Born Relic
Brooklyn, NY | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF
Music
Press
Ah yes… listening to (i am) isis’ new E.P. was just the energetic, soulful sound I needed! Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, this 5-piece indie soul-rock band consists of Mike Koltosky (bass), Diamond Dave (guitar), Manny Mav (drummer), Isaac Childs (keyboard), and tantalizing lead vocalist Isis. The band expertly fuses bluesy rock with spoken soul to create an energetic masterpiece, equipped with empowering vocals.
Isis, herself, is a spoken word poet, and was nominated for a National Poetry Award in 2012. She has also opened for various musicians and speakers, such as Wyclef Jean and India Arie, which I must say is pretty impressive, just like her voice!
They just recently released their 6-track E.P. titled “Mosaic”, which captivated me from the very first track with its soulful bluesy feel and empowering lyrics. “Get Free” not only starts with an awe-inspiring classic-rock guitar riff, but relays the message of getting free from the litany of ignorant practices and beliefs in our society.
Not too surprisingly, I found that this band derives its influences from various genres, which makes their sound unique and diverse.
Personally, my favorite track from this E.P. has to be “Unbreakable”. Another example of the empowering lyrics and soulful rock guitar, this song screams strength from within! We always seem to try to find those songs that get us in the uplifted cant-be-stopped mood and this song accomplishes just that. Here, Isis takes on an inspirational role, as they sing of their unbreakable, strong and determined mindset.
Overall, this is an excellent E.P. to experience for yourselves, and I look forward to seeing what I am (Isis) comes out with next. - Black On The Canvas
Brooklyn-based band (i am) isis aren’t shy about rocking out and their no-nonsense, head-banging, unabashed girl-power anthem urges you to do the same.
The uptempo single,“Take It Back”, features clashing cymbals and rocky riffs with lead singer Isis giving a powerhouse performance throughout. Fellow members including bassist Mike Koltosky, drummer Manny Mav, guitarist Diamond Dave, and keyboardist Isaac Childs all help to bring isis’ crazy, color-filled melodies to life. Mixing soulful spoken word with the rawness of rock, (i am) isis’ sound is a bluesy funk for the new millennium.
“(i am) isis has her own gravitational pull,” says Jay Marcello of Dream Hygh Entertainment. “As a consultant and promoter, all sorts of music comes across my desk. (i am) isis, however, is one of the few who I actually remember and have in rotation in my iPod.”
The track turned us into headbangers, thrashing to the beat and wishing we had a long mane to whip back and forth. “Take It Back” is now available for streaming on SoundCloud. It’s also available for purchase now on all major digital outlets, including iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. - VIBE Vixen
"Soul Rock band (i am) isis brings a new level of uniqueness to the music industry, drawing in listeners of all ages and walks of life. The band’s sound cannot be pigeon-holed into just one genre, which is what makes it so intriguing. Interweaving strong electric guitar leads with powerful and enticing R&B vocals" - Audio Addiktion
Afropunk member (I Am) Isis has been dropping a steady stream of singles since 2009, but she's finally ready for a full length. The debut Amazingly Random comes out this fall, and the dope first single 'I Saw You' is out now. The track combines a longing blues guitar lick with Isis' sultry spoken-word; seamlessly blending the vintage and the modern to create something new. It's a sexy come-on of a song; though it has the unfortunate side-effect of making the room 2 degrees warmer. Isis has an infectious delivery, getting lost in the excitement of meeting someone new. She flows with a sense of excitement bubbling just below the surface, but always trying to keep her cool. “...especially when I should be spitting about political infidelities and social inequalities / but I digress / cause I really must impress...”
'I Saw You' is mellower than (i am) isis' previous singles, reaching back to Isis' roots as a poet. But returning to her roots has already paid off. 'I Saw You' is nominated for a 2012 National Poetry Award. (You can vote here) So if being anywhere without air conditioning hasn't done it for you yet, this is another reason to be excited for the fall.
