NEW ZEALAND INDIE POP CHANTEUSE LISA CRAWLEY RELEASES EP LOOKING FOR LOVE (IN A MAJOR)

NEW ZEALAND INDIE POP CHANTEUSE LISA CRAWLEY RELEASES EP

LOOKING FOR LOVE (IN A MAJOR) ON 7/23

“... a collection of nostalgic, catchy pop songs.” – Muzik.net.nz

Photo Credit: Karen Anne Patti

LOOKING FOR LOVE (IN A MAJOR) || SPOTIFY

New Zealand-born, indie-pop chanteuse Lisa Crawley will release her EP Looking For Love (In A Major) on Friday 7/23.

Under The Radar premiered the EP featuring “...Crawley’s free-flowing style, pulling from classic pop and soul influences from yesteryear and repackaging them today. Therein lies the strength of Looking For Love: Crawley’s ability to take well-worn topics and styles and renew them with fresh energy. It’s a strength that carries Crawley well over the EP’s five tracks of sweeping romanticism.”

Lisa 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, who also produced the five song EP Looking For Love (In A Major).

BUZZ FOR LISA CRAWLEY

“...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

“That moment when you think of everything you should’ve said after it’s all said & done perfectly captured in a catchy melody...[“The Right Way”] 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”.

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

LOOKING FOR LOVE (IN A MAJOR) EP || STREAM

“LOOKING FOR LOVE” || VIDEO

“THE RIGHT WAY” || STREAM

THE RIGHT WAY” || VIDEO

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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

LISTEN

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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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AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT ANNOUNCE NEW LP I’LL COME BACK OUT ON AUGUST 20TH NEW SINGLE “LEMONS AND TANGERINES” OUT TODAY

 AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT ANNOUNCE NEW LP 

 I’LL COME BACK OUT ON AUGUST 20TH 

NEW SINGLE “LEMONS AND TANGERINES” OUT TODAY 

LISTEN: “LEMONS AND TANGERINES”   

Today, award-winning Bay Area-based roots powerhouse AJ Lee and Blue Summit announce the upcoming release of their new LP I’ll Come Back, due out on August 20th. Today, the band unveils the latest track from the album, “Lemons and Tangerines,” inspired by a grafted lemon tree in Lee’s backyard. This single follows the release of “Magdalene,” which debuted in June. “This band is good in the bluegrass way,” said Country Queer in the premiere of “Magdalene,” adding, “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: “MAGDALENE”  

AJ Lee and Blue Summit made their first appearance in Santa Cruz in 2015. Led by singer, songwriter, and mandolinist, AJ Lee, the bluegrass band has performed all over the world, but found home in California’s Bay Area. In 2019, they released their debut album, Like I Used To.  

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, with Sullivan Tuttle and Jesse Fichman on steel stringed acoustic guitars, AJ on mandolin, Jan Purat on fiddle, and Chad Bowen on upright bass - a configuration effectively used 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, United States 

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:   

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BOSTON INDIE ROCK BAND THE COLLECT POND RELEASE NEW SINGLE “BURROW” ON 7/23

BOSTON INDIE ROCK BAND THE COLLECT POND RELEASE NEW SINGLE “BURROW” ON 7/23

 “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 Morrissey

“BURROW” LISTEN || PRE-SAVE  

BOSTON, MA - The Collect Pond, the moniker for Boston-based singer-songwriter and audio engineer Danny Moffat, will release their third album Long Range on 9/24. The first single, “Burrow,” available on 7/23 has a 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 the single 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 7/23

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ALISA AMADOR UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “SLOW DOWN”

ALISA AMADOR UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “SLOW DOWN” 

VIA GLIDE MAGAZINE

DEBUT MINI-ALBUM NARRATIVES OUT ON SEPTEMBER 17TH

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

“…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

LISTEN: “SLOW DOWN” 

Today, Boston-based artist Alisa Amador releases “Slow Down,” the latest single from her forthcoming mini-album Narratives, set for release on September 17th. Amador penned the breezy track in the midst of a cycle of continuous work-related intensity and endless tasks, wishing time would slow down so she could get everything done and find some rest. 

"Sounds a bit bleak when I write it down! But, writing this song was so healing for me,” she explains. “It gave name to the chaos that I was learning to navigate, which helped me come to terms with it, and consequently, start to advocate for myself more. You know that feeling when your alarm goes off in the morning, and you’re like, “noooooooooooo!”? That’s how this song began,” she told Glide Magazine. “Hope this song helps you to cope with that feeling.” 

“Slow Down” follows the release of “Timing,” a lively, optimistic, and wry song which addresses the frustrating yet exciting realization that you’ve found love, but the timing is off. “Timing” 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.”

LISTEN: “TIMING”

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.

