New Page, New Music

Hurricane Sandy Benefit Show - "Get Young"

Spread the Rumor, Sandy Benefit show

I don't know why but I have been putting this blog post off for a awhile. I almost felt like it had to be written the night the show happened, but I have a clear head and a goal in mind. First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for the love on the Sandy documentary. I put a lot of hard work into it, and now we'll have a complimentary piece to go with it.

Please listen to this as you read and download it for FREE! 

E.N.D. performing at the benefit. Photo by Vlad Grach.

December 23rd 2012 will forever go down as one of my favorite memories as a musician. One day I'll tell my children about the night their father helped usher in some of the best moments of his youth while  uniting friends, family, and a community to do something amazing. I'm not trying to sound pompous or gloat in this fact, but I will say that I take great pride in the event that was of course made possible with everyone who played, the Full Cup, and those who spent their hard earned money to give back to people in need, and Jay Campbell who saw my vision as well...amazing.

I'm getting married in April, reality check, I'm not growing up anymore, I'm grown. Some of you are there with me, and some of you are getting there. It's tough, it's scary, it's a little depressing. Everything I once knew, or "still" think to be true is going to change. I'm not a kid, I'm no longer in school (I finished), I have to work and make money. I can't sit around and play music in my basement all day while fantasizing about rocking the Garden someday. (I now do that at my desk at work ha). I'm not trying to be a buzz kill, but the point is as we grow older we lose a lot of what we used to love in the shuffle of life. So for one night, and perhaps for the last time, the 23rd helped me remember and relive everything I ever loved about being a musician from Staten Island and rocking the faces off the crowd with my "musical family."

Patrick, Justin, Mike. Classic POF.

When my band Process of Fusion started out in 2007, it was just Patrick and I and we were terrible. We played our first show on a two hour notice. I played drums and rapped a little, and Pat sang and played bass. Our friend Mike came and learned two songs in half an hour. That show we met EveryNight Drive, It's Not Over and the Corrao Q. It's Not Over was really tight and we could tell they were serious about what they did. Corrao Q's drummer, Simon, had been a good friend of mine but I never saw his band. They blew me away with their musicianship and passion on the stage. Til this day I think they are my favorite local band from S.I. and at the time they were 15 and 16 years old, I was 18 (24 now).

Steve, Justin, Pat. POF

The event we played was called Purge the Purge. PTP was started up by a friend, Carissa Sutter. It was an organization that raised awareness and money for girls with eating disorders. (Funny that we met during a benefit and reunited for one...) The next show Pat and I played, I switched between drums and frontman while our friend Steve switched between guitar and drums. It was weird, it was bad, but we received so much love from Corrao Q and the other band we really connected with that day, EveryNight Drive.

EveryNight Drive were like the good guys of the music scene. Everyone loved them, everyone pushed for them to make it, everyone loved them as people and as musicians. Pat and I wanted to be like E.N.D. Everything they did was great, the sound, the music, the performance, their characters. They liked us when we started out and we developed a great relationship with them that had us playing CD release shows, Halloween shows, and even Roseland Ballroom together. Their drummer, Manny, filled in for us several times (Simon too), and was even in the band for a brief period of time as we could never keep a drummer after I made the switch to vocals.

Backslashes & Bad Ideas, Sandy Benefit show. Photo by Vlad Grach

We met most of Backslashes & Bad Ideas (Cobalt Sky, kinda) at a PTP show where EveryNight Drive played a showcase for a record label. That was sometime in 2008, early 2009, I believe. Cobalt Sky was fronted by Nick DePalo who would become a friend over the next couple of years as he played with various projects and bands that we played shows with.

To my understanding, we met Spread the Rumor at a Purge the Purge show that was held at the Cup in early 2009. They were another band we would "grow" up with and play shows with all the time. Those girls became my little sisters of music. They were amazing and tough too! Pat and I had asked if they needed help with equipment, and refused us!

