Diplo
Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known as Diplo, is one of the most dynamic forces in
music today. The three-time Grammy-winning artist is as much an international brand
as he is a musician/DJ/producer. Year after year, he’s proven himself to be a ubiquitous
cultural figure, consistently bridging high and low, mainstream and underground, with
remarkable tact and reverence.
Most recently, Diplo finds himself exercising his collaborative spirit and singular talent
for transcending genre and cultural boundaries. With the formation of two new groups,
Diplo continues his streak as a global hitmaker — LSD a psychedelic supergroup with
Sia and Labrinth that was streamed nearly one billion times and Silk City the disco-
influenced venture with Mark Ronson. Since the debut of Silk City, the duo has
collaborated with Dua Lipa for the Grammy-winning house hit “Electricity,” as well as
releases with GoldLink, Desiigner and Mapei. On his own, Diplo continues to discover
and collaborate with the most exciting new voices in music including Trippie Redd,
Poppy, Lil Xan and MØ. His collaboration with French Montana, Lil Pump and Zhavia on “Welcome to the Party” for Deadpool 2 recently achieved platinum status.
A decade since its inception, Diplo’s original group Major Lazer continues to influence
the sound of modern music. The group recently looked to Africa for inspiration,
releasing a string of collaborations with African artists like Burna Boy, Babes Wodumo,
Mr. Eazi and Kizz Daniel. Diplo’s rise to fame began in 2004 with his critically-acclaimed debut album Florida, which caught the attention of then-breaking M.I.A., who partnered with Pentz to release the mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1. and eventually the Grammy-nominated track “Paper Planes” in 2007, which hit #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart and has sold more than three million copies.
In 2005, Diplo founded label/culture lab Mad Decent to lend his globally-recognized
voice to the sounds he encounters traveling the world. Mad Decent has gone on to
release music from a dynamic range of artists that include Santigold, Omar Souleyman,
Gucci Mane, Dillon Francis, Baauer and more. Diplo founded his global dancehall group Major Lazer in 2008 to great critical acclaim.
Their 2015 smash hit, “Lean On” with DJ Snake and MØ, became the most streamed
song on Spotify of all time and hit more than 1 billion views on YouTube, making it one
of the Top 10 most watched music videos ever. The double platinum single “Where Are Ü Now” featuring Justin Bieber from his Jack Ü collaboration with Skrillex has enjoyed similar success & won the group numerous awards including an MTV European Music Awards as well as an American Music Award for Collaboration of the year. Both of Diplo’s 2015 releases — Major Lazer’s Peace Is the Mission and Skrillex and Diplo Present: Jack Ü– topped the Billboard charts for #1 Dance/Electronic Album.
As one of pop’s most in-demand producers, Diplo has worked with artists such as
Beyoncé — producing two songs on the Grammy-nominated Lemonade, Justin Bieber,
Madonna, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, Wale, Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, 2 Chainz, Quavo, Travis Scott, Travis Porter, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Azealia Banks, Die Antwoord, Camila Cabello, Sean Paul, Robyn, Aluna George and many more. His last EP, California, served as Diplo’s first body of work as a solo artist in more than fiveyears, and the latest entry into a catalog that continues to defy genre and convention. Diplo continues to tour the world, playing 300 shows a year with Major Lazer and under his own moniker, including headlining Mad Decent Block Parties worldwide and a legendary Vegas residency. Recent stops include Pakistan, Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh,Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Croatia, China, Mexico, Italy, Korea, Spain, Sweden,Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary and beyond.
Big K.R.I.T.
Big K.R.I.T.is a rapper’s rapper—clever with lyrics, nimble with rhyme flows,
and generous with food for thought. But the Meridian, Mississippi artist,
whose stage name is an acronym for King Remembered In Time, isn’t just here to wow you with his words;
K.R.I.T. wants to be a voice for the people. “A lot of times I made music, I hit ’em with the similes, the metaphors and it’s great, but how do I create the type of music that can really help somebody, that people can relate to?”
says K.R.I.T., a savior of yesteryear’s countrified hip-hop. “Don’t get it twisted—my lyrical prowess is still very important to me, but I’m really understanding my place, what God wants for me.” The former Def Jam recording artist is embarking on a new chapter in a career that’s been long beloved for bars and an unapologetically Southern sound.
