Flashback to early 2020: Maybe it was becoming a new father, the onset of a global pandemic, middle-aged malaise, or all three. A period of introspection led me to reevaluate what I value most in life, what brings me joy.
What I found was something was missing — music. Although a lifelong musician and longtime songwriter, I had let my passion for music take a backseat to my corporate career and other endeavors. I realized I needed to bring music back into the forefront, and that I had something to contribute creatively.
After buying some new equipment, transforming a spare bedroom into my home studio, dusting off some old songs and writing a few new ones, I set out on recording a body of work to represent my unique musical voice. The result is “It Started Last Fall”, my debut album of 11 original songs about love, setbacks and looking forward. I hope you enjoy the music, and greatly appreciate your interest and support!
Whilst Beehive Candy doesn't undertake in depth album reviews we have to say this is one beautiful collection of songs. Mark's distinct and engaging vocals are backed with a fresh and uncluttered musical backdrop. The resulting range of folk & Americana material is a joy to listen to.
ElectroBluesSociety feat Boo Boo Davis - Transatlantic Quarantaine Sessions (Album).
Between 1998 and 2019 Boo Boo Davis used to come and tour in Europe several times each year and most of music was written and recorded during these tours.
The current pandemic put that "tradition' on hold. But with the help of the internet and mutual friend Chris Brown in St Louis, the guys from ElectroBluesSociety (Netherlands) started to exchange idea's and demo's with Boo Boo in East St Louis (USA).
So despite the fact that they had the Atlantic Ocean between them, they were still able to write and record new music. Covid may be able stop live shows (for a while) but it can not stop the creation of new music.
Several of these tracks have been released as single releases earlier this year but here is the complete album. Twelve original tracks plus one remix by Rosé Sunset from France.
Singer/songwriter Tom Freund is set to release his cover of a 1995 song by one of his heroes, legendary U.K. pub-rocker Graham Parker. “Disney’s America” is out now on Spotify and other digital platforms. (The song is part of Freund’s forthcoming album, The Year I Spent in Space, which will be out early next year.)
Says Freund, “To me the song asks, “Where did America go wrong? … It’s a song for a lost Virginia and nation, one consumed with money, brands and division”: ‘Where we drifted apart like runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.’ Singing about it might bring hope and awareness for a better, more connected and conscious America.”
Freund and Parker share quite a history (apart from Tom growing up in New York listening to Squeezing Out Sparks on repeat as a pre-teen). The two first met on a Silos tour opening for Parker; Freund is an alumnus of the Texas-based roots band.
Robert Jon and the Wreck have a new album 'Last Light On The Highway' and it's streaming in full below. Fans of southern rock from the Allman Brothers through to The Black Crowes will simply love this rootsy, soulful album, for those not so sure, dive in and enjoy. === ElectroBluesSociety feat Karin Roerdink have just shared a cover version of Amy Winehouse's 'You Know I'm No Good' giving it a respectful and refined rendition. === Unspoken Tradition share a fresh and natural Bluegrass song called 'At the Bottom Again' the musicianship is fabulous and the vocals are spot on for this genre.
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Robert Jon and the Wreck - Last Light On The Highway (Album).
Unless you have quarantined yourself too long and too isolated you must at least have heard of Robert Jon and the Wreck. With 8 albums and an impressive live reputation under their belt we are very proud to be part of their team now and to be distributing their latest rocking masterpiece across Europe.
Official release date for CD and Vinyl release through retail is July 19 and rightfully so the media have already received the album with unprecedented praise and airplay.
All you want from great music is there: the songs, the playing, the singing and the production. And then to top things off for Robert Jon and the Wreck there's this soulful Southern groove.
Their 9th European tour is still scheduled for September and we will cross our fingers for that, but at least we can now get our shot of Southern Blues from one of the hottest bands in Southern Rock and their album "Last Light On the Highway".
ElectroBluesSociety feat Karin Roerdink - You Know I'm No Good.
Second single from a session that ElectroBluesSociety did with Dutch singer Karin Roerdink; and again a cover version from a famous Amy Winehouse song.
KuvVer Records is a sub label from Black and Tan Records. Specially created to release refreshing cover versions of well known songs in any musical style.
This track is released digital only and available on all the download and streaming platforms.