CONNECT WITH ALISA AMADOR:  

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INTRODUCING: THE SLANG

INTRODUCING:

THE SLANG  

NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “NOTHING LASTS FOREVER” OUT TODAY

DEBUT FULL-LENGTH LP DIVIDE  SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 24TH

LISTEN // WATCH: “NOTHING LASTS FOREVER”

 Today, with the release of their single and accompanying music video “Nothing Lasts Forever,” Washington, DC-based duo The Slang announces the forthcoming release of their debut LP Divide, due out on September 24th. “Nothing Lasts Forever” is about reliance on an unhealthy vice—lyrically crafted such that the vice could be anything from a significant other to an addiction. "'Nothing Lasts Forever' is about addictions in our lives that we seem to never conquer," says co-founder John Bobo.  "Addiction comes in all shapes and sizes so we wanted a video that interpreted it as an unhealthy relationship.  Maybe she breaks the addiction or will the cycle continue?"  The single, and its cinematic video directed by Adio Ash, is the first chapter of the album's stories.

The album features 10 shimmering alt-rock gems written by co-founders John Bobo and Felix Nieto, and produced by Nieto. “It’s our first full-length album, so we used that to our advantage to take risks that we may not have on our prior EP’s,” explains Bobo. “As the expression goes, ‘Stories Don’t End,’ so what happens after the movie ends and the credits have rolled? Divide is an album about trying to overcome the inevitable, but continues asking that question of ‘what happens next?’”

~

Offering a distinct blend of power-pop, alternative, and contemporary rock, The Slang is comfortable testing genre lines and taking their time to capture the minutiae of modern life. With a laid-back intensity that infuses their music, lead vocalist/multi-instrumentalist John Bobo serves as the main songwriter while bassist/multi-instrumentalist Felix Nieto focuses on production. Both artists share a kind of low-key perfectionism: hands-on, hyper-attuned to textural detail, and aware of what elevates a song from good to great. “We want to do it right,” says Bobo. “And we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make the best possible track each time.”  

With smooth vocals and striking guitar melodies, The Slang is often compared to bands like Snow Patrol and The Killers, but with a modern twist and more experimental production value. “We care about the experience, whether on headphones or at a live show,” says Nieto, whose production adds a sleekness and edge. Bobo’s introspective lyrics explore singular moments that define human relationships. This beautiful blend of respective talent is evident on Divide, which features the band’s characteristic melodic precision, bright, electric guitar-driven anthems, and top-quality production, but with a more pop-leaning sound. Be sure to follow The Slang via the links below for the latest news, updates, and tour information. 

DIVIDE TRACKLIST

Nothing Lasts Forever

Disguise

Divide

Fiction

Break the Rules

Broken Promises

Speed of Sound

Throw It Away

Hard To Forget

To The End

CONNECT WITH THE SLANG:  

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KAREN JONAS ANNOUNCES NEW EP & ACCOMPANYING BOOK OF ORIGINAL POETRY SET FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 20TH

KAREN JONAS ANNOUNCES NEW EP

SUMMER SONGS  

AND 

ACCOMPANYING BOOK OF ORIGINAL POETRY

GUMBALLS

SET FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 20TH

On August 20th, award-winning artist Karen Jonas will release Summer Songs, a new four-song 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.”

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.

~

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 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 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. Covered by everyone from Rolling Stone Germany to Country Music People UK to American Songwriter, Jonas’ 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

CONNECT WITH KAREN JONAS

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

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? PREMIERE VIDEO FOR “HARD FEELINGS” ON WXPN’S THE KEY

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? PREMIERE VIDEO FOR

“HARD FEELINGS” ON WXPN’S THE KEY 

“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

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

“HARD FEELINGS” VIDEO || WATCH 

PHILADELPHIA, PA –  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 available 8/13/21.

Today, they release 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 video comes on the heels of “Little In Love,” the second single released on 7/9.

“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

The forthcoming 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”

HARD FEELINGS || PRE-SAVE LINK

RELEASE DATE:  AUGUST 13, 2021

SINGLE  “QUITTIN'” || SPOTIFY || YOUTUBE

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

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

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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

“MISUNDERSTOOD” (COMING 7/16) || PRE-SAVE

KEEP UP WITH BETTY REED

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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

KEEP UP WITH LISA CRAWLEY

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

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? RELEASE SINGLE “LITTLE IN LOVE” TODAY NEW ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT 8/13/21

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY? & WEREWOLVES? RELEASE SINGLE

“LITTLE IN LOVE” TODAY

NEW ALBUM HARD FEELINGS OUT 8/13/21

 “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.” - Americana Highways

Photo Credit: Jesse Gennett

SINGLE “LITTLE IN LOVE'” OUT NOW || LISTEN 

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 available 8/13/21.

Today, they release the second single “Little In Love” where Fullerton negotiates with a friend about checking into rehab.

“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

The forthcoming 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”

“…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 

About Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves?

Philadelphia’s Who? What? When? Why? & Werewolves? was born from a football injury and a Christmas gift.

In 2016, Matt Orlando, a drummer by trade, was hurt in a casual flag football game, rendering him unable to play his drums. He picked up a banjo to pass the time during his convalescence. Meanwhile, his friend and longtime collaborator Andrew Fullerton had recently been gifted a mandolin, which he was figuring out quickly.

