SINGER SONGWRITER NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AWARD WINNER JAMIE MCDELL’S NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM OUT TODAY

“...but the true stunner is McDell’s unforced voice” - Rolling Stone

“The New Zealander enchants with airy vocals and confessional lyrics” - Billboard

  “Over incandescent instrumentation, McDell examines the price we’re willing to pay for power and possession. Her lyricism lays out devastating depictions of deceit and the rippling fallout from a false sense of security.”  - American Songwriter

“McDell’s voice carries such weight with you feeling every poignant word...honestly, she’s a modern-day Stevie Nicks” - New Music Collection

"McDell has the voice and talent to go huge, and you're going to want to start paying attention to her sooner than later.”  - If It’s Too Loud 

"It doesn’t take long to realize that McDell has a way with words. Not only that, but she manages to sing acid-tongued lyrics in a very sweet voice that almost makes it sound complimentary – to a point." - Americana Highways

“The song has McDell examining her flaws with sweet melodic vocal twirls and jangly guitars.” - Parade Magazine 
“The song is a poignant moment of self-awareness…” - The Boot (on “Worst Crime”)

Listen to Jamie McDell : HERE

Critically acclaimed  New Zealand born singer songwriter Jamie McDell releases her highly anticipated self-titled album today through ABC Music. 

The enchanting artist recorded her fourth studio album in Nashville, teaming up with Nash Chambers in his eastside studio and drawing on the amazing musical talents of Dan Dugmore, Jedd Hughes, Dennis Crouch, Shawn Fichter, Jerry Roe, Jimmy Wallace, Tony Lucido and Ross Holmes, along with guests such as the McCrary Sisters, Robert Ellis, Erin Rae and Tom Busby. 

Containing Jamie’s most brutally honest moments, in both writing and performance, this new long player features musicians and production that takes you on a modern journey through 70s folk and country, blended with a healthy dose of roots and rock.  

The 13 track album includes Jamie’s singles ‘Dream Team’, ‘Not Ready Yet’ and the stunning current release, ‘Poor Boy’. This track has debuted in the Countrytown Radio Airplay chart and features Tom Busby of Busby Marou fame.  It was written by Jamie to acknowledge the powerful influence of her father. Jamie says, “I hope that he knows what a wonderful father he has been, how much he’s taught us about what’s truly important.”  

Explaining how the partnership with Tom Busby came about, Jamie explains, “I had opened a show in Auckland, NZ for Busby Marou and that sparked the idea of me joining the boys on an Australian tour. Tom has been super supportive of my music ever since and I absolutely love the tone of his voice and how it elevates this track!   View acoustic video HERE

Born in New Zealand, at the age of 7 McDell’s father left his job at an Auckland law firm to shift her mother, younger sister and Jamie onto the high seas and began living aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean. It’s here Jamie wrote her first song, a sea shanty for the dolphins. Also on that yacht lived a small collection of her parents’ favorite cassette tapes, which luckily included albums by Jimmy Buffett, John Denver and James Taylor. The young artist quickly formed a particularly strong bond with these records and she fondly remembers watching her parents perform Buffett duets - and occasionally chiming in, learning how to harmonize with her mother. An eager learner, Jamie then picked up the guitar after studying her fathers’ John Denver chord book collection and has never looked back.

Though self-titled albums tend to be reserved for debuts, Jamie now at age 28, started in music as a teenager felt that this was the best representation of who she is, and is the sound of a woman who has found her voice. Her music pays tribute to traditional elements of country music while celebrating her  life story, that of her family, her unique perspective, and female narrative.  

Jamie achieved a prolific amount in her formative years. Being signed to EMI at age 16 sparked the beginning of a successful musical journey, making her a household name across New Zealand. With the release of her debut album Six Strings and a Sailboat, which was certified Gold, went on to receive three NZ Music Award nominations, winning Best Pop Album of 2013. Then her sophomore record Ask Me Anything gained global attention, seeing the album track “Moon Shines Red” featured on American TV series Pretty Little Liars. In March 2017 Jamie made a trip to Nashville, looking for a change of scenery and to connect with the environment that birthed much of the music throughout her youth. She met with producer expat Aria Nominee Nash Chambers for coffee one day and decided they shared the same musical values and have been collaborating ever since.

HEATHER BOND SHARES VIDEO FOR “THE MIRAGE” PREMIERING ON AUDIOFEMME TODAY!

COLLABORATES WITH VIKTOR KRAUSS FOR SOPHOMORE ALBUM THE MESS WE CREATED OUT FEBRUARY 25

Photo Credit: Meg Sagi

“THE MIRAGE” VIDEO || WATCH 

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville singer/songwriter Heather Bond shares live performance video for “The Mirage” from her forthcoming album The Mess We Created available on all streaming platforms on 2/25/22.

The video features a mostly female band – with the exception of co-writer/producer Viktor Krauss (Lyle Lovett, Bill Frisell, James Taylor, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss) on bass – and is the first video from her visual release of The Mess We Created, out 3/25/22 and currently available for PRE-ORDER.

“What makes the video particularly unique is the way Bond allows each person their moment to shine, the camera capturing each performer’s gifts and the way they light up the room, whether [Melissa] Mattey is grooving to the melody on keys or [Elizabeth] Chan is transfixed on Bond, while [Devonne] Fowlkes and [Emoni]  Wilkins fall into a rhythm with the singer as they sway to the beat in synchronicity… Getting lost in the moment and overtaken by the music was one of Bond’s goals for the video, and it also reflects the ’70s and ’80s influences of her upcoming album, The Mess We Created… - AudioFemme

The Mess We Created is a refreshing, well-crafted, and unique collection featuring first-rate musicians. The songs reveal a maturity gained from years of experience in the music industry. With Krauss as the primarily instrumentalist, along with L.A. drummer Matt Chamberlain (Lorde, Tori Amos) and Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers, the album is vibrant, idiosyncratic, and rooted in rhythm. Each song showcases Bond’s effortlessly agile vocal delivery, shifting from the smooth purity of Sade (in “Resist”) to the cheeky sweetness of Kylie Minogue (in “Ich Weiss Nicht”) to the delicate depth of Parisian singer Keren Ann (in “Fountain of Youth” and “Fate”). The album closes in an energetic punch with the spritely, beat-driven single “Feel It.”

The Mess We Created is set for release on February 25, 2022.

ABOUT HEATHER BOND: Nashville artist Heather Bond makes radiant, cinematic indie-pop laced with elements of disco and R&B. Her lyrics reflect on everything from love, seduction, and heartbreak to social media, nostalgia, and politics, with an easy, modern intelligence enhanced by crystal-clear vocals and crisp harmonies. Her sound is both elegant and eclectic, evoking the breezy clarity of piano-pop artists like Norah Jones and Regina Spektor mixed with the jazzy, experimental range of Fiona Apple. The Mess We Created is her sophomore solo release. She is also part of the Nashville group The Daybreaks. 

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INDIE-POP DUO OSHIMA BROTHERS “CASTING A COOL SPELL WITH VIBEY ATMOSPHERIC” (-POPMATTERS) VIDEO FOR SINGLE “DANCE WITH ME”

Credit: Oshima Brothers

"DANCE WITH ME" VIDEO: WATCH

PORTLAND, ME. – Today, Oshima Brothers share the video for the single “Dance With Me” –from their sophomore full length album Dark Nights Golden Days.

The video premiered on Popmatters: “Oshima Brothers are casting a cool spell with the vibey atmospheric of ‘Dance with Me.’ It’s a grooving, low-key tune that runs flush to their roots-pop moniker well, heavily influenced by R&B with a dash of their folksier origins. Oshima Brothers ride the song’s slinky, electric refrain with impressive, self-choreographed dancing in the music video. It features shots of the brothers at work on the tune, cleverly converged to showcase several takes on the same two guys at once. It’s breezy and charmingly vintage.”

For their sophomore album, Oshima Brothers could have taken the safe path and stuck to the "roots-based pop sound that is infectious" (-NPR) on their well-received, 2016 self-titled debut. Instead, Sean and Jamie Oshima conceived a more ambitious, more expansive project that reflects the brothers’ wide-ranging artistic interests. On Dark Nights Golden Days (due April 1, 2022) the brothers have crafted a richly layered, genre-splicing sound that is at once retro and metro, spacious and intimate, lush and graceful. It is a set of music that invites people to dance in grocery stores as well as get lost in the wilderness.

Oshima Brothers are eager to play to live crowds again and share their Dark Nights Golden Days album due April 1, 2022. Confirmed tour dates as follows.

