Russian-born singer-songwriter Ksenia (Ka-SIN-ee-uh) lets the world know she’s in charge! Through her new single, “Like it or Not,” the artist shares a big life lesson that nobody else’s opinions matter but your own. In her new video for the song, Ksenia shows you can be in control of your life and have fun while doing it! WATCH HERE
“Like it or Not” is from Ksenia’s upcoming 7-track EP, Fire with Fire, out in February 2020. The singer combines electro-pop, R&B as well as traditional Russian folk melody to create seven original songs that tell stories about self-empowerment and taking responsibility for your own happiness. Ksenia co-wrote the songs on her new EP with LA songwriter/producer Mario Marchetti, who has produced songs for Jojo and Demi Lovato. She also co-wrote one of the songs with Trevor Holmes, a semi-finalist on American idol in 2018.
LA Story, who premiered the video on Dec. 19, 2019, lauds not only Ksenia’s confidence and “great voice,” but also “that she’s comfortable being on camera (thanks to her MFA in acting & film).” The editor goes on to say, “Her comfortable stage presence really grabs your attention. Once in character, she really owns the screen.”
From a small town in Russia, to being bi-coastal in NYC and LA, Ksenia is ready to take on the world! Check out her third single and fun video, “Like it or Not,” out now. Be sure to look out for this powerhouse artist’s new EP, Fire with Fire, coming to you in February 2020.
(Photo Credit: Oscar Olsson)
Swedish artist / producer STRØM has debuted a brand new single titled “Last Try.” Listen to the song everywhere now here, out now via This is Scandinavia / Sony Music.
A pulsing, downtempo electronic track produced with precision and avant garde sensibility, the song is the first to be released from STRØM’s forthcoming debut album, which is slated for a February 2020 release.
Today’s new single is only the second-ever from the budding producer, whose debut track as STRØM was born out of sheer coincidence after composing a song for a BMW commercial, which he later finished and released in 2017 as “Mesmerize.” The song drew acclaim from a slew of music outlets and quickly shot to #1 on Hype Machine.
Growing up in Värmdö, an island off the coast of Stockholm, STRØM began experimenting with musical instruments around age 7 and later formed a string of bands through his teen years. As he grew up, he took a greater interest in production and eventually moved to Berlin for a period to study music production and sound design.
A project whose purest intention is an experimental outlet for musical expression free of genre bounds, STRØM’s forthcoming debut album embodies this ethos.
Be on the lookout for more to come from the album soon. In the meantime, stream
Southern rock trio Tennessee Werewolves will be in Hendersonville, TN handing out toys and greeting families at the annual Christmas 4 Kids Tour Buses and Shopping 2019. The Tour Bus show will be held from 5p to 9p at the Hendersonville Walmart at 204 Anderson Lane North. The band is inviting the local community to come out and support families who are less fortunate as they take part in spreading holiday cheer.
Tennessee Werewolves are just one of the musical acts set to appear at Christmas 4 Kids. In addition to the holiday event, the band will be performing at Whisky A Go Go in LA on February 22nd as the opener for Love/Hate’s 30th Anniversary event.
The trio will also be present at this year’s 2020 Winter NAMM in Anaheim during the week of January 16th – 19th. Endorsed by Stagg Cymbals, SELA, Pearl, and Teye Guitars, you can catch them at the Blackstar booth where they may even delight fans with a surprise performance.
This year has been another breakthrough year for Tennessee Werewolves. They have worked to build a name for themselves along the Sunset Strip, winning the praise of concert-goers over the course of several highly rated performances. Opening for rock greats Puddle of Mudd and playing The Pretty Boy Floyd 30th Anniversary have helped the Werewolves solidify their presence on the west coast. They’ve also received praise from industry figures and artists alike who have become a regular presence at their shows.
With LA being their home away from home, the band has made Sunset Marquis a secondary residence and frequents the infamous hangout spot Rainbow to kick back after shows.
The band has managed to dominate as Southern Rock’s most notable contender, finding their lane typically displayed by their pleasantly rowdy and unapologetic style. The Tennessee Werewolves’ debut album “American Dream” is available on iTunes.
