Tag: Allison Iraheta

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Halo Circus, Champyons, Curvs, The County Well, Clare Hennessy

We’re halfway through March, and tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day.  We are so happy this day has arrived because we get to share some amazing music with you today, including the long awaited new release from Halo Circus.  Grab your coffee and let’s get started!

Artist Name:  Halo Circus

Album Name:  Robots and Wranglers

Label:  Halo Circus Propaganda

Genre:  Alt Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Oh Money; 2.  Contact; 3.  Narcissist; 4.  Got it Made; 5.  Commander; 6.  Y Para Que; 7.  Pledge of Allegiance; 8.  Off the World

Publicist:  Far Digital PR

Review:  We have loved Allison Iraheta ever since her appearance on American Idol, and the emergence of Halo Circus.  Their debut album Bunny was a huge success, and they subsequently became the first major indie to allow their fans to determine their tour through a crowdfunding platform.  Their sophomore release, East Lansing Sessions EP, was also a critical success.  Now, with the release of Robots and Wranglers today, they have scaled back their band to a duo featuring Iraheta and her husband, Matthew Hager, all without missing a beat.   Their first single, “Narcissist,” has become a smash hit, and their video for it has been blowing up YouTube since its release three weeks ago,  accumulating more than 43,000 views.   Words cannot adequately express the greatness of this album.  It hits the ground running with the rocking, radio-friendly hit song “Oh Money,” and takes off from there, gaining altitude with every song.  It is no hype that the future of the industry begins with Halo Circus.  Robots and Wranglers is the perfect blueprint for commercial success for any indie artist wanting to be the best.  Besides “Narcissist” and “Oh Money,” other potential hit songs include “Got it Made” and “Commander.”

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it, just Get it.  You owe it to yourself!

Artist Name:  Champyons

Album Name:  Cha Cha Cha

Label:  Embassy of Music

Genre:  Synth Pop/Dance

Track Listing:  1.  Dusty; 2.  No Applause; 3.  Geld; 4.  Cold Wars; 5.  Interlude; 6.  Maria Luiza; 7.  Living in the Movies; 8.  I’m Organic; 9.  Interlude II; 10.  Oceans; 11.  R.F.G.; 12.  Roaming in Paris; 13.  To the Bottom

Publicist:  Guerilla Music Promotion

Review:  You have probably never come across a band like Champyons.  Already a large part of the pulsating music scene in Berlin, they are poised to take on the world with their own brand of synthesized music, perfect for listening and dancing.  This album has one potential hit after another, and is so much fun to listen to.  Our favorites include “Dusty,” “Cold Wars,” “Living in the Movies,” “Oceans,” and “Roaming in Paris.”

Recommendation:  This one is worth a try.  Check it out and you’ll see why.

Artist Name:  Curvs

Album Name:  Hauntropics

Label:  Fysisk Format

Genre:  Synth Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Airwolf Ghandi; 2.  Atlantic Cologne; 3.  Avian; 4.  Bamboo Town; 5.  Blowpipe; 6.  Boeing 909; 7.  Delusive; 8.  Don Johnson; 9.  Khyber Pass Pt. 1; 10.  Khyber Pass Pt. 2

Publicist:  Viral Propaganda PR

Review:  Norwegian synth rockers Curvs have arrived on the scene with an intriguing form of music that is high energy, upbeat and danceable.  Their music can best be described as drug-induced fantasies with a driving dance beat.  The album would make a great soundtrack for your next costume party, and is guaranteed to keep the interest of your attendees.  DJ’s far and wide need to look to this band for material for their next mix-tape.

Recommendation:  Give them a chance, especially if you like cutting edge dance and house music.

Artist Name:  The County Well

Album Name:  Future Country

Label:  Floating Records

Genre:  Roots/Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Alabama; 2.  Baby; 3.  Empty Hall; 4.  Extra Heavy; 5.  Hollywood; 6.  Light; 7.  Mezzanine; 8.  Mrs. Soul; 9.  Ship you Can’t Steer; 10.  Subtle and Serene; 11.  Whiskey Before Noon

