2012Candy - February (Mega Round Up) !
Swedish duo Korallreven aka Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder (of The Radio Dept) have announced their first US shows ever, with select east and west coast dates behind their critically acclaimed debut album, An Album By Korallreven, available now on Acéphale. The forthcoming March performances follow Korallreven's live debut in Europe this past December that featured an ethereal light display and a few sets with Air France. Korallreven's production focuses on melodic evolution rather than following a distinct structure and one can expect this sublime execution with their live shows. A few performances will include special guest appearances by Victoria Bergsman (Taken By Trees, The Concretes), who was featured on the duo's lauded single "As Young As Yesterday," which was named one of Pitchfork's "Best New Tracks" and held a steady Number 1 position on the Hype Machine charts for several weeks.
Korallreven's first single "Honey Mine" was released earlier this year, alongside their summer-released A Dream Within A Dream mixtape that featured an extremely well-received remix of Britney Spears' "Till The World Ends." They followed with "As Young As Yesterday, including remixes by Panda Bear and Girl Unit, and debuted their third single "Sa Sa Samoa" featuring Brooklyn-based vocal experimentalist Julianna Barwick. An Album By Korallreven is "crisp as Autumn in Stockholm" says BlackBook, "punctuated by sudden bursts from electronic synths and drums to kick up the groove."
3/4 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
3/5 - Washington DC - Black Cat
3/6 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
3/7 - San Francisco, CA - Independent*
3/8 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex*
*Guest appearance by Victoria Bergsman
Listen: Sa Sa Samoa.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This builds with lush atmospheric beauty and a growing beat that is topped off by wonderful 'orchestral' vocals.
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From Paper Garden Records - The success of Indy-based Bonesetters hinges on their restrained and straight forward songwriting to create a fine balance of fast-paced alt-rock and acoustic indie folk. They stick to the essentials: guitars and drums with catchy vocal hooks. No superfluous effects or over-saturated reverb…a refreshing change in today’s indie music scene if you ask us!
Their debut album, Savages, came close to never being heard when their previous label Mossback Records folded in early 2011, but with persistence and a successful Kickstarter campaign the band was able to drop the album last month. And thankfully so, for it has been a delight to our ears here at LHC. Grounded in a love for poetry and librarians, frontman Daniel Snodgrass delivers lyrics that are sincere admissions of ordinary life made poignant, sung with a voice that falls somewhere between Nathan Willet (Cold War Kids) and Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes). The instrumentation is clean and tight, with a few strings and horn arrangements to supplement their catchy riffs and melodies. Take a listen to “Maypole“ below and hear it for yourself.
Film IN music covered an acoustic performance of another one of Bonesetters’ standout tracks, “You Are Shaun Gannon”, which was filmed at Village Green Records. Just watch it out below. Currently the band is playing a string of shows throughout Indiana in support of the album with a spring tour in the works.
Listen: Maypole.
Web: Bandcamp HERE.
We Say: No nonsense 'indie' rock, the vocals really stand out and complement the band, very catchy indeed.
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Minneapolis sextet Lucy Michelle And The Velvet Lapelles are pleased to announce their newest full-length LP, HEAT, tentatively due out in April 2012. HEAT is the band's fourth full-length release and their first since 2010's Good of That. HEAT was recorded at Vacation Island Recording Studios in Brooklyn with acclaimed producer/engineer Matt Boynton (MGMT, Beirut, Bat for Lashes). The new record is comprised of all original material written predominantly by Lucy Michelle in Minnesota during the winter of 2010/2011.
HEAT continues the band's eclectic musical style, creating a wash of organic psych-folk from a blend of interweaving ukeleles, accordion, electric guitar, upright bass, cello, drums and (of course) Lucy Michelle's uniquely recognizable vocals. Many of the songs center around the feeling of being trapped and isolated while yearning to be somewhere else; physically or psychologically. HEAT showcases the artistic growth and sonic evolution of the band's sound which translates into a magnificent record laced with scorching lyricism, hauntingly beautiful melodies and gorgeous harmonies that create an expansive, yet highly focused and cohesive body of work.
Listen: Just A Kid.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Lovely, distinctive vocals supported by a highly talented band, this song made me hit the repeat button straight away, excellent.
