If you haven’t heard of the NY-Boston based duo Timeflies yet, this isn’t going to be the first and last time you hear of them, and trust me you’re going to want know and hear more. There are many reasons why this duo will soon become a household name, and are much better than half the bands out there today. Their originality and talent has proved that with skill and motivation you can gain a heavy fan base that will help you rise to the top.
Let’s start from the beginning:
The duo comprised of Cal Shapiro, 23, and Rob ‘Rez’ Resnick, 24, are one of the most original Youtube sensations. With the popularity and fan base they gained on the site, they have delivered almost every week for the past three years, performing on such a large scale for fans that can’t get enough. According to Billboard, the boys met at a college frat party and quickly became friends. Initially, they performed together in a funk band, The Ride, and that made them realize they had different skills and musical aspirations from other members of that group, so they joined up and formed Timeflies. And thank God they did! You see, Rez is a producer and a self-proclaimed “fat beat maker.” His beats and sounds are by far the sickest and most original stuff you’ll hear. Cal has a lovely voice but also has a talent for free-styling. Together they have incorporated elements of pop, dubstep, electro, and hip-hop, and have created musical fire.
The sensation caught on when the duo released free-styles and songs on their Youtube channels that quickly garnered the attention of millions of viewers. Here’s one of their very first free-styles of "Wayward Son":
Most of their recording was done in a living room and bedroom setting, but nonetheless sounded amazing. For fans of Macklemore, Mac Miller, Hoodie Allen, and Sammy Adams, every Tuesday the duo released covers called “Timeflies Tuesday” and freestyles of music that, respectively, sounded better than the originals. They released singles, “Lose My Mind” and “Stunner,” and from that success went on to release an album, The Scotch Tape, named after their love of scotch. Unsigned, it still reached number 4 on the “Billboard Heat-seekers” and made the Top 40 on US Indie Chart. Again, this was only the beginning. It also rose to #8 on the iTunes overall chart and #2 on the iTunes Pop chart within 24 hours of its release. They continued to post songs on their Youtube channel and started performing and touring at colleges and venues across the US.
The boys told Vanity Fair that “the Internet is a great place for music, and it’s really awesome that we’ve been so successful at it. We give everything out for free . . .” as Rez emphasized, “At this point it’s not about revenue,” and Cal added, “If we build it, then the success will come. But there’s no reason to rush that.”
What’s more awesome than free music? It really shows how humble the band is and that they are in it for the love of music and to make their fans happy. The boys even include concert footage and fans in their "Timeflies Tuesday" music videos!
They worked and released a mix-tape called Under the Influence in 2012. Later they released their first EP, One Night. Within 24 hours of its release, it reached #2 on the overall iTunes chart and was #1 on the iTunes Pop chart. The EP also debuted on the Billboard 200 at #27. The song “One Night” climbed to #84 on the iTunes Pop charts and "Swoon" debuted at #45 on the Billboard Rap Digital Songs. From here they’ve been bound for success.
They also were recently named MTV’s and Billboard’s Artist to watch in 2013. Their debut single “I Choose U” was released digitally on April 1st, 2013, and can be heard on radio stations across the US and is available on iTunes. The single was also remixed by renowned DJ Fedde Le Grand. The duo announced that they have created their own Label Forty8Fifty and they’ve partnered with Island Def Jam Music Group. Cal and Rez told fans via Facebook that their next full-length album will be released by Island Def Jam in 2013 and that they are that they are planning a European tour very soon via Twitter. This past month they performed on the Jay Leno Show and also appeared on Kathy Lee and Hoda. Check out their single and music video for “I Choose U” below, and another stunner,"Call Me Maybe" that really shows how versatile and diverse they are. They really take you through a journey with their music. Warning: There is a high chance you will become obsessed.