NASHVILLE ARTIST BETTY RELEASES MISTAKES MADE, LESSONS LEARNED EP TODAY

Photo Credit: Taylor Napier

MISTAKES MADE LESSONS LEARNED || PURCHASE/STREAM

NASHVILLE, TENN. – Nashville artist Betty Reed has released the debut EP Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned today! The EP premiered earlier this week on Americana Highways.

“[Mistakes Made Lessons Learned] is a concept album, if you consider that the concept is ‘life.’ Ranging from clarifying misjudgments (on “Misunderstood”) to releasing resentments (on “Let it Out”) the album simply tracks individual development…” – Americana Highways

Drawing on personal experiences, Betty Reed relates stories of everyday life through her music. Struggles. Triumphs. Journeys. Her expressive vocals and clever lyrics resonate throughout her debut EP Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned, produced by Bill McDermott.

It’s an eclectic collection of songs that showcase Reed’s ability to write and perform across a musical spectrum. The first single “Karma” is about that moment you are free from an abusive relationship while the other person finally gets their comeuppance. “Misunderstood” sheds light on the #MeToo movement and standing up for ALL victims of harassment or assault.

While “Let It Out” and “Happy” are about her experiences with depression — the ways in which she finds her way out of the dark and into the light.

“Even though the subject matter of most of songs is serious, I mask it with an upbeat vibe—it’s this veneer of cheeriness that you feel you have to project in order to feel normal.”

Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned is out today!

“The polished country-pop tune is meaningful in so many ways, a bold statement about an important issue that for too long has been swept under the rug.” – V13

“Reed’s liberating version of payback is transformed into a modest pop number where instead of wishing ill upon her former partner, she finds freedom in personal happiness and self-love.” – AudioFemme 

“As an artist who writes songs inspired by not only her own life experiences but also moments and events she’s been witness to around the world, ‘Misunderstood’, about the #MeToo movement and standing up for victims of harassment or assault, is already, unsurprisingly, resonating strongly with and deeply touching those who have heard it.” – Popwrapped 

“…sounds upbeat and empowering — and it is, but with a twist… optimistic outlook bubbles throughout the peppy song — even when Reed confesses in the verses that she has trouble opening her heart to people.” -The Boot

 “KARMA” (OUT NOW)  SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

“MISUNDERSTOOD” (OUT NOW)  SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

HAPPY (OUT NOW) SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

MISTAKES MADE, LESSONS LEARNED OUT TODAY!

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GUITARIST JOHN SIERRA (OF THE ALT/ROCK BAND ATTALUS) MAKES SOLO DEBUT WITH FIRST SINGLE “A DREAM WORTH KEEPING” OUT NOW

Photo Credit: Flightless Bird Photography

"A DREAM WORTH KEEPING" || STREAM

RALEIGH, NC. – Raleigh singer/songwriter and guitarist John Sierra  – formerly of the Raleigh-based band Attalus on Facedown Records –makes his solo debut with the single “A Dream Worth Keeping” out today. Acoustic guitar with heavenly harmonies, the first single explores the ambivalence between fear, desire and our dreams.

As John explains, "‘Dream Worth Keeping’ is a conversation with myself about pushing through fear when it comes to desires and dreams. It’s my way of working through frustration and deep regret. I spent much of my life trying to prove myself to others, living in a ‘dream-only’ world, hiding in addiction or behind others who I deemed better, for fear of rejection.” 

The single is featured on the debut album The Wonder (out 11/5) that marks a departure from the alt/rock sound of his former band with influences that range from The Killers, Mumford and Sons, C.S. Lewis and Puccini.

On his debut album, The Wonder, John Sierra invites listeners on a thoughtful journey into the emotional landscape of the heart. Rich with soaring harmonies, driving acoustic rhythms, and haunting melodies, The Wonder wades through a folk-inspired sound with songs that are unapologetically raw. Exploring heartache, healing, relationship, and working through regret, The Wonder is meant to be an experience for any who would listen.

ABOUT JOHN SIERRA:

His early twenties were categorized by smoky clubs and raging guitar amps, performing as an integral part of the alternative rock band, Attalus, signed to Facedown Records. This foray into the music scene set an incredible foundation for John Sierra's music career. But, this season also marks a great recovery of heart for John. After shipwrecking almost everything beautiful in his life, he was careened into the realization he had lost himself along the way. Even the band had become a false identity. Through therapy, mental health, and a recovery of heart, he began to find the life he had always longed for…

And in that place, from that place, he began to write. To share the story of hope, forgiveness, healing, and restoration he experienced. Each of the songs on The Wonder stem from this season: from the recovery of a young man’s heart towards beauty, to exploring the roots of addiction and the power to overcome, to the active choice to push against regret towards a dream.

 THE WONDER ALBUM (COMING 11/5)
“A DREAM WORTH KEEPING" (OUT NOW)  SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

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PHILLIP-MICHAEL SCALES ANNOUNCES SINNER-SONGWRITER LP OUT ON OCTOBER 29TH VIA DIXIE FROG RECORDS

 NEW SINGLE “ANOTHER MAN’S SIN” PREMIERES

Photo Credit: Bryan H Iglesias

VIA PANCAKES & WHISKEY

LISTEN: “ANOTHER MAN'S SIN

Today, Nashville-based artist Phillip-Michael Scales unleashes “Another Man’s Sin,” the smoldering new single from his forthcoming LP Sinner-Songwriter, set for release on October 29th via Dixie Frog Records.

“‘Dive Bar Soul’ is how Scales describes his music and this track perfectly embodies that statement; rocking music that has heart and soul, but feels very accessible for any music fan to appreciate,” said Pancakes & Whiskey in the track’s premiere. “Starting with Phillip-Michael’s soaring voice and a simple guitar chord, the song makes us listen intently and when the undeniable hook kicks in, we can imagine ourselves at a dark and dusty bar whilst sipping whiskey and stomping about. What stands out for us in this single and the album as a whole, is the honesty of the lyrics and the vivid storytelling, quite likely a trait he learned from his legendary uncle B.B. King"

“This is one of my favorite tunes off the record,” Scales told Pancakes & Whiskey. “Most people have pivotal moments that inform how we act in the relationships that follow (for better or worse). ‘Another Man’s Sin’ is about the bad cycle of passing on the hurt because we’ve been hurt.”

~

Growing up, Phillip-Michael Scales had an uncle who played guitar for a living. He knew it was a big deal but didn’t understand the significance that his uncle’s name was B.B. King. Even though Scales played guitar, he shied away from soloing and most things blues-related. Instead, he fell in love with songwriting when an English teacher told him “A great writer can make their reader identify with anyone.” The trouble was he couldn’t find his story in the blues.  

Born with a fierce independent streak and a passion for performing, Scales fronted his own indie bands, wrote and recorded his own music, and worked to make a name for himself on his own terms. All the while, his uncle just smiled a knowing smile and encouraged him to “stay with it.” As he began to discover “the blues” in his private and personal life, their relationship grew closer.

It wasn’t until his uncle passed away that Scales began incorporating more of it into his music. “These days I’m finding more of my story in the blues,” he explains. “A lot has led me here—between politics, my identity, and of course: Legacy.” 

LISTEN: “O, HALLELUJAH” 

Throughout its 14 soulful tracks, Sinner-Songwriter, Scales explores, growth, mistakes, being black in America, searching for love, and finding your place in the world. He calls his sound “Dive Bar Soul,” blending indie rock storytelling with the passion of the blues. His single “O, Hallelujah” has broken 200K plays, he has been featured in Rolling Stone France, and is in regular rotation on Nashville’s Radio Station Lightning 100. Scales’ music has taken him all the way to the Middle East, as well as festivals across Europe and North America. He has opened for Fantastic Negrito, Anderson East, Guster, David Cook, Bethany Joy Lenz, Matt Hires, Billy Raffoul, Crystal Bowersox, Tyler Hilton, Jon McLaughlin, and Cory Brannan.

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DAVID FRANZ EXAMINES THE DELUSIONAL SIDE OF OPTIMISM ON THE THE DEEPLY PERSONAL SINGLE RELEASE “FOR MY OWN HEALTH”

DAVID FRANZ EXAMINES THE DELUSIONAL SIDE OF OPTIMISM ON THE 

 THE DEEPLY PERSONAL SINGLE RELEASE “FOR MY OWN HEALTH”

Photo Credit: David Heart

“FOR MY OWN HEALTH” || LISTEN

Southern California-based producer songwriter and label head  David Franz releases “For My Own Health.” The third single from his forthcoming album To The Unknown which is due out September 24th.  The song is a dark look at a toxic relationship and an examination of optimism which is usually viewed as a positive feeling but can discolor reality in a failing relationship and act more like a disease. “When I realized that my own mind was playing tricks on me, telling me to stick it out in a relationship that was unhealthy,” Franz told V13. “I wrote this song to allow myself permission to leave. This song is a resolute awakening... a self-inflicted slap to the face followed by a tight embrace of self and a resolved, confident, and decisive walk away from the past.”

