[ARTIST SPOTLIGHT] Alyst: Kentucky's Shining Star

 

Special to Conversations with Music from Affluent Records

 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.”

“Although “JORDAN 23” was the song that got him signed it was not a mainstream hit single,"says Sanchez. "It didn’t have the quality that was strong enough to break an artist properly into the market. It was at best mixtape material. I just heard the potential of him within the song. Upon signing, I was able to achieve something very cool working with Alyst. We created a new sound by taking his R&B vocals and placing them over Reggaeton type of kick driven tracks. This new club driven sound has now given Alyst the signature sound he needed. 

"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.

Upon releasing “VIBIN” & “SWIPE IT” thru Affluent Records + Orchard worldwide, the songs have been gaining traction and have been on the rise. The singles have recently been impacting several major industry record pools nationwide such as INAVATOR, STARFLEET and FRANCHISE.

 Recently NYC DJ Legend Funk Master Flex record pool Franchise began picking up the records giving positive feedback. The singles have been steadily growing nationwide amongst urban DJs.

 All the music can be found online, and all of which he is currently filming videos for.

Alyst says: “It's 2020. You need a video for every song you put out, so I am doing videos for all the album singles. Then I will put it them all together like a movie of my life for the album titled HITS NOW, QUESTIONS LATER.”

 What is next for this young Kentucky star? “There is so much work to do," he says. "We have the videos, the photo shoots, we are also working on setting up for my touring and shows. I am here for the win. I am here pushing song after song until the world knows about Alyst. The best part of all is the fact that instead of thinking about when will I live out my dreams, I am here today living them out step by step."

 "Above all learning to believe in myself has been the most profound growth I have experienced thus far. I am happy that I am able to bring my music to the world and enjoy everything in it along the way. I am here for all of it." 

For more information about Kentucky's shining star visit his website https://alyst.music.blog/ or his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alystmusic