Bradenton, Florida’s Have Gun, Will Travel have a natural instinct for combining folk, pop, rock and classic country influences to create a sound all their own. “Their music has a great energy to it with infectious, sing-along choruses and refrains” remarked NPR’s Robin Hilton. American Songwriter called HGWT’s music “organic, infectious Americana Pop. Their music…
Category: FEATURES
Feature stories and artist interviews
VOD RECORDINGS SIGNS JACK KNOCKS
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VOD Recordings is quickly becoming thee label for underground hiphop and electronic artists, most recently picking up hiphop producer Jack Knocks, already known in his hometown as the go-to guy for a number of local artists. With a new e.p. “War Songs Vol. 1” on the horizon, we decided to find a little more about…
MIDLAKE POST NEW SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM “ANTIPHON”
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An antiphon is a call-and-response style of singing, from Gregorian chants to sea shanties. In the case of Denton, Texas’ favorite sons Midlake, it’s the perfect title for a bold response to a new phase in the band’s illustrious career, with a re-jigged line-up and a newly honed sound as rich and symphonic as it…
COMMON KINGS “ALCOHOLIC” MORE THAN 3 MILLION HITS ON YOUTUBE
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After three years of escalating grass-roots success, including a series of very popular music videos, COMMON KINGS have signed a management deal with the Melvin Brown Media Group helmed by Melvin Brown and Ed Swinburne. MBMG partners with Mr. Reed Entertainment Group. “These young men have it all,” said Mr. Brown. …
KATY STEELE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE “FIRE ME UP”
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Having completed her first solo sold out tour in Australia, Katy Steele set her sights on the US. Besides a few warm up dates, her upcoming performance at Joes Pub marks the first as a solo artist with her new band, performing songs from her brand-new forthcoming EP and album. The first single, “Fire…
JENNA TORRES NEW VIDEO “.22”
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New York City native artist Jenna Torres fires off her new music video “.22”, which was shot down in Nashville, TN with her band. “.22” is the first single from her new Born to Love album, which is expected to release in early 2014. The 12-track CD features original songs that Torres wrote…
PSYCHOSTICK NEW VIDEO “SADFACE”
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Comedy rockers Psychostick are at it again! Poking fans with another great music video titled ’Sadface’, a social media song from their fifth and latest release ‘Space Vampires VS Zombie Dinosaurs in 3-D’. “This song declares war on terrible, bitchy, whiney, pointless, attention-seeking posts. If you need someone to listen to your problems, go…
LEAH JEE NEW VIDEO “COMING AFTER YOU”
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Emerging singer-songwriter Leah Jee released the music video for her adrenaline-rushing new single “Coming After You” on July 31, 2013. “Coming After You” exposes powerful lyrics by Leah Jee, accompanied by dynamic electric guitar solos and arousing bass lines. This fast, upbeat tempo song and video will keep your heart pumping by the catchy hooks…
PROMOTING YOUR BAND USING THE INTERNET
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Being in a band seems to be a rite of passage these days,whether it’s a case of just dreaming the dream whilst rocking out with a tennis racket or you’re a bedroom-bound musical genius. Being in a band is as desirable as it’s ever been so here’s our guide on how to use your Plusnet…
TOKYO CALLING: FUYUMI ABE AND KUMI HIRATA
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Pop music in Japan, just like pop music anywhere, has a lot of style variety. From dance-pop to power pop, disco-pop to bubblegum, indie pop, pop punk, and on. Music venues and festival stages showcase the whole gamut. One sub-genre of pop music quite popular in Japan is what some call “singer-songwriter,” but others just…
SENSES FAIL PREMIERE VIDEO FOR “BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SEAâ€
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SENSES FAIL debut their new video for “Between the Mountains and the Sea” at http://youtu.be/gXC7BPUG8uU. Director Markus Lundqvist ** filmed the clip in Stockholm, Sweden and it offers an unforgettable look at coming to terms with mortality – looking death in the eye while choosing to savor life. “I am very happy with this…
BIG DEAL NEW VIDEO “DREAM MACHINES”
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Big Deal have already made a big splash this summer with their gorgeous second album June Gloom, released on Mute, and the rest of the year looks set to see the band steadily building on that wave of critical acclaim with some must-see live dates as well. Watch the brand new video for “Dream Machines,”…
HABITS NEW VIDEO “TOYMAKR”
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Habits, the brainchild of Dustin Krapes, has just released the latest video for the buzzworthy single, “Toymakr.” The hypnotic track is laced with an equally as intriguing video. Psychedelic vibes pave their way throughout the footage with visual imagery that will have you on the edge of your seat. Created with clips from old VHS…
LITTLEHOUSE SAYS “WELCOME TO THE BARN”
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From small-town Connecticut comes a four-piece band called LittleHouse, playing a brand of music that lurks somewhere between Rock and Americana — it’s a genre the band refers to as “Heartland.” LittleHouse frequently performs in their own venue, which happens to be a barn. And they have put forth a live CD called Welcome To…
SO YOU WANT TO START A BAND?!