U.S. TOUR DATES

MAR 11 / SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY @ Caffe Lena

MAR 12 / BUFFALO, NY @ Babeville

MAR 14 / GRAND RAPIDS, MI @ Listening Room

MAR 15 / MADISON, WI @ The Bur Oak

MAR 16 / CHICAGO, IL @ City Winery

MAR 17/ INDIANAPOLIS, IN @ Do317 Lounge & Gallery

MAR 18 / ANN ARBOR, MI @ The Ark

MAY 20 / SYRACUSE, NY @ Folkus Project

MORE DATES TBA….

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“GUITAR HERO” (-Billboard) HAMISH ANDERSON DROPS OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “EVERYTHING STARTS AGAIN”

Credit: Emma Gillett

“EVERYTHING STARTS AGAIN” : OFFICIAL VIDEO 

LOS ANGELES, CA. – On the heels of his latest single “Everything Starts Again”, Australian “singer, songwriter and guitar hero” (-Billboard) Hamish Anderson dropped the official video with two global media partners – Parade Magazine in the U.S. and Rolling Stone (AU) via Tone Deaf for their Video of the Week!

“Classic aerobics add to the fun and a tongue-in-cheek ending (wait for it!) make this one of the most enjoyable watches and listens so far this year. And, of course, it rocks!” - Parade Magazine

“an ode to fining the positive light in the darkness… the perfect song to get you feeling as refreshed and energised” – Rolling Stone/Tone Deaf (AU)

Regarding the making of the video, Hamish shared with Parade Magazine:

“For the ‘Everything Starts Again’ music video I knew I wanted something bright and colorful to match the song. I stumbled across a video of jazzercise and the BPM of what the dancers were dancing to in this video fit perfectly to the tempo of ‘Everything Starts Again’. It all started to gel. Everyone contributed so much to this video and it really shows the more playful side to my music, which I don’t get to show often.”

“Everything Starts Again” is about sliding doors, or the idea when one thing ends, another begins – a great mantra for the New Year.  An evolution from his signature blues/rock sound, Hamish delves into indie pop/rock beats with a nod towards influences of Badfinger, The Pretenders and Pete Townshend.

“…garnished with tasty guitar interludes and world-weary lyrics…Anderson continues to do right by the guitar gods who went before him.” – Buzzbands LA

“Everything Starts Again” is the follow up to 2021s “Morning Light” single, which marked some firsts in Hamish’s career - first time co-producing with David Davis (Miguel, The War on Drugs, Lauren Ruth Ward), and first time recording remotely in a pandemic.

“Everything Starts Again” showcases the deft guitar skills and musical prowess of an artist that All Things Go aptly states “clearly knows the path from nostalgia to the future.” “Everything Starts Again” is now available on all streaming platforms.

“EVERYTHING STARTS AGAIN” (OUT NOW)

LISTEN/SHARE

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ERIKA LEWIS PREMIERES NEW SINGLE “LOSER” VIA HOLLER.

A WALK AROUND THE SUN LP 

SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 29TH 

Photo credit: Sarrah Danziger

LISTEN: “LOSER” 

Asheville-based singer-songwriter Erika Lewis has unveiled “Loser,” the first single from her forthcoming album A Walk Around The Sun, set for release on April 29th. “Like the rest of the songs on A Walk Around The Sun, ‘Loser’ is somehow able to sweep up all the sadness and pain of the human condition and bundle it up into something sweet and strangely uplifting,” said Holler. “Taking the clear-eyed charm of Gillian Welch or Laura Cantrell and adding a cheeky twist of girl group sass and a ‘Be My Baby’ backbeat behind its pedal steel and a sighing baritone guitar.” 

“I wrote 'Loser' soon after moving away from New Orleans some years ago,” Lewis told Holler. in their premiere. “I was feeling confused about romantic relationships and the push and pull that seemed to come with them - thinking a lot about dedication and loyalty, heartbreak and broken promises, and the feeling that you would do anything in order to make it work - yet not really knowing what to do. In essence, I was feeling that way about New Orleans too, like I had done my best, and despite all the love, I had to move on, or at least try to." 

~ 

A Walk Around The Sun is a series of lyrical vignettes that examine the margins between love and loss, joy and grief, and longing and contentment. Lewis deepens her sonic palette across classic country, cosmic Americana, and dreamy indie-folk, while enveloping a wide scope of roots music styles. Whether it’s through sweeping strings, pedal steel, a hybridized psych-rock guitar, or Lewis’ soaring vocals, A Walk Around The Sun takes a closer look at the connections between lovers and friends, and the effect of these relationships on the self. 

Produced by John James Tourville (The Deslondes) and recorded in Nashville at Andrija Tokic’s analog paradise The Bomb Shelter, A Walk Around the Sun features 11 all-original songs that reflect Lewis’s songwriting power across narrative and textures. 

After a health scare in 2020 that required a surgery that could damage her vocal cords and effectively end Lewis’ career, friend Lani Tourville inspired her to push through and record an  album before the surgery. A Walk Around The Sun is another chapter in Lewis’ expansive songwriting, and a testament to her fortitude in the face of near-overwhelming pain and doubt. Lewis proves that to overcome the odds, you need to plow right through them.   

Songs like “A Thousand Miles” and “If You Were Mine,” showcase the romanticism that runs through Lewis’ writing, while ​​“First Love” examines young love lost in the rearview. Lewis excels at bottling sweeping, deeply relatable themes, and unraveling the human experience, all while pinpointing her place in these stories and within the world at large.  

Her approach as an artist and performer is informed by the years she spent cutting her teeth busking in the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter and in Berlin. After relocating to New Orleans in 2007, she started a band with jazz artist Meschiya Lake called The Magnolia Beacon. After honing in on their sound in New Orleans, the two eventually crossed the Atlantic to the Kreuzberg neighborhood of Berlin. Busking on the bridge or in Turkish markets in the daytime and hitting the local bars at night, the two quickly developed their writing and improvisational skills by playing for listeners and travelers of all walks of life. 

Upon returning to New Orleans, Lewis joined a team of fellow street performers and friends, making traditional jazz and swing music as Tuba Skinny. Eventually, she built up the momentum to record her own material outside of the group, finding inspiration in fellow New Orleans-based musicians, and songwriters including Alynda Segarra, Kiki Cavazos, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Meschiya Lake, and more.  

A Walk Around The Sun is available for pre-save and pre-order on February 15th. Be sure to follow Erika Lewis at the links below for the latest news. 

TRACKLIST   

A Thousand Miles 

If You Were Mine 

First Love 

Loser 

Running Wild 

A Walk Around The Sun 

Hearts 

Unsatisfied 

Wild Thing 

Love Song 

Thief and a Liar 

THE LOYAL SEAS (TANYA DONELLY AND BRIAN SULLIVAN) SET TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM STRANGE MORNINGS IN THE GARDEN 5/20/22 ON AMERICAN LAUNDROMAT RECORDS

DEBUT ALBUM STRANGE MORNINGS IN THE GARDEN AVAILBLE 5/20/22 ON AMERICAN LAUNDROMAT RECORDS

Credit: Ann Sullivan-Cross

"(SO FAR FROM) SILVERLAKE" SINGLE (OUT TODAY) LISTEN || WATCH

MYSTIC, CONN – The Loyal Seas - the creative partnership of Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses, The Breeders) and Brian Sullivan (Dylan in the Movies) – has swelled from covers, and a split single to a debut album with the release of Strange Mornings In The Garden, available May 20 through American Laundromat Records.

The single “(So Far From) Silverlake” is available today on most streaming platforms, as is the official video directed by Orrin Anderson (Kristin Hersh, Throwing Muses, 50 Foot Wave and +/-) on YouTube. The album will be available for pre-orders exclusively through Bandcamp on March 4th. PRE-ORDER

Donelly and Sullivan first met in the mid ’90s at Fort Apache Studios, the famed New England recording studio that has produced legions of beloved albums. “Tanya is one of my favorite singers,” explains Brian. “Her voice is an instrument and sounds like an angel - or what I think an angel would sound like. And she's a poet; her words and stories slay me. It’s always a thrill to hear what she comes up with.”

They were friends almost instantly and have collaborated over the years, appearing on two of American Laundromat’s most popular tribute compilations. The pair contributed a sparkling cover of “The Lovecats” for Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure (2009), where Donelly’s honeyed rasp is brightened by the contrast of Sullivan’s lower-register growls. Their take on “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” from Please, Please, Please: A Tribute to the Smiths (2011), glimmers with melancholic wonder, with Donelly’s silken lead vocals textured by an orchestral scythe and Sullivan’s backing anchor. 

