Category Archives: Music

New music by emerging artists.

“Breakthrough” by Kate Callahan
4
Oct

Award-winning folk singer/songwriter, Kate Callahan, has released a sophomore EP, Aha! The album is both story-like and melodic, revealing her heart. Callahan’s credits include appearances at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artists Showcase, the New Haven Festival of Arts and Ideas, and the CT Folk Festival.

Opening her new EP, “Breakthrough” surprises with an enthusiastic beat that evokes swaying and daydreaming. Callahan’s sweet voice soars as her optimistic perspective on love and life is conveyed. While showing her tender side, Callahan sings about how perfect love can be when it frees both people. Each song has a whimsical spirit and a peaceful melody that creates relaxing imagery. Callahan’s honeyed folk-style voice is backed by a bluesy band creating a feel-good atmosphere.

Earlier this year, Callahan released her EP, Two Doors, which helped set the stage for a prosperous career.

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“Breakthrough” by Kate Callahan

Kate Callahan Press Photo

Image courtesy of Callahan’s LaFamos Digital Press Kit

mp3 courtesy of Nicole Acosta of LaFamos PR & Branding

“Human” by Kat McDowell
4
Oct

Los Angeles singer/songwriter, Kat McDowell, captures emotional struggles and tribulations with her new single, “Human,” from her upcoming album Rise Above due out on October 28th, 2014.

A world traveler by birth, McDowell was born in Japan and raised in New Zealand, allowing her mixed heritage to become a source of inspiration for the emotional connection she builds into every song. After years of success in the Japanese market, which included numerous EP’s and full length albums, she took a chance and stepped outside her comfort zone and hit the road. With over 1000 shows under her belt, including festivals like Australia’s One Movement, she steadfastly built a fan base that was drawn to her incredibly authentic and honest songs.

Written after a particularly heated argument, McDowell manages to turn on a sort of unending optimism that is hidden beneath a delicate, aching hurt. “Human” is a reflection of our every day struggles, and the power it takes to pick ourselves up off the floor and power through.

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“Human” by Kat McDowell

Kat McDowell

mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

Image courtesy of Kat McDowell’s Photos

“I Swear” by Rett Smith
3
Oct

Born in the cowboy country of West Texas, and raised in the mountains of New Mexico, skiing was the first obsession for singer/songwriter Rett Smith. It was an hour long drive each way to the mountain and Smith’s father would play Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, ZZ Top, Buddy Guy and Hank Williams records all the way.

Smith won multiple Junior Olympic medals and became a fully sponsored athlete, but, he sustained a serious neck injury that kept him out of ski competition for two years, and eventually for good. However, it allowed him shift gears to learning the guitar and writing songs. Plus, he owed it to himself to spend a few years traveling the world and living life as spontaneously as possible.

After settling in Los Angeles, Smith quickly began playing shows. It was then that 9 time Grammy Winner Joe Nicolo caught wind of Smith’s music. The two decided to partner on Smith’s upcoming album, One To Blame. Known for his work with The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Cypress Hill, The Fugees, Lauryn Hill and more, Nicolo will produce the entire debut with Smith. “I Swear” is the first single from the upcoming album. The song exposes the dark side to a troubled relationship, as Smith dives deep into the chaos of a downward slide.

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“I Swear” by Rett Smith

Rett Smith Publicity Photo

Image courtesy of Rett Smith Photos

mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

“Badlands” by Smoke Season
3
Oct

Smoke Season was formed in early 2013 by Gabrielle Wortman and Jason Rosen. Combining their musical backgrounds, the duo created their own unique take on Americana, infusing folk with electronic undertones and rich vocal harmonies.

Smoke Season catapulted into must-know status during their impressive August residency at Los Angeles’ acclaimed venue, the Echoplex. Their performances were hailed in the press by LA Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, Buzzbands LA, Radio Free Silver Lake, Free Bike Valet, Grimy Goods & more.

Their sophomore EP, Hot Coals Cold Souls, released July 29, 2014, pulls mood-building tricks from country, R&B, dancy indie, chillwave, and more, according to Independent Clauses.

Smoke Season began in 2013 with a self-produced debut EP, Signals, and a self-directed music video for their first single, “Soleil.” They have been steadily touring, showcasing their music around the country and most notably at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

Have a listen to “Badlands” and watch the official video here.

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“Badlands” by Smoke Season

Smoke Season Recording

Image and mp3 courtesy of Amanda Blide, Director of Publicity, LaFamos, Marketing & Publicity Department

Photographer Credit: Wendy McColm via LaFamos Digital Press Kit

“Concerning Spectral Pinching” by Hook & Anchor
26
Sep

Portland, Oregon-based Hook & Anchor delivered Americana self-titled debut on July 22 via Jealous Butcher/Woodphone Records.

The band is comprised of Blind Pilot’s Kati Claborn, Luke Ydstie, and Ryan Dobrowski, as well as old-time music veteran Gabrielle Macrae and Erik Clampitt.

Hook & Anchor is a story of lost songs finding a home. After a busy five years of touring with Portland-based band Blind Pilot, Claborn was sitting on a steadily growing pile of tunes. As chance would have it, long-time friend and collaborator Clampitt was looking for material and musicians to play a handful of gigs culminating in a show at the San Francisco Old-time and Bluegrass Festival. Songs were dusted off, friends were gathered, and the music that emerged had a voice and cohesion that immediately resonated with audiences and demanded to be more than a mere one-off.

