Category: Women in Entertainment

A series of articles on leading indie women

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

Get it or forget it – Short Shadows, Zephyranthes, Signals, Assassins, Susan Santos

We’re glad you all seemed to enjoy our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos lists we published yesterday.  Thanks for your visits to our blog and keep sharing.  We’re back today with another round of Get it or Forget it reviews, and hope you enjoy these diverse artists.

Artist Name:  Short Shadows

Album Name:  War Anecdotes from the Northern Suburbs

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  City Loop; 2.  Nothing Good Comes out of Preston; 3.  A Thornbury Story; 4.  That’s no Moon; 5.  Pentridge Blvd; 6.  Jackknife Casino; 7.  Autumn Haze; 8.  It’s Raining in the City; 9.  The Battle for Northcote; 10.  Don’t Stay Away too Long; 11.  Customer Service; 12.  Heartbreak Hockey Jerseys; 13.  Southside Girl; 14.  Sometime I Forget; 15.  The Novelty Wears Off

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:  We introduced you to the incredible sound of Aussie Short Shadows when we featured his song “Nothing Good Comes out of Preston.”  The full album, which was recently released, continues the greatness of that song, adding more treasure to the trove, revealing this easily relatable artist is an excellent vocalist and songwriter.  Honestly, you can listen from start to finish and not get bored.  The stories keep you interested, and the horns truly raise the songs to a new level.  Please come and tour the U.S.

Recommendation:  Go Get this one!

Artist Name:  Zephyranthes

Album Name:  iii

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Psychedelic/Progressive Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Foam Sacrament; 2.  Fortune Teller; 3.  Alone in Stead; 4.  Telecommoner; 5.  Atomic en Masse

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This truly unique band comes out of Raleigh, NC, and uses the sounds of psychedelica and progressive rock to create its own brand of music that is totally different from its peers.  There are moments of greatness in their songs, but they do not have the continuity and impact of other indie rock bands.  While we cannot give them an unsensored thumbs up, we do think they are worthy of checking out and keeping track of.  They just might surprise us.

Recommendation:  Potential but not there yet.

Artist Name:  Signals

Album Name:  Signals

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  In the Middle of the Night; 2.  Move It; 3.  Take Care; 4.  Say You’ll be with me Tonight

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Signals could easily become a guilty pleasure.  Their music is fun and retro and full of blistering synth pop vibes, great vocals and a beat that compels you to dance.  The first single, “In the Middle of the Night,” deserves more radio airplay, and “Move It,” “Take Care” and “Say You’ll be with me Tonight” are equally enjoyable and worthy of industry attention.  This is a band on the cusp of greatness and we would love to see them go mainstream.  You can’t go wrong with this tasty appetizer.  We can hardly wait for a full-length to arrive.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one!

Artist Name:  Assassins

Album Name:  Confidence

Label:  A&R Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Time Away; 2.  Shout About It; 3.  Over my Head; 4.  Heartbeat

Publicist:  The A&R Department

Review:   Assassins was previously active from 1981-89 in the Melbourne pub scene before going dark.  The members hooked up again in 2015 and released their debut album in 2017.  They are back with their sophomore album, and the title tells it all.  This band oozes confidence, both in their incredible musicianship and their fresh take on the punk vibe.  These songs will hit home with their listeners as the band continues to find its way in the indie music scene.  We think they have the potential to make it, and look forward to hearing what comes next.

Recommendation:  Go get this one, especially if you love great rock.

Artist Name:  Susan Santos

Album Name:  No U Turn

Label:  TWH

Genre:  Blues Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Blind Woman; 2.  Slow Down; 3.  Fool Me; 4.  Shakin’ all Over; 5.  Freedom; 6.  Heaven or Hell; 7.  Dry River; 8.  Feeling Good; 9.  Green; 10.  In Trouble

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review: Susan Santos (not to be confused with Suzanne Santos of HoneyHoney) is an electrifying blues guitarist with an incredible and crystal clear voice that brings new life to blues rock.  Her music will thrill you like no other, and we can only imagine how magnificent she must be in concert – good enough that it earned her a European Blues Award for Best Musical Performance in 2018.  Every element of her sound is at the top of the food chain, and she deserves serious industry attention.  Her songs are perfect for multiple genres of radio airplay, and would make great placements in television and film.  Santos has a voice you won’t soon forget, and we bet you will be putting this one on repeat.

Recommendation:  Drop what you’re doing, run out to your favorite record store, and Get this one Today!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Ten Amazing Videos Women in Entertainment

Ten amazing videos released in March 2019

March continued to show an influx in the release of music videos, and we received more than 200 requests. After posting 20 of them in our four Monday Mashup articles, we have combed through the rest of the submissions to pick the best 10, and present them to you now to close the book on March.

