B-side

As Kendra Foster circled the globe multiple times with George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, she made a few pit stops along the way—which included scooping up two Grammys for her work on D’Angelo’s Black Messiah and writing and recording a solo album infused with her heart, thoughts and musical ministry. On the heels of her work co-writing the Grammy-winning song, “Really Love,” with D’Angelo, she is now prepared to release her songs, which she nurtured and cradled as she collaborated with legendary artists. Her soul-based fusion is peppered with jazz, funk, hip hop, rock, classical, world, electronica and gospel. “The music sonically and subject-wise is multidimensional, like life, and soulful like the spirit resonating in it,” Kendra says. “I don’t intend to preach—my vantage point is often from conversations I’ve had with myself. But they often also relate universally to most anybody.” •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet

Wunmi broke into the scene a global sensation, as the solo dancer for the late 80’s phenomenon known as Soul II Soul—her early association with the band solidly established their iconic presence. She toured with WOMAD in UK and Japan as a Solo dancer. Toured the world as Ornette Coleman’s dancer/muse. As a vocalist, Wunmi toured the US and the UK with the legendary Roy Ayers, and it is with Roy Ayers that she earned her first songwriting credits. Lyrically Wunmi’s work sits with the masters of roots music— full of faith in the human spirit, with a recurrent challenge for listeners to rise up and “be the hero we all need today.” Wunmi, in her amber rich voice, will prompt us to our finest selves. Emotionally engaged, empowered and joyous . . . for in Wunmi’s inimitable style, she offers a feast for the senses, with a stage presence that is undeniably infectious—transforming any venue into a sacred temple of pure joy. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mat

Urban pastorals unfold in the music of Gabriel Birnbaum, the multi-instrumentalist, singer and writer behind the songs of Brooklyn’s Wilder Maker. Wilder Maker’s songs keenly observe landscapes of desire and abandon, filled with colorful characters and street revelations, in a musical setting as boldly diverse as their NYC home base. Birnbaum’s songs find expression through longtime collaborators Katie Von Schleicher, who releases her own mesmerizing solo work, on keyboards and vocals; Sean Mullins (Kevin Garrett) on drums; and Nick Jost (Baroness) on bass. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Latasha Alcindor, also informally addressed as "LA," is A MULti-Talented independent music and visual artist based out of New York City. Her form-free art travels through a wide range of inspiration found in Experimental, Dance, Jazz, Electronic and Hip Hop music. LA’s energetic calls and performance-based sound have opened doors for her to perform at culturally prestigious events like SXSW, A3C, and Manifesto. In 2016, she performed as the headlining act for Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturdays, Toronto's AGO First Thursdays and became an artist in residence to New York's unparalleled, National Sawdust. Latasha finds resonance in speaking and exhibiting works of art in musical and ViSual mediums From graphics to film on her personal story, social commentary and cultural experiences in her music, promoting a much needed agenda for those looking to find inner peace, specifically young women of color. With all of her depth, the beauty in LA’s creative style exists due to the juxtaposition of both her thought-pro

Innov Gnawa is a young musical collective dedicated to exploring Morocco’s venerable gnawa music tradition in the heart of New York City. Formed in the summer of 2014 by Moroccan expat Samir LanGus, the group draws on the considerable talents and expertise of Hassan Ben Jaafer, a Maâlem, or master gnawa musician, originally from Fes, Morocco. Under the guidance of Ben Jaafer, Innov has delved deep into the roots and rituals of gnawa music, and made a big splash in NYC, playing some of the city’s most prestigious rooms including Lincoln Center, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bowl and the storied backroom of Brooklyn’s Barbès. This episode was hosted by multimedia artist and experimental filmmaker Selam Bekele. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

