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mrf

MRF Wants You To “Go To The Gym” In His New Video & Song

by Ryan Shea

MRF, Go To The Gym, Manhattan Digest

Who doesn’t love a viral video craze?  Who can’t wait to see what the song of the summer is?  I’ve got both of them for you right here! Boston native and jazz aficionado Mike “MRF” Flanagan has just released his insanely catchy song “Go To The Gym”, with an emphatically awesome video to go along with.

“Go to the Gym” is a fun uptempo cut with Sax Ostinato from MRF, a New Orleans style drum feel and a layer for stepping from Justin Waithe who chants on the chorus.  Lead vocalist Lisa Bello put her MC skills onto this track, and the music video takes us from being a misfit in the yoga class, to gym stereotypes, to a step team and even a “Newsie” influenced barbell routine. This song showcases a hard-hitting, high energy fun side of the trio in which they utilized completely different abilities than we saw in the soulfully beautiful, heartbreaking radio single ‘Trying”.  You can check out the video in its entirety RIGHT HERE! If you think Kanye’s “Workout Plan” was fun, you haven’t seen anything yet.  For those who aren’t in the know, here is more about this diverse and powerful trio.

MRF, Lisa Bello & Justin Waithe topped the iTunes charts in 2013 with MRF’s sophomore album “Mob Music”.  In addition to being nominated for 5 OUTmusic awards, they landed on the initial 57th GRAMMY Awards voting ballot for Best R&B Album this past year.  You can check out my previous interview with MRF here.  Mike was nice enough to sit down with Manhattan Digest about “Go To The Gym” and his future goals with the brand that he is building.

MRF, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: MRF

Hey MRF, thanks for sitting down!  Tell me about the concept of “Go To The Gym” and how it came about?

Thanks, Ryan! My pleasure. I knew I wanted to do a song called “Go to the Gym”. I would catch myself singing that as a chorus and felt it was time to bring it to life. Lisa, Justin and I have so many different tricks up our sleeves, I knew this one would allow us to bring out some that people hadn’t seen from us before.

Your music is pretty much known for being a bit more soulful and relaxed yet can be powerful in the sense ala “Trying”.  What made you want to do an uptempo type song?

It really boils down to knowing that we could make this kind of song. I wanted to make a hit geared towards radio that would get catch the attention of everyone young and old. Lisa’s, Justin’s and my songwriting is always based off of our experience and being that we all fall into the category of gym head, I knew we would have a lot to bring to the table with this one. Justin is a Zumba instructor in his spare time. Lisa has been an athlete her whole life and I like to pick things up and put them down.

Has the thought of ever doing a parody type video crossed your mind before?

I like to work at the surface of parody but not cross all the way into it. I’m kind of relying on our fans for that actually. We hare hoping to start a campaign where people who hear the song or see the video will make Instagram videos, or FB or Twitter videos of themselves doing a crazy exercise, dancing, lip synching, vogueing, stepping etc. and post it with the hashtag #GoToTheGymWorldWIde We want this to catch on and even get other celebrities doing it. Actually if someone could hit up Michelle Obama, that would be fantastic. 😉

Where did you draw inspiration to do this sort of video?

I wanted to give people a good time that everyone, no matter what their relationship with the gym, could relate to. This song isn’t geared towards one demographic of people, there’s something in it for everyone. We see Lisa making a mess of a Yoga class, guys that are way too serious, working out in flip-flops, the novice that tries to go all out right away, but most of all we see people having a good time. And that’s kind of what I want the song to inspire people to do is not be intimidated by a gym, just go enjoy yourself and who cares what you look like stating off.

I’ve been working out in gyms since I was 14. I also worked front desk at gyms for about 8 years. Ive experienced from Equinox to mom & pop and everything in between. I had a lot of inspiration to draw from given all the crazy stuff I’ve seen over the years. But also, I drew from the talent of my dream time (Lisa Bello & Justin Waithe). Their talent amazes me more and more with every new venture we work on. I knew I wanted Justin to step on the track and then lead a step team. I knew that after I laid down the instrumental and Justin laid down the chorus, that Lisa was going to SPAZ on her verses. That’s my favorite part about us. I know what to provide and get a sense of what the outcome is going to be but I’m always aware that it’s going to be 10 xs more than I could have even envisioned.

MRF, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: MRF

What was the process of filming like for this?

We did a 12-hour day of shooting and crammed in as much as we could. Scheduling with that many extras, the company and the musicians makes for a lot of constraints so we had to bang it out in one day. We filmed at Iron Force in Natick, thanks and shotout to Mike Cassavant. Surefire Creative Studios shot and produced the video. Each of us had roles in choreography and we really helped push each other through the day. Honestly it was a BLAST and I would do every minute of those 12 hours over again tomorrow.

