County artists release album, start music revolution

Thursday, June 1, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Bryan Haynes⁄The Gazette Artists Damien Hill and Curtis Jews co-own Infinite Soul music, a local record labelfeaturing hip-hop, neo soul and jazz. Here they sit inHill’s homestudio in Mitchellville.

Hill and Jews have performed as ‘‘Blak Mamba” and ‘‘Jewels” for more than 10 years but have known each other for 16 years. They began their label four years ago.

‘‘We called our label Infinite Soul Music, LLC because we are inspired by a lot of soul music and if you listen to our sound it has a lot of that soul element in it,” Hill, 29, said. ‘‘Our biggest challenge has been trying to fight through the stereotype of what people perceive hip-hop to be. Hip-hop was built on an actual art form and we try to bring that to the forefront in our music.”

Both Hill and Jews said that their label is a fight against the norm in the music industry.

‘‘I think that a lot of people take the easy route as far as doing what’s trendy,” said Jews, 28. ‘‘We like to do what feels good to us and in turn our music will feel good to people listening to it. We think outside the box and try to be innovative.”

In Sunz of Soul, Hill takes the role of emcee and writer and Jews acts as producer and beat maker. At Monday night’s event at JoJo restaurant in the District, the two revealed their first music video for their single ‘‘Be Like That.” The video was shot in the District with footage of the Jefferson Memorial, the National Monument and JoJo restaurant.

Hill has been writing for 17 years and sees both writing and performing as a form of release.

‘‘Real hip-hop requires thought before you write or rap. Some people say the first thing that comes to their head,” Hill said. ‘‘I am more introspective in developing a concept and subject matter in my songs. It’s hard to fight trends and gimmicks that the industry demands and bring something that is stable, pure and authentic.”

For Jews, who credits his mother for buying his first set of turntables at the age of 15, producing allows him to escape from the stress of the world. When looking for artists to sign, Jews and Hill look for dedication and originality above all else.

‘‘I am a workaholic and I don’t like to hear ‘I’m tired’,” Jews said. ‘‘I am looking for artists that are willing to spend the night in the studio and have a good work ethic. They have to have an unique talent and be genuine in their craft.”

In addition to Sunz of Soul, whose album ‘‘The Situation” is available at www.CDBaby.com and www.TowerRecords.com, Infinite Soul Music, LLC is also preparing to release ‘‘Truth thru Fiction” from neo-soul artist and Greenbelt resident Anonamas in July.

‘‘What Damien and Curtis are trying to do is incredible. They work so hard and I can see their drive and admire them for that,” Anonamas said. ‘‘I don’t think I’d have as much creative freedom if I was with a more known label. I wouldn’t have been able to create the music I’ve created if it wasn’t for Infinite Soul.”

For more information about Infinite Soul Music, LLC visit www.infinitesoulmusic.com.

E-mail Brooke N. Garner at bgarner@gazette.net.