We kick it off with the rocking sound of Echo 2 Locate and their single “High.”  This one has everything you love in good rock videos – lights, action and an amazing female lead.  Enjoy.

Next up is Dutch band Eckhardt and the House, who invite extraterrestrials to visit in their song, “Humans,” a catchy pop song derived from an old Peruvian folk tune.

Our third video is an amazing cover of the classic Amy Winehouse tune, “Back to Black.”  The Electric Radio Kings have totally made it their own with their signature rock vibe, and we think this version is even better than the original.  What do you think?

With a mixture of jazz, trip-hop and neo-soul, Sariyah Idan creates music that chills and entertains.  She has just released a lyric video for her song, “You Got to Go,” and we love it, especially the amazing cinematography, which was mostly shot in Berlin as she was writing the song.  Enjoy this sweet treat.

Video number five is from Long Beach, California rock collective WARGIRL, and we love the retro feel of the song and the psychedelic vibe.  Check out “Mess Around.”

Country legend John Berry has just released a lyric video for “The Richest Man,” which he dedicates to his father.  It is so nice to have the honey-voiced Berry back, as his songs were at the top of the charts in the late 90s/early 00s.  We think this one will make you think of those you love who have passed away, and we likewise dedicate it to the memory of our Dad, who passed away in November 2017.

Our seventh video is hauntingly sweet and visually stunning, with amazing cinematography and the voice that reminds us of Marilyn Monroe.  Check out Luvia and her song, “Hunted.”  We previously shared the single version with you.

Next up is the absolutely beautiful voice of the amazing indie artist known as Callaghan Belle.  Check out the awesomeness of her song, “Dear Detroit.”  We think it will give a lift to your week.

We love our ninth video, which was shot on location at Sun Studios and other iconic locations in Memphis.  We love the growth in the band since we last reviewed them last September, and think you will love the sound of Lucky 757, featuring Matt Jordan on the piano.  Check out “Memphis Sun,” the video for the first single from their forthcoming album.

We close out the month with the video for “Umbrella Lovers,” which we featured as a single in mid-March.  Marty Brown is another country legend, and we are pleased to be able to support his music.  This is how country music is made.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Ten Great Singles Women in Entertainment

Ten great singles released in March 2019

March continued to show an influx in the release of singles, and we received more than 300 requests.  After posting 20 of them in our four Monday Mashup articles, we have combed through the rest of the submissions to pick the best 10, and present them to you now to close the book on March.

Our first single is the latest from Americana stalwarts Jangling Sparrows.  This Asheville, NC based band has consistently given us great music, and their latest single, “Estuaries,” is one of their best, with its strong roots rock feel.  Let us know what you think.

Next up is a young singer-songwriter from NYC with a golden voice and the amazing ability to melt your heart with his lyrics.  Check out Dante Palminteri and his latest single, “Miles Away.”

For single number three we travel to New Orleans for the Euro-based synthpop sound of Berlin Taxi.  This one will bring back a ton of memories because it sounds so familiar yet fresh.  Check out “Everybody Changes.”

Our fourth single is sweetness in song from the one and only Kensington Moore.  She melts our heart with her story of love lost, a topic we can all relate to, and does it with some of the hottest pop beats we have heard.  Don’t worry Kensington – you’ll never hear us say “I Don’t Like you Anymore.”

Next up is an up and coming songwriter from Hong Kong who has a distinctive rock and R&B sound and a keen approach to songwriting.  We love the chill feel of her single “The Ride,” and think that DBE definitely has a future in this business.

We kick off the second five with a dreamy pop song from London’s DAYLA.  We love the way this one makes us feel, and think you will love it as well.  Here’s “Closer,” her debut single.

Next up is an iconic duo from Torrance, California who possess that rare gift – familial harmonies.  Sisters Aly and AJ Michalka will steal your heart and take you to “Church” on their latest.  Don’t miss the chance to catch them on tour this summer.

Single number eight is a folk-pop song that belongs on the radio.  The vocals drip honey and the musical accompaniment will have you relaxed in no time at all.  Here’s Aussie Josh Alexander and his latest single, “Closing.”

Is it the 80s again?  No, but that decade definitely influenced the sound of Sweden’s Cat Princess, and you can hear it on their latest single, “Silver Socks.”

We close out this edition with the rocking roots sound of Conor Donohue and his single, “Getting Better,” off his forthcoming album Let Love Contaminate, which we will be reviewing later this month.

We’ll be back shortly with our Ten Amazing Videos list.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Black Cat Biscuit, Isa Bell, Paria, Charlie Dennard, Sonic Rade

We’re back with our first Get it or Forget it for the month of April, and have five interesting artists for you to check out.  Later this week watch for our Ten Great Singles and Ten Amazing Videos articles, as well as our #NewMusicFriday edition of Get it or Forget it.  Let’s get going.