I like to joke that these bands became the Superfriends of sorts because of all the time we spent performing and hanging out together, also, I'd like to shout out Pete King and his bands at the time, Groove Revival and Through the Year. They were an integral part of our scene as well.

By the end 2010 the Superfriends started falling apart a little bit with various problems I won't get into. Corrao Q was no longer a band, E.N.D. after several lineup changes was breaking up, Cobalt Sky was no more but Backslashes was born, and Spread the Rumor played their last show, not to mention our beloved home, the Cup was closing! On August 31st 2010 Manny ran a toss up between this last show, for the show of all shows at the Cup. That "last" show at the Cup featured ten frequenters/all-stars of the Cup minus Corrao Q. (READ ABOUT THAT HERE).

That show was very emotional as some of the scenes favorite bands disbanded and our home closed, (not for too long though). People were crying, dancing, hugging, and singing along. The house was packed with about 250 people who stayed from start to finish. I never experienced anything like that in my life. There was so much love and respect. After that show I didn't feel like music would ever be able to fill that experience in my heart, and for the most part it didn't, until this last show. The memories came flooding back as the familiar tunings of guitars and melodies of choruses came off the stage and into the speakers. It was beautiful, it was perfect, it was the best moments of 2007-2010, it was home.

Corrao Q, 2008. PTP show

That night Staten Island needed heroes to bring a little cheer back to our Island which had been ravaged by the Hurricane, and also a little cheer to a few humble musicians who are still on their grind who needed to be reminded of their youth. "Get Young" was the slogan of the freshly back in business EveryNight Drive after a two year divorce. They are now happily remarried and ready for new music! Corrao Q was a treat we may never see again, but they certainly felt the love and were just as good as they were in 2009. Spread the Rumor killed it, and I have a hunch we'll see these ladies again doing something together! Backslashes has been doing their thing and had a great 2012 after a somewhat not active 2011. It's Not Over is exploring a new style of music, and creating new opportunities for themselves. Process of Fusion had a great 2010 and 2011, but 2012 was really just a bad year for us musically, emotionally, and creatively. Honestly speaking, we were dead, but now our heads are on straight and 2013 is looking like its going to be a great year for us!

It's Not Over 2012

Here are some facts. December 23rd, we came together and raised $1270 that will go to help people displaced by Sandy. We performed to roughly 180 people. E.N.D. absolutely destroyed the Cup with garbage; balloons, silly string, and candy...damages not included. A scene that had went away came back for a little bit, and we all had a blast in doing so.

2012 ended with a bang, and hopefully that shot keeps ringing in 2013 as a rejuvenated bunch of non-famous musicians continue doing music whether it be solo, together, or in different bands. I love you all. Thank you for making me feel 19 again, thank you for caring about this cause as much as I did, thank you for being the amazing influential musicians and heroes I've always known you to be, and most importantly, thank you for giving me a reason to do what I love most several times a month, play music.

Corrao Q 2009 and Justin from POF.

Justin (POF), Manny (END), Simon (Corrao Q)

Please watch the documentary of the night, and share with everyone you know.



Leave your best music memories in the comments below.

Link Drop - Affiliation Red, POF, Fairday Skyline, Cig and More

Affiliation Red
(This song features a cameo by me on the third verse!)


Check out their new single as well!

Breaking Even
New lyrics video from this local punk band. Be sure to learn the words!


Fairday Skyline
Check out this track and free download from Fairday Skyline's upcoming release!

Process of Fusion
Vote for POF on WSIA as most popular band.
http://crazyradiowsia.weebly.com/online-poll.html

Be sure to read Backstage Interview's talk with Justin.
http://www.backstageinterviews.ca/2012/06/26/process-of-fusion-written-interview/

Check out Chris Taranto, JD, Radioactive Material, Affiliation Red, Four Nights Gone, Process of Fusion, and It's Not Over at the Full Cup July 27th!
http://www.facebook.com/events/349890268417622/

Kritikal and Anthony M.
This song received airplay on "Franklin & Bash"



CiG
This S.I. emcee is finally back in the studio recording some bangers. Here's a sample of what he's done so far...




