Yorktown alums are diving head first into the music industry, and they are doing quite well. Harry Smith of Harry Jay Smith & The Bling, a band based out of Berklee College of Music in Boston has just released an EP titled Truth. Standing only four songs tall, this record is the quintessential Berklee student record: funky, soulful and filled with a whole lot of talent. Here’s what to look forward to on the EP:

The Way It Goes Down

The Way It Goes Down is a downright groovy song. With its upright beat, use of chromaticism and tasty guitar licks you’ll be wondering “why, why, why” the song is constantly stuck in your head, but do not let this lead you astray from the lyrical meaning of the tune. Smith sings about wondering why things are the way that they are and why things happen they way they happen. But not to worry, as Smith sings “…in time things will work themselves out.”

Let It All Go

Another funky track from Truth, this tune features tasty licks from the brass section as well more tight rhythm guitar playing from Smith himself. The solo section quiets down from the chorus and includes a melodic piano solo and slowly builds up with Smith’s vocals to add some contrast to the rest of the song. It ends with a jazzy trumpet solo with Smith adding vocals as it fades to a close. This tune covers the classic feeling of having your mind so full of worry and stress that it becomes almost necessary to let it all go.

The First Lady

This tune is an interesting one on the record. The song has the groove of “Something Like Olivia” by John Mayer but with a style that is all Smith. The horn section belts out their riffs with precision and articulation and the lead guitar continues to sway along with the beat to keep the song moving while the rhythm guitar is adding a more percussive edge to the tune. Again, the lyrics are not something to be overlooked. Smith sings about not wanting to let a girl down, how the guy feels the relationship is over but cannot bring to tell his partner that he feels this way.

Homegrown

Homegrown is filled with tasty horn licks and powerful vocals from Smith. The only song on the EP centered in a minor key, this song is as loud as it is funky. A powerful song both live and on the record, it will leave you dancing and doing the extreme head bob. With skillful guitar playing and a break at the end, the song is fitting to end the EP and fitting to put a smile on your face on even the worst of days.

With the release of this EP, Harry Jay Smith & The Bling are going on an east coast tour titled “The No Joke Tour” with shows from New York to New Jersey. Check out Harry Jay Smith & The Bling starting on their tour May 25 at Sehkraft in Arlington.  
Another alumn that’s diving head first into the music industry is 24 year old Eddy Faulkner, and he’s amassed quite a following. Beginning in 2010, Faulkner by himself started making YouTube videos of his singing his own songs and covers of other artists tunes. It was not long before he started to gain a following.

Seems that the word of ‘Eddy Faulkner’ is moving around [Yorktown] these days it’s really fun and cool to hear” Faulkner said.

In 2013 he signed a deal with the record label “Star One Group” and released his first single “I Won’t Give Up” which was featured on the Huffington Post, topped national radio charts, garnered thousands of views across major outlets such as VEVO, Viacom.TV, MTV.com and was also on major television programs such as ABC, TheCoolTV and WUSA. With the success of this single, Faulkner began working on an EP. Faulkner gives some insight into why he named his EP Unbreakable.

“I remember thinking of things that I’ve been through, especially since 2010 while chasing this dream, and just things that I’ve seen others go through as well. Unbreakable is a word that just really came to me first, and I immediately went with it. I think it is something we can all relate to in all kinds of ways, and all aspects of life” Faulkner said.

Faulkner’s EP Unbreakable was released Friday, May 13 at a live show at the IOTA Club and Cafe and he’s only just begun. Keep an eye out for Eddy Faulkner; he is set to be Arlington’s next big star.