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New York, NY

Sozo Artists Expands Roster to Include Lil Buck and Bandaloop

by April Thibeault
August 12, 2014
New York, NY
Sozo Media, a leading international performing arts consultancy, today announced its expansion plans to provide a comprehensive platform for artists. The newly formed boutique agency, SOZO ARTISTS, INC., augments Sozo Media's long tradition of managing the careers of the world's most prominent performing artists and institutions with Booking, Marketing, PR Consultation and Tour Management all under one roof.

In recognition of the diversity of its artists and of previously untapped opportunities to reach new audiences worldwide, SOZO ARTISTS extends beyond convention to fill a vacancy in the ever-evolving cultural marketplace. While providing a full range of services SOZO will also extend its artists' reach and connection to social entrepreneurs and like minded corporations. "This is a natural evolution," explains Rika Iino, President and Founder of SOZO ARTISTS. "We wanted to design a company that reflects the changes in how audiences connect with artists and recognize themselves through their art. Sozo artists and organizations will now be empowered to maximize the resources, the tools, concepts and intrinsic knowledge our company embodies throughout all stages of career from inception to mastery."

With the philosophies and practices she honed at Sozo Media, Iino continues the company legacy of discovery and innovative development for the next generation artist with global reach, a deep commitment to arts advocacy, and a seamless connection to the worlds of advertising, design, technology and other industries. Musical America notes that, "it is clear that her [Iino's] broad range of skills and uncanny intuition for emerging artistic trends allows a partnership [with her clients] that is quite different from the traditional manager/artist relationship."

SOZO ARTISTS's carefully curated roster features contemporary artists representing a wide range of genres, including multimedia artist/writer Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky, composer/musician Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), sound artist/2014 TED Fellow Bora Yoon, arts activist/spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph, the pioneers of vertical dance BANDALOOP, dancer/choreographer/inventor Huang Yi, Memphis jookin sensation Lil Buck, cellist Ashley Bathgate, Haitian songstress Emeline Michel and pianist Anthony de Mare's The LIAISONS Project. From its bicoastal offices in New York City, New York, and Oakland, California, SOZO ARTISTS offers management, booking, marketing and public relations, social media, community outreach and residency planning.

Taking the helm of the firm's booking department is Ichun Yeh, serving as the liaison between the artist roster and presenter. Yeh brings her international musical upbringing and her tenure at cultivating contemporary performing arts to SOZO ARTISTS. While working at H-Art Management, she managed internationally acclaimed organizations including Batsheva Dance Company (Israel), Shen Wei Dance Arts (USA), Stephen Petronio Company (USA), Lucy Guerin Inc (Australia), Social Tango (Argentina), among others. "It's thrilling to join with Rika and her Sozo team," says Ichun Yeh. "We share the same passion for superior artistic productions and dialogues that bring cultures and communities together."

SOZO ARTISTS's core team is comprised of: President Rika Iino, Vice President and Director of Booking Ichun Yeh, Director of Public Relations April Thibeault, Producer/Tour Manager Annie March, Producer/Digital Media and Content Manager Melissa Higgins, and Director of Education and Artistpreneurship Program, Daniel Bernard Roumain.

About SOZO ARTISTS

Sozo Artists, Inc., is an international performing arts agency representing a boutique roster of dynamic, multi-cultural artists and organizations. "Sozo" – Japanese for imagine and create – identifies and develops artists and projects conveying an uncommon style – those that challenge convention and cross artistic and cultural boundaries. Sozo enables clients and partners to envision and activate the stories that affirm and enrich our lives, and connect and transform communities through live arts. For more information, please visit SOZOARTISTS.com.

Photo © & courtesy of April Thibeault


Photo © & courtesy of April Thibeault

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