Ballad

When I pressed play on Ballad's "Give It All" single, I instantly did a double-take. Why? Because I honestly thought that Lloyd was a featured guest. But that wasn't the case; it was Ballad, all himself. Still, this could be a good or bad thing. Good because it shows his vocal abilities and alterations that add more substance and style to the track, but bad because people will make comparisons as we often do (and I just did). Still, there is a high level of appreciation for songs that still hold the true essence of R&B without implementing electro/EDM sounds so, Ballad, you get three thumbs up for this one. — Erin Ashley Simon - Revolt

With the way r&b music is portrayed in the mainstream these days, it’s fair to ask the question if love music is even being created anymore.

Luckily, we have artists like Ballad who are still committed to celebrating women and creating good music in the process. He does just that with his latest single “Give it All” and the visual to go along with it.

The visuals solidify an already incredible record with, let’s face it, relationship goals! An ode to love and commitment, the video is a refreshing taste of old school R&B love, with a new school feel. “I’m giving it all to you baby, all to you baby. Of that I’ve got no doubt” Ballad sings in his silky smooth falsetto. The Jay Muse-produced record is one you’re sure to have on repeat.

The song is included on his recently released EP called “Croix”. - YouKnowIGotSoul

When someone announces that they are going to give it all, they better bring it. In the case of singer-songwriter Ballad, he does just that on his single, aptly named "Give It All."With a falsetto that falls somewhere between Lloyd and Maxwell, Ballad maintains enough uniqueness to be his own man. However, "Give It All" is not simply a display of his vocal range. Instead, he works his voice in tandem with a thumping beat and together they are both soothing and invigorating. The track is not a slow jam nor is it an uptempo. It hits that sweet spot right in-between. If feeling your music is a phenomenon for you, then this one feels like a late spring afternoon, when it's hot enough to let the top down and cool enough to cruise comfortably."Give It All" is not limited to the auditory experience; the visual experience of the music video embodies the song's sentiments. Consider the leading lady who is the object of Ballad affection. Well, she is simply gorgeous. Yet, with good taste, she does not come off as the ultra sexy vixen; she is just a genuine feminine beauty. Moreover, the body language and rapport she shares with Ballad isn't forced nor is it a contrived, "when-I get-you-in-the-bedroom" seductress thing either. When watching the video, one could easily believe that Ballad and this woman are a real-life couple.Balancing out the video is Ballad himself, who conveys a regular cool dude vibe. If you're unfamiliar with the singer, you may wonder if Colin Kaepernick was guest starring in the video, but Ballad is not the conscious quarterback nor is he Mr. Muscles or Mr. Off-The-Meter-Libido Man. He is just an average guy taking some time to admire and enjoy his lovely lady. Which leads to perhaps the most remarkable part of the visual experience: the apparent happiness they share in the mundane. Ballad and his bae share good vibes while he serenades her in the kitchen; when they Netflix and chill and share some popcorn; and as he watches her dance. Wherever the location, whatever the circumstance, he wants to assure her that he's going to give it his all. From the looks and sounds of things, giving it all is an everyday occurrence for him. - SoulBounce

Ballad, a Boston native and Maxwell parallel, has re-emerged and brought with him an EP that perfectly encapsulates what R&B is all about. Releasing Croix, after a three-year hiatus, Ballad swirls modern hip hop beats with the familiar old school bass and slow-jam rhythm. His soulful falsetto voice rises and dips at the perfect moments, making you come back for more. This EP is perfect for long drives during these summer nights and it will be on rotation for the next few months. - Next2Shine

Even eminently smooth individuals like Ballad occasionally find themselves at a loss for words. Of course, the indie crooner still has a distinct advantage over us mere mortals; when speaking is too difficult, he can get the message across in musical form. On album lead single What to Say to You, making its world pemiere right here in The DJBooth, the crooner jumps on an eclectic, electronic beat by Jay Muse to express himself to an ex-lover who’s started to treat him like a stranger. Despite his wounded pride, Ballad manages to channel those hurt feelings into an upbeat, catchy cut that’s sure to leave R&B fans craving more. If you’re feeling it, keep it locked for further releases off Suite 89, which as yet lacks a drop date. - DJBooth.net

