Animal CollectiveAnimal Collective is a New York City based group of experimental musicians from Baltimore, MD. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deacon (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz). Records released under the name Animal Collective may include contributions from any or all of these members, but the lineup is not uniform. The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. Although the band is often classified a pyschefolk or noise rock, it is hard to define the critically acclaimed Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with diverse styles and ideas. |
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Célia MaraCélia Mara’s diverse geographical background is reflected in her globe-trotting sound. Born and raised in the small bordertown of Pedra, Brazil, she spent her youth absorbing samba and bossa rhythms before relocating to Europe in the early 90s, where she became heavily involved in the jazz scene. Her music effortlessly combines these two influences while incorporating elements of rock, ska, and funk to create a sound that is truly unique and representative of her vision of the planet, by always carrying a message of unity, peace and social justice. The fiery Manifesto Bastardista and the quirky, funky Brigada Rosa are but two examples of her diverse sound, which is equally at home in underground dance clubs, grand opera-houses, or large outdoor festivals. |
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Chaundon (Hall of Justus)Growing up in South Bronx and constantly being surrounded by Hip Hop, Chaundon began writing rhymes at 13. As a member of the collaborative team Justus League, it wasn’t in this group where he first started performing. As a student at Stevenson High School, he earned his stardom rapping in front of students all over school. Realizing that music was his calling, Chaundon gained a reputation for his lyrical prowess; a reputation that followed him wherever he’s gone since. After graduation and while attending North Carolina Central University, he entered the hip-hop scene, performing at local venues. He has released many mixtapes, including collaborations with 9th Wonder, DJ Drama, and Khrysis. Chaundon’s versatility and expressive voice makes him a favorite among the Hip Hop community. |
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Chicago Afrobeat ProjectAfrobeat cannot stand still. As the genre enjoys a resurgence across the globe, Chicago Afrobeat Project remains true to its original vision of breathing the intensity of Chicago’s rich music scene into the infectious sounds of afrobeat. Afrobeat’s traditional influences — funk, rock, jazz, afro-cuban, high life and juju music – settle into a hypnotic, dance-compelling pulse at the core of Chicago Afrobeat Project. However, the group demonstrates a fiery originality by incorporating elements of high-energy rock and experimental jazz into their sound. The group’s fresh energized take on the genre, along with its frenzied and exciting live show have established CAbP as one of the premiere afrobeat groups in the United States. |
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ClutchSince 1991 Clutch have been challenging rock n' roll's limits, and they show no signs of abandoning the unique experimentation that has defined them. This Germantown, MD based band combines elements of funk, metal, and rock that helped to define the "stoner-rock" sound of the mid-90s which they have since taken in unexpected directions. 2009 saw the release of their ninth studio album, the innovative Strange Cousins From The West, which debuted in Billboards Top 40 albums. For Clutch, evolution is a way of life. |
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CougarCougar creates passionate, powerful, unabashedly epic instrumental music. Formed in 2003 in Madison, Wisconsin, Cougar describes their sound as “Emergency Rock.” Each song is a collage of voices constantly interacting and evolving one another; shape shifting melodies, vast sonic canvases, dense, raw, electronic, organic, found-percussion and driven sounds resonate throughout each track, in a style that is rooted in philosophical ponderings of nature versus architecture. Their debut LP, Law was released in 2007 on the Layered Music label. You can also catch members of Cougar in the internationally-acclaimed YoungBlood Brass Band. |
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GWARGWAR is part of an ancient order of warriors known as the Scumdogs Of The Universe who were banished from space and sent to planet Earth. Once on Earth, the Scumdogs fornicated with apes and thus the human race was born. The Scumbogs were incarcerated in ice, deep in the wastelands of Antarctica. Here they lay dormant for millions of years, controlling the will of the humans they’d spawned through mental telepathy. With little effort they brought about war, disease and injustice. Earth was on a path to self-destruction before GWAR had ever played a note… |
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Jimmy BoschAn expressive playing style, marked by flaring melodies and soulful rhythms, has made Jimmy Bosch one of the leading trombone players in contemporary Latin music. Known throughout the Latin communities as "El Trombon Criollo," the New Jersey-born Bosch has strengthened the music of many top-notch Latin groups. |
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Joe Scudda (Hall of Justus)Joseph Samuel Griffin’s unruly nature as a teen led to his leaving home and turned to fortune when he met Justus League producer 9th Wonder through his local DJ work. Soon, Joe was recording songs with many Justus League emcees and producers. From there, Joe began working with HOJ alum and eventually was featured on almost every subsequent HOJ album. Joe’s cameo on Little Brother’s single Lovin It boosted him to fame, and since then, Joe has also performed with non-HOJ members including the Dilated Peoples, Pete Rock, and The Alchemist as well as appearing on the hit FX TV series The Shield. |
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Khrysis (Hall of Justus)Khrysis (b. Christopher Frederick Tyson) is a main in-house producer for North Carolina rap crew the Justus League. While working at the North Carolina Central University radio station WNCU, Khrysis met League rapper Chaundon, who introduced him to 9th Wonder -- through whom he was able to join the League. Attempting to break out of his mentor’s shadow, Khrysis began producing for non-League artists including Sean Price, Masta Ace, and Jean Grae. Khrysis established his signature combination of drums and intricate melodies with heavy usage of uncut soul samples and spacey key riffs. |
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Luna HaloNashville-based Luna Halo have created great buzz with the release of two albums and two EPs. The band are known for their exciting live shows and have toured heavily with such artists as Velvet Revolver, Hoobastank, Collective Soul, Ours, Need to Breathe and Family Force 5. In October 2007, Luna Halo's self-titled album was released to great critical acclaim. The album features contributions by former Jellyfish keyboardist Roger Manning Jr., Self's Matt Mahaffey and two songs co-written by former DC Talk singer Kevin Max.
