The Eclectic Collective
Encyclopedia
The Eclectic Collective was a crossover band from Boston, Massachusetts. Members include Dua Boayke (vocals), Salim Akram (guitar), Sheel Dave (drums), RP Thompson (keyboards), Graham Masser (bass), Special Blend (turntables), Santi Araujo (guitar), AfroDZak (trumpet/rap vocals), Rob Oswald (saxophone), and Noni Kai (vocals). The group released two albums, but many reviewers have complained that the quality of the band's recorded material was not up to the standard of their live shows.
The band pulls from many different genres, including rock, indie, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop
, jazz, and alternative. “Remember 311? Remember the good parts of 311? Well, if you took all the good parts of 311 and added some soul-influenced vocals, At the Drive-In-esque guitars, fusion-y keyboards, and a female vocalist that could put most pop singers to shame, you might be getting somewhere near what Eclectic Collective is. But you wouldn’t quite be there yet.” –WERS 88.9 Boston"
Later in 2004, rap artist and trumpet player AfroDZak signed on, along with saxophonist Rob Oswald, and the sole female member, soul singer Noni Kai. The group played at a variety of venues, from rock to jazz to blues clubs. The group not only boasts an elective instrumental collection, but also a diverse group of band members. As of 2007, AfroDZak and Special Blend haven’t been as active in the band; the second album, The Flux, focusing on the other main eight. Drummer Sheel Dave also plays in the popular band Irepress and has been juggling his time spent working with both.
, a 3-time Grammy winning mixer, worked with the band on mixing the album’s tracks. Mike Poorman, of Strangeway Recordings, also helped to touch up the songs before they headed to the studio to record. Despite producing another moderately successful album, the band is still without a record label.
on some shows on the East Coast. They then planned to take some time off from touring to work on getting some new material together. Three or four new songs are already in progress.
BAD RABBITS IS THE NEW PROJECT since EC has disbanded: www.myspace.com/badrabbitsband
, 311, John Legend
, Jill Scott
, RX Bandits
, Mutemath, Deftones, Brand New, GlassJaw
, Fishbone, Radiohead, Irepress, and The Receiving End of Sirens
. Salim also lists his influences as the music he listened to while growing up, including Green Day
, Rage Against the Machine
, early 311, Nirvana, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
, although he says that now “I draw influences from the music today and people I play with. It’s important to have a grasp on what’s going on around you. But I never forgot where all this stuff came from so I have always been a fan of classic Soul and R&B.”
The Flux
who is a jazz funk legend, Fishbone who is a ska punk-rock legend, and then we’ve played on metal shows and we have turned heads in every situation.”
“Remember 311? Remember the good parts of 311? Well, if you took all the good parts of 311 and added some soul-influenced vocals, At the Drive-In-esque guitars, fusion-y keyboards, and a female vocalist that could put most pop singers to shame, you might be getting somewhere near what Eclectic Collective is. But you wouldn’t quite be there yet.” –WERS 88.9 Boston"
"Eclectic Collective is a band with a unique blend of jazz, rock, rhythm and blues and social consciousness, with a little bit of the Fugees mixed in for good measure. Interesting songs and lyrics are always a good foundation to begin with. Add to that solid musicianship and the interesting male-female dynamic of their vocal duets, and one can see why Eclectic Collective possesses a recipe for success." - Michael Barbiero
"What makes their music different is the band's apparent refusal to stuff themselves into any one genre... the diversity of musical backgrounds between them is what has produced their anomalous sound."
“The Flux is one of 2007's most thrilling, most creative, and easily one of the year's most original records to hit. The band combines a flurry of sounds to create one mind-bendingly original mash-up that will make any lover of emotional, motivating and energetic music want to open up their arms and wrap them around the next person to walk in the room.” –AbsolutePunk.net
"The nine-member band lived up to its name by singing, rhyming, jamming and conjuring memories of a time when organic rhythm ruled hip-hop, as well as a time when soulful groups such as Digable Planets
got MTV airplay"
The band pulls from many different genres, including rock, indie, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, jazz, and alternative. “Remember 311? Remember the good parts of 311? Well, if you took all the good parts of 311 and added some soul-influenced vocals, At the Drive-In-esque guitars, fusion-y keyboards, and a female vocalist that could put most pop singers to shame, you might be getting somewhere near what Eclectic Collective is. But you wouldn’t quite be there yet.” –WERS 88.9 Boston"
Early Beginnings
In 2001, Dua Boayke, vocals, and Salim Akram, guitar, joined to form the acoustic group The Kazien Komplex. The duo played mainly for local coffee shops, singing politically influenced songs and sets. In 2003, after writing a few songs with Dua and Salim, drummer Sheel Dave signed on. Later that year, Sheel brought in him guitarist Santi Araujo, keyboardist RP Thompson, and bassist Graham Masser, members of a band he had been filling in for. Turntablist Special Blend also joined on in 2003 and by 2004, the band, now going by The Eclectic Collective, were performing throughout Boston.Later in 2004, rap artist and trumpet player AfroDZak signed on, along with saxophonist Rob Oswald, and the sole female member, soul singer Noni Kai. The group played at a variety of venues, from rock to jazz to blues clubs. The group not only boasts an elective instrumental collection, but also a diverse group of band members. As of 2007, AfroDZak and Special Blend haven’t been as active in the band; the second album, The Flux, focusing on the other main eight. Drummer Sheel Dave also plays in the popular band Irepress and has been juggling his time spent working with both.