J.D.
Be on the look out for this young R&B, Pop- rapper as he works on his first studio release!

Local Link Drop - Music by Woods of Arden, It's Not Over, and More

Chris Taranto - The Chokey Acoustic Sessions

Download the session here

WOODS OF ARDEN

JON COMIS W/ FREESTYLE FAM


IT'S NOT OVER 
Here's a sneak peak of what's to come!





PROCESS OF FUSION
Review from Likes For Locals
http://likesforlocals.tumblr.com/post/24080588348/process-of-fusion-connections

BROKEN RECORDS COLLECTIVE SHOW

http://www.facebook.com/events/237387426376913/ (All info here)

Updates - New Music, Free Music, and NEWS (Graffiti6, Playdough, Process of Fusion, Fairday Skyline, and More!)

PLAYDOUGH


FRISCH ft. M BLAZE & BINO


FAIRDAY SKYLINE
Fairday Skyline live at the Battle of The Boroughs - Staten Island 2012

Vote them into the Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs at thegreenespace.org or by texting ST6 to 69866 between noon on Monday, May 7th and 11:59 pm on Sunday, May 20th 2012.

HEROES

GRAFFITI 6

I interviewed these British rockers back in 2010, and finally two years I have spliced up the footage. Check it out!

TONY KZ

Download this hot track and spread the love!

BROKEN RECORDS COLLECTIVE

Check out what's going on with the BRC and see videos from Eric D'Alessandro, Vinny Jett, and Process of Fusion

http://brokenrecordscollective.blogspot.com/2012/05/whats-new-with-broken-records.html

Come show support for the rappers of the BRC at this show!

PROCESS OF FUSION

Please take some time out and vote for POF as Staten Island's best band!

http://greatestaroundstatenisland.com/vote-aande/

Also, check out a recent interview they did with Chasing Sounds Blog

http://www.chasingsound.co/blog/2012/5/4/prog-punk-meets-rap-process-of-fusion-interview.html

Big Update: Free music from the Collective and more!

CIG CiG's first music video. "I Want to Go Back" off of Back Against the Wall. Filmed and directed by Jen Santori. Music Video : CIG I Wanna Go Back from Jennifer Santori on Vimeo. Download the track for free as well! Broken Records Collective Rappers Check out Freestyle Fam, CiG, Eric D'Alessandro, Vinny Jett, and Justin from POF's remix of "Stay Schemin." Download it for free here

FigureHead

Listen to and download a new track by FigureHead called "Accept the Change."

Process of Fusion

The band is now on iTunes, buy the album here!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/process-of-fusion/id502681045?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Also, support them at the Break Contest!

http://www.facebook.com/events/288660437867357/?ref=ts

Also be sure to check out, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taking-Steps-Be-The-Change/304219856292665?sk=wall&filter=1

Process of Fusion 'Connections' Album Review by Paul Marino

Process of Fusion – Connections EP Review
Written by Paul Marino

Progressive rock/rap group Process of Fusion is not afraid to experiment. With vocals comparable to Coheed & Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez along with rap that will remind the listener of Pre-Meteora Linkin Park, Process of Fusion boldly and successfully mixes two different and distinct singer’s voices into all their tracks. This melding of vocal styles, along with edgy and energized drums, bass, guitar and keys, is what sets Process of Fusion apart from many other bands on the market. Following the success of their first EP State of Mind, Process of Fusion has unleashed another EP into the music world titled Connections. Connections is a five song album featuring empowering lyrics about finding a place to belong, guitar riffs that flow with the mood, and even melodies not unlike that of the group God is an Astronaut.


