Tag: Artists worth checking out

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music

DICI’s debut EP proves that age is not a reflection of talent

photo courtesy of Ue3 Promotions

While this past year of COVID-19 and its resulting quarantine has prompted some serious reshuffling in the lives of many artists and musicians, 17 year old emerging rapper DICI took the time to be more creative and productive than ever.  Since he was out of school and free from his extracurricular lacrosse and weightlifting schedule, the multi-talented, Italian born (Milan) but Miami raised artist mastered his new Pro Tool rigs and began freestyling clever, incisive rhymes and whimsical, hard-hitting narratives.  These formed the foundation of the intuitive urban pop vibe he’s dropping publicly for the first time on his self-titled five track EP released on his own label, DICI Records, LLC.

Though his official rap influences are Eminem, Denzel Curry, Action Bronson and Mayhem Lauren, DICI says that it was a YouTube video by renowned producer Kenny Beats that fired him up and sparked the intense dedication that fueled this project.

During November 2019 he had gone to a friend’s house and learned how to make beats as well as the production side of making records.  Everything ground to a halt when COVID hit, and though he had plenty of free time, he just chilled out for months.

“By the end of July (2020), I was starting to feel restless,” DICI says. “Going through YouTube one day, I found the Kenny video.  He was talking about how before he was famous, he had locked himself in a room and worked all day long.  Everything was about work ethic.  It hit me that I’d wasted half the summer.  After I watched that clip, I literally dedicated 12 hours plus every day to music – waking up, doing music, going to sleep, on repeat.  I made a lot of progress on the tech front, too.  On the track ‘305-Interlude,’ which combines two different songs I wrote, I only used my computer and gaming headset.  I’d gotten Pro Tools in March and had learned it well enough to use it on the other four tracks of the DICI EP.”

The first track he created was “Bar for Bar,” which provides a master class in fusing a hypnotic, moody vibe, a densely percussive groove and a high spirited, clever rhyming freestyle all about having fun, cruisin’ and enjoying life.  It also comes with a clear mission statement of his plans for the future:  “Cruisin’ down the street with my new popped collah/I look like a scholar/And I got the gualla/So bitches they holla/They straight from Valhalla.  . .I’ve been cruisin’ in the whip going 30 tho/I’m with Johas that’s my bro/Ima keep on rapping to achieve my goals/And ease my soul…”

The other tracks on the EP include the energetic hype song and slightly dangerous joyride “4door” (“Hittin’ 200 I need more”), the ominous, psychopathic (probably fictional!) seduction “Vector” (which rhymes the title world with “Lecter,” among other things) and the aforementioned “305 INTERLUDE,” which is the dreamy, neo-soul respite from the percussive tracks, and also the most overtly sensual/sexual.

The EP was released in January and DICI has since released videos for three of the songs, including this one.

All of the videos were directed by Associated Press and Emmy winning director and cinematographer Brian Bayerl of Greendoor East Productions.  They are being promoted by The Syndicate.

The songs are quite explicit and not for the easily offended, but if you will listen carefully there is a lot of truth contained in his lyrics.  DICI has a unique cultural background (American dad, Japanese mom) and has completed numerous international trips, making him a true musical citizen of the world who can draw inspiration from a wide range of fascinating experiences.  The trilingual (Italian, Japanese, English) artist lived the first five years of his life in Milan, and though he’s been in Miami ever since, he’s traveled to Japan countless times and even went to school for a time in Tokyo.

The heavy Japanese cultural influence on his life inspired what he’s dubbing the EP’s “bonus track,” “Shibuya,” which features his witty, picturesque freestyle travelogue pinging off a jazzy rock vibe infused with traditional Eastern sonic touches.  When he raps, “I’m in heaven, feel like a God,” it’s no exaggeration.  He’s been there.  He’s felt it.

“I’ve always found satisfaction doing creative things and getting rewarded for it, and my rap career is no exception,” he says.  “My family has been super supportive of what I’m doing, and realizing that so many talented artists don’t have this kind of support makes me eager to use my future success to help others get started, including giving away free studio time and recording equipment to those who need it.  I enjoy reflecting on this crazy year, where so much seemed to happen by sheer coincidence to get me where I am right now – from recording on my headphone and X-Box to now.

