Citizen One - Bio

Monday, June 21st, 8 pm: Citizen One (US), singer, songwriter and globetrotter

CitiZen One is a Singer, Songwriter, and Storyteller. Start tossing around words like Performance Artist, Voicetrumentalist, and One-man-band and you will see the dilemma of categorizing this Post-Post-Modern Troubadour. The New York Press writes, "You’ll find whatever you’ve come looking for!" not to mention, "soulful voice and cool guitar playing." Citizen One’s haunting lyrics, vocal instrumentation, and dynamic performances have drawn praise from avid fans who liken him to such artists as Ben Harper, Martin Sexton, Bobby McFerrin, José Feliciano, James Taylor, and Louis Armstrong.

While also drawing from the music of India, Africa and Latin America, his roots are planted firmly in the Southern ground of Folk, Soul and Rhythm & Blues. "The formulations CitiZen arrives at are classic, the foundations deep in the American vernacular, and the expression genuine." By infusing rhythms, melodies, and wildly entertaining stories from his world travels, he takes the soul on an extraordinary journey. "CitiZen One is already miles ahead of contemporary genre artists by leading listeners on a footpath through the Jungles of South America and emerging in the underground subway tunnels of New York City all the while maintaining the charisma and reverence of a gospel minister whose holy message is the music itself."

Hailing from Gospel, Soul, Blues, Disco, Country, R&B, and U.F.O. soaked North Carolina, CitiZen One arrived in New York City and immersed himself in the worlds of Jazz, Improvisation, Post-Punk, Anti-Folk, and Performance Art. AntiMatters Magazine affirms that "CitiZen One has become a staple of the New York music scene for now and all time." Among his many musical escapades ranging from solo performance to composing for choreography, his most memorable experience in the city was a two-year stint as a subway musician in the reverberating caverns of the New York City Underground. To date, CitiZen One has toured and performed at many reputable venues including Lincoln Center, The Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage, Rogers and Hammerstein Ballroom, The Knitting Factory, theaters, festivals and countless disreputable venues everywhere.

Whether performing solo, with a band, or an orchestra, CitiZen One fixes and transports the audience. His live performances have been described as, "blissful, uplifting, and inspiring!" Of his acoustic solo work, one audience member says, "I couldn’t believe that all those sounds were coming out of one person. It sounded like a full band!" CitiZen One’s latest CD, "Subway Fire," has been described as "Addictive." Beatstreet (UK) says, "A beautiful voice, well recorded." With 4 CD’s under his belt and a 5th on the way, CitiZen One plans on "touring until the end of time."

Check out the web site: http://www.citizenonemusic.com