Layla Frankel - The Furious Seasons - Scott Ruth - Ayla

Layla Frankel - To Disregard.

Background - Born in Los Angeles and raised in a musical family in Chicago, Folk/Soul songwriter and vocalist Layla Frankel has been delighting audiences of all ages for as long as she can remember. A performer from a young age, she appeared on her father, Joel Frankel’s, children’s records and often joined him on stage.  As a teenager, with her formal training in choirs and range of musical influences, Layla began composing songs and quickly developed her own vocal style.  She later attended the University of Illinois where she started as a jazz studies major with a vocal concentration, but soon realized that her passion lay not only in music, but in songwriting. She began to focus on creative writing and poetry while also singing in big bands and jazz combos - gaining experience as a songwriter and as a band leader. 

Between 2013 to 2015, Layla honed her craft as a songwriter, creating a body of music including the tracks on her debut EP, Tame the Fox. In the fall of 2015, Layla took a backpack and her Little Martin guitar and went sightseeing/volunteering in Europe for four months with the goal of meeting interesting people, experiencing other cultures and exploring new scenery. She spent the spring of 2016 off the grid and thru-hiking for two months on the Israel National Trail, a 600-mile hike.  It was on this trip that she conceived of the vision for Tame the Fox, a title inspired by the book The Little Prince, which she carried with her on the trail. 

Sound engineer Josh Richter recorded Tame the Fox at Victorian Recording in Barrington, IL and Frankel produced and arranged all of the tracks. The EP features multi-instrumentalist Dave Hildebrand on almost all of the guitar tracks as well as bass guitar on the whole record. Robert Rashid handled drums, while Eddie Ganet played keys. Layla played rhythm guitar on the tracks “Tenderly” and “If I Had the Words” and performed all of the vocals, including overdubs and harmonies. 

Layla Frankel performs in Chicago as a solo artist but is often accompanied by her full band consisting of bass, drums, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and backup vocals. Website here, Bandcamp (Tame the Fox) here.

The first song on the new 'Tame The Fox' EP is 'To Disregard' one of six tracks that really do mix folk and soul genres together, with a little blues along the way. This is a fabulous and quite unique collection of songs, where melodic and high quality music is delivered with such beauty. The cover version of The Cures 'Just Like Heaven' is stunning, her own material no lesser, absolutely recommended!

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The Furious Seasons - We All Belong.

Background - The Furious Seasons' new single "We All Belong", is a new entry in the tradition of the protest folk song. The new single from The Furious Seasons, “We All Belong”, is particularly relevant in this divided time. It’s a seemingly simple folk song drawing on the sharp political divides experienced in this country and how the anger and hate should be overcome and that “together we stand strong / we all belong”. 

Having rightfully been compared to Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Jason Isbell, The Furious Seasons continue the tradition of the protest folk song with “We All Belong”. The Furious Seasons are an acoustic trio consisting of David Steinhart (guitar, vocals,) Jeff Steinhart (standup bass) and Paul Nelson (guitar, vocals).

The Steinhart’s have been a staple of the Los Angeles indie pop scene since the 1980s. Their career spans 30 years and over 20 releases. Paul Nelson played professionally in the Santa Barbara area for years and was involved with several other recording projects before joining the Steinhart bothers in The Furious Seasons. The band creates ethereal and lyrical folk pop music with blended harmonies and sophisticated guitar interplay. Website here.

We first featured The Furious Seasons last August and are delighted to share the new song 'We All Belong'. A classic sounding folk protest song, that would be comfortably at home decades ago, albeit it's new and relevant to today.

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Scott Ruth - Are You There.

Background -  LA-based singer-songwriter Scott Ruth has shared his new single "Are You There". Produced by acclaimed indie folk musician Noah Gundersen and recorded at X Studios in Seattle, the track brings a melancholy feel, with Ruth’s rugged vocals ruminating on a void left by a past relationship. "The song is about that feeling you get when someone who was once a huge part of your life, suddenly isn’t there anymore and all the things that go through your head. Wondering what they’re doing, if they’re feeling what you’re feeling," Ruth says of the track.

