Harlem has been a spot for hot new music on the rise—from the days of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington to new icons flourishing in New York City’s music hub.
One particular Filipino-American electrical engineer and musician is building a community for all walks of life—one hot Thursday night at a time.
WYNMAKESNOISE, 25, wrapped up his second residency date at The Corner Lounge Bistro on East 130th Street, with much more in store.
The venue is the same room where Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy hosts her Wednesday-night jam sessions.
WYNMAKESNOISE, also known as Wyn Avillas, ran well past schedule—the room just wouldn’t let him stop playing. Others even joined in.
“The residency is really what Harlem is all about,” Sara Alhariri, publicist and founder of talent agency Velvet Insider Entertainment said of the shows.
“It’s really a depiction of the American dream,” Alhariri added. “It’s a melting pot of musical talent.”
Music industry professionals, work colleagues, local neighbors, and a woman who journeyed all the way from Flatbush packed East Harlem’s intimate space.
Somewhere between drinks, bites, and good music, something unexpected happened—a beatboxer linked with a freestyle rapper.
Soon, the saxophonist who shared the stage with WYNMAKESNOISE at the Anderson .Paak show he opened for came through to the venue.
Filipino singers and guitarists lit up the night, intentionally creating an amalgamation of every talent in the room.
One moment in particular stood out—a Filipino folk song woven into a hip-hop verse, with a Filipino singer on the chorus and a rapper freestyling the verses.
“Just that connection, that fusion of these two communities and two cultures—it really brought a smile to my face,” WYNMAKESNOISE told Bleed Magazine.
The residency continues every Thursday at The Corner Lounge Bistro, 32 E 130th St. Entry is free and first come first served.
