A compilation of the music Substantial and I have collaborated on over the last 10 years...and the list continues to grow.

Substantial & Steph Collaborations

After Dark

The Feist

Motorpsycho - At Empire's End

We Need These Beams

A very beautiful track from the album Stadsbilder, to be released on Time Released Sound on August 6th, 2021.

Stadsbilder

Jakob Lindhagen & Dag Rosenqvist, "Stadsbilder"... Östersjön

Substantial & Marcus D, together known as Bop Alloy, return with their signature jazz induced sound and a clever new single entitled 'Count On Us' from their upcoming sophomore LP, 'Another Day in the Life of...' out this Spring. Featuring sparse, yet perfectly placed vocals from Steph, The Sapphic Songstress, COU showcases the duo's sonic growth with Marcus tickling the ivory to perfection over his sophisticated brand of boom-bap. (Think jacket and tie with fresh sneaks.) Substantial masterfully chronicles BA's humble beginnings, the morning after a show, while simultaneously counting from 1 to 40. This is the type of creative Hip Hop storytelling the repeat button was made for. 

On February 4, 2014, Bop Alloy launched their Kickstarter campaign to raise money for their new album ‘Another Day In The Life of…’. With a goal of $7000 and a funding period of 20 days, Bop Alloy hit the ground running and took to Twitter, Facebook & Instagram to promote their campaign. The duo achieved their goal in one week! Pledge incentives included digital downloads, t-shirts, posters, autograph copies of their CD and even an offer to perform at your wedding. With 13 days remaining, Bop Alloy provided stretch goal incentives for their fans. With $10,000 raised, fans can aide Bop Alloy with a Holiday album scheduled for release Winter 2014. If $15,000 is raised, they will record and film a live album and all contributors will be given free admission into the event. Six days later they reached their 1st stretch goal. “The support's overwhelming. $10,000 without even a preview of any new music is a testament to the kind of fans we have, and the type of listeners we attract said Marcus D. 

Support the campaign by contributing on Kickstarter: kck.st/1iprZlb

LYRICS
No surprise I’m the one they sleep on, I roll with dreamers 
But when us two come thru we make’em believers 
Fiendin’ thru your receivers when it’s all 3 of us 
For the love of the music, high 5 for Jesus 
In a Motel 6, wake up call at 7 
Breakfast we ate later had these players in heaven 
By 9:10, I’m in a cab to the airport 
Boarding’s at 11, I’m not stressing so therefore 
It’s time to finish up this rhyme I’m 12 bars into 
Hold up... 13 now yeah this shit’s cool. 
Came up since 14 with a hissing ass demo 
15 minutes strong though the songs were hella simple 
Finish that 16 then I crashed like a cymbal 
Sounding 17 again, I’m gon’ bodied that instrumental 
Night before, packed house. It was 18 an over 
Still would’ve been killed if only nine teens showed up 
We focused, in 2021 we may have more for you 
But still be underrated they say that’s a catch 22 
We wanna be... rated the greatest like #23 
But since our thinking’s too forward that’s something we might never see 
25 mins before I board for my trip 
Hit my driver with $20 + a $6 tip 
Thinkin’ that I was 27 when I heard Marcus shit 
28 when we began to plan the very start of it 
Dark skin chick tapped me saying , “I don’t know what’s on your mind. 
You’re holdin‘ up the line, by the way your gate is 29 
“Pirty” lil’ 30 something sista from the motherland 
Thanked her for the info, passed the checkpoint with my stuff in hand 
Copped gum, snacks and a book for something to do 
Cashier said my total’s 31.32 
Phone at 33%, my battery is lame 
Charged it and called my family ‘fore I boarded the plane 
34 years young, making music with my friends 
Documented through a 35 millimeter lens 
Day and a half before, yo that’s when we hit the road 
Only 37 copies of our album in tow. 
One show they all go ‘cause they’re a hot commodity 
Imports plus shipping be like 38 a copy B 
Finally boarded, near a guy who’s 39 or 40 
By the time we’re in the sky I closed my eyes and started zoning... 

 HOOK 
Just another day in this life of ours, homes Seems like we the ones that you can count on 
Feels right the moment they put the sound on 
Count on us to hold it down from now on 

REPEAT HOOK 

Drop on the 1 
Clap on 2 
Nod on the 3 
This is 4 you 
Drop on the 1 
Clap on 2 
Nod on the 3 
This is 4 you 
This is 4 you!!!