The idea for the song came to Franz while on out a run, attempting to burn off some negative energy from a fight with his now ex-fiancée.  About halfway through the run, the lyric  "my optimism is a disease, my rose-colored glasses are making me bleed" came to mind and was on loop in Franzs’ mind for the duration of the run. Once he was back at home the lyrics just started to spill out of him. “ The song wrote itself,” says Franz.  “I was just the conduit to verbalize the emotion and meaning. My hope is that the song can help others that are stuck in a negative space to put some clear words to their feelings, and then empower them to be decisive about making a change. It certainly did those things for me.” 

A kinetic spirit and a questing nature have been the engine to his own professional growth and learning, making him that rare creature of left and right brain parity. Creatively, technologically, and temperamentally, his passion for music and teaching has helped numerous artists navigate the choppy waters of the rapidly changing music business. An early innovator, the young Franz wrote the first book about using Pro Tools music production software and designed the curriculum for Berklee’s first online music production course based on that book. He has since written other music production books published by Hal Leonard, online courses for Berkleemusic, lynda.com and LinkedIn Learning, and articles about music for many publications. After teaching at Berkleemusic for almost a decade, Franz was hired by lynda.com first as a course instructor and then as Content Manager for the Audio+Music subject area. After LinkedIn purchased lynda.com, Franz’s position grew into covering a wider range of topics including motion graphics, animation, illustration, and video, all the while learning new video skills and creating world-class online courses. From course author at the first online school to content manager at Linkedin Learning, he’s never had a job title that existed before it was made up for his new position. 

Having a voracious appetite for many different genres of music, Franz founded not one but two record labels. Underground Sun covers a wide-ranging catalog of genres but all have a foundation in soul music. R&B, rock, hip-hop, blues, folk, world, electronic and jazz all find a home on Underground Sun. Underground Sol, co-founded with DJ/producer/entrepreneur Justin Paul, is devoted solely to electronic music and the myriad genres within that broad label. 

Both labels embrace and cultivate diversity and inclusivity, knowing these are not only at the core of a thriving music industry but also imperative to connecting and empathizing with all of humanity. Both Underground Sun and Underground Sol have a strong legacy of launching musicians from under-represented demographics into solid music careers. As a musician David has performed with Underground Sun artist Iyeoka in over 20 countries throughout Europe,  Africa, and North America, including on the TED state.  Franz spent years honing his chops on stage as a playing shows with a variety of artists including  The Bleedin Bleedins and Midatlantic, throughout Los Angeles and all throughout the east coast. With the release of To The Unknown Franz is looking forward to playing live but this time at the front of the tage behind the mic. 

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MONIQUE DEBOSE RELEASES THE "YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN ONE" ALBUM AND ACCOMPANYING PERSONAL GROWTH COURSE

MONIQUE DEBOSE RELEASES THE  

YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN ONE ALBUM AND ACCOMPANYING PERSONAL GROWTH COURSE

Photo Credit: JQ Williams

““YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN ONE”” || LISTEN

Los Angeles transformational entertainer Monique DeBose continues to innovate through harnessing the power of music to inspire and empower with the release of her  You Are the Sovereign One album and accompanying  7-week transformational course, to arm women with the tools to  live a sovereign life. The seven lessons in the 7-week course incorporates music, movement, and intimate conversation—to transform participants from the inside out with each of the lessons being structured around and named after songs from the album. Monique will be hosting a transformational celebration of the release which will include a  performance and workshop preview for the program co-hosting by Monique’s husband and master coach Rich Livtin. The event has just under 400 RSVP’s thus far.  “I couldn’t be more excited for this celebration of great music and transformational experiences,” says DeBose. “‘You Are Sovereign One’ is the embodiment of everything I want to give back to the world. A celebration of the release through celebrating  you, the listener.” 

The album contains 16 tracks and is the second chapter of You Are the Sovereign. The first chapter, The Sovereign One,  a 7 track collection that was released in 2018 debuted at #2 on the iTunes Jazz charts just ahead of Tony Bennett and Diana Krall’s Love is Here to Stay album and just behind her idol Ella Fitzgerald’s  Ella and Louis album. Her relationship with Fitzgerald has reached full circle moment this year,  DeBose will be playing the role of Ella Fitzgerald in the upcoming podcast Behind the Icon which looks at the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe. “Ella Fitzgerald was the first artist who somehow through her voice inspired me to be a singer, “ says DeBose There is something that she ignited in me when I would hear the amazing dance in her voice all throughout her range and to what her skat and seem to have so much fun while she was performing,  She was a doorway and portal into my own voice.” 

Leading into the release  You Are the Sovereign One had already begun the journey of touching and transforming lives through the release of two singles. The first single,  “Brown Beauty”  was written as a love letter to all women of color, and received an incredible response from women from across the globe (see the movement HERE). As a mixed-race woman, DeBose has spent most of her life living in double consciousness and oscillating between two worlds (black and white).  The video  for the song features women who have contributed to the ‘Brown Beauty” movement on social media (See more HERE), through posting content that reflects their interpretation of Brown Beauty.  Bust Magazine ran a feature on the song and movement calling Monique a "creative looking to transcend the boundaries of what it means to create art and inspire others,”  along with the legendary feminist magazine Ms. Magazine who featured the "Brown Beauty" story as part of their Black Feminist In Public Series

The second single was the Gospel-inspired single “Human Condition,” which features speaker, author, and transformational leader Preston Smiles and was written to activate self-love and acceptance. The “Human Condition” is a free three-day course focused on self-acceptance and self-love.  “What Monique allowed herself to channel in this song is nothing short of genius and is exactly what the world needs right now,” says Smiles.  “We are being asked as artists, as teachers, as mothers, as fathers as students to step forward and raise the flag of love and remind  people of who and what we are and this song represents that to the nth degree and  I am blessed and grateful to be a part of it in any way that I could.”

 In addition to the new music,  DeBose is the Recording Academy's 2021 class and where she will be contributing to the decisions made for the 2022 Grammy Awards. Her podcast MORE with Monique has been inspiring conversation on tough subjects and has cultivated an incredible community of women who are all choosing “MORE” for themselves. Each episode features conversations with two women from completely different backgrounds covering a topic of “choosing more…..” faith, courage, purpose, sex, etc. Bonus content from each episode is then shared in the  Women Choosing MORE Facebook Group HERE where the conversation is continued with guests and community members.

RSVP to the You The Sovereign One Transformational Experience: HERE

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BRITISH SINGER/SONGWRITER NEWTON FAULKNER RETURNS WITH INTERFERENCE (OF LIGHT) ON OCTOBER 8th

BRITISH SINGER/SONGWRITER NEWTON FAULKNER RETURNS WITH

INTERFERENCE (OF LIGHT) ON OCTOBER 8th

Photo Credit: Stevie Kyle

“FOUR LEAF CLOVER” || LISTEN

British singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner will release his new album Interference (Of Light) on October 8, 2021 with distribution through BFD/The Orchard in North America. The album will be released via Battenberg Records on various vinyl, CD and digital formats.

Four years on from his last studio album, Newton Faulkner has been working throughout lockdown from his recording studio in East London, exploring a number of new and unexplored styles and musical ideas, using them as the building blocks for this album. Twisting these inside out, he has pushed himself further and further. “I’m not very precious any more,” he remarks. “The music is a bit chunkier, it’s definitely way heavier and much less acoustic than previously. I feel like the stuff I’ve written recently is simpler, but it’s tasteful… it works as songs. I can feel it.”

Interference (Of Light) is an album that has seen Newton push himself musically and vocally: “I want to boil things down to their strongest form,” Newton says. “It’s about the songs. However good you are at playing, if the voice isn’t up to scratch and the songs aren’t good enough, no one is going to listen to them. It’s grizzly, soulful, and a step further,” he says of his new material. “Vocally, I’ve learned a huge amount over the years. I was a guitarist and a writer who sang. That’s kind of where I came from. And now I feel like my voice has caught up with the stuff I was doing on guitar.”

Set to be released on October 8, and available to pre-order now, the new album Interference (Of Light) is Newton Faulkner at his most daring, and also his most familiar. Keeping to his trademark songwriting and storytelling, this album reflects his feelings on current times. “I don’t think things get better or worse. They just change,” he remarks. “I’ve kind of purposefully steered away from any of the cliques that have appeared around me. I’ve just remained this weird, solitary figure. I love it!”