The pair’s casual front porch jam sessions combined traditional folk and bluegrass tunes with stripped down versions of songs from Fullerton’s long-running alt country outfit The Tressels. To test their mettle (and dedication) they booked a show under the most ridiculous name they could think of.

“We didn’t think we’d make it this far” Orlando states honestly.

The 6W (as they shorthand themselves) released their debut record Greatest Hits in 2019. The record was called an “intense, emotional brand of indie-folk-bluegrass” by Americana Highways and the band was regularly labeled as “defiant” for their refusal to adhere to Folk and Bluegrass traditions. Their live show is a combination of intimate storytelling and self-deprecating humor ala Loudon Wainwright III or the Milk Carton Kids, which has endeared them to audiences as far apart as a South Philly anarchist punk house to the prestigious Folk Alliance International. 

HARD FEELINGS || PRE-SAVE LINK

RELEASE DATE:  AUGUST 13, 2021

“QUITTIN'” SINGLE OUT NOW || SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE

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

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DESTROY BOYS RELEASE THE VIDEO FOR THEIR NEW SINGLE “DRINK” + ANNOUNCE SUMMER AND FALL TOUR DATES

DESTROY BOYS  RELEASE THE VIDEO FOR THEIR 

NEW SINGLE “DRINK” + ANNOUNCE SUMMER AND FALL TOUR DATES

“ Using their platform on gender and racial equality as well as LGBTQIA+ rights, Destroy Boys channel that same unbridled passion into their lyrics. The group give a voice to the underrepresented with a fresh perspective on love, loss and everything in between.” - Alternative Press

"Originally from Sacramento and now based in San Francisco, Destroy Boys is an absolutely need-to-know punk trio.” - San Francisco Chronicle

"Produced by Will Yip, it's a ripper."  - Brooklyn Vegan

“......it's safe to say Destroy Boys have successfully carved their niche in punk rock.” - Guitar World

“From the distinctive opening riff to the ridiculously catchy chorus, it seems as if Destroy Boys is finding their stride. “ - That Punkzine

“If Destroy Boys are showing us a current direction punk is going in, maybe we should let them lead us there.”  - If it’s Too Loud

WATCH  “DRINK”:  HERE

Northern California’s Destroy Boys are excited to announce the release of the video for their latest single  “Drink” along with summer and fall tour dates. The song was produced and mixed by Will Yip (Mannequin Pussy, The Menzingers, Quicksand, Code Orange etc.) Hopeless Records last month. “ ‘Drink’ [the song] is about being in a cycle of addiction that you can’t seem to escape,” says front person Alexia Roditis. “The video is about having visions that you’re afraid of becoming real life, becoming something you can’t control anymore. You’re not sure if you like this place you’ve been to before. But when you are deep enough to realize what’s going on, and that you want to change, sometimes it feels like it’s too late. “  The video takes the viewer through a hazy day in the life of the protagonist whose reality is someone between dreaming and reality.  “When dealing with alcoholism, days can often run together,” says director Katie Neuhof. “ Janet [our lead] is trapped in a never-ending cycle of work and drinking at the bar. Each time she enters the bar, things escalate, but she never notices. Finally, the other bar patrons take her to the dark side with them, trapping her in the bar forever”

Destroy Boys are a three-piece band founded by Violet Mayugba (guitar/vocals) and Alexia Roditis (vocals/guitar). Rounded out by drummer Narsai Malik they have been redefining West Coast punk, making waves from the California shoreline to the UK, sharing stages with up and coming bands like Mannequin Pussy as well as punk stalwarts such as Face To Face and Lagwagon. In addition to having racked up over 60 million streams, their music can be heard in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 game, and Tik Tok has embraced them to the tune of 20 thousand user-made videos and over 3.5M views. Their visceral personal tales have won over the hearts and ears of eager listeners who pack out their shows.

The band has been outspoken advocates for a myriad of social justice issues, especially when it comes to racial equality, LGBTQA+ rights, and inclusion for all, which is prevalent in their music, their actions, and how they use their platform. Frontperson Alexia Roditis told Punkzine, “I think the scene is opening up and people are realizing that queer people, POC, people of different abilities, fat people, women, make BADASS MUSIC that is underappreciated. These people have always been in the scene and always made art, and I think we are moving towards appreciating it and uplifting those voices more. I am happy to have been a part of that for some people.”  After more than a year of no live music the band is thrilled to be getting back on the road this summer starting Sad Summer Tour, dates with the Story So Far, and rounded out by headlining shows in the fall. 