(S. Robinson, M. Marino) 
Lead vocals by Substantial 
Produced by Marcus D 
Additional vocals by Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

Count On Us ft. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

From the album 'Another Day in the Life of...' OUT NOW: 
CD | Digital | Vinyl - Coming Soon
http://bopalloy.bandcamp.com/

The latest single 'Not 4 Show' featuring Steph, The Sapphic Songstress from Bop Alloy's Sophomore LP, 'Another Day in the Life of...' draws a line in the sand with posers on one side and Substantial & Marcus D's feet planted firmly on the other.

Kings without the need for crowns like the son of God! 

The drums knock. The melody is chopped to perfection. The flow and rhymes are technically sharp, yet soulful. This isn't minute made rap, they "do it for real". This isn't shock rap, glorified self hate or anything you frown upon one day, then champion the next in the club or on computer. The real. You know, the not-always-explicit-for-the-sake-of-being-explicit real. The struggle of juggling school or parenting with your passion or career while remaining true to your beliefs and the culture that helped raise you. Hip Hop.

Catch Bop Alloy on tour in a city near you this Spring.

UPCOMING SHOWDATES
5/25 - Arlington, VA @ IOTA
5/29 - Chicago, IL @ Smart Bar
5/30 - Detroit, MI @ 5e Gallery

LYRICS

We do it for real 
Repeat 4x 

VERSE 1 
We’re not your average underground 
Rap group frontin’ like we’re down 
With everyone that come around 
Or show up on a blog 
But something unique & profound 
Working to perfect our sound Kings without a need for crowns 
Like the son of God 
We ain’t aiming to be Hell bound 
Like these other sell outs 
Watch’em you can tell how 
They’re whoring for applause 
(Not too many will reach our level 
Spread your wings come fly with us) 
You’re lovin’ how we put it down 
Feel free to sing aloud 
Watch how we move the crowd Like Rakim Allah 
Marcus let the rhythm hit’em 
I provide the lyricism 
Disregard the criticism 
Do it how we want Puttin’ plenty soul up in it 
Been ill for a minute 
They were hoping that we’re Fin(n)ish 
Like we’re from Vaasa 
(They fear us ‘cause we are rebels 
But it’s all love when you rock with us!)  

HOOK 

VERSE 2 
We don’t do it for a rack of pay, 
To receive accolades 
Though it’s nice to gather praise 
This is ‘bout expression 
But it cost to have it made 
Somebody has to pay 
If you want the tracks we make 
To add to your collection 
Sorry but I have to hate 
Shady biz in rap today 
Not the best path to take 
As your profession 
(But if your skin is hard as metal 
You might be equipped to fly with us!) 
Every night I have to pray 
Several hours after 8 
That the ends I calculate 
Justify the means 
Partner bout to graduate 
I got a little gal to raise 
But not enough to allocate 
Funds to all our needs 
Hope our plans coagulate 
And the fans advocate 
So success validates 
Us chasing our dreams 
(Keep on reaching for the next level 
May God blessings shine on us!) 

HOOK 

BRIDGE 
 (Sample) Do it for the well educated and illiterate Real and nonsense, conscious and ignorant 
Do it for the wealthy and the welfare recipient 
If you down, listen up, you out there, listen in  

VERSE 3 
For well placed instruments, 
Flows that’s intricate 
And infinite 
Our growth’s imminent 
Need a bigger belt 
(We’ve out grown these children farewell 
They just can’t keep stride with us!) 
Whether the crowd’s intimate 
Or it is significant- 
ly larger, we’re killin’ it 
Cause we’re known to rip it well 
All for the feel we get 
Recalled from our innocence Call it a stimulant 
We offer a little help 
Hardly coincidence 
Our songs make you reminisce 
Of times where a lyricist 
And DJ we’re rocking bells 
(They would drop, not just rock jewels 
Want that real come ride with us!) 

HOOK 

Do it for the real 
We do it for real 
Repeat 2x

Not 4 Show Ft. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

I had so much fun recording this track for so many reasons: (1) it was vocally challenging, (2) the sampling of "Golden Lady" (one of my absolute FAVORITE Stevie Wonder songs) was GENIUS, and (3) I got to record it with my two favorite people in life. Me + Sub + Marcus D (aka Twinkle Fingers) = HOT FIRE LIKE DYLAN!

