Feature stories and artist interviews
Get ready to wrap your brain around this lyricist from Latvia enjoying the sunny side of California. Whether it’s good, old-fashioned “California Dreamin’”or a dream of one day playing with Sting or Eric Clapton, Maxim Senin is definitely on the right path. Maxim had an excellent quote that I’d like to share with…
Back from an incredible recording session in Rio de Janeiro, Afghan-American rocker and peace activist Fereshta is determined to show the beauty that can be made when three great cultures collide. Produced by Grammy Award winner Alan Sanderson, the record combines Fereshta’s love for American rock n’ roll with her exotic Afghan heritage and takes…
R&B whiz kid Leonard Friend takes on the catchy single from the the buzzed about Los Angeles sister trio HAIM. Friend re-imagines the song with sparkling synths, a slowed down drum that gives a nod to Mtume’s “Juicy Fruit” (aka the sample for Biggies “Juicy,”) old Zapp records, Phil Collins and TLC. https://soundcloud.com/leonardfriend/haim-falling-leonard-friend…
Hayes is back with a new single, it’s called “On The Block”. The Floyd Mayweather / Money Team backed Hayes releases his newest single off of his upcoming EP, rolling out this summer. Check out Hayes’ new single “On The Block”. In case you missed it check out “Images” below. Feel free to post it…
Energetic is the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing the opening track “Real Time” from Steve Ryans latest album “Boundless Moments”. Hearing an actual band is a refreshing change of pace for this writer, usually Singer/Songwriter types heavily rely on electronic arrangements to convey their lyrics and vocal abilities. Steve’s band is more…
Chances are, you’ve heard Kyler England, who “sings like the clouds opening up from heaven” (Pen’s Eye View) – you just might not know it yet. But the combination of being featured on Tiesto’s single “Take Me” – the first from Club Life Volume 3: Stockholm, and her new video “We Rise Like Smoke,” is…
The video was shot in a very eco-friendly way with one camera in Los Padres National Park and in Ojai, CA, where Natalie currently resides. It was shot, directed and edited by Brent Florence with no other crew or hair/makeup involved. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU4GCIXoGjw Born and raised in NYC, Natalie Gelman is an incredibly driven singer-songwriter whose…
“The idea of the band isn’t to be one style; we change and want to make different music. The goal is to trust yourself to get weird and follow an idea regardless of yourself. If it gets ugly, or gay, or electronic, let it.” explains the Neo-pop group. Happy Lives strive to stray from their…
APPETIZER: As summer approaches, I impress upon you to stay abreast of what’s going on with my favorite people, like the Georgia Music Industry Association, where THE SONGWRITER comes first! We’re making some BIG THINGS happen, so log on and JOIN at www.gmia.org. My other favorite people include the ANYTHING BUT MONDAY girls. This hit…
Polly A recently released her independent album, ‘My Heart in Focus’ in February of 2012 and has received rave reviews. Signed to Columbia Records in 2005, only to not be released, Polly A. has seen her fair share of setbacks. However, a voice like Polly A’s is not easily silenced. She attracted the attention and…
The Presets just released their new extraordinary video for “Fall,” from their latest album Pacifica. Directed by Clemens Habicht (previously directed stellar videos include Bloc Party and Tame Impala), “Fall” sees Julian and Kim in one almighty infinity plummet from the heavens above. Shot in rural France, it’s Point Break meets an extreme sports ballet…
Keyless, a pop solo artist from Memphis, TN, has released his debut album “Hot Shot” today May 21st. Recorded at The Noise Factory Studios in Memphis TN with producer Dave Cowell (aka DJ Unlock), the album is filled with radio anthems. The video for the album’s first single “Everything” can be viewed at the…
One Ok Rock, usually written as ONE OK ROCK, is a major label Japanese rock band formed in 2005. The founding and current members, are Taka (vocals), Toru (guitar), Ryota (bass), and Tomoya (drums). The band originally had five members, but Alex, a 2nd guitar player was found guilty of groping a girl on the…
I. Music Industry Managers, Booking Agents, Music Attorneys – Over 240 Recommended Music Managers and Consultants – Over 80 Recommended Music Booking & Talent Agencies – Over 80 Recommended Music & Entertainment Attorneys “The Music Industry Management & Booking Directory is an investment that could pay off many thousand-fold financially…” ~ Ray Cavanaugh – Skope…