These covers led to a formal partnership on a whim. Tanya remembers, “Brian was over my house, playing this beautiful piece he’d written on piano and I called dibs on it. It grew from there.”

Brian confirms, “I think Tanya said, ‘Can I have that?’  - she was working on her Swan Song Series at the time. It was at that moment I blurted out, ‘Let's make an album together!’”

That song became “Last of the Great Machines” – the seed that germinated into their dynamic debut split single, “Strange Mornings in the Garden” b/w “Last of the Great Machines,” released in December 2020 as a label exclusive that sold-out instantly. Each side was an individualistic statement showcasing a particular side of the pair’s personality. One a luxuriant, sweeping ballad, and the other tightly knit, kinetic alt-pop.

To solidify this new partnership, the duo needed a name. “Band names are tricky. We came up with some interesting names,” recalls Brian. “Our relationship is very 'brother and sister' - that's where the ‘loyal’ part comes in. To me, family means loyalty.” Adds Tanya, “Brian and I are ocean animals, so that had to be in there somewhere.”

And so, the Loyal Seas bloomed. The group’s full-length debut Strange Mornings In the Garden will be released on May 20, 2022.

ABOUT THE LOYAL SEAS

For the last decade, trailblazing alternative rock figurehead Tanya Donelly has pursued meaningful collaborations with favorite artists and friends. The resulting work is by turns poignant, delightful and entirely surprising, melding folk, rock, pop and orchestral sounds. Her latest, The Loyal Seas, pairs Donelly with New England cult-favorite Brian Sullivan, who’s worked under the moniker Dylan in the Movies since the mid ’00s. A skilled singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Sullivan’s debut, Feel the Pull (2005), and follow-up full-length, Sweet Rebel Thee (2014), are each teeming with a lush, discrete form of alt-pop, Sullivan’s private mind garden translated as cinematic vignettes. 

KEEP UP WITH THE LOYAL SEAS

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Alt-Country darlings, The Weeping Willows celebrate the release of long-anticipated third studio album You Reap What You Sow with brand new single ‘House Of Sin’ out TODAY!

Photo Credit: Ian Laidlaw

“HOUSE OF SIN” OUT TODAY

STREAM || WATCH VIDEO 

MELBOURNE, AUS. – Australian Golden Guitar-winning folk/Americana duo The Weeping Willows have long burned brightest in the shadows. True to form, with earthy new single and cautionary tale, “House of Sin”, (out today!) the pair considers the irresistible flame of temptation and the wages of iniquity that follow in its train. With its sinuous fingerpicking and ominous note of warning, “House of Sin” finds The Weeping Willows at the peak of their songwriting and vocal powers. 

“This song takes on the sin of temptation against vows. The flinty vocals of Coates and Wrigglesworth create a chilly dark feel. The video leaves no doubt about the fallen conscience. You’ll listen for the adept playing too, which is truly first rate.” – Americana Highways

Helmed by Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth, The Weeping Willows are a couple of old souls steeped in bluegrass tradition and draped in gothic Americana imagery.

Recorded, engineered and mixed by Ryan Freeland (Ramblin' Jack Elliott, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ray LaMontagne, Bonnie Raitt, Aimee Mann) at Los Angeles’ world-beating Stampede Origin Studio and drawing from the same shadowy thematic wellspring as the duo’s critically-acclaimed sophomore studio album Before Darkness Comes A-Callin’ (2016), “House of Sin” is a thrilling meditation on the darker underbelly of a fallen world and offers a glimpse into the Weeping Willows’ much anticipated third studio album, You Reap What You Sow available March 4, 2022.

As Laura explains, “We’ve always been drawn to the more sinister, ‘gothic’ side of Americana music that harkens back to the early blues as well as bluegrass and ‘mountain music’ traditions.”

“House of Sin” is available on all music services today. You Reap What You Sow will be available on March 4, 2022.

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THE SULLY BAND RELEASES NEW SINGLE “IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE” + DEBUT LP LET’S STRAIGHTEN IT OUT! SET FOR RELEASE ON MARCH 11TH VIA BELLY UP RECORDS

"Tight rhythm section, soulful outstanding vocals, horn section and superb musicians. This band sounds like they’ve been together for years…. Soulful and sparkling." - Rock and Blues Muse  

"If you’re looking for a party in your ears, look no further than The Sully Band’s take on Aretha Franklin’s 1970 cut 'When The Battle Is Over (ft. Rebecca Jade)'...'When the battle is over, who will wear the crown?' the lyrics inquire, and we’re pretty sure The Sully Band will walk away with that prize." - Mother Church Pew 

"A fresh twist" - Soul&Jazz&Funk 

PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE SHERMAN

 LISTEN: “IF I COULD ONLY BE SURE” 

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, San Diego’s “Best Live Band,” The Sully Band, is back with their latest single “If I Could Only Be Sure,” a new take on Nolan Porter’s soulful 1972 love song. Porter, who was born in Los Angeles, became a prominent figure in the UK’s northern soul movement in the 1970s, but struggled to gain notoriety in the US and sadly passed away in February of 2021 without much fanfare.  In tribute, Sully dusts off this hidden gem and gives his take on Porter’s lyrics, growling “I’d do anything at all, if you’d just let me love you, baby." 

"When I set out to make this album, which is a journey through songs about love by soul, funk, and blues icons, I was blown away to discover this tune, and even more blown away that no one else had ever covered it. Lyrically, this song is a simple yet heart-wrenching plea, and musically it has a sweet guitar riff but also a melancholy tension that makes it stand out from most other love songs, so I was excited to give it a go.  As we approach one-year anniversary of his passing, I do hope our version is a fitting tribute that also draws some attention to his brilliant original." 

In step with the spirit of the St. Valentine’s holiday, “If I Could Only Be Sure” follows two other love songs from The Sully Band’s upcoming release:  “If You Love Me Like You Say,” a New Orleans-style take on an “Iceman” Albert Collins classic, and lead single “When The Battle Is Over (ft. Rebecca Jade),” a rocking reimagining of a Dr. John-penned gem originally recorded as a one-sided boast by Delaney & Bonnie, and later by Aretha Franklin.  Together, the three songs are part of a story arc of love and it’s trials and triumphs, with the rest of the songs due out on March 11th on the Sully Band’s debut album Let’s Straighten It Out! 

LISTEN: “IF YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY” 

LISTEN: “WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER (ft. REBECCA JADE)”  

Let’s Straighten It Out! was conceived in the hallowed halls of Henson Recording Studio in Hollywood, California (formerly A&M Studios). With it, Sully and his bluesy, nine-piece beast of a band take us on a journey through the ups, downs, and all-arounds of love by way of 10 classic ‘60s and ‘70s soul, blues, and R&B tunes.  

The album was recorded in only five jam-packed days, with “mostly-live” versions of carefully curated love-themed songs that made a mark when they were originally released and yet also feel relevant today. Sully’s soulful, heartfelt vocals cut across layers of horns and guitars that take the listener on an emotional arc of joy, disappointment, struggle, and redemption. 

Multiple Grammy Award-winning producer Chris Goldsmith (Blind Boys of Alabama, Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Big Head Todd) provided the musical curation that makes up Let’s Straighten It Out!. Anchored by Grammy Award-winning slayer of the bass, James East (Eric Clapton, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and many others), The Sully Band is composed of seasoned, accomplished players who hail from diverse locales like Japan, Panama, and the island of Lemon Grove. The horn section features sax-flute-harp-man Tripp Sprague (Kenny Loggins, The Little River Band, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Four Tops) and trumpet and flugelhorn player Steve Dillard (The Righteous Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd). 

Sully caught the music bug at age six after picking up a nylon-string guitar and playing the first few chords of “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” with his dad. In high school, the barrel-chested, all-American football player rocked out to Boston and Foreigner with his buddies, starred in every show-tune-laden musical theatre production through college, and ended each day with James Brown or Stevie Wonder on his Pioneer receiver.   

In his 20’s, after pounding the unforgiving Los Angeles pavement trying to cut a record deal, he embarked on a 35-year detour, traveling a storied path from Price Club cashier to self-made entrepreneur and national radio/TV personality, ultimately finding his way back to his first true love: music.  

Now, after years away from the stage, he is back in full force. He and the band have been playing regional and national shows to small but mighty crowds, from Southern California’s legendary Belly Up Tavern to Austin’s illustrious Antone’s Nightclub, making his mark as a compelling musician and live performer ready to “Straighten it Out.” 

UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE  SHOWS: 

3/10 - The Mint - Los Angeles, CA  

3/17 - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA 

ABOUT BELLY UP RECORDS 

Belly Up Records is the recording component of the legendary Belly Up concert venue, located in Solana Beach, California. Opened in 1974 with only a couple of mics and no stage, it soon became a frequent stop for legends like John Lee Hooker, Etta James, and BB King and hosted classic performances by Curtis Mayfield, George Clinton, The Neville Brothers, and Toots and The Maytals. Since then, many artists have stopped by on their way up the ladder, including No Doubt, Black Eyed Peas, Mumford and Sons, and Childish Gambino, while artist underplays at the venue in recent years include The Killers, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Ben Harper, Damian Marley, and even Tom Jones. And, perhaps most famously, the Rolling Stones played a private event in 2015. With over 100 live recordings in the Belly Up catalogue, The Sully Band’s Let’s Straighten It Out! is the label’s first studio release. 

ABOUT BLUE ÉLAN RECORDS 

At Blue Élan Records it’s about the Music, it’s about the Artist, it’s about Collaboration. Blue Élan Records is a young and fresh independent label headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded in 2014 by veteran entertainment attorney and music lover Kirk Pasich, his son and musician Connor Pasich, and an experienced label team, Blue Élan believes in doing things differently.  

Blue Élan is the happy home of more than 20 artists, including 2-time Grammy® winner Rita Coolidge, the late Rusty Young, Soul Asylum, Grammy® nominated Colin Devlin (The Devlins), Gerry Beckley (America), outlaw country's Jesse Dayton, LA’s own Ozomatli, and self-assured newcomers like Chelsea Williams and Rod Melancon, who contribute to a full house of exciting and diverse talent across all genres. Blue Élan embraces a self-starting ingenuity and offers our artists a creative and nurturing music haven where they can continue to grow and flourish.  

OUT TODAY: JESSE CORRELL - INNER SHIBORI

"Lyrical..dreamscape" - PopWrapped  

"...a fine showcase of Correll’s soul, jazz and folk roots" - JAZZIZ  

"Over the past few years we’ve enjoyed the emergence of a number of American singer/songwriters who cleverly meld elements of country, Americana, jazz and soul into a soothing aural cocktail. Add to that soundscape mature lyrics that regularly question various status quos and you have some proper adult music – a music suited to the complex nuances of the 21st century. So, we’re thinking of people like Isaac Aragon, Jacob Collier and Gideon King. Now we can factor in Nashville-based musician Jesse Correll" - Soul&Jazz&Funk  

Equal parts Rufus Wainwright and Frank Sinatra in his more brooding moments, Correll is a modern-day torch singer drawing on a variety of influences from jazz and pop to classic soul. - Americana Highways  

"...minimalist instrumentation which allows the listener to focus on Correll’s smooth voice. However, it’s still bold enough to appeal to the fans of rousing pop performances in the vein of Rufus Wainwright or Ray LaMontagne." - East of 8th  

"Beautiful, artful masterwork." - Ear To The Ground 

"An instant good mood creator" - Music Injection  

"Deeply beautiful and intriguing" - American Pancake 

“Beautiful allegory” - Renegade Soul 

"Each melody attracts the listeners to listen further, begging for more...oozing with deliciousness in both the vocals and instrumentation." - ai love music 

LISTEN: INNER SHIBORI 

Today, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Jesse Correll has released his new LP Inner Shibori, produced by Correll and Anne McCue and featuring contributions from artists like Anna Tivel, Kyshona, Jason Eskridge, Freddy & Francine’s Bianca Caruso and Lee Ferris, and more. Inner Shibori is his fourth record since 1994, and his second release after a 15-year hiatus from music.  

Oozing luxury and longing, the album brims with sophisticated and tastefully sentimental songs, its smooth musicianship recalls the lonely balladeering of Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker – the type of recordings made at Capitol Studios in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s. The songs are also interwoven with threads of Americana, R&B, soul, and folk, recalling contemporary artists such as Ray LaMontagne, Jacob Collier, and Madison Cunningham.   

Shibori is a traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique wherein a pattern is made by binding, folding, or compressing a natural fabric, dyeing it, and then releasing the bind and pressure to reveal its pattern. When the fabric is returned to its flat form after dyeing, the design that emerges is the result of the bound and tied three-dimensional shape. The cloth sensitively records both the form and the pressure; the “memory” of the tied shape remains imprinted in the cloth.  

“The technique spoke to me. We endure a lifelong process of unfolding, unbinding, unstitching, and unblocking. Little by little, we see that what we thought were stains, are intricate patterns; the design of unseen hands,” Correll shares. He explores this parable on his latest album, Inner Shibori, a timeless and elegantly expressive record that feels like a singer-songwriter album draped in torch-song finery.   

WATCH: “ONE MORE TIME” 

WATCH: “AN ICY COLD” 

A Berklee graduate and a lifelong musician, Correll was based in New York, then followed his muse to Music City, where he blossomed as a songwriter, a member of the Nashville music community, and a popular podcaster. In parallel, Correll endured personal hardships that seemed and felt like a bottom–yet became a turning point of self-reflection, acceptance, and even a love rebirth. This journey became an inner Shibori experience for him, and he processes it on his album.  “It was like a breakup with my former self. I had been running from old stuff – like early abandonment – and I needed to address them to move on. There is definitely a story of the greatest love ever followed by the worst pain ever,” he says.   

Reflective, redemptive, and triumphant, Inner Shibori simmers with classic R&B, heavenly harmonies, and jazz-tinged soul-pop. “This album felt like a homecoming,” Correll explains. “I needed all of those years of being lost to be able to fully express myself as a musician; as a human being. Making this record, and finding my home in the Nashville music community, has been a peak experience that I will never forget.”  

Inner Shibori is available at iTunes, Amazon Music, and Bandcamp. Jesse Correll’s album release show is tonight at Nashville’s City Winery Lounge. Click HERE for tickets and show information. Be sure to follow him at the links below for the latest news and updates.  

INNER SHIBORI TRACKLIST 

Go Deeper   

 One More Time  

 Begin Again, Again   

Life  

 An Icy Cold   

 Backyard Thursday   

 Fetch The Water   

Inner Shibori   

I’ll Just Keep Tryin’   

Dusty Sweetness  

Hope Like Adrenaline   

Slow Accepting   

Worst Of Both Worlds  

THE ACCIDENTALS ANNOUNCE TIME OUT SESSION #2 DUE MARCH 4TH

NEW EP FEATURES SONGWRITING COLLABORATIONS WITH  

GRETCHEN PETERS, BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN, GARY BURR, MAIA SHARP, GEORGIA MIDDLEMAN, & PETER MULVEY   

SINGLE “EASTERN STANDARD TIME” OUT NOW 

LISTEN: “EASTERN STANDARD TIME”   

Nashville-based, female-fronted trio The Accidentals have announced their forthcoming EP Time Out Session #2, the second installment of their “Time Out” project, which features co-writes with Gretchen Peters, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Gary Burr, Tom Paxton, Maia Sharp, Georgia Middleman, and Peter Mulvey. The EP’s first  single “Eastern Standard Time,” co-written with Mulvey, was inspired by Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.   

“A Wisconsin native, Peter is known for riding his bike across the country with his guitar on his back, sharing stories and provocative wisdom in song form,” says Sav Buist (who met Mulvey at a festival in Michigan). “After watching his set we knew someday we would write a song with him.” Five minutes into the co-writing session, the band discovered they and Mulvey were all avid nature lovers. “When you’re co-writing with people you look for the commons, things you can both write about. We spent the first forty minutes talking about plants and fungi and discovered we both had an affinity for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  It’s where our home state meets Peter’s home state.  “The UP is one of the most beautiful places on earth and we plan a tour there every year when the leaves are changing. We decided to write a song about that.   

“The line ‘Three fires burn from the old bloodlines’ pays homage to the Three Fires Council and the lineage of Native Americans that inhabited Mackinac Island dating back to 796 AD, later known as the Great Lakes Confederacy.  The descriptions of northern beauty are underscored by the dangerous oil pipeline threatening our remaining freshwater resources, and the looming concern over climate change” she explains. “We were thinking about all those things as we wrote this song.” 

The Michigan-bred, indie-folk trio’s “Time Out” series has turned heads and warmed hearts by forging singular and striking collaborations with some of America’s most important, most celebrated songwriters, among them Dar Williams, Kim Richey, and Mary Gauthier.  

