JUNIPERSMYTH
Juniper Smyth is a music collaboration between Songwriter/Artist Katherine Rey Samels aka K.Rey & Producer/Arranger Brenda Aldermen aka B.Love.
Guest artists include Vocalist, Kalon Hayward, songwriter Johnny Rey, Hip Hop Artist LATASHÁ & Sound/Beats Designer (Doomtree, solo artist) Paper Tiger.
JUNIPERSMYTH
Katherine Rey Samels
AKA K. Rey
Katherine Rey Samels aka K. Rey is a songwriter, guitarist, and collaborator as well as a visual artist. K. Rey hails from Minneapolis and moved to New York City's Lower East Side during its artistic heyday to pursue a creative life in music and art. While part of one of the first all-female, openly gay Rock & Roll bands, The Bloods, K. Rey opened for The Clash, recorded the single Button Up and toured North America and Europe. Thereafter, she joined Transisters as lead guitarist with iconic Trans performer and AIDS activist Chloe Dzubilo. K. Rey also became a member of the first all-female Haitian Compa band, Riske, performing in Canada, Haiti and the U.S. including a televised set at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York City. With an extensive and diverse history, K. Rey’s musical influences range from Alternative Rock, Neo-Soul, R+B and Reggae. Currently she resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. where she works as a songwriter and visual artist.
Brenda Alderman
AKA B. Love
Native New Yorker Brenda Alderman, a.k.a. B-Love, is a vocalist, bassist, arranger, producer and digital recording/mix engineer. Heavily influenced by the soul-funk sounds of Motown and Stax Records from the 60’s and 70’s, in her teenage years Brenda diligently practiced bass guitar while composing abstract vocal harmonies while learning how to record and overdub them in her 4-track bedroom studio in Queens NY. Classically trained and alumnus of NYC College of Technology and The Recording Engineers Institute, Brenda’s versatile playing and vocalizing are featured with many artists in R&B, Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop genres. Touring internationally and nationally with notable acts she has also performed at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center and The Apollo Theatre. Brenda’s current studio project is with long time music collaborator, guitarist, songwriter and friend, K.Rey, forming the group Juniper Smyth. Together they have completed a three-song EP, featuring their first single “Hold On
GUEST ARTISTS
PAPER TIGER
Paper Tiger is responsible for the production on many of Doomtree’s most crowd-pleasing singles, including “Low Light Low Life” from P.O.S, Mike Mictlan’s “Game Over,” and Dessa’s “Call Off Your Ghost.” He’s got an ear for contagious, synthy melodies and a marked nostalgia for the 90s. Aside from his own projects and crew productions, Paper Tiger also doubles as Doomtree’s live DJ. He’s spun at the X-games, toured North America and Europe on the crew’s epic No Kings and All Hands tours, and has built a reputation as a solo artist in his own right. His most recent releases have earned stellar reviews at home and from national critics. Vita.mn called his music “elegant and cinematic;” and Pitchfork praised his “crisp drums, excellent production and interesting mixes.”
LATASHÁ
LATASHÁ is an 8 year prospering multi-media creative and artist from New York City. She is a songwriter, recording and performance artist and in 2010 opened for various acts from Kanye West to Princess Nokia, headlined and toured various festivals and venues from Brooklyn Museum, SXSW, AfroLatino Fest and more. Within her time, she has been able to sustain herself through her poetically manifesting music and story. As a DIY creative, LATASHÁ has found ground through an array of avenues from writing and being the voice for both Maybelline and Ulta Beauty commercials, becoming the first Hip Hop artist-in-residence at the prestigious artist-run New York City venue, National Sawdust, touring her self directed multimedia performance "Intro to LATASHA" and has been written about by countless media outlets from Brooklyn Magazine to Noisey. Her passion project is being a forefront in inspiring artists and creatives to take control of their lives and career through her agency Trulyte, DaHomey House. Currently, LATASHÁ is touring and transcending in sound on innumerable projects including one with Nick Littlemore of Empire of the Sun and Pnau from Australia due 2020.
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KALON HAYARD
Kalon Hayward is a multidisciplinary performance artist, teacher, and curator. He merges soul and new age vibrations that are smooth and electrifying. He strives to use his music to enlighten the human tribe by exploring spirituality and sexuality. His music has been featured in many venues in and around New York City: Drom bar & lounge, Bowery Electric, Pianos, Flux Factory. Kalon is a graduate of both the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Fordham University. He has performed throughout the United States, Africa, and Europe. His performance pieces and music have been presented at The Brooklyn Arts Exchange, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Flux Factory, The Brooklyn Museum, and The New School University. Most recently, Kalon was an artist in Residence at Flux Factory (NYC) and Aros Aarhus Kunstmuseum (Demark). He serves as a teaching artist and company member of F.U.S.H.A Dance Company (west and Congolese dance). Kalon is excited to release more Cosmic Soul music later this year.
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