Tag: KT Tunstall

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Artists Worth Checking Out Durango Songwriters Expo Hollywood Fringe Festival Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 41

Happy Veterans Day (day 2).  Since the real day fell on a Sunday, the government is honoring it today, giving us veterans a double holiday.  Thanks to Red Robin and Applebee’s for feeding so many of us yesterday, and to Denny’s and Noodles Express for taking care of us today.  We’ve got some news for you, as well as five new singles and music videos to share, so grab your coffee and let’s get going.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 2019

The tenth annual Hollywood Fringe Festival will be held June 13-30, 2019, with previews from June 6-11 and the Opening Night Party on June 12.  In addition, they are now accepting applications for Fringe Scholarships.  As we previously informed you, our very own LA Music Critic has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for his first solo show, Livin’ the Dream, which is scheduled to premiere at HFF19.  Please check out his campaign and support him if you can.  We thank you for whatever you can contribute.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single comes from a pair of songwriters we have met as a result of our involvement in the Durango Songwriters Expo.  Richard Harris is an amazing songwriter and mentor who has worked with a number of DSE alum, and his collaboration with fellow Brit Greg Holden on “Something Beautiful” gives us hope in this troubled time.  We have wanted to share this one since we heard it at the Expo in October.

While we’re spotlighting UK artists, here are a couple of singles we have received as a result of our affiliation with “Send to Media.”  First up is Welshman Ryan Davies, who continues the aforementioned theme with “Beautiful Thing.”  This one reminds us of Rod Stewart.

Our third single is a super-cool upbeat dance pop track from Fanny Andersen.  Check out her groovy number, “Dollar Signs.”  Although this one technically came out in September, we missed it and wanted you to have the chance to hear what should be the first of many hit songs from her.

https://soundcloud.com/edda-music/fanny-andersen-dollar-igns/s-5gCif

Our fourth single comes from Hotel Mira, who says they were inspired to write “Jungle” after viewing the Oscar nominated film, Lady Bird.  Let us know what you think of this outstanding indie rock band, which we previously featured in our Ten Great Singles of April article.

Our final single today is a delightful cover of the Prince-written Sinead O’Connor song “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Norwegian artist Anna of the North.  Enjoy this one which should get your week off to a great start.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is from former Mickey Mouse Club and The Voice contestant Tony Lucca, who reminds us that “Everthing’s Changing.”  We love this one.

Next up is the latest from the one and only KT Tunstall.  Here’s her video for her latest single, “Human Being.”  Special props to Eccaia Sampson, the unbelievable 8-year old martial artist who stars in the video.

Our third video is some rocking blues from Karen Lawrence and Blue by Nature.  Check out this live version of their song, “It’s All About You.”  Thanks to Doug Deutsch for sharing this one with us.

Our fourth video takes us from the blues to R&B.  We love this one from the amazing Lorelle Howard, who mixes several genres to deliver a gem in “Runnin.”

Our final video this week is “World Domination,” an indie rock post apocalyptic smash from Band of Silver that pays homage to such classic movies as The Hunger Games.

 

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

Get it or forget it – Colin Devlin, We are the City, MILLAMIX, Tokyo Police Club, KT Tunstall

What an amazing Thursday we had.  Our Brewers won it in the 10th after blowing a 2-0 lead in the 9th, and the Durango Songwriters Expo kicked off with an amazing showcase of talent.  Today is the first full day of the Expo, with lots of interaction with industry, seminars and another showcase tonight.  And of course, another chance for the Brewers to shine.  Check out these amazing albums being released today, including the first new album from an old favorite in quite a few years.

Artist Name:  Colin Devlin

Album Name:  High Point

Label:  Blue Élan Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  High Point; 2.  Just a Fire; 3.  Highwire; 4.  Promised Land; 5.  This is Where we Are; 6.  Nostalgia; 7.  Water; 8.  Shine On; 9.  Exosphere; 10.  A Dream Worth Living; 11.  Lost in the Silence

Publicist:  MAD Ink PR

Review:  Colin Devlin is a Los Angeles transplant from Dublin, Ireland, where he was a member of The Devlins.  Since arriving in LA, he has become a fixture of the music scene, working with a myriad of indie artists and signing with Blue Élan Records to record his own solo album.  And what an album it is!  He hits the ground running with the title track, and the album only goes up from there.  There is a brooding darkness just underneath the surface, and comparisons to Bono and Sting are definitely on target.  We have already featured several songs in our Monday Mashup articles, and this album has something for everyone, delivering one incredible song after another.  This is music for those times you want to chill and contemplate life, and it will provide you with amazing clarity as you ponder the skillfully written lyrics and music.  We love every song, especially the title track, “Just a Fire,” “Nostalgia,” and “Shine On.”

