OUT TODAY: ALISA AMADOR’S DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES

OUT TODAY:

ALISA AMADOR’S DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES

“Alisa Amador is a pitch-perfect rendition of my wildest dreams” - NPR

“These are Alisa Amador’s fight songs” - The Boston Globe

“Alisa Amador sings with the ease of someone who has been performing for the entirety of her life” - American Songwriter 

"...her latest effort is a document of the breadth of human experience, examining the narratives that encompass us amidst powerful indie folk arrangements” - Under The Radar

"Alisa Amador’s Narratives does what an EP is meant to do. It gives a taste of Amador’s sweet vocals and melodies, leaving the listener wanting more.” - PopMatters

"Not only can you sense her own musical drive and talent, you can almost feel how she puts her soul into her multi-genre art…Alisa Amador is a prime example of the amazing music Boston churns out” - WERS

“…knocks together the worlds of Lake Street Dive and Fiona Apple into a tell-it like it is a morning anthem. With skatty jazz bravado and an engaging vocal presentation, Amador is a chill addition to the ’70s influenced singer-songwriter sect”- Glide Magazine

"Her songcraft is deeply personal, examining her intersecting identities, but there’s something universally relevant about the way she approaches these themes, her warm and wise voice skipping from genre to genre like stones across a glassy lake.” - Audiofemme

“…a breath of fresh air” - Sound Of Boston

“Amador’s crystalline vocal delivery set against soul-soothing grooves and playful lyrics will make your heart skip a beat.” - East Of 8th

LISTEN: NARRATIVES 

Today, Boston-based artist Alisa Amador has released Narratives, her critically-acclaimed debut mini-album. This six-song snapshot in time is a deep look at a person stumbling through life in two languages — English and Spanish — and in many states of mind about it all. 

Album opener “Timing,” a familiar tale of romantic uncertainty, accompanied by an irresistible horn section, was featured on Spotify’s "Fresh Finds,” "Fresh Finds: Indie,” and "Stay in Bed" playlists, as well as Apple Music’s "Now That's What I Call Today's Top Hits.” “Slow Down,” a Queen-tinged self-care anthem, was written a healing exercise meant to give a name to the chaos of navigating strained work relationships and an endless to-do list, while Beatles-esque standout “Burnt And Broken,” highlighted at The Bluegrass Situation, calls out rape culture and toxic masculinity. 

Intentionally sparse in its arrangement, “Burnt and Broken” examines myriad systems of oppression. “Violence stems from fear, and fear grows from a lack of understanding,” Amador says. “An absence of a conversation around these violences causes such pain.” 

“Alone,” a three-and-a-half-minute dissertation on the importance of committing to self-love with abandon, is followed by “Nada Que Ver,” a love song entirely in Spanish, which she says is “the language closest to my heart, and the language of some of my most vulnerable writing. This song is me bargaining with love. Stating clearly what I want and naming my qualms.”  Album closer “Together,” is a song about systemic violence which Under The Radar called “a heartwarming tribute to friendship and camaraderie. Amador begins stark and solitary, accompanied only by the steady chime of her guitar as she acknowledges the pain that all too often defines life’s experiences.

WATCH: “TIMING” 

WATCH: “SLOW DOWN”

WATCH: “NADA QUE VER”

“The word ‘narratives’ encompasses not only the existing cultural messages that hurt people individually and collectively,” Amador says, “but also the revolutionary power of writing ourselves new narratives; rejecting a culture of fear; and catalyzing a culture of honesty, bravery, and self-love in the process.” 

When listening to Amador’s music, her time spent immersed in Latin folk and jazz is undoubtedly present in her own songs, written in both English and Spanish. But there is also pop, funk, soul, and something uniquely her own. Her specialty is sparking connection across both listeners and musical styles. Working with producer Daniel Radin (The Novel Ideas, Future Teens), Narratives concentrates on the journey of Amador’s live set, taking listeners through songs that may elicit a laugh, bring introspection, offer a cathartic cry, or encourage a sing-along. 

The genre-bending effort is as empowering as it is heart-wrenching. These songs explore themes of romance and heartbreak, of chaos and healing, exposing systems of oppression and shining a light on the intricacies of the human condition. They might break your heart open, but by the end, it will be mended, uplifted, and stronger—a ‘Life and Love Survival Kit' in the form of a bilingual EP. Click HERE to order Narratives.

