American rapper Jack Wavy was born Jackson Sanborn in Denver, Colorado in 2000. Growing up early on he was interested in classic rock and long boarding, but his tastes shifted to a love of hip-hop after he heard Eminem’s "Encore" with his brother. Immediately afterwards he became interested in the elements of the culture, practicing break dancing and studying graffiti. After graduating high school the self proclaimed "Hip Hop Head", inspired by pillars of the culture like Kanye West, Snoop Dog, Kendrick Lamar, and Kid Cudi, began spending all of his free time recording original tracks. This resulted in the release of his first mixtape 2019's Scooby Snacks.
Scooby Snacks is a Hip Hop track about car rides with friends that sounds like Kyle but with my style of vocal sampling and unique delivery & flow.
Instagram: Jackson_SanbornListen here.
Spend Your Money on Dava... Or At Least Your Spare Time
Local artist Dava has a hot new single out, and we have it here, just for you!
Photo courtesy of artist
Dava told us, “I gather a lot of my inspiration from the females I grew up listening to. Ladies like Gwen, P!nk, Madonna were never afraid to write about what they really wanted. Lawrence Grivich and I had a blast making this - I wanted it to feel a little dreamy but still carry a strong presence lyrically. 2019 has a ton of music coming - releasing just about every month.”
Keep an eye out for this gal, she’s kicking butt and taking names!
Listen here.
5 Denver Artists To Watch Out For In 2019
We are excited to see what Denver local bands have in store for us in 2019. We have handpicked these bands because we feel they are ready to make a huge impact on the scene. Some have new albums on the way while others are ready to show Denver what they have been missing. We feel these five artist have earned our respect and it’s time Denver put their stamp of approval on them.
Tyto Alba
Tyto Alba has been honing their skills for a couple years now and we feel like 2019 will make them a household name in Denver. With a new album set to drop in 2019 (I have had a chance to hear it, be ready to be blown away) and a few more shows we have nothing but high hopes for this band in 2019. The band possess a unique sound not found anywhere else, led by the angelic vocals of Melanie Steinway the band conjures up comparisons of bands such as Japanese Breakfast, Mitski, and Beach House. Look for them to make a big splash in 2019.
A mesmerizing synthesis of shoegaze, dream-pop and indie. Lush guitars and heartfelt vocals roller coaster from subdued whispers to frenzied howls. A hypnotic blend of moody and catchy.
Nikki Giron
Local Singer/Songwriter and Alto Saxophonist Nikki Giron is releasing her debut EP ‘Heart Behind Bars’ on March 1st, 2019. Nikki Giron has been known for her ‘oldies’ influence upon not only her music, but her style as well. Nikki is a woman who will hit your vintage nostalgia making you feel as if you should be in a speakeasy in the 1920s. Upon first listen we were captured by her sultry voice and soulful sound. The nostalgia elements are all there and we encourage you all to come see her live on February 28th at Lost Lake.
Adiel Mitchell
Fresh off his EP release ‘Jungle’ Adiel Mitchell is already turning heads in his early career. First featured live during our Seven Year Anniversary party last year, Mitchell has been in the lab cooking up some new music and expanding his repertoire as a musician adding newer elements to his already praise worthy sound. Looks like 2019 will be the year Adiel Mitchell sets his footprint in the Denver music scene, expect to see this name a lot more. Word on the street is he has a special collab in the works with one of our favorite duos Optycnerd, stay tuned for more.
Oxeye Daisy
Storming out of the gates in 2017 Oxeye Daisy caught our eye with their dream like sound reminiscent of one of our all time favorite bands The Cranberries. They describe themselves as The Cranberries on acid, if they are serving that up, we will take two orders to go please. Led by lead singer Lela Roy and rounding out the band with an all star ensemble, the band is ready to make a huge impact in 2019. The band has one album to their credit and we expect to see a lot more in the coming year. A fun band to catch live make sure you come out on February 16th as they will be performing on a stellar bill featuring Tyto Alba and Pout House.