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  The County Well is an artist collective based in Marin County, California.  Future Country is a collaborative effort between those local artists and touring musicians, overseen by Floating Records.    Graham Guest gets the party going with “Alabama,” complete with pedal steel, harmonica, drums and bass in a Paul Simon-like country island jam that features the amazing backing vocals of Sophie Meier.  Guest returns on “Baby,” with amazing harmonies from Amy Nordstrom and some intriguing slide guitar and dobro as well.  On “Empty Hall,” Guest switches gears to a more blues sound, with an intricate layer of harmonica and those amazing vocal harmonies.  Don Zimmer comes along on “Extra Heavy,” with his Grateful Dead influence as well as lap steel and piano, before becoming more of a troubadour with his tribute-filled “Hollywood.”  “Light” is a beautiful acoustic track that clears your palate before Guest and Zimmer combine on the roots-heavy tune “Mezzanine,” complete with out of this world trombone.  Zimmer adds in some flute to his guitar to “Mrs. Soul” before doing it Jethro-Tull style on “Ship you Can’t Steer.”  The album closes with the instrumental tune “Subtle and Serene” before delivering what is sure to become a St. Patrick’s Day standard, “Whiskey Before Noon.”

Recommendation:  This one puts an American roots spin on the traditional celtic traditions of St. Patrick’s Day.  Enjoy it with your green beer and Jamison’s.

Artist Name:  Clare Hennessy

Album Name:  April

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Cherry Red; 2.  Bittersweetest; 3.  Famine or Feast; 4.  April

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  Clare Hennessy has to have one of the sweetest, airiest voices we have heard in recent memory, and her rich folky tunes are perfectly set to her voice and her choice of instrumental backing.  Its sound is perfectly relaxing and soothing, taking away all of the listener’s cares with each note.  The only thing wrong with this EP is that is just too short at only four songs, and definitely leaves us wanting another dose soon.  We can hardly wait to hear what’s next from Hennessy.  She is a true treasure.

Recommendation:  Don’t waste any time.  Get this one soon.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Hollywood Fringe Festival LA Music Critic Awards Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 5

Well, the winners have now been announced for the LA Music Critic Awards for the second half of 2017, and the process starts all over for the first half of 2018.  Any indie artist is eligible to participate as long as they have a single, music video, CD or EP released between December 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.  We’ll continue our reviews tomorrow with five more artists, but today, we share news from the indie music world, as well as debut new singles and music videos.  Here we go.

EXIT {LIVE} LAUNCHES NEW GLOBAL MUSIC PLATFORM

A few years back we experienced this company when we attended a Peter Frampton concert at the Greek in Los Angeles.  It allows fans to buy a copy of the concert they have just experienced so they can relive that experience.

Exit [Live] has now announced they are making the technology available to all artists, major and indie, to sell their concerts and vintage recordings directly to their fans.  This is a major win for indie artists everywhere who are trying to gain a more global following.  For artists, it is also profitable, with 80% of sales going back to the artist.

The platform will launch in early 2018, but you can check out their Facebook page now.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL PREPARES FOR NINTH YEAR

Founded in 2010, the Hollywood Fringe Festival is preparing for their ninth annual festivities.  Registration for participants opened on February 1 and runs through April 1.  Tickets will go on sale on May 1.

In order to foster artist and audience diversity, the Fringe initiated a scholarship program in 2016 to allow more participation by artists facing challenges that might prevent them from being a part of the Festival.  Each scholarship takes care of the registration costs, provides a $550 stipend towards their production and venue costs, and gives them a Fringe mentor, as well as marketing and networking opportunities as a member of the Fringe community.  The winners of the 2018 Fringe Scholarships are: 