Do you have high hopes that this will catapult the MRF brand to a higher level?

I would love for this video/song to explode and have that direct people who don’t know about us to our music/content. I still want the Mob Music album to reach as many people as possible and our new stuff is going to be even crazier!

Do you have plans to attend and perform at Bear Week again this year?

I will be there 🙂 I’m performing everyday that week actually. I’ll be at Tin Pan Alley Mon – Fri 4:30 – 7:30, the Bear Week Jazz Brunch on that Friday as well from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  This is something I do every year!

What else can you share with our readers about what’s next for you?

We have our next single ready to go. We did a very Mob Music cover of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and that will be out at the end of May. Look for that video as well. I’d also say that a new album should be on the horizon for early fall.

For more information on all things MRF, check out his official site.

 

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, LGBT, MUSIC Tagged With: go to the gym, mrf

Mike MRF Flanagan Releases Groundbreaking Video “Trying”

by Ryan Shea

Mike MRF Flanagan, MRF, Manhattan Digest

 

Something I happen to love is when an artist goes outside the grain and makes something of quality that gets people thinking.  That is what Mike “MRF” Flanagan has done with his latest video “Trying“, which details the high’s and ultimate lows in a relationship.  MRF, who is an openly gay musician based out of Boston, is someone that I met a couple of months ago at the one and only Bear Week In Provincetown, Mass.  After hearing the beautiful music that he made on both his freshman and sophomore albums, I knew I wanted to interview him as he was someone I saw on the rise.  You can check out that full interview here.

As for “Trying” which is off of his phenomenal sophomore album “Mob Music”, the song and video both are beautiful in its lyricism, sound and portrait of the end of a relationship.  Only being out for 3 days, yes 3 days, the video itself has received 20,000 views and counting and has amassed quite the positive feedback from the LGBT community and outside of it as well.  I got to sit down with MRF again to discuss the video at hand, the concept in making it and what is next for the chart topping piano player.  Take a look.

Hey MRF! The “Trying” video is simply beautiful! Tell me about the concept behind it.

The concept is about not being able to find resolution in your most significant relationship ending. The good was everything you’ve ever wanted, but ultimately that person is never going to allow the two of you to be together. And therefore, it’s about being in position where grieving that loss is not possible and you’re haunted by the memories of all you shared with that person. I left the ending ambiguous for a reason. I wanted people to relate to it in their own way and plug in their on experience as to how and why their own personal relationship ended.

How did you go about casting your hunky costar to play the man you are in a relationship with?

I’ve known Mladen for about 5 years now. He’s an absolutely stunning man and a good friend. I knew his look would be amazing on camera and I also thought the chemistry between us in this narrative would work really well. His look and demeanor is so masculine, I felt it important to represent masculine men in a narrative that was loving and normal and sensual and not just hyper-sexual.

Where was the video shot and how long did it take to put everything together? Were you a part of the creative process as well?

The video was shot in Boston. We did three days of shooting and about two weeks of editing. We shot at a rehearsal space in Boston, at a friend’s place and partly at my place. I wrote and directed the scenes and Steve Osemwenkae shot the video and co-directed.

The song “Trying” alone is stunning. Can you tell my readers what you think the ultimate message of the song is?

The main message is that despite you and that person having it all together, there is something in the way and her or she will not allow the relationship to be. I think the most potent lyric in the entire song is “When will you believe in us” and that really sums up the entire message.

You recently stated that this is your most personal song to date. Why is that?

I wrote this song about my last relationship. I was a total wreck as it was nearing the end and both the lyrics and melody came to me simultaneously. I sat with Lisa and sang the reference for her and within a few minutes, she was singing it in the booth as though she wrote it. I had Justin do 2 harmonies with her melody and the harmonies absolutely transformed the song. It’s my most personal but also favorite song to date.

When it comes to LGBT music videos, we usually don’t see ones like this that show two men in such an intimate, physical embrace. What are your thoughts on that?

One of the best parts about making this video is the overwhelming amount of messages I’ve received from people from all over saying that they cried and finally felt represented. I think giving that visibility to the diverse stories within the massive umbrella that is the LGBT community at large, is important and tells people that their story is worth telling.

Now that the video is released and is trending high on YouTube, what are you hoping that people come away with it upon watching?