At one time or another, most of us have experienced the disappointment of an unexpected break-up. Sometimes, one person is completely caught off-guard because they thought the relationship was going well -- making said break-up even more sudden and devastating. Such was the unfortunate case of singer-songwriter Ballad.In his own words, Angola-born, Boston-based young man shared the inspiration behind his latest release, “What To Say To You”: “I really wanted to speak to an ex lover of mine. I had no idea where to begin, or what to say. So I wrote a song about it.” We’re sorry that things didn’t work out with Ballad and his former love, but we’re certainly happy to benefit from the musical byproduct of their tragic romance.While the Jay Muse-produced track isn’t as lyrically strong as some of Ballad’s previous work, such as his mixtape Euphoria, it has an engaging danceability that can’t be denied. Not your run-of-the-mill party dancing, either. I’m talking straight up dance battle moves -- breakin’, poppin’, lockin’ and everything in between. By the bass-heavy breakdown at the 2:00 mark, I was ready to get my Step Up 2: The Streets on. By the song's end, I almost yelled, “You got served!” to my imaginary dance nemesis, but I digress.Listen below, and see if the song speaks to you. If you’re feeling Ballad’s electro-pop flavored R&B, visit his SoundCloud page and hear what else he has to offer. - Soulbounce.com

Whether you’re a Spurs fan who just witnessed their team win its fifth championship, a proud parent/child on Father’s day, or you’ve just finished watching the Game of Thrones season finale (no spoilers please!), chances are you’ve had some reason to celebrate today. While that first group is the most likely to be partied out by the end of the night, chances are we could all use a little moment to ourselves before we prepare to hit the week ahead in full stride. As we all firmly believe here at TMN, what better way to cap off your weekend than with a little Sunday Night Soul?

As usual, we’ve assembled a diverse group of artists here for you tonight, and picking favorites proved to be just as challenging as it always is. Nonetheless, we’d have to say contributions from Nu Linh, Chiara Noriko, Pearl, Ballad, Maryann, CATHEDRALS, Felicia Temple, Ken Randle, Tory Lanez, Tinashe, Blackbear, Akouo, Duncan Gerow, T V Å, Fortune & C. Justice, NΞHZVIL, Jimny, HVNS, Lido, Hatch, Trippy Turtle and Red Milk certainly made some lasting impressions on us. However, we’re still confident enough to say that there’s no weak links at all in this week’s list, although it might be best to let the music speak for itself. - TheMusicNinja.com

R&B singer Ballad releases his debut single “Love You Down”. The single was written by Ballad himself and produced by Jeremy Burton. Ballad is a singer, poet and songwriter who was born in Luanda, Angola, now residing in Brockton, Massachusetts.

A Ballad is unforgettable. Ballad creates his art to etch the minds of all music lovers. His style swoons through his music which defines his name. Ballad’s passion and soul comes out in original R&B lyrics written himself. His messages of love and life are developed in a sound and style that has been influenced by the great Michael Jackson, Usher, and Prince, with a song writing ability inspired by Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo. Ballad’s focus is longevity. He plans to accomplish this by delivering relatable songs filled with emotion as if he was sitting in the room singing his heart filled love stories directly to you. He strives to remind you that there is still a repeat button on your iPod.

Overcoming shyness and a huge culture shock from moving to the US from Luanda, Ballad has managed to adapt to the culture through modeling Michael Jackson and listening to the radio. He learned a singing style full of emotion from Marvin Gaye. Ballad took advantage of not having many friends growing up and used all his free time to write poems. Young Ballad would also turn the radio on, grab his imaginary microphone and put on a show for all his “fans”. Some of his best performances were in front of the bathroom mirror. He finally found his voice and confidence and has been grinding away writing and recording music. Ballad stays busy writing original content, and traveling to collaborate with other artist as serious about their work as he is.

Ballad takes on the challenge to bring timeless music into the picture, unlike songs these days that tend to fade away. He strives for his music to be enjoyed by generations to come. Ballads are poetic love songs that accomplish longevity because they relate to the world. Ballad makes music that will last forever just like the greats that have done it before him. - YouKnowIGotSoul.com

Emerging artist Ballad has consistently been releasing new music for his growing fan base. One song we’re really loving is his heartfelt track “Fight.”