The album will be released on vinyl, CD and digital formats, all featuring different track lists as Newton explains: “The way people listen to music has changed dramatically in the time I’ve been making and releasing music and, for me, each medium has a different purpose and requires a different approach. Interludes, a huge part of ‘Hand Built By Robots’, make no sense being streamed on an online playlist, but work amazingly on a CD and vinyl is different experience again. So, I’ve decided to package this album differently for each format; streaming sites will get a 17-track album, with no interludes clogging up your shuffles, the CD will be 17 tracks plus interludes for a smoother flow, and the vinyl will be 11 tracks specially curated, by me, to work on one disk with the best possible flow from one side to the other and the best possible sound.”

Since the release of his debut album Hand Built By Robots in 2007 (featuring the smash hit ‘Dream Catch Me’), Newton Faulkner has become one of the UK’s most successful singer-songwriters of this millennium. Later this year, he will be heading out on tour to play to live music-starved fans across the UK, starting with a few socially distanced gigs, many of which are already sold out. Plans for a North American tour are in the works.

INTERFERENCE (OF LIGHT) || OUT 10/8/21

PRE-ORDER

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ELEANOR BUCKLAND’S SECOND SINGLE “STATIC” PREMIERES ON UNDER THE RADAR TODAY! THE LULA WILES SINGER/GUITARIST MAKES SOLO DEBUT WITH YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW DUE OCTOBER 29th ON SOUNDLY MUSIC

ELEANOR BUCKLAND’S SECOND SINGLE “STATIC” PREMIERES ON

UNDER THE RADAR TODAY! 

THE LULA WILES SINGER/GUITARIST MAKES SOLO DEBUT WITH

YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW DUE OCTOBER 29th ON SOUNDLY MUSIC

Photo Credit: Laura Partain

“STATIC” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

 Eleanor Buckland continues to push outside musical boundaries on her second single “Static” available on 8/20.

Fighting against her own anxiety and inspired by the fearlessness she witnessed in others, Eleanor went to the studio with a unique goal in mind. “In the studio, we wanted this song to have reckless momentum as is often the case with anxiety,” Eleanor explains. “So, we let the electric guitar and Wurlitzer drive that intensity of sound.”

Under The Radar  enthused in their premiere, “Restless driving rhythms and smoky guitar licks make their way to the forefront on, “Static,” introducing an anxious and insistent side to Buckland’s music…celestial harmonies add a stark beauty to the track, all while Buckland finds herself searching for hope and meaning, but drowned out by the noise of anxiety.” 

Eleanor Buckland first made her mark in the Boston-based folk-rock trio Lula Wiles that has become an acoustic music scene favorite with their three critically hailed albums. During this time, however, Buckland was also working on another musical project – her own album. You Don’t Have To Know (due October 29 on Soundly Music) spotlights a different side of Buckland’s musical interests as it sets her deeply personal songs against inventive indie rock arrangements.  

Last month, she debuted with the single “Don’t Look Down” that premiered on BTR Today: “…a catchy indie number that somehow perfectly juxtaposes feelings of desperation and gloom with optimism and hopefulness. With energetic indie beats paired with Buckland’s soothing delicate vocals, ‘Don’t Look Down’ creates a balance between dark and light energies that makes you feel cleansed within.”

On You Don’t Have To Know, Buckland takes listeners on an emotional journey as her songs address love complicated and love lost, explore struggles with depression and insecurity, and grapple with feelings of uncertainty and helplessness. Or as Buckland succinctly describes the album: “It’s about me trying to figure out who I am and who I was at that time.”

ABOUT ELEANOR BUCKLAND

Born and raised in Maine, Buckland comes from a family full of musicians. Her grandmother, Betty Buckland, was prominent in the New England bluegrass scene, while her father, Andy Buckland, played electric guitar in Boston area bands. It’s not surprising then that someone who grew up playing bluegrass fiddle music as well as a healthy dose of Michelle Branch and Sheryl Crow would wind up with varied musical tastes – something Buckland clearly demonstrates on her solo debut.  

“DON’T LOOK DOWN” (OUT NOW) YOUTUBE || STREAM

“STATIC” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

Photo Credit: Laura Partain

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OUT TODAY: KAREN JONAS’ NEW EP SUMMER SONGS AND BOOK OF ORIGINAL POETRY GUMBALLS

OUT TODAY: 

KAREN JONAS’ NEW EP SUMMER SONGS   

AND  

BOOK OF ORIGINAL POETRY GUMBALLS 

With regular use of pedal steel, Jonas’ songs are perfect for honky-tonks where it’s not unusual for people who have just met to become dance partners. That being said, her delivery is so smooth and sweet, she could just as easily provide the vocals for a band in a dark jazz club. On top of that, Jonas writes touching songs that are vignettes of everyday life and everyday people. - PopMatters 

 Jonas sings with a warm vibrato that makes like a mix between Lana Del Rey and Cowboy Junkies, evolving into an unforeseen summer go-to - Glide Magazine  

A delightful feel good fix for any Summer - Maximum Volume 

Any listener of Karen Jonas’ music will recognize the trademarks of her fearless talent in this beautiful, gutting collection of poetry. Karen Jonas is already acknowledged as a master songwriter and storyteller, but in these unflinching, often wryly funny poems, the narratives of love, heartbreak, and the daily grind of being alive are unmisted by noise, audience, and stage. — Erika Carter, author of Lucky You,  NPR Best Book of 2017 and official Book of the Month Club selection  

This is what you get when a kickass woman writes poetry--you get dirty, wet, delicious, dark, relatable worlds full of wonder, light, rage, and revelation. - Susie Moloney, award-winning screenwriter and author of A Dry Spell 

LISTEN: SUMMER SONGS  

 Today, award-winning artist Karen Jonas has released Summer Songs, a new four-track EP, along with Gumballs, a book of original poetry. “Over the course of a raw week in January, I wrote frantically. I didn’t worry about what my kids or my mother or you would think, I just wrote. When I amassed over 60 poems, vignettes of hard scenes from my life, I realized I had written a book, covering everything from divorce to religion to dating to spiders,” Jonas recalls. Writing this vastly personal autobiographical collection of poems allowed her to find a more vulnerable place to embrace these gems from her old songwriting notebooks.  

“I began to hear flashes of these songs as I was writing my poetry collection, songs I started writing years ago. I reconnected with them and spent a lot of time reprocessing and editing,” she adds. “I was able to update them to my current songwriting sensibilities while maintaining the sweet vulnerability of the inspiration for these summer-themed tunes.” The result is Summer Songs, three heartfelt originals and a show-stopping  cover of Don Henley classic “The Boys of Summer.” 

“On her forthcoming EP, singer-songwriter Karen Jonas leans into the song's ability to take listeners back in time with her own version,” said The Boot in the premiere of “The Boys Of Summer.” “There's a bit more pedal steel in Jonas' cover than in the original, and particularly in the chorus, the artist uses her voice to tweak the familiar melody here and there to add something new to it.”  

WATCH: “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” 

"Somewhere along the way, I got tough because I had to," Jonas told The Boot. "Balancing my complexity as a human with my roles as a touring singer-songwriter and a mother of four has been amazing, but challenging and consuming. Things are easier when you’re tough: You can weather more storms and move farther faster. But, to find that place and still be vulnerable, raw and genuine — that’s the artist’s dream. So, I took it on,” she added. “I assessed the state of who I am and where I’ve been, and why, with as much clarity as I could. 

A two-time Wammie Award winner for Best Country Artist, Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest Winner, and Ameripolitan award nominee, Jonas is known for her stellar songwriting, sultry vocals, and compelling stage presence. 

Her long-time collaboration with dazzling guitarist Tim Bray, joined by bassist/vocalist Seth Morrissey and drummer Seth Brown, has produced five full-length records, beginning with 2014’s internationally-acclaimed Oklahoma Lottery. Her much-lauded 2020 LP The Southwest Sky and Other Dreams is a gutting masterpiece - proof of her ability to weave creative depth into everyday stories. 

Through swooping pedal steel and bluesy guitar, lush harmonies and beautifully-crafted lyricism, Jonas paints a vibrant sonic portrait with stories to which we can all relate—tales of love and loss, and of hope and reclamation. Jonas’ writing harkens back to her songcrafting heroes Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, with a sonic nod to modern greats like Gillian Welch and Jason Isbell. Her investment in artistic excellence continues to pay off with Summer Songs.  

