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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it: Kayjez, Millamix, Amie Miriello

Hope you all made it through another Halloween.  I know by now most of you are sick and tired of this election cycle, so let’s forget all that and check out some great indie music.  Today’s Get it or Forget it reviews were submitted by the individual artists.  We were familiar with all three previously and believe that they represent some of the premier talent in the indie world.  Sit back, relax and learn about their newest releases.

kayjez

Artist NameKayjez

Album Name:  self-titled

Label:  none

Genre:  Alternative Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Can’t Stop Won’t Stop; 2.  Show Up Blow Up Bail; 3.  Runaway and Disappear; 4.  A Okay; 5.  All I Want is You; 6.  Bad Intentions; 7.  Candy Coated; 8.  Lucky Stars; 9.  Plans; 10.  Fight Fire with Fire 

Publicist:  Monday MGMT

Review:  We are very familiar with the music of Jess Penner aka Jessica Treskon and were very excited to hear about the launch of her new band, Kayjez.  She is joined in the duo by Kate Booye.  The album was released on October 14, along with three lyric videos.  Since then, they have released two more lyric videos, and we think these ladies are on top of their craft.

Their sound is very light and airy, while their lyrics cut deep with a message that needs to be heard.  There also appears to be a heavy 80’s music influence, especially on the third track, “Runaway and Disappear.”  These are the kind of songs that belong on radio, instead of the fluff that passes for music these days.  Best tracks include “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” “Show Up Blow Up Bail,” “Runaway and Disappear,” “A Okay,” “All I Want is You,” and “Lucky Stars,” although just about every song on this album is amazing.  We predict these ladies will be on the music scene for many years to come.

Recommendation:  Kayjez is an up and coming band composed of two indie artists with a lot of experience.  Their debut album is chock full of great hooks, meaty lyrics and fun.  We highly recommend you get out and Get It.

millamix

Artist NameMillamix

Album NameWake Up

Label:  MillaSound

Genre:  80’s pop/new wave

Track Listing:  1.  Wake Up; 2.  Toxic; 3.  Endless Beam of Light; 4.  So Addicted; 5.  Wait For; 6.  Excuse Me 

Publicist:  None

Review:   Stephen Miller has already proven himself as a hit songwriter.  His latest project is an 80’s style he calls Millamix, and he has nailed it.  Miller names Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Howard Jones, Mr. Mister, Informational Society, Pet Shop Boys and Gin Blossoms as his influences, and the sound of Millamix truly captures their spirit and style.  Wake Up brings back those 80’s artists and establishes Miller as a genius of music.  This music would have been on the radio along with them had it been available in the 80’s.  It is truly a great effort and should be a hit to all lovers of 80’s music.  Best songs include the title track, “Toxic,” and “So Addicted,” but all six tracks rock.

Recommendation:  If you are a lover of 80’s music, you owe it to yourself to check out Millamix.  We highly recommend you get up off your couch and grab a cassette copy for your Walkman.  Definitely Get It when it is released on November 8.

amie-miriello

Artist NameAmie Miriello

Album NameSeeya When I Seeya

Label:  UMPG

Genre:  Folk Rock/Alt Country

Track Listing:  1.  Land and Sea; 2.  Hit the Road; 3.  Peter Pan; 4.  Seeya When I Seeya; 5.  The Rookie; 6.  The Trouble With Us; 7.  Thing About Love 

Publicist:  None

Review:  Amie Miriello has been a force in today’s music for the past 10 years.  She has worked with such “A” list musicians as Katy Perry, Jessica Simpson and Courtney Love, as well as being the front woman in the band So & So with American Idol contestant Brandon Rogers.  As a solo artist, she also had a Top 20 video on VH-1 with her song “Brand New.”  Her latest effort returns her to her roots, and we could not be happier with the finished product.  Although the CD does not have a release date yet, she has released her first single, “Land and Sea,” which leads off this amazing offering.  Favorite tracks include “Land and Sea,” “Peter Pan,” “The Rookie,” and “Thing About Love.”