SK Invitational is an inbternational band that experiments with Drum n Bass, Dancehall and Hip-Hop beats, as a way to present the full range of the big band sound. Started by Stephan Kondert (a.k.a. SK) in Salzburg, Austria, in 2006, the aim of the project was to create something new and refreshing and that no on had ever heard before. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Hailing from Houston, Texas with roots in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Matthew Hartnett brings to you a genuine heartfelt musical perspective with genre defying compositions and southern rooted influences. With his one of a kind style, Matthew has graced stages all over the world performing with various artist including Lauryn Hill, Kirk Franklin, Talib Kweli, Mike Phillips, Joe Sample, and many more. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Following four years of releases as seminal vaporwave producer ESPIRIT and Mirror Kisses, George Clanton’s latest work further pushes the sound of modern internet-bred genres by adding timeless pop hooks and structure. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Theo Croker was born and raised in Leesburg, in central Florida, on July 18, 1985. Leesburg was not exactly a hotbed of music, and Theo wasn’t exactly born with a horn in his hand. He first picked one up at the age of eleven, after a visit to New York City where he heard his grandfather play at Sweet Basil. (Doc Cheatham died the following year, at 92, in 1997.) Theo continued to listen to Doc’s recordings. Theo says, “I would just sit in my room and play my trumpet for hours without knowing what I was doing. I would slowly teach myself new notes and play along with recordings of my grandfather and other greats. I noticed the I could fit in with what I was hearing harmonically.” It was at a memorial service for his grandfather when he had his first chance to perform for jazz-savvy audience. “I was only twelve years old, but the way the music touched people and the way it made me feel was enough to set me for life. I knew it was what I wanted to do.” •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Keci

Sharief is a 21st century soul man par excellence. He’s a man that knows of what he wants, and of what he speaks. You can tell where he's coming from in a heartbeat anytime you catch him in support mode on gigs for artists as diverse as Chocolate Genius and Vivian Green to Rufus Wainwright, holding it down with his guitar-slinging, bass-thumping, vocalizing, and harmonizing. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Navy Gangs is a pop quintet currently residing in the washed out and overly demanding area of New York City. Singer/Guitarist Matthew Tillwick, Guitarist Noah Kohll, and Drummer Gavin Cordaro began orchestrating music together in 2012 at Central High School in the red light district of Omaha where they failed their junior years miserably. For 2 months they took jobs working in the desert dome at the Henry Doorly zoo until they saved enough of their dismal wages for one way bus passes to New York City, where they moved in temporarily with Kohll’s grandmother Estelle. After making some new friends in Washington Square Park, the three boys found themselves in a basement scene in little Italy. It was there that they met their bassist, Wilson Keithline from Providence, Rhode Island. Together they became Navy Gangs, a troupe who’s songs grab influence from dark rooms, hopeless romanticism, table wine, and back page humor. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Ma

With their politically charged raps, taut rhythms, and dedication to raising African-American consciousness, the Last Poets almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop. On May 19, 1968, at a celebration of Malcolm X’s birthday at Mount Morris Park in Harlem, they officially formed the Last Poets, deriving their name from a poem titled A Walk In The Sun, by South African poet Keopetse Kgostilie. B-Side is delighted to welcome Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan, and percussionist Baba Donn Babatunde into the studio for a night of poetry, rhythms, and conversation. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Johnny Polygon is a musical artist who combines classic melodies with unconventional song structure for an alternative blend of hip hop, soul and R&B. His lyrical content skews dark and cynical with love stories laced with wit. Johnny premiered on the national stage with the EP Group Hug, which URB magazine called "risky yet authentic." Johnny has collaborated with Nas, Kid CuDi, Dead Prez, Adele & Green Lantern. "The Riot Song" music video from Johnny's mixtape Rebel Without Applause, appeared on MTV2, MTVU, VH1 Soul and BET Centric. The single also saw heavy radio spins on Radio Nova (France) and later included on the soundtrack for HBO's How To Make It In America (curated by Kid Cudi and Scott Vener). Johnny's full length LP, The Nothing, kicked off 2013 and was supported by 30 city tour throughout North America. 2015 brings two offerings slated for summer and fall. In anticipation for Johnny’s upcoming album, a compilation album of leaks and unreleased songs entitled Water Damage ships on the 18th of Mar

Len Xiang is an award winning singer/songwriter, acoustic guitar player and actor in New York City. His music is inspired by the likes of Sam Cooke, Nina Simone and Michael Jackson. Their influence has created in him a sultry sound that distinguishes his engaging acoustic soul folk style. This multi-talented artist was awarded New York’s Star of the Day on New York’s own televised talent showcase where he premiered his latest original work, “Waiting on the Sun”. A provocatively soulful guitarist vocalist. Len Xiang’s acoustics tell a story of social consciousness that artfully addresses the issues of the collective masses. Whether they are matters of the heart, sacred relationships or civil injustices, his is folk music that strums your soul. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

