Growing up between the East and West coasts, American singer-songwriter and actor Dante Palminteri matured his musical styling at an early age, drawing inspiration from John Mayer’s poetic mastery of the human psyche and Ed Sheeran’s genre-defying melodies. His lyrics narrate complex compilations about unrequited love, soul mates lost and found, and the growing pains of adulthood. Struck by the lyrical prowess of Americana muses Jason Isbell and The Tallest Man On Earth, Palminteri explores his own roots, weaving personal narratives on the intricacies of falling in love with whimsical acoustic melodies.
An early sufferer of anxiety and dyslexia, Palminteri found solace in the last place one would expect: written word. Dreaming up lyrics on teen heartbreak and defying the status quo, he set his sights on a long-term career in songwriting, eventually strumming his way into Berklee College of Music. He confides, “Growing up I couldn’t relate to using words in an academic setting, but when I discovered how to manipulate them to write my music they became a superpower. I want my music to speak to others and give them a soundtrack to their own lives”.
Following the release of the floaty, synth-pop record, “Miles Apart” – a heartfelt reflection on the regret and longing felt after an abrupt breakup, Palminteri is unveiling a handful of new singles, one by one. Simultaneously toeing between stories of love lost and won, Palminteri reflects on his own vulnerability, recounting real-life experiences facing rejection and loneliness, alongside feelings of heartfelt passion and intimacy. A common theme throughout the new music is change. The songwriter reveals, “Beginning last Summer, I went back to the drawing board to rebrand my music and artist image. I needed the time to get everyone’s preconceptions and rules out of my head with the goal of honing in on what it is I want to be creating. For the first time in a long while, I am making music that I am truly passionate about and I am excited to continue on this path of self-discovery”. Now, having found his own voice, Palminteri is defining who he is and baring it all, he continues, “Originality and being true to yourself is essential when making art in any form”.
‘Far From Me’ showcases simple guitar melodies, velvety vocals illustrating his impressive range and yearning lyrics which tug at your heart strings. The musician reveals, “Writing for me is like therapy, all of my emotions and experiences get baked into my music. All of these songs are about very different points in my life. All of these songs are a narration of what was happening to me at the time. Without giving anything away – some are inspirational, some are depressing, and everything in-between”. ‘I Don’t Even Need You’ highlights Palminteri’s use of fun infectious melodies, upbeat rhythms and quirky lyrics which burst with personality.
Palminteri has bared it all on stages across the Tri-State area, from Feinstein’s 54Below and Arlene’s Grocery, to Rockwood Music Hall and Bethlehem Musikfest.
My new single, “Motions,” is a post-breakup anthem, that takes you through the journey of post-breakup thoughts and how it feels to be on your own for the first time.
I wrote “Motions” on Valentine’s Day last year, on a cloudy day back in LA for the first time following a breakup.
Being back in the city that felt like him made me think about all the peaks and valleys of our relationship, the good and the bad.
I wrote this song with my good friend Jonathan Asperil, who also handled production. His guitar playing is out of this world, so the second he laid down the progression of the song, the words just started flowing out.
Listen to “Motions” on your preferred streaming platform now:
https://ffm.to/motions
We’re only human and it’s normal to go through the motions of an old relationship.
“Motions” showcases the wide range of emotions one goes through after a breakup, especially when you’re on your own.
Thank you so much for listening.
With love,
xx NOA
London born Samuel Jack brings a fresh and distinct sound through his passionate, storytelling lyrics and velvet vocals, resulting in a completely compelling delivery. Growing up in Johannesburg with his film director Father, Jack spent much of his time soaking in the vibrant tones of Blues, Motown, soul and roots music, which to this date play a big role in his songwriting. Combining the music of his childhood, with his new love for hip hop and pop, the soulful artist has established his own unique style which has been piquing the interest of listeners across the globe.
Jack is now unveiling his highly anticipated debut album, Empty Pockets, Crowded Heart. A collection of tracks narrating the emotions and feelings of the singer’s journey thus far. “What I’ve learnt, what I’ve seen, what I’ve felt – the adventure, the romance, the loss, the heartbreak. The honesty. Putting this record out into the world means everything to me, without being melodramatic this isn’t just a bunch of songs – to me it’s so much more than that.” confides Jack. Sonically the release is a beautiful reflection of his personality, representing his diversity of musical influences, from old school soul, to hip hop and blues.