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MagnaafluxMagnaaflux is hard rock funk trio that combines a melting pot of influences to deliver a unique refreshing sound. Their new album Half A Mil Is The New Five Grand has been blowing away listeners with its raw energy! Magnaaflux are set to keep rocking and bringing it hard for years to come. |
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Nation BeatMelding Brazilian maracatu drumming, New Orleans second-line funk, and even elements of rock and bluegrass, Nation Beat have earned their reputation as the most original and alluring fusion group today. Led by the invigorating rhythms of Skott Kettner, the inspiration for Nation Beat has its roots in the slums of Brazil, where Kettner studied drumming and first noticed the similarities between Brazilian and American music. Since 2003, Nation Beat has been bringing their audacious and infectious energy to people all over the world, appealing to fans of many genres, and especially to those who like to dance. Highlights include the raucous bluegrass-funk of Nago Nago, the tribal thump of O Povo, and the high-energy country strut of A Cowboy In Brazil. |
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Noble SocietyBroadcasting, from Brooklyn, New York, Noble Society creates a musical hybrid of dancehall and hip hop, with a whole lot of reggae thrown in. Sound-ink.com declares them "so good it hurts. It's the New York answer to grime – U.K. style beats with U.S. MCs." Filling the mysterious void of credible reggae artists in the U.S., Noble Society have earned their crown as the new kings of Urban Reggae. Their breakout album, Take Charge, was named Best Reggae album of 2008 on iTunes and the group was featured on the Huffington Post as one of the Top Ten global acts to watch in 2009. |
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Ostrich HeadA five-piece Hip-Hop collective of music-makes from Los Angeles, CA. Emcees are Calmentz, NoWonder, and Loreaxe. On the turntables are Mes E.Recspin and Waxbukler. The group is strongly influenced by Hip-Hop legends The Pharcyde, De la Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. 'Ohead' frequents the L.A. Club scene, having performed at many of the premier venues. The group is building an increasingly large underground following in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. |
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Sean Boog (Hall of Justus)Since joining North Carolina's Justus League in 2001, rapper Sean Boog has successfully expanded his repertoire to include other critically-acclaimed acts. Following several guest appearances (notably The Foreign Exchange's 2004 album Connected.), Boog formed the Away Team with producer Khrysis. The duo debuted in 2005 with National Anthem, which featured Boot Camp Click and Little Brother and received international press coverage in The Source, XXL, and King Magazine. Since National Anthem, Boog has performed internationally with Little Brother, Boot Camp Click, Tha Liks, and Dilated Peoples. After extensive touring, the Away Team released their sophomore effort Training Day while recording their third album. |
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SkeewiffLondoners Elliot Ireland and Alex Rizzo are better known as Skeewiff, the “lounge-hop” act that mixes breakbeat and lounge music to create a modern-yet-retro style that is urbane, classy, and ideal for martini drinking. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, in that they share their roots in Northern Soul and classic R&B, while giving a freshness to the music that is distinctively modern. |
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Suzi RagsdaleSuzi is the daughter of pop and country hit-maker Ray Stevens. When she was in kindergarten, Ray brought her into the recording studio to be part of the kiddie chorus on his Grammy Award winning 1970 smash Everything Is Beautiful. Her destiny was clear. “I always knew that I would be a singer and writer… I started writing poetry when I was about six, then songs a little later, and recording children’s music albums for the classroom when I was 10," says Suzi. During the past 14 years, this gifted songwriter, vocalist and pianist has released just one collection of her strikingly original songs. But this year, Suzi has created two new albums with producer Tim Lauer. The first, titled Best Regards, is a marvelously eclectic set of her recent tunes. On the second collection, Less of the Same, Suzi and Tim hand-picked a mix of her songs written over the course of her career. The textures range from jazzy pop to acoustic-folk waltz with some bluesiness thrown in. |
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