Time Flies
Time Flies is the name of The Eclectic Collective’s ten-song debut album. The Boston Phoenix described the band as "(peppering) the disc with the musical equivalent of exclamation points".The Flux
The Flux was The Eclectic Collective’s second album, and debuted in 2007. Michael BarbieroMichael Barbiero
Michael Francis Barbiero , is an American record producer, mixer, engineer, songwriter, and journalist.-Background:Michael Barbiero has worked with a number of artists, such as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tesla, Cinderella, Blues Traveler, Ziggy Marley, Belouis Some, Cutting Crew, Counting Crows,...
, a 3-time Grammy winning mixer, worked with the band on mixing the album’s tracks. Mike Poorman, of Strangeway Recordings, also helped to touch up the songs before they headed to the studio to record. Despite producing another moderately successful album, the band is still without a record label.
Future Plans
After the second album debuted, the band was in preparations for a tour throughout the South to help push the record. They also planned to back up Slick RickSlick Rick
Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
on some shows on the East Coast. They then planned to take some time off from touring to work on getting some new material together. Three or four new songs are already in progress.
BAD RABBITS IS THE NEW PROJECT since EC has disbanded: www.myspace.com/badrabbitsband
Similar Artists
The Eclectic Collective has been compared to Gym Class Heroes, At the Drive-InAt the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, considered part of the post-hardcore genre and active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s hardcore scene...
, 311, John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, RX Bandits
Rx Bandits
RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as...
, Mutemath, Deftones, Brand New, GlassJaw
Glassjaw
Glassjaw is a four-piece rock band from Long Island, New York. The band is fronted by vocalist Daryl Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck, and have undergone numerous line-up changes since their inception...
, Fishbone, Radiohead, Irepress, and The Receiving End of Sirens
The Receiving End of Sirens
The Receiving End of Sirens is a rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2003.-Overview:The band played on the 2005 Warped Tour and has toured with such acts as Gatsbys American Dream, A Wilhelm Scream, 30 Seconds to Mars, Funeral for a Friend, Saves the Day, Senses Fail, Thrice, and New...
. Salim also lists his influences as the music he listened to while growing up, including Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, early 311, Nirvana, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
, although he says that now “I draw influences from the music today and people I play with. It’s important to have a grasp on what’s going on around you. But I never forgot where all this stuff came from so I have always been a fan of classic Soul and R&B.”
Song Content
Most of the lyrics in the songs reference romantic hardships and political injustice and Sheel has joked “I write all the lyrics, and all of my lyrics are about how amazing Falcor from the Neverending Story is”.Albums
Time Flies- Anti-depressant
- Pavement
- Interlude 1 (Get Up)
- Useless Parade
- Afro
- Interlude 2 (beeadoh)
- Rufio
- Souls on Ice
- Wanting the Factual
- Time Flies
The Flux
- Ocean of Tears
- Beautiful Mess
- Ask Yourself
- Shattered Monuments
- Maintain
- Changes
- The Flux
Genre Diversity
The band is difficult to pin down into one specific genre. They sound like a variety of types of music, and as Salim said, “have shared bills with hip-hop bands, Maceo ParkerMaceo Parker
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
who is a jazz funk legend, Fishbone who is a ska punk-rock legend, and then we’ve played on metal shows and we have turned heads in every situation.”
“Remember 311? Remember the good parts of 311? Well, if you took all the good parts of 311 and added some soul-influenced vocals, At the Drive-In-esque guitars, fusion-y keyboards, and a female vocalist that could put most pop singers to shame, you might be getting somewhere near what Eclectic Collective is. But you wouldn’t quite be there yet.” –WERS 88.9 Boston"
"Eclectic Collective is a band with a unique blend of jazz, rock, rhythm and blues and social consciousness, with a little bit of the Fugees mixed in for good measure. Interesting songs and lyrics are always a good foundation to begin with. Add to that solid musicianship and the interesting male-female dynamic of their vocal duets, and one can see why Eclectic Collective possesses a recipe for success." - Michael Barbiero
"What makes their music different is the band's apparent refusal to stuff themselves into any one genre... the diversity of musical backgrounds between them is what has produced their anomalous sound."
“The Flux is one of 2007's most thrilling, most creative, and easily one of the year's most original records to hit. The band combines a flurry of sounds to create one mind-bendingly original mash-up that will make any lover of emotional, motivating and energetic music want to open up their arms and wrap them around the next person to walk in the room.” –AbsolutePunk.net
"The nine-member band lived up to its name by singing, rhyming, jamming and conjuring memories of a time when organic rhythm ruled hip-hop, as well as a time when soulful groups such as Digable Planets
Digable Planets
Digable Planets is an American alternative hip hop trio based in New York City, composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler , Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving . They released their debut album Reachin' in 1993, and their follow-up album Blowout Comb in 1994...
got MTV airplay"