Bio
Download the Electronic Press Kit here.
People's Champs combines the hottest dance rhythms from West Africa and South America with New Wave synth tones, crafting them into indie songs with Stevie Wonder-esque lyrics. With their "crazy ass genre mash ups" (Blakbook), People's Champs' truly original sound is equal parts Sharon Jones, tUnE-yArDs, Os Mutantes, William Onyeabor and Prince. Critics are calling People’s Champs a “A dance party waiting to happen” (Consequence of Sound) and "...somewhere between Budos Band & the Flaming Lips" (Deli Magazine). The band is comprised of members of The Superpower Horns, studio horn section for Beyoncé Knowles. They arranged the horn lines on two of Beyoncé’s top albums, including the Grammy-winning song “Love on Top.” The Superpower Horns also toured internationally throughout 2016 with Boy George & Culture Club.
With feet placed equally in Brooklyn’s thriving indie rock community and it’s renowned retro funk & soul scene, bandleader Alex Asher founded People’s Champs inspired by the idea that music is for everyone: They creatively deliver a unique blend of powerful lyrics and danceable rhythms that relate to people from all walks of life. After rocking big events at Celebrate Brooklyn!, Lincoln Center, The Guggenheim Museum and The MoMA, countless NYC underground parties, and a multiple-year monthly residency at Brooklyn creative music hotspot Barbès, People's Champs released their first full-length album — “American Dreamers” — on boutique Brooklyn label 3rd Generation Recordings in 2015.
People’s Champs is an all-star collective featuring some of the most creative and original musicians in Brooklyn. Members of People's Champs have performed internationally with artists including Esperanza Spalding, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Delicate Steve, Landlady, Cole Williams Band, Bajah and Dry Eye Crew and Cuddle Magic, among others.
"People's Champs creatively deliver a unique blend of powerful lyrics and danceable rhythms that relate to people from all walks of life.” (Wax Poetics)
"A dance party waiting to happen, always changing and always excitable." (Consequence of Sound)
"A full-on clusterbomb of exotic pop stylings made especially for the visionary in all of us" (Cassette Gods)
"People's Champs go straight for the jugular with a punky drum/horn interplay that lands somewhere between Budos Band & the Flaming Lips" (Deli Magazine)
"Meshes elements of synth-based New Wave and art rock with old school soul." (Joy of Violent Movement)
Performances & Career Highlights
People's Champs have played the following cities and venues.
New York Area:
Venues:
- BRIC's Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival
- Lincoln Center
- The MoMA
- The Solomon Guggenheim Museum (Performances in back-to-back years)
- The New Museum
- National Sawdust
- Pioneer Works
- Two-year monthly residency at Barbes
Special Events:
- TD Five Borough Bike Tour, NY, NY
- Meatpacking Uncorked, Meatpacking District, NY, NY
- The Feast's Technology Conference @ Eyebeam, NY, NY
- FOOD + ENTERPRISE Conference, Brooklyn, NY
- BKLYN Yard "Taste" Food Festival, Brooklyn, NY
- Taste of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Performance Locations Outside of New York:
- Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA
- International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven, CT
- Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
- Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
- New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT
- Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
- DC Funk Parade, Washington, DC
- Middle East Club, Boston, MA
- Johhny D's, Boston, MA
- Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
- Nectar's, Burlington, VT
- Fete Music Hall, Providence, RI
- Bourbon & Branch, Philadelphia, PA
- Ortlieb's, Philadelphia, PA
- Tropicalia, Washington, DC
- Balliceaux, Richmond, VA
- The Brillo Box, Pittsburgh, PA
- Bayardstown Social Club, Pittsburgh, PA
- Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
- The Haunt, Ithaca, NY
- The Comet, Cincinnati, OH
- Founders Brewery, Grand Rapids, MI
- Township, Chicago, IL
Please download our Electronic Press Kit here.