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Undefeated champions of British electronic music, Orbital get back in the ring in 2012 with Wonky, their first new album in eight years. Recently reunited following a long sabbatical, Paul and Phil Hartnoll are back on fighting-fit form and ready to reclaim their title. Both timeless and contemporary, Wonky puts a vividly modern spin on their signature blend of richly melodic, deeply emotive electronica.
Confident, energised and eclectic, Wonky already sounds like the duo’s finest album to date. Gleaming, whooshing, shimmering tracks like Straight Sun and Stringy Acid instantly tap into the warm-blooded rush and restless bounce of classic Orbital. These are future festival- rocking anthems in the making, right up there with vintage live favourites Chime and Belfast.
But there are nods to cutting-edge club culture on Wonky too – including a guest appearance by hotly tipped Birmingham grime MC Lady Leshurr on the album’s irresistibly vibrant electro-rap title track. The Hartnolls even give a radical post-dubstep makeover to their much-loved techno-rock classic Satan, reworking it into a razor- backed beast of shuddering bass called Beelzedub.
Like all Orbital albums, Wonky defies narrow-minded caricatures of electronic music as cold and mechanical. Playful humour and warm humanity are woven into its fabric - from the heart-tugging harmonies and woozy vocal layers of Never and Distractions, to the guest appearance by the highly acclaimed LA-based electronic musician Zola Jesus on the brooding, atmospheric epic New France. These are machine-made symphonies to stir the soul and electrify the senses.
“When I’m writing music, if it doesn’t move you emotionally, it’s not working,” Paul explains. “It has to give me butterflies. I have to make myself cry in the studio.”
Formed in the late 1980s, Orbital released a string of classic 1990s singles including Chime, Style, The Box and Satan. Paul and Phil put their partnership on hold in 2004, but a five-year absence only increased demand for their exhilarating music and legendary live shows. The brothers finally announced their comeback with a triumphant headline set at the Big Chill in 2009. Orbital were revitalised, rebooted, reunited – and it felt so good.
UK Tour April 2012:
05 Manchester Academy
06 Leeds O2 Academy
07 Glasgow O2 Academy
08 Liverpool O2 Academy
09 Cambridge Corn Exchange
10 London Royal Albert Hall
Listen: Never.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: It's Orbital, so we would probably have featured them if they sent us a recording of a hair dryer! Actually instead we received a reminder of just how superb they are... I wonder if anyone has sampled hair dryers?
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From a rural upbringing in Tamahere, New Zealand up-and-coming singer/songwriter Abby Holden’s brand of catchy self-penned indie pop replete with frank lyricism is fast gaining her a fan-base on the vibrant London music scene.
Singing from the moment she could speak and a talented classically trained pianist from the age of six, Abby had a healthy obsession with vocals, evidenced by her love of the Phantom of the Opera album and Whitney Houston's eponymous second album. Gaining her first taste of recording in the studio at the age of 12 while singing on a charity record, Abby’s passion for a career in music was ignited, and in high school she learned the guitar - swiftly moving onto to write her own music.
In college Abby formed the band “Skyla”, which gained popularity and performed on TV with the song, “Day by Day” and received radio airplay in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia with “Believe in Me”.
Since moving to London in 2005, Abby has continued to hone the craft of song-writing, recording her debut album “Flipside” at London’s Ritz Studios, which was officially released in the U.K. on March 18, 2011. The album features re-mastered and re-recorded tracks from Abby’s ‘Skyla’ days. “Wrong Tonight” and “Believe in Me” recently went through to the finals of the U.K. Songwriting Competition 2011, while the title track “Flipside” and “Undone” made it into the semi-finals.
The fun-loving Antipodean singer is now back in the studio recording her second album, due for release early 2012.
Listen: Fly Away.
Web: Official Here.
We Say: The featured song is from a pretty varied album in terms of style and approach, therefore it only captures one aspect of Abby. She can rock and boy can she sing!
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Hailing from Southern Brazil, the five-piece band Rosie And Me fronted by Rosanne Machado, draws inspiration from their culture as they blend their sound with American folk music. This is a unique combination that illuminates throughout their music. Machado leads the band on their musical journey as she is a triple threat on lead vocals, acoustic guitars and banjo. Alongside Rosie are Ivan Camargo (acoustic guitars), Thomas Kossar (electric guitars), Guilherme Miranda (bass guitars) and Tiago Barbosa (drums/perc). The group blends insightful lyrics, brilliant melodies and luscious female vocals reminiscent of indie favorites like Feist and Joy Williams from The Civil Wars.
