Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

PHIL DAROSA DOES NOT DISAPPOINT WITH NEW EP ‘AWAY’

  We are officially under 30 days away from spring. It feels great to be able to say that. Many people out there in the industry feel the Internet has been the downfall of music as a business. For the big corporations that might be true but for the independent artist this is only the…

THE MADISON SQUARE GARDENERS OFFER “INNOCENT” OFF NEW EP

The members of Brooklyn’s Madison Square Gardeners have a long pedigree as backing musicians for artists like Ben Kweller, The New York Dolls and Jill Sobule, to name a few.   Columbus Alive approves, “The music is reminiscent of some of Wilco’s most pleasant backyard BBQ tracks,” and Cleveland Scene says they play, “A snappy…

ARAB AMERICAN EMCEE OFFERS TRIBUTE TO EGYPTIAN PEOPLE

Arab American artists Patriarch, Ghazi, Kaotiq record “Higher” a tribute song to the people’s revolution and overtaking of Egypt rule. As one of the most important and historic days in Arab World history the song shines light on the undying resolve of the Egyptian people as well as calling for a tribunal to put the…

TRAEDONYA! UNVEILS NEW APP, VIDEO, & SITE

Prohibition Ent and TRAEDONYA! are really excited to announce the launch of a brand new Facebook App. The App is FREE and it is all you need to keep up with TRAEDONYA! on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, and much more!

PLANK’S MUSIC HAS STOLI’S BLOOD PRESSURE WAY UP

Nothing gets me more excited when I come across a band from New England that is making music that is real and from the heart. That is exactly how I feel about the band from Boston by the name of PLANK. I caught a listen of these guys from their single, “She’s My Pusher.” These…

OCCULT DETECTIVE CLUB OFFER “C’MON LEVI” MP3

The Denton, TX-based band previously released their ten-song debut LP Tortures last spring on Red Lounge Records, and fellow Texas gore-hounds Hex Dispensers covered their song “I’m A Ghost” on the B-side of one of their latest singles.

SKOPE GOES TRANS-ATLANTIC WITH ANITA MAJ

The constant advent of online communication technology never ceases to amaze me. So when the assignment came for a chat with UK singer/songwriter Anita Maj, I blew the dust off my Skype account. And while this would be my first live online interview, I figured with her dual web sites, multiple social networking accounts and…

ISRAELI BAND ELECTRA OFFERS “RADIO ON” MP3

Electra signed to Anova Music, Tel Aviv’s leading record label last year, and has since released their first two singles “Coming to Get You!” and “Dawn of Summer,” both of which were instant radio hits. Their songs combine gritty, catchy melodies and garage rock swagger.

NORWAY’S TOG OFFERS MP3 “SANSEN”

Meet Norwegian horror-house pop act Tôg – sizzling synthesizers, 60’s combo organs, arpeggio swirls and thumping, italo-house beats. Beginning through a chance encounter, songwriter Lars Christian Olsen and his room mate would conduct “disturbing” sessions of electronic music experimentation using laptop synthesizers and an old Farfisa organ. But as luck will have it with true…

GRATEFUL DEAD LISTENING PARTY VIA APRIL 1, 1998 CONCERT

Dead.net, the official Grateful Dead web site and online store, continues its exclusive Road Trips series in 2011 with its fourth volume. Issuing quarterly in February, May, August and November, Road Trips puts a spotlight on different tours and series of shows and includes rarities from the deepest corners of the vault and many rare…

DENGUE FEVER POST “CEMENT SLIPPERS” ONLINE

On April 19, Dengue Fever, who serves up an exotic blend of Cambodian rock, Afro grooves, surf, and garage psych, returns with Cannibal Courtship, the group’s first studio album since 2008’s Venus on Earth and their Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group debut.  

THE O’S RELEASE VIDEO TO “WE’LL GO WALKIN”

On February 8th, The O’s return with their sophomore release Between The Two (Idol Records), the follow-up to their 2009 debut We Are The O’s, a critically acclaimed release that prompted Alternative Press to include the Texas indie-folk duo of Taylor Young and John Pedigo on their prestigious list; “100 Bands You Need To Know”.

LAWRENCE & LEIGH NEW SINGLE “HEELED SHOES”

Lawrence & Leigh are two artists on a mission: to create work that’s beautiful and bold, with refreshing originality and an infectious sense of style. Music is their medium of choice, but their unique and specific point of view expands to everything they touch.