TOUR DATES

AUG 6  Papa Murphy’s Park Sacramento, CA *

AUG 7  City National Grove Outdoors Anaheim, CA *

AUG 17 Mohawk Austin, TX +

AUG 20 The Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fairgrounds Orlando, FL *

AUG 21  The Masquerade Outdoors Atlanta, GA *

AUG 23 The Cannery Nashville, TN  +

AUG 24 The Fillmore  Charlotte, NC +

Aug 25 The Norva Norfolk, VA +  

AUG 27 The Rooftop at Pier 17 New York, NY *

AUG 28 MECU Pavilion Baltimore, MD *

AUG  29 Anthology Rochester, NY + 

AUG 31 EXPRESS LIVE! Outdoor Columbus, OH *

SEP 3 Stone Pony Summer Stage Asbury Park, NJ *

SEP 4  The Palladium (Outdoors) Worcester, MA*

SEP 5  Skyline Stage @ The Mann Philadelphia, PA *

SEP 7  Stage AE Outdoors Pittsburgh, PA *

SEP 9  Deluxe Milwaukee, WI +

SEP 10  The Rave / Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI *

SEP 11 Crofoot Festival Grounds Pontiac, MI *

SEP 12 Top Cat’s Cincinnati, OH

SEP 14 Old Rock House St. Louis, MO

SEP 15 The Rino Kansas City, MO

SEP 17 Marquis Theater Denver, CO

SEP 18 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT

SEP 20 The Vera Project Seattle, WA

SEP 21 Lola’s Room Portland,  OR

Sep 23 The Holland Project Reno, NV

* w/ the Sad Summer Tour

• w/ The Story So Far

KEEP UP WITH DESTROY BOYS

WEBSITE || INSTAGRAM || FACEBOOK

MISS TESS RELEASES NEW SINGLE “REAL CHANGE”

MISS TESS RELEASES NEW SINGLE  “REAL CHANGE”

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT SOCIAL JUSTICE NONPROFIT

GIDEON’S ARMY 

Captivating - Billboard

 Rooted in a retro groove that’s equal parts blues, mid-century rock & roll and Booker T-worthy R&B - Rolling Stone Country

 Old-time warmth, 21st-century sass. It’s a potent recipe for that few artists successfully pull off — and Miss Tess is one of them - No Depression 

 A voice that recalls artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Patsy Cline and Lindi Ortega - The Boot

 Soulful - Wide Open Country

LISTEN: “REAL CHANGE”

 Today, Nashville chanteuse Miss Tess released her brand new single, “Real Change.” The song was written with Maya de Vitry a month or two after the death of George Floyd. “The world was on fire,” recalls Miss. Tess. “Of all the sadness and loss already experienced through the onset of a global pandemic, I thought maybe it all happened for a reason. Most of our working systems came to a standstill for the first time in recent history, and the world had time to listen, watch, and react.”  

While the conversations are not new, people of all shapes and colors were and are willing to fight for accountability. “A lot of us have had the luxury of not knowing for a very long time. It’s much harder not to notice now, but it seems like you still never really understand until it happens to you or someone you love,” Miss Tess explains. “Our power and money-hungry machines are always waiting in the wings to push their agendas and keep us divided with their tools of racism, misogyny, and exploitation. ‘Divide and conquer’ as the old saying goes. The people must remember how much power they have. My goal is not to preach from some high pulpit but rather to spread a humble message of hope and unity. As we emerge from this dark pandemic cocoon may we continue practicing the power of love and awareness toward our fellow humans,” she continues. “The world will never be perfect, but we have to keep trying, and insisting that real change is possible."  

“Real Change” was co-produced by Miss Tess and Thomas Bryan Eaton (guitar), and also features Lindsay Lou and Rachael Davis (background vocals), John Pahmer (piano, organ), Rhees Williams (bass), and Dan Holmes (drums). Miss Tess will donate 100% of the song’s proceeds to Nashville racial justice nonprofit Gideon’s Army*, a community-based, grassroots organization that uses restorative justice programs to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline through social activism by children, families, and the community. Click HERE to purchase “Real Change” or make a donation.

WATCH: “REAL CHANGE”

  When most people think of defiant music, they think of punk rock or outlaw country. But defying genres while transcending eras and resisting clichés is hard to pin down when it comes to artistry unless you're talking about Miss Tess, who does all of that and more. Swinging for the fences and from the branches of jazz, country, blues, and old school rock and roll, she employs all of her influences and talents while cleverly taking standard perspectives and ideas - like the definition of a love song - to task. From soulful swagger to jazz, blues, a little old school country, and even a touch of psychedelia, Miss Tess shows both the pluck and poise to fold a multitude of styles into her own. In early 2020, Miss Tess released her acclaimed LP The Moon Is An Ashtray, co-produced with Andrija Tockic and lauded by Billboard, Rolling Stone Country, No Depression. Wide Open Country, The Boot, and more. 

*ABOUT GIDEON’S ARMY: Gideon’s Army is a community-based, grassroots organization that works to design programs based on contemporary interpretations of the theory of restorative justice. As a locally-based organization with a long-term goal for state-wide expansion, Gideon’s Army is currently the only local organization in Nashville that focuses solely on dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline through social activism by children in the prison pipeline, their families, and their community. Utilizing research-based best practices combined with community outreach, Gideon’s Army builds its restorative justice programs based upon this information and uses program results to guide its policy work. Through intensive volunteer and community training as well as dialogue, we as a community lead and work together throughout the entire process. The organization uniquely emphasizes youth empowerment and community member leadership as well as direct interfacing with families, the juvenile courts, and the public school system. Gideon’s Army facilitators, mentors, and other volunteers are members of the North Nashville community who train fellow youth, educators, and others in continuing the process of educating. This training structure creates a positive cyclical pipeline based in restorative juice to combat the destructive effects of the school-to-prison pipeline.

