Tag: Christmas music

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indie music Monday Mashup Singles and Videos

Monday mashup 2020 (vol 18)

Like you, we can’t wait for 2020 to be in our rearview mirror.  Thankfully, change is coming in 2021.  Our lead blogger finally pulled the plug and filed for Social Security.  That means his 50+ hour work weeks will be reduced to 30, and he will have three days off each week to get back to doing what he loves best – writing about indie music.  Watch for additional news in the coming weeks.

As we start Christmas week, we couldn’t think of a better time to dedicate our column to some great new Christmas singles and videos.  Let’s enjoy the holiday season and get 2021 off to a great start.

NEW SINGLES

First up is a new tune from a familiar voice who we have not heard from in quite a while.  Please enjoy “Christmas with my Baby” from  the mega-talented Lucy Schwartz.

Christmas With My Baby · Lucy Schwartz (spotify.com)

Next up is a future Americana Christmas classic from Eric Brace and the Last Train Home.  This one will truly pull at your heart strings.  Check out “By the Lights on the Tree.”

By the Lights on the Tree · Eric Brace & Last Train Home (spotify.com)

Our third single comes from LA’s own iconic BINX, who reminds us that Christmas isn’t just a day in December with her instant classic “Christmas in Summer.”

Christmas In Summer · BINX (spotify.com)

Check out the powerful and soulful voice of Cameron DuBois on her amazing song, “Merry Christmas, Wherever you Are.”  This one will definitely put you in the mood and fill your heart with the holiday spirit.

Merry Christmas, Wherever You Are · Cameron DuBois, Bama Sound (spotify.com)

Our final song comes from Johnny & the Mongrels with their bluesy rendition of “Christmas Angels.”  We like their sound.

Christmas Angels · Johnny & the Mongrels (spotify.com)

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

We start off our Christmas videos with the sound of Oklahoma’s own The Imaginaries.  Their video for “Hometown Christmas” was filmed in Chickasha, Oklahoma, where the husband and wife duo also served as Grand Marshals of the annual Christmas Parade.  Let’s get this party started the right way.

Although we don’t typically share videos by major artists, we are making an exception in the case of Meghan Trainor‘s new video “I Believe in Santa.”  In case you don’t know, Meghan is a product of the amazing Durango Songwriters Expo, where indie artists get to connect with industry professionals.  In addition, Santa is played by none other than David Haverty of Hollywood Fringe Festival fame.  Enjoy this little slice of heaven.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one amazing cover of a Christmas carol, and this year our vote goes to Constanza Herrero‘s “Silent Night.”  May the peace of this song fill your heart.

Speaking of great covers, who doesn’t love Eartha Kitt‘s classic song, “Santa Baby.”  American Blonde, formerly Southern Halo, bring a sweet downhome feel to this classic tune, and we can’t wait to see what the sisters have in store for us in 2021.

We close out our special Christmas edition with a brilliant cover of one of our favorite Christmas songs, “Hard Candy Christmas.”  We just found out about this artist, Alexandra Kay, and we expect to hear great things from her in the future.  Enjoy this one and we’ll see you again soon.

SPECIAL GIFT:  Here’s the original song from the movie version of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – we can never get tired of this song.  Thanks to Fandango Movie Clips for this awesome memory.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 44

Happy December!  It was a good weekend for our favorite teams, as Miami knocked off their divisional rivals the Bills, and our Lady Griz won the annual Lady Griz Classic with a come-from-behind victory over UC Davis.  This is going to be a busy week with 10 albums to review, Ten Amazing Videos and Ten Great Singles for November and the announcement of the nominations for the LA Music Critic Awards for the second half of 2018.  Let’s get started.

BLUE ÉLAN RECORDS SUPPORTS ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Once again Blue Élan Records is supporting the Alliance for Children’s Rights with the release of their annual Christmas collection.  This year’s offering includes last year’s LA Music Critic Award winning song, “Shine Down on Us,” as well as the latest from The Mustangs of the West, “Everybody Wants Peace on Earth.”  Please support this worthy cause by  streaming it on Spotify or purchase it online

REBELLE ROAD RECORDS TO RELEASE NEW ALICE WALLACE ALBUM

With the demise of California Country Records, a new player has stepped in to continue their legacy.  Rebelle Road Records will release the new Alice Wallace album, Into the Blue, in early January 2019.  Pre-sale has begun, and you can get a sneak peak of the title track, courtesy of The Bluegrass Situation.  This one is gonna be amazing.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is an amazing collaboration between Cheat Codes and Kim Petras.  We love the smooth sound of this truly radio friendly track, “Feeling of Falling,” and think you will love it too.  Enjoy this great start to your week.

