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

Get it or forget it – Lugh, Leon of Athens, Gareth Dunlop, Isla Craig, CeCe Teneal and Soul Kamotion

It’s time for our final Get it or Forget it of July, and we still have a long way to go to catch up from the plethora of summer releases.  Here are five more for your consideration.

Artist Name:  Lugh

Album NameHélico

Label:  C.A.N.V.A.S.

Genre:  Electronica

Track Listing:  1.  Million Dollar Cowboy; 2.  Teeth in my Hands; 3.  Skototrope; 4.  Moan Jiro; 5.  Without Tassels; 6.  Labraid Lorc

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  Lugh is Irish-born but currently based in Berlin, Germany, a country which seems to be on the forefront of experimental and electronic music.  His sound is eerie and complex, and would make great placements in Sci-Fi and similar movies and television shows.  It likewise provides a good musical backdrop for those times when you just want something different playing in the background while you go about your day.  Although not the type of music you will hear on the radio, it is still worth your time to check out.

Recommendation:  Give this one a spin.

Artist NameLeon of Athens

Album Name Xenos

Label:  EMI/Universal

Genre:  Indie Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Aeroplane; 2.  Xenos; 3.  Utopia; 4.  Fire Inside You; 5.  Serpent’s Egg; 6.  Letters to my Father; 7.  Final Moments; 8.  Corfu; 9.  Moonlight

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  Leon of Athens is a Greek artist currently residing in London, but his music definitely belongs on American radio.  It is upbeat, well crafted, with strong lyrical content, especially on the title cut.  These songs need to be heard, and their message spread far and wide.  His current single, “Utopia,” has a lot of food for thought, and is worthy of Top 40 inclusion.  Every song on this disc is a winner, and we recommend that every radio station manager in the Top 40, AAA and A/C formats check out his catalog for serious airplay.

Recommendation:  This is a definite keeper for your collection.  Get it today!

Artist NameGareth Dunlop

Album NameMany Moons Ago

Label:  Moraine Records / Priory Records

Genre:  Singer-songwriter Folk

Track Listing:  1.  Devil Like You; 2.  Can’t Stand Myself; 3.  Blind to the Pain; 4.  Way Back When; 5.  Dwell in my Soul

Publicist:  Mystic Sons

Review:  Gareth Dunlop is an Irish songwriter who currently commutes between his home in Belfast and Hollywood.  He has had much success in placing his songs on hit television shows, including Suits, Nashville, Bones, House, Private Practice, Cougar Town, Army Wives and Lucifer.  In fact, the song he placed on Lucifer, “Devil Like You,” leads off this amazing five-song EP.  Dunlop is the consummate songwriter, combining an easy listening folk sound with strong lyrical content, creating something very special.  It is no surprise that he has become so popular with music supervisors, as every one of these five songs could easily fit into film or television, especially “Blind to the Pain.”

Recommendation:  Don’t hesitate.  Get this one today!

Artist NameIsla Craig

Album NameThe Becoming

Label:  Pleasence Records

Genre:  Indie

Track Listing:  1.  Intro; 2.  The Becoming; 3.  Out of a Dream; 4.  Love Song; 5.  I’m Lost; 6.  Faraway Blue; 7.  Who am I; 8.  The Becoming (reprise); 9.  Bird of Paradise; 10.  There is a Hole; 11.  Messages (Garden Edition); 12.  Gregory

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  Mixing elements of R&B, soul, jazz, pop and rock, Isla Craig is not your typical indie artist.  Although we were only able to listen to three of the 12 tracks on the album, we got a pretty good idea of what to expect from the rest.  Our favorite of the three songs was the title track, a soulful ballad that is perfect for relaxing and chilling.  We also enjoyed “Love Song,” her current single, but weren’t as impressed by “There is a Hole,” which starts off jazzy and funky before turning into a wild cacophony of sound that didn’t sound like anything else we heard.  Hopefully next time the publicist will send us a link to the entire album and not just a couple of songs.

Recommendation:  This artist is worth a listen.

