Music | Painting the Silence

“Willamette Valley Ballad” by John Moen (The Decemberists)
17
Jul

John Moen; drummer and harmony right-hand for the Decemberists, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Elliott Smith, and Robert Pollard’s Boston Spaceships, as well as the former front man of Portland’s legendary Maroons; released his own album of gorgeously crafted pop-rock tunes, Revise Your Maps, on June 25, 2013 under the name Perhapst on Jealous Butcher Records.

The record kicks off with “Birds off a Wire,” the perfect introduction to Moen’s impossibly keen melodic sense. The title song tugs on the heart with a refrain that’s equal parts teary and hopeful. Revise Your Maps is a grown-up record full of all the love, want, and peacemaking that come to a husband, dad, and musician who’s been playing on stages since he was a teenager.

[audio:Willamette Valley Ballad.mp3|titles=Willamette Valley Ballad|artists=John Moen (The Decemberists)]
“Willamette Valley Ballad” by John Moen (The Decemberists)

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

“Crazy Glue” by Naia Kete
24
Jun

Last month I featured Naia Kete, letting you know the former NBC’s “The Voice” contestant had an album in the works. On June 3rd, 2013 that album, Fire Breather, was celebrated at Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, in preparation for its June 11 official release. This is Kete’s third EP to date.

Fire Breather features five perfectly sweet and savory tracks, leading with the single “Crazy Glue.” The video for the single features a cameo by Kete’s friend Steven R. McQueen from The CW’s hit show, The Vampire Diaries. Kete collaborated with music greats Linda Perry, Colbie Caillat, Mikal Blue and The Futuristics by melding pop, soul, reggae and R&B.

[audio:Crazy Glue.mp3|titles=Crazy Glue|artists=Naia Kete]
“Crazy Glue” by Naia Kete

Image courtesy of Kete’s official site

Introduction by Independent PR Manager, Tiffany Youhanna

“Midnight” by Joshua Worden
24
Jun

Solo artist and producer based in Atlanta, GA, Joshua Worden, creates an original blend of R&B, jazz and indie pop with electronic production. His down-tempo fusion is fresh and atypical. Worden is inspired by artists such as Frank Ocean, Raphael Saadiq and James Blake. His music and lyrics, though accessible, veer heavily towards introspective territory. Worden is a trained jazz guitarist and, as a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter, he writes, arranges and produces all of his own material.

Worden released his debut EP, The Withered Tree in July of 2012. Earlier this month, his first full-length album, Always This, was released and can be streamed from his Bandcamp profile.

Worden’s live band consists of himself (vocals, keys, guitar, synth, samples) and Will Montgomery (drums, vocals, samples).

[audio:Midnight.mp3|titles=Midnight|artists=Joshua Worden]
“Midnight” by Joshua Worden

Image and mp3 courtesy of James Moore and Liz LeGear at Independent Music Promotions

“Cut To The Chase” by Kris Angelis
23
Jun

Sera Roadnight of M T Press is pleased to introduce Kris Angelis‘ brand new single, “Cut To The Chase.”

Based out of Los Angeles, Angelis pulls much of her inspiration from growing up on a farm in Gainesville, Florida, where she first started her love affair with music crafting little songs and singing harmonies with her twin sister. From there, she studied with teachers from the famed Julliard and Tisch School of the Arts in New York City. Throughout all of her years seeking knowledge and diving head first into new challenges, her poetic songwriting and soft-spoken vocals are where she blossoms. Her first full length, debut album, The Left Atrium will be available in July.

The first single off the album, “Cut To The Chase,” is all about wanting something you shouldn’t have.

[audio:Cut To The Chase.mp3|titles=Cut To The Chase|artists=Kris Angelis]
“Cut To The Chase” by Kris Angelis

Image and mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

“Trusty Branch” by Lee Koch
23
Jun

Working Brilliantly is pleased to present their new artist Lee Koch.

After cutting his teeth playing blues clubs along the coast of Southern California, Koch became a fixture at SoCal venues where locals began to gravitate to his alluring live performances and gave him reason to call it his musical home.

Whole Heart is Koch’s first release since he was on The Voice last season, earning recognition with his raspy rendition of “Like a Rolling Stone.” The album will be released nationally on August 27th, 2013. This project proves his worth as both a strong new voice in the current folk revival and a craftsmen-like troubadour in the vein of Ray LaMontagne.

[audio:Trusty Branch.mp3|titles=Trusty Branch|artists=Lee Koch]
“Trusty Branch” by Lee Koch

mp3 courtesy of Jennifer Thorington & Samuel Markus of Working Brilliantly PR.

Image courtesy of ultimateclassicrock.com

“Blondie” by Vinnie Ferra
8
Jun

To his FanBridge subscribers, singer-songwriter Vinnie Ferra writes, “between you and me… ‘Blondie’ is a song that was written during a time of solitude. Romanitc and social. A song that speaks of my thoughts and turmoils in private and those that go unsaid. This song is by no means a single. Not a marketable machine or a viable track for the masses. This is a song for me. With a more complex arrangement, varing changes and sections. When the lyrics and vocals spew out you’ll see, it’s still me.”

