Dan Cable Presents: Sumalienz Live at The Secret Society [Video Premiere]

Bryson, The Alien rocking the final day of PDX Pop Now! at AudioCinema on July 23—click to see more photos by Veronica RoseAt the core of Sumalienz are three talented individuals who cultivate a fresh take on hip-hop while simultaneously producing sounds and feels that are reminiscent of Wu-Tang Clan, The Fugees and other ‘90s East Coast hip-hop artists.

Bryson, The Alien came to his new home base of Portland two years ago. Here, he crossed paths with Mai Mae of local electropop band Fringe Class. The two grew fond of one another's creative styles and began collaborating soon thereafter. Mai Mae’s soulful and powerful voice is the perfect compliment for Bryson’s rhyming style and clever wordplay.

The third piece to the Sumalienz puzzle is DJ and producer SHK THT—chopping up samples, inserting the rhythms, and creating pockets for Bryson and Mai Mae to demonstrate their talents.

Although Sumalienz is often performing songs from Bryson or Mai Mae’s individual projects, each song seems as if it was written for the group. Together, they put on the type of performance that gets the audience moving and makes it hard for the fellow musicians in the room to not recognize that something special is happening on stage.

Check out the video for “Whispering Palms" and "Dice Game” below, and get more Dan Cable Presents every Friday by subscribing via iTunes. And catch Bryson, The Alien at Hungry Hungry Hip Hop at Mississippi Pizza on Thursday, August 31.