TOUR DATES:

July 3 -  The Brick Church Social @ Farm Fresh Eggs - Nashville, TN*

July 8 - Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV 

July 10 - Red Wing Roots Music Festival - Mount Solon, VA

July 15 - Colony - Woodstock. NY**

July 16 - Rose Hall - Cortland, NY**

July 17 - Abilene Bar & Lounge - Rochester, NY**

July 18 - Argyle Brewing Company - Cambridge, NY**

July 21 - The Barn - Egremont, MA**^

July 22 - Sunny’s - Brooklyn, NY**

July 23 - Americana In The Archway - Brooklyn, NY**

July 24 - Augusta Block Party Honky Tonk Dance - Elkins, WV

July 30 - The Burl - Lexington, KY^^

August 14 - East Nashville Tomato Art Fest - Nashville, TN

*w/ Thomas Bryan Eaton & Hobson's Choice, Kristina Murray, & Joshua Rilko

**duo w/ Thomas Bryan Eaton

^w/ Lydia Luce

^^w/ John R. Miller

CONNECT WITH MISS TESS

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

WATERTOWER MUSIC ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF THE SEINFELD SOUNDTRACK WITH MUSIC BY JONATHAN WOLFF

 WATERTOWER MUSIC ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF

THE SEINFELD SOUNDTRACK

WITH MUSIC BY JONATHAN WOLFF

LISTEN TO THE SEINFELD SOUNDTRACK HERE 

Los Angeles, July 2, 2021 - WaterTower Music is excited to announce the release of the Seinfeld Soundtrack featuring music by the show's composer Jonathan Wolff. The music was carefully selected by Wolff with the fans in mind, and has never been available for public consumption until now. Fans of the show will recognize the tracks which are named after some of the popular scenes and episodes that they were featured in including “Cable Guy vs. Kramer,” “Jerry Vs. Newman Chase.” etc. “Often, soundtrack albums include brilliant masterpieces of musical artistry and compelling, momentous film score suites,” says Wolff. “Yeah, there’ll be none of that. This music was created to peg the funny meters. Each track evokes a favorite scene. My opus magnum is a ‘Big Daddy Pimpwalk.’  Seinfeld fans only, please.” 

Wolff created the music for 75 primetime network series including Will & Grace, Married with Children, Reba, Who’s the Boss, Saved by the Bell the College Years, but is best known for his iconic Seinfeld music. This is his first soundtrack album. “It was 30 years in the making,” Wolff told Variety, and “is the only one I’ve ever wanted to make." Now retired, he thrills concert and lecture audiences with wonderful insider stories and Q/A's about his remarkable Hollywood career including Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.

Wolff’s big hope for the soundtrack is that “Seinfeld fans will use my music in their own lover-boy photoshoot videos on Instagram and TikTok.”

