The New York music scene has developed many of today's icons and there is undeniably, a rising star in the uptown Manhattan area.

In the Washington Heights section of New York City we find such a person in Joel Concepcion, better known as SOL-LEKS. Two full length albums, a group collaboration album, several mixtapes, numerous music videos, featured on hit singles such as The Dimelo Remix featuring many of uptown Manhattan’s hip hop icons, and including countless production credits to his name it is clear to the music industry that SOL-LEKS has what it takes to carry New York.

From a myriad of cultures, SOL-LEKS dug his roots deeply in the traditional styles of music creation using inspirational songs from classic Spanish influences. With genres such as 70's boleros and salsa, SOL-LEKS’ vocals emote power deriving from samples of Blanca Rose Gil, La-Lupe, Camilo Sesto and Hector Lavoe just to name a few. He challenges himself to bring a fresh take on hip hop music mixing old school soul with the excitement of concerto. Just listen to his debut music video, Washington Heights, via YouTube and you can see how the kind of music SOL-LEKS creates can withstand the test of time.

“I approach music the same way an artist stares at his canvas. I search for the art in words. The artistic value of how I would say it. I try to create music not just make it.”

Under a joint venture company, Cedar Arms Productions, SOL-LEKS works on projects ranging from a group instrumental project, another full length album and a “homage to J-Dilla” mixtape. Never showing signs of slowing down he has already shot four music videos and is in talks with fellow artists to release several more. 

This year alone he has pioneered a genre dubbed “Hip-Rock”. A neo blend which culminated into releasing remixes of songs from popular bands such as rock super group Bombay Bicycle Club. The first, called “Always Like This (Wasted Remix)" now available on YouTube, is the first into this foray of music making. The second video, a mix of aggression, frenzy, and passion and shot at an underground railroad track, is called “Down For The Night”. That song combines rage and wordplay to attack and disparage anyone who doubted his staying power. The most recent, a video called “With or Without” and shot by the rising production company FLOAT, shows SOL-LEKS’ diversity in this light hearted performance about love, hardships, and redemption.

Quality over quantity, perseverance over perception, those few words describe SOL-LEKS’ work ethic as he continues to push the envelope. Currently he is seen performing in local New York open mic contests, with one having prompted an audience member to post the crowd’s reaction on YouTube showing an overwhelming reaction to his win. His current project titled “The Train RIDE Mixtape”, found right now for FREE on his website www.sol-leks.com, incorporates the many situations you will come across riding on a New York subway system along with many highly creative mixes of alternative music he puts his personal touch on.

You can check him out in the new independent film “Tony & Angel” due out this year and coming soon you will also be able to hear a full length album tentatively titled “One Good Push” due to release on SOL-LEKS.COM.

- Richard “#5” Rodriguez (http://16scandles.wordpress.com/) 
Richrodriguez5@gmail.com

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