Lady Gaga revamped pop music by blending true talent with a mystifying wardrobe. Now, the hip-hop world will get the same treatment with help from The Bundies. Comprised of the dapper duo, Pav Bundy and Jamelle Bundy, The Bundies showcased their funky and fresh tunes on October 17th at The Syndicate’s “Conflict of Interest” party for the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. Masta Ace presented the new M3 group that night. Do you need to refresh your Masta Ace memory? Well, click here and then continue reading this post.
The Masta Ace swag is instilled within The Bundies. The group may be up and coming, but both Pav and Jamelle are well-seasoned in the music industry as songwriters. Pav also produced for a slew of rising artists, while Jamelle is a vocal coach and has worked with a variety of artists, including Ashanti, Trey Songz, Eve and JaRule. Experience, check. Style, check plus.
Now let’s discuss The Bundies’ chemistry, which positively smacks you in the face the minute they grace you with their presence. Pav has a more laidback demeanor, which balances out with Jamelle’s bubbly and upbeat personality. The Bundies keep it cool, calm and collected. The same does not go for their music and that is the best part about them. The Bundies’ sound is unpredictable, which keeps the flavor of the tracks alive and running and that flavor isn’t just a single pinch; it consists of a variety of genres, including pop, rap, R&B and hip-hop.
So, Shockya readers, say hello to The Bundies and don’t worry about sending your goodbyes because the duo is here to stay. The Bundies’ debut album, which doesn’t have a release date, will further prove that.
Are you guys excited about tonight?
Pav: Absolutely.
Jamelle: Extremely excited.
Are you nervous?
P: Not really no.
J: I am as, usual. A little bit of anxiety. You know, butterflies are normal.
Do you guys have a set list for tonight?
P: Nah, we are kind of just playing our stuff tonight. Kind of like a review for us tonight. So, we are not really performing.
J: It’s a listening party. So we have some labels coming out, some majors and some execs.
Can you tell me about your debut album and what listeners can expect?
J: It’s fun. It’s exciting. It’s eclectic. There are good rhythms and melodies. It is in the vein of Black Eyed Peas, Missy, Timberland and Cee-Lo. It’s kind of crazy and kind of funky and colorful.
What’s it like working on your own original tracks as opposed to other artists’ tunes?
P: It’s pretty much the same kind of process. It all starts with a crazy idea and just putting it down, putting it down on a canvas.
J: It blossoms form there.
Do you prefer one over the other?
P: Oh yah. I mean right now I think we prefer original. We are still trying to get our sound out there and get people to hear what we are doing. Once we get a little bit more established then with features and stuff, we’ll have a little bit more fun.
J: and bring another element in.
How was it working with Masta Ace on the upcoming album?
P: Ace is cool. He gives a lot of input. [Laughter]
J: A lot of input!
P: We look to him for guidance and he is always there to steer us in the right direction.
Were you guys fans of him before?
J: He (Paris) definitely, definitely was and I became a fan, but a lot of people I grew up with, they listened to him and things like that. He’s a legend and we are just grateful that he took us on and saw something great in us. So, we are just pleased.
How did you guys first form The Bundies?
P: Well, I was looking for something to do, kind of like a single deal with a record company. I was doing traditional hip-hop, but I wanted to expand and take it somewhere else. So, we figured that if we got somebody who was more in the pop R&B element and put that together with what I had, we could make something different. We went through a couple of people and tried a couple of people out. A lot of them just weren’t right. So, we called Jamelle.
J: They called me to write for the girl who was going to become The Bundies.
P: There was never going to be The Bundies. It was just going to be me featuring whatever girl is going to be on the song and one of the guys on our team was like ‘well, Jamelle is dope. Why don’t we put you guys together and actually make a group out of this instead of just making single songs and calling it whatever. Let’s make a group of it.’ So, that’s what we did.
And the name?
P: The name came about when we were sitting in the studio one day and somebody, I don’t know if it was me or who it was, started talking about Al Bundy and The Bundies. Everybody sat back and somebody was like that would be a good name for a group. We just sat there for a minute and I was like, I like it! She (Jamelle) was like, I like it! Everybody is like, I like it!
J: ‘Cause we are kind of like cartoons come to life. It’s colorful and the whole thing is like Bundy. It’s unsual.
P: Look it up in the urban dictionary. It means…
J: Not the norm.
P: Unusual, outcasts, misfits and that’s what we are. We don’t care. We just like to do what we do and have fun with it. If everybody likes it then cool, but a lot of stuff we do it because we like it first. Whoever wants to follow us after can, but we do it to please ourselves.
Awesome. What artists have influenced you guys both individually and collectively?
J: I would say Cee-Lo and Missy definitely because she was a plus size woman and the energy and the creativity that came from her, so I am drawn to her. Who you drawn to?
P: I got a lot of older people that kind of influence and inspire me, like Donald Fagen from Steely Dan. Steely Dan is my favorite group of all time. Pink Floyd. I just listen to everything and I have been since I was young. So there are a lot of people I idolize, not only for songwriting, but for composing and arranging that are very good, like Will.I.Am . There are a lot.
Do you guys always dress similar when you are on stage?
P: We try to. [Laughter]
J: We were going through a ton of costumes. What were we looking at the other day? Some pandas?
P: There is a store right across the street from here that we were looking at.
Did you guys grow up here, in New York City?
P: For the most part, yah.
J: I am actually from Westchester. I worked with a lot of different people like Atlantic Starr and a lot of different R&B groups form there. So, I guess that’s where my R&B influence comes from and of course, my family as well. My dad sings. So, he instilled that in me.
What’s it like for you, Jamelle, coming from the background of the music scene to the forefront of it?
J: You know, I always put my all into so many different people, giving them my skill. I am a vocal coach as well. It’s like I have this within me, why not take on this artistry on my own? So, I am just glad that I did it because it is a passion of mine and that’s all I can say. I get emotional and I can’t think of the words, but this is for me!
Lastly, can you guys tell me about the forthcoming album? It isn’t titled yet, right?
J: No, it isn’t titled yet.
Do you have any ideas?
P: I do, but nobody likes what I come up with.
J: Whatever, you so silly. [Laughter]
by Lonnie Nemiroff
