Collector’s Edition

You might call them the modern-day Odd Couple, as D.Allen and VG bring together the best, and strangest, of different worlds with Collector’s Edition. The Georgia-based musicians have spent over a decade perfecting their individual crafts as vocalists, songwriters and instrumentalists, and now they are ready to share their gifts with the universe.

With a fusion of jazz, soul, hip hop, funk and rock, the Collector’s Edition brand of pop music is refreshing and relatable. Their new single “Strip” is an example of how their fun, creative energies create memorable, club-friendly tunes. They recently released an official video for the song, and radio promotions are in progress as the duo preps their new mixtape Transition, slated for Summer release.

The name Collector’s Edition is fitting for the group, as they showcase so many classic styles together so boldly. As a military “brat” born in Germany, clean-cut VG brings his lyrical talents to the table with a strong foundation in songwriting and playing percussion. Edgy Chicago-bred crooner D.Allen rocks the keyboards to accentuate his adept songwriting abilities.

“Our goal is to blend genres and musical time periods, giving each track a distinct finger print,” explains VG. “We are giving music back the emotion and feeling that many of the modern songs are missing. We want to reconnect with music fans.”

With timeless influences that range from Theloneous Monk, Prince and Parliament to Queen, A Tribe Called Quest, Depeche Mode and Steely Dan; Collector’s Edition equally appreciates today’s popular artists like Ludacris, Common, The Roots and Kanye West. The Collector’s Edition sound has been compared to the likes of Outkast, Gnarles Barkley and N.E.R.D., the latter often said about the Wally West-produced “Strip” single. Rightfully so, as the song was directly influenced by N.E.R.D.’s “Tape You.”

“We speak for the new generation of listeners,” explains VG, “those who refuse to follow the stereotypes of who, or what one must listen to. The people who want to experience life and other cultures and ideas, without the restrictions of ‘you are (your race here) and that’s not sometime that (your race here) people do.’”

The men of Collector’s Edition want to be accepted as real musicians, and initially balked at the thought of doing a street mixtape. Eventually, however, they realized the positive effects of allowing fans to hear them over industry beats as an introduction. “We want to show our versatility and conceptuality on the records,” says D.Allen. “It will be our way to showcase a range and style of music that people can appreciate and embrace, and it will be a prelude of what to expect on our first official album.”

As their career as a group progresses, D.Allen and VG have their sights firmly set on connecting with fans around the country, and hope that the Collector’s Edition sound and style will be well-received.

“I want all our fans and future fans to know that as a group and individually we go through life like everybody else, and we express that through our music,” D.Allen says. “We want people to play our record if they’re going through some kind of hardship or just wanting to have fun. I think of Collector’s Edition as a ‘People Group.’”

Both VG and D.Allen express the desire to support philanthropic efforts in their career, particularly working with children in music programs. They also hope to begin scoring motion pictures and television shows amongst other things, and in the past year their work with manager Al Bleezy has brought on some promising opportunities.

“I believe if we continue to work hard and make strategic choices suitable for the group, Collector’s Edition will become one the premiere groups of the 21st century,” asserts D.Allen. “One thing that Al told me is, ‘if you think big, you get big results.’ Some people think that’s pretty ambitious, but I strongly believe that it is possible.”

For interviews and press information, contact dove@tygereye.net