21:03 is made up of three young men, each with his own unique background and story to tell, but all united around one common purpose: To carry a message of faith, hope, and optimism to an often troubled world.
While the threesome’s dazzling, frequently dizzying, vocal prowess makes them sound as if they could be brothers, singing together for a lifetime, they are in fact the end result of an exhaustive talent search on the part of the red-hot, hit-making production team, PAJAM (Paul “pda” Allen, JMoss, and Walter Kearney).
PAJAM, for the better part of the last decade, has written and produced some of the biggest artists in both secular and gospel music, including, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Price, N’SYNC, Vanessa Williams, Dru Hill ,Boyz II Men, and Reuben Stoddard. After launching the Stellar Award-sweeping, GRAMMY nominated, solo-artist career of JMoss in 2005, and four-woman, hot hit act, Ramiyah – featured in the smash film and soundtrack, “The Fighting Temptations” – the partners decided it was time to grow their vision in even greater, more exciting and challenging ways.
The name 21:03 represents the actual day – January 21, 2003 – that PAJAM resolved to take their talents to an even higher level by finding, forming and grooming a band of highly gifted vocalists who would prepare – musically and spiritually – for its own musical mission under the careful watch and guidance of PAJAM, and the team of gifted people who round out their Detroit-based production company.
Over the following six months, the PAJAM organization put a number of young talents through demanding, daily drills in every aspect of professional entertainment, including singing, choreography, and stage presence, as well as integrity and strength of character. That rigorous, uncompromising search for excellence, by the fall of 2003, yielded Evin Martin, Torrence Greene, and Jor’el Quinn, now known officially, and for the world to see and hear on their self-titled, Zomba Music Group debut, as 21:03.
Their first album with 14 songs that were written and produced by PAJAM, and 21:03’s ready-to-rock, ultra-radio-friendly sound rides on the cutting edge of the contemporary grooves that the world has come to expect from PAJAM, but all applied, sculpted and refined to fit the unique and distinctive personality of the group. Mixing and merging a wide range of musical influences, 21:03 and PAJAM deliver an album that is both as current as the evening news and familiar as a chat with a lifelong friend. With “MASS APPEAL” written in bold letters from the first downbeat to the final fade, 21:03’s message of the love, forgiveness and restoration is every bit as bold as the music that undergirds it, and speaks strong words of empowerment and inspiration.
While the album features guest performances by two big-name artists – Kierra “Kiki” Sheard on the rock-steady, hip-hop of “One Love,” and JMoss on the heart-stoppingly gorgeous ballad, “I’m Sorry” – all but a handful of the cuts offer a truly equal, even and seamless division of lead and harmony vocal trade-offs among Torrence, Jor’el and Evin, with their voices often almost interwoven as one.
Each group member has a unique story of his personal walk of faith. Evin was a classic “church boy,” immersed in the faith since infancy; Torrence walking an “on-and-off” pathway that led to his ultimate commitment to a Power much greater than his own; and Jor’el an Apollo winner as a child, came closer as he began playing piano at his church. All three were born with god-given musical gifts, and raised on diverse musical menus, running a gamut from Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Brandy, and Michael Jackson to gospel greats the Winans, Paul J. Morton, Kim Burrell, and Tonex.
With just those few basic facts established, it’s clear that the mission, purpose and philosophy 21:03 sees behind their music is a natural outgrowth of their individual and collective life experiences and influences.
“The bottom line for us is simple,” Torrence concludes. “We want to give hope to the hopeless, and life to the lifeless...and encouragement to keep going, even when the going is tough.”
The next 21:03 album is entitled; “Total Attention” is schedule to be release on July 8, 2008. This album is also produced by PAJAM. In the last year 21:03 has had the opportunity to study under PAJAM and enhance their writing skills. It has allowed the group to participate in writing on other project and now they have co-written on some of the songs for this their sophomore album. “We are very excited about being able to open up and displaying some of the words that we have in our hearts”, says Evin. The first radio single is “Cover Me” which is a heart-stirring ballad that features an all star cast, Fred Hammond, Smokie Norful, and J Moss. The internet single that is being released is an up tempo, energy drive song entitled, “You”.
Look out for this incredible wave of music that 21:03 will bring with this great album. The passion, the energy, the spirit, the love, will captivate you.