“That YouTube video got everything rolling,” he adds, “and I am looking forward now to sharing my tracks with everyone. No one knows how 2021 will be for musicians and touring, but I hope to be out there performing and meeting new people very soon. In the meantime, I’m going to keep building my brand, creating new tracks and working with Giuseppe and keep releasing new music.”

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Women in Entertainment

Leni Black opens up her heart to let us know how she feels

Leni Black is an emerging Nashville-based singer/songwriter with a no-holds-barred songwriting style that has sprung up from such diverse inspirations as the Grateful Dead, Carole King and Carly Simon.   Even her stage name came from another inspiration – her grandfather, Leonard Epstein, who was a singer/songwriter in NYC that sounded like Frank Sinatra.  She combined his stage name “Lenny” along with her grandmother’s maiden name.

“How I Feel” is a song about the desperate feeling of not being able to say how to feel in the moment.  It came out of a chance writing session with three rookie Nashville songwriters,” explains Black.

“Israel (McFarland) and I met by chance through another Nashville songwriter who suggested we all get in a room and write together. An hour into the session the song was nearly finished. I came in with a melody for the chorus, and as soon as Israel hopped on the piano and sang “your eyes are the problem” I knew we were going to work well together. We both love pulling on heartstrings and being as emotional as possible. Greyson Campbell, who was the link between us, always kept us in check with where the song was headed as we could get off track pretty easily talking about our own experiences hiding feelings.
“I didn’t realize Israel was also a talented musician and producer.  We did a couple of takes of the song in his room and I came back the next couple of nights for background vocals, a couple of weeks later the song was finished.  We are both new to Nashville and passionate about writing, now with a couple more songs in the works.  What I love about working with Israel is that he also uses his own experiences and pours his heart into a song.  Whenever we write it is always an emotional hour or so.  The only good cries I had this year were with him in the room with a piano.”
McFarland is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter and producer with a growing portfolio of original songs and a passion for creating great music.   He explains, “This production really gave me the chance to stretch my creativity.  While it was influenced by our indie-pop roots, the main focus was creating something that felt new and authentic to the artist.”

Spotify – HOW i FEEL

Black likes to say that she doesn’t write a lot of love songs – but she’s written a ton of breakup songs.  That’s because when she’s in the throes of a relationship, riding the wave of joy and expectation, shes too in the moment to write reflectively about it.  Yet she has plenty of time post-breakup, when she’s engulfed in tearful emotions and in need of catharsis, to write her heart out.  Now that she’s going after her long-delayed dream of making music for a living, she’s got an incredible stockpile of emotional outpourings that she hopes will connect with everyone who has ever gone through these same types of experiences – which is pretty much everyone.

The Maryland native is the first to admit that she “kind of let life take me wherever I wanted throughout my 20’s.  I’m basically a runaway bride who doesn’t know what eggs she likes” – a reference to a hilarious scene in the 1999 film where Richard Gere accuses Julia Roberts of not having a mind of her own because her tastes change with every new guy she meets.

“I stayed inside weekend after weekend crying and writing, singing and playing music to heal from all the heartbreak I kept going through,” Leni says.  “I probably slipped into some sort of depression without many of my friends knowing.  I’m generally a very happy, easygoing and sarcastic person.  I don’t normally express my emotions verbally.  Songwriting has given me that outlet and I’ve been doing it since I got my first journal.  It’s always been a form of expression for me that I have kept to myself.”

We think this young lady has a whole heap of potential and we are thoroughly impressed with her new song, which debuted last Friday, February 26.  She reminds us of early Taylor Swift, and we can easily see Black on the radio for an extended period of time.  We can’t wait to see what comes next and we will be rooting for her success.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Michael Shynes is having one of those kind of days

Photo by Mike Theines

Michael Shynes is a gifted singer/songwriter who is only recently beginning to come into his own.  He lost his Father to an auto immune disease at the age of 25.  To honor his Dad’s legacy, he decided to chase those dreams he had put off for so long.   At that time he was working at a residential treatment center for teens and playing the occasional show on the weekend.