Leading single “Gonna Be Alright” is a celebration of recovery – a song that stands as a reminder that we have to keep telling ourselves we can overcome anything and that all is going to be alright. Touching on very personal issues about dealing with anxiety and depression, “49 reasons to stay in bed” and the difficulty conveying those problems to others, “Hard to explain how I’m feeling until you’ve walked a couple miles in my shoes”,
the single is a heavy concept juxtaposed with an upbeat and joyous feeling. Featuring potent lyricism, swirling synth soundscapes and powerful vocals, the track gradually builds into a huge, anthemic chorus, making you want to hit repeat.
Jack describes how music has been his only constant through his turbulent life, always being there when he needed it and helping him discover new things, mend broken bridges, understand loss, love and even himself. “There’s no life without music and no music without life”, preaches the musician. Empty Pockets, Crowded Heart are a selection of songs that come from the deepest depths of himself, stitched together to form some of his most honest work to date.
Samuel Jack’s career has found him performing at some of the world’s
biggest festivals, landing multiple TV placements on adverts and shows such as Levi’s, Shameless and Nashville, as well as garnering acclaim from significant outlets including the likes of Clash, Music Week, Live Nation’s Ones To Watch and the BBC. “Gonna Be Alright” is the first single to be released off of the upcoming album Empty Pockets, Crowded Heart, due March 2020.
“‘Damn Baby” was actually written top to bottom on a plane. I still have a voice memo of me whispering it into my phone trying not to tick off my fellow riders. Hence the lane ‘I’m writing songs bout you on the back of plane.’ It’s also one of my very favorites to play live.” – Ethan, Alt Bloom
“Damn Baby” and “West Coast” are Alt Bloom’s first track releases of this year, and just the latest in a series of notable tracks released through 2019. With the euphoric debut track, “Call It Home,” described as “an alt-pop masterpiece” by Obsessxns, followed by the warped beats of “Potential,” the dreamy textures of “October Eyes,” and the alt-pop anthem “Stay,” Alt Bloom’s momentum continues well into 2020 with a five-song EP slated for the top of the year followed by a string of new music to be released throughout the spring and summer.
With millions of streams, thousands of followers, and legions of fans, Ezra Jordan has been making waves in the music scene independently, and he’s only just beginning.
Having performed all across North America, Ezra specializes in creating intimate experiences with maximum impact that not only leave concert goers engaged, but musically entranced.
So far in his career, Ezra Jordan has exceeded expectations by already accumulating 4 million streams on Spotify, hitting Mediabase’s CHR Top 40 Activator chart twice (#37 • 10 Miles a Minute & #42 • Is It Just Me), and working with award winning artists & producers like Chin Injeti (Grammy Producer), Leo (Alec Benjamin, Madison Beer, MAX), Garth Richardson (Juno Award producer), and Tyler Shaw (platinum selling artist) to name a few. This is only a couple of Ezra’s many accolades throughout his short music career.
When it comes to adversity, Ezra Jordan knows a thing or two about it. Having suffered a traumatic and life threatening injury at the age of 18, Ezra’s life was put on hold to make way for 18 months of rehabilitation and recovery. It’s during this time that Ezra truly came into his own, both in terms of physical resilience, but also in terms of musical grit. Forced to pause his career as an incredibly talented pianist, Ezra sought alternative ways to express himself and stumbled upon some serious singing/songwriting talent.
While this latest career shift did come rather unexpectedly, it definitely wasn’t too much of a surprise. As the youngest child of two of Canada’s most notable singer-songwriters, Amy Sky and Marc Jordan, Ezra grew up surrounded by industry trailblazers and award winning producers. His natural home-grown musical affiliation resulted in him picking up the piano at the early age of 4, while learning the drums, as well as the guitar.
Now, Ezra Jordan finds himself fully recovered, fully honed, and fully ready to launch into his next musical chapter – releasing his very first solo EP as a piano playing, singing-songwriting Canadian rockstar. With strong musical background, killer talent, and a heartwarming story of resilience and strength, Ezra is set to top charts and win hearts the world over.
Photo Credit: Denis Duquette
Kinley Dowling is a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who spent ten years touring the world as a member of the band Hey Rosetta!. When not on tour with her friends, she finds time to write and record her own music. She released her solo debut album ‘Letters Never Sent’ as KINLEY in October 2016. The album won three Music PEI awards and two East Coast Music Awards for Rising Star of the Year 2018 and Fan’s Choice Video of the Year 2018 for – ‘Microphone’. KINLEY’s testimony and music video for the song ‘Microphone’ has been implemented in PEI schools’ curriculum regarding; consent, gender norms, bystander intervention and sexual assault for the grade 9 Health class starting in the fall of 2018.
