Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

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.

DZ DEATHRAYS UNLEASH “DOLLAR CHILLS” VIDEO

Destruction, flares, florescent light bulb fights, chrome skull masks, boredom, and rebellion are some of the themes present in DZ Deathrays’ newest music video for “Dollar Chills”. Foo Fighters, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, F*ucked Up, and Dananananaykroyd are some of the bands DZ Deathrays has recently toured with.   Sold yet?

KEAIRA LASHAE CLUB HIT AND FEMALE EMPOWERMENT ANTHEM “SUPERHERO”

With a dash of electrifying vocals, a smidgen of gravity defying choreography and a whole lot of Superhero Swag, newcomer R&B/Pop superstar Keaira LaShae is the epitome of all-encompassing talent. Having a natural flair for music, fitness and dance, the advocate for female empowerment is gearing up to make a permanent indentation in the industry…

D. GOOKIN OFFERS MP3 “WAY TO GROW” AND PROMO VIDEO

New York-based producer, songwriter and percussionist D. Gookin (aka Mike Birnbaum) is on a mission. Think of it as retaliation against a recession both economic and emotional. While his peers delve ever deeper into sonic murk, Gookin flips life’s unsavory bits into maxed out, genuinely uplifting music.

AABARAKI NEW VIDEO “DANCESHEE”

In response to an overwhelming demand by fans, Aabaraki pushed the release date for their music video “Danceshee”, the debut single off their forthcoming album The Emancipation, from Tuesday, May 1st to Tuesday, April 24th. Aabaraki worked closely with music video director Brian Robinson of Hyer Ground to bring their video concept to life.

ASH KOLEY NEW VIDEO “MARY THE INVENTOR”

Canadian alt-pop duo Ash Koley–Ash Koley and Phil Deschambault–will release debut album Inventions in the U.S. and rest of the world on May 8, 2012. The album, which was previously only available in Canada, was produced by Deschambault and mixed by Grammy Award-winning mixer Tom Lord-Age. In anticipation of the release, the band has unveiled…

ELI NEW VIDEO “CAN’T BE LOVE”

Take the raw power of Lenny Kravitz and the sizzle of Marc Antony, throw in a groove that swings from reggae pop/rock and ska to bossa nova, and you’ve got the recipe for a truly international artist: Eli. His music is sincere and heartfelt and as an artist Eli bridges the international gap, bringing world…

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS RELEASES ACOUSTIC VIDEO

  Check out the premiere of the acoustic video for ‘Starring Role’ below.   Marina And The Diamonds’ album, ‘Electra Heart” will be released in the US on July 17th on Elektra Records. Marina also recently announced her “Lonely Hearts Club” headline tour and will be joining Coldplay on dates in July & August.  

KEPSTAR: KEEPIN’ IT REAL

Born Christopher Gonzalez, 21 year old Kepstar, isn’t just another hip-hop artist from New York.   His poetic and lyrical melodies have deep and real feelings based on what is going on in the world today.   He has a refreshing, crisp sound and tells it like it really is.  

XAVIER RUDD TAKES FLIGHT WITH NEW ALBUM IN JUNE + VIDEO

Sometimes, the most unique and special sounds are the most organic. For singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist XAVIER RUDD, connecting land and heart isn’t a matter of conscious art but a humble understanding that everything before us will remain long after we are gone. Crossing cultural lines from the modern world to that of the Aborigines, Rudd continues his…

NAAMA KATES RELEASES HER DEBUT ALBUM + VIDEO

Naama Kates is a Los Angeles transplant whose move from New York left her feeling lost and lonely; feelings that inspired the songs that would become her debut album, “The Unexamined Life.” A tongue-in-cheek take on Socrates’ “an unexamined life is not worth living,” Naama spent a year reflecting on her life and the path…

ZANDER BLECK RELEASES VIDEO FOR DEBUT SINGLE “TEMPTATION”

Zander Bleck has released the video for his debut single “Temptation”. The video was shot in New York City’s underground bar, Santos Party Room, reminiscent ofZander’s roots as a struggling musician. It’s a performance video to highlight Zander’s powerful voice, but of course no video about “temptation” would be complete without a beautiful woman.