- Words by Nathan Leigh - AfroPunk
As we all know, black folks listen to more than the just latest rap tune or R&B song playing on the radio. From jazz and electronica, to garage and punk, our musical tastes are as varied and diverse as we are.
Unfortunately, record labels don’t seem to know it. Or respect that, like everyone else, we like to genre surf with the best of them. So, we do what we’ve always done when we aren’t allowed mainstream access: We make our own way. One artist attempting to forge her own path is the Afro-punk musician, (i am) isis.
Brooklyn’s own (i am) isis is a self-proclaimed “spoken soul rocker” who mixes poetry with hard-edged melodies. (i am) isis was recently nominated for the National Poetry Awards “Spoken Word Single of the Year,” and her debut video, Drive Me, was chosen as “Artist of the Month” on Soul Train/Comcast-on-Demand.
These days, the indie upstart is hoping to win a spot on at this year’s Afro-Punk 2012 music festival and perform alongside Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, and Gym Class Heroes. But she needs your support.
As we all know, black folks listen to more than the just latest rap tune or R&B song playing on the radio. From jazz and electronica, to garage and punk, our musical tastes are as varied and diverse as we are.
Unfortunately, record labels don’t seem to know it. Or respect that, like everyone else, we like to genre surf with the best of them. So, we do what we’ve always done when we aren’t allowed mainstream access: We make our own way. One artist attempting to forge her own path is the Afro-punk musician, (i am) isis.
Brooklyn’s own (i am) isis is a self-proclaimed “spoken soul rocker” who mixes poetry with hard-edged melodies. (i am) isis was recently nominated for the National Poetry Awards “Spoken Word Single of the Year,” and her debut video, Drive Me, was chosen as “Artist of the Month” on Soul Train/Comcast-on-Demand.
These days, the indie upstart is hoping to win a spot on at this year’s Afro-Punk 2012 music festival and perform alongside Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae, and Gym Class Heroes. But she needs your support.
Learn more about (i am) isis on her website, or vote to help her win a spot at the Afro-punk festival here. - Clutch Magazine
(i am) isis talks about her music, what she can't wait for and her favorite SUV - Simply Rides
"From Brooklyn, (i am) isis is a DIY artist who indulges in attitude-laden, hardcore funk and soul, that is thrashed out more like garage rock." - Indie Rock Cafe
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Born Relic is an award-winning high energy, in-your-face band formed and fronted by soul-rock-phenom, isis. The band consists of guitarist Diamond Dave, keyboardist Isaac Childs and guest musicians who bring her crazy, color-filled melodies to life on stage.
Of Liberian parents, the Newark-born, Minneapolis-raised poet/singer has been described as “an edgy and fresh brand of soulful truth”, who is both haunting and mesmerizing. isis has also been featured as Soul Train’s artist of the month, following her debut video “Drive Me” on Comcast On-Demand.
Formerly known as (i am) isis, the band's sound has been compared to such legends as Tina Turner, Lenny Kravitz and Lauryn Hill. Overall, they consider their sound an eclectic fusion of rock and spoken soul, with a bluesy funk for the new millennium.
The Brooklyn-based band recently released their EP, Mosaic. The six-track project marks Born Relic’s first all-band release following isis’ solo project, amazingly random, which featured the 2012 National Poetry Award-winning Spoken Word Single/Performance of the Year single “I Saw You.”
Mosaic has been dubbed “an energetic masterpiece” of rock and soul music by Black On The Canvas. It features the popular singles “Get Free”, an inspiring anthem for change, and “Take It Back”, which VIBE has dubbed a “no-nonsense, head-banging, unabashed girl-power anthem.”
Their mission is simple: find you, feel you and free you.
That mission has allowed Born Relic to grace the stages of premiere venues and events across the country, from New York and Minneapolis to Los Angeles and North Carolina. Showcasing an affinity for rock-infused guitars and thrashing delivery, their performance style has been characterized as an energetic explosion of power and grace.
Most bands try to be unique. Born Relic just is. With a voice as big as her hair, come for isis’ powerhouse vocals and stay for a sonic revolution.
Band Members
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