Marcus Machado Sticking To His Guns On New Single "I Can't Loose"

Marcus Machado is back with a brand new single, “I Can’t Lose,” feat. Jermaine Holmes. 

The young electrified gun slinger released his first single of 2018 and it’s the cornerstone track off an impressive musical score for the independent film, “Blue Diamonds,” directed by Patrick House. The film was recently selected to be featured at the Hip Hop Film Festival in New York City next month.

A rising guitarist whose been sought with critical acclaim and prestige, Marcus Machado has become one of the most respected young guitarist in the industry. Amongst his works, Machado has worked with both contemporary soul and jazz artists such as Robert Glasper, Anderson.Paak, D'Angelo, Lalah Hathaway and Living Colour. 

On his latest single, Machado comes in with a bluesy sound that riffs with confidence, attitude and survival. The song is ripe with electrified jazzy elements that gorgeously wraps around a classic soulful vocal by Jermaine Holmes. One of the lead vocalists from D'Angelo's renowned touring outfit, The Vanguard, Holmes gives, "I Can't Lose," an authentic R&B feel that's bold, commanding and soothingly elegant. His defiantly loose singing and decadent melodies are inviting and keeps listeners at attention while enjoying this gem of a record.

Machado's long awaited single is a must listen and a great addition to anyone's weekly playlist. 

"I Can't Lose" is out now on all digital and streaming platforms.

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Marcus Machado - Bringing Back Lead Guitar at Soul in the Horn 2016

Marcus Machado at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos. 

It was the Soul in the Horn festival at Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn last Wednesday and the amphitheater was filled with the thick, smooth, sounds of Marcus Machado and his guitar. Performing among a line up of talented acts, such as Maurice “Mobetta” Brown and Kendra Foster, Machado stands out amongst a roster of serious talent that flowed together beautifully at this years Soul in the Horn Festival.

Machado strummed his guitar effortlessly with a full and powerful sound. The jazzy notes and bluesy rock arrangements closely resembled those from Machado’s legendary influencers, such as Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Carlos Santana and Eddie Hazel to name a few. Yet, Machado projected an upbeat, fun, unique and intricate arrangement that blend the sounds of blues, rock and jazz masterfully. During his performance, a five-piece band accompanied Machado on the drums, sax, bass, keys and smooth vocals, filling out the sound. Songs ranged from classic jazz, to full on “I absolutely must move my shoulders” funk.

Marcus Machado and band at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Marcus Machado at SummerStage 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos

The music had the whole crowd moving and filled the summery air with a sweet, smooth and positive vibe. One that Machado purposely created, reminding the audience to “give love” and “practice peace” throughout his performance. At a particularly beautiful moment, before one of his closing songs, he asked the audience to hold up their peace signs as he dedicated the piece to those we lost in the tragic Orlando attack, as well as Mohammad Ali and Prince, whom we also lost this year. The amphitheater quickly filled with peace signs in the air and a subtle moment of silence before launching into another graceful, roaring, guitar track.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos

If his undeniable talent isn't’ enough to consume you, his stage presence will be. Machado stands tall and cool, front and center of the stage, holding his guitar like it’s an extension of himself and strumming it casually as if it’s completely second nature. He has a swagger to the way he moves about the stage; nodding at this band and coyly demonstrating that he’s the one in charge.

Marcus Machado at Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

It’s not often you see the guitarist front and center, leading the show; which Machado is trying to change. As he said in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Next Young Gun” featured article, “While I feel like these days there’s a lot of great players out there, something has changed where you don't’ really see guitar players as the lead people.” He’s doing his part to bring it back. The entire band was amazing, and delivered a full sound, but the guitar lead the way. And those guitar solos? Damn.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Soul in The Horn 2016. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Seeing Machado playing live is a must. He willfully, and unapologetically, commands the stage beautifully with his presence, skill, and effervescent sense of love and harmony. He has dates here in New York from now through December. His guitar-powered EP, 29 is currently streaming on Spotify and on his website, Official Marcus Machado, where you can also see all of his show dates, bio and music. This artist is an act you don’t want to miss! 

