Living close to New York is one of the best parts about living in Connecticut. When I want to connect with arts and culture outside of the New Haven area all I have to do is board a train and in less than 2 hours I’m in the city that never sleeps. As a live music fan I love visiting New York to catch a performance. I can go dancing at The Standard or Le Poisson Rouge, see an intimate show at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn, or visit mega venues like Madison Square Garden and The Barclays Center. For less than the cost of a plane ticket I can even visit Boston, Washington DC, Atlantic City or Philadelphia to see my favorite performers. I guess you can say I live up to the stereotype people have of us folk from Connecticut– I’m spoiled. I am blessed to have easy access to a rich supply of music, arts and culture.
When I am not exploring the major cities nearby I am checking out something local. You may be surprised by the amount of art and music events that happen in New Haven, Connecticut. Many artists and musicians here are praised by New York bloggers, journalists and fans. It is common to meet an artist from New Haven who has been featured at galleries in the Chelsea art district, or performed at popular venues in New York. Over the past 3 years it has been my goal to connect with these passionate artists and I have been loving the creative journey.
My New Haven art connection continued at a local wine bar on Friday. I found myself losing control next to the DJ booth as Chris Liggio spun music by Depeche Mode and Disclosure. I’ll admit that I was caught by surprise as this bar typically sticks to top 40 music and the dance floor almost doesn’t exist. The unexpected playlist lead to more Chardonnay and a chat with the visiting New York DJ. He told me about a project he was working on called The Youth with vocalist John Thomas, who moved to Connecticut during college to embark on his dream of becoming a singer. The duo’s first official single, “The Cure” is sure to make a splash on blogs everywhere thanks to the bold fusion of R&B vocals over a funky electronic instrumental. Their unique blend will be a refreshing sound in indie electronic music.
While The Youth may be just getting started, producer and DJ Chris Liggio has been in the industry for years. He is a multi-platinum producer who has worked with big names like Jay – Z and Madonna. His collection of work expands many genres, similar to his DJ set in New Haven. With John Thomas’ soulful tone and Liggio’s ability to get a party started, I can promise that The Youth will deliver only the best tracks for your musical library. I am excited to watch this project unfold.
Learn more about this emerging artist by visiting their official site. Follow now and don’t miss a beat from this new funk duo!