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DJ Nicky Rizz Set to Drop New Guaracha Single on February 26

Music Observer Staff on February 11, 2021

The Heavy Hitter DJ NICKY RIZZ is dropping his new song on February 26th, 2021. The song is called “Ay Mami,” and it is a guaracha song that will light up the club. On July 31st, 2020, Nicky Rizz dropped his first single called “Ay Papi,” a huge summer anthem and a lot of great feedback and radio play. Like his intended release, “Ay Papi” is also a guaracha song, a new music genre in Cuba. With the hard work and dedication, his song has generated a lot of buzz and has become a hit loved by many lovers of music around the world. His skills have taken the world by storm, and “Ay Papi”’s release was just the genesis of great danceable songs to come from a young promising DJ like Nicky Rizz. Starting with such enthusiasm sets the bar high for all his upcoming projects with expectations of bangers after bangers. In an interview, he foresaw “Ay Papi”’s success and had a goal of releasing a song each month. This oomph will have his fans sitting on the edge of their seats monthly, waiting to be swept off their feet with beats as none heard before.

Being the newest member of a group of the world’s famous DJ crew, Heavy Hitters Crew, and having been inducted officially on December 31st, 2019, DJ Nicky Rizz has only started his journey to greatness. His advice for those who would want to one day make it in the DJ industry and maybe end up as members of Heavy Hitters would be to go out and socialize. By doing this, they would be marketing themselves to potential offers in the future. According to him, networking yourself puts you in a better position to be remembered when an offer comes up, encouraging people to introduce themselves even when it seems ridiculous, from the high and mighty in venues and events down to security personnel. He emphasized the concept of being true and authentic and being yourself. Despite this advice to those aspiring to follow in his footsteps, this applies to everyone in any field they are in. 

Traditional cultural events have been on a halt for the better part of 2020, with uncertainty still clouding 2021 due to the pandemic. Nicky Rizz gets you on the groove, bringing the good Carnival, good music, and reviving your dancing spirits right in your living room. We can only hope that even as he looks forward to releasing yet another track, “Ay Mami,” the pace will still be the upbeat Carnival vibe that he introduced to his listeners, reminding them what a typical Saturday in the clubs would feel like. The “Ay Papi” track adds spice to his already impressive resume. Quarantine might have killed the world’s enthusiasm when it comes to music and good energy, but “you know the vibes!” as Nicky Rizz would say. Good beats still live on in Nicky Rizz’s work, and compared to what he put out for the world to hear on July 31st, 2020, his listeners can find refuge, escape reality, and dance like there is no tomorrow. “Ay Mami” does not seem to be any different.

According to one of the DJs in the Heavy Hitters crew, DJ Camillo, DJ Nicky Rizz portrays more than what many are willing to do to rise in their careers. He compliments him on how likable he is, both as a person and a DJ. He further expressed his impression by how hardworking the DJ was, showing up at every club and marketing himself to take him places. His humility and eagerness to learn are also things that cannot be overlooked. 

If you are wondering what is setting this young, aspiring DJ from Staten Island apart from the rest, then you have your answer: hard work, determination, and humility. These are some of the qualities that are almost certain to guarantee good music from him and an increased fan base because, come on, who would not want to listen to something that has taken time to be perfected? Like a painting, the more work and time are put into it, the more it becomes a masterpiece, admired by many.

“Give some credit where it’s due” is familiar to most of us. In this case, DJ Nicky Rizz deserves all the credit and appreciation he receives from people and especially famous artists. His motto of working hard and not being afraid to ask questions is something we can all take home, whether we are fans or potentially on the road to becoming one. “Ay Papi” has already set the bar high, and on February 26th, 2021, many are getting their groove ready to be blown away by good music, good vibes, and good beats in “Ay Mami” by DJ Nicky Rizz.

For more information on the DJ, visit his website.

Too Lost Empowers Independent Musicians by Distributing and Marketing Their Music

Music Observer Staff on February 11, 2021

In today’s entertainment industry, independent musicians pay a hefty price—literally and figuratively— for the opportunity to get their songs in front of the public. So much so that it forces many up-and-comers to overextend themselves financially, give away copyrights and master recordings, or even forego their shot at the dream altogether. A new music distribution company called Too Lost is rewriting that script with a unique business model that opens the doors to music markets around the world and gives artists access to marketing tools and other brand-building support services.       

Founded in New York City, Too Lost is a digital music distributor for independent artists and labels. It was founded by a pair of publishing and distribution insider/s who believed some of the major music organizations were doing a disservice to the independent musicians under their wing.

“We are passionate about the independent music scene and the amazing work that comes from that sector. We were disheartened to see how so many incredible musicians were signing away rights to their music, paying way too much for limited distribution, and even giving away a share of their earnings in order to get their songs out there,” said Gregory Hirschhorn, CEO, Too Lost. “We decided to put our digital expertise and industry relationships to work to give these musicians and labels access to affordable distribution with services to help them grow their brand.”

Too Lost works with the largest music services in the world to provide super-fast unlimited distribution for it’s clients who also get 100 percent of their earnings, full control over their releases, and total transparency on music performance data. Artists pay just $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year—total.

