With so much impressive new music and so many rising artists today, it’s becoming more and more difficult to keep up! Because I know how tough it is for the average person to read up on every emerging act, I am giving you the Cliff’s Notes – so to speak – on three talented musicians with fresh material. Get to know their sound, their background and what they stand for in just a five-question skim for each.
Read on to learn about and listen to Pierce Fulton, Kember and Cobi Mike…
PIERCE FULTON
Hailing from Vermont, 22-year-old DJ/producer Pierce Fulton is an EDM star on-the-rise with the success of his latest single “Kuaga (Lost Time).”
Although the currently touring artist has been producing music for several years, this is considered his most notable track to date. In less than two weeks since its release, Fulton garnered nearly 600,000 plays on Spotify, he currently gets more than 40 spins per week Sirius XM and he is set to perform at a handful of summer festivals, including New York’s Electric Zoo.
An added bonus? He’s pretty tight with Ansel Elgort, who – under the actor’s musical alter ego Ansolo – launched the song “Shirts & Skins” with him.
1) Describe your sound in five words:
Stuff I make when I’m bored. That’s technically six words, but whatevs.
2) Which of your songs has the most personal meaning to you and why?
I always talk about my song “West Egg” because I made it in an afternoon and it was just so quick and natural that it still sounds fresh to me. Sometimes I listen to it now and think like, “When the hell did I make that sound?” I just love that feeling. Sort of disconnecting from the ol’ brain while in work mode.
3) Describe your fan base:
The coolest cats in the world. I love everyone who takes part in my life. They’re literally the coolest and kindest people ever. The Tweets, Snapchats, Instagrams and Facebook posts I get make my day every day. Y’all rule.
4) Name 5 artists from any genre/time period you are absolutely smitten with:
Paul Kalkbrenner, Baths, Egbert, Steel Pulse, America
5) What is your motto to live by?
Do weird stuff and just have fun.
KEMBER
Kember is still basking in the joy of being recognized as a new artist worth knowing by Jay-Z‘s Tidal app. And one listen to his Love EP, released on May 7, you’ll understand just why he’s getting such recognition. The 28-year-old resides in good ol’ L.A., and just played a successful show at The Mint.
1) Describe your sound in five words:
PunchDrunkLoveFueledFun.
2) Which of your songs has the most personal meaning to you and why?
I write a lot! This whole EP is an embodiment of how love has affected me over the past few years. But if I must pick one I would have to say, [the Outro, “Nana’s Curtain Call”]. As funny as that may sound, reenacting those phone calls to my Nana as I once did when she was here brings me so much joy I can’t replace that feeling with anything.
3) Describe your fan base:
Underground lovers and dreamers of all ages who enjoy riding wave after wave of happiness.
4) Name 5 artists from any genre/time period you are absolutely smitten with:
MJ and Prince – The immortal gods who can never be dethroned.
Bill Withers – The greatest song writer of my world.
2Pac – His aura: bigger than life.
Rage Against the Machine – They taught me to question everything, and their amazing collaboration of hip hop, funk and rock fueled me daily.
N.E.R.D. – Being a biracial child, Pharrell [Williams] and Chad [Hugo] showed me how important it is to simply be yourself. Everything else works itself out. #OTHER.
5) What is your motto to live by?
Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride. – Anthony Bourdain.
[divider_flat]
COBI MIKE
Cobi Mike – formerly the lead singer of Boston-based indie-pop band Gentlemen Hall – made a recent decision to leave the award-winning band to rediscover his voice and share his personal message. It has seemingly been a wise decision thus far, because “Walking Through Fire,” the first single from his four-song self-titled EP, charted #1 on Hype Machine. He also just performed at last weekend’s Make Music Pasadena festival.
1) Describe your sound in five words:
Alternative, rock, pop, electronic, psychedelic
2) Which of your songs has the most meaning to you and why?
“Walking Through the Fire” has a very significant meaning to me. I think the music video for it explains it better than I ever could.
3) Describe your fan base:
Free spirits
4) Name 5 artists from any genre/time period you are absolutely smitten with:
Kendrick Lamar, Little Dragon, Miike Snow, Son Lux, Toro Y Moi
5) What is your motto to live by?
“I will never betray my heart” – D’Angelo
