Tag: Cara Frew

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2021 (vol 18)

Happy Monday – we’re back with another edition of Monday Mashup and we have some very interesting tunes to share with you this week, including a new single from a baseball legend.  Grab your coffee and let’s get started.

NEW SINGLES

He’s a baseball legend and one of the best pitchers of the past 20 years.  We’re talking of course of the great Barry Zito | Facebook, who pitched for both the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A’s.  But he’s also a brilliant musician from a musical family (sister Sally Zito is an indie piano musician).  Check out his new single.

Our next single comes from an multi LA Music Critic Award winner, Katie Costello.  She’s got the right idea, as she talks about viewing the world through “Rose Colored Glasses.”

Jay Nash was one of the success stories that came out of the famed Hotel Café.  His latest is a beautiful acoustic cover of one of Tom  Petty‘s greatest hits.  Check out Nash’s version of “Won’t Back Down” with his band, The Contenders.

Our fourth single this week is a future blues classic from the brilliant Karen Lawrence and her band, Blue by Nature.  She’s under a “Bad Spell” and we couldn’t be prouder of this song.  This one bears repeating!

We close out our singles this week with this powerful song from the sultry Christina LaRocca, who reminds us about “The New Normal.”  Welcome to post-pandemic America.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week comes from our favorite South African indie artist Cara Frew.  This is the perfect kick-off video for summer.  Check out “Falling.”

Video number two this week features the country sound of Corinne Cook as she discusses her dating life.  This humorous lyric video will have you ROFL with “Blah, Blah, Blah.”

For our third video this week we would love to introduce one of the fastest rising bands in the country.  Composed of Chip Moreland (husband of indie queen Cindy Alexander) and Gregory Markel, All in your head has captured the heart of music lovers with their incredible harmonies, creative videos and a retro sound.  Check out “How Does it Feel to be Real?”  We think you’ll be back for more.

On the pop country front, we stumbled across this amazing artist and we truly his sound, which we think could quickly rise up the charts and deserves serious radio airplay.  Check out J4 and be “Better.”

We close out this week with another future country smash from Seth Michael.  His latest belongs on country radio and the video is amazing.  Check out “She Got a Thing.”

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indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2020 (vol 12)

Welcome to another week.  Had a medical procedure this morning, but ready to share these great new singles and music videos with you.  Hope you enjoy them.  Please let us know.

NEW SINGLES

First up this week is the modern rock sound of Janelle Baretto and her band ROCKET.  This one is a timely song about the present situation and is damn good.  Listen to the lyrics and rock on to “Losing Breath.”

We move from rock to country for our second single, which is being released to radio shortly.  We fell in love with Casey Ahern the first time we saw her perform at The Mint, and she’s only gotten better.  Check out “Didn’t Even get a Goodbye.”  We think this one should launch her into the stratosphere.

Moving on to Americana, we present Oklahoma duo The Imaginaries.  They have some great stuff coming on Friday, but in the meantime, here’s their latest single, “Revival.”

Our fourth single has a distinctive 80s vibe to this brilliant offering from London’s Sleepwoka.  Check out the Depeche Mode dream quality of “How I was Wrong.”

Our final single this week is reminiscent of Meghan Trainor and introduces us to the amazing sound of Aubrey Toone.  Where has this lady been hiding?  We simply love her and can’t believe she’s been around LA and we never heard her before.  Enjoy her latest single, “Outrun.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is the welcome return of Dauzat St. Marie with an amazing song that has been picked up for the 75th edition of NOW That’s Music.  We think you will love their interpretation of their new single, “Common Ground.”  We definitely do!

Last week we shared the new single from Cara Frew, “Waiting for Love.”  This week we get to share the music video, which is super hot.  Enjoy this South African princess and don’t make her wait any longer.

Our friends Single by Sunday are back with another amazing tune that deserves serious airplay.  Check out the video for “Secret.”

We have always loved the music of Paul Edelman and Jangling Sparrows, and their latest, “Joshua Chamberlain,” is no different.  This one will rock your Americana, and we couldn’t be more proud of it.  We think you’ll love it too.

We close out this week’s music videos with an artist that brings back the joy and danceability of disco with her latest song “Beat of Life.”  We can’t believe we missed this artist before, but really love her sound.  Check out Aline Mayne.

 

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indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2020 (vol 11)

We’re back!  After a flurry of Pizza Hut RGM (that’s restaurant general manager) resignations, I have had to work 70+ hours for each of the past three weeks.  In fact, today is only my second day off since this began.  So much great music has been released recently that we hardly know where to start.  We hope you are as excited by these new tunes as we are in sharing them.

