Follow Author 
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) brings its digital series, “On The Come Up,” to stages for the first time in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, showcasing a lineup of up-and-coming artists. The first round of “On The Come Up Showcase Series” occurred August 22 in New York City:
ARTIST LINEUP
Solo Woods — @IAmSoloWoods
Topaz Jones — @TopazJones
Abir — @XOAbir
Gilles — @SuperGilles
Maya Milan — @MayaMilanMusic
Allan Kingdom — @AllanKngdm
“On The Come Up” is a successful web-based series chronicling ASCAP’s rising urban songwriters and producers. The series has typically featured ASCAP members who are experiencing their first taste of chart success. Over the past few years, “On the Come Up” has identified the industry’s next chart-topping leaders including Miguel, DeJ Loaf, Fetty Wap, Tasha Cobbs, Mike Will,Eric Bellinger and Jonathan McReynolds.
Now, the digital series comes to life as the “On The Come Up Showcase Series,” featuring exclusive, intimate performances with artists tapped to break next. The showcase also inspires ASCAP members to remember success is only one song away. All shows are free to the public and admittance is on a first come, first serve basis, with limited space available.
For additional information about the “On The Come Up Showcase Series,”go tohttp://www.ascap.com/.
ASCAP “ON THE COME UP” NYC SHOWCASE ARTIST BIOS
ABIR
Originally hailing from Fez, Morocco, 22-year-old singer/songwriter ABIR’s love for music came when her parents decided to move the family to Virginia, and has stayed apart of her through her latest move to NYC. With a sound as worldly whimsical as her culture and upbringing, ABIR’s focus is to put an effortlessly honest stamp on her music. After riding the “Wave” on her debut release earlier this year alongside VA-cohort Masego, ABIR returned to the scene with “Girls,” which is an anthem for all the young boys and girls making shit happen! You may recognize ABIR’s unique, sultry, yet powerful vocals from collaborations with Fabolous and !llmind, or even caught her sharing the stage with The Dream, Elle Varner, Dawn, and many others.
ALLAN KINGDOM
At only 22-years-old, with three viral mixtapes and a feature on one of the biggest tracks of 2015 — Kanye West’s ‘All Day’ — Allan Kingdom is ready to take on the world. The Canadian born, Minnesota based rapper, producer and member of Thestand4rd Crew put out his first EP ‘Talk to Strangers’ in 2013 on SoundCloud and from there his music did the talking with tracks like ‘Wavey’ feat Spooky Black, ‘Evergreens’ and ‘Keep It Easy’ proving online smashes. Kingdom released ‘Future Memoirs’ in 2014 and with over two million streams, the mixtape planted him firmly on the radar of tastemakers and hip-hop fans across the globe, being voted Minnesota’s “Best Hip Hop Artist of 2014” and Complex’s “Top 25 Rappers to Watch.” Catching the eye of no other than Kanye West, the world renowned mogul chose Kingdom to feature on his smash ‘All Day’ with Allan also joining him for the infamous BRITs performance in 2015. Currently on a US tour, Kingdom dropped his first LP ‘Northern Lights’ just a couple months ago and featuring the likes of Chronixx, D.R.A.M., Jared Evan, Swizzymack, Rex Kudo and Ryan Olson, Kingdom has had early support from Pitchfork, Fader, Pigeons and Planes, Complex.
Catching the eye of no other than Kanye West, the world renowned mogul chose Kingdom to feature on his smash ‘All Day’ with Allan also joining him for the infamous BRITs performance in 2015. Currently on a US tour, Kingdom dropped his first LP ‘Northern Lights’ just a couple months ago and featuring the likes of Chronixx, D.R.A.M., Jared Evan, Swizzymack, Rex Kudo and Ryan Olson, Kingdom has had early support from Pitchfork, Fader, Pigeons and Planes, Complex.
GILLES
From his tailored denim all the way down to the carefully curated accessories, it is apparent that everything about him is deliberate. Proving through his eloquence and charm that he is both a scholar and a gentleman, Gilles aims to be, above all, an inspiration. He weaves his Caribbean-American, ATL upbringing, extended tours of the halls of higher education, and affinity for tall women and thrift stores all atop a passion for lyricism and word play. You see, what makes his story so interesting is precisely the fact that, like so many of us, he is not just one thing. He is the sensitive stoic. He is the womanizer looking for love. He is the dreamer who “stays woke.” The music is merely an audio collection of those life-experiences perfectly places in rhythm over an 808-laden landscape.
SOLO WOODS
Creating tomorrow’s music that addresses your mind and salutes your soul, Solo Woods draws on a deep sense of honesty and self-discovery to captivate his audience. Fresh off of a Summer 2016 tour where he played to sold-out audiences across the U.S. while supporting Leon Bridges, Solo Woods captured both dedicated fans and drew a new loyal following through his stripped down set featuring well-renowned and multi-percussionist/drummer, Themba Mkhatshwa. The two musicians fuse together their craft effortlessly producing a truly uplifting experience.Currently based in Brooklyn, Solo Woods was born in Chicago, and infuses into his music the soul and grit inherent in the city, along with the spirit of the music that he found and nurtured while growing up there. Along with this influence, Solo has been more recently impacted by artists such as Jeff Buckley, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Tame Impala, and D’Angelo, to name a few. The seemingly innocent quality of the music is often confronted by Solo’s perspective as a young man asking the greater audience questions and offering them the opportunity to join him on his course. Solo is steadily crafting more releases to follow that are sure to cross musical boundaries and envelop listeners on his hypnotic path.
