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R&B and Hip-hop has seen its share of trios in the combination of girl, boy boy. Acts like Lucy Pearl and City High made that big in the early 2000's while The Fugees catapulted this philosophy back in the 90's. Dreamryde is here to prove that this formula can still exist. The New England based trio has been making their name known on the east coast and hope in 2013 to make themselves nationally known. I sat down with them yesterday to talk about their booming career and what to expect from them as the new year starts.
How old were each of you when you decided you wanted to get into music?
Roman- When I was six years old, I was hand selected to sing “Imagine” By John Lennon as part of a large Music Ceremony. The feeling and reception from this performance sparked the desire for me to pursue a career in music. From then on I was fortunate to have an opportunity experimenting with R&B, Rock & Pop performing with live bands in front of large audiences. As my voice began to change In my early teens I discovered that Hip-Hop was becoming my strongest genre and I landed the role of Tyrone Jackson for the play “Fame”. At the age of 16 I released a mix tape “The Golden Rule” that sold thousands of copies with great reviews from fans & critics alike. The record solidified my skills as a writer/producer/performer.
LoGoz- At the age of 7, I picked up my first instrument, the violin. Over the next five years, I performed in various youth orchestras, ensembles, and talent shows. In my early teens, I fell in love with 90’s Hip-Hop/R&B and started composing music and lyrics. When I reached high-school, I realized that my goal was to become a great producer, song-writer and performer. Since then, reaching success in the music industry has been my obsession.
Íva Kosta- I decided I wanted to do music at a very young age. I wasn't really inspired by anyone, because I'm the only musician in my family, but since then, music has always been my priority. There's no other thing I'd like to do for a living.
Who are each of your musical influences?
LoGoz- When it comes to Hip-Hop performance, Tupac & Notorious B.I.G. were my greatest influences. The first song that inspired me to rap was called “Mo Money Mo Problems” by B.I.G. and the first verse I ever wrote was heavily inspired by Tupac’s “Greatest Hits” album. As a composer & producer, my influences have ranged from classical (Mozart, Khachaturian, & Vivaldi) to contemporary artists (Dr. Dre, Outkast, Timbaland, Stevie Wonder, Guns N Roses, Linkin Park, & Enigma).
Íva Kosta-I have a lot of different influences in music, people like: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Tupac, Dr. Dre, etc.
Roman- As a Vocalist/Performer I was influenced by Michael Jackson, Tupac, Andre 3000, Notorious B.I.G, Coolio, LL Cool J, Justin Timberlake & Usher. As a Producer & Composer I was highly influenced by Beethoven, Dr. Dre, Berry Gordy, Mike Clink, Enigma, Simon Posford.
How would you describe your sound for me?
DreamRyde combines tradition and innovation by using live instrumentation & vocals infused with elements of Hip Hop, Rock, R&B.
When people hear your music, who do you get the most comparisons to? Do you take it as a compliment?
A cross between Linkin Park, Black Eyed Peas & Heart. It's a great compliment because these bands were able to mix different genres successfully & become mainstream.
What has been the reception you have gotten since the release of your awesome song "Lost For Words"?
Many fans & critics alike felt that our fusion of different genres & all live vocals/instrumentation is something that has not been seen in Hip-Hop in a long time.
Of all the tracks you have released, to each of you which is your favorite so far and why?
Íva Kosta- My favorite track is the forthcoming single: " Way Out (Dreams) ", because of the strong message it has.
Roman- This is a tough question, but I would have to say our upcoming single: " Way Out (Dreams) " because this song describes exactly what we are experiencing in this journey together.
LoGoz- Our upcoming single: “Way out (Dreams)”. It is the most emotionally charged song we’ve recorded thus far.
A lot of your videos on YouTube have been covers of songs you have done from Erykah Badu to LL Cool J. Do you have a favorite live performance?
Roman- My favorite live performance is " True Loving (Fly Away)" because this song has a deep meaning for me and I can believe anyone can relate to it who has experienced a serious relationship.
LoGoz- My favorite live performance is our latest single “Lost For Words”. I feel that we bring a strong level of integrity to the song because there is a very real and personal message behind it.
Íva Kosta- My favorite performance would be a cover of "You've Got Me" by The Roots and Erykah Badu. I really like that song, and that performance was also the first time I rapped, so it was a lot of fun.
All of your live tracks have live vocals, where so many artists today perform to a backing track or even worse, lip synch. Do you find that what you guys do is lost on a lot of today's big artists?
Yes. We are aware of the situation in the music industry nowadays. We are trying our best to keep our vision alive for music that's artistic with commercial appeal. We believe using live instruments and vocals makes our sound of timeless quality. With the advancement of technology today, electronic music has become more appealing and efficient for music production. Therefore, we find that what we do is becoming more rare in today's market.
What are your plans for 2013 and beyond?
In 2013 we plan to release our highly anticipated video & single “Way Out (Dreams)”. We also plan to spread our fanbase from New England to New York. Beyond 2013, we are seeking to branch out our music to the West Coast & Europe after releasing our album.
For each of you- if there is one facet you want your fans and people out there who don't know you yet that defines you as an artist and group, what is it and why?
(LoGoz- Music is a universal language and each song has a unique message. This drives me to write music that creates positive energy and touches people's soul . In addition, I strongly believe in the power of working with others for the greater good. This is what defines me as an artist.
Íva Kosta- As a singer who has listened a lot of old school music, I really care a lot about the quality, and I hope that one day we would bring back the real values in music.
Roman- As a vocalist/performer I always strive to be the spark plug & give the audience an unforgettable electrifying experience. As a producer I strive to create a timeless sound that has commercial appeal with an original touch. As a Group we each combine our strengths to support each other and create a product that is seldom seen in today's music industry.
Support these guys and continue to watch their meteoric rise in the industry! Check out their links below.
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