Category: FEATURES

Feature stories and artist interviews

FRAN HEALY VIDEO FOR “BUTTERCUPS”

Fran Healy, lead singer and songwriter of multi-platinum selling Scottish rock band Travis, is very excited to release his debut solo album WRECKORDER, today October 5th on Ryko / Wreckord Label.

STOLI LANDS IN THE D TO HANG WITH YUNG KHAN

It is Friday and Stoli is about to get paid & about to get his party on. I had to travel to Detroit to hang with my next guest that goes by the name of Yung Khan. What impressed me about this emcee is his work ethic and music quality. Yung Khan knows that to…

OCTOBER 2010 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.

ANNA GARROTT KICKS ASS WITH CLASS

Anna Garrott grew up in the small town of Troy, Alabama.   A sweet southern girl who considered herself a tomboy.   Her Grandmother introduced her to country music early on playing the music of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and Kitty Wells.   “There was something so pure and original in each of…

THE WAILERS RELEASE “A STEP FOR MANKIND” VIDEO

“A Step for Mankind,” written by Wailers’ vocalist Duane Stephenson, is a call for world unity and strength to support the ongoing struggle against world hunger. The band is joined on the track by new lead singer Koolant, a fresh talent from the heart of St. Thomas known for blazing a positive future for reggae…

STOLI & CHAD HOLLISTER BOTH AGREE ITS TIME FOR CHANGE

It happens in life that you meet someone and you just automatically know that you like that person. That happened with my special guest by the name of Chad Hollister. Chad is a fellow New Englander by way of Vermont but we never met before now. I got a copy of Chad’s most recent CD…

SINEM SANIYE VIDEO “I’LL CONFIDE” TAKES OFF

The highly-anticipated DEBUT album, “WHEN I DON’T SLEEP..” by Sinem Saniye (“See-nem” “Sahh-nee-yeh”) may be more than what you can handle. Then again, it may just be what you’ve been looking for. It’s what can happen to one person when they are more than just tossing and turning in the night!

THE NICEGUYS OFFER ‘THE SHOW’ FREE

After a string of singles, a handful of visuals, and live performances alongside the likes of Talib Kweli, Big Sean, Mickey Factz, and more, the time has come for the official release of The Niceguys’ widely anticipated debut album, The Show.

JUKE KARTEL ‘LEVOLUTION’ LISTENING PARTY

Levolution, the US debut album from melodic rockers Juke Kartel, hits stores today.   The album, produced by rock veterans Brian Virtue (Jane’s Addiction, 30 Seconds to Mars) and Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains), was a true labor of love by the band, who have played together since 2006 and recently made a…

AMEER RELEASES NEW VIDEO FOR “HONESTLY”

Ameer, the NY/ VA emcee is excited to announce the release of his sophomore mixtape, Only Built For Digital Links.   The mixtape, mainly produced by Danny G will be available through all digital retailers on October 16th via Tommy Boy Entertainment.

KDREW & GUCCI MANE DROP “BEDROOM”

“We put Indie Music Group together like any other company; we got ourselves in the right place financially, put together a budget, and started our own label. I want to be a part of every single thing I do in music, from writing to producing to remixing to even putting out the songs,” comments KDrew.

BUFF ROSHI COVERS PINK FLOYD IN NEW VIDEO

Of the eleven album tracks, “Devil You’re A Liar” includes two covers: a psycho-chill reset of Pink Floyd’s “Set The Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and “Dark”, a circa 1940’s Julie London b-side featuring vocals by singer-filmmaker Renee Wilson, who appears as one of the Raelettes in the Academy Award winning film, Ray.…

JIMMY EAT WORLD “MY BEST THEORY” OFFICIAL VIDEO

JIMMY EAT WORLD has just unveiled their official video for “My Best Theory,” the first single off their highly anticipated album, Invented. The Ron Winter’s (MGMT, TV on the Radio, LCD Soundsystem) directed video takes a sci-fi approach in its depiction of the meaning behind the song, something that front man, Jim Adkins, described as…

CHAUNCEY MOORE SHOWS REAL TALENT STILL LIVES IN BOSTON

Now that was a great weekend! I really do not feel like ending it so I brought in an amazing guest who has got just what Stoli needs to keep it moving into the week. Allow me to introduce a soul singer named Chauncey Moore who is currently residing in Boston, MA. I got hip…

JEFFREY JAMES ALLOWS STOLI TO PREMIERE HIS NEW VIDEO

We made it to the weekend, I am thrilled! It was a long week but I have got the perfect guest to have on in the background as I relax in the yard with the grill cooking and some Bud Light & Bushmills. The timing here could not be more perfect to introduce Jeffrey James.…

MONSTA SCORES WITH “LONG BEACH RAISED ME” VIDEO

Raised in the city of Long Beach, CA, a city made famous by Snoop Dogg for it’s gang violence and constant street warfare, Samoan rapper and nephew to Boo Yaa Tribe, who first gave America’s South Pacific residents the pride to express themselves musically, comes Monsta.

RACHEL FLEISCHER DIRECTS THE NEW ARIANA DELAWARI VIDEO

“We Came Home” is an uncomplicated yet moving video that will leave you in awe. It starts off black and white with the video spanning the skyline and waterfront of none other than New York City. A brilliantly lit Ariana Delawari then takes center stage in front of her grand, open piano, reflecting back on…

JIVE RECORDS PRESENTS BLACK DUB / AUDIO

Black Dub, the enigmatically eclectic new quartet helmed by acclaimed guitarist and Grammy award-winning producer Daniel Lanois, hit the road this November in support of their self titled debut album. The tour will kick off November 15th in Boston at the Paradise Rock Club and finish up in Minneapolis on November 24th.

