Feature stories and artist interviews
Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing a talented young man who reminded me of a mixture of Justin Timberlake meets R.Kelly. J Metro is his stage name which naturally evolved from a group into a solo act. The letter J just fitted perfectly because it also is the first initial of his name.…
Nyteowl is an electronic pop/soul project lead by Minneapolis, MN producer and artist, Jeremiah Conlon. Nyteowl started as a bootleg remixer, eventually garnering ofï¬cial remixes for the likes of Crystal Castles, Cassius, and The Black Ghosts. Nyteowl’s list of DJ support during the early years included Touche (Fake Blood), Boy 8 Bit, J F…
New Jersey, alt-rock outfit REACH releases video for the song “Pins & Needles” off of their first EP, Patterns in Static on November 1, 2013. The video was shot in stop animation taking 2 months, over 3000 frames and was created by Matt Provenzano at Mattimation Studios. REACH “Pins & Needles”: http://youtu.be/nKIC-NDJFsE Born out…
When a highly publicized and well-paying performance opportunity comes along that is a great payday, performing musicians can become so concerned with the performance aspect that they largely ignore their own importance of promoting their appearance at it. They assume (and, in part, justifiably) that it is the sole responsibility of the sponsoring organization…
Kool G Rap & Necro have joined forces and on 11-19-2013 will be releasing a collaborative project as “The Godfathers” entitled “Once Upon A Crime” which will be released on RBC/Pyscho+Logical-Records. “The Godfathers album is about pure east coast lyricism over hardcore beats. Kool G Rap is the legendary godfather of all criminal street gangster…
Releasing their debut album in 2010, the band has brought their “stick-to-your-ribs style rock” (Wall Street Journal) nationwide touring over 130 days a year (including a three week run with Allen Stone and a sold out show at New York City’s famed Bowery Ballroom) performing at SXSW, Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam and Firefly Festival. They’ve shared…
The video features Cacchione’s little sister, and Caged Animals’ bass player, Tayla as a 90’s style Goth-Girl living in Millennial Suburbia. One Summer afternoon, she decides to sneak out of the house and gets caught up in a series of mysterious and supernatural events that cause her to question her values and ultimately learn…
Testament/Dragonlord’s Eric Peterson has just entered a new realm, combining brutal death vocals and dramatic singing with Celtic-metal vocalist/composer LEAH on her new track ‘Dreamland’. The track is cut from LEAH’s new EP Otherworld, dropping today! The EP is available now via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3, Google Play, Rdio and several other digital retailers. Take…
NZ/LA quintet The Naked and Famous have debuted a new video for ‘I Kill Giants,’ taken from their acclaimed sophomore album, In Rolling Waves. Directed by Joel Kefali, longtime creator of the band’s videos and most recently Lorde’s, the track, described by All Music as “particularly epic in proportion and cinematic in its emotional momentum,”…
Increasingly earmarked as one of the most exciting emerging artists this year, singularly talented London born singer, songwriter and producer Joel Compass graces us with his latest musical episode, a remix of his highly acclaimed single ‘Run’. Once again, radios Zane Lowe was given the pleasure of unveiling this slick remix, which he did with…
Renowned MIDI guitarist Les Fradkin continues to WOW the critics and audience by bringing innovative music-making techniques to the forefront. Les has created the first ever “classical” composition on a hi-tech instrument known as a Ztar and this can be heard on his new album ‘Suite…
Curb recording artist Natalie Grant has made an extraordinary chart debut with her long anticipated new album, “HURRICANE.” The collection entered Billboard’s “Top Christian Albums” chart at #1, marking the award-winning singer/songwriter’s first-ever debut atop the chart. In addition, “HURRICANE” made a top 20 entry at #17 on the…
The video has acclaimed norwegian actor Morten Ruda in the lead role, and a snowy Oslo city as supporting cast. Ever been out in the norwegian woods in minus 10 degrees celsius in a shirt and bowtie? Still Changing has, but it was all worth while. The music video…
