FEATURED ARTIST ROSTER
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Nikara Warren
BLACK WALL STREET
Vibraphonist, composer, arranger, and educator Nikara Warren is a true Brooklynite. Born and bred in the eclectic and electric enclave, her family, her friends, her band, and her musical pedigree are a microcosm of the county at large. Her grandfather is world-renowned jazz pianist Kenny Barron, and she’s the daughter of a half Trinidadian soca/dancehall lover father, and a classic 1990s “Brooklyn ‘Round the Way” girl mother.
Nikara is taking vibes to the people with her infectious compositional sense, her post-modern patchwork of influences and cultural signposts, and her fearless musicality. Her bold quest comes from being well-versed in the vibraphone lineage, but seeking to adventure beyond it. Her debut album, Black Wall Street, represents a convergence of Nikara’s personal, cultural, familial, and musical journeys. Here, she explores abstract sound-collage, hip-hop, jazz, neo-soul, Afro-Latino and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and more. The through line here being for Nikara it’s all dance music. Her vision is cohesive but eclectic—just like how people’s identities are a product of their various heritages and associations.
Brandon Kazen-Maddox
Brandon Kazen-Maddox is a Grandchild of Deaf Adults (GODA) and third-generation native signer of American Sign Language (ASL) who identifies as a Nonbinary, Black Indigenous Person of Color and a member of the LGBTQAI+ community.
From 2010 to 2017, Brandon worked as a professional circus acrobat in San Francisco, CA and honed their circus training and dance technique through various collaborations in theatre, film and opera. In May 2019, Brandon graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with an MFA in Dance and New Technology and currently works as a professional artist, choreographer, director, editor and nationally certified ASL interpreter both in New York City and remotely.
In the summer of 2020, Brandon became a co-founder of Up Until Now Collective, a newly-established non-profit organization focused on radical empathy and inclusion. Brandon collaborates with and provides opportunities for Deaf artists who share a passion for bringing artistic works of ASL Dance Theater to the stage, screen and beyond. Within their commitment to creating work for and with the Deaf community, Brandon also highlights and empowers BIPOC and LGBTQAI+ artists, building multicultural bridges of collaboration and community for artists of all backgrounds and abilities.
Brandon and Up Until Now Collective were recently commissioned by Broadstream, a new streaming platform that launched in September 2021, to create SOUL(SIGNS), a series of 10 ASL music videos featuring iconic songs by Black women, which was both featured in The New York Times, ABC World News, and in the Midnight Moment in Times Square throughout the month of July, 2021. Up Until Now was also commissioned by Boston Lyric Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Omaha and Opera Columbus to make a series of Opera ASL Music Videos called SOUL(SIGNS): OPERA and by Global Citizen to make a series of videos celebrating Pride 2022.
Throughout the summer of 2021, Brandon served as the lead liaison for providing ASL Services at The Shed, Little Island, Lincoln Center and the Park Avenue Armory, where they are bringing Deaf Directors of ASL into the inner workings of arts organizations themselves and integrating both the Deaf perspective and Deaf performers onstage, on camera and behind the scenes. Brandon will continue this work with their company, Body Language Productions, throughout the summer of 2022.
Brandon's work as an interpreter and social activist has been featured on CNN and they have appeared as a co-star in "The Good Fight" (CBS), “High Maintenance” (HBO) and “New Amsterdam” (NBC). Brandon was also a featured story-teller for the 100th episode of "Stories From The Stage" (PBS). They are also a recipient of the New England Foundation for the Arts Grant and an awardee of the 2022 cycle of the Creative Capital Award for the ASL Dance Theatre Reimagining of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. For more information, follow their Instagram accounts @bkazenmaddox !!
J. Hoard
NYC based artist, J. Hoard, gives the core of the Black church and allure of “The Great White Way” (Broadway) in each performance supported by original compositions and arrangements that shifts between genres. His credits include Chance the Rapper (J. Hoard is a songwriter and singer on the Grammy winning "No Problem"), Brasstracks, and hip-hop royalty Jean Grae & Quelle Chris. Additionally, he has worked closely with a host of jazz/experimental artists such as Javier Santiago, Jose James and Meshell Ndegeocello (vocalist on her Grammy nominated "Ventriloquism" album).
Kamilah
Bahamas-born, NYC-residing artist Kamilah defies genres just as she defies stagnant societal and cultural norms. Kamilah’s musicality is freewheeling, informed by her Caribbean roots and her eclectic musical upbringing.
Kamilah’s full artistic expanse includes being a vocalist, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, producer, director, and vocal producer. To date, she’s released the searching and soulful EP, Learning Curve, and the singles “On My Mind” and “So Long.”
