Amplify Fellowship 2023 Artists Preparing Fall Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rod Wallace, Executive Director
(Ypsilanti, Mich.) - Artists from Washtenaw County’s Amplify Project are preparing album releases in the fall that are certain to shake up the music scene in Michigan and across the region.
The program seeks Black musical artists who want to stretch themselves musically while also supporting community-based agencies and businesses through volunteering. Artists chosen for the Amplify Fellowship receive production, recording, and engineering support while crafting an album or EP through funding from Leon Speakers, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, and Creative Washtenaw. The initiative has helped Washtenaw County artists like Ki5, London Beck, Dani Darling, and Kenyatta Rashon all release critically acclaimed projects.
“We did things a bit differently this year,” says Rod Wallace, executive director of The Amplify Project and executive producer for each of the projects. “Usually our fellows create their music before the festival season. This year, our artists have really had a great opportunity to allow their performances to inform the new music that they are collecting and forming. They are already great musicians and performers in their own right, so our hope was to help them craft something new that will challenge them and speak to us in new ways.”
Each of the fellows represents a different genre of music, but all intend for their music to represent the diversity, creativity, and wealth of talent of the area.
“I think one of the most important things that we have done in our first three years is bring together so many brilliant and talented people in the area to support the fellows,” says Wallace, who also performed at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in June. “From Josef Deas to Kyla Preissner, Sam Watson, and Nickie P. We have been so privileged to get support from the community of artists in Washtenaw County. We have such a mixed bag of artists and to see them all collaborating sound these different musical moments has been tremendous.”
Meet the Fellows:
Baddie Brooks
Baddie Brooks is a multifaceted artist who sings, writes, and is also a classically trained trumpeter. Through her anthemic and energized music, Baddie is determined to empower queer and transgender people. Brooks headlined the Ferndale and Ypsi Pride Festivals while also performing across the region this summer. After graduating with a degree in public relations from Eastern Michigan University, Baddie released her debut singles titled “TELEPATH” and “Gworlz and Gayz” in 2022. In the lead-up to her September project Reclamation, Baddie has released the 2023 singles “Buss Down Wig,” “Trans,” and “LGBT” to all streaming platforms.
Gwenyth Hayes
Gwenyth is a seasoned blues, jazz and soul bassist and vocalist who has performed throughout the country and is a regular at the Blue Llama and festivals throughout Southeastern Michigan. Some of the highlights of her career are opening for B.B. King with Murali Coryell (son of the late Larry Coryell), The Chicago Blues Festival with Delmark Records recording artists Quintus McCormick and Khalif "Wailin'" Walter, and playing the Detroit Blues Festival at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater in Detroit. She routinely performed in Chicago at the world famous Buddy Guy's Legends, Kingston Mines, and B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted. She has also toured with Murali Coryell, Laura Rain and the Caesars, and Alligator Records recording artists Maurice John Vaughn & Toronzo Cannon. Her breakout EP as a solo artist and vocalist “Sexy At Any Tempo” features sultry, jazzy, soul reinterpretations of classic soul & blues songs.
Her new untitled project, which will be released in November, will match her deep sultry voice and groove oriented basslines with local artists and bandmates to venture into new territories and will feature collaborations with such artists as Kali Douglas (Kem) and Phil Hale (Thornetta Davis). “I want to blend my diverse musical influences and retain the improvisational approach of blues and jazz” says Hayes, who plans to infuse traditional jazz and blues with more electronic elements for this project. Gwenyth is also a licensed social worker and has been working with Avalon Housing, volunteering and serving clients in need.
Chill Place
(Where She Creep / Kyle Love)
Kyle Love is a neo-soul singer from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Previously known as Case Move, Kyle performs under the name ‘Where She Creep’ with a sensual style reminiscent of the 90’s and early 2000’s R&B. Active in music since 2007, Love began sharpening his skills in songwriting, singing, beat making, and audio engineering after enrolling in the music program at Washtenaw Community College in 2010. By experimenting with genres, vocal approaches, and song themes over the next several years, Love crafted a uniquely sensual vocal style and found a joy for creating music focused on new-aged concepts that explore the politics and possibilities of love.
Kyle’s 2022 project Feels captured his smoky and smooth vocals over bass-heavy production from frequent collaborator P, who along with producer/guitarist Hollow Shaman and Kyle form the musical enclave “ Chill Place.” Their late October release is entirely self-produced and promises to capture the cool and seductive vibes they create on stage. In 2022, Chill Place performed for numerous events in the Washtenaw County area, cementing a nomination for best new artist while also landing Kyle Love as runner-up for Best R&B artist in Current magazine. Chill Place is also a group of teaching artists with Youth Arts Alliance, providing songwriting and production workshops for youth.
Amplify Kickback Fundraiser
All of the fellows will also perform at the annual Amplify Kickback in December, a concert that raises funds for each of the programs and agencies that the organization supported this year. The fellowship program does not retain ownership of any element of the audio projects, allowing for the artists to use them as they see fit.
Contact Information
Rod Wallace, Executive Director