“Fiery brass and gospel infused funk” (LA Times) band Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds have partnered with Grammy Award winning producer and esteemed American Idol Judge Randy Jackson to produce their upcoming EP, Fight. Joining Jackson in the studio in March, powerhouse vocalist Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow) along with The Dirty Birds recorded the…
Toronto-based singer/songwriter Amanda Raya is not your typical angst-filled teenager. The visually-impaired fourteen year-old may not see the world the same as her peers, but her music shows a startling depth of vision. Amanda has been playing piano since the age of five and has recently added guitar to her repertoire. Learning by ear, she…
Tal National are from Niamey, the capital city of Niger. Their music is joyously hypnotic, a highly unique contribution to West African guitar music. With its lightening fast rhythms and rotating cast of vocalists can be heard the history of Niger as a cultural crossroads along ancient trade routes. Collected within the former French colony…
Hello world on this beautiful Tuesday morning. It would not be right to not mention that Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors, died at 74. We not only mourn Ray but we also celebrate the music & legacy that he has left behind. That is always what I found so amazing with music is…
Lowland Hum, the multisensory artistic collaboration of husband and wife duo Daniel Levi Goans and Lauren Plank Goans will self-release Native Air, their first full-length album on August 6. The self produced Native Air was recorded at Daniel’s parents’ home and mixed by Rick Parker, who’s recent work with Lord Huron they admired. The album…
The spirit of rock ‘n roll is exhumed, drenched in heavy blues riffs, and smeared with earthy grit by Brooklyn’s Graveyard Lovers, a band “unmatched for both quality and energy.” (CMJ.com) Comprised of Zach Reynolds (guitar,vocals), Tricia Purvis (Drums), and Orion Wainer (Bass), the three intertwine their deepest, darkest melodies and passionate…
Watch your back because here comes Stolen Identity stealing the show! SI is a trio of two female singers and one male vocalist with crazy good harmonies and one Popilicious sound. This UK-based group mixes Pop and Dance to make up one fun ‘n’ bouncy groove. Promoting their debut single “Entice You”…
It’s not very often that you hear about psychedelic pop music coming from Estonia, but that’s about to change. Tartu Popi ja Roki Instituut, (translated: Tartu Pop and Rock Institute) is from the university town of Tartu, Estonia. The eight-piece rock collective drew inspiration from their time spent growing up in the once Soviet governed…
The fast rising contemporary reggae artiste Keznamdi has been blazing a trail across the musical landscape with thought provoking lyrics woven together to form infectious melodies and has now heralded his arrival to the reggae scene by releasing his first EP, appropriately dubbed, Bridging the Gap. Watch Keznamdi: http://www.youtube.com/user/keznamdi/videos Listen to Keznamdi: https://soundcloud.com/keznamdi Keznamdi, who…
Skillet have just released the title track off their forthcoming album, Rise, which is available June 25th. The song “Rise” is part of the band’s first ever concept album, as singer John Cooper explains, “The narrative idea happened after we had 10 or 11 of the songs chosen. As we recorded them, we started to…
“Dark Water” is off the band’s brand new EP, Patterns, which came out a couple weeks ago. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are booked to perform their hit in the making “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)” on CONAN June 11th. “Dark Water” Official Video on YouTube http://youtu.be/z9W8Fuzk0Uc The guys have…
While nothing can compare to the fondness one has to their hometown, the temptation to live in sunny and glamorous Los Angeles is hard to resist. Some of LA’s newest residents include the ladies of CSS; natives of Brazil, they have temporarily set up residence to record their new album Planta and to prepare for…
Featured on the 3rd installment of Jesse Saunders’ OLD SKOOL NEW SKOOL compilation series is the DUB version of his new single CHAMELEON. The Originator is back again, this time to take you on a musical journey with his new single CHAMELEON! Herbie Hancock was the inspiration for this Jazz meets Funky booty shaking…
