Saturday, January 30, 2010

Building with Konscience, kickin' it with BOB

Wow, another great weekend as this thing called AYP Magazine keeps growing. I had the great pleasure of getting together with Konscience from Wilmington, NC emcee duo MindsOne Thursday night. This brother is a true blessing and has a warrior's heart. He is extremely passionate about his trade. Look out for some special things to come from the combination of AYP Magazine and MindsOne. Also, MindsOne is on the verge of bigger things as they prepare for their new cd to drop later this year with several underground hip hop notables appearing. If you haven't checked their first cd, "Transitions" yet, go to www.myspace.com/mindsone .

Last night I journeyed to Hooligans in Jacksonville, NC to see the really hard, aggressive, yet all around fun band known as BOB from Washington, DC. The guys were as cool as ever as they prepare for their new release coming in April. If you are not familiar, check them out at www.bobband.com , and while you're there, download the song "Bump In the Road" for free. They are true road warriors and they always have time for their fans and friends. Look for a video interview with BOB at www.aypmagazine.com very soon.

All in all, it's been another tremendous weekend. Special thanks to KONSCIENCE and the BOB crew (Drew, Carl, Adam, Matt, Curtis, and Estrada). Next weekend, off to Myrtle Beach for the BRUCE KULICK cd release party at the Kiss Coffeehouse. That should be amazing!

-Andy

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A fun night of reggae

I just want to thank SELAH DUBB for having me at 16 Taps for a great show. They really rocked it tonight and were extremely cool. Look forward to seeing SELAH DUBB featured on the site very soon.

SAI COLLINS really blew me away as well! Such a talented young man, and beyond that, such a talented trio. To be able to combine so many musical styles and produce such a sweet sound is a true gift to anyone who ever has the pleasure of seeing Sei perform.

I also got to stop over at Hell's Kitchen to see JAH CREATION. Despite a sparse crowd, they supplied some great rockers. Reggae ruled the night on Princess Street tonight.

Just wanna send nuff raspect to all those who were friendly and cordial tonight, people like SELAH DUBB, SAI COLLINS, JAH CREATION, TIMI IRIE, and definately keyboardist extraordinaire, Carl. I look forward to dealings with all of these artists in the very near future.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

HELP HAITI NOW!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti as they the country tries to recover from the massive 7.0 earthquake this week. It seems as if over 100,000 human beings are estimated as dying. If you'd like to help, please visit www.yele.com for more info.

ATTENTION ARTISTS-WANT EXPOSURE?

This is an open letter to all artists who may be interested in beling featured on www.aypmagazine.com . We are looking for material to review, interviews, and even guest columnists. Please contact me at aypmagazine@gmail.com if you'd like to send in any cds or other contributions. We're on the come up, believe that!
Thanks for reading. Keep movin' and groovin'!

Sincerely,
Andy

Friday, January 8, 2010

Introduction to AYP Magazine

My name is Andy Nichols. I was born and raised in a sleepy little Long Island town called Greenport but moved to Wilmington, NC back in August, 2008. I have always been a music fan, despite exposure to my sisters' Bay City Rollers and Shaun Cassidy records.

One of my greatest joys is going to shows and meeting the artists. I am the type of fan who just can't get enough. After all, most great artists give you a piece of their soul in their work. Their creations often make a connection to their fans' very own souls. It's almost as if they become become a part of you.

The media can be tough, especially when you are a fan of many artists who don't receive that "MTV push." Yes, the internet has opened up the field a bit, but it also has become a bigger haystack for needles to get lost in. AYP Magazine will be a showcase for up-and-coming and established acts to be seen and heard, no matter the genre.

AYP Magazine is a project in its infancy, patience is a requirement. That being said, this should be a very fun ride, so please hop on.


"Bringin' tha arts and culture straight to your fingertips!"

-Andy Nichols
Editor, AYP Magazine