Interview, New Fire Music
THE POWER OF MORRISANIA BAND PROJECT
15
Mar
Mar
Morrisania Band Project (also known as MBP) is an award-winning R&B soul collective founded in September 2016. Their mission is to add vibrancy to the Bronx through music, community engagement, and social initiatives. With creative energy and loads of talent, MBP delivers the sounds of legendary soul, pop, and funk artists, while promoting awareness for issues like gun violence, disaster relief, and sickle cell disease.
Founder, Elissa Carmona is a singer, Air Force veteran, and winner of the 2021 New Work, Arts Fund, and City Artist Corps awards. MBP presented the 2019 Summer Concert Series, a ten-concert series that ran throughout the South Bronx from June through October. Throughout 2019, they performed at numerous events hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Council Member Vanessa Gibson, and Assemblymember Michael Blake, and headlined at Summer on the Hudson’s Mamapalooza on May 26th, Make Music Day at Lehman College on June 21st, Bronx Night Market on September 7th, and Queens Night Market on October 26th.
In 2020, many of MBP’s live performances were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They transitioned to virtual concerts and launched the “2020 Concert Series – Quarantine Edition”, a virtual concert series hosted by vendors, Bronx Music Heritage Center, The Point, Musicasaa, ARTISTS 4 JUSTICE, and more.
First song of yours that comes to mind right now!
“Get Out My Face” – A funk/rock song scheduled for release this summer.
What makes this song FIRE?
Because it says it all when it comes to toxic behavior and an immediate need for space.
What project has set a FIRE to you to get done NOW?
We’re now getting ready for the “2022 Festival of Soul”, our annual summer concert series, with this year’s sponsors and partners, Bronx Council on the Arts, Bronx Music Heritage Center, Historic Richmond Town, Roc-A-Natural, and more. The series will kick off in May; follow us on Instagram for details.
Whose new beats that you can’t get enough of?
Blackfort, a NYC-based band that blends hip-hop soul, neo soul, afro punk, jazz and funk. We work with them pretty frequently; always an exciting time. Catch Blackfort on Instagram @blackfortband.
What mantra do you want to repeat in this new year?
Music is life.
New Year, New You, New Music! What else NEW is coming?
The release of some of our original music. Covers have been our primary bread and butter, but every now and again, we bring our own thing to the mix. We’ll be doing that much more in 2022. “Get Out My Face” will be our first official release. Stay tuned.
How are you making BIG SOUND with your next sounds?
We enjoy making music that makes a statement, makes you think beyond the song. We hit on love and relationships, and also address social issues like racism, mental health, the pandemic, etc.
How are you shaking up your career NEXT?!
We were just selected by the city of New York to be Public Space Programming Partners. That means more community-based work and sponsorships, higher visibility, and adding vibrancy to the city we call home.
LEAVE ALL THE LINKS!
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, @MorrisaniaBand
Facebook, Instagram, @callmemzcarmona