NICKODEMUS: PRESS RELEASE

If you are a fan of electronic dance music and visited New York City during the past 10 years, no doubt you witnessed the impact Nickodemus made on the big city scene. The Brooklyn-based artist has performed alongside a decade's worth of the scene's finest international talent and soundtracked the summers with his massively popular 'Turntables On The Hudson' live events. More than just 4/4 beats and a night out, Nickodemus is known for adding something a bit more musical and spiritual to the mix. There's real culture and social themes incorporated into Nickodemus' music. With the weather warming up timing could not be better for the release of Nickodemus' sophomore artist CD, the aptly titled 'Sun People' (released June 16 on Wonderwheel Recordings and Thievery Corporations ESL Music). READ FULL STORY....

Conceptually, 'Sun People' was built with songs made for people who love the sun, sunshine and brighter days to come. Songs were inspired by various people Nickodemus met and places he's been, along with his collective feelings of optimism. "Sun People makes the best of every situation. When that sun peaks out in the sky, it's another day to feel and do something positive" Nickodemus says.

'Sun People' mixes positive sonic vibes from all over the globe with collaborators hailing from destinations including Guinea, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Romania, India, Turkey, United Kingdom and New York City. Recording artists The Real Live Show guests on the uplifting Hip-Hop jam "Sun Children" while Quantic lends his unmistakable groove on the Salsa Ritmo of "La Lluvia." Not to be outdone, Brazilian songstress Liliana Araujo features on the hot samba of "Gira Do Sol" while Mandingo vocalist Ismael Kouyate lends his Afro-beat groove to "N'Dini." Packed with brilliant collaborations, 'Sun People' is a pan-continental party not to be missed! Please see below for Nickodemus' own track-by-track synopsis.

Nickodemus honed his skill as resident DJ for Giant Step-produced (NYC) functions from 1995 – 1999 where he provided support DJ sets for live concerts from Gil Scott Heron, Jazzmattazz, The Pharcyde, Mos Def & Kweli, KRS-One, Us 3, Thievery Corporation, Groove Collective, Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers, Angelique Kidjo and Femi Kuti. In 1998, Nickodemus became resident DJ and producer for Turntables On The Hudson (TOTH) - one of the first late night outdoor events in NYC. The party became an adventurous, young, free-spirited community known for its eclectic musical blend of Hip-Hop, funk, house and soul played back to back with Latin, Afrobeat and Eastern European gypsy sounds. After ten years, the TOTH parties are now taking place every Friday at the Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City, Queens overlooking Manhattan and the East River.

For more information contact Caroline Hoste.

VIDEO: "Sun Children" Video by Nickodemus

Sun Children by Nickodemus feat The Real Live Show was shot at the Sundae Party in Philadelphia by Craig Carpenter (Director of Photography), Kelly G. Ireland, Lamira & Nickodemus (Camera Assistants). It was edited with love by Ron A. Shaffer. Special thanks to Lee Jones & the Sundae Philly party people who made this all possible by sharing all their good vibes!! For the full SUN PEOPLE album, please check out www.nickodemus.com.

Newsday.com Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

Nickodemus, the DJ mastermind behind the long-running Turntables on the Hudson parties, tapped into the inspirational vibe of those shows for his new album, "Sun People" (ESL), which was released online Tuesday and hits stores in August.

For those who haven't had the pleasure of attending one of the Bay Shore native's events, they merge DJ culture with live performances from percussion groups and the occasional powerhouse dance diva to create an uplifting experience through music.

"At my parties, you have the freedom to cross all the genres you like - from Latin to African, hip-hop, funk, Brazilian," says Nickodemus, who will launch a world tour to promote the album. "That's my main inspiration, getting people smiling and dancing and feeling good energy from music and from each other."

To create that sound, Nickodemus collaborates with all sorts of world music performers, including Guinean singer-dancer Ismael Kouyate to Brazilian vocalist Liliana Araujo and Indian singer Falu. "A lot of this album is actually collaborations done on the road - in Colombia, Romania, Puerto Rico," he says. "The rest of it was done in Brooklyn, which is where the world comes together... FULL REVIEW


Newsday.com Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

San Francisco Bay Guardian Review of 'Sun People'

Fresh for the heat of the summer, Brooklyn based beatsmith Nickodemus -- and seasoned selector from the acclaimed Turntables on the Hudson party -- drops a gem on us. In his inspired sophomore effort, Sun People (ESL Music), Nickodemus delivers a groove pummeling sound collage that expands on the cosmopolitan spirit fundamental to the Afrobeat tradition. He manages to inform Afrobeat’s free-formed jazz sensibility and funkified polyrhythmic arrangements with raw elements of celebratory music from around the world. Swaying jazz horns give way to uplifting blasts of air from Latin American and Balkan brass sections that loosen up the heavy hitting, grounding percussion. This strategy allows the drums to thrust in endless hypnotics without feeling too claustrophobic, a subtle formula for creating holistically sanguine dance grooves. And the fusion feels organic, perhaps due to the lively multinational character and experimental ethos at the very heart of Afrobeat, allowing the music's dynamic nature to morph, mutate, and evolve in provocative directions... FULL REVIEW


San Francisco Bay Guardian Review of 'Sun People'

Huffington Post Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

Global Beat Fusion: Sun People the World Over



Huffington Post Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

Shockhound Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

Shockhound Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

All Music Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

If you love the summer, sunshine, and New York City, then you just may find quite a bit of pleasure in the sophomore outing by Nickodemus, Sun People. A DJ who made a name for himself in the late '90s during a residency at Giant Step-produced gatherings, Nickodemus is becoming more and more his own man with each successive release. And throughout Sun People, he manages to touch upon several different stylistic approaches, such as the delightful retro Latin sounds of "La Lluvia," the reggae-ish "The Love Feeling," the Middle Eastern "Didibina," and the hip-hop-ish album opener, "Sun Children." If you're looking for some fine background music during your next summertime barbecue, Sun People could sound quite nice between bites of your tofu burger.


