The Back Room
Introducing... The Back Room
A new live performance podcast for showcasing local talent.
Every Tuesday, catch new episodes
on Memphis Artists for Change's YouTube channel!
Every Tuesday, catch new episodes
on Memphis Artists for Change's YouTube channel!
B. Radical
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Artist/Motivational Speaker/Actor - B.Radical. Coming straight out of Orange Mound, Memphis, TN, B Radical is an upcoming New Artist bringing that fire to the streets. Formerly known as B Kelly, this 33-year-old male oddity is blazing the trails with his new hit project, “You Say That I'm Gangster”. While his sole goal is to shine light in the hearts of the people through his lyrics, his music can’t be categorized. So, where and when did this love of music arise? There has to be a source to everyone’s inspiration right? Officially born in Lafayette, LA, B Radical relocated to Memphis, TN at age 7; this was only the beginning of something new. After his Father’s divorce from his biological mother, he begot a new family, adapted to his new home, new family and new environment. When he heard his older brother Willie Wright spitting bars in the bedroom his mind was instantly attracted. He was fascinated how a person could take words, a beat and a flow to create their own style. At the age of 9, rhyming changed from curiosity to pursuit from pursuit to passion. As time passed and many life cycles took its course, B Kelly gained a wife and 3 kids. Having gone through the struggles of life, the losses, the setbacks and the strain; this caused a major shift in the eyes of this family man. In the midst of adversity B Radical emerged. Faith intertwined with Life experiences and brought about a new perspective, a new sound and a new identity. He went from street rhyming to: how do you put it? I’d like to say a reality check but he calls it Truth Rap. Having done shows locally and abroad since 2016; he’s now extending his reach to expand his voice globally. BRadical’s putting in double time to introduce his latest projects “You Say That I’m Gangster I” and “You Say That I'm Gangster II” the mixtape. Wait! There’s a twist to this sound of music…you’ll have to tune in to find out.
Check out BRadical at his social sites below:
https://www.facebook.com/BRadical901/
https://youtube.com/channel/UC0laUGosD8SpUmMboAVhlnQ
http://tiktok.com/@bradical901
https://www.instagram.com/bradical901/
Check out BRadical at his social sites below:
https://www.facebook.com/BRadical901/
https://youtube.com/channel/UC0laUGosD8SpUmMboAVhlnQ
http://tiktok.com/@bradical901
https://www.instagram.com/bradical901/
Yubu
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Yubu is a singer songwriter based in Memphis TN, originally from Nairobi Kenya. His experience in different music genres and cultures in America, East Africa, West Africa and Europe has molded him to have a unique perspective on the global music scene.
Yubu’s style can be defined as fresh, nostalgic and electrifying -- fusing afrobeat, and reggae, into an ear friendly listening experience. The energy and passion which resonates from Yubu’s songs is sure to be felt by a global audience. From the strum of the guitar and the conviction of his vocals, the catchy-nostalgic melodies, to the thought provoking lyrics, Yubu aims to create an unforgettable live music experience for music lovers everywhere.
Yubu’s style can be defined as fresh, nostalgic and electrifying -- fusing afrobeat, and reggae, into an ear friendly listening experience. The energy and passion which resonates from Yubu’s songs is sure to be felt by a global audience. From the strum of the guitar and the conviction of his vocals, the catchy-nostalgic melodies, to the thought provoking lyrics, Yubu aims to create an unforgettable live music experience for music lovers everywhere.
Lex Renee
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Hello, I am Lex Renee, a 31-year-old singer/songwriter, born and raised in Memphis, TN. My love for music began at a young age and as I grew older, I began to take my gift seriously. I attended and graduated from Overton High School, where I was a part of their CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) program. My love for music grew stronger while singing in the choir.
In April 2019, I released my first single, "Keep Pushing." It tells my story of how I survived my personal struggles and overcame the challenges of life.
In April 2019, I released my first single, "Keep Pushing." It tells my story of how I survived my personal struggles and overcame the challenges of life.
J. Buck
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THE RETURN OF NOSTALGIC SOUL
It’s time the world can open its ears to the dynamic R&B sounds of J. Buck aka “BuckNasty”. Born Joshua Buck, this Memphis native is on his way to adding his contribution to Memphis’s music legacy. J. Buck distinguished himself as a solo artist and songwriter early in his career with unique stage presence and profound lyrics. In 2015, Buck released his debut EP The JBuckExperience which the Murfreesboro Pulse cited as “a step towards the direction of this generation’s version of Marvin Gaye”
At first glance, you may confuse him for the ghost of David Ruffin or Prince with his slick style and electrifying performances. With various influences from Rock, Blues, and Hip-hop, this soul bother amplifies the black male experience through love, addiction, and free thought.
In 2016, Buck hosted a European tour off the sophomore album Love Matters captivating audiences with vocal range and flashy dance moves. He’s also won various competitions including IKEA's Battle of The Bands as well been featured on Sofar Sounds and South by Southwest (SXSW). Back in full effect in 2020 with the latest project Bar Talk, the album explores the reality of situationships, addiction, and the millennial black male experience.
Spreading love and funk through his music, J. Buck embodies the ability to musically seduce his fans giving them an experience that they can’t forget.
It’s time the world can open its ears to the dynamic R&B sounds of J. Buck aka “BuckNasty”. Born Joshua Buck, this Memphis native is on his way to adding his contribution to Memphis’s music legacy. J. Buck distinguished himself as a solo artist and songwriter early in his career with unique stage presence and profound lyrics. In 2015, Buck released his debut EP The JBuckExperience which the Murfreesboro Pulse cited as “a step towards the direction of this generation’s version of Marvin Gaye”
At first glance, you may confuse him for the ghost of David Ruffin or Prince with his slick style and electrifying performances. With various influences from Rock, Blues, and Hip-hop, this soul bother amplifies the black male experience through love, addiction, and free thought.
In 2016, Buck hosted a European tour off the sophomore album Love Matters captivating audiences with vocal range and flashy dance moves. He’s also won various competitions including IKEA's Battle of The Bands as well been featured on Sofar Sounds and South by Southwest (SXSW). Back in full effect in 2020 with the latest project Bar Talk, the album explores the reality of situationships, addiction, and the millennial black male experience.
