Tye James and Jon Buscema (KNGDAVD) (BMI)

Abe Olman Scholarship, 2016

Singer Tye James and multi-Instrumentalist Jon Buscema draw upon a fondness for vibey, mood driven sounds, honest lyrics, and explosive pop hooks to deliver the dynamic sound of KNGDAVD. The duo met at The University of the Arts where they were studying Jazz performance, it wasn’t until reconnecting after school that they began working together.

Prior to KNGDAVD, Tye was building a following in Philadelphia, making the rounds on shows like The Voice and America’s Got Talent and while working with more RnB centric producers such as Dilemma (Jazmine Sullivan, Meek Mill) and Kwame (Missy Elliot, Christina Aguilera). Jon was producing indie bands and singer-songwriters as well as apprenticing with songwriter/producers Peter Zizzo (Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton) and Mike Mangini (Joss Stone, David Byrne). It’s the combination of these different tastes and experiences that allow KNGDAVD to seamlessly meld RnB, Indie rock, and Pop together.

Aside from the KNGDAVD Tye and Jon keep busy working in the music industry. Tye writes with various artists, producers and songwriters and does session work (you can catch him singing on Charmin’s latest ad). Jon spends his time working as a producer and mixer, developing artists and composing music for advertising. Be on the lookout for their single CIGARETTE and their upcoming debut EP.