VANITY THEFT VIDEO “LIMB FROM LIMB”

Five years ago the girls of Vanity Theft were high schoolers in Dayton, Ohio itching to do something more with their free time after school, so like many kids across the country, they started a band. What set them apart from the other teenagers they knew rocking in their parents’ basement is that they knew…

FREE DOWNLOAD OF WHITE NOISE SOUND’S NEW SONG “SUNSET”

WHITE NOISE SOUND is the eponymous debut from the Swansea / Cardiff, Wales-based sextet. Completed with the help of Pete Kember (Spacemen 3, Spectrum and E.A.R) and magician Cian Ciaran (Super Furry Animals), the album is the realization of a band conjuring their own particular wall-of-sound – at once relentlessly pulsating and blissed-out.

SOUNDGARDEN REVEAL NEW VIDEO FOR “BLACK RAIN”

Soundgarden have just released their first new music video in over 10 years for the song “Black Rain,” which is available on the upcoming career retrospective album Telephantasm, in-stores 9/28. The sci-fi leaning animated video was directed by Brendan Small, creator of the animated metal show, Metalocalypse.

SKOPE / SERJ TANKIAN RECORDING STUDIO CONTEST

In anticipation of the release of Serj Tankian’s sophomore studio album Imperfect Harmonies on September 21st, Serj Tankian is giving you the chance to win two huge prize packs! One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive a recording software bundle of AmpliTube iRig/ AmpliTube Fender/ Miroslav Philharmonik plus the T-RackS 3 Mastering Software, an Epiphone…

ERK THA JERK “PERFECT MISTAKE” VIDEO

Erk Tha Jerk’s new clip for “Perfect Mistake,” a single off The Prelude, the forthcoming free EP release and precursor to his imminent debut Nerd’s Eye View, breaks music video conventions in such a way that it’s hard to consider it a part of the same medium – less MTV fare than short film.

RICK SHAFFER SHOWS STOLI HOW TO STEP OUT ON HIS OWN

I must say that I am excited today for two reasons. One is that it’s the weekend and the other is that Rick Shaffer agreed to be featured in ‘Skoped Out.’ Rick Shaffer is the other half of the incredibly popular group, The Reds. We are not here to talk about The Reds though as…

NATHAN SHAFFER SPEAKS TRUTH ON “COME BACK AMERICA”

“What I’m trying to say is, ‘Come back America, come back to freedom.’   I’m not feeling free anymore. Is anyone in this country?” Asks Shaffer.   “Most people in this country aren’t free, and they don’t even know it. They’re slaves to a broken tax system, corporate greed, and laws that infringe upon our…

EPIC RECORDS & OH LAND OFFER MP3 “SUN OF A GUN”

Her soundscapes are lavish, crunchy, symphonic, brute and captivated with rhythms that fly apart.   Oh Land’s self-titled EP will be available in October via Epic Records, with her US debut album to follow in 2011.   Don’t worry, we’ve got some music to offer you and your friends in the meanwhile.  

GOO GOO DOLLS: ENDLESS STAYING POWER

Elvis once said: “The music industry changes every six months.” With that premise in mind you look out over the scope of the music industry and the list of bands that have come and gone is endless. It seems the market mantra is to come, do something significant (or widely popular) and then fade into…

SULLY ERNA RELEASES VIDEO EPK FOR ‘AVALON’

Sully Erna’s latest masterpiece, Avalon, was released today on Universal Republic Records.   The album features an array of eclectic compositions unlike anything he has ever written in the past, an epic body of work that has taken him over 2 years to compose, record and finally release, utilizing the hypnotic sounds of tribal rhythms,…

CANIBUS OFFERS MP3 “MERCHANT OF METAPHORS”

Canibus treats his fans to another strong release off his latest album C of Tranquility, dropping October 5th on Interdependent Media. The album will feature prduction from DJ Premier, Jake One, The ARE, Scram Jones, Tha Bizness, and D/R Period.

JIMMY RAE JAZZIN’ IT UP WITH CHELSEA BARATZ

Prepare yourself as Chelsea Baratz brings to you her invigorating style of Soul Jazz.   This young virtuoso is partial to her trusty sax, but she also sings & produces, plays drums, clarinet, piano and flute.   This multi-talented & multi-dimensional musician doesn’t just give you the same old jazz; Chelsea throws in elements of…

SKOPE EXCLUSIVE: THRIVING IVORY LISTENING PARTY

Thriving Ivory’s sophomore Wind-up album, Through Yourself & Back Again, reflects the lessons they’ve learned following the release of their successful self-titled debut. “Do you dream/That the world will know your name?” they asked prophetically in the band’s pop radio hit, “Angels On The Moon,” a song inspired by the heroics surrounding 9/11.

FARRAD RELEASES VIDEO FOR “MISUNDERSTOOD”

Farrad has become a hot name because of his flexibility: club hits aren’t all he does. He’s comfortable with synthpop and disco, but he can also apply his pipes to dirty soul and heavy rock, too. For such an expressive instrument, Farrad’s voice is surprisingly sturdy — he can go toe to toe with big…