THE GRAB BROTHERS BAND REMIND STOLI OF SUMMER ON CAPE COD

This next interview I did a while back but I could not think of a more perfect time to post. The Grab Brothers Band are made up of two real brothers, Marc & Larry. These guys work hard and they do music even harder. While we are dealing with snow & cold weather these guys…

JIMMY RAE GETS THE SCOOP ON SIMON FAGAN

Simon Fagan claims that he is “not your typical Irish singer/songwriter” and I couldn’t agree more.   Fagan is an artist who likes to mix in some acoustic rock and folk to make up a style of sound that works so well.   You even get a smooth Americana feel with some elements of country…

LONGEVITY: THEY DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED

It seems everybody and their mama (literally, at times) wants to be in the music business. Everybody wants to sing, play an instrument, dance, you name it. Whether it be American Idol or America’s Next Best Dance Crew, reality show this and reality show that, there’s one thing in common that everybody wants — stardom.

DEPUI OFFERS MP3 “HERE WE GO”

Depui is the band that makes you feel the woodenfloor underneath your feet. The leadsinger Depui has showed and played in diffrent countries with various feedback. He was loved in the states, banned from Ireland and lifted up high in Thailand. Their music is inspired by Tom York/Tom Waits.

JESSICA 6 RELEASE “WHITE HORSE” MP3

New York City’s Jessica 6 creates soul music in its purest form, no matter the tempo. Their debut album, See the Light, moves from pulsating electronic sheen to uncompromisingly rugged R&B, and back again.

ICE BLACK BIRDS FREE MP3 OF SINGLE “22:22”

Forthcoming third single ‘22:22’ is, in short, a tune. However, Ice Black Birds’ talents lie not just in catchy hooks and danceable beats (though they have both in spades) but in the dirty guttural guitar riffs and screamed bluesy vocals. It’s reminiscent of early Kings of Leon when the music was raw, fresh and dripping…

FEBRUARY 2011 SONICBIDS “ARTISTS 2 WATCH”

Welcome to another amazing month of music from the incredible musicians that make up the Sonicbids.com community. We have chose a select group of amazing musicians that will be speaking directly to the Skope readers. As always we encourage readers to dig deeper and check out their EPK’s.

TODD LOVE BALL JR EXPOSES HIS PERSONAL NAKED TRUTH

Another Friday is upon us and I could not be happier. Bring on the cold & the snow, nothing can ruin my good mood. My next guest is so much more than just a musician. Todd Love Ball Jr aka TLB is a man that knows who he is and is not afraid to let…

YOUNG GALAXY GO ANIMATED IN NEW VIDEO

Young Galaxy have just released a brilliant, animated video to accompany the song ‘We Have Everything’ taken from their new album Shapeshifting. The video was created by Montreal-based visual artist Sinbad Richardson.   Download the MP3 here. Shapeshifting will be released in Canada on February 8th on Paper Bag Records.

WAYNE WONDER “IF I EVER” VIDEO

Grammy nominated Reggae/ R&B singer Wayne Wonder does it again with a new single. He recently released his, Singso Records, single titled “If I Ever” in Nov. 2010. He returned with the intentions to give his fans what they’ve been missing and that’s exactly what he accomplished.

NOW, NOW OFFER “GIANTS” MP3

Minneapolis, MN trio Now, Now have been thoroughly enjoying their early 2011 tour dates as they make their way from the west coast through the south. Their current run of dates, which now extends through the end of March, are in support of their recently released EP Neighbors.

HOMAGE TO THE MOTHERLAND

Sometimes you’re writing an artist biopic; and you wind up getting a history lesson. As was the case when I spoke to Piotr Miroslav, lead singer and guitarist for Blisko Pola. Turns out the name of the group translated means “close to the pole.” And apparently (as I have never been) Poland gets its name…

DAVID GUETTA & RIHANNA NEW VIDEO

Grammy-award-winning DJ/Producer/Artist David Guetta’s brand new Jonas Akerlund (Madonna, Lady GaGa, Pink) directed   video for his latest single “Who’s That Chick?” featuring Rihanna premiered on Guetta’s YouTube today.   “Who’s That Chick?” which just hit #1 on the Billboard Club Chart is the latest smash from Guetta to hit the airwaves and is currently…

DIRTBALL RELEASES VIDEO FOR “LONG ROAD”

The king of rapid fire rhyme, Dirtball has released a new video for the track “Long Road” from   his upcoming new solo album “Nervous System” online. “Nervous System” will hit stores on March 1st, 2011 through Suburban Noize Records.

NOT EASILY INTIMIDATED

If you heard that 6 or 7 people got fired within a month’s time, would you be intimidated about landing that job position? Not Andrew Dawson.