NEW SINGLES

Our first new single is from Alecia Nugent, with a country gem that will definitely pull at your heart strings.  Check out “They Don’t Make ’em Like my Daddy Anymore.”

Next up is a timely song from Blue Élan Records resident country songstress, Chelsea Williams.  Listen to the words and take action – “No Justice, No Peace.”

Single number three is a call to action to those who haven’t learned that “Actions speak louder then words.”  It’s been a long time since Ali Handal released new music, and based on her latest, the wait was worth it.  Listen to “Shut Your Mouth and Do Something,” and take it to heart.

We have a special YouTube single for you today, with the release of the latest from South Africa’s own Cara Frew.  She’s “Waiting for Love,” and we don’t want her to wait any longer.

Next up is a song that combines the resources of the uber-talented Shooter Jennings with his long-time friend and bassist, Ted Russell Kamp.  “Home Sweet Hollywood” is from Kamp’s latest offering, From the Den, and shows that Kamp is not just a supporting musician by a front man on his own.  Enjoy this groovy tune.

Our final single this week is the perfect marriage of blues and rock, and feels like BB King and Jimi Hendrix had a love child.  Enjoy the rocking “Touch the Sky,” from the James Pace Band.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

We kick off our music videos this week with the latest lyric video from Life.Church Worship, from their forthcoming EP, Jesus is Near, which will be released on August 14.  Here’s “Never Will.”

Back in July 1983, Christian music was changed with the birth of STRYPER, the first Christian metal band.  The band has announced the release of their new album, Even the Devil Believes, on September 4.  In the meantime, they have released a lyric video for the timely “Make Love Great Again.”  We are so  happy to have them back.

Our next lyric video is from BLAZAR, aka Jerad Finck, who is joined by DAXSEN on “Tomorrow.”  It is no wonder this latest collaboration is headed to the top of the charts.

One of our favorite Latin artists, Vanessa Zamora, has a sure hit with the R&B-tinged stylings of “Ayer.”  This one will help you get your groove on.

We close out this edition of Monday Mashup with the latest masterpiece from Ben Fuller.  “Find my Faith” will strengthen your own resolve to make it through these trying days.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Awards Best of 2017 Get it or Forget it Women in Entertainment

Best international EPs of 2017

We have reviewed a total of 338 albums and EPs this year.  As you can imagine, there have been quite a lot of great ones along the way, and we plan to share some of them with you over the next four days.  We are breaking our “Best of 2017” lists down into four categories – Best American EPs, Best International EPs, Best American Albums and Best International albums.  Today we will share our Top 10 Best International EPs.  Individual reviews are available as part of our blog’s “Get it or Forget it” series.

10.  Elephant Stone, Remix of Fools.  This five-song EP contains remixes from the band’s Ship of Fools album,  The best of those songs is the Young Galaxy remix of “The Devil’s Shelter.”  Check out these lads from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

9.  Amber Run, Alaska.  This four-song EP contains two songs from the band’s sophomore album For a Moment, I was Lost, as well as two cover songs, including Maggie Rodgers’ “Alaska.”  This band hails from the UK.

8.  Strange Boy, Annunciation.  The band released their debut EP with four songs.  They are also from the UK.

7.  TYA, No Money, More Love.   Queensland, Australia is responsible for this amazing band, who has brought us five new songs.

6.  The Raft, Coming up for Air.  Phil Wilson aka The Raft is responsible for two of the best EPs of 2017.  This one was released back in August.  Wilson hails from the UK.

5.  The Fisherman & the Sea, The Beggar Princess.  This EP is part of a group of four scheduled to be released before their debut full-length album later this year.  We can hardly wait.  Our first band from Finland.

4.    The Raft, Orion.  Gift number two from Phil Wilson.  This one is the best of the three EPs he released in 2017.

3.  Hundreds, Wilderness (Akustik Edition).  German siblings Eva and Philipp Milner have brought us a true treasure with an acoustic version of some of their hits, along with an acoustic cover of Bon Iver’s “Plume.”

2.  Wolf & Moon, Frames.  Stefanie and Dennis met at a party in the Netherlands, and now travel the world sharing their dreampop material.

1.  Cara Frew, Dance.  Cara splits her time between her native South Africa and the US, bringing great electro pop dance music wherever she travels.

