After relocating to San Diego from Philadelphia six years ago, Andre Power began curating group art shows. As a painter, he was inspired to do so after sensing a bit of a lull in the local art scene. Sporting Ivy League glasses, a neo-primitive spike through his nose, and standing six feet and some change -- Power looks every bit the artist.
Finding the cross country move relatively easy and establishing himself locally, Power now focuses on expanding his sphere of influence and artistic outlets. Co-founding the Los Angeles-based record label, radio show, and niche collective "Soulection," he's also taken to playing live DJ sets and producing. Being from Philly, his musical tastes stay true to his soul roots but he also sites "Chicago Foot Work" and "Baltimore Club Music" as set list mainstays and creative inspiration.
Juggling DJ, producer and business owner roles, Power finds space to work as a musician only after his label duties are done. It's the business of running a business that takes up most of his time these days. Emails need to be answered, and phone calls returned but there's music to release and new talent that needs to be discovered. So Power, forever multitasking, has come up with a unique system of clicks and likes that keeps him abreast of fresh sounds and new artists via his SoundCloud page, which he checks while traveling, or when he has a free moment.
Though he doesn't paint as often as he would like, Power still finds time to play live, spinning records every first Thursday at Blue Foot Bar & Grill for North Park's monthly, "Art in the Park" celebration.
J. Smith, aka 1019, is a San Diego native, rap fan and one half of the rap duo Parker & the Numberman. You can follow him on Instagram at 1019_the_numberman or on Twitter
