dance music – Indie Voice Blog

Working our way through a massive hill of review requests and found these three new artists to share with you. While we are familiar with one of them, the other two are brand new to us. Grab your coffee and check out what we think of their new releases.

Artist Name: The Charlatans

Album Name: Different Days

Label: BMG/The End Records

Genre: Brit Pop

Track Listing: 1. Hey Sunrise; 2. Solutions; 3. Different Days; 4. Future Tense; 5. Plastic Machinery; 6. The Forgotten One; 7. Not Forgotten; 8. There will be Chances; 9. Over Again; 10. The Same House; 11. Let’s go Together; 12. The Setting Sun; 13. Spinning Out

Publicist: The End Records PR

Review: It’s hard to believe that Different Days is the 13th album released by The Charlatans, and we have never heard of them before. But thanks to our friends at BMG and The End, they are now on our radar and we are overjoyed for the chance to review their latest collaboration, featuring such a diverse list of special musical guests as Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, and Sharon Horgan, as well as writers Ian Rankin and Kurt Wagner, who provide spoken word tracks that complement the album (“Future Tense” and “The Forgotten One”). The band has a core of Tim Burgess, Martin Blunt, Mark Collins and Tony Rogers, and has never been afraid to supplement that core with special guests, resulting in an auditory experience that warms the heart, stimulates the mind and keeps the toes tapping. The album has a 90’s vibe that is refreshing yet familiar, and features such strong songs as “Solutions,” the title track, “Plastic Machinery” (the first single), “Not Forgotten,” “There Will be Chances,” and “Spinning Out” (the masterful conclusion to an amazing work of art).

Recommendation: Different Days will be released on May 26 on all digital platforms, as well as in hard copy CD and vinyl. We highly suggest you pre-order it so that you will be sure to Get It as soon as it is available. In the meantime, check out their Facebook page for more information.

Artist Name: MINKA

Album Name: Born in the Viper Room

Label: Self-released

Genre: Jam/Dance

Track Listing: 1. I Can’t Shake This Feeling; 2. Josephine; 3. Gravity; 4. Company Man; 5. Still Waiting

Publicist: Noisy Ghost PR

Review: OMG! We were not prepared for the magic that is MINKA, a jamming dance band out of Philadelphia. Where have these guys been hiding? Borrowing heavily from the 80’s with a healthy dose of Bowie and Prince, their music compels you to get up and dance. It has a great beat and a feel good vibe that makes everything better. It is easy to see why they have become one of the best dance bands on the East Coast. We just wish there were more than five songs on the EP. If the band intended to entice their listeners with just enough to make you want more, then they have succeeded. While we seriously love the lead track, “I Can’t Shake This Feeling,” we also love “Josephine,” their first single. You can’t go wrong with this EP.

Recommendation: We sincerely recommend this EP and suggest you pre-order it to ensure you are first in line when it is released on May 26. Do whatever you have to do but you simply must Get It.

Artist Name: Gina Sicilia

Album Name: Tug of War

Label: Blue Élan Records

Genre: Singer-Songwriter Blues/Soul

Track Listing: 1. Don’t Want to be (in Love); 2. Damaging Me; 3. He Called me Baby; 4. I’ll Stand Up; 5. Never Gonna End; 6. I Cried; 7. They Never pay Me; 8. Abandoned; 9. Tell Him; 10. All my Lovin’; 11. Heaven

Publicist: MAD Ink PR

Review: Already a rising voice in the blues community, Gina Sicilia shows her songwriting chops on Tug of War, her seventh album in the last 10 years. Her voice is unique, with a strong soulful sound, and the depth of her lyrics shine through every track on the album. From the first notes of “I Don’t Want to be (in Love),” it quickly becomes obvious that this young woman is a force to be reckoned with, and someone who most definitely will have a long career ahead. Her vocals are soothing while delivering honest and personal lyrics with universal themes that instantly connect with her listeners, especially the second track, “Damaging Me.” The production efforts of Grammy-winner Glenn Barratt and Grammy-nominated Dave Darling bring out all the warmth of her voice, combined with a can’t-miss musical accompaniment that should cement Sicilia’s place on the musical landscape. We dig every track on the album, which should be in the library of every serious audiophile. There’s also a couple of hidden gems in her covers of the 60’s songs “Tell Her” and “All my Loving.”