SEINFELD SOUNDTRACK TRACKLISTING

1. Seinfeld Theme

2. Seinfeld Theme (Highlights of 100) - Jonathan Wolff

3. Seinfeld Theme (The Chronicle) - Jonathan Wolff

4. The Jerry Show Theme (The Pilot Part 2) - Jonathan Wolff

5. Kramer's Pimpwalk (The Wig Master) - Jonathan Wolff

6. Jerry the Mailman (The Andria Doria) - Jonathan Wolff

7. Himalayan Walking Shoes (The Hot Tub) - Jonathan Wolff

8. John Jermaine Jazz #1 (The Rye)- Jonathan Wolff

9. John Jermaine Jazz #2 (The Rye) - Jonathan Wolff (feat Bob Sheppard)

10. John Jermaine Jazz #3 (The Rye) - Jonathan Wolff (feat Bob Sheppard)

11. Kramer's Boombox (The Package) - Jonathan Wolff

12. Jerry vs Newman Chase (The Soul Mate) - Jonathan Wolff

13. Cable Guy vs Kramer Chase (The Cadillac Part 2) - Jonathan Wolff

14. Noxin (The Cadillac Part 2) - Jonathan Wolff

15.  Jesus is One (feat Jack Diamond) [The Burning] - Jonathan Wolff

16 Kramer's Crappy Banjo (The Muffin Tops) - Jonathan Wolff

17. Peterman in Burmese Jungle (The Chicken Roaster) - Jonathan Wolff

18. TV Cartoon / Wheels on the Bus (The Contest) - Jonathan Wolff

19. Finale Suitcase Montage (The Finale) - Jonathan Wolff

20. Waiting For the Verdict Blues (The Finale) - Jonathan Wolff

21.  This Night Show (The Trip Part 1) - Jonathan Wolff

22. Rock Music Video (The Trip Part 1) - Jonathan Wolff

23.  The Lopper (The Frogger) - Jonathan Wolff

24. 1937 Wedding Cake Waltz (The Frogger) - Jonathan Wolff

25. Kramer Bachelor Auction (The Barber) - Jonathan Wolff

26. Rochelle, Rochelle the Musical (The Understudy) - Jonathan Wolff

27. Pier Contemplation (The Invitations) - Jonathan Wolff

28. Loud Dixieland Band (The Mom & Pop Store) - Jonathan Wolff

29. Scarsdale Surprise (The Summer of George)

30. Checkmate / Chunnel / Death Blow (The Movie, The Pool Guy, The Little Kicks) -  Jonathan Wolff

31. Blimp (The Puerto Rican Day) - Jonathan Wolff

32. The Pain & The Yearning (The Comeback) - Jonathan Wolff

33. George's Answering Machine (Greatest American Hero) [The Susie] - Jonathan Wolff 

ABOUT Seinfeld

An Emmy and Golden Globe winner for Best Comedy Series, Seinfeld is one of the most popular and award-winning comedy series of all time. Jerry Seinfeld stars as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life's most perplexing, yet often trivial questions. Often described as "a show about nothing," Seinfeld mines the humor in life's mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Co-starring are Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry's ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry's neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry's eccentric neighbor, Kramer.

ABOUT WATERTOWER MUSIC

WaterTower Music, the in-house label for the WarnerMedia companies, releases recorded music as rich and diverse as the companies themselves. It has been the soundtrack home to many of the world’s most iconic films, television shows and games since 2001.

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

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OUT TODAY VIA GIFTSHOP RECORDS: LEFT VESSEL’S DEBUT LP ONE (AND DRIFTLESS)

OUT TODAY  

VIA GIFTSHOP RECORDS: 

LEFT VESSEL’S DEBUT LP ONE (AND DRIFTLESS)   

Rustic, rural, and beautiful indie folk - PopMatters  

Calming and thoughtful...embodies the sound and spirit of nature throughout - The Source Weekly  

Songs with layers of sound that force you to pay attention - Glide Magazine 

Delicate folk tunes…an enhanced audio experience - Americana-UK 

Bright, orchestral folk…a perfect refresher on these summer days - Mother Church Pew 

Wonderful - We Love That Sound 

An engaging sound that at once feels authentically human and raw, and also like a pure imitator of the sounds of nature - Two Story Melody  

A record truly at one with its environment - Fair Shakes and Just Desserts 

Photo: Elisa Terrazas Campbell

LISTEN: ONE (AND DRIFTLESS)  

Today, Oregon-based sound artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Nick Byron Campbell, who records and performs under the moniker Left Vessel, has released his debut LP One (and Driftless), mixed by Cory Hanson (of Los Angeles-based band Wand), via GiftShop Records. 

“This album is an attempt to cut away layers, sonically and thematically, to get to a simple core, playing and singing about basic things that have become really important to me in recent years,” says Campbell of the record, which bears overarching themes of respect for nature and the interconnectedness of all things. 

[Text Wrapping Break]Campbell, whose music has been featured in films like Marcel Sarmiento's Faceless and television shows like “This Is Us,” thought: "What if you could make music with a tree? Not cutting it down and turning it into an instrument, but actually with a living tree, in a way that was beautiful musically but allowed that tree to go on living its life once you were done performing with it?” During his residency as the Crystal Creek Citizen-Artist in Houston, Minnesota, Campbell had the chance to explore Minnesota's Driftless Area in search of willing wooden participants.   

“The residency provided me with a period of time at a cabin in the woods where I could focus, write and work,” Campbell recalls. “But as part of the program, I also engaged with the local community during my time there, and that itself was really inspiring. The song ‘Society,’ in fact, came about during a tour through a nearby historical society - a older and very kind local man slowly walked me through this beautiful, and incredibly full, museum, and I gathered most of the sounds heard in that song (drums, pump organ, various other unique sounds) on my field recorder while we walked around, and then turned it all into a song,” he adds. “The people there were wonderful.” 

The album features several tracks recorded with trees, complete with ambient sounds of the forest in the background—chirping birds, fluttering wings, and feet keeping time on crunchy, fallen leaves. Campbell used his own unique instrumental creation he dubbed "the arbow." The arbow (a play on the Spanish word “arbol,” for tree) is a live tree that is strung, bowed or plucked, and amplified—all in a way that doesn't damage the tree. The core idea is to find a way of making “non-extractive” music: music that doesn't hurt our world but works with it. This video illustrates Campbell’s process: https://vimeo.com/366830629/bff361fd5b  

The tracks encompass ideas of love and loss, the intricacies of relationships in tracks like “Your Winter,” and even visions had on a shamanic journey, the inspiration for “This Year Be.” 

 WATCH: “THIS YEAR BE” 

WATCH “YOUR WINTER” 

One (and Driftless) works in two parts: the first half illustrates relationships with nature, reflecting on how we as humans are so essentially tied to nature, but behave as if we aren’t. The second half explores relationships with other people, similarly reflecting on how deeply tied we are to one another, a timely message in this era of environmental stress and social strife. 

Left Vessel’s swirling brand of indie-folk, though experimental in its creation, is imminently accessible due in large part to Campbell’s adeptness with winding, catchy hooks. Taken as a whole, One (and Driftless) is a collection of songs about transformation: ecological, societal, personal, and romantic. 