Now releasing music independently, K.R.I.T. has shed major-label presumptions and is set on delivering an accessible third full-length studio album that showcases a matured MC doing what he does best. “I’m talking more about love, being excited about life, understanding depression, vices and how we medicate ourselves for what’s going on,” says K.R.I.T. “And then I got the aspect of finally finding yourself and being happy.” That journey began long ago, when the Third Coast representer born Justin Scott split time
between home—painted with the soul tunes of Willie Hutch, Bobby Womack and Curtis Mayfield—and church, where he performed in the choir as a child. By 14, music crept to the forefront. K.R.I.T. took up poetry, soon flipping those rhymes into songs just like his rap heroes OutKast, UGK and Three 6 Mafia. He’d also started producing his own tracks on Playstation’s music creation program MTV Music Generator, using a makeshift at-home setup to record. “It was a two-deck karaoke machine where I could play something
out loud and then record through the other tape,” remembers K.R.I.T., who elevated to more sophisticated software and 16s as he got serious about his craft. A former high school baseball player, he moved to Atlanta after graduating to focus on music full-time. “I had to really grind—jumping on the Greyhound early morning and late nights to catch a showcase, holler at this DJ, network or promote my music.” K.R.I.T. began making noise via local mixtapes and by peddling CDs out of his trunk, also selling beats to otherartists to keep his lights on. Yet it took five years of hustle and flow before he was discovered by Cinematic Music Group founder Jonny Shipes in 2009. The following year, he signed with Def Jam Records and dropped his proud breakout mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, which features his statement-making single “Country Shit.” Its heartier successor Return Of 4eva followed in 2011. “K.R.I.T. Wuz Here was raw—experimenting with every sound that I grew up listening to and showing people I’m from Mississippi and I could really rap,” he says, looking back on the self-produced freebies. “On Return Of 4eva I had to tell you who I am, not trying to out rap the beat but just telling my story, giving quality content.” The producer/rapper’s stock continued to rise as he dropped his anticipated 2012 studio debut album Live From The Underground, celebrating his Dirty South heritage alongside legends like Bun B, 8Ball & MJG, Big Boi, and blues icon B.B. King. “My grandmother put me onto B.B. King,” he says. “Working with him is definitely one of the biggest
Combo Chimbita
Through her folkloric mystique, otherworldly psychedelia, and a dash of enigmatic
punk, Ahomale by Combo Chimbita catapults the sacred knowledge of our forebears
into the future.
Their second studio album and Anti- Records debut sees the visionary quartet drawing from ancestral mythologies and musical enlightenment to unearth the awareness of Ahomale, the album’s cosmic muse. Comprised of Carolina Oliveros’ mesmeric contralto, illuminating storytelling and fierce guacharaca rhythms, Prince of Queens’ hypnotic synth stabs and grooving bass lines, Niño Lento’s imaginative guitar licks, and Dilemastronauta’s powerful drumming, the lure and lore of Combo Chimbita comes into existence.
The legend begins with their first EP, 2016’s El Corredor del Jaguar, and followed up
with the occult psychedelia of Abya Yala. In 2019’s Ahomale, the New York-by-way-
of-Colombia troupe fuse the perennial rhythms of the Afro-Latinx diaspora with a modern-day consciousness, while tracing the prophetic traditions of our ancestry. “The more we’ve played music together, the more we began to discover things within ourselves that we were previously unaware of, almost like an energy. And that’s being communicated through our music,” explains Prince of Queens in the making of Ahomale.
Inspired by a Yoruba term, Ahomale, meaning adorer of ancestors, Oliveros reveals
her quest to connect with ancestral cosmology, which the Combo pays homage to.