Our second single is a special Christmas tune from the amazing Tiffany Young.  We love the smooth soul/R&B sound and think you will love “Peppermint” as much as we do.

Single number three proves disco is not dead, at least not in Amsterdam.  Here’s the latest from Sweetwood, the latest project from collective Voice Calling Radio.  Here’s “One of These Days.”

Next up is the second single from the forthcoming album by TNEO (The New Electronic Orchestra).  Here’s “Look Into the Light.”  We think this one will get you on your feet.  It has a great acoustic guitar, amazing vocals and a steady beat perfect for dancing.

Our final single today is one of the songs from A Blue Élan Christmas, written by multiple Grammy winning artist Jack Tempchin, and featuring Rusty Young of Poco and Jesse Dayton, two of his Blue Élan labelmates.  Check out “Jesus and Mohammed.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Keeping the Christmas spirit going is the video for the amazing tune, “Everybody Wants Peace on Earth” from the newly resurrected Mustangs of the West.  We think you will love the down-home feel of this video, written by lead singer Suzanna Spring.  Happy holidays!

Our next video is a beautiful collection of scenes from Nashville, along with an amazing instrumental cover of the traditional Christmas hymn, “Joy to the World.”  Let the beauty of this song warm your house during your holiday parties.  Thanks Eric Tingstad for this amazing rendition.

Here’s a rare treat, a video of the first live performance of the song “Breaking Down” by Hamish Anderson.  It was filmed at The Belly Up, an indie music venue located in Solana Beach, California.  It should give you a rocking start to this Monday.

Next is a fun video of a great dance tune “Kickdrum Heartbeat” by Van Bobbi.  This one combines elements of R&B, pop, funk and Afro-beat, and “checks all the boxes” for a great song.  Please let us know what you think.

Our final video this week is from Peakes, who we have previously featured in this column.  We love the majestic sound and breathtaking and visually stimulating presentation of their song “Still Life.”

 

 

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

Get it or forget it (Christmas edition) – Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers, Paul Cardall, Redhead Express, The Humming Bards

Happy Thanksgiving.  As promised, here are four Christmas albums we received this year, and they are all amazing.  We hope this gets you in the proper mood for the holiday season.

Artist Name:   Mindi Abair & the Boneshakers

Album Name:   All I Got for Christmas is the Blues

Label:   Pretty Good for a Girl Records

Genre:   Christmas (Blues/Funk)

Track Listing:   1.  All I Got for Christmas is the Blues; 2.  I Can’t Wait for Christmas; 3.  Merry Christmas Baby; 4.  Christmas (Baby Please Come Home); 5.  The Best Part of Christmas; 6.  Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree; 7.  The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire); 8.  Run Run Rudolph; 9.  Christmas Fool

Publicist:   Blind Raccoon

Review:  Mindi Abair is a two-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist and vocalist who is a master of jazz, blues and funk.  On her first holiday album, she brings four originals and five re-imagined classics to get your holidays off to a bluesy and funky start.  She kicks things off with the original title track before reinventing her own 2004 tune, “I Can’t Wait for Christmas.”  The band then tackles the Charles Brown R&B standard “Merry Christmas Baby” before tackling and improving on the Phil Spector/Darlene Lee classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”  Our favorite song is next with “The Best Part of Christmas,” a song she co-wrote with her old college friend and long-time collaborator, Matthew Hager from Halo Circus.  On “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” she gets to be both Brenda Lee and Boots Randolph as she gives the pop classic a modern bluesy sound.  You will not believe the amazing new arrangement the band gives to “The Christmas Song,” but we think it will easily become your favorite version.  She closes out this special Christmas gift with Chuck Berry‘s “Run Run Rudolph” before ending with a “back porch break down” on “Christmas Fool.”  This one is sure to become a holiday favorite.