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Kapali Long woos crowds on the East Coast leg of “The Different Tour 2016”

With nothing but two guitars and a backpack, Hawaii’s very own Kapali Long, met with The Fox and King in February to kick off the east coast leg of “The Different Tour 2016” in an effort to promote his brand new EP, “The Different.”

Stemming from a beautiful family heritage of Hawaiian folk musicians, Kapali Long started playing acoustic singer-songwriter music at a young age. The aspiring guitarist began playing music at the age of three where he first learned to play piano. He would eventually go on to master the guitar and adopt an early 90’s alternative style that combined captivating lyrics, with vivid storytelling and features derived from traditional Hawaiian folk music.

“I’ve always played acoustic singer-songwriter music ever since I was 14, playing four-hour gigs in coffee shops - covering Van Morrison; to Led Zeppelin; to Brand New; to Taking Back Sunday – it was everything,” Kapali says. “Now I’m back again, 10 years later, playing acoustic singer-songwriter, bluesy, folk, rock-stuff with Hawaiian influences.”

Kapali Long arrived from Los Angeles to New York after performing at the Nissan® Grand Plaza stage at NAMM 2016 (National Association of Music Merchants) where he performed for 20,000 people on the KIA Soul Main Stage. In his first New York performance in over two years, the multi-instrumentalist performed at the lower east side’s very own, Pianos, sharing the bill with other talented emerging artists. Kapali rocked the two-story venue on the first stop of “The Different Tour 2016,” crooning the intimate crowd with a commanding, yet mellow; vocal that illustrated the sounds of blues and hints of Kapali’s traditional folk influences. He transitioned his raw and invigorating performance to another equally legendary venue, Arlene’s Grocery, wooing a hushed crowd on a frigid Valentines Day weekend.

Kapali Long performing at Pianos

During the second week on the NYC tour, Kapali took part in an open mic session at Black Rose, playing along side fantastic local musicians and performers. He also performed at the industry renowned Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1, in front of a full room of fans. His passion for music and sensuous voice lit up the Lower East Side, drawing the audience to a tentative and tranquil state. You could feel the joy and soul of Kapali’s performance radiating off the stage.

“It’s cool to do that at least one time in your set, but for every song the crowd pretty much stopped,” Kapali says. “Those people were there for the lyrics. Getting to share my stories is what fuels me to keep going and keep doing this.”

Kapali plays Rockwood Music Hall

Alongside The Fox and King and production company, For The Xperience, Kapali filmed his first featured music video for the track, “Between Then & Now." Coincidentally, it's a song Kapali wrote just two years earlier when he first came to New York. One day removed from his stellar performance at Rockwood, the TFAK and For the Xperience crew drove Kapali out to the Bushwick and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn. This grassroots production featured Kapali on location, capturing shots of concrete murals, art, historical landmarks, open parks and the Manhattan skyline itself.

Kapali also interviewed with TFAK’s very own, Kevin Vallejos, to provide fans and audiences a clean and more insightful look at where he's been, where the journey as a musician has taking him, what’s next for his music and what to expect from his upcoming album. The interview and video will be featured in a soon-to-be-released mini-documentary about Kapali’s east coast tour in New York.

Behind the scenes with Kapali for his first official music video "Between Then and Now"

Kapali Long’s time in New York has illustrated how far he has come from being the young talented guitarist that soothed coffee enthusiasts in his native hometown of Honolulu. In what has taken him years to forge, Kapali Long is a versatile force in the independent acoustic music scene that has adopted the ability to persuade us with a sense of empathy and compassion. Through the kindness of his music, Kapali continues to share his harmonious lyrics through the spirit of aloha and persuade his fans to cherish how music can bring people together.

“What I’m trying to do is spread the awareness of aloha and just passing it forward,” Kapali revealed. “That’s just the message that I’ve embodied in my music: pass that love forward.”