All Of It with Alison Stewart: Sibling Band Infinity Song Performs Live
Date: December 13, 2023
Guests: Infinity Song (Abraham, Angel, Israel, and Momo Boyd, with Anthony Boyd on bass and Benaiah Brudis on drums)
Episode Overview
This episode of “All Of It” focuses on the sibling band Infinity Song, whose soulful, harmony-driven soft rock gained viral attention with the song “Haters Anthem.” Host Alison Stewart welcomes the group for a live in-studio performance and a discussion about their journey from Detroit family music sessions and busking in New York City to signing with Jay Z’s Roc Nation label. The conversation covers the band’s collaborative creative process, personal and musical growth, and reflections on culture and genre as Black performers in soft rock.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins and Viral Success (02:17–03:53)
- Viral Moment: The band’s song “Haters Anthem” went viral on TikTok, but their career was years in the making, grounded in a musical family with nine children and grassroots experience busking in NYC.
- Breakthrough: Their years busking led to their big break—performing for Jay Z at his office, where they secured a record deal on the spot.
Notable Quote
“Their careers didn’t just happen out of nowhere from this viral moment. They’ve been putting in the work for years, from Detroit all the way to New York…” – Alison Stewart (02:46)
2. Live Performances: "Metamorphosis" (03:59–09:16)
- Infinity Song performs "Metamorphosis," the title track from their new EP, emphasizing themes of transformation and self-discovery.
Notable Lyric
“Can I be someone else? Someone who makes their dreams come true and drinks from wishing wells...” – Infinity Song ("Metamorphosis" live, 04:14–09:16)
3. Writing Process and Collaboration (09:22–11:28)
- Collaborative Songwriting: “Metamorphosis” marked the first time all siblings wrote together, singing in unison to reflect unity.
- Typical Routine: Usually, members write songs independently, then bring ideas to the group.
Notable Quotes
“It was really the first song that we all wrote together... It’s sung in unison from top to bottom... written as one voice." – Angel Boyd (10:31)
"Normally we’re all individually sequestered in our spaces of creativity, and then come to the group with a finished song.” – Abraham Boyd (09:38)
4. Impact of Busking in NYC (11:28–13:05)
- Performance Experience: Years of busking gave the band an invaluable performance edge and confidence.
- Networking: The viral success and industry connections (including Jay Z) began with busking, but the greatest benefit was honing live performance skills.
Notable Quote
“More than anything, [busking] afforded us the opportunity to perform, which is really important as performers… we can really perform.”—Israel Boyd (11:43)
5. Doubt, Resilience & Milestones (13:05–13:56)
- Facing Uncertainty: The group regularly faces creative doubts and has to reaffirm their path.
Notable Quote
“I often have to come back to that realization because, yeah, I have periods of doubt… just normal human doubts.” – Momo Boyd (13:13)
6. Genre & Identity: Black Artists Doing Soft Rock (13:56–15:16)
- Stereotyping: The band discusses reactions to their choice of genre, challenging assumptions about Black musicians.
- Music’s Origin and Ownership: Abraham points out that soft rock’s origins include Black artists and stresses music’s universality.
Notable Quotes
“Once I told somebody that we were a soft rock band, and they immediately followed up with, ‘So you do R&B?’... soft rock is the genre... Black artists belong in soft rock.” – Abraham Boyd (14:13)
7. Musical Family & Influence (15:25–16:32)
- Family Tradition: Their father, “the OG Creative,” instilled their independent spirit, work ethic, and musical collaboration.
Notable Quotes
“Our dad is a pioneer... he’s definitely the glue... he works as our manager as well, so that helps.” – Angel Boyd (15:29)
“Songwriting and producing, it was our family tradition growing up.” – Abraham Boyd (16:23)
8. Live Performance: "Haters Anthem" (16:32–20:19)
- Momo introduces “Haters Anthem” as a satirical song poking fun at jealousy and comparison.
- The band performs their viral hit live in the studio.
Notable Quote
“It pokes fun at everybody’s nature to be a little bit jealous or to be a little bit comparative...” – Momo Boyd (16:48)
9. The Jay Z Moment (20:47–24:28)
- Nerves and Affirmation: The siblings recall their surreal, cinematic audition at Roc Nation’s Times Square office—an affirming turning point in their journey.
- Song Choice: "Dream On" by Aerosmith was performed, reflecting their dreams and persistence.
Notable Quotes
“As soon as we stepped off the elevator, he just had such a warmth about him... it was the most exciting and most just affirming moment I think of our lives.” – Momo Boyd (21:11)
“It was special...Dream On was an easy pick.” – Abraham Boyd (22:28)
“Sometimes you need these victories in order to keep you going.” – Israel Boyd (24:23)
10. Looking Forward to 2024 (24:28–25:24)
- Future Vision: Infinity Song aims to inspire and connect with audiences, embracing their role as entertainers.
- Empathy in Art: They stress the importance of giving people hope and reminding them to “keep breathing.”
Notable Quote
“The job of entertainers... is to remind people that we’re still breathing... We look forward to seeing a lot of people through whatever they’re going through.” – Abraham Boyd (24:35)
Memorable Moments
- Humor and Warmth: The siblings often joke with each other and the host, especially around family traditions and mix-ups (“You had reindeer on the mind” – Alison Stewart, 12:33).
- Genre “Boxing”: Abraham’s recounting of being asked if they “do R&B” captures the awkward and often funny realities of public perceptions about music and race.
- Cinematic Jay Z Audition: Their awe and excitement are palpable as Angel describes the skyscraper view and the moment the elevator doors opened to Jay Z’s welcoming smile (22:04).
Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)
- “It wasn’t by... accident that we wrote [Metamorphosis] together. I came to everyone and I was like, we’re all going to write on this song.” – Angel Boyd (10:31)
- “Soft rock is the genre... actually, it originated with Black artists, but I won’t get into that, because music belongs to everyone.” – Abraham Boyd (14:13)
- “Our dad is a pioneer, the OG Creative of our family... he’s definitely the glue.” – Angel Boyd (15:29)
- “It was the most exciting and most just affirming moment I think of our lives.” – Momo Boyd on meeting Jay Z (21:11)
- “We look forward to singing songs that resonate with people and we look forward to seeing a lot of people through whatever they’re going through.” – Abraham Boyd (24:35)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:17 — Introduction to Infinity Song & "Haters Anthem"
- 03:59 — Live performance: "Metamorphosis"
- 09:22 — Songwriting process discussion
- 11:28 — Growth and experience from busking in NYC
- 13:13 — Reflections on doubt and determination
- 13:56 — Discussing genre identity and public perceptions
- 15:25 — Family and creative upbringing
- 16:32 — Live performance: "Haters Anthem"
- 20:47 — Remembering the Jay Z audition at Roc Nation
- 24:28 — Band’s outlook and plans for 2024
Summary
The episode offers an intimate, joyful, and insightful portrait of Infinity Song: their roots in Detroit, their evolution on NYC streets, warm sibling dynamics, and conscious artistry. It both delves into the particularities of their sound—soft rock through a Black, familial, contemporary lens—and highlights universal themes of transformation, perseverance, community, and hope. The live performances of “Metamorphosis” and “Haters Anthem” showcase their signature harmonies and lyrical honesty, making this a rich and rewarding listen for longtime fans and newcomers alike.