Episode 8: Stymie [& THE PJLO / SOUL SKA]

Each and every time he sets foot onstage or breathes into a mic, singer/songwriter/soul superhero STYMIE steals the show. Indeed, his beautiful, bountiful band of misfits, STYMIE & THE PIMP JONES LUV ORCHESTRA, has been assiduously stankifying stages since the mid-90s, when Stymie put together his first concoction of the collective in the Hayes Valley District of San Francisco. Nowadays, Stymie also records and performs regularly with Soul Ska, a strictly roots affair that’s been making a lotta noise on the live circuit, including frequent collaborations with Angelo Moore (Fishbone/Brand New Step).

The soft power of Stymie’s persuasion is derived from his compositional acumen. Specifically, this Hollywood native has a tendency to pen material that is as intricate as it is imaginative, complete with singalong choruses and cryptic song titles. He’s also a brilliant arranger, constantly creating bright horn lines, infectious rhythms, mighty riffs, and team sport vocal parts. And although the PJLO runs the gamut stylistically—equal parts ska, rock, pop, big band, and R&B— they most indubitably possess the wisdom and attitude to drop the Funk Bomb at a moment’s notice.

In this singular episode, Stymie talks about getting discovered while performing as a youngster on Venice Beach, then being brought to New York City as a salaried frontman—until the music of Sly Stone finally drew him to the Bay Area. Stymie also raps about how art and film inform his writing process, performing with Fred Wesley and Billy Preston, winning an international songwriting award but waiting too long to receive the prize, and how he got scouted by Jonathan Korty (Vinyl) to be part of Soul Ska.

This is a very special episode for Ace, who fell in love with Stymie & PJLO the first time he saw them perform, then followed them around so much he eventually became a member himself for a while. Stymie and Jay Stone also go way back, so the fellas take the time to reminisce, laugh, and catch up. Then things get kinda heavy when Ace makes amends with Stymie for the wild arguments they’ve had in the past. And, as if all that weren’t enough, at one point these three ol’ buddies decide to stop talking and play some music—live in the studio.

Produced & Hosted by Ace Alan
Cohosted by Jay Stone
Website & Art by 3chards
Engineered by Nick “Waes” Carden at The Blue Room in Oakland, CA. (He snapped in-studio pics, shot and edited video as well).
…but we couldn’t have done it without Mawnstr.

Intro track by the Funkanauts, “I Can Never Be” from the album Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Get it now on Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby—wherever music is sold.