SMOKE FAIRIES VIDEO “THE THREE OF US”

Having been one of the band’s early champions back in late 2009 when he produced the ‘Gastown’ / ‘River Song’ one-off single for his Third Man label, JACK WHITE has personally invited SMOKE FAIRIES to support him at his London and Paris shows next week. In celebration of Record Store Day, Smoke Fairies will also…

STOLI IS HEAR TO LET YOU KNOW KELLY CARUSO IS NOT DAINTY ANYMORE

Man am I tired today, after taking in The Dream tour last night in Boston @ Wilbur Theatre. Great show, that’s for sure. Another show you all must see is the performance by Snoop & Dr Dre @ Coachella where they used a 2Pac hologram. Go to Youtube and search “2pac hologram.” It is incredible,…

MOCEAN WORKER WITH LYRICS BORN IN NEW VIDEO

It’s been four years since we last heard from our favorite fast-talking, electro-funk, party-jams beat-maker Adam Dorn a.k.a. Mocean Worker. Since then tough economics have turned tougher, smug indie bands have become smugger and raving mad religious fanatics have grown, well, raving madder.

THE COMO BROTHERS ROCK NYC

The Como Brothers are a rock band from Long Island, NY.  Their rock songs are refreshingly modern, yet there is also an older influence in a variety of their songs. Their youth is deceiving when you listen to the depth of their lyrics and the richness in their vocals.   Currently performing in the New…

ZARDONIC NEW VIDEO “REVOLUTION”

Bass-Metal producer Zardonic has released the official music video for the track “Revolution” from his new record “Vulgar Display Of Bass” which recently hit the #1 Drum & Bass Album on Beatport.com.

WARM WEATHER OFFER “SO FAR/VERTIGO” MP3

Warm Weather came together much like kids on Christmas morning — they were so excited about making music that they couldn’t wait for a studio session or even proper equipment. While still en route to their new Hollywood home, the three recent college grads plugged in a Yamaha synthesizer into a cassette deck, whipped out…

PLIES RELEASES “WE ARE TRAYVON”

Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies has joined the numerous public figures who have paid tribute to 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, with a YouTube video titled “We Are Trayvon.” The track, which was produced by Filthy Beatz, was released via the Miami-native’s YouTube page earlier this month, and is now available at all digital retailers.

ALICE & MICHI RELEASE “TIME TO TAKE” VIDEO

It was just before 2011, a jazzy feel-time season. Michi wrote Alice a letter urging her to come to New York and collaborate on a musical project. Alice was driving around Los Angeles deep in her annual autumnal malaise. Skimming the message at a stoplight before stopping at her favorite Subway, she read the remainder…

SRC/UNIVERSAL PRESENT JUSTINA

Recording artist, songwriter, rapper and vocalist Justina debuts the new video for her single, Bubble Gum, this week on Idolator.com (one of the leading independent sites for pop music fans). The Bubble Gum single is off her forthcoming mix tape, Route 80, which is dropping this spring.

MELODY THORNTON NEW VIDEO “SMOKING GUN”

Melody Thornton takes a Mob Wife approach in her latest video directed by Hyperballad (Dano Cerny and Marielle Tepper). Be sure to download her new mixtape, #POYBL and get more information at http://melodythornton.com

ANDY THE DOORBUM NEW MP3 “THE FARM”

Andy The Doorbum is the moniker of Andy Fenstermaker, who earned his handle as the 7-night-a-week bouncer at the famously seedy Milestone Club in Charlotte NC. And like the dirty, boarded-up, crack-addled population surrounding the Milestore Club, such is the imaginative landscape of Andy the Doorbum’s music. Tales of gravediggers, fratricide, and familial failings fill…

THE YOUNG BLOODS ON SKOPE

When Streaker Records first approached Young Bloods they were at the beginning of starting their 2nd album yet to be titled. We expressed our marketing plan and how we felt Young Bloods would fit into it for the 2011 year. After some back and forth over the phone frontman Joey Arena and Streaker Co-Founder Rob…

LETTERIST DEBUT SINGLE “100MPH”

New York City is filled with hundreds of bands, but it takes true talent for a group to stand out amongst the rest. Meet LETTERIST, the infectious trio hailing from the streets of Brooklyn, New York. Just debuting their first single titled, “100mph,” LETTERIST will quickly draw you in with their catchy brand of indie-meets…

STOLI IS POSITIVE TAYLOR FREDRICKS HAS WHAT IT TAKES

April is here finally. I filled up my tank today and paid $3.94 per gallon today. Can someone help me convert my tank to use vegetable oil? But I am not going to let it bother me as my guest today is a man and his band by the name Taylor Fredricks. These 4 guys…

ANTI-BULLYING VIDEO FROM CATHY-ANNE MCCLINTOCK “NO MATTER WHAT”

  Innovative Long Beach, Calif. based independent label 37 Records is set to showcase a few of its most popular artists–singer-songwriter Cathy-Anne McClintock and alternative rockers The Gromble–at “Kindness,” a community-based fundraiser for BKindLB, a project of Leadership Long Beach.