Currently based in Brooklyn, Solo Woods was born in Chicago, and infuses into his music the soul and grit inherent in the city, along with the spirit of the music that he found and nurtured while growing up there. Along with this influence, Solo has been more recently impacted by artists such as Jeff Buckley, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Tame Impala, and D’Angelo, to name a few. The seemingly innocent quality of the music is often confronted by Solo’s perspective as a young man asking the greater audience questions and offering them the opportunity to join him on his course. Solo is steadily crafting more releases to follow that are sure to cross musical boundaries and envelop listeners on his hypnotic path.
MAYA MILAN
Singer and songwriter, Maya Milan, plans to take the industry by storm with her music by recapturing and reviving the authentic R&B sound. Maya Milan was born Maya Russell on September 10, 1993 in Boston, Massachusetts, however puts on for the DMV after relocating to Maryland at a very young age. Maya began singing at age three, but was recognized for her talent, when she performed Alicia Key’s “If I Ain’t Got You” at her 4th grade talent show.Maya Milan has a unique, but relatable Maya has performed for several large crowds, and has opened for several notable artists such as K.Michelle, Rick Ross, Fabolous, and J.Cole, to name a few. She has had the pleasure of recording with Mali Music, and even got to sing live for Timbaland. Maya has also had the opportunity to attend a master songwriters session with James Fauntleroy. Maya Milan is a fresh and eager artist ready to redefine R&B. She has accomplished much as an independent artist, and looks forward to continuing her grind as she solidifies her place in the music industry.Maya Milan has a unique, but relatable Maya Milan has a unique, but relatable Maya Milan has a unique, but relatable
Maya Milan has a unique, but relatable “homegirl” charm about her, which is evident in her music. Self- described as the Urban “Girl Next Door”, representing the underdogs, Maya’s music genuinely and soulfully chronicles life from a twenty-two year old woman’s perspective. Her music offers timeless nostalgic appeal with a fresh approach. Maya’s 2014 “So Wassup”, followed by her brand new “Another One”, from her upcoming EP entitled“11:11” highlight her smooth yet, dynamic, signature sound.Maya has performed for several large crowds, and has opened for several notable artists such as K.Michelle, Rick Ross, Fabolous, and J.Cole, to name a few. She has had the pleasure of recording with Mali Music, and even got to sing live for Timbaland. Maya has also had the opportunity to attend a master songwriters session with James Fauntleroy. Maya Milan is a fresh and eager artist ready to redefine R&B. She has accomplished much as an independent artist, and looks forward to continuing her grind as she solidifies her place in the music industry.
Maya has performed for several large crowds, and has opened for several notable artists such as K.Michelle, Rick Ross, Fabolous, and J.Cole, to name a few. She has had the pleasure of recording with Mali Music, and even got to sing live for Timbaland. Maya has also had the opportunity to attend a master songwriters session with James Fauntleroy. Maya Milan is a fresh and eager artist ready to redefine R&B. She has accomplished much as an independent artist, and looks forward to continuing her grind as she solidifies her place in the music industry.
TOPAZ JONES
At 23 years of age, Topaz Jones has established himself as a distinctive leader among up-and-coming performers. Jones has received praise for his “charismatic storytelling” (XXL Magazine), “pure lyricism” (Okayplayer), and “skill for melodic hooks that can push rappers above the internet scrapheap” (Pigeons and Planes).Throughout his two years touring, Topaz created his funk and hip-hop inspired follow-up, He’s been getting a lot of love so far from the likes of Apple Music Beats 1 host Ebro (Discovered on Apple Music Feature), BBC Radio’s DJ Semtex, Spotify (“Tropicana” debuted at #4 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50), and Pitchfork Best New Track for “Powerball.”Throughout his two years touring, Topaz created his funk and hip-hop inspired follow-up,
Throughout his two years touring, Topaz created his funk and hip-hop inspired follow-up, ARCADE. Leading up to the album release, Topaz dropped “Powerball” — an homage to funk’s forefathers, channeling Maurice White’s elastic vocals and evoking the psychedelic theatrics of George Clinton and P-Funk. “Powerball” succeeds Topaz’s summer smash, “Tropicana,” also praised by Pitchfork and Pigeons & Planes for its “irrepressible hook,” “West Coast G-funk… Stankonia swagger, and a lot of lyrical agility.” His third single,”Motion Sickness” was premiered by Billboard and produced by Episode and Thelonious Martin. He’s been getting a lot of love so far from the likes of Apple Music Beats 1 host Ebro (Discovered on Apple Music Feature), BBC Radio’s DJ Semtex, Spotify (“Tropicana” debuted at #4 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50), and Pitchfork Best New Track for “Powerball.”
His critically acclaimed debut The Honeymoon Suite, featured appearances from producer friend Thelonious Martin and a verse from Odd Futures’ Hodgy Beats. The buzz from the project landed Topaz on stage with many of hip hop and R&B’s most exciting names including Travis Scott, Jerimih, Ty Dolla $ign, Big Sean and Future. His follow-up album ARCADE is due later this year.
Published by Judith Davis
7 years ago 
