Righteous Ones' Flow Will Have Your Heart and Head

Imagine that you can take the flow of a rapper such as Bizzy Bone, fueled by the heartfelt passion of spoken word, set to fervent drum patterns—beautifully intertwined with the musical colors of both a guitar and bass—and combined them with an angelic voice, echoing sagacious lyrics. All of this would give you a musical epiphany, otherwise known as Righteous Ones.

Righteous Ones are a prime example of a harmonious mix of genres that take music to a whole new level. With an impeccable flow of rhyme schemes and rhythm, the burning passion of a guitar and bass, the thumping heart beat of the drums and smooth melodic vocals, Righteous Ones will have your head and heart bumping to a musical experience unlike any other.

I had the opportunity to talk one on one with this inspiringnew band and get the lowdown before their next performance at NEIU

Jacklyn Nowotnik: Who are the members of Righteous Ones and what is it about each of them that adds to the swag and sound of the band?

Righteous: Tomek is the guitarist and he adds a really cool, heavy, yet soulful element while always pushing the bounds; Tim is the drummer and he adds this energy that will blow your mind, especially when he solos. Eddie is the bass player and he comes up with these very articulate bass lines, [while] Jessie is the expert spoken word artist that will move you emotionally with her stories and great delivery. Gianna is the singer that can actually hit notes correctly. I go by the stage name of Righteous. I'm the one that writes the lyrics and creates a foundation for the songs [to which] everyone adds their talents to.

JN: How did you all come together to become Righteous Ones?

Righteous: After going to a few concerts, I couldn't get enough of that ‘live' sound—it was so much better than a CD playing the beat in the background and someone rapping [be- cause] there's just so much more energy and no limits to what you can do. Lucky for me, I knew a few musicians all in different bands. I like to think that I put together an all-star team.

JN: The word "righteous" has a very strong connotation, so why the name Righteous Ones?

Righteous: I believe it takes a very strong, righteous individual to decide to be a non-conformist and go against the grain. But it also has a very religious connotation and this has been one of the greatest obstacles I've faced when promoting the name. People either gravitate towards it or reject it, simply because when they hear "Righteous" they think we make religious music. But I'm speaking about those who do good in a society that teaches them to do wrong for the right price.

JN: What makes the sound of Righteous Ones unique?

Righteous: Righteous Ones is a great blend of different musical styles, with hip hop being the overall umbrella of all our crazy ideas. I have so many musical influences and everyone in the band brings their own creative perspective. The

artistic growth is exponential—our next album will push the envelope.

JN: Righteous Ones currently has an album and digital download. How long have they been out for?

Righteous: I like to call the Inferno project a demo and it was released in 2009, which was before I formed the band and my identity as an artist. I put a whole bunch of different song types and I learned what worked and what didn't.

JN: Your flow is amazing! It reminds me of Bone Thugs-n- Harmony. What influences it?

Righteous: Thanks! I have so many influences that I learned a lot from, including: Eminem, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, NaS—the list goes on forever. I'm really into complex rhymes and strange rhyme patterns.

JN: In the song "Why Do I," you explain the many ‘whys' of what you do and where they come from. If you had to sum up that song, why do you do what you do?

Righteous: If I try to please everyone, I minimize the possibility of growth and lose my identity in the process. It's one of those things that are easier said than done, [but] just follow your own path, especially if it's positive.

JN: Out of all the songs that are on "Inferno: Self-Immolation," are there any songs that you feel really stand out on the album?

Righteous: When I get that question, I think of a parent being asked if they have a favorite kid. I love all my songs for different reasons, but yes, I do like some more than others (laughs). I think "Why Do I" would be my favorite, especially when we perform it live with the band. We will actually be releasing a band remix of some of the songs on Inferno after we release our upcoming project first.

JN: While "Inferno: Self Immolation" was in the making, what did you want to accomplish through its completion?

Righteous: Since Inferno was made before I had the idea of forming a band, I wanted to put together this demo to see if I could be successful. I love music and it was always a dream of mine to have my music available to share.

JN: Now that "Inferno: Self Immolation" is complete, did the album live up to the aspirations of you and the band?

Righteous: Inferno surpassed my aspirations—I never thought that I would perform for a live audience filled with people I didn't know. With this album, I was able to form a band of the greatest musicians and I've established connections in the industry that will make our next project a great success. [Although] the quality isn't the best (and certainly not the worst), I believe my lyrics will always be recognized with respect.

JN: Righteous Ones has a history of memorable performances and even a radio appearance with University of Illinois at Chicago's Blue Line Radio. What is your most memorable performance with Righteous Ones?

Righteous: The most memorable performance was at the Que La Que Hay event at NEIU. It was the first time I performed with the band and I didn't have much performing experience. The stage and sound were perfect, the crowd was amazing and we got a standing ovation! I watch the video now and still get goose bumps when I hear the crowd's response after the performance.

JN: Speaking of memorable performances, what can one expect from a Righteous Ones performance?

Righteous: If you see Righteous Ones (the band), expect great musicianship and emotional energy in every piece. You'll experience some solos, spoken word and maybe a few jokes. The crowd is the number one factor when it comes to live shows, so always remember to give the artists energy and they will return it twice as much. It's all about having fun!

Righteous would like to give a big thanks to Oso (producer), Stephanie, Gilbert, the organizations on campus that continue positive movements (Latinas In Power, Hip Hop Organization and UPRS), everyone involved with their success and of course, everyone in the band! Look out for their album, coming out towards the end of the year. Check out the website at www.DeafEQ.com, for all updates, music, videos and merchandise.