All Music Press Coverage of 'Sun People'

Metromix Tampa Bay Press Coverage

A respected and long-standing New York DJ, Nickodemus pulls from all over the globe for this sophomore platter. Make that a combo platter, as "Sun People" contains everything from his unique takes on salsa to samba to hip-hop to Afrobeat and all points in-between. Little wonder the dude often gets billed, like his label-mates Thievery Corporation, as "outernational."

Metromix Tampa Bay Press Coverage

Time Out New York Press Coverage

Each week, TONY features a DJ mix from one of our fave NYC spinners. This week: Turntables on the Hudson’s Nickodemus.

Photograph: Craig Carpenter

Sure, the Turntables on the Hudson party--devoted to a dubby, worldbeat-referencing mix of dance beats--has rarely been on the Hudson since it lost its longtime home of the Lightship Frying Pan a few years back. But most right-thinking clubbers still regard it as one of the best shindigs the city has to offer, faulty geography or no. On Friday 12, the bash returns to the city's other major waterway, the East River (specifically, Long Island City's Water Taxi Beach), for its weekly get-together, this one featuring a guest turn from the talented soulful-house honcho Osunlade. Amazingly, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the Yoruba Records boss has played in the open air here--but really, TOTH doesn't need big-name stars to shine, since residents Mariano and Nickodemus know how to rock a party all by their lonesome. (The shindig hasn't reached the ten-year mark by accident, you know.) Nickodemus, who also runs the Wonderwheel label and has a great new album, Sun People, coming out soon, was kind enough to create an exclusive mix for TONY, which in true TOTH fashion takes in Latin rhythms, Afrodisco, broken beat and Q-Tip's unfeasibly funky "Manwomanboogie." Enjoy!

Time Out New York Press Coverage

LA YOGA Review of “Sun People"

Brimming with sunshine and drenched with positivity, Nickodemus' Sun People is nothing short of a joyous tribute to the diversity and potential of our world. This beautiful collection of world-inspired grooves and happy vibes combines contemporary beats with ancient rhythms, creating a vibrant album that focuses on the healing powers of music, dance, and the Sun.

While not all songs on this album may be suitable for your average yoga class due their dance beats or MC'ing, all contain an element of unity, hope and consciousness. This is Nickodemus' distinct trademark: the ability to layer uplifting vocals, world rhythms and funky beats, creating a potent fusion of spiritually-concentrated grooves. The first two tracks, “Sun People" and the funky Hip-Hop jam “Sun Children," accentuate flute, clarinet, guitar and drums with vocals that proclaim, “New Day/Hands High/Get it Right/Sun Children, That's My Tribe." Songs like the soulful, Reggae-and Latin influenced “The Love Feeling" are perfect Sunday afternoon house music. Nickodemus also ventures deep into Gypsy, Middle Eastern and Indian influences. With “Didibina," the energy return inwards, and the chiller vibe continues with the swinging “Gira del Sol," and “Calle Sol's" jazzy flute and Cuban drums. Accompanied by fabulous sax and trumpets, the final song, "N'Dini," creates an emotional bookend to the album by echoing the melodies first heard in “Sun People" and “Sun Children."

Whether a backdrop to a Vinyasa flow class or an outdoor summertime party, Sun People's versatility is its biggest strength. Nickodemus creates a joyful palette of soulful, uplifting music from Guinea, Turkey, Romania, Columbia, India, Puerto Rico and Brazil, the UK and NYC. This groovy homage to the many diverse expressions of Life itself is available digitally June 16th on www.eslmusic.com. Look for hard copies on ESL Music on August 18th, 2009.

Nickodemus featured on iTunes

Nickodemus is featured on iTunes under "New and Noteworthy" and New "Indies" album of the week....check it out!

Nickodemus featured in URB Magazine

Nickodemus Press from URB Magazine

Nickodemus featured on TheFreshPage.com

If you are a fan of electronic dance music and visited New York City during the past 10 years, no doubt you witnessed the impact Nickodemus made on the big city scene. The Brooklyn-based artist has performed alongside a decade's worth of the scene's finest international talent and soundtracked the summers with his massively popular Turntables On The Hudson live events. More than just 4/4 beats and a night out, Nickodemus is known for adding something a bit more musical and spiritual to the mix. There's real culture and social themes incorporated into Nickodemus' music. With the weather warming up timing could not be better for the release of Nickodemus' sophomore artist CD, the aptly titled Sun People (released June 16 on Thievery Corporation's ESL Music).


Nickodemus featured on TheFreshPage.com

Nickodemus featured on AOL Spinner

Nickodemus, 'Sun Children' feat. The Real Live Show -- Free MP3 of the Day on AOL Spinner


Nickodemus press on AOL Spinner