2010 saw Rosie And Me releasing Bird and Whale, which gained critical acclaim from over 80 music blogs worldwide, and a dedicated fan base. Now with a new batch of songs in tow, Rosie And Me are a ready to take the music world by storm once again. The release of Arrow of My Ways was on January 25th on iTunes.
Tour Dates:
March, 9th: Viento y Agua Coffeehouse (Long Beach, CA)
March, 10th: Hotel Cafe (with the Mynabirds), LA
March 13rd - 19th - SXSW (showcase details TBD)
March, 14th Dunn Bros Coffee (Katy, TX)
March 15th : Opening Bell (Dallas, TX)
Listen: Arrow Of My Ways.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: I had to double check this band are from Southern Brazil as their take on American folk music is outstanding. OK this years list of 'ones to watch out for' has to start somewhere, this will do nicely.
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'Lemondrop' is independent electronic music label Moodgadget's mainstay André Obin's latest single, featuring remixes from Teen Daze and 18 Carat Affair.
The original mix hypnotically pulses and swells beneath Obin's love-drunk, melancholy croons and suggestive whispers. Teen Daze paints an equally heartfelt picture with lighter, more intricate tones, while 18K Affair submerges Lemondrop in steaming dry ice. Perfect listening for walking to or from a lover's house or apartment in the freezing cold.
Listen: Lemondrop.
Web: Bandcamp HERE.
We Say: This is another song that has been played a good few times since we received it. Powerful layered sounds and vocals that just drift over and within the arrangement.
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Erin Passmore is perhaps best known for her work in the Regina, SK indie-rock band Rah Rah where she plays drums, keys, bass and contributes her crowd-rousing co-lead vocals. Erin’s voice is not brash, booming, or overdone. It’s honest, warm and real and you can’t help but take notice when she takes the mic. Erin is releasing her debut solo album on February 28, 2012 called (the) Downtown EP via Hidden Pony Records.
Erin has spent year’s writing, recording and internationally touring Rah Rah’s two critically revered records, Going Steady (2008) and Breaking Hearts (2010). Rah Rah’s latest record has just wrapped, under the masterful production ears of Gus Van Go, and will be released later this year.
Her only vocal training has come from singing in her school’s concert choirs (for extra credit) and belting out Aretha Franklin songs in the shower. While working so diligently with Rah Rah Erin kept carefully concealed a handful of her own songs. They are personal, poetic, reflective and wry songs that tackle personal relationships and wrestle with the confines of living in a small town.
The collection of demos, beautiful on their own for their sparseness and jolts of Erin’s personality between takes, took her to Montreal in the summer of 2011 and into the studio under the production of Matt Lederman (Patrick Watson, The Besnard Lakes). There the songs began to bloom. Friends Lowell Campbell (Wintersleep), Tim D’eon (Wintersleep), Mara Pellerin (Gramercy Riffs) joined in alongside a chain of local Montreal-based talent in Dagan Harding, Mishka Stein (Patrick Watson), Andy King, Jason Sharp, Pat Sayers (Young Galaxy) and Vid Cousins (Amon Tobin) to take the demos from charming ideas to an inspired, complete album.
Erin played electric and acoustic guitars, synth, piano, glockenspiel, moog and of course, handled all the lead vocals. An array of percussion, drums bass, trumpet, flugelhorn and bass sax anchor Erin’s incredibly rich voice.
Listen: Downtown.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Erin has no problem taking over lead vocals, I agree she really does have a 'rich' voice, what is really good though is the quality of the song and put in cliche manner - 'it rocks'.
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Cherub is a progressive, avante garde, electro-pop duo that is the dance love-child of 80’s funk, and art house indie. The members of Cherub, Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber, share a love for honest original music and vibrant live performance, with a common goal to share a little bit of sex, a little bit of drugs, and a whole lot of love with people across the globe. Cherub’s music is a fresh electrified take on risqué pop music that brings to mind a blend of influential artists like Prince, Cut Copy, and The Dream. With a live show that is bouncing with energy, Cherub dances their way into the hearts of audiences from the first falsetto hook, until the very last delay filters out.