Recommendation:  Don’t miss the chance to get this one while it’s hot.  Get it Today!

Photo by Kirsten Huculiak

Artist Name:  We are the City

Album Name:  At Night

Label:  Light Organ Records/Tooth & Nail

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Long Goodbye (ft Emily Millard); 2.  When I Dream, I Dream of You; 3.  Delta Lab; 4.  Our Spectacular & Common Lives; 5.  Mid-Tempo Drama; 6.  When you Dream, you Dream of Waves; 7.  Peachland at Night; 8.  Dark Horizon; 9.  Choice is Unlike Anything; 10.  Ones you Love (ft Shad); 11.  To get it Right you Have to get it Wrong Sometimes

Publicist:  Auteur Research

Review:  We featured the video for “When I Dream, I Dream of You” this past Monday, and are pleased to be able to review the entire album for you today.  This Canadian treasure needs to be shared with the world.  Their music is fresh, upbeat and extremely well-crafted, and every song is worthy of attention.  The layers of goodness contained in each track scream out that this is a band that has arrived and is looking for a long-term residence in your musical library.  Their sound is majestic and cinematic.  Music supervisors would be wise to consider their music for placement opportunities in television and film.

Recommendation:  Give them a home in your music collection.  You won’t regret it.

Artist Name:  MILLAMIX

Album Name:  2

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  80s Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Can’t Wait; 2.  Fly; 3.  Feel Again (Castaway); 4.  Let you Down; 5. Weakened by You; 6.  Infinite Time; 7.  Things Don’t Make Sense; 8.  Carry Along

Publicist:  self-promoted

Review:  If you love 80s pop music, then have we got a treat for you.  Stephen Miller has returned in his persona as Millamix to deliver a fresh set of 80s-inspired pop songs that are destined to become a staple of your 80s library.  From the first track, “Can’t Wait,” which was obviously inspired by Phil Collins, Miller delivers a stunning collection of songs that capture all of the joy and energy of 80s pop.  We really love “Feel Again (Castaway)” and “Carry Along” with the sounds of that amazing saxophone.

Recommendation:  If you love the 80s, you must have this album in your collection.  It will earn a place in your heart.

Artist Name:  Tokyo Police Club

Album Name:  TPC

Label:  Dine Alone Records

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  New Blues; 2.  Pigs; 3.  Hercules; 4.  Simple Dude; 5.  Unseen; 6.  DLTFWYH; 7.  Can’t Stay Here; 8.  Outttatime; 9.  Ready to Win; 10.  Edgy; 11.  One of These Days; 12.  Daisy Chain

Publicist:  The Syndicate

Review:  Tokyo Police Club are back with their first full length studio album in four years, and the result was definitely worth the wait.  From the dynamic energy of their first single, “Hercules” to the Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe of “Simple Dude,” TPC proves the band was right about the decision to make one more album.  Rob Schnapf, who produced the band’s 2010 release Champ was the perfect choice for this new album, and his production work is truly brilliant.  Other songs that we really love include “New Blues,” “Can’t Stay Here,” “Edgy,” and “One of These Days.”

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one!

Artist Name:  KT Tunstall

Album Name:  Wax

Label:  Rostrum Records

Genre:  Pop/Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Little Red Thread; 2.  Human Being; 3.  The River; 4.  The Mountain; 5.  The Healer (redux); 6.  Dark Side; 7.  Poison; 8.  Backlash and Vinegar; 9.  In This Body; 10.  The Night That Bowie Died; 11.  Tiny Love

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  She’s back, and it’s like she never left us.  We had the privilege of seeing KT Tunstall open acoustically for Better Than Ezra and Bare Naked Ladies at the start of summer, and featured her video for her first single, “The River” in our Monday Mashup column.  Believe us when we tell you that this is some of her best work ever.  The album kicks off with the rocking “Little Red Thread” and only goes up from there.   Tunstall has reestablished herself as a relevant performer who knows how to write great songs that are truly radio friendly.  We think she has enough worthy material here to keep our radio dials filled for the next year!  There really isn’t a weak track on the entire album.  This one is definitely going on repeat!!

