FACTORY UNDERGROUND RECORDS PRESENTS NEW TOM THE SUIT FORST VIDEO FOR GOING HOME ON VEVO AND YOU TUBE

     From director Aidan Gerety of Factory Underground and Stateside Visuals comes a new video for Factory Underground recording artist Tom The Suit Forst's song "Going Home." The video, which launched last week is now available on You Tube and Vevo.

    "Going Home" has been described as mix of country and blues, also contains classic elements of Americana. Performed by The Suit on acoustic/electric dobro, with marching drums provided by Big Thursty of the Jason Gisser Band, the song is a relatively somber song compared to the upbeat blues-rock sounds of his new album "On Fire." The video, which contains the lyrics of the song set against images of the American Civil War, is stylized to resemble to vintage footage of the period. It's dark imagery culminates with the image of a Civil War firing squad, which does not spare the viewer from the sad ending.

      Gerety stated that he wanted to capture the feeling of the song, which was for him "a reflection of fate in the face of a dangerous and uncertain future," a fitting narrative for this time in American history, with people so deeply divided over political lines. There is no political message to the idea - we are all in this together which ever side of line you're on. As the song says, "You're Going Home when he says Come."
     With the exception of "Going Home" which was released this past month on iTunes, Spotify, and streaming/retails sites around the world, the full album of "On Fire" has only been available on physical CD. A CD and poster bundle have been selling through the artist's website www.TomTheSuitForst.com and by emailing TheSuitOnFire@gmail.com The decision to offer the physical album first was as much a nod to a more classic time in the record industry as The Suit wanting his work into the hands of his loyal fan base as early as possible. For those desiring to have the album in digital form, fans can look for the rest of the album on iTunes in January.

     What's next for Tom The Suit Forst? "We are looking at an idea for a video of "Women of the World," a song from my album that is about the idea of letting women have a chance to rule the world for a change. I thought about putting that out on Election Day - in hindsight that wouldn't have quite made sense.... but from what I understand January 21 is the day of a Million Women March on Washington DC, so you might see a video for the song then!"
   

www.TomTheSuitForst.com

www.Facebook.com/TomTheSuitForst

www.Twitter.com/TomTheSuitForst

www.FactoryUndergroundRecords.com

FNX DEBUT SINGLE "RUBBER BANDS" WORLD WIDE RELEASE MAY 30: NEW ARIST HONORS HIP HOP CULTURE WHILE BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES

FNX "RUBBER BANDS" DEBUT SINGLE 

WORLD WIDE RELEASE 

MAY 30, 2016

NEW ARTIST HONORS HIP HOP CULTURE WHILE BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES

FNX is a rapper and hip hop artist of unique style and origin. At the core of his music is a story of perseverance and positivity; overcoming life obstacles amidst a journey of self-discovery. He was born Kenneth Shuler of Norwalk, Ct--long before would he would turn to music as an outlet for his teen anger and depression. Faced with childhood homelessness, surviving abusive experiences in a shelter with his young mother, the at-risk teen found solace and self-awareness in rhyme. Yet with so much of rap culture based on boasting and bravado, there aren’t many other rappers of such humble beginnings that could boast of a Bachelor Business Degree from the Southern Connecticut State University and a Master’s Degree of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. FNX is an artist unlike many of his peers.

Distinguishing himself early as a rapper of technical skill and lyrical intelligence under the adopted stage name Symon Feenixxx, his early work “Young Black Males” garnered the attention of industry veterans. That early persona, adopted from the 1993 film Demolition Man, was reminiscent of rappers Ghostface Killah and Method Man, whose own names were inspired by comic book and movie characters. “I took on the name [alias Simon Phoenix from the movie Demolition Man] because Phoenix was a villain who was ruthless and vulgar – which was my approach when I first got heavily into writing my own music,” said Shuler. Finding the persona limiting however, the maturing artist thus found the need for a new name to define his growing artistry.  With this came “FNX,” pronounced “Phoenix,” which he identifies as a sharp turning point in his life and career.