Summer Songs is available for download at iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. Gumballs is available for pre-order at karenjonasmusic.com. 

TOUR DATES: 

Aug 20 - WTJU In-Studio - Charlottesville, VA 

Aug 21 - Strangeways Brewing - Fredericksburg, VA 

Aug 28 - Brambly Park - Richmond, VA 

Aug 29 - Pie Shop - Washington, DC 

KEEP UP WITH KAREN JONAS:

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NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE “CINEMATIC” (-GLIDE MAGAZINE) SINGLE “GHOST TOWNS” ON 8/20 “CHILLING YET ANGELIC” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE “CINEMATIC” (-GLIDE MAGAZINE)

SINGLE “GHOST TOWNS” ON 8/20 

“CHILLING YET ANGELIC” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER

Photo Credit: Caroline Voisine

“GHOST TOWNS” ||  SPOTIFY

 Nashville duo Haunted Like Human - Cody Clark (multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) and Dale Chapman (lead singer, lyricist) – release their new single “Ghost Towns” today. 

The second single from the forthcoming Tall Tales & Fables, considers what happens to a place that needs to be left behind.

“… the cinematic “Ghost Towns,” combines a Damien Rice-like heartfelt basket of musical nuances atop an atmospheric gleam.” – Glide Magazine

“[‘Ghost Towns’] resembles the wisdom a grey sparrow might sing you after it lands on a fence from a long flight north. It offers the song as wisdom as the creature catches its breath before moving on again. ‘How do I set you free when the lost don’t want to be found?’ it might whistle. ‘There’s nothing left here for you now.’” – American Songwriter

 Tall Tales & Fables available October 15, delves deeper into inspired songwriting, sparse arrangements, and, naturally, the frisson-inducing harmonies that marked their previous two releases. Despite the album’s title, these songs are honest, above all else. Real, tender, messy honesty.

“We put a ton of emphasis on storytelling in each of our songs. We tell our own stories, we tell other people’s stories, we tell stories that we’ve seen from touring,” says Cody Clark.

The first single “Stay,” released last month, is a “stirring acoustic number puts mental health at the forefront, as they ride ravaged waters with grace and ease, alongside a peaceful melody of guitar and strings complementing their haunting, yet serene harmonies.” -AudioFemme

ABOUT HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN:

Hoping to find collaborators who were serious about music, Clark drove from Oregon to Nashville in 2017. Within a couple days, he met Chapman at a coffee shop. She deduced that he was a lost tourist and struck up a conversation, leading to a cowriting session. Next thing they knew, Clark had relocated to Nashville and they were making their first album, Ghost Stories.  On the heels of that, they offered up their Folklore EP, featuring standout single “Feels Like Fire.” While that EP sought to channel the minimalist, intimate spirit of their live shows, Tall Tales & Fables is the next step in their maturation. Polished but not shiny, the album benefits from Mitch Dane’s production. Together with skilled string players, the album developed its own life while staying true to Clark and Chapman’s partnership, one built on literal and metaphorical voices.

Tall Tales & Fables will be self-released on October 15, 2021.

“STAY” OUT NOW || SPOTIFY || LISTEN

“GHOST TOWNS” ||  SPOTIFY || LISTEN

KEEP UP WITH HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || TWITTER || INSTAGRAM || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY

KAREN JONAS PREMIERES REIMAGINED DON HENLEY CLASSIC “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” VIA THE BOOT

KAREN JONAS PREMIERES REIMAGINED DON HENLEY CLASSIC “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” 

 VIA THE BOOT 

  NEW EP SUMMER SONGS   

AND  

ACCOMPANYING BOOK OF ORIGINAL POETRY GUMBALLS 

SET FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 20TH 

Any listener of Karen Jonas’ music will recognize the trademarks of her fearless talent in this beautiful, gutting collection of poetry. Karen Jonas is already acknowledged as a master songwriter and storyteller, but in these unflinching, often wryly funny poems, the narratives of love, heartbreak, and the daily grind of being alive are unmisted by noise, audience, and stage. — Erika Carter, author of Lucky You,  NPR Best Book of 2017 and official Book of the Month Club selection 

This is what you get when a kickass woman writes poetry--you get dirty, wet, delicious, dark, relatable worlds full of wonder, light, rage, and revelation. - Susie Moloney, award-winning screenwriter and author of A Dry Spell 

LISTEN // WATCH: “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” 

Today, award-winning artist Karen Jonas has released her take on Don Henley’s classic song “The Boys Of Summer.” The single appears on Summer Songs, a new four-track EP set for release on August 20th, along with Gumballs, a book of original poetry. “On her forthcoming EP, singer-songwriter Karen Jonas leans into the song's ability to take listeners back in time with her own version,” said The Boot in the premiere. “There's a bit more pedal steel in Jonas' cover than in the original, and particularly in the chorus, the artist uses her voice to tweak the familiar melody here and there to add something new to it.”  

“The Boys Of Summer” follows the release of “Summer’s Hard For Love,” which Glide Magazine said was, “A rainy day whirl of jazzy melodies and crafty songwriting,” adding, “Jonas sings with a warm vibrato that makes like a mix between Lana Del Rey and Cowboy Junkies, evolving into an unforeseen summer go-to song.” 

LISTEN: “SUMMER’S HARD FOR LOVE”  

"Somewhere along the way, I got tough because I had to," Jonas told The Boot. "Balancing my complexity as a human with my roles as a touring singer-songwriter and a mother of four has been amazing, but challenging and consuming. Things are easier when you’re tough: You can weather more storms and move farther faster. But, to find that place and still be vulnerable, raw and genuine — that’s the artist’s dream. So, I took it on,” she added. “I assessed the state of who I am and where I’ve been, and why, with as much clarity as I could. Over the course of a raw week in January, I wrote frantically. I didn’t worry about what my kids or my mother or you would think, I just wrote.” 

Jonas amassed over 60 poems, vignettes of hard scenes from her life, and realized she had written a book, covering everything from divorce to religion to dating to spiders; this vastly personal autobiographical collection of poems allowed her to find a more vulnerable place to embrace these gems from her old songwriting notebooks.  

“I began to hear flashes of these songs as I was writing my poetry collection, songs I started writing years ago. I reconnected with them and spent a lot of time reprocessing and editing,” she adds. “I was able to update them to my current songwriting sensibilities while maintaining the sweet vulnerability of the inspiration for these summer-themed tunes.” The result is Summer Songs, three heartfelt originals and a show-stopping cover of “The Boys of Summer.” 

Through swooping pedal steel and bluesy guitar, lush harmonies and beautifully-crafted lyricism, Jonas paints a vibrant sonic portrait with stories to which we can all relate—tales of love and loss, and of hope and reclamation. Jonas’ writing harkens back to her songcrafting heroes Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, with a sonic nod to modern greats like Gillian Welch and Jason Isbell. Her investment in artistic excellence continues to pay off with her upcoming release Summer Songs. 

TOUR DATES: 

Aug 20 - WTJU In-Studio - Charlottesville, VA 

Aug 21 - Strangeways Brewing - Fredericksburg, VA 

Aug 28 - Brambly Park - Richmond, VA 

Aug 29 - Pie Shop - Washington, DC 

SEAN ROWE RELEASES NEW SINGLE “LITTLE DEATH”

SEAN ROWE RELEASES NEW SINGLE 

“LITTLE DEATH”  

NEW LP  THE DARKNESS DRESSED IN COLORED LIGHTS 

OUT ON OCTOBER 8TH VIA FLUFF & GRAVY RECORDS 

Photo credit: Joe Navas

LISTEN // WATCH: “LITTLE DEATH”   

Today, internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Sean Rowe has released “Little Death,” the latest from his forthcoming LP The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights, due out on October 8th via Fluff & Gravy Records. “The dissolving of a relationship can be an internal kind of Mad Max, apocalyptic struggle with your brain who seems to be at odds with you. I do think it’s a universally interesting and scary time and worth writing about,” says Rowe, and adds that “Little Death” is about “that strange elation that comes at the end of a long journey with another soul. I originally wrote the song on guitar but while working out the parts in the studio, Ben Lester came up with that signature piano line which stood out to me like the piano in werewolves of London,” he adds. “Not that it sounds like that part but just in the way that you can’t imagine that song without Zevon’s piano line in it!”  

“Little Death” follows lead single “To Make It Real,” which, as Holler said, “looks at the aftermath of heartbreak, when the reality of a relationship's end sets in.” “Lyrically — this is for me — a kind of recurring theme that I find in many of my songs,” Rowe explained. “Which is to say that I’m alluding to the duality that I feel is in all of us. All the hidden parts and all the guts that spill out when we’re faced with tragedy, adversity, or a broken heart.”  