KINLEY’s “Golden Days” music video and song were licensed by the PEI Government for their “Maybe You Should Come Home Contest” and Repatriation campaign to encourage people to move home to Prince Edward Island. KINLEY’s music has also appeared in multiple outlets including: “When You Speak Her Name” – Burden of Truth (CBC drama series), “Wild Horse” – Singing to Myself (independent film) and ‘Golden Days’ – Suck It Up (independent feature film)
For over a decade, KINLEY has appeared on violin with the likes of Jenn Grant, Stars, Matt Mays, In-Flight Safety, Rose Cousins as well as loaning her talents to Classic Albums Live and Anne and Gilbert; The Musical. Her career has also seen multiple appearances with Grammy-winning artist Anne Murray and as a member of Hey Rosetta!, Kinley has toured Australia, USA, Canada and Europe multiple times, appearing at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road tour. She has recorded violin and viola on over 400 songs for numerous artists across Canada.
Singer/songwriter, Ali Blake, debuts a pop anthem of hope and determination on new single, “Witness.” An experienced songwriter, Blake was influenced by introspective artists like Nina Simone as well as pop superstars like Sia. Each of those inspirations is apparent in the unique brand of pop music she creates. The Chicago-native has performed in venues across the country, including New York City, Atlanta, and Oakland before she found her creative home in Los Angeles. It’s in the city of angels that she’s been working to complete her new album, “Blood,” with John Avila (renowned producer and bassist) and Anton Söder (producer). If powerful anthem, “Witness,” is any indication of what’s to come, Blake’s next project is one to watch for.
On “Witness,” Ali Blake vibrates with unstoppable joyful energy. Meandering alongside the inspirational lyrics, which encourage each of us to find our way out of the darkness, is a soulful musical experience. Her message of hope and determination radiates through every quiet verse and budding chorus. As her epic voice rings over the gospel choir, the glistening track grows in both melodic wonder and anthemic joy. If there’s one message that rings clear throughout this powerful track, it’s that we all stand stronger together than we do apart. Be sure to check out Ali Blake’s roaringly eloquent new single, “Witness.”
Photo Credit: Mélie Hirtz
Bloom is an audacious and colorful follow up to Jasmïn’s first extended-release Dive. Mixed by Grammy-award winning engineer Dave Pensado (Mariah Carey, P!nk, Lionel Ritchie) Bloom features the recently released single “Priceless” as well as five unreleased tracks. Modern, eclectic and vibrant; Jasmin’s new project encourages listeners to go out and discover the world. From the warm, “Running-away”, to the poetic “The Reason” the groovy “You Got You” and the rhythmic “Higher”, the young artist unveils her rich and far-reaching musical talent.
Through her music, Jasmïn showcases her growth in character, sensuality and, like a jasmine flower blossom, so does she. “At only 24 years old, Jasmïn, young soul Parisian girl, is an artist full of talent.”- Numéro “At 24 years old this RN’B singer toured with Jabberwocky before releasing her first EP in English in 2018. Awaiting her next release, she delivers a startling new single.”- Elle France
https://soundcloud.com/jasmin-m-u-s-i-c/sets/bloom-ep-1/s-vqnjh
Californian singer-songwriter, Cody Lovaas’ is thrilled to announce his debut headlining tour with Black Pool. All tickets go on sale now and can be purchased at codylovaas.com/tour. See all tour dates below. As a preview to what people can expect during the tour, Cody has released his live video of his single “Love No More.”
Cody says,
Cody recently released his debut EP Honestly that is out now as well. The EP is available at https://smarturl.it/HonestlyEP – which includes “Talk Slow” and “Finally Falling.”
“Finally Fallen” and “Talk Slow” have garnered over 60 Spotify playlists including New Music Friday as well as being featured on Apple playlists such as Best Of The Week, Today at Apple, Breaking Pop and more.
Along with his streaming success he has also already received 4 IG placements and featured in 37 YouTube videos by 29 unique creators. The total reach for the YouTube creators is 9.5M which garnered a total of 860k+ views.
Cody Lovaas has simple and confessional lyrics in soulful vocals, melodic acoustic performances, and smooth pop production. Lovaas plays with the boundaries of pop, acoustic, and electronic music, crafting a variant that retains pop’s effortless melodies while exchanging the genre’s cosmetic compositions for sincere and wistful love stories.
Lovaas’s records have premiered on Billboard, Idolator, Culture Collide, Ones to Watch and We Found New Music. In 2017, he released his debut single, “Lie,” which garnered over 5M plays and appeared on Spotify’s Chill Vibes and Pop Chillout playlists. The following year, he dropped “Find,” a single produced with artists Shallou and Kasbo that reached 20M streams as well as “Prove It,” which earned 3M streams and a place on Starbuck’s Coffeehouse playlist. Lovaas’s most recent releases Talk Slow and Finally Fallen gained over 70 playlist placements as well as. Both songs are from his upcoming EP which will release May 31st.