Included in that price is a menu of services to give independent artists and labels a leg up in the often cutthroat music arena, including playlist promotions, monetary advance funding, anti-piracy software, music publishing services, and cover song licensing. Artists can also set-up payment splits so managers, producers, and other collaborators are paid automatically.

Too Lost provides access to over 250 music stores and streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon, Shazam, TikTok, and more with a worldwide reach that extends to 200 global territories and emerging music markets like Asia, South Africa, and South America.

“Too Lost is highly automated and maximizes the use of machine learning technology to power the services we offer and make them incredibly efficient,” added Hirschhorn. “We want to empower independent artists and labels to manage their businesses on their own terms.”

For more information about Too Lost, visit www.toolost.com.

‘Bringing Soul to Synth-pop- How Freestyle Musician Ray Guell’s New Album is as Vulnerable as it is Catchy”

Music Observer Staff on February 11, 2021

The myth surrounding electronic dance music, or its more popular initialism EDM, is limiting to say the least. Although intended to be used as a catch-all term for popular electronic genres like disco, synth-pop, electro and their multitude of sub-genres, it is widely considered to be the stuff of hazy nightclubs and percussive dance beats, a manifestation of millennial rave culture. One would hardly expect dance music to come from a place of meaningfulness or emotion; and yet, throughout the span of his almost three decade-long career, Ray Guell has consistently proved that he really can do it all: create unbelievably catchy discotheque beats laden with snappy synth textures, and combine them with lyrics and themes that are meaningful, emotional and far from skin-deep.

With Defined, his most recent studio album, the collaboration between Guell and popular  American music producer Giuseppe D is a treat to witness. The ostensible blend of Guiseppe’s creativity and musicianship and Guell’s penchant for artistic, unique sound and lyricism has made it clear that Defined is not an album we will forget soon. According to Guell, “Recording and writing music is a very vulnerable place to be, but with him I felt safe and I was able to explore different artistic choices.  I knew and trusted that he would not let me sound bad.” And it seems that Guell’s efforts have more than paid off;  In just the first week of its release, Defined was in the top 10 of the Top Dance Albums on iTunes, and peaked at #13 and #12 in France and Germany, respectively.

But this is certainly not Guell’s first experience with chart-toppers. “Love Will Come”, which was released in 2008, and “Love Is the Answer”,  released in 2010, ranked 22 and 32 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Even then, Guell was inclined to explore themes of love, heartbreak and disillusionment, which perhaps is what demarcates his work from the deluge of other electronic music. This is not surprising; freestyle music, which is Guell’s primary domain, has a history of underlying despondence and heartbreak. With its roots in New York in  the 80’s, one of its most popular inflections was the theme of heartbreak set against an urban backdrop like NYC, which captures the soul of Guell’s discography.

 But what makes this new album so different from his other works is that Guell is now more honest and raw than ever.  In more ways than one, Defined is undoubtedly a labor of love, a distillation of the last 8 years of Guell’s life, allowing his fans to trace his journey from episodes of loss, heartbreak, to even his struggles with mental health. With Giuseppe D’s encouragement, Guell seems to shine brighter than ever, with synthy beats that make you dance and lyrics that speak to your soul.

Perhaps the best example of this vulnerability can be seen in Haunting visions, the 12th track of the album, which Guell wrote while trying to cope with the loss of his father. Still reeling from a depressive episode following this, he found solace in channeling his grief into writing a song which could capture his emotions. According to Guell, he had initially no intention of including the song in his album, but later decided that it should be a part if he wanted the album to be as authentic and heartfelt as possible. With its eerie, almost foreboding melody, it is an accurate reflection of its name. And yet the emotive lyrics and imagery make it one of the most unforgettable tracks on the album.

The first track on the album was, incidentally, also the first project which Guell and Giuseppe D collaborated on. Toe-tappingly catchy, with a synth-popesque melody, its uplifting tone is almost symbolic to Guell’s state of mind while creating it. Explaining how the song and the subsequent collaboration with Giuseppe D was almost his stepping stone into creating Defined, Guell explained, “ I don’t remember much about why I wrote these lyrics, but this was the first time Giuseppe and I actually connected on a very personal level. This was a bit before my breakdown but little did I know what was coming for me around the corner.  Disillusioned from the music industry and life at that point, I decided to dive in and get back to creating music. I remember having a heart-to-heart with him about my thoughts and somehow these lyrics came to be.”. And without a doubt, the plaintive romantic feel was the perfect start to a versatile and meaningful new album.

Defined also features a rendition of My World is Empty Without You, the pop-soul ballad by Diana Ross and The Supremes from 1966. The song held a special place in Guell’s heart, and he collaborated with Company B, an American Latin-freestyle trifecta who rose to prominence in the 80’s, creating a fitting parallel with the original version. Guell explained that Company B was an obvious choice for him, as he had been a fan since the band’s inception in 1986, and was now close friends with the band members.

Coincidently, as Ray releases the single and remix EP for My World is Empty Without You on Valentine’s Day this month, it is also an homage to Mary Wilson, one of the original members of The Supremes who recently passed away. 

Although Defined can currently be streamed on all major music platforms, there are some new releases scheduled to release in February 2021, including a single which is slated for release on the 12th. But if it’s predecessors are anything to go by, it is almost certain to be another treasure for fans of Dance music-just the right amount of snappy and sentimental.