Like many music enthusiasts, I've been to a lot of concert. But I had never seen fans love an artist the way Janine's fans love her. Some were crying, others dancing, everyone singing every lyric. One person next to me kept saying how much Janine's music had changed their life and saved their marriage. There were even VIP meet-and-greet packages — at a 250-cap venue — just so people could tell her thank you in person. It says everything about her audience: they don't just listen, they truly love and believe in her.
The night opened with Brandon, a solo performer sitting on a stool with just his electric guitar. Dressed sleekly, he carried himself with quiet confidence. His sound lived between R&B, soul, and indie rock, and his smooth voice, reminiscent of Frank Ocean, filled the room with gentle melancholy.
Each song revolved around love — mostly lost, sometimes hopeful — supported by elegant guitar lines that complemented his tone. Between songs, the crowd cheered him on. He laughed at himself after starting to play "September" by accident: "I'm giving away all my secrets. Let's play 'September,'" he said, smiling. He admitted he was trying not to laugh because his three best friends were right at the front. The audience adored him for it.
Then came Janine, from Auckland, New Zealand, known for her deeply honest R&B and her close connection with fans. Her stage setup — roses spiraling up the mic stand, guitarist Josh and drummer Dillon backing her — mirrored the warmth of her new album Pain and Paradise. She opened with a reflective spoken intro layered with piano and guitar, ending softly with the phrase, "and that is… pain and paradise." The crowd screamed every word that followed.
Throughout the set, Janine balanced humor and vulnerability. She laughed about steaming her pants before the show only to realize they’d stretched — "Now I have to walk like this so I don't trip," she joked. Later, she encouraged the audience to join her in a "little two-step, then a little four-step," and everyone followed.
But she also opened up about heavier things: getting out of a relationship where she no longer recognized herself, and writing songs about loving someone who didn’t truly love her back. For one track — a viral TikTok song — she stood alone onstage with just an acoustic guitar, her voice raw but steady.
In the front row was Ralphie, 35, a longtime fan who's been following Janine since 2017 but was seeing her live for the first time. His favorite song is "Broke Me Down." He described her music as "smooth, like date-night kind of R&B," and said her lyrics feel "personal" — like she's lived the same emotions her listeners have.
He told me that Janine has reached out and replied to his DMs on Instagram a few times over the years. That small act of recognition, he said, is what makes her community feel real. Her shows are safe spaces for loving each other, and looking around the room, it was impossible to disagree.
Midway through, the crowd roared as Dillon launched into a drum solo that turned into a full-blown groove session, with Josh weaving in warm chords. Janine used the moment to breathe — then shared stories between songs.
Before "Thank You for Breaking My Heart," she talked about wishing for someone who turned out not to be what she wanted, and gave a shoutout to her London-based producer Gigi, who had flown in for the show. Later, she introduced "Loving Me" by sharing the story of a fan whose experience inspired the song, saying she wanted everyone to repeat its words until they believed them.
When the main set ended, Janine didn't leave the stage for a typical encore. Instead, she stayed, smiling at the crowd. "I get scared of encores," she admitted. "What if people leave thinking I'm rude for not saying goodbye?" The audience laughed, shouting for more.
By the end of the night, it was clear that Janine doesn't just have fans — she has a community. They know her stories, her humor, her heartbreaks. They know that behind the glamour and the roses is someone who writes to survive, and who reaches back when they write to her.
It seems to me like Pain and Paradise isn't just her album title. It's the blueprint for her live show: a space where both can exist, and where everyone leaves a little lighter for having sung through both.
Thank you for the music!
— Lio
For the betterment and detriment of the music industry, Spotify has been a powerful source for musicians. One of the biggest upsides is the exposure and reach that Spotify has and allows artists to find a new audience. Thanks to this media mogul, I have discovered some of my favorite bands in recent memory. One artist that Spotify kept sending my way was Charlotte Sands. She has been steadily growing as a featured singer on many more established artists songs. But she finally put out her debut album can we start over? and has embarked on her first world tour to promote it. Making a stop at the Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA, she brought with her Senses and Cloe Wilder to light the place up. It was a tour de force of female power, and the line was around the block with fans of all ages and genders ready to rock out.