Lovaas was fourteen and performing at an intimate open mic in his beachside hometown of Carlsbad, CA, when he caught the attention of Jason Mraz, who promptly began to mentor him and develop him as his protégé. Lovaas quickly emerged as an intuitive and prolific songwriter. Throughout his teenage years, he found his way up the coast and into studio sessions in Los Angeles. By writing hundreds of songs before the age of twenty, Lovaas cultivated an honest and impressionistic style. Today, his writing draws on a youth spent falling in and out of love and demonstrates the restraint and maturity of a seasoned artist.
Cody Lovaas Tour Dates
April 1 – Houston, TX – White Oak Upstairs
April 2 – San Antonio, TX- Paper Tiger
April 3- Austin, TX – Mohawk Indoor
April 4 – Dallas, TX – Ruins
April 6 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
April 8- Phoenix, AZ – Lunchbox
April 9 – San Diego, CA – Soma Sidestage
April 10 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
James Blonde is more than the sum of its parts; the Canadian alternative / rock band was born when Neil Carson, Phil Taylor and Steph Mercier came together to form the singular entity known by this name. The band acts as a conduit, taking inspiration from the turn of 21st century’s rock resurgeance of bands like Muse, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Billy Talent & MGMT with the great classic rock bands, to pump out electric performances both on stage and in the studio.
The band kicked off their first concert as James Blonde in their hometown of Niagara Falls for NYE 2017, opening for Sam Roberts Band and Serena Ryder. However, the trio had already been together for years under an old moniker, touring the country and playing major festivals like Osheaga, Edgefest and CMW. James Blonde’s first album (self-titled) was released in 2017, with the lead single “Heartbreak” getting picked up by major Spotify playlists and Starbucks, which added the song to it’s in-store radio across the globe. “Sh!tshow”, the bands follow-up single in 2019, reached #96 on the US Top 40 charts. The last few years have seen the band become an indie touring juggernaut, having played extensively across Canada and the USA from coast to coast, delivering high-octane performances, precise musicianship and memorable moments for fans at every show.
But that was then, and this is now: James Blonde is currently working on a new record, which will be released in the form of singles over the next couple years as the band continues to tour all over North America.
ACTRESE is set to release ‘LOLA’, her new smash single, which will be available to listen on all streaming services on 27th February. ‘LOLA’ was written by ACTRESE and produced by a rising producer from Bimm Brighton – Lewis Amoroso (Amo Audio).
London based newcomer is ready to take on the world with fresh, danceable tune accompanied by her mysterious and sultry voice. She is showcasing her ability to blend vibrant melodies with honest lyrics and a mesmerizing ambiance. ‘LOLA’ is like a midnight romance driven by suburban dreams of escape. While listening to atmospheric opening line ‘Dreaming ‘bout life, Is it bad?’ ACTRESE transports listener into a world of emotional and soulful beats. Living in London where it’s difficult to say what’s real these days, she reassures ‘I didn’t make it up’ – a bit of hope that will resonate with a lot of people.
ACTRESE is the next generation pop/indie frontwoman who cleverly describes her sound as sexy envisionment of reality. She’s the living embodiment of a teenage fantasy and has been compared to the sounds of MØ, Lykke Li. She is a breath of fresh air in music today – looking forwards while reaching down to her roots. Drawing influence from artists such as Lana Del Rey, The xx, Dua Lipa, ACTRESE creates atmospheric and daydreamy melodies with sultry vocals.
‘LOLA is a song about dreaming, working to fulfill your dreams and all the thoughts that go through your head when you have no clue when and whether your dreams will come true. It’s a song about hope.’
Born in the Philippines, raised in New York and currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia, Raquel Lily is an independent singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist and online personality. She streams music performance and a variety of content, including live vlogging (IRL Streaming), Just Chatting, Social Eating, gaming and cooking on Twitch. Graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, Raquel left the medical field and dove head first into her creative pursuit in music and began online streaming in 2017.
Her upcoming debut, full-length concept album, I’m Leaving, features eight songs, narrating a coming of age story about someone going through their 20’s. Raquel confides, “Everyone’s been broken from something. You smoke some weed, you fall in love, they turn out to be a fuckboy, you’re with someone shitty, you break up, you ghost them, you still love them, you resign, you meet someone new and there’s hope again.” Title track “I’m Leaving” is an honest and relatable track for anyone who’s ever walked away from a toxic situation. Exuding a chilled, somber atmosphere while maintaining an upbeat rhythm, “I’m Leaving” emits a heavy sense of nostalgia. The single oozes with emotion, showcasing Raquel Lily’s impressive vocal abilities; with a dose of Latin percussion, the soulful groove-fueled release comes alive.
