Category Archives: Music

New music by emerging artists.

“Jimmy Dean” by The Morning Birds
13
Apr

Heard on Showtime’s Shameless, check out the early morning, post-bender, hangover-lifting, “Jimmy Dean,” from The Morning Birds’ Early Bird Specials (Select Songs from 2011-2014).

You may stream the album via bandcamp.

The Morning Birds (TMB) are Samuel Markus (vox, guitar), Jennifer Thorington (vox, bass, keys) and Stephen Newman (drums, backup vox). In describing TMB’s sound, Consequence of Sound noted, “…so Beatles circa 1964.” The Deli Magazine said, “a mixed-bag of sixties psych-folk, modern day electro-pop, laid-back hip-hop rhythms, and reggae swagger. This is music for those looking for a good time.”

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“Jimmy Dean” by The Morning Birds

The Morning Birds Early Bird

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

“Any Last Words” by Delilah
11
Apr

Michelle Harris and Alex Dopierala (Dop) make up the Liverpool-based contemporary R&B act, Delilah. Their latest track, “Any Last Words” was released on March 16.

The combination of Harris’ soulful voice and Dop’s intricate guitar playing bring a certain class and retro vibe to their groove. Harris and Dop met at their auditions for the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.

Since their creation in 2013, the band has played countless shows, becoming regulars at local events as well as appearing at Fiesta Bombarda and Liverpool International Music Festival. More recently, they have travelled further afield to perform in venues up and down the country, recently supporting Anthony David at London’s Jazz Cafe and appearing on numerous radio stations including the BBC.

Have a listen via SoundCloud.

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“Any Last Words” by Delilah

Delilah Any Last Words

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

“He Was A Man” by Kings of the Brushwood Thicket
8
Apr

Mysterious Jamaica, Queens outfit Kings of the Brushwood Thicket has premiered their debut single “He Was A Man” via Austin Town Hall. The publication noted the Bowie-esque acoustic number offers “an extremely pure glimpse at the nostalgic sounds of glam rock. Strip it down a bit, remove modern context, and you have a generous pop tune that will reward listeners from all backgrounds and styles.”

Kings of the Brushwood Thicket’s debut album, The Lies You Leave Behind, will be released on May 5. The album contains a lot of heavy material dealing with death and loss, shrouded in digital ambiance.

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“He Was A Man” by Kings of the Brushwood Thicket

KOTBW The Lies You Leave Behind

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

“Take Me Home Tonight” by Helena Johnson
8
Apr

Liverpool-based, singer-songwriter Helena Johnson fronts an eleven piece band, yet her captivating vocals are never in danger of being overshadowed. Her performance on her new single “Take Me Home Tonight” is effortlessly beautiful.

Soulful and slick, Johnson has created and mastered a unique and powerful sound. She has impressed audiences and critics alike with her stunning live shows, complete with the comedically-named horn section “The Horn Supremacy.”

Since joining The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 2011 to study, Johnson has grown from a talented musician to a potential international singing success, with recent interest from a major label. 2015 promises to be a year to remember for the rising star. She is definitely one to watch.

Have a listen via SoundCloud.

[audio:Take Me Home Tonight.mp3|titles=Take Me Home Tonight|artists=Helena Johnson]
“Take Me Home Tonight” by Helena Johnson

Helena Image 4

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

“The Eye and the Storm” by Joshua Fletcher
8
Apr

On May 26, Nashville-by-way-of-Atlanta singer-songwriter, Joshua Fletcher, will release Ready, Aim, a ten-track collection of honest, beautiful pop songs produced by The Damnwells’ Alex Dezen, on Portland, Oregon-based In Music We Trust.

Fletcher’s songs are about relationships. They’re about our loneliest hours; surrounded by the buzz of a city or alone in an empty house. They are about the moments we share with the ones we love, about turning something brief into something eternal.

Besides production duties, Dezen also appears on nearly every song, along with an impressive cast of musicians including singer-songwriter Madi Diaz and Whynot Jansveld (of Mosco Rosco).

Writing the majority of the songs alone at his house, on an acoustic guitar, some came to him quickly, while others took months to flesh out. Prior to recording, though, Fletcher played the songs out live, just the way he wrote them, with just his voice and a guitar.

[audio:The Eye and the Storm.mp3|titles=The Eye and the Storm|artists=Joshua Fletcher]
“The Eye and the Storm” by Joshua Fletcher

Joshua Fletcher Ready Aim Cover Art

Image and mp3 courtesy of Alex Steininger of In Music We Trust PR

“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