Opening the night was solo artist Cloe Wilder. A young up and comer with a powerful voice that will knock you back. Opening with her song “Homesick”, Cloe was dressed like she was going to Prom, but carried songs with her that sang about heartbreak and love loss. She was accompanied by an acoustic guitarist Eric Scullin that helped drive the melancholy melodies that her songs carry. Cloe herself is a multi-instrumentalist, not just captivating the audience with her voice, but accompanying herself on piano for the song “Five Years” and adding an extra layer of guitar when she performed “So 17.” With other songs like “Super 8,” “House by the Water,” “Fake ID,” “Cliff Diving,” and closing with “Cigarette.” Though Cloe’s songs were more on the softer side of the night, she created a vibe and an energy that connected with each and every one of us in the crowd.
Up next was the duo known as Senses, made up of vocalist Madison Taylor and drummer Nick Sampson. This power duo was ready to get everyone exploding with energy and bouncing in the crowd. Opening with their song “Gonna Make Sure,” Madison was all over the stage giving the people an in your face performance. Though Nick was stuck behind his kit, he never lost sight of the fact that they were performing a live show. Playing with what felt like a never ending abundance of energy, he played with huge eye catching movements while maneuvering around the kit. The band was joined by Jordan Keigher on guitar who helped round out the sound of Senses. Though Madison could have wowed the audience with her stage presence alone, she also picked up an acoustic guitar to help on melody during the show as well. Senses played a high energy set that got us hyped with energy with songs like “See You Go,” “No Fun,” “Novocain,” “The Comedown,” “Burnin Up,” “Playing Dead,” “Sleepwalking,” and ending with “Better Than This.” This pop-rock dynamic duo continues to shine as a solid support act to any show. But I already can see that they will be headlining their own tours in no time.
The stage was stripped except for a drum set in the back right corner, and a few lights set up at the back of the stage. As we were blinded by the back lighting, Charlotte Sands walked out on stage, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Opening with “can we start over?” as a soft open into what was sure to be an energy filled performance. Kicking straight into “pity” Charlotte and the crowd erupted with energy. Charlotte is an inherent performer who was feeding off the energy of the crowd. Whatever she gave us, we returned back ten-fold which just elevated her showmanship even more. Not only is Charlotte a charismatic performer, but her charm also extends to her ability to just talk and connect with the crowd in between songs. She comes off so genuine and sweet that you can’t help but fall in love with her. Backed by Dillon Jordan on guitar and Holden W. Clontz on drums, these two helped bring the power and elevate Charlotte’s already magnificent performance.
Charlotte carved out a unique moment where the audience was able to pick two songs to be played from her Burn Book. Two random fans were handed the book to pick songs and they picked “Six Feet Under” and “Nothing’s Even Wrong.” For these two songs, Charlotte played without her backing band, and performed acoustically to really have a special moment with her fans. Outside of this moment that was left up to the fans, Charlotte crafted a perfect setlist consisting of many songs from her debut album, and singles she’s released over the years like “Bad Day,” “dead body,” “on the outside,” “Every Guy Ever,” “Rollercoaster,” “get over it,” “Lost,” “blindspot,” “use me,” “teeth,” “Alright,” “spite,” and ending with “Dress – Heavy Version.” Which started a mosh pit in the crowd. The energy was so uncontrolled that Charlotte leaped from the stage to finish the song dancing with her fans.
All three artists absolutely brought their best to Los Angeles. If there’s one thing that should have been different, this show should be selling out bigger venues. The amount of talent Cloe Wilder, Senses, and Charlotte Sands have has yet to truly be seen by the masses. But I guarantee it will. These three artists are in for a wild and successful career. And I am so happy to say that I got to see all three of them on the same tour, in a 750 cap venue before they really blew up.
The 25th of September at The Fonda was a magical and community-driven experience. Looking at the crowd, you could tell how much the fans love and appreciate David Kushner and Chance Pena. Everyone waited in anticipation for the first artist of the night to grace the stage.
The first artist being Chance Pena, and his music and presence instantly created a warm nostalgic atmosphere. His music gives off the feeling of doing your best in life and what it’s like to take every experience day by day but also the warm feeling of coming home after being away for so long as a stronger person than who you were before. His music is relatable and has given me strength and hope, and I’m sure it’s done the same for many of his fans as well. I feel his music is unique as well and I love the gentle melodies and poetic lyrics.