Raquel confesses how her songwriting is a cathartic, emotional purge. With the simple objective to guide listeners through an impassioned ride, her songs are driven by genuine experiences from an introspective and honest place. Inspired by the likes of Whitney Houston and old school R&B, Raquel wanted to capture a similar essence of synth-heavy, soul soaked music. Her love for old soul groups and classics, including Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, also shines brightly throughout her music.
Julius Wilder, born in Norway and raised in Denmark, is transcending the partition between producer and artist by embarking upon his new journey as a solo-artist. By embracing both his roots in neo-soul and his passion for creating fierce and modern pop, Julius naturally possesses global appeal and offers the world a listen into an artistic universe that is simply unique to him and him alone.
Julius Wilder, born into a family of creatives, has a clear innovative expression and skill that has been nurtured since his earliest days. Julius began developing his love of making music at the age of 8. Nearly every day of his childhood, Julius would walk home through the countryside of Denmark to his family’s farmhouse, throwing his backpack on the hay, and climbing up to the attic where his brother set up his old drum kit. He would spend endless hours in the attic, teaching himself how to play along with the legendary drummers on the records of ToTo and Tower Of Power. Never one for school, music became his escape from reality.
After primary school, with his passions and talent clearly known, he attended the music college Sankt Anne in Copenhagen – a school which continued to train and nurture his drive and dreams. It was during this time that Julius received both a classical and modern music education; at age 15, Julius began producing his own beats and, soon after, other’s projects. Around this time he began collaborating with Danish producer Fridolin Nordsø (MØ, Danity Kane, Girls’ Generation, P. Diddy) and over the years, they would co-produce several projects together. While he loved being behind the music, 2018 marked the moment that Julius realized his truest desire was to create and perform music for himself – as himself – and share his way of storytelling with the world.
Every moment in Julius’ life has led him to finding his unique brand of storytelling. From his rustic childhood in a artistic family to his love of traveling, Julius draws upon his life experiences and boldly combines the inspiration of artists like Prince, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, and George Michael, with his talent rooted in creating unique and innovative ways to tell stories through music. His distinct sound resonates with the aspirations of his generation and naturally challenges the very definition of today’s pop music sound.
Olive Louise is a singer, songwriter and composer from New York. Known for her championed ability to intertwine her classically trained background with a refreshing take on today’s contemporary pop landscape, Louise translates her vast wealth of experiences into music that is timely as it is timeless.
Growing up on the very estate that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby in Kings Point, New York, Louise’s youth was sound‐tracked as much by the classical and jazz greats as it was by the impeccable talents of her mother, the lead pianist of the Long Island Philharmonic orchestra. While her upbringing took a tragic turn following the passing of her parents before her formative teenage years unfolded, Louise has since worked to consistently rise above, refusing to put her tragedies in front of her handshake and calling for others to get to know her through the music she creates.
New eerie single ‘Bad Things’, which is reminiscent of a broken lullaby, features delicate vocals which float atop the large rolling drums, creating a theatrical release. ‘Bad Things’ narrates the singer’s struggle with anxiety at a young age, where she was consumed with constant premonition. Detailing the battle with the stigma associated surrounding therapy and mental healthcare, combined with the broken healthcare system, Louise hopes to remind others to stop feeling like they may deserve these negative feelings and do all we can to make the quality of our lives better. Louise confides, “The main message behind this song is that even when you feel like no one gets what you’re going through or like nobody is really listening, you aren’t alone and you shouldn’t let it stop you from being open. Don’t bottle anything in. It is okay to feel your emotions and to be upset when life gets tough, but then own that feeling, and let it propel you forward”.
Louise explains how writing for her is a form of therapy and that allowing herself to be completely transparent and vulnerable with others has enabled her push boundaries, coming out stronger than she ever has before. The songstress hopes that her music will inspire others to let go of whatever is holding them back and start being their true selves, sharing “I hope it inspires people to embrace the beauty in what makes them different and offers them new perspective. I believe that when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”.
Photo Credit: Linus Ouellette
Best known as one of the core members of Montreal-based indie darlings Besnard Lakes, and as the touring keyboardist for Bedouin Soundclash, the experience Sheenah Ko has gained working with so many different bands and music genres over the years has given her a sense of fearlessness, which in turn has led to the development of a synth-pop sound that is an amalgam of many styles. Her music is infused with an enigmatic, sometimes cinematic drama and musical literacy that allows her music to rise above the pop music moniker into the realm of compelling art.
