Good news folks: I'll be speaking at Kindiefest 2013! I'm part of a panel called, "Artists to Artists: Managing Self-Management Kindie-Style". Check out the badge they sent me as proof:
Kindiefest will be held April 26 to 28. I will be speaking probably on the 27th or 26th--stay tuned for a confirmation!
Below's the Kindiefest.com writeup about my panel. If you're interested in contributing to the great, wild, & wonderful Kindie movement, I'd suggest going. It's an awesome & inspiring time!
Artists to Artists: Managing Self-Management Kindie-Style - Being a musician can’t be separated from running a business. Here, we’ll talk about how to manage the many logistics of running your own business in the world of kindie music. Exploring the challenges of self-management from focusing and fine tuning the creative process, while booking your own tour, while overseeing your publicity and marketing, while managing your own accounts and often while raising your own family!
Panelists: Rachel Loshak – Moderator (Gustafer Yellowgold), Tim Kubart (Tim and the Space Cadets, Little Rock-Its by Frolic!), Charlie Hope (Artist), Mista Cookie Jar (Artist)
Thursday, February 14, 2013
New Video for Valentine's Day: "Lover Not A Fighter"
It's a throwback to the Soul Train era but with a kindie-rocker-kid-hop twist. The 9th official Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips music video, "Lover Not a Fighter," stars Ava Flava, Mista Cookie Jar, & some hip dancers from back when TVs were way heavy.
Directed by Andrew Choe (an awesome guy)
Lighting by Wesley Von Tracy (another awesome dude)
Camera by Juan Ramirez (yet again, more awesome)
Written, Edited, & Produced by Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
Filmed at the LoveShipBubbleTron (the backyard)
Big thanks to Erica for the awesome vocal and dance coaching.
RIP Don C.
In May 2012, Cool Mom Tech named "Lover Not a Fighter" the Kids' Music Download of the Week.
"...a 70's era, Jackson Five-esque song that will have you and the kids dancing....Lover Not a Fighter begins with sounds reminiscent of The Jackson Five's I Want You Back. From there though, the three-minute bit of funky deliciousness is made modern with the mad-skills rap of tween Ava Flava and clever word play of Mista Cookie Jar.
Besides, the "just get along" lyrics are way cooler than me telling the kids to stop fighting for the hundredth time on a Sunday. Let's hope they get the message."
"Lover Not a Fighter" is 4th video release from Mista Cookie Jar's sophomore album, "Ultramagnetic Universal Love Revolution," which can be purchased or streamed here:
Lyrics: I got swag to click my clack
And I don't back down from nada.
But trust these words
Now, first things first.
See I'm a lover not a fighter.
Ain't too cool to break lame rules.
Cuz I know new school's the brighter.
But old school eyes
and wisdom's why
I be a lover not a fighter. Oh!
Kid, try to step to me?
I try to put it down gent-a-ly
If ya can't GET with it
Ya gots to STICK with it.
Nothing comes with e-a-s-e.
Ya gotta learn how to spell out ya dreams.
Don't just leave it for the birds to sing.
Cuz in high definition ya can't help but listen.
No one messing with a melody.
Becuz, I got swag to click my clack
And I don't back down from nada.
But trust these words
Now, first things first.
See I'm a lover not a fighter.
Ain't too cool to break lame rules.
Cuz I know new school's the brighter.
But old school eyes
and wisdom's why
I be a lover not a fighter.
So now, here's the deal.
Ya gotta stop ur whinin'.
(Just stop ur whinin'.)
And I mean, for real!
There's no use for cryin'.
(No use for cryin'.)
Ya got to be a lover or be quiet.
(Be a lover or shut up!)
I tell ya now ya got to feel it,
baby, feel it! U can't fight it!
Ava:
When I was just a kid I wouldn't make my bed.
I would throw my stuffed dino at my brother's head.
But don't call me evil. He would throw em back.
Poor mom, she would almost have a heart attack.
My best friend, Mikyla--I call her sister.
One time she tried to pocket all my Polly Pockets.
So I pinched her. (Oh no!)
I can't say I wouldn't do it again.
But now I'm older. And now I know how to be a friend. Yep!
So now I've learned how to play the game. Yep!
Now big sista gotta lead the way. Yep!
Show my brotha how to make the change
to be a lover on the day to day.
Face to face, we all just the same inside.
We show responsibility to build our pride.
Stay proud! No reason why u should hide it.
Sing loud! Gotta feel it, baby, u can't fight it. Cmon!