Recommendation: Surely a candidate for best album of 2017, Tug of War has everything a true music lover wants and needs in an album. We are proud to offer our highest recommendation for this album, which will be released on June 2, and urge you to pre-order it so that you will be sure to Get It before it’s gone.

Born in Norway and currently based in Switzerland, K-Syran is an indie artist on a mission. She released her latest album Smoke in my Veins on August 6 on Intimacy Records. The record contains 12 tracks including “Intimacy,” which was selected as the anthem for the 2016 United Nation’s International Women’s Day, and “Hello,” which is currently riding the Billboard Dance Charts.

The album was recorded at Metropolis Studios and produced by Tom Nichols (Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue) and Charlie Thomas (One Direction, Nick Mason), who are credited as The Secret Agents. But what sets the album apart from others is the fact that it combines seductive dance tunes with a thought-provoking message in a style that has become the trademark of K-Syran.

“The power and joy of song has the ability to comfort and inspire each individual. Music can offer hope when people need it most – that’s what I want to give,” says K-Syran. “I wrote some of the material on Smoke In My Veins with women in mind, but the ideas and emotions behind my songs strive to be universal. I think it’s a mistake to think that lyrics in dance music cannot deal with anything of substance. Dance was a form of spiritual activity for human beings throughout the history of our kind, a powerful form of emotional and physical expression. That’s why I want my music to give audiences music that would move their bodies while engaging their minds. ”

In an effort to learn more about this intriguing artist, Indie Voice Blog interviewed her. Check out the results of that interview below:

IVB: How long have you been performing?

K-S: When I was five, I told my parents that I would become an actress. I have been performing ever since and never looked back! Performing is my life, and without it, I believe I would die. I have experienced short periods of not performing in my life, and I felt as though my soul was dying

IVB: Who do you consider to be your influences?

K-S: As a female artist it must be the one and only Madonna! What a woman she is! I believe she will go down in history as a revolutionary, a strong female artist who conquered the entire world with her charisma and determination! She is a true artist and business woman, and a legend who still has children singing her songs!

IVB: What makes your new release special?

K-S: Smoke in my Veins is full of excitement and pleasure because it contains rhythmic chanting with depth! I believe that losing yourself in rhythmic movements that get your pulse racing can induce a mood of frenzied exhilaration. In addition I hope that my vulnerable lyrics will reach you deep inside.

IVB: What are your future plans?

K-S: I’m working on a new album which I’m super excited about. Because of the success of my single “Hello,” which reached #38 on the Top 40 Billboard Charts, and my album in the United States and the UK, I am planning a mini-tour. In addition to my music, I’m still working as an actress. I am filming a psycho thriller at the moment, and my part is exciting and challenging.

I am also producing my play, Breaking the Silence, in Geneva next January. I wrote the play for an amazing cause that we should all be more aware of called Human Rights Watch.

In Africa, young girls are getting married between the ages of 13 to 14, and are starting families. Medically speaking, they are far too young to give birth, and often end up with vaginal fistulas, resulting in their rejection by their husbands and the community. This condition can be corrected with a tiny, inexpensive operation that can save these girls.

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

K-S: While touring with Blue on their UK tour, my dancing DJ’s system completely broke down on set, forcing me to sing a cappella in front of an audience of 4000! I loved every second. It was such a treat being on this one month tour with Blue’s four guys, Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe and Antony Costa.

IVB: What types of social media do you use?

K-S: I love Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, as well as YouTube. In fact, the music video for my song “Hello” was recorded using some of the tech from Snapchat.

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