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Monday mashup 2019: vol. 5

If you love defense, then yesterday’s Super Bowl was an incredible display of power.  Both offenses sucked, but the Rams especially had a tough time against Patriots’ Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, who will become Miami’s new head coach.  It will be interesting to see what he brings to South Florida.  Only time will tell.  In the meantime, here’s our first Monday Mashup of this short month.  We will have our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos articles and another Women in Entertainment profile up later this week before getting back into the Get it or Forget it reviews and New Music Friday.  Let’s enjoy the latest in indie music.

Photo credit: Andie Mills

SHE ROCKS AWARDS GIVEN OUT AT THE NAMM SHOW

For the seventh year in a row, awards were given out to recognize the accomplishments of female members of the music industry at last month’s NAMM Show.  Many of the honorees performed in a concert held at the House of Blues in Anaheim and hosted by the Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN).  In addition, a Hall of Fame award was introduced this year which honored Janis Joplin.   The award was accepted by her sister, Laura Joplin, who gave an impassioned speech.  Afterwards, the other honorees joined together in a medley of Joplin’s hits, including “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” and “Raise Your Hand.”  Those performing included Orianthi, Vanessa Amorosi, Judith Hill, Emily Armstrong, Sarah Command, Mindi Abair and Rock Sugah.

The full list of ladies honored in 2019 included Terri Nunn, lead singer of the iconic electro-pop band, BERLIN; Macy Gray, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and actress;
Lisa Loeb, Platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning singer songwriter, touring artist and author; Nita Strauss, acclaimed solo artist and guitarist for Alice Cooper; Erika Ender, award-winning and chart topping composer, singer, co-writer of the hit “Despacito;”  Dana DuFine, VP Global Content and development AEG Facilities
Dale Krevens, vice president of Tech 21; Lynette Sage, art director of Reverb; Samantha Pink, director of business operations at JAM industries USA; Terri Winston, executive director, Women’s Audio Mission; Janet Bill Rich, Manage This Media and Bonnie Gallanter, co-producer of the She Rocks Awards and owner of Muse Artist Management.  Lyndsey Parker and Christine Devine hosted the event.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this month comes from Los Angeles electro-pop artist Zhao.  We really dig this vibe and think this one will get your week off to a great start.  Check out “Feeling Today.”

Next up is an indie rock trio who we introduced to you back in December in our Ten Great Singles article.  Valentin Marx bring us “Last Time,” and we hope it’s not the last time we hear this amazing group.  If you are in LA, check them out at the Hotel Cafe on February 15.

Our third single gives us the rocking blues guitar and vocals of J.D. Simo, and we can’t think of a better way to keep this party going.  Check out his latest single, “You Need Love,” from his forthcoming album scheduled to drop next month.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1yRq8FxAEpL4BWtRPBiJ9g

The incredibly sweet vocals of The Desert make our next single easier to swallow.  It may be called “Bitterness,” but there is nothing foul tasting in this amazing song from one of the UK’s best indie bands who we introduced to you last October in our Ten Great Singles article.

https://soundcloud.com/funnel-music/the-desert-bitterness-1/s-747iC

Last but definitely not least this week is the latest single from Fred Hostetler, the guitarist for the incredible blues band Blue by Nature.  Here is his new solo single, “I’m a New Man,” which takes his music to an entirely different level.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this month comes from Brisbane-based artist Mallrat.  We love the cinematography and the vibe of this awesome pop song, “Nobody’s Home.”

Our next video is an interesting one from former opera singer turned pop powerhouse Emin Eminzada.  Here is his single “Treasure Me,” which should get you ready for Valentine’s Day.

Your eyes and ears are in for a treat with the new music video from amazing soprano singer Amy Owens.  This one checks all the boxes – great song, incredible artist and amazing dancing.  Enjoy “Discreet.”

Video number four combines great blues and pop with an Americana vibe from Foxfeather.  We are in love with this song, and can’t wait to hear what comes next.  Please enjoy “Come and Get Me.”  We accept the invitation.

Our final video this week is from Maya Lavelle and uses the story of Don Quixote to visualize her amazing song, “House on a Rocky Road.”  This is one of the best indie videos we have ever seen, and think you will likewise agree.  Enjoy this one and we’ll see you next week.

 

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Monday Mashup

Monday Mashup 2017: Vol. 2

Welcome to week two of 2017!  We’ve gotten almost a foot of snow in the past 24 hours, but at least the thermometer has returned to positive numbers.  Hope you’re all ready to get out and support indie music.  Here’s the latest news:

NAMM INVADES SOCAL

The NAMM Show invades Anaheim for its annual January visit, opening to the press on January 18 and to the attendees January 19-22.  The event is NOT open to the public, but thanks to the hotels outside the Anaheim Convention Center, the public can attend some of the musical performances put on by attendees.  For a look at this year’s schedule, click here.  If you are an indie musician and are playing at NAMM, please let us know so we can publish your schedule next Monday.  We attended the convention for many years until we moved to Montana, and hope to get back there soon.

THE WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL MUSIC NETWORK PRESENT THEIR ANNUAL SHE ROCKS AWARDS

This year’s She Rocks Awards will be handed out in a ceremony on January 20 at this year’s NAMM Show.    This is the fifth year of the awards, and this year’s recipients will include  Lita Ford, Shirley Manson, Esperanza Spaulding, Monique Boyer of M.A.C Cosmetics, Rebecca Eaddy of Roland Corporation, Beverly Fowler of PRS Guitars, LA radio personality Lisa Foxx, Charyn Harris of A Place Called Home, Karrie Keyes of Soundgirls & sound engineer for Pearl Jam, Tracy Leenman of Musical Innovations, Dani Markman of Disney Music Group, and Leanne Summers of Los Angeles Women in Music.   The event will be hosted by KTTV Fox 11’s own Christine Devine.

JAMEY GESTON TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE

Speaking of NAMM, Geston has been playing NAMM since she was a teenager, and is releasing her new single, “Malibu,” to coincide with next week’s convention.  We have previewed the single, and it is HOT.  We think you’ll like it a lot.

BLUE ÉLAN RECORDS ARTISTS TO PLAY AT HOTEL CAFE

On January 22, the Hotel Café will play host to two of the premiere artists from Blue Élan Records:  former Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin and Cindy Alexander, who will open with a solo acoustic show at 7 p.m.  Tempchin is performing a residency on the intimate Second Stage, and had Grammy-nominee Janiva Magness as well as Chelsea Williams open for him last night.  Don’t miss this opportunity to see and hear some of the best music LA has to offer, and catch the rest of Tempchin’s January residency at Hotel Café.

Have a wonderful week.  We can’t wait to announce the winners of the LA Music Critic Awards for the second half of 2016, and be ready for a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT in the very near future about a special event happening in LA in June.  Until then . . .