Yet even with a more focused handle on his music, the artist found himself facing unexpected challenges. When asked to write a song to promote a friend’s health club, which he happily agreed to do, he became very aware of how reliant he was on using curse words in his rhymes, including the obvious use of the “N Word” so often used in hip hop culture. Rising to this challenge, however, he completed the song “Pushing Heavyweight,” which FNX fans can expect to hear on his first full album in Fall 2016.

Now embracing his ability to rap authentically in a style free of profanity, shedding another stereotype of hip hop culture in the process, FNX hope this will allow his music to positively impact on listeners of all ages. This change in style will be heard in his new song “Rubber Bands,” that will be the first single released worldwide by FNX on May 30, 2016, in association with Factory Underground Records.

Yet even as his own personal phoenix rises from the ashes of his poverty stricken beginnings, FNX has his eyes set firmly on goals that go far beyond hip hop music. An advocate for the George Washington Carver Foundation of Norwalk, which he credits with keeping him off the streets and pushing him to graduate from high school with honors, FNX isn’t waiting for musical success to give back to the community.  “For me the music is a vehicle-- it’s the message that is important to get out there,” he says. That message, one hip hop fans may also find surprising, as yet another stereotype of the culture is discarded, is financial literacy.

“There is so much flaunting of money in hip hop imagery,” he say. “Making paper, acquiring wealth and showing it off. This what we are teaching our kids in the so-called underserved, inner city communities. Who is teaching them how to take care of their money, how to stay out of debt, how to stay clear of crime, and not go to jail?  Questions like these have helped fuel an educational course in financial literacy FNX started teaching in 2015, which he hopes to expand at the Carver Center to include working with children and families in the community.

In many ways, working with the Carver Center, one of the largest providers of after school programs in Norwalk--serving up to one thousand children daily--is FNX coming full circle in his life. “Working with these kids is important for me because I am one of them. It’s a chance for me to show them what music and education can do. I want them to say, “If FNX did it, I can do it too.”

Check out more on FNX here:

Official Website: http://www.fnxmusic.com/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fnxmusic1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fnx_music

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/fnxmusic1

READ MORE ABOUT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER CENTER

CHE-VAL DEBUT ALBUM WATERPROOF SET FOR RELEASE FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2016; DIVERSE POP MUSIC ALBUM FROM INDIE MUSIC POWER COUPLE KENNY AND LAURA CASH.

CHE-VAL DEBUT ALBUM WATERPROOF SET FOR RELEASE FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2016

DIVERSE POP MUSIC ALBUM FROM INDIE MUSIC POWER COUPLE KENNY AND LAURA CASH.

“You’ll be hearing it in your head all day after the first listen” – The FC Beat Magazine

“They have sampled some of the best practices from 80s music and created something that is modern, exciting,and enjoyable” – Mistree Magazine

Norwalk, CT – April 14, 2016 – Described as "Johnny and June Cash meet Matt and Kim," Connecticut’s musical power couple, Che-Val, have announced their debut full length, Waterproof. The album, to be released through Factory Underground Records on April 22, showcases the indie pop group’s varied influences in ten tracks as classic meets modern.

Consisting of husband and wife, Kenny and Laura Cash, Che-Val uses retro styles and brings them into the future with cutting edge production. Laura teaches science by day, but writes and belts out emotive vocal hooks by night. Her background in pop and country is blended with Kenny’s ear for hip-hop, funk, and soul in a collaborative songwriting process. Their vision is then furthered through Kenny’s own engineering and production skills as a multi-instrumentalist Berklee College of Music graduate.

Che-Val blasted into existence with their very first single, “My Beat”, climbing to #52 on the Mediabase “Top 40” Activator chart in 2014, and self-produced video that achieved 26 thousand views. The sound of this 80s dance track is contrasted in the modern pop ballad that is “Waterproof”, which even brings in elements of a live orchestra. 