On the three-minute track, Ballad encourages his partner to not runaway from their relationship during hard times. Instead, continue to fight and push through.

Ballad is a singer, poet and song writer who was born in Luanda, Angola, now residing in Brockton, Mass. His passion and soul comes out in original R&B lyrics written himself. His messages of love and life are developed in a sound and style that has been influenced by the great Michael Jackson, Usher, and Prince, with a song writing ability inspired by Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo. Ballad’s focus is longevity. He plans to accomplish this by delivering relatable songs filled with emotion as if he was sitting in the room singing his heart filled love stories directly to you. He strives to remind you that there is still a repeat button on your iPod.

Listen to Ballad’s “Fight” below. - RatedRNB.com

Ballad is a singer, poet and songwriter who was born in Luanda, Angola, now residing in Brockton, Massachusetts.

His style swoons through his music which defines his name. Ballad’s passion and soul comes out in original R&B lyrics written himself. His messages of love and life are developed in a sound and style that has been influenced by the great Michael Jackson, Usher, and Prince, with a song writing ability inspired by Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo.

HYPEFRESH® sat down to chat further about the details that make him who he is today as a singer, performer and songwriter. Enjoy this formal introduction right here exclusively.

Ballad talks about his roots in music:

“Music grew on me since I was young. I’ve always loved it! My father was a DJ, and from that major influence growing up, is where my passion developed initially. My father was always playing so many different types of records, which gave me a musical balance by listening. Variety, you can say – I was exposed to in music early.”

“I started singing for some family members and friends, and they all agreed that I should take singing serious and become a professional. As time progressed I personally became more confident – Mainly because I loved doing it, and enjoyed the reaction of those who listened.”

“After high school, I wanted to take this music thing serious. I linked up with an engineer at the Art Institute in Boston (who is also my current
engineer), and started recording covers in studio, to get the hang of doing recording on a professional level.”



His Creative Process:

“I believe that when you live life first before creating, the output is more genuine in the creative process.. Especially when creating music. This is the reason why a lot of my music is very personal, and sincere.”

“Before I make a new record, I like to live with the instrumental daily. I’m an avid fan of the iPhone’s notepad and music player. I’ll walk around listening and creating as I go… This process is very helpful for me. This really makes the birthing phase of making the songs, much more natural.”

Ballad on his style in fashion:

“My style is the same as the music i create. I was born in 89, so i’m influenced heavy by early 90’s fashion styles. Eclectic, different, unpredictable. It really helps me express myself ascetically, and essentially helps mold the texture of music I create.”

Ballad’s take on the essentials of practicing as an artist:

“Practicing is an important part of being a live performer. Not just physically, but vocally too. Staying on point with pitching my voice, or harmonies and or vocal arranging… It all comes from a daily regimen of rehearsal.”

Support & follow Ballad on Twitter & Soundcloud for more updates and to stay in the know! - HypeFreshMag.com

Singer, songwriter, and poet, Ballad is a man of passion. With a voice that can be described as romantic and lyrics that are nothing short of sensual, this Angolan native turned Brockton, Massachusetts resident spoke with So Gutsy about his thoughts on the 80s, his aspirations, and what being a musician means to him.

SG: A big part of your music is focused on passion and soul. How did those two characteristics become such a prominent subject matter?

Ballad: Honestly, it’s probably more of a feeling type of thing. Usually it comes to me writing or making a song. I usually don’t take the time to really sit down and think about what I want to write about. If I have an instrumental (part) or whatever it is, I put it on and I let my subconscious guide me and that’s a very raw thing, so it really just comes out that way.

SG: Why call yourself Ballad? How did you come to that name?

Ballad: I call myself Ballad because it’s my favorite genre of music. It’s funny how I came to that name because growing up I always wanted a cool artist name. For instance, Musiq Soulchild — that is a great name. I think then Trey Songz came out and I’m like “Trey Songz? Oh, man that’s dope.” I wanted something that incorporated music into my name and I just couldn’t get it for the life of me. I was just in the bathroom in front of the mirror and I was like “What do I like? What kind of music do I like? Well, I love ballads. Wait a second…love ballads. Ballads. That’s perfect!” It just stuck with me after that.