I of course want the video to speak to people but I’m really hoping this turns a lot more people onto my/our music and the chemistry/magic that we ‘mob music’ have together. And follow me and us on our journey as we create more for you.

iTunes: MRF

Spotify: Follow MRF

Twitter.com/MikeFlanagan_

Instagram.com/MikeMRF

YouTube.com/MikeFlanaganMusic

Facebook.com/MRFMikeFlanaganMusic

www.mikeflanaganmusic.com

What is next for you?

I have already started mapping out the next album which will probably surface in mid 2015. In the meantime, we’re considering doing a video for another song off of the Mob Music album called “This Love”.

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, LGBT, LIFESTYLE, MUSIC Tagged With: boston, manhattan digest, mike mrf flanagan, mrf, ryan shea

Get To Know Jazz Musician MRF- The MD Interview

by Ryan Shea

MRF, Manhattan Digest
MRF. Eric Hussey, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Eric Hussey

 

Sometimes in the most unconventional of settings you will meet some really great people and the further you get to know them and their passion makes you understand just how awesome they truly are. This can be said of jazz musician Mike Flanagan, who goes under the stage name MRF. I conveniently met him through some mutual friends at this year’s Bear Week in Provincetown, Massachusetts. On top of being a brutally handsome, charismatic and an all around great guy, I got to know him a little deeper and found out what a successful artist he has become in the jazz world.

In a short couple of years, MRF has accomplished things that many artists wouldn’t even dream about doing. He has independently released two albums, the most recent called “Mob Music”, which both have had a considerable amount of success since each of their inceptions. In a short twenty hour time frame, “Mob Music” became the highest-selling jazz album in the country on iTunes, sharing in the same company as jazz legends Miles Davis and Harry Connick Jr. Some of the singles off of that album, including “Trying” have remained in massive rotations on stations in and outside the US from Germany to Spain to name a few. On top of all of this, MRF has been able to work throughout the world with Grammy winners and nominees Esperanza Spaulding, Issa Pointer of The Pointer Sisters and Surefire Music Group. The Berklee College Of Music Graduate has also received rave reviews for his LGBT anthem “Be Strong (LGBT Youth)” as it was selected for the Flag Raising Anthem for Boston Pride last year. Quite a lot of accomplishments for a guy in such a short period of time.

The day before his big performance at Bear Week, I sat down with MRF to discuss his meteoric rise in the music industry, what and who inspires him, and what his music has meant to his fans and in particular the LGBT youth. Take a look.

So tell me how you got started in the music industry.

I graduated from the Berklee College of Music, and I wasn’t really sure which direction musically I wanted to go in. I had been playing a lot of jazz in and out of school, but I came out in my last year and it changed gears with what I was doing. I started writing my own stuff and collaborated with a singer who lives in New York, which is ultimately how my first album “Elevator Music” came to be. Once I started recording that, I ended up developing my own sound and own approach and knew exactly the direction I wanted to go in.

Jazz is such a unique part of the industry right now, so who would you say are your biggest inspirations?

I would say my number ones are D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill. That is the kind of stuff that I grew up on and it’s in me. Also, Meshell Ndegeocello is a good example. There are a whole bunch of jazz musicians and even country artists that I draw inspiration from in terms of their approach as well.

Many of my readers are unfamiliar with your work, so how would you describe your sound to them?

Its kind of a hybrid of R&B and Jazz. It also has a pop aesthetic to it as well because of the lyrics and forms of the songs. The music leaves a lot of room for my vocalists to interpret it in their own way, and for myself to stretch out on my instruments (saxophone, piano, etc) as well. The objective of my sophomore album, Mob Music, was to capture and document the magic of what we do on stage.

You are here enjoying Provincetown’s Bear Week, just as I am.  Is this your first Bear Week?

This is my seventh actually!

Oh wow!  This is my first time experiencing Bear Week in all of its glory, what would you say to convince people who are consistently on the fence about going to actually get them to go?

I really think it’s most important to figure out what Provincetown means to you, because it has so much to offer. It’s actually a great music town, and you can meet incredible people here. You can definitely go outside of the routine bear events that are going on and find something unique and different.  So I would definitely recommend coming to “Bear Week” as there is plenty to love about the experience.

You have a song called “Be Strong (LGBT Youth)” which is a very empowering LGBT anthem.  There isn’t a lot out there now that are like that, so tell me about the processing in recording this amazing song.

In 2010, when Asher Brown took his own life, and the epidemic of LGBT youth suicides made the media around that time, it made me insane. I started thinking about the work I was doing in my classroom by myself and how there are far too many kids without someone to turn to. Far too many kids that do not have an adult telling them that they are normal, and beautiful, and that they should love who they are. I felt I had to create something through music that could hopefully and potentially reach far beyond the classroom of students I was helping in my small corner of Boston. Originally, I wanted to name the song ‘Asher Brown’ but I was unsuccessful in getting in touch with his family to assure that was okay. So, “Be Strong”it was. That’s where the inspiration of the song came about.

