Tag: Jay Katana

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 33 (rev.)

Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served and provided the freedoms we enjoy.  I am proud to be counted among you.  Take advantage of all the free food available today – you’ve earned it.  In the meantime, we’ll share some new singles and music videos, including the return of our Pop Princess, Katie Costello.  Let’s get going.

NEW SINGLES

We are overjoyed to share the latest from multi-LA Music Critic Award winner and Pop Princess Katie Costello.  It’s the first new music from her since December 2017, and we could not be more ecstatic.  Check out “Polaroid” and welcome her back with open arms and ears.

Our second single comes from the creative mind of former LA artist Amie Mirello.  Somehow she found time between touring as a back-up singer for Sugarland to form a new band called Boys Club for Girls.  They have released their first single, and it is smokin’ hot.  Check out “The Weatherman.”

We continue sharing amazing new holiday songs from Blue Élan Records‘ artists, including  this stunning cover of the classic “A Marshmallow World” from the one and only Scout Durwood.  We think this one will quickly become one of your favorites.

If you love stunning harmonies, we have a treat for you from another Blue Élan Records artist, Mustangs of the West.  Check out their take on the song, “2000 Miles.”  We think it’s one of the most beautiful holiday songs we have ever heard.

Our final single this week is especially poignant and special to me, as I lost my father two years ago this Thanksgiving.  He is tall. from Denmark gives a stirring tribute to his father in his single “Dad.” and we are happy to share this one with you.  Make sure you have some tissues close by.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from the creative mind of Jay Katana, who has created a new band called Violates/Violets.  Here is their first single, “Retake (Believe).”  We think they definitely have something special and can’t wait to hear more.

Next up is the latest from budding pop queen Maggie Miles.  Check out this fun video shot at a roller skating rink for her song, “Shiver.”  Enjoy!

If you grew up in the 70s, you will enjoy this nostalgic video from Paul Mosley and the Red Meat Orchestra.  Enjoy “The 1970s.”

Our fourth video is from LA quintet The Mowgli’s, who offer sage advice in this fun video for their song, “Fighting With Yourself.”  We can easily see this song becoming an anthem and a radio hit.  What do you think?

We close out this week’s Monday Mashup with this new video from Jack Broadbent, who we introduced last month.  Here is his new tune, “Everytime I Drown.”  Let the words of this song further strengthen your resolve to be a better you.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 30

Well, it’s official – we are now residents of Midwest City, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City.  We move into our new apartment tomorrow, although most of our stuff is still in storage in Missoula, Montana, where it will stay until the spring when the snow leaves and it is safe to move it.  Until then, we will get by on borrowed items and cheap substitutes, but we have the essentials we need.  Hopefully, our work schedules will become more firm and we will be able to schedule time to get back to regular posts here on Indie Voice Blog.  We ask for your patience until we are truly “back to normal.”

Last week we attended the Andy Grammer concert, and will be posting our review tomorrow.  In the meantime, here are five new singles and music videos from some amazing indie artists.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week will drop tomorrow, but we are giving you a sneak preview of it today.  We love the dreamy sound of Doter Sweetly, who were previously known as Grandpa Grew Trees.  We reviewed their last album, and are pleased to share the new sound of the band contained in their latest single, “Baby Boy.”  Let us know what you think.

Next up is a beautiful cover of The Rolling Stones‘ classic song, “As Tears go By” from LA Music Critic Award winners and Blue Élan Records artists Mustangs of the West.  This song has never sounded better.

Single number three comes from down under and features the folk sound of Eric Prod.  The single is called “From me to you (part 2),” and we love it.  This one would do well in our Americana market.

Next up is A Choir of Ghosts from Scandinavia with an idyllic folk sound that would do quite well in the American folk/Americana scene.  Check out “An Ounce of Gold” and let us know what you think.