Artist Name:  Black Cat Biscuit

Album Name:  That’s How the Cookie Crumbles

Label:  Naked

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Train 66; 2.  Haunting Me; 3.  Sons of a Vampire; 4.  Parrot Woman; 5.  Ain’t got Nobody to Come Home; 6.  What I Really Need is You; 7.  He’s a Fool; 8.  Bad James; 9.  Hey Little Kiddy; 10.  I Don’t Know; 11.  So sad and Lonely; 12.  Goin’ Home

Publicist:  The Bluesbones

Review: This band may be from Belgium, but the have captured the American art forms of the blues to create a debut album that sets the bar high for subsequent projects.  Mixing rockabilly with the blues sound of Chicago and New Orleans, every blues lover will find a lot to love about this album.  The songs are fun and upbeat, even if they are the blues.  We think this band could easily compete in the US with their dynamic style, and hope that they will come to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge.

Recommendation:  Go Get this one.

Artist Name:  Isa Bell

Album Name:  Lightin’ Up Your Day

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Reggae/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Hypnotise the Time; 2.  All United; 3.  Don’t Say It …; 4.  Let it Go; 5.  Lightin’ up Your Day

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Isa Bell is a work of art – a beautiful woman with a golden voice and the ability to merge a jazz standards style with the chill factor of reggae.  Her voice is so classy you’d expect it to be singing by a piano in a smoky bar.  Once the reggae beat kicks in, your image changes and you expect her to be singing on an island somewhere.  We really love the ska feel of “Don’t Say It.”  She is one of the best discoveries we have made this year, and we think she has the goods to conquer the world.  We can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Recommendation:  This one is a priority – go Get it!

Artist Name:  Paria

Album Name:  Popsicle

Label:  Bøl Records

Genre:  R&B./Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Disappear; 2.  Summer Blind; 3.  Tragic; 4.  Casual

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  Paria has one of those voices that few pop singers have ever possessed – one that soars and climbs ever higher – like those of Minnie Ripperton and Mariah Carey.  You can feel the soul and R&B of these tracks, and they soothe your mind as they caress your ears and quickly get you in the mood.  We introduced you to her last September when we featured “Casual” in our Monday Mashup, and are glad that she’s come back with more.  We just want a full length album.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth your time – Get this one and chill.

Artist Name:  Charlie Dennard

Album Name:  Deep Blue

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  St. Charles Strut; 2.  Mojave; 3.  Wanderlust; 4.  Deep Blue; 5.  Trois Fois; 6.  Joe’s Crusade; 7.  Father

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review: Charlie Dennard is an amazing composer and pianist who is also the music director for the Cirque du Soleil show “Totem,” currently touring the European continent.  He has adopted New Orleans as his home, and his music reflects the musical heritage of that special city.  This is jazz music for jazz nerds.  It’s non-pretentious, primarily piano and jazz snare, and thoroughly chill.  Just add a glass of wine or your favorite mixed drink, sit back and relax, and take it all in – you will instantly feel the tension leave your body.

Recommendation:  This one is a must-have for all serious jazz lovers.

Artist Name:  Sonic Rade

Album Name:  Sonic Rade

Label:  VDM Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Lost Identity; 2.  Let’s Dream Tonight; 3.  Black Cloud; 4.  Queen of Hearts; 5.  Ink in the Water; 6.  Back to the Moon; 7.  In the Deep; 8.  American Eyes; 9.  All That we Breathe; 10.  Cloverfields; 11.  Believers; 12.  Indian Calling; 13.  Hollywood

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Sonic Rade is a Swiss indie pop/rock trio.  Their previous album garnered enough critical support to receive a first-round nomination for the 2016 Grammys, and their new one is no less worthy.  Their sound will bring back memories of bands like Depeche Mode and Duran Duran, and the band deserves serious industry attention, especially from college radio.  The album is deep with appropriate cuts, especially their first single, “Let’s Dream Tonight.”

Recommendation:  Grab it while it’s hot.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2019: vol. 13

It may be April Fool’s Day, but the quality of the music coming out of the indie community is no joke.  This month has five Mondays, so we have an extra opportunity to highlight outstanding singles and music videos.  Let’s get it going.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is a blast from the past.  Many of you fell in love with the sound of The Rembrandts, especially if you were fans of the television show, Friends.  Well the lads are making a comeback, courtesy of the fine folks at Blue Élan Records, and have released their first single, “How Far Would you Go?”

For our second single, allow us to introduce you to pronoun, an amazing one-woman band with an incredible pop sound.  Here’s the title track from her forthcoming album temporary insanity, which will be released in May.

If you like television theme music, then you will love our third single from Run Coyote.  We love the retro feel of 60s television on “The Chase.