If you’ve heard him, you’ve felt him! WordSpit was born and bred in East New York, Brooklyn to a young mother and a hustling musician for a father. With humble beginnings as his inspiration, WordSpit realized his gift for lyrics in the third grade and has been honing his craft ever since. Having been dubbed “WordSpit” by his brother, he set out to insure that the verses that flew from his lips were nothing short of potent. From corners to lunchrooms, from Youtube to your television set, WordSpit’sword play has become an inescapable force that one can’t help but succumb to. Having Cannibus, Nas, and Rakim as influences, combined with an energetic yet charismatic stage presence, WordSpit is the representation of everything that has been great about hip-hop in the past and takes it to the next level. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRI

Armed with her violin, loop pedal and voice, sonic weaver Hannah Epperson arranges musical landscapes without indulgence or over-saturation. As a stirring solo performer and talented collaborative artist, she has joined forces with a versatile cast of collaborators across a spectrum of genres and disciplines. More recently, these creative explorations have included composing and performing for interdisciplinary film and dance projects across the country and in New York, where she now resides. Hannah's breadth as a collaborative and compositional powerhouse stems from from an eclectic experiential and educational background: from learning Appalachian folk tunes by ear with a cowgirl in Utah to travelling through Scandinavia and Europe as an accompanist; or from touring her solo project by sailboat with permaculturists to accompanying Flamenco dancers in Spain, before finishing her Honours Degree in Human Geography and representing Canada at World Championships for ultimate frisbee in 2015. •••• The B-Side Po

Rock and Roll. Soul. Jazz. Hip Hop. Rhythm and Blues. While everyone continues to use their gauging barometer readily boxing in creativity to confined spaces, along comes an album to defy the norm. Fusing hip hop, soul and jazz together to create ‘soul hop’, drummer Daru Jones (Jack White, Slum Village, Jamie Lidell), guitarist Marcus Machado (The Family Stand, Kid Capri, Buddy Miles) and bassist Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Sugarhill Records, Rolling Stones) are combining their respective skills and influences to create a sound and experience like no other. Three generations of musicianship and a meeting of the minds have brought together Daru, Marcus and Doug, otherwise known as the collective DMD. Daru, Marcus and Doug are each adept and knowledgeable in their individual instrument’s power. The soulful energy between Daru, Marcus and Doug is undeniable. Their camaraderie and artistry radiates throughout each note. It’s a fantastic blend of sounds that will leave music connoisseurs of all genres wanting fo

Braxton Cook, (born March 27, 1991) is one of this generation’s emerging voices on the alto saxophone. He is also a talented vocalist and songwriter who’s sound blends both his Soul and R&B influences with his musical background in Jazz.The releases of his 2014 EP “Sketch” and 2015 album “Braxton Cook meets Butcher Brown” amassed him an audience that now spans across the United States. He's since performed sold out shows in major venues such as Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC, Ginny's Supper Club and Rockwood Music Hall in New York City and has even performed at a key Jazz Festivals in the states such as DC Jazz Festival, Art of Cool Jazz Festival, Gardena Jazz Festival, and Central Avenue Jazz Festival. His track record and digital following gained him features in diverse music and culture outlets such as The Washington Post, Downbeat Magazine, Okayplayer, and Saint Heron. Braxton’s sound and musical identity has always been in between the Soul music that he was raised on and the Jazz that he has studied

Sunny Gang is a 4-man Rap/Punk band from Newark, NJ that’s been described as “a burning rap-rock rager that instantly smacks of DIY venue beer soaked moshing!” Bandmates “Nasty" Nate Hitchcock, Chris Bacchus, Joe Sap, and Marshal were drawn to each other over a shared love of partying and performing, that’s evident in every note they play. On this episode of B-Side, they join [Host] live, in-studio to talk about [literally any one thing they talked about in the episode] and to test the limits of our glass-walled studio with their raucous sound. Tune in! For more Sunny Gang, check out: https://soundcloud.com/sunnygang •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Rue Brown is a multifaceted singer, with a strong background in dance and musical theater. Born and raised in D.C. and now residing in Brooklyn. Ms. Brown is a blend of jazz, hip hop & soul, a unique sound that reflects her journey, love, and the times. •••• The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio