The Timeflies duo stopped in Silver Spring Friday as part of their 35-city national tour.
With millions of YouTube views, loyal fans and a drive to break new ground in the music industry, the eclectic duo known as Timeflies, which played at The Fillmore Silver Spring on Friday, has laid itself a path to success.
Consisting of vocalist Cal Shapiro and producer Robert Resnick, the Tufts University music majors met in college and formed Timeflies in 2010, according to their website. By fusing elements of pop and hip-hop with dance beats, the duo found an effective way to reach a diverse fan base.
“I remember seeing Cal freestyle at a party and just thinking, we’re going to make music together,” Resnick said. “I was pretty confident from the beginning that we had something.”
Their fan base only grew with an Internet-focused marketing strategy centered around a weekly event dubbed “Timeflies Tuesday.” Every Tuesday night Timeflies followers across the nation tune in to the band’s YouTube channel to listen to the musicians’ latest remix, cover or live freestyle. Whether Shapiro and Resnick are in the studio, on the tour bus or in their Brooklyn apartment, they keep fans connected and musically mesmerized on a weekly basis.
“Timeflies Tuesday was just, let’s show people what we were doing in the studio. We grew by way of the Internet, which is an incredible way to grow,” Shapiro said. “Not only are we making a new song every Tuesday and making videos people want to watch, but every Tuesday night, [our fans] get to hang out with us.”
The self-promoted duo may have started out as a YouTube sensation, but their music has launched them on a fast-paced road to fame. Timeflies took a leap forward by releasing their first original album in September of 2011, titled The Scotch Tape, and kept fans intrigued with a six-track mixtape released in July 2012. Timeflies plans to release an EP titled One Night on Nov. 27.
In order to promote their new album, Timeflies has just begun its One Night Tour, which will take the band to 35 different cities.
“The show definitely exceeded my expectations,” said junior economics major Nicole Pascucci. “After hearing about Timeflies by word of mouth, over the past year I have become a avid listener and devoted fan. Their music is unlike anything I have ever heard.”
The sold-out show boasted an audience of screaming women and the occasional man, displaying the target demographic of 18- to 24-year-olds. The two-hour performance featured opening act The Jane Doze in addition to Timeflies’ mix of original and covered tracks.
“I first heard about Timeflies from some friends of mine. I’ve been following them ever since,” said senior psychology major Brandon Arzabe. “My favorite part of the concert was when they played ‘Under the Sea.’ It was one of the first songs of theirs I heard, and it has always been a personal favorite.”
According to their website, Timeflies has created an app that allows fans to stream their videos, download playlists and purchase tickets to upcoming shows. Timeflies also recently decided to extend the One Night Tour, which will allow them to revisit popular venues in cities such as New York and Chicago.
