After years of being told that the talent was there, two kindergarten friends and current Bakersfield College students finally decided to incorporate music as part of their lives officially by forming the group called C&N, short for Clean & Nasty.
BC students T.J. Marquez, 24, business administration major, and Nathan Hevle, 25, electronics major, are in the process of producing their first demo, titled “Razor Blades and Keyboards,” within the next two months.
While the majority of the people creating music are sticking with similar sounds to what is already playing on the radio, these two guys are trying to break out of it. “We want to make beautiful music for a sad world,” said Marquez.
Their genre is described as “electric-infused hip-hop,” they said. Four months ago, they decided to put their skills and talent to use and began with the production of their first demo. The decision of producing also came with the need of a studio. The studio, however, was not exactly handed to them. But that did not stop them.
On Sept. 18, the production of their self-manufactured studio began, and what used to be simply a room was converted into a studio where they work on their music and spend hours a week.
Marquez has always been into art, but it wasn’t until five years ago that he started free-style rapping. He is in charge of the vocal beats more, while Hevle is mainly in charge of building beats; part of the reason is because Hevle is more familiar with instruments because he has been playing them since childhood. Nevertheless, both interchange tasks because their skills allow them to switch up every now and then.
Tony Lozano, an entrepreneur, recently became their manger. He has high hopes for both Marquez and Hevle. He saw “talented people and saw that it was a great opportunity for them and for me,” said Lozano. “These guys are focused and that is very impressive.
“T.J.’s lyrics are a combination of witty, comical and spectacular. His voice ranges all over the place, and that is very impressive,” said Lozano. “Nate is the Einstein of beats. He is a prodigy with any instrumental.”
The group’s production company and label name is FKY Productions. It began in 1997 at Compton Junior High as a homemade film group, of which all three were members.
Although the songs that will go on the demo are still not determined, there is one song that will definitely be a part of it, titled “Are You Ready to Rock?” according to C&N.
“We will touch on every aspect in life and have different songs that will bring different emotions to people,” said Hevle.
Though Marquez and Hevle have not yet performed a show together, they do plan on doing so after the release of their first demo.
“We are doing what we love and putting the love back into the music,” said Marquez.