The first song on the EP, “Moment of Clarity,” combines both vocals and rap with fast-paced drums and strings in a song that encourages making the most of life and living in the moment. Next up is “Aspire, Inspire, Expire,” which again perfectly has Singers Patrick Wakie and Justin Sarachik’s voices reflect each other. AIE picks up quickly and then slows itself down all the while talking about the paths of life and the challenges faced when travelling down them. “What Brought Us Here” scales down on the energy of the first two tracks, but keeps along with the messages of looking within yourself and finding where you belong. It is also worth noting that this song has a very strong, very powerful, guitar solo that stands up with any modern era rock ballad.

Fourth on the set list is the song “Connections,” which throws the listener back into the fast paced, stylized and intense sound of POF without feeling disconnected from the song prior. Again, the message of self-realization is apparent throughout. The final song on the EP, “Lights In The Sky,” continues the bands perfect blend of rap and rock with a hint of instrumentals similar to the previously mentioned God is An Astronaut. This song features the sound the listener is by now accustomed to and even throws in some group vocals at its close. 


The album ends leaving listeners with the feeling of hope for your future. This album is recommended for anyone looking for a pick me up, someone looking for musical motivation, or anybody who is looking for more than what the media defines as rock nowadays. For more on Process of Fusion’s unique sound check out their Facebook and Twitter pages and be sure to wish them luck in their battle to get on the Bamboozle band roster. Voting for them probably wouldn’t hurt either.  

Update - Music, links, and Broken Records Collective!

Lets start off with the links


Just launched my Record Label, Broken Records Collective. Please follow all the links, and help me get the word out.

Created by Kristen Solis

http://www.facebook.com/BrokenRecordsCollective
https://twitter.com/#!/BR_Collective
http://brokenrecordscollective.bandcamp.com/ - MUSIC PAGE


Check out three of our rappers videos!


Eric D'Alessandro "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3"



CiG "No Church in the Wild & Stay Scheming Freestyle"






SiK B of Process of Fusion "Bonfire Remix"



Also, be sure to like Broken Records Photography


K SCOTT
K Scott has some nasty beats he wants to show you all, check them out here.


PROCESS OF FUSION
Process of Fusion had their album, Connections, reviewed by the Christian Music Review Blog. Read that here.

Also, check out the photos from their show at The Stone Pony, taken by photographer Laura DeSantis Olsson.
http://www.ldophoto.net/data/web/processoffusionstonepony/index.html


SPREAD THE RUMOR...kinda



BACKSLASHES & BAD IDEAS/WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS



VERBATIM
Check them out on Facebook and listen to their first recorded song, "Desire & I."


FOUR NIGHTS GONE
Come to their album release show, more info here!


MUSIC AGAINST BULLYING
This show is very important! It is in memory of recent suicide victim Amanda Cummings. Please come out and support her friends and family.


More info here


RUNNING ON SWEETS BLOG
Read my girlfriend's blog on fitness and running here.
http://runningonsweets.blogspot.com/


XO
 OX - Life I Live by RatherUniqueMusicGroup 


JON SANTOS RECORDING
My band's producer is having a sick deal on recording. See below.

Music Videos and New Releases, Check Them Out!

PROCESS OF FUSION
Watch Process of Fusion's cd release show on their documentary



Read their album review on Ticket Shack here


FREESTYLE FAM
Freestyle Fam Destroy a Lil Wayne & Drake beat, check it out!



SIK BOI
Also, if you could be so kind and give a listen to my own remix of a Drake & J. Cole song "In the Morning." It's available for free download!

ALI

Check out this single by my boy Ali. He kills it on the production and verses.

FOUR NIGHTS GONE

Here's Four Nights Gone's, new single "Crash and Burn" available for free download on Bandcamp.