After the Time Out Session #1 single, “Wildfire,” co-written with Kim Richey, was named No. 1 song of the year by FAI Folk Radio Charts for 2021, The Accidentals – Sav Buist, Katie Larson, and Michael Dause – are poised to build on that success by unfurling follow-up EP Time Out Session #2 featuring ever more intoxicating collaborations with prominent tunesmiths.  

If Time Out Session #1 was “an anthem for how to fix a broken America” (Rolling Stone), then Time Out Session #2 is the manual. The message is clear that connection, collaboration, and community are at the heart of healing.  The Accidentals are bridging differences in generations and backgrounds to create unforgettable musical alliances.   

“These songs are honest and vulnerable and they were written in a safe space with songwriters, that through this process of co-writing, we have come to call friends,” says Larson.“ As producers and engineers on this project, Katie and I tried to stay out of our own way and just serve the songs, not over think it–leave space for the story,” adds Buist. “I think we did that.”    

Set for release on March 4th, the self-produced EP will also launch a Midwest tour, kicking off March 2nd at 3300 Event Center in Peoria Heights, Illinois, and wrapping up on March 13th at City Winery in Nashville. Joining The Accidentals on that run are Hall of Fame writer Beth Nielsen Chapman, Yep Roc Artist Kim Richey, and celebrated songwriter, Maia Sharp. Be sure to follow The Accidentals via the links below for the latest news and updates.  

TOUR DATES:  

3/2 - 3300 Event Center - Peoria, IL 

3/3 - Old Town School of Folk - Chicago, IL  

3/4 - Listening Room - Grand Rapids, MI  

3/5 - Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI  

3/6 - Old Art Building - Leland, MI      

3/9 - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI  

3/10 - Acorn Theater - Three Oaks, MI  

BUFFALO ROSE RELEASES SINGLE “I GIVE YOU THE MORNING (ft. TOM PAXTON)” + ANNOUNCE RABBIT EP WITH TOM PAXTON

 RABBIT EP COLLABORATION WITH TOM PAXTON  

DUE OUT FEBRUARY 22ND VIA MISRA RECORDS  

OFFICIAL SXSW SHOWCASE IN AUSTIN THIS MARCH

Photo credit: Zian Meng

LISTEN: “I GIVE YOU THE MORNING (ft. TOM PAXTON)”  

Pittsburgh-based collective Buffalo Rose, recently chosen as a 2022 SXSW Official Showcase band, has released “I Give You The Morning,” written by and featuring GRAMMY-winning artist Tom Paxton. The classic love song radiates tenderness and warmth like gentle beams of morning sunlight through goosebump-inducing harmonies and delicate instrumentation. The single is the latest from their forthcoming EP Rabbit, due out on February 22nd via Misra Records. 

The band joined forces with Paxton to write and record the Rabbit EP’s four tracks. “I Give You The Morning” follows the release of the EP’s lead single, “Runaway,” a song with all the energy and anxiety of new love, fear and excitement of the unknown, and the electric push and pull of hope and hesitation. 

LISTEN: “RUNAWAY” 

Rabbit, a perfect release for the last gasp of winter, combines Paxton’s honed writing skills with the instrumental prowess of Buffalo Rose. The songs encompass how sweet, wild, and precious the present is when it is all you have. The world is strange and dangerous for a rabbit, but even so, a rabbit knows how to take pleasure– in green grass, a safe burrow, or the warmth of another body. Rabbit’s themes are derived from the hope of doing all we can do to find what we’re looking for. In this EP, these seven musicians explore answers to many questions and have some serious fun in the process. 

Buffalo Rose is a wildly charismatic six-piece modern folk/Americana band from Pittsburgh that will change your entire perspective on acoustic music. They take the singer-songwriter tradition to a new level by crafting original songs which are emotive, meticulously arranged, and inspired by a world of idiosyncratic influences that never let a dull or predictable moment creep in. 

Buffalo Rose's lineup of Lucy Clabby (vocals), Margot Jezerc (vocals), Bryce Rabideau (mandolin), Malcolm Inglis (dobro), Jason Rafalak (upright bass), and Shane McLaughlin (guitar, vocals) pushes itself and each other far beyond their perceived limits and blends their diverse and atypical approach to songwriting with the desire to see how unique a song can get and still feel like home. They use powerful vocal harmonies, strong playing, and an original vision to operate at every possible emotional level and put on dynamic live shows that are unforgettable experiences. They go from up and moving to sad and sweet and back again, bringing the entire audience along.  

This combination of artistry and enthusiasm makes Buffalo Rose one of the most vital and important groups working today. Rather than play the folk music of the past, the band gleefully combines genres and ideas together to move acoustic music forward to a new, contemporary place without ever losing sight of its roots. Fans of Lake Street Dive, Nickel Creek, and Punch Brothers will find much to like in this crew. Anyone seeking compelling new acoustic music needs to join Buffalo Rose in the future right now. 

TOUR DATES  

2/17 - Isis Music Hall - Asheville, NC 

2/18 - Focal Point Traditional Arts Center - St. Louis, MO 

3/11-3/20 - SXSW (Official Showcase) 

4/2 - Amazing Things Arts Center - Framingham, MA 

5/7-5/8 - Central Ohio Folk Festival - Columbus, OH 

5/18-5/22 - Folk Alliance International Conference - Kansas City, MO 

6/16-6/18 - Smoked Country Jam - Cross Fork, PA 

6/18 - Solarfest - Pittsburgh, PA 

ALI SPERRY RELEASES NEW SINGLE “IN YOUR DREAMS” + FORTHCOMING LP IN FRONT OF US DUE OUT MARCH 11TH

credit Fairlight Hubbard

LISTEN: “IN YOUR DREAMS” 

Nashville-based singer/songwriter Ali Sperry has released “In Your Dreams,” the latest from her forthcoming LP In Front Of Us, due out on March 11th. "As artists, one’s own authenticity and unique perspective is our greatest asset and in some ways, it feels like it’s all we really have,” says Sperry of the song. Co-written with and featuring friend and fellow artist Carey Ott, “In Your Dreams” features musical contributions from Adam Meisterhans, Kai Welch, Jamie Dick, Owen Biddle, and Sarah Dugas. 

“Our ability to look at something, respond as ourselves, and reflect back in our own authentic way is crucial. The goal is to create art that is un-self-conscious–art that is our own truth and not trying to be something we think might be trendy or popular or 'cool.' 'Don’t worry, don’t be sorry, say it’ is the repeating mantra of this song. It’s what I have endeavored to do throughout this record, and as I move forward through my life." 

“In Your Dreams” follows “Cool Under Pressure,” inspired by watching Kamala Harris in the 2020 Vice Presidential Debate. “Kamala Harris was a force to be reckoned with that night and made a deep impact on me,” Sperry recalls. “I stirred with pride to be a woman, pride to witness such a woman demonstrating her ability for leadership. The way she elegantly fought for her time to speak, insisted upon it, was almost shocking to me, as it was an example too-seldom seen,” she continues. “I thought about this debate in the weeks to come and lyrics began to emerge. I called on my impressions of that night and quotes from our now-Vice President, as well as reflections on other women leaders of our time.” 

LISTEN: “COOL UNDER PRESSURE” 

Sperry grew up in a small Iowa community built around the practice of Transcendental Meditation and moved to Nashville in 2009 to join a band called Sweetwater Rose. Since then, she has become a beloved member of the Nashville creative community, frequently sought after for collaborations and co-writes due to her songwriting prowess. She has shared stages with the likes of Nicki Bluhm, Langhorne Slim, Andrew Combs, Mipso, Kelsey Waldon, Erin Rae, and more.  

In 2020, when faced with a year of trauma, racial reckoning, and downright worldwide existential crisis, Sperry did what she has always done–turned inward and wrote songs that channeled, mirrored, and ultimately distilled those cultural currents into what became In Front Of Us. The album was made in the thick of the pandemic and was produced by her husband, Jamie Dick. The restrictions of life compelled the couple to set up a home studio and create a safe place to make the record, remotely collaborating with friends like Allison Russell, Kyshona, Jill Andrews, and Natalie Schlabs.  

“While it is not a record about the pandemic, it was very much informed by the stillness of life at that time,” Sperry reveals. “The concurrence between our new quieter, slower daily pace with the intense political atmosphere of 2020, including the racial reckoning that was taking place in our country and the #metoo movement still active in the public discourse, spilled into a batch of songs about mortality, our place in the universe, how we treat one another and ourselves, and what we are passing along to the next generation,” she adds. “The pandemic, violence, bigotry, racism, lack of respect for other human beings and for the planet–this was on my mind and in my heart as these songs came to be. There are also themes of being your most authentic self, speaking your own truth, and relying on hope when all else fails.” 

