9th IMA Submission Spotlight: Tyrone Payne

ARTIST NAME: Tyrone Payne

HOMETOWN/CURRENTLY BASED IN: The Bay Area of California

WEB SITE: www.myspace.com/afterthepartyvol1 and soon to be www.afterthepartyworldwide.com

INFLUENCES: Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, R Kelly, Sly Stone, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Aaron Neville, Donnie Hathaway, Terrence Trent D'arby, Smoky Robinson, Bob Marley

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: I'm just starting out but the first time I heard my record on the radio was priceless.

I SUBMITTED TO THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS BECAUSE... The Awards are like the Grammy's for independent musicians, the seal of approval for hard work and preserverance. Thank you for this opportunity.

9TH ANNUAL IMA JUDGE YOU'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT: Bettye Lavette, because she's absolutely timeless, of course.

I'M PROUD TO BE AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST BECAUSE: First: Independence allows one to truly speak what you feel at the moment, without restrictions, to your audience. Second: it builds character knowing that without the support of a major label your determination, and ability to persevere are the keys to success. Third: the changing technology has made it possible to reach people directly in ways that never existed before and will forever change the way this business of music is conducted, hopefully allowing for more creativity and freedom for all artists involved in making music, and further democratizing the tools of both recording and distribution for everyone to utilize and share their unique gifts. This is an incredibly exciting time in the music industry and it's a blessing to live and work today!

WHAT'S NEXT (UPCOMING TOURS, ALBUMS. ETC): I'm releasing a limited edition double album, it should be available on-line in the next week and hopefully on the major net retailers, including iTunes before the end of July 09.

SUCCESS = It's two fold for me. I have a set of 12 albums that I want to finish in the next year and a half. Four are already in the can, and I'm beginning to work on another two next month. Obviously, there's a statement through this body of work that I'd like to make, and I guess that I'm compelled to make for myself and my community. Success also for me also comes down to is the audience listening. I mean, have I touched someone enough for them to take away something from the music? The performance? So that's it for now. I'm sure as I grow and the world changes, success will take on entirely different meanings, as well.

WHAT MAKES YOUR MUSIC STAND OUT: The music and the performance of it. I think also the messages laced within the music connect with people, as well.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE VENUE TO PLAY AND WHY? The quality of the venue's sound and the audience are what makes gigs stand out for me. I loved playing the DNA Lounge in San Francisco a few years back and also The Catalyst in Santa Cruz because of these two things. As a future venue to play, well I think it's been every Soul artists dream to play the Apollo Theater.