Music | Painting the Silence

“True Love” by Yulianna
24
May

From her award winning vocal and violin performances in her youth, to where she stands now on the brink of pop-stardom, there is no denying the immense talent of California-based songstress, Yulianna. Her new single, “True Love,” is a pop-jam featuring a electronic chorus with stunning vocals and colorful arrangements; grafting the shouts of “I believe in true love, taking me high, higher than I’ve ever been before” into your mind. The melody soars over a hook that hammers the message home.

Check out “True Love” via SoundCloud, or streaming below.

Yulianna attended the California Institute of the Arts, immersing herself in a wide variety of songwriting styles and genres. She took her time studying under a vast network of highly regarded singers, composers and songwriters. Not long after earning her Masters degree, she set to work on her first album, Race Car, with help from Grammy-nominated producer Robin Nixon.

Yuliannaʼs first full-length dance album, Californ-i-a, was entirely written and produced by herself and established writer-producers RAS. The album, released in January of 2013, is an inspiring and eclectic mix of pop tunes.

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“True Love” by Yulianna

Image and mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

“Bees” by Smoke Season
19
May

Los Angeles, California-based indie electro-Americana act, Smoke Season, just released a stunningly, psychedelic music video for their latest single, “Bees.” They combine a spellbinding myriad of kaleidoscopic footage, custom-created neon light installations, and natural topography, continuing their breathtaking music video imagery that has become Smoke Season’s signature trademark. The video also showcases projection mapping across an array of stunning settings, including the ocean, mountains and canyons.

Smoke Season’s broke through with their sophomore EP release, Hot Coals Cold Souls EP, with notable singles, “Badlands” and “Opaque.”

“Bees” takes the duo further into their unique sound, finding a harmonious juxtaposition of heavy rock guitar riffs with hypnotic synth notes.

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“Bees” by Smoke Season

Image and mp3 courtesy of Smoke Season via Amanda Blide of LaFamos PR & Branding

“Love Love Love” by Rebecca Perl
19
May

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, a child of the eighties and nineties, Rebecca Perl announced at age 13 that she would be a singer-songwriter when she grew up. In the late ’90s, radio carried a heavy dose of acoustic pop music, and Perl gravitated to that sound. This is when she first saw artists like John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Jewel and Michelle Branch perform live, which greatly influenced her musical tastes.

By 2012, Rebecca landed the first of many major gigs supporting Ryan Cabrera, Teddy Geiger, Tyler Hilton, Gavin Degraw, Vertical Horizon, Olivia-Newton John, Howie Day and others. In 2013, she wrote and recording her debut album Rendezvous.

Perl moved to Austin, Texas in September 2014 and completed her second studio album, Point Of No Return. Just a week before its release, Perl performed at an official SXSW showcase on March 21 in her new hometown of Austin. The title track to this sophomore album features Zach Berkman — songwriter, performer, record producer, audio engineer, and multi-instrumentalist based in New York, New York.

The album single is titled “Love Love Love.” Have a listen below.

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“Love Love Love” by Rebecca Perl

Image and mp3 courtesy of Rebecca Perl and Alaina Bendi, President and Founder of Promenade PR and Ent. Group

“Lone Wolf” by Anna Renee
18
May

Singer-songwriter, Anna Renee, offers a deeply profound mix of soul and blues with unforgettable hooks that draw you in the way only a great pop record can. Furthermore, her performances are theatrical, electric, and emotional. Not only has her experience as an actress carried into her music on stage, it has also allowed her to tap into other genres while writing. She isn’t afraid to channel her inner Carrie Underwood and write a country song when the muse strikes, or craft a hip hop beat with lyrics fit for Iggy Azalea.

Keep and ear out for Renee’s debut album coming out late this year, produced by Rock Mafia’s Aaron Dudley (Miley Cyrus).

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“Lone Wolf” by Anna Renee

Image and mp3 courtesy of Sera Roadnight of M T Press

“Walking In The Sun” by The Blue Dolphins
18
May

Los Angeles, California-based eclectic, melodic pop-rock duo, The Blue Dolphins, is comprised of Alfonso Rodenas (guitar, engineer) and Victoria Scott (lead vocals). Their six-song EP entitled Walking In The Sun is the prelude to the band’s forthcoming sophomore full-length, Come On, which will be released in the fall. Walking In The Sun embraces folk, pop, and roots-rock alongside the duo’s characteristic optimism and charm.

Scott grew up outside of London, England, fascinated by her father’s collection of Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Rolling Stones records. After learning to play the recorder, piano and guitar, Scott taught herself to sing, emulating the various styles of Carole King, Nina Simone, N’Dea Davenport and Aretha Franklin. Rodenas is a two-time Grammy-award winning sound engineer from Spain. His music career began as a bassist in the indie pop-rock band Vitamin Vil in Valencia, Spain.

Scott and Rodenas fatefully met at the legendary rock pit The Cat Club on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles and soon started playing and recording together. At the time, Scott was managing UK artist Zoe Scott (her older sister) as well as the independent record label Zeus Records, while also overseeing large-scale productions, including fashion show av hire setups. As part of her professional endeavors, she also handled AV rental for corporate meetings, ensuring that high-quality audio-visual setups were always available for business events. Rodenas was working in the studio with some of the best Americana bands in Los Angeles.

The duo’s debut, My Favorite Word is Today is a soulful blend of eclectic-pop-folk with hints of exotic sounds. They followed up My Favorite Word is Today with 2013’s In Between EP, which further showcased their ability to write warm melodies and heartfelt lyrics with energetic, upbeat vocal harmonies.