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So you want to start a band. That is fantastic! Like any beginning career, it’s going to be hard work, but with passion and determination, anything is possible. Here are just a few quick tips for you on how to get started. 1. Form the Band, Pick the Genre- Well, to start a band, you…
NOAH! RELEASE OF HIS NEW SINGLE & MUSIC VIDEO “NO MORE ANGELSâ€
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Upcoming singer/songwriter and performer, NOAH! is a force to be reckoned with, announcing his new single release, ”No More Angels”. Quirky, fun, charismatic and hilarious, “No More Angels” is Noah’s insightful track that goes straight to the true essence of Los Angeles, while still embracing Hollywood as if he were a true veteran. Outspoken,…
CFCF POSTS SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM
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Montreal-based producer Mike Silver, aka CFCF, has offered a first listen to Outside, his first full LP since 2009’s beat driven Continent, set for release October 22nd on Paper Bag Records/Dummy. Silver has spent the last year on a pair of EPs that explored the patterns and emotions that can be drawn from layered repetition,…
BUD LIGHT AND LIVE NATION MAKE HISTORY TODAY
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Bud Light Music First’s summer long celebration of music culminates today when the program delivers a groundbreaking day of music to fans all across the country: 50 different bands performing in clubs in all 50 states in the union on the same day, today August 1, 2013. From Drive By Truckers who are playing…
MONSIEUR MINIMAL VIDEO “SUMMER LOVERS”
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Greek pop singer Monsieur Minimal just released a new single dedicated to “Summer Lovers”. The music video narrates a story of a young couple getting in love, under the blue sky of Hydra island. Director Dimitris Silvestros turns back time in the 80’s and invite us in the most typical, idyllic images of our summer…
HEAVEN & EARTH RELEASE VIDEO FOR “I DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS”
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Heaven & Earth (guitarist Stuart Smith, singer Joe Retta, bassist Chuck Wright, drummer Richie Onori, and keyboardist Arlan Schierbaum) have just released a video for their second single and power ballad, “I Don’t Know What Love Is” from their critically acclaimed album Dig (Quarto Valley Records), which is available on iTunes now. “I Don’t Know…
NERVES NEW SINGLE “COUNTING”
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Australia’s Nerves set to self-release their debut EP, Crooked Bones. Nerves delivers with cruising ’80s synths overlaid with distorted-pop vocals, garnering comparsions to a Parachute Youth meets The Knife mash-up. Available now on iTunes, listen to the first dark-pop single, “Counting.” https://soundcloud.com/viciousbuzz/counting Nerves are a dark electronic band from Melbourne, Australia, comprised of singer/songwriter Cat…
CIGARETTE BUMS DEBUT SINGLE “RUDE DUDE”
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Just releasing their debut single, “Rude Dude,” this week, the group is ready to break out of Los Angeles and take on the rest of the world. The Replacements-esque track is laced with a burst of raw energy with a dash of Summery flair that will leave you floored. This is the first in a…
MATTHEW SCHULTZ IS HERE TO “STAY”
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Matthew Schultz may well be on his way to becoming a household name, the singer-songwriter and actor has been making waves since his collaborative breakthrough song “Money Or Me” hit airwaves earlier this year with millions of plays on YouTube. Now he’s back with two sure-to-be-hit singles, one is a cover of the Rihanna classic…
CLEO SOL OFFERS “TEARDROP” FREE
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Riding high on the buzz around her latest free download, ‘Borderline’, Cleo releases her new track, ‘Teardrop’ which will be available to download free via Soundcloud on Friday 26th July. Premiered on BBC Radio 1Xtra this week by MistaJam, ‘Teardrop’ is a beautiful mash-up of The Verve’s ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop’ and Cleo’s…
ZEWDY SINGLE “LOVER LOVER” FEAT JO MERSA MARLEY
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This up-and-coming, young talent flooded YouTube with over 100 cover songs, capturing the attention of listeners all over the world. Delivering a sound similar to that of hit sensations, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Jasmine Sullivan, and Christina Aguilera, Zewdy offers an energy, long absent from the industry’s talent pool. With over 15 million views and 50…
JAMES BLUNT POSTS SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM
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Multiple Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter James Blunt will release his fourth studio album MOON LANDING in the U.S. on November 5th. The highly anticipated new album was produced by Tom Rothrock (Beck, Moby, Foo Fighters), who worked with James on his multi-platinum selling debut BACK TO BEDLAM. MOON LANDING also features production from Martin…
LYFE JENNINGS VIDEO “BOOMERANG”
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Lyfe Jennings brings back the true essence of, and fire in R&B music with his new hit single “Boomerang.” The video, like the song, plays up the law of karma–complete with an anti bullying message, and the vindication of an abused woman scorned; all through the justification of a seemingly harmless retaliation symbol– a bunny.…