Shynes eplained, “It was important work, and shaped who I am today in a lot of ways.  But after three years, I just got tired of getting beat up, spit on, and called everything you can imagine.  I loved those kids though, and wouldn’t trade my time there for anything.”

Shynes moved back home to keep costs down while trying to become a full time musician.  “It worked out well because I didn’t want to think of my Mom being alone in the house after my Dad’s passing.  But by the same token, it felt like a lateral move being back in my childhood home.  I had many an existential crisis during that time.”

Shynes began playing every show that he possibly could, and as time went on, he was able to pay all his bills (and student loans) with an acoustic guitar.  “Paying rent every month by writing and performing songs was pretty surreal, and the harder I worked, the better the gigs got.”

Shynes was often considered to be a strong local candidate to open up for national acts as they came through town, and even ended up on a tour with platinum recording artist Howie Day.  “That really taught me a lot because I was playing for theaters full of people who were not there to see me.  But I was telling the stories and playing my songs, and everyone was listening.  That was a landmark experience.”

Since that time, Shynes has worked to become one of the most sought after acoustic performers and songwriters in the Midwest. He has an ability to blend shades of multiple genres over an acoustic landscape, and his songs are ripe with lyrical depth rarely paired with mainstream appeal.  “The thing that seems to separate Shynes is unquestionably his voice and phrasing.  With a range and falsetto that is nothing short of captivating, his acoustic finger picking style acts as the perfect bed of warmth on which his soulful lyrics can rest.” (Up Next, a local Minnesota publication)

Shynes has recently completed a new album that will be released on November 18, 2017.   In the meantime, he is already getting favorable press, including The Huffington Post, as to his first single and the title track, “Cold Day in Hell,” which was released on October 13.

https://soundcloud.com/michaelshynes/cold-day-in-hell

This song is the perfect track for sharing his talents.  It combines comedic lyrics with a truly relatable story that most of us have endured at some point in our life.  He has followed up the single release with a hilarious lyric video that further drives home his story.

We love the new single and the lyric video.  We also encourage you to check out the live videos he has recently posted on his YouTube page.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Interviews

Robert Earl Keen returns with new music (interview)

We were hoping to post this earlier but life has a way of manifesting itself in strange ways.  We had the opportunity to interview one of the greatest indie songwriters of the past 30 years, just before he was scheduled to play the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles and introduce his new music.  He is currently in the studio working on making these songs available to his massive fan base.  We only wish we could have been there for the show.

Robert Earl Keen has been a staple on the indie music scene for the past 30 years.  Here is our interview

IVB:  Who would you say was your biggest influence? 

REK:  My most famous influence was Willie Nelson.  I liked Willie before Willie was cool.  If ya want to get a hint of that, pull up the Ernest Tubb show.  Willie was the special guest every week.

The person I tried to emulate was Norman Blake.  I spent hundreds of hours trying to play like Norman.  I know many of his songs and a few of his covers.  I recorded “Billy Gray” on Walking Distance and I first heard “Poor Ellen Smith” on Norman’s record.  I recorded that song on my 2015 Bluegrass album Happy Prisoner.
 
IVB:  Do you think that you have now moved into the role of influencer?

REK:  What is the difference between truth telling and bragging? There are so many people tooting their horns, I have a hard time with that question.  As human beings, we all influence things constantly.  We all share in this experience.  I’ve never been one for staking a claim on credit.  Here’s a short story that might enlighten you pertaining to that question:

TWENTY YEARS AGO there was a guy who owned a club in central Texas.  It was a quasi-dance club that catered to country music fans. When an artist would call to pitch for a chance to play the club, this club owner would ask, “Are you a Robert Earl Keen or are you a Hat Act?” I always got a kick out of that.
 
IVB:  Have your influences changed since you first began making music?  If so, what has changed?