Spreading love and funk through his music, J. Buck embodies the ability to musically seduce his fans giving them an experience that they can’t forget.
Courtney Little
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Courtney Little is a recording artist/musician from Memphis with an eclectic genre of music. From his roots in Gospel music to his smooth R & B sound to the tickling of the keyboard that shows his Jazzy style, Courtney is known as the performer with an enthusiastic zeal and stage presence that keeps his audience engaged.
Courtney is a lover of all music, and has numerous of accolades to his credit, but has found his home in the “Blues” genre. Releasing his new single entitled “Cougar Hunter” Courtney showcases his love for the down home sounds of the Delta. Having performed with legends in the Blues arena such as Bobby Rush and Sir Charles Jones, Courtney is becoming a master in his own rights to this art form of music.
Today, Courtney can be found performing around the Mid-South in the Tri-State area at different venues to standing room only crowds. His management company, Courtney Little & Co, continues to give back by performing for different organizations that honor and help those in the community. Courtney has been a part of the MLK50 summer concert celebration for the National Civil Rights Museum and the City of Memphis in honoring the upcoming memorial of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has also been the headliner in Little-Media’s Black Love concert series honoring first responders, educators and veterans.
For more information on Courtney Little, contact Courtney Little & Co management at 901-679-8429.
Courtney is a lover of all music, and has numerous of accolades to his credit, but has found his home in the “Blues” genre. Releasing his new single entitled “Cougar Hunter” Courtney showcases his love for the down home sounds of the Delta. Having performed with legends in the Blues arena such as Bobby Rush and Sir Charles Jones, Courtney is becoming a master in his own rights to this art form of music.
Today, Courtney can be found performing around the Mid-South in the Tri-State area at different venues to standing room only crowds. His management company, Courtney Little & Co, continues to give back by performing for different organizations that honor and help those in the community. Courtney has been a part of the MLK50 summer concert celebration for the National Civil Rights Museum and the City of Memphis in honoring the upcoming memorial of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has also been the headliner in Little-Media’s Black Love concert series honoring first responders, educators and veterans.
For more information on Courtney Little, contact Courtney Little & Co management at 901-679-8429.
Deonna Sirod
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Memphis born, Memphis raised Deonna Sirod (Suh-Rod) grew up with music all around her. At the age of two Is when she discovered that her voice was something special. With the help of her brothers ,she learned her sound at a young age. She has been a part of the stax music Academy from grades nine through 12 which helped her further Her singing and schooling at Indiana University with a huge scholarship. She studied under Dr. Tyrone Cooper Who she would say helped her develop her sound the most. While school didn’t take priority, music presented many opportunities one being a tour in Spain singing the Gospel. She loves giving back to her community and to where it all started for her. She lives by this quote,”Music is felt so tell your truth however YOU would like to express it. Give thanks to God for everything. The good, the bad, the ugly, the glad. Life is about your experiences. Your story isn’t just for you.”
T r e s
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T R E S, is an Artist, Pianist, Songwriter, and Gold Certified Record Producer with a reputation for creating his own path. With a #1 Billboard single as a producer and 3 albums to his name,
T R E S is no stranger to mass appeal. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, T R E S began singing in the church & school choirs at 9yrs old and learning the piano by 17yrs old. A graduate from both SWCC & UofM with an Associates & Bachelors in Music Performance he quickly immersed himself into the local music scene in Memphis. Since then he has been consistently known as a go to Musical Director and musician. He's never been willing to simply stand under the umbrella of one genre, however, T R E S has shifted his focus from that of being a well-rounded producer/ musician to an artist whose aim is to make music that is true to him.
T R E S is no stranger to mass appeal. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, T R E S began singing in the church & school choirs at 9yrs old and learning the piano by 17yrs old. A graduate from both SWCC & UofM with an Associates & Bachelors in Music Performance he quickly immersed himself into the local music scene in Memphis. Since then he has been consistently known as a go to Musical Director and musician. He's never been willing to simply stand under the umbrella of one genre, however, T R E S has shifted his focus from that of being a well-rounded producer/ musician to an artist whose aim is to make music that is true to him.
kPlum
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Who is KPlum?
KPlum is the consummate dreamer! A Pisces who swims In her own direction and native Memphian, her musical background was birthed from her mother…the perfect pitched alto who sang with the CMBC Singers. Like most songwriters…poetry was the basis for this gift. KPlum began to use poetry as a means of “talking back“. She would often use her diary as a venting space to say whatever/however she wanted to say. KPlum is somewhat of a late bloomer in regards to sharing her talents. It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that people even knew she could sing a little bit. They had no idea about the journals of poems and songs that she had created throughout her adolescence. In college she met and married someone that was interested in music as well. They went to the pawnshop and bought a cheap mic, got a few Styrofoam pieces to staple to the wall, and turned their second bedroom into a bootleg studio. They would spend hours creating and making beats on a Casio keyboard. As a former elementary school teacher KPLUM had the opportunity to flex her theater minor as the drama coach at Goodlett Elementary in Memphis. There she wrote multiple plays with an urban twist such as “Ebony Scrooge”, “The Black Museum” and “Romero and Rita”. This program not only increased reading scores but gave kids unconventional inspiration for the arts and its mini facets.
Through fate and networking with her Dad’s catering business, She was able to land a gig singing with a blues band downtown on Beale Street.
This was a great experience and something that she never thought she would do.
“I really don’t consider myself a singer, I mean I can carry a note. But my true passion is songwriting”.
After moving to Nashville, KPlum found a whole new tribe of aspiring singer, songwriters, dancers, rappers, actors, and everything you can think of to creatively network and inspire her to try different avenues of expression. This would be placed on hold because, also during this time she became a caregiver for her mother who had been diagnosed with dementia. KPlum gave up her over 15 year career of teaching to become a full-time caregiver.