Working with Gundersen helped Ruth get a new perspective on "Are You There." His first time not self-producing a project, Ruth was able to relinquish control over to Gundersen and engineer Andy Parks, giving him more creative freedom. As long-time friends with Gundersen, working with him was a comfortable, collaborative experience.

Formerly of LA indie rock outfit The Futures League, Scott Ruth has since put down the bass guitar to further hone his craft as a multi-instrumentalist and producer. He released his hauntingly reflective solo debut The Weight of It All in 2016, and has since been touring extensively, supporting Noah Gundersen as well as headlining tours of his own. All the while, he was still finding time in the studio to be working towards his next release.

Now Ruth has returned with “Are You There," channeling Ruth's love of classic American songwriting and admiration for artists like Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. The track is a refreshing song for Ruth that marks a new direction. "I’m now in a different chapter of my life, and I couldn’t be more excited to get the rest of these songs out in the open." Facebook here.

'Are You There' is a mixture of alt rock vibes and some passionate and personal vocals, which combined create a melodic and reflective song. There is a timeless feel to this piece, and the quality of the production is superb.

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Ayla - Shallow End.

Background - Diving into 2017, Brisbane's singer/songwriter Ayla returns with conversation starting single, 'Shallow End', news of a new EP, freshly inked label and booking deals and an East Coast tour.  

Premiering on triple j's Good Nights last night, 'Shallow End' marks the opening track from from the Sunshine Coast songwriter's forthcoming EP to be released later this year. The track sees Ayla flex her growth as a writer in collaboration with co-writer Glenn Sarangapany (Birds of Tokyo) producer Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music) and mixer Ian Pritchett (Boo Seeka, Kim Churchill, Angus & Julia Stone).

Following incredible reception to her singles,  'Like the Other Kids', 'Wish I Was', 'Waiting' and 'When The World Ends', an impressive performance on triple j's Like A Version and an almost sold out EP tour in 2016,  there's been a mountain of support rolling in behind the scenes. Recently partnering with Caroline Australia and Select Music, Ayla now heads out on a national tour, older (now 21) and wiser and with a stock of new songwriting experiences and a stunning new live show in tow. Ayla's single 'Shallow End' is out via Caroline Australia, Friday May 12. Facebook here, live dates on Beehive Candy's tour page.

Ayla's striking and appealing vocals ensure 'Shallow End' is very much, her song. Powerful modern pop, with a whole load of hooks, make this song hard to ignore.


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Weekend Wonders: Diamond Mind - Krief - Ayla - Taylor Payne - The Radio Dept. - Slow Hollows

Diamond Mind - Horseless Coach.

Background promo - Diamond Mind have announced their debut full-length album Heavy Metal Sunshine and shared the first track "Horseless Coach". Heavy Metal Sunshine is due October 7 on Wyatt Records. Formed in the summer of 2013, Diamond Mind is one of Edmonton, Alberta's favourite musical exports. Always looking to draw from many diverse wells - pop, noise, soul, all with an eye to the baroque - the band has already mapped extensive territory, leaping forward with the release of each of their three EPs. With these releases the band has won audiences through the unique character of their songs, recorded in environments ranging from attic bedrooms to storied, established studios.

The songs themselves echo this varied topography, ranging in content from intimate, confidential entries, elaborate pseudo-histories and haunting character sketches. Tracing the line back-and-forth between the accessible and the challenging, the music of Diamond Mind carved out an audience among both critics and fans, registering praise not only across Canada but from the international music community. In 2016, Diamond Mind partnered with Wyatt Records for the release of their debut album Heavy Metal Sunshine.

Melodic vocals and a fascinating range of sounds within the music makes 'Horseless Coach' stand out. It's a pop song, that is given a vital edge by the bands mass of imagination.

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Krief - Deo Gratias.

Background - Montreal singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Patrick Krief, has announced details of his highly anticipated fourth solo studio album, ‘automanic’ which will be released on September 30th via Culvert Music- available for pre-order now. He’s also celebrating the premiere of the latest single from the album, “Deo Gratias” which he shared on The Huffington Post this past week.  Krief is set to embark on an extensive Canadian tour in support of ‘automanic’ this fall. 