There is something unique in the way that musical forms reflect the changing cultures from which they emerge, and few artists better illustrate the dynamic than western North Carolina’s Unspoken Tradition, whose acclaimed 2019 release, Myths We Tell Our Young, tapped into both the restlessness and rootedness of their native soil with songs like “Dark Side of the Mountain” and “Land” and prompted Bluegrass Unlimited to describe them as a group “at once part of the tradition and shapers of a new sound.”
Now the quintet is back with an even more adventurous approach, beginning with a new single, “At The Bottom Again.” Written by Justin Carbone and producer Jon Weisberger, the song offers intense foreboding through a lovelorn lyric and insistent, ominous chords and rhythms, with only a brief pause for contemplation before returning to an intense, yet irresistibly catchy final chorus. And though it tells a personal story, the theme of an unexpected downfall resonates with today’s headlines.
The single also introduces a newcomer to the Unspoken Tradition lineup, as veteran bassist Sav Sankaran — with a distinguished performance and recording resume — supplies dog whistle high tenor harmonies to the powerful and familiar lead vocals of founding member and guitarist Audie McGinnis. Established members Zane McGinnis and Ty Gilpin drive the pocketed groove on banjo and mandolin and fiddler Tim Gardner’s aggressive fiddle and baritone vocal give “At the Bottom Again” its emotive power.
“Bluegrass music is a powerful combination of Anglo-Celtic fiddle music and Southern African-American blues. During tough times, times of uncertainty and times of hardship, blues music has been a vehicle for expressing pain, and 'At the Bottom Again' leans heavily on that tradition. We wanted to bring all our intensity to this song, and it reflects the emotions we all share when things get off track and take unexpected turns,” adds Gilpin.
“This song has all the elements of a quintessential Unspoken Tradition track — a hard-driving groove, soaring vocals, and perhaps most importantly, a relatable, heartfelt storyline,” notes Sankaran. “With Jon producing, Audie and I could really dig into the motivation behind the lyrics with the benefit of the songwriter’s perspective to guide us, and the guys did an amazing job of combining technical prowess and musicality to add some incredible instrumental breaks.”
“The band has always been super selective when deciding what to record,” Audie McGinnis adds. “So when we heard ‘At the Bottom Again’ there was no question. The lyrics tell a story many of us know all too well, and I personally love the chord changes and moves in the song. I think our excitement and eagerness to play it show through on the recording — it’s got just the right amount of grit!”
With a gorgeous musical arrangement and beautiful vocals Stephanie Rose's 'Luxury' is a timeless country song. South London's Roman Harris has a distinctive and engaging voice that is accompanied by a refined musical backdrop on his latest track. Fling exude psychedelic charm, the vocals add some grit, whilst the band add layers of psych goodness. Once again ElectroBluesSociety and Boo Boo Davis serve up some classic blues rock with their natural take on Little Red Rooster. Odetta Hartman exquisite vocals glide above a stripped back guitar driven soundtrack whilst the hooks dig deep. Melodic and gentle, Small Forward take us on a dreamy indie journey where the vocals and harmonies are notable and the music precise and atmospheric. Finally we have our second helping of Business Of Dreams this month, with a vibrant & catchy indie rocker to conclude today's new music picks.
Stephanie Rose - Luxury.
A storyteller beyond her years, Stephanie Rose is an old soul with a new sound. Her new single Luxury is a perfect example of using real life experiences as fodder to blaze a lyrical trail. Rose embraces the true reality of love amidst the hardships of life.
Nominated for two categories at the 2018 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, small town Stephanie Rose has had a big year. Releasing her single “Crushed” on February 5th, 2018, she cracked the Top 100 on both the BDS and Trax national radio charts, which was the launching pad to a great season.
Playing multiple shows throughout the spring of 2018, which included a packed-house performance at the Professional Bull Riding circuit in Nipawin, SK. Stephanie shared the stage with her fellow Saskatchewan artists at the Songwriters Café at the 2018 SCMA awards weekend. With the release of her sophomore album EP “Sprout” (Sept. 28th, 2018), produced by RyLee Madison (ECMA Country Recording of the Year) and Clay Krasner (touring bass player for Terri Clark) of 7-17 Music, Stephanie Rose will be bringing her new songs on the road again in 2019 and to both Commercial Country Radio and the international media.
Roman Harris is a singer and songwriter from Brixton, South London. With his guitar in hand, a voice of raw emotion and heart on his sleeve he crafts songs of simplicity enriched with depth and feeling.