LISTEN: “TO MAKE IT REAL” 

The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights was forged in the fires of self-discovery and acceptance and is the result of work Rowe’s been doing to build a fitter, happier version of himself. He credits therapy and a guided ayahuasca retreat with helping him to reach this understanding. Over the course of an intense weekend, he had experiences that stripped away his anger and defenses and brought him to a place of intense beauty and peace--he realized we create the heaven and the hell that swirls in our heads, and we have to choose in which of those dimensions we want to reside. This album is ripe with both. 

Through its 11 gut-punching tracks, Rowe tackles everything from losing oneself in the despair of heartache to rising from the ashes—the paradox between what once was and what now is, and sometimes being lost in the in-between. His powerful baritone spans the gamut of emotions - and on this record, he makes it clear that at some point it’s hard not to feel them all at once. Every song cuts right to the quick. 

Rowe has also spent years in the woods exploring, foraging, and obsessively learning all that he could about the natural world around him. Through his web series, Can I Eat This?, he’s found a means of indulging two of his great passions: music and nature. In each of the episodes of Can I Eat This?, Sean goes on a foraging mission for all manner of wild foods and uses the harvest to prepare some tasty creation. To check out Can I Eat This? visit Sean's YouTube Channel   

The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights will be released on CD and double-vinyl, as well as available on all streaming services on October 8th.  Click HERE to pre-order. 

TOUR DATES: 

8/12: Syracuse, NY | The 443 Social Club 

9/22 - 9/25: Nashville, TN | AMERICANAFEST (Official Showcase) 

9/30: Portsmouth, NH | The Press Room 

10/1: Portland, ME | Sun Tiki Studios 

10/2: Cambridge, MA | Club Passim 

10.20: Vienna, VA | Jammin Java 

10/24: Norfolk, VA | North Shore Point House Concerts 

11/3 & 11/4: Brooklyn, NY | Union Pool 

11/5: Kennett Square, PA | Kennett Flash 

11/6: Rochester, NY | Abilene 

11/19: Northampton, MA | The Parlor Room 

11/20: Egremont, MA | Egremont Barn 

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? "BALANCE AN REVERENCE FOR MUSICAL TRADITION WITH AN IRREVERENT SENSE OF HUMOR" (-XPN) ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT TODAY

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? "BALANCE AN REVERENCE FOR MUSICAL TRADITION WITH AN IRREVERENT SENSE OF HUMOR" (-XPN) ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT TODAY  

"Deep subjects, brought into manageable perspective by merciless satire." - At The Barrier

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

“HARD FEELINGS” VIDEO || WATCH

HARD FEELINGS ALBUM ||  SPOTIFY OR PURCHASE

 Philadelphia-based duo Andrew Fullerton (vocals, guitar) and Matt Orlando (vocals, banjo) - behind the quirky, punchy nügrass band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? – find their full voice on the sophomore album Hard Feelings out today!

The album continues their subversive and often humorous approach to heavy subjects. “This record is about the difficult conversations we have with ourselves, our partners, and our friends and family,” says Fullerton. “And also how do we have these conversations with empathy.”

“It’s just the two of us when we tour, so Andrew and I have these very deep, existential conversations about our lives, love, nihilism, music, and all these different things,” adds Orlando. “The songs were born from those conversations”

Recently, the duo released the video for the title track “Hard Feelings” about a weary, time-tested relationship with accompanying video directed by Big Howl (Nicole Atkins “Brokedown Luck” & “Mind Eraser”, Netflix’s Worn Stories). For the video, the Big Howl art department built the Andrew and Matt dummies from a YouTube tutorial and most of the dolls were sourced from co-director Paul Triggiani’s mom’s personal doll collection.  

“The Big Howl guys really understand the bizarre tenderness I try to convey in my songwriting,” says Andrew Fullerton. “Usually I send them the song and they say ‘how weird do you want to get’ and I just say ‘I trust you.’ You can tell from the story that the woman and her dummies go back away and their relationship has it’s up and downs as well.”

The sophomore album Hard Feelings is out now.

BUZZ

“Indie-folk duo Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves balance a reverence for musical tradition with an irreverent sense of humor, and both of those worlds collide in their new music video for ‘Hard Feelings.’” – TheKey.xpn.org 

“There’s a definite energy to the band Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves, and the touch of banjo slowly building its way in to anchor [“Little In Love”] is a sweet touch. Enjoy the Americana sentiments of what’s sometimes known as the “6w” band. And really — who isn’t a little in love with everyone?” - Americana Highways 

“…indicative of that easy folk approach, with a light, country tone that’s easy on the ears… a beautiful and wistful fiddle. You may be pursuing what you love, but there are residual effects of that, some of which are not always so positive on others.” – V13 

“Listening to Hard Feelings is a little like experiencing a whirlwind.  The songs are all great fun, there’s a lot of energy and (deliberately) little subtlety…this is an album that you can hear over and over and find new quirks in the lyrics each time.” – At The Barrier

HARD FEELINGS ALBUM ||  SPOTIFY OR PURCHASE

“QUITTIN'” SINGLE  || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE

“LITTLE IN LOVE'” SINGLE || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE 

KEEP UP WITH WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOVES

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AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT UNVEIL LATEST SINGLE “WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND” VIA BLUEGRASS TODAY

AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT UNVEIL 

LATEST SINGLE “WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND”  

VIA BLUEGRASS TODAY 

NEW LP I’LL COME BACK OUT ON AUGUST 20TH 

Photo: Hannah Ballinger

LISTEN: “WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND”   

Today, award-winning Bay Area-based roots powerhouse AJ Lee and Blue Summit (“AJLBS”) released “When You Change Your Mind,” the new single from their forthcoming LP I’ll Come Back, due out August 20th. Of the band, Bluegrass Today said that “it is hard to argue with their success. Lee is part of the same class of [Youth In Bluegrass] artists that produced Molly Tuttle. In fact, AJ was a member of Molly’s family band for many years, performing as The Tuttles with AJ Lee when they were teens. Now heading up her own group, Lee is out front on lead vocals and mandolin, supported by Molly’s younger brother, Sullivan Tuttle, and Jesse Fichman on guitar, Jan Purat on fiddle, and Chad Bowen on bass,” they added. “Like many young performers, when Lee started her group in 2015 they began to experiment and push against the boundaries of what they had grown up playing, but in the end the grass calls them home.” 

Lee said the song is about drinking and thinking about “how you’ll never be deserving of someone who loves you because you’ll only hurt them in the end. You’ve also got your own issues and it’s too much trouble to explain yourself to someone else.” While AJLBS enjoys stretching their creative muscles, Lee reveals that they always come back to their favorite genre—bluegrass.  

“When You Change Your Mind” follows the release of “Lemons and Tangerines,” and “Magdalene,” of which Country Queer noted, “This band is good in the bluegrass way…they use their skill not to show off, but to build songs that are sturdy as houses, with plenty of room for guests, and ready for any weather.”  

LISTEN: “LEMONS AND TANGERINES”  

LISTEN: “MAGDALENE” 

Unlike their first record, which featured experimentation with session musicians and electric instruments, I’ll Come Back is a pure reflection of the live sound of the group, hearkening back to their acoustic roots. Each band member performs at their peak, and the variety of songs on the record caters to their broad fanbase. Certain tracks (“Put Your Head Down” and “Faithful”) fall more in the classic bluegrass realm of songwriting, while others (“Lemons and Tangerines” and “I’ll Come Back”) fall into that hard-to-define realm of acoustic Americana that blends mesmerizing lyricism and acoustic mastery.  

Although falling loosely under the bluegrass label, AJLBS generally plays sans banjo, using their configuration effectively to create unique space and texture in the arrangements not as commonly found in the music of their peers. Drawing from influences such as country, soul, swing, rock, and jam music, the band uses the lens of bluegrass as a vessel through which to express and explore the thread that binds and unifies all great music.  