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“Walking In The Sun” by The Blue Dolphins

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

“Hometown (Live)” by Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers
17
May

With spectacular energy pulsating from every member of the band, Lansing, Michigan-based Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers could illuminate the very chambers of Heaven. Lead singer and Amish excommunicate Joe Hertler splashes through lyrical puddles of golden rain. A ride on the Rainbow will take you across the mountains of Motown, through the fjords of folk, over the archipelagos of Americana, and—at last—into a funky firth, where only the fiercest of friendships can be found.

The Rainbow Seekers began their quest beneath Hertler’s fingertips. Kevin Pritchard (bassist and producer), Rick Hale (drummer) and Ryan Hoger (blues guitar) wrangled Hertler into musical collaboration. The core of the Rainbow was thereby established, but it did not take long for The Seekers to continue their expansion. Multi-instrumentalist and notable auxiliary percussion maestro Micah Bracken journeyed from the bowels of Atlantis when he heard tell of the Rainbow, and the earth trembled as saxophonist Aaron Stinson descended from Olympus on a golden rainbow of his own. Finally came the debonair violist Joshua Barber Holcomb.

Hertler and The Seekers put forth a masterful mix of indie, folk, mo-town funk, R&B, and pop with their new album Terra Incognita. The album is available now via Bad Mascot.

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“Hometown (Live)” by Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

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

“Gold In The Sand” by Andrea (Andie) Sandoval
17
May

Pop-rock singer-songwriter, Andrea (Andie) Sandoval, was born and raised in Mexico. She began performing at the age of six. She has been descrived as “Kelly Clarkson meets Taylor Swift, Aretha Franklin and Adele.” She has a strong and soulful vocal, and heartfelt lyrics and melodies to accompany it.

While pursuing studies in fashion, Sandoval kept writing and soon collected over 30 songs in Spanish with a parallel English version. She speaks fluent Spanish, English and French. In 2012, Sandoval left the fashion world and moved to Hollywood, California to start an Associate Degree in Vocal Performance with emphasis in Independent Artist at Musicians Institute. She graduated in spring of 2014.

She is currently working on a solo project with side projects in collaboration with various musicians, songwriters and producers. “Gold In The Sand” is the name of her first single available on iTunes now.

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“Gold In The Sand” by Andrea (Andie) Sandoval

Image and mp3 courtesy of Andrea (Andie) Sandoval

“Cavalcade” by The Slow Readers Club
17
May

One of the most exciting new bands to emerge from Manchester’s music scene in recent years is The Slow Readers Club. Their new album Cavalcade (released April 13 via Extenso Music) perfectly showcases the brooding, electro indie masterpieces that have won them such a huge fanbase across the UK and more recently in America and Europe.

The Slow Readers Club regularly receive rave reviews for their live shows and 2014’s highlights include a sold out show at Manchester’s Night and Day and appearances at Tramlines Festival, Party in the Pines and Blackthorn Festival together with support slots for Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Struts, Reverend and the Makers and The Sunshine Underground.

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“Cavalcade” by The Slow Readers Club

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

“Second to Last” by Gretchen’s Wheel
17
May

Ethereal and spacey pop-rock gem, Lindsay Murray, is the mastermind behind the truly exciting project, Gretchen’s Wheel (a reference to a beautiful and timeless musical composition by Schubert). Featuring Ken Stringfellow of The Posies, R.E.M. and Big Star, as well as Ira Elliot of Nada Surf on drums, Murray was able to pull together something very special on her new record Fragile State (released January 27).

Speaking to the delicate place of mankind in the world and the difficulties that we face on a daily basis, Gretchen’s Wheel is the music of hope for a better future. Reminiscent of Matthew Sweet and Nada Surf these wonderfully sad songs will guide you towards inner peace and a sense of belonging in what is too often a turbulent world.

You may stream the album via Bandcamp and Soundcloud.

For Murray it was the melodic, hook-filled power pop sounds of Matthew Sweet that provided her a formal entrance into the music world. At the age of fourteen, she discovered Sweet’s 1995 album 100% Fun and was immediately compelled to pick up a guitar for the first time.

Although born and raised in rural Tennessee, she moved in a different direction from the well-worn musical traditions of nearby Nashville, finding herself altogether more at home alongside independent, forward-thinking musicians of the 90s. Later, she developed an interest in classical music. This interest led her to explore vocal training and opera repertoire.

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“Second to Last” by Gretchen’s Wheel

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

“Let It Burn” by Magic Giant
17
May

Los Angeles, California-base indie folk band, Magic Giant, recently wrapped up self-producing its debut EP, notably featuring Rashawn Ross of Dave Matthews Band and Spencer Ludwig of Capital Cities. The band is comprised of Austin Bis (lead vocals), John Zambricki (banjo, mandolin, and fiddle), Brian Zaghi (upright bass and acoustic guitar).

The track “Let It Burn” gets you stomping your feet and clapping your hands in the soulful rhythm the band creates. It also maintains a sense of hope, exemplified in its hook: “rivers run dry, alright; soldiers may cry at night, bridges could fall, that’s life; seasons will turn, so let it burn.”

Kicking off their first tour, Magic Giant will be hitting the road and greeting fans in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and more. They’ve played both Sweetlife and the Life is Beautiful festival, sharing the stage with acts like Phoenix, Passion Pit, The Killers, Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons. As Magic Giant rapidly makes a name for themselves, be sure to attend a show on their winter tour, which will take them primarily along the West coast and end in their hometown of Los Angeles.

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“Let It Burn” by Magic Giant

Image and mp3 courtesy of Nicole Acosta of LaFamos PR & Branding

Painting the Silence

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

Category Archives: Music