Sheenah’s new single and video “See You”, the second single from her forthcoming album “Nowhere In Time” (releasing March 27, 2020) is an upbeat, dance-y track about rediscovering your inner child (ie: your 7-year-old self) before life/adult expectations came in the picture.
“When I wrote See You, I was just coming to the realization that this is a huge step in growing up, or else, you could become way too disconnected with yourself,” said Ko. It’s an incredible feeling when you can see and live life the way you did as a child, knowing this is who you really are with that pure, honest energy and curiosity”.
“Brittney Canda, who has been my performance partner for many years, captured the essence of See You beautifully by featuring her father, Larry Gering, who was a trick skier back in the 70s”, Ko explains. “The video shows him reminiscing/revisiting those days in a beautiful and charming way, and in essence, re-living the days of his youth. Brittney directed the video with the assistance of her director-boyfriend Vincent René-Lortie, using handheld cameras and edited in her father’s super 8 footage. Absolutely all of the footage in the video is completely original”.
Following the autumn feature of Samantha Lindo’s single ‘Turn & Leave’ in the BBC Sounds ‘Hot List’ curated by BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music, this month looks set to birth another beautiful track out of the depths of winter.
Samantha Lindo is a Bristol based soul, UK jazz and trip-hop artist of mixed Jamaican heritage making waves both locally and nationally. She has been championed by the Bristol Post as having ‘a voice that is hauntingly flawless, which has crowds mesmerised within seconds’.
Her debut single ‘Turn & Leave’ was showcased nationally on the BBC Sounds Hot List November 2019, curated by BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music. Samantha Lindo also performed at an amnesty International show alongside British sensation James Morrison, was featured at the annual TEDx Talks ‘Daring to Disrupt’ at Colston Hall, Bristol, as well as selected for Saffron records (Bristol’s all-female record label) October 2019 Spotify playlist and in Sofar Sounds City Spotlight playlist for Bristol for 2020.
Nitelife magazine describes how she ‘weaves poetry, spoken word and beautiful lyricism’ through her songs, ‘presenting some very real and raw issues of love, life and the human condition through her uplifting tones’ and the new track ‘Underside’ is no exception.
“Underside is crafted from lived experience, the song celebrates the value of speaking from ‘the Underside’, the place of suffering that we would sometimes prefer to conceal and mask.”
Speaking of the writing process, Samantha Lindo explains: “The track was written for my friend who was struggling. I wanted to welcome and celebrate her honesty and vulnerability as it is those things that both deepen relationships and also start to heal the hurt and the video, through a simple performance, maps the journey out of this shadowy isolation”.
To celebrate their shared process of recovery and friendship, Samantha and her friend Rebecca Jackson (a now practicing counsellor, psychotherapy masters student and budding author) will be producing an artists Q&A and podcast at the launch, supported by Time to Change, a national campaign led by charities Mind and Rethink, which is committed to ending mental health stigmatisation.
In terms of genre, ‘Underside’ leans towards UK Jazz, with a Tom Misch like guitar line and a vocal delivery that holds the possibility for both depth and an effortless soaring, something that is in congruence with the theme of the song.
Inspired by Celeste, Micheal Kiwanuka, Yasmine Lacey and fellow artists in the new wave of UK jazz, as well as as old school soul legend Etta James and spoken word prophetess Kate Tempest, Samantha harnesses the intrinsic power and beauty of the female vocal.
‘Underside’ is now available on all major platforms.
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Jeffrey James is releasing his new EP, ‘East London.’ The 5-track EP includes previous singles “Downtown” and “Slow Right Down” alongside 3 brand new tracks. Drawing inspiration from various challenges he has faced in his life and relationship over the past few years, James embraces vulnerability with open arms on ‘East London‘; the 5-tracks mark some of James’ most visceral, raw songwriting to date.
The ‘East London’ EP was birthed during a month-long songwriting trip to London in early 2019. James worked with legendary engineer Geoff Swan (Charli XCX, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay) and producers Jackson Dimiglio-Wood (Shawn Mendes), Dan Weller (SikTh), and Dan McDougal (Liam Gallagher) to create a uniquely cross-Atlantic record that draws on James’ Nashville influences and combines them with the blue-eyed soul sounds that have been dominating the UK charts.
“Making the ‘East London’ EP had a rejuvenating effect on my artistry,” James writes. “Something about the city of London and the people I was working with helped me find a clear, musical voice. It’s the most hopeful group of songs I’ve ever released. It’s music I’d want to listen to even if I didn’t write it. I’ve never been more excited to share a project with the world.”
