There is no doubt that the talent we have in CapNY is filled to the brim. From Warren and Washington Counties, down to Columbia and Greene Counties, there’s no shortage of creative talent in any field or industry. When it comes to music, these five individuals are shining their bright lights across the region and beyond. Get to know them, listen to their music, follow them on social media, and let’s show our up-and-coming local musical artists some love.
L.Y.S., Rensselaer
Elyssa, or L.Y.S. for “Love Your Self,” is a super dope artist and person. She classifies herself as a “bedroom pop artist,” meaning she makes the type of music you listen to at home, by yourself when you’re in a reflective state. Her music venture started before the pandemic, and the isolation inspired her to build her own home studio, with audio and production capabilities. L.Y.S. has music out now, and will be releasing more on Soundcloud and other platforms throughout 2021.
IG / Soundcloud
Ohzhe, Albany
Ohzhe has performed on the majority of Upstate stages that I go to. I consider him a lyricist. He’s the definition of hip hop. He’s also a father. A true jack of all trades, he has his own home setup and does his own visuals through his company, Vault 7 Media. Ohzhe releases his music on Bandcamp, which is geared toward up-and-coming artists releasing music. You can also find him on 518 Mixtape, a musical collection of local artists, which is available on Bandcamp.
Amani O., aka Amani the Poet or Amani the Femcee, Troy
Performer Amani O. calls themself a “raptivist.” They’re a rapper and a poet, pushing a cultural revolution with or without a beat. They have a project out right now called “Raptivist Music & Rebel Poems” – out on all platforms. They’re also featured on 518 Mixtape.
Symone Noelle, Saratoga Springs
I consider Symone Noelle a blooming singer and songwriter. She has a soothing tone and song selection. Along with being a musician, she owns an architectural design business, @taylornoelledesign. She doesn’t have music out yet, but she does a whole bunch of covers on her Instagram and will be dropping music in 2021, along with an interview on Youtube with yours truly, DJ Hollyw8d.
Gian Life, Albany
Gian Life is an instrumentalist, plays piano and guitar, a lyricist, can hop on a beat and start rapping which is super cool. He does it all. Along with musician, he’s a front line worker, working at a local hospital and believe it or not, is a great bread maker. Bread, as in dough, yes, bread maker. He has music dropping on all platforms in 2021, but in the meantime, you can listen to his music on Instagram – he goes live all the time.
IG / Soundcloud
Stay tuned for the launch of The Small Room Series, a monthly show in which CapNY musical artists from all genres will share their music and their stories, produced and hosted by DJ Hollyw8d.
By: DJ Hollyw8d
DJ Hollyw8d is an influencer who curates shows for independent artists and hosts a radio segment on WCDB 90.9 FM to highlight the arts, especially music. HollyW8D quickly learned that with being a DJ, it’s more than music; it’s a platform to move not only bodies but also the human spirit, to change the mood of an entire room, to share light with other artists and space with people who share a passion for music. Follow him on social: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, Website