“Music is her breath of fresh air,” close friends say about Lyric Jones. Lyric’s musical repertoire includes rapping, playing drums and bass, singing, writing lyrics, and even DJ-ing a little. She dips into jazz, hip hop, and neo-soul. But whatever she’s doing, she brings a presence like no other.
“All I want is the exhilaration of being on a stage,” Lyric said. And her hunger shows. She’s hungry for the crowd to feel her music as deeply as she does, her powerful, message-conscious lyrics spilling out of the speakers.
Originally from Boston MA, Lyric began singing when she was in elementary school. Her first stints were in church and community choirs a few being the NEC Millennium Gospel Choir & Boston Pops Gospel choir; performing with the likes of Richard Smallwood, Kurt Carr to name a few. As a high school student, she spent three years participating in summer and academic year programs at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. It was at Berklee, where Lyric polished here natural ability as a performer and to play drums.
In High School she teamed up with emcee, producer, and DJ Raydar Ellis, who was also known as the “face of Hip Hop” around Berklee.
The two formed a strong sibling-like relationship, which Lyric credits to her knowledge and appreciation of Hip Hop. “He's my brother, if it wasn't for him I would have never thought I could seriously be an emcee, and let alone, record a verse.” Raydar immediately saw the potential in Lyric as an emcee at age 15, originally the one behind all her production.
As a drummer on the jazz scene in Georgia, Lyric may take on a more modest look, lights flashing off the brass of the saxophones and trumpets, illuminating the stage. But she performs with the same captivating spirit as when she’s playing emcee. But her true love of Hip Hop must always be honored, as her hi-tops hide in the shadows of her tailored dark gray pinstriped pants. Even when sharing the stage, in the most subtle of ways Lyric steals the spotlight with her presence and her joyful grin that emanates only from someone for whom this very moment is pure perfection.
Lyric Jones is all things music, clearly a lover of all genres. In her bedroom, CDs are propped up around the room, as though the very items themselves are a piece of art. Posters of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald plaster her walls. Baggy sweatpants and t-shirt on, there is no quiet without a constant stream of music in the background. There’s a bass in one corner, mini-amp under her desk, and stacks upon stacks of CDs everywhere else. Ledisi, Jill Scott, MC Lyte, Lauryn Hill & Jean Grae stand among her favorite.
She's passionate, multi-faceted and strives to be indispensable. “Why not do it all? Why can't I be an emcee, soul singer and jazz drummer? Music is music, I love Hip Hop, Jazz & Soul, so the world is gonna see it, know it and hear it.”
Recently, she’s traveled to Beijing, China & Italy exhibiting her other side as a drummer. Currently she’s finishing up her last year at the University of Georgia, majoring in broadcast journalism. Her highly anticipated debut album titled “Jones St.” is expected in drop in 2010.
Past Performances:
Boston:
Blue Wave
The Wonder Bar
Bob The Chef's
Hen House Chicken & Waffles
Wally's Cafe
Boston City Hall
Celtic & Red Sox Game – National Anthem
Bank Of American Pavillion -with Boston Community Choir
Boston Symphony Hall – with Boston Pops Choir
Martha's Vineyard- with Berklee Gospel Choir & Jennifer Holliday
Berklee Performance Center -
5 Week Blow Out Concert
JHO Hurricane Katrina Tribute
Boston Strand Theatre – Peace For Hip Hop 2009
New York
Apollo Theatre – Amateur Night
The Den – with The Igmar Thomas Group
The Shrine – with The Igmar Thomas Group
Washington D.C.
Bus Boys & Poets
Georgia
Apache Cafe
Studio Clout
Mocha Match Coffee Bar
The University of Georgia
Farm 255
Rye Bar
Bulldog Cafe
Tasty World
Morton Theatre
Level 131
International:
Played drums in Beijing, China & Alessandria, Italy
9th Wonder and I @ A3C Hip Hop Festival in ATL 2009
J-Live and L- Jones :) A3C Hip Hop Festival 2009
Backstage with Bilal! SOUL SISTA
Me & the homie J. Cole, "clap for em"
Playing Drums in the UGA Jazz BandSWANGIN ;)
Crushin Mics
Lovin da stage