In 2016 Roman achieved song writing credits on the Snakehips ‘Money On Me’ EP with the track ‘Falling’ followed up in 2017 with his first feature as an artist on the track ‘Moving Again’ produced by Cr3on & Marcus and released through Dutch record label PM Recordings.
Influenced by Indie, Folk and R&B, Roman now releases his debut single ‘The Smell of Heather’ a truly heartfelt ballad influenced by a poem of the same title from the book ‘Heather’s Book’ written by the poet Vivian Anglin.
Roman is now looking forward to a year in which he intends to let the world hear his sound and warm the ears and hearts of many. That starts with ‘The Smell of Heather’. ‘The Smell of Heather’ will be released on all platforms on 25th January, 2019 with a house concert at a secret location taking place that night in celebration of the release.
Psych-rockers Fling are set to release debut album ‘Fling Or Die’ via Dance to the Radio on 22nd February. Ahead of this they tease with one final SoundCloud only single, Revolution, an upbeat fuzz-bass driven psych stomper, with a colourfully cathartic chorus. The quintet’s kitchen-sync approach to instrumentation comes to the fore, a glittery wall of noise ramping up the decibels throughout.
The debut LP release comes off the back of a year of sold-out hometown shows, appearances at Live at Leeds, Swn Festival, Neighbourhood Festival and singles supported by Steve Lamacq (6 Music), Huw Stephens (Radio 1), Gideon Coe (6 Music), Tom Robinson (6 Music) Radio X, Beats 1 across radio, and Wonderland, The Line of Best Fit and Clash at online press.
Describing themselves as ‘Wonky Pop’, the 5-piece from Bradford comprise of Charles McSorley (Vocals), Jack Winn (Guitar), Billy Fielding (Drums), Jake Lees (Bass) and Sam Malynowsky (Keyboards).
The quintet explain the feelings they’re chasing: “This album for us, is a coming together of our collective imaginations, through themes of longing, wonder and hedonism. It feels like an audible representation of a brief moment in our lives and how we evoke the best emotions in each other. There’s an overall positive undertone to the record that definitely reflects on us as people, and it feels good to be able to share it with everyone.”
Following the release of her critically acclaimed album 'Old Rockhounds Never Die', Odetta Hartmam has shared a new video for track 'You You', to mark her return to the UK and Europe at the end of January. Inspired by the fuzzy double vision of first love, 'You You' dances through a pastoral adventure while celebrating a young woman in bloom. In this wild, wonderful and warm landscape, Odetta Hartman explores the superpowers of romance on a sultry summer night.
'Old Rockhounds Never Die' is a bonanza of beautiful contradictions: intimate yet fiercely internationalist, spiritual and yet tangible, sweet and also sexy. It convenes with the ghosts of the past while marching relentlessly forwards.
Drawn from experiences as far-flung as riding a train from San Francisco to Chicago with an old-style, rootin'-tootin' cowboy for company ('Cowboy Song'), to experiencing the intense natural beauty of Icelandic waterfalls ('Dettifoss'), it’s a record that taps into the musical traditions of the past while being a collection of songs about living in the moment.
Raised by pioneering parents on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC, Odetta’s milieu was a “colourful culture of artistry,” that included early exposure to community activism, renegade film screenings, poetry readings and trips to CBGB's. Inchoate punk and hip hop were aural wallpaper, as were the 45s spinning in the household jukebox featuring her dad’s extensive collection of soul and afrobeat records, as well as her Appalachian mother’s classic country selections. A classically trained violinist with a penchant for back-porch banjo, Odetta combines these variegated sounds of her childhood with her personal passion for folk music and the musicological legacy of Alan Lomax. Lomax is writ large on 'Old Rockhounds...' at least in spirit anyway. Odetta plays all the instruments on this and her debut '222'.
While attending college in Los Angeles, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Michael Stevenson and Rounak Maiti converged on a desire to collaborate and meld their love of Americana and pop music. Informal bedroom jam sessions resulted in hours of demos, constructed from the duo’s rudimentary yet textured take on songwriting. After condensing their work down to four downtempo, home-recorded songs, they self-released an eponymous debut EP in 2014. From hazy, forlorn atmospheres to more heart-on-sleeve folk, Stevenson and Maiti worked with Campbell Scott (bass) and Nick Waldram (drums) to craft rich, full band arrangements.