CYBERPUNKERS have released their action packed Sci-Fi / Horror themed (NSFW) “Whatta Mask” music video! Featuring our masked bass-heroes in a thrilling, high speed chase with equally disguised, heavily armed pursuant antagonists, the video culminates in the unveiling of new and ever more sinister masks. Check out the video below! If you would be willing…
Bosnian Rainbows have added more dates to their touring schedule in support of the June 25 release of their self-titled debut, now adding more shows across the east coast and midwest. The band has also just been announced on the stellar line up this year at Mountain Oasis Festival in October. The group just released…
IDJ’s former label boss L.A. Reid decided to become CEO and Chairman of Epic Records in 2011, he also hired Stewart to head the label’s A&R department. With Reid’s full support, Stewart was able to take Bryan with him to Epic where the young artist could work with a label that had an interest in…
The Jamaican beauty follows up the success of her first single and self-empowerment anthem “Warrior” with a new dancehall-inspired record. Kris Kelli, a rising star in the industry and Block Entertainment’s newest signee, partners up with Roc City produced track for her new single “I Got UR Man” — an authentic dancehall-inspired record — from…
Following from their successful debut mini album ‘To You’ earlier this year, Sydney’s Indie Rock/Folk quartet Battleships have revealed their new video for album highlight ‘As You’d Begun.’ They have found themselves in high rotation on Triple J, with further support from 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne and Radcliffe and Maconie. http://youtu.be/-xcFr2ZFrpg Song By Toad called…
Acclaimed British musician and producer Ethan Johns will release his debut album If Not Now Then When? on July 30th 2013 through his own Three Crows Records label here in the U.S. Released earlier this year in the UK off the back of an extensive record store tour and sold out headline run, to…
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well out there! I just want to note that Skope traffic from China is surpassing all other countries on the regular these days so I just want to say “Ni-Hao”. A few weeks back I noted that legal music consumption will come through digital downloads and streaming.…
Demigodz (Apathy, Celph Titled, Ryu of Styles Of Beyond, Esoteric, Motive, Blacastan) first official full-length LP, KILLmatic, featuring appearances from RA The Rugged Man, Termanology, Panchi (of NYG’z), Planetary (of Outerspace), Scoop Deville & Eternia with production from DJ Premier, Marco Polo, The Snowgoons, Apathy, Teddy Roxpin, Chumzilla, Skammadix & Will C is now available…
Temple, Texas band Everyone Dies In Utah recently released a video for their song Desoto 55, which appears on their latest album +//- (Polarities). The video was created by Oliver Broadbent, a filmmaker from Leeds, UK. It features Lego characters acting out the storyline with additional animation. http://youtu.be/mNAT_38B5a8 Teetering between breakneck brutality and elegant,…
“Shirim Bakikar” (Songs in the square) was held on Sunday, April 14, 2013 in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square. Songs in The Square is the main ceremony of the Tel Aviv municipality to mark The State of Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism. Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8uWdencL3M With well over 10,000 people in…
“Life Is Good” is the first release off the upcoming full length album “Global Vandalizm” which is entirely produced by Swiss duo “Clifftop Vandalz”and will be dropping for free download in June. It features a lot of young, unknown mc’s who are hungry and always down to work but also some already well known artists.…
The perception of a traveling band to someone who has never been in one, seems glamorous and adventurous. Truth is, it is rarely glamorous but often adventurous. The stories are endless, you have to live it to understand. However, I’m sure we have all been in this predicament at one point or another. The rain…
Platinum Canadian genre-bending outfit, Down With Webster has now released the official video for their latest single, “One In A Million.” The video, which was directed by Aaron A (Nelly Furtado, mynameiskay), gives fans a look into the DWW live experience. The band spoke about it stating, “we wanted to create a video that captured…