With In Front Of Us, Sperry wisely avoids long-form folk indulgence for streamlined contours and razor hooks that feel more rock/pop than folk, and are fairly begging for a decent car stereo and an open road. In her singing and writing, she is the people’s champ of the “less is more" ethos. There is a slight echo of Laurel Canyon in the sonics of the record, and, always, the confident under-singing of a woman who knows her words and melodies will happily do the heavy lifting.  

The album also features an absolute murderers' row of beloved Nashville players, including Jen Gunderman, Audley Freed, Sadler Vaden, Joe Pisapia, Owen Biddle, Kai Welch, Kristin Weber, Rich Hinman, and a slew of other bright lights. It's a testament to both their instincts and their respect for Sperry’s presence and voice, that it never feels like a cavalcade of assembled star-turns, but a real love-in of massively talented musical souls.   

ERIKA LEWIS ANNOUNCES NEW LP A WALK AROUND THE SUN SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 29TH

credit Sarrah Danziger

Asheville-based singer-songwriter Erika Lewis is set to release her anticipated album A Walk Around The Sun, a series of lyrical vignettes that examine the margins between love and loss, joy and grief, and longing and contentment. Lewis deepens her sonic palette across classic country, cosmic Americana, and dreamy indie-folk, and while enveloping a wide scope of roots music styles. Whether it’s through sweeping strings, pedal steel, a hybridized psych-rock guitar, or Lewis’ soaring vocals, A Walk Around The Sun takes a closer look at the connections between lovers and friends, and the effect of these relationships on the self. 

Produced by John James Tourville (The Deslondes) and recorded in Nashville at Andrija Tokic’s analog paradise The Bomb Shelter, A Walk Around the Sun features 11 all-original songs that reflect Lewis’s songwriting power across narrative and textures. 

After a health scare in 2020 that required a surgery that could damage her vocal cords and effectively end Lewis’ career, friend Lani Tourville inspired her to push through and record an  album before the surgery. A Walk Around The Sun is another chapter in Lewis’ expansive songwriting, and a testament to her fortitude in the face of near-overwhelming pain and doubt. Lewis proves that to overcome the odds, you need to plow right through them.  

Songs like “A Thousand Miles” and “If You Were Mine,” showcase the romanticism that runs through Lewis’ writing, while ​​“First Love” examines young love lost in the rearview. Lewis excels at bottling sweeping, deeply relatable themes, and unraveling the human experience, all while pinpointing her place in these stories and within the world at large. “We walked til we ran and ran til we came to the point of no going home again,” sings Lewis on the album’s stunning title track.  

Lewis’ approach as an artist and performer is informed by the years she spent cutting her teeth busking in the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter and in Berlin. After relocating to New Orleans in 2007, she started a band with jazz artist Meschiya Lake called The Magnolia Beacon. After honing in on their sound in New Orleans, the two eventually crossed the Atlantic to the Kreuzberg neighborhood of Berlin. Busking on the bridge or in Turkish markets in the daytime and hitting the local bars at night, the two quickly developed their writing and improvisational skills to listeners and travelers of all walks of life. 

Upon returning to New Orleans, Lewis joined a team of fellow street performers and friends, making traditional jazz and swing music as Tuba Skinny. Eventually, she built up the momentum to record her own material outside of the group, finding inspiration in fellow New Orleans-based musicians, and songwriters including Alynda Segarra, Kiki Cavazos, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Meschiya Lake, and more.  

A Walk Around The Sun will be available for pre-save and pre-order on February 15th. Be sure to follow Erika Lewis at the links below for the latest news. 

TRACKLIST   

A Thousand Miles 

If You Were Mine 

First Love 

Loser 

Running Wild 

A Walk Around The Sun 

Hearts 

Unsatisfied 

Wild Thing 

Love Song 

Thief and a Liar 

KEEP UP WITH ERIKA LEWIS

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CARLI BRILL PREMIERES NEW SINGLE “CONCRETE JUNGLE” ON AUDIOFEMME TODAY

Credit: Hannah Gray Hall

“CONCRETE JUNGLE” (OUT 2/4/22)

 LISTEN

NASHVILLE, TN. – SoCal native and current Nashville resident, singer-songwriter Carli Brill crafts charming, intricate retro-pop that blends the warmth of 60s-era radio hits with a sleek and modern sophistication. The sound is perfectly encapsulated on her latest single “Concrete Jungle” that premieres today on AudioFemme. It will be available on all streaming services February 4th.

“…doo-wop style number, complimenting the romantic lyrics with a melody that transcends musical genre… Brill layers ‘60s girl group vocals that turn the song into an experience.” - AudioFemme

 “[‘Concrete Jungle’] is inspired by my time spent in New York where I met my now husband,” explains Carli. “The unexpected rhythmic shifts imitate the excitement and progression a new love can bring. Warm vintage tones and girl group vocals were an essential piece in creating this song. It's a nod to my deep love for 60's music!”

With honey-smooth vocals and a knack for complex rhythmic shifts, Brill has a natural gift for musical storytelling, sharing her distinctive worldview through introspective lyrics inspired by everything from childhood experience to current relationship woes. “I make music because I can’t imagine not making music,” she says.

Born and raised in Southern California, Brill grew up dabbling in guitar, piano, voice, and flute, inspired by 50s and 60s acts (The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel) whose work spanned a wide spectrum of styles. “I love songs that are unexpected, full of contrasting elements,” she says. “I like to be surprised.” Brill released a self-produced Christmas album via Bandcamp in 2016, piquing her interest in a music career; then in 2018 she won a nationwide contest, judged by British artist Jessie J, to record tracks at L.A.’s Capitol Records. In 2019 Brill released her debut self-titled pop EP under the name Sonora, written and recorded in Oceanside, CA. Later that year, she moved to Nashville to pursue her music career full-time.

Carli Brill has evolved as an artist and songwriter, experimenting with shifting rhythms and vintage tones in strikingly original arrangements. Her vocals have the silky, effortless purity of indie-pop/folk icons Mirah and Keren Ann, while the tracks incorporate subtle retro flourishes like organ accents and jingle bells for a throwback charm reminiscent of Tennis’s Cape Dory album. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Brendan St. Gelais, Brill’s new work showcases her natural ability to fuse internal and external, past and present, into uniquely compelling music. “I find that the song tells you where it wants to go,” she says. “I just trust what feels right.”

KEEP UP WITH CARLI BRILL

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY |

“GUITAR HERO” (-Billboard) HAMISH ANDERSON DROPS NEW SINGLE “EVERYTHING STARTS AGAIN” TODAY!

Credit: Emma Gillett

 LISTEN/SHARE

LOS ANGELES, CA. – Australian “singer, songwriter and guitar hero” (-Billboard) Hamish Anderson is keeping busy in quarantine. With his band in Los Angeles, an ocean away from Melbourne, he’s been able to remotely record several singles. His latest “Everything Starts Again” drops TODAY!

The song is about sliding doors, or the idea when one thing ends, another begins – a great mantra for the New Year.  An evolution from his signature blues/rock sound, Hamish delves into indie pop/rock beats with a nod towards influences of Badfinger, The Pretenders and Pete Townshend.

It is the follow up to 2021s “Morning Light” that marked some firsts in Hamish’s career - first time co-producing with David Davis (Miguel, The War on Drugs, Lauren Ruth Ward), and first time recording remotely in a pandemic! 

The song was praised by Under The Radar as a “timeless mix of influences that Anderson revives with fresh energy,” and as “punchy, bombastic and uplifting with just a pinch of washed-out psychedelia” by American Songwriter.

“Everything Starts Again” showcases the deft guitar skills and musical prowess of an artist that All Things Go aptly states “clearly knows the path from nostalgia to the future.”  The new single “Everything Starts Again” is now available on all streaming platforms.

KEEP UP WITH HAMISH ANDERSON

Website |  Facebook |  Twitter | Instagram |  YouTube | Spotify |  

SUSAN CATTANEO RELEASES NEW SINGLE “ALL IS QUIET” FORTHCOMING LP ALL IS QUIET DUE OUT APRIL 8TH

photo by Jon Cohan

LISTEN // WATCH: “ALL IS QUIET”  

Boston-based award-winning singer/songwriter Susan Cattaneo has released “All Is Quiet,” the title track and its accompanying performance video from her forthcoming LP due out on April 8th. With delicate, descending chords and an ascending melody, this song, the centerpiece of Cattaneo’s album, describes what it felt like to be a musician in those first few months of isolation.  