After receiving a warm response worldwide to the digital release on the band’s first record, Man of the Hour, and touring throughout the US and Mexico, Cherub has returned to the studio to complete work on their second album MoM & DaD, scheduled for release about now. This new batch of Cherub songs brings a fresh, uptempo electro feel to the familiar pop sensibilities showcased on their first record. Jordan Kelley’s studio production, clever songcraft, and silky smooth falsetto are complimented perfectly by Jason Huber’s live production and tube-driven guitar work.
Cherub’s versatility in songwriting and dance music production blurs conventional genre barriers. Ranging from grooving heartfelt ballads to risqué club bangers, Cherub takes the throwback vibes of old drum machines and washed out keyboards, and marries them with timeless writing and a very modern approach to music production and performance. Playful guitar licks and lush synthesizer textures dance around in the mix, as listeners are treated to sing-a-long hook after hook the entire way through the tunes.
Listen: Doses and Mimosas.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: What on earth is a "progressive, avante garde, electro-pop" duo? Well I guess this is. It's pretty catchy stuff and the whole thing is annoyingly good, how dare you try and get me dancing at my age...
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Nabiha Bensouda, the award-winning, chart-topping Danish-African pop soul-singer, is currently dominating the pop music scene in Scandinavia and is poised and ready to take on the US.
Nabiha, whose family has both Danish and North-West African roots, grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark listening to a wide variety of music ranging from African lullabies to disco, soul, reggae, rock, R&B, and electronica, all of which are present in Nabiha’s style today. “Deep Sleep” her first single includes one of her mother’s favorite African lullabies. “I grew up with a welcoming, loving, strong mother and grandmother who taught me so much about life. I was constantly inspired by the love of people around me. I feel lucky.”
In February 2010, Nabiha released her debut album “Cracks” to critical acclaim. “Deep Sleep,” the first single from the album, premiered on MTVU and was named “Song of the Day” on international tastemaker site Popjustice. After non-stop live television and radio performances in Denmark, Germany, and Poland, “Deep Sleep” could be heard everywhere from television to radio to film. The song peaked at number 5 on the overall Danish airplay charts and the accompanying video has had over 500,000 views on YouTube.In February 2011, after signing to DiscoWax, Nabiha headlined a sold out tour of Denmark before releasing “More Cracks,” the international re-edit of her debut album. The album, produced/co-written by Carl Ryden, Tommy D (Graffiti 6), Michelle Escoffery (Anastacia), and Jeremy Wheatley (Royksopp, Robyn, Leona Lewis), was recorded in both London and Los Angeles. “I really wanted to work a bit more on “Cracks,” as so much happened over the last year in my life.”
Nabiha is currently writing and recording her next album, due out in 2012.
Listen: Deep Sleep.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This is pure soul and pop that crosses generations. Nabiha is new to me and on the strength of this I have some catching up to do.
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Anna Vogelzang is due to release of her new full-length album Canary In A Coal Mine (Paper Anchor Music) on February 28th. The record, recorded with producer James Frazee (Blondie, Betty Lavette), features the talents of a wide cast of professional players including Franz Nicolay on accordion (former Hold Steady), Brian Viglione on drums (Dresden Dolls), Todd Sickafoose on upright bass (Righteous Babe/Ani DiFranco) and Emily Hope Price on cello (Pearl & the Beard).
A Boston area native, Anna Vogelzang recently transplanted herself to the mid-west, landing in Madison, WI where she's embraced the local music community, even taking a teaching roll as an instructor in the Madison area Girls Rock Camp. The past few years have seen her on the road, self-booking tours with a determined approach that has landed her on the same stage as Mirah, Franz Nicolay, Wye Oak, Amanda Palmer, Kyp Malone (TV On The Radio), Nat Baldwin (Dirty Projectors) and many others.
Listen: One And Only.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This is just so upbeat and pleasing. Why add more?
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Having earned an immaculate reputation as "the songwriter’s songwriter" as well as "the Faroe Islands’ golden child," critically praised Teitur has returned with 2012’s very much anticipated album, Let The Dog Drive Home.