Producer/artist Dave Stewart has released a new single from his latest southern hip hop inspired project. “Do It (Houston Remix),” is a catchy bass-laden track featuring all the vibes of a late night at the club. Dave’s latest work is just a selection of his upcoming music slated for debut in 2020.
Released under his label and publisher Sapio Music, “Do It” is currently available on SoundCloud and Apple Music. To hear the single on SoundCloud visit https://buff.ly/
“Do It is something new and fresh. I had plenty of music and I’m capable of making 100s of tracks but I felt like this would be a good way to introduce myself to the world,” said Stewart.
He got his start as a talented musician playing first chair Honor Orchestra for 9 years as an Orchestral Bassist and Cellist. He’s also a former program assistant who has worked alongside production teams for Lil Boosie and Lil Phat and a Charter line member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated LSUS.
(Photo Credit: Rafael Avcioglu)
Marco DeLiso is a Cambridge, Massachusetts based multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer who uses his music as a tool for expressing a common language. Stylistically, DeLiso’s music is groovy, flush with vocal harmony and presented with levity, bringing people together where they can be themselves and laugh at his silly presentation.
Urged into music by his parents at the age of five years old, Marco DeLiso took to piano, giving him his first taste of music. At school he sung in choirs where he learned to improvise vocal harmonies and improvisation which serve him to his day. Later he started Congratulatinos and after releasing a couple albums, the duo finally departed ways. It was time for a new chapter.
In his latest work, Marco DeLiso presents Balance, a four-track EP which he believes contains insight that will benefit others. He has pulled threads from his experience over the many different groups and periods to deliver a sound that is truly unique to him. Thematically, Balance focuses on introspection and the ideology of finding a balanced lifestyle. “For me, it’s such a valuable tool for processing my life and maintaining self-awareness” the songwriter confides, “The music is inspired by my personal belief that a balanced life is the happiest, most fulfilling, healthiest life. This balance is my personal solution to the problem of being a creative individual in a society that makes it difficult for someone to live off of their art”.
Balance showcases Marco’s DeLiso’s love for overdubbing vocals to create sections of cloudy lush harmony and experimental live looping, emitting whimsical melodies. ‘Harmonious Resistance’ features candid lyrics juxtaposing the soft, sweet guitar melodies. Ethereal vocals and subtle, simplistic instrumentation allow the lyrics tell the story. ‘And We Fall’ highlights Marco’s hip hop influences, with quirky pop soundscapes and playful piano melodies. The infectious track emits Marco DeLiso’s diversity and sheer uniqueness. Then there is ‘Round & Round’, with jazz infused guitars, the track is reminiscent of Jack Johnson meets D’Angelo.
Inspired by a wide range of artists over many different eras and genres, Marco DeLiso’s music emanates the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, John Lennon, Eminem, and Radiohead. In addition to these recognizable names, the singer-songwriter also seeks influence from his friends and their music. “On Balance, I feel like I have pulled from all of these threads to make a style that is truly my own”.
Hoping to bring excitement, escapism, empathy and inspiration to listeners around the world, Marco DeLiso unveils the highly anticipated Balance due early 2020.
All of life is a journey and the best journeys are those taken with friends. For the 5 members of The Mowgli’s that road has seen their friendship tested and rebuilt numerous times. From their earliest Venice, California days as a 10+ revolving cast of characters to their current line-up, the core members have evolved from playing midnight warehouse parties to the stages of the largest festivals.
While there have been many highlights – appearances on late night TV shows, incredibly rewarding collaborations with charities and electrifying performances in legendary venues among them – there have also been tests: Losing band members, battling with the stress of constant touring and maintaining their friendship, trying to remain both grounded and optimistic when things go amazingly well and when they don’t. But there have been benefits of creating deep bonds and close relationships, not least the marriage of singers Katie Jayne Earl and Josh Hogan in 2017. “Being in a touring band is hard work,” says Katie, “but inspiring. It only works because people care about the band and we have a core who support us, people who have both been there since the beginning and joined along the way. Those supporters keep us motivated.”