Substantial - Golden Lady feat. Steph, The Sapphic Songstress

01 Amarillo

The Warm-Up

This track is from the album The Sapphicsoul and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stephthesapphicsongstres

Getaway (Bonus Track)

From the album Music For 18 Musicians (Steve Reich) available May 8, 2020 on Western Vinyl.

Pre-order: https://smarturl.it/motgsf

Music For 18 Musicians

Erik Hall - "Section IIIB"

@Grabek rework of the @SaigonWouldBeSeoul track 'If This Is A Man', out January 22, 2020 via {int}erpret null.

BUY / STREAM --> https://ffm.to/saigon-would-be-seoul-grabek-rework
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'If This Is A Man' is taken from the latest Saigon Would Be Seoul album 'The Human Stain', out now on {int}erpret null: https://ffm.to/the-human-stain
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INQUIRIES: hello@interpretnull.com
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If This Is A Man (Grabek Rework)

BUY / STREAM

Saigon Would Be Seoul - If This Is A Man (Grabek Rework)

'DELIRIA' is the debut album from ERA C [@idcbackwards], the new project from Sofia Insua of @easyeasyband + Mirza Ramic of @arms-and-sleepers. Out May 28, 2021 via @futurearchiverecordings.

LP / DL / STREAM >>> https://ffm.to/era-c-deliria
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A transnational creation that embodies a unique selection of influences in a delicate offering to all that life has to offer, DELIRIA is an ode to travel, and discovery. Finding its home somewhere between romantic elements, bitter points of distrust and hope for the future, the LP envelopes all with its wavering electronic beats and irresistible vocals. ‘don’t call me from Los Angeles’ is a harsh look at communications with a missing love, driven by deep bass lines and irrefutable lyrics. ERA C proves to be a captivating mix of unusual tempos to both express and lull away hardships.

Speaking of the LP, Sofia Insua tells us: “DELIRIA is about distance and its sneaky way of censoring the heart, preventing it from feeling. I wrote the tracks during various transitional periods in my life, so I was going through change - adapting, looking for the next steps, and finding ways for love to survive. Some of the most defining lyrics on the record popped up in my head while walking busy streets, while traveling, while in motion. I was discovering myself geographically and through the songs that ended up being DELIRIA.”
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INQUIRIES: hello@futurearchiverecordings.com
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DELIRIA

resurrection

DEBUT ALBUM OUT NOW

ERA C - resurrection

'Letting Go' is the new single from Mirza Ramic of @Arms-and-Sleepers + @SaigonWouldBeSeoul. Out March 26, 2021 via {int}erpret null in celebration of Piano Day 2021. 

WATCH MUSIC VIDEO --> https://youtu.be/p-xCdWSyTII

BUY / STREAM --> https://ffm.to/mirza-ramic-letting-go
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Having occasionally released music under his real name, Mirza Ramic (of Arms and Sleepers & Saigon Would Be Seoul) will be releasing a string of standalone singles this year outside of his usual music projects. In celebration of Piano Day 2021, Mirza Ramic will present 'Letting Go', a somber 3-minute piece mostly centered around piano. For last year's Piano Day, Mirza unexpectedly found himself in Riga, Latvia as his final Russian tour dates (as Arms and Sleepers) were canceled amidst the pandemic. This was a musically productive period, but nevertheless one filled with anxiety and uncertainty as Covid-19 was introducing a new global reality in March 2020. The upcoming new single is symbolically released a year later and is in many ways about letting go of those surreal and complicated feelings that we all felt in 2020, especially at the onset of the crisis. 'Letting Go' is about processing and releasing in order to move on, regardless of how difficult the path forward might seem.
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INQUIRIES: hello@interpretnull.com
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Letting Go

Mirza Ramic - Letting Go

Excerpt of twenty-minute track Imagining Machines from Daniel McCagh

Daniel McCagh - Imagining Machines (Exceprt)

R&B Singer/Songwriter/Producer from P.G. County, Maryland. Frequent Bop Alloy collaborator, and worked with Mr. SOS, Inverse, Tonedeff, and CunninLynguists.

The Warm-Up

Stephanie Gayle

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