“Uncommon” Music at Hollins

Wes Powell is not only a Sneakerhead, as profiled in the Star-Sentinel several weeks ago (he owns dozens of pairs of athletic shoes); he is also president of his own recording label, “The Uncommon.” Powell works with groups, mainly in the hip hop genre, stretching from Roanoke to Richmond and Washington DC.  Powell is not a musician himself but went to art school in Washington.

One of the groups on his label, “Model Citizens,” will perform Monday night (February 22) at 7 p.m. in the gym at Hollins University. Model Citizens performed at a recent Emerging Artists event at the Roanoke main branch library – when Powell was showing off his sneakers. “They’re more of an alternative hip hop group, more club music,” says Powell.

Not all of The Uncommon music offerings are hip-hop: Ryan Browning, also the label’s vice president, is a folk-blues artist.  Both Powell and Browning attended Northside High School. Both knew the late Morgan Harrington, who also attended Northside and was murdered after a concert at UVA last year.

“She was a really sweet person,” recalls Browning. “Anybody that met her was happy to be around her.” Both knew Harrington from a shared passion for music. “She brought a smile to everybody’s face,” says Powell. “Very open minded about music.”

The advent of digital platforms like MySpace and YouTube has made it easier for small labels like The Uncommon and lesser-known artists to gain a toehold. “You don’t have to have a distribution deal right [away] to get your music out,” says Powell.

Henry McCoy, Goon Platoon and Mountain Empire are other performers that Powell is working with; he also has a recording studio at his home. McCoy, from Richmond, is just 16 and a “very young talented kid with a strong drive.”

Uncommon has been assembling mixed tapes, and giving them away as free downloads to stir up interest. The first official release for sale will be pressed on CD as well. “The consumer that appreciates music [likes] being able to go into a store and walk out with a physical product,” says Browning, who handles many of the business aspects for The Uncommon.

Powell is looking for some R&B artists to round out the Uncommon label. “There are a lot of talented people around,” adds Browning, who has also engineered the first release. “We want to find them…and help them grow as they help us grow.” The Model Citizens show on Monday at Hollins and other live events like it will give music lovers “an opportunity to connect with the artists,” says Browning. “Just come to the show… you might be surprised what you hear,” adds Powell.

The Uncommon label’s first release, a mixed tape, is now available online at sites like newhiphop.com and illroots.com. See myspace.com/theuncommonfamily for more information.