Ferra’s last legit release was Destroying Me – Single from January 28, 2013. Check it out on iTunes.

Have a listen to “Blondie” below and view the video here.

[audio:Blondie.mp3|titles=Blondie|artists=Vinnie Ferra]
“Blondie” by Vinnie Ferra

Image and mp3 courtesy of FanBridge distribution

“Running With The Wolves” by Daniel Robinson
26
May

In anticipation for his sophomore EP Guesswork, due out in June, electropop-songwriter, Daniel Robinson, has released his latest single “Running With The Wolves.” Always one to write with no filter, Robinson addresses a self-destructive lover, their accompanying paramours (aka “the wolves”), and makes it clear that he does it better by himself.

Of the new album, Robinson says, “The whole theme of this EP is very glitchy, like an old videogame that doesn’t quite work the way it’s supposed to anymore, which all relates back to the subject matter of the record itself which is about becoming comfortable without control, risk and reward, and the unknown.”

This Buffalo native’s signature is deep-space instrumentals and airy vocals. He is also versed in acoustic guitar and ukulele. Lately he has been heavily inspired by the writing styles of LIGHTS and Bjork and the ethereal Lo-fi sound of Now Now.

[audio:Running With The Wolves.mp3|titles=Running With The Wolves|artists=Daniel Robinson]
“Running With The Wolves” by Daniel Robinson

mp3 courtesy of Patrick Lenon and publicist, Nicole Acosta of LaFamos, Marketing & Publicity Department.

Image courtesy of Daniel Robinson’s instagram

“Surfboard Balcony” by Déjà Mae
26
May

Songwriter, Déjà Mae, released her debut album, Through the Half-Dark, on April 9, 2013. Mae not only sings, but she also plays acoustic guitar and piano. Her style is influenced by some of her favorite artists, including Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Sr., Billie Holiday and Led Zeppelin.

As the daughter of Norman Howell, a well-established stunt-man/coordinator/director and stunt double for Kevin Costner, Mae traveled from location to location growing up. As a little girl, she fell in love with the idea of performing. It would be the film Dances with Wolves where Mae would get her first taste of performing. She continued to participate in the ‘family business’ throughout her adolescence, but soon she branched out into other areas of creativity, such as music.

[audio:Surfboard Balcony.mp3|titles=Surfboard Balcony|artists=Déjà Mae]
“Surfboard Balcony” by Déjà Mae

mp3 courtesy of Kim Lalljee of LaFamos PR & Branding

Image courtesy of Déjà Mae Howell’s Facebook Photos

“Loomer” (My Bloody Valentine cover) by Kenny Feinstein
25
May

On September 17, Kenny Feinstein, frontman for Portland, Oregon-based roots-bluegrass-punk outfit, Water Tower, will release Loveless: Hurts To Love, a tribute to My Bloody Valentine, on Portland, Oregon-based Fluff & Gravy Records. As Feinstein’s debut solo album, it will contain all eleven tracks from the My Bloody Valentine classic, plus “Swallow” from their 1991 Tremolo EP.

Feinstein played the majority of the instruments on the record, but enlisted the help of Kaphan and Kazor and infamous singer-songwriter Richard Buckner, who lent his voice and ukelele.

How was Feinstein’s love of Loveless born? …

“I forced myself to listen to Loveless over and over because I did not understand it. I was confused by the sounds coming from it. Finally, when listening to ‘Loomer’ while driving around a mall in Fort Lauderdale I had an epiphany during the chorus. I could not tell if the sound was being made by a human, a synth, a guitar, a bass or anything, but I did not care, all I could gather was that it was the most blissful sound I had ever heard.” ~ Kenny Feinstein

[audio:Loomer.mp3|titles=Loomer|artists=Kenny Feinstein]
“Loomer” by Kenny Feinstein

Blog-approved mp3 provided by Alex Steininger at In Music We Trust PR.

Image courtesy of Golden Mixtape

“Hello!” by Massy Ferguson
25
May

Seattle, Washington-based Massy Fergusons’ Victory & Ruins was released on Seattle’s indie label, Spark & Shine Records.

Often referred to as alt. country or roots-rock and Americana, Massy Ferguson, has been described by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as “the people’s band” and a “roots Americana quartet” that “combines steady, blue-collar alt. country with Southern rock…” The quartet is comprised of Ethan Anderson (vocals/bass), Adam Monda (guitars, backing vocals), Tony Mann (piano), and Dave Goedde (drums).

The album opener sets the tone, quickly proclaiming, “Hello! It’s good to see you all again, but you’re really not my friends ’til you see me at the end” with a steady rhythm and hooky guitar leading the way.

You may preview the music video for “Hello!” here.

“Our sound reminds me of landscapes and places I saw while looking out of an old jalopy car, sitting in the backseat with the windows down, in rural Snohomish County, sitting on ripped upholstery with no seat belts.” ~ Ethan Anderson

[audio:Hello!.mp3|titles=Hello!|artists=Massy Ferguson]
“Hello!” by Massy Ferguson

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

Painting the Silence

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski

Category Archives: Music