SG: You’ve said before that your influences range from Michael Jackson to Usher to Stevie Wonder. How would you personally describe your sound?

Ballad: When it comes to me making music, I think it just comes out to this fairly in between space where it’s not as eclectic as the 80s music was but it’s not all the way traditional 90s R&B, it just has this little nice rhythm to it and it has some funk to it but it gives it an element that you don’t necessarily hear from each of the genres. For instance, I made a song called “Where To Now”; you wouldn’t hear it traditionally as acoustically in the 80s, you would hear it a lot more trippier than it actually is, but in the 90s its not all the way like that.

SG: You were originally born in Luanda, Angola. How would you say that that has influenced your music, and how would you say that moving to Brockton, MA, where you currently live, influences your music?

Ballad: As far as being in Luanda, Angola I was very little, like I came here when I was six, but as far as influencing my music, my dad was a really big DJ at the time over there so he just had loads and loads and loads of music. As far as my love for music, that comes from there. Moving here is where I got into the 90s R&B, so it introduced me to a wider range of music than I probably would have listened to if I was still there.

SG: How long have you been making music?

Ballad: I got started a little bit after high school because growing up I was a bit shy so I didn’t come out of my shell until junior and senior year when I really started focusing on singing for people, I realized that people appreciated my sound and appreciated my voice and then after that I really wanted to make a career out of it because I love to see the happiness in people’s faces when they hear me. I believe it was about a year after high school that I started getting serious. I got into a studio with my engineer…we got together and started recording and I’ve been making it since then, probably for three or four years.

SG: Since you mentioned Boston, would you say that you are involved in the Boston music scene?

Ballad: I haven’t been, but I’m starting to. Recently, I’ve been going out to a lot more events in Boston and doing some more shows out there. I actually have a show in the Middle East this coming Sunday in Boston so I’m starting to get my foot in Boston.

SG: I know you said you just started getting involved, but how would you describe the Boston scene?

Ballad: There’s a lot of room because there’s not too, too many R&B singers that are making a lot of noise, in the urban community it’s mostly just rappers, so there’s a lot of room for me to grow here. For an R&B singer, for someone to actually potentially be really good, there’s a lot of room for growth here.

SG: When you’re making music, what are you hoping that people get out of it?

Ballad: I want them to know that somebody can relate to them. I mean, growing up and listening to songs, I would listen to them and go, ‘You know, I’m going through the same thing,’ and it was heartwarming to know that somebody out there is feeling the same way. Even if it wasn’t to uplift you, just to know that somebody felt exactly what you were going through…I could do that for somebody like those songs did for me.


SG: When you’re creating music, what do you hope to get out of it for yourself?

Ballad: I guess peace of mind. It’s really a sanity type of thing, because going through situations, you always need something to put those emotions and feelings into. For me, it’s really about peace of mind and about being able to be myself and be myself fully without any limitations. It gives me freedom.

SG: What is something about you, as a musician or as a person, that you want people to know that maybe they don’t?

Ballad: That’s actually a good question, I haven’t been asked this before. I would think they would probably get this from my music if they payed attention long enough, but if they didn’t — I’m a hopeless romantic. I’m one of those. I like to call myself a hopeful romantic.

-Sarah Vassello - SoGutsy.com

An artist from Boston keeping good R&B music alive. Ballad chats with Ms Honey to talk "Suite 89" and what his future plans are for his music career


In a recent interview with Ballad he discusses his debut mixtape "Euphoria" to the preparation of his upcoming project "Suite 89". Having released singles like "Fight", "You", and as of late, "What To Say To You", Ballad is determined to make sure people know about the release of this next project.


Let's get right into it, let the people know who you are.

Well I was born in Angola, Africa, moved when I was five. I was shy when it came to singing, I didn't share it nor pursue it seriously until high school. It's definitely my passion.


From the time you were growing up, til now, who were your musical influences?