  • Baba, Jee (Father, Yes): Maria, the daughter of a Pakistani father and an American mother, lives in New York City with her boyfriend Dave. On the eve of Hurricane Sandy, her father (Baba) comes to visit from Pakistan for the first time in years. Trapped inside while the storm rages on, Maria, Dave, and Baba must all confront their differing views on culture, love, and expectations.
  • Unapologetically Black: Unapologetically Black is a true story about Misty Monroe trying to fit in as a black woman (with a white name) who grew up in both South Central Los Angeles (predominately black) and the naval bases of Northern California (predominately “other”). The desire to “fit in” is universal and Unapologetically Black takes you on the journey of a black woman who gains the courage to stand out, unapologetically.
  • Trafficked 2.0: Trafficked 2.0 tells a story that occurs much too often and told not nearly enough. On her 13th birthday, a young girl is kidnapped and sold into the horrors of sex trafficking. The show uses the expressive movements of the body to represent a story that forces audiences to acknowledge the awful operations that are going on right under their noses, in their countries, in their neighborhoods, by people that they know.
  • Paisajes Marinos Con Tiburones y bailarines: “Seascape with Sharks and Dancer” is a 1974 play by Don Nigro. The story focuses on a young man, Ben, who saves a young woman named Tracy from the ocean outside his beach house. The production will be in Spanish, focused on attracting the latin community to the theater.
  • Love, Locs & Liberation: Blending poetry, song and humor, Ella unlocks the history of locs experienced by Black women, revealing many mishaps and triumphs. Through the eyes of 21 different characters, a 5th grade bully to Madam CJ Walker, she exposes the hair connection – to politics, identity and culture, illustrating why hair is an intimate and essential part of Black life.
  • I Came To Make Noise: I Came To Make Noise breaks the stereotype that women are expected to be quiet and agreeable. This groundbreaking work of theatre engages audiences with its use of dance, spoken word, and beatbox. This piece explores the inner most thoughts of a woman. The issues of race, politics, and sexual assault are presented through the lens of self-awareness.
  • Liao Zhai: Tale of Extraordinary: China is a two-syllable word with extreme complexity. History, philosophy, ideology, politics — we would be stuck having these intense and serious conversation for years. Even though we are Chinese, believe me, we don’t like that either. As an young ensemble theater company mostly consists of Native Chinese, we would like to share with you some mythical and fantastical stories that have been with us for centuries.
  • A Mile in My Shoes: “A Mile in My Shoes” is a solo show written and performed by veteran actor Kathryn Taylor Smith. In this 90 minute Poetic Dramedy (clever mix of poetry, drama & comedy) Kathryn depicts 12 characters based on research and personal interviews with past and present members of the homeless community (real & created) as well as those who advocate for them.
  • Gay Men Like Young Boys: Part adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” part social satire. The dark side of desire, gender roles, and the youth obsessed image-based gay community clash in this dark tale of love and revenge.
  • The Goddesses Guide: Adura for the Women of African Diaspora: Follow the revealing journey of three Yoruba goddesses as they grapple with the responsibility of creating a guide for black women trying to survive in a world that doesn’t always allow them to thrive.
  • Land of No Shadows: Combining the Japanese dance art of Butoh with experimental animation and puppetry, “Land of No Shadows” uses stark, striking visuals to portray a fluid relationship between puppet and puppeteer, reflecting our unstable, fluctuating social and emotional status as humans.

NEW SINGLES

Our first new single this week comes from a band we have loved from the beginning.  Founded by former American Idol contestant Allison Iraheta and her husband, Matthew Hager, Halo Circus has reinvented itself as an electronic duo and has released “Narcissist,” the first single from their upcoming project.  Check out the new sound of the band, and let us know what you think.

Next up is Aja Warren, a new artist from the same management company that gave us Wendy Sweetlove.  Here’s her new single, “Show me the Magic.”  We think you’ll love it as much as we do.

Kim DiVine is a past LA Music Critic Award winner who has consistently delivered outstanding music.  Klvr Grl has done a remix of one of her songs, and we wanted to share it with you.  Please check out “Broken Bird (Klvr Grl remix).”

Our final single today comes from Gundelach for their breakout single, “Duck Hunting.”  Please let us know what you think.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video today comes from Kris Angelis, another past LA Music Critic Award winner.  Here’s her video for “Please Come Back Home,” filmed on a family trip to Carmel, California.

Next up is a video from one of the most recent LA Music Critic Award winners, Jason Hawk Harris, formerly of The Stone Ponies.  This is an acoustic video for his single, “Phantom Limb.”

For all you Tesla fans out there, here is the latest video from guitarist Frank Hannon from his solo acoustic project.  This is a cover of the Allman Brothers Band classic song, “Blue Sky.”  We dig it.

Last but not least, here’s the latest provacotive video from The Scared Crows about the Harvey Weinstein controversy.  Check out “Harvey Talk.”

We’ll be back tomorrow with our next round of reviews in Get it or Forget it.  See you then.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Interviews LA Music Critic Awards Women in Entertainment

Getting to know the 2016 LA Music Critic Award winners – Allison Iraheta

Courtesy of Matthew Hager (Halo Circus), photo by Michael Becker

Over the past few years, we have had the chance to see quite a few of our indie music friends take the national stage on American Idol and The Voice, including Brooke White, Tony Lucca, Katrina Parker, and Justin Hopkins, to name a few.  However, this is the first time that we have become friends with an artist who has gone indie after appearing on one of those shows.  Thanks to Patrick O’Heffernan for introducing us.

We had a delightful time interviewing Allison Iraheta, who appeared on season 8 of American Idol and was originally signed to Jive Records.  Many of her greatest achievements, though, have been accomplished after she became an indie artist.  Iraheta was the winner of the Best Pop/Rock Female Artist for the first half of 2016, primarily on the strength of her band’s single, “Desire (Lo Que Vale La Pena).”  Iraheta and Halo Circus also finished second in the Fan Favorite category.