RAVENS BALLROOM IS MUSICAL MATRIMONY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
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Hello world, hope you are doing well today as we head into August. Besides music I enjoy watching sports. As I watch the MLB this season I notice a big trend of empty seats. I think baseball has lost its way and the music biz can learn to keep prices in check so the fans…
MYSTIC UNDERGROUND SINGLE “WAR OF THE ROSES”
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Brooklyn-based electro-pop duo Mystic Underground releases their second focus track “War of the Roses” from their upcoming EP Gender Rules, which is due out on August 20, 2013. Their second single released this year, “War of the Roses” is one of four upbeat dance tracks on the EP, co-written by Vlad Valette and Ben…
BONNIE WHITMORE SHARES HER RECENT SINGLE “HEARTBREAKER” AS A FREE MP3
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Bonnie Whitmore’s last album had a body count and a title, Embers to Ashes, that implied a fiery finality. There are broken bones and hard lessons learned on Whitmore’s new album, but its title – There I Go Again – suggests less ominous themes. “I feel like I’ve grown up a lot,” she says. “I…
JOEL RL PHELPS POSTS SINGLE “THANK YOU & GOODNIGHT”
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Joel RL Phelps & The Downer Trio have announced the release of their long awaited new LP, Gala, on Tuesday, September 17 via Triple Crown Audio Recordings of Canada. The album features Phelps (the former guitarist/vocalist in Silkworm) delivering twelve songs that weave between humbled introspection and fractured, distorted guitars. Gala is the first…
LIZZIE AND THE YES MEN VIDEO “UNSTOPPABLE”
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June 2013 saw Lizzie and the Yes Men re-release their first two singles on 100m Records, which gained them front-page exposure on iTunes in the UK and France, and a US advertising placement with a high street shoe brand. Now the British surf-pop sensations Lizzie and the Yes Men return with this new single, produced…
SHARK WEEK NEW VIDEO FOR “BABY MAYBE”
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In the new video for “Baby Maybe,” the A-side of Shark Week’s Santurce 7″ coming out July 30th on Analog Edition Records, the Washington, DC quartet chronicles some of their exploits in the Puerto Rican district where they recorded the tracks and named the single after. Watch the “Baby Maybe” video HERE. http://youtu.be/D0dVfDQKX_8 Hearkening…
HAILER POST AUDIO & VIDEO FOR “POSTCARD”
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Following the release of the outlandishly comical music video, which finds the boys flaunting their rebellious spirit with carefree choreography, Hailer drops “Postcards” the second single from Another Way (out Aug. 20). Trumping their first single, “Anyway I Can,” “Postcards” roars urgency and allure through Phil Orr’s scratchy and rough vocals. Listen to “Postcards” here:…
HOLLIS BROWN NEW SONG “DOGHOUSE BLUES” AS A FREE DOWNLOAD
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Taking queues from classic pop, rock’n’roll, and Americana, Hollis Brown combines raw rock sensibilities with sweet melodies and hearfelt lyrics to create a rich, warm sound that can fill any room. Principal songwriters Mike Montali (vocals) and Jon Bonilla (lead guitar) grew up listening to the classics. These native New Yorkers were born in the…
NEW SINGLE BY ATLAS BLK
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The world has been coming together for focused lyricist ATlas BLK. A lifetime traveler who has lived across the globe and has performed on Africa’s biggest stages for beatboxing and dj’ing, he is now formally turning his focus to lyricism with his new track “Under Construction.” The back-and-forth of the instrumental between bouncing boom-bap and…
PTC PRAISES BILL O’REILLY FOR CALLING OUT MAINSTREAM MUSIC
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The Parents Television Council applauded Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly for his straightforward and honest commentary about the entertainment industry’s negative influence on children as part of his Talking Points Memo on the July 22nd show. Mr. O’Reilly said, “[T]the entertainment industry encourages the irresponsibility by marketing a gangster culture, hip hop, movies, trashy TV…
STEPHEN KELLOGG PICS FROM LIZARD LOUNGE JUNE 29 @ LIZARD LOUNGE IN CAMBRIDGE, MA
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“The solo acoustic tour was an opportunity for me to introduce the new songs in a very naked way, whereas the All Love, Future’s Brighttour is more of a rock n roll concert. I’ll have additional musicians joining me and the venues are intentionally a bit more geared towards that,” says Kellogg. Writing in…
JULY 2013: MKM NOTES FROM THE SOUND TABLE
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Happy July and I hope you’re having a great month! Here in Atlanta, it seems as if it’s been raining almost every day by the amount of water getting dumped when it does rain! But that doesn’t stop us from “keeping it moving,” which is a common phrase I bring up often in my book,…
10 QUESTIONS TO ASK A DIGITAL MUSIC DISTRIBUTOR
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When it comes to selecting a digital music distributor to get your music on sites like iTunes, Amazon MP3 and Spotify, you want to feel confident in your choice. If music is important to you, you want to know who’s handling your music assets, the quality of the service and the value you’re getting…