CONNECT WITH LEFT VESSEL:

WEBSITE || TIKTOK || INSTAGRAM || BANDCAMP || YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY   

OUT TODAY: NEVER A MOMENT ALONE NEW LP FROM EMILY DAVIS AND THE MURDER POLICE

  OUT TODAY:  

NEVER A MOMENT ALONE  

NEW LP FROM EMILY DAVIS AND THE MURDER POLICE  

Davis cues up discussions around climate change, systemic racism, and income inequality, specifically, between thumping layers of drums and their sky-tearing lead vocal - American Songwriter   

The band deftly melds the seemingly disparate worlds of folk and punk and flexes their own chameleon-like ability to adapt to pretty much anything, proving exactly how it made sense that they were able to open for bands like Bad Religion and Leftover Crack and then share a stage with Neko Case. - Glide Magazine 

 With every song, you realize that this band has hit on a winning formula - Americana Highways  

Relentless hardcore tempo, but using folk-oriented instrumentation - Rebel Noise 

Like a runaway train after a wild west shootout, EDMP shows us a different side of the Texas music scene, and we’re here for every minute of it - East of 8th  

Emily Davis & The Murder Police have something special, the magic that only comes from truly loving what you do and having fun with it. It makes every track sound a little louder, every lyric hit a little harder. It makes you fall in love with them and the music they make - Yack! Magazine  

With groovy and scintillating drum beats, thumping bass notes/rhythm, high-spirited guitar rhythm, and soothing but somewhat provoking high pitch vocals, Emily Davis and The Murder Police still manages to drop a somber social and political message - Hello Radio 

Photo credit: Fernie Ceniceros 

  STREAM NEVER A MOMENT ALONE 

SPOTIFY // BANDCAMP    

Today, El Paso’s favorite alt-punk band Emily Davis and The Murder Police released their new LP Never A Moment Alone. “Never A Moment Alone is varied thematically, but one of the central premises is the lack of foresight humans continue to display with regard to climate change and our lack of preparedness for other crises,” front person Davis explains. “We prioritize the wrong things and we aren't taking seriously the biggest threats to our wellbeing and existence.”  

That theme is more explicitly stated in album tracks “Why Weren't They Stunned” and “Apartment Homes,” a nihilistic yet sonically upbeat and cheerful song that’s basically a big "what-if"—what will the world look like if we don't alter our habits? Will we all have to share apartment homes and eat from the same plate?   

WATCH: “WHY WEREN’T THEY STUNNED?” 

Through dry humor, clever lyrics, and high-energy musicianship, the band tackles the world and society's penchant for head-scratching behavior with clever lyrics and dry humor as they offer commentary on excessive patriotism expressed in our culture's worship of the flag in songs like "God Hates Flags, a quarantine love song in “Eden Is The Worst,” and substance abuse as escapism in “Artificial Happiness.”  

With “Semicolon,” Davis, who lives with ADHD and Bipolar II, relays a candid take on mental health. “I wanted it to be relatable to anyone who might struggle with their mental health in one way or another,” they explain of the track, its title inspired by Project Semicolon whose the tag line, is “You don't have to end your sentence.” Davis also sees a semicolon as fixed between two separate entities—and for the person with bipolar disorder, those entities are mania and depression.  

WATCH: “SEMICOLON” 

Davis, a former member of Cigarettes After Sex and desert-punk shredder, has a powerful voice reminiscent of legends (and personal influences) like Dolores O'Riordan, Jenny Lewis, and Neko Case, and The Murder Police—Jorge Torres (electric guitar, backing vocals), Jose Macias (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Tomas Tinajero (drums, backing vocals)—back Davis up like a freight train of energy.   

EDMP has found success across the nation through their poignant music, lyrical vulnerability, and creatively engaging social media presence. Davis has had a fascinatingly unique journey to the national stage. Their YouTube channel, featuring numerous punk rock covers (of, most notably, Bad Religion) has drawn serious attention—accumulating nearly seven million views. Davis has clearly proven their talent deserves to be noticed, and noticed they were, leading to the band’s most significant outing to date—an opening slot on legendary punk band Bad Religion’s 2019 fall tour to packed venues across the country. 

The band has some significant accomplishments under their belt, even beyond their 2019 run with Bad Religion. In 2017, Davis toured solo with Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin, supporting his at-the-time recently released solo record, Millport. In 2019 alone, the band opened for Leftover Crack, The Toasters, Authority Zero, and alt-rock cult superstars Cold War Kids.   

With Never A Moment Alone, the EDMP’s second full-length effort, Davis has deftly continued to curate a brilliantly unique blend of 90’s-inspired alt-rock, folk, and punk that will expand your horizons while it tests your speakers. Never A Moment Alone is available for purchase on their website, and at Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon. 

EDMP will celebrate the album’s release tonight in El Paso, Texas with a live show at Love Buzz. The band will also perform live at Launchpad in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 23rd, and in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery on July 24th. Be sure to follow EDMP at the links below for more upcoming tour announcements. 

