Step into a world where dust-strewn landscapes meet the hypnotic melodies of desert blues andpsychedelic cumbia. Where middle eastern funk intertwines with reverb drenched guitar and the pulse of Latin American rhythms. Welcome to the world of Gitkin. New Orleans-based Gitkin, also known as Brian J, a Grammy-nominated artist and producer renowned for his production skills (working with Cedric Burnside, Bernard Purdie, Cyril Neville) and as the mastermind behind the funk ensemble Pimps Of Joytime, is experiencing surprising success with this passion project. With monthly streams over 300,000 Gitkin’s three self-produced studio albums are resonating with fans globally. In 2022 inspired by the success of his streaming and social media response Gitkin put together a band and started playing live. The trio featuring Palestinian musician Simon Moushabeck (keyboard, accordion, percussion) and Cuban American Washington Duke (Drums) brings a new life and dimension to the recorded music. Teaming up with international booking agent FMLY they embarked on their first European tour in September meeting enthusiastic audiences in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France, and Austria, selling out a number of shows. This was followed by a short stint supporting Steel Pulse and most recently Say She She.  After years of making songs where the vocals and lyrics take the spotlights, it's been liberating to let my guitar do the talking. With Gitkin I get to bring in my love for African, middle eastern and south american music and mix it with my native musicality that sits in American blues and funk. Performing as a trio with my two talented compadres provides a lot of space in the music that opens the door for what I like to call "expensive moments." My favorite moments of a show don't usually happen by somebody playing something fast and impressive. More times It's when a palpable essence takes over the room. You feel it and you know everyone in the spot feels it. That's what keeps me getting in vans and planes and putting in endless hours in the studio.  As 2024 unfolds, Gitkin, in collaboration with the Brooklyn-based label Wonderwheel Recordings, is set to release highly anticipated new music. The singles will start dropping in May, followed by a full-length album in the fall. Additionally, they have live shows scheduled in the US and a festival tour planned in Europe for July.