R&B/Soul singer-songwriter Leela James announces the release of her new single “Say That” featuring Anthony Hamilton. The song, which showcases James’ distinctive rich and powerful vocals, is #1 Most Added this week at Urban AC radio, with 16 station adds including WHUR Washington DC, KJLH Los Angeles, KMJQ Houston, KOKY Little Rock, SXHS Sirius XM,…
We take a look at some of the top independent artists in the UK in association with Labelled Independent, the new music podcast. Lately at Labelled Independent we’ve been impressed by a couple of independently spirited organisations who share many of our values — promotion of independent…
Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax. Brian Korban of is one of the pioneers of one of the greatest thrash metal bands you’ve never heard-Heretic. Skope sat down with Brian recently to ask him about his decision to re enter the music industry after a 25 year…
Passion is a word that I rarely use to describe artists in this day of AutoTune and soul sucking corporate music, so it’s refreshing to hear an artist who’s not only passionate about his music, but is also more than capable of turning that passion into something almost magical. The songs are pure, honest and…
This week, Vancouver-based, Chinese-born singer/songwriter Wanting has released her sophomore album, Say The Words. Within 24 hours of its Universal Music China release in Asia (via a licensing deal with Nettwerk), the album, which Wanting co-produced with Grammy-award winning producer Ron Aniello, debuted at #1 on…
Chicago rock band, The Last Vegas, will be releasing their video for “Come With Me” tomorrow October 23rd. It is the latest song off their upcoming full-length album Sweet Salvation, available Spring 2014. The song will also be available as a free download via their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/thelastvegas. Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skYsMgl8Qno The band…
After a year hunkered down in the studio–his 10×10 foot NYU dorm room–hip-hop artist Orrin is releasing the first single “Blue Lights,” a track from his forthcoming project Nocturnal, to be released December 7, 2013. “Blue Lights” is about lost love, a theme that runs through the entire album. https://soundcloud.com/orrincampbell/blue-lights Nocturnal takes listeners through the…
Billy Ray Deiz (or Bill Deiz) has seen and done enough for several lifetimes. The making of music has been just one of Deiz’s many endeavors throughout the course of his colorful, action-filled years. As a journalist, Deiz has been in the thick of disasters, both natural (volcanos) and manmade (methamphetamine epidemic). He’s met some…
Kwanza Jones is VICIOUS! From “ass, ass shakin’” to out of control beats, her intensity is undeniable. When fierce isn’t a strong enough word, it has to be VICIOUS. Sasha may be fierce but Kwanza Jones is VICIOUS. Video Link: http://youtu.be/IR_WnwAnRM0 Today, we proudly bring you Kwanza’s fire-hot clip for her electrifying new single, “VICIOUS”.…
Thursday, October 24th at 7:20 pm At the POMONA FAIRPLEX as part of Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare. http://www.greatamericannightmare.com . Lupe Fuentes has totally reinvented herself as a singer, dancer, pop artist, songwriter, and DJ. After a whirlwind career as an adult internet star, Lupe has transformed her life and career into one…
Tru Fam is a Hip Hop duo with a touch of pop and a whole lot of passion. Identical twins, Sha and Just-I will release their first full-length album, THRILL XL, on February 4, 2014. This heartfelt collection of songs that encapsulates the ups and downs of love and life is sure to make your…
Emily Kinney currently stars as Beth Greene on AMC’s hit television series “The Walking Dead”. She recently starred in the film “Concussion”. In 2011 she released her debut EP, Blue Toothbrush and her singing has been prominently featured on TWD. Kinney has also been seen in reoccurring roles and guest appearances on…
Hello everyone out there, pleasure to see you here today. I know we have many readers in St Louis, MO and it’s all love, but go Red Sox! I was on one of my favorite websites the other day vladtv.com, and they had Lord Jamar talking about how white emcees are guests in hip hop…
Four years since breaking into the U.S. with her debut EP The Cocoa Butter Diaries, American born Swedish artist Mapei returns with a new single “Don’t Wait,” to be released November 5 via Downtown Records. A stream of the track premiered via The Fader yesterday who said it, “pairs spare percussion and finger snaps…
