C’est magnifique! Paris has come to New York for New York Fashion Week.
These selected musicians prove that we need to make more room for young talent!
Conway the Machine is Buffalo, New York’s pride and joy. He was raised on the gritty streets of the east side of Buffalo. At age 23, he spent some time in jail, which motivated him even more to focus on music. His third studio album Won’t He Do It gets introspective and doesn’t leave the grittiness of the streets behind. He departed the Buffalo’s Griselda crew in 2022 to focus on his own imprint and label, Drumwork.
Amazon Music hosted a holiday party at Ludlow House on December 7 to celebrate Leon Bridge’s latest cover, “Purple Snowflakes.”
The recent Grammy nominee reinvents the Christmas bop, originally sung by Marvin Gaye, by giving it a soulful, Texan twist with a music video to match.
Known for his R&B hits, “River” and “Beyond,” Bridges came across “Purple Snowflakes” back in Fort Worth, Texas when he was bussing tables at Rosa’s Cafe.
“It was part of their Christmas playlist,” he recalled, “before Shazam was a thing.” He continued, “Undeniable music, your just going to gravitate towards it. It was inevitable that I would record it one day.”
That day came and the cover was released back in November before it was recorded exclusively for Amazon Music’s Original holiday songs; a platform that features holiday music from artist all over the world.
Stream “Purple Snowflakes” and more on Amazon Music now and watch the video on Amazon Music’s YouTube account anytime. Happy holidays!
During her most recent trip to New York City, Tiara Thomas graced The Soho Ludlow House for an intimate performance, as well as an exclusive/personable Q&A for the audience.
The idea of an acoustic set generally conjures images of coffee shops and intimate guitar melodies. Pop singer Jess Kent threw that notion out the window on November 16 with a fun and energetic set at the lower east side’s Ludlow House. The red velvet curtains of the club’s third floor opened around 10:30pm to reveal Kent, dressed in a casual white bodysuit and loose pants, and armed with just a microphone, a drummer, and an offstage synth.
Kent began with a stripped-down version of her single “The Sweet Spot,” a reggae-inspired and undeniably catchy meditation on fame and success. After showcasing her powerful voice in the song’s breakdown, Kent moved into “Trolls,” a triumphant ode to Internet haters (“cause you’re just trying to get your fix / hiding behind those fingertips”) with a fun electric synth beat. “You guys too shy to dance?” She teased the crowd. “We’ll see about that!” With that, she launched into “Bass So Low,” a synth-heavy dance song with a funky electric beat. Mid-song, Kent climbed atop the drum kit and sampled Missy Elliot’s “Work It” (building from the lyric “make like Missy / gotta flip it and reverse it”).
Kent’s dressed-down electro-pop beats were certainly enough to get a crowd dancing, but the audience at Ludlow House seemed content with head-nodding and swaying. Perhaps it was the manicured floors and luxurious furniture, but the venue doesn’t really lend itself to the energy that Kent’s music demands. This did little to deter her, however, and the singer ended her set with “Get Down,” her debut single that topped charts in Australia earlier this year. The bongo-drum infused hit drew the best response from the crowd, with several people daring to dance, while seated spectators gave approving nods throughout.
For an emerging artist, Jess Kent seems equally comfortable in both an intimate acoustic environment and a packed stadium. She is at ease onstage, radiating an undeniable cool factor. Much like her songs, as a performer she embodies a unique combination of excitement and chill, drawing listeners in with her fun pop hooks, but holding their interest with a low-key eclecticism. With a debut EP out as of November 18 and a string of NYC concerts, the upcoming year looks promising for the Aussie artist. Maybe she’ll reach the “sweet spot” after all.
At first glance, a small affair at an exclusive Manhattan location with a tall talented blonde in platform boots could have been mistaken for a Fashion Week event.