Back to the 80’s

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Paul Loren has always been steeped in the classic American songbook. Loren launched his solo career with a string of sold-out shows in New York City at famed venue Joe’s Pub at the Public with his ‘One-Night Only Band’ in early 2014. His first solo single, “All By Myself,” released in 2015, was supported by radio stations Lightning100 in Nashville, SiriusXM’s The Pulse, WCOO/Charleston and KPND/ Spokane, among others.

A six-song debut EP came in 2016, Paul Loren Is…Available!, featuring swing-era covers of classic songs by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. 2017 saw the release of the single and video for the original song, “I Know A Place,” inspired by Civil Rights-era anthems and “evoking the somber hope of Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World.” (HuffPost) A slew of singles followed, including the 50’s-inspired “(Gonna Take) A Little Time,” with its accompanying whimsical video filmed at Brooklyn’s The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club and premiering on Parade.com. During this time, Loren was personally selected by Jennifer Lopez to perform at her Birthday Gala in Las Vegas; appeared on “The Tonight Show” starring Jimmy Fallon, partnered with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation; performed at the legendary STAX Museum in Memphis Tennessee; and recorded in the world-renowned Sun Studio. He has opened for and supported touring artists including: The Temptations; singer-songwriter Brendan James; American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks; folk singer and guitarist David Bromberg; British soul singer James Hunter; and has shared the stage with Paul Shaffer, Queen Latifah, Christie Brinkley and food personality Giada De Laurentiis.

With his 22-song collection Betwixt & Between, Paul has pivoted in a new and exciting musical direction. The songs traffic in a depth and brutal honesty not found in his earlier material. “While his earlier material put him on the map, Loren’s heightened, and at times devastating, lyricism set against an upbeat groove-based sonic backdrop sets the LP as a career milestone.” (American Songwriter). Through it all, he ties together the more profound lyrical territory with a blazing rhythm section that feels rearing and ready to hit the road again.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Irish born Colin Smith has led a musical life as varied as it is impressive. With his former band Mrnorth, while on RCA, Smith toured extensively with the likes of The Who, Van Halen, Sheryl Crow and Journey, among many others.

As a solo artist, songs from his two records have been licensed to movies and TV alike. Smith has been seen in live collaborations with Alicia Keys and has worked multiple times on Saturday Night Live as featured vocal talent. Smith has most recently been seen touring with Christina Aguilera, duetting with her on the Grammy® Award-winning “Say Something” to audiences across the globe, as well as performing background vocals for the show.

Brie Cassil is a singer, actor, and composer based out of Chicago, IL. Original from Missouri, Brie moved to NYC straight out of high school, and has since starred in musical productions such as Mimi in Rent, Little Sally in Urinetown, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Suzy in the Off-Broadway cast of The Marvelous Wonderettes. 

Cassil has had the opportunity to perform all over the world. From leading workshops in Brazil, to opening for Adler with her original band, Rebel. Most recently, Cassil had the privilege of performing at the prestigious Carnegie Hall, in the new musical SuperYou. She is very grateful to be able to do what she loves, traveling around the world and singing the music of her biggest influences, with many of the world’s best orchestras. 

Shubh Saran is a New York-based guitarist, composer, and producer who has performed globally with his band throughout the United States, India, Canada, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Mexico. Having grown up in six different countries, his career has been shaped by a mixture of influences. Saran’s intricate compositions fuse sounds from modern jazz, neo-soul, and rock with classical and contemporary Indian music.  In October 2021, Saran independently released his second full-length album and fourth overall release titled inglish – a groundbreaking work that explores concepts of assimilation, global identity, and native culture.  

Pitchfork described inglish as “a heartfelt exploration of the ups and downs of being part of the world’s fastest-growing floating tribe—part global citizen, part cultural refugee,” and named the album to its list of Best Jazz and Experimental Music of 2021.  DownBeat described inglish as a “scintillating musical brew,” and awarded the album three and a half stars. Before moving to New York City to start his music career, Saran studied at Berklee College of Music, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. In 2017, Saran made his critically acclaimed debut with the release of Hmayra, and later followed up with H.A.D.D. (2018), and Becoming (2019). Throughout his career as a recording artist, each release has represented a different introspection for Saran.

Jake Navarro is a NYC based rock drummer who studied Jazz/Commercial music at Five Towns College in Long Island, NY. He was a Music Director for Carnival Cruise Lines and tours with multiple Pops shows, performing with symphony orchestras all over the country. He is also a children’s’ music teacher, a studio/touring musician for various artists, and he performs with several major event bands in the NY metropolitan region.