‘automanic’ is a double album comprised of ‘automanic red’ and ‘automanic blue’, which Krief describes as "autonomous in their flow, yet not meant to be listened to in one sitting." Krief’s deep content is a result of a string of deaths he experienced, blended with heartbreak, grief and despair. Creativity healed adversity and inspired Krief to write poetic lyrics, both earnest and abstract, paired against sounds of contemporary pop and rock, atop dreamy soundscapes and rock ballads alike.

Similarly to his previous albums, Krief created ‘automanic’ independently, playing all guitars, bass, drums, percussion, piano and keyboards. He also recorded, produced and mixed the album between Studio Mixart in Montreal and Studio Bottega, on an alpaca farm in Kelowna, B.C. Mastering duties were undertaken by Phil Demetro (Kevin Drew, Hey Rosetta) in Toronto and engineer David Schiffman (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Nine Inch Nails) monitored the Montreal sessions, the album also features long time collaborator Roberto Piccioni.

Known for his role as cowriter and guitarist in Montreal’s orchestral rock-noir band The Dears, Krief spent a decade with the band crafting a unique style. ‘automanic’ highlights the contrast of sounds in his solo endeavour.

'Deo Gratias' builds gently into a quite powerful song and is most definitely, an enticing taste of what you will hear on the double album to come. With twenty songs in total, it's hard to know where to start. Put simply the variety is staggering, as is the consistent quality across both albums. The statement above that the material is not meant to be listened to in one sitting, is actually quite reasonable. There is a richness across the material that deserves to be broken down, so as to take in the whole and enjoy each track. In summary this is a powerful work, musical art in all it's glory.

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Ayla - Like the Other Kids.

Background - After the unmeasured success of her 2015 debut EP When The World Ends, Ayla returns today with a new offering in 'Like the Other Kids' and a subsequent launch tour.

Premiered last night on triple j's Goodnights, the song's chugging, layered production is anchored by a pounding drum motif that takes it from stunning to anthemic, a catalyst for misty eyes and gentle steps forward despite its "dark imagery". Then there's that voice. The smooth, effortless gliding heights. The insouciant depths. Given a delicate yet self-determined vehicle through the considered nature of Ayla's songwriting prowess, 'Like the Other Kids' represents the dawning of a new age. You'd never guess it was conceived of while Ayla was washing dishes at her parents' house, testing out her rap flow.

Aylas reputation, built to its towering esteem via consistent support from triple j, a deal with Italy's Ego Records (Emma Louise, The Jezabels) and an awestruck slew of online outlets, has reached unshakable heights. Her single 'Wish I Was' claims the accolade of being the #15 most played song on triple j in the year of its release, and snagged international remixes from Spada and Zwette. Ayla has toured her own show across the country and supported heavyweights such as Kate Miller-Heidke (national tour), Husky and Asta. At Woodford Folk Festival, The Big Pineapple Festival, Bigsound 2015 and soon Caloundra Music Festival, her irresistible live show has stood out as a glittering jewel amongst the fray.

Ayla is not up-and-coming anymore, she's here. And with a headline 'Like the Other Kids' single launch tour and new EP on its way, she's only getting started.

'Like the Other Kids' is easy on the ear, and yet there is a lot packed into the song. It's melodic and Ayla provides really good vocals, in what is an imaginative song that flows oh so beautifully.

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Taylor Payne - The Jungle Talks.

Background - Taylor Payne, a prolific song writer from the Sunshine Coast releases her second single after teaming up with The A&R Department. ‘The Jungle Talks’ is pure allure, reeling in the listener with its moody introduction, then diving into the verse with buzzing Pop synths and syncopated drums. It’s a supremely crafted song that builds anticipation right until the very end. Taylor's voice commands a distinct authority, as she brings her story of the jungle to life, taking inspirational cues from The Cure, and Eurythmics.