One day while scrolling on Instagram she saw a post by Plies the rapper promoting his new song ‘She is my Rock’. He was challenging any rapper/singer to an open verse for this song. She was relatively new to Instagram and had began to take tracks from YouTube and write songs to them…posting one verse snippets as some sort of creative outlet, but nothing had gone viral. She boldly decided at the age of 43 to write A rap verse to his “Rock Challenge”, rap it, and post it to her Instagram. When her daughter called her screaming on the other line, “Mama…PLIES REPOSTED you! She couldn’t believe it! The post went viral in a matter of minutes.
Thus reigniting The DREAM! KPlum Is the true definition of reinvention and forever fighting for the spot that she deserves no matter your age or background.
Dreams that belong to you are always attainable and never too big.
KPlum is the consummate dreamer! A Pisces who swims In her own direction and native Memphian, her musical background was birthed from her mother…the perfect pitched alto who sang with the CMBC Singers. Like most songwriters…poetry was the basis for this gift. KPlum began to use poetry as a means of “talking back“. She would often use her diary as a venting space to say whatever/however she wanted to say. KPlum is somewhat of a late bloomer in regards to sharing her talents. It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that people even knew she could sing a little bit. They had no idea about the journals of poems and songs that she had created throughout her adolescence. In college she met and married someone that was interested in music as well. They went to the pawnshop and bought a cheap mic, got a few Styrofoam pieces to staple to the wall, and turned their second bedroom into a bootleg studio. They would spend hours creating and making beats on a Casio keyboard. As a former elementary school teacher KPLUM had the opportunity to flex her theater minor as the drama coach at Goodlett Elementary in Memphis. There she wrote multiple plays with an urban twist such as “Ebony Scrooge”, “The Black Museum” and “Romero and Rita”. This program not only increased reading scores but gave kids unconventional inspiration for the arts and its mini facets.
Through fate and networking with her Dad’s catering business, She was able to land a gig singing with a blues band downtown on Beale Street.
This was a great experience and something that she never thought she would do.
“I really don’t consider myself a singer, I mean I can carry a note. But my true passion is songwriting”.
After moving to Nashville, KPlum found a whole new tribe of aspiring singer, songwriters, dancers, rappers, actors, and everything you can think of to creatively network and inspire her to try different avenues of expression. This would be placed on hold because, also during this time she became a caregiver for her mother who had been diagnosed with dementia. KPlum gave up her over 15 year career of teaching to become a full-time caregiver.
One day while scrolling on Instagram she saw a post by Plies the rapper promoting his new song ‘She is my Rock’. He was challenging any rapper/singer to an open verse for this song. She was relatively new to Instagram and had began to take tracks from YouTube and write songs to them…posting one verse snippets as some sort of creative outlet, but nothing had gone viral. She boldly decided at the age of 43 to write A rap verse to his “Rock Challenge”, rap it, and post it to her Instagram. When her daughter called her screaming on the other line, “Mama…PLIES REPOSTED you! She couldn’t believe it! The post went viral in a matter of minutes.
Thus reigniting The DREAM! KPlum Is the true definition of reinvention and forever fighting for the spot that she deserves no matter your age or background.
Dreams that belong to you are always attainable and never too big.
Suavo J
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Suavo Jones, The Hip Hop Trombonist, Is A High Energy Entertainer. He Has Been Known To Captivate Any And Every Audience With His Amazing Talents. From His Heartfelt Soulful Hip Hop Performances To His Intense Performances On The Horn, Suavo Jones Has All Of The Key Elements Of A Legend. His Presence Is Known When He Blesses A Stage. The Energy Omitted During A Show Will Be Sure To Grasp You And Take You On An Emotional Ride. He Currently Tours Internationally With “Ghost Town Blues Band” Led By “Matt Isbell”.
When Off The Road Suavo J Performs With A Number Of Other Bands Including His Own Bands “The M-Tones Band” & “Memph Orleans Street Symphony”, And As A Solo Hip Hop Artist/Spoken Word Artist. You Can Also Catch Him Hosting A Variety Of Shows That Showcase The Underground Scene In Memphis, With His Most Notable One Being “Keeping It Memphis”. In His Free Time You Can Normally Catch Suavo Jones Twirling His Horn On Beale Street And Playing A Sweet Sound For Anyone Wanting To Listen.
When Off The Road Suavo J Performs With A Number Of Other Bands Including His Own Bands “The M-Tones Band” & “Memph Orleans Street Symphony”, And As A Solo Hip Hop Artist/Spoken Word Artist. You Can Also Catch Him Hosting A Variety Of Shows That Showcase The Underground Scene In Memphis, With His Most Notable One Being “Keeping It Memphis”. In His Free Time You Can Normally Catch Suavo Jones Twirling His Horn On Beale Street And Playing A Sweet Sound For Anyone Wanting To Listen.
Marco Alexander
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"His voice can make his listeners feel any emotion known to man. On top of that, you add unique sounds and a kick that you can feel to Marco's amazing voice, and you get a product in which music is missing…" -Danielle Simmons (Atlanta Music Blog)
Marco Alexander, born Marcus Alexander Hurt, is an international Singer/Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Instrumentalist, Designer, and all around ARTIST. Second born in Memphis, TN and listening to such artists as Jackie Wilson, Phil Collins, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke, Sting, and Michael Jackson; he started his study of music at an extremely young age. Along with being exposed to such artists, he is also the second cousin of Andrew Love; of the late horn section duo, “The Memphis Horns.” These artists, along with legendary family members, have taught Marco to develop a style that is not only untouchable, but also timeless. Marco grew up watching his mother Rosalyn, lead the church choir while sitting next to the organ player so that he wouldn’t get into trouble. It was very clear that he was destined to be around the arts for a very long time. With his parents being instrumentalists & vocalists, he was often granted the opportunity to travel and study sounds that were unfamiliar to him. Whether it was the sound of beating on pots and pans as a toddler, or listening to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra perform The Sea Symphony on a middle school trip; Marco took advantage of every opportunity to understand the idea of music. He always seemed to be extremely interested in every aspect of the performing arts. Marco started in piano lessons at a very young age however, started to study string instruments soon after entering the third grade. He was also a part of one of the nations leading children's choirs, “The Angels of Praise” under the direction of Anthony Q. Richardson (whom he gives credit for a lot of his vocal ambition). As a result, Marcus was granted the opportunity to represent several professional symphony orchestras and industry music organizations on television/radio airings as a young prodigy. During his senior year in high school, Marcus (double bass) won the opportunity to make his Carnegie Hall debut with the National Festival Symphony performing Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. At the point of graduating high school, Marcus was already venturing into the theater world where he won his first audition. Since then, he has been featured in shows such as Thoroughly Modern Millie (Chorus), Aida (as Mereb) in four different theaters, Dreamgirls (CC), and more. This is where he found a new love for production design and had already begun designing his future shows under the name "Marco Alexander". Marco received a bachelors degree in Music Education & Music Performance, with a minor in music business from the University of Memphis, where he studied with John Chiego. After countless success at the University, this led him to tour and perform with over 23 ensembles nationwide and tour on national soundtrack tours with Disney and Nintendo.
