Driven by a tight rhythm section and dynamic - slightly non-typical - female vocalist, Velvet Stylus delivers honest, emotional performances that appeal to a very diverse audience. They've truly got something for the younger crowd, and something for those who are into the Old School joints.

The band came together informally in 2002, when its lead singer DARCIE-NICOLE WICKNICK (of "...ASK DARCIE" MUSIC BUSINESS CONSULTING) was invited to record a student's demo for a Berklee project. She found some of the best around: Former LUVJONES Music Director JAMES AUBURN on Keys, BLINK MUSIC Senior Engineer TONY PORTER on Drums, SCOTT LEVINE (of TRYPTONES and SCUBA WORMS fame, who was with this band until 2005) on Guitar, former WORD. Bassist LIAM SULLIVAN, and Jazz saxophonist DAN PEREZ served as the core band. Darcie's friend WAYNE ROLLINS asked her to bring the band to play his birthday party, and they decided they enjoyed the experience so much they stayed together.

Perez and Sullivan left Velvet Stylus in 2004 to pursue different things, and the band had the very good fortune to recruit JAY PROKORYM on Bass. He had played with Auburn back in their Berklee days in a group called MUMBO JUMBO.

Comprised of some of the most promising talent in Boston, Velvet Stylus has performed at Boston venues such as HARPER'S FERRY, CRITICAL BREAKDOWN, DEEPTONES at PHOENIX LANDING, ABBEY LOUNGE, CANTAB LOUNGE/THIRD RAIL, and at DOC RYAN'S PUB. They performed at THE HARD ROCK CAFE for the BERKLEE ALUMNI SHOWCASE and appeared as a radio guest on SHADOWLINE for ALLSTON-BRIGHTON FREE RADIO, and members sit in often with World/Blues outfit WEATHER OUTPOST 12. The band has met favorable criticism, garnering a rave review in e-zine FMSOUND.NET and coming in at the Number 15 slot on BARSTAR.COM HOT 100 BOSTON BANDS chart.

Two of its members are Co-Founders of the BOSTON HIP-HOP ALLIANCE and the group was invited to play as the house band at the FIRST ANNUAL CRITICAL BREAKDOWN UNPLUGGED. [Critical Breakdown is a Hip-Hop and R&B open mic event targeted for youth, and benefits youth arts and afterschool programs in Boston.] The event was a total success. At the show, the band backed many MCs and singers including METAPHORICK, SESSION, SOL ANDERSON, NOLDY, JAVON FIELDS, and AFRO-DZ-AK, to name only a few. Most recently, they backed DL as he opened for national artists ROYCE DA 5'9 and DEVIN THE DUDE at MIDDLE EAST DOWNSTAIRS. The feedback was incredible (SEE REVIEWS PAGE) and host DJ ON AND ON likened Darcie to Queen of Hip-Hop Soul MARY J. BLIGE!

Unique to Velvet Stylus - in addition to performing in their own right - the band avails itself to other artists as session players and as a backing band for live shows. Their ability to learn songs very quickly makes this possible.

The group's sensibility and common goal toward the preservation of true Soul and Hip-Hop comes across in their playing and composition style. They are a no-frills act; what you see is what you get. Velvet Stylus is a featured artist on the PROJECT THINK DIFFERENT COMPILATION CD, and is currently working toward recording a retail-available CD.

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