"I tried to capture the uncertainty, worry, and frustration that many of us were experiencing,” she says. “The concept of silence became my metaphor for being creatively muted. The lyrics speak about 'an end.' For many of us in the music world, the year 2020 meant an end to many things: live performing, cowriting in person, and the tour life," she continues. "But in a broader sense, the song is about all of us coming to terms with a changed world. It is intentionally the first song on the album because it begins my journey from silence to song." 

~  

With her powerful voice, captivating melodies, and finely-crafted lyrics, Susan Cattaneo is one of Boston’s most respected singer/songwriters. A compelling performer and vivid storyteller, her music blends folk, rock, and blues with a hint of country–call it New England Americana.   

Following up on the success of her chart-topping double album The Hammer & The Heart, which charted #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, yielded a #1 song on folk radio, and was a top 10 album of 2017, All is Quiet features her signature lyrical and melodic craft as she brings her mastery to a quieter place. Embracing simplicity and vulnerability, the nine songs on All is Quiet speak to the personal nature of loss, relationships, and hope for the future. The album was recorded remotely during 2020 and features the beautiful guitar work of national talents Kevin Barry and Duke Levine and was co-produced with Lorne Entress.   

Critics, audiences, and fellow artists have instantly connected with the personal nature of Cattaneo’s songs. She is a three-time Kerrville New Folk Finalist, a three-time nominee for Best Americana Artist at the Boston Music Awards, and she won the 2018 CT Folk Festival. Cattaneo has been a finalist or winner at some of the country’s most prestigious songwriting and music contests including the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Philadelphia Songwriters Project,  the Wildflower Festival, the Independent Music Awards, the International Acoustic Music Awards, 5 Unsigned Only, the USA Songwriting Competition, the Mountain Stage New Song Contest, and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.   

She has opened for or shared the stage with Bill Kirchen, Mark Erelli, David Wilcox, Rose Cousins, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Livingston Taylor, Paula Cole, Huey Lewis and The News, Amy Grant, Travis Tritt, and more. Cattaneo is also an in-demand educator and collaborator. As a Songwriting Professor at the Berklee College of Music for the past 20 years, she has helped students work on over 15,000 songs in all musical genres and styles and mentored over 2,000 artists. She is also one half of the indie-folk duo called Honest Mechanik with Paul Hansen of The Grownup Noise. The duo launched their first album in July of 2020 and was nominated for Folk Act of The Year at the 2021 Boston Music Awards.  

ALL IS QUIET TRACKLIST 

ALL IS QUIET 

TIME + LOVE + GRAVITY 

BORROWED BLUE 

BLACKBIRDS 

BROKEN THINGS 

DIAMOND DAYS 

NO HEARTS HERE 

HOLD ONTO HOPE 

FOLLOW 

KEEP UP WITH SUSAN CATTANEO

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

OUT TODAY: SAD DADDY’S NEW LP WAY UP IN THE HILLS

"Sad Daddy do what they do best: mine old-time string music for today's lessons" - The Boot

"Sad Daddy may be just what we need in these troubled times — the friendly foursome’s “down-home, back to the country” approach is sure to soothe your ragged soul." - KCRW 

"Way Up In the Hills is a marvelous collection of homegrown goodness that encompasses the spirit of the hills while showcasing avid musicianship and songwriting." - The Jamwich 

"An album that embeds itself in your soul" - Americana Highways 

“Sad Daddy might be onto something here" - Glide Magazine 

"As soon as you hear it, it makes sense that 'Cold Rain' was recorded in a studio out in the wilds of the Arkansas woods, looking out on a lake, breathing in the overwhelming depth and vastness of the American landscape." - Holler. 

“Sounds like sunshine” - The Bay Area Reporter

"Layered with jug band wit, boot heels, and the thrill of bacon, Way Up In The Hills eschews the madness and concrete of modernity for hardwood, harmony, and fine songs." - Sound and Soul

"You’re well advised to lose yourself for a brief period and indulge in this meticulously executed and absorbing suite of songs." - Lonesome Highway 

"Now, that's some blazing bluegrass!" - Last Day Deaf

"The record is a master class in old-timey, bluegrass sound, especially the vocal harmonies. The song themes cluster around escaping back to the country and living the simple life...Although all four members are certainly capable of laying down fast-paced licks, they left some nice white space on many of the tunes. That generated a laid-back feel that really reflects a few days spent with friends up in the hills."  - Twangville

"...a down-home rustic and raw kind of sound" - Americana-UK 

"...an old time Americana sound that is exactly what helped us fall in love with the genre years ago...a perfect blend" - Ear To The Ground

 "Classic American roots music that you're simply going to love" - If It’s Too Loud

LISTEN: WAY UP IN THE HILLS 

Today, Arkansas/Texas four-piece roots powerhouse Sad Daddy, comprised of Brian Martin, Joe Sundell, Rebecca Patek, and Melissa Carper, has released their new LP, Way Up In The Hills. The album, which debuted at #1 on the Alt-Country Specialty Chart, was featured at The Boot, Wide Open Country, The Bluegrass Situation, KCRW, and more. The four members of Sad Daddy, named one of 2022’s 12 Artists To Watch by The Nashville Scene, all conspired and united in the Arkansas woods during the sudden spare time of 2020 to create Way Up in the Hills, their third studio effort.

Over a couple of bottles of chocolate milk and a few jugs of whiskey they collaborated, writing and arranging the album’s 14 tracks. The collective decided on a down-home, back-to-the-country theme—a reflection on the state of the world and the desire to return to simpler ways and self-sufficiency–goin’ way up in the hills and letting the chaos settle. 

WATCH: “ARKANSAS BOUND”

WATCH: “CHARLIE PICKLE”

 Engineer Jordan Trotter brought his equipment into the cabin and the band recorded live and in a circle. The feeling of being at a lakeside "home" studio in the serene Arkansas woods was distilled into each verse and a genuine relaxed and good-time vibe purveys the recordings. Sad Daddy explored using unique sounds, recording stomps on the cabin’s porch, hamboning, capturing the natural sounds of insects buzzing and bacon sizzling, mouth didgeridoo, handclaps, double clawhammer banjo, and more, along with the foursome’s strong vocals and harmonies. 

From recounting the freedom of leaving the big city for life in the country on tracks like “Arkansas Bound,” extolling the virtues of the world’s best breakfast meat in “Bacon,” coming to terms with the world’s new normal in tracks like “Cold Rain,” raising their voices and using their bodies as percussion to make the daily grind more beautiful in “Hangin’ Them Clothes On The Line,” and more, the convergence of inspiration and interpretation of feeling into sound is a stylistic blend of the very best elements of American Roots Music. Borrowing from the styles of early blues, jazz, and jug bands to early country, folk, old-time, bluegrass, soul, and funk, they combine many influences, creating an indefinable genre of their own. 

WAY UP IN THE HILLS TRACKLIST 

Arkansas Bound  

Bacon  

 Big River  

Live Real Lean 

 Cold Rain  

 Charlie Pickle  

 Hangin' Them Clothes on the Line  

Make it Roll  

Up in the Hills  

Sunday Evening 

Back in Arkansas  

Poor Man's Son  

Wild Road 

Arkansas Bound Reprise 

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THE STRING REVOLUTION PAYS TRIBUTE TO RANDY RHOADS WITH THE RELEASE OF “CRAZY TRAIN” FEATURING STEVE STEVENS

"Listening to The String Revolution's version of Crazy Train puts a Huge Smile on my face! Janet Robin was one of Randy’s Students back in the day. To see and hear my brother's influence is bittersweet.  He would have loved this. Thanks Janet and the band for keeping his flame burning bright!  Nailed it!” - Kathy Rhoads Dargenzio (Sister to Randy  Rhoads)

"A truly beautiful interpretation of one of rock’s all-time classic songs done only in a way the brilliant Steve Stevens could!” -Eddie Trunk 

"First time I heard Randy Rhoads play classical guitar was while we were both teaching at his family’s Music School, Musonia, during breaks between students. Shortly after,  his compositions and recordings with Ozzy of such classics as Dee, Diary of a Madman, Revelation Mother Earth showcased his passion for classical guitar. Steve Stevens "Crazy Train:: A (Flamenco) Tribute to Randy Rhoads" is a magnificent rendition of this heavy metal classic and gives us a glimpse into the musical style Randy might have been playing today.”  - Rudy Sarzo ( Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne - played on the original recording of “Crazy Train”)

LISTEN TO “CRAZY TRAIN” : HERE 

Los Angeles based label Tallest Man Records has released a stunning flamenco tinged cover of iconic rock anthem “Crazy Train” from the String Revolution featuring Steve Stevens. This collaboration came together to pay tribute to the legendary guitar player Randy Rhoads, and in particular his love for classical guitar. Steve Stevens  has always been an admirer of Rhoads’, and The String Revolution, which  is led by Janet Robin, has a special connection to Rhoads. Robin was his only female guitar student when she was 9 years old.  "When I was told that Randy Rhoads was to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame I was thrilled,” says Stevens.  “Long overdue but so deserving. As I was contacted to contribute to a reimagining of Ozzy’s Crazy Train…in my mind, I had one requirement, that it not be in any way similar to the iconic original version. Upon hearing the track two things struck me immediately, it works so well as a Spanish guitar piece, and that Randy would have loved it. It’s widely known that Randy was a beautiful classical guitarist, even continuing lessons through his Ozzy days. I hope we did you proud buddy." 

