Young, innovative and relentlessly ambitious, the GoLightly Project is a Rio Grande Valley house and hip-hop duo comprised of musicians Jonathan “Jiro†Rodriguez and DeWayne GoLightly. As of Sept. 19, 2007, the GoLightly Project’s lead single “Sweat It Out,†a deeply infectious club jam, was the third-most requested song on local radio. The two will perform Saturday, Sept. 22, at Overtime Bar & Grill, 1509 West Business Highway 83 in Weslaco. The GoLightly Project’s Latin- and R&B-influenced sound is rich with pop hooks, unique rhythms and an undeniable dance vibe. The duo is set to have their full-length debut completed by November 2007. The rising act has shared the stage with Don Omar, Rakim y Ken Y, Aventura, Mims, Pitt Bull, Baby Bash, Paula DeAnda, NB Riders, June Bug Slim, Down a.k.a. Kilo, TMI Boys, Lil’ Rob and 2x1. “We sound like a club fell right out of your speakers,†GoLightly, 26, said. “If you blink twice, you could swear people were dancing right next to you.†Still living in his native Kentucky, GoLightly met his future partner over MySpace. “I liked Jiro’s voice and I heard his potential,†GoLightly said. He came to meet Rodriguez, 22, by chance after moving to the Rio Grande Valley — he was completely unaware that Rodriguez was already residing there. “One day a friend of mine brings (Rodriguez) by my studio saying that this guy is looking for somewhere to record, and we were shocked to see each other,†GoLightly said. “A black guy and a Mexican/Puerto Rican guy doing music together,†he thought. “It’s a monopoly!†The two knew it was destiny calling. “DeWayne thinks he is always right,†Jiro Rodriguez said. “But Jiro is stubborn. Where DeWayne is weak, Jiro is strong. When (Jiro) is off, DeWayne is on. We are on the same page going in the same direction.†Growing up in a single-parent household, Rodriguez credits his mother as his biggest influence. GoLightly thanks his father, and cites hip-hop stars Timbaland and D’Angelo as his guiding lights. The GoLightly Project is currently filming a music video for “Sweat It Out†through the Music/Film Alliance, a project pairing student filmmakers with Rio Grande Valley bands coordinated by Leyenda Production Co. of McAllen. For more information on the GoLightly Project, call (956) 650-8331, send an E-mail to
[email protected] or visit www.myspace.com/golightlyproject
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