Amplifier

This has been a historic year for women in rap and hip-hop, all the way to the 2021 Grammy Awards when Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé broke records as the first pair of women to win in the best rap performance category. As NPR Music put it, “To know what tomorrow sounds like, one need only listen to the women in rap today.” And to know what the future of Charlotte hip-hop is, one need only turn to rhythmic lyricist ReeCee Raps.

Back in the 1930s, more country music was recorded in Charlotte than in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of the Charlotte recordings from that period have become part of the essential canon of traditional country music, from "the first family of country" — the Carter Family — to the first career steps of "the father of bluegrass" Bill Monroe. So how did Charlotte become the center for country music? And why isn't it any longer?

Amplifier is a bi-weekly podcast, not a full-length documentary. If it were the latter, we could easily dedicate a few hours to the work of Jim Brock, the Charlotte music veteran who has been heralded by various publications as one of the best drummers alive. Between performing at the White House for President Bill Clinton and logging six decades of music (with hundreds of percussion instruments) with Grammy Award winners like Janis Ian, Kathy Mattea and The Eagles' Joe Walsh, Brock has made North Carolina his home and has found space for his Native American heritage.

Modern Moxie is a kaleidoscope of musical genres and generational styles, taking dance-happy cues from The Cars and David Bowie and bringing them to a contemporary pop-rock stage. On the heels of their 2019 debut full-length “Claw Your Way Out” and their recognition as “Charlotte's Best Band” by Queen City Nerve, Modern Moxie bandmates Madison Lucas and Harry Kollm share how the Charlotte band's success can be traced all the way back to a small dorm room closet in South Carolina.

When was the last time a voice stopped you in your tracks, a voice so pure that it simultaneously paints a lush soundscape and transports you to a magical place and time? Because cinematic jazz singer Emily Sage can do just that.

After gracing the world's stages (both physical and virtual), Grammy-nominated acoustic R&B group The HamilTones share some harmonious Christmas memories and hopes for Charlotte in the new year in this encore Amplifier.

Long before the coronavirus pandemic, Charlotte musician Si Kahn understood the power of resilience. For the past 55 years, Kahn has dedicated his life's work to civil rights activism, chronicling the ebb and flow of progress through world-renowned labor anthems like "Aragon Mill" and "Go to Work on Monday." Over the course of 19 records, several books and a FolkVote initiative, Kahn has tapped into a passion for shared history and righteous humanity.

Charlotte's Lunchbox Records is known for hosting in-store performances for all ages, stocking records from local acts and receiving signed music memorabilia from Grammy-winning fans (hello, Taylor Swift!). In the age of music streaming, Lunchbox Records owner (and Late Bloomer vocalist) Scott Wishart shows that we're actually in a record renaissance.

Justin Fedor's music identity isn't just tied to recording, performing and touring . It's also tied to bringing the community together for a cause. Since 2013, Fedor has organized biannual tribute concerts to benefit the Levine Children's Hospital, raising more than $70,000 in the process. As Fedor puts it in this Amplifier rebroadcast, actions speak louder than words (or even a blaring guitar solo).

For this 100th Amplifier episode, we talk to up-and-coming rapper Lute, who embodies “the Charlotte music dream." He was born and raised in the 704, recruited by rap legend J. Cole and signed to his Dreamville Records label, received a Grammy nomination and earned a Platinum plaque for his collaboration with DaBaby and Kendrick Lamar.

For the past 30 years, Jason Herring has been up to his ears in Charlotte music: from being the founder of North Carolina record label 10mm Omega Recordings (home to rocker Benji Hughes and Brazilian jazz artist Micah Gough) to leading the avantgarde band The Mystery Plan (which recently celebrated its sixth studio release "You Also Have Eyes").

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Charlotte-based Latin band (and 2021 NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest contestant) DALIA, led by vocalist, music educator and North Carolina music journalist Dalia Razo.

The sights you see, the people you meet, the life experiences that shape your hours, days, and years. How would you paint a picture of your day-to-day? If you were to ask Petrov, named one of Charlotte's most promising up-and-coming bands, you may find that the best kind of journal is a musical one (or, at the very least, one that is soundtracked by dreamy rock music).

Charlotte native DEVN has had a busy (musical) summer. The up-and-coming music producer not only appeared on a new hit with chart-topping North Carolina rapper Lute, he also debuted "St. Luke St.," an electrified hip-hop album named after his hometown street in West Charlotte.

Charlotte music veteran Jay Garrigan (Pop Rocket, Temperance League and The Eyebrows) shares how he's taken pent-up anxiety and propelled it forward through punk rock and power pop arrangements.

In fall 2018, North Carolina native Greg Cox released his debut full-length album titled “E T C .,” which takes the needle of a record player and places it in the grooves of gospel, R&B and soul. The album title gives us a glimpse into the multi-hyphenate's world as a gospel singer, R&B producer husband, father and Charlotte community-builder.