The Trujillo Company
One of the bands that landed on our radar in late 2018 was the dynamic duo of The Trujillo Company. With a no holds barred approach to rock, the band relies on heavy influences from bands such as Soundgarden, Audioslave and Stone Temple Pilots. The band is set to release their first full length album this year and we cannot wait to get our hands on it. Looking to see these guys cement themselves in our vibrant scene in 2019.
Denver rock and roll outfit, The Trujillo Company is making their own mark on the flourishing music scene in Colorado. Sharing the same love of music and same last name, Mike and Leny Trujillo combined forces to create a two-piece powerhouse driven by powerful backbeats and heavy riffs. The duo has been proving themselves with their energetic live shows and massive hooks since arriving on the scene in early 2018.
Adiel Mitchell | JUNGLE EP Review
Adiel Mitchell emerging from the Jungle of Hobby Lobby. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)
Adiel Mitchell just released his newest EP titled Jungle and we have been vibin’ to it in the office for about a week now. The three song EP captures a different side of Mitchell than we are used to hearing yet he still maintains that unique sound we fell in love with from his previous EP About Last Night.
"Following About Last Night, I really wanted to create a small package of songs that I just wanted to party with," he said. "I felt like ALN was a real groovy project with deep lyrics but packaged with a signature pop vibe but I wanted to broaden those horizons and really follow where my inspirations and influences were taking me...Every song has its own story on how it came together and how it affects me. I purposely stepped out of my box to take some risks and see how truly free I could expose my artistry."
On this EP Mitchell is not afraid to step out of his comfort zone and prove the versatility he has in his arsenal as he rips through the three song EP with no abandonment. The lead song aptly sharing the same title as the EP “Jungle” , has Mitchell storm out the gate with a lyrical bombardment accompanied by a devastating drum beat that has us singing the chorus with ferocity (strange flex for us mild mannered music snobs), the song transitions into a slower soulful beat in which Mitchell demonstrates his expertise in being able to flip the switch at the drop of a dime. Easily our favorite track on the EP.
Jungle (photo Credit: Robert Castro)
The second single “Stuck on You” takes Mitchell back to his roots as he belts the chorus to what we can only imagine slow dancing with our significant partner in a rather sensual manner. Turn up the 808 on this one and sit back as you indulge in some of his finest work.
The last track “Ugh (There She Go)” is a classical take on a simple yet successful formula for what a radio hit should be. It has all the elements from an infectious beat, to a classic hook that we can repeat over and over. Mitchell continues to grow in front of our eyes and with this EP he proves that he has plenty of tools in his belt to succeed in the game. It’s time the world to take notice! Production credits on JUNGLE are provided by Levi Double U.
Ultra5280's Best Of 2018: Band of The Year
Los Mocochetes playing during this year’s Underground Music Showcase. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)
We have usually shied away in the past from naming a band of the year. This year we decide to recognize a band that left blood, sweat, and tears on the stage with every performance. This group of gentlemen provided Denver with a message that was much needed in light of our current political climate. Sharing positivity and love throughout their sets, it was an easy choice to name Los Mocochetes our band of the year. The band had huge presence this year playing an abundance of shows all over our state (we had a chance to see them three times), they blend an array of sounds from Latin beats to funk to politically charged lyrics, add a high energy stage performance and you are guaranteed to dance your ass off. Cut from the same cloth as bands such as Rage Against The Machine and Ozomatli the band is looking to top their year in 2019 with their debut album. We look forward to seeing the band continue to ride their current wave and can’t wait to see what they have in store for the new year. Viva La Raza!!!!!!
Other bands worth mentioning that had an amazing year and should be recognized for their accomplishments this year.
Cheap Perfume
Oxeye Daisy
The Still Tide
Tennis
Citra
Yasi
The Velveteers
Dreadnought
It’s Just Bugs
Denver Music The Year In Photos 2018
Here are some random photos taken throughout 2018 of some of our favorite bands. Photo Credit: Robert Castro
Too many people to name.
Tyto Alba
Oxeye Daisy
Corsicana
One Flew West
YaSi
iZCALI
Crl Crrll
Water Aerobics
The Velveteers
Citra
Kayla Marque
Maxwell Hughes
HR People
Whiskey Autumn
Pout House
Wildermiss
King Eddie
The Corner Girls
The Corner Girls +1
Some of the most talented musicians in Denver!