TOUR DATES

9/19 - P.M. Sundays  - Richmond, VT

9/22 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

9/23 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA

10/7 - Fruitlands Museum - Harvard, MA

10/15 - Somerville Theatre - Somerville, MA*

10/22 - The Foundry - West Stockbridge, MA

11/1 - City Winery New York - New York, NY

11/8 - City Winery New York - New York, NY

11/19 - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY

* w/ Billy Wylder

LIZ VICE RELEASES HER REIMAGINED VERSION OF “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND ”

LIZ VICE RELEASES HER REIMAGINED VERSION OF 

“THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND ”
“Vice’s minor chord version rings with a spaciousness that opens it poignantly into a lament: a lament for the unjust killings of black men and women and indigenous peoples by police brutality and unjust systemic racism. “ - Folk Alley (on “This Land is Your Land”

“Chance the Rapper and Kanye West may use gospel elements to give their music a reverent lilt, but the genre hasn’t had many crossover evangelists since Kirk Franklin’s hip-hop bombast brought it to the pop charts in the 1990s. Enter Ms. Vice, whose version of gospel is more rootsy than radio. She has a rich voice that fits easily into her groovy yet understated arrangements; the result recalls the gentle revival of artists like Leon Bridges. “ - The New York Times

“Liz Vice walks the stony road to redemption, delivering tunes that celebrate the victory over the illusions that hold us down while acknowledging the heavyweight of self-doubt and missed opportunities for loving others that we bear.” - No Depression

“Liz Vice is unpretentious and uncomplicated on Save Me, a gospel album that aims straight for the spirit. Vice’s faith-based music, influenced by legends Mavis Staples and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, is lifting.”  

- Bitch Magazine

“The mindfulness she brings to the stories she tells on Save Me proves essential, and powerful.” - NPR

LISTEN TO “THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND”: HERE

In August of 2018  Liz Vice sat down with friends Paul Zach and Orlando Palmer just one day shy of the Unite the Right Rally 1 year anniversary, to re-work the Woody Guthrie classic “This Land is Your Land,” with the intention of writing lyrics that reflected the origin story of America. This powerful version of “This Land is Your Land,” performed by Liz Vice, is out today on all digital platforms, purposely released to coincide with the July 4th Holiday this weekend. “ There are a lot of reasons to celebrate being American,” Vice told Folk Alley, “but one thing that must first be talked about is the history. Healing can’t begin without first acknowledging the gaping wound created by the colonization, the mass genocide of the Indigenous people, and the enslavement of African slaves. There is still much work to be done.”

Liz Vice is somewhat of an accidental artist. "Artist" is a label the Los Angeles resident by way of Portland, Oregon has been pretty resistant to most of her career up until now. At age 19, Liz was put on hemodialysis due to failing health. Her life was saved by a kidney transplant she received in 2005. After college, Liz set out to pursue a career in film production, but when she joined up with a new church and began to sing with a worship team on Sundays, everything changed. She got the call, a call she knows was from God to share the gift of her voice with anyone who would listen. 

Liz Vice’s sound is a fusion of Gospel and R&B, with dynamic and soulful vocals, and lyrics, deeply rooted in spirituality, that give her work a  timeless feel. Her last full-length album, Save Me, her sophomore album, debuted in the top 25 on the Billboard Gospel charts, was featured in NPR’s  First Listen program, received praise from the New York Times, No Depression, American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Situation, Bitch Magazine and more.  Vice’s music and live performances have put her on the map as an artist to watch. She has shared the stage with artists such as Lake Street Dive, Rodriguez, Joss Stone, The Wood Brothers, Lecrae, Blind Boys of Alabama and performed at Mavis Staple’s 80th Birthday at the Apollo alongside Mike Taylor of His Golden Messenger, David Byrne, Norah Jones, Jon Batiste, Warren Haynes and more. 

KEEP UP WITH LIZ VICE

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

AUSTRALIAN GUITARIST/SONGWRITER HAMISH ANDERSON PREMIERES OFFICIAL “MORNING LIGHT” VIDEO ON UNDER THE RADAR

AUSTRALIAN GUITARIST/SONGWRITER HAMISH ANDERSON PREMIERES OFFICIAL “MORNING LIGHT” VIDEO ON

UNDER THE RADAR 

“MORNING LIGHT” CURRENTLY IN TOP 50 AT AAA RADIO

“MORNING LIGHT” ACOUSTIC SINGLE TO BE RELEASED ON 6/25/21 

Photo Credit: Ted Eytan

“MORNING LIGHT” ACOUSTIC || PRE-SAVE

“MORNING LIGHT” OFFICIAL VIDEO || WATCH

LOS ANGELES, CA –  Australian “singer, songwriter and guitar hero” (-Billboard) Hamish Anderson is excited to release the official music video for his new single “Morning Light”. It premieres today on Under The Radar Magazine.

