User:SaraFullerton/Emanuel casablanca

Emanuel Casablanca is a contemporary American musician from Brooklyn, New York, United States. He is the lead guitarist and vocalist of the funk/soul/rock band VISE. He is also known for his collaborations with artists DJ Spinna and Mr. Fine Wine. His highly anticipated single, Slaughterhouse, has been highly regarded by critics.

History
Casablanca’s mother was a music teacher, which in turn, gave him his start in his music creativity. His first instrument was the violin followed by the trumpet. It wasn’t until his time at Morehouse College where he taught himself to play the piano and the guitar. Casablanca has evolved through the years. He was initially a solo folk musician inspired by Bob Dylan and Neil Young. He sound later changed to a more blues-rock sound, in which period he was heavily influenced by Jack White. When he first started playing out, he would split his time between New York City and Los Angeles playing anywhere he could, including: Sullivan Hall, The Knitting Factory, BB Kings, Whiskey A Go Go, Troubadour, Plush Lounge and more.

It was in 2011, when Casablanca developed a fixation with James Brown. That is when he completely changed his sound and ventured into the soul and funk genres of music. He started a group shortly after called VISE, which would focus on those funk, soul and blues sounds of the 60’s and 70’s. The band played their first live show at Tender Trap in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, August of that same year. The group's live shows received praise from the local community.

Casablanca has said that when he was a child, his father asked him what sort of superpower he would want to have. He said he would want to play any instrument and speak any language in the world. Emanuel Casablanca now says that he feels different instruments are like different musical dialects, and plays the guitar and piano, among other instruments. Casablanca is also largely inspired by his faith. He has said that he tries "to be ready" for when God inspires him to write a song.

Casablanca graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor's degree in Finance and for a short while, he attended New York University for graduate school with a focus in Journalism.

Singles

 * "Slaughterhouse" (12") (2016)