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

Get it or forget it – Syvdoh, The Mouse Outfit, We Are Leif, ROXY JULES, Candace Devine

Welcome to our special edition of Get it or Forget it, featuring four submissions from the UK and a preview of the first album in nearly a decade from the soulful Candace Devine, formerly one-half of the power-pop duo David and Devine.

Artist Name:   Syvdoh

Album Name:  Syvdoh II

Label:  Iffy Folk Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Walking Heart Cold; 2.  Arthur Machen; 3.  Black Museum; 4.  Vienna 1913; 5.  Great Void Sewn; 6.  I Want my Lover; 7.  Micro Sleep; 8.  The Barnum Effect; 9.  Beast of Birkenshaw (ft Denise Mina); 10.  Hiroshima Seizures

Publicist:  Vision Music Promotion

Review:  Syvdoh is a musical collaboration between former Sea Kings Brian Canning and Ralph Hector , two of the UK’s most prolific musicians, and the result is a radio friendly sound that still addresses meaty political and social issues like gang culture, heaven, death, mental health, the press, the void, mind control, serial killers, homophobia, death camps, slave ships, psychics, and Hiroshima.  Best tracks include “Walking Heart Cold,” “Arthur Machen,” “I Want my Lover,” “Micro Sleep,” “Beast of Birkenshaw,” and “Hiroshima Seizures.”

Recommendation:  If you like pop music with a message, then you should definitely check out this album.

Artist Name:   The Mouse Outfit

Album Name:  Jagged Tooth Crook

Label:  TMO Records

Genre:  Hip-Hop/Funk/Reggae

Track Listing:  1.  Pass me the Ashtray (ft IAMDDB); 2.  Cut em Loose (ft Barry Blacc, Kinkai & Layfullstop); 3.  Repeat (ft Dubbal O, Ellis Meade & Sparkz); 4.  Feeling High (ft IAMDDB & Kinkai); 5.  Money (ft Barry Blacc, Dubbul O & T-Man); 6.  I Wonder (ft IAMDDB & Fox); 7.  Won’t Lie Down (ft Barry Blacc & Dubbul O); 8.  Bring me Down (ft Ellis Meade); 9.  Mama (ft Barry Blacc & T-Man); 10.  Jagged Tooth Crook (ft Kinkai); 11.  Trigger the Wave (ft Ellis Meade & Dubbul O); 12.  My Mission (ft IAMDDB & Kinkai); 13.  Beats all Day (ft Ellis Meade); 14.  Flex with Ya (ft Kinkai); 15.  It’s Just Like That (ft Black, Josh & Truemendous); 16.  Revolution (ft Ellis Meade & Dr. Syntax); 17.  Late Night Doors (ft Barry Blacc, Dubbul O & Ellis Meade)

Publicist:  Vision Music Promotion

Review:  The Mouse Outfit is a hip-hop collective composed of Chini and Deft from South Manchester and was begun as the house band for a hip-hop open mic night called In the Loop.  For this album, 29 artists, including several featured vocalists, are involved, including production and mixing elements, creating a diverse sound that spans from funk to reggae, with a healthy dose of hip-hop rhyme as the cherry on top.  The first single, “I Wonder,” which features IAMDDB & Fox, has gotten more than 1 million views on YouTube, and there are 16 more potential singles on this album.  We really like the sound of IAMDDB, having reviewed her album back in August.  This album has a lot of potential for radio as well as placements in television and film.

Recommendation:  If you love hip-hop, you will find something you like on this one.

Artist Name:   We Are Leif

Album Name:  Breathe

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  Unknown

Publicist:  Vision Music Promotion

Review:  Really wanted to review this album after hearing the lead single, “I Found You.”  The female vocalist is amazing, and this band has a very tight sound that listeners besides jazz lovers will enjoy.  Unfortunately, nothing is available at this time, but we’ll try again later.

Recommendation:  The single is amazing, so listen to it at Spotify.  Hopefully the rest of the album will be just as good.

