On Wednesday, June 10th IARecords hosted its eighth Next Level Competition. The Next Level is a production held twice a year for current IAR students. Student-artists submit original music to IAR staff. The top submissions are chosen to then compete live on stage at Arlene’s Grocery, a club in the East Village. IAR student-artists had the opportunity to showcase their talent and diversity in front of an overflow crowd of students, faculty, staff, family and friends. The event has grown in popularity since it’s inception in 2005. Next Level 8 had 13 acts performing, more than ever before, and, for the first time, a headlining act, Hybrid, composed of students, alumni and faculty members, Steve Eigner and Jonathan Appel. The show was also recorded live and will be released as a live album in the coming weeks. The winner of the competition, decided by audience voting, was J. Vill, who received a $1,000 gift card to Guitar Center.

The Next Level performers were:

Chanese Elife, song ‘Your Peace’, myspace.com/chaneseelife

Freekstile, song ‘Flag Island’, myspace.com/freekstiletheepikk

Ma-or featuring Trigga, song ‘No More Rain’, maor.biz

PANA!, song ‘Hijos De La Calle’, myspace.com/panamusik

The Goodfellas, song ‘On My GF Bull S**t’, myspace.com/nygoodfellas

J. Vill, song ‘Life I Live’, myspace.com/ispyjvill

Signif, song ‘Flaws’, signifthegift.com

Once Off featuring Aziz, song ‘Comin’ Around’

J. Vic featuring Rhyse, song ‘Your Da 1’, myspace.com/orfacevic

Flames-Flow featuring Princess Menen, song ‘2000 and Mine’, myspace.com/flamesflow

The Crazy Rhythm Orchestra, song ‘Soles de Coral’, myspace.com/danicorreau

Juanito Perez, song ‘Soft Porn’, juanitoperez.com

Infamus Da Emcee, song ‘Who’s Laughing Now?’, myspace.com/rgs718

Aziz featuring Patrick Lee, song ‘Pressure’, myspace.com/jerseybump