His story begins in 2002, when Teitur was signed to Universal Records in the U.S. and released his first album, Poetry & Aeroplanes, the following year. This debut was highly acclaimed by both critics and fellow singer-songwriters, including Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer, Aimee Mann and KT Tunstall, all of whom took him on tour. He then broke away from Universal to start his own independent label, Arlo & Betty Recordings, and put out several albums, including Kata Hornid, recorded in his homeland Faroese language, and 2008's The Singer, which received five-star reviews and caused Teitur to be hailed as “a wonderfully idiosyncratic talent” by The Sunday Times.
For his latest release, Teitur opted to give his songs much more of an American influence, which led to a West Coast approach in their sound and production, shaping them into a well-tuned and clear record. Teitur describes the end result as “night radio music,” facilitating a body and soul experience rather than a creation of mind and thought. “Musically, I really wanted to have those classic chords with lots of fifths and fourths over an American drum beat,” Teitur recalls. “That sound and feel always remind me of Los Angeles…[where] I got signed as a songwriter in my earliest twenties.”
Teitur explains,“'Let The Dog Drive Home' is an old song I wrote in America a long time ago. It ties this collection of songs together, as I usually look at my records as one entire song. Most of these songs are about letting to, about being small and the realization that things seldom turn out the way you expect them to…the song is about letting go.”
Tour Dates:
2.17 Nashville, TN @ The Basement
2.18 Atlanta, GA @ The Five Spot
2.19 Athens, GA @ UGA Performing Arts Centre
2.20 Lexington, KY @ Natasha's Bistro
2.22 Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest Cafe
2.23 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
2.24 Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java
2.25 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
2.29 Old Saybrook, CT @ Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
3.1 Albany, NY @ WAMC Performing Arts Studio
3.2 S. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
3.3 Cambridge, MA @ Club Passim
3.4 Wakefield, QC, CAN @ Black Sheep Inn
3.6 Toronto, ON, CAN @ Great Hall on Queen Street
3.7 London, ON, CAN @ London Music Club
3.8 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
3.10 Evanston, IL @ S.P.A.C.E.
Listen: Let The Dog Drive Home.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Beehive Candy takes pride in our international inclusions, so being able to include an artist from the Faroe Islands without this being a token gesture is just wonderful as is this song.
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Orpheum Bell's "Poor Laetitia" conjures up images of smoky backroom tangos and darkened theaters. Lead vocalist, Aaron Klein's delivery of this character study of an awkward girl with a beautiful name is at once sneering and seductive. The muted trumpet and stomping tango beat settle this song on the eastern side of Orpheum Bell's "Country and Eastern" spectrum. The song can be found on the upcoming The Old Sister's Home (due out May, 8, 2012).
Orpheum Bell is an American band, but in 21st Century America, those words can carry a lot of baggage, both musical and cultural. The five band members bring together the sounds of their disparate homelands towrite songs that know no boundaries; laying down skewed grooves that skitter around the globe, absorbing beats and meters from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. "While our music isn't specifically coming from any one of those places or cultures, says Klein, " the sounds and songs we heard early in our lives get mixed into the songs we're writing now." Imagine a Ukrainian gypsy band playing cowboy tangos at a smoky bar in Havana. The band has been nominated for a 2012 WYCE Jammies awards, and they're planning to tour the US to support The Old Sister's Home and eyeing a European tour for 2013.
Listen: Poor Laetitia
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: So we are doing international and we are doing genre busting today. This is country and eastern, well that's what we are told, whatever! This is sublime and the list of ones to watch out for 2012 has increased by one.
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Hailee Araya is a 22 year old Ethiopian Swedish singer songwriter born and raised in Lund. She was attracted to music from a very early age and quickly learned the piano, which she played for several years and still uses to composes her songs. Hailee then began guitar lessons and is now taking on the drums and completely dove into music the moment she was in a position to do so.
'Music is a source of inspiration and strength and comfort. It's such a wonderful journey when you hear a track and the....entire song forms in your head and that rush gets very addictive. I don't always write something I personally see fit to voice myself because of maybe the nature of the song, or the beat isn't the vibe I'm in for my particular journey at this moment but that's what makes me very proud. This inspiration I get from listening to a track is not limited to what is my preference for myself as a singer personally which is why I enjoy writing for people in all genres of music as well. Words form when I hear music without them."
Hailee also started a charity group called Project Abel, named after her little brother, where she takes 10 dollars and turns it into a cooked and packaged meal for those in need. Hailee has also wants Project Abel to expand into helping people to get off the streets, and helping to run domestic violence shelters.