Recommendation:  Miriello possesses a voice that is powerful, sexy and airy, and perfectly delivers her meaty lyrics, atop her well-written instrumentation.  This one is a no-brainer if you enjoy great music that has a message.  As soon as this CD is available, we highly recommend you rush out and Get It.  In the meantime, you can grab it digitally on iTunes.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Interviews Women in Entertainment

Women in entertainment: Alyssa Jacey, the girl in blue

It’s been a while since our last article in the Women in Entertainment series, February 1, 2016 to be exact, but we’re back with another edition.  Fair warning – it’s a long one, but definitely worth the read.

Our feature today spotlights Alyssa Jacey, a pop/soul singer-songwriter out of Nashville by way of San Diego, who loves the color blue.  Why, you say.   Jacey explains, “About the age of 16, I got my first car and decided to paint it.  I was flipping through the color pages and had an instant attraction to the color Highlight Blue Pearl,  a bright royal blue with an opal coating.  From that point on, I could only see the color blue.  I would make a beeline to that color whenever I was choosing clothes, and always fell for the guy in the royal blue sweater.  I’m currently on my fourth car, and all of them have been blue.”

Jacey has turned that attraction to blue into her own brand.  “I always tell people when they come to my shows, ‘Bring your crew and wear your blue.’  My grandmother and I were very close when she passed away from Alzheimer’s.  I had just started singing and she never got to hear me perform.  I told myself that when I was able to support myself with my music that I would do something to help fight the disease.  Now, when my fans come to my shows, if they are wearing blue, I donate $1 from their ticket sale to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.”

Jacey had formerly been a hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and private dance instructor, had appeared in music videos and performed at the Super Bowl.  She assumed that her career would be in the dance industry.  But that all changed, literally overnight, when Jacey went out with her friends.   “One day I just made the decision to pursue music.   I had spent my whole life dancing but there was always something missing; Karaoke night changed all that and my life has never been the same,” explains Jacey.

Jacey’s latest single, “I Want it to Rain,” is an incredible song that truly belongs on radio outlets worldwide.  Since it was posted on her YouTube channel just a month ago, the video has already received more than 3,000 views.

Jacey recently posted on her Facebook page that she has spent more time in the past three months in Europe than at home.  Not bad for an unsigned independent musician who is the epitome of the DIY artist.  In fact, that success has enabled Jacey to also become an international public speaker, and to open her own business, Image Twelve 28.  The business allows her to provide coaching for other indie musicians who want to achieve their dreams.

“I was 23 when I found my voice, 26 when I learned the guitar and 28 when I learned to drum.  I believe you can do whatever you want as long as you believe in yourself.  Don’t listen to the naysayers, just do it.  My true purpose here is to inspire people.”

But what inspires Jacey?   “What inspires me is the beauty that lies in the unknown. As a DIY artist, you never know what hand your career will deal you, and it’s BEYOND EXCITING. Opportunities come from all angles, in all shapes and sizes, and the fun part is two fold: Being surprised with ones you weren’t expecting and seeing how many you can turn into reality, and going through individual experiences, which are each so unique and so special. When I think of all the experiences I’ve had over the years and risks I’ve taken to get to them, my heart swells up. My favorite hashtag to use is #LivingWithGratitude, and I absolutely am, living with gratitude, every single moment, of every single day.”

Where does Jacey see herself in the future?  “My future plans have not changed since the exact moment I realized I was going to pursue music, and basically, that’s ‘I know I’m here, and I want to get there.  I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I know I will, and I will just take it one step at a time.’  I started playing music because I had a late calling. At 23 years old, I was convinced by friends that I had a voice.  I had never sung before, never written a song or played an instrument.  But after a year of singing karaoke and hearing the same thing on a consistent basis from random strangers from karaoke bar to karaoke bar every week, I knew I had to pursue it.  I was going to let absolutely nothing stop me from getting as far as I could go. Did I want to be famous?  No.  I wanted to see if I could ever make a living playing original music, and after that, the sky would be the limit, should I chose to continue. Just 13 months after moving to Nashville (and 8 years after being in the music industry), I started to earn a living.  I’ve been so motivated by seeing hard work pay off, that when it comes to “future plans,” all I can do is just keep doing what I’ve been doing.  In doing so, every six months beats out the previous six months, and all I’m doing is just following my intuition.”

For more info on Jacey, be sure to check out her website and Facebook pages, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.  If you like her music, you can stream it on Spotify or Pandora, or purchase it at iTunes.