Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

SEPTEMBER 2012: MKM NOTES FROM THE SOUND TABLE

  Word on the Mirosa Beer Party in the Park is spreading like wildfire–last week, we had a Jazz artist from Detroit named Tim Reid fly down to perform with his band. Out of the blue, my late 90s friend Calvin Jennings from Ed Robinson’s (Cameo’s keyboard player) studio compound appeared. Calvin has some new…

JANA FISHER RELEASES VIDEO “30K”

“Spunky lyrical folky piano pop” artist Jana Fisher is set to release a new 3-song EP Ideals & Deals on October 2. The EP will be available on major digital outlets and will also be given away on Fisher’s website. “Building relationships with fans is much more important to me than earning a profit,” she…

DIGDUGDISASTER OFFERS ‘STARS BURN’ EP FREE

Douglas Garnett aka DiGDuGDisaster is a published singer, songwriter, musician, producer and media designer with a knack for being creatively unconventional. DiGDuGDisaster is the moniker which rings true for this artist, for out of chaos and madness, Douglas has cultivated a strange brew for the masses titled “Stars Burn”, a 5 song e.p. that showcases…

BUTTERSCOTCH ESPINOSA “MIDDLE AGED RAP” VIDEO

Butterscotch Espinosa is the latest creation from rapper/producer Nicky Spesh, a veteran of the music scene who produced tracks for Est’elle many years ago. His debut album ‘The World I Know’ received critical acclaim getting 5 Stars in IDJ Magazine & DMC Magazine, and his follow up EP “Return to the concubine spaceship” was again…

GOT HERB?

  Big things are happening in Nova Scotia, from Juno sensation Ellen Page to hip hop entrepreneur Herb. You just never know what might come next from this wonderfully weird Ontario Island.

VALENTE “HOME” FIRST SINGLE FROM EP AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

California based singer/songwriter Valente’s EP Alexandria, out today is a collection of 5 songs using his trademark cinematic, soothing sounds and serves as an appetizer to an upcoming full album to come later this year. The EP available for streaming in MSN’s listening booth was recorded for a large part at Aaron Embry’s studio (Edward…

YAEL MEYER RELEASES NEW MUSIC VIDEO

Chilean born – Los Angeles based recording artist, YAEL MEYER will release a NEW MUSIC VIDEO for the song “Used To Be” this coming Thursday September 6th, followed up by a much awaited performance at “It’s A School Night” presented by KCRW DJ Chris Douridas, in Hollywood on September 10th.

COME GET SOME GOOD OL’ COUNTRY WITH THE BILLY K BAND

Back at it after a very relaxing Labor Day weekend. Lots of cold beer, BBQ, and music! One artist that I was playing this weekend was just perfect. I must admit that I have fallen for the sounds of the Billy K Band. Billy has created a country/acoustic sound that sounds great & speaks to…

“SLANT”-ASTIC FOUR

It’s an early Saturday afternoon and the day after yet another show. With more music in them than ever, Slant’s dance card seems to fill up easily these days with shows booked in multiple venues from the Viper Room and the Whisky in Los Angeles to several venues across New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The…

J.J. CROWNE: THE MUSICAL CHAMELEON

Just as certain chameleons have the ability to change colors at the drop of a hat, so too can J.J. Crowne aka “The Eclectic One.”   J.J.’s array of colors comes in the form of musical notes, and this artist has a deep and interesting history.   Originally from Jersey and later moving to South…

LADY GAGA PRODUCER RELEASES NEW VIDEO/SINGLE

Pop alternative producer and songwriter Cherry Cherry Boom Boom (Martin Kierszenbaum) has recently released the official video for his first solo track and single, “Come Back to San Francisco,” The song is a cover off Magnetic Fields’ acclaimed 1999 album, 69 Love Songs, and is one of Martin’s favorites. “I just felt an urge to…

GREGORY PEPPER AND HIS PROBLEMS 2 NEW VIDEOS

A native of Guelph, Ontario, Pepper was acclaimed for his 2009 release With Trumpets Flaring, which was hailed as “conceptually minded and very, very clever” (The Torontoist). Some even pointed out that, “Pepper taps into the demented genius/ ambition of Brian Wilson for his orchestral pop songs, which are head- scratchingly great” (Exclaim!) and that…

PEACE OFFER MP3 “YOUR HAND IN MINE”

Suicide Squeeze just signed a rad new Canadian band that we are all super-excited about, so I wanted to follow up with you and leave you with an album stream to check out. The band is called Peace and here’s the first MP3 we are giving away.

ATLAS GEINUS NEW VIDEO “SYMPTOMS”

Atlas Genius just released their new music video for their song “Symptoms.” The video was shot and directed by Claire Marie Vogel and her lead actor, Jacob Pinto, is a competitive “tricking” champ. Crazy. The was video was featured on the Vimeo homepage as a staff pick. Check out the video below and spread it.