Our final single is from BINX, one of the most unique indie artists in LA.  Her latest is called “Milk,” and we need to hear this sweet song on Top 40 radio.  This one is deserves repeated listens.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first music video is a simply beautiful arrangement by one of our favorite LA indie artists who is usually known more for her rocking sound than as a mellow songwriter.  We love the creative growth she shows in her latest project, “Return Home,” and think you will likewise fall in love with Abby Posner.

Our next video is short and sweet and gives us just a taste of the brilliance that is Jay Katana.  His concept for “Letter From Child” has has salivating over the release of his next project.  Enjoy this dark sweet tidbit.

Video number three is from the dreamy Kat Cunning and is equally as cinematic and dramatic as her soaring vocals.  We think this one would be great on the radio and would be perfect for placement in movies and television.  Check out “For the Love.”

Video number four is from another LA Music Critic Award winner, Dree Mon, and is as equally dance-compelling as her last two videos.  Get up and dance to the sound of “When it Goes Down.”  We guarantee you won’t be able to sit down for this one.

Our final video this week is an animated one from People Club for their song, “Kil Scott.”  This one is a keeper, and we suggest you put it on repeat.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music New Music Friday

Get it or forget it – New Music vol. 3

With our work schedule so crazy, we have found it very difficult to publish an article every week day, so we are instituting new guidelines for categories, which can be published whenever we have a chance.  Today we are publishing under the New Music, but it will not be restricted to just albums published this past Friday.  Enjoy these great new albums, all of which have been released this month.

Artist Name:  Gerry Beckley

Album Name:  Five Mile Road

Label:  Blue Élan Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Life Lessons; 2.  Something to Remember; 3.  Home Again; 4.  Five Mile Road; 5.  Hang Your Head High; 6.  So Long Marni 7.  Vegabond; 8.  Heart of the Valley; 9.  Stop Feeling Sorry; 10.  Calling; 11.  Sudden Soldier; 12.  Two People at Once

Publicist:  MAD Ink PR

Review:  Once again Blue Élan Records has resurrected a piece of our childhood and reinfused it with new life.  Today’s excellent example returns the sound of America with the release of Five Mile Road from Gerry Beckley.  From the first note of “Life Lessons,” all the memories of listening for hours to such songs as “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway,” and more came rushing back.  Beckley sparkles and his songwriting is better than ever.  Every song on this comeback masterpiece is simply amazing and deserves heavy rotation on radio.  His new sound is also perfect for placement opportunities in film and television.  There is not a weak track on this collection of 12 potential hits, and we strongly suggest you just grab a glass of wine and put this one one repeat.

Recommendation:  You had better get this one NOW!

Artist Name:  Jay Katana

Album Name:  Bleeding Boyfriend Mixtape

Label:  Fretmonkey Records

Genre:  Rock Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  . . . Your Eyes; 2.  I’m Done; 3.  KissClosed; 4.  Letter from Child; 5.  Mixtape; 6.  Shadows From my Eyes

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  Once again, Jay Katana has proven that he is one of the premier guitar players in rock music today.  His music brings peace and harmony to your chaotic day, with riffs that would make Jimi Hendrix proud.  Pop this one in and get your chill on.  Best tracks are “KissClosed,” “Letter From Child,” “Mixtape,” and “Shadows From my Exes” (for when you really want to rock out).

Recommendation:  Definitely worthy of your time.

Artist Name:  Jake Clemons

Album Name:  Eyes on the Horizon

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Swan Song 2.  Consumption Town (ft Tom Morello); 3.  Mom Deserves Better; 4.  ¡Ayuda! (When the Sun Goes Down); 5.  Nothing Left; 6.  Regression (Wasted in London); 7.  Democracy; 8.  We, The People; 9.  Eyes on the Horizon; 10.  Goodnight

Publicist:  DRPR

Review:  Probably best known for his time as a saxophonist with Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band, Jack Clemons is a multi-instrumentalist who adds his vocal abilities to this amazing collection of powerful songs like lead track “Swan Song” and his amazing cover of Leonard Cohen‘s “Democracy,” which we featured in our Monday Mashup article back in April.  His second single, “Consumption Town,” contains a powerful message that just might make Clemons the modern day equivalent of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, but with a much harder edge to his music.

