Today, legendary funk musician Bootsy Collins releases a new single dripping with funk and whimsy, “The Influencers,” featuring Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. Listen to the single here, released today via Bootzilla Records.
Bootsy Collins says, “I am an influencer, you are an influencer. Together we influence change within our journey through life. So hold on tight, cause we will be funkin’ through the rest of the night.”
The new single, “The Influencers,” is a taste of what Bootsy Collins has been cooking up in his Cincinnati studio for the past year. Featuring icons including Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and musician Dave Stewart (The Eurythmics), all of whom Bootsy has collaborated with over the years, the single is a bold sonic display of the 73-year old funk legend’s unwavering and prolific creativity that has only grown in recent years. Also featured on the track are Bootzilla Records emerging artists Fantaazma and Westcoast Stone.
Bootsy drops this delicious funky gem amidst a whirlwind of appearances at SXSW 2024, including tonight (March 15), Funk Not Fight Austin Rally 4 Peace and performance at Lady Bird Stage, where Bootsy will take the stage alongside legendary Ohio funk band Zapp. Further details here:
Friday March 15th
Funk Not Fight Austin Rally 4 Peace
Venue: Lady Bird Stage
3-4pm Welcome to Funk Not Fight Austin Rally 4 Peace
Opening Acts & DJ
4pm Zapp Featuring Bootsy Collins
5:30- 5:50 Funk Not Fight Austin 4 Peace
Round Table
Funk Not Fight Austin Rally 4 Peace
5:50-7 Bootzilla Records Showcase:
Henry Invisible
West Coast Stone
Myra Washington
Young James Brown
Fantaazma
Saturday March 16th
Peppermint Patti Super Hero
Venue: Lady Bird Lake
4.30pm
Pourri's Funk Factory Experience presented by Rolling Stone
Venue: Speakeasy - 412 Congress Avenue #D Austin, TX 7870
8:45pm
Funk Not Fight
While Bootsy has been working diligently in his studio, he’s also been maintaining momentum on his initiative Funk Not Fight, creating partnerships and raising awareness in Compton, Cincinnati, Cleveland and more cities across the country to be announced. The Funk Not Fight project is a growing initiative to create opportunities in communities that encourage peace, creativity, and anti-violence. Partners and supporters include The Bootsy Collins Foundation, Syncr, The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, Apple, Spotify, Tudor Games, with additional partners to be announced. Partial proceeds raised will go towards initiatives that are in need of financial support, that are dedicated to helping turn the tide of violence and unrest in our communities.
About Bootsy Collins
For over fifty years, Bootsy Collins has been a musical and cultural icon, from his work as a founding members of James Brown’s band The J.B.’s, to his extensive and impactful work in Parliament-Funkadelic, to his own solo project Bootsy’s Rubber Band, which scored #1 R&B hits and been sampled by the likes of Beyonce, 2Pac, Childish Gambino and more. His prolific output continued, with 2011’s The Funk Capital of the World, 2017’s Worldwide Funk, and 2020’s The Power of The One all featuring stellar guests from Snoop Dogg (who refers to the legend as Uncle Bootsy), Cornel West, and more. Bootsy was also featured on Silk Sonic’s GRAMMY award-winning album An Evening With,alongside Thundercat, and most recently wrote a song with R&B hitmaker Jidenna.
