PlayPro Media is hosting an event on Wednesday, April 17 at The Vinyl. The A&R Southern Talent Expo II (TARSTE) mixer will feature the artists currently working with PlayPro Media and the students in the Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business program at Kennesaw State University. Each artist will take the stage to perform one song, while a panel of VIP guests judge each performance. You can listen to each artist and vote for your favorite until the day of the event.
What is PlayPro Media?
“We help talented artists focus on careers, connect to the industry, and build a vibrant fan base. Through our footprint, PlayPro provides access to students at dozens of the nation’s finest schools, allowing bands to reach fans on a daily basis.”
With PlayPro Media fans get free music, you can join a street team and learn the business, or get your band discovered… and meet people who love music like you do along the way. You can connect with bands after letting us know who you are and what music you like most. You might just end up meeting your favorite acts, because along with discovering new music, PlayPro is building a ground-based network of interns/assistants, Street Teams and our VIP friends. Along the way, PlayPro will stage concerts of all sizes, bringing new music to a new world of fans nationwide.
PlayPro Media Founder, Brad Todd, is an established executive in many areas of the entertainment industry and has worked with most of the top media producers, promoters and distributors worldwide. His expertise are in the areas of music product development, production, touring and promotions.His past Principal clients include Atlantic Records, eOne Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Relativity Media, Bad Boy Entertainment, Fox and the EMI Music Group. Todd owned and was the lead recording engineer for world class studios Pakrat Ent. (located in Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA) and Sound Asylum (Hollywood, California.) As a leader in the integration of new distribution platforms since 2007, he has progressively furnished this insight to his media clientele. Todd’s company PlayProMedia has developed a proprietary college based music marketing and distribution model. The model is supported by music business colleges and markets to over 25,118 student housing units worldwide.
I caught up with some of the TARSTE II artists to ask a few questions. Check out what they had to say and vote for your favorite once a day until April 17!
Lyrical A.J.:
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Well I’ve actually gone through a few stage names, but they all sounded like they needed tweaking. My nickname my mother gave me to shorten my name is A.J. Which is what most people refer to me as socially. When it comes to my music, ever since the beginning one thing everyone has always respected, complimented me on and/or know me for is my lyrics. & I made “LyricalAJ” my name on twitter & and after a while it just stuck.
What would be the line-up for your dream gig?
The line up for my dream gig would be at a music festival. One of the biggest ones like SxSW, Coachella or Lollapalooza on the big stage with a crowd looking like a sea of people. It’d be an evening of music with acts lined up with me, Lauryn Hill, Andre 3000, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Mos Def, the Silver Comet rest in peace if I could I’d bring out Amy Winehouse and to even it out throw in a Notorious B.I.G hologram.
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
One powerful word…Cinematic (Cinematic is a metaphor for having a clear vision of what you want your story to be and taking action to bring it to life in a big way. The same way a movie director does with getting their vision brought to the big screen by taking action)
What are your plans for your music in 2013?
I have a wonderful album with a wonderful message and now I plan to share it with as many individuals as I possibly can. I just released my album Cinematic 0.5: The Pursuit of Happiness on iTunes. While creating Cinematic visuals for fans from favorited songs off of this album. The next one will be Ride (to Chipotle). I hope to continue working with Play Pro Media and Royal Blue Apparel and have a high hopes for creating the exposure to tour in the Fall spreading this Cinematic message. This is what I’m meant to do so if I can be working on music full time by the end of 2013 that will be a dream come true.
Kyron Leslie:
What’s the story behind your stage name?
It’s actually my real name. When I began my recording career, I attempted to come up with cool stage or nicknames, but nothing ever stuck.
What would be the line-up for your dream gig?
Wow. I don’t even know how to answer this one. I like different artists for different reasons.
Living: D’Angelo, Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar; Dead: Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Amy Winehouse, Nirvana, Notorious Big.
None of this would be cohesive. Would probably need to inter mingle each of the performers sets, but would definitely be great nights of music.
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Healing
What are your plans for your music in 2013?
My plans are to get more song placements with major recording artists, record new music and secure a major publishing/record deal, and finally to visit more high schools through my non profit to encourage students to find a passion and stay in school.
DJ Midnite Panda:
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Midnite Panda was given to me my freshmen year of college while I was pledging my fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon up in West Chester, PA. I’ve always played hockey my whole life, which is considered a “white” sport and I’m Kenyan. So there’s the black and white thing that correlated to people calling me Panda. The Midnite thing came from me having a dark complexion like midnight. Thus “Midnite Panda” was born. When I decided to DJ, I figured that was a perfect name for me, but switched up the spelling of midnight to midnite. Why…no reason.
What would be the line-up for your dream gig?
My dream lineup would consist of a mix of Dubstep artists, House artists and Trap artists. 50 carrot, Funtcase, Afrojack, Hardwell, Dada Life, Swoop Gang (that’s my team), TNGHT, Bassnectar, Baauer, Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Meek Mill, Heroes x Villians, Mayhem x Antiserum…
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
It would be one of 3 words: reckless, aggressive or ratchet.
What are your plans for your music in 2013?
I might be signing a deal real soon which will give me more oppurtunities for out-of-state shows and festivals. I’m playing one music festival in September at the Masquerade music park in Atlanta. Expect alot of orginal music from myself and my team Swoop Gang and a possible tour before the end of the year.
SULI4Q:
What’s the story behind your stage name?
I am my dads namesake so growing up instead of calling me Sulaiman everybody called me SULI not to confuse the two. 4Q stands for fourth quarter; Coming of age fresh out of highschool is the fourth quarter of life, rather you dropped out or graduated. This quarter lasts until death and determines whether you win or lose in this game we call life! SULI4Q
What would be the line-up for your dream gig?
Andre 3000, T.I, EMINEM, and myself
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Engaging
What are your plans for your music in 2013?
We will be realeasing Undeniable (Deluxe Version) with my opening single, “Hold My City Down” (Prod. by: “yours truly” SULI4Q)
For booking contact my manager Chance Lewis; [email protected]
Lingo :
What’s the story behind your stage name?
Back in high school, 2004ish, we were having trouble thinking of a band name that stuck, so Justin (lead vox, guitar) decided to open up the dictionary to see if any word stood out. The word “lingo” was spotted, and it just seemed to have a good feel to it, so we went with it. I think it fits though, because I like to think that our music speaks its own language. And on the stage, when we are in moments of improvisation, we even speak our own language with each other.
What would be the line-up for your dream gig?
Hmm…this is tough, but I think my dream gig would be a show with Wilco, Paul Simon, Lingo, and James Brown to close out the night. That night would cover a wide range of emotions, and at the end with James Brown it’d just be a funky throwdown. I like to think we provide a nice transition between these bands too.
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Shapeshifting.
What are your plans for your music in 2013?
We have been touring pretty heavily around the southeast already, but we are planning a Florida tour in the summer, we are going to get back into Terminal West in Atlanta soon, and we plan on writing and recording some new music. Stay tuned! Visit www.lingomusic.net to see what we’re up to.
Don’t forget to listen and vote for your favorite artist once a day until April 17 and get tickets for The A&R Southern Talent Expo at Vinyl!