“Anderson absolutely nails the guitar tone of a classic-era Stones track, delivering brilliantly bluesy guitar soloing, glam rock riffing, and a stomping drum part. The fervent backing vocals hint towards gospel and soul while the guitar offers up pure ‘70s swagger, hitting on a timeless mix of influences that Anderson revives with fresh energy…” – Under The Radar

For the video, Hamish says he found inspiration from “the Yellow Submarine/Sgt Pepper’s animation of The Beatles and also the quirky stop motion style that Monty Python used.  It has a bit of an Alice in Wonderland through the looking glass kind of feel and I hope it takes you on a trip!”

Released last month, “Morning Light” is his first new music since 2019s Out of My Head (winner of Independent Music Award for “Best Blues Album”). It also marks the first collaboration with co-producer David Davis (Miguel, The War on Drugs, Lauren Ruth Ward). The song was remotely produced while Hamish was in lockdown in Melbourne, Australia and the band – bassist Lauren Stockner; drummer Matt Musty (Grace Potter, Train); plus soulful backing vocals by Jessica Childress (Aloe Blacc, Allen Stone) - and producer David Davis were in Los Angeles, CA. 

To compliment the acoustic version he’s been performing at live streams throughout the past year, Hamish will release a stripped back acoustic version of “Morning Light” on June 25.

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“Punchy, bombastic and uplifting with just a pinch of washed-out psychedelia, the single is emblematic of Anderson’s sound as a whole. From the power of the driving rhythm section to the blissful way Anderson’s vocal melody falls over the chord progression, it’s almost impossible to listen to track without feeling a pull to bob your head, almost as if the raw energy of a band playing in a room together was coming right through your headphones…“ - American Songwriter

“Featuring as much ’70s rock swagger as you can handle, with driving guitars and a striking drum beat, [“Morning Light”] comes as a revelation for Anderson, a defining moment in his still-young career.” – V13.net

“…an exquisite blend of old school and contemporary vibes, he gives life to a truly refreshing and exciting sonic realm… There’s something about his voice that just invites us in and makes us feel at ease as we are guided through this unknown world.” – Wolf In A Suit

SINGLE “MORNING LIGHT” || OUT NOW

“MORNING LIGHT” ACOUSTIC VIDEO || WATCH

KEEP UP WITH HAMISH ANDERSON

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

ALISA AMADOR’S NEW SINGLE “TIMING” PREMIERES VIA AMERICAN SONGWRITER DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES OUT ON SEPTEMBER 17TH

ALISA AMADOR’S NEW SINGLE “TIMING” PREMIERES  

VIA AMERICAN SONGWRITER   

DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES OUT ON SEPTEMBER 17TH 

Photo credit: Jacquelyn Marie

LISTEN: “TIMING”   

Today, Boston-based artist Alisa Amador unveils “Timing,” the groove-laden lead single from her forthcoming mini-album Narratives, set for release on September 17th. Lively, optimistic, and wry, the song addresses the frustrating yet exciting realization that you’ve found love, but the timing is off. “Alisa Amador sings with the ease of someone who has been performing for the entirety of her life—and she nearly has,” said American Songwriter in the track’s premiere. “The singer/songwriter first took the stage at the age of five as a backup singer for her parents’ bilingual Latin folk band Sol y Canto. She later picked up the classical guitar, and then the electric guitar, to begin cultivating a sound that was uniquely hers.”  

Amador, who describes “Timing” as “50% cynical, 50% hopeful, and 100% fun to groove to,” wrote the song after meeting a special someone. Spirited drums and horns frame her big voice in a chorus that playfully asserts “I’m getting tired of being right/why am I right again?” Of the song she says, ”I knew that the connection was right, but I could sense that the timing wasn’t. It had happened with almost every relationship I had been in, and I was getting tired of that predicament,” she continues. “This song became a way of letting out my frustrations, processing the relationship, and ultimately a song for tuning back in: with my intuition and with my love for myself.”  

~ 

Alisa Amador is a connector. Her upcoming mini-album, Narratives, is a six-song snapshot in time. It’s a deep look at a person stumbling through life in two languages—English and Spanish—and in many states of mind about it all. Her crystal-clear vocals are so effortless throughout Narratives that it’s almost easy to forget how technically talented she is, until she moves from almost-spoken-word territory to a powerful chorus without hesitation or illustrates a repetitive refrain that’s so affecting it feels like you might want to live inside it for a little while.  

“The word ‘narratives’ encompasses not only the existing cultural messages that hurt people individually and collectively,” she says, “but also the revolutionary power of writing ourselves new narratives; rejecting a culture of fear; and catalyzing a culture of honesty, bravery and self-love in the process.”  

When listening to Amador’s music, her time spent immersed in Latin folk and jazz is undoubtedly present in her own songs, written in both English and Spanish. But there is also pop, funk, soul, and something uniquely her own. Her specialty is sparking connection, across both listeners and musical styles. Working with producer Daniel Radin (The Novel Ideas, Future Teens), Narratives concentrates on the journey of Amador’s live set, taking listeners through songs that may elicit a laugh, bring introspection, offer a cathartic cry or encourage a sing-along.  

