22 February - 8 March 2025 — Paine the Poet’s “MONSTER”, featuring ArinMaya & Edson Sean
From 22 February — 8 March 2025, at Madhura Studios in Brooklyn, NY, Paine the Poet will make his debut as bandleader of The PAINE Band: ArinMaya, Denny Jackson, Edson Sean & Paine the Poet.
“MONSTER” is an evening-length immersion into the spoken word — breathing song into the story of Paine the Poet’s process of self-discovery.
Through site-responsive live musical theater, The PAINE Band will work in concert with the iconic Madhura project spaces to bring Paine’s hopes for the future to light.
“MONSTER” ~ SHOWTIMES
premiere presented by JusticeAid
7.30p 22 February ~ TICKETS
4.30p 23 February ~ TICKETS
7.30p 28 February ~ TICKETS
7.30p 1 March ~ TICKETS
4.30p 2 March ~ TICKETS
7.30p 7 March ~ TICKETS
7.30p 8 March ~ TICKETS
Ticket availability is extremely limited for this immersive experience
Paine the Poet — Bandleader
Actor, activist, and poet Kristofer Sykes, also known as Paine the Poet, is on a mission to inspire others through his words and bring light to our flawed justice system. Formerly incarcerated, Sykes got his start performing poetry at open mics in the Washington D.C. area to heal from his past.
His performances gained him recognition, and he began making acting appearances. He most recently played Jalal Mahad in American Skin (2021), a film that follows a war veteran who seeks justice for the murder of his son.
Sykes was previously working as a teaching artist with an organization called Split the Rock where the collective would perform at various events in the D.C. area. Through this opportunity, the poet could headline at the National Gallery of Art Museum in D.C. With over 1,800 people in attendance, he presented an original piece before Congress about the issues of mass incarceration and the impact on the community.
On March 18th, Sykes performed in New York, NY, presenting an original poetry piece for the civil rights organization JusticeAid’s “Voices to Protect the Vote” concert series. In New York City, he performed for the Jewish Council of Public Affairs on CSPAN News.
Sykes states that his love of work comes from showcasing art and characters that people can identify with. He appreciates sharing stories and connecting with people through his art. In his work, he strives to creatively express his experience in the criminal system and inspire others through his storytelling.
Although he is most prominently known for his acting and poetry, Sykes also creatively expresses himself through writing. Most notably, he wrote and starred in a production for the NFL Honors Awards on CBS Network, in Atlanta, Georgia. The artist also takes part in various workshops, after-school youth programs, and panel discussions focused on topics such as mass incarceration, prison reform, social justice, disenfranchisement, and education.
ArinMaya — Lead Vocals
ArinMaya is an inspirational genre-bending singer, songwriter, sound healer and activist, described by Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Gregory Porter as having “a unique and ancient sound.”
ArinMaya has performed on the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, on NBC's Saturday Night Live, and has shared the stage with countless artists including Angelique Kidjo, Post Malone, Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes), Deva Mahal, Carly Simon, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Nathaniel Rateliff, Akua Naru, Mumu Fresh and the legendary Stretch + Bobbito. She is also a dedicated activist, lending her voice to numerous causes in support of equality and human rights. She has sung for incarcerated youth at Rikers Island, at teach-ins, street protests, benefit performances and social justice events. She is a founding member, arranger, community manager and musical director with the Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of over 60 women and non binary artists and activists.
Though she's been lovingly called "the Mayor of Brooklyn," ArinMaya originally hails from Chicago’s South Side where her artistic training began with studies in West African dance and rhythms, and continued in numerous church and community choirs. At home, her love of music was fostered by her parents’ diverse record collection, which included Bobby McFerrin, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Sweet Honey in the Rock and Paul Simon, among others.
Following studies as an English major and graduating with honors from Howard and Stanford Universities, ArinMaya came to New York to pursue a career in book publishing but quickly realized that her heart and life belonged to the creative arts. Taking a leap, Arin took a self-ordained sabbatical to Paris for creative clarity and inspiration, then returned to the states resolved to become a full-fledged artist, no matter the costs.
After years of playing at legendary mainstays around New York City and recording her first full length jazz/acoustic soul album, ArinMaya continued to expand her creative range, studying circlesinging and improvisation with Bobby McFerrin and traditional black music with Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock. Inspired by these experiences and an Integrative Sound and Music Practitioner Training at the New York Open Center, ArinMaya created Meditation Moments: free community sound healing offerings intended to help people in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also founded A Sound Practice: a wellness agency dedicated to spreading the joys of sound healing and mindfulness to new and uncommon spaces.
ArinMaya’s solo performances are joy-filled, healing experiences that captivate audiences at intimate venues around the world, including: Blue Note Jazz Club (New York, Paris), The Kennedy Center, Harlem Stage, Ananda Ashram, National Sawdust, Sofar Sounds, Porgy & Bess (Austria) and Badehaus (Berlin). Her music has been featured in productions such as Issa Rae’s award-winning web series "Giants" and on Spotify’s Cosmic Playlist curated by Chani Nicholas.
With five EPs and one album to her credit, ArinMaya is focused on completing her 2nd full length album, “Afro Ratchet Soul.” When she’s not performing, she’s facilitating sound baths, writing, recording, crafting, and mothering her newest creation—her three-year-old daughter, Ayanna.