Kamilah has won first place at the Apollo Theater’s notorious amateur night. She’s earned coverage in The Deli Magazine, The Tribune, and The Nassau Guardian-Pulse. As an in-demand backing vocalist, she has appeared on HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness, on the MTV Video Music Awards, on the film score for Last Black Man in San Francisco, on the soundtrack for DC Comic's latest installment, Birds of Prey, on Good Morning America, The View, and on Sirius XM Radio. Every Monday you can find her performing and creating music at the esteemed series “Producer Mondays” with modern soul star musicians Ray Angry and The Council of Goldfinger at the chic venue Nublu/ Studio 151.
Hailey Niswanger
MAE.SUN
MAE.SUN, alternately known as Hailey Niswanger, is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer. Fusing genres, MAE.SUN’s music is mindful and eclectic, with cosmic themes weaving throughout. Her music taps into the collective consciousness, serving as an engaging mediation for all. MAE.SUN’s debut album ‘Vol. 1: Inter-be’ was released in 2017, followed by ‘Vol. 2: Into The Flow’ in 2019, and Vol. 3 is projected to be released summer 2022. MAE.SUN has performed at notable venues in NYC, including Music Hall of Williamsburg, National Sawdust, and Bowery Electric. MAE.SUN has also performed at the BRIC Jazz Fest, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Winter Jazz Fest, and WBGO’s The Checkout.
JSWISS
Called a “gifted storyteller” by hip-hop legend Chuck D of Public Enemy, Dobbs Ferry, New York native JSWISS aims to inspire listeners to embrace their full, authentic selves, and is a global artist who just might be the most versatile emcee on the scene today. His collaboration “UNDEFEATED” with drummer/composer Nate Smith appears on Smith’s GRAMMY-winning and NAACP Image Award-nominated album LIVE-ACTION (Best Alternative Jazz Album/Outstanding Jazz Album), and JSWISS has also recorded and performed with the likes of Elvis Costello and Nicholas Payton.
JSWISS has performed internationally in Japan, the UK, France, Australia and more, graced the legendary stages of The Apollo Theater and Blue Note Jazz Club multiple times, and received the coveted hip-hop stamp of approval of having his music videos played on Video Music Box. His latest solo album You Never Really Know was lauded as the one of the 100 best albums of 2024 on radio station KEXP’s end of the year listener’s poll.
Since releasing his first mixtape in 2009, while a freshman journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill, JSWISS has received praise from notable music authorities such as The Source, NPR, Complex Magazine, Hip Hop DX, Ambrosia For Heads, BBC Radio 6, FIP Radio, Soultracks, and Weekly Rap Gods.
A writing and journalism background has been an asset toward crafting his keen approach, and thought-provoking content. A dope delivery and his lyrical prowess take centerstage on his own projects, but also make him a favorite collaborator of standout bands and musicians at the intersection of hip-hop, soul and jazz.
Accomplished talents like Maurice “Mobetta” Brown, Ben Williams, Marcus Strickland, Keyon Harrold, Nicholas Payton, Nate Smith, E.J. Strickland, Marcus Machado, Daru Jones, DJ Logic, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Mark Whitfield, Casey Benjamin and more, have astutely pegged JSWISS a lyricist who can effortlessly fall in where most MCs can’t. Two notable examples of this are his Bona Fide collaborative project with Grammy-winning trumpeter, producer, and composer Michael Leonhart, and Somebody’s Gotta Do It project with Grammy-winning saxophonist, producer and composer Sly5thAve.
“JSWISS’s pen game is one of the sharpest out. Pay Attention!” - Grammy - winning Drummer Daru Jones, (Jack White, Nas, Pete Rock, Black Milk, Jamie Lidell)
JSWISS is also a seasoned performer with a must-see, live show. He’s routinely backed by a live band of top-notch instrumentalists, and has graced the notable stages of the Apollo Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, Nublu, The Jazz Standard, Preservation Hall, international festivals, and more. Even the landmark New York Botanical Garden welcomed JSWISS as the first ever hip-hop artist to perform there in its storied history.
JSWISS has proven appeal to hip-hop purists and new hip-hop audiences alike, with emcee/producer Erick Sermon of the legendary duo EPMD saying he’s “what hip hop needs” immediately after catching him perform for the first time. Hip Hop specialists, 2DopeBoyz also proclaimed “JSWISS has incessantly proven time and time again that he has both the skill and diligence to carry the torch of his esteemed idols.”
His music can also be found prominently placed in Ubisoft extreme sports video game Riders Republic, the Red Bull TV-backed documentary "Raise Up: The World Is Our Gym”, the NBA TV-premiered "Hoops Africa” documentary, and more.