Scion Exposed gives music lovers a chance to discover up-and-coming local and national acts with a day-long showcase situated in a tunnel. The headliner, RJD2, is the veteran of the bill having already established himself, including a set at this summer’s Bunbury Music Festival, but it wouldn’t hurt for even more people to know who he is.
Who: RJD2
From: Philly
What: Whether you realize it or not, you’ve heard RJ’s music. His “funked-up pop with vintage keyboards and a hip-hop edge” infused songs have appeared in commercials and a snippet of his song “A Beautiful Mine” is the official “Mad Men” theme song. For a decade, the Columbus-raised RJ moved from sample-based songs on his legendary 2002 debut “Deadringer” to more flushed-out recordings on his 2010 record “Colossus.” RJ paved the way for hip-hop all-stars El-P, Blueprint and Aesop Rock and newcomers like Frank Ocean, and continues to dabble in new projects such as Insane Warrior, his tribute to horror films; and Icebird, a collaboration with his friend Aaron Livingston.
Who: Chairlift
From: Brooklyn
What: The band gained notoriety in 2008 when their melancholy-pop song “Bruises” appeared in an iPod commercial, but this year’s major label debut, the excellent “Something,” solidified them as more than just an Apple darling. Now a duo, Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly generate catchy synthpop tracks steeped in relationship themes, like on “Wrong Option” where she sings the harsh sentiment, “Laid my guts out and you said no.”
2012 is definitely Chairlift’s year: they’re currently opening for superstar Gotye on his tour, they played a Prada Fashion Week gig, and Polachek, someone who likes to keep things interesting, just channeled her affinity for Japanese when she did a video version of “I Belong in Your Arms” sung entirely in the language.
Who: Walshy Fire
From: Miami
What: Leighton Paul Walsh’s schedule is all over the world this month: South Beach, Berlin, Cincy and then to his homeland of Jamaica. The Kingston-born, Miami resident has made a name for himself DJing internationally, especially as the MC for Major Lazer, the duo comprised of Diplo and Switch.
More than just a DJ, Walsh is Lazer’s mixologist contributing mixtapes and remixes for Lazer, which allows him the right to brand himself “Miami’s Global Ambassador of Music & Culture.” Just looking over all of his photos on his website, you get the gist of how much fun he’s having.
Who: Archer’s Paradox
From: Cincinnati
What: One of the two local bands appearing at Scion, lead singer Seth Huff formed his one-man-band while in high school, but in April he added four other members and created a full band.
Last year, Huff hunkered down in a Clifton house with a MacBook and recorded the band’s five-song, self-titled EP beaming with dreamy and poppy bedroom music. They even have a song called “College Town,” which is probably a reference to UC.
Who: DAAP Girls
From: Cincinnati
What: The newly developed group is a mash-up of the Lions Rampant and the Newport Secret Six members.
The band made their debut at MOTR in June with their music being described as a “dance-oriented mix of early Stones’ guitars, funk breakbeats, three-part harmonies and reggae bass,” and have since played gigs in Northside. Despite their feminine name, the group’s actually comprised of a bunch of dudes.