Collaboration is another key to Che-Val's sound as "The Lead" features a fresh guest spot by Bronx based rapper Rothstein while "Oh Darling" takes influence from 1970s soul, bringing in a live horn section by the Funky Dawgz Brass Band. The band’s dichotomy is further demonstrated by the two cover tracks on this album: “Classic Man" by the Grammy nominated Jidenna and “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys. Che-Val brought their personal flare into both covers with a remix of the former and a chilling a cappella take on the latter. The end result is a striking cognitive dissonance in their music that fans have fallen in love with.

Building up their fanbase through the local community, expert use of social media, and a strong focus on the interplay of music and visuals, the band has been steadily on the rise since their inception. With each single release the band has handcrafted their personal sound and looks as evidenced in the Alice In Wonderland inspired video for “Gone Mad”, which premiered exclusively last year in Vents Magazine and resonated throughout the international cosplay community. Waterproof sees all of the band's previous work come together and is sure to cause a serious case of the earworms.

Waterproof Track Listing:
1. Oh Darlin
2. My Beat
3. Waterproof
4. Gone Mad
5. The Lead (feat. Rothstein)
6. Don’t Give up on Me
7. Classic Man (Jidenna remix)
8. Poison (feat. Lighta)
9. Love Still Waiting (feat. Funky Dawgz Brass Band)
10. God Only Knows (Beach Boys cover)

Che-Val

Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Radio Contact: Brandon Day, Tinderbox Music
BrandonDay@TinderboxMusic.com, (612) 375-1113

Factory Underground Records
Official Site | Facebook | Twitter

RAP ARTIST FNX "HOMETOWN LOVE" FOR NORWALK, CT-BASED CARVER COMMUNITY CENTER IN NEW HIP HOP MUSIC VIDEO

RAP ARTIST FNX "HOMETOWN LOVE" FOR NORWALK, CT-BASED CARVER COMMUNITY CENTER IN NEW HIP HOP MUSIC VIDEO

In his new rap music video titled "Hometown Love, filmed on location at Norwalk, Ct-based Carver Community Center, hip hop artist FNX returns to his local hometown roots. The video is an homage to the Connecticut hip hop music scene he is proud to represent, as well as to the community center he credits for major contributions to his success. Filming at Carver was in many ways a homecoming for FNX, himself a Carver-alumnus. "Hometown Love" is FNX coming full circle from the point where his story first began. 

It hasn't been an easy life by all accounts: Growing up in poverty, forced into homelessness as a child, with his mom finding refuge in an Atlanta shelter. Yet it is a story of perseverance, overcoming life obstacles and eventual triumph. A story that may have ended a million other ways than FNX as a graduate of Southern Connecticut University, and a member of prestigious Greek-fraternal order Phi Beta Sigma. 

"Returning to Carver was profoundly important to me. The kids you see in my video- those kids were me back in the day. I realized how important it is for me to be a role model that they can relate to- not just being a hip hop artist, but one with a positive message about what hard work can lead to. I want these kids to know that they can achieve their dreams, because if FNX did it, they can do it too."

The video for "Hometown Love" begins with a phone call, and a voice drawing the artist away into the night. Leaving the Norwalk, Ct-recording studio Factory Underground, where he recorded much of the music on his debut album, he meets with an associate, taking possession of a mysterious duffel bag. 

"I don't explain what's in the bag at first and I leave people to wonder....but then- spoiler alert - it's FNX shirts, and I'm giving them away at the Carver Center. It was a lot of fun to shoot this video, which was like shooting a short film," FNX explains. With a cameo by Factory Underground producer Kenny Cash, "Hometown Love" was directed by John Runs.

"Hometown Love" may be seen on the FNX-branded You Tube channel and on his website www.FNXMusic.com

Donate to Carver Foundation: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1433892