Hailee has performed in several festivals since early teens, including the Uppsala Reggae Festival in 2009. Her first official single 'rid you of my love' (written and performed by Hailee Araya, produced by Paul Kastick) was released in December 2011.
Listen: Rid You Of My Love.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Dare we say 'one to watch out for in 2012'? Have we mentioned the international flavour and genre varieties present in this Beehive Candy round up? Well Hailee is stand out and as reggae done well is always welcome here she has ticked every box we have to tick today!
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Catchy, moody debut by velvet-voiced young daughter of famous roots-rock family
Love may lie, but Kami Thompson doesn’t.
The young singer-songwriter speaks of intimate moments, using her husky, lovely voice, unflinching honesty, and long-honed musical sensibilities to craft a strikingly full-fledged debut effort, Love Lies (Warner Music / Naxos; U.S. release: January 31, 2012 - Available already elsewhere).
Drawing inspiration from her life-long love of roots music and deep ties of love and friendship—her father Richard Thompson and brother Teddy, family friends Sean Lennon and Martha Wainwright—Kami’s songs suggest the freshest strains of Americana (“Little Boy Blue”),for example
“I wasn’t writing any of these songs on purpose,” Thompson muses. “I was writing as I felt.”
Listen: Little Boy Blue.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Kami's voice and delivery is wonderful. The musicians complement this, and all of the name dropping in the above promo is interesting, but not really needed as she stands out on her own.
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KNTRLR, the psychedelic/electronic rock duo, reminiscent of fellow bands such as Yeasayer, Panda Bear, & F### Buttons have burst out from the black hole of creative collaboration with their first single “Kursk”.
KNTRLR is Charles and Michael—two individuals who came together from opposite worlds. One a former child actor, the other a former fringe Christian on track to attend Seminary School.
Charles grew up in the LA area and had a career high in the early 90’s with appearances on popular game shows like “Wild Animal Games with Ryan Seacrest” and made for TV movies. After becoming disenchanted with the Hollywood lifestyle, he focused all of his creativity on music and learned to play the drums - a choice which yielded strange rewards like opening for 80's new wave one-hit wonders Missing Persons and having psychedelic philosophical discussions with Rick James. Michael on the other hand grew up a strict Christian in Oklahoma and was groomed for Seminary School until a change of heart lead him to abandon that path. He has lived in a number of different places around the country and worked a variety of jobs from taxi driver to vineyard worker in California where he learned to play mariachi songs from his guadalajareño co-workers.
On a chance encounter, Charles and Michael met at the ever-popular Russian Bath House in New York City’s East Village and starting playing music together. After initially performing with other bands, the two decided to work together separately and KNTRLR was born. KNTRLR will partner with The Big Sleep on a 7” split available everywhere April 3rd on Goodnight Records.
Listen: Kursk.
Web: MySpace HERE.
We Say: So rock music can be electronic, case in point this song, another no nonsense piece that has heaps of power and flows as the electronic element kind of suggested it would.
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Bay Area 6-piece ensemble Planet Booty is set to release their second EP, Success. Accompanying the release is a video for the album's first single, "Dress for Success." The band's obvious sense of humor is trumped by their explosive talent, eccentric style, and downright fun and dirty funk.
Planet Booty's Success takes you on an intergalactic adventure through the orbital debris of musical genres. The four-song EP is the follow-up to their self-titled first album, Planet Booty - an entirely self-recorded, conceptual space-funk opera produced by Nathan Germick (keyboardist, Planet Booty) and mastered by Mike Wells. Success represents the evolution of Planet Booty from concept album to 6-piece live band.
With central themes of sweat and booty-shaking juxtaposed against more lofty notions of unlocking human potential, one may question the seriousness of it all. Planet Booty are masters of this ambiguity and use it to toy with the listener's expectations. Their "Dress for Success" video (directed and edited by Planet Booty members Rob Gwin and Dylan Germick) capitalizes on their humor to drive home the old adage that looking good is feeling good.
Planet Booty creates a hyper-charged dance party experience that has quickly earned them a reputation as one San Francisco's must-see live acts. Their unique combination of high-caliber musicianship, adventurous arrangements, and good ol' fashioned fun will continue to gain momentum with the release of their new EP and video. Success will be available on iTunes March, 2012.
