The New York music scene has developed many of today's icons and there is undeniably, a rising star in the uptown Manhattan area.
From "The city that never sleeps" as it's called, we find that it's the drive of New Yorkers that feeds into this stigma. In the Washington Heights section of New York City we find such a person in Joel Concepcion, better known as Sol-leks. Two full length albums, a group collaboration album, several mixtapes, numerous music videos, featured on hit singles such as...
The New York music scene has developed many of today's icons and there is undeniably, a rising star in the uptown Manhattan area.
From "The city that never sleeps" as it's called, we find that it's the drive of New Yorkers that feeds into this stigma. In the Washington Heights section of New York City we find such a person in Joel Concepcion, better known as Sol-leks. Two full length albums, a group collaboration album, several mixtapes, numerous music videos, featured on hit singles such as The Dimelo Remix featuring many of uptown Manhattan’s hip hop icons, and including countless production credits to his name it is clear to the music industry that Sol-leks has what it takes to carry New York.
From a myriad of cultures Sol-leks digs his roots deeply in the traditional styles of music creation. Using inspirational songs from classic Spanish influences such as 70's boleros and salsa, Sol-leks comes full circle with his upbringing. Samples from Blanca Rose Gil, La-Lupe, Camilo Sesto and Hector Lavoe just to name a few, Sol-leks challenges himself to bring a fresh take on hip hop music mixing old school soul with the excitement of concerto. Listen to his debut music video, Washington Heights, via YouTube and you can see how the kind of music Sol-leks creates can withstand the test of time.
“I approach music the same way an artist stares at his canvas. I search for the art in words. The artistic value of how I would say it. I try to create music not just make it.”
Under a joint venture company, Cedar Arms Productions, Sol-leks works on his projects ranging from a group instrumental project, another full length album and an “homage to J-Dilla” mixtape. Never showing signs of slowing down he has already shot four music videos and is in talks with fellow artists to release several more. This year alone he has pioneered a genre dubbed Rock Hip-Hop. A neo blend of the two which cultivated into releasing remixes of songs from the popular rock group Bombay Bicycle Club. The first is called the “Always Like This (Wasted Remix)" which is now available on YouTube.
Quality over quantity, perseverance over perception, those few words describe Sol-leks’ work ethic as he continues to push the envelope. Currently he is seen performing live in local clubs in New York all the while recording a slew of projects under his production company. Soon you will be able to hear a full length album tentatively titled “Sol-leks” due to release sometime in 2011.
- Richard “#5” Rodriguez (16scandles.wordpress.com)
Richrodriguez5@gmail.com
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