"People tell you often that the sky is the limit. I am one who finally understands that statement and can honestly challenge it by saying that the sky is NEVER the limit. There is so much more left to discover, if you are willing to work for it." -Marco Alexander
As well as being a trained musician, Marco has created a sound that will influence any situation. His voice is untouchable, his harmonies are uncommon, and his lyrics are written from everyday situations that occur throughout the world around him. However, his music is not only inspired from the traditional Pop/R&B culture, but other world cultures from known to the unknown. He refers to this as the "LivingMusik" sound. Having traveled and studied music in Germany, West Africa, and other countries, Marco has never settled in the common way of musical execution. He has always thought of himself as someone who never conformed to this world (or your average sound/experience); from the way that he processed thoughts to the way that he arranges his melodic structure. This brought him to start working on his debut EP, entitled “Friction”.
"In most cases, the track has to carry an experience before I decide to add lyrics to the track. If I don’t feel anything before the lyrics, it will not be a song worth hearing. Everything I sing about, someone around the world is going through." -Marco Alexander
It was not until 2017 that Marco released his debut EP. He was about finding his sound. Since then, he has performed in such venues such as The Orpheum Theatre of Memphis, The Cannon Center, The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Carnegie Hall; as well as other countries such as Germany, The Czech Republic, and New Mexico. He also has credits on albums as a musician (double bassist), as well as a singer/ songwriter/arranger. Marco, now the owner of clothing brand “Sound Kulture” has also developed a clothing line, designed by himself, that has been seen in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and even accompanying his music. On the back of each design for his “Friction” EP, is the title of one of the songs sewn in reflective nylon. Marco has been an Ethnic Print clothing designer for almost 10 years now. This has led him to share his style with the world and encourage being completely YOU!
In January of 2020, Marco traveled to Dakar Senegal, to begin studying for his 18 track album “Kultured Friction”. While there, Marco recorded with over five recording artists from all over Africa, earning him the title of INTERNATIONAL. In July 2021, Marco released his debut album and is now preparing for his debut tour and more.
“The definition of Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when being placed over another. Take that definition and replace it with someone who never quite fit in because he saw the world in a different light. There is more to it, but that’s the gist of why I chose that title.” -Marco Alexander
Marco Alexander, born Marcus Alexander Hurt, is an international Singer/Songwriter, Composer, Arranger, Instrumentalist, Designer, and all around ARTIST. Second born in Memphis, TN and listening to such artists as Jackie Wilson, Phil Collins, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke, Sting, and Michael Jackson; he started his study of music at an extremely young age. Along with being exposed to such artists, he is also the second cousin of Andrew Love; of the late horn section duo, “The Memphis Horns.” These artists, along with legendary family members, have taught Marco to develop a style that is not only untouchable, but also timeless. Marco grew up watching his mother Rosalyn, lead the church choir while sitting next to the organ player so that he wouldn’t get into trouble. It was very clear that he was destined to be around the arts for a very long time. With his parents being instrumentalists & vocalists, he was often granted the opportunity to travel and study sounds that were unfamiliar to him. Whether it was the sound of beating on pots and pans as a toddler, or listening to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra perform The Sea Symphony on a middle school trip; Marco took advantage of every opportunity to understand the idea of music. He always seemed to be extremely interested in every aspect of the performing arts. Marco started in piano lessons at a very young age however, started to study string instruments soon after entering the third grade. He was also a part of one of the nations leading children's choirs, “The Angels of Praise” under the direction of Anthony Q. Richardson (whom he gives credit for a lot of his vocal ambition). As a result, Marcus was granted the opportunity to represent several professional symphony orchestras and industry music organizations on television/radio airings as a young prodigy. During his senior year in high school, Marcus (double bass) won the opportunity to make his Carnegie Hall debut with the National Festival Symphony performing Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. At the point of graduating high school, Marcus was already venturing into the theater world where he won his first audition. Since then, he has been featured in shows such as Thoroughly Modern Millie (Chorus), Aida (as Mereb) in four different theaters, Dreamgirls (CC), and more. This is where he found a new love for production design and had already begun designing his future shows under the name "Marco Alexander". Marco received a bachelors degree in Music Education & Music Performance, with a minor in music business from the University of Memphis, where he studied with John Chiego. After countless success at the University, this led him to tour and perform with over 23 ensembles nationwide and tour on national soundtrack tours with Disney and Nintendo.
"People tell you often that the sky is the limit. I am one who finally understands that statement and can honestly challenge it by saying that the sky is NEVER the limit. There is so much more left to discover, if you are willing to work for it." -Marco Alexander
As well as being a trained musician, Marco has created a sound that will influence any situation. His voice is untouchable, his harmonies are uncommon, and his lyrics are written from everyday situations that occur throughout the world around him. However, his music is not only inspired from the traditional Pop/R&B culture, but other world cultures from known to the unknown. He refers to this as the "LivingMusik" sound. Having traveled and studied music in Germany, West Africa, and other countries, Marco has never settled in the common way of musical execution. He has always thought of himself as someone who never conformed to this world (or your average sound/experience); from the way that he processed thoughts to the way that he arranges his melodic structure. This brought him to start working on his debut EP, entitled “Friction”.
