Saul Williams new release Martyr Loser King is a multimedia project that engages the digital dialogue between the First and Third Worlds, and the global street sounds that yoke the two. “In Senegal, I was buying iPhones for $20, Beats for $10, because they get all the influx from China, with no regulation,” Williams explains. “So everyone’s online. Everyone’s high tech.” He sights Beyoncé, Fredo Santana, and Haitian field recordings as musical inspirations for his self-produced sixth album, straining trap hi-hats and mbira strokes together for a nuanced, entirely original sound. “I’m just letting you know what I’m reading and seeing while I’m writing. When I’m writing, the music leads.” After gaining global fame for his poetry and writings at the turn of the century, Williams has performed in over 30 countries and read in over 300 universities, with invitations that have spanned from the White House, the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, The Louvre, The Getty Center, Queen Elizabeth Hall, to countless villages, townships, community centers, and prisons across the world. The Newburgh, New York native gained a BA from Morehouse and an MFA from Tisch, and has gone on to record with Nine Inch Nails and Allen Ginsburg, as well as countless film and television appearances. The release of ‘MartyrLoserKing’ comes with a new world tour and to-be-announced collaborations with several artists, producers and writers.
Exploding on the national scene on season eight of The Voice, Kimberly Nichole garnered superlative praise from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Christina Aguilera, Lionel Richie, Mark Ronson and Reba McEntire with her show-stopping performances, stylish presence and vocal power. Fans clamored for the rock-and-soul music and led her to the iTunes’ Top 20 three weeks in a row and even landed her on the Billboard 100 Charts! Born and bred in Seattle, Washington, Kimberly Nichole moved to New York City where she launched her career. National and international performances soon followed, allowing her to share the stage with such artists as Slash, Living Colour, Alice Smith, Janelle Monae, Aloe Blacc, Bilal and English rock band The Heavy. Her mesmerizing performance style captured the attention and support of Quincy Jones, Ashford & Simpson and fashion savant Andre Leon Talley, who was so taken with her talent and fashion-forwardness that he invited her to the VOGUE offices and featured her in the magazine. Her proudest moment has been writing, releasing and self funding her debut album The Yellow Brick Journey. After hearing her music, director George C. Wolfe personally selected her to be the featured rock performer in his film You Are Not You, which stars Oscar-winner Hilary Swank. In 2012 she was the recipient of the ASCAP Foundation’s “Reach Out and Touch” Award, which is given to promising songwriters. Kimberly Nichole continues to perform with her band and is recording new music for her next album The Lonely Bones.