Join Steve Yusko as he explores the music of the band, Non Stop to Cairo with Nick Diamond and August "Ash" Harris. They discuss their new release KAI, a tribute to their late band member and collaborator Kevin Anand Itwaru. We discuss their music and the artists who influenced the band. I was impressed with their candid approach. Nonstop to Cairo is a genre-bending Long Island troupe born out of a friendship and creative partnership that started nearly two decades ago. Frontman August "Ash" Harris met guitarist Nick Diamond when they were both just teenagers. That chance encounter spawned a musical partnership that continues today.

A long list of collaborators have helped Harris and Diamond realize their multicultural vision over the years. The band made its professional recording debut in 2017 with the album “Dabble Heavy.” That record introduced an eclectic ensemble mixing elements of rock, ska, jazz, hip-hop, funk and punk into a distinctly unique vibe.

Since that debut the band has dropped a handful of singles and toured incessantly. Now they are readying the release of their sophomore full-length album KAI. The band’s trumpet player/keyboardist Kevin Anand Itwaru tragically passed away soon after completing recording. The album’s title (his initials) is a tribute to the musician. However, KAI is no lament. It is a celebration of life.

“Million Dollar Space” is the debut single from KAI, with a brand new video released worldwide via YouTube on July 7, 2022. The track rolls on a chill mid-tempo groove. As Harris drops a chill freestyle about the almighty dollar, a guitar, bass, drums and trumpet ensemble lay down jazz riffs, alt/rock power chords and solid funk vibe.

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💜 AboutThe Long Island Sound Podcast. The discovery of original music begins here as we endeavor to discover great music from various genre, from Alt-Country,Rockabilly, R&B, Rock-N-Roll, the Blues, Hip Hop, Pop, Folk, Bluegrass, Punk, Post-Punk, Heavy Metal, Folk and Americana.  We take a deeper dive into the stories and background of the artist to learn what motivates them to entertain, compose music and write songs.  We pull back thecurtain on the music industry and speak to promoters, production engineer and those working the home studio. On “The Long Island Sound” you’ll learn the ins and outs of the music business from artists with New York roots and those spread around this great world.

Their upcoming LP KAI is named as a tribute to the band’s trumpet player/keyboardist Kevin Anand Itwaru, whose initials makeup the album title. Itwaru passed away tragically just before KAI was recorded; and while the music was deepened by their grief, it’s also a celebrationof life. "Our sophomore album KAI is a celebration of life, dedicated to our friend, brother, and former member Kevin Anand Itwaru whopassed away in 2020. The project is a great portrayal of the vision we created with him, as our sound is ever-evolving. KAI is about the ups and downs oflife, music, loss, and the connection needed to persevere, shares guitarist Diamond.