Denny Jackson — Backup Vocals
R&B artist Denny Jackson was born Shantel Latoya (named for Latoya Jackson) Denise Jackson in Brooklyn, New York. Denny's musical talent began to show when she was just three years old. With blues and gospel-influences, Denny developed her vocal range singing in off Broadway plays and choir and began song writing in her early teens. By age 17, after being given a Billie Holiday cd, Denny was won over by jazz standards as they were sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé and other greats. Stevie Wonder, gospel legends The Clark Sisters and Yolanda Adams, Whitney Houston, Donny Hathaway, were all her inspirations as were Notorious BIG, Jay-Z, Wu Tang and Nas. She took all of those different genres of music and rolled them all into one, to create a style all her own.
She attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia where she sang in the concert choir, gospel choir and began to perform as background for several local artists as well as some of her R&B influences such as Nikki Gilbert of Brownstone, Coko of SWV and Latoscha Scott of Xscape.
Upon her return to New York, Denny got together with childhood friend and producer of 50 Cents “Window Shopper”, Sire and Vice Verse Records Chris Rel and solidified a formidable friendship and powerhouse musical team that encouraged and nurtured her musical vision and identity. Their chemistry proved to be ideal when chosen to travel to Eastern Asia as “Ambassadors of American Music” in 2007. In 2009 Denny was again chosen along with Chris Rel, Edson Sean and D.J PrettyNyce to travel to 6 countries all in West Africa to spread the news of timeless music in America.
With countless achievements all around the world Denny is still as humble and real as they come. “I don't lose myself in trying to please the people. I do me! The people just happen to love it because it's true. I will continue to use my voice to evoke feelings, opinions, thoughts, imaginations and dreams. I will remain an inspiration, an aspiration and everything in between”. Committed to excellence, Jackson vows that any future projects will be a culmination of her world travels and personal experiences.
Edson Sean — Composer + Lead Guitar
Edson Sean is a singer songwriter born and raised in Brooklyn and heavily influenced by legends such as Stevie Wonder, Black Thought, Big Daddy Kane and Donny Hathaway. He combines a knack for storytelling with masterfully created melodies to capture the minds and hearts of diverse audiences every time he takes the stage. In addition to being a show stopping solo act, Edson Sean is also a producer, composer, sound engineer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, playing keys, bass, and guitar. Soulful jazz, Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeat and Reggae are only some of the genres that inspire his uniquely developed sound. Edson Sean has travelled to West Africa with Jazz at Lincoln Center, toured with The Experi3nce, collaborated with Grammy Award winning producer Diamond D, Hip Hop legends David Banner and Redman, and had his own single, "Shine Bright" considered for Grammy nomination in 4 categories. His latest single, "Love Is" is quickly being called a timeless piece soon to be heard at many a wedding. He is a strong believer in building community and bridging cultural and generational gaps through music.
Brooklyn-born singer, songwriter, emcee, engineer and multi-instrumentalist Edson Sean is a musical anomaly. He takes his scientific brain and fearless heart, wraps it around lush melodies and polyrhythmic beats and produces relatable content for diverse audiences around the world. Heavily influenced by legends such as Stevie Wonder, Black Thought, Big Daddy Kane and Donny Hathaway, Edson is carving out his own lane in the vast landscape of music. An energetic and lively performer, Edson Sean has traveled to West Africa with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rhythm Road, produced award-winning songs, and even had had his own single, "Shine Bright" considered for Grammy nomination in 4 categories. A skilled listener and sound artist, Edson has worked with celebrated artists like John Robinson, ArinMaya, Eddie Bellas and Ayoinmotion, to create timeless music across several genres.
His most recent accolades include writing and singing the hook on “Bodied" featuring David Banner and Big Rec, and produced by Grammy-winning producer Diamond D. He’s also a member of the M-19’s band, created for Stretch and Bobbito’s newest project No Requests. His latest release “Love Me Still” featuring Hip-Hop legend Redman, received over 30k streams in its first week. The song is being coined as the break-up song of the year by listeners across the globe. Edson Sean has released one full length album, “Pursuit Of Magic" and several singles. His latest release, "Relax. Relate. Release." is an EP inspired by the many emotions experienced during the quarantine and explores healthy coping mechanisms during tomes of mental distress. He has shared the stage with Grammy nominated artists Aloe Blacc, Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh, world renowned DJ Rich Medina and Natie (Beyonce Homecoming violinist), and has performed at venues large and small, including The Kennedy Center, The Gramercy Theatre, The Highline Ballroom, Chelsea Music Hall and Austria’s Porgy and Bess. Before anything else, Edson Sean is a community man who is dedicated to improving men’s mental and emotional health and the black community’s well being. He aims to achieve genuine connections with his listeners while sharing messages of love and vulnerability.
Dexter Birk — Piano
Pianist, Organist and Producer DEXTER Birk has begun to make his mark on the NYC jazz scene as performer and music director. Originally from Chicago, Dexter began his career participating in countless regional and national jazz ensembles, and is currently under the tutelage of Jeremy Manasia and John Benitez at the Manhattan School of Music. Having received a scholarship to study in NYC, Dexter is now performing and recording regularly with notable artists such as saxophonist Bernell Jones II and vocalists Nali, Jordan Curls, Rapper Kaicrewsade and more. Most recently Dexter was a featured solo performer at the Millennium Park Stage for the Chicago Jazz Festival in a tribute to legends of jazz that passed away in 2023. Other performers sharing the stage were Kenny Garrett, Billy Hart and Kris Davis. DEXTER is set to release his debut single "Moonbeams", a project featuring Sarahfina Osei on vocals this year.