Busk. Busk.
Matt McGraw Matt McGraw
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Busk.
Copyright Š 2016 Matt McGraw All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior written permission by the owner, Matt McGraw.
Busk. Matt McGraw
THANKS.
to the GROOVERS and the SHAKERS, the BUSKERS and the MUSIC MAKERS. never stop doing what you do.
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13 INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
15 DEFINITION 19 THE BUSKERS 20 ALSTON MOORE 34 TITUS MARTEL 38 RAYMOND COLLINS 42 RAS KING 48 BAZIL FRAZIER 52 MICHAEL DERR 66 LILY MAOPOLSKI 72 SOFIYA SYDORYAK 81 AFTERWARD 82 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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INTRODUCTION We see them on the streets and in the subways, in alleyways and along crowded roads alike. Standing under monuments or posted up in the parks and lots of Philadelphia. They catch our eye or our ear and draw us to them with their performances; be it musical or not. They spend their time making us laugh or smile through their talent, and all they ask for in return is a small token of our gratitude (along with whatever money we can spare.) Often, people will ignore these people, pretending that they don’t exist as they pass them by on the sidewalk or the subway platform. For those of us who appreciate them however, the sound of an instrument rising up the stairs from the SEPTA Concourse or the sight of a man doing a headstand on the street can make any day just a little bit better. These people are called buskers, and this is their story.
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busk1 /bÓ™sk/ verb
1. Chiefly British : To entertain in a public place for donations.
Origin: busk, probably from Italian buscare to procure, gain, from Spanish buscar to look for. First known use: 1857 ~ Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
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THE
BUSKERS
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ALSTON MOORE, guitar
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ALSTON, 28, is a man of many hats. Among
his many professions and hobbies are tattoo artist, poet, personal trainer, and often, during his commutes to and from different places throughout Philadelphia; street musician. “I play my guitar all the time and bring my art out with me to get potential clients,” says Alston, as he strums a few chords while waiting for a crowd to pass at the 15th Street Station for the SEPTA Market/Frankford Subway line. “I usually come down here and play between like 5 and 6.” When he’s not jamming out for strangers, Alston is probably at his studio just north of Belfield, tattooing or training someone, or running his YouTube channel “The Alston Moore Show” which features upcoming Philadelphia musicians.
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RAYMOND, TITUS, & RAS
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TITUS MARTEL, vocals
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TITUS, 24, also goes by the name “Titus
Dreamchaser.” A Philadelphia native, he has certainly chased down his dreams. Even at such a relatively young age, he is a successful business owner, a well-known name in the city’s underground music scene, has collaborated on singles and albums, and has been featured on a number of radio shows and concerts. “I’ve kind of gone pro with street performing,” says Titus. He has been singing since a young age and encourages others to go for their own dreams. They just might make it.
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RAYMOND COLLINS, vocals
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RAYMOND, 25, is a close friend of Titus’
and the two have been busking together for sometime. Ray is a truck driver by trade, and so performing in the subway is a great way for him to make a little extra cash. Like Titus, Ray is also born and raised in Philadelphia and has a pseudonym for when he performs: “Ray Lyrics.” He performs when he has time down in the SEPTA Pedestrian Concourse in Center City.
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RAS KING, rapper
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RAS, 27, is a rapper who has been working
at his craft since he was 17-years-old. A songwriter and pianist, Ras has his own indie label and music on iTunes. His music has particularly taken off in popularity in South Africa and he has a large following there. He is good friends with Ray Lyrics, and the two have a number of cover songs on YouTube. Being a Rastafarian, Ras’ music is meant to be uplifting and promote positivity. “There are no drugs and violence in my lyrics, only music,” he states.
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BAZIL FRAZIER, flute
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BAZIL, 54, comes out to play his flute at City
Hall despite the biting cold of January in Philadelphia. Taking a break from playing in order to give his hands a brief respite from the frigidly cold, silver-plated, polished brass, he speaks to how he got his flute. “I got it in a secondhand store for cheap. It was a little beat up and dull, but I fixed it up and now it’s good as new,” he says with pride. He plays on the weekends at City Hall for “the amazing acoustics.” Bazil works as a chef and is currently going back to school in order to further his education.
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MICHAEL DERR, saxophone
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MICHAEL, 28, is a longtime alto saxophone
player, as well as a professional skateboarder. Originally from North Carolina but raised in North Philly by his grandparents, Michael was inspired to learn the saxophone from his grandpop, Sherman Hamilton. “He would play the sax and it would blow me away,” he says. Michael picked up the sax at 16 and has been playing ever since. Skateboarding since he was seven, Michael also got his first sponsor, a local skateshop called Sub Zero, when he was 16. At 18, he went pro. “I have been kick-pushing for 21 years now and have never broken a bone in my body.”
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LILY & SOFIYA
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LILY MAOPOLSKI, guitar & vocals
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LILY, 21, is a professional street musician and
a student at Temple University. Going out for the very first time a year ago to busk with her friend Sofiya, the two “popped their busking cherry” together and have been doing it regularly ever since. “I used to have a job, but I make more money doing this,” she states with a grin. Recently, Lily was featured in the opening credits of the final season of American Idol after being asked by a producer if she would let them film her after he had seen her busking with a friend in South Philadelphia. While busking Lily has also gotten a free guitar and amp, was blessed by the Pope when he was in Philly and she was discovered and signed by a manager from Los Angeles who flew her out to California for the Grammy’s. “Busking has been fruitful to say the least,” Lily remarks with a laugh. To first time buskers, she says: “Don’t be scared, just do it and have fun.”
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SOFIYA SYDORYAK, hooper
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SOFIYA, 22, prefers to go by the name “Sofiya
Lily Flower” and has a wide range of jobs and hobbies including nanny, student at Temple University, energy healer, and especially, hooper. “Why have one job you hate when you can have a bunch of jobs that you love?” she says. Four years ago, Sofiya picked up hooping following a break-up and she finally felt like she had something that was hers that no one could ever take away. Since then she has picked up LCD and fire hooping, has performed at multiple music festivals and events, and has made great strides in the hooping community. “I love it. Who knew a plastic circle could bring so much healing and fun?”
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AFTERWARD Whether young or old, rich or poor, professional or amateur, musician or performer; busking allows for anybody to put themselves out in the public eye and showcase their skills. It takes guts to perform in a public setting, and even more bravery to play in front of complete strangers. Being judged isn’t easy, but at the same time, perhaps there is something very freeing about being able to go out and perform with nothing riding on it but a few extra tips. What interests me about buskers is the equality that it brings to a performance. World-renowned musicians are at the same level as complete novices once on the street. People aren’t judged based on how enormous their audience is, how many YouTube subscribers they have, or whether or not they have a record deal. People are just people, and the greatest talent shines through. After all, the biggest stars have to start off somewhere.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matt McGraw is 22-year-old photographer and photojournalist from West Chester, Pennsylvania who currently lives in Philadelphia. Matt is soon to graduate from Temple University with a degree in Journalism. Also a writer and videographer, Matt has over four years of experience in photography and loves the great outdoors, urban exploration, and cats. This book was completed over the course of four months, and was shot strictly within the limits of the city of Philadelphia, a place that Matt has truly come to call home. It is dedicated to those in Philly who showcase their talents not in a theater or on a stage, but in the subways and streets, not just of the City of Brotherly Love, but throughout the world. Keep it up guys.
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