Tag Archives: Nicolas Soul

A Week in NOLA: The Official Vlogumentary (Produced by NuRenaissance)

Posted on by Leave a comment

If you’ve been following our journey around here, you’re probably well aware that we took the UnderDogs on down to New Orleans to participate in this year’s NOLA MusiCon. We had a wonderful time connecting with the creatives in this vibrant community, and we look forward to spending a lot more time together in the months and years ahead.

We were also fortunate to have Nicolas Soul with us. In addition to being an UnderDog and NEXT2RISE artist, Nicolas documented the entire trip through his media company, NuRenaissance. He caught all of the action — from time spent at the conference, to the diverse talent on display during its showcases, to after-hours hangs from the studio to Bourbon St.

It’s an incredibly fun watch — one which illustrates what it means to be an UnderDog by providing a genuine view into the joy of the experience. Sit back and enjoy!

Thanks to NOLA MusiCon for having us, DAWn Audio for being our NOLA-based family, and our sponsors at Guidance Whiskey and Ether Nashville for their support.

NASHVILLE: Renaissance Certified Fall Showcase Set for Saturday, Nov. 8

Posted on by Leave a comment

Tour season may be over for us, but there’s still plenty happening back in Nashville to keep things warm into the winter months.

For one thing, our friends at NuRenaissance — owned and operated by UnderDog and NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul — are hosting their Renaissance Certified Fall Showcase this Saturday, November 8 at 615 Main St., Suite G1 in Nashville.

Join us from 8-11 p.m. for “a night of pure fire and unforgettable vibes.” This hip hop and R&B showcase is hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess and coordinated by Amore Dear, with sounds by DJ Sage. The lineup features performances from Nashville-based artists Itz Jaleel, Miles Creed, Simone J’Nae, Durtyhues, Southside MAB, and B. King.

Watch the official trailer below, and be sure to get your tickets here!

Exploring the Intersection of Business and Art (from NOLA MusiCon)

Posted on by Leave a comment

One of the many highlights of NOLA MusiCon — seriously, we UnderDogs will be talking about this one for months — was the chance to sit down with David Adams and the folks at Elation Entertainment to join the live NOLA MusiCon broadcast of the Elation Podcast.

My interview — part of an epic three-hour episode featuring folks from around the conference — starts at 1:51:30. We discuss the ways environments like NOLA MusiCon give creatives a seat at the table, the importance of building genuine community in the music industry, and the one decision that defined my (and UMC’s) year.

Sept. 20: UnderDogs Across Borders at the Nashville African Street Festival

Posted on by Leave a comment

As though next week wasn’t already exciting enough, it turns out that our UnderDogs will be taking the stage not once, but twice in Music City!

We are proud to partner with the Nashville African Street Festival — now in its 43rd year — to present an UnderDogs Across Borders showcase on the Beats & Rhymes stage. The festival takes place all weekend long at Hadley Lillard Park (1038 28th Ave. N., Nashville), with the UnderDogs Across Borders showcase taking place Saturday, September 20 from 4-5:30 p.m.

Hosted by Kelsey Muse and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, this showcase will emphasize performers from across the hip hop and R&B spectrum, including:

  • Kelsey Muse
  • SADGURL
  • DJX
  • Nicolas Soul
  • Yonna Jones

The event is free to attend. As always, those looking to support the cause are encouraged to donate to our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, which fuels live music experiences and activations for our UnderDogs in Nashville and beyond!

LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: UnderDogs Across Borders Vol. 3 on September 16

Posted on by Leave a comment

As we recently teased on social media, our next installment of UnderDogs Across Borders: The Concert Series will take place live from Helping Our Music Evolve in Nashville on Tuesday, September 16 from 7-9 p.m.

WATCH OUR JULY CONCERT | WATCH OUR AUGUST CONCERT

Co-hosted by Nicolas Soul (with an assist from the guy writing this post), our next UnderDogs Across Borders concert is perhaps our most genre-diverse offering to date, featuring performances from across the musical spectrum and beyond.

Our September 16 lineup includes:

  • Impactful spoken word artist Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
  • Nashville hip hop legend E.T.
  • Revolutionary hip hop artist T.R.A.N.E. Spitta
  • Dynamic ‘ROCK&B’ artist Tony Carpenter
  • Multi-genre, multi-instrumental wizard Brother Dusty

If you’re in Nashville, join us at H.O.M.E. (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville). If you’re not, join us from absolutely anywhere in the world with internet on our YouTube channel. As always, we kindly ask you to make a $10 suggested donation to our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, which you can do anytime by clicking on…

THIS BUTTON RIGHT HERE!

