Monthly Archives: April 2015

“Change” by TJ Doyle
8
Apr

TJ Doyle is a man who sings about the changes and challenges of our generation. His retro vibes convey an authenticity that harks back to the great work of the 60s. His new album, On The Horizon, is available today, April 8.

The Vinyl District premiered Doyle’s new single “Change,” and compared his sound to Neil Young and The Byrds, noting that “the star of the track is the vulnerable way in which TJ exposes himself—his brother’s death and the resulting feeling of alienation are palpable in his bittersweet delivery of the lyrics.”

In addition, Bearded Magazine describes the full album as, “hard and honest, never once wavering.”

You may stream the full album via SoundCloud.

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“Change” by TJ Doyle

TJ Doyle On The Horizon

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jennifer Thorington & Samuel Markus of Working Brilliantly

“It’s Alright” by CommonUnion59
8
Apr

Folk singer-songwriter duo CommonUnion59 is made up of Steve McKenzie (vocal, guitar, banjo) and Laura Malasig (vocal, piano, glockenspiel). They write and perform original music that is both personal and universal, expressing the emotions and experiences of life in an intimate lyrical and melodic style. Kevin Hayes lends drums and percussion. And Jake Leckie plays bass.

Songs of love, hope, dreams, happiness, and heartache, inspired by their
own lives and the world around them. The results of their musical union can be heard on their debut release, Magnolia Waltz. 2014 has been an exciting year for CommonUnion59. As they continue to write songs and perform live, they have recorded brand new songs for their latest release, Heartbeat Serenade. It was released on February 11. You may stream the full album via Soundcloud.

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“It’s Alright” by CommonUnion59

CD_Digipak_Outside

Image and mp3 courtesy of Matt Bacon, Intern at Independent Music Promotions

“Stars” by SeaWitches
7
Apr

According to Andrea Lynch of Blue Soap Music Professional Radio Plugging and Music PR, SeaWitches have an aura around them that is incredibly compelling and that comes through in their music really clearly. Furthermore, she notes, “Stars is one of the most gorgeous slices of eighties indie pop I’ve ever heard.”

“Stars” was released on The Label Recordings on February 16, 2015.

Based in Liverpool, Jo Herring and Laura Caldwell met in 2007 through friends; a meeting that resulted in an explosion of creativity where songwriting, musicianship, and visual art collided to create SeaWitches.

2012 saw Tilo Pirnbaum joining the band on drums, and SeaWitches entered the studio to record their first EP Spacegun, which received positive reviews and helped secure a loyal and diverse fanbase.

Jamie Jenkin was recruited on guitar in 2014 and, seven years in the making, the line up is complete and the band is ready to take its music to a wider audience.

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“Stars” by SeaWitches

SeaWitches Image 5

Image and mp3 courtesy of Andrea Lynch of Blue Soap Music Professional Radio Plugging and Music PR

“Take Me As I Am” by Postcode
5
Apr

The follow up to September’s Year Of The Zebra Part One EP, Part Two is out now from Small Bear Records.

Whereas the first part was lighter and more upbeat, Year Of The Zebra Part Two EP sees Postcode returning to more familiar terrain, darker and in places noisier. The recording expands in different directions, adding keyboards, 12-string guitar, and backwards delay. Once again the EP was recorded as a duo by founding members Marie Reynolds and Mikie Daugherty.

The video for “Take Me As I Am” can be viewed on YouTube.

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“Take Me As I Am” by Postcode

Postcode Year of the Zebra Part II

Image courtesy of bandcamp
mp3 courtesy of Mikie Daugherty of Small Bear Records

“Remember The Highs” by Little Lapin
5
Apr

UK singer-songwriter, Little Lapin, has been making her mark on audiences all over the world, from New Zealand where she was based for five years, to New York where she recently performed the last leg of her acoustic tour. Her sophomore release Remember The Highs, delivers infectious indie-pop gems reminiscent of her 2013 debut EP. The album was released on February 9, 2015.

“Little Lapin has a voice that sits nicely between Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Prentenders’ Crissy Hynde…” ~ Notes For a Road Sign Blog

Celebrated New Zealand producer, and ex-member of Goldenhorse, Ben King guests on all tracks including “Remember The Highs.” he also arranged the electric guitar and synth parts.

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“Remember The Highs” by Little Lapin

Little Lapin Band Photo 1

Image and mp3 courtesy of Andrea Lynch of Blue Soap Music Professional Radio Plugging and Music PR

“Fake It” by Graham Czach
5
Apr

Versatile Chicago-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Graham Czach fuses modern and progressive rock sensibilities with pop-like hooks and socially conscious message-driven music. His new EP Star By Star is rich with atmospherically heavy tones and lush bass grooves.