So now ya feelin' like your soul is free
cuz u been hustling like an athlete.
Now that u feel strong go sing ur song
cuz little homie u put in your t-i-m-e.
Sometimes u gotta fight for peace,
but when ur strong u just love and lead.
So all u boys and girls go show this world
just how the good life's meant to be.
Now lookie here, becuz
I got swag to click my clack
And I don't back down from nada.
But trust these words
Now, first things first.
See I'm a lover not a fighter.
If u can't make peace with this funk
Ya better pump that sanitizer.
It's not just words behind these germs.
See I'm a lover not a fighter.
Now, here's the deal. Ya gotta stop ur whinin'. (Just stop ur whinin'.)
And I mean, for real! There's no use for cryin'. (No use for cryin'.)
Ya got to be a lover or be quiet. (Be a lover or shut up!)
I tell ya now ya got to feel it, baby, feel it! U can't fight it!
Hey NYC folks, looking for some family fun this weekend? Touring our latest album, "Ultramagnetic Universal Love Revolution," the Chocolate Chips and I have 3 shows: 1 in Manhattan & 2 in Long Island!
Time Out says: Mista Cookie Jar, aka C.J. Pizarro, blends together hip-hop, reggae, and folk-rock in songs all inspired by love. The Chocolate Chips, Ava Flava, age 11 and Joey the Dog, age 9, join him on stage for a lively show backed by a large screen featuring animations and song lyrics so you can sing along.
Greetings and best wishes to you all this winter. The Chocolate Chips and I have a made a little holiday poem and an animation to go along with it. As featured on Kids PLace Live on Sirius XM 78, this features Lucas! of Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips. Just clickhere!
It's that time of the year for us all to huddle
away from the cold inside our Love Bubble.
Where Christmas trees wiggle and sing silly songs
and puppies in Santa hats howl right along.
Where sugar plums dance not just in your head.
They bounce off the walls and jump on your bed.
Such holiday fun....but WAIT it gets better!
But back on that big dorky knit Christmas sweater.
We'll throw big fat snowballs with Buddy the Elf.
We'll sip cold hot cocoa so Frosty won't melt.
We'll fly around the world with Rudolph and his posse.
And keep our eyes peeled for grannies-a-crossing.
See awesome toy robots made from Santa's elves.
Hear ring-a-ling magic with each silver bell.
From your toes to your nose, jackfrost may it nip.
"WOW! IN LOVE with the new disc from Mista Cookie Jar 'Ultramagnetic Universal Love Revolution'! AMAZINGLY FRESH! I listened to it twice, back-to-back ... it's THAT good!" --Robert Drake, WXPN Kids Corner of Philadelphia
Boys & Girls, Ladies & Gents, presenting the one and only....(drumroll)....Lucas!
Filmed during the hottest more-summer-than-summer autumn in recent memory, "Lucas!" follows the "wild child from the wild wild west" throughout an epic Venice, California day of graffiti (the legal kind), razors (the scooter kind), and chicken fights (the pool kind). Riding around Venice on his checkered razor with his gang of Chocolate Chips, Lucas!, Ava Flava's Chocolate Chip little brother, makes homies with everyone he meets-- from toddlers at pool parties to tattooed punks at the skate park. The song, with its nods to surf-rock, rap, & 3rd wave ska, is a tribute to this westernized "Buddha Child" (one of many AKAs) and his knack for uniting the world. A soul-rebel-rocker through and through, 8 year-old Lucas!, has a heart bigger than his rude-boy mouth, a rowdy sense of humor to bring any class down with fits of laughter, and an imagination to charm any adult into reducing his time out sentence.
"Lucas!" is the 8th music video of Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips as well as the 3rd video single off their latest album, Ultramagnetic Universal Love Revolution.
MistaCookieJar.com
Director - Andrew Choe
Cinematographer/Camera - Andrew Choe & Deangelo Harding
Editor/Animation - Mista Cookie Jar
Producer - Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
Ruby J Entertainment
Big ups to the pops, Shamir & Daniel. And all the chips: Cameron, Kevin, Sasha, Samantha, Lyrin, Clementine, Lulu, Isaiah, Curtis Jr. (Team We!), & the awesomest band to rock our backyard, Eagle Wing--Aidan, Eliot, Christopher, Julius--you guys rrrrock!
"Lucas!" will be the 8th music video of Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips as well as the 3rd video single off their latest album, Ultramagnetic Universal Love Revolution. Here are some stills from the video. Stay tuned happy campers!
