2024 lIMB SNAPPING LINEUP
Kahiem Rivera
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Kahiem Rivera manages to weave a bluesy, world-weary perspective into rap songs about love, sex, race and disappointment. In a constant effort to unpack dealings with mental health and past trauma, he points to a lyric from his song “Woo!” as the mission statement: “I make ‘em dance and depressed at the same time.” Mission accomplished. Kahiem treats songs as time stamps, with stream of consciousness storytelling that manages to capture his current state of being without sounding like a journal entry. Peppering in clever wordplay over a quilt-like stitch of sonic influences, the music is both highly collaborative and disarmingly intimate. In these tracks, Kahiem gets indie rock vocalists to play footsie with boom bap producers and jazz saxophonists, enforcing his philosophy that community is key and collaboration is everything. His ever expanding live band consists of players from various local NYC projects who share that same vision.
Razor Braids
Through soaring harmonies and driving guitars, the queer femme trio has honed a magnetic sound that combines the vulnerable self-awareness of indie rock with dynamic instrumentation anchored in a 90s alternative ethos, drawing comparisons to Cranberries, Hole and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. On their new album ‘Big Wave’’, Razor Braids expand on their singular balance of tightly layered vocals, heavy riffs and reflective lyrics with more boldness and sense of purpose than ever before.
dashMoon
Kevin Yong-Moon Lee, known as dashMOON or -MOON, is a DJ, designer, and creator based in Seoul and New York City. Born in the States and raised in South Korea, he brings a unique perspective from his multicultural upbringing. By blending Eastern and Western influences, he creates DJ mixes that highlight our connection to nature and the interconnectedness of the world.
From an early age, Yong-Moon was inspired by diverse musical landscapes, sparking his passion for blending cultural sounds. His style, influenced by traditional Eastern music and contemporary Western beats, aims to create surprising moments for his audience. He believes in honoring the legacy of those who came before us through his music, enabling listeners to let go of their worries, be present, and heal through dance and movement.
In recent years, he has been exploring bass music and intricate grooves with percussive elements from around the world, including Global Bass, Dance Hall, Afrobeat, Drum and Bass, and Baile Funk. dashMOON has performed at major venues and festivals worldwide, including Afropunk, Redbull Music, and SXSW. He has opened for Masego and Soulection. He has also DJed and produced for KAMAUU under Atlantic Records, touring with him for many years, and has toured with LionBabe, Christine and the Queens, and BJ the Chicago Kid. He has performed for notable brands such as Tidal, JBL, Color Studios, and Kitsuné.
Looking ahead, Yong-Moon is focused on running a design agency based in NYC for nonprofits and mission-based organizations, while also making more room for his musical projects. He aims to continue exploring the boundaries of music and design, creating projects that connect people and cultures in meaningful ways.
Greg Freeman
Greg Freeman deals in biblical deluges, apocalyptic fever dreams, Floridian miscreants, and green mountain malaise. On his excellent debut LP “I Looked Out”, Gregs’s voice takes center stage, creaking, crooning, and cutting through clouds of static. The songs are linked together by a palpable urgency, whether it is the punch-in-the-face, careening momentum of “Tower,” the guitar squall of “Souvenir Heart,” or the singalong finale of “Palms.” Greg’s strong narrative songwriting is equally effective chronicling the demise of a 1920s ocean liner as it is documenting his own interpersonal uncertainties. Based in Burlington, Vermont, the songwriter has played in numerous bands in the city's burgeoning DIY scene. While the marriage of Freeman’s fierce guitar playing and vocals catalyze his live performance, horns, pedal steel, and strings take his songs to an unfamiliar and blustering landscape, and places you right in the middle of some dusty brass-laden crossroads.
Synead
A queer poly-disciplinary performance artist and expressionist, synead’s inspiration and motivation is deeply rooted in her quest for collective healing, self-awareness, and the freedom and advancement of queer, black and indigenous people of color. through her interdisciplinary studies of black radical feminist theories, experimental theater-making, movement-based healing practices, and sonic exploration, she strives towards dismantling fear-based thinking to help self-actualize one’s deepest creative desires.
Synead has collaborated and performed with various artists at renowned spaces such as lincoln center, dizzy’s jazz club, wp theater, ronnie scott’s, the shed, and joe’s pub just to list a few. she was named one of teen vogue’s “17 rising stars who personify black excellence during black history month” and was a keynote speaker at harvard’s alumni of color conference in connection to her work as an activist and organizer for millions march nyc and beyond. she was most recently awarded the New York City Trust Van Lier Fellowship as an apprentice in Urban Bush Women. In the last years, she has performed in “the hang” (Taylor Mac/HERE Arts), "Priestess of Twerk" (Nia O. Witherspoon/HERE Arts), "Second Skin: MONSTER" (Magnus Works/Judson Memorial Church), and so much more.
synead’s artistry is not bound by medium, but bound to the varied expressions of living a full and ever-present life. she is currently in the process of generating a new series of solo performance works, making new music with her alternative rock band, mother maven, and living with her two black cats- rocksie & rinzeaux. be sure to check her website out at [http://www.synead.com] to get acquainted with her work and don’t forget….stay syncd!
Saso
Saso is an Afro-Dominican music recording artist who specializes in blending genres and forward-thinking discourses. He incorporates notable Afro-diasporic rhythms to create his unique sound and brand, with a strong and growing fanbase. Saso captures the core and essence of African diaspora culture through his unique sounds, aiming to spark more inclusive and accepting cultural references that resonate emotionally with people.
Aqua Ruis
Aqua Ruis is a Brooklyn-based DJ that loves to curate memorable dance floor experiences. Her musical taste spans diasporas and genres and is heavily influenced by her Central American roots and time living abroad in Europe and Africa. You can expect her sets to be filled with mashups and ass shaking beats like Baile Funk, Dembow, and Afropop. She has graced the decks of New York staples such as: The Lot Radio, Nowadays, SILO, Mood Ring, and Ode To Babel. She currently holds a weekly residency at Moxy Hotels for the globally acclaimed Tao Nightlife Group.
Jams Bond
Born David Cruz, Jams Bond is a DJ whose effervescent performances and diverse musical palette captivate audiences from the Hudson Valley to NYC and beyond. With residencies at venues like Bembe and Nublu, and a knack for seamlessly blending genres from house and techno to hip hop to afro-latin rhythms, he ensures every party is an unforgettable experience.
From his roots in the Bronx to his role in shaping Kingston, NY's emerging dance scene with his electronic music and art party "Kingston Techno," Jams Bond's passion for music cultivated since childhood shines through in every set, promising a journey through sound that's both exhilarating and eclectic.
Hila the Earth
Hila the Earth is an eco-rapper, comedian and content creator. She performs as Planet Earth and writes songs and makes videos about ecological topics such as; trees, vegetables, compost, soil health, water, mushrooms, reducing plastic waste, and the list keeps growing. Her hope is that by making Earth science accessible, musical and super fun, more people will take action to protect their environments and help life thrive on Earth.