“One of the 8 hottest Unsigned Acts in the Country!” –Blender Magazine
“40 Watt Hype is an eight piece Latin group that has no trouble packing the house every gig.”- Esquire Magazine
“…..it’s not surprising the vocals here are on point with the music, riding catchy hooks and then splitting verses that are inherently synchronized with the feel of the rhythm. The recording and production here are dead on as well, creating the vibe of a live show where every hand in the place is in the air.” CDBaby.com
“….an ambitious gem of an album that covers hip-hop, R & B, Latin and Jazz. The talent shows through everywhere; the sense of inspiration witnessed in the horn section alone is a review in itself.” – MusesMuse.com
“When you hear 40 Watt Hype’s Strong Feet on the Concrete, you might wonder, “Is there anything this band can’t do?” You wouldn’t be the only one…..Like The Roots , 40 Watt Hype’s musical ingenuity is backed by content and message.” –Pop Matters
Past performances include - Ludacris, The Roots, Ozomatli, Sundance Film Festival, San Francisco 49er home games
Television - Escandalo TV, Azteca Musica, Fanaticks (Canadian TV)
Film - "The Grind", "My Life", "Black Cobra",
In the center of California, a culture that is the underbelly of LA and San Francisco. From the bass bumping out of the ’84 Cutlass to the backyard fiestas, the music of 40 Watt Hype is created—live Hip Hop cultivated from the seeds of a favorite dusty Soul record with a Latin b side.
Born and influenced by the streets of Fresno, 40 Watt Hype started (out of necessity) at a backyard party by front man Aaron Wall and as soon as the music started, the people danced and embraced this new sound. Wall—songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer—a second generation Dutchman from Holland, grew up listening to a multitude of styles and forms of music, from R&B to Hip Hop to Latin. When you hear and see Wall perform, you can feel the love and influence of the environment he is the product of, breaking stereotypes, as he states, "nothing turns heads quicker than seeing a white boy sing and rhyme in Spanish." As a kid in Eastside Fresno, he learned to speak Spanish from hearing it throughout the neighborhood and from kids at school, and during high school in Fresno’s urban Westside, R&B and Hip Hop further impacted itself on his musical journey.
40 Watt Hype has branched out of the San Joaquin Valley, touring all over the United States, from LA to Miami, having performed with The Roots, Ludacris and Ozomatli; have appeared on International television in both English and Spanish; been featured in major motion pictures and television networks including ABC and FOX; and have worked with Grammy Award Winning producer, Art Hodge.
With the new album, "Push", 40 Watt Hype blends equal parts rhythms and blues of Anthony Hamilton, evident in "Wannabe"; the hip hop ear of Mos Def as heard in "Echoes Through the Ghetto"; and the Latin touch of the Calle 13 in "Mas y Mas"—creating a kind of music that crosses genres and can’t be pigeonholed. Lyrically, the focus on optimism and hope "Only the Strong Survive" personifies the never-say-die attitude the band has maintained since its inception.
versatile, genre bending sound with a cast of stellar musicians. These artists have studied and performed in New York, Boston and Japan. On drums, Sean Alderette plays with the soulful touch of Clyde Stubblefield and the power of the classic break beat; on bass, Pat Olvera lays down gut-busting grooves on the low end; on percussion, Jared Dyar mixes sounds and textures which enhance to the distinct flavor rounded out by guitars, keys and horns.