JON COMIS
Covers Paramore's "Monster"



GORILLAZ COVER

Lastly, this is just awesome

Updates and more from A'tris, Kick, InDisguise, Playdough, and POF

A'tris Week 23



Kick @ Gramercy



InDisguise



Playdough



Process of Fusion
The band gets some blog love courtesy of Muenmagazine.net
Read it here

Incognito and DePalma, A'tris Video of the Week, Eric Sosa, and POF

This Friday at the Cup Complex in Jersey, is Romulus X Records recording artist, Incognito Theory's show along with the Debut of other Romulus X Records recording artist Incognito & DePalma featuring Peal. Incognito & DePalma just put there cd out, so will be on hand.

They also released their official lineup, adding- Daniel R Eng on Bass, Ralph Ricciardi on Drums, Andrew J. Prussack (Producer).



I.D. was also mentioned in the Aquarian Weekly, here

Buy the album here

Incognito & DePalma now have an official website!
http://www.incognitodepalma.com/


A'TRIS SONG OF THE WEEK 17-19





ERIC SOSA

Upcoming Shows Sunday, May 22, 2011 BurnitDown Group: LIVE music event Tammany Hall 152 Orchard Street, New York, NY 5:00 P.M. (EST) Sos with The Maintenance Crew will be performing before special guests and performers which may include: Fred The Godson, Cyhi Da Prynce, Joell Ortiz, Peter Rosenberg, DJ Clue, Tahiry, Raekwon, Lloyd Banks, Fabolous + more. Keep it locked on ericsosa.com next week for the reveal! Radio Sos had the pleasure of being a guest on the Soul Exchange via the popular Yonkers based InTheMixxRadio. "You can't help but have a good time with 6 camera's on you during a LIVE interview!"- Eric Sosa Soul Exchange airs LIVE every Tuesday from 9-11pm (EST) on InTheMixxRadio.com Press TrueDopeness.com Sos was subtle in his mention of a crowd favorite track from Vol. 2 being remixed in his recent interview on True dopesness! READ full interview here Frank151.com Writer Nshima had to share with Frank 151's followers her discovery of Queens MC; Eric Sosa! READ full post here PROCESS OF FUSION Come see us on Sunday May 22nd at 7:30 at Starland for War for Warped Tour.

POF interview for Broken Records Magazine by Vlad Grach

By Alex DiMaio

If you’re into Linkin Park, Hollywood Undead, and the Bloodhound Gang then make room on your iPad for Process of Fusion. The five piece band from Staten Island, New York fuses rock and rap into one, and does it magnificently. This dynamic group of musicians recently tore down the stage at The Crazy Donkey, but not literally of course, more like figuratively. 

I reminisced with Justin Sarachik, the groups beloved rapping front man, about: the bands solid past, promising future, and the bands experience filling the air of The Crazy Donkey with rhymes and melodies as they tried to make it into The Bamboozle Festival, one of the biggest music festivals to hit the east coast. 

Here’s what Justin had to say: 
     
When was Process of Fusion formed? What inspired all of you to make music together? 
Patrick and I started the band in 2007. We got all the pieces together in early 2009, and made this thing happen. I’ve known Patrick since I was Five. We’ve been in bands together since I was 13 or 14. I started getting into hip-hop during the end of high school and into college. I realized I wasn’t the best drummer in the world. So, we started looking into actually making it work after five years of making music together and not having anything to show for it. I said, “You know what, let’s do it this time,” and that’s how we did it.

What genre of music do you consider your music to be? Who are your influences? 
Originally, the band was pop punk, with some rap influence here and there. Our main influence was Chronic Future. Then, all of a sudden Patrick started listening to a bunch of Coheed & Cambria and Between the Buried and Me. He started writing all this stuff. And, we had to change the formula. That’s how we got the sound we have now.

What can you tell me about not playing an instrument? 
I used to try and play the keyboard a lot. We have a lot of musical breaks and solo’s where there are no vocals. I needed something to do besides stand there. So, I started playing around with the keyboard. When I first started out, I wasn’t very good of a front man. I was nervous, and had super stage fright. I would literally just stand there with the microphone and look straight into the crowd. So, I said, “I obviously can’t do that.” So, I started messing around with the keyboard. Now Rose plays some keyboard when we do covers. I’m much more animated now, and throw myself around.

Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues to play? 
The biggest places we’ve played were Roseland Ballroom, The Crazy Donkey when we were in the Break Contest, Kenny’s Castaway, The Mercury Lounge, and Crash Mansion. On Staten Island, we’ve played outside at Wolf’s Pond Park. We’ve played at CSI, and we’ve played at The Full Cup way too many times. We’ve played The Warriors Warehouse and Dock Street, upstairs and downstairs. And we’ve played Club Karma in Long Island.

What were some of your best and worst shows? What makes them the best? What makes them the worst? 
The best and coolest place we’ve ever played is The Crazy Donkey. We’ve had some of our best and worst shows at The Cup. We played a show where there was like seven people. We played a hardcore show, where some of the people didn’t like us and just walked out. The last show at The Cup was phenomenal and emotional. We had a great spot between Julius C and Everynight Drive. We had our fans plus their fans. It was a great spot. I crowd surfed from the stage to the back of the door. To be honest, I was crying at the end of the show, it was amazing. 

A turning point for me was our show at Hot Topic. I would really use the keyboard just to hide behind it. We forgot it. So, I had to stand in front of the crowd. That was the first time I’ve ever stood in front of any crowd with just the microphone. I was like a legitimate front man. It really broke me out of the mold. 

You recently played the Break Contest to get into Bamboozle, how was the overall experience of that for you guys? 
I think it was a good experience. It proved to us that we could get 90 people to a place an hour and 20 minutes away. I think we expected that we were going to do well from the beginning. We went to the finals. Once we got to finals we said, “We can win this, we can win this,” and then we didn’t.

Was getting to the final round, and not winning, a letdown?
It was a letdown. But, it was also kind of humbling. It was a learning experience. We learned how to take a big loss, and hopefully that fuels us to push forward.

Did the fans bring the entire show together for you? How much do you appreciate your fans?
If the crowd is dead, then we’re kind of dead. Especially me, since I don’t have an instrument to focus on. I need people to go nuts so I can go nuts. If people are clapping, I’m clapping with them. I especially love when I get to jump into the crowd. I couldn’t do that at The Crazy Donkey. I was a little scared because the stage was so high up. 

But, the crowd is definitely a key component. We have some of the best fans. We have the loudest fans I’ve ever heard. We’ve won things and we’ve been commended because of how loud the fans were, even if there were only ten. They always help us out with the merchandise, they come out to support us, and they’re awesome.

Listen; if you can’t win with a Vuvuzela going off in the crowd, then I don’t know what Bamboozle was expecting from us. Those things are loud, and they were a good touch.
   
What do you think separated you from the other bands that played the Break Contest? 
We were different. We’re a rock band that has hip-hop in it. People can only compare us to Linkin Park. I think we’re very different though. We’re definitely a lot heavier, and we have more intricate music. I think that’s very different. 

As far as why we didn’t win, we don’t know. We think it’s because of the style of music. Screamo, Pop Core, those are the kind of bands that are booming at the moment. Maybe the judges didn’t see us fitting in. But, your guess is as good as mine.

Will you guys play the Break Contest again? 
That’s debatable. Our goal is to get Bamboozle to ask us to play. We’d love for Bamboozle to come to us (laughs).  

What else can we expect from Process of Fusion in the future? 
Our new EP is being mixed by Jon Santos from 1176 Studios. He’s the best producer in the world.
We’re planning to have the CD release show at the beginning of June, or the end of May. We’re going to do it up nice and big at The Warehouse. On May 22nd, we’re playing the War for Warped Tour at Starland Ballroom. We have superb artwork being done by Helder Pedro from Portugal. We’re writing music for our full length album. And, hopefully we’ll be touring during the summer.
    
Do you have any closing statements?
2011 is still going to be the year that something great happens. 

By Nick Benvenuto