Although generalizations don’t come easy, the album exists somewhere at the confluence of country, folk, and rock and roll, with every track pushing definitions across a new border. The songwriters of Hook & Anchor combine a roots theme with thoughtful lyrical arrangements.

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“Concerning Spectral Pinching” by Hook & Anchor

Hook & Anchor press shot

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

“Get Your Fill of Feelin Hungry” by Jay Brown
21
Sep

The new album, Beginner Mind, from singer-songwriter, Jay Brown, will be released on October 14. Brown says of the single, “Get Your Fill of Feeling Hungry,” “This song was inspired by thinking back on my years spent in Boone, NC. I lived simply and alone in little old cabins, happily, humbly, and hungrily getting from day to day.”

For a man who has spent his whole life playing and recording music, Brown’s Beginner Mind, is poignantly centered in a state of openness. His sensual storytelling is imbued with the heart of American Roots music, delivered in a way that doesn’t feel old or dated.

In addition to playing with his one man band – which usually consists of himself, accompanied by guitar, harmonica, tap shoes and a tambourine – you can still find Brown playing with the band he formed back in 1999 with his best friends called Lazybirds. As he understood it, when Lazybirds formed, the members all shared something unique and hard to describe. They were all fascinated with old obscure music and with the life and times of those that made it.

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“Get Your Fill of Feelin Hungry” by Jay Brown

Jay Brown Beginner Mind Cover copy (resized)

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

“Poor Man” by Terese Taylor
21
Sep

The album, At Your Mercy Circuit, is singer-songwriter Terese Taylor‘s first collaboration with Klaus Flouride of the Dead Kennedy’s. The artists spent two years honing what Flouride calls Taylor’s “dark yet humorous sensibility.” Each track of this haunting album is filled with Taylor’s characteristic mix of poetic lyriciam, grinding guitar, and moments of quiet beauty. Taylor’s songs take us on a journey into some of life’s hardest, darkest places but always with humor and a sense of wonder at it all.

Taylor is backed by a group of incredibly talented and accomplished musicians including James Whiton (double bass), Will Hendricks (bass), Garrin Benfield (lead guitars), and Teddy Rankin-Parker & Kristina Dutton (violin/cello).

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“Poor Man” by Terese Taylor

Terese Taylor

mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

Image courtesy of puregrainaudio.com

“Childhood Home” by The Healing
20
Sep

London-based rock-alternative-roots quartet, The Healing, have released an EP entitled Childhood Home. Musically, their songs weave together strong vocal and guitar melodies with dynamic grooves, close harmony singing and alternate guitar tunings.

The four-piece band combines elements of rock, roots, soul and poetry. Their full line-up was completed in the autumn of 2013, consisting of Jim Moreton (vocals, guitar), Nicolas Py (drums), Sam Thiery (bass) and Ariel Moreton (harmony vocals). Their style ranges from atmospheric driving rock songs such as “Tonopah” to tender, country inspired ballads such as the title track, “Childhood Home.” In either gear, songwriter Jim Moreton’s lyrics frequently draw from the theme of childhood memories, stories, and the lives of family members to create intimate and emotionally powerful songs.

Have a listen to lead single “Childhood Home” on Soundcloud and stream the full EP via Bandcamp. Also, you may watch “Childhood Home” on Youtube.

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“Childhood Home” by The Healing

Childhood Home Album Art

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

“Oh The Evil!!!” by Michael Leonard Witham
20
Sep

Folk-rock artist, Michael Leonard Witham, began his musical after finding a well worn Yamaha acoustic guitar with a slightly damaged body and no strings. Soon after fixing it up and writing incessantly, he was chosen from an iphone recording as one of a handful of artists to perform in the Arkansas Times Musician’s Showcase. As the instrument became more and more familiar, the songs almost effortlessly poured out. Words and melodies told stories in a style that was unique and anything but common.

He began performing often and continued to craft songs that would become his debut, A Scandal In The Violets. The album will be released on October 21.

Visit Soundcloud to preview two tracks from the album. And, you may watch the video for “John’s Old Lady” on Vimeo. Plus, streaming is available via Bandcamp.

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“Oh The Evil!!!” by Michael Leonard Witham

Michael Leonard Witham

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

“Birdcage Walk” by Latimer House
20
Sep

Prague’s guitar-driven, pop-quartet, Latimer House, released its full-length All The Rage on the band’s own label, Honk Records, back in February. Now the band is back with its lyrically witty, yet quintessentially English-pop “Birdcage Walk,” and its b-side, the noisier, more experimental “Until Then.” The single was released digitally on July 7 and a 7″ pressed in red translucent vinyl was released on August 11 from the Honk Records shop.

Band members, Joe, Jiří, Anar and Michael, like a wide range of music from classic pop and rock, to funk, folk and New Wave, to obscure experimental rock, jazz and contemporary alternative sounds. All four have played in various bands down the years. Thus, their different backgrounds and interests all appear in the sound created by Latimer House.

On a creative roll, Latimer House plans to release their next full-length in 2015.

Stream and share the tracks from Latimer House via Soundcloud. The band would also like to highlight “Splash!” — now streaming on Bandcamp. Plus, watch the band’s official music video for “This is Pop.”

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“Birdcage Walk” by Latimer House

Birdcage Walk Single Cover

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