TOUR DATES  

AUG 7 - The Independent @ 8:00pm - San Francisco, CA [ALBUM RELEASE SHOW]* 

AUG 13 - Caffe Lena @ 8:00pm - Saratoga Springs, NY 

AUG 14 - Podunk Bluegrass Festival 2021 @ 12:20pm - Goshen, CT 

AUG 15 - Hardeman Orchards @ 7:30pm - Red Hook, NY 

AUG 16 - Truro Vineyards @ 8:00pm - North Truro, MA 

AUG 18 - Watermelon Wednesdays @ 3:00pm - Williamsburg, MA 

AUG 18 Watermelon Wednesdays @ 7:30pm - Williamsburg, MA *SOLD OUT* 

AUG 19 - Music Hall @ 6:00pm - Portsmouth, NH 

AUG 19 - Music Hall @ 8:00pm - Portsmouth, NH 

AUG 20 - Mauch Chunk Opera House @ 8:00pm - Jim Thorpe, PA  

AUG 21 - Della Mae's Fam Fest @ 2:00pm - Round Hill, VA 

AUG 22 - Stages Music Arts @ 7:00pm - Cockeysville, MD 

AUG 26 - Casa Flamenca, Inc. @ 7:30pm - Albuquerque, NM 

AUG 27 - Wildwood Sounds @ 7:00pm - Del Norte, CO 

AUG 28 - Taos Center for the Arts @ 7:30pm - Taos, NM 

AUG 29 - Number Thirty Eight @ 8:00pm - Denver, CO 

AUG 30 - MainStage Brewing Company @ 6:00pm - Lyons, CO 

AUG 31 - Sherbino Theater @ 7:00pm - Ridgway, CO 

SEP 1 - Dolores River Brewery @ 7:00pm - Dolores, CO 

SEP 3 -  Four Corners Folk Festival 2021 @ 7:00pm - Pagosa Springs, CO 

SEP 10 - Sierra Meadows @ 7:30pm - Ahwahnee, CA 

SEP 11 - Black Oak Concert Series @ 7:00pm - Tuolumne, CA 

SEP 18 - Whale Rock Music Festival @ 7:00pm - Templeton, CA 

SEP 19  - Lodi Grape Festival Grounds @ 6:00pm - Lodi, CA 

SEP 24 - FreshGrass Festival 2021 @ 11:00am - North Adams, MA 

SEP 22-25 - AMERICANAFEST -  Nashville, TN 

OCT 1 - Sisters Folk Festival 2021 @ 12:00pm - Sisters, OR 

OCT 8 - McCabe’s Guitar Shop @ 8:00pm - Santa Monica, CA 

OCT 9 - Paramount Ranch @ 3:00pm - Agoura Hills, CA 

OCT 30 - Felton Music Hall @ 8:30pm - Felton, CA 

NOV 20 - Hopmonk Tavern @ 8:00pm - Novato, CA^ 

* w/ The Sam Chase Trio & The Coffis Brothers 

^w/ The Coffis Brothers 

CONNECT WITH AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT:   

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY    

BOSTON INDIE ROCKER THE COLLECT POND RELEASES "GRUNGE-Y... SHIMMERING"(-BTR TODAY) NEW SINGLE “GO ALONG” ON 8/6

 BOSTON INDIE ROCKER THE COLLECT POND RELEASES

"GRUNGE-Y... SHIMMERING"(-BTR TODAY) NEW SINGLE “GO ALONG” ON 8/6

“The Collect Pond reveals chapters of Danny Moffat’s life via ominous reflecting pools… right when the water seems eerily stagnant, a wave of relief arrives to wash away the sticky feeling of malaise…” - Vanyaland

Photo Credit: Mike Mororissey

“GO ALONG” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

The Collect Pond is the moniker for Boston-based singer-songwriter and audio engineer Danny Moffat. Today, The Collect Pond premieres the second single "Go Along" from their forthcoming third album Long Range on BTR Today.

“Combing his emotional singer-songwriter style with more grunge-y inspirations is quickly becoming Moffat’s M.O.…vocals express intense emotion with each note, all while surrounded by shimmering strums and picks of the guitar.” - BTR Today 

"Go Along" continues the acoustic fuzz-pop fare from last year’s release In the Garden, but ups the ante with electronic production and bigger drums. “I came up with the guitar riff one night and the whole song just kind of revealed itself to me very quickly,” explains Moffat. “It has a distinct 90s feel that turned out to be a poppier version of My Bloody Valentine, or maybe my own version of the Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis.”

It follows “Burrow,” the first album single, with its cascade of guitar textures, twinkling keys, and arena-ready drums with a ghostly voice building throughout, exorcising the fear felt in 2020 into dark atmospheric dream-pop. The cover art for "Burrow" is by fellow musician/artist Kevin Alvir (aka Kevin Hairs).

“Despite its downtrodden cadence, the new track turns the tide on melancholy… the steady shoegaze of ‘Burrow’ comes emboldened by a sense of authority—both over your own headspace, and your country’s future.” - Vanyaland

The Collect Pond is a geographical location in New York, NY, chosen by Moffat for his own music since the imagery of an oasis in the city seemed fitting, as recording and self-expression offered a similar kind of respite, a way to cope with the tenseness that permeates New York life. It also creates of coexisting mix of species in one ecosystem, or musically speaking, a myriad of influences and styles under one name. 

On the new album, Long Range (out 9/24), Moffat mixes folk elements from past The Collect Pond output, while adding harder tinged rock elements that raise the stakes sonically. Long Range offers more guitars, more electronic instruments, and more live drums. The result is an amped up sound that takes the listener on a weird and wonderful journey into Moffat’s pandemic escapist headspace.

ABOUT DANNY MOFFAT

Danny Moffat is a recording engineer who began recording under the moniker The Collect Pond while in New York City. There, he assisted on albums for The Happy Fits and Cold Fronts with producer Ayad Aladhamy (Passion Pit), was a session guitarist for BMJ Studios where he laid tracks on “Diamonds” by Que Believe, and worked as a receptionist at Electric Lady Studios.

The first release, The Collect Pond, was a sparse affair, solely acoustic guitars and voice. The first record featured the single “I Never Knew,” which is on the soundtrack to the award-winning short film “Hey Mama” starring Lindsey Broad (The Office, Silicon Valley).

 On the follow up, Moffat upped the production value for a rockier sound on In the Garden, which includes the indie-folk single “Traveling,” that found an audience through playlists and received glowing reviews from the music blogosphere. 

“BURROW” OUT NOW  YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY

“GO ALONG” OUT 8/6  

LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

LONG RANGE COMING 9/24/21

KEEP UP WITH THE COLLECT POND

FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM  || TWITTER || SPOTIFY || BANDCAMP

ROSS COOPER RELEASES CHASING OLD HIGHS DELUXE EDITION ON OCTOBER 1, 2021 FEATURING TWO NEW SONGS

ROSS COOPER RELEASES CHASING OLD HIGHS DELUXE EDITION

ON OCTOBER 1, 2021 FEATURING TWO NEW SONGS

 U.S. TOUR DATES CONFIRMED FOR SUMMER/FALL

“CHASING OLD HIGHS” ACOUSTIC VIDEO  WATCH || STREAM

Nashville-based, Texas-raised Americana artist Ross Cooper will release a deluxe edition of his album Chasing Old Highs on October 1, 2021. The album includes two new songs “Cowboy Things” and the single “Indian Summer,” due August 27, 2021. He will celebrate both releases on the road this summer/fall with tour dates throughout the U.S.

“Cowboy Things” was written by Phillip Lammonds and marks the first time Cooper has cut a song he’s not penned. “This song blew me away the first time I heard it,” he recalls. “It’s been a really long time since a song has stopped me in my tracks like this one did.”

 The song tells the story of a cowboy pulling on his boots for the last time. “The language and vocabulary in the song are perfect. The finger picking. The melody. Everything. It’s a song that I wish I would’ve written and can’t believe hasn’t been cut. I’m so proud to get to play this one, and I’m thankful Phillip wrote it.”

 The new single “Indian Summer,” a co-write with Gable Bradley, is about losing a love that you knew you couldn’t keep in the first place.  Although new to the album, it was written a couple years ago. “It’s one of those songs that’s always stayed in the back of my head. I’ve caught myself singing it at random and knew it was time to bring it to life,” says Cooper.

Chasing Old Highs was originally released in February 2021. Upon release, the title track was featured on the Spotify Emerging Americana playlist and Ross was a featured DJ on Gimme Country. He has received praise for his songwriting including many of the album singles:

“Cooper’s voice is defiant and haunting as he praises the resilience of his neighbors, who never met a devil they couldn’t tame. ‘It feels like home in a hell,’ the former bronc rider sings of his gritty stomping grounds, ‘but we’re still here, south of the angels.’”

– Rolling Stone Country Music Pick for “South of the Angels”

 “Ross Cooper is putting his faith in the universe and trying to put his worries out of his mind on his new song ‘Freewheelin’ Feelin’”. – The Boot

 “…with a dose of promise and positivity…[“Hello Sunshine”] inspired by the feeling of waking up on a good day…” – American Songwriter

 “…from the perspective of a rodeo champion, one who can’t keep up with the physical demands of the sport. He recorded a special acoustic version with his dog Jack sitting by his side – well, at least through the first verse. Pups buck to their own time, too.”

