Although considered a Southern
state, Kentucky is a
mixture of the Midwest and
the South. The area is well-known
worldwide as the birth of country and bluegrass music. So when we speak of
Kentucky, we generally speak of legendary names such as Loretta Lynn, The Judds, and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Today times have changed, and the sounds of Kentucky have shifted
from country and bluegrass into more of an alternative rock scene. Yet no
matter what genre came before them, the rising force of the urban music scene has always pushed
forward.
In the late 90s groups like the Nappy Roots and Playa
made ground-breaking noise signing to major labels. Soon after to follow a
former member of Playa in the 2000’s
artist / producer Static Major opened
new doors with his creative works that broke thru a new wave of local
artists.
These days, names such as Bryson
Tiller & Jack Harlow are the stars of Kentucky that dominate. These
young artists have flooded the net with their music online in the current DIY
era making them mainstream names.
In the same likes, in the outskirts of Paducah, a new voice by the name of Jared Woodson aka Alyst is currently
making a name for himself as he begins to carve out his own space in the music
industry in 2020.
Although raised in a musical family, Alyst felt very removed by
his parents. Growing up they both had active careers in the entertainment
industry, his dad played piano
during Michael Jackson’s Thriller Tour,
and his mom was an accomplished international singer. Growing up he was
exposed more to the adversities than the music.
Tired of living in the conditions that didn’t allow him to grow,
he decided to go all in and head out to
New York City.
With so many taking this same venture year after year he quickly learned upon arriving that coming to NYC was not easy. “This city is amazing but it is so competitive and it is driven at such fast paced speed you have to be on your A game at all time”, says Alyst.
After securing a place to live and purchasing some basic music
equipment, he then engrossed himself during the first months into recording over a 100 songs to perfect
his craft. “There was nothing to do but my music. It was all or nothing” he says.
Finally after going out around town and networking he began to
realize he needed much more than passion and ability to get to that next level
in NYC.
He took a side job working as a tennis coach to budget his
project, and he began to license beats online from other beat makers to make
better records.
“Those days were rough, but were also awesome," Alyst admits. "Honestly between
the side job, the new locale, the girlfriend and the music growing it all
hit me hard quick. I felt at one point, I was like beyond lost. I was beyond
down. I felt so alone. Add to the factor the music I was making wasn’t hitting.
It increased the stress of my personal life even more at the time. All this
just because I was trying live out this dream.”
What sounds like typical
writers block was actual more drama when the foundation he initially built came
crashing down at all once. He lost the job, the girl and the place to live. Now he had to start all over again.
The universe is incredible
because it answers to what is destiny not to what is circumstance.
As Alyst hustled to
rebuild his zone, he also began to learn more about the business aspect of
the music industry in the city. A major factor that prevailed beyond the
talent. Through his research he came across several outlets online that connected
to these music execs but nothing came out of them through his measures.
Jared’s only answer to himself was that the sound he was putting
out on his own wasn’t on point. He quickly looked to revise that and adapt to a
new tone. After several months he created one called “JORDAN 23”. He began pushing that online to several platforms.
Pushing a new sound and exploring bigger scopes finally got the attention of a NYC music executive Oscar Sanchez of
Affluent Records.
“Oscar is an incredible force who understands how to artist
develop and produce," says Alyst. "He knows how to make records and brands. He knows how to
make things mainstream quality and creates it. I knew Affluent Records was the
place for me. After playing several songs and a couple of talks, the deal got done. I got a chance to work with Oscar. In that same conversation is where he
created my name Alyst and brought it
to mainstream months later releasing my first song worldwide.”
"This development alone has
enabled him to garner the attention he is currently surging with today to which
I am very happy about," Sanchez continues. "Alyst’s first singles “VIBIN” and “SWIPE IT” are clear examples of this. These
records make you want to dance and move as soon as that first drum hits.”
“That’s my whole focus for this album. I went thru so much crap
in my world that all I want to do is have fun, and enjoy this world.” says
Alyst.