Artist NameCeCe Teneal and Soul Kamotion

Album Name#5or5000

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Jazz/Blues

Track Listing:  1.  90 mph; 2.  Rockstar; 3.  Danger; 4.  What I’d do to get Your Love Back; 5.  Common, Ordinary Housewife; 6.  Lonely (Even When You’re Here); 7.  Work; 8.  #5or5000; 9.  I Betcha Come Back; 10.  4 on the Floor; 11.  Alive; 12.  Home

Publicist:  Under the Moon PR

Review:  CeCe Teneal is a powerhouse vocalist in the style of Aretha Franklin, and her Soul Kamotion band provides the perfect complement to that amazing voice.  This is a live album which makes you want to get up and dance as well as get out to see them perform live.  Mixing soul with her jazz and blues creates an uplifting sound that is positive and worthy of radio airplay.  Every song rocks, and makes you want to put this one on repeat.  This may well be our new favorite album.

Recommendation:  Don’t think twice – Get this one now!

 

 

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

Monday Mashup 2018: vol. 22

It’s another week, and it will be a busy one.  We will be leaving on Sunday to head down to Los Angeles for the Hollywood Fringe Festival.  We have 51 shows on our schedule to review, including about 15 that have submitted for consideration of our Larry Cornwall Award for Musical Excellence.  We will also be  having our second annual LA Music Critic Award Winners Showcase on June 19 at The Mint, where we will have some amazing winners perform in support of the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.  Tickets are available online for $10, and will be available at the door for $13.  We hope to see you there.

UNSIGNED ONLY COMPETITION ENDS JUNE 6

The final week of the Unsigned Only “Grand Slam” special promotion has kicked off, running until midnight on June 6 (CST).  All entries will also be included into the 2018 Unsigned Only Music Competition.  This is your very last time to enter, so if you want to enter more songs (or enter for the first time this year), you still have a chance to participate in this year’s competition, but you need to hurry.

Winners for the previous three weeks of the promotion, as well as the current week, will be announced along with all of the other category winners in September 2018.   Just for entering, all entrants will receive 100 free spins to Radio Airplay (regardless of whether you are an existing Radio Airplay member or a new member).  Additionally, every entrant will also be entered into the overall 2018 Unsigned Only competition and have the chance for their music to be heard by a high-profile panel of judges, as well as be eligible to share in over $150,000 in cash and prizes.

HOME RUN | May 30 – June 6 | GET PAID FOR THE WIN – Click Here For Info
Click Here To Enter Your Songs
NEW SINGLES
First up today is a long-time favorite of this blog, and one of the amazing artists signed to Blue Élan Records.  Recent winner of the LA Music Critic Award for Rising Star, here is “Honey, Honey” from the unforgettable Chelsea Williams.

Next up is “Sort Myself Out” from Becoming Bristol, fka The Exchange.  We like the sound of this band and look forward to hearing much more from them.

Single number three today is from a voice familiar to lovers of the TV shows Suits, Lucifer, Bones, Nashville and One Tree HillGareth Dunlop has a new single that we think you’ll love.  Here is “Blind to the Pain” from his forthcoming EP Many Moons Ago.

https://soundcloud.com/gareth-dunlop-official/blind-to-the-pain

Our fourth single today is from The Cravens, who we have previously reviewed and featured on this blog.  They have a “Message” for you, and we think you’ll be glad to get it.

Our final single today is “Don’t Blink” from John Santiago, frontman for Johnny & the Bootlegs, which we recently reviewed in Get it or Forget it.  Let us know what you think.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from Lauren Balthrop‘s upcoming September album, This Time Around.  Here is the lyric video for “Down.”

Next is the very retro feel of Peter Cat with his new single “Hand Through Hair.”  Groovy, Baby.

Our third video this week is from one of the newest artists on Blue Élan Records, Red Wanting Blue.  Here is the video for their new single, “High and Dry.”

And now, for something completely different, here is a sneak preview of the new video from Runaway Symphony which will be released on June 12.  Check out this live performance of “The Fall of Man.”

Our final video this week is “All the Way” from Cherry Pools.  We think it’s the perfect segue to summer and a wonderful week.  See you soon.