CONNECT WITH EMILY DAVIS AND THE MURDER POLICE:   

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

DEBUT ALBUM FROM LOS ANGELES SINGER/SONGWRITER JOE BOURDET MEADOW ROCK OUT NOW

DEBUT ALBUM FROM LOS ANGELES

SINGER/SONGWRITER JOE BOURDET

MEADOW ROCK OUT NOW 

“Beyond the stirring melodies and lyrics of Bourdet’s songs, what imbues Meadow Rock with its resonant, layered vibe is that every note on the album (in true 1970s classic rock style) was played on a genuine instrument… Meadow Rock embodies that untamed and creative spirit.” – Golden State

Photo Credit: Sara Ross Samko

MEADOW ROCK ALBUM || LISTEN

“EL CAPITAN” VIDEO || WATCH

Los Angeles singer/songwriter Joe Bourdet “writes in dreamscape throwback 70s folk styles, and splendid high-end electric guitar solos abound…of nostalgia.” (- Americana Highways ) on his debut album Meadow Rock (out now).

The nine-song set inspired by our natural surroundings of California – including the mountain ranges throughout.  

 “El Capitan” is about the Yosemite Valley and the Sierras, where “the protagonist senses deeper metaphysical vibrations amid memories of past visits with loved ones.” “Amongst The Pines” was written on an evening drive up Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains. “The arrangement is somewhat in tribute to a Gordon Lightfoot or Ozark Mountain Daredevils style production,” explains Joe. The accompanying video is comprised of footage shot by Joe and Dave Baine (who plays mandolin on the track) on a 9-day backpacking trip in the High Sierra trails. 

And  “Lost Along The Way” co-written with Alana Amram is a semi-autobiographical song is “loosely based on breaking down in my Datsun 240z on the Pacific Coast Highway very late night near El Capitan State Beach,” explains Joe.

BUZZ FOR MEADOW ROCK

 “Amongst The Pines” leans heavily into its serene nature setting, placing the listener in the untarnished natural beauty of its titular pines. Fittingly, the instrumentation is similarly pastoral, carrying rich acoustic tones as Bourdet’s vocals recall vintage Americana and singer/songwriter heroes. Though the record is a studio creation it instead feels refreshingly authentic, as if you’ve joined Bourdet and company around the campfire as they tribute peaceful alpine passages.” – Under The Radar

 “Over spacious drums and a 60s folk-inspired sound… backing harmonies add an ethereal touch reminiscent of Peter, Paul and Mary or the Mamas & the Papas. It’s a dreamy soundscape of a song that embraces the beauty of life’s surprising turns. Sometimes you get lost and it’s best to lean into it.” – Holler Country

 “Giving a nod to 70s folk-rock and singer-songwriters of that era, Bourdet puts his own signature spin on the music explaining that the sound is more “Topanga Canyon” than the widely known sound of LA’s Laurel Canyon.” – Turnstyled Junkpiled

“…an homage to the soft, singer-songwriter pop-rock of the mid-to-late ‘70s close your eyes and dream of the simpler life before technology invaded every corner of our lives on the nine well-crafted tracks” – The Big Takeover

“Joe Bourdet provides some high-end lead guitar tone that is endearing alongside his mellow vocal style on this debut [Meadow Rock]…. For young ears, this music may be too sublime. To older nostalgive ears its singer-songwriter heaven with poignancy, good takes, tight musicianship & melodies – more homegrown & organic in nature.” – Americana Highways

“…an album dripping with soft acoustic guitars, divine slide and pedal steel, and vocal harmonies to die for.” – At The Barrier

ABOUT JOE BOURDET

Highway 49 is called the golden chain highway and connects numerous tiny hamlets as it weaves through the river canyons of the California gold country. This is the area where Joe Bourdet spent his youth, and it provided the formative images which inspired the music of his debut album Meadow Rock.

Having had the good fortune to be born into a musical family, his uncle, Mike Bonnington, and San Francisco jazz musician Jack Minger set the example that music life, though it “ain’t no good life”, in fact was possible. Since picking up guitar in high school, Bourdet’s musical world has grown into a host of technical and artistic areas. He repairs, restores, modifies, and occasionally even builds his instruments and recording equipment. He operates his own home studio which he describes as a “project studio PLUS”. Having also accrued a handful of sometimes white-knuckle experiences as an audio engineer in music and film productions, Bourdet was able to engineer, mix, and produce his own debut album. Even if, as he is quick to point out, he did so with more than a little help from his friends, and indeed also from some of the top professional technicians in music.

Musically, Bourdet plays various guitar styles, including slide, and occasionally bass. He sings with a neutral singer-songwriter flare, and considers himself merely an “enthusiast” as a keyboardist. In addition to writing or co-writing most of the compositions on his debut, he also built the song arrangements up via careful overdubbing. It’s a process he likens to an obsessive Steely Dan style discipline, with the exception that tempo drifts and imperfect/ naturalistic sounds were generally embraced.  

MEADOW ROCK || OUT NOW

KEEP UP WITH JOE BOURDET

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