Recommendation:  This one belongs in your library – go Get it today!

Artist Name:  Frankiie

Album Name:  Forget Your Head

Label:  Paper Bag Records

Genre:  Indie/Dream Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Funny Feeling; 2.  Dream Reader; 3.  Compare; 4.  Easy Breezy (Je Sais) 5.  Corner 6.  Glory Me; 7.  Nowhere Days 8.  Don’t be Low; 9.  Along Again; 10.  Sun Queen; 11.  Stone Song

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  Frankiie is all-female band from Vancouver that delivers the best in dream rock, with heavenly voices that soar, harmonies that give you goose bumps, and a sound reminiscent of such bands as Heart and Fleetwood Mac.  They do not disappoint on their debut release, and we think they have the chops to ensure a lengthy career.  This one is definitely going on repeat.

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it – just go Get it!

Artist Name:  Lisa Rich

Album Name:  Highwire

Label:  Tritone Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  High Wire The Aerialist (for Phillip Petit); 2.  Contessa; 3.  Celeste Prelude to a Kiss; 4.  Bud Powell; 5.  Stardancer; 6.  Lonely Woman; 7.  Songbird; 8.  The Jinn; 9.  We’ll be Together Again; 10.  The Silence of a Candle

Publicist:  Doreen D’Agostino Media

Review:  This is the perfect album for jazz standards lovers, as the rich voice of Lisa Rich (no pun intended) breathes new life into these songs by such artists as Chick Corea, Ralph Towner, Duke Ellington, Ornette Colemand and Loonis McGlohon, as well as the standard “We’ll be Together Again.”  These songs are perfect for relaxing with a choice glass of wine, and will ease the day’s troubles as the sweet sounds soothe your soul.

Recommendation:  This one is a must for all true jazz lovers.

 

 

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

Get it or Forget it – Meg Williams, One Time Jupiter, The Fisherman and the Sea, John Hufford, Jay Katana

Yesterday was in the 40’s and sunny, today it’s snowing – if you don’t like the weather in Montana, just wait a minute.  Here are five more reviews to warm up your Thursday.

Artist Name:  Meg Williams

Album Name:  Maybe Someday

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Rock/Soul

Track Listing:  1.  Not my Problem; 2.  Bad Lovin; 3.  Little bit of the Devil; 4.  Maybe Someday; 5.  You let me Down; 6.  I Feel a Heartache Coming

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  Meg Williams brings a freshness to the rock and blues world with her cool vocals and amazing guitar riffs.  From the first note of “Not my Problem,” it becomes quickly obvious that this young lady intends to take Nashville and the rest of the country by storm.  The comparison to Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Raitt are spot on.  There aren’t any weak tracks on this EP, but we really love the soulful title track, and the rocking “You Let Me Down” and “I Feel a Heartache.”  This one belongs on repeat, and we think you’ll love it more with each listen, especially that guitar work.

Recommendation:  This lady is going places.  Get on board and support her now.

Artist Name:  One Time Jupiter

Album Name:  Pop Destroyer

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Modern Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Goodbye Halo; 2.  Cigarette; 3.  Moving Forward; 4.  Broken; 5.  Alive; 6.  Ocean Blue; 7.  Come Unarmed

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  A great rock album from the first note, with some blistering guitar riffs to set the mood, and a true retro classic rock vibe.  This debut EP shows a lot of promise and potential from this Louisiana band.  Their music is ripe for placement in television, film and commercials, and would also be a good fit for radio airplay, especially on stations like KROQ.  If they are half as good in concert, then this band has the goods to make it in today’s music market.  We like all the songs, but “Broken” and “Alive” really stand out as potential hits.

Recommendation:  Don’t think about it – just Get it.

