On a cold and rainy night far below the madness of the streets, deep in the subway tunnels of New York City, the accidental listener has a rare opportunity to feel the living flames of the human spirit. Despite the bitter cold, an improbably tender voice and soft rhythmic guitar fill the old underground chamber with warm and seamless music. Through the turnstiles, weary straphangers wander and gravitate towards the burning source. Some pause distractedly in mid-conversation. Others move in closely, ears perked, and gaze at this bold serenader balancing on the edge of the platform, rapt in genuine ceremony, eyes closed, softly swaying. The steam pours forth from the singer’s lips, the air is heavy with hopeful words. There is no denying the sincerity of the intention. The round smooth tones are packed with meaning and emotion and those affected by the music compensate the musician generously. Before the night is over, the train will have come and gone more than thirty times and the crumbling, art-covered guitar case will be filled to the brim with green bills, notes, business cards and tiny offerings. The result is less a musical subway act, and more a subterranean blessing offered to anyone who will receive it. As one crumpled anonymous note reads "This is the soundtrack that gets me home, Thank you."
"Subway Fire" is a true story, organic in nature and proof that music doesn’t have to be about the biz or a ‘scene’ to gain wide acceptance. "Subway Fire" was originally intended for sale only in the subway, but the demand has been steadily catching on as well above ground. With more than 2000 copies of "Subway Fire" sold since its first printing, and CD sales growing daily, the world is discovering New York’s deepest underground musician, Citizen One.
Citizen One has been "Doing New York" since the mid-nineties and doing what many romanticize and also criticize, by simply living his art. He has become a staple of the downtown arts scene in the contexts of singer-songwriter, producer, performance artist, activist and avant-garde vocalist. He currently earns a living in revenue from CD sales, live shows, touring, projects and royalties. Gaining national exposure, several Subway Fire songs have been licensed recently to mainstream television and film. This recognition is well deserved by an artist who has remained true to his creative roots. With eight full-length CD releases and numerous collaborations and guest recordings, Citizen One’s catalog is well on its way to being deemed "significant" by those in the industry. From his earliest electro-solo work with Grammy winning producer James Nichols to his latest endeavor and collaboration with internationally acclaimed BeatBoxer Entertainment, Citizen One is one of very few artists who can consistently reach an audience with a repertoire in which two works are seldom the same.
Stay on the lookout for the next Citizen One release, "Runaway Snail" a collaboration with Danish DJ/Producer Mads Nordheim. Recorded in Copenhagen and India, this CD combines the versatile voice of Citizen One with smooth electronic world beats and Indian folk music.