We’ll be back tomorrow with the Top 15 American EPs.  See ya then.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Julian Borrego, Cara Frew, fos, Sundara Karma

Still trying to catch up on the multitude of submissions we have recently had from indie musicians.  Still have about 15 to do to bring us up to last Friday, and another three being released this Friday.  We will do our best to be caught up by then.  Here are today’s four reviews.

Artist Name:  Julian Borrego

Album Name:  Ouroboros

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Psychedelic Funk/Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  Small Talk; 2.  Weekdaze; 3.  Xeriscape; 4.  Sound Is; 5.  1 2 3; 6.  Mbuti/Devotion to the Rainforest; 7.  OutroThanks4ListeningAdios

Publicist:  Mora May Agency

Review:  Eerie, psychedelic, electronic, dreamy, synthy and funky – all of these words describe the music of Julian Borrego, which combines so many individual types of sounds to create a rainbow of music – think OEM meets Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix.  Borrego is fast becoming an force both inside and outside the indie music community.  His single “Xeriscape” is introducing people to the power of his songs, and propelling Borrego into the spotlight.  Judging from this eclectic collection of music, that spotlight is well deserved.  We really love “Weekdaze,” “Xeriscape,” and “123.”

Recommendation:  This album can send you on an acid trip without the drugs.  We recommend you Get it and give it a spin.

Artist Name:  Cara Frew

Album Name:  Dance

Label:  Sony Music Entertainment

Genre:  Pop/Dance

Track Listing:  1.  Only High With You; 2.  You Got Me (SNBRN & Blu J ft. Cara Frew); 3.  Dance; 4.  You Got Me POP Mix

Publicist:  The Blossom Agency

Review:  Cara Frew is an artist who splits her time between her native South Africa and London.  Her music is a mix of both her cultures, infusing pop lyrics over African beats to create music that makes your toes tap and your body want to get up and dance.  All four songs are fun and serve as a perfect tease of Frew’s potential.  We especially like her collaboration with SNBRN & Blu J on “You Got Me” as well as the title track.

Recommendation:  If you love to dance, then this is the perfect EP for you.  Get it and dance!

Artist Name:  fos

Album Name:  Captain Free

Label:  Near the Exit Music

Genre:  Electronic Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Captain Free; 2.  Aeras Fissa; 3. Better no Map; 4.  Adamos; 5.  Captain Free II; 6.  Captain Free III; 7.  Sailing out of the Storm; 8.  Wild on Blue; 9.  Captain Free IV

Publicist:  Vision Music Promotions

Review:  London based Greek artist Katerina Koutouzi is the force behind fos.  She takes traditional Greek folk music and gives it an electronica feel.  The title track is presented in four different styles, each of which show just a portion of the immense talent of this artist.  Although this is not the type of album that is radio friendly (except for maybe NPR), it is perfect for those with eclectic tastes who crave something different.   Her music does have that eerie ethereal feel of Enya, which makes the album perfect as background music.  Best tracks include “Aeras Fissa,” “Better no Map,” “Adamos,” and “Wild on Blue.”

Recommendation:  This one is not for everyone, but if you have eclectic taste, it should be a perfect fit.  We still recommend you Get it.

 

Artist Name:  Sundara Karma

Album Name:  Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect

Label:  Chess Club/RCA Victor

Genre:  Alternative

Track Listing:  1.  A Young Understanding; 2.  Loveblood; 3.  Explore; 4.  Olympia; 5.  Lakhey; 6.  Happy Family; 7.  Flame; 8.  She Said; 9.  Lose the Feeling; 10.  Vivienne; 11.  Be Nobody; 12.  Deep Relief; 13.  Watching From Great Heights; 14.  The Night; 15.  Another Word for Beautiful

Publicist:  Stache Media

Review:  UK natives Sundara Karma are back with an extended version of their latest album, which was released digitally earlier this year.  The extended version adds three songs, including their latest single “Explore.”  Their previous single, “She Said,” reached #31 on the Alternative Songs chart while “Explore” has already reached #18 on the Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists chart and is still climbing. The band has charted on three additional charts:  Next Big Sound, Rock Airplay and Spotify Viral 50 with a total of four different songs.  Needless to say, this band seems to be just what the indie world needs right now.  Even with just a casual listen to the album, it quickly becomes apparent why this band is having so much success.  The music is upbeat with great rock vocals that play well on the radio.  The lyrics are great without being so deep that the listener gets lost in them, instead of the steady alternative rock beat lurking underneath.   There is not a weak song on this 15-song treasure chest.  Have fun exploring this emerging giant of music.

Recommendation:  You simply must Get this album.  It is that good!