Shinobi Ninja: Eclectic Musical Warriors Pool Their Talents

September 10, 2017 by David K. Moseder

Shinobi Ninja In The Oval Office / photo by Al Pereira

Duke Sims of Shinobi Ninja tells Brooklyn Roads that he never made a conscious decision to play music for a living; rather, “It’s the journey,” he says. “I always followed the path and followed the joy and the party.”

Helping the Bensonhurst native on that journey was Z100. He grew up listening to that station back when New York radio was a little less segmented. “They played such various music during that time — Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Tracy Chapman, KRS One, Wu-Tang Clan, Ace of Base, Boyz II Men, 80s metal, grunge and much more,” he says. “It made me a person who doesn’t really vibe with genre as much as I vibe with great melodies, artistry and creativity.”

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Shinobi Ninja At A Diner / photo by Al Pereira

While Sims may be the spokesperson for Shinobi Ninja, he’s quick to point out to Brooklyn Roads that the group’s latest album, Bless Up, like all of their endeavors over the past nine years, is truly a collaborative effort. Sims shares vocals with Baby G and guitar duties with Kid Shreddi, complemented by bassist Alien Lex, drummer Terminator Dave, and DJ Axis Powers on turntables.

“Any music we make as a collective is coming from so many pools of water. Bless Up is that ocean of love,” he says. A bigger pool, a borough-sized one, also contributes to their creative process.

Shinobi Ninja Explore The Subway / Photo by Sergmatik / courtesy of Shinobi Ninja

“Brooklyn is all people…from everywhere,” Sims tells us. “Brooklyn is diversity and so is our music. They are one and the same.” Not surprisingly, Shinobi Ninja’s favorite venue is right here in our borough – namely, Brooklyn Bowl, where they’ll be playing their eclectic brand of music on Sept. 13. “We love rocking Brooklyn Bowl. We love to bowl and rock,” he says emphatically.

Beyond Brooklyn, there here are some high-profile creative people with whom Sims would like to collaborate. Working with uber-producer Rick Rubin is high on that list and he’d also love to hear one of his songs covered by Rihanna, Beyoncé or Metallica. Not a bad pool of folks to welcome into your ocean.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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