Recommendation:  Run, don’t walk, and Get this one TODAY!

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 34

It’s the final week of September, and things are still popping on the indie music scene.  The non-stop barrage of new releases continues, and we are working like crazy to get them all reviewed for you.  But before we get back to that task, let’s take a moment to see what else is happening, and share five new singles and five new music videos with you, as well as check in on multiple LA Music Critic Awards winner and Blue Élan Records Americana superstar Rod Melancon.

ROD MELANCON HAS AN EXPLOSIVE WEEK

Rod Melancon thought this week would be like any other, but he woke up Monday morning to find not only critical success from the release of his latest single, “Westgate,” which we featured last week and which was also highlighted in Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Songs of the Week on Friday, but his song, “Wanna Go for a Ride” is being featured in a national Toyota commercial.

“Last night one of my childhood friends called me up after he heard my song playing behind a Toyota commercial.  I could hear the excitement in his voice.  People from my hometown really root for one another.  This is what it’s all about,” said Melancon.

“Westgate” is the first single from his forthcoming album Pinkville, which is scheduled to be released in spring 2019.   Rolling Stone praised “Westgate” as ‘equal parts talking blues and bar-band Southern rocker.  Melancon glues both halves together with a voice that’s every bit as punchy and pockmarked as the song’s
protagonist.’”

“Wanna Go for a Ride” is a song from his second album Parish Lines, which was released in 2014.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week comes to us courtesy of Open All Nite Entertainment, which has been extremely busy promoting talent lately.  Their client John Hickman released his latest single, “What’s This All About” last Friday, and we are pleased to share it with you today.

Paria fuses Iranian, Latin and UK bass beats into her very own brand of DIY pop, and the result is the incredible single, “Casual.”  This one will get you up and moving.

Our third single is another amazing pop/soul track, this time from the likewise amazing artist Nuela Charles, who was a part of our Ten Great Singles article back in March.  She wants to know, ‘Are you looking for some “Danger?'”

We switch it up to some straight ahead rock with “Nobody’s Fool”by Carlo & the Montes, featuring Akovia.  It reminds us of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and we think you will dig it.

Our final single this week is the PREMIERE of the latest track from Push & Rama Duke.  Check out the amazing dance tune “Frozen,” which is very reminiscent of those monster hits from Donna Summer.

https://soundcloud.com/bigmanagement/frozen-1/s-eAO1I

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

Our first video this week is the long-awaited new song from Magnolia Memoir.  Check out this amazing 80s-inspired tune, “Afterlife.”  We are so glad to have them back!

Next up is the video for the title track of Colin Devlin‘s new album High Point, which we will be reviewing on October 5.  We love the sound of and the images, and think you will too.

Our third video is from an LA staple, Eileen Carey, who brings us the country pop smash “That Town,” which reminds us of early Faith Hill.  Enjoy this beautiful video.

In our fourth video this week, dance duo Karmic drops some “Wisdom Pie,” with a groovy fun tune that is perfect for the dance floor.

We close out the week with the first video from the upcoming new album from KT Tunstall, Wax, which is being released on October 5.  Check out “The River.”

 

 

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

Get it or forget it – KT Tunstall, Cosmogyral, Jordan Siwek, Provincial Camps, Hulk Wasabi

Well, we survived Pearl Jam and last night’s rock show which featured New Years Day, In This Moment and Halestorm.  Wach for our review of the show this weekend.  Then I spent this morning taking up the floor from the Pearl Jam concert.  Three crazy days but it was fun work.

Time now for our weekly hump day edition of Get it or Forget it.  Here’s the latest from a familiar face, as well as four new artists.  Let’s get going.

Artist Name:  KT Tunstall

Album Name:  BBC Live Sessions

Label:  Universal Music/EMI

Genre:  Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Black Horse and Cherry Tree; 2.  Tangled up in Blue; 3.  The Prayer; 4.  Suddenly I See; 5.  Fake Plastic Trees, 6.  Other Side of the World; 7.  Get ur Freak On

Publicist:  Right Angle PR

Review:  We were lucky enough to catch KT Tunstall when she opened for Barenaked Ladies at the Big Sky Amphitheater earlier this summer, and have been fans of her music for many years.  This wonderful EP is a compilation of several live performances Tunstall did for the BBC, and captures all the fun and excitement of her live show with a set of some of her biggest hits.