“Ahomale resurges from the visions that we’ve been having via our music and life,
and the lyrics reflect a manifestation passed on through our ancestors and the
gods,” she explains. “I wanted the album to convey the search for spiritual awareness, which ultimately serves as a revelation.” In a similar spirit, Niño Lento conveys: “The protagonist of this album whose name is Ahomale possesses the ability to communicate ancestral wisdom through the music.”
With the help of producer Daniel Schlett (The War on Drugs, Modest Mouse), the
group’s rootsy experimental alchemy and metal strangeness take centerfold. Oliveros howls, yowls and chirps with gut-wrenching emotion, like on the languid mirage of “El Camino,” or plaintive frenzy of the title track. Whether rock raw and soulful or bewitching like a shaman in a spiritual ceremony, her voice is always a multifaceted wonder. “Brillo Más Que El Oro (La Bala Apuntándome)” boasts alluring vintage synths that seem to time travel through the lush tropics of yore; then, the mood intensifies when its bridge brilliantly crosses into a spellbinding chant sung in unison: “Y si digo que / Que ahora ya lo se” (“And if I say that I now know”). “Testigo” is pure melodic witchcraft in action that strips away wordly façades into something bare and beautiful: “Desde principio a fin, yo siempre di mi verdad” (“from beginning to end, I always gave my truth), the singer vulnerably croons against a whirling guitar and galloping percussions.
Ultimately, Ahomale is a catharsis of divine feminine force helmed by their powerhouse vocalist, laden with the teachings from a bygone era, in tune with the spiritual realm. “Our spirit and energy have passed through multiple generations,” says Prince of Queens. “We might not be open or allowed to explore it because of
Sharon Van Etten
Remind Me Tomorrow comes four years after Are We There, and reckons with the life that gets lived when you put off the small and inevitable maintenance in favor of something more present.Throughout Remind Me Tomorrow, Sharon Van Etten veers towards the driving, dark glimmer moods that have illuminated the edges of her music and pursues them full force. With curling low vocals and brave intimacy, Remind Me Tomorrow is an ambitious album that provokes our most sensitive impulses: reckless affections, spirited nurturing, and tender courage.
“I wrote this record while going to school, pregnant, after taking the OA audition,” says Van Etten. “I met Katherine Dieckmann while I was in school and writing for her film. She’s a true New Yorker who has lived in her rent controlled west village apartment for over 30 years. Her husband lives across the hall. They raised two kids this way. When I expressed concern about raising a child as an artist in New York City, she said ‘you’re going to be fine. Your kids are going to be fucking fine. If you have the right partner, you’ll figure it out together.'” Van Etten goes on, “I want to be a mom, a singer, an actress, go to school, but yeah, I have a stain on my shirt, oatmeal in my hair and I feel like a mess, but I’m here. Doing it. This record is about pursuing your passions.” The reality is Remind Me Tomorrow was written in stolen time: in scraps of hours wedged between myriad endeavors — Van Etten guest-starred in The OA, and brought her music onstage in David Lynch’s revival of Twin Peaks. Off-screen, she wrote her first score for Katherine Dieckmann’s movie Strange Weather and the closing title song for Tig Notaro’s show Tig. She goes on, “The album title makes me giggle. It occurred to me one night when I, on auto- pilot, clicked ‘remind me tomorrow’ on the update window that pop sup all the time on my computer. I hadn’t updated in months! And it’s the simplest of tasks!”
