The impact of this collaboration

A 5-song EP release by Violet Crime

Two original paintings by Julius Bautista, inspired by Violet Crime’s music

Over $3,000 donated to Intonation Music to support their free and low-cost music education programs for Chicago students

The Cause

Intonation Music

Proceeds from Play Together Collaboration #1 were contributed to Intonation Music to help fund their free and low-cost music education classes for Chicago students.

Offered in partnership with schools, park districts, and community organizations, Intonation Music’s year-round classes make music accessible to youth by providing them with instruments, instruction, mentorship, and the chance to perform on stages across the city. Each Intonation student takes part in a personal and team approach to practice, setting goals, and problem-solving.

The Collaborators

Violet Crime

Violet Crime is a pop-soul band from Chicago, Illinois that features a “big band” sound with horns, backup singers, and dual lead vocals. Their music has been featured in Chicago Sound Check, Atwood Magazine, and Substream magazine. Through this Play Together collaboration, Violet Crime released their first EP, Paper Queen, to strong reception.

Listen to the Violet Crime album created through this Play Together collaboration here.

 

Julius Bautista

Julius Dizon-Cruz Bautista is a Chicago-based visual artist and USMC veteran specializing in mixed-media portraiture and figure painting. Inspired by mixed media films of the 90’s, such as Cool World and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Julius produces a signature aesthetic informed as much by dreams as it is by reality. Infusing traditional styles of realism with contemporary elements of pop culture and urban art, Julius crafts an eclectic and magical style.

Through the Play Together collaboration, Julius produced two new paintings inspired by the music of Violet Crime.

 

The artwork created through this collaboration

What is Play Together?

Play Together is a 501(c)(3) artist advocacy nonprofit organization that provides leading Chicago artists a platform to invest in our city's youth arts programs through the release of audio/visual collaborations. Each Play Together collaboration strategically pairs a musician with a visual artist to benefit a chosen nonprofit cause in Chicago.