Echocell’s newly-released single “Babylon”, from the EP of the same name (due out later this fall), is a labor of love between Istanbul-born/Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/front woman Belinda Kazanci & Los Angeles-based songwriter/keyboardist/programmer Adam Beltran. https://soundcloud.com/echocell/babylon-1 “Babylon” was co-written with Wally Gagel and Xandy Barry of Wax LTD, the production duo best known for their…
Born out of the ashes of the critically acclaimed Crushing Blows, GHOST TWINS are a noise and dream pop duo from Derby, UK – Their former incarnation CB, earned support from Huw Stevens, Steve Lamacq, Artrocker, Shell Zenner, Jen Long and Simon Raymonde & more and were…
What is Jodi Whatley Brand? It’s singer/songwriter Josephina Whatley’s performing name and her ‘brand’ of singing has a promising future. Think Beyonce or Rihana and you get the idea. Her electro pop songs are getting a little buzz on ReverbNation and with a little hard work, it…
Platinum-selling artist, Bubba Sparxxx just released his long-awaited new album, “Pain Management,” this week on BackRoad Records. To celebrate his return, Bubba Sparxxx has released a brand new video for the track “Bangin’” featuring a guest appearance by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioUKUPSvpV0. “This album truly represents where I came from and…
Capitol Music Group recording artist Nightmare and the Cat premiere the video for “Be Your Own God” today across VEVO’s apps and web platform. The video was shot in Los Angeles at the band’s rehearsal space and was directed by visual creator Ed Shiers with costumes and other imagery designed by renowned contemporary artist Gary…
With influences ranging from Japanese horror films to Van Gogh to the artful, ambient sounds of Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear, Empty Chairs creates an ethereally impressionistic atmosphere on Caveat Emptor. Featuring colorful rhythmic samples, glistening keyboard sounds, and enveloping harmonies “interwoven in a delightfully unexpected way” (General Admission), the band strikes a unique balance…
Win everything you need to record, mix, master, manufacture, distribute, sell, and promote your next CD. We’ve teamed up with Sweetwater, the world’s leading music technology and instrument retailer, to create a prize package that is every musician’s dream. We’re giving away high-end gear such as guitar and bass amps, a bass guitar, a stage…
Beloved songs by the legendary JOHN LENNON get the Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star Lullaby treatment in this new collection, available on iTunes now. Featuring soothing versions of classic songs such as “Imagine”, “Give Peace A Chance,” and “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” this collection is perfect for any parent who wants to play the…
Los Angeles-based band Jamestown Revival are excited to release their new EP, The California EP. The EP features three new songs and one cover, all self-produced by the band. The EP provides a taste of what’s to come on the band’s upcoming debut album. One such song is “California (Cast Iron Soul),” which lends its…
Filmed partially on Haight Street in San Francisco and in Berkeley, the video director Aris Jerome takes viewers on a journey through the sun-drenched California streets showing everyday people. Backed with the chillest, grooviest, most Earl Klugh-iest beats from Trackademics, the song represents Su and HBK Gang’s aura to a T; they are understated and…
Jammit — the ultimate play along app and music platform for aspiring musicians — has recently added more than a dozen classic tracks from heavy metal pioneers Judas Priest, Megadeth and prog-metal legends Dream Theater to its vast music library. The Jammit catalog of artists ranges from Nirvana and Pantera to Boston, Deep Purple, Foo…
New digital single and video “Night Lust” from BEAST is now released before their debut album! In November 4th Stockholm-based BEAST will release their first full length album “Dead Or Alive”. During the last couple of years BEAST have left their mark on the swedish Punk and Metal scene, with gigs full of adrenaline, sweat…
Nickatina drops the single “Ho’ Lat,” which features fellow vet Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs N Harmony. Last month, on the same day as his album release, Nickatina gave us part one of the “Ho’ Lat” video, which he created the concept for himself. The album Andre Nickatina features Mac Mall, Clyde Carson, Messy Marv,…
