Review: Nicholas Wonder makes solo statement with 'My Thesis'

A lone man’s strain (“Moving On”) opens Nicholas Wonder’s debut solo album, My Thesis, in a Bob Seger “Turn The Page” fashion. One might find the brief ballad an unlikely intro to a hip hop album yet the melody is connubially tied, by an untrammeled saxophone, to the title track, which follows.

My Thesis is a commingling of sub-genres grounded in hip hop soul. Wonder’s verbal strategy for this recording flows in the same vein as his socially conscious writing for Vitium, the artist’s internationally acclaimed hip hop, funk project, which he boldly declares a “first class revolution” on a track titled “First Class.”

A true poet, Wonder’s wandering lyrics will make you wonder as he articulates keen observations of disregarded societal flaws, speaking to a degenerating generation on “Prescription Kids” and world at war on “Drifting ...”.

Pure originality is difficult to attain in any art form; hip hop, a genre built on cultural cross-references, is no different. Wonder and his supporting cast of instrumentalists and audio engineers, including Vitium bandmate Jerry (JL) Lang II, New Zealand-based Soulchef, Cleveland-based Adam Korbesmeyer and None Other Than, distinctively repurpose a variety of techniques from defining epochs in hip hop and R&B music, with rhythms on the album reflecting retro and modern styles.

Recommended song: “Trippin’”
Sounds like: Lupe Fiasco, Common, The Roots

Executive producers: None Other Than (mixing) and Nicholas Wonder
Additional production: Adam Korbesmeyer (mixing/engineering, Pro-Plane) and Soulchef
Mastered by: Chris Keffer
Recorded at: Ante Up Audio

Get a free download of the song "My Thesis" by clicking "download" below. Download the full album on Nicholas Wonder's Bandcamp site for $5.




Editor's note: "Moving On" is the opening song on the printed version of My Thesis. The online version of the album begins with the title track, "My Thesis."

Top-charted Vitium talks about recording new EP

Opening acts are often subject to playing for empty rooms and unenthused crowds, but it takes a dedicated, unique performer to put on a show even when no one is watching. Vitium proved that its band is composed of such artists who are willing to give it all whether they’re playing for a small crowd or a packed house. 

The band opened for The Floorwalkers on Friday, July 8, at The Beachland Ballroom. The audience hadn’t reached capacity nor the energy level of excited concertgoers yet. Nevertheless, Vitium played a lively set, demonstrating musical versatility as the six musicians blended tight R&B and rock instrumentals with hip hop and pop vocals.

The dynamic ensemble is becoming a Beachland staple, performing on a near monthly basis at the venue. In an interview, guitarist Jesse Hernandez said the group is in writing and recording sessions for its sophomore album, an EP targeted for an August 2011 release.

“I think this album is going to have more of a cohesive sound than our last one because we’ve all been settled in with each other for a bit, and I feel that we’ve got a more musically defined style,” Hernandez said.

Vitium released its debut album, Oxygen Planet, with Goon Trax, a Japanese label affiliated with Media Factory, in 2009. The 11-track record was recorded at Cleveland-based Ante Up Audio with the help of multi-platinum, award-winning artist Michael Seifert.

The band received accolades with its release in Japan as the re:plus-produced remix of “Never Looking Back” hit No. 3 on the Japanese iTunes hip hop charts. According to Vitium’s website, the group was also featured on multiple compilation records that have all reached No. 1 on the nation’s iTunes charts in that musical genre. Locally, songs from the album received airplay on Q104, Radio 92.3 and widely heard college stations. 

Band members said the songs being recorded on the new album were primarily written for live shows. 

“They’re songs that we’ve been performing live for a while, but we haven’t had the time to really sit down and record them,” said Jerry (JL) Lang, keyboardist.

Vocalist Nicholas Wonder (Smalc) said the lyrical content flows along the same socially conscious themes that manifested on Oxygen Planet.

“At the same time, we’ve also done some fun songs,” Wonder said. “It’s still very lyrical in terms of witty wordplay. Even if it’s just a fun song, I want it to at least have something involved that you’ll go, ‘Oh, that’s different.’”

The Rhythm Report will continue tracking Vitium’s progress in the local and global music scenes. Fans can follow the band on various social media sites including Facebook and Twitter for more information on the upcoming album and future show dates.


Written by Priscilla Tasker