Karolina Rose

Blak Emoji is the brainchild of NYC producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Kelsey Warren. Blending pop inspirations with an emphasis on electronic music, synth sounds and intricate writing, Kelsey’s sonic dream is brought to life.

The debut Blak Emoji EP, “INTRO” (2017) was the first of several releases with two albums, a sophomore EP and the latest album “ECLECTRO.” Warren has received a variety of accolades from notable publications including Rolling Stone, Afro-Punk, Line Best Of Fit, BUST, Clash Magazine, Vampire Freaks and Tape Op. Blak Emoji songs “Velvet Ropes & Dive Bars” and “Poison To Medicine” made their way to ABC’s Quantico while “Sapiosexual” appeared in several indie films.

Warren was immersed in soul/R&B and pop music growing up in South Jersey. But after learning piano concertos, jazz guitar standards, drums and other instruments, Warren became addicted to hip-hop, punk, minimalist classical. He supplemented his ever-expanding musical taste with a dense love of electronic music and synth inspiration from Kraftwerk to Prince to NIN.

Quarantine didn’t prove to slow down Warren who has spent the duration of the pandemic producing numerous artists and directing music videos. He dropped an avant-electronic instrumental Blak Emoji album called “Antidote”. In 2022, Blak Emoji was signed to ECR Music Group. The first single release after joining the ECR label is “MAINSTAY,” which is currently one of his most successful to date. This February, ECR will release a deluxe edition of “ECLECTRO” with bonus tracks.

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Whitney Tai is an award-winning singer-songwriter and visual artist based in Los Angeles. Symphonic and cinematic, “her dreamy soundscapes deliver tantalizing wisps of surface pigments to cinematic proportions.” Tai’s signature sound of electro-pop, rock, and alternative metal is powered by her nuanced, soaring vocals.

Her art pop style has been compared to the likes of artists such as Annie Lennox, Kate Bush and Amy Lee, however, Legendary Boston programmer, DJ Oedipus says that Tai is “an artist who defies categorization.” After her pop debut, Metamorphosis, in 2015 with # 1 Billboard artist, Tim Janssens, the duo reinforced this sound on 2020’s Apogee. Selected as Best Vocalist in the 2021 ICMA awards, the NYC native has written music since her pre-teen years, a necessary outlet to overcome the devastating loss of her mother as a child. Following her exodus to LA, Tai’s cover story on the 50th anniversary issue of The Aquarian Weekly with her re-arrangement of Silent Night marked the beginning of a new journey. Named as one of LA’s top bands by Music Connection Magazine, headlining NAMM in 2020 and releasing her award-winning sophomore album, ‘Apogee’ in June which Rear View Mirror calls “one of the best cathartic dream pop albums released that year.”

Making the 2023 GRAMMY’s ballot, Tai was a contender for Best Pop Duo on her newest release, “Free Time” with Montreal-based producer, Harry Vato as for Best Rock Album, “Sheltering Sky” with the multi-platinum, Chuck Wright. Whitney’s written and performed in a number of projects such as Beauty in Chaos (Marc Bolan, Dug Pinnick, Al Jourgensen), Julian Beeston (Billy Idol), The Blues Bones, and most recently for bassist/producer, Chuck Wright (Alice Cooper, Gregg Allman, Quiet Riot). KNAC Radio calls Tai’s and Wright’s rendition of “Army of Me” a sultry and haunting version of a Bjork classic. Tai is currently back in the studio working on her 3rd solo album and an array of eclectic musical projects.

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Soda Bar

Blak Emoji + Whitney Tai, Karolina Rose

Karolina Rose

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