DAM AWARDS 2018: Best Fusion Act
Body English
Body English includes a cluster of multi-talented musicians, so it’s no wonder that the collective marries neo-soul and electronic so well. With plenty of jazz and hip hop influences combined, the result is a sound that is at once moving and catchy, with tunes that move you until you’re dancing without abandon. Body English played at Oaktopia this year, playing a setlist of groovy originals and a badass cover of NxWorries' "Suede." In 2017, they also held a monthly residency at Andy's called "The Move," where they showcased different funk and indie acts in Denton. On the 16th of January, they'll release the music video for “Tea Leaf Dancers,” a single from their upcoming EP Flying Lotus.
The Boombachs
Taking hip hop and giving it a space age makeover comes so naturally for The Boombachs. They’ve branded their sound as "space gospel," and honestly, it’s apt. They have a knack for bringing a layered, jazzy instrumentation and singer A.D. Wondwessen’s rich voice to your ears in an intimate way, while keeping their music lively. The winners of the 2017 DAM awards for jazz/blues act and funk act, these guys are still a force to be reckoned with.
Nakamara
This trio, also nominated this year in indie/rock act and song of the year for “Dopamine,” infuses that all-ears friendly sound with what they have called “post-apocalyptic Japanese surf rock bebop.” Guitarist and vocalist Samuel Decker’s voice is electric, subtle yet powerful, and blends seamlessly with Wiley Reid’s and Azael Martinez’s smart drums and bass guitar, respectively. The winners of the 2017 DAM awards "Best Debut Album," Nakamara has only risen higher in the ranks of Denton's indie and fusion acts in 2017. Find their work on bandcamp and Spotify.
OG Garden
OG Garden’s “Revive Me” EP is a four-song sojourn through their “future soul” sound, a
combination of pop lyrics, Troy Garrick’s smooth R&B vocals, and funk instrumentation from Kurtis Shaffer (saxophone, synth), Hunter Strasser (guitar), Byron Crenshaw (bass), and Micah Ritchie (drums) — all four instrumentalists are jazz students at UNT — make for an energetic listen, whether you’re tuning in at home on Spotify or at a local house show. These five guys are making their rounds in both Denton and Dallas, and are working on more originals for a full-length album.
Wax Logic
Wax Logic brings hip hop beats to life via drums, combines that with light, jazz melodies, and adds one more layer with inspired contributions from MCs and vocalists. The collaborative group is always circling musicians in and out to continue to add to the depth of their output. Their music aims to blend jazz and hip hop in the most truthful way, according to their Soundcloud, and I’d say their sound does just that.
Header image layout designed by Cristopher Rodgers
Click above to vote in the 2018 DAM Awards!