July 9, 2013
21 Singer-Songwriters to Conduct Lunchtime Performances in 7 World Trade Center Park
Press Release
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NEW YORK, July 9, 2013 – Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®), the leading global music rights organization that represents more than 600,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 7.5 million works, is partnering with New York real estate company Silverstein Properties, Inc. to host the 3rd annual concert series of free summer music performances in the park in front of 7 World Trade Center (250 Greenwich St.) in downtown Manhattan. The music festival, known as “7@7” is taking place on seven Fridays from July 12th through August 23rd, with an eclectic lineup of talented performers taking to the BMI stage at 12:00 p.m. in the park in front of Silverstein Properties’ 7 WTC.
The 7@7 festival – which was launched two years ago to celebrate the building’s fifth anniversary – will offer local office workers, downtown residents, students, construction workers and visitors an opportunity to listen to a wide variety of singer-songwriter acts, as well as unwind before the weekend.
Performers on this year’s BMI stage include 17-year-old New York-born Ali Isabella, who some are calling the next Taylor Swift; indie rock sensation Motive; passionate acoustic pop performer Jamie Bendell; and critically acclaimed rock star Aaron Brown. The lineup will provide a mix of sounds and serves as an extension of Silverstein Properties’ efforts to enrich the Lower Manhattan community through a series of ongoing free arts programming.
“We opened 7 WTC seven years ago by inviting the public to a concert with Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega and other great performers, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue that tradition in partnership with BMI,” said Larry A. Silverstein, President & CEO of Silverstein Properties, Inc. “Downtown has become the place to be for creative, media and tech companies and this is our way of celebrating the creative spirit of the neighborhood.”
Del Bryant, President and CEO of Broadcast Music, Inc., stated, “Downtown Manhattan has always been a vibrant part of our city, and it has continued to evolve into a dynamic, culturally rich destination. We are excited to partner with Silverstein Properties for this summer concert series and contribute to the community arts programming with some of BMI’s most talented songwriters, you likely have not been introduced to just yet, but sure you will enjoy."
7 World Trade Center was the first tower to be built and open at the World Trade Center in May 2006. Developed by Silverstein Properties, the building is fully leased to a world-class mix of tenants including BMI, one of the first entertainment industry companies to occupy space in the new WTC. Silverstein’s next building – 4 World Trade Center – opens in the fall.
Below is the schedule for the first four concerts of the 7@7 Summer Concert Series. The subsequent concerts will be scheduled as the summer progresses and details will be made available on www.bmi.com . The 7@7 Music Festival can also be followed at #BMImusic7@7.
Friday, July 12, 12:00 p.m.
Sizzy Rocket
Sizzy Rocket first moved to NYC when she was 18 years old. She had a few things under her belt - 14 years of classical piano lessons, a brief stunt on America’s Most Talented Kids when she was 12 (performing an original song), followed by magazine spreads in TRACE, CosmoGirl, and Seventeen, a weekend writing songs on the John Lennon Tour Bus with Will.I.Am, Natasha Bedingfield, and Yoko Ono (all at the same time), and more than a few sold out shows at The House of Blues both in her hometown and Los Angeles. But when she hit the ground at JFK airport ready to start her freshman year at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, nothing could prepare her for the journey. Now, here she is three years later as the piano-driven trill pop artist Sizzy Rocket.
Nola Wren
Nola Wren is the stage name of New York-based singer-songwriter and visual artist Kara Francavillo. Born and raised in Chicago for the first 11.5 years of her life, she started writing songs shortly after her family relocated to the East Coast. Francavillo graduated cum laude from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in May 2012. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a self-designed academic concentration in Neuroaesthetics. Her senior Rationale, entitled “The Sound of Poetry, The Poetry of Sound: Imagination, Melancholy, and Aesthetic Experience,” earned praise from Gallatin faculty. In February 2012, she successfully passed her Colloquium on the first try. She currently owns an Etsy shop called Skella, where she sells a mixture of vintage, studded, and custom upcycled clothing.
Aaron Brown
Aaron Michael Brown is a versatile songwriter, who was born on March 1, 1979, and raised in Los Angeles, California. Aaron composes and infuses his musical style into songs of Top 40 Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Country and Modern Rock. His love for music started at a young age in elementary school as he began playing the piano. He then picked up the guitar at age 12 to learn how to play Guns N’ Roses and Metallica songs. Aaron has played rock shows at world famous venues like The Whiskey A Go Go and The Roxy on the Sunset Strip with his former rock bands. Aaron is a huge John Lennon and Jon Bon Jovi fan.
Mitre
Mitre is a singer, songwriter and producer born in Mexico City now living in the USA.
His music is a blend of atmospheres and sounds ranging from tango, pop, mexican music and sounds of the world. In 2010, he released his first independent material “Fugitivo” in Mexico, Japan, USA, Canada and the UK. This winter he is releasing his new single “Lloro” a duet with the singer and songwriter Pambo.
Friday, July 19, 12:00 p.m.
Evan Nachimson
Evan Nachimson believes the power of the voice is not in how you sing, rather, what you say. Born in Baltimore, enlightened in Nashville, and toughened in New York, Evan Nachimson’s music is all-American. Inspired by revolutionaries like Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Bob Marley, Evan Nachimson’s music blends the honesty of folk, with the energy of rock and roll, and style of R&B.
