Local music takes 'Flyt'

PINE MEADOW — The Pine Meadow section of New Hartford isn’t the first place that comes to mind when thinking of hip-hop meccas, but that’s exactly where you’ll find 19-year-old rapper Peter Pobuda.

Pobuda’s band, Flyt Squad, has only been together a few months and has already been heard on two major FM radio stations — HOT 93.7 and KISS 95.7 — earning listener’s choice awards along the way.

Using software, keyboards and a drum machine, Pobuda and his partner, Brian Heller — stage names Psquared and Cash — evoke the styles of Jay-Z, Kanye West and Tupac Shakur, layering synthesized vocals under hardcore rap vocals.

Pobuda acknowledges that he and Heller are not from an urban background, but he said he relates to the stories behind modern rap music. In turn, Flyt Squad’s songs have an authentic urban flavor.

“Basically, about six months ago Brian saw me writing one day and asked me if I rap. He said we should think about doing this, and that’s how it got started,†Pobuda said. “We started to get the studio equipment we needed and I built a studio in my basement.â€

For Pobuda, who has been writing songs since he was in middle school, producing radio-quality music is a dream come true.

“It was always something I knew I could do,†he said.

In a state where 99 percent of local bands consist of guitars, bass and drums, Pobuda said he’s aware of the challenges ahead.

“We haven’t really played out yet. We’ve booked a couple shows at Northwestern Regional High School. It’s a little harder trying to perform in a restaurant or club.â€

But that hasn’t stopped Flyt Squad from releasing a full-length album. The self-titled debut contains 18 songs ranging from driving, violent diatribes to sad, reflective ballads. The band invites regular guests to perform on different tracks, including female singer Emily Covelli and another rapper who calls himself City.

On top of the effort that goes into producing the music, Pobuda has been broadcasting Flyt Squad’s songs online on every Web site he can think of. The band has dozens of songs and videos posted on Facebook, You Tube and Myspace, as well as on music hosting sites like Reverbnation and Ustream. Pobuda and Heller recently completed their first professional photo shoot, with a jet behind them at Robertson Field Airport in Plainville.

“We just sent out a CD to 93.7 and we’ve been talking about a tour this summer,†Pobuda said.

Anyone who wants to hear Flyt Squad’s music can simply do a Web search for the band or visit facebook.com/flytsquad and follow the links.

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