Korean Artists To Launch US Debut At New York City's Largest Music Festival

DJ Soulscape & VJ Kwon Live @ 2008 CMJ Music Marathon

(SEOUL KR) Seoul-based creative agency, DFSB Kollective, is proud to announce that two of its collaborators -- hip-hop turntablist, DJ Soulscape, and avant-garde visual jockey, VJ Kwon -- have been selected to represent Korea for the first time ever at the prestigious CMJ Music Marathon in New York City (October 21-25, 2008).

According to DFSB Kollective President, Bernie Cho, “We’re thrilled to have these innovative artists make their US debut at such an influential music event. They bring a distinct, definitive Korean flavor not yet seen on the international music scene.”  

The largest and longest running music festival of its kind, the CMJ Music Marathon is considered America’s premiere platform for discovering the future superstars of electronica, hip-hop, and modern rock music. During its 28 year history, award-winning artists such as Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Moby, Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Run DMC, David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and Green Day have all performed at CMJ.

With over 100,000 attendees, the CMJ Music Marathon is New York City’s biggest music festival and will host hundreds of live performances, lectures, and networking functions. During the five day extravaganza, DJ Soulscape and VJ Kwon are scheduled to perform together as one of the headlining acts at the CMJ Global Hip-Hop Throwdown at Club Drom (8PM - 3AM : October 23, 2008).

Co-produced by global music/media company, Nomadic Wax, and public relations/music promoter, The Bloom Effect, the CMJ Global Hip-Hop Throwdown is a live music showcase featuring some of the top breakout hip-hop artists from around the world.

“CMJ is a perfect place for a global hip-hop event like this” said The Bloom Effect CEO, Fiona Bloom. “An event that unites MCs from a variety of backgrounds, countries and nationalities is exactly the kind of event that we want to be promoting at a global music conference like CMJ.” 

“The CMJ Global Hip-Hop Throwdown has been building up for me since I’ve been very supportive of this genre and have made inroads bringing great talent to the U.S stages and now we bring it one step further to a bigger platform.  A tremendous opportunity.” said Nomadic Wax founder Ben Herson.

In addition to Korea’s DJ Soulscape and VJ Kwon tandem, this year’s event will be hosted by rapper Pharoahe Monch (USA) and will feature special performances from rising stars such as Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Mr. Reo (Haiti), King Reign (Canada),Empire Isis (Canada), Chachi (Cape Verde) and Too Many Fish (France). The showcase will end out with a party DJ lineup of World Music DJ’s from various radio programs and entities. The party will go till 3AM.

The CMJ Global Hip-Hop Throwdown showcase is sponsored by Scion, WNYE/KEXP,  Fusicology, World Hip-Hop Market, Remix Hotel, End of the Weak, The Flava (Worldspace), Popular Printing,  Limachips, The Hip-Hop Association and more TBA. The 2008 CMJ Music Marathon is sponsored by Microsoft XBOX360, Microsoft Zune, and Doritos.

ARTIST INFO

DJ Soulscape

If a single artist represents 'The Sound Of Seoul', it is DJ Soulscape. A vinyl archeologist who excavates rare, indigenous beats, he delivers a groovy bi-bim-bop mix of old school Korean rock, soul, disco, and boogaloo served sizzling hot in a funky, fresh hip-hop style. A favorite among clubbers and critics alike, DJ Soulscape has been nominated as the Crossover Artist of the Year at the Korea Music Awards (2003) and honored as the creative genius behind one of the top 100 K-Pop Albums of the 20th Century (2008).  In between his gigs as a producer and performer, he also moonlights as one of Seoul's top party promoters, music columnists, and radio show hosts.

VJ Kwon

A pioneering icon in Korea’s visual jockey circuit, VJ Kwon is a versatile motion graphics designer/live action director whose dynamic, kitschy chic style has taken him from the underground clubs to the mainstream cinemas.  Known for his sensational local performances with superstar DJs such as Sasha, Paul Van Dyk, and James Lavelle, he emerged as a star in his own right after collecting numerous awards and accolades at various international film festivals (Resfest Seoul 2002/2003, LA Shortsfest 2003, Japan Skipcity Festival 2004). Although he continues to keep a busy concert schedule, VJ Kwon is currently involved with a variety of music video, broadcast design, and feature film projects. 

Artist Booking Agent/Talent & Artist Relations : DFSB Kollective
International Media/Online PR : DFSB Kollective