Next Sound Live has grown from a local music showcase launched during the COVID-19 pandemic into a long-running platform dedicated to independent artists, live performances, and authentic storytelling.
Now entering its 11th season on BronxNet, the program provides musicians with an opportunity to perform before a live audience while sharing the personal stories behind their music. Since its debut in 2020, the show has produced approximately 1,500 hours of content and featured artists from New York City and across the United States.
The program was co-founded by Jason Valentin, 44, and Will B Walker, 42, who envisioned a platform where artists could connect with audiences on a deeper level than a traditional performance showcase.
“It’s a platform for authenticity,” Valentin said. “Artists can show up, perform, and people can get to know them better through their lyrics and through the interviews.”
Originally known as The Next Sound Studio Live, the program was filmed inside a recording studio on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. As the production expanded into a larger television environment, the show’s name evolved into the simpler and more recognizable Next Sound Live.
“The show went from the recording studio to a production studio,” Valentin explained. “We dropped the word studio. It’s just simple now – NSL, Next Sound Live.”
The meaning behind the show extends beyond music performances. Through a combination of interviews and live performances, artists are given an opportunity to explain the inspiration behind their lyrics, discuss personal experiences, and connect with audiences in a more authentic way.
Born and raised in New York and of Puerto Rican heritage, Valentin currently works in the medical field while continuing to pursue his passion for entertainment and media production. Before helping launch the show, he spent years developing his skills as a recording artist, music producer, recording engineer, studio owner, and video producer.
“Everything that had to do with the entertainment industry, I started to learn every aspect of it,” Valentin said. “I fell in love with it.”
Walker, who serves as the show’s host, studied film at Brooklyn College and began his career as a performer before moving behind the camera. His experience in both performance and production helped shape the show’s format and presentation.
“I started out in front of the camera and then learned behind the scenes and behind the camera in college,” Walker said. “I put everything that I’ve learned together.”
The concept for the show was developed in 2020, with production beginning during one of the most challenging periods for live entertainment. The first episodes were taped in July 2020 and officially premiered on September 5, 2020.
According to Walker, the production team spent considerable time refining the format through trial and error. Early versions attempted to interview performers immediately after they left the stage, but the team quickly discovered that artists often needed time to recover after their performances.
“We had to learn how to put together the entire show,” Walker said. “It was trial and error until we pieced it together.”
Today, the show’s format combines artist interviews with live performances, giving viewers an opportunity to hear both the stories behind the music and the music itself. The result is a program that focuses as much on the artist’s journey as it does on their performance.
One feature that distinguishes Next Sound Live from many other public-access programs is its commitment to maintaining a live studio audience. While audience participation creates additional logistical challenges, the founders believe it is an essential part of the experience.
“The show was always designed to have an audience,” Walker said. “It was always meant to be some sort of showcase that would be filmed.”
The live audience helps create an atmosphere similar to a concert while allowing viewers at home to experience the energy and reactions that come from a live performance setting.
Behind the scenes, the show is supported by a dedicated production team. Yasmin Burgess serves as producer, helping coordinate operations and ensuring each episode comes together successfully. The production is further supported through B-Roll Visuals, the production company operated by Valentin and Walker, which handles many of the creative and technical aspects of the program.
Over the years, Next Sound Live has welcomed artists from across New York City and around the country. The program has built an extensive archive that includes performances, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and special content featuring independent musicians from a variety of genres.
Despite its Bronx roots, the founders believe the show’s future extends far beyond New York City.
“I say we go national,” Walker said. “There are artists in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Texas. I think we can reach independent audiences everywhere and be syndicated nationally.”
As Next Sound Live prepares for its eleventh season, Valentin, Walker, and the production team remain focused on providing a platform for artists whose stories might otherwise go unheard.
“If you want to see authentic artists, if you want to hear them tell the true story behind their lyrics, this is the place to find it,” Valentin said.
After ten seasons, more than 1,500 hours of content, and hundreds of artist performances, the team believes they are only getting started.
Season 10 is currently concluding with its final episodes, while Season 11 is expected to begin airing in October. Artists interested in performing and audience members interested in attending future tapings can find submission and ticket information through the show’s social media channels.
Next Sound Live airs Sundays at 5 p.m. ET on BronxNet Television’s BX Arts channel (Optimum Channel 68, Verizon FiOS Channel 2134, and streaming online at bronxnet.org/bxarts) and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on the Next Sound Live YouTube channel.
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