Rapper/Singer genres.

From the outside looking in, the doors seem to be flinging open with availability to a mini-birth of similar artisans- Kid Sister, Mapei, Amanda Blank and Rye Rye. But I often wonder will these nifty rappers find longevity with a familiar genre backed with distinctive production. When I first heard of Kid Sister I was hyped, then it turned to, “Where’s the variety?” I have full faith in these Ladies to represent behind the mic, they are bringing an added angle to emceeing, whether you’ve heard of them, or not.

The New Breed of Female has too screamed Experimental! Soulful! Uncategorized! For the Ladies that visually take you places and give you feelings musically, I tip my hat to you- Janelle Monae, Miss Jack Davey (J*Davey), Lykkle Li, and Little Boots. Fashion symbols atop of vocally spearing you to love the voices and the writing abilities they possess.

The Art of Female Artistry is generating and hopefully it carries on for the next round of unconventional artists; it’s a brilliance that complements the visual of an Original Female Artist in Music. The New Breed.

Dana La Rock ” La Lovefest”

Dana La Rock. And yes we’ve said it before, but she has a sound that you’ve probably never heard before, or at least have not heard in a while. She is a combination of electro, pop, and hip hop. She’s not a rapper by definition, but the way she rides a track with her vocals is crazy!  She’s not yelling about sex, money, and what her “lady parts” get her. Her music is a combination that most wouldn’t expect,but she makes it  hers and makes it work! Dare to be different? Dana La Rock does this elegantly while rocking her signature snapback caps and SBs.

I personally discovered her music while browsing through myspace pages one day. I came across a song that  instantly caught my attention. The beat, sound, and lyrics weren’t like anything I’d ever heard before. Being a fan of music, I had to find out who was behind this song. Clicking on the artist’s page was my introduction to Dana La Rock.

This was the start of a good friendship being that she resides in SoCal herself, I have had the opportunity to catch her in her element on and off stage. Dana La Rock is unlike any other person I know. She is young, talented, intelligent, focused, and most importantly down to earth. Her swagger is rare; she is comfortable in her skin. She does not use her body to sell her music; she lets it speak for itself. She stands before you with sheer confidence. With one meeting, you know that she is ready for the world. She has a lot to offer and this rising star is ready to emerge from the shadows!  She’s crack. Literally.

Dana La Rock ” Downtown Girl”

What’s the story behind the name Dana La Rock? Dana La Rock just had a little ring to it. La Rock by itself was cool to me, so I attached it onto Dana. La Rock is basically like the crack. I wanted to be someone who made music that continuously stayed on your mind. “Crack” = the rock

Where were you born and raised? Born in Buena Park, California and raised in numerous cities which includes Anaheim (Orange County) where I currently reside and Lakewood, California in my younger years.

Oh okay.Orange County. I’m from Cali, but The Hills and The OC has everyone messed up. Tell everyone what Orange County is really like? Haha. Firstly, whenever I bring up The OC everyone laughs. But the OC is pretty much a mixture of everything. “The Hills” and the TV Show “The OC” only showed the richer beach cities and only a certain race of people. There’s blacks, Hispanics and Asians in the OC that live just like how L.A. folk live.

How would you describe your style, and music? Well, I’ve lived in California, Indiana and Atlanta so I pretty much grabbed every surroundings style and put it all into one. The beat for me determines a lot on style. I have 3 different abilities: Rap, Sing & Rap-Sing. As for my music I just go for it, I want to make people move, I want to give people a different sound coming from a female. If I stood on stage with a microphone people would assume I’m up there to rap like Lil Kim or Foxy. That’s what I love, people are surprised once they hear my vocal tone.

And in your opinion, what sets you apart from other upcoming artists? Luckily I haven’t gotten any style comparisons to other tomgirls out there, but I believe that sets me apart coming from CA, as well as being a girl that isn’t out there rapping about sex & money. I believe the sound and whole rap-sing style is refreshing. The music is a little different but I think in the near future more people will latch onto it.

What’s important to you as an artist? Being accepted is important to me. A lot of people aren’t open to style fusions or anything out the box, so being accepted and acknowledged as an artist would rank Number 1. All else would be to create quality music that everyone can enjoy and relate to.

Tell me about your Fun-Tape that you just finished? The Fun-Tape wasn’t even supposed to happen. I did a song called “CRUSHER” for the helluvit and got tons of feedback from it. So I did a couple more songs, which led people to ask about CDs. I decided to just record a whole bunch of up-tempo, songs and throw them together for people to just have. I ended up calling it the Fun-Tape because I wanted it to be just an introduction, I didn’t want to stamp a big official name it because I was testing the waters. Since I released it I’ve gotten surprising comments and write ups, which I think is incredible. It holds numerous genres from Electro, R&B, late 80s sounds to Hip Hop, and that put the icing on the cake. If you haven’t heard it, I will say give it a listen!

If you had to choose one artist to work with who would it be,and why? Either Andre 3000 or Cee Lo Green. I’d choose Cee Lo – The Son of the Soul Machine, that boy is  bad. I like his production. It’s eclectic, he’s a great writer, and can capture many genre’s other than Rap. He can Rap, Sing, Write, Produce.

What is your all time favorite song, and why? Random, but it’s The Isley Brothers “Voyage to Atlantis”. It always makes me zone about life’s journey.

Thats not random at all, I always expect for people to answer that question with some generic song that automatically everyone knows. It’s good to hear something different.

Especially something classic.

You really only wear snapback hats? Anything special behind that? I love snapbacks. Fitteds are too wide for my head. I had my first snapback back in the 90s, one of my cousin’s left an old school vintage blue & red 76er’s hat at my house and I wore it here and there until 2006. Ever since then I’ve been buying them.

I’m a tattoo freak, so I’m in love with your cheetah tattoo on your arm, What made you get that tattoo in particular? Tattoos are addicting! And, honestly I have no idea why I chose cheetah print. I saw it on a lady’s back one day and I wondered how it’ll look as a sleeve. I told my mom was getting it and she said “Whatever”, lol. So I went and got it and came home and her mouth dropped. I just figured after I got 3 small ones I wanted to go all out on the rest. I want to get both arms covered and a leg sleeve… Hey, you only live once

I know what that’s like my mom hates that I have tattoos. So I’ve gotten to the point when I get ink done I just don’t tell her. Haha

My mom doesn’t even care she just doesn’t think we have the balls to go against her lol.

What’s on the horizon for Dana La Rock? Horizon, I like that word. Let’s see, I know I will soon be working on an album but before we’ll be working on singles and things that’ll capture both audiences, commercial and indie/underground. Hopefully hooking up with a few companies and a couple dope artists for collaborations. I’m taking my time though, I don’t want to put it all out there at once.

What has been your greatest accomplishment this far? I think the ending half of 2008 was all great. As a new artist its hard breaking in and I did a few shows here and there, which were great practice. I actually got back into rapping a bit. More or less just being out there and actually doing what I’ve wanted has been the starting accomplishment to hundreds more being set.

Download the FunTape Below.

Look for Dana on the upcoming Eargasm x Dirty Jeenius “If it Wasnt for music Vol 2 Mixtape.

Funtapecover