ON THE RISE
Authentic, humble, creative, and genius—these words capture the essence of screenwriter and musician Lamar Woods. His latest work, the sophomore album Highly Sensitive Person, released earlier this year, reflects his extraordinary talent and a perfect start to the year.
Highly Sensitive Person showcases Woods’ ability to blend genres with finesse. The album’s 19 tracks weave together hip-hop, jazz, soul, folk, and R&B elements, creating a rich and immersive listening experience. For example, “True Love Will Find You In The End”—a cover by Daniel Johnston—commences with warm acoustic guitar and Woods singing before a trap beat emerges mid-song, and he unleashes his bars. This shows that Highly Sensitive Person is a sonic roller coaster with unexpected twists and turns, keeping you on your turns.
“I wanted to do an album that bangs the whole way through,” Woods explained. “Like if I was Costco, this was a little taste of me (like samples), every version of me. I’m from Atlanta, so I love trap music, and I love trap beats…I don’t really rap on them a lot. I was just like, ‘Maybe we just throw it on there even though it didn’t technically really fit with the album that much.’ But I like the idea of being like, ‘Ths is also a part of me.’ There’s a trap part of me. There’s that boom-bap part of me. There’s the folk part of me. There’s a love song part of me. I wanted that album to feel like you’re really getting to know me because if you knew me if we were to hang out and talk about music, we’re talking about everything…like Langhorne Slim, Arcade Fire, Boldy James, Jazz and Miles (Davis).”
Woods has crafted a sonic landscape that feels both nostalgic and innovative. His lyrical flow, paired with the thoughtful inclusion of skits—an often overlooked art form in modern rap—adds a unique dimension to the album. Drawing from his experience as a screenwriter, Woods uses these skits to enhance the storytelling within the album, creating vivid scenes and narratives with fellow comedians like actor Mike Mitchell that deepen the listener’s engagement. He encourages his listeners to listen to the entire album in order.
Woods’ dedication to music has been unwavering since high school, where he formed a band that performed a unique blend of rap, hip-hop, and punk. His commitment to his craft was evident in the vibrant music scene of his city, where he performed at local venues like The 5 Spot, Eddie’s Attic, and Smith Ole Bar, building his underground following. After graduating from Georgia State University, Woods fearlessly relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood, temporarily putting his music on hold. However, his dedication to music never wavered, and he found success as a screenwriter, contributing to notable shows such as Grand Crew (NBC), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC), Single Parents (ABC), New Girl (FOX), and Survivor’s Remorse (Starz). He co-wrote and starred in It’s a Party, available on Roku and Amazon.
Like many, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point for Woods as he felt pulled back to his musical roots. Although he hesitated to pursue music again, he couldn’t deny his first love. This reconnection led to the release of several EPs and LPs, including his debut album, Wine Bars, in 2021. Building on this momentum, Woods released Highly Sensitive Person in 2024, an album that further cements his place in the music world.
Highly Sensitive Person is just a semblance of Woods’ talents. The Atlanta-bred is getting ready to expand and showcase just how versatile his music palette is with upcoming projects listeners must look forward to.
Listen to Highly Sensitive Person here.
Lamar Woods Socials
ON THE RISE
.jpg)
IPSWICH, Mass. — Nov. 10, 2026 – For composer, producer, and musician Chris Florio, making music has always been a process of exploration. More than four decades into his career, the Ipswich, Massachusetts-based artist continues to approach each project with the curiosity of someone discovering new possibilities. His contemporary track “Twinkle” reflects that outlook, bringing together spontaneous songwriting, distinct musical backgrounds, and a collaborative recording process that allowed the song to develop organically.
A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition, Florio has built a diverse body of work spanning orchestral music, improvisation, and contemporary forms. His career includes more than 40 orchestral compositions, multimedia collaborations, and 12 albums released through Passion Records. While his formal education helped shape his musicianship, he credits a much wider range of experiences with informing his work.
“Every gig, every musician that you play with, you learn things from,” Florio explained. “I try and play with the best musicians I can, so basically everybody I play with is my teacher.”
That willingness to learn from others was central to the creation of “Twinkle.” The project began with five musicians entering the studio and improvising together throughout the day. During the session, vocalist Aliel and violinist Rob began developing lyrics after discussing a person they both had in mind. They brought their ideas back to the group, and the musicians built the music around the words.
The result brings together Florio's rock influences, Rob's classically trained violin playing, and the rhythmic foundation laid down by Ken and Wes. A violin solo with a rock sensibility adds another dimension to the arrangement, while the song gradually moves from a quiet, stripped-back opening into a fuller, more electric sound.
Rather than having that progression mapped out from the beginning, the musicians found it as the song took shape. As Florio put it, “We started with nothing, and then we improvised and developed it.”
For Florio, the value of working with other musicians lies in what they bring that he might not have imagined on his own. “The joy of making music is interacting with other people,” he said. “I want to hear what they bring to it.”
That philosophy extends beyond familiar musical styles. Florio recently worked with Cambodian musicians and dancers in Ipswich, adapting to different approaches to rhythm, performance, and communication. A trip to China is also in the works for the coming spring to collaborate with local musicians and participate in workshops at music schools in Beijing and Qingdao.
Even after decades of composing and performing, Florio says his appetite for discovery has only grown. “The more music I learn, the more I feel like, 'Wow, I don't know anything,' and there's so much to learn,” he said. “And it gets more exciting, not less exciting.”
Originally conceived as a one-off studio project, the group behind “Twinkle” has since performed and toured together, with hopes of continuing to make music as a band. For Florio, the experience is another reminder of what can happen when musicians bring their individual perspectives into the same room.
Listen to “Twinkle,” which received promotional support from Starlight PR.
Follow Chris Florio:
About Chris Florio
Chris Florio is an adventurous and imaginative composer, producer, and musician based in Ipswich, Massachusetts. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has explored orchestral composition, improvisation, and contemporary musical forms. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in composition, Florio has written more than 40 orchestral compositions, participated in multimedia collaborations, and released 12 albums through Passion Records. His work reflects an ongoing interest in bringing different musical traditions and artistic perspectives together.
.png)
