The Bay Area's Hub for Asian Pacific American Community Arts Since 1972
APAture 2015: Future Tense
Music Showcase | Artist Bios
Ahmed Kap Animo, also known as a.K.aye, is an MC-producer hailing from San Francisco. Using hip-hop as a means of expression, a.K.aye offers a voice in hip-hop that defies the status quo. With dense metaphors and constantly fluctuating cadence, he incorporates a more lively delivery; and the production sound is like walking into an empty dark room full of echoes. Emitting this atmospheric landscape that gives a universal feeling and looking toward the future.
ebolabuddha consist of Eli Pontecorvo on bass/vocals, Steve Jong on guitar/vocals, and Mark Pino on drums/vocals, as well as various guests who have contributed reading books with us on stage. The band's name is a mash-up that came from a friend's suggestion, "breakaway ebola," and a name Mark suggested, "the vindictive buddha." Naturally, it was just shortened to ebolabuddha.
Iridium hail from San Francisco, where the bandmembers met through the music department at San Francisco State University. With backgrounds ranging from classical to jazz, most of the members are currently music students. Several are largely involved in ensembles performing around the Bay Area. Writing about experiences that have resonated in all our journeys, Iridium sparks a connection with its listeners through an appreciation of roots culture, one that is born out of the love for music, dancing, and sharing the positive vibrations of life with others. Iridium's musical influences include reggae, Afro Cuban, classic rock, jazz, and funk genres.
Ruby Mountain (Krystle Ahmadyar) is a vocalist, composer, dancer, and artist. Her music is rooted in her Afghan and Mexican ancestral traditions of storytelling and song. She shares stories of love, resiliency, and oppression through music and movement. She studies Afghan music with her father and jazz vocals with Molly Holm, and has studied experimental music at Mills College. Her current solo music project is Ruby Mountain, and she currently is the Summer/Fall Artist In Residence at Studio Grand in Oakland.
The Vibrant Things have taken the South Bay Area by storm since their inception in 2014. They have played a monthly residency at The Continental Bar, meanwhile bringing their sounds to the SoFA Street Fair, the San Jose Taco Festival, 55 South, Blackbird Tavern, City Lights Theater Company, and Cafe Stritch. With a unique fusion of jazz, soul, hip-hop, and R&B, The Vibrant Things show their true colors in fresh, original compositions, and boundary-pushing cover arrangements. Led by vocalist and songwriter, Amy Dabalos, the group shines as a creative force, rooted in friendship and witty, musical repartee.
Wesley Woo is a San Francisco-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and winner of the 2013 West Coast Songwriter's SF Chapter Song of the Year. His debut album Do Re Mi has been featured on college radio across the United States and is currently streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. His band, the Wesley Woo Band, are currently recording their new record at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, releasing in the summer of 2016.