Just when you think you’ve heard all the possible mash-up combinations along comes a band that mixes disco with metal.  They are actually quite good and go by the name Makes my Blood Dance.  Here is their first single, “Beaming Right Up.”  See you on the dance floor.

Our final single this week is from Jenny Tolman, an upcoming country songstress who was recently named as the Facebook Artist of the Day.  She shows why she was chosen on her latest single, “High Class White Trash.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Are you one of the countless fans that made Glee such a cultural phenomenon?  If you are, then our first video will definitely appeal to you.  It comes from Kevin McHale, who portrayed the affable wheelchair-bound character Artie Abrams.  On his first ever solo project, he has written an incredibly danceable song, “Help me Now,” and has created a lyric video for the tune.

Next up is a chill video from Erin K.  We love her sound and think you will dig it as well.  Here’s “Frame to Freeze.”

Our next band, The Happys, comes from the San Francisco area and bring back fun surf music with a hint of punk on their single “Cut the Rope.”

Our fourth video comes from goth rockers Skiver.  These guys will blow you away with a sound like an entire band of Adam Lamberts.  Here is their song “No Goodbyes.”  Rock on!

Our final video is a soothing tune from Elisa Kate which we think is the perfect segue to the week.  Enjoy the beauty of “Now or Never.”  See you soon.

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

Get it or forget it – Kim Cameron and Side FX, Andy Leon and the GMP, Only Yours, Atomic Road Kings, Lullwater

It’s a special Saturday edition of Get it or Forget it, since we have sooooo many reviews to do.  Check out these amazing indie artists and choose your favorites.

Artist Name:  Kim Cameron and Side FX

Album Name:  Carpe Musicam

Label:  Side FX Partners

Genre:  House/Dub/Chill/Trance/EDM

Track Listing:  1.  Fearless Lovers (Bimbo Bahamas Mix); 2.  Fearless Lovers (Bimbo Bahamas Radio Mix); 3.  Fearless Lovers; 4.  Fearless Lovers (Bimbo New X Dub); 5.  Let Me Ask You; 6.  Share My Pillow (Bahner Remix); 7.  Share My Pillow (Deep House Session Serkan Demirel); 8.  Share My Pillow (Wow Jones Remix); 9.  Share My Pillow Remix (Halo’s Stretch The Sky Mix); 10.  Share My Pillow; 11.  Side FX Share My Pillow (Serge Voluminus Remix); 12.  Sometimes; 13.  Take Me Back; 14.  Forever (acoustic)

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  Unlike many EDM artists, Kim Cameron has a voice and knows how to sing, as demonstrated on the closing acoustic track, “Forever.”  She contributes six songs and eight remixes to the project, and leaves us with a desire to get up and dance.  Of the dance tracks, our favorite is “Share my Pillow,” especially the version with her band Side FX.  If you love to dance, this is the perfect collection for you.

Recommendation:  Definitely check her out.

Artist Name:  Andy Leon and the GMP

Album Name:  The Great Mouse Parade

Label:  1112827 Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Sweetness; 2.  Suave; 3.  Follow; 4.  The Morning After

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We have far too few pure voices within the indie music circle, but we have to put Andy Leon in that group.  Along with her band, the Great Mouse Parade, Leon has crafted and sings perfect songs that combine elements of indie rock, pop, jazz and folk to form the perfect platform for her music.  We simply can’t get enough of her sound and look forward to checking out the band live.  All four of these songs are attention-worthy and serve as tasty appetizers for what we are sure is yet to come.  Of the four, our favorite track is “Follow.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.  This band is going places.

Artist Name:  Only Yours

Album Name:  Overrun

Label:  Pirates Blend Records

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Doubts; 2.  Different; 3.  Overrun; 4.  By Now; 5.  Hamburg; 6.  Surely I; 7.  Everlasting; 8.  Half Alive; 9.  Haunted by Love; 10.  Stay

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  Toronto-based indie pop/rock band Only Yours has delivered a masterful gem of a debut album with the release of Overrun.  Behind the stunning vocals of Lowell Sostomi, the band turns in great songs that are radio friendly and make you want to hear them again and again.  Kicking off the album with the future hit “Doubts,” Only Yours soars and hooks the listener from the first note.  This album is ripe with radio singles like the title track, and should propel them into the spotlight as one of the best new acts of 2019.

Recommendation:  Don’t hesitate to go Get this one!