Recommendation:  If you love KT specifically, or great pop music in general, this is a wonderful addition to your collection.  Get it.

Artist Name:  Cosmogyral

Album Name:  Behold

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Metal

Track Listing:  1.  Apostles of Ignorance; 2.  Reap What you Sow; 3.  Agony & Ecstasy; 4.  Path of Ruin; 5.  Last one Standing; 6.  In Chaos Lies Creation; 7.  Final Judgment; 8.  Time/Set This World Alight; 9.  Coming Storm; 10.  Age of Reason; 11.  Honor in Death; 12.  Behold the Fire’s Rage

Publicist:  Eric Alper PR

Review:  Let me be honest – metal is not my favorite music, but after spending last night watching New Years Day, In This Moment and Halestorm, I more fully understand the intense love metal fans have for their music.  Cosmogryal formed four years ago and has been tearing up the Florida metal scene ever since.  This is their debut album, and it seems that the wait will be worth it for their fans.  The musicanship is first rate, and most of the screamo is understandable.  Their energy comes through loud and clear, and we are sure that their live show is incredible.

Recommendation:  We think it is a worthy effort and definitely worth checking out for any metal fans.

Artist Name:  Jordan Siwek

Album Name:  Sun Inside You

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Singer-songwriter Pop

Track Listing:  1.  Island With no Name; 2.  Lover and a Giver; 3.  Sun Inside You; 4.  Reach Me; 5.  Never Give Up; 6.  Can we go Back; 7.  Waiting for  You; 8.  Fun Ride; 9.  Underachiever (Know Your Song); 10.  Ecstasy; 11.  Floating

Publicist:  EMPKT PR

Review:  We featured Jordan Siwek’s first single, “Lover and a Giver,” and knew that we would enjoy the entire album.  We were not disappointed.  He truly belongs on the radio, and his songs would also make great placements for commercials as well as television and film.  We may be witnessing the birth of the next Elton John, as Siwek’s music has that same feeling, especially Elton’s early material.  He adds a jazzy vibe to “Island  with no Name” and the title track, which is definitely Top 40 worthy.  He returns to the simple sound of the piano on “Reach Me” and “Underachiever (Know Your Song.”  Other songs that we love include “Never Give Up,” “Waiting for You,” and “Floating.”

Recommendation:  This one is a no-brainer.  Definitely Get it.

Artist Name:  Provincial Camps

Album Name:  Fuzz Pop

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Temple in the Sky; 2.  In Your Heart my House; 3.  Bigger Drags; 4.  Mother; 5.  Jaws; 6.  House of Dust; 7.  Life Companion; 8.  See you Tomorrow; 9.  Caroline No; 10.  Retreat

Publicist:  Eric Alper PR

Review:  The musicianship is solid on this new album from Canadian indie rockers Provincial Camps.  We only wish the vocals were as well done.  They tend to be quite pitchy, but the outstanding musical performance behind the vocals makes them tolerable.  The music is perfect for college and underground radio.  With the energy displayed on the album, we imagine they also put on a pretty good live show.

Recommendation:  If you like your indie rock raw, then you will probably enjoy this one.

Artist Name:  Hulk Wasabi

Album Name:  Learning About Shoegaze with Friends!

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Indie Pop/Rock/lo fi

Track Listing:  1.  Space Dog; 2.  A lil bit zen ‘n a lil bit Stud; 3.  I’m Tim Buckley’s Boy; 4.  Basic Situation at Greyhound Station; 5.  The Youth’s Almost Enough; 6.  You Could at Least Leave the Light On (Because it’s Night, Because it’s Time, Because it’s Night-Time); 7.  Chanara; 8.  Hi Kids, Hi Mom

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  This is an interesting album.  “Space Dog” is an instrumental that has almost a carnival-like sound, or something you might hear in a David Lynch film.  As he was quick to point out, the production is lo fi, and the disparity between the quality of the vocals and the instrumentation drives home that point.  The second track has a ska feel that could make an interesting instrumental.  The third track tries on a surf rock style, while  the fourth one is more britpop.  On track five, you get the feeling that you’re listening to a Bond title track,   One thing is for sure, every song is different stylistically, and there should be something for just about everyone here.

Recommendation:  If vocal quality is important to you, you want to skip this one.  Otherwise, we think it is definitely worth checking out.