Charlotte singer-songwriter duo Courtney Lynn and Quinn are partners in life, love and harmonious country folk music.

Charlotte hip-hop artist (and self-described creator of "folk rap") Nige Hood shares his thoughts on life's unique rhythm, from sharing a stage with Kendrick Lamar to rapping in the woods with Afroman.

Charlotte has a rich history of funk music. Back in 1965, the "Grandmaster of Funk" himself Mr. James Brown recorded his single “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag” right here in the Queen City. As one of Charlotte's longest-running jazz-funk collectives, Groove 8 has its own Charlotte soul story to share.

Amplifier is a bi-weekly podcast, not a full-length documentary. If it were the latter, we could easily dedicate a few hours to the work of Jim Brock, the Charlotte music veteran who has been heralded by various publications as one of the best drummers alive. Between performing at the White House for President Bill Clinton and logging six decades of music (with hundreds of percussion instruments) with Grammy Award winners like Janis Ian, Kathy Mattea and The Eagles’ Joe Walsh, Brock has made North Carolina his home and has found space for his Native American heritage.

Local music veteran David "DK" Kim notes the lack of Asian representation among Charlotte's rock, pop and folk scenes, sharing his thoughts on incremental music progress and his introspection as an artist, a Korean American and a North Carolinian.

The musical road has been a winding one for Charlotte's Fred Lee IV. From cutting hair in his father's salon and slinging hot dogs to Seth Avett, to now leading the Southern roots rock band Late Night Special and hosting the annual Shakedown Music Festival featuring regional musicians.

Tony Arreaza had every intention of becoming the Freddie Mercury of North Carolina. But after immigrating from Venezuela to Charlotte in 1994, his plans changed. Nearly thirty years later, Arreaza has helped create a flourishing Latin music community organizing concerts through Carlotan Talents, performing guitar with his long-standing Latin band UltimaNota and even having the opportunity to channel his ‘80s rock icon on MTV Latino.

Without a doubt, the coronavirus pandemic coupled with ongoing demonstrations and protests have changed the landscape for conversations and creative output. In particular, musicians have taken this time for self-reflection on the state of the music industry and their individual responsibilities in moving the conversation forward. For Charlotte-based singer-songwriter Kelsey Ryan, the past five months have been an opportunity to write, listen, and find new meaning through the "grit and grin" of country music.

This has been a historic year for women in rap and hip-hop, all the way to the 2021 Grammy Awards when Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé broke records as the first pair of women to win in the best rap performance category. As NPR Music put it, “To know what tomorrow sounds like, one need only listen to the women in rap today.” And to know what the future of Charlotte hip-hop is, one need only turn to rhythmic lyricist ReeCee Raps.

Girls Rock Charlotte music director Krystle Baller on finding her voice through rock and inspiring the next generation of women and gender diverse artists.

Grammy Award-winning Charlottean Anthony Hamilton shares new music and what we can all learn from being raised in the South and pivoting through the pandemic.

As we conclude Black History Month, the Amplifier podcast is taking time to celebrate artists of color who’ve shaped Charlotte’s soundscape. And if you’re talking about Charlotte music, you have to talk about Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-producer Anthony Hamilton. And so today on Amplifier, we’re bringing you an extra special episode from our friends at SouthBound … Continue reading "‘I Want To Speak About Where We Are’: Anthony Hamilton On Reshaping His Sound And Raising His Kids" The post ‘I Want To Speak About Where We Are’: Anthony Hamilton On Reshaping His Sound And Raising His Kids appeared first on Amplifier.

The past year has been a busy one for Jamaican-born, Charlotte-based singer-songwriter Sanya N’Kanta. In March 2020, he released an electrified debut record that in unambiguous terms reconciles past experiences with the present-day reality of racial inequality. Nearly one year later, he’s returned with a brand new release that combines acoustic instrumentation with introspection. “Music … Continue reading "‘Music Was My Solace’: Sanya N’Kanta On Race, Religion and the Power of Reggae" The post ‘Music Was My Solace’: Sanya N’Kanta On Race, Religion and the Power of Reggae appeared first on Amplifier.

Charlotte-by-way-of-Jamaica songwriter Sanya N'Kanta shares his experience navigating race, religion and reggae music in America.

In a recent report, Charlotte ranked 111th out of 200 top cities for music fans. But if you ask Charlotte creative leader Tim Scott Jr., who’s been the artist-in-residence at Charlotte Center City Partners and toured the world with Grammy Award-winning North Carolina group The Foreign Exchange, you’ll hear how the Queen City deserves to sit higher up on the list of music cities. He talks about it in the latest Amplifier.