The genre-bending effort is as empowering as it is heart-wrenching. These songs  explore themes of romance and heartbreak, of chaos and healing, exposing systems of oppression and shining a light on the intricacies of the human condition. They might break your heart open, but by the end, it will be mended, uplifted and stronger—a ‘Life and Love Survival Kit' in the form of a bilingual EP.  

“These songs are a reflection of the world I am moving through, with all of its joy, its sorrow, its confusion and its rage,: she reveals. “Each song is a processing of personal experience, framed within my larger cultural backdrop of New Englander, Latinx, cis-gendered woman, young adult, twin, daughter, and so on. I’m just trying to create a space for myself and all my conflicting identities to fit in, and it seems like I’m helping listeners feel the same way in the process.”  Click HERE to pre-order Narratives.  

NARRATIVES TRACK LIST  

TIMING 

SLOW DOWN 

BURNT AND BROKEN 

ALONE 

NADA QUE VER 

TOGETHER 

CONNECT WITH ALISA AMADOR:   

WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || BANDCAMP || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY   

AUSTIN’S TIARRA GIRLS RELEASE UPDATED COVER OF THE GO-GO’S “CAN’T STOP THE WORLD”

AUSTIN’S TIARRA GIRLS

RELEASE UPDATED COVER OF THE GO-GO’S

“CAN’T STOP THE WORLD”

ON 9/25

NEW LYRICS BY KATHY VALENTINE

 SINGLE PREMIERES ON BUST MAGAZINE

L-R: Sophia Baltierra,Tori Baltierra and Tiffany Baltierra

LISTEN - "CAN'T STOP THE WORLD"

 AUSTIN, TX. – 3x Austin Music Award-winning sister trio Tiarra Girls - singer and guitarist Tori Baltierra, bass player Tiffany Baltierra and drummer Sophia Baltierra –will release their cover of  “Can’t Stop The World” on Lucky Hound Music on 9/25 with updated lyrics by the Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine to reflect a timely version of the song. 

“With everything that is happening in the world, from the pandemic to racial violence to wildfires, the Tiarra Girls still manage to bring the heat, including their recent with Kathy Valentine…The Go-Go’s classic ‘Can’t Stop The World.’” - Bust Magazine

“I am so proud and happy that ‘Can’t Stop The World’ has been recorded and released by the Tiarra Girls,” says Kathy Valentine. “They are the perfect band to carry the strong message of empowerment and resilience that the song represents.” 

Much like the Go-Go’s did in the 80s, Tiarra Girls are pushing boundaries within the music industry and beyond as three politically-minded, bi-cultural fourth generation Mexican-Americans women interested in pursuing music without limits blending rock, Latin, pop, soul, reggae, blues, and world music.

“We absorbed a lot of what we heard in our dad’s enormous record collection, and our own listening. All those subconscious influences come out when we write songs or arrange a cover.”   

Before they were in high school, Tiarra Girls began composing their own songs and adding them to their sets, writing arrangements that drew on reggae, ska, rock, cumbia and other Latin sounds. In 2016, they received the award for Best Performing Band Under 18 at the Austin Music Awards, and won again in 2017 and 2018. “We play everything – anything we like,” Tori said. ”People want to narrow us down to indie rock with a Latin influence, but we play blues, pop, Tejano, anything that sounds good. There are no rules when you create music. You have to follow your feelings and let the song tell you how it wants to come out.”

Tiarra Girls released their first recording, a protest song called “Leave It To the People,” after the 2016 election and promoted it with a series of public service announcements for Rock the Vote, Jolt and Voto Latino, encouraging young people to vote. In 2017, they made a three song, self-titled EP that showed off their diversity. “I Made a Garden” was a rocker, “Lonely Room” had a jazzy/funk feel and “Answers” rode a mellow reggae/ska backbeat. 

 “Can’t Stop The World” is their first release for Lucky Hound Music, out on 9/25.

“CAN’T STOP THE WORLD” OUT 9/25

KEEP UP WITH TIARRA GIRLS

Website |Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify

MATT LOVELL RELEASES TIMELY NEW SINGLE "BE FREE"

MATT LOVELL’S NEW SINGLE "BE FREE" PREMIERES

VIA GLIDE MAGAZINE 

DEBUT LP NOBODY CRIES TODAY OUT JUNE 5TH

PHOTO: JASON LEE DENTON

Nashville-based artist Matt Lovell has unveiled “Be Free,” a timely new single from his debut album, Nobody Cries Today, out on June 5th. “Lovell grew up learning to sing three-part harmonies in a household steeped in soul...Those roots anchor the tracks on his forthcoming LP,” says Glide Magazine in its premiere. “Be Free,” which Lovell says reminds him of his upbringing, was inspired by the Aretha Franklin-style gospel heard in his youth, music he revisited during the writing and recording process. “Subdued organ and a laid-back rhythm section provide a dreamy, vintage-washed landscape for Lovell’s soulful, velvety vocals,” Glide Magazine adds. “Spendin’ all our days/Trying to make it to the sun/But I don’t wanna go/Unless there’s room for everyone…Somebody tell me when we gon’ be free,” he implores, a question the entire world seems to be asking today – when will we be free of bigotry, free of racism, free of classism, and even free from the sickness currently ravaging our planet?” 