From 2015-16, Small Forward began developing their live act, playing with a full band across the Los Angeles area. During this time, they began recording The Moon You Stand On, the band’s debut full-length album. Here, Maiti and Stevenson’s lush, folk-inspired ideas were rounded out by a prominent rhythm section, where Scott’s dulcet bass tones dot Nick Waldram’s jazzy, intrepid approach to percussion and drums. Together, the four wrote, recorded and produced the album entirely in their shared home, over the better part of a year. Self-released in October 2016, Deli Mag described the album’s sound as “timeless, teeming with multi-layered guitars and chugging beats that lend a uniformity to their quietly resplendent melodies.”
The band began recording another project, Affections, in early 2017. They channeled 70s psych-rock and AM pop with the first single, “The Reservoir”. The release was met with praise from Gold Flake Paint and Buzzbands LA, the latter describing it as a “soundtrack to (their) reverie.” The resulting collection of 6 songs, released on Forged Artifacts in October 2017, saw left-turns and plenty of new texture, decorated with their customary take on sweet wistfulness. With live performances across the greater Los Angeles area and a southwest tour under their belt, plus two new singles on the way, Small Forward is alive, kicking and ready for 2019.
Following on from the lovely "Keep The Blues Away," Slumberland Records and Business of Dreams are psyched to share another song from their forthcoming album Ripe For Anarchy. "N.R.E.A.M." is a tune about the fashionable negativity that seems rule the mood and discourse of the day.
Says the song's writer Corey: "This song was my attempt to write something fun for the album. Of course it had to be the one song focusing on negativity but I think a dose of cynicism is quite healthy these days. Humanity isn’t exactly passing its classes lately so I decided to poke a little fun at the more coarse side of our nature. It’s my version of “Ring-a-round The Rosies.” Ashes, ashes we all fall down! Wee!"
London-based “anti-music” collective Moderate Rebels’ second album ‘Shared Values’ is like a lot of their music so far – it happened almost by accident. “We went into the studio with a couple of songs to record an EP, and we ended up with an album-length EP. We like to just let things happen and for songs to mostly write themselves. It’s a case of mucking around and seeing what feels right and what doesn’t. We say it all the time, but it’s important to note – we don’t intend anything. We don’t feel like ‘artists’ with grand statements to make.
“We view ourselves as just passing on ideas or questions, which we also enjoy expressing in condensed and concise terms. We think we’re all living in an era when lots of people feel they have lots of questions (perhaps that’s every era?) and we seem to touch upon that. Doubt, uncertainty, vague language, conflicting information and opinions – these are all inspirations. To us, being ‘anti-music’ is about valuing exciting ideas over technical ability. There’s nothing better for a Moderate Rebels song than a bunch of questions that us and others are grappling with. We don’t believe in easy answers, but we believe in asking lots of questions – always.”
Moderate Rebels say they used certain mottos again to develop the ideas for this new album - less chords and words – vague and direct, complicated but simple – and tracks on the album would seem to indicate that.
‘The Value Of Shares’ touches on modern life turning virtual and full of substitutes. ‘Stranded In Brazil’ is a song of confusion about the modern environment via Terry Gilliam, ‘Faith & Science’ seems to illustrate the inspirational feelings of unanswerable questions and the healthy consequences of a position of doubt, as opposed to the ‘I’m 100% right’ attitude that is feeling increasingly common in certain areas of life in 2018. And so on...
Moderate Rebels released their first single ’God Sent Us’ in late 2016, then the 5-song ‘Proxy’ EP & debut album ‘The Sound Of Security’ in 2017. The ‘Shared Values’ album includes 2018’s singles ‘Beyond Hidden Words’, ‘I Love Today’ and latest song, ‘Faith & Science’. Moderate Rebels ‘Shared Values’ album, will be released 30th Nov 2018 on Everyday Life Recordings. TWITTER.
Regulars to Beehive Candy may well recall that Moderate Rebels have consistently impressed me with their music releases over the past year or so and finally their second album 'Shared Values' is about to land, accompanied just ahead of the release by another track from the collection entitled 'The Value Of Shares'.
The first of ten songs on the new album 'The Value Of Shares' is our fourth share (if you excuse the pun) from the new collection and once again, showcases their minimalists lyrics and hypnotic musical style. Despite their unique and readily identifiable sound, the pace and arrangements regularly vary across the album and the hooks are in constant free flow. I remain very impressed!
