Front all you want on Bobby McFerrin, but that boy can SANG, and SCAT too. When I was like nine years old, my mom used to take me and my brother and sister to see Bobby McFerrin at the Boston Symphony Hall. These were some of my earliest music shows, if not the first ones ever. To say I was blown away, just doesn’t cut it. I had no real idea about jazz, skat, and vocal range, so I was just getting schooled on so many things I never knew about. When “Don’t worry, be happy” came out, and everyone was hating, I was just thinking “damn, these people have no idea that this dude is a straight bad-ass jazz cat”.
If you really think you know Bobby McFerrin from “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, go get his first album (that the song above is on). You will be fully converted, I trust. There’s a sick version of Van Morrison’s “Moondance” on there. Classic.
Years later, I became friendly with Taylor McFerrin (Bobby’s son). Taylor is also ultra-talented. He’s got some crazy vocal chops (singing and beat-boxing), but he’s also an established electronic musician, and beat-maker.
In addition, I have a slew of work with beat-boxers. As I got more into their world, I realized how much of an influence, Bobby had on them as well.
About
DJ Synapse has been a constant figure in the NYC music lexicon for the past 14 years. He uses his fluency of multiple musical genres (pop, dancefloor jazz, hip-hop, funk and reggae to rock, dubstep and electro) to put forth his Cut & Paste style, garnering him the respect of the DJ culture's founders, as well as the new guard. As a purveyor of "Verge Culture", Synapse uses the turntables as a platform to musically expand minds. DEFINITION: syn·apse [sin-aps, si-naps] : the place where thought happens.
He has provided music and inspiration for clients like Leo Burnette, Frank151 Magazine, Hotel Chantelle, Red Bull, STK Steakhouse, Jive/Sony Records, Ad Week, Beautiful/Decay Magazine The Box NYC, Elemental Magazine, Palm Pictures, Royal Caribbean, Samson Audio, Mass Appeal Magazine, Canal Room, Santos Party House, Le Poisson Rouge, Hanky Panky intimate apparel, Shine Nightclub (Vancouver), Adidas, LRG, Karmaloop, Miller High Life, Red Bull, C3 Agency, Mountain Dew and more.
He's played alongside:
KOOL HERC, CLINTON SPARKS, RED ALERT, VIKTER DUPLAIX, PETE ROCK, DE LA SOUL, PRINCE PAUL, MOS DEF, DJ PREMIER, ROB SWIFT, QUESTLOVE, JAZZY JAY, DISCO D, STRETCH ARMSTRONG, URSULA 1000, LORD SEAR, J PERIOD, AARON LACRATE, NEIL ARMSTRONG, EVIL DEE, SCOTTIE B & BOBBITO and more.
In addition to his musical journey, Synapse has also worked in branding, marketing, publishing and journalism for the past 10 years. Working with Beautiful/Decay art and lifestyle Magazine, he created multi-media events that were used to brand the company, as well as writing articles for the publication. Following that, he spent four years as the brand manager at Frank151 Media Group, a magazine, website, apparel brand and growing world-wide icon. There he wore various hats, including writer/blogger, distribution, marketing, promotions and international network builder.
DJ Synapse is a professional DJ of over 15 years, and makes culture happen while he moves the crowd. He has provided the soundtrack for everything from private events, bars, clubs, hotels, loft and house parties, as well as corporate events.
His musical selection is completely focused on the needs of his client. From rock, funk, r&b, hip-hop, edm, reggae, soul, electro and oldies, this DJ holds the values of the DJs that started DJ culture. He can do it all. Just name the sound!
Stuff I like
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ORIGINALS
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(brother) TONE (@_TONE) . The Loft . Hoboken, NJ . 2013
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QBert and Shortkut it the mix last night at The Mid.
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