"In most cases, the track has to carry an experience before I decide to add lyrics to the track. If I don’t feel anything before the lyrics, it will not be a song worth hearing. Everything I sing about, someone around the world is going through." -Marco Alexander
It was not until 2017 that Marco released his debut EP. He was about finding his sound. Since then, he has performed in such venues such as The Orpheum Theatre of Memphis, The Cannon Center, The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Carnegie Hall; as well as other countries such as Germany, The Czech Republic, and New Mexico. He also has credits on albums as a musician (double bassist), as well as a singer/ songwriter/arranger. Marco, now the owner of clothing brand “Sound Kulture” has also developed a clothing line, designed by himself, that has been seen in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and even accompanying his music. On the back of each design for his “Friction” EP, is the title of one of the songs sewn in reflective nylon. Marco has been an Ethnic Print clothing designer for almost 10 years now. This has led him to share his style with the world and encourage being completely YOU!
In January of 2020, Marco traveled to Dakar Senegal, to begin studying for his 18 track album “Kultured Friction”. While there, Marco recorded with over five recording artists from all over Africa, earning him the title of INTERNATIONAL. In July 2021, Marco released his debut album and is now preparing for his debut tour and more.
“The definition of Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when being placed over another. Take that definition and replace it with someone who never quite fit in because he saw the world in a different light. There is more to it, but that’s the gist of why I chose that title.” -Marco Alexander
lisa mac
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Lisa Mac has walked through a hurricane.
It’s the best way to describe the violent storm of her abusive past, a secret prison that kept her
controlled and quiet. For almost a decade Lisa’s voice was stifled – but now she’s picking up the pieces
on the other side, finding herself in the debris.
Lisa was born and raised in Memphis. You’ll know it within minutes of meeting her or hearing her
music, a seamless blend of blues, pop and the city’s signature gritty hip-hop beats. She’s creating her
own kind of soul. It’s unsurprising, considering that she grew up singing in church, and says she first
discovered her voice when she got connected with the Gospel community as a teen.
That hurricane stole almost a decade from Lisa. Scarred but not broken is her sensitive heart – she sees
her music as a chance to connect, to bring people joy. Instead of dwelling on her past, she’s grabbed the
pen and is writing her own next chapter. That story begins a few years ago, when Lisa stumbled onto a
little house in Memphis’ eclectic Cooper-Young neighborhood. There was something about this spot –
she scraped together the money to rent its expansive back studio, and eventually took over the whole
place. She invited artists and like-minded people to share the space and christened the funky little house
at 688 Cox Street: Studio688. A deeply creative visual artist, the studio was a home for Lisa’s painting
and photography; but it was inside Studio688 that she began making music again, with fellow musician
and producer Wil Deshazo (Fast Planet). It’s where she first played “Hurricane.” It was where everything
changed.
Through the community she’d built at Studio688, “Hurricane” made its way to guitarist and producer
Elliot Ives (Justin Timberlake, FreeSol, Lord T & Eloise). Instantly, something clicked. “We just have
something in common, an underlying vibe,” she says. “He gets me – he gets exactly what I want. I want
to surprise people, confuse them a little bit. Really, I write blues songs – they’re relatable and real and
coming from a real place. But the sound is pop with hip-hop and rap influences. I want to catch people
off guard a little bit.”
It was clear from the start that Ives was the perfect fit to produce Lisa’s music, and with his help her
vision began to take shape.
“The man loves to make beats and I love beats,” Lisa laughs. “My brother is a DJ so growing up, my
bedroom next to his, I was surrounded by beats. It’s just so cool that my love for blues and Elliot’s gift of
beats have come together like a magic potion.”
Undoubtedly, there’s an element of magic to all of this. Lisa ticks off a list of people who’ve been put
into her path in the last year who’ve made this possible. All these characters who’ve defined this new
chapter have all landed at exactly the right time. She wrote “Hurricane” in May. She met Ives in June.
And since then, things have moved fast. Whirlwind fast.
Lisa says it’s nothing short of divine intervention – but from the outside, it’s easy to see that Lisa, at last,
is the one calling the shots. From the inside, mostly Lisa feels grateful. She’s a born-and-bred Memphian
who sees her city rising up around her, and wants to find a way to pour back into it.
First, though, she’ll finish her debut album with Ives and engineer Scott Hardin at Young Avenue Sound.
It will be ready for release it in 2016 – from there, she’ll chart a path forward, away from the wreckage
of what was and boldly into a future that Lisa is finally defining for herself.
It’s the best way to describe the violent storm of her abusive past, a secret prison that kept her
controlled and quiet. For almost a decade Lisa’s voice was stifled – but now she’s picking up the pieces
on the other side, finding herself in the debris.
Lisa was born and raised in Memphis. You’ll know it within minutes of meeting her or hearing her
music, a seamless blend of blues, pop and the city’s signature gritty hip-hop beats. She’s creating her
own kind of soul. It’s unsurprising, considering that she grew up singing in church, and says she first
discovered her voice when she got connected with the Gospel community as a teen.
That hurricane stole almost a decade from Lisa. Scarred but not broken is her sensitive heart – she sees
her music as a chance to connect, to bring people joy. Instead of dwelling on her past, she’s grabbed the
pen and is writing her own next chapter. That story begins a few years ago, when Lisa stumbled onto a
little house in Memphis’ eclectic Cooper-Young neighborhood. There was something about this spot –
she scraped together the money to rent its expansive back studio, and eventually took over the whole
place. She invited artists and like-minded people to share the space and christened the funky little house
at 688 Cox Street: Studio688. A deeply creative visual artist, the studio was a home for Lisa’s painting
and photography; but it was inside Studio688 that she began making music again, with fellow musician
and producer Wil Deshazo (Fast Planet). It’s where she first played “Hurricane.” It was where everything
changed.