Each song he sang was special in its own way and had its own unique story. I’m sure this is just the beginning and Chance’s music will change the lives of many more people in the future. "Star Hopping Lover" and "I Am Not Who I Was" are two of my favorite songs by him, the lyrics have really stuck with me. If you haven’t listened to him yet, I promise no matter who you are, you’ll find at least one song that you’ll feel a connection with. His music also fills me with a desire to travel and see more of the world and the people who inhabit it, to open my mind and heart to more opportunities.
When he got off the stage, I wasn’t ready for it to be over. Although you could already tell the next and final act was destined to be a thrilling experience and memory as well. The crowd grew more excited with each passing moment, some of them were even proudly holding up signs showing their support for David Kushner. I remember there being this wholesome moment where several people were waving and holding up hearts in the audience and you could feel all the love and warm energy that was filling up the space. David Kushner made a grand entrance in a ray of flashing lights. I later found out he wasn’t feeling well while performing but he still kept his composure and gave it his all. Which I feel speaks volumes for just how talented and dedicated he is to his music and fans. His music is enchanting and has a deep but beautiful sadness to it that will echo in your head. "Mr. Forgettable" is one of my favorite songs by him. I feel like it’s a song that a lot of people can relate to, especially if you’ve experienced depression. During some of the songs he came out into the audience and from the fans reactions to it, you could tell just how important those moments were.
I also really liked the moments when I saw him smiling while playing with his guitar player and just really any moment I caught a smile. David always looked cool on stage but whenever he smiled it just made everything feel more warm and magical. During the finale for the night, the stage was covered in a sea of red smoke and a poet came up on stage to read a poem that is connected to David Kushner’s song "Daylight". It was a very powerful poem that impressed both me and my friend that I came with. Hearing "Daylight" live, I could understand how it blew up so quickly, and seeing it live just is a whole different experience compared to just finding it on a TikTok video. The song was more powerful.
Besides the artists, I met a lot of amazing people at this show, one of them was a young photographer who was only 15 but filled with determination to make it as a concert photographer and in my eyes just from her courage to reach out to seize opportunities and her passion for music, she will be a photographer that everyone should be keeping their eyes on. I also got a chance to interact with Chance Pena and some of his team by the merch table. They were all lovely people who were great to interact with. I was really impressed and touched by the fact that even though Chance was probably really tired, he took time to talk to all of his fans who approached him, took pictures with them and even signed some shirts. One of the notable interactions, that I thought was really awesome was hearing that Chance does his best to try to look at everything his fans tag him in on social media. He highly values everyone who supports him and I’m sure David Kushner does as well. I can’t wait to get another chance to catch both of these artists again and to see more of the impact they have on the world.
The first time I heard Tycho was in my buddy’s college dorm room back in 2010. As you can imagine, those early college years are formative in one’s development and growth. Part of that whole college experience was pushing myself to expand my palate of tastes, interests, and passions. One weekend, my friends and I decided we were going to embark on a musical journey to seek new perspectives and push horizons. The most memorable moment of that day was when Tycho’s “Dictaphone’s Lament” came on. Coming from a musical palette primarily consisting of house music and rap music, I had limited exposure to modern music that could take you on a captivating, ethereal, ambient journey. That song and moment stuck with me, and I’ve been a fan ever since, exploring the rest of his catalog only to be wowed by each new project the same way I was the first time. Fast forward to 2023, Tycho was playing Los Angeles’s brand-new mid-sized venue, The Bellwether. As a matter of fact, it was the third show the venue hosted. I knew this one was not to be missed. Let’s hop into it.
Up first to kick off the night was Vancouver’s own Vandelux. The genre-bending artist took the stage to an eagerly awaiting and receptive crowd. Vandelux immediately captivated the crowd and set them in a trance as each song reverberated through the venue. Like what was expected of Tycho, Vandelux’s live show was structured with a baseline of electronic production with layers of live instrumentation on top. Each instrument added depth and richness to the final product. Despite knowing Tycho was up next, I heard a few expressions of “that’s it?” and “aww” when Vandelux wrapped up his set.