Jenna Torres
Singer-songwriter Jenna Torres is something of a contradiction – and not just because she’s a native New Yorker who sounds like a cross between Sheryl Crow and Dolly Parton. Soft-spoken and self-effacing in conversation, Torres is a force of nature when she performs live – an alt-country siren capable of bringing the house down with her powerful voice, burning eyes and beautifully broken heart. Since signing with Warner/Chappell, Torres has taken flying leaps as both a solo artist and a collaborator. As of winter 2012, Jenna had a Top Ten song on the Billboard Charts, “Busted Heart,” by For King & Country, which reached #3 on the Hot Christian 100, AC and CHR Charts. Throughout the past two years, Jenna has had the opportunity to co-write with some of the biggest names in Nashville, New York and LA. Jenna is currently putting the finishing touches on her next release.
Ali Isabella
At just 17, Ali Isabella has already performed at many of NYC’s legendary clubs, headlined at two pre-Grammy parties, one honoring Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder celebrating the 54th, and for St Jude’s hospital, the 55th, annual Grammy Awards. Ali has also appeared at legendary clubs in the U.S. In the UK, she was an opening act to superstars Reba McEntire and Lonestar at the world renowned Wembley Arena in London, England, in 2012, where she performed her original songs and became the youngest ever artist to appear in that famed venue. Ali released her first album “Say You’ll Be Mine” in 2012 in the UK. The first single from the album “What If” quickly reached #13 in the Hotdisc Charts in the UK and was featured in radio play across Europe. The album was recorded in New York, Nashville and England, and features songs written by Ali Isabella alone and with collaborators that reveal the young, exciting image that Ali portrays in her everyday life. In the U.S., her debut single “New York City Country Girl” – reached #14 on the coveted Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales Chart and was #1 for four weeks on the Billboard Country Hot Single Sales charts.
Friday, July 26, 12:00 p.m.
Catey Shaw
Catey discovered her natural love of music through her grandfather, a radio host and songwriter in Syracuse, NY. Catey’s grandfather would only perform Catey’s requests at his shows if she stood up on her chair and sang along; this always followed with an astounded crowd. A star was born. After writing two songs on a toy ukulele that was left at her house, her father bought her a real one for her 18th birthday, which she still plays to this day in New York City subways. Catey is a true artist and speaks the languages of both music and visual art with equal passion.
Jamie Bendell
After graduating from Emory University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Jamie didn’t even consider looking for jobs related to her studies. Instead, she packed up her car and made the 14-hour drive back up to New York City. Having recently completed a four song EP recorded at The Gallery, then a five song EP, and now another three song EP recorded at JRock Studios, Jamie has been spending as many nights as possible frequenting the music scene around Manhattan, and playing both solo and full band shows across the U.S.
Friday, August 9, 12:00 p.m.
Rachel Brotman
Rachel Brotman is a singer, songwriter and pianist born and raised in Manhattan. After many years living and performing in New Orleans (sharing bills with acts ranging from Vampire Weekend to Dr. John and performing multiple years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival), Brotman is back in NYC debuting her most recent project as a bandleader. The group includes John Raymond (flugelhorn), Yago Vazquez (piano), Zach Lane (bass) and Anthony Taddeo (drums) and features Brotman’s soulful, tightly woven compositions and arrangements.Their EP Anecdote has been met with a great deal of praise, her own performance being called “extraordinary" and “a breath of fresh air," the EP hailed as being “in a league of its own. "Additionally, the group has been featured on NPR’s wnyc Soundcheck and most recently Brotman was chosen by Giant Step as one of their acclaimed Next Step artists.
Motive
Not long ago, the members of Motive were shredding through jazz lead sheets and getting carted across the U.S. and Europe to showcase their young talent. Nowadays, Motive populates a different scene. These Seattle transplants-turned Brooklynites emerged from a Clinton Hill, Brooklyn practice space onto stages around the city and are rapidly taking NYC – and the Internet – by storm. Known for their grunge-influenced indie rock sound, Motive’s catchy, hook laced songwriting shines through on the latest single “What’s So Bad?” that was produced & mixed by Chuck Brody (Phantogram, Bear Hands, Ra Ra Riot). The video for “What’s So Bad?” recently caught the attention of MTV and premiered on MTV2’s 120 Minutes with Matt Pinfield. The video quickly skyrocketed to #2 on MTV.com’s Most Popular Video chart, topping artists such as Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, and Imagine Dragons – a rare feat for an unsigned band.
Motive is currently preparing to release a new EP and a series of high concept music videos to accompany the release, and recently had their cover of Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” featured in a Jean Paul Gaultier video released by the popular fashion/music/and culture publication, TWELV Magazine.
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About Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI ®)
Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 7.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 600,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com , follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) Facebook page.
About Silverstein Properties
Silverstein Properties, Inc. (SPI) is a privately-held, full-service real estate development, investment and management firm based in New York. Founded in 1957 by President and CEO Larry Silverstein, the company develops and acquires office, residential, hotel and retail properties. On behalf of principals, investors and financial partners, SPI has developed, owned and managed more than 35 million square feet (3.2 million square meters) of commercial, residential and retail space.
SPI has $10 billion worth of development activities underway, including rebuilding the commercial office space at the World Trade Center, one of the largest public-private developments ever undertaken. The company recently developed and opened Silver Towers, the largest residential rental development in New York. The company has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in New York City” by Crain’s New York Business for the past five years. For further information on Silverstein Properties, please visit www.silversteinproperties.com or www.wtc.com
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Silverstein Properties Press Contacts:
Gianna Frederique |
Bud Perrone |
Broadcast Music, Inc. Press Contacts:
Jamil Walker, BMI
212-220-3143
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