‘The Jungle Talks’ was recorded at Heliport Studios, Buderim, mixed by Elliot Hendrich and mastered by Mike Marsh. Taylor calls the unique style of ‘The Jungle Talks’ “dark-pop”, and it’s been described as having an 80's pop vibe, riding on a bold synth sound throughout the song, but her voice’s deep register brings a dusky atmosphere to the track. She conveys the song’s sense of adventure with lyrics like, "No need to hide if you know how to run,” before sinking into a deep reverie.

Taylor released her first single ‘Outsider’ in 2015 along with a colourful music video, getting national airplay across Australia as well the US. Her track reached listeners around the globe from it’s feature on Spotify’s The Indie Mixtape playlist. Her latest, ‘The Jungle Talks’ will be released with a music video to exemplify the song’s character. As always, you can expect something slightly askew, yet fun and eccentric. “The Jungle Talks” by Taylor Payne will be released 9th of September 2016.

The first notable thing with 'The Jungle Talks' is Taylor's attention grabbing vocals, and pretty soon after, the fact that this is a really good song. Layered synth sounds and a commanding rhythm work so well with the melodic and pleasing vocals.

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The Radio Dept. - Swedish Guns.

Background - Running Out Of Love is an album about life in Sweden in 2016 moving in the wrong direction:  politically, intellectually, morally. It's about the impatience that turns into anger, hate and ultimately withdrawal and apathy when love for the world and our existence begins to falter. 

The issues addressed throughout the band’s stunning fourth LP - out 10/21 via Labrador - are relevant not just to Sweden but around the globe. New single “Swedish Guns” is a haunting take down of the Swedish arms industry.

The Radio Dept’s new album Running Out Of Love will be released on October 21st via Sweden’s Labrador Records. It's their first album since the critically acclaimed success of 2010’s Clinging To A Scheme. Pre-order the album and receive Swedish Guns as an instant track download.

This is one potent piece of electronic music. 'Swedish Guns' is music with a relevant and meaningful message. The musical soundtrack is very imaginative, complimenting and carrying the vocals superbly.

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Slow Hollows - Softer.

Background - Romantic is the forthcoming release from Los Angeles based post-pop band Slow Hollows. Written over the span of a few months between 2015 to 2016, Romantic is meant to serve as a response to the previous record Atelophobia. Austin Feinstein, the creative influence behind the project, wrote the songs from the album during his senior year of high school.

The project was original started by Feinstein in 2014 and was previously called Hollows. Their first record, I'm Just As Bad As You Are, was recorded in a minimal space and lead Hollows to receive some success playing along side such as Beach Fossils, Nothing, Twin Peaks, Spencer Moody, Antwon and more. In 2014 the name eventually changed to Slow Hollows after a shift in members and style. The current lineup is Austin Feinstein (vocals/lead guitar), Dylan Thinnes (guitar), Aaron Jassenoff (bass), Reed Kanter (synth/keys), and Jackson Katz (drums).

As time progressed, Slow Hollows grew into the post pop five piece from influences of the likes of Pavement and Radiohead as underlying tones of melancholy and indie rock are complemented by horns and various lush instrumentation. Band members were able to mold a sound that echoed truth of fears, self-doubt, and loneliness that speaks universal lengths to their audiences.

The album captures the sadness behind love, being an artist, and is ironically guilty of expressing the hardships and dejection that artists and people face day in and day out. Stating that the band members of this talented group have a deep understanding of emotion is an understatement. The music they create speaks at lengths of the unique interpretation they have of life and they way people feel. why romantic as the title to express their music? Feinstein realized that our society has this romanticised view of mental illness and instability of people who have some merit and are mentally ill. Or have problems that they can't handle. Our society tends to look at that from romanticised standpoint, Cool to look well-tortured artist is sexy.

Record Release Show
11-04-16 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom.

Understated vocals against a melodic and laid back indie rock soundtrack make 'Softer' a very accessible and likable song. It's one of those songs that just drew me in, so much so, that by the end, I was checking out the album release details, pretty much as an automatic response.

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