LISTEN: “BE FREE” 

“Be Free,” the third selection from Lovell’s album, follows the release of “Alligator Lilly,” a playful allegory of lost innocence accompanied by a quirky, Wes Anderson-style video filmed at the Gulf Of Mexico. PopDust said “Alligator Lilly” was “full of eye-candy visuals and striking, hypnotic imagery.” Lead single “90 Proof” was written during attempts to let go of a relationship that had ended. “Lovell knows how to tap into a part of himself that can bring the emotions of ’90 Proof’ to the surface and doing so is all the more honorable, knowing the story he’s trying to tell, isn’t a made up screenplay,” said American Songwriter. “It’s one man being willing to revisit challenging parts of his life and do so with performative solemnity and grace.”

WATCH: “ALLIGATOR LILLY” 

WATCH: “90 PROOF” 

All but one of the album’s songs were recorded in 2016 - just months before  Lovell nearly lost his life. On January 20, 2017, he was shot in the chest by a sixteen-year-old who attempted to steal his car. Miraculously, he lived. “This moment created a new center of gravity and re-ordered my understanding of everything I’ve experienced in this lifetime,” he explains. “Many people who experience acute trauma go through somewhat of a euphoric period immediately after the incident occurs, and this was definitely my experience. The level of peace I felt was something I had never touched before. I wrote profusely, I gardened, I brought new life and vigor to my musical ventures, and I made peace with complicated friendships. More than anything, I found a level of great self-acceptance and this created space for me to begin to learn how to live this life.”   

This era ended with the abrupt onset of PTSD, causing the most difficult time Lovell had ever faced. He began to question everything and struggled to find a way to articulate the horrors he was experiencing.  Now, on the other side of recovery, Lovell is excited to sing these songs again for anyone who will listen. “In these years of writing and recording, I have gathered quite a wild palette of paints,” he says. “In a way, Nobody Cries Today has actually been my teacher.  As I have written these songs, each of them has been like a tiny rowboat to get me from one day to the next. They have witnessed me in the years that I was in the throes of trying to find acceptance for myself and for the world I’m living in.  As a gay man of Southern origin, this proved to be a tall order. These songs have also helped me to explore things like zest for life, discontent, hunger, truth, and hope,” he continues. “Nobody Cries Today contains every bit of earnestness, desire, and love that I have to give.” 

CONNECT WITH MATT LOVELL:

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

OUT TODAY: KYSHONA RELEASES NEW LP "LISTEN"

“…she has that very real conviction that the act of listening and the feeling of being heard are fundamental human needs…there’s that sense of purpose in the language that she chooses, that sense of speaking in a collective way in the language that she chooses...It’s stately, noble language, and sometimes it’s optimistic, and sometimes it’s more confrontational…it’s always emphatic, but it’s also warm.” - NPR

"Listen highlights Kyshona’s descriptive songwriting and soulful vocals alongside a versatile blend of folk, rock and R&B influences. While Kyshona sings of fear, hope, community, love and understanding throughout the 10-track project, she also finds herself.” - Billboard

“…a soulful, Southern groove” - Rolling Stone

“This is protest music for a new generation, a musical treatment for social ills, a unique prescription that only works if you listen.” - No Depression

"Everyone is making political records. Everyone is making albums that speak to 'this moment.' Too few of them are making music that speaks to the people who inhabit this moment. Kyshona does." - The Bluegrass Situation

“With an ambition ‘to bring the light of music into places of darkness,’ it’s clear that ‘Fear’ and the other nine tracks from her upcoming LP unapologetically and convincingly do just that.” - American Songwriter

“Electrifying” - The Boot 

"Listen is refreshingly low-concept: a powerful, textured voice working its way through equally strong songs. But what's most striking about the album is how natural [Kyshona] sounds. The sincerity hits you hard…There’s a confidence, comfort, and catharsis in her vocals, effortless without sounding passive, warm without sounding too inviting. Listen feels therapeutic, not just providing enjoyable songs that range from soul to rhythm and blues to rock to pop, but maybe even providing a blueprint for how to be, as a human being.” - Albumism