Through the community she’d built at Studio688, “Hurricane” made its way to guitarist and producer
Elliot Ives (Justin Timberlake, FreeSol, Lord T & Eloise). Instantly, something clicked. “We just have
something in common, an underlying vibe,” she says. “He gets me – he gets exactly what I want. I want
to surprise people, confuse them a little bit. Really, I write blues songs – they’re relatable and real and
coming from a real place. But the sound is pop with hip-hop and rap influences. I want to catch people
off guard a little bit.”
It was clear from the start that Ives was the perfect fit to produce Lisa’s music, and with his help her
vision began to take shape.
“The man loves to make beats and I love beats,” Lisa laughs. “My brother is a DJ so growing up, my
bedroom next to his, I was surrounded by beats. It’s just so cool that my love for blues and Elliot’s gift of
beats have come together like a magic potion.”
Undoubtedly, there’s an element of magic to all of this. Lisa ticks off a list of people who’ve been put
into her path in the last year who’ve made this possible. All these characters who’ve defined this new
chapter have all landed at exactly the right time. She wrote “Hurricane” in May. She met Ives in June.
And since then, things have moved fast. Whirlwind fast.
Lisa says it’s nothing short of divine intervention – but from the outside, it’s easy to see that Lisa, at last,
is the one calling the shots. From the inside, mostly Lisa feels grateful. She’s a born-and-bred Memphian
who sees her city rising up around her, and wants to find a way to pour back into it.
First, though, she’ll finish her debut album with Ives and engineer Scott Hardin at Young Avenue Sound.
It will be ready for release it in 2016 – from there, she’ll chart a path forward, away from the wreckage
of what was and boldly into a future that Lisa is finally defining for herself.
CINO
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Candy Fox
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Candy Fox is from the Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll - Memphis, TN! Her musical roots run deep, as she started singing at church at the tender age of three. She grew up in Memphis before moving to Boston, where she earned a BA in Communications from Boston College, where she was also a member of Voices of Imani, BC’s gospel choir. Shortly after graduation, she won a radio contest that earned her the title the "Boston Idol," which helped her land a spot in the Top 100” during the second season of American Idol (the year Rueben Studdard won).
Candy Fox returned to her hometown and lent her sultry vocals and fiery-energy to the hip-hop/Rock/soul band Free Sol, who won the 2003 Mid-South Grammy Showcase and released an album, 11:11. This was all before beginning her solo musical journey, which has afforded her the opportunity to make music and tour nationally AND INTERNATIONALLY with some of the best in the industry, including: David Porter, William Bell, Toni Green and the late great J Blackfoot from Stax Records; other Memphis hometown favorites, such as Wendy Moten, Reba Russell and Susan Marshall; Jazz artists Kirk Whalum, Miles Jay, Phil Perry and Paul Taylor; R&B/Soul artists Howard Hewett and Shalamar, Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neill, Micki Free, Larry Dodson of the Barkays, Glenn Jones, James Ingram, Dave Hollister from Blackstreet, En Vogue, Angela Winbush, Chico DeBarge, Calvin Richardson, Regina Belle and Tony Terry; Broadway sensation Jennifer Holliday; Gospel artists Mr. Del, the late Richard Smallwood, Kurt Karr…AND THE LIST GOES ON! Likely her most notable accomplishment to date is releasing her indie debut solo album, Soul Stir, while honing another career in marketing and communications. Given her diverse musical background, Candy Fox is all about “stirring your soul,” as we see and hear on the album, available on iTunes, Amazon, etc. You can also order a hard copy and book Candy Fox for a show via email at: candaceagray@yahoo.com. Candy Fox is currently part of the Sounds of Vinyl production, which takes diverse audiences on a riveting trip through the American musical landscape. You might also catch her performing as part of the Grizzlies House Band down at FedEx Forum. Candy Fox is fronting a new band out of Memphis called Third Coast, led by guitarist and music producer Garry Goin.
Candy Fox returned to her hometown and lent her sultry vocals and fiery-energy to the hip-hop/Rock/soul band Free Sol, who won the 2003 Mid-South Grammy Showcase and released an album, 11:11. This was all before beginning her solo musical journey, which has afforded her the opportunity to make music and tour nationally AND INTERNATIONALLY with some of the best in the industry, including: David Porter, William Bell, Toni Green and the late great J Blackfoot from Stax Records; other Memphis hometown favorites, such as Wendy Moten, Reba Russell and Susan Marshall; Jazz artists Kirk Whalum, Miles Jay, Phil Perry and Paul Taylor; R&B/Soul artists Howard Hewett and Shalamar, Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neill, Micki Free, Larry Dodson of the Barkays, Glenn Jones, James Ingram, Dave Hollister from Blackstreet, En Vogue, Angela Winbush, Chico DeBarge, Calvin Richardson, Regina Belle and Tony Terry; Broadway sensation Jennifer Holliday; Gospel artists Mr. Del, the late Richard Smallwood, Kurt Karr…AND THE LIST GOES ON! Likely her most notable accomplishment to date is releasing her indie debut solo album, Soul Stir, while honing another career in marketing and communications. Given her diverse musical background, Candy Fox is all about “stirring your soul,” as we see and hear on the album, available on iTunes, Amazon, etc. You can also order a hard copy and book Candy Fox for a show via email at: candaceagray@yahoo.com. Candy Fox is currently part of the Sounds of Vinyl production, which takes diverse audiences on a riveting trip through the American musical landscape. You might also catch her performing as part of the Grizzlies House Band down at FedEx Forum. Candy Fox is fronting a new band out of Memphis called Third Coast, led by guitarist and music producer Garry Goin.
A.C.E.
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Gerald Richardson
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Gerald Richardson is a native Memphian, who is very proud of all of the opportunities that he has had while in the wonderful world of music here and abroad. Gerald was raised in the Memphis Music community. His parents were both accomplished musicians and singers and his siblings and were all a part of being active in music. Gerald's professional musical journey started in 2012 as a background vocalist for a number of artists; in 2015 he began singing lead vocals. He has also recorded with multiple national artists. Gerald released his first single “Naturally” in 2019 and his song topped out at #2 on the Global Soul Chart. He is currently recording an album that is scheduled to be released in September 2022. He would like to thank everyone that has supported him throughout the years!
