They hit the international market first, with fans in Africa, Canada and the UK, and their tours followed suit -- overseas. Now, with the release of their debut album, "For the Love of Music," they want to bring their music to Maryland.

"You would think it wouldn't mesh, but it does," Ottley said of their musical styles.

Ottley was working in a music store when Sitchet came in as a customer and they began talking about sound systems and their work as producers. After learning they had a lot of similar interests -- including having just released solo albums -- Ottley took a break from work to go outside to listen to each other's music.

"He was doing straight American music -- hip-hop, R&B. I was doing African," Sitchet remembered.

Both men were experienced musicians and producers and intrigued by the other's work. Ottley is a trained classical pianist and also a drummer, vocalist and lyricist. Sitchet thinks of himself more as a "creator"; he invents melodies and sings and experiments with various instruments, but he also produced local talent after moving to the States 11 years ago.

With such similarities, they decided to work together to create something unique. They began rehearsing immediately and intensely, and eventually they were booking blocks of shows in Africa and the UK. Then they spent about a year recording and producing their album.

They call themselves INRG (pronounced "energy"), an acronym for Inventing a New Revolutional Genre of Music.

"We didn't grow until we started collaborating," Sitchet said. "He was not fluent on keyboards -- now he's mastered everything."

The album mixes jazz, classical, African, reggae hip-hop and R&B music and music videos can be seen online at www.inrgmusic.com and www.myspace.com/inrgmusic.

"We have, like, 100 songs," Sitchet said. "We could do 10 albums straight."

"But the stress of that? I would be dead," Ottley said. "Recording the music is the easy part. Mixing, editing -- that takes time. We want each individual song to be very unique, very distinct."

A two-man team, they gave each song as much attention as they could, and now they're taking a break, so to speak, from recording to promote what they've created.

Producers, composers, arrangers, vocalists and lyricists.

They also formed INRG Productions, which includes recording, engineering and mastering. The two musicians, because they work so well together, plan to continue writing and eventually become their own label.

One of their most popular songs, "Universal Language," from the newly-released debut album, "For the Love of Music," tells how music transcends culture, race, creed and dialect. They emphasize their point by allowing Ottley to begin the hip hop rap in English and then Sitchet raps the second verse in smooth-flowing French.

"We both had a common interest -- that's how friendships start," Ottley said. "Music is a universal language. Any type of self expression leaves you open to meeting other people."

To learn more about INRG or to purchase their debut album, go to www.inrgmusic.com or www.myspace.com/inrgmusic. Contact INRG at contact@inrgmusic.com.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.