The songs on Remind Me Tomorrow have been transported from Van Etten’s original demos through John Congleton’s arrangement. Congleton helped flip the signature Sharon Van Etten ratio, making the album more energetic-upbeat than minimal-meditative. “I was feeling overwhelmed. I couldn’t let go of my recordings — I needed to step back and work with a producer.” She continues, “I tracked two songs as a trial run with John [Jupiter 4 and Memorial Day]. I gave him Suicide, Portishead, and Nick Cave’s Skeleton Tree as references and he got excited. I knew we had to work together. It gave me the perspective I needed. It’s going to be challenging for people in a good way.” The songs are as resonating as ever, the themes are still an honest and subtle approach to love and longing, but Congleton has plucked out new idiosyncrasies from Van Etten’s sound.For Remind Me Tomorrow, Van Etten put down the guitar. When she was writing the score for Strange Weather her reference was Ry Cooder, so she was playing her guitar constantly and getting either bored or getting writer’s block. At the time, she was sharing a studio space with someone who had a synthesizer and an organ, and she wrote on piano at home, so she naturally gravitated to keys when not working on the score — to clear her mind.Remind Me Tomorrow shows this magnetism towards new instruments: piano keys that churn, deep drones, distinctive sharp drums. Itwas “reverb universe” she says of the writing. There are intense synths, a propulsive organ, a distorted harmonium.
The demo version of “Comeback Kid” was originally a piano ballad, but driven by Van Etten’s assertion that she “didn’t want it to be pretty,” it evolved into a menacing anthem. Cavernous drones pull the freight for “Memorial Day,” which fleshes out an introvert in warrior mode. The spangled “Seventeen” began as a Lucinda Williams-esque dirge but wound up more of a nod to Bruce Springsteen, exploring gentrification and generational patience. Van Etten shows the chain reaction, of moving to a city bright-eyed and hearing the elders complain about the city changing, and then being around long enough to know what they were talking about. She wrote the song semi-inter-generationally with Kate Davis, who sang on a demo version when the song was in its infancy.
Since her last album, Van Etten has had a young son, and family life is joyful. Preparing and finishing these songs, she found herself expressing deep doubts about the world around him, and a complicated need to present a bright future for him. “There is a tear welling up in the back of my eye as I’m singing these love songs,” she says, “I am trying to be positive.There is strength to them. It’s — I wouldn’t say it’s a mask, but it’s what the parents have to do to make their kid feel safe.”
Alongside working on Remind Me Tomorrow, Van Etten has been exploring her talents (musical, emotional, otherwise) down other paths. She’s continuing to act, to write scores and soundtrack contributions, and she’s returning to school for psychology. The breadth of these passions, of new careers and projects and lifelong roles, have inflected Remind Me Tomorrow with a wise sense of a warped-time perspective. This is the tension that arches over the album, fusing a pained attentive realism and radiant lightness about new love.
Cuco
Los Angeles artist Cuco (Omar Banos) is a 21-year-old self-taught, self-produced DIY solo indie pop producer, singer, songwriter and musician who first exploded on the scene in 2016 and has since become an international in the staring and making.
Cuco first broke out in summer 2016 via his self-released debut mixtape Wannabewithu which features breakout singles “Lover Is a Day,” and “Amor de Siempre.” Cuco released his follow-up mixtape Songs4u in May 2017, Cuco released his breakthrough bilingual single “Lo Que Siento”, which catapulted him to internet stardom. Cuco’s discography also includes the self-released Chiquito EP (May 2018), which features the viral single “CR-V”and “Sunnyside,” the latter of which was named one of the best songs of 2018 by ‘The New Yorker.’ In July 2019, Cuco will release ‘Para Mi,’ his debut solo album and his first major label release. As his most creatively ambitious project to date, the self-produced ‘Para Mi’ continues Cuco’s DIY spirit while reflecting his evolved songwriting and newfound approach to production. The album includes the singles “Hydrocodone,” “Bossa No Sé,” featuring Jean Carter, and “Feelings.” As a live act, Cuco has performed at major music festivals around the world, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Governors Ball, in addition to several international dates in North America, the UK, Asia, and beyond.
Wet
New York-based indie outfit debuted with an ethereal electronic sound on their debut, 2016’s Don’t You, before changing directions on 2018’s Still Run with energized instrumentation and vocal confidence. Formed in Brooklyn in 2012 by musicians Joe Valle, Martin Sulkow and singer songwriter Kelly Zutrau, Wet recorded a few casual demos together while they were attending school in New York before Valle split for Los Angeles and Zutrau went to Rhode Island. The three friends reconvened in Brooklyn and began working in earnest on the material that would eventually feature on their debut EP. Through Zutrau’s warm vocals and an affinity for 90’s R&B, they injected some quiet soul into their minimalist electronic indie pop.