Having played music for the last 27 years, he is an original, wildly creative, and accomplished composer, upright-electric bassist, vocalist, and guitarist. Citing influences such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Muse, Jeff Buckley, Tool, Coldplay, Mars Volta, and more, Czach effortlessly mixes elements of classic psychedelic rock, progressive, and 90’s grunge into a refreshingly unique sound.

Czach has been a big part of The Windy City music scene for a number of years playing bass with Hey Champ, Chicago Afrobeat Project, the Chicago Diamond Trio, Secondhand Smoke (Sublime Tribute), and many other bands. Czach currently resides in Chicago while making the transition to Los Angeles, where his passion and philosophy behind the music is to touch, unite, and make a difference in people’s lives by spreading lasting universal messages through the only universal language: music.

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“Fake It” by Graham Czach

Graham Czach Cover Art resized

Image and mp3 courtesy of Kyle Pacynski, Radio and Online Publicity, The Planetary Group

“Take My Hand” by Crystal Sister
4
Apr

Crystal Sister is the lo-fi, synth-pop project of Los Angeles-based musician and songwriter, Sonya Bender. The self-titled debut EP showcases the songs “Take My Hand”, “Suicide Love”, and “Inside My Heart.” The tracks were produced by Daniel Luttrell (Sky Ferreira & Nikka Costa).

With a wide array of layered vocals, shimmering synths, and fresh, insightful lyrics, Bender takes life’s darker experiences and transforms them into something redemptive and uplifting. Inspired by 90’s slow jams she grew up with, Crystal Sister “rediscovers the intimacy and vulnerability that music can express and the bond that it can create with the listener.”

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“Take My Hand” by Crystal Sister

Crystal Sister Album Art

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jeanne Beck PR via bandcamp.

“Can’t Take Me Under” by Cable Street Collective
4
Apr

Formed in 2012, Cable Street Collective combine catchy tunes with dance-inspired beats and a whole host of other sounds from in and around their home bases in East London and Brixton.

The band have enjoyed airtime on XFM and played at a series of high profile festivals including Bestival, the Isle of Wight Festival, Secret Garden Party, Boomtown Fair and the Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi.

Their debut EP The Best of Times was released on February 16, 2015.

Cable Street Collective are: Dave, Rowan, Tristan, Ash, Fiona and Alex.

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“Can’t Take Me Under” by Cable Street Collective

Cable Street Collective 1

Image and mp3 courtesy of Andrea Lynch of Blue Soap Music Professional Radio Plugging and Music PR

“Always Be With You” by Saint James Band
4
Apr

Los Angeles’ Saint James Band has premiered their sweet folk-pop single “Always Be With You” on The Vinyl District.

The album of the same name was released on March 24, 2015. You may preview the full album via SoundCloud.

George Castrinos, leader of the Saint James Band, was destined to play guitar and was born to a life as a musician. Castrinos explains, “When I was a kid my guitar was my higher power, and when I would play the notes, the sound and tones I would get from it would give me purpose.”

Rooted in this purpose, the Saint James Band’s debut album Always Be With You runs rich with Americana folk-rock, intricate finger picking, roots-influenced slide guitar, and twangy hard-driven blues. Castrinos resides in Los Angeles, and often records in a studio whose walls once housed Orson Welles, which was also used as an echo chamber for classic recordings by Elvis and Bing Crosby.

Castrinos is also heavily influenced by Johnny Winter, Son House, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt, and other luminary players. Tales of redemption, salvation, forgiveness, and love are the subjects of his songwriting.

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“Always Be With You” by Saint James Band

SJB Always Be With You

Image and mp3 courtesy of Jennifer Thorington & Samuel Markus of Working Brilliantly

“All I Need” by The Little Secrets
4
Apr

Indie-pop duo The LIttle Secrets recently released the single “All I Need” on Edge Hill University’s The Label Recordings, headed up by The Farms’ Carl Hunter.

Liverpool’s The Little Secrets are Kevin Dixon and Stacy Jo. Formed in 2010, Jo was singing with another band when Dixon spotted her and decided to ‘steal’ her for his new project. After two years of writing together and experimenting with different line-ups and sounds, the pair hit on their infectious slice of pop, echoing the likes of Camera Obscura and BMX Bandits.

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“All I Need” by The Little Secrets

The Little Secrets 3

Image and mp3 courtesy of Andrea Lynch of Blue Soap Music Professional Radio Plugging and Music PR