By Tammy Scileppi
Earlier this spring a new band became part of New York’s emerging music scene as semi-finalists representing Queens at the 2013 Battle of the Boroughs talent quest held this March at The Greene Space in Manhattan. The Dirty Gems beat the competition and won first place and grand prize. Then they went on to compete in the Ultimate Battle in June.
“Although we didn’t win the Ultimate Battle, we’re still fighting the good fight,” said drummer Jack Goode from Astoria, who described the band’s music style as “pop-rock-soul,” and sounding like “Beyoncé and Janelle Monáe filtered through Jeff Beck, and blown up to Freddie Mercury grandiosity (with more glitter).”
Now, members of TDG are eager to let fans and music lovers know about the release of their second EP “Vujà Dé.” Last Saturday, the band put on an exciting release show at Manhattan’s The Bowery Electric to celebrate.
Other acts included Queens band The Great Apes.
“We actually met through the Battle of the Boroughs,” said lead singer Raycee Jones, who is the only female band member. The Great Apes were the Queens winners in 2012.
“The Ultimate Battle was a refreshing and grounding experience for us as a band. To see the extraordinary talent representing each borough was amazing,” said Jones. “It’s always a humbling experience to share a stage with people that truly care about what they’re doing.”
She said the band was happy knowing that “it wasn’t necessarily a competition, but rather a night that everyone was genuinely there to create and to simply do what we all love to do – play music.
“We connected with genres of music we might not necessarily get to in a typical setting. The eccentricity of the entire night is what New York City is all about – uniqueness.”
“Vujà Dé” includes six tracks co-written by the band members.
“The entire band comes together and finishes each song by adding their own flare to the arrangements. It’s a complete collaborative effort and that’s what makes our band so unique,” Jones explained.
The diversity of the band members’ individual musical backgrounds definitely shapes TDG’s eclectic sound. The other band members are: Ulises Amaya (bass), Gary Heimbauer (guitar), Mills (piano, backup vocals), and Astorian Cam Underhill (synth). All can be found living throughout Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.
TDG will be headlining The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, Aug. 26.
In October they will be shooting a music video for one of the tracks off “Vujà Dé.” And, they have a new single titled “Let Me Loose.”
“We’ve been working for months on this album and can’t wait to start playing around New York City more and to take our music on the road. We have such an amazing time playing live, making new fans and friends,” said Jones. “The reason we pursue this dream is to feel that connection and see the emotion in the crowd. It’s when we’re all the most alive and we’re alive together.”
If you’d like to check it out, you can stream the six-track EP at: www.soundcloud.com/thedirtygems. Check out the band at its website: www.thedirtygems.com
