NO TURNING BACK Low B and 90Sevan. |
Evan Hanson and Brendon Bjorness-Murano, better known as lyricist 90Sevan and beatminer/composer Low B, teamed up just seven months ago to form Broken Ground and talk about quick turnaround; the new Broken Ground debut Sneak Attack (released on Bjorness-Murano's Opus Records) is available now, and the Narragansett/South Kingstown-based duo have scored a nice opening slot for St. Paul, MN indie rap icons Eyedeas and Abilities along with acclaimed Anticon Records screwballs Themselves at Jerky's this weekend (note the early show time, doors at 7 pm). Broken Ground is just one of a half-dozen acts the multi-talented Bjorness-Murano is involved with, handling bass duties for his newly-acclaimed jam band the Law, as well as Funkatronic (2008 Best Jazz/Funk Act in our Music Poll) and 10 years of service as founder of Funk Nugget, who took the Jazz/Funk crown in the '09 BMP. To paraphrase Lords of the Underground, Low B clearly lives for the funk and dies for the funk, and 24-year-old lyricist 90Sevan was wise to look up the experienced producer/musician/label founder earlier this year upon recommendation from friends at Fall River's Delusional Records, where 90Sevan had released two albums. Bjorness-Murano's crate-digging and scratching skills, along with original bass lines and guitar riffs, deftly complement Hanson's slick punchlines throughout Sneak Attack. And it sure as hell doesn't hurt to have rap legend Del the Funkee Homosapien phoning in a Low B shoutout, as he does on "Wake Up." Murano met Del in 2004 through Boston-bred emcee Virtuoso, who was working in the Bay Area at the time, and quickly became friends.
"Del lived about one-quarter mile away from my house, we'd chill together and talk about music on a completely equal level," Murano told me during a brief chat last weekend. "He asked me a lot of questions about music theory. Del is one of the most down-to-earth and quirky individuals I have ever met. He was actually the last person I met up with to say goodbye before I moved back here."
Working with Virtuoso's dad Michael Blackmer of the world-renowned acoustician firm Blackmer Sound culminated in Murano being hired to construct custom-built studios, including one for multi-platinum reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee. In 2006, Murano spent four months living in Puerto Rico, building a multi-million dollar studio for Daddy Yankee. "Snoop Dogg recorded in that vocal booth," a deservedly proud Murano told me.
Extensive experience and sick namedropping aside, Sneak Attack is a proud achievement for Low B. and his partner in rhyme, "Honestly, I have very high expectations since Sevan and I met and created Broken Ground," Murano said. "I take all of the bands that I'm associated with very seriously and there is a special place in my heart for all of them, but I have to admit that Sevan and I have achieved more in the shortest amount of time as compared to any of my other projects."