REPLAY: UnderDogs Across Borders, Vol. 1

Posted on by Leave a comment

TONIGHT! We’re going live from 7-9 p.m. for the first-ever UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert. Join us as we present a genre-diverse interstate lineup featuring independent artists from within the Underground Music Collective community.

By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you are empowering UMC to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities for our artists.

The lineup (in order of appearance):
Virtues
Nicolas Soul
Matt Schmoyer of Powder Valley Bang
Southside MAB
Kfhox

How to attend:

  • In person: Helping Our Music Evolve, 615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville, TN 37206 (Doors 6:30 p.m.)
  • Virtually (from ANYWHERE!): Our YouTube channel (embed below)

How to support:

UnderDogs Across Borders Benefit Concert (Virtual/In-Person)

Posted on by

2025 has been a breakthrough year so far for the entire Underground Music Collective community — and we’re here to make sure the magic lasts all year long (and beyond)!

That’s why we’re launching a new benefit concert series in support of our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, with the first event — a hybrid in-person and virtual concert emanating from Nashville — taking place Wednesday, July 9 from 7-9 p.m. CT.

We’re taking you on a multi-genre thrill ride featuring four Nashville-based artists — including 2025 NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul, alt-pop songwriter Virtues, R&B/soul singer and rapper Kfhox, and hip hop artist Southside MAB. Joining them on the lineup — all the way from the Lehigh Valley Underground in Pennsylvania — will be rockers Powder Valley Bang (who have been gaining some serious steam up there lately).

Need a refresher on UnderDogs Across Borders? Through this capital campaign, we aim to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities.

Our groundbreaking first half of 2025 featured major conference appearances, media opportunities, and the official launch of our new UnderDogs virtual community. This has established Underground Music Collective as an international super-connector for independent musicians, creative professionals, and notable brands.

Help us continue to build toward an incredible future where Creators Have the Power. Make your donation and RSVP here, and join us in Nashville or virtually (from anywhere!) on Wednesday, July 9!

Looking for an additional way to support UnderDogs Across Borders? Check out our GoFundMe campaign, or become an UnderDog today!

TONIGHT, 6-9 CT: Have You Met…? + Meet-a-Mentor LIVE!

Posted on by Leave a comment

LET’S DO IT LIVE!

If you’re in Nashville, we invite you to join us tonight at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1), for Have You Met…? Live!

Be a part in our live studio audience as we broadcast exclusive interviews with UMC UnderDogs like Terri Lynn, Ender Bowen, and Roz Malone. Hosted by Joe Baze, co-founder of the Ether Community Co-op.

Then, join us from 7-9 p.m. for our first-ever Meet-a-Mentor round robin, where you’ll have the opportunity for one-on-one guidance with experienced music industry professionals including…

  • Aaron Stepp, Ph.D., composer, performer, and music technologist
  • Cidney Grady, artist manager for SymbaSyd
  • Gerard Longo, Founder/CEO of Underground Music Collective
  • Nicolas Soul, performing artist and founder of NuRenaissance Media
  • TRANE Spitta, performing artist and performance royalties expert.

Space is limited, and mentor signups will occur on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to arrive early!

Can’t make it in person? No problem — we’re livestreaming the Have You Met…? portion of the evening on YouTube — and we’ll be including a *very* speciall announcement about the exciting future of UMC and our UnderDogs community. Be sure to tune in below!

Have You Met…? ft. Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, Kelsey Muse, & Nicolas Soul

Posted on by Leave a comment

Join us as we celebrate the creatives who make our UMC UnderDogs community unique!

The debut of our Have You Met…? series goes LIVE this Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. CT. This special broadcast will feature conversations with a few of our Nashville-based NEXT2RISE Artist Ambassadors. Get to know Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, Kelsey Muse, and Nicolas Soul, as they share what inspires their creative journeys, and what we can expect from them going forward.

Have You Met…? is typically a benefit of UMC UnderDogs membership, but we’re giving this first one to the public for FREE!

To learn more about how to become an UnderDog, head right over here. To tune in to this Thursday’s broadcast, head over to YouTube!

 

THIS THURSDAY, 7 CT: Meet the UnderDogs!

Posted on by Leave a comment

Join us as we celebrate the creatives who make our UMC UnderDogs community unique!

The debut of our Have You Met…? series goes LIVE this Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. CT. This special broadcast will feature conversations with a few of our Nashville-based NEXT2RISE Artist Ambassadors. Get to know Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, Kelsey Muse, and Nicolas Soul, as they share what inspires their creative journeys, and what we can expect from them going forward.

Have You Met…? is typically a benefit of UMC UnderDogs membership, but we’re giving this first one to the public for FREE!

To learn more about how to become an UnderDog, head right over here. To tune in to this Thursday’s broadcast, bookmark this post or the video below!