Savannah Brister
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Memphis-based singer-songwriter, Savannah Brister, has a stunning way of grabbing her audience’s attention and commanding the hearts of everyone who hears her. With her powerful vocals and emotional songwriting, she resonates with everyone in the crowd and makes them feel welcome with her quirky personality. She got a chance to be a part of NBC’s show, ’The Voice’ at the beginning of 2019 and scored a spot on John Legend’s team. Her other accomplishments include winning an HMMA award for her song, “Dear World” in 2021 and placing first in a songwriting competition with her latest single, “Feelings.” Savannah is now working on her first EP. Don’t miss out on hearing this young performer share her heart and soul; she will be sure to leave you wanting more.
Yella P
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Damion Kereem Pearson, aka ‘Yella P,’ is a multifaceted artist from Memphis creating a sound rooted in the blues with shades of soul, gospel, and hip-hop. Mostly self-taught, Damion began playing harmonica at age 13, saving up his lunch money for a month to purchase the instrument. Adding to his arsenal, Damion later learned to play the guitar, saxophone, trombone, and piano. He got his start on Beale Street playing with ‘Big’ Jerry Parnell.
Tyke T
Tyke T combined honest lyrics, bold production, and insight garnered from his graduate education to climb the charts without the help of a major-label. The indie artist -- who graduated with an MBA from Middle Tennessee State University -- studied the charts and organized his fan base, storming the Top 50 of four Billboard charts with his sophomore EP, 2017's The Prelude. Born Tyrone Stroble in Smyrna, Tennessee, Tyke's main influences were '90s R&B and New Jack Swing by the likes of Jodeci, Bobby Brown, and Bell Biv Devoe, as well as rap from Master P, Kanye West, Drake, 8Ball & MJG, UGK, and Outkast.
Adajyo
Sequoia, Stephani, Britne and Joy — the foursome that makes up the dynamic singing group, ADAJYO, first met in high school and became fast friends. In fact, the group was formed on the heels of a three-way school suspension for skipping class. After noticing Sequoia’s gift, Britne, Stephani and Joy wanted so desperately to hear her sing that they forged a tardy excuse from their teacher, skipped their homeroom course and sneaked into the choir room to hear her. After the suspension ended, the group was properly formed, lacking only one thing - what to be called. Wanting a name that sounded different than the norm, they thumbed through a dictionary and stumbled upon the word ‘adagio’, meaning: a steady, slow and graceful movement in music. Thus, ADAJYO was birthed.
Originally desiring to be backed by instrumentation, the foursome was encouraged by friend and vocal mentor, Thomas Jackson, to use their first instruments - their voices. He rearranged Richard Smallwood’s Total Praise for them and their journey as an acapella group began to take root. Since then, their sound has evolved from gospel to soul with inflections of jazz and R&B. With nearly two decades of friendship and life experiences under their belt, ADAJYO has since created their own genre, appropriately called “Heart Music”. This new genre, much like its creators, cannot be fashioned to fit into existing categories. Instead, Heart Music weaves together many styles, sounds and harmonious blends, all to share a message of light and life, love and unity. Surrounded by family and friends who also share deep roots in soul-stirring music, this band of powerful women credits a lot of their sound to musical giants such as Stevie Wonder, Take 6, New York Voices, Tweet, PJ Morton, Shea Norman, Imogen Heap and a host of others.. Their unique, airy voices continue to pave new roads in music and have reached the ears of many legends; even affording them the opportunity to back vocal powerhouse, Lalah Hathaway, on stage. When they are not stacking vocals in the studio or swaying gracefully on the stage, they can be found tapping into other talents, ranging from culinary to performance arts or spending quality time with their families. With hearts as pure as the lyrics they dream up and sing over their adoring supporters, ADAJYO is swiftly becoming one of the ones to watch. Follow along as they make their mark in musical history.
Originally desiring to be backed by instrumentation, the foursome was encouraged by friend and vocal mentor, Thomas Jackson, to use their first instruments - their voices. He rearranged Richard Smallwood’s Total Praise for them and their journey as an acapella group began to take root. Since then, their sound has evolved from gospel to soul with inflections of jazz and R&B. With nearly two decades of friendship and life experiences under their belt, ADAJYO has since created their own genre, appropriately called “Heart Music”. This new genre, much like its creators, cannot be fashioned to fit into existing categories. Instead, Heart Music weaves together many styles, sounds and harmonious blends, all to share a message of light and life, love and unity. Surrounded by family and friends who also share deep roots in soul-stirring music, this band of powerful women credits a lot of their sound to musical giants such as Stevie Wonder, Take 6, New York Voices, Tweet, PJ Morton, Shea Norman, Imogen Heap and a host of others.. Their unique, airy voices continue to pave new roads in music and have reached the ears of many legends; even affording them the opportunity to back vocal powerhouse, Lalah Hathaway, on stage. When they are not stacking vocals in the studio or swaying gracefully on the stage, they can be found tapping into other talents, ranging from culinary to performance arts or spending quality time with their families. With hearts as pure as the lyrics they dream up and sing over their adoring supporters, ADAJYO is swiftly becoming one of the ones to watch. Follow along as they make their mark in musical history.
Nick Black
Nick Black is a fun, optimistic, and authentic artist from Memphis, TN. Influenced by the feel-good music of Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars, and the musicality of legacy acts such as Al Green and Sting, Nick has created his music to sound modern and unique, yet familiar and nostalgic.
His stage presence as an entertainer is quite something to behold. Nick pulls the audience in and doesn’t let them go. He creates an experience that he wants everyone to be part of. Pulling people up from the crowd, singing to a fan in the front row...everyone's included. He grew up between two worlds: his family’s deep ties to church, and his hometown of Memphis where Soul, RnB, Rock N’ Roll, and Blues legends made names for themselves, Black’s sound is an organically grown phenomenon, honed at open mic nights, in church, at hundreds of club gigs, and now on larger stages across the USA.