Artist Name:  Atomic Road Kings

Album Name:  Clean up the Blood

Label:  Bigtone Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  I’ve got Time; 2.  Rumors; 3.  In Arms Reach; 4.  Have Your Way; 5.  My way Back Home; 6.  Clean up the Blood; 7.  Candy Man; 8.  Ain’t for Me; 9.  You got to Change; 10.  Two Sided Story; 11.  Vibrations; 12.  Back Down South

Publicist:  Frank Roszak Promotions

Review:  Atomic Road Kings, started by Eric “Jailhouse Von Herzen (Social Distortion), mixes classic gospel, blues and rock and roll to create a down home feeling that would fit perfectly with an evening of good food and drink down in the Mississippi Delta.  The raw vocals and guitar playing of Big Jon Atkinson combine seamlessly with Von Herzen’s driving harmonica, coupled  with the rhythm section that includes Bill Stuve on double bass/electric bass and Malachi Johnson on drums.  This is down and dirty blues, and the shear sexiness of it will make  you sweat.  If we only could listen to one blues band, it would be the Atomic Road Kings.

Recommendation:  Run and Get this one!

Artist Name:  Lullwater

Album Name:  Voodoo

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alt Rock/Metal

Track Listing:  1.  Curtain Call; 2.  Dark Divided; 3.  Empty Chamber; 4.  Similar Skin; 5.  This Life; 6.  Godlike; 7.  Buzzards; 8.  Fight of Your Life; 9.  Into the Sun; 10.  Yellow Bird; 11.  Suffer Not

Publicist:  Tom George PR

Review:  We introduced you to this band earlier this month as their video for “Empty Chamber” was featured as one of the Ten Amazing Videos of March 2019.  They have an instantly recognizable hard rock sound that borders on metal, but with the southern rock groove of bands like Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd.   Their songs are perfectly suited for placement in film and television, especially the first track “Curtain Call.””Empty Chamber,” “Similar Skin,” “Godlike,” and “Into the Sun.”

Recommendation:  If you like your rock hard and love the sound of metal, you will love this band.  Definitely check them out.

 

 

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

Get it or forget it – The Cleverlys, Taali, Kat Holland, Newscast, Blue Angels

Happy New Music Friday!  We hope you had a wonderful week and are ready to let  your hair down for the weekend.  We have some powerful music for you today which has been released today, and we are happy to share it with you.  Enjoy the mix.

Artist Name:  The Cleverlys

Album Name:  Blue

Label:  Mountain Home Music Company

Genre:  Bluegrass

Track Listing:  1,  Baby; 2.  Milkshake; 3.  Girl in the Sky; 4.  Blue (Da Ba Dee); 5.  She’s Not (Ain’t) There; 6.  Wait a Minute; 7.  Party Rock Anthem; 8.  Irreplaceable; 9.  What’s Up; 10.  I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles); 11.  Oh Death; 12.  The End of the Record

Publicist:  Crossroads Label Group

Review:  The Cleverlys are what happens when Justin Bieber and Beyonce get drunk and create a baby at a bluegrass concert.  They mix the best of pop and hip hop with comedy and bluegrass to create their signature Ozark sound.  They give that treatment to such well-known songs as Justin Bieber‘s “Baby,” Beyonce‘s “Irreplaceable,” LMFAO‘s “Party Rock Anthem,” The Zombies‘ “She’s Not (Ain’t) There,” and The Proclaimers‘ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).”  Even the title song is a cover of that incessant song about a world that’s blue.  This one is unique and belongs in every music collection, regardless of your favorite genre.

Recommendation:  Rush out and Get this one.

Artist Name:  Taali

Album Name:  I am Here

Label:  Rainbow Blonde Records

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Release; 2.  I Held my Breath; 3.  Hear you Now; 4.  I Have Seen it for Myself; 5.  Let the Light In; 6.  Star (ft José James); 7.  For Michal; 8.  Right Sized; 9.  Los Angeles; 10.  A Lack of Color; 11.  Peace be Upon You; 12.  Hope of my Own; 13.  Erev Shel Shoshanim; 14.  Plunge; 15.  I’ll Meet You

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Taali is a gifted singer-songwriter who recently founded her own label, together with José James (who she features on her song “Star”), and decided to become the debut artist.  Her sound is familiar yet fresh, with upbeat and positive songs about love and life.  She shows that flair on “I Held my Breath,” and it continues through the end of the album.  We think quite a few of the tracks would sound great on radio and in dance clubs, especially “Hear You Now” and “Star.”  We also love the Jewish/Middle Eastern musical influence on “I Have Seen it for Myself.”  We can’t wait to hear what comes next from the creative genius that is Taali.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  Kat Holland

Album Name:  Retrovision

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz/Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Stay; 2.  Losing Balance; 3.  Happy Pill; 4.  The One

Publicist:  Gramophone Media

Review:  Kat Holland’s voice is husky and full and fits perfectly with her mix of pop and jazz, creating music that is radio-friendly across a host of genres.  All four of these tracks rock and will help cement her place as an artist on the rise.  Her voice is not easily forgotten, and her vibe will make you want to hear her again and again.  We already shared her first single, “The One,” and think she’s definitely The One that will make it.

