We had the good fortune of connecting with Norman Edwards Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Norman, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

I was surrounded by the arts as a young child. My Father is a drummer with musical siblings, and he is my first drum teacher. His Mom was a concert pianist who went to Julliard.
My mother and grandmother always had different styles of music playing during chores, while grandfather had Miles Davis and John Coltrane on repeat.
In that environment, music became second nature. From an early age I saw how music affected people. They were happy, calm, uplifted, and ready to take on the day. Deep rhythms and relatable melodies makes life better. I knew this was my calling, and I created SpinKicK using that formula.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

SpinKicK’s goal is to bring exciting music and entertainment to the audience. The name comes from spinning melodies and kicking grooves. We released our first album “The Power Within” last year. I composed the music and had collaborations on certain songs. We received crowdfunding help to finish the record and we are so grateful to our donors. Our album release show was sold out and it was the product of grinding, playing small gigs, making connections and hustling.
It wasn’t easy. I had to move back home after college to save money, and refine my craft. Taking the Long Island Railroad into the city for gigs and private lessons was my hustle.
When I moved back to the city, I began conducting percussion ensembles as a teaching artist through Arts Connection and playing better gigs as a sideman. SpinKicK was born through like minded individuals from college and on the music scene.
The lessons I learned along the way is do not procrastinate. Someone else is out there working hard for the same goal. You have to fight if you want your dreams to come true. There are many musicians, it’s important to stand out among the rest. Stay humble, but be confident in your brand and abilities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

My itinerary for a great time in NYC would be:
Duet Karaoke on West 53rd and 8th Avenue. It’s my favorite Karaoke spot! They have songs in both English and Japanese, the drinks are well priced and you can bring/order your own food. The rooms are spacious and its great for a small or large hang.
Hudson Yards Spanish Market: West 34th and 11th. All of Hudson Yards is amazing. They have many shops and restaurants but the Spanish market is so great. Mercado Little Spain has the best tapas in NYC! They also have amazing Sangria!
Little Island is a magical Island with a lot to do nearby on the West side Highway. Their Food Court Market 57 has a variety of healthy and not so healthy items to choose from. There is an amphitheater on the water, giant bells that play with your feet, beautiful landscapes and its free to get in. It makes for a great day hang.
Central Park will always be great in NYC. The park spans from 59th Street up til 110th in Harlem and never stops being beautiful. The high top rocks for climbing, horse carriages, scenic places from movies, and the people make it the place to be.
Dizzys Club is an amazing Jazz venue that I have had the pleasure of performing in many times. The glass background on the stage looks amazing from the audience or as a performer. The food is soulful and delicious and the cocktails are clever. The talent on stage is electric with current stars mingle with legends.
Smoke Jazz Club is another Harlem Jazz venue on West 107th and Broadway. They recently renovated the club and more spacious now. The food is delicious with highlights like Chicken and Waffles. The music is always swinging here with Jazz legends frequently playing there.
Bobs Your Uncle is an amazing bar that’s in Harlem on West 107th and Columbus Avenue. It’s a nice place with amazing drinks, chill vibes and shuffle board! Yes I know, sounds crazy, but shuffle board is the truth! Hours were lost and victories were gained with beer in hand. Also, it’s not crowded on weekdays!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I want to shoutout my parents who supported my drum practice, and piano lessons. To my Grandparents who never questioned my goals to bring people joy. To my siblings for learning how to share together. To my cousins who knew how to party since cookouts. To my uncles and aunts for inspiration. To my Teachers who pushed me to see what’s important in my career. To my partner, her support and strength keeps me grounded daily. To my friends who helped me with business, laughter and the production side of music.
Artists practice alone sometimes, but music is better with everyone. I feel the same way when you look to growth. We can get there alone, but it’s more fun with people along the way.

Website: www.normanedwardsjr.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normanedwardsdrums?igsh=MWlpZDV2eTE4ZXFiMQ==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norman.p.edwards?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@funkflash?si=gq1c1oSgxSPVI-Vl

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@normebeats?_t=8jLMzdOOEzD&_r=1

Image Credits
Ernest Gregory Ayane Sakamoto Ken Kubota Andrew Bordeaux

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.