REK:  I used to be frightened to death of the studio.  Mostly it was about the cost of making a record, but I also played with incredible musicians and far be it from me to waste their time.  I have more money now and I’m comfortable with the fact that recording takes time and diligence.  My playing is still mediocre at best, but I love the studio.  I try things now I never imagined.  It’s an incredible place to create music.  In the past, I had to keep all the music in my head.  Now I can work one song at a time and get the exact treatment I’m looking for in every song.  As to influences, I love classical music. I’ve come to understand that classical music is all about placement and nuance.  Classical music provides us with a map to understand recording like no other music can do.  Volume changes, tone, or how many instruments one uses to support the musical phrase.  Classical music has had the biggest influence on my musical thinking for the past ten years.
 
IVB:  Do you think the Americana industry itself has changed, or is the change more personal? 

REK:  Americana has changed drastically.  Here’s a credit grabber for you.  I was the original poster boy for Americana when it was created by Gavin Magazine in 1996 or 97.  I don’t remember the year.  I’m on the cover.

There was a gold rush like campaign to control and define Americana music.  In the beginning, it was wide open.  Americana included everyone from the folk scene – Greg Brown, Bill Morrissey, Patty Larkin, John Gorka, Dar Williams and so many others. Americana included west coasters – Dave Alvin, Norton Buffalo, Rosie Flores, all kinds of jam bands.  But it was Nashville who won out in the end.  Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Drive By Truckers, Patti Griffin, Lucinda Moore, Buddy Miller, and Jim Lauderdale were among the Nashville group.  I was lucky to be included in that group.

The field is much smaller now, but the amount of music that is out there in the world of Americana, and specifically the Nashville brand, is seemingly infinite.  I feel like I’m always changing. In that way I’m the same as I always was.

Wow, that was fun – it was such a honor to interview Keen and to hear his thoughts on the genre that inspired him and supported him all these years.  We look forward to hearing his new songs.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Interviews

Artists worth checking out: Brian Mackey

We are so happy to have the opportunity to interview an amazing indie artist named Brian Mackey.

Currently based in New York City by way of Florida, Mackey released his fourth project in 2015, which also happened to be his first full length release, Broken Heartstrings.  One of the tracks from the album, “Are you Listening?” was used in the PS game, “Until Dawn.”  As a result of that exposure, the song charted in the Top 100 in Germany as well as on iTunes Germany, generated more than 280,000 streams on Spotify and resulted in sold-out shows through Germany.

We took the time to do an interview with Mackey to help his fans find out a little more about him.  Sit back and enjoy the narrative:

IVB:  How long have you been performing?

BM:  Nine years.

IVB:  Who do you consider o be your influences?

BM:  I have many influences, mostly being music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, especially artists like Jim Croce, Billy Joel, The Clash and Nirvana.

IVB:  What makes your most recent release so special?

BM:  I think it’s the varied styles I used.  It was recorded in Nashville and had a unique flavor.

IVB:  What are your future plans?

BM:  Right now in the studio with produce Jon Levine in  Hollywood working on the next album and a tour to follow – stay tuned!

IVB:  Do you have any stories you want to share about your band – touring, recording or fan interaction?

BM:  I was warming up in a  hotel room before a show in Nashville when someone knocked on the door.  When I opened it, there was a shady looking guy with a screwdriver in his hands and he said with a southern accent, “I wanna meet the man behind the music.”  He was drunk and sizing up my gear.  Turns out he was the hotel maintenance man who was a “fan.”  I kept my stuff in another place for the rest of the trip.

IVB:  What types of social medial do you use?

BM:  All the usual places:  my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and of course, YouTube.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Reviews

Sarah Ault delivers a winner in Hold Fast Open Palm

photo by Flip Cassidy

With the release of her latest album, Hold Fast Open Palm, Sarah Ault is on her way to becoming a household name in Los Angeles, with the world waiting at her doorstep.  Her vocals are reminiscent of Annie Lennox and her songs have powerful lyrics and instrumentation that are worthy of mass exposure.

She has recently released a music video for the first track, “Flesh and Blood and Bone” that is simply amazing.  Kudos to director Lindsey Haun for an amazing film.  Check it out!