Recommendation:  Don’t think about it – grab this one today!

Artist Name:  Newscast

Album Name:  5

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Synth Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Late Night Queen; 2.  Blur; 3.  Banana Smoothie; 4.  Olive; 5.  Undercover

Publicist:  Noisy Ghost PR

Review:  Newscast is a duo composed of Hayden Boyd and Salar Almakky that hit all the right buttons in delivering a smooth, fun, upbeat sound that will keep you ready for the dance floor.  The sound is retro and groovy and will keep you interested from start to finish.  The EP is a collection of the first five songs the group wrote together as Newscast, and were recorded between April and December 2018.  We look forward to their next 500 songs.

Recommendation:  These guys belong in your library.  Go pick it up today!

Artist Name:  Blue Angels

Album Name:  Sue

Label:  UNO NYC

Genre:  Ambient Dance

Track Listing:  1.  Gil; 2.  Ceo; 3.  Dislocation; 4.  Cryin

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  Blue Angels bill themselves as “ambient dance” but the music doesn’t do it for us.  The band has no social media presence and next to nothing is provided in the press release.  The music is interesting, but does little to stand out from the crowded indie music scene.  This one just doesn’t deliver.

Recommendation:  Forget it.

 

 

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

Get it or forget it – JP Ruggieri, Dewinter, Merely, Hugh Marsh, Dimitri K

We’re back with some more new releases to review for your pleasure and enjoyment, and we have a truly eclectic mix for you today from around the world.  We hope our reviews help you when deciding where to invest your time and money in sharing indie music.

Artist Name:  JP Ruggieri

Album Name:  Waiting on You

Label:  Benafue Records

Genre:  Americana

Track Listing:  1.  Waiting on You; 2.  The Meaning; 3.  Bumble Bee; 4.  Don’t Break my Heart; 5.  Gone Again; 6.  How can a Man Live his Life Without a Broken Heart?; 7.  I Don’t Want to Grow Up; 8.  That I Do

Publicist:  PRESSED PR

Review:  JP Ruggieri is a storyteller with love on his mind.  In this beautiful collection, he opens up his heart and sings of his desire to love without fear of hurting.  These songs contain elements of his Nashville influence, with some country, folk and Americana mixed in, but they are truly works of art.  He connects with his honesty and the simple truth that we have all loved and lost and how much it hurts.  He is celebrating the release of his album with a tour of the UK and we wish him every success.  We hope he finds the love he’s looking for, and continues to bring us more treasures.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth checking out.

Artist Name:  Dewinter

Album Name:  Cold Like the Winter

Label:  Musarañas Records

Genre:  Synth Pop

Track Listing:  1,  Mayflower; 2.  A*Ny*Way; 3.  My Actions; 4.  Substitutions; 5.  You Won’t; 6.  Things I Said

Publicist:  Musarañas Records

Review:  Barcelona’s Dewinter brings their beautiful synth pop sound to the rest of the world on their latest EP, Cold Like the Winter.  These songs are upbeat, breezy and so refreshing, and are nothing like the drivel we have to endure on the radio.  They deserve serious industry attention, and we are thankful to Spain’s Musarañas Records for giving them a chance to shine.  We love the retro feel and can’t help but feel better just listening to their groove.

Recommendation:  Go Get this one.

Artist Name:  Merely

Album Name:  Hatching the Egg

Label:  Year 0001

Genre:  Synth Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Vixen’s Scream; 2.  Mystery Garden; 3.  Crazy Heart; 4.  The Magic Shrine; 5.  In the Wizard’s Eye; 6.  Sacrifice; 7.  The Sunset Beach; 8.  Oracle’s Dream

Publicist:  MOTORMOUTHMEDIA

Review:  Continuing our world-wide reviews, Merely is another of the amazing artists we have discovered from Sweden.  Her music is ethereal and light, reminiscent of the sound of Enya.  Her songs are relaxing and fresh, and will ease the listener’s mind as they chill after a long day of work.  Just don’t play them while you’re driving.  We think her music is universal and should help her become more well-known.  Definitely pay attention to this amazing artist.

Recommendation:  Worthy of adding to your collection.

