Awkward Theory
Detroit, MI | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
Southwest Detroit's Awkward Theory releases a new video for their song "Falling," directed by Arturo Rivera Jr, starring Detroit alternative model Robyn Barnsdale.
The video shows multiple locations in Detroit mashed up with Barnsdale floating underwater. The smooth sounds mixed with the lyric styles make Awkward Theory a unique presence in the Detroit music scene. - Amy Cooper
Last month, this Southwest Detroit-based hip-hop collective emerged victorious after performing at the Detroit edition of Coast2Coast Live, where their blend of hip-hop, rock, and pop-punk won over a panel of judges including industry vets DJ Head, Music Mystro, and Illmind. The group is celebrating the release of their self-titled debut record at Garage Cultural, the Southwest community center where its members have taught youth music classes. Onefreq and Jay Squared will also perform, with DJ sets by Deon Jamar. -
Awkward Theory is an alternative hip hop collective based out of Southwest Detroit. The group formed when longtime friends Pharaoh Soul and Gabriel Duran met Supreme Flows and Wood Zombie at a hip hop cypher in the City.
Since coming together, AT has released two songs: “Falling” and “Orale.” Both of these records will appear on the group’s self-titled debut album dropping this May: -
Inspirados por la poesía y activismo, el grupo Awkward Theory quiere concientizar a sus compañeros sobre los problemas sociales. Para conocer su música visita: www.awkwardtheory.com. - Vivelo Hoy
The young hip hop collective Awkward Theory is building a youth hip hop movement in Southwest Detroit, an area that doesn’t often get pegged for its rap. Their new video for “No Vacancy”, the last song on their self titled debut album, suggests that SW Detroit hip hop should not be overlooked. Directed by Sam Vega, the video is a reflection of what young people face day to day: violence, sex, drugs and ravage materialism. These things become a backdrop for the video and juxtapose the song’s positive message of having no vacancy for negativity.
“The “No Vacancy” movement is a way for young people to stand together in solidarity against the things they often don’t feel strong enough to stand up against on their own. In this movement there is someone, somewhere, standing for the same things as you; more important, standing up with you; and maybe more importantly, standing up for themselves just like you. It is a silent declaration: don’t try to persuade me, dissuade me, distract me, and if you doubt me…then keep it to yourself, ‘I’ve got NO VACANCY'”
Born and raised in Detroit, Awkward Theory are known for intermixing classic hip hop styles with genres such as: rock, pop, punk, and folk strings. The haunting and beautiful sounds of lead guitarist/singer Gabriel Duran captures both the mood and angst evoked by the gritty and honest bars by DeMacio and Supreme Flows, who use words to paint auto-biographical pictures of what it’s like to come from a newly remembered city’s forgotten inner city streets. Awkward Theory’s music tries to “capture the heart and soul of a young person growing up in a“forgotten” community subjected to a revitalization that would rather marginalize and replace them rather than stabilize and uplift them.” It’s something that people from all over can identify with, and young people can hold onto as they experience the same struggles in their own lives and neighborhoods.
Never underestimate the power of young, conscious and organized artists who can clearly write good songs and create compelling content. - Assemble Sound
“No Vacancy” represents everything this alternative hip-hop group is made of: a little rock, pop, hip-hop, east side, west side, and soul. The video was directed by cinematographer Sam Vega and alternates between images of an outdoor performance and ski masked assailants pulling a caper. - Metro Times
Discography
Awkward Theory Self Titled Debut Album, June 2015
Photos
Bio
Awkward Theory is an alternative hip hop group born and raised in Detroit. They are noted for intermixing classic hip hop styles, with genres such as: rock, pop, punk, and folk strings. Awkward Theory has gained popularity for their distinctive beat compositions which create a perfect juxtapositioning of soft vocals, gritty lyrics, and complex sounds; spinning it all into music that you feel rather than hear. They leave listeners captivated by the haunting sounds of lead guitarist/singer Gabriel Duran as he counterbalances both the mood and angst felt from the gritty and honest flows spit by DeMaciiio and Supreme Flows. Using words to paint an auto-biographical picture of what it’s like to come from a newly remembered city’s forgotten inner city streets. Awkward Theory’s music captures the heart and soul of young people growing up in a community subjected to a revitalization that would rather marginalize and replace them rather than stabilize and uplift them. Something that people young and old can identify with and hold onto as they experience the same struggles in their own lives and neighborhoods.
Gabriel Duran:
Raised in Southwest Detroit with strong ties to his cultural roots from both Chile and Puerto Rico, Gabe came to love music from the influences of those around him. At the age of 7 he was given his first electric guitar, but it wasn’t until he was 10 years old that he finally picked it up and taught himself how to play. Since then he has been learning and developing his craft by playing alongside people like his grandfather, Ismael Bandolero Duran, who throughout the years encouraged him to appreciate the history of Latin American Folk music while also exploring his interests in Rock and other genres. In 2012 he became affiliated with the grassroots hip hop collective, The Raiz Up. With the influences of the collective, his uncle, Chilean MC Subverso, and the Rebel Diaz Art Collective (RDAC-BX) from the South Bronx he began exploring ways to mix his music with other young artists in his community. In 2014 he came out with his first solo album, Never Lie to Impress, a collaborative blend of musical genres that he wrote, recorded and produced.
Demaciiio:
Music is not only his outlet, it’s his weapon of choice. The oldest of five siblings in a Puerto Rican and Mexican family, Demaciio has always been a leader and protector, even if at times it got him into trouble. Switching in and out of public schools in Detroit, music became the only constant he had to turn to when the things around him didn’t seem to make sense. The therapeutic power to “say whatever he felt” about the systems that keep young people marginalized and expose the hypocrisy in our education system caused him to develop a deep love for music and an untouchable lyrical style. His beats are gritty and tough, like the streets he’s had to walk to get to where he’s at, confident in the power of his messages and their capability to inspire others the way music has inspired him.
Supreme Flows:
Like many youth in Detroit Supreme Flows grew up moving from one neighborhood to another, experiencing “the good, the bad and the ugly” of the city, from Brightmoore to 7 mile and then finally settling back in the Del Rey area of Southwest Detroit. The continuous uprooting was hard on his family but it also played a critical role in building up his character at a young age. Part Anishinabe of the Potawotomi tribe and part Black, cultural respect and heritage was pivotal to the evolution of both his lyrics and musical style, understanding that they are not always easily intertwined but rather separate and powerful in their own individual rights. Music is his reminder that not everything in the world is a struggle, that sometimes challenging people’s imaginations through sounds, beats and lyrics can positively affect them and help spark change in their communities and the world at large.
Links
