2012 MUSICIAN LINEUP

"Purity Ring is not your average buzzing indie band. The duo has only released four songs, but it already feels like an event when a new one drops. The Canadian duo combines dark synths and ethereal sampling with hip-hop percussion worthy of the best beatmakers in the game. Throw singer Megan James' hauntingly infectious melodies and inscrutably personal lyrics into the mix and it's not just an indie band with a following, it's the next big thing." - Complex Magazine's "Top 20 Bands of 2012"

Twin Shadow is the stage name of American musician George Lewis Jr. Lewis was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Florida, before eventually relocating to Brooklyn and adopting the Twin Shadow moniker. "Confess" is the gorgeous, dynamic follow-up to Twin Shadow’s 2010 breakthrough "Forget". That first record garnered tons of praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, which named it one of the best albums of 2010.

"If the heyday of disco had produced a rapper, it might have been Atlanta's Trinidad James." - Pitchfork Magazine, 2012

The Jacuzzi Boys are guitarist/vocalist Gabriel Alcala, drummer Diego Monasterios, and bassist Danny Gonzalez, three dudes from South Florida, bright as neon and fun as hell. After forming the band in 2007 and accruing a handful of 45s, the group released the LP No Seasons on Florida’s Dying in 2009. Now, in 2011, we have Glazin’ – their second full-length, and the first for Hardly Art.

Teengirl Fantasy is Nick Weiss and Logan Takahashi, who craft an atmospheric yet driving sound that borrows from deep house, shoegaze, and other styles. They met at Ohio's Oberlin College and began making music together shortly thereafter. They put up a MySpace page, but it was when their songs were featured on the blog 20 Jazz Funk Greats that they gained an audience. Remixes of songs by Telepathe and Mariah Carey, along with the downloadable EP TGIF and singles on Dick Move and Merok, furthered the buzz. Takahashi and Weiss moved to the Netherlands to study for a year, but returned to Oberlin for 2011's spring semester. Teengirl Fantasy's full-length debut, 7AM, arrived in September of that year on True Panther/Merok.

Brooklyn by way of Chicago based DJ and producer, Brenmar, represents a strange musical paradox. Somehow defying the odds, he marries the artificial gloss of commercial R’n’B with the urban grittiness of underground styles like Chicago footwork and UK bass. His releases on the Discobelle, Grizzly, and Enchufada labels have taken him to both coasts of the U.S., Canada Japan, and the EU – frenzying crowds with his up-tempo, neon-drenched tunes.

Overthrow’s prized temptress, the Puerto Rican bred, world traveling dj with a lust appeal only equaled by her consummate taste for party rocking. Anyone whose libido doesn’t get a jolt is probably dead. Shit, dead people get turned on by her DJ sets. She’s not even allowed to spin within 100 yards of a cemetery.

DJ/Producer and 1/2 of rising dubstep duo Caligula, Damaged Goods is a stape in Miami nightlife. No mega-club or underground speakeasy has gone untouched by his sets. Having produced official remixes for the likes MIA, Steve Angello, N.E.R.D., and Sydney Blue, his skills has a producer have recently made him even more prominent in the music industry.

The illegitimate brainchild of Overthrow DJ Troy Kurtz and local electronic guru Richard Haig (aka Panic Bomber) are Kurtz & Bomber, a house music collaboration between resulting in a funky, deep, pure four-four sound.

 

As co-founder of the beloved Fool’s Gold record label with A-Trak (named an “indie innovator” by Billboard), Nick has helped launch the careers of artists like Kid Sister and Kid Cudi while curating steady releases of only the best in hand-picked new music. He was featured with the Fool’s Gold family in Bushmills’ “Since Way Back” ad campaign on giant billboards, wall posters and subway ads throughout the NYC metro area. Before starting the label, Nick also served as associate editor at The FADER Magazine, holding down the mag’s radio show “The Let Out” on East Village Radio while writing features and cover stories on everyone from Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg to Jenny Lewis, Soca star Machel Montano and the Chicago juke scene.

In an era where emerging MCs are immediately boxed up and tagged as “street” this and “hipster” that, it’s refreshing to hear an new artist like Donnis defy such quick categorizations simply through good, honest music. Having risen through the blog ranks with copious freestyles, live performance videos, and the smash mixtape “Diary Of An ATL Brave” (presented by beloved clothing label 10.Deep), Donnis is ready to take the next step in his career by releasing his debut single “Gone” on Fool’s Gold Records, the Brooklyn powerhouse founded by A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs, praised by Billboard as an “indie innovator” and a “tastemaker label” by the New York Times.

Funky disco duo Oliver is the newest project from DJ/producer Vaughn "U-Tern" Oliver and producer Oliver "Oligee" Goldstein. Both respected artists in their own right, with U-Tern remixing tracks from artists like Holy Ghost and Britney Spears, and Oligee producing tracks for pop artists like Kelly Clarkson and J. Lo, Oliver's sound is influenced by their early years of listening to '80s boogie and early '90s hip-hop. Within a year of working together, they've churned out a number of successful disco-inspired remixes, the Dirty Talk EP on Kitsune Records, and another EP soon to be released on Fool's Gold Records.

Miami has always held a special and important place in the development of hip-hop, and today's generation continues the tradition by creating a wide range of distinctly South Florida rap. Showcasing an ensemble of the best of the new breed including the gonzo rap styles of O'Grime, the classic Southern swag of J-Nics, the Carribean influence of Shuttle Life, the street attitude of Denzel Curry, and the freshness of Saheed. Also featuring special guest appearances and video art from Giancarrlo Loffredo. Together they will definitely let you know what the city is all about.

"Purity Ring is not your average buzzing indie band. The duo has only released four songs, but it already feels like an event when a new one drops. The Canadian duo combines dark synths and ethereal sampling with hip-hop percussion worthy of the best beatmakers in the game. Throw singer Megan James' hauntingly infectious melodies and inscrutably personal lyrics into the mix and it's not just an indie band with a following, it's the next big thing." - Complex Magazine's "Top 20 Bands of 2012"

Twin Shadow is the stage name of American musician George Lewis Jr. Lewis was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Florida, before eventually relocating to Brooklyn and adopting the Twin Shadow moniker. "Confess" is the gorgeous, dynamic follow-up to Twin Shadow’s 2010 breakthrough "Forget". That first record garnered tons of praise from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, which named it one of the best albums of 2010.

"If the heyday of disco had produced a rapper, it might have been Atlanta's Trinidad James." - Pitchfork Magazine, 2012

The Jacuzzi Boys are guitarist/vocalist Gabriel Alcala, drummer Diego Monasterios, and bassist Danny Gonzalez, three dudes from South Florida, bright as neon and fun as hell. After forming the band in 2007 and accruing a handful of 45s, the group released the LP No Seasons on Florida’s Dying in 2009. Now, in 2011, we have Glazin’ – their second full-length, and the first for Hardly Art.

Teengirl Fantasy is Nick Weiss and Logan Takahashi, who craft an atmospheric yet driving sound that borrows from deep house, shoegaze, and other styles. They met at Ohio's Oberlin College and began making music together shortly thereafter. They put up a MySpace page, but it was when their songs were featured on the blog 20 Jazz Funk Greats that they gained an audience. Remixes of songs by Telepathe and Mariah Carey, along with the downloadable EP TGIF and singles on Dick Move and Merok, furthered the buzz. Takahashi and Weiss moved to the Netherlands to study for a year, but returned to Oberlin for 2011's spring semester. Teengirl Fantasy's full-length debut, 7AM, arrived in September of that year on True Panther/Merok.

Brooklyn by way of Chicago based DJ and producer, Brenmar, represents a strange musical paradox. Somehow defying the odds, he marries the artificial gloss of commercial R’n’B with the urban grittiness of underground styles like Chicago footwork and UK bass. His releases on the Discobelle, Grizzly, and Enchufada labels have taken him to both coasts of the U.S., Canada Japan, and the EU – frenzying crowds with his up-tempo, neon-drenched tunes.

Overthrow’s prized temptress, the Puerto Rican bred, world traveling dj with a lust appeal only equaled by her consummate taste for party rocking. Anyone whose libido doesn’t get a jolt is probably dead. Shit, dead people get turned on by her DJ sets. She’s not even allowed to spin within 100 yards of a cemetery.

DJ/Producer and 1/2 of rising dubstep duo Caligula, Damaged Goods is a stape in Miami nightlife. No mega-club or underground speakeasy has gone untouched by his sets. Having produced official remixes for the likes MIA, Steve Angello, N.E.R.D., and Sydney Blue, his skills has a producer have recently made him even more prominent in the music industry.

The illegitimate brainchild of Overthrow DJ Troy Kurtz and local electronic guru Richard Haig (aka Panic Bomber) are Kurtz & Bomber, a house music collaboration between resulting in a funky, deep, pure four-four sound.

 

As co-founder of the beloved Fool’s Gold record label with A-Trak (named an “indie innovator” by Billboard), Nick has helped launch the careers of artists like Kid Sister and Kid Cudi while curating steady releases of only the best in hand-picked new music. He was featured with the Fool’s Gold family in Bushmills’ “Since Way Back” ad campaign on giant billboards, wall posters and subway ads throughout the NYC metro area. Before starting the label, Nick also served as associate editor at The FADER Magazine, holding down the mag’s radio show “The Let Out” on East Village Radio while writing features and cover stories on everyone from Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg to Jenny Lewis, Soca star Machel Montano and the Chicago juke scene.

In an era where emerging MCs are immediately boxed up and tagged as “street” this and “hipster” that, it’s refreshing to hear an new artist like Donnis defy such quick categorizations simply through good, honest music. Having risen through the blog ranks with copious freestyles, live performance videos, and the smash mixtape “Diary Of An ATL Brave” (presented by beloved clothing label 10.Deep), Donnis is ready to take the next step in his career by releasing his debut single “Gone” on Fool’s Gold Records, the Brooklyn powerhouse founded by A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs, praised by Billboard as an “indie innovator” and a “tastemaker label” by the New York Times.

Funky disco duo Oliver is the newest project from DJ/producer Vaughn "U-Tern" Oliver and producer Oliver "Oligee" Goldstein. Both respected artists in their own right, with U-Tern remixing tracks from artists like Holy Ghost and Britney Spears, and Oligee producing tracks for pop artists like Kelly Clarkson and J. Lo, Oliver's sound is influenced by their early years of listening to '80s boogie and early '90s hip-hop. Within a year of working together, they've churned out a number of successful disco-inspired remixes, the Dirty Talk EP on Kitsune Records, and another EP soon to be released on Fool's Gold Records.

Miami has always held a special and important place in the development of hip-hop, and today's generation continues the tradition by creating a wide range of distinctly South Florida rap. Showcasing an ensemble of the best of the new breed including the gonzo rap styles of O'Grime, the classic Southern swag of J-Nics, the Carribean influence of Shuttle Life, the street attitude of Denzel Curry, and the freshness of Saheed. Also featuring special guest appearances and video art from Giancarrlo Loffredo. Together they will definitely let you know what the city is all about.