Local band The Natural Movement moves up
Crystal Roberts
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Features
The Natural Movement is a local hip-hop group that sells CDs, T-shirts and tickets. While performing original music, the lead group member manages to find time for school.
Bakersfield College student Estevan Noel (a.k.a. Nerd Guy,) leads The Natural Movement as he raps and writes lyrics. Noel also helps to self promote the group and sell their merchandise. It seems that the group has become popular at local clubs as the group continues to book shows in and out of Bakersfield.
The group is made up of four local guys, who go by the names of Art the Influence, DJ Kwizz, Hypeman Garvey and Nerd Guy,
Noel explained that the group came together in 2002 after DJ Kwizz and Nerd Guy exchanged beats and rhymes at BC. They met Dj Kwizz, who had a friend who also made beats and introduced them to Hypeman Garvey to complete the group.
Noel explained the group started booking shows after they played a show for Production Company Numbskull Productions; the company now helps to book the group with shows.
Noel said they started to get more requests to play at clubs after a show they did when they opened for Afro-Man at Fishlips. Noel also commented that Mental Guru, another local band who plays at Fishlips, frequently call and ask The Natural Movement to play with them as special guests.
"The owners of Fishlips asked us come back because we did such a good job in the previous performance," Noel said.
The group performs many of their shows free to the club owners while the club allows them to sell CDs and T-shirts.
"There's usually a cover charge, but the promoters make all the money because they put a lot of money into it," Noel said. "They pay us whatever we agree to, and we put all of our earnings into a bank account and use it for what the group needs."
The Natural Movement doesn't just play locally but in Los Angeles, Ventura, Chico, Long Beach and the Bay Area.
"It's tough to book shows out of town," said Noel, who said that he has to contact different promoters whom he meets while attending various concerts.
Bakersfield College student Estevan Noel (a.k.a. Nerd Guy,) leads The Natural Movement as he raps and writes lyrics. Noel also helps to self promote the group and sell their merchandise. It seems that the group has become popular at local clubs as the group continues to book shows in and out of Bakersfield.
The group is made up of four local guys, who go by the names of Art the Influence, DJ Kwizz, Hypeman Garvey and Nerd Guy,
Noel explained that the group came together in 2002 after DJ Kwizz and Nerd Guy exchanged beats and rhymes at BC. They met Dj Kwizz, who had a friend who also made beats and introduced them to Hypeman Garvey to complete the group.
Noel explained the group started booking shows after they played a show for Production Company Numbskull Productions; the company now helps to book the group with shows.
Noel said they started to get more requests to play at clubs after a show they did when they opened for Afro-Man at Fishlips. Noel also commented that Mental Guru, another local band who plays at Fishlips, frequently call and ask The Natural Movement to play with them as special guests.
"The owners of Fishlips asked us come back because we did such a good job in the previous performance," Noel said.
The group performs many of their shows free to the club owners while the club allows them to sell CDs and T-shirts.
"There's usually a cover charge, but the promoters make all the money because they put a lot of money into it," Noel said. "They pay us whatever we agree to, and we put all of our earnings into a bank account and use it for what the group needs."
The Natural Movement doesn't just play locally but in Los Angeles, Ventura, Chico, Long Beach and the Bay Area.
"It's tough to book shows out of town," said Noel, who said that he has to contact different promoters whom he meets while attending various concerts.
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