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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2021 (vol 19)

Hope you enjoyed this past weekend of Juneteenth and Father’s Day.  Are you ready for a new Monday Mashup?  We got some great new singles and music videos, so let’s get this party started.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single is a powerhouse collaboration between two of the most soulful indie artists we have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  We’re talking about vocals from the one and only Debby Holiday and the incomparable Chris Pierce, combined with a sizzling soundtrack from Brett Oosterhaus.  Check out the radio edit of their hot new tune, “Love and Beats.”

Next up is the latest upbeat treat from LA’s iconic BINX.  She just keeps getting better and better.  In fact, she’s “Glossy,”

Track number three is the latest country offering from the classy Casey Ahern.  This one brings back so many memories and we love all the references to great country classics.  Here’s “Heartbreak Radio.”

Here’s a Monday Mashup extra – hard to believe that it was 30 years ago when CCM artist Amy Grant set the music world on edge with the release of her first pop album, Heart in Motion.  To celebrate she has re-released the album, complete with new songs.  Here’s “Don’t Ever Want to Lose It (Wind in the Fire).”

Next up is a sweet upbeat tune from Bella Paton.  We love her light and airy sound and her sweet vocals.  Check out “Spacey,”  We hope to hear more from her soon.

We close out this week’s singles with this soulful and reflective ballad from Swedish American duo Flora Cash.  This one will stay with you long after the song ends.  Here’s “Don’t You Look at me That Way.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

It’s been a few years since we last caught up with LA songstress Scarlett Taylor.  We have previously reviewed three albums and featured three songs on Monday Mashup. and we think her latest music video is one of her best.  Here’s “California Dreamin.”

Next up is the latest from 2018 LA Music Critic Award nominee Andy Sydow.  This one has a pure country radio-friendly sound and a humorous video.  Check out “Just One More Time.”

Our third video is the final one from her album While the Angels SighBlue Élan Records artist Cindy Alexander has done it again with a stellar lyric video for her song “Chiaroscuro.”

Next up is a video from hot British duo Superlove.  This one will definitely get your juices flowing.  Celebrate “The People You’ll Love Forever.”

Closing out this week’s music videos is this feel good tune from Canadian group Parks N’ Rec that will definitely get you ready for summer with its reggae sound.  Time to bid “Adieu” to the past.

 

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indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2021 (vol 11)

Glad to be back at home after a wonderful vacation with my family in North Carolina.  We had a great time visiting with our family there, learning more about our ancestry and looking at homes for our forthcoming move.  We’ll keep you informed as details firm up, but it looks like we will be settling in Scotland Neck in Halifax County, about 30 miles outside Rocky Mount.

Indie artists have been super busy creating amazing songs and videos, and we are overjoyed to be able to share some more with you today.  Enjoy these gems.

NEW SINGLES

One of our favorite LA indie artists is back with another new song.  We have known Shannon Hurley for more than 20 years, and she keeps getting better.  Between her solo work, her work with Lovers & Poets and her artistic endeavors, she continues to show that  indie music is the best music in the world.  Check out “Where we Belong,” and hop on board the train that never stops.

Where We Belong · Shannon Hurley (spotify.com)

Our next single comes from a long-time indie artist who gained fame as the songwriter of one of The Dixie Chicks‘ greatest songs, “Wide Open Spaces.”  Susan Gibson is back with a truly uplifting song that is so perfect for today’s pandemic climate.  Check out “Compassionate Combat.”

Compassionate Combat · Susan Gibson (spotify.com)

Our third single is a danceable tune that will get you toes tapping and your body aching to head out to the dance floor.  We have never featured her before, but with this release, we are head over heels for the music of Katie Welch.  Take a trip to the “BLVD” and enjoy.

Spotify – BLVD

Next up is a rocking country tune that features perfect harmonies and powerful lyrics from four amazing ladies who call themselves Highway Women.  This song should be headed to the top of the country charts and usher these ladies into the big time.  Here’s “Dead Man Walking.”

Dead Man Walking · Highway Women (spotify.com)

Our final single this week is from an entirely new artist to us that is unlike any we have heard before.  He goes by the moniker of Trunky Juno and his music is dream pop with a rhythmic beat.  His song speaks of abandonment and feelings we all have when life is just unbearable.  Check out “Daddy’s Gone for Cigarettes.”

Spotify – Daddy’s Gone For Cigarettes

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Cindy Alexander continues her cavalcade of hits from her forthcoming album While the Angels Sigh with the release of the breathtaking video for “Broken but Beloved,” featuring amazing choreography that perfectly captures the essence of this heart-wrenching ballad.  This one will stay with you long after the song ends.