Being an out musician yourself, do you find it to be a hindrance or a blessing to be so in the music industry?

I think everyone needs to come out. I hope everyone does. Sam Smith for example, love him. He is an incredible artist. He is in a position now where he can make a change, not saying he has to or wants to. He got rave reviews recently for his rendition of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” but one thing that stood out to me was that he changed the pronoun“he”to “you”and instead of “there’s a boy I know”he says, “oh it’s you I know”to make the song entirely gender-neutral. I think most people didn’t think about that, however when I was doing my first album, I made a lot of my music gender-neutral in fear that there would backlash. It felt like I was regressing after working so hard to be who I am. I realized how important it was that I not do that on Mob Music. So, thought it may seem small, it’s a big step that fosters much needed change.

MRF, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Steve Osemwenkhae

I love Joan Osbourne’s “What If God Was One Of Us”, so why did you choose to remake that on your latest album, “Mob Music”?

I started working with Lisa, Justin and Sheree in Boston, shortly after my first album was released. The first was singer Lisa Bello. Our styles have so much chemistry and when we come together, it really makes some incredible magic. We were raised similarly, share influences, and the way we approach music is similar as well. We started performing weekly in Boston at a place called “Club Cafe”every Thursday night. They were like, “What do you want to call the night?” and I was like, “Well, we are both Italian, so let’s call it Mob Music”. We loved it, and Mob Music just grew and grew. After our first month, singer Justin Waithe started coming on Thursdays and harmonized with Lisa. Then Sheree Dunwell filled in for Lisa while she was in LA and we she got back, the whole package of “Mob Music” was truly formed.

We would do popular songs and treat them like jazz standards, elevating them to the point where we took the audience on a journey every week! One of the songs we did was “One Of Us”and I knew that had to be the one cover on the ‘Mob Music’album.

On the “Mob Music” album, my favorite track is one called “This Love”.  What is your favorite on this album?

I love that song, but I would say that my favorite is “Trying”. “Trying” is the smooth jazz radio single on the record, and it is the most personal for me. I wrote that about a guy I was with, and that relationship ended right before I went into the studio to finish this record. We had two singles done at that point, and were heading in to track the rest of it. “Trying” was written right as that relationship was ending, and to this day remains my favorite.

OK, let’s do some fun questions so that my readers can see a different side of you.  If you had a dream concert, with two artists (dead or alive) that would never be on the same bill for ONE night only, who would it be?

The two on the same bill. Hmmm. I’m going to say D’Angelo and The Dixie Chicks. I’m a huge Dixie Chicks fan. I saw both live within a year’s time, and both were incredible. D’Angelo’s show had such an energy to. Knowing his entire catalog, I was dancing my ass off the entire time. When I saw The Dixie Chicks, my friends and I were lucky enough to stand right under Natalie Maines, and she was winking and smiling at us the whole time. Just great experiences for both.

Got it!  So you are stuck on an island with a CD player but it only has one song in it.  What do you want that song to be?

“Who Knew” by P!nk. It is my favorite song of all time. Everything about it, from her voice to the lyrics to the melody. The song is somewhat ambiguous, and even though it is a song about her losing a friend to an overdose I believe, it’s able to be interpreted in a lot of different ways. After my first relationship ended, I would come down here to Ptown and it was playing everywhere. So the song itself, my love for her, and the connection to PTown and gay life sort of culminates in why this truly is my favorite song.

You go to a 90’s dance party.  Which phase do you hope they play?

I’ll pick the Aaliyah, Brandy, Monica phase. I want them, I want Ginuwine, Jagged Edge, Toni Braxton, etc. Love 90’s R&B.

What do you have going on for the future?

So, I already have a third album planned. I want to continue to make music with the group I have right now. I’m hoping to go back into the studio in September in Orleans here in Mass. It will be similar to the second album however this one will be more saxophone driven. A challenge for me is the human voice. It’s something I love on others but hate my own. I’ve heard Me’Shell and Lenny Kravitz are like that too. I am tempted to get over that fear I guess and use it and see if I can come up with something that I am okay with releasing. I don’t know if it will be on this album, but sometime in the future it is something I definitely want to accomplish.

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Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, LGBT, MUSIC Tagged With: bear week, boston, frank sinatra, grammy, harry connick jr, joan osbourne, los angeles, mike flanagan, miles davis, mob music, mrf, provincetown, sam smith, what if god was one of us

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