Richard Behringer

The Urban Twist •

Interview: Freddy Printz Rotates Back to Early Hip Hop in New Release “Still in Rotation”

Freddy Printz, lyricist and rap talent, artist and free thinker, makes his way in rotation when turning back to the old school era of Hip Hop. Guided by the phrase ‘Bridging the gap between art and sound’ (written in his bio of his social media channels), the Canadian rapper uses different art forms in music to create an all-round feel: Whether in his cover art of his releases (notably his painted image in EP “The Candidate”), creative music video concepts (playing a night shop cashier dealing w...
The Urban Twist •

Interview: Squarepainter Adam Shub Talks Retro Gaming Art in Pixels, Playing Bass in Rock Band Rex Viper & Meeting Cobra Kai’s Ralph Macchio and William Zabka

From Super Mario to Sonic the Hedgehog to The Legend of Zelda to everything in between: Adam Shub aka Squarepainter transforms canvas squares and rectangles into pixelated art from games around the original pixel era. Designing ideas first on Photoshop, then later drawing grids on a canvas with a ruler and a mechanical pencil, followed up by layers of paint to finish a pixelated piece, all made by hand. Think about 80s/90s consoles like the (Super) Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Genesis...
The Urban Twist •

Meet Sakis Graphics, Designer of Music Video Posters by Ariana Grande, Doja Cat & Charlie Puth: ‘Always Loved the Whole Visual World Around Music.’

In media, the art form of illustrations can be found everywhere and all over the place. Especially in poster form, when ads try their best to stimulate a feel for the specific product, or movie posters that show a glimpse of the film’s content and atmosphere. A promotional tool or not, it’s also a way of art that can become a recognizable image, creating a bond with the viewer. Something that German graphic designer Sakis Dimitriou responded to in his self-made promotional artwork: The feel of e...
The Urban Twist •

Album Review: Bane – Exile

Anti-industry and a non-conformist: Michael Bane, a rapper originally from Tallahassee, Florida, underlined faith and originality in his music and lyrics instead of typical mainstream propaganda. Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Michael – who’s simply known as Bane as hip-hop artist – puts authenticity first when he defines his inner self in his music, trying to exorcize his demons while exercising his religion in the process. Developing his direction in hip-hop since 2002, releasing around te...
The Urban Twist •

The 10 Greatest Solo Singles by Pharrell Williams

The last decade made Pharrell Williams a popular figure in the public, in music charts and in fashion. The limelight could not get enough from the multi-talent in huge hats and colorful clothes when the massive success of soundtrack-single ‘Happy’ for the animated film ‘Despicable Me 2’ created a movement were countless tribute videos of that song and video made a global phenomenon in approximately 153 countries. But despite Pharrell’s stardom that reached high points from that moment on, he was...
The Urban Twist •

The 10 Most Underrated Singles By Nelly Furtado

Right when the millennium just started, the then-20-year-old Nelly Furtado entered into the year 2000 with a folky pop debut and instant sing-a-long hit ‘I’m Like a Bird’. Literally as the title of the song, the Canadian singer from Victoria, British Columbia, was introducing herself as a free bird who wanders through life. Her persona as a world singer, carrying close roots to her parents’ home country of Portugal, is seen early on in her music, presenting herself in different shades and musica...
The Urban Twist •

Album Review: Madeon – Good Faith

As Hugo Pierre Leclercq, or simply Madeon, is rather known as DJ, he’s basically an all-round musician – produces records, sings and writes lyrics, and started composing music when he was 11 years old. Couldn’t be bothered by school, he already knew he would devote his life to music, creating tunes first with monikers like Wayne Mont, starting in 2010 naming himself Madeon, an anagram of Deamon, another former moniker he used. Then, rewinding back to 2011, his devotion in music took an unexpect...
The Urban Twist •

Album Review: Justin Bieber – Changes

After five whole years, Justin Bieber officially returned to the limelight with his fifth LP ‘Changes’, the successor of his critically and commercially successful 2015 album ‘Purpose’, known for hit-singles ‘Sorry’, ‘Love Yourself’ and panpipe-filled lead single ‘What Do You Mean?’ As 4th album ‘Purpose’ helped Justin to bend back his reputation after years of negative perceived behavior and run-ins with the law, with his number 1 single ‘Sorry’ – while directed on a relationship – indirectly a...
The Urban Twist •

The 10 Most Significant Singles By Kendrick Lamar

The level of praise and respect that’s been given to Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, who simply adapted as stage name his first two names, is similar to huge hip-hop acts like Snoop Dogg and even Tupac Shakur. But, as Snoop and 2Pac gained their status throughout the decades they are known, Kendrick, on the other hand, is relatively new in the game compared to other acts that are, just like him, regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Just like in the 90s and the 2000s, rap music never s...