After a brief intermission, Tycho took to the stage. Fronted by Scott Hansen, the ambient electronic producer took his place behind two synthesizers and his laptop. Behind him, his supporting band assumed positions and they readied themselves to carry the crowd through an immersive sonic journey. Through the music, Tycho reverberated the crowd with a dreamlike hypnotic ambiance. The crowd swayed back and forth to the rhythms and got lost in the melodies. The music was truly mesmerizing. Each track started off like the slow build of the beginning of a roller coaster, but by the time each song was in full swing, the drums were pounding, and the grooving bass lines kept the crowd moving. The live sound engineering was topnotch. The integration of live instrumentation on top of studio versions of each song pushed the bounds of what we’ve come to expect of traditional live performances.
Tycho’s live show was a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience. By fusing ambient electronic music and live instrumentation, the band harnessed the emotive power of music and delivered a multi sensorial affair. Whenever Tycho drops by a venue by you, you know it’s one not to be missed.
LA’s crossover legends Fishbone are back, releasing a brand new single, their first since 2007’s “Party With Sadaam”. The new track - “All We Have Is Now” - is accompanied by a brand new music video with superb direction by Chris Graue and crew.
Fishbone’s amalgamation of styles has long been their trademark, bringing a sparkling vitality to easygoing songs while combining disparate sounds. With their new single and video, the band preach mindfulness - keeping our eyes on the present and appreciating what life has to offer. To convey this, the video has the band playing from enclosed places, surrounded typically by TVs, touching on the ability of television and other media to take us out of the moment and keep us fixated on things outside our control. It’s a memorable, jaunty tune that is sure to worm its way into your head after just a single listen!
The single was recorded and produced by Fat Mike - of NOFX fame - and will be included on their upcoming compilation Bottle Music for Broken People.
For more information on the collaboration between NOFX and Fishbone and their upcoming plans, check out this excerpt from the press release by Fishbone’s Norwood Fisher:
“Fishbone and NOFX go waaaay back. We’re in the mutual admiration club, great appreciation for our individual approaches to the music that we’re known for. I don’t remember exactly when Fatty 1st expressed interest in producing Fishbone but it seems like it was a long time ago. A random encounter in a parking lot in more recent history, led to the current song. Mike’s batshit crazy but highly functional, with incredible integrity and follow through. Just right for Fishbone’s batshit crazy, dysfunctional world. Yet we are functional enough to make it this far, asses! It was a long time coming and we hope you love it like we do. Enjoy if you will.”
Fishbone have announced world-wide tour dates with shows kicking off at this year’s SXSW festival and continuing through June, with more to be confirmed. The band will be playing their own headline shows (including in New York City,) headlining festivals and doing a run of dates supporting Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade.
- Joey Dunst
When you think of a typical EDM show, I bet you immediately think of a dark room, thunderous bass, smoke and lights, and a godly silhouette of a DJ perched on an elevated platform. Behind the boards, it’s expected that this DJ will mix tracks, turn knobs, mess with the levels, and clap their hands in the air as you lose yourself to the music. While that is the typical formula that has worked for hundreds of DJ’s, Steve Aoki’s live performances have kicked that up a notch. One of the reasons why Steve Aoki has gone onto become one of the biggest names in international dance music is he understood what it meant to put on a show and not just play a set. In addition to delivering great music all night long, Aoki has been known for over-the-top production, guest appearances, and on-stage antics like crowd surfing in inflatable rafts and (in)famously throwing full-sized sheet cakes into faces in audience. Steve Aoki’s HiroQuest Genesis Tour made a stop at the Shrine Auditorium on 3/10/2023 and I knew I had stop by to witness the mayhem. Let’s hop into it.
First up was Juuku. The bass-house DJ opened with a captivating set that swung from pulsating dark dubstep to slow emotional tunes. He absolutely killed it and proved why he is one of Dim Mak’s rising stars. Up next was Regard. I was not familiar with Regard’s music until this show, but I am now a certified fan. In 2019, Regard blew up when his song “Ride It” went viral on TikTok. Unlike other musicians who have blown up and fizzled away as one-hit-wonders, Regard stuck around because “Ride It” simply unlocked the rest of his catalog to the masses. From beginning to end, Regard pumped out high energy tracks that kept the crowd moving all set long. Second to last was Morten. The Danish DJ served the crowd with a heavy dose of “future rave” bangers, a term coined by both Morten and his close friend David Guetta. Bridging the genres of techno and house, Morten was the perfect layup for the final act of the night, Steve Aoki.