Next up is the latest from Rachel Lorin.  This time around she covers the stirring Linkin Park song, “Numb,” breathing new life into the powerful lyrics with an emotional performance that truly brings this song to life.

Our third video brings new meaning to the term “one-man band.”  In the first video for his forthcoming album Solitaire, Ted Russell Kamp plays all the instruments in this moving tribute, “My Girl Now.”  This one will be pleasing to everyone who loves great Americana/folk music.

Next up is a timely video for our favorite time of the year.  “Wait for Spring” is a visually stimulating lyric video that showcases the talent of Shannon Clark & the Sugar, and leaves us wanting more of their forthcoming release, Marks on the Wall.

Our final video this week is from Andy Sydow, who has been relatively quiet since he burst onto the scene back in 2018, garnering nominations from the LA Music Critic Awards and a very positive review of his album.  His new song, “Mona Lisas Everywhere” is an upbeat tune with a fun video that shares the truth behind the lyrics.  This one is worthy of further exploration.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Joey Racano, Ben de la Cour, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Andy Sydow, Wolfe Jackson

As we explained yesterday, while we were off covering the Hollywood Fringe Festival, we received 94 review requests for the month of June.  We will be focusing on those for our Get it or Forget it articles on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  For the Friday edition, we will focus on the July releases.  We should be caught up with everything by the end of the second week in August, so let’s get started.

Artist NameJoey Racano

Album NameMidnite Madness

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  In the Middle of the Night; 2.  Tell the Truth; 3.  Medicine Wheel; 4.  Eight Ball Jones; 5.  Saturday Cyberdate; 6.  Hello Baby (Reunion Blues); 7.  Six String Savvy

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Joey Racano takes traditional blues guitar and adds in elements of pop (repetition) and rap to create a most unique sound, as demonstrated on the first track, “In the Middle of the Night.”  He also throws in some wailing sax for good measure.  “Tell the Truth” has more of a rock beat but continues with his spoken/sung vocals and pop repetitions that immediately distinguish his sound from others in this genre.  His lyrics are deep and may require multiple listens to fully comprehend all that he has to say.  What he lacks in vocal prowess is more than made up by the musical accompaniment.

Recommendation:  This one is worth a listen or two just because it is so different.  It’s a throwback to when music was more important than smooth silky vocals.  You may or may not like it, but it’s worth a listen nevertheless.

Artist NameBen de la Cour

Album NameThe High Cost of Living Strange

Label:  Flour Sack Cape Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Dixie Crystals; 2.  Uncle Boudreau Went to Texas; 3.  Company Town; 4.  Face Down Penny; 5.  Tupelo; 6.  Guy Clark’s Fiddle; 7.  Just Like the Blues; 8.  The High Cost of Living Strange

Publicist:  Broken Jukebox Media

Review:  Americana is a uniquely American genre, and Ben de la Cour plays it better than just about any other artist we have heard in recent memory.  His voice is strong, smooth and fluid, and his songs are well written masterpieces.  His instrumental soundtrack perfectly captures this genre, delivering compelling time capsules of life.  His publicist said his album was the best he’d heard this year, and we would tend to agree to that.  This is an artist that should be on the top of the Americana scene, and we are proud and privileged to have been chosen to review his album.  We think he belongs in the company of Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton, as well as in the national spotlight.  We really love the sound of “Dixie Crystals,” “Company Town,” “Tupelo,” “Guy Clark’s Fiddle,” and “Just Like the Blues.”

Recommendation:  If you love Americana, then you must add this one to your collection.  Get it today.

Artist NameCathy Segal-Garcia

Album NameThe Jazz Chamber

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Star Eyes; 2.  Velho Piano; 3.  Time After Time; 4.  High Trapeze; 5.  Cinema Paradiso Theme; 6.  Message to Prez; 7.  This Moment; 8.  Universal Prisoner; 9.  Compared to What; 10.  Sleep in Peace

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review:  Cathy Segal-Garcia is a gifted jazz vocalist who has just released her 11th CD.  This time around, she adds an entire jazz chamber orchestra to the mix, and the result is rather grand, as in ballroom.  These tunes would have been right at home in the 1940s, with their elegant and expansive sound, and the feeling that you should be dancing around a large ballroom floor while she serenades your senses.  She even throws in a couple of cover songs, including a brilliant adaptation of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.”  Grab a glass of wine, dim the lights and enjoy.

Recommendation:  If you love jazz, then we’re sure this artist is already in your collection.  We recommend you add her latest.