We’re still in the first month of the new year, which means many make a new year’s resolution to reinvest in local music. That’s exactly what Charlotte City Council discussed at its annual strategy session on Jan. 11 when one of the points of discussion was how Charlotte had been ranked 111th on a national … Continue reading "‘Music Shouldn’t Be An Afterthought’: Tim Scott Jr. On Prioritizing Creative Product Over Profit" The post ‘Music Shouldn’t Be An Afterthought’: Tim Scott Jr. On Prioritizing Creative Product Over Profit appeared first on Amplifier.

How Charlotte-based band Moa crafted dark, dreamy music for Netflix documentary series "Night Stalker."

Without a doubt, Charlotte-based band Moa made the most out of 2020. From contributing an original song to the Netflix true crime documentary “Night Stalker” to hosting an eye-catching virtual performance at Charlotte’s Neighborhood Theatre and releasing a hauntingly beautiful debut album, the four-piece ambient music group created sparks in a year of such darkness. … Continue reading "The Musical Road Is Lovely, Dark And Deep For Charlotte Band Moa" The post The Musical Road Is Lovely, Dark And Deep For Charlotte Band Moa appeared first on Amplifier.

For the past five years, singer-songwriter Jim Sharkey has taken the 200-year-old lilt of traditional Irish folk music and placed it in a 21st-century context (with contemporary references to Facebook, Whitney Houston and even the 2019 Women’s World Cup). On his 2019 full-length release "A Lovely Day," Sharkey sings to the theme of home: of finding home, of feeling at home with loved ones, of the nostalgia of remembering his home in Ireland and of making a new one here in North Carolina.

For the past five years, singer-songwriter Jim Sharkey has taken the 200-year-old lilt of traditional Irish folk music and placed it in a 21st-century context (with contemporary references to Facebook, Whitney Houston and even the 2019 Women’s World Cup). On his 2019 full-length release “A Lovely Day,” Sharkey sings to the theme of home: of … Continue reading "ENCORE: May The Road Rise Up To Meet You: The Journey Of Irish Singer-Songwriter Jim Sharkey" The post ENCORE: May The Road Rise Up To Meet You: The Journey Of Irish Singer-Songwriter Jim Sharkey appeared first on Amplifier.

As NPR Music shared, “2020 was a year defined by the sounds of rage, resolve, mourning and solidarity.” That includes the sound of Grammy-nominated North Carolina trio The HamilTones (Tony Lelo, J. Vito and 2E), who released the incredibly profound record “1964” and shared joyful splendor through “A HamilTones Christmas.” After gracing the world’s stages (both physical and virtual), the acoustic R&B group sits down to share some harmonious memories and hopes for Charlotte in the new year.

As NPR Music shared, “2020 was a year defined by the sounds of rage, resolve, mourning and solidarity.” That includes the sound of Grammy-nominated North Carolina trio The HamilTones (Tony Lelo, J. Vito and 2E), who released the incredibly profound record “1964” and shared joyful splendor through “A HamilTones Christmas.” After gracing the world’s stages … Continue reading "Grammy Nominees The HamilTones On Finding (Musical) Joy And Creating (Soulful) Harmony" The post Grammy Nominees The HamilTones On Finding (Musical) Joy And Creating (Soulful) Harmony appeared first on Amplifier.

For the past 20 years, Boris “Bluz” Rogers has expanded the boundaries of poetry, spoken word and musical storytelling. As an Emmy Award-winning performer, he has shared the stage with legends like Outkast, Pink Floyd and Gil Scott-Heron. As a poetry slam master and coach, he's risen through the ranks of spoken word and inspired the next generation to use their voice. And with his recent collaborative album “The Duologue Part 1: Conversations in a Vibe Room” and his organizing of the We Are Hip Hop festival, Rogers is the Shakespeare of Charlotte music and spoken word.

For the past 20 years, Boris “Bluz” Rogers has expanded the boundaries of poetry, spoken word and musical storytelling. As an Emmy Award-winning performer, he has shared the stage with legends like Outkast, Pink Floyd and Gil Scott-Heron. As a poetry slam master and coach, he’s risen through the ranks of spoken word and inspired … Continue reading "Measure For Measure, Boris ‘Bluz’ Rogers Is The Bard Of Charlotte Hip-Hop And Spoken Word" The post Measure For Measure, Boris ‘Bluz’ Rogers Is The Bard Of Charlotte Hip-Hop And Spoken Word appeared first on Amplifier.

The past few years have shown that nerd culture is the new cool, with "Black Panther" becoming the first comic book film to score a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, "Game of Thrones" becoming a cultural phenomenon and even Walt Disney World opening up its first official Star Wars-themed hotel in Florida. Which makes it the perfect time to be GameBreax, a North Carolina “nerdcore” duo who stand proudly at the intersection of geek culture and hip-hop.

