Eyes close, ears open, as the sounds of Helena Holleran Band fill the void between them. Paying respect to soulful legends (Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, Amel Larrieux, Esperanza Spalding) while breathing in something new entirely, Helena’s original music disrupts the mainstream of computer generated beats and lyrics of materialism. The San Diego-based eight-piece band’s eclectic sound pulls from a number of genres and styles. They draw influence from Rnb, Soul, Jazz, Latin, Afrobeat, and Reggae; inspiring an undeniable groove, infectious swing, sweet songbird-soul melodies, and often profound lyrics.
Nihiser
Dark yet danceable; Nihiser has maintained its following in the Stockholm underbelly. Led by Keegan Smith (Francesca Fiore), Michael Panek (Transviolet), and Ted Neeleman (Mother G) , the latest iteration of the group came to fruition after meeting at a cafe in San Diego, California. Described as emotive, heinous, and unwavering, these brunettes do their goddamn best to move bodies.