Their understated self-titles EP, a four song collection of gentle breakup songs, was released by Neon Gold in October 2013 to immediate hype. A series of CMJ performances followed and they joined CHVRCHES for a string of shows as well. The nuanced singles “Deadwater” and “You’re the Best” were issued in 2015 as Wet prepared their debut album for Columbia Records. Don’t You was released in early 2016, climbing to 76 on the Billboard 200. The Single “The Middle” b/w “Turn Away” arrived later that year. In 2018, Wet returned as a duo after the departure of Sulkow,issuing the sun-washed, Americana-inspired single “There’s a Reason. ”Incorporating chimes, string, and percussion, the pair debuted the new sound on subsequent singles “Lately” and “You’re Not Wrong.” Produced by Rostam (Haim,Solange), Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief), John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.) and Valle himself,their sophomore effort, Still Run, arrived in the summer of 2018.
Free Nationals
Best known as Anderson.Paak’s live band, until now. Band members Kelsey Gonzalez (Bass) ,Ron “Tnava” Avant (Keyboard/ Vocoder), Callum Connor (Drums) and José Rios (Guitar) have graced the stage at Coachella, opened for performers such as Beyoncé and completed World Tours alongside J.Cole, Bruno Mars – the list continues. Paying homage to the musical legends that paved the way before them; Free Nationals means The first people of America, Indigenous to the land before Columbus came. Staying Indigenous to the funk, FreeNationals pay tribute to inspirators such as Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock and Al Green by incorporating musicianship while pioneering musical euphoria for a new generation.
Cut Throat Finches:
An ironic name for a tiny bird, and conversely, for a Texas band with a giant British rock, to ‘barely blues’ sound. Singer-songwriter Sean Russell, a proud resident of the Ft Worth, Texas music scene, formed the band mid-2015 with a group of much-lauded players from the area. This band shares an affection for eclectic music that is intentionally woven for the discerning ear. Their studio writing blends together like lavors in a hand crafted cocktail that beg for the next long drink. Cut Throat Finches lay out a trail that plays like a soundtrack to an epicilm, a myriad of styles, intended for bigger story.This band receives a healthy dose of radio and press being recognized for their writing and performing, being nominated over the past 2 years, for album of the year, rock band of the year, and more. In 2019, Cut Throat Finches released their third album, called ‘In Event of Moon Disaster’ which was the band’s first concept album, inspired by a speech written for the Apollo 11 mission. They are signed toDallas-based, Hand Drawn Records. For 2020, the band has several festival appearances in line, and a tour that will take them as far as Iceland, where they will play and record new songs to bring back home.
Kaash Paige
Is an 18 year old buzzing artist from Dallas, Texas, making waves with dreamy viral hit, “Love Songs”. reached #1 on Spotify’s GlobalViral Chart and US Viral Chart and reached #3 on Rolling Stones Top 25 Trending Chart. Kaash is an acronym for Kill All Arrogance Stop Hatred.
Kero Kero Bonito
A band from London, England. We met on an internet forum in 2013; singer Sarah was born in Nagoya to a Japanese mother and British father,
before moving to Kenilworth, UK at the age of 13, while producers Gus and Jamie
have been friends since school. We shared our pop universe on Intro Bonito (mixtape, 2014), Bonito Generation (album, 2016) and singles like “Flamingo” and “Trampoline”. In 2017 we returned to the suburbs that made us and started rehearsing with guitar, bass and drums. We introduced our new style with TOTEP in February 2018, and our second album Time ‘n’ Place was released October 2018. Signposted by the songs “Only Acting” (pop-punk noise) and “Time Today” (chipper Casiotone melancholy), Time ‘n’ Place is our response to indie-rock history.”