The String Revolution is four professional virtuoso guitar players who create distinctive sounds with their guitars: mimicking percussion, special effects, melodic grooves, bass lines, and more. They share a passion for many different musical styles and guitar techniques which has given The String Revolution a unique sound. This is evident in their studio recordings and live shows. A clear dedication and hard work ethic for the project brought The String Revolution together. In addition to  Janet Robin ( who was named in the “Top 50 Acoustic Guitarist bonus list” by Guitar Player Magazine, 2017), who is also an acclaimed touring guitarist with the likes of Lindsey Buckingham, Meredith Brooks, Air Supply and many more, the String Revolution is comprised of award winning Austrian nylon-string guitarist Markus Illko, Swiss multi-credited producer, songwriter, and guitarist Daniel Schwarz, and underground Los Angeles  indie darling,  artist and guitarist Art Zavala Jr. "In arranging "Crazy Train" with The String Revolution, we really tried to keep the energy and vibe of the original but we wanted to put our own stamp on it,” says Robin “ as my guitar teacher Randy Rhoads used to say to me- "don't try to play like me, play like yourself. I really took that to heart and I feel TSR was on board with that same kind of thinking-Be true to the original but put a new, original spin on it, and that's what I think we did.”

Steve Stevens is one of the most original guitarists to emerge from the ’80s rock scene, best known for his 41-year partnership with Billy Idol, his work on Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana”, his Grammy Award winning performance on “Top Gun Anthem” and his work with Vince Neil on “Exposed.”   Stevens has also lent his unmistakable sound and style to many hit records, including Pink “Try This,” Diana Ross “Eaten Alive,” Joni Mitchell “Chalk mark in a Rainstorm,” Robert Palmer “Don’t Explain,” The Thompson Twins “Here’s to Future Days,” Ric Ocasek “This Side of Paradise,” Peter Criss “Let Me Rock You,” Juno Reactor “Shango,” “Hokata,” and “Pistolero,” Kyosuke Himuro “Beat Haze Odyssey,” Steve Lukather “Lukather” and on his solo outings with Steve Stevens Atomic Playboys “Atomic Playboys,” Bozzio Levin Stevens “Black Light Syndrome” and “Situation Dangerous” and the critically acclaimed solo releases “Flamenco A Go Go” and “Memory Crash.” Steven’s catalog of hit songs that he co-wrote & performed alongside Idol include “Rebel Yell,” “Eyes Without A Face” and “Flesh for Fantasy.”  They sound as fresh and relevant today as the day they were released, as evidenced by being recently covered by artists as varied as Miley Cyrus, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age, Him, Black Veil Brides, Children of Bodom, Dope, Daughtry, Sum 41, Blink 182, Drowning Pool, Murderdolls, Deathstars and The Donnas. Steven’s co-wrote on the most recent Idol EP Roadside, produced by Butch Walker featuring collaboraitons with hit-songwriters Sam Hollander,  Tommy English, Joe Janiak and Grant Michaels. Stevens is currently working on new music with Idol and will be hitting  the road with Idol this spring on their U.S. arena tour Journey, then on to Europe where they will be playing major festivals in addition to dates where Idol will be supported by the Go Go’s, then on to Rock n ‘ Rio alongside Green Day. 

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "CRAZY TRAIN"

STEVE STEVENS

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THE STRING REVOLUTION

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ASHLEY MYLES RELEASES “ANTHEMIC” (-JAZZIZ) SINGLE “TIDES” AND ANNOUNCES DEBUT EP DUE MARCH 25

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

“TIDES” SINGLE - LISTEN

LONG ISLAND, NY - On her debut EP Tides, Ashley Myles sings about tides, fires, and storms—all phenomena that could describe her voice. Her powerhouse vocals are tsunamis and fireworks and hurricanes, but they’re also wading pools and sparks and squalls. Within her power, she channels the obstacles that made her that way.

Today, she releases the title track, “Tides” that Jazziz calls, “anthemic…profoundly influenced by Myles’ background in musical theater/dramatic arts and passion for storytelling.”

“Tides” is about is about the cyclical nature of relationships. “They ebb and flow, but ultimately we revisit similar themes in the various relationships we may have, whether that be with family, friends, or romantic partners,” explains Myles. We often vow not to repeat the same issues that did not serve us well, and yet so often we get stuck in a pattern of doing just that.  ‘Tides’ explores how even with the will to move on from conflict and repair a relationship, sometimes there isn’t always a way.” 

Tides, out on March 25, showcases four tracks that dive deep into the understanding that there are situations we can’t change. The soul-infused pop songs carry their own, but it’s Myles’ voice that really lifts them up.

“Growing up in Long Island, I always felt the pull of New York City,” says Ashley. It was in the city where she came of age with Broadway, soaking in the energy of the performances. And it was in Madison Square Garden where she performed her first professional role at age 11—a Munchkin in the Wizard of Oz.

Musical theater shaped much of Myles’ vocal and performance development. As a child, she learned the bel canto method of singing.  She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Berklee School of Music for acting and performance lessons, respectively.  She attended the Jazz Music Program at The New School for college. “I definitely learned stage presence from my theatre days, as well as storytelling through music,” Myles says. 

With Tides, she brings those skills to four original songs. In them, she delivers clear-eyed reflections on relationships and overcoming adversity. Working with co-writer and producer Rob Kleiner (Kylie Minogue, CeeLo Green) in his Los Angeles studio, Myles transformed her songs into forces of nature.

The Tides EP will be available on all major streaming sites on March 25.

“TIDES” SINGLE

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SINGER/SONGWRITER CJ TEMPLE RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM SMOKE TODAY

Photo Credit: Shawnee Custalow

 SMOKE OUT TODAY - STREAM  

RICHMOND, VA. - Dreamy, yet down-to-earth, singer-songwriter CJ Temple releases her debut album Smoke today.  

On her debut album Smoke, Temple distills her vibrant personality and chaotic emotions into stirring anthems that hover between indie folk and serene, modern pop drawing comparisions Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan and Amy Lee.

A collection of stunning, narrative songs driven by well-crafted vocal melodies and supported by symphonic swells, Smoke represents everything that clouds the good in life: depression, anxiety, sadness, and struggle. It’s what you have to wade through to get to the other side.

“[Smoke]’s evening mood is all moonlight, last vestiges of sunset purples and oranges giving way to a smoky grey sky, stars sprinkled above silent trees. It’s the magic-hour soundtrack to peeling off your social façade after being who you are in the world and becoming effortlessly alone in your skin." - AudioFemme

BUZZ 

“bedroom pop perfection.” -INTO Magazine

“Temple's voclas are encompassed with serenity while the instrumentals float gracefully from beginning to end.” -Ghettoblaster Magazine

“…a heartbreak ballad, showcasing Temple’s heavenly vocals over sparse beats, resonant guitars, and swelling strings, building from an atmospheric confessional to a triumphant orchestral climax. Though at its core the song is a simple vulnerable ballad, it takes on a shimmering pop sheen thanks to the spacious production of Josh Kaler and the supporting bursts of strings, soaring from melancholy to euphoric hope.” – Under The Radar 

ABOUT CJ TEMPLE: After years working in corporate America, struggling with self-doubt, mental health (including imposter syndrome) and her journey of self-discovery as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, CJ Temple returned to music with a singular goal: to provide a space of calm amid the chaos. She found this space during COVID as she amassed over 1 million+ fans when her videos went viral on TikTok overnight.

“I AM YOU ARE ME” STREAM || YOUTUBE

“THIS GAME” (OUT NOW) STREAM || YOUTUBE 

“SMOKE”(OUT NOW) STREAM || YOUTUBE 

KEEP UP WITH CJ TEMPLE

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