User:AshantiFloyd

The Mad Violinist Inspires with The Addiction

All over America youth who never knew the violin existed are picking up the instrument and learning to play. Many are seen on Youtube and Facebook imitating the artist known as the Mad Violinist. Throughout his upbringing and the development of his career, Ashante Floyd, also known as Ashanti or the Mad Violinist, has inspired and entertained many. In the release of his latest album, The Addiction, featuring his own, the Symphony Crack Orchestra, he shares his raw talent on the violin, production skills, love for music, and most of all his desire to share his talents.

Working with production teams such as Kane Beatz, the Justice League, and K Prather and Malay, he has produced and been featured on such hits as Lupe Fiasco’s The Show Goes On, I’m the Best by Nicki Minaj and Fantasia’s Move on Me. His first solo production was I’m High on T-Pain’s album Rappa-Ternt-Sanga. He has since co-produced hits for Birdman, Little Wayne, Jamie Fox, and Young Jeezy. With such credits one would expect him to have a multi-million dollar contract with a major record label. Staying true to himself he has refused to “dumb down” his music choosing instead to release The Addiction on his own. His goal, as he puts it is to “put musicians back to work” by reigniting the appreciation for live instrumentals as opposed to the digital recordings that we have all gotten used to.

Everyone who loves Oprah and has seen her final shows is aware of the Morehouse men she influenced. Because of her, many of them found success through education. In tennis there is Venus and Serena. They brought the sport of tennis to so many kids that otherwise never would have considered the game. Before he had a fan base and a career in music production, Ashante inspired the likes of Taylor Swift and the many kids that annually visited the Britany Spears Performing Arts Summer Camp in Boston, Massachusetts. Mentored by blues artist Charlie Atkins, Ashante became skilled in teaching children who knew little to nothing about music how to play an instrument.

Annually, Ashante makes the trip to his home town of Tallahassee, Florida where he participates in the Javacya Arts Summer Camp as an instructor and performing artist. In the heart of an urban community struggling with crime and poverty, he teaches kids how to perform on the stringed and percussion instruments. This past summer teen twins Kalon and Kayla Williams anxiously awaited his arrival to show off their classical and improvisational skills and they were not alone. Among the many kids anxious for his arrival were India McCary and Joycelyn Bryant, burgeoning violinists and violists. These seven year olds recently experienced the Interlochen Summer Camp where among international artists they achieved first and second chair. These youths were also featured in an article by NPR that focused on the sacrifices made by artists and families to attend summer music camps. The Mad Violinist is the “famous artist” that these two youth aspire to.

The Addiction is an album that emanates from the heart and soul of an artist with a love of music, life, and people. This latest album by the Mad Violinist and the Symphony Crack Orchestra is now available around the world through Amazon, Itunes, and other digital download services.