Kwinton Gray Project
starting in 2015 with a weekly residency in Deep Ellum. They are a high energy jazz-funk-fusion band from Dallas, TX where they reside and continue make musical noises. As a wise man once said, “This band will tickle your earholes in the best of ways… the best of ways!” KGP released their debut album titled ‘Leap of Faith’ in Fall of 2018 and are currently working on their Sophomore album to drop in 2020
Lorelei K
An artist, musician and poet from Denton, Texas, known for composing and performing avant-pop with arresting vocals. She established herself as a premiere solo artist in North Texas with Be The Doll in late 2017 and was delivered to listeners across the United States as support for The Sound of Animals Fighting the next year. Soon after the release of Be The Doll, Lorelei K was deemed an artist to watch for in D Magazine: “To hear the songs live is to experience a liberating merge of fantasy and intense vulnerability.” The Dallas Observer praised Lorelei K’s many contributions to the North Texas scene, which she pushes forward as a sought-after improviser, an organizer who brings queer and trans talent to the light with her, and a collaborator with a singular gift for directing projects both sonically and visually. “The continual effort to venture into uncharted waters and creative maturity has been a central theme … and we are only witnessing the beginning of it,” Garrett Gravely wrote. A sense of primal breakthrough is the through line from Lorelei K’s first album to the second, Light bender, out now. The voice that first hushed crowds with full-throated longing and elegant range meets listeners with new restraint. Long-players flourish into surprising territory: “Eidelon” is a pulsing descent into metal with blades of straightforward guitar; “Sentimental interest” follows Cocteau Twins-like dream logic in a gentle flex of compositional intuition.“If purity is a place, that’s where I want to take you,” Knowles sings on “White Dress.” Lightbender generates a purifying heat— simplicity reduced from abundance on fire.
Miguel has established himself as a consummate artist who is unafraid to follow his creative impulses, wherever they may lead him.His Grammy winning “Adorn” was RIAA certified 2x Platinum and is just one of his 12 songs to hit the Billboard Hot 100. As the recipient of 10 Grammy nominations, it’s no surprise Miguel’s last two albums debuted at #1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums Chart. In 2015, his second studio album “Wildheart”,debuted at #2 on Billboards top 200 albums. In 2017, this was then followed up by his third studio album “War & Leisure”, which was released to further acclaim. In April 2019, Miguel released the Spanish EP Te Lo Dije. The EP peaked at number 11 on the Top Latin Albums chart, becoming his first entry there. Boasting a resume full of solo hits, as well as collaborations with Mariah Carey, Usher, J. Cole, G – Eazy, Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, Calvin Harris, Travis Scott, and A$AP Rocky among others, Miguel has proven himself to be one of R&B’s most sonic visionaries.
PRIZM
A Dallas-based synth-wave duo comprised of Krisluv and Danni James. The two full-time artists have experience working together in a variety of genres; their latest project is a love letter to the sunny synth sounds of the ‘80s. Combining classic songwriting touches with modern production and contemporary pop styles, the act creates a refreshing take on the retro ‘80s revival that captures the best of both eras.
RAKIM AL-JABBAAR,
A DALLAS BORN AND RAISED EMCEE, IS THE SON OF THE LEGENDARY BIG AL OF NEMESIS. ON MARCH 9, 2017 HE BEGAN HIS JOURNEY OF CARRYING ON AND ELEVATING HIS FATHER’S LEGACY. HE HAS ALREADY HAD ARTICLES IN D MAGAZINE, DALLAS MORNING NEWS, AND OPENED UP FOR ERIC B & RAKIM AT THE BOMB FACTORY. FRESH OFF HIS WIN AT THE ONE COMPETITION, EARNING HIM $3,000, THE LEGENDARY DJ PREMIER DEBUTED HIS NEW SINGLE “SUPERTIGHT FEATURING FLOWER CHILD” ON HIS SIRIUS XM SHOW. WITH A NEW SINGLE PRODUCED BY STATIK SELEKTAH TITLED “THE ANTIDOTE” ON THE HORIZON, RAKIM AL-JABBAAR IS TRAILBLAZING A PATH THAT IS SURE TO LEAD HIM TO THE MOUNT RUSHMORE OF HIP HOP.