Nashville-based, Indiana-born James first developed a love of melodies from his great-uncle who wrote the renowned Hal Leonard Guitar Method book. Over the past few years, James’ soul-infused alt-pop sound has been paving the way for Nashville’s pop scene, leading him to open for acts such as X-Ambassadors, Rachel Platten and Hanson, and perform at national music festivals like Firefly, Bonnaroo, and Forecastle. Alongside his own captivating releases — his Billboard-approved single “Saltwater,” his 2016 album Walls and his 2017 EP Unsaid — James has proved himself a versatile songwriter, collaborating with an array of acts like Megan Davies, Tungeaag & Raaban and LU2VYK.
Late night ruminations under the streetlights. A silent moment of heartbreak on the drive home. Fights that are whispered, not screamed. These are the moments that inspire the sounds of Toronto-based trio quietype. Like the relationships they reflect, their music is at once both intimate and epic. Vulnerable yet explosive. As likely to draw from Kings of Leon as Bon Iver, quietype blends soulful R&B melodies with rock sensibilities and hypnotic electronic textures. The result is both familiar and unpredictable. Dark, moody verses crescendo into raucous chorus grooves, electric guitars collide with dynamic synth lines, and programmed trap drums jitter around cavernous rock beats. These sounds coalesce on their forthcoming debut self-titled EP – a brutally honest depiction of a relationship that is slowly, quietly fracturing. It is an elegy to the joys of falling in love – and the pain of falling out of it.
London-based Greek indie-pop star Leon of Athens, released his new catchy single “Communications” that is out now along with the lyric video.
The new song have been written with David Sneddon who wrote the radio singles for Lewis Capaldi and Lana Del Rey.
Leon of Athens channels the flamboyant beauty of Sufjan Stevens and Grizzly Bear alongside a similar widescreen pop sensibility as Imagine Dragons and Tame Impala. His recently released album Xenos (EMI/Universal) is a beautiful, thoughtful piece of work. It showcases just why he has become a huge live draw in Greece – where he plays to audiences in their thousands – his ever-growing fanbase across Europe and his rising profile in the USA.
The album follows the highly acclaimed release of his debut album Global, championed by the likes of The Guardian, NME, Q, New York Times and more. It is produced by David Kosten (Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything) and is informed lyrically by the refugee crisis, the rise of the far-right in Europe and the US, but also personal upheavals: fractured relationships, lost faith, youth, freedom and death.
From the uplifting indie-pop of previous singles ‘Aeroplane’ and ‘Fire Inside You’, to the dark creeping electronics of the title track and ‘Xenos’, Leon Of Athens proves himself an intriguing and exciting force. There are delicate moments on the stark piano-led ballads of ‘Letters To My Father’ and ‘Final Moment’, while the album closes with the joyous ode to his favourite place in the world ‘Corfu.’
In support of his new music, Leon of Athens will be hitting the road and making appearances at SXSW, Shaky Knees Festival, Bonnaroo and more.
Soulful rocker, Lisa Ramey has become a force to be reckoned with. She is taking it further with her new single “You Ain’t My Friend”, out February 28th, 2020. The gritty rock track hosts raw vocals with a lyrical telling tale of toxic relationships and the games people play.
Audiences first got a taste of Ramey baring her soul in 2018 with her solo EP, “I Am…Lisa Ramey”. Her new album, Surrender, takes her artistry even further. Comprised of 13 original tracks, Ramey teamed up with her long-time collaborator, Emmy-nominated composer and multi-instrumentalist, Frank Cogliano on both producing and writing the album.
“This is one black girl who definitely knows how to rock and it shows all over this track.”
– SoulBounce
With the powerful single “You Ain’t My Friend”, Lisa Ramey shows fans what they can aspect from her debut full-length album. Following the single, Lisa Ramey will be hosting an album release show on March 27th, at Leez New York, Trinity Place in New York City, with a special guest performance from Tim Young, whose vocal talents have been featured on two Grammy-winning albums, The Greatest Showman and Dear Evan Hansen.
Be sure to follow Lisa Ramey on social media to get glimpses of what is to come!
Photo Credit: Libby Danforth
Stacey Kelleher has released her new single, “Want Me,” a pop-rock-trap anthem about being emotionally manipulated by a love interest you thought could be trusted.
“Want Me” is driven by grungy guitars and haunting chimes throughout the entire track. Stacey’s distinctive raspy voice comes out as she relieves herself of the anger of being backstabbed and lied to into her lyrics. The process of creating “Want Me” started with the beat, which reflects the anger and almost-craziness of the feeling of being blindsided. From there, Alisse Laymac produced the single while Zachary Pennington mastered it in Los Angeles, California.