Artist Name:  Hugh Marsh

Album Name:  Violinvocations

Label:  Western Vinyl

Genre:  Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  I Laid Down in the Snow; 2.  Miku Murmuration; 3.  Thirtysix Hundred Grandview; 4.  The Rain Gambler; 5.  A Beautiful Mistake; 6.  Da Solo Non Solitaro; 7.  Across the Aether; 8.  She Will

Publicist:  MOTORMOUTHMEDIA

Review:  Hugh Marsh is a gifted violinist and composer who has contributed to numerous movie soundtracks, including The Da Vinci Code, Armageddon and The Chronicles of Narnia.  He is a four-time winner of the Jazz Report Award and three-time winner of the National Jazz Award, and has worked with the likes of Iggy Pop, Robert Palmer, Peter Murphy, Jon Hassell, Hanz Zimmer and many others.  This album is not your typical classical violin instrumental, but a boundary blurring expression by a master violinist who understands the depth of sound that can emanate from his instrument.  Enjoy this one if you like something different.

Recommendation:  If you like experimental music, then you will probably enjoy this unlikely instrumental mix.

Artist Name:  Dimitri K.

Album Name:  7/8

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Contemporary Jazz Instrumental

Track Listing:  1.  7/8; 2.  Inferred; 3.  Interpretation of a Dream; 4.  Fashion Etiquette; 5.  Blue Room; 6.  Subtle Speculation; 7.  Intuitive; 8.  Your Way; 9.  Oculus; 10.  A Day in Paris; 11.  Dusky Light; 12.  Set in Motion

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We love jazz, and we love the sound of Dimitri K.  All of these songs have been written and performed in the “7/8” time signature, and we would love to listen to the entire album.  Unfortunately, the artist only provided us with snippets of the songs, so we were unable to completely evaluate them.  However from what we could hear, we think he is head and shoulders with his more well-known jazz peers, and definitely worth checking out.

Recommendation:  Give him a listen.

 

 

Categories
Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Women in Entertainment

Women in entertainment – The Spear Shakers deliver a healthy dose of the blues

So it’s been about six weeks since our last Women in Entertainment feature, and this time up we’re bringing you a pair of amazing ladies – guitarist Kelly Richey and drummer Sherri McGee, who together are known as The Spear Shakers.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky but living in Cincinnati since 2000, Richey started playing guitar at the age of 15.  The late Lonnie Mack was so impressed with her hyper-muscular playing and singing that he described her as “Stevie Ray Vaughan trapped in a woman’s body.” Listed among the “top 100 gifted guitarists” by the influential Truefire Community, Richey frequently draws comparisons to guitar icons from Stevie Ray to Jimi Hendrix.  Throughout her career, Richey has shared the stage with legends like Mack and Albert King and has opened for Boston, Heart, Joe Cocker, Lita Ford, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Walter Trout, Little Feat, Foghat, REO Speedwagon, George Thorogood, Average White Band, Robben Ford, Warren Zevon, and James Brown.

When it comes to touring, Richey has earned the title “Queen of the Road Warriors,” as she has covered the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia in her 30-year career.  During that time, she played over 4,000 shows, logged a mind-boggling 1 million road miles (and counting) and released 16 albums on her private label, Sweet Lucy Records, earning her a reputation as a master guitarist and singer/songwriter.

On the other side of the band, McGee knew she wanted to play drums since she was a toddler.  Before getting a real drum kit, she played along to Tom Jones and Monkees records using two hairbrushes on a green Naugahyde recliner, and one of her earliest influences was watching Karen Carpenter on television.  McGee has been called a cross between Patsy Cline and John Bonham.

She started playing drums when she joined the 5th-grade school band in Glasgow, Kentucky.  By the time she entered high school, she was in marching band, concert band, stage band, and pep band as section leader and lead snare drummer.  At the age of 15, she joined The Flying Scotsmen, a 17-piece swing/big band of male adults. After high school, Sherri moved to Lexington, where she played top bass drum in the University of Kentucky marching band.

After graduating from college, McGee quickly became part of the Lexington local music scene as one of three females fronting a Motown-type band called the Twinkettes, as well as being part of Spree 33, a versatile new wave cover band.  She was also a founding member of Velvet Elvis, an original pop/rock band that released an EP and a full album before securing a record contract with Enigma Records.  They later released a record produced by Mitch Easter and toured extensively; shot two videos for MTV, and were favorably reviewed in Musician Magazine and Rolling Stone, among many other industry publications.  They opened for Let’s Active, Adrian Belew and the Bears, and UB40, to name a few.

We asked the band to tell us what inspired them, and Richey had this to say:  “The gift of music has been a constant source of inspiration in my life, it’s provided me a bridge to my soul, and a common language for connecting with those around me.”

The Spear Shakers have just completed their first release which consisted of three songs in both audio and video format, all of which were previously featured in this blog.  The songs came from Richey’s extensive catalog and were recorded live in the studio.

As for their future plans, Richey says:  “The Spear Shakers rock and will continue to roll with a fire that ignites peoples souls.”

If  you want to keep up with the latest happenings with The Spear Shakers, you can follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook or subscribe to their YouTube channel.