The past few years have shown that nerd culture is the new cool, with “Black Panther” becoming the first comic book film to score a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, “Game of Thrones” becoming a cultural phenomenon and even Walt Disney World opening up its first official Star Wars-themed hotel in Florida. Which makes … Continue reading "ENCORE: Nerdcore Duo GameBreax On “Leveling Up” And Bringing Pop Culture To Hip-Hop" The post ENCORE: Nerdcore Duo GameBreax On “Leveling Up” And Bringing Pop Culture To Hip-Hop appeared first on Amplifier.

Alfred Sergel IV has three decades of experience as a professional jazz musician — not as a jazz singer or jazz pianist, but as a jazz drummer. Between performing with Grammy honorees and recording with Billboard-charting artists, Alfred (or, as his friends called him, Al) still finds time to create original music that merges new-age pop sensibilities with old-school jazz melodies.

Alfred Sergel IV has three decades of experience as a professional jazz musician — not as a jazz singer or jazz pianist, but as a jazz drummer. Between performing with Grammy honorees and recording with Billboard-charting artists, Alfred (or, as his friends called him, Al) still finds time to create original music that merges new-age … Continue reading "ENCORE: Drumming Up Memories with Charlotte Jazz Musician Alfred Sergel IV" The post ENCORE: Drumming Up Memories with Charlotte Jazz Musician Alfred Sergel IV appeared first on Amplifier.

In September 2019, hip-hop publication XXL posed a question: “Is North Carolina next up?” What they're referring to, in part, is the A+ rap and hip-hop talent coming out of North Carolina including prominent names like J. Cole, DaBaby and Lute. When it comes to Southern-fried rap and hip-hop in the Queen City, Elevator Jay is the name to know as the king of country rap in Charlotte.

In September 2019, hip-hop publication XXL posed a question: “Is North Carolina next up?” What they’re referring to, in part, is the A+ rap and hip-hop talent coming out of North Carolina including prominent names like J. Cole, DaBaby and Lute. When it comes to Southern-fried rap and hip-hop in the Queen City, Elevator Jay … Continue reading "ENCORE: Listen Up! Charlotte Rapper Elevator Jay Has ‘Sum’na Say’" The post ENCORE: Listen Up! Charlotte Rapper Elevator Jay Has ‘Sum’na Say’ appeared first on Amplifier.

"The music is serious, but I never take it seriously. I believe that you can make deeply personal music without sacrificing a sense of humor or self-awareness. It’s equal parts therapy and irony. Don’t tell my therapist”The coronavirus outbreak has spurred a number of musicians to “press pause” on their plans, whether it was for concerts or travel. But COVID-19 hasn’t stopped musicians from being creative, finding inspiration and recording new songs from the comfort of home. That includes North Carolina piano pop band Tennis Elbow, which released a new full-length album inspired by and recorded entirely during the pandemic.

“The music is serious, but I never take it seriously. I believe that you can make deeply personal music without sacrificing a sense of humor or self-awareness. It’s equal parts therapy and irony. Don’t tell my therapist” The coronavirus outbreak has spurred a number of musicians to “press pause” on their plans, whether it was … Continue reading "Time To Put Some (Tennis) Elbow Grease Into Piano Pop Music" The post Time To Put Some (Tennis) Elbow Grease Into Piano Pop Music appeared first on Amplifier.

Self-taught on the drums at the age of 6. Raised on a mix of A Tribe Called Quest, Chuck Berry, and Lauryn Hill. Taking meetings with Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation before her debut release even dropped in 2017. Just like her music, the stories of up-and-coming R&B star Cyanca are anything but ordinary.

Self-taught on the drums at the age of 6. Raised on a mix of A Tribe Called Quest, Chuck Berry, and Lauryn Hill. Taking meetings with Jay-Z’s record label Roc Nation before her debut release even dropped in 2017. Just like her music, the stories of up-and-coming R&B star Cyanca are anything but ordinary. “It … Continue reading "ENCORE: Neo-Soul Artist Cyanca On Finding Her Way: ‘Your Pain is Equal to Your Breakthrough’" The post ENCORE: Neo-Soul Artist Cyanca On Finding Her Way: ‘Your Pain is Equal to Your Breakthrough’ appeared first on Amplifier.

“Democracy is not something that happens only at election time, and it’s not something that happens just with one event. It’s an ongoing, grassroots building process.”Long before the coronavirus pandemic, Charlotte musician Si Kahn understood the power of resilience. For the past 55 years, Kahn has dedicated his life's work to civil rights activism, chronicling the ebb and flow of progress through world-renowned labor anthems like "Aragon Mill" and "Go to Work on Monday." Over the course of 19 records, several books and a FolkVote initiative, Kahn has tapped into a passion for shared history and righteous humanity.