Charles Lang (aka Chaz)
Charles Lang (a.k.a. Chaz) is a multidisciplinary artist currently living in Orange County New York. Trained as a musician/composer/songwriter at the Berklee School of Music with a focus on piano and vocals, Lang is a self-taught visual artist. His paintings are informed by his approach to music composition as well as his experience and struggle with Bipolar Disorder and coming out the other side in love with life. Charles paints mostly on canvas with oils and sometimes incorporates collage and digital techniques. Lang is a colorist first and foremost. Whether abstract or representational, his paintings always exude a strong psychological/emotional force.
Charles’s music and paintings are available as part of T.H.E. Music Group and T.H.E. Show.
Photo Credit: Chehalis Hegner
EMIKO
Emiko’s musical life began as soon as she was able to reach the piano keys. Before her third birthday the prodigious artist was appearing in front of live audiences. A decade of performances as a classical concert pianist followed. At just 12-years old she had already retired from her first career in music. Without missing a beat she launched an even more impressive phase two as an award-winning, internationally recognized singer, songwriter and composer.
By the time Emiko was in her twenties, the mononymous hit maker had been recognized in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and appeared in numerous major music publications including; Billboard, Music Connection, FM Sound and Keyboard Magazine. Over the years she has amassed an inconceivably extensive catalogue of over 3000 songs. The collection includes #1 Pop, Rock, J-Pop and R&B singles as well as full theater and film scores. Her songs have been recorded by countless artists and she has composed for over twenty television series.
As a solo artist and performer, Emiko is known for virtuosic shredding with equal proficiency on piano, Hammond organ and ‘Carlos,’ her custom made Alesis Wireless Vortex keytar. Since her 2001 debut album “Here Lies Tinkerbell,” the prolific songwriter and recording artist has delivered a steady string of singles, EPs and albums which have met critical and popular success at every turn. Emiko has shared the stage with legends like Cyndi Lauper and even appeared in the 6.5 million views of the music video “Lay Your Head On Me” by Major Lazer and Marcus Mumford.
In the absence of live performances, Emiko stayed busy in the recording studio during COVID lockdowns. In 2020 she released the full length album “LA After the War” and followed in 2021 with the beautiful acoustic EP “The Garage Piano Series Ep 1.” On September 3, 2021 the singer released her latest single, a powerfully emotional rendition of the David Bowie classic “Heroes.” Recorded remotely with celebrated English record producer Mike Exeter and musicians Bill Hubauer and Vito Pandolfo, the song is dedicated to healthcare workers and other everyday heroes of the pandemic. The track made an immediate impact and topped Indie charts around the globe.
The infinitely talented Emiko’s list of accomplishments is impressive, and the future promises even more in store. Whether entertaining fans on her popular YouTube channel, making hit records with her rock star friends or composing scores for popular movies and TV shows, you’ll be sure to find Emiko and Carlos following the music wherever it leads. Follow along @emikomusic and enjoy the ride.
Toby Lee Marshall is a Minneapolis/St. Paul based Hammond Organist and keyboard player. For the past 20+ years, Toby has been highly sought after for both live performance, and session recording.
At the age of 19, Toby was touring with Chicago Bluesman, Lonnie Brooks and his son Ronnie Baker Brooks. After returning to the Twin Cities, Toby continued to play and record with many local Twin Cities artists, including Joe Juliano, Mary Cutrufello, Big John Dickerson & Blue Chamber, and Paul Mayasich & The Benderheads to name a few.
In 2010, Toby teamed up with Bernard Allison – son of legendary Blues guitarist, Luther Allison. As part of Allison’s dynamic rhythm section, Toby toured Europe extensively and was featured on Allison’s 2010 release, “Live at the Jazzhaus”. Toby took a hiatus from music in 2012 to focus his energy on his growing, young family.
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In 2017, Toby Lee Marshall made his return to music. As the result of an impromptu jam/recording session, Toby ended up joining forces with famed guitarist, Greg Koch and his son, Dylan Koch to form the Koch Marshall Trio. The Trio’s first album release “Toby Arrives” was released in September of 2017. In addition to the new trio, Toby was invited to become an official Hammond artist. He is featured in numerous videos, demonstrating the SKX, and Hammond XK-5.
During the Covid-19 era, Toby was busy with remote-recording sessions, as well as bi-weekly live internet shows with his bandmates in The Koch-Marshall Trio. Toby began his own project known as “OCTOCOPTER”, with Twin Cities based drummer, Andy Boterman. The self-titled release was recorded by Toby, at his studio in Minneapolis, Studio Cenote`.
In 2021 The Koch Marshall Trio released it’s second record “From the Up`Nuh”, but the band waited to tour, as new variants of the Covid virus were wreaking havoc on many other artists tour schedules.
In July of 2022 the KMT hit the road relentlessly. Touring from New York, to L.A. and everywhere in between.
The trio released two albums in the spring of 2023. “Orange Roominations”, and “Sweet Gristle” of which the latter was recorded live at Sweetwater Studios in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Toby continues to tour with The Koch-Marshall trio and plans to release his second album with Octocopter in 2024.
Toby Lee Marshall (Octocopter)