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

Get it or forget it – Fantasticboom, AG Weinberger, Family Animals, Luna Neptune, Sepsiss

The new releases keep coming, so we’re back with another edition of Get it or Forget it.  We hope you enjoy these five diverse artists.

Artist Name:  Fantasticboom

Album Name:  How to Build a Hole

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock/Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  The Sound of Cutting Ties; 2.  Gabby; 3.  I Thought I Could Save You; 4.  All the Words I Know; 5.  this; 6.  How to Build a Hole; 7.  All of the Above; 8.  Meg; 9.  The Flavor of Regret

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Mark Cuthbertson aka Fantasticboom is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who plays almost all the instruments on his latest project except the drums, which are contributed by Bucky Wheaton of Land of Talk.  The album was co-produced by Cuthbertson and The Besnard Lakes’ Jace Lasek.  Other than the very experimental sound of the first track, the album is pure indie pop/rock.  The songs are well written, with strong vocals perfectly mixed with the impressive musical accompaniment.  These songs would do well on college radio, and should be on the radar of smart program managers, especially “I Thought I Could Save You,” “All of the Above” and “The Flavor of Regret.”

Recommendation:  Skip the first track, but enjoy the rest.

Artist Name:  AG Weinberger

Album Name:  Reborn

Label:  BigFoot Records

Genre:  Jazz/Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Wang Dang Doodle; 2.  Sweet Little Number; 3.  On the Wrong Side; 4.  The Fool’s Lucky Day (ft Bob Margolin); 5.  It Wouldn’t be Enough; 6.  Slippery Slope; 7.  Just One Minute; 8.  Cadillac Blues; 9.  Shoot; 10.  Caroline; 11.  Reborn; 12.  I am the Water

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Dracula may be the most famous of all Transylvanians, but inside the country of Romania, AG Weinberger is a close second.  On his tenth album, he mixes elements of jazz, blues, cabaret, psychedelic rock and folk to create music that put him in the elite of all blues guitarists in the world.  In his spare time, he’s also a composer and playwright and has written 19 plays for the Romanian theater companies.  While Weinberger does not consider himself a blues artist, but an artist who infuses blues into everything he plays.  We tend to agree, and think his album is a treat from start to finish, especially the title track.

Recommendation:  Get it if you love the blues.

Artist Name:  Family Animals

Album Name:  The End is Mere

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Psychedelic Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Push Play; 2.  Gimme Jim-Jims; 3.  Nuclear Confusion; 4.  Voyage to Nowhere; 5.  Chivalrous Idiot; 6.  The Modern Life; 7.  Captain Z Bop’s Friendly Friends; 8.  Guitarbot 4000 + the Two Tongued Twins (Live at Magnitard’s Tavern); 9.  The March of the Megaherd; 10.  Exploding Light; 11.  A Speaker in Your Stereo

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  The sound of Family Animals is very retro, no doubt heavily influenced by The Beatles‘ Yellow Submarine and similar material.  The psychedelic undertones are almost mesmerizing and relaxing, especially on “Nuclear Confusion,” “Chivalrous Idiot” and “Captain Z Bop’s Friendly Friends” (which both sound like they could have come from The Doors), their first single “The Modern Life,” and the final track, “A Speaker in Your Stereo.”  On the other hand, “The March of the Megaherd” is more reflective of Jimi Hendrix.

Recommendation:  Definitely worth your attention, especially if you love 60’s influenced psychedelic rock.

Artist Name:  Luna Neptune

Album Name:  Reverse the Hexes

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Alternative Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve; 2.  Your Gods; 3.  Old Christine

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We last reviewed Luna Neptune when she released her EP Next Automated Wave back in August 2018.  She’s back again with another three-song EP that once again proves she is an artist on the cusp.  Her vocals are heavenly and the songs conjure up memories of such great songs as Heart‘s “These Dreams.”  The sound is very retro, sort of a cross between Heart and Fleetwood Mac, and very appealing, especially the first single, “Your Gods.”  We can’t wait for her to give us a full length album, because these appetizer EPs are so tantalizing and tempting while leaving us wanting so much more.

Recommendation:  Run out and Get this one.

Artist Name:  Sepsiss

Album Name:  Fair to Say

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Metal

Track Listing:  1.  Fair 2 Say; 2.  Eyes of Empathy; 3.  The Swarm; 4.  To Write Hate on His Arms

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Sepsiss has a traditional heavy metal sound with a sweet twist, the powerfully crisp and clean vocals of Melissa Wolfe, which belong in the same category as Amy Lee.  This band has the potential to go head to head with the giants of metal, and come out ahead because of those memorable vocals.  We especially love “Eyes of Empathy.”  This is hard-hitting metal at its best, and we look forward to hearing more from these monsters.

Recommendation:  If you love metal, you will love Sepsiss.