Recommendation:   Don’t think twice.  Get this one for your holiday listening enjoyment.

Artist Name:   Paul Cardall

Album Name:   Christmas

Label:   Stone Angel Music

Genre:   Christmas (Classical)

Track Listing:   1,  Hard the Herald Angels Sing; 2.  In the Bleak Midwinter (ft Audrey Assad); 3.  O Come O Come Emmanuel; 4.  Jesus Once of Humble Birth; 5.  It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; 6.  Christmas Past; 7.  Joy to the World; 8.  O Holy Night (ft CeCe Winans); 9.  Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella; 10.  Once in Royal David’s City; 11.  Son of God (ft Patrice Tipoki); 12.  Away in a Manger; 13.  Silent Night

Publicist:   Morris Public Relations

Review:  Composer Paul Cardall brings us a traditional and classical approach to Christmas music, with his majestic and sweeping orchestral sound.  He also has three special guest vocalists in Grammy-winner CeCe Winans (“O Holy NIght”), Australian Broadway star Patrice Tipoki (“Son of God”) and award-winning singer-songwriter Audrey Assad (“In the Bleak Midwinter”).  With these group of songs, you can’t help getting into the Christmas spirit with a soundtrack that will be perfect for all your holiday parties and get-togethers.  Stand-out performances on “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “O Holy Night,” which are sure to become some of your favorite holiday songs.

Recommendation:  This is one of the best we’ve ever heard, and belongs in your holiday collection. Get it right away!

Before we review our final two albums, we wanted to share a couple of Christmas songs that we received this year.  First up is Cherrill Rae, who updates the classic pop song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” into a modern-day sweeping standard.

Our second single is from Charlie Milliken, who takes it from soulful to country with his beautifully written and performed “Season.”

Artist Name:  Redhead Express/PaperDolls Band

Album Name:  Christmastime

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Christmas (Country)

Track Listing:  1.  Away in a Manger; 2.  Carol Medley; 3.  God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen; 4.  Holidaze; 5.  Love is Christmas; 6.  Mary did you Know; 7.  O Holy Night

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  The four sisters that encompass Redhead Express have made a name for themselves with their spectacular harmonies and brilliant musicianship, including guitar, violin, banjo and stand up bass.  On their first holiday album, they turn these well-known and loved Christmas songs into bluegrass/country classics.  They also bring a couple of new songs to the table to give us an even better holiday treat.  On “Carol Medley,” they add in the equally wonderful voices of their family to round out the sound before introducing the more pop/rock sound of their new project, the PaperDolls Band, on “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen.”  They follow this up with the amazing original “Holidaze” and an uplifting bluegrass cover of Sara Bareilles‘ “Love is Christmas.”  They close out this brilliant collection with their holiday gift from last year, “Mary Did You Know,” and the classic “O Holy Night.”

Recommendation:  If you love harmonies and great music, then this is the holiday album for you.  Drop what you’re doing and Get it now!

Artist Name:  The Humming Bards

Album Name:  Holy Common Ground

Label:  JamCat Records

Genre:  Christmas (Pop/Rock)

Track Listing:  1.  Christmas in the Ordinary; 2.  December Song; 3.  Prayer for Everyone; 4.  Christmas Is; 5.  For Auld Lang Syne

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  Multiple LA Music Critic Award winning and Blue Élan Records artist Cindy Alexander joins with country superstar songwriter Kevin Fisher to form this amazing new group.  What started out as a friendship and writing collaboration has blossomed into a special holiday EP featuring three new songs by the duo, as well as one by Fisher (“Christmas Is”) and the other by Alexander and her long time musical partner Dave Darling (“For Auld Lang Syne”).  The combination of their voices is nothing short of spectacular, and the chemistry is palpable.  This one will quickly become a treasured favorite, and deserves to be put on repeat.

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer – you simply must Get it and play it again and again.

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2017: Vol. 44

And we’re back!  After 19 emotionally charged days, we’re back in Montana and ready to rock!  Although the circumstances were not the best, the time spent with family these past two plus weeks was worth the pain.  So much has been going on in the indie music world during our time away.  Here are some of the latest happenings.  Enjoy our holiday edition.