Remy
An Indie Pop singer/songwriter from Dallas, TX.16-year-old Remy Reilly is not only a singer and songwriter with a voice mature beyond her age, but she also plays the drums and piano. Remy got her start performing all around DFW. Remy’s love for music began early on at the age of 2 with singing. By the time she was just five years old, she was already writing her own music. Inspired by artists like ZZ Ward, Norah Jones, and The Cure, this teenage powerhouse is a force to be reckoned with and a fresh new face in the Dallas music scene. A songwriter wise beyond her years, Remy’s first single tackles mature topics like bullying and self-love.
Photo: Will Von Bolton- Remy Reilly
The debut EP was created locally at Modern Electric Sound Recorders in a short time. Reilly teamed up with producers Jason Burt (Medicine Man Revival), Jordache Grant, and Charlie Wiles who helped make her vision come true..
“I’m so thankful for people like Remy in my life to keep my on my toes,” said Burt. “She has a unique songwriting style already and it’s an honor to help her vision; she’s going somewhere fast!” In 2018, she was nominated for 3 Dallas Observer Awards, Best Songwriter, Best EP and Best New Act. She took away the award for Best New Act. In 2019 She was nominated for Best Female Vocalist.On July 4th of 2019 she released “Burn” feat Vandoliers and produced by John Pedigo and Vadoliers frontman Josh Fleming. “Remy’s songs are really next level, she has killer lyrics and such a cool view of the craft,” said Josh Fleming, front man of The Vandoliers, “she is going to do great things.” She is currently working on her new EP produced by Matt Pence (Elle King, Texas Gentlemen) and indie darling, Sarah Jaffe. 3 songs are complete and two more are being recorded. The release date will be at the end of March, 2020.
Renizance
A solo rap artist from Fort Worth, TX. had a really great year in 2019 receiving over 5 Million views/streams courtesy of Spotify, Pandora, Youtube etc & riding off the success of his 4th album King Reni Falcone which featured, King Iso, Dizzy Wright & Lil Flip.
Rosegarden Funeral Party
Armed with just a guitar and a switchblade, Leah Lane and her misfits, Rosegarden Funeral Party have cut a swath from the royal cloth of post-punk that is distinctly their own. What would happen if Peter Murphy and Siouxise Sioux birthed an Indigo Child later to be baptized in Alan Watts’ philosophy? RFP!
Smoothvega
No stranger to the music and entertainment industry, with over 15 years in this business, he’s tackled everything from music, community events, selling out shows, and paving the way for other artists. At this point in his career, Vega is ready to return to his roots, by releasing his long-awaited, full length studio album in almost 4 years – “Natural Born Winner.”
As an artist,Vega is already a winner, having received several awards & recognition for his music along the way, such as K104’s “Street Swag Champion,” and being recognized as Fort Worth Weekly’s 3x “Best Rap/R&B Artist.” The Dallas Observer also awarded him with, “Best Compilation” (I Love Fort Worth), and Fort Worth Star-Telegram named him, “The Godfather of Fort Worth Hip-Hop – Preston Jones.” In addition to those accolades, he was also the first Mexican – American artist to be featured on the cover of Fort Worth Star Telegram & Fort Worth Weekly. Smoothvega also holds both attendance and revenue records in the Dallas/Fort Worth areas (2007 – 2018). These are the makings of a natural born winner, one who continues to build not only their own dreams, but those of others alike.
As the founder of Premier Live Experience, (www.premierliveexperience.com) Vega has brought both new and legendary acts to the masses all across Texas. He’s worked to put on shows with Nipsey Hussle, Joyner Lucas, Royce 5’9, Joe Budden, Dave East, Bun B,Chamillionaire, The Game, Ginuwine, Erik B. & Rakim, Scarface, and countless others. As an artist and promoter, he’s gained the trust of several of his peers by being a reputable business man. Premier Live Experience is yet another venture that Vega has flourished in, and sets him apart from any other ordinary rapper.