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

AI:  Since I was six years old when I got my first gig at an opening for a department store.  I sang a ranchera song.  I was also a big fan of Selena, but unlike her, I grew up in South Central Los Angeles, and primarily spoke Spanish, being the child of Salvadorian parents.  We were surrounded by a true cultural mix of music.  I loved the emotion behind rancheras music, which in turn became the inspiration for our current music.  I recently turned 24.

IVB:   Who are your influences?

AI:  My first big influence was Linda Ronstadt, especially her album “Canciones de mi Padre.”  My dad also turned me on to Paul Williams.  Other artists that inspired me included Amy Winehouse, Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee, PJ Harvey, and Radiohead  This definitely led to our music being very diverse.  We didn’t have to be stuck with one sound but were able to show a myriad of colors.

IVB:   What made you decide to DIY?

AI:  I didn’t really have much of a choice.  As you know, I was signed to Jive Records just as the old music business began to fall apart.  There were lots of job upheavals and a change in the rules, affecting the whole industry.  I was actually dropped by Jive in the middle of my tour and found out about it via Twitter.  I was only 18, but decided to finish out the tour.  It was in shock, having gone from nothing to successful and then back again.  Once I got back from tour, I didn’t know where I was musically, and felt lost, not sure what to do anymore.  I did a few demos to make money and was very close to giving up on the industry.  I felt betrayed and injured and was not yet aware of the DIY side of the industry.  However, I don’t hold any resentments and am still friends with some of those same industry people.

I met Matthew (Hager) when I was doing a demo for a song he was pitching to Carrie Underwood.  We started writing together and I returned to my roots to find inspiration.  Everything we were doing sounded like it needed to be done by a band, which led to the formation of Halo Circus in 2013.  The support we have received is what has propelled us to where we are now, and new opportunities are happening all the time.  Everyone in the band is a veteran musician.  Matthew was a No. 1 Billboard multi-platinum producer who crossed multiple genres working with the likes of Duran Duran, Scott Weiland, Mindi Abair, and Mandy Moore.  Brian Stead was and is a relentless guitar aficionado who evokes energy and charisma.  In addition to being an accomplished Cantonese and orchestral drummer, Veronica Bellino worked with Jeff Beck and DMC of Run DMC before leaving Halo Circus.  She was replaced by Stead’s friend, Matteo Eyia.  

Magic happens in this band.  It happened when we were writing, when we were recording, and when we were failing.  The only thing that mattered was keeping it honest and getting it right, whatever that meant. We may be inconvenient, but we continue to attract believers.

IVB:  Do you want to go back to being a mainstream artist?

AI:  There is a balance to moving on from the previous level of exposure to the creative freedom we have now.  We believe we can return to that level, but on our own terms.  We are doing it through the back channel and believe that is a better way for us to return.  We love what is happening in the indie scene.

Last February, we shocked the music industry when we announced in Billboard Magazine that we would be embarking on the first fully crowd-sourced American tour ever to be attempted on such a large scale.  With the help of our fans and Road Nation, the program that allowed this format, we reached full funding just nine weeks later, and confirmed a tour of 30 cities.

IVB:  What are your future plans? 

AI:  We are definitely going back on tour in the not too distant future.  We would love to revisit some of the places where we played on our last tour.  We have some new stuff on the horizon and are so proud of those who have supported us from the beginning.  There will be surprises and thank you’s and fun stuff for everyone.

IVB:   Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?

AI.  During the tour we were scheduled to play a show in Orlando during Hurricane Matthew.  We played the show despite the weather.  When we got to the venue under very gray clouds, there were about 30 of our fans waiting for us with signs proclaiming “End of the World” show.  We lost our AirBnB reservation for the night due to the storm, and had no place to stay after the show.  Consequently, we started heading out of Orlando, but couldn’t find anyplace open that had gas or water.  We did finally find some gas, and just kept driving until we found a hotel where we could stay.  It was a scary time and we saw cars driving on the wrong side of the road, trying to get away from the storm.

IVB:  What is the significance of the rabbit?

AI:  It represented humans for me during the writing of our first album Bunny.  I seemed to notice them everywhere.  The totem for bunny meant prey, with their fluffy tails for hawks to see, but they are also very cute, adorable and fast.  I came to the conclusion that the prettier you are, the more different you are, the more likely you are to become prey.

IVB:  What social media do you use?

AI:  I have a Facebook page with a link to the band’s website.  I also use Twitter and Instagram, and of course we have a channel on YouTube, all of which our fans can subscribe to or follow.