BLUE ÉLAN RECORDS TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

Blue Élan Records has released its annual Christmas album, featuring such Indie Voice Blog favorites as Cindy Alexander, Chelsea Williams, SEE, Rusty Young, Janiva Magness, Janey Street and Jack Tempchin, among others.  Please buy a copy today and help them support the Alliance for Children’s Rights.  All proceeds are being donated to the Alliance.

CHELSEA WILLIAMS LOVES CHRISTMAS

Check out her lyric video for “Peppermints and Mistletoe.”  We think it will put you in the mood.

JERAD FINCK WANTS A WHITE CHRISTMAS

Spokane native Jerad Finck has released a Christmas single, and is making it available for anyone to download.  Check it out below and head to SoundCloud if you want a free download.

https://soundcloud.com/jeradfinck/white-christmas-jerad-finck

KATE STEINWAY RELEASES VIDEO FOR “WHITE CHRISTMAS”

We recently discovered Kate Steinway when she was the featured artist at Songwriters at Play in Paso Robles.  Check out her lovely video for “White Christmas.”

PAM TAYLOR WANTS TO GET IT ON FOR CHRISTMAS

Blues artist Pam Taylor is ready to rock your Christmas season with a little bit of naughtiness.  Check out her new single and see what we mean.

ECHOSMITH SHARES THEIR CHRISTMAS YULE LOG

Indie darlings Echosmith have a Christmas EP, which they are sharing in their annual Yule Log video.  Check it out.

REBEL POP PRINCESS KATIE COSTELLO NEEDS A HOLIDAY

Here’s a new one from one of Indie Voice Blog’s favorite artists, Katie Costello.  Enjoy the holidays.

Here’s hoping you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy holiday season!

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup

Monday Mashup: what’s new in the indie world?

Hope you all survived Thanksgiving week.  We’re back with another look at what’s new in the indie world.

Un5Gettable release cover of ‘NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas Happy Holidays”

Comedy/parody group Un5Gettable has released their own version of ‘NSYNC’s holiday song “Merry Christmas Happy Holidays.”  Winners of the Best Video (Comedy) for the first half of 2016, these boys have proven that there are no sacred cows in their lives.  But believe it or not, these boys can really sing, as demonstrated by this track.  Please enjoy it with our compliments.

https://soundcloud.com/un5gettable/un5gettable-merry-christmas-happy-holidays

Jerad Finck wins USA Songwriting Competition

Jerad Finck, winner of the Best CD (Male) for the second half of 2015, has another laurel to put on his mantel.  He recently won the award for Best Overall Pop song for the title track of his latest CD, Criminal.  Here’s the stripped down acoustic version of his song, recently posted to YouTube.  We think you’ll agree that this song deserves all its accolades.

Brian Mackey releases new Christmas single, “Just One Night”

We introduced you to Brian Mackey back in October when his single “Are You Listening?” was getting a lot of traction in the business.  Now Mackey has released his Christmas single, and we think you’ll dig it.  Check it out and download it from Apple Music.

Jess Penner releases lyric video for “Together”

Jess Penner, the solo singer-songwriter persona of Jessica Treskon, and one half of the dynamic duo of Kayjez, recently released a lyric video for her song “Together,” off her EP Good Times.  Check it out and see why we are so jazzed about the future of  this amazing artist.

Marina V launches food and travel blog

International indie artist Marina V has recently launched a food and travel blog.  As an musician who travels and tours around the globe, Marina V is the perfect person to be able to also report on her travels and the food she encounters while on tour.  Check out her blog here.

More video releases

Here are two more amazing videos released in the past week.  The first is by outstanding Americana band The Show Ponies, who are preparing for the release of their new album in January.  Check out their video for “The Time it Takes,” filmed while they were recently on tour.

Alexis Keegan has been a favorite of this blog and this writer since she first burst on the scene.  She recently released the video for her monster hit “Empty Heart.”  Expect a lot more great music from this artist as we head into 2017.

Please let us know if you have any news you want to share.  We’ll be back next Monday with more from the amazing world of indie music.  Thanks to Jen Lyneis of Ue3 Promotions and Laura Goldfarb of Red Boot PR for introducing us to some of their amazing clients.