Listen: Better Day.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: P.Funk meets the Bay area. Carnival arrives early with this band and parties hard into the night. You will dance, be warned you will!
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Sydney's unique soul-pop vocalist Kitty Clementine will release her debut self-titled album via Clumpty Records on March 6th. But, who is Kitty Clementine?
She began in the underworld of Sydney’s artist-run spaces, warehouses and speakeasies. She could be singing a jazz ballad one moment, a baroque aria the next, and screaming indeterminate noise for the encore. She was known for giving performances comprising of song, spoken word poetry, and performance art. She directed bands built out of hybrid instruments, junk percussion, and choirs. Though many knew her for these off-the-wall productions, few realized where she came from.
On her sixth birthday the family left South Africa. By this time she had already declared that when she grew up she was going to be a singer and a writer. The girl wrote her first song at eight, and never stopped. She studied baroque and opera through high school; performance, musicology and composition when she left; and finally was accepted into Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Jazz Degree. “It was there that my mentor taught me something life-changing: In order to truly master your art form, it must be lived, not just studied.” So, supported by her mentor, she left the Conservatorium and took on the musical life.
I had nothing to lose.
I took a chance on whim and embarked on my dream.
The journey began with a plane ticket to New Orleans. She had two months in North America with little money, and no plans except to embrace every experience and use it to write enough material for an album. The trip took her from the bawdy bars and tattoo parlors of the French quarter, on a journey that had her hitching through Alabama, North Carolina, up to Seattle, through San Francisco and eventually back to Los Angeles.
Kitty Clementine arrived in LA off the back of a pickup truck, with a book full of new songs, to a serendipitous week in Jeff Bova’s studio. Together they laid down an album in seven days.
I am Kitty Clementine. I make reality magical and I run hot on the heels of revelry. I am sharp, I am fierce, and I have stories you won’t believe. So fluff up your feathers and run the road. Be brave and wild with me.
Listen: Blow That Horn.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Now I will be honest, as this song opened I heard Amy Winehouse and I nearly binned it (Amy fan and all that). Kitty is not Amy, she has some similar aspects within her vocals however as this song developed I soon discovered that she is her own person and capable of defining a song with her own style. And she does that and deserves to be heard!
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Jesse Thomas is a redheaded firecracker from Kentucky, whose whiskey-soaked soul drips into every song that she sings. She will release her first full-length album, War Dancer, on Valentines Day.
In late 2008, with no money to her name, Jesse headed for Los Angeles. Alone. After a few open mic nights in the Valley and some raw demo recordings, she caught the attention of producer Jim Roach at Red Parade Music Group. Jim found something special in Jesse that countless others would soon come to recognize: A hilarious yet poignant personality shining through that smoky, battle scarred voice.
Jesse wrapped up her debut Hazel EP in the spring of 2010 for release in September. The EP debuted in the Top Ten on iTunes’ singer/songwriter chart and was featured there as both a "New and Noteworthy" and "Indie Spotlight" release. Come February 2011, her song "You I Want" was featured at Starbucks retail stores in the US and Canada as their "Pick of the Week.” "Stay," also off the EP, became a YouTube sensation after being used in Teen Nick's "Degrassi."
Jesse performed at the Hotel Cafe Showcase during SXSW 2011 and has opened for the likes of John Mayer, Cary Brothers, Crash Kings, Owl City, Lights, and Angel Taylor. Through her live performances and home videos, Jesse’s unique brand of gritty charm has gained her many fans and made her debut record highly anticipated.
War Dancer arrives on February 14, 2012. The LP is named after a shop on the corner of "Jesse Street" & Victory Boulevard."
Listen: Fire.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: This is a charming song, her vocals have body and edge. One little song that leaves me looking forward to discovering more.
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Ian Narcisi has always understood one simple truth: If you have a dream, make it happen. Ian’s dream is to change the world through his music. With a spiritual-humanist philosophy and a penchant for complex synth-based melodic progressive rock, Ian believes in the power of the human race to become their dreams. He seeks to build a better world through music, prodding all who will listen to become the selves they have envisioned.