We all know that there are several paths one can take to be successful in this industry, but Vega has always been known to legitimately, and legally get his hustle on. His music is about the beautiful struggle, and his experiences that reflect the normal life, trying to provide for his family, all while still living out his dreams. Smoothvega is more than just an award winning rapper, but one who has paved the way to opening up this industry to our culture, and as an outstanding figure within the community; Smoothvega is a Natural Born Winner, both in life and in rhymes.
Snow Tha Product
Achieving what many artists coming into the rap game could only hope for… longevity. Snow has become a symbol of hard work, perseverance and raw talent. Born in San Jose, CA to Mexican immigrant, Snow grew up bicultural with the ability to rap in both in English and Spanish. She has been recognized and respected throughout the hip-hop industry for carving her own lane. Her reputation as a spitfire performer has her non stop energy shows selling out from the West to East Coast.
Snow Tha Product has been featured alongside a stunning range of hip-hop superstars, including Pitbull, Arcangel, Tech N9ne, Ty Dolla $ign, O.T. Genasis, DRAM, Chuckie,Lupe Fiasco, Three Six Mafia’s DJ Paul, and Too $hort, to name but a few. XXLhailed her as being “part of the new wave of female MCs who are turning heads.”
She also won an MTV VMA for ‘Best Fight Against the System’ video for “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” from The Hamilton Mixtape.
Beyond her lyrical capabilities and entrepreneurial skill, Snow Tha Product has proven to be a talented actress. She made her official acting debut in the second season of USA Network’s highly-rated TV series Queen of The South, portraying the character of Lil’ Traviesa. Her career continues to grow everyday both behind the mic and in front of the cameras. Snow Tha Product is an artist that speaks up for what she believes in, and never forgets where she comes from.
Son of Stan
Hailing from Fort Worth, TX, Son of Stan is the unique solo vehicle of Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist & producer Jordan Richardson (former drummer of Ben Harper, Ringo Starr, and White Denim). Richardson’s self-produced prog flavored pop project, however, has recently evolved into a collaborative effort with his backing group, the newly minted Boat Club Rd. Band. The humor and hooks are still the main game, but Son of Stan’s latest material has changed its sonic palette from strip mall pastels to the glistening hues of water park excitement, revving like a Sea-Doo fueled by Malibu Rum and Crystal Light, jamming like Phil Collins and Eddie Van Halen if they had been drafted to craft a jingle for a beer commercial.
Tippy Balady’s
Tippy Balady’s vocal prowess is impossible to ignore paired with her neo-soul, alternative pop vibe. Whether it’s on piano or while strumming the uke, her clever lyrics will leave you laughing, crying and everywhere in between; no subject is off limits.
Tippy hales from Dallas, Texas where she went to high school at Booker T.Washington School for the Performing Arts(Norah Jones, Erykah Badu and Edie Brickell). The young singer-songwriter knew she had to be a musician when she saw the impact of her art firsthand.
“Music has the power to instantly shift a person’s mood and can change the outlook of the listeners whole day,” she says. In early 2019 she was connected with producer Jason Burt (Medicine Man Revival,Texas Gentlemen) to record and produce her debut singles, “Begin Again” and two other tracks, pulling session players Nik Lee of Texas Gentlemen and Benjamin Barajas of Medicine Man Revival. Since then they have recorded five other tracks together, 2 of which that have yet to be released to the public. Tippy has worked alongside artists Kristen Chenoweth, Miguel Cervantes (Hamilton) and Jacob Banks. She is a 2019 YoungArts Songwriting Finalist and nominated as a Presidential Scholar of the Arts alongside 60 other young artists all around the US. Tippy now attends USC in Southern California where she is studying popular music under the songwriters division.
