N'digo Rose

As an extension of UTP we support Underground Artists like N'digo Rose!

Age: 31
Born & raised: NE, Washington, DC
Listen to this Funk/Soul Pianist and Vocalist
Drawing influences from many, N'digo is not ashamed to say real East Coast hip-hop carved a space in his life early on. Greats coming with heavy aggressive rhythmic tones like Gangstarr, Rakim, and Big Daddy Kane, penetrate his direction with music. Not to mention those like Mos Def and Common who are still carrying on the torch today.

Never half-assing it on stage, he says he never saw a point if he didn't give his full self.

UTP: How did you get into singing and playing the keys?
N'digo Rose: I got tricked into singing. It always has to do with a woman or girl it seems. I was pushing a girl in a wheel chair singing Jodeci behind her and she praised me saying, 'God, you sound so good'. So I think it worked out okay. My 5th grade teacher, she was so hot. I didn't even know how to dance but I credit her 100% for my love of performance. I also watched my oldest brother Donald. Everything he did I wanted to do. Don played music and I sang but once he left, I still wanted to sing.

I took my first music lesson when I was 16. I played by ear before just making a way. I had an incredible instructor, Holand Jones. He would show me tricks, technical, professional, jazz sounds. He would play something and if I wanted to learn, he would show me and I just kept getting better. I took lessons for a year and a half.

UTP: Influences and stance on music?
NR: That dirty south, not so much, but I dig Outkast though. I grew up loving that kind of stuff but heavy soul draws from everywhere and there's nothing without rock and roll. I adopted that genre some time in college. Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix, they speak to people naturally. No preaching, just said. I was going to kill myself but I heard this song and I'm just going to live; that's the type of power you should be aware of. That is missing from today's music and it's very critical.

Billboard charts have no relevance, you can look at those artists who are there and their message isn't about too much.I have no choice but to be different; not cute, hip, but actually try to move most of today.

UTP: How did you get the name N'digo Rose?
NR: One day I was sittin' back trying to come up with a name. Tony Hicks is a stupid name, I need a name! What's cool? What's something you've never seen before? I've never seen a blue rose before. Then N'digo and there you go: N'digo Rose!

UTP: How did you start playing gigs?
NR: In 1997 just going off to college, spent time at American University and I met Rashaad. He supports those like Thelonious Monk, The Cornell West Theory and he hippped me to the whole U st. scene.

When Bar Nun was still open they started playing open mics every Monday night called The Movement; the same open mic Raheem and all those cats preformed at.

Guys started saying you're decent. MetroCare was an old shit hole that they tore down where I would perform in front of random folk. If you got up on stage, you either knew you were good or needed to work on your shit. I never got boo'd but had folks walk out; but you learn. thankfully I've had a good bit of time doing it.

I still be scared thinking, 'damn I suck and certain things'. All those feelings you get past just from doing it. Darious Evans of Soul Underground changed everything for me. He asked me to do shows and me being young, dumb and fresh, I said 'yea man!'.

UTP: How is it working on your album?
NR: This album is especially important it's the 1st album ever made. I'm in many places with this album, I feel good about it; rare, consistently good about the maturing process and shifting conversations.

Artists make it harder. Just focus on what's best for right now. If it's good, it's good. If not good, it won't work for that time and I haven't done that yet.

UTP:How would you say you are on stage?
NR: On stage I'm animated, connected, cathartic above everything. I'm very much in tune with the spirit in the place. How can I get in tune if at all possible? That's what I ask. Also the other is being in tune with the spirit of God. Being a musician is not a position to take lightly. I feel we are in charge of connecting people back to their source.

UTP: Do you feel you've gotten what you want from the music scene?
NR: I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm local. I definitely haven't gotten the most out of the music scene: It's hard to maintain. I've played so long without an album because of the expectations of it having to be perfect.

UTP: So, is there an other in your life?
NR: Yes, yes. I have three kids. I got married at 22. I didnt get to go out, get wild and swing my body parts around. She would sing around New York and we had similar interests. We finally married and we still actually like each other occassionally. We've definitely earned that though. She's my best friend and worst enemy but mostly my best friend.

UTP: Hopes for the future?
NR: I would like to take my music beyond the local scene. There is more to the world than U st.!

UTP: Lasting words?
NR: Try to make the music that makes people ask 'how did you do that?'. Please avoid music that causes those to ask 'why did you do that?'!

Listen to this Funk/Soul Pianist and Vocalist