STOLI HEADS TO SINGAPORE TO EXPERIENCE 7TH STOREY

After a two week break, I am back at it! To start off today I want to declare that I am once again an avid music consumer like I was in my teens. During the transition from CD to digital I never found a device that allowed me to buy music with ease and not…

GAME OVER? NOT BY A LONG SHOT

Game Over is just beginning for this upcoming hiphop/electro artist with a new single “All Out” that get you pumpin and jumpin. The song combines the crass bass of dubstep, techno riffage and a live sounding beat that gets the blood pumpin. If this is where Game Over is heading, then you’ll be hearing this…

NEW EP FROM O’BROTHER NEXT MONTH + VIDEO

Triple Crown Records is pleased to announce the release of Basement Window the new EP from O’Brother. The EP is a bit of a sonic departure for the band, stripping down and re-arranging a few of their favorites from their debut full length Garden Window.

JIMMY RAE THROWS UP HIS GLASS TO MURDER THE STOUT

Time to raise up your arms with frosty drink in hand and say CHEERS to Murder The Stout!   The Houston-based band plays a fresh mix of Celtic rock with elements of punk, ska and folk that will definitely spark your interests.   With Scottish roots, this lively bunch of musicians is sure to entertain…

REVIEW: KOOL & THE GANG / COMMODORES LIVE!

On Saturday, August   11th at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Indiana I got the chance to see two incredible music acts that you may have heard of: Kool & The Gang and Commodores.   Both groups have been going strong for over four decades playing to countless fans from all over the…

K. ROSE DEBUTS WITH “SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD” VIDEO

Wake up to a new star rising with “Sleep When I’m Dead,” the debut single from sensational 19-year-old singer-songwriter-dancer K. Rose via the Epidemic Music imprint of hip-hop superproducers Cool & Dre and Interscope Records. Cool & Dre are renowned for their work with Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Game, Wale, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Ludacris, and…

HERO JR. NEW “NAKED” VIDEO

The Indy-based foursome combine soaring vocals, stinging guitars and driving rhythms and channel them into 11 indelible, hook-filled songs that help define the blur between ’70s classic rock, the angst of the Alternative Nation and modern indie-rock. The band consists of brothers Evan Haughey (vocals/guitar) & Matthew Haughey (drums/vocals), along with bassist Dave DuBrava and…

THESE GUYS COULD BE YOUR NEXT OBSESSION

Serial Obsession is a hard driving rock band from New York City. In just a few short years, Serial Obsession has garnered a ravenous fanbase, produced 3 cds, opened for major acts, hosted charity events and have been heard on radio stations all around the world. While most bands take 5 years just to come…

MEN OF NORTH COUNTRY NEW VIDEO “PANDORA”

Men of North Country emerged from Tel Aviv’s soul scene, bringing with them a fresh approach to creating the perfect three-minute soul nugget. The band started by chance, when soul DJ Yashiv Cohen was overheard singing along to the tunes he was playing at one of his Tel Aviv Soul Club parties.

SKOPE PREMIERE: AJAY MATHUR VIDEO “TAKING THE NIGHT AWAY”

Acclaimed solo artist Ajay Mathur’s new music video, Taking the Night Away,   spells out its socio-political message addressing the struggle and lingering hope that, we the people, can change what has been forced upon us by the misled power and greed of the elite few. The video is inspired by people all over the…

28-200 RELEASE “GUNFIRE OF ANGELS” VIDEO OFF NEW EP

Denver band, 28-200, has released a video for the title track of their latest EP “Gunfire of Angels.” “Gunfire of Angels” combines video and animation to weave an eerie tale of things that go bump in the night. The band commented that “These days, animation is predominately computer-generated.

TUNE IT ON WITH MFON!

With great delight I welcome all readers of Skope to the debut of my column “Tune It On With Mfon!” on this wonderful platform. The idea is to bring varieties of insight from the world of entertainment to you wherever you are. Let me say that I am not promising to keep the column short…

FAMOUS NEW VIDEO “IN THE BURBS #SIPPIN”

As a fan of hip-hop music, Famous ensures that every single lyric is clear, true and full of intentional meaning.   Taking cues from Bob Dylan, Chuck D and other prolific artists who concentrated more on their message, The Kid understands that his voice is a tool that can be used for the betterment of…

JIMMY RAE SAYS eM IS THE WORD

eM is the word for sure but I’m not talkin’ about that Slim Shady Em but just plain old eM!   eM is givin’ it to you deep, hard & fast on her album fittingly titled ‘DHF’ with club-friendly, dance music.   This talented vocalist/songwriter/producer originally from New Zealand currently resides in Melbourne, Australia and…

J.M. LONG VIDEO FOR “LOVE STRIKES”

Raw emotion pounded into ivories so tormented you would think they were used as a drum set. “Alternative Rock”, “Indie Rock”, these are the familiar labels you seek, but J.M. Long’s music is much more than that. It is running through the forest a billion times thinking you’re being chased by cougars, it is a…

LINUS PAULING QUARTET NEW CLAYMATION VIDEO

Linus Pauling Quartet has released an epic claymation video for “Crom,” the lead single off the band’s forthcoming LP Bag of Hammers, their eighth studio album, which drops September 18 on Homeskool Records.