Michael Jackson. I wanted to be "Like Mike". Also Prince, Stevie Wonder, and of course Sade.


Who would you like to work with one day, upcoming or mainstream wise?

Jhene Aiko, I love her voice. I think our voices would compliment each other. Childish Gambino, he's very talented. He's not what you would expect from your typical artist.


Do you think it is more of a challenge as a singer than it is as a rapper to get a major record deal?

As of now yes. I think you come up with a hot line as a rapper people instantly gravitate to it. Singer, you don't really see a lot of people now a days. Rappers are more of the main focus. It's harder but it's worth it.

If you didn't get that break, would you pursue being a songwriter?

Definitely, I thought that if it didn't work out as an artist, I was letting people see my words before they heard my voice. Whether it being a writer or being a producer.




Your music of course most of the songs are about a female, "What To Say To You", you wrote inspired from your ex, are you currently single? Do you feel as though personal experience makes the song that much better?

I am not single. 90% of my songs are from personal experiences. It makes people relate to me more. The best song can come from a devastating experience.

Do you often feel discouraged some days and what keeps you going?

I do. There's not a lot of that now, a little more in the past months. You know when you put in a lot of work and you don't see results right away you feel like we're not good enough. That's what happened to me before "What To Say To You" was put together. I was listening to some old songs I had done and began working on some new tracks. The song was made in 3 hours. I was so happy when I made that song, but because of the subject line, you wouldn't think that.


From your musical influences, you seem as you though you have an old soul, define your style of music.

I do have an old soul. Especially the 80's, that's all my parents played. My sound, growing up in the 90's I had the best of both worlds.

Are you going to do a tour for your "Suite 89" project? When can we expect that to release?


We are putting together a tour. I been performing a lot, especially in the city, before I release another single. We pushed it back, I want to make sure people know that it's coming out. I'm hopeful it will be this year. It's who I am. I talk about my feelings it's a happy EP.



How do you prepare for your performances?

I always get nervous the day of the show, or right before I go on stage. I try to get out of my own head, once I'm on stage it all goes away.


Anything else you would like to add?

"What To Say To You", is out now. I'm prepping the second single it's between three songs right now which should be out in October but I am not sharing the title just yet. Follow my Twitter, check out my YouTube channel.


To close out the interview, Ballad did an acapella of his song "You". Incredible. - HoneyAddicts.com

Meet Boston singer/songwriter Ballad. The rising artist is set to release his EP Suite 89, which channels the area between 80s music and 90s music. In the interview, Ballad opens up about the meaning behind his EP title and Michael Jackson’s posthumous album.

London: When did you start pursing a music career?

Ballad: I started pursuing it seriously a little bit after high school. During high school I believe my senior year, I started to venture more into it and I started publically performing. So around 19,20 I started to take more serious steps in order to actually start recording music professionally.

London: So you always did music, but high school was when you decided to pursue it more seriously?

Ballad: Yeah, like anybody who wants to do music, anyone would say I started off singing pretty much the same way. But it wasn’t until the end of high school when I got that confidence and realized “hey people actually like hearing sing” (laughs). They like hearing me, I like doing it, why not make a career out of it. It’s something that brings me passion and joy.

London: What inspires your music?

Ballad: I’m mostly inspired by situations I’ve been through like relationships, close friends, all of that. It’s more of an emotionally driven thing when it comes to me writing about it and talking about it and I say what I feel for the most part

London: Who are some of your favorite music artists?

Ballad: That’s a great question. It’s always Michael Jackson, which is so cliché, but truly because he was one of the very first people to inspire me to do what I do. Before I knew who he was, I wanted to be like him. I was like 2 or 3 and I walked into my uncle’s room and there was a Bad poster and I didn’t know who this man was at the time, but I wanted to be like him. So you know growing up and actually learning who he was, that was someone I wanted to be like and achieve and to be.

Besides, Michael, Usher because he definitely followed in his [Michael Jackson] footsteps and did his own thing, which is a sight to see. I listen to a lot of Prince, Marvin Gaye, Sade; a variety of things.

London: So you like a lot of soulful music?

Ballad: For the most part a lot of 80s. My parents loved the 80s, so I grew up with that music all the time.