Artist Name:   Roxy Jules

Album Name:  IV

Label:  Nordic Music

Genre:  Indie Rock/Electronic Noise

Track Listing:  1.  Fractured Bones; 2.  May the Bridges I Burn Light the Way; 3.  Straight Lines; 4.  Restlessness; 5.  On the Verge of a Usual Mistake; 6.  Come Away With Me; 7.  When the Shadow Start Movin; 8.  Driving at Night

Publicist:  Vision Music Promotion

Review:  She has been compared to a cross between PJ Harvey and Sonic Youth, but this young lady is so much more.  This is rock music that will move you, emotionally and otherwise, with words that cut deep and music that washes over you like a tidal wave.  She must be doing something right because this is her fourth album and the fans keep coming back for more.  This is different from most indie rock projects, but no less interesting, and we believe the hype.  In fact, check out the video for the lead single, “May the Bridges I Burn Light the Way.”

We simply love her voice and the dynamic she brings to her craft.  We think you’ll be hearing a lot more from this amazing artist.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:   Candace Devine

Album Name:  Here we Are

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  R&B/Soul/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Over Getting Over You; 2.  Treat me Like a Lady; 3.  One More Night; 4.  Givin’ it Up; 5.  Here we Are; 6.  Won’t Back Down

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Candace Devine was a huge part of the LA music scene for many years, including her stint as one-half of the power-pop duo David and Devine.  Along came love, and she left the music business to move to Arizona and raise a family.  Finally, after nearly a decade, she has returned with an even more powerful sound, and celebrated the release of her new EP with a concert in her hometown Elks Theater in Prescott, where her producer, legendary guitarist Jason “Slim” Gambil of Lady Antebellum opened the show.  Besides the five amazing originals, she puts her signature stamp on her cover of the Tom Petty classic, “Won’t Back Down.”  She has kept the jazzy edge on the first track, “Over Getting Over You,” no doubt a result of her time working with jazz legend Mindy Abair.  The sweet intro by her son on the R&B tune “Treat me Like a Lady” sets up the song perfectly.  She slows things down with the mellow soulful ballad, “One More Night,” before bringing back the groove on the jazzy tune, “Givin’ it Up.”  She closes out this amazing EP with the title track, another soulful ballad, and her stunning cover.

Recommendation:  Although it is not yet available, we STRONGLY encourage you to pre-order it so you can have it as soon as it is released.  Make sure to follow her Facebook page for the latest information.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Chris Lind’s “Drive” is the perfect travel companion

Every once in a while, a new artist emerges that has the potential and drive to reach the masses.  Thanks to the power of the internet, such an artist can achieve a level of familiarity and build a die-hard fan base long before they become a household name.  Chris Lind is more than capable of joining that elite group.

Lind is a native of South Jersey (near Philly) who became a driving force on the NYC music scene before recently relocating to his dad’s native Hawaii.  He attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, splitting time living, working and gigging in Honolulu, as well as studying Slack Key guitar with renowned artist Ozzie Kotani.  After graduating with a degree in Music, he moved to New York City.  Within a year he began gigging at hot spots like Rockwood Music Hall (ultimately performing on all three stages), The Living Room and Pete’s Candy Store (where he secured various residencies).

Growing a loyal fan base via his headline performances, Lind also opened for John Cruz at Le Poisson Rouge and the legendary Michael McDonald at The Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut.  Expanding his sphere of influence, he later performed at The Tin Angel in Philadelphia, The Rite Spot in San Francisco, the Hotel Café in Los Angeles, The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and Downbeat Lounge and Anna O’Brien’s in Honolulu.  Towards the end of his time living in New York, he recorded and performed at CMJ 2014 with a newly reformed version of Americana power-pop band End of Love, whose members included Wilco’s Nels Cline and Big Star’s Jody Stephens.  Lind’s “day jobs” during this time included teaching guitar at St. Francis College in Brooklyn and managing a prominent rehearsal studio in Greenwich Village.

“Living, working and playing in NYC/Brooklyn these past ten years, I’ve been able to see so many amazing artists who have inspired the development of my own style, vibe and point of view as a songwriter and performer,” says Lind.  “I’ve been exposed to many amazing places and venues, all rich with unique vibes. The guys in my band are honestly some of my greatest influences.”

A few years after catching fire with his singles “What Is Not Yours” and “A Story of Us” – which were featured in two episodes of the CW’s Smallville – and his debut EP Home, the soulful-voiced Lind takes a long look at the colorful history of where he’s been.

He and his band, featuring Aaron Nevezie on guitar, Dave Burnett on drums and Jeff Hill on bass, have completed work on their forthcoming sophomore EP, which will be released in February.  Nevezie and Burnett also had co-producing credits on the project.  In the meantime, the band has just released the first single, “Drive,” which reminds this writer of a hybrid between Tom Petty and John Mellencamp.