"Kyshona...has a warm, rich voice that commands you to pay attention. On her new album Listen, however, she’s chosen to make a powerful statement about what we can learn when we close our mouths and truly take in what others have to say." - The Nashville Scene

"The melodies are catchy, but it’s the lyrics that really grab the attention on this album. [Kyshona] sings with the undeniable spirit and conviction that was more common in the tumultuous 60s. However, through all the turmoil of the times, the message is ultimately one of hope that leaves you believing things will get better." - Americana Highways

Today, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kyshona has released her highly-acclaimed new album Listen. Co-produced with Andrija Tokic (St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Alabama Shakes, Hurray For The Riff Raff) and recorded mostly at his famed Nashville studio The Bomb Shelter, Kyshona’s album blends roots, rock, R&B, gospel, and folk with lyrical prowess to uplift the marginalized and bring awareness to the masses. 

STREAM: LISTEN

Kyshona, who has performed at Folk Alliance International, AmericanaFest-UK, 30A Songwriters Festival, and in an art installation at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in the last two months, has made an indelible impression with her new LP. “The explorations on her brand new album, Listen — which are synopsized neatly on the title track — by many other artists could have easily and offhandedly devolved into a reactionary, ‘woke’ gasp into the void,” commented The Bluegrass Situation. “Kyshona (surname Armstrong), though, is a deft and empathetic songwriter, a storyteller with a penchant for shameless self expression and graceful introspection. Listen is not an admonishment. It’s not an imperative, or an oracle-given ultimatum. Kyshona does not implore her audience to hear her, but each other. Over ten original and co-written songs the album carries on this mission with empathy, connection, community, and spirituality (but not proselytizing.) It’s a remarkable feat that though society systemically attempts to render her and women like her invisible, assuming that they’ll stand aside or allow themselves to be tokenized, Kyshona compassionately defies those expectations and opts to design her selfhood — and thereby, her art — to interact with the world on her terms and not the world’s.” 

WATCH:  "LISTEN”

“Since completing this album, there has been a theme that keeps coming up: fear,” Kyshona told Billboard in their premiere of the album. “Fear of being ignored, fear of being seen. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of being abandoned and alone. But every night I have walked on a stage or into a space and stood in that fear, I’ve been shown that I can not only conquer them, but that those fears allow me to connect with people. That’s what I have wanted this album to be: a reflection that allows connection.” 

WATCH:  "FALLEN PEOPLE”

“People feel permission. This allows them to feel they can have control, they can build a community through music,” Kyshona told The News & Advance of the connection she forges with her audiences. “Her new LP, Listen, released this month, asks the audience ‘are we even listening to each other?” continues The News & Advance. “Even when she’s writing about others, she said, their stories are also hers — ‘This is the gospel of the people.’ In a crowd of people, all with differing beliefs, political stances or conflicting ideals, it’s music, [Kyshona] said, that offers unity.”

Kyshona has always lent her voice and music to those that feel silenced or forgotten. She began her career as a music therapist, writing her first songs with her patients – the students and inmates under her care. She soon found the need to write independently and find her own voice, an endeavor that led her to the fertile ground of the Nashville creative community and its collaborative songwriting culture. Kyshona has successfully melded her music career with her passion to heal the hurting; audiences will find a common thread of empowerment, overcoming adversity, and finding hope in her work. It's for every silent scream, every heavy load, every fearful thought, and a simmering sense of anger that the repressed, the lost, and the forgotten try to hide from the world. "I’ve been thinking a lot about purpose," she says. "When I write and when I perform I am often thinking of what my point is. What is my purpose? What is my mission? At this particular moment in these particular times, my mission is to be a voice and a vessel for those who feel silenced and forgotten." After her powerful performances, concertgoers often ask, "What can I do?" Her response? “Listen."

TOUR DATES:

3/5 - 20 Front Street - Lake Orion, MI

3/6 - The Robin Theatre - Lansing, MI

⅜ - Hines Hill Conference Center - Peninsula, OH

3/13 - WMOT Finally Friday @ 3rd & Lindsley - Nashville, TN

3/13 - Gray’s On Main - Franklin. TN

3/22  - The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm - Silver Hill, AL

3/24 - Tin Pan South 2020 - Nashville, TN

3/26 - Agnes Scott College - Decatur, GA

3/27 - Hendershot’s - Athens, GA

3/28 - Music On Malphrus - Bluffton, SC

4/3 - South Bay House Concert - Los Altos, CA

4/4 - Fog House Concerts - San Francisco, CA

~

4/9 - National Folk Festival 2020 - Canberra, ACT, Australia

4/17 - 4/19 - Fairbridge Folk Fest 2020 - Perth, WA, Australia

~

4/24 - Gray’s On Main - Franklin. TN

4/29 - White Gull Inn - Fish Creek, WI

5/1 - Severson Dells Nature Center - Rockford, IL

⅚ - Purple House Concerts -Tallahassee, FL

5/7 - WUWF Radio Live - Pensacola, FL

⅝ - The Rep Theater - Santa Rosa Beach, FL

5/22 - Kerrville Folk Fest 2020 - Kerrville, TX

6/7 - NPR Mountain Stage - Charleston, WV

6/21 - Chestnut House Concerts - Lancaster, PA

6/25 - Iredell Arts Council - Statesville, NC

JACK MOSBACHER RELEASES A POIGNANT EP OF HOLIDAY CLASSICS CALLED 'CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA'