London: Yeah I was going to mention that it was obvious Michael Jackson influenced your sound. How do you feel about Michael Jackson posthumous album and performances?

Ballad: The album, I like it for the fact it’s nice to hear Michael again. He’s not here with us anymore, but it’s nice to hear that voice and that sound. When it comes to the production of it they do a really good job, but the way I look at it is if I had created something and I didn’t want the world to hear it yet, when I’m gone, I’m not sure if I would want people to hear it if it’s not exactly how I wanted them to perceive it.

It’s definitely still good music. The performances are good. I’m not too fond of that hologram one. It was very well done, but like the way Michael read a crowd…he fed off the energy of the crowd and you can’t really capture that with a hologram

London: Can you also dance?

Ballad: I want to be the full package, so when it comes to dancing, right now it’s at the stage my singing was in high school. I’m not fully confident in it yet. I’m doing it and I’m getting better tryna perfect it, but I wouldn’t come out and say I’m a great dancer yet because I don’t think I’m where I need to be.

London: We talked about Michael Jackson influencing you and we can tell that in your music. Another artist you reminded me of was The Weeknd. How do you deal with those comparisons?

Ballad: For the most part, I want to do my own thing and not be compared to others, but when I have I a lot of respect for that artist it’s kind of flattering. The Weeknd is a good artist in my opinion so any comparisons such as that, I’ll take it (laughs). If you want to compare me, I can’t stop that because everyone has their own opinion, but like I said in my own right, I want to be able to stand out.

London: What can we look forward to from your upcoming EP Suite 89?

Ballad: A lot of feel good music. During the process of it, me and my manager and producer created a lot of feel good sounds for the summer. I went back to the music I really liked listening to growing up with my parents. I was born in 89, that’s why it’s called 89. It’s a weird date because it’s technically the 80s, but you wouldn’t consider yourself from the 80s because its about to start the 90s. I think as far as my music, that’s where I’m at as well. I’m not traditional 90s R&B and I’m not all the way eclectic like it was in the 80s so I’m at this middle ground (laughs)

London: That’s interesting because nowadays everybody is trying to go back to that 90s sound, but when you think about the 90s, for the most part you think Aaliyah, Biggie, Tupac. You don’t really think about the early 90s when it was transitioning from the 80s. So being able to hear that middle ground is really cool. When will it be released?

Ballad: Right not tentatively we’re shooting for the end of July, I’m releasing a single every week until that release date. We’re just tryna perfect it. Just the other day we worked on another song and we thought we had the tracklist completely set, but it seems it may make the project as well. That’s why I’m releasing a song every week because I really want to make sure that when I release it, it’s everything I want everyone to hear.

London: Can we expect any music videos?

Ballad: Yes, currently we’re working on that. We’re shooting a couple music videos for the first single and the follow up as well.

London: I know you’re located in Boston and it isn’t necessarily a music/entertainment town. Are you planning on moving to New York or LA to further pursue your music career?

Ballad: I ‘ve definitely thought about that. I’ve been to both New York and LA. I love LA. I feel like its home away from home. It’s just a different feeling out there and New York as far as venture wise it’s so many opportunities there. I feel like it’s really gonna be determine by how things go with the release of this EP. Right now, I’m fine being in Boston and traveling out, but its gonna depend on where the demand is.

London: How has your hometown’s response been to your music so far?

Ballad: So far so good, definitively getting a lot of love, especially with “Fight”. We did a remix with Boston’s own Latrell James, he’s a rapper and he got on it and we did our thing. The community so far is loving it. The other day, somebody came up to me and was like, “Oh I know you” and I said “what do you mean?” “You have one of my new favorite songs featuring Latrell,” and I was like, “ oh ok that’s dope!” That’s one of the first time I’ve gotten that in the city so that was pretty cool.

London: Well you’re going to have to get use to it!

Ballad: I mean hopefully, I definitively love creating music. We just released it a couple weeks ago and to have someone say that was one of their favorite new songs is very dope.

Make sure to follow Ballad of Twitter and Instagram @MrLoveBallad and check him out on SoundCloud http://soundcloud.com/mrloveballad - SadityintheCity.com