Based in Nashville, Stacey Kelleher is a pop/rock singer-songwriter who is unafraid to speak her mind in her music. Stacey fuses genres together to create her own unique sound influenced by artists such as Post Malone and Green Day with straight-up lyrical content delivered with her signature raspy vocal tone. Despite being just 22 years old, Stacey has received numerous musical honors and accolades, including songwriting awards from her alma mater, the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and a nomination for New England Deli Magazine’s Artist of the Month in July 2019. An avid touring musician, Stacey played 123 shows in 2019 all over New England and beyond. Stacey Kelleher continues to be a force to be reckoned with by always working on new music and playing new shows and venues.
Brooklyn-based, Philly-born, singer/ songwriter, Anna Shoemaker releases her new EP, Everything Is Embarrassing via BMG.
Stream/Download Everything is Embarrassing HERE
Everything is Embarrassing is a collection and natural progression of Anna’s music, life and love and her views on them all.
Shoemaker’s new single, “Funny” can currently be heard on several Apple Music playlists including Today At Apple (Global in #1 position), Pure Workout, Pop Chill, Mellow Days, and Breaking Pop.
The singles “Funny” and “If You’re Going (I’ll Go)” have both been selected and championed by MTV’s Spankin’ New.
Anna says, “After living in Brooklyn for about a year, I felt a little more grounded in my writing and had really found my sound. I recorded the first 5 songs with JT Daly, down in Nashville. Coming home, I went thru a really bad breakup and I felt like everything I had semi figured out was all twisted up again. I was back at square one— that’s when I wrote “Someone” with Will Baker at his studio in Brooklyn. I knew that song had to be on the EP. It’s a true bookend to a chapter in my life that contained a lot of heartbreak.
I guess if I’ve learned one thing from writing ‘Everything Is Embarrassing’ it’s that the more you grow and learn, the less clear everything becomes. Life is just about navigating and becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable.”
In support of the new EP, Anna has been playing sold out shows on both the East and West Coast and will be heading to Austin for SXSW as an official showcasing artist.
“Playing this EP live has brought an entirely new aspect to the songs. Bringing them to life and watching people react creates a completely new energy that I feed off of and makes me want to create even more.”
Swedish artist and prolific songwriter SHY Martin (real name Sara Hjellström) has debuted a brand new collaborative single with fellow Swedish artist Boy In Space (real name Robin Lundbäck) titled “Still The Same.” The track is available everywhere now here + watch the official video here.
Melding their distinct abilities in magnifying human emotion through a hopeful and resilient lens, “Still The Same” is SHY and Boy In Space at their lyrical and melodic best and it marks their 2nd collaboration following 2019’s “On A Prayer.” As SHY describes,
- “Last spring, me and some friends went on a trip to Dalarna (a small city in Sweden where one of my close friends grew up) for a weekend to hang out and write songs. On the last day of the trip we ended up writing ‘Still The Same’ in one of the small cabins we were staying in. When I got back to Stockholm I met Robin (Boy In Space) for the first time in our studio. My producer is also producing most of his stuff so I’d heard a lot of his songs already, and had been obsessing over his voice! Asking him to be part of this song with me felt like an obvious thing to do. I love working with him and I’m super happy we now have two songs together!”
“Still The Same” is SHY Martin’s 2nd new release of 2020, following January’s elegantly emotive single “Slow,” which has already surpassed 4MM Spotify streams. The songs are a precursor to a new EP expected later this year.
2019 saw SHY release a string of singles and collaborations solidifying her place among the top rising pop artists. Single “Make Us Never Happen” debuted with Forbes and saw top placement across many Spotify ‘New Music Friday’ playlists. Summer 2019 single “Same Old” and spring release “Out of My Hands” were equally well-received with support from the likes of V Magazine, PAPER, Idolator, and The Line of Best Fit, among others. SHY Martin also recently released a collaboration with Swedish duo NOTD on track “Keep You Mine.”
Since the release of her December 2018 debut EP, Overthinking, which featured standout singles “Forget To Forget,” “Good Together,” and “Just A Little Longer,” SHY Martin has amassed a collective 150 million+ Spotify streams. Her releases have generated widespread critical love, notably with PAPER naming SHY among their ‘100 People Taking over 2019.’
2019 also saw SHY Martin complete her first European headline tour, which traversed 14 cities and stunned audiences with her electrifying live show. SHY also supported Nina Nesbitt last December at her London show. Stay tuned for more tour news to come.
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