 – Holler Country “Artist of the Week” 

ABOUT ROSS COOPER: Ross Cooper grew up surrounded by the melancholy of Lubbock, Texas, floating between his love of horses and song. Watching and listening, he developed an alternative western songwriting style rooted in the craft of the great Lone Star writers Robert Earl Keen and Townes Van Zandt, tempered by a Springsteen-style spirit of the lost road – and anchored by a musical soundtrack sparkling like the big, bright stars at night. Never has that sound been more apparent than on his album Chasing Old Highs.

U.S. TOUR DATES

AUG 13 / FORT WORTH, TX @ Live at Billy Bob’s

AUG 14 / POST, TX @ Post Stampede Rodeo
AUG 27 / NEW BRAUNFELS, TX @ Gruene Hall

AUG 28 / LUBBOCK, TX @ Blue Light Lubbock
NOV 5 / FORT COLLINS, CO @ Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon

NOV 6 / KEARNEY, NE @ Joe’s Honky Tonk

NOV 11 / GREAT FALLS, MT @ The Newberry

NOV 12 / MILLS, WY @ Beacon Club

CHASING OLD HIGHS DELXUE EDITION

RELEASE DATE:  OCTOBER 1, 2021

SINGLE “INDIAN SUMMER”

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 27, 2021

 KEEP UP WITH ROSS COOPER

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || SPOTIFY

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE FIRST SINGLE “STAY” ON 7/23 ALBUM TALL TALES & FABLES COMING OCTOBER 15, 2021

NASHVILLE DUO HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN RELEASE FIRST SINGLE “STAY” ON 7/23 

ALBUM TALL TALES & FABLES COMING OCTOBER 15, 2021

Photo Credit: Caroline Voisine

“STAY” LISTEN

NASHVILLE, TENN. - On their new record Tall Tales & Fables (out October 15), Nashville duo Haunted Like Human - Cody Clark (multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) and Dale Chapman (lead singer, lyricist) - delve deeper into inspired songwriting, sparse arrangements, and, naturally, the frisson-inducing harmonies that marked their previous two releases. Despite the album’s title, these songs are honest, above all else. Real, tender, messy honesty.

Today, they premiere the first single “Stay,” that deploys vocal counterpoint to heighten the friction at the heart of the song.

“The stirring acoustic number puts mental health at the forefront, as they ride ravaged waters with grace and ease, alongside a peaceful melody of guitar and strings complementing their haunting, yet serene harmonies.” -AudioFemme

“These are some of my favorite harmonies that we’ve written,” says Chapman. The song deals with a relationship fractured by mental illness, and the harmonies tell both sides of the story. “It’s about looking your demons in the eye, laying all your cards on the table, and reckoning with the damage that’s been done. In the bridge, it’s all stripped down to two people pleading for the other to not give up on them, which I think is so uncomfortably honest and powerful,” Chapman says. Clark and Chapman sing against each other, an iteration of the tension created by the rushed murmur of Chapman’s delivery and refined strings.

“We put a ton of emphasis on storytelling in each of our songs. We tell our own stories, we tell other people’s stories, we tell stories that we’ve seen from touring,” says Cody Clark.  

Limned with nostalgia, soaked in Southern gothic lore, the duo meticulously assembles songs to preserve the spirit of the stories they tell.

With a background in poetry and prose, Dale Chapman’s granular focus on language is simpatico with Clark’s background in classical guitar.

ABOUT HAUNTED LIKE HUMAN:

Hoping to find collaborators who were serious about music, Clark drove from Oregon to Nashville in 2017. Within a couple days, he met Chapman at a coffee shop. She deduced that he was a lost tourist and struck up a conversation, leading to a cowriting session. Next thing they knew, Clark had relocated to Nashville and they were making their first album, Ghost Stories.  On the heels of that, they offered up their Folklore EP, featuring standout single “Feels Like Fire.” While that EP sought to channel the minimalist, intimate spirit of their live shows, Tall Tales & Fables is the next step in their maturation. Polished but not shiny, the album benefits from Mitch Dane’s production. Together with skilled string players, the album developed its own life while staying true to Clark and Chapman’s partnership, one built on literal and metaphorical voices.

 Tall Tales & Fables will be self-released on October 15, 2021.

“STAY” AVAILABLE 7/23

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ELEANOR BUCKLAND OF LULA WILES MAKES SOLO DEBUT SINGLE “DON’T LOOK DOWN” OUT 7/23

ELEANOR BUCKLAND OF LULA WILES MAKES SOLO DEBUT SINGLE “DON’T LOOK DOWN” OUT 7/23 

DEBUT ALBUM YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW DUE OCTOBER 29th ON SOUNDLY MUSIC

Photo Credit: Laura Partain

“DON’T LOOK DOWN” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE

BOSTON, MA. - Eleanor Buckland has been one-third of Lula Wiles, the Boston-based folk-rock trio that has become an acoustic music scene favorite with their three critically hailed albums. For much of this time, however, Buckland was also working on another musical project – her own album. You Don’t Have To Know (due October 29 on Soundly Music) spotlights a different side of Buckland’s musical interests as it sets her deeply personal songs against inventive indie rock arrangements.

Today, she premieres the first single “Don’t Look Down” on BTR Today.

“…a catchy indie number that somehow perfectly juxtaposes feelings of desperation and gloom with optimism and hopefulness. With energetic indie beats paired with Buckland’s soothing delicate vocals, ‘Don’t Look Down’ creates a balance between dark and light energies that makes you feel cleansed within.” – BTR Today

“Don’t Look Down” was written on Mayne Island in British Columbia while on a New Year’s trip. “On the morning of January 1st, I ran into the cold waters of Campbell Bay, plunging down to submerge myself, metaphorically cleansing myself of the previous year. It felt like an awakening, and a hopeful moment of freedom,” explains Eleanor. “This is the song that followed that plunge. It was the first track we recorded in the studio and we built the rest of the album upon this musical foundation. I think of “Don’t Look Down” as both a question and the thesis statement for the record.”

A step away from the traditional folk of her aforementioned group, Eleanor takes a deep dive into the indie rock/pop world. “As I wrote the songs that make up You Don’t Have To Know, I didn’t know what they would become and I didn’t realize I was creating my debut record,” recalls Eleanor. “The process was total freedom; I allowed myself to be creative and exploratory. Having been in bands for my entire musical life, I was discovering my singular voice as an artist in a way I never had before and it was thrilling.” 

Although she thought about recording the tunes, the idea arose from a suggestion by Adam Iredale-Gray, a friend of Buckland’s (and her Lula Wiles bandmates Mali Obomsawin and Isa Burke) at Berklee College of Music and producer of the trio’s self-titled first album. While recording that album, Buckland and Iredale-Gray noticed, as she explains it, “a magical spark of synchronicity in our creative processes.”

Iredale-Gray also assembled a stellar group of players to back Buckland at the three separate Toronto recording sessions that took place in 2017-18. Featuring keyboardist Màiri Chaimbeul, guitarist Sam Gleason and a Toronto-based rhythm section (drummer Justin Ruppel and bassist Charles James), this supporting quartet brought a cohesiveness to the album’s sound. In particular, Chaimbeul delivered major contributions, with her interplay with Iredale-Gray’s guitar work on “Static” and “How Fast, How Far” being notable examples. 

On You Don’t Have To Know, Buckland takes listeners on an emotional journey as her songs address love complicated and love lost, explore struggles with depression and insecurity, and grapple with feelings of uncertainty and helplessness. Or as Buckland succinctly describes the album: “It’s about me trying to figure out who I am and who I was at that time.”

ABOUT ELEANOR BUCKLAND

Born and raised in Maine, Buckland comes from a family full of musicians. Her grandmother, Betty Buckland, was prominent in the New England bluegrass scene, while her father, Andy Buckland, played electric guitar in Boston area bands. It’s not surprising then that someone who grew up playing bluegrass fiddle music as well as a healthy dose of Michelle Branch and Sheryl Crow would wind up with varied musical tastes – something Buckland clearly demonstrates on her solo debut.

“DON’T LOOK DOWN” OUT 7/23

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SEAN ROWE UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “TO MAKE IT REAL” VIA HOLLER.

 SEAN ROWE UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “TO MAKE IT REAL” 

VIA HOLLER. 