The song starts out mellow, with an amazing acoustic guitar rift that announces to the world that the song to come will blow your mind.  Then, as the chorus kicks in, the tempo shifts into high percussive gear and the multi-talented singer/songwriter shares powerful lyrics that perfectly reflect the forward momentum of his emergence as a force in indie pop/rock.  “Drive” is about the desire to move West with someone he loves.  The chorus reaches its climax with these reflective words:  “The only way we’ll ever get there is the shaking of our hearts.  The only way we’ll ever know is if we drive.”   With these hauntingly beautiful lyrics and the remainder of the songs on the EP, Lind declares emphatically now is the time to move on to bigger and bolder opportunities.

This is definitely an artist to check out and to add to your radar.  For more information about him, check out his website and Facebook pages, follow him on Twitter and subscribe to his Soundcloud channel.

Thanks to Jen Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions and Steve Belkin of Open All Nite Entertainment for bringing this amazing artist to our attention.

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Reviews

Cindy Alexander is one special American girl

The Hotel Cafe is the place to be on Saturday, October 10 when local Los Angeles indie artist Cindy Alexander debuts her latest spectacular creation An American Girl.
I believe David Lawrence, host and executive producer of Net Music Countdown said it best:  “Cindy is the personification of what it takes to be a superstar.  Her writing is insightful and poignant. Her stage presence is utterly unforgettable, and her musicianship is flawless. She also possesses that rarest of charisma that one cannot manufacture: she was born to perform.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, and despite being trained at the acclaimed USC School of Drama, Alexander decided to forego the acting world and focus instead on just being herself – a brilliant, witty and boisterous singer-songwriter whose songs have touched and affected the lives of everyone who has had the pleasure of hearing them.   Alexander’s songs speak of real-life events, allowing her audience to connect with and accept their inherent truths.
A seasoned writer and classically-trained performer, Alexander’s songs incorporate numerous subjects – not just the classic singer/songwriter confessional laments about dysfunctional relationships, marriage, and motherhood, but also her personal discovery and recovery from breast cancer, the perils of the entertainment business, classic literature, sexuality, spirituality, history and the human condition.   For Alexander, there is no topic which is off limits – she simply tells the truth about the highs and lows of life.
An American Girl, a five-track EP, is easily the best material Alexander has created to date.  A breast cancer survivor herself, Alexander has timed the release to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.  Despite her diminutive stature, Alexander has never been afraid to tackle real issues with her songs, and the four original songs on the EP are further proof of that.  To top it all off, Alexander adds her own take to the classic Tom Petty hit “American Girl.”
Despite winning numerous awards and a television reality show, Alexander has chosen to remain an independent artist.  She formed her own label, JamCat Records in 1999 and released five CDs (See Red, Smash, Angels & Demons, Wobble with the World and Every Rise and Fall) before partnering with Blue Elan Records for the 2014 release of Curve.  The partnership with Blue Elan has given Alexander better exposure while allowing her to remain what she truly is – an independent artist.
In addition to being a singer/songwriter/ recording artist, Alexander is a wife, daughter, friend, mother of twins, breast cancer survivor, advocate and Ambassador to BreastCancer.org, animal rescuer, avid reader, hiker, cribbage competitor, baker of OCD chocolate chip cookies, volunteer, and guacamole lover.
When asked what drives her to be an artist, she answered:  “What compels me to share my creativity is what I call the ‘life of song.’ It’s the journey from Inspiration, to a spark or current in my heart, to something that pours from my pen to paper, from my fingertips to my instrument, from within my body and out through voice…to the space between me and the listener and hopefully, into that listener’s heart, where it takes on an additional meaning, if not an entirely different one than I had imagined… And then perhaps, it’s shared with a random friend and the journey continues. That’s the life of a song.  Music is a connection, a healer, and it’s magic.”

Give a listen to An American Girl, as well as her entire musical catalog – we think you’ll agree that Cindy Alexander is a uniquely independent artist with plenty to share.  Don’t miss her EP release show at The Hotel Cafe on October 10.

For more information on this amazing artist, check out her website and Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel.  You can find her songs on Amazon.com and iTunes or listen to the stream on SoundCloud.