Artist NameAndy Sydow

Album Name Reasons for Departure

Label:  Uncle Ralph Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Reasons for Departure; 2.  Directions to the Moon; 3.  Who I Want to Be; 4.  Secret Rodeo; 5.  Hearts go On; 6.  Shame on Me; 7.  Lonely Love; 8.  Jenny’s Masquerade; 9.  Bus Drive; 10.  Whispering Moon

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  Andy Sydow is a gifted songwriter who hails from Denver, Colorado.  On this album, he has hooked up with LA Music Critic Award winning producer Chris Daniels to deliver an amazing group of songs that loudly proclaim he has arrived and is ready for his cameo.  From the first notes of the title track, Sydow firmly establishes himself as a force that cannot be overcome, so we advise you to sit down and enjoy these tracks.  Daniels has managed to highlight all the strengths of Sydow’s style, and give us an album that is good from start to finish.  You will not want to miss a single track, but just sit back and savor the instrumentation, the lyrics, the stories and the voice of calm that permeates this music.  Sydow is a combination of Tom Petty meets Jackson Browne, and we will forever be a fan.

Recommendation:  You simply MUST add this one to your library.  Get it ASAP!

Artist NameWolfe Jackson

Album NameNobody Knows Me (Better Than You)

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Americana/Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Nobody Know Me (Better Than You); 2.  Comfort Love; 3.  One More Time; 4.  Where my Heart Belongs; 5.  Brother; 6.  Lord Forgive Me (I’ve Been Bad) (bonus track)

Publicist:  Effective Immediately PR

Review:  Wolfe Jackson is a UK transplant who has firmly established himself as an American artist.  On his debut EP, he shows why he sold out his record release show at Hollywood’s famed Hotel Cafe.  His sound is raw and rare, and should provide him with a long career in music.  From the first notes of the title track, his amazing voice rises above the simple accompaniment, reminiscent of Jason Mraz, who was also had success at the Hotel Cafe early in his career.  His songs feel like they are being sung directly to  you while you listen to him in the comfort of your living room.  This is a voice that will surely rise like cream to the top of the music scene.  We expect to see him become a household name in no time at all.

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer.  You need this album in your library, where we are sure you will listen to it over and over again.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Reviews Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 16

April is winding down and summer will be here soon (we hope!).   Here is the latest indie news, as well as some new singles and music videos which have been recently released. Have a great week and come back tomorrow for our interview with acclaimed country artist Michael Peterson.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

The 9th annual Hollywood Fringe Festival runs June 7-24, with previews running the week before.  Check their Facebook page for pre-festival events, and mark you calendar for May 1, when tickets go on sale for this year’s event.  We will be there from June 12 to the 25, and can hardly wait.  Hope to see you all around LA.

LA MUSIC CRITIC AWARD WINNERS SHOWCASE

Plans are complete for this year’s showcase, which will be held on June 19 at the Mint on Pico Boulevard.  Tickets go on sale on May 1, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  Come out and support indie music and support our most worthy charity.  We have some great plans for the evening, including the bestowing of the 2018 Icon Award, so don’t miss out.

NEW SINGLES

Up first this week is the latest from the soulful Sam Hammerman, with this masterful song “Miss the Days.”  It is a sweet and smooth way to start your week, so check him out.

Next up is an indie rock tune from South Village, an Australian band from Melbourne.   We think you will like these guys, who are reminiscent of the Gin Blossoms.  Here’s “Say it Now.”

Originally signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records, UK standout Johnny Stimson reveals his first single with “End of Time.”  It is a dreamy pop song that will give you chills.  Please let us know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/antifragile_music/end-of-time-johnny-stimson/s-wLpLJ

Our fourth single today is a special preview and comes from Canadian troubadour Craig Cardiff, who brings us a double dose of his song “Okay Cupid.”    We love the instrumentation, and the smooth voice, which reminds us of Cat Stevens.  Watch for its release next Friday, April 27.

Our final single today comes from Lachlan Vines, an artist we featured last year.  Here is his current single, “Take it Back.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first one today comes from Grammy-nominated blues artist Janiva Magness, and is a lyric video for her protest song, “Home.”  We think this one will give you the strength and resolve to stand up for your beliefs.

Next we travel to Amsterdam for Not.Your.Regular.Boy‘s latest video for “Crazyland.”  This one has enough energy to get your going strong this week.

Our third video today is one of the most creative we have viewed since Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way you Are.”  Check out the amazing artist Andy Sydow and his hand-drawn animation for “Reasons for Departure.”

Fourth on our list today is from the groovalicous sounds of ellee ven.  The cinematography on this one is delicious, and the story is well told.  Check out “For Your Love.”

Last but not least this week is the latest powerful video from multi-award winning Americana artist Alice Wallace.  Check out her moving female empowerment video for “Elephants.”