After a short intermission, the crowd erupted as Aoki appeared behind the boards. Diving right into his set, the music was accompanied by full blown animated visuals, smoke, confetti bombs, streamers, lights, and pyrotechnics. The Dim Mak founder simultaneously hit the crowd with a flurry of surprise guests. The crowd was treated to appearances by Dixie Damelio, Hayley Kiyoko, Kiiara, Moxie Raia, No Love For The Middle Child, Bok Nero, Grandson, and Snow Tha Product. Each of them were warmly greeted by the fans as they performed the vocals to their respective Aoki-produced songs. Near the end of the night, Aoki’s entourage came out with the sheet cakes. Bullseye after bullseye, Aoki nailed several fans in the face with a Dim Mak branded cake. The crowd (literally) ate it up as Aoki winded down his set with a few more jams and finally called it a night.
All in all, Steve Aoki absolutely surpassed all expectations in a carefully curated show. He dropped all his viral hits, brought out a star-studded lineup of beloved guests, took full advantage of grand level production, and interacted with the fans on a level that most DJs cannot. Go see this act next time he’s playing near you. You will not regret it. After seeing him kill it at the Shrine Auditorium, it became really clear to me: Steve Aoki is not just a DJ. He’s the life of the party.
The indie group from Utah, The Backseat Lovers, performed at The Wiltern on Thursday night for a completely sold out show. This was my second time seeing The Backseat Lovers live and they were just as stellar, if not better the second time around. The group has such a unique sound that I can only equate to it to The Beatles. This show was for touring their third album release, Waiting To Spill, to which the band played in its entirety. I have no other words for this performance besides - fucking incredible.
The Wiltern was warmed up by the duo called Toledo which definitely fits the same aesthetic as The Backseat Lovers. Toledo performed on the infamous Wiltern stage alongside their mystery music box they affectionately nicknamed, Doug. The group alongside Doug had a very somber and acoustic sound to their tunes. The group gave a stellar performance that warmed the crowd for a group that needed no introduction.
The Backseat Lovers have been one of my most cherished bands for years now. My addiction began with the song off of the EP Elevator Days, “Just a Friend”. Their sound has changed throughout the years since beginning back in 2018, yet they still find a way to stick to their roots and gather that blend of alt, folk, and indie. Today most might recognize their hit song “Kilby Girl” which exploded after Tik Tok fame. For those of us that have been around since the start, it has been long awaited that this group gets the attention they deserve. Lead singer Josh Harmon has a truly special sound he brings into every one of the group's anthems. Josh’s gravelly and raspy, yet beautifully melancholic voice is what truly sets The Backseat Lovers apart.
The group performed their entire new album from start to end, which was a sensational performance to watch live. To be completely candid, it made me fall in love with some of the songs I felt lacked on my original listen of the album. Yet live, every song stuck a special cord in my heart. After concluding the album, the band played some of their hits, including “Kilby Girl”, “Pool House”, “Maple Syrup” and “Still a Friend”, some of my favorite songs of not only the band, but of ALL TIME. The Wiltern was roaring. The fans of this group seem to share the same passion that the artists do, as each of the hits were screamed by almost every fan in the packed theater. When it came time for a conclusion, the band left the stage, only to rejoin it when fans demanded in a chant “Sinking Ship”. A nice play on the typical “one more song” or “encore”, this chant refers to one of the band’s early songs of the same name. It is a Backseat Lovers tradition to end with “Sinking Ship”. Yet when the band returned, they only stated “By the way, we didn’t plan on doing this”, and proceeded to perform their very first song and single - “Out of Tune”. At no other performance on the tour has the group performed this song, it was a very welcome surprise. It is an incredibly beautiful song and is a reminder of the group’s humble beginnings. The group still stuck to tradition ending with the classic “Sinking Ship”, giving their audience not one, but two encore songs.
