Nuttin' But Stringz
Location:
Jamaica, New York, US
Type:
Artist / Band / Musician
Genre:
Pop / Hip Hop / Classical
Label:
NBS Entertainment Inc.
Teenage brothers, Tourie Escobar and Damien Escobar are a true phenomenon of
our musical age. They combine the classical sound of the violin with Pop, R&B
and Hip-hop. The result is a unique and uplifting fury of modern emotion and
harmony… intensity and rhythm. Younger brother Damien says, “We play our violins
so hard and with such force that we destroy a bow a show!” Together, the Escobar
brothers are NUTTIN’ BUT STRINGZ (NBS). They both attended the legendary
Juilliard School of Music in New York City where they were able to hone their
craft and find their place. Their mission is to bridge the gap between Popular
and Classical music. Their debut CD, Struggle from the Subway to the Charts was
released through KOCH Entertainment in October 2006 on NBS Entertainment Inc./
KOCH Entertainment. Their first single entitled “Thunder” showcases their raw
talent; it digs into the soul, slowly unleashes it and exposes it. Older brother
Tourie explains, “Our music is based on emotion not lyrics. We tell stories and
the violin is our voice.” Other tracks on the CD include, “Broken Sorrow” and
“Dance with My Father.” NBS has been playing the violin for over 15 years and at
the tender ages of 7 and 8 they knew what inspired them. They grew up in a rough
area of Jamaica, Queens; where it wasn’t safe to walk the streets especially if
you have a violin in your hands. As a result, their musical aspirations came
crashing to a stop 3 years ago when they both dropped out of school and lost
focus. Eventually they realized they were in with a bad crowd and went back to
school. Tourie says, “The passion for music and the violin saved my life.” They
were relentless and played the New York City subways for pocket change. Tourie
explains, “We would play the trains and we had a captive audience. We broke down
the trains on a marketing level. Damien chose the C train for its demographic
and I tackled the A train. We raked in over $300 each in 2 hours and we did it 3
times a week.” Damien adds, “The subway is the equivalent of playing several
performance hours each week and we were able to refine our technique before a
live audience.” The subway was the gateway that landed NBS a manager and a record deal. In 2005, they entered a local talent contest at the legendary Apollo Theatre and won! As a result of the media attention surrounding the event, they have appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Today Show with Katie Couric and have even been featured in Major Motion Pictures such as “STEP UP”. They have performed on show bills with legendary artists such as Al Jarreau, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, The Isley Brothers and Yolonda Adams. They have even been invited to perform for the President of the
United States at the White House. Their sudden success escalated their hopes and
dreams and they became involved with the YMCA Strong Kids charity as well as the
VH1 Save the Music Foundation. They also spent much of their free time playing
at public schools and talking to kids about music and staying in school. Music
has changed their outlook on life. Tourie says, “I never finished anything early
in life but with the violin, I saw it through and I’m not going to quit now.”
Damien agrees and says, “I don’t handle failure well that’s why I work as hard
as I can.” NBS brilliantly molds unlikely genres with ease. From 50 Cent to
Vivaldi, from DMX and R Kelly to Bach, NBS continues to enlighten and entertain
audiences of all ages. From toddlers to teens and beyond… their music crosses
and opens age barriers in a way that is unforgettable. Struggle from the Subway
to the Charts is a brilliant blend of classical daring intertwined with rap
undertones. NBS has created a new genre that’s being talked about and admired.
The buzz has begun. Their music is a provocative and stirring Thunder that will
be analyzed and copied for years to come.
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