Ault’s voice is sultry and powerful and is perfectly combined with the airiness of her keyboards.  The other instrumentation, especially the strings and guitar. take her music to a level not normally heard in indie music today.

All 10 tracks are worthy of repeated listens.  Top songs include “Flesh and Blood and Bone,” “Adam,” “The Hunted” and “Long Way Down.”

We are pleased to highly recommend Hold Fast Open Palm.  For more info, check out her website and Facebook pages, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her Vimeo channel.

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Comedy and sex appeal combine to form Un5gettable

If Weird Al and Progressive’s Flo had a family who grew up to be a boy band, the result would be Un5gettable.

Composed of Joe Cameron, Kyle Cothern, Brendan Hawkins, Ryan Richards and Zach Harris, Un5, as they are affectionately called by their fans, came from the local civic theatre, where they were relatively above average performers, at least as far as community theatre goes.

According to their website, Cameron met Cothern when Cothern was a toddler because Cameron went to school with Cothern’s older siblings.  Cameron loved Cothern’s perfect pitch, and they became friends.  Richards lived across the street from Cameron.  Richards and Cothern were in grade school together, where they were often mistaken for twins.  Hawkins and Richards were in show choir together in high school.

Years later, Cameron, Hawkins and Richards were cast as brothers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  The circle was complete when Cameron and Harris were cast in Crazy for You.  They began playing music together, and the rest, they say, is history.

The group was formed in 2002, and has been playing around the Midwest ever since.  They released their latest videos, “Sorry” and “I Wish” on March 30, and they are freaking hilarious.

What hits you first are the perfect vocal harmonies and the simple piano and guitar instrumentation.  But once you listen to the lyrics, you can’t help but start laughing inside.   Cameron is a true wordsmith, crafting realistic lyrics that combine to tell a story that is funny enough for Weird Al.

The videos also show the comedic timing and abilities of the individuals of the group, each of whom shine forth.

If you are in need of a laugh, then Un5gettable is the band for you.  Check out their website and Facebook pages, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and definitely subscribe to their YouTube page.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Artists worth checking out: Brooke Moriber

One of the best things about writing a blog focusing on indie artists is the opportunity to check out amazing new artists and share them with readers.  Thanks to Jen Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions and Rick Eberle, Indie Voice is proud to share and recommend Brooke Moriber as this month’s “Artist Worth Checking Out.”

Born and raised in New York City (Manhattan’s Greenwich Village to be precise), Brooke Moriber is a singer/ songwriter known for her edgy pop tunes.  She got her start on Broadway at the tender age of eight when she was cast as young Cosette in Les Miserables.  Since then, she has performed in six other Broadway shows, including roles as Nadine in The Wild Party, Iola Stover in Parade and Lily in James Joyce’s The Dead, as well as guest starring roles on television and in the movies, including Law and Order: CI, Swift Justice, A Town’s Revenge, Off-Track Betty, Descent, and As The World Turns.  She also appeared on stage in Follies on Broadway and The Threepenny Opera, the latter with Cyndi Lauper and Alan Cumming.

In addition, she also premiered Randy Newman’s “Stupid Little Songs” in Seattle, portraying Randy’s first wife in The Education Of Randy Newman.  Moriber has been a featured performer on the Tony awards three times and recently performed in a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park .

Not only can she act and sing show tunes, but she has her own style of pop music that is a cross between Amy Lee of Evanescence and Katy Perry.   The Associated Press credited her with having a “clarion voice” with an “immense vocal range.”

Moriber had her first material licensed to Nickelodeon when she was only 15.  Since then her songs have been featured on soundtracks for film and theater.  With her band, she has performed at such New York City venues as Pianos, The Cutting Room, The Knitting Factory and the Red Lion.  More recently, her performance at Revolution Music Hall was filmed for Verizon Fios’ Channel 1 where she was chosen as one of the artists to be featured on Rick’s Rising Stars.

Moriber released her debut EP Fire in August 2015, and has begun performing outside of New York City to support the release.  Last week she visited the Golden State to perform at Los Angeles venues Genghis Cohen and Room 5, where her shows were met with resounding success.

For more information about this artist, check out her website and Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel.