529 & Speakeasy Promotions Present:
Obeah
RBTS Win
Obeah
They say it takes 10+ years to become an overnight success…
Obeah has been cutting his teeth for damn near two decades in America’s independent music scene, performing across the country, all the while remaining true to his desire to serve a cause greater than his own. Raised in Columbus, GA and now residing in Atlanta, Adam’s southern influence is undeniable but this Renaissance Man could never be defined by one genre, occupation or geographic region.
In addition to being an Activist, Sommelier, and talented DJ, Obeah’s true passion is opening closed-minds through poetic expression. Inspired by the legends like Chuck D and KRS-One, Obeah uses his lyrical platform to encourage the masses to stop accepting the bullshit status quo.
Some of Obeah’s most notable music projects include, The ContraVerse, Difference Machine, WAKE, and DJ Lord>2muchPossE, & Daily Bread.
RBTS Win
RBTS WIN is Javier Bolea and Cliff B. Worsham – a sample-based/psych-pop production duo heavily influenced by the sounds of soul and R&B. The band is known for their emotionally charged live performances using a feast of analog synthesizers, drum machines, guitars and vocals. The music they create has also been described as dark wave or chill-hop.
The group formed in 2008 shortly after Javier moved from his hometown of sun-drenched Miami, FL to the mountain oasis of Cliff’s origins in Asheville, NC. After meeting through mutual friends the two quickly began exchanging song ideas and found that they had a special musical relationship. Javier speaks on their chemistry: “I feel like the juxtaposition of our worlds has everything to do with our sound and the energy we put out. The tropical beaches and these mystical mountains have truly met halfway within these creations.”
As much as their new album Palm Sunday eschews formula or convention, there are themes (love, spirit, connection, nature) throughout, along with musical references to the natural world — as filtered through electronic instruments. The album is the band’s most fully-realized effort to date, a culmination of years of experimentation, personal growth, deepening friendship and an unrelenting exploration of melody, beats and words.
Palm Sunday was recorded in Asheville, NC at Tidal Prism Studio and the converted cathedral, Echo Mountain. The cover was designed by long-time RBTS collaborator Kent Hernandez.
The band has played with the likes of Toro y Moi, Future Islands, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Prefuse 73, Nite Jewel, Lazer Sword, Mount Kimbie, Blue Sky Black Death, Tanlines, MillionYoung, The Sounds, Marley Carroll, Foreign Exchange, Otto Von Schirach, Polyphonic & Serengeti and Foxy Shazam. They have also performed at Miami’s Winter Music Conference, Hopscotch Festival and Moogfest 2010, 2012 & 2014.
Spaceman Jones
Spaceman Jones is a MC, beat maker, event promoter, radio host, and 1/2 of The Grateful Meds.
John.AVERAGE
John.Ave (formerly known by the moniker “Alby”) is an MC/Producer that prides himself in being…well…average. Born in Portland Oregon, John has lived in multiple cities including: Houston and Dallas Texas, Tampa Bay Florida, and Snellville Georgia; the latter being the where he chooses to rep. Ave’s music has been praised for it’s honesty, relatability, and ability to bombard the listener with complex lyricism and a bold sense of humor, without sounding pretentious or rapping about rapping…
Before deciding to change his stage name mid 2012, John released 2 mixtapes under the name “Alby”. “Shades of Black” in 2010 and “Rookie of Tomorrow” in 2011. Neither of the CD’s managed to gain Ave the momentum he had expected. Disgruntled, John chose to take a break from music in late 2011 to focus on school and evaluate what was impeding his success. Studying the techniques of familiar artist he found his influences in acts such as (Blu, MF DOOM, Binary Star, CYNE, OutKast, UGK, Flying Lotus, The Roots, Black Hippy, Jay Electronica, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Soul Providers, Wiz Khalifa, Madlib, and Kanye West.)
Incorporating the influences mentioned into a his own unique style John returned to the scene in early 2012 with the song “Schidaddle” (Produced by the well known EOM), a short track showcasing Ave’s newfound rhyming abilities. Cited for it’s humbling honesty and Ave’s effortless delivery, the track proved John may actually be able to live up to the potential many of his peers (friend and artist alike) see in him. John continued to follow up on the success of “Schidaddle” with tracks such as “Yancesterday” and “Concept ft. w.or.d”, both of which managed to follow in the path of “Schidaddle”‘s success.
John.Ave is currently working on his debut EP entitled “thankyou”, a project he promises will be full of the working man’s lyricism and brutal honesty he has become not-so well known for. John’s mission to bring the crown back to the South probably won’t be televised, so you’ll just have to follow his progress on Youtube, Twitter, Soundcloud, or Facebook. The “Ave” may stand for Average, but John is well on his way in proving he’s far from it.
thankyou~