If you ever have the opportunity to see The Backseat Lovers live, do anything you can to take that opportunity. I love their music, but something about hearing it live brings another level of passion to it. They are an astonishingly talented group that continues to amaze me. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to be allowed to shoot this group, they are one of my go-to’s when giving song recommendations. If you haven't already, go fall in love with The Backseat Lovers.
4 out of 5 toothpaste users recommend Hunnypot Live for a balanced breakfast.
Hunnypot Live #448 tipped the scales.
Nicole Sanzio returned to update everyone on INDIGI Music happenings and her own new solo piano record!
The roar in the wild, Rora Wilde, belted out ballads and bangers. Fairhazel, thrilled with subdued, meaningful pop music.
Hot Tub Johnnie kept the hits flowing all night and in to the after party.
As the Owner of InDigi Music and Executive Producer, Nicole Sanzio has helped their Artists, Writers and Composers get music placed music in Film, TV & Video.
Her accomplishments as an independent contractor has made her a sought-after expert within the fast-changing industries of licensing/publishing. Her music placements read like a “what’s hot” list in Film & TV programming, among them: MGM’s RESPECT (Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson), Universal Pictures “Despicable Me 2” and “Fast & Furious” (4, 5 and 6), STX Films “Hustlers”, Better Things (FX), All American (CW), Ginny & Georgia (Netflix), Last Chance U (Netflix), Showtime’s “Ray Donovan” and “Shameless”, Empire (Fox), NBC Olympic Games, NBC “Today Show” and “Meet The Press”, NCIS (CBS), The Hype (HBO Max), In The Dark (CW), Batwoman (CW), etc. Her company has also secured a hefty list of other music placements on AMC, CBS, NBC, TLC, PBS, USA Network, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, MTV, Animal Planet, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.
Rora Wilde is a pop r&b singer/songwriter Los Angeles, CA. Originally from The Rio Grande Valley, she began singing at the young age of 6 and fell in love with music. She studied cello in school, and taught herself piano and guitar.
At 13, she discovered songwriting and has been performing live ever since. The singer played any stage she could get her hands on; coffee shops, bars, clubs, theaters, etc.
At 18, Rora moved to Austin and continued to play live shows and further developed her sound. The singer explored different genres like alternative rock, synth pop, indie folk and even country-chasing a sound that truly represents her as an artist.
Today, Wilde's powerhouse vocals soar over her new Pop/R&B sounds with moody & introspective lyrics.
Fairhazel is the moniker of 23 year old British/South African singer songwriter Hugh Macdonald. Born in Brighton but raised in London, Cape Town and Paris, Hugh left Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2018 returning to London to work with Communion Music under the name Fairhazel, releasing his first single 7x7 in February to great critical acclaim. Roisin O’Connor of The Independent described it as having "tender, whispering vocals that recall the likes of Villagers, Ben Howard and Sufjan Stevens”. ?
Inspired by artists France Gall, Harry Nilsson and Andy Shauf among others, Fairhazel has established himself as a musical storyteller blurring the lines between fiction and true stories. ?
At his Los Angeles studio, he works on creating all aspects of his music himself from songwriting, arrangement, production, playing and engineering. Although Fairhazel is a solo venture, a band often accompanies him (Louis Giannamore, Alexander Naim Noorani, Karim Saber, Elliot Deubel, Matt Zajac, @yourfriendjuniper, Nate Daviau) at shows and he has opened for Agnes Obel, Banfi and Astræa. Recently he played Whispering Bob Harris's Under the Apple Tree, and featured twice on the lineup of the Counting Crows Underwater Sunshine Festival. His debut album, I'm a Friend of Fairhazel came out in January 2020, and his follow-up, I Sold My Soul For Fairhazel is out now.
Emoni Mathews returned as our guest host. She told her story of competing against hundreds of other players in music industry children's games to win big CEO prizes.
Litvar played tug of war with our hearts with emotional "indie" rock/pop numbers.
Zeus Rebel Waters brought his own team (Kent Grant, Lil Bimmy, Kendo & Keefo (feat Uno Escobar), Yerrty G, Moter Mouth, Zay$tacks, Scumlife Shotty, The Indigo Kid, SlymBoi Rakks, Montega Rebel) to compete in a Squid Game battle royale that resulted in all winners.
