Month: May 2012

RZA TO CONTRIBUTE WU TANG MEMORABILIA

Renowned producer, lyricist, director, and Abbott of the Wu-Tang Clan RZA has contributed significantly rare memorabilia to the upcoming interactive music exhibit ISLAND SOUNDS: A 500 Year Music Mash-Up. The exhibit, which will take place at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in RZA’s native Staten Island, is set to feature never-before-seen photos…

“DEVIL” VIDEO FROM NAJUAH

Toronto’s Najuah releases the stunningly beautiful Yorgos Karakostas-directed video for “Devil”, the electrifying single from their upcoming album “Misery & Love” Don’t put Najuah (Nahj-oo-ah) in a box. The Toronto-based sextet, fronted by sisters Hanifa and Juliet, takes the fiery burn of R&B and mashes it with arena-rocking guitars, playing like classic Hole being mashed…

EVA SIMONS’ VIDEO FOR HER DEBUT INTERSCOPE SINGLE

Dutch-Born singer and songwriter, EVA SIMONS –who has collaborated with will.i.am, Chris Brown, LMFAO and Afrojack — has just released the video to accompany her debut Interscope single, “I Don’t Like You.”   It is the first single from Simons’ upcoming debut album which is scheduled for release this year. “Been having great fun with…

DAVE GROHL TO DIRECT AND PRODUCE FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

Confirming widely circulated rumors, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana announced today that he will direct and produce a feature Documentary film, SOUND CITY about the infamous recording studio in Van Nuys, California. The film was conceived by Grohl after purchasing the legendary Neve 8028 recording console from Sound City Studios last year. The…

RED RED RECORDS SIGN UP AND COMING SINGER-SONGWRITER NIKKI LANG

Los Angeles-based, independent record label, Red Red Records has recently signed up and coming singer-songwriter Nikki Lang, it was announced today by Val Garay, President Red Red Records and George Woolverton, CEO Red Red Records. Under the terms of the deal, Red Red Records, distributed by BDG/RED/Sony, will represent and release Nikki’s future recordings. “Nikki…

NEW EP FROM PK MAY 29

High-energy, scrappy indie-pop quintet, PK, have announced that their sophomore studio project, The Lost Boy Sessions EP will be released on May 29th. Sonically described as “The Killers meet Vampire Weekend,” PK has been compared to such acts The Cure, U2 and The Gaslight Anthem. ­ ­After the band’s debut full-length, Into The Roaring, garnered…

KEN LEWIS LAUNCHES ONLINE STUDIO SCHOOL

Acclaimed producer/mixer/writer/arranger Ken Lewis is proud to announce the launch of his latest venture www.AudioSchoolOnline.com . Here producers and engineers of any level can learn tricks and pick up tips from the man who ‘s work graces 59 Gold & Platinum albums for artists including Kanye West, Mary J Blige, Drake, Eminem, Lana Del Rey…

KWES NEW VIDEO “BASHFUL”

To celebrate Kwes’ meantime EP, we are pleased to present a video for lead track “bashful.” The video, filmed in an elevator, is a humorous and touching insight into the mind of Kwes “I had a wonderful time doing the video for “bashful.” Everyone involved did a fantastic job and Ian Pons Jewell is a…

JACOB JEFFRIES BAND NEW ALBUM MAY 18

South Florida’s resident pop rockers, the Jacob Jeffries Band,is set to release their fourth studio album, Tell Me Secrets on May 18th. Once south Florida’s best-kept secret, the Jacob Jeffries Band is now breaking into the scene with widespread accolades about the band’s piano-driven rock. With its unique blend of explosive energy and soulful songwriting,…

Jes Falcon, Fake Bluff

Jes Falcon is celebrating his first full length CD release, “Fake Bluff”. Jes seems to have a knack for networking and keeping focused on the business at hand. He is a talented musician with a brain for business and he knows how to get the job done. “Fake Bluff” is a perfect example of his…

FUELED BY RAMEN ANNOUNCE NEW SIGNING TWENTY ONE PILOTS

Fueled By Ramen has announced its signing of Twenty One Pilots.   The band revealed the news to its hometown fans over the weekend at a sold out gig at Columbus, Ohio’s LC Pavilion.   The show, which sold out over two weeks in advance, was upgraded to the larger LC Pavilion (2200 capacity) from…

AMANDA PALMER CREATES INCREDIBLE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

Singer, songwriter, piano-slayer and blogger Amanda Palmer is preparing to release her first new studio album in four years, in conjunction with her new band, The Grand Theft Orchestra, featuring Michael McQuilken, Chad Raines and Jherek Bischoff. The album, recently recorded in Melbourne with producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Murder By Death, Modest Mouse, Xiu…

BLACK BOX REVELATION TO HEADLINE U.S. CLUBS

Making a triumphant return to the states after opening for the legendary Jane’s Addiction on their theater tour of the states and a headline run of large European clubs, critically-acclaimed Belgian duo BLACK BOX REVELATION begin their own U.S. on May 12th. http://us.blackboxrevelation.com The band will release their Alain Johannes-produced (Queens of the Stone Age,…

THE VOICE BEHIND HALLMARK & EMERGING MUSICAL TALENT: ILANA MARTIN

Founded in 1999, VWSS offers a top of the line truing program lasting six months, that whips into shape every conceivable nuance of world class voice coaching.   At only $350 per month, it’s demanding and taxing as ever for bold new voices and booked up months in advance. ILana Martin at her Vocal Workout…

Earsweat Records, Earsweat Drops

If variety is indeed the spice of life, then my love of the compilation album is evidence I am living rather well. I have always had an affinity for a myriad of artists that can be found conveniently in one place and the myriad of styles from track to track provides the notion that I…

THE AMAZING WALLACE RONEY

Wallace Roney is having a career that many jazz musicians would envy. He is the protégé of Miles Davis, played with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, but has worked hard to create his own sound. He recently shared his thoughts with me on where jazz has been and where he thinks it could go.

UPTOWN PRAISE BAND TURNS THE DEVOTION UP LOUD

Christian light rock act Uptown Praise Band are bringing their brand of country and jazz-tinged devotional music far and wide, including the upcoming Cornerstone Festival at the Michigan Stage July 2 – 7, where their performance will be part of a collective aiming to benefit the Kids Feeding Kids Ministry. Festivals are nothing new for…

RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, MAY 2012

Florian Hoefner, Songs Without Words (OA2 Records) Sometimes strengths could be construed as weaknesses, as here, wherein this jazz-piano New Yorker-by-way-of-Germany stretches out in rabidly improv mode on his opening track, then does a 180 and heads in the direction of chill modern prog, stuff that comprises the bulk of the album.   Only reason…