New Record Label

PALMER — Hip-Hop had a slow start in Alaska, let alone in the roaming hills of the Mat-Su Valley. This is a state with a music scene taken up mostly by folk, country and rock. In recent years though, in light of the growing Hip Hop Awards in Anchorage, it seems the winds of change are nigh, and a new freight train is streaming through with the breakout of the new record label. With Atmosphere6, local rapper and producer, Devon Shaw and his partner Derek Hensley are steering this musical / social / business venture with big goals ahead.

“Life is a series of peaks and valleys,” Shaw said. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”

This has been Shaw’s dream for ages and after his recent success in launching his own music festival, networking with local talent, and the formation of the new label, he’s just getting warmed up. As of now, he is the only rapper on the label but he and Hensley have their eyes on some candidates. Shaw said that through his label, local rappers can team up with him, combining forces to make big waves.

“Everything is progress,” Shaw said.

For now, Shaw and Hensley will use Atmosphere6 to bring a professional quality of music to the community, starting with Shaw’s own music. He recently released two singles, “Dat Boy” and “Remember Me.” Shaw has been rapping most of his life. He laid his roots in Palmer after graduating from Palmer High School.

“It’s good to have all these people behind me,” Shaw said.

Growing up in Alaska, partially the Mat-Su, Shaw was ceaselessly struck by the lack of venues for hip-hop and R&B. Drawing inspiration from his life, his struggles, his mentors — like his high school music teacher Joshua Fryfogle — he decided to be the change he wanted to see. Last year was a pivotal point in his trajectory. He successfully founded AK Rhyme Fest, a hip-hop and R&B oriented, outdoor festival. It is the first if its kind in the Valley, and Shaw said it will be an annual event each summer.

“Rhyme Fest was beautiful,” Shaw said. “That’s kind of when the spark started. I’ve been carrying that spark ever since.”

Shaw performed at his festival with his long-time group, Unite the North (UTN). He said that over the years, UTN members pushed each other to grow to the musicians that they are today. He said he would be miserable as an accountant, for instance. He’s had many jobs before but he’s convinced this path is the one he was meant to be on. He wants to take all the years he’s clocked in and use it raise his career and the movement itself to all new heights.

“I hope it inspires people,” Shaw said.

Atmosphere6 is currently equipped to accommodate solo or multiple artists in a group session. They primarily focus on EDM, Chill Downtempo, Hip Hop, Rock, and R&B, but they are able to record any genre. According to their website, “From tracking to mastering,” you’re covered.

For more information, visit www.atmosphere6.com.