Bringing with her a distinguished reputation in the music industry, Emoni serves as the Co- Founder and President of Music Supervision and Creative Licensing for Blaze Unlimited, A creative Music Agency.
Zeus is an American Hip hop artist/songwriter/performer with a unique musical identity. Zeus builds his fanbase, called “The Rebels”, 1 fan at a time. Zeus got in to music early by singing and dancing in youth talent shows. In middle school Zeus formed the rap group P.O.G (Pimped Out Gangsters). The group tasted success by winning talent shows and touring on their hit single “Wobble”. Formerly and casually known as Rukapuff, his first solo single, “Angry”, immediately went in to full rotation on Q95.5(Radio one) in St Louis.
Zeus signed with Mack 10's Hoo Bangin Records. Mack 10 promoted a Rukapuff track, “Like this” featuring Nate Dogg. The song was used in TV commercials, NFL football games movies like Waist Deep, and various TV shows including The Sopranos.
In addition to recording and touring under his O.G. name, Zeus has his own indie record label, Born Ready Records, a clothing line called the Rebel Waters Collection, a film company called Trinity Films, and helps run a non for profit organization for young inner city youth called Rock the Community. Zeus Rebel Waters has arrived.
Did it hurt when Hunnypot Live #446 made you feel something?
Allison Shaw returned to update us on her music industry journey.
JAiRUS performed vintage-modern R&B Jams
MI$HNRZ (missionaries) spread the good word of mixed media music
Hot Tub Johnnie kept the party going from start to finish with music for the maskless.
Allison Shaw is the founder/CEO of Manic Monkee, a firm that does artist mgmt, strategic business development, brand partnerships for artists/music/brands and produces and talent buys for festivals/events/livestreams. Allison started her career in music writing for MTV/VH1 and founded national music magazine Hyperactive,. She also started the Hyperactive Conference and Music Festival and was the executive director for Santa Fe Muzik festival and was a commissioner on the New Mexico Music Commission. Allison currently is the SVP of Festival Operations, talent & strategy for Pure Imagination Music Festival in Arizona, talent buyer for livestream platform Ursa Live and Creative Director of A&R for syncing/licensing platform MDIIO. Allison is also on the Board Of Directors for Nonprofits Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and Charity Bomb.
Allison worked for Rachael Ray's entertainment company where she formed the music division and was co-creator and producer/talent buyer for the Rachael Ray Feedback SXSW. She also ran the label Listen Records/Sony. Shaw is also co-creator/talent buyer for the Annual Whole Foods SXSW showcase which produced the first ever Amazon SXSW appearance. Allison formerly was the Director of Brand Strategy for Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees Public Enemy. Shaw was also the talent buyer for Moogfest in North Carolina. Allison has worked with many companies across the music/tech/brand space including Fitbit, Stageit, Moogfest, Ticketfly, .music, MDIIO, Muzooka, Kickstarter, Ford, Comedy Central, Gopro, New Amsterdam, and more
JAiRUS, born in Prince George's County, Maryland now based in Los Angeles is a 21-year-old singer/songwriter. He grew up singing in the church where he discovered his passion for singing. After realizing, at a young age, his dream of becoming a musician he went to study voice at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC, where he was classical trained and worked with stars like Ledisi, Patrice Rushen, Bobby McFerran and Kenny Latimore. After graduation, he set off to LA where he recently received a degree in jazz studies from The University of Southern California.
His music can be described as the “new classics”. A nostalgic feel good sound that propels the past to the present. He aspires to create a timeless sound inspired by classic R&B/Soul, jazz, funk, and pop. With a rich creamy tone, he sets a mood and serenades audiences with songs that groove. And encourages everyone to Stay Groovy.“
Mi$HNRZ (pronounced Missionaries) is an independent Latin band Los Angeles based band formed by multi-instrumentalists Ismael "ISH" Cano and Matt "REEZY" Rey. The duo alternate lead musical vocals, rap and sing in both English and Spanish, and produce a captivating mix of dreamy latin electro pop, suave retrowave beats and subtle reggaeton flavors.
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