by NY Boogie
It may be closer to the end of the school year than the beginning, but apparently this was Freshman Week for the music industry in NYC. This was the week for new talent and the artists who are “up next” to shine. I’ve probably shared this already, but even though I work in this industry, I’m a super skeptic when it comes to new acts. I guess because I now fall into the Old Head demo I’m quick to talk about the “golden era” of music – especially Hip Hop – and lament about how so much of what we have in the marketplace falls short. So with that mindset, it’s often with great reluctance that I turn an ear to the newest and latest, but my faith in the future of music is slowly being restored. In part by the amazing artists I’m working with now, and then by some of what I heard and saw this week. If this is any indication, good music is about to be on a comeback! (‘Bout to pass the collection plate on that one…ok, maybe not yet).
On Tuesday I got together with a crew of folks from work and we braved that nasty weather (I know I’ve been talking about weather a lot, but really, it’s been important to the narrative, I promise) to hit a few spots. We had less than an hour before we had to be at an EMI showcase, so we caught some grub at Stanton Social (which I love. It’s so perfect for either a quick in-and-out or for a lingering dinner with a large group because the small plates just keep coming and coming). As we’re leaving I see my industry hero, the divine Sylvia Rhone, waiting at the hostess table. Now, I love Sylvia Rhone. No, I looove her. When I finally decided I wanted a career in entertainment I actually had her picture on my bulletin board above my desk. But the problem is that when I see her I get a little too excited. I feel like I always straight up accost her. I’ve done it on airplanes early in the morning, at events, at dinners, at mixers. I just saw her in LA Grammy weekend and tried (but failed) to show some restraint. So even though she was within arm’s reach of me, and was on crutches, making me really concerned and causing me to want even more to talk to her and ask what happened, I turned away without her seeing me and left. I figured the poor lady is on crutches trying to get to her table, me saying hello was definitely not going to endear me to her. In fact she may call for security everytime I see her moving forward. But Ms. Rhone, just know I love you.
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Ok, sorry, where was I? Oh yes, EMI showcase. There were several events for EMI Publishing in the city on Monday and Tuesday, and we were dropping in on a showcase for a select group of songwriters that a well known imprint was having. The point was for them to introduce their new artists and reintroduce some others and give potential songwriters a feel for what they were looking for. I have an immense respect for songwriters – well, good songwriters. Music is such a powerful tool; when you have the perfect combination of the right words over the right beat/track/chords/whichever, it’s amazing. But then you can have a great song with wack lyrics and you’re like “Damn, what a waste of such a good song!” or you can have amazing lyrics over a lackluster track and you never bother to listen to the words because the music doesn’t grab you. So I was kind of thrilled to have this kind of behind-the-scenes at how the process can star