Ian’s first full-length album, Weight Of The Words, featured re-masters of his EPs Off Purpose and Niche In Time in addition to six new songs. This dreamy synth-based progressive rock collection shows off a distinct musicality and vision that expands on traditional rock compositional styles in a Muse-meets-King Crimson ménage. Highlights include “Burning” and “Forever Today”. Ian’s songwriting takes on a bit more edge on his 2009 EP Feel No Evil. With songs such as “Sparkle And Shine” and “Little Bit”, Ian shows a developing sense of musical drama.
Ian’s latest EP, Phone Call To Infinity, is his most defining work to date. The edge noted on Feel No Evil is still here, but Ian has polished the rough edges to a fine musical sheen. The song “Behind The Dawn” shows an expansive sound that’s part Queen, part Muse and part Pink Floyd. Similar musical colors dance through “Five Below Nothing” and “Absent Today”. At some point in the recording of this EP, Ian has transcended mere creation into art; at the same time elevating his messages about becoming the best possible you to pure poetry.
Listen: Come Of Age.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Being ever so up to date and modern we do not do prog rock here on Beehive Candy ever! OK so we have featured the odd classic concert from the likes of Pink Floyd, Marillion and others, but seriously we do not do Prog! So please call this new and modern (because put simply it is) and really good as well, call it what you will this is a fine track from a very talented man.
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Melbourne, Australia based artist, Teeth & Tongue, is finally making her U.S. debut just in time for SXSW. Her new single, “Unfamiliar Skirts,” from her second release, Tambourine, exhibits a sultry combination of hypnotic vocals and gentle rhythms, unique to the style of Jess Cornelius-- creator and front woman of Teeth & Tongue.
The conception of “Unfamiliar Skirts” illustrates the fluidity behind the melody. The song was written and arranged in just one evening while making use of an in-home studio, and those first simple demo recordings resulted in Teeth & Tongue’s mesmerizing first single, now nominated for EG Award’s “Song of the Year.”
Starting out playing in full rock bands, musician Jess Cornelius decided to go solo and stock up on some old drum machines, a keyboard and an electric guitar to form Teeth & Tongue. With all the instrumental essentials, the kaleidoscope sounds of mixed genres came nothing but organically to her.
With an unmatchable sound and stage presence, Teeth & Tongue has toured with bands such as The Mountain Goats, The Dodos, Sons and Daughters, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., Lydia Lunch and Dawn Landes, as well as performed at high profile music festivals, the Falls and Laneway. Cornelius takes to the stage solo with the accompaniment of a drum machine, electric guitar and layered vocal samples to create a live set that must be experienced.
Teeth & Tongue will be headed to SXSW this March as well as playing a handful of U.S. shows. With Rolling Stone and MTV Iggy already fans, be sure to take a listen to what everyone is talking about. It’s time to get familiar with Teeth & Tongue.
Listen: Unfamiliar Skirts.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: We have had so many good songs and artists in this round up of new music. Teeth and Tongue is a great way of summing up the fact that female vocalists, along with excellent songs and musicians are out there in abundance. A great piece of music and dare I say it... OK so we will keep an eye and ear out for them this year.
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Moscow based indie rock band, Man Bites Dog have just released their newest single, “Whispers in My Mind,” the group’s first track to hit U.S. soil. The infectious piece is filled with catchy melodies, and blazing guitars as singer Cyrill Mukhin, takes you on a musical journey. The entirety of the song has a way of capturing noise and chaos while transforming it into a meaningful story. The main keyboard line in "Whispers in My Mind" is actually Angelo Badalamenti's intro to the infamous television show, Twin Peaks. You will find you are intrigued right off the bat.
Known for their vibrant and full- force performances, Man Bites Dog have developed into an established band of four seasoned artists. Man Bites Dog is Cyrill Mukhin (Guitars, Vocals), Anna Kostyukova (Keys), Aloha Obozny (Bass) and Oleg Zanin (Drums). With a sound influenced by 80s and 90s American underground rock, Man Bites Dog has dominated the scene in their homeland of Russia and are on their way to take over the States.
Forming in 2004, the group have independently released their own music and have made their rounds on the major music festival circuit. The Fall of 2011 saw Man Bites Dog releasing the Safe and Sound EP, alongside the single “Whispers In My Mind.”
Listen: Whispers In My Mind.
Web: Official HERE.
We Say: Moscow based they may be, Franz Ferdinand meets Moscow this might be, who cares this is spot on and when the Dog bites Back these folk will have another song to sing.
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