JACK MOSBACHER RELEASES A POIGNANT EP OF HOLIDAY CLASSICS

CHRISTMAS IN CALIFORNIA

This holiday season, San Francisco-based retro pop and soul singer Jack Mosbacher has released a tender EP of classic Christmas tunes. Titled Christmas in California, this EP features Jack’s soulful, heartwarming take on songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “White Christmas.”

With his own added California sunshine, Mosbacher said of the EP, "This time of year, I feel particularly grateful for family, friends and music. I hope you will listen to it with the people you love - and that you have as much fun listening to it as I had making it."

“His radiant sound has evolved to exude the old school power of Alabama Shakes and Leon Bridges, with the pop sensibility of Andy Grammer and Ed Sheeran. Today, Mr. Mosbacher aims to add happy elements to the next generation of soul.” –Pop Dose

Mosbacher is also no stranger to creating an EP of stunning covers. Earlier this summer, he released a phenomenal tribute to David Ruffin called WhyNot (after Ruffin’s hometown of Whynot, Mississippi), which All Access deemed “incredible.” When the opportunity arose, Mosbacher couldn’t resist the chance to honor his late idol’s previously unreleased solo work, and in collaboration with Michael Eisenstein and an eclectic array of musicians, covered four of Ruffin’s songs in a classic Motown session style: all of the instruments in one room, making music until they got it right.

Mosbacher’s original music has also become known for its thoughtfully crafted traditional hooks and cheerful Motown vibes. His sound has drawn comparisons to artists like The Temptations, Hall and Oates and even Otis Redding. He revives the best of past eras with warmth and modern charisma for a sound that’s both timeless and extremely accessible. In a world of confusion, chaos and division, he is determined to make music that resonates with everyone on some level. He feels that his highest creative purpose is to share joy with others through his music, channeling the great Motown, blues and soul singers he first listened to as a child.  He’s delighted to share this lovely holiday EP with the world in the hopes that it brings genuine joy to anyone who listens, a sentiment he relays in all his music.

Mosbacher will also begin a residency at San Francisco’s the Black Cat later next month, a perfect fit for his distinct style of retro pop and just in time for the holidays.

Jack Mosbacher @ The Black Cat (Dec. 19-22): INFO HERE

400 Eddy St, San Francisco, CA 94109

KEEP UP WITH JACK:

PR Materials | http://smarturl.it/JackMosbacherPR

Website  | https://www.jackmosbacher.com

Facebook  | https://www.facebook.com/jackmosbachermusic

Instagram  | https://www.instagram.com/jackmosbacher

Twitter  | https://www.twitter.com/JackMosbacher

SoundCloud  | https://soundcloud.com/jackmosbacher

JACK MOSBACHER RELEASES “YOUR HEARTACHES I CAN SURELY HEAL” SECOND SINGLE FROM DAVID RUFFIN TRIBUTE

JACK MOSBACHER RELEASES “YOUR HEARTACHES I CAN SURELY HEAL” SINGLE

Part of the WhyNot EP (A Tribute to David Ruffin)

San Francisco troubadour Jack Mosbacher is excited to announce the release of “Your Heartaches I Can Surely Heal,” a song originally recorded by soul icon David Ruffin. The single is part of a very special tribute EP to Ruffin called Whynot (after Ruffin’s hometown of Whynot, Mississippi) that features four of his relatively unknown solo recordings.

It has always been a dream of Mosbacher’s to honor Ruffin’s forgotten work, so he teamed up with Michael Eisenstein (Letters to Cleo, Tracy Bonham, The Posies etc.) and an eclectic array of musicians to record four of Ruffin’s songs in a classic Motown session style: all of the instruments in one room, making music until they got it right. The full EP will be released June 22nd.

Mosbacher’s unique retro pop sound stems from the music of his childhood. Groups like The Temptations influenced him deeply and to this day, he taps into the spirit of this music to create something new and unique but equally soulful and radiant. His songwriting has become known for its spirited style of retro soul. His carefully crafted hooks and modern charisma have drawn comparisons to masters of a bygone era: Hall and Oates, Otis Redding and Smokey Robinson. Mosbacher’s voice revives the best of the past with timeless warmth, contemporary sensibility and authentic joy.

