Fusion is the act or process of melting together; forming a union and it’s also the perfect word to describe the band, Guitars and Bandanaz who have seamlessly fused together three genres of music, five band members and years of musical and life experience to create a sound all their own. The band, consisting of members Gubano, Mike Street, DJ Fadelf, Kagun Marx and Hunter HT, have created their own genre they call HipRokSoul and their music reflects the blending of hip-hop, rock-and-roll and soul elements. The band members play instruments, sing and rap to achieve the blend that is the cornerstone of their music.
Creating this fusion of sounds and genres is not atypical for the guys, considering the band hails from the melting pot city of New York, a city teeming with cultural diversity creating the perfect platform for musical creativity. The band members themselves started music at an early age with many of them coming from musical families but Guitars and Bandanaz as a band came together in late 2010 when Gubano and Mike Street, who then worked together in a group and after that group disbanded, they decided to “start something”; and “start something” they did! Creating the production company, HipRokSoul along with DJ Fadelf and Greg “Touche” Arthur, the guys put together the group Guitars and Bandanaz, a term used by Mike Street to describe the band’s urban/rock sound. Street brought in Kagun to play the guitar and they linked up with Hunter at a drum competition. Greg “Touche” Arthur, although not a member of the band, does still play an important part in the bands’ music as writer and music arranger. The guys brought together their musical experiences and fused, “the heart of Hip Hop and its culture, the spirit of Rock ‘n Roll, and the soul of R&B” to create not only their unique sound but really a full musical movement.
Individually the members of the group are accomplished and experienced. Gubano was a member of the group, The Product G&B who had a hit song, “Maria, Maria” with Carlos Santana and has worked with major artists from Earth, Wind and Fire to 98 Degrees to Destiny’s Child and as the band’s lead vocalist, brings his melodic sound and experience to this talented group. Producer, rapper and rhythm guitarist, Mike Street was signed to InGrooves Records in 2007 and released a rap album titled, The Man and The Dream, which was successful in many European countries and Australia. DJ Fadelf brings his DJing talent and musical ear as a lead writer and rapper to the group. Also the lead DJ for the lead D.J for Buzz Brand Marketing N.Y., and Member of Elite Sound Ent, Spectrum Entertainment and the Favorites International D.J Crew, Fadelf has traveled the world. Drummer Hunter HT’s experience began in the church and has led him to work on projects with the likes of India Arie and Kelly Clarkson. Lead guitarist, Kagun “Big K” Marx started at an early age and was mostly self-taught by age 11. His innate musical talent and skills are apparent in Guitars and Bandanaz’s music.
The combination of the experience these 5 guys bring to the table is what helps Guitars and Bandanaz stand out. The distinct sound plus the quality of the music arrangement and production are clear indicators that these boys are the real deal. When asked to describe the group’s sound, Mike Street says, ““Guitars N Bandanaz sounds like what you would get if you poured Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Michael Jackson, RHCP’s and Lenny Kravitz in a pot, and boiled them all down to a stew… with a dash of Heavy Metal and a sprinkle of punk culture.” The description couldn’t be more accurate. Although truthfully, more a rock band than a hip-hop group, the Guitars and Bandanaz experience feels inherently urban with the rappers in the group adding a depth to the music that feels organic to their sound. There is an angst and a grittiness that brings honesty to the music. Check out tracks like “Wide Awake” that features smooth vocals and rapping over a melodic musical arrangement and ends with a hard-hitting guitar-led rocked out bridge. It’s rock. It’s hip-hop. It’s soulful. It’s music.
Guitars and Bandanaz have a cross-genre point of view and their on a mission to bring this type of musical fusion to a major stage in music. Their message is simply to connect to their fans through their music and their sound. “Music is our passion, it’s been in us for as long as we can remember, and we can’t imagine ourselves doing anything else,” says Kagun. The simplicity in their message and point of view as a band along with their passion for music has created recorded magic. This isn’t a gimmick, this is their sound, their movement and it’s the truth.
The band is gearing up to release an EP in late February and some more singles. You can find all of their music on their website, www.GuitarsnBandanaz.com. The music scene is changing and Guitars and Bandanaz is definitely on the front line of that change with its cross-genre sound and movement. When asked if they had any last words for our readers, the group said, “We’ Bringin’ that Rock to the block, it’s a Wolfpakk invasion… over & out.” They definitely are and it definitely is!
Check out the Guitars and Bandanaz website for more info and follow “The Wolfpakk” on Twitter!
By Ivonne Lucia of The Ivy League P.R. & Promotions
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