The release of The Mowgli’s first major-label LP Waiting For The Dawn in 2013 saw immediate success with the hit single San Francisco. The record – which focused on the joy of bringing people together – immediately connected in a cynical world. The band quickly found themselves playing to sold out crowds in clubs around the US and inundated by requests for press, sponsorships and partnerships. Appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Firefly, Osheaga, Bottlerock and many other festivals followed as did performances on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan and a stint as the SXSW House band for Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live (Bravo)
The follow up LP, 2015’s Kids in Love (which spawned the feel-good single I’m Good) saw the band explore personal relationships including their own inter-band ones, and their third LP Where’d Your Weekend Go? which came in the Fall of 2016, often found the band working on songs together from their very inception – giving much of the record a relaxed and communal feeling.
Parting ways with their original label in 2017, The Mowgli’s released a pair of EPs: I Was Starting To Wonder (2018) and American Feelings (2019), each backed by national US tours and both exploring the “band experience” to a large extent. The first EP focused on travelling, missing home, looking for excitement in the daily churn of a tour, finding it in the back alleys and on the rooftops of America. The more recent EP American Feelings turned more towards relationships and connections, noticeable in Talk About It and Mr. Telephone which both harken to the lack of discourse and engagement prevalent in society today, especially with technology serving as both a facilitator and barrier. Says singer/guitarist Josh Hogan, “Communication is a very powerful tool. If we could learn to communicate in a healthy way, this place would be much less divided.”
Katie adds: “Talk About It started out being a song about communicating your way through difficult situations, but as it evolved, it became a song not only about having hard conversations, but about forgiveness. And it’s really special to me.” Whereas those songs look outwards, Hard To Love and Norman Rockwell focus inwards, taking a critical look at emotional failings in the former, and attempting to create a new reality to escape to in the latter.
“…Wonder” was supported by a deliberately small club tour. “It was exciting to get back out on the road, up close and personal with our fans who have stuck with us from the beginning,” says Katie. “We took a really needed break after [Where’d Your Weekend Go?] – after years of almost non-stop touring.”
“It was a relief to get back on the road and do something a little different for that tour,” adds Josh.
The band also travelled to Honduras and Guantanamo Bay last year, entertaining the Armed Forces during the week of July 4th. Truly an eye-opening experience, the two shows rank as unforgettable for the band. “You get that sense that people are really grateful to just have a connection with back-home – especially in Honduras,” says Josh. “It was so cool to feel that energy and look around when you’re playing and realize where we were and what it meant to everyone.”
Additionally The Mowgli’s are seeing visibility with the theme song to “Big City Greens”, Disney TV’s #1 animated show for which they were asked to write and record the title song. A chance conversation between a Disney TV music executive and a mutual friend of the band’s as to how he was “looking for a band with a vibe like The Mowgli’s” saw the band back in the studio immediately, and the raucous and frenetic track was delivered shortly afterwards. “We’ve all been raised on Disney” says drummer Andy Warren. “So, having them ask for a classic, vintage Mowgli’s song was kind of a dream come true. It was amazing how fast it came together and how well it fits with the opening montage!”
For The Mowgli’s, as for any band, this whole experience is a journey – and not always an easy one. It tests your self-belief, your stamina, your relationships and your mental and emotional health. “Since this band started we’ve been through a lot of changes: gained members, lost members, been shuffled around labels and learned a lot about the music industry,” says Andy. “Now it feels like we’re really independent again, refocused on curating our live show, more in touch with the business of being this band.” He adds “Our sound has evolved but we always circle back to the basic themes: love, feeling good, excited for life no matter what the day delivers.”
Always with a mission to bring hope and positivity into the world, The Mowgli’s have been involved with numerous charities including The IRC, Heal The Bay, Happy Bottoms and many food banks and homeless shelters.
The band is:
Joshua Hogan – vocals/guitar
Katie Jayne Earl – vocals
Matthew Di Panni – bass
David Appelbaum – keys
Andy Warren – drums
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