NEW LP  THE DARKNESS DRESSED IN COLORED LIGHTS 

OUT ON OCTOBER 8TH VIA FLUFF & GRAVY RECORDS 

Photo credit: Joe Navas

LISTEN: “TO MAKE IT REAL”   

Today, with the release of lead single “To Make It Real,” internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Sean Rowe announces his forthcoming LP The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights, set for release on October 8th via Fluff & Gravy Records. “'To Make It Real' looks at the aftermath of heartbreak, when the reality of a relationship's end sets in,” said Holler. in the premiere. 

“The song begins with a more traditional folk-rock sound. ‘All this sky/ All this music floating by/ One day it will be the last time/ You won't get it again,’ Rowe sings on the second verse before 'To Make It Real' shifts its soundscape and sets off into more vibrant alt-rock.” 

“Sonically, I was very much influenced by Radiohead’s In Rainbows with the feel of this track and the direction of the instrumentation,” Rowe explains. “Lyrically — this is for me — a kind of recurring theme that I find in many of my songs. Which is to say that I’m alluding to the duality that I feel is in all of us. All the hidden parts and all the guts that spill out when we’re faced with tragedy, adversity, or a broken heart.” 

~ 

Rowe, an artist and nomad at heart, has made himself into the perfect repository for spun yarns of every variety — hysterical, terrifying, heartbreaking, mystifying, and ridiculous — and on this record, he makes it clear that at some point it’s hard not to feel them all at once.  

While “To Make It Real” was forged from the despair that comes from losing yourself to heartache, album track “Little Death” recognizes that both in spite of and because of such events, it’s possible to find yourself again. Here, Rowe brushes off the dirt and looks ahead to the freedom of only being accountable to oneself.  

“The heaven and hell that swirls around in our head — to a large extent, we make both,” Rowe says. “So, in realizing that, you begin to realize that you have the ability to decide which one you’re gonna make.” He credits therapy and a guided ayahuasca retreat with helping him to reach this understanding.      

The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights was produced by Rowe’s friend and longtime collaborator Troy Pohl, whom he has known since he was in his early twenties while Pohl was still a teen. The two grew into their professionalism together and here, they make the most of their combined ambition and experience.   

The studio Hive in Eau Claire, Wisconsin was chosen so that they could work with the Grammy-winning engineer, Brian Joseph (Bon Iver) and for its proximity to a group of musicians that Sean came to admire while listening to Anna Tivel’s remarkable album, The Question, in his manager’s basement studio. That group includes drummer/percussionist, and producer Shane Leonard, along with Jeremy Boetcher on bass, and Ben Lester on keys and pedal steel. Courtney Hartman was flown from Colorado to provide background vocals and guitar. Chris Carey provided additional bass, while John DeHaven, Jeff Nania, and Joel Yannuzzi made up the album’s brass section.   

The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights will be released on CD and double-vinyl, as well as available on all streaming services on October 8th.  Click HERE to pre-order. 

TRACKLIST  

WHAT ARE WE NOW 

TO MAKE IT REAL 

LITTLE DEATH 

I WON’T RUN 

HONEY IN THE MORNING 

MARRIED TO THE LORD 

GABRIEL 

SQUID TATTOO 

TORNADO HEAD 

RABBIT HOLE 

TOAST 

CONNECT WITH SEAN ROWE:   

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NASHVILLE ARTIST BETTY REED’S LATEST SINGLE “MISUNDERSTOOD” OUT NOW

NASHVILLE ARTIST BETTY REED’S LATEST SINGLE

“MISUNDERSTOOD” OUT NOW  

 MISTAKES MADE, LESSONS LEARNED EP OUT SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Photo Credit: Taylor Napier

Nashville artist Betty Reed’s message is loud and clear on her new single “Misunderstood” out Friday, July 16th. It’s the second single from her forthcoming EP Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned out on 9/3.

“The polished country-pop tune is meaningful in so many ways, a bold statement about an important issue that for too long has been swept under the rug.” – V13

“The idea of this song came to me after reading an article about the origins of the MeToo Movement,” explains Reed. “In many of cases, there was a lot of victim shaming and blaming. Many times the aggressor would say they simply misunderstood or misread the situation.” 

She continues, “I deliberately chose not to use gender pronouns in this song. EVERYONE (he, she, them) has experienced harassment in some form or another. This song is for all those people who need to hear that ‘no’ means ‘no.’” 

Drawing on personal experiences, Betty Reed relates stories of everyday life through her music. Struggles. Triumphs. Journeys. Her expressive vocals and clever lyrics resonate throughout her debut EP Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned, produced by Bill McDermott.

It’s an eclectic collection of songs that showcase Reed’s ability to write and perform across a musical spectrum. The first single “Karma” is about that moment you are free from an abusive relationship while the other person finally gets their comeuppance.

“Reed’s liberating version of payback is transformed into a modest pop number where instead of wishing ill upon her former partner, she finds freedom in personal happiness and self-love.”

– AudioFemme

 While other songs are about her experiences with depression — the ways in which she finds her way out of the dark and into the light. You can hear this theme in “Let It Out” and “Happy.”  

“Even though the subject matter of most of songs is serious, I mask it with an upbeat vibe—it’s this veneer of cheeriness that you feel you have to project in order to feel normal.”

Mistakes Made, Lessons Learned will be released on September 3, 2021.

 “KARMA” (OUT NOW)  SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

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NEW ZEALAND INDIE POP CHANTEUSE LISA CRAWLEY RELEASES “LOOKING FOR LOVE” ON 7/16

NEW ZEALAND INDIE POP CHANTEUSE LISA CRAWLEY

RELEASES “LOOKING FOR LOVE” ON 7/16

“… from the opening seconds of reverberating bassline, Crawley hooks you.” – AudioFemme

Photo Credit: Karen Anne Patti

“LOOKING FOR LOVE” || VIDEO

New Zealand-born, indie-pop chanteuse Lisa Crawley moved to Los Angeles in early 2020, after career forays in London and Melbourne. Over the past year, Lisa harnessed her insatiable creative drive to write “Show You What Love Is”, “Tragedy Boy”, “Clear History” and “See Me Soon”’ all produced with Grammy-nominated Rob Kleiner. Her third single, “Looking For Love,” from the forthcoming EP Looking For Love (In A Major), will be released on July 16th and premieres today on Audiofemme.  

“’Looking For Love’ explores the awkward – and frankly, sad and true – reality that many of us are not content with the one we’re with, imagining instead a more ideal partner… from the opening seconds of reverberating bassline, Crawley hooks you. The tropical vibe is all sunshine, cocktails and romance novels by the hotel pool…There’s something of the playful, poppy, ultra-feminine Nina Elsabet Persson [Cardigan’s] in Crawley’s delivery.” - Audiofemme 

The song was co-written with Grammy-nominated Rob Kleiner and Kevin Gibson. “We came up with this concept for a song based on someone who claimed to be ‘looking for love’ but when coming close to finding it, would find a problem or change their mind,” recalls Lisa. In the lyric video, the metaphor of love/dating being like fast food is visually brought to life by retro drive-in footage.

 The single follows “The Right Way” also co-written and produced with Kleiner. Lisa and Rob bonded over Jon Brion, The Dresden and The Office (UK). These are just some of the iconic cultural influences that forged the creative process behind the song. 

“That moment when you think of everything you should’ve said after it’s all said & done perfectly captured in a catchy melody…an anthem for all of humanity”

-BTR Today

“…an impressive peek into Crawley’s style. With a free-flowing melody dancing above a laid-back, soulful groove, the single hits a sweet spot, production-wise. And between the sheer vibes of the tune and Crawley’s transportive lyricism, the finished product is a truly communicative expression, employing rhythm, harmony and verse to depict a complex feeling.” – American Songwriter

Lisa is a four-time APRA Silver Scroll Award nominee, and was twice selected for the prestigious Banff Centre songwriter residency (Canada), where many of her notable songs were written.

A natural collaborator, Lisa has worked with luminary antipodean songwriters Tim Finn, Greg Johnson and Hugo Race, and created her show “Elizabeth” with Bullet Heart Club (Daffodils). Lisa has performed her own song arrangements with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and opened for Suzanne Vega, John Mayer, Jools Holland, Paul Weller and Simply Red. More recently, Lisa donned her acting hat to star as ‘GIRL’ in the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Once’.

Lisa’s songs also graced the airwaves of US TV shows “Nancy Drew”, “Good Trouble”, “Stumptown”, and “Proven Innocent”.

Her upcoming EP ‘Looking For Love (In A Major)’ will be released on July 23, 2021.

LOOKING FOR LOVE (IN A MAJOR) EP

TO BE RELASED 7/23/21

OUT NOW

“THE RIGHT WAY” || STREAM

“THE RIGHT WAY” || VIDEO

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