Long basement nights and early finance days encapsulate the life of Brooklyn based artist Tony Thames. An impromptu Texas trip at the height of chopped and screwed’s omnipresence birthed Thames' love of music. In the sweltering Texas heat he locked himself in the garage home studio of a family friend. Enthralled with the keyboards and machines Tony created his own production language of symbols and colors. However, it wasn’t until 2008, and being gifted with a Roland Fantom-X6 keyboard, where Thames decided he would never look back. From days working at JP Morgan to nights bunkered in a basement studio, Thames created his first album, “New York Is Trying To Kill Me.” Written, produced, mixed, and mastered by Thames, the album was the culmination of endless drunken nights, the women who soundtrack them, and the pulsing heart of the city that unflinchingly swallows its own. Thames’ music continues and evolve and explore past, present and future musings. Songs like “Thirsty” are sleek, sexy bangers that cherish minimalism over all, while “It’s Alright” is a sobering reminder of the ebb and flow of life. The lyrics and stories that drive them now could only be made by an artist that has seen the never ending rise and fall of the city he loves.