In the great U.S. Capital (and just outside of it), we’ve got some outrageously talented artists sharing their work. Let’s just cut right to it, here are five Washington D.C. based artists we love.
1. Cramer
Let’s ease into this with the serene sounds of Cramer. The artist gave us this smooth, delicate performance of “Wash It Away”, which has such an earthy feel to it, maybe from the watery keys, or the warm guitar, or just the grounding goodness of Cramer’s voice. However it comes together, it’s working.
2. Be Steadwell
We are big fans of Be Steadwell (and even got the chance to chat a little bit last year). The D.C. artist is firing on multiple creative cylinders—a filmmaker, composer, and a storyteller, bringing her skills to songs that mesh beatboxing, loops, and precise hooks. Curious how it all comes together? Take a look at her Sofar performance below.
3. O-Slice
The PG County artist has a way of hitting you in the heart and the gut with her verses. The rapper’s been gaining some traction, with a recent song feature in a Steph Curry commercial, her LP Goodmorning, Goodnight, and her recent show 19, an autobiographical performance chronicling her experience as a Nigerian immigrant, and journey through her music career. While you wait for the show to make it to a stage near you, take a look at O-Slice’s Sofar performance of “Mask Off” to see the artist in action.
4. Luke James Shafer
The D.C. singer/songwriter Luke James Shafer got a knack for the kind of Americana folk that’s got an urgency to it, the kind of songs you gotta hear through til the last note. Watch him create a lush rush of sound through a solo performance, courtesy of a loop pedal, an acoustic guitar, and even a little piano played off the artist’s phone (trust us, it works).
5. Weekend Plans
Lastly, we gotta mention our D.C. neighbors, Weekend plans, who’re based in Richmond, VA. The eight-piece brings a blend of funk, hip-hop, and soul, but above all, there’s a brightness that just seems to radiate from their tunes, especially this Sofar performance of “Backseat Love; Gravy”.
Words by Sofar Editorial Team
Photo credit: O-slice, photo by Mark Gorman
