Biography

Casey (stutzmcgee) Benjamin & Nicky (Ampersand Jones) Guiland = HEAVy, a mind boggling mix of rock, soul and pop chock full of quirk and irony that is uniquely their own.

The Jamaica Queens, NY natives carry on the “power-duo” tradition of singer and producer, pulling influences from across the spectrum, Herbie Hancock, Rotary Connection, The Police, Prince to name a few.

Nicky, half Trini - half Jamaican, was born on stage. After years of dance training in local and professional programs, she grew tired of the restrictive discipline and at age 12 showed promise with vocal arts. Casey, Grenadian/ Panamanian, grew up with music all around. His fathers extensive record collection encouraged Casey’s musical aptitude and by age 8 the self taught pianist found himself in love with the saxophone. His high school years would prove to be both promising and heartbreaking when his band, Legacy, signed to Uptown Records, only later to be shelved by parent company MCA after Uptown folded. Their shared love for jazz and similar cultural backgrounds brought the two together in their senior year at New York’s infamous Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts. After a semester of collaborations and performances the two both accepted scholarships to New School University’s Jazz program, but it wasn’t until Nicky’s senior recital that they would collaborate again. By May of 2001, Casey had left The New School to begin regular touring with DJ Logic/Project Logic to MD the run and solidify his brand as a Saxophonist/Keyboardist/Vocoder player. Nicky knew she needed a musical director who could handle a diverse setlist. After a successful show, they knew they were onto something and HEAVy was born, named after the comments they’d received about their new sound.

Since then, HEAVy has released one EP, 2004’s HEAVY on Kindred Spirits Records, featuring the critically acclaimed “Wonderlove (for minnie)”, HEAVY Remixed with work by Jazzanova and Dj Spinna and two full albums, the 2007 BBE Records release JAzzmonEY$$ and most recently in 2009 HEAVy First Sessions on Kindred Spirits Records, a lost session recorded in 2001 showcasing the roots of this eclectic group.

HEAVy has toured Europe extensively opening for N.E.R.D, Jill Scott and Q-Tip.