"So much of American music and popular culture…was driven by heroes and geniuses of color, or from some kind of background that is not like mine,” he says. “The things I’ve seen, and my faith, have taught me that you really run into trouble when you’re not acknowledging who your influences are and all the systemic injustices and hardships that inspired artists before me to write a lot of this music in the first place."

For Jack, authenticity is key. Audiences are more educated, connected and responsive than ever. He trusts that they know when it’s real. He hopes to continue to spread light and bring people of all generations together. His genuine approach to music and paying respect to the incredibly inspiring artists that came before him is what matters most to him. With this single and EP, he wants to send a clear message of true respect and warmth.

Mosbacher also wrapped up a winter residency to packed crowds at the Peppermint Club in Los Angeles, and wowed fans with his electrifying show and infectious energy on Train’s Sail Across the Sun Cruise this spring alongside Train, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Gym Class Heroes and more. He will be playing a number of select dates this summer to be announced soon. 

KEEP UP WITH JACK:

https://www.facebook.com/jackmosbachermusic/

jackmosbacher.com

https://twitter.com/JackMosbacher

https://www.instagram.com/jackmosbacher/

Press Materials (photos, Bio etc,) http://smarturl.it/JackMosbacherPR

JACK MOSBACHER RELEASES “I’VE GOT A NEED FOR YOU” AND ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF THE WHYNOT EP

JACK MOSBACHER RELEASES “I’VE GOT A NEED FOR YOU” SINGLE AND ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF  THE WHYNOT EP

A TRIBUTE TO DAVID RUFFIN

I've Got a Need for You, a song by Jack Mosbacher on Spotify

San Francisco’s Jack Mosbacher is excited to announce the release of “I’ve Got a Need for You,”  a song originally written for and recorded by soul icon David Ruffin. Growing up, Mosbacher fell in love with music by hearing The Temptations, specifically their original lead singer David Ruffin. Following his time with the Temptations, Ruffin was forced to abandon a solo record that was in the works following struggles with addiction and a tussle with Motown Records. Thirty years later, and long after his death, the album was quietly released. It has always been a dream of Mosbacher’s to honor his late idol’s forgotten work, so he teamed up with Michael Eisenstein (Letters to Cleo, Tracy Bonham, The Posies etc.) and an eclectic array of musicians to record four of Ruffin’s  songs in a classic Motown session style: all of the instruments in one room, making music until they got it right. The EP Whynot, named after Ruffin’s hometown of Whynot, Mississippi, comes out on June 22nd.

Jack’s music is his means of “accessing a higher joy” passed down from traditional greats of bygone eras. “I had a teacher once tell me,” says Mosbacher, “‘you’re either in the lighting business, or the heating business. You’re either doing something new, or you’re bringing forgotten warmth to people who need it. I’ve always wanted to be a combination of both.’”

Mosbacher’s journey into the ‘heating business’ began in early childhood, upon finding an old cassette of The Temptations in drawer. It was a moment that ignited his spirit with fervor, but unlike his idols he hadn’t been exposed to the painful adversity they faced, or the turbulent era that he would himself enter into as an adult. Today, Mosbacher harbors no illusions about what it means to honor their work. “The vast majority of people whose art has significantly shaped my life have looked different from me, and have gone through things I’ve never had to deal with,” says Mosbacher. “There’s a huge sensitivity there. Our culture has, and continues to be shaped by individuals of some kind of ‘other.’ And the main thing that really strikes me about all of it is that I fell in love with this music before I knew what any of that was. There was an innocence there that I’m trying to retain, while also being mindful of my own place in all of this.”

Mosbacher’s background is as varied as his influences. Prior to pursuing music, Mosbacher was an accomplished athlete and student. International affairs and human rights were (and are) deeply important to him. At Stanford, Mosbacher  played on the nationally ranked baseball team and was awarded a special grant to write a thesis on income inequality and oil politics in East Africa as part of an international development program. His work took him to thirteen African countries and led to publishing pieces in Foreign Affairs and The Washington Quarterly, setting a clear trajectory for a career in journalism and policy. But Mosbacher’s family, friends, and mentors pushed him to follow his heart, and it called him to music and entertainment. Once he listened, he never looked back.

Mosbacher wrapped up a winter residency to packed crowds at the Peppermint Club in Los Angeles, and wowed fans  on Train’s Sail Across the Sun Cruise this Spring alongside Train, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Magic! and more. He will be playing a number of select dates this summer to be announced soon.

WHYNOT  (Out June 22) :

1. Your Heartaches I Can Surely Heal

2. I've Got A Need For You

3. It’s Gonna Take a Whole Lot of Doin’

4. Get Away Heartbreak (Keep on Moving)