Artist Name:  The Fisherman and the Sea

Album Name:  Stuck With a Rhyme

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Stuck With a Rhyme; 2.  Marina; 3.  The Funny One; 4.  Dancing With Daisies

Publicist:  Neck of the Woods Records

Review:  Their last EP Beggar Princess earned them a nomination for Best International Artist/Band in the LA Music Critic Awards, and this one is no less of an amazing EP.  This band continues to amaze us with their well-written lyrics and music, and the sheer brilliance of their musicianship.  This is a band that is prime to tackle the American music scene, and should have no problem doing just that!  They split their time between their native Helsinki and Hamburg, and deserve a break.  Our favorite track is “The Funny One,” which is a sure-fire hit.

Recommendation:  Make sure you Get this one – it will be a treasure for years to come.

Artist Name:  John Hufford

Album Name:  Sleep

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Folk

Track Listing:  1.  It Kicks; 2.  Chicago; 3.  You’re not Here Now; 4.  Shadow; 5.  Sleep

Publicist:  Working Brilliantly

Review:  Soothing, mellow folk music reminiscent of the 60’s, and guaranteed to ease your stress and help you chill.  John Hufford has been compared to Neil Young, and the comparison is much deserved.  This five-song EP is a true breath of fresh air in the often-times crowded indie music scene, and we are proud to have this opportunity to review his music and to share it with you.    We really love the vibe of “Chicago” and “Shadow.”  This one is a keeper.

Recommendation:  We highly recommend you Get this one.

Artist Name:  Jay Katana

Album Name:  Brighter Than Your Future

Label:  Fretmonkey

Genre:  Instrumental Rock

Track Listing:  1.  FreeStyler; 2.  I Need you Now; 3.  K-Koda; 4.  No Time 2 B Sorry; 5.  Sand’s Ex; 6.  When She Dies

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  From the first listen of this EP, the obvious comparison is to Dire Straits’ guitarist Mark Knopfler.  The sound is reminiscent of Top Gun, and quite frankly we would love to see Jay Katana shredding his guitar in concert.  Every song on this too short EP rocks and we can only hope that he gives us more soon.  We really love the sound of “I Need You Now” and “No Time 2 B Sorry.”

Recommendation:  Add this one to your outstanding rock guitar collection.  Get it now.

 

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

Monday mashup 2018 – vol. 1

Happy Monday.  Time for our first Monday Mashup of 2018, and there’s lots of new stuff for you.  Here we go!

FORMER INDIE ARTIST MILCK CONTINUES HER 2017 SUCCESS

MILCK has continued her myriad of successes as 2017 closes out by being named to two important lists – Buzzfeed‘s “The 17 Biggest Baddass Women of 2017 You Probably Never Heard Of” and Billboard Magazine‘s “The 20 Best Protest Songs of 2017.”  Both of these additions stem from her creation of “Quiet,” which was written as a protest to the Inauguration of President Trump, as well as MILCK’s refusal to not talk about past mistreatment, and ultimately resulted in her being signed to a major label.  That song was considered to be the #1 protest song of 2017.  Congrats to MILCK!  We can’t wait to see what she does next.

NEW SINGLES

First up today is the latest single from Jay Katana entitled “When She Dies.”  It is an impressive bit of instrumental guitar magic.  We can hardly wait for the release of his album, which we will review shortly.

Next up is “The L Word,” the latest single from Ellee Ven (featuring Prodeje).  Check it out and get your groove on.  This one will make you want to get up and dance.

Our final single today comes from the band Lesser Pieces.  “Texas” is a grooving and soulful song that should give you a sweet chill time soundtrack.  Let us know what you think.

NEW VIDEOS

Blue Ēlan Records has a pair of artists releasing new videos this week.  First up is brand new artist Polly Baker, who has released the lyric video of her first single, “Scraped Knees.”  We simply love this video and the song, and can’t wait for the upcoming release.

The second artist, Cindy Alexander, has released the official video for her song “Book of Love,” from her just-released Nowhere to Hide album.  This song is simply beautiful and is acoustically driven, as are all the songs on the new album.  Enjoy!

Last but not least is the latest from perennial LA Music Critic Award winners The Spider Accomplice.  They released their latest video “Swallow” on Christmas Day, and it was the best present we received.  Let’s rock out with TSA!