Since his first album in 2012, The Soul Diaries, his authenticity and passion has been the foundation of his identity, both as a person and as an artist. In March and April of 2020, with touring being shut down, Nick embarked on a record-setting 30 songs in 30 days called “Nick Black’s $ongs from $cratch” on his Twitch channel writing songs in real time from samples, riffs and lyric lines sent in by viewers. He has since written over 100 songs in front of a quickly growing live streaming audience, 12 of which landed on his brand new TWITCH #1 album, which has over 100,000 plays on Spotify.
His stage presence as an entertainer is quite something to behold. Nick pulls the audience in and doesn’t let them go. He creates an experience that he wants everyone to be part of. Pulling people up from the crowd, singing to a fan in the front row...everyone's included. He grew up between two worlds: his family’s deep ties to church, and his hometown of Memphis where Soul, RnB, Rock N’ Roll, and Blues legends made names for themselves, Black’s sound is an organically grown phenomenon, honed at open mic nights, in church, at hundreds of club gigs, and now on larger stages across the USA.
Since his first album in 2012, The Soul Diaries, his authenticity and passion has been the foundation of his identity, both as a person and as an artist. In March and April of 2020, with touring being shut down, Nick embarked on a record-setting 30 songs in 30 days called “Nick Black’s $ongs from $cratch” on his Twitch channel writing songs in real time from samples, riffs and lyric lines sent in by viewers. He has since written over 100 songs in front of a quickly growing live streaming audience, 12 of which landed on his brand new TWITCH #1 album, which has over 100,000 plays on Spotify.
Faith PQ
Kemmie Douglas, artistically known as FaithPQ (Poetikally Quoted), identifies as she. She is a poet, spoken word artist and member of The Traveling Poets in Memphis, TN. She has mentored youth in the community with Hattiloo's WOSO mentoring program. FaithPQ utilizes her voice in poetry to inspire self identity, self expression and bringing mental health awareness. She started off writing short stories and essays elementary that led to several award wins and she fell in love with poetry in the 6th grade. FaithPQ's first embark on the Memphis poetry scene was winning 2nd place at the National Civil Rights Museum's Drop the Mic Poetry Slam in 2014.
I enjoy slam poetry but I'm here for the art of it all. I'm a firm believer in collaboration. My new found love is collaborating my love of poetry with my love of music. Every opportunity to hit the mic is an opportunity to inspire creativity as an " instrumental poet".
I enjoy slam poetry but I'm here for the art of it all. I'm a firm believer in collaboration. My new found love is collaborating my love of poetry with my love of music. Every opportunity to hit the mic is an opportunity to inspire creativity as an " instrumental poet".
Yung Titan
Memphis, TN native, Yung Titan creates music from his passion, pain, and process as he battles balancing his life as a husband, father and MC. "My addictions, struggles, faith and praise bleeds out in every song, I'm just grateful knowing I'm not alone, and I can inspire others musically that go through the same thing."
Titan, 31, looks to bring the missing heart in christian hip-hop as he embarks on his new Faith Season journey.
Titan, 31, looks to bring the missing heart in christian hip-hop as he embarks on his new Faith Season journey.
Cameron Ross
Energetic, inspiring, and smooth are some of the words that can describe the music of Cameron Ross. A native of Osceola, Arkansas, Cameron grew up in an environment surrounded by music. He began playing saxophone at the age of 11 in the 6th grade. By high school, he had his own band that played at various church and community functions. Upon completing high school, he earned a band scholarship to Arkansas State University where he earned a bachelor's degree in music education. He later returned to school to earn his Master of Music Education from The University of Memphis. He also is a music education researcher and has an upcoming article in Music Education Journal. Cameron is a twenty-one-year veteran of education and currently teaches band at Snowden Middle School in Memphis. He also serves as the jazz chairman for the West Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association.
In 2012, Cameron released his first music project titled New Perspective, a collection of original and covers of inspirational and smooth jazz. In 2017, he released his second project Power which focused on contemporary praise and worship. He has also appeared on the projects of several other artists as well. Cameron has performed in several venues across the country such as Humphries Backstage in San Diego, The Perfect Note in Birmingham, and Wet Willie’s in Washington D.C. He has also been invited to perform several shows in Toronto, Canada. Some of the television appearances include The Bobby Jones Gospel Show, Good Morning Memphis, and The Trinity Broadcast Network. He has also performed the national anthem for the Memphis Grizzlies three times.
Cameron has been married for 22 years and has two children.
In 2012, Cameron released his first music project titled New Perspective, a collection of original and covers of inspirational and smooth jazz. In 2017, he released his second project Power which focused on contemporary praise and worship. He has also appeared on the projects of several other artists as well. Cameron has performed in several venues across the country such as Humphries Backstage in San Diego, The Perfect Note in Birmingham, and Wet Willie’s in Washington D.C. He has also been invited to perform several shows in Toronto, Canada. Some of the television appearances include The Bobby Jones Gospel Show, Good Morning Memphis, and The Trinity Broadcast Network. He has also performed the national anthem for the Memphis Grizzlies three times.
Cameron has been married for 22 years and has two children.
Doll Mccoy
Doll McCoy is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Memphis,TN. She formed her roots singing,and directing in the church choir at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Going on to become a student at Ridgeway Jr. High/High School,she met her 3 sisters,and together they formed the group,”ADAJYO” and have been together for 18 years. With a desire to expand her knowledge and artistry, she relocated to Los Angeles,CA from 2011-2015,working with artist such as Raphael Saadiq,and Leonna Lewis. In 2015, she went on to work for the B.B. King Blues Club,traveling the world aboard Holland America Cruise Lines until 2018. Now,back in Memphis,she uses all that she has learned and continues to perform in the city,create new music with ADAJYO,curate events such as “Doll’s Playlist”, and will release on her own music soon!
Bird Williams
Nicknamed “Bird” for his melodious style of singing, Bird Williams, native Memphis born & raised, has graced a great many stages in the mid-south area with his amazing soulful talent. Bird has that “ole skool” flow that pulls listeners directly into the song. Take a listen to Bird Williams and join the ever growing fan base who loves true R&B in its full glory. Available now at ALL streaming and download companies worldwide.