Brighton post-punk experts Thyla share accomplished new offering Blue, the second adrenaline-fuelled release taken from the band’s eagerly anticipated debut EP What’s On Your Mind out 1st February.
Tipped for big things from the very start of the year, the four-piece found themselves spotlighted amongst NME’s 100 Essential Acts for 2018, and have fast solidified their status as one of the UK’s finest emerging indie acts with a slew of support slots alongside the likes of Slaves, Sunflower Bean, and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.
Buzzing across the airwaves (BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X, KCRW) and summoning praise from all corners of the press (Pitchfork, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, DIY), the rising rockers’ latest release underlines the captivating vocals and majestic lyricism of frontwoman Millie Duthie, with their rich, anthemic quality adding to the growing excitement surrounding the outfit.
Discussing their upcoming release, the quartet stated: “The lyrics came from a similar place to the themes and ideas found in many of our other songs. Blue as in, I got the blues, hones in on the rapid and unstoppable rate of change in the way we interact with people. Blue as in, the colour of the Twitter and Facebook interface, makes for an ironic double entendre. The things making us sad, is the colour of sad, “I’m blue” is both the cause and the symptom!” WEBSITE.
Our fifth feature for Brighton's Thyla this time with new song 'Blue'. It's opens as a thumping rocker before acquiring a little more refinement as the vocals kick in. A mixture of melodic moments and unashamed full on post punk, once again the band stand out in style.
For this recording ElectroBluesSociety went back to basics and teamed up with Mississippi blues man Boo Boo Davis.
Together they revisited classic Chicago blues and recorded seven songs. These will all be released as singles during the coming months.
For Boo Boo this was also a trip down to memory lane; this Howlin Wolf song was regular in the Davis Brothers Band repertoire during the 18 years that they were the weekend house band in Tabby’s Red Room, a famous juke joint in East St Louis. WEBSITE.
More natural blues that Electro this rendition of 'Tell Me' features some incredible harmonica playing, pure blues vocals and an overall vibe that is just plain addictive.
Stephen Kellogg releases Objects in the Mirror today Friday, November 23. Produced by fellow Americana singer-songwriter Will Hoge, the 12-track set was recorded over the course of a single week in Nashville, TN and tracked live with minimal overdubs. “I wanted to make an album that sounded and felt like the ones I grew up loving," says Kellogg. "Bob Seger and Cat Stevens, Tom Petty and Rod Stewart. Emotional records where the songs relate to each other and the lyrics are front and center.”
Ahead of release, Rolling Stone Country praises, “...Objects in the Mirror captures the talent, spontaneity and humanity of Kellogg’s songwriting and presents it in a soulful, folk-rock packaging that is refreshingly free of pretense and studio polishing,” adding that single “High Highs, Low Lows” “unfolds like John Prine fronting the Heartbreakers.” Proving to be a standout from the album, American Songwriter describes the nostalgic track as “a slowly building folk anthem with chiming piano, gentle pedal steel and a raw, vulnerable vocal performance from Kellogg.”
Among the album’s many underlying themes of nostalgia, family, hope, and hard work, is Kellogg's unwavering respect for the influential women of his life—from his four young daughters (to whom he relays a series of tear-jerking fatherly sentiments in “Song For Daughters”) to his beloved late-Grandmother (immortalized in a beautifully nostalgic soundbite at the title track’s opening) to his wife of 16 years (the subject of his latest single “Love Of My Life”). The Boot recently premiered "Love Of My Life," and the track was later named one of Rolling Stone Country’s “10 Best Country & Americana Songs of the Week.” In an interview with Noisetrade earlier this week, Kellogg divulged that he channeled inspiration from a 1946 Gibson Southern Jumbo guitar to finish the version of the song heard on Objects in the Mirror.
“We were in [Chicago Music Exchange] before the place opened and there was one guitar and one guitar only on a stand in a room of hundreds of guitars,” he explains. “I picked it up and started strumming and it just felt and sounded so perfect...Suddenly the lyrics and melodies that had been missing seemed to be there waiting for me. I know it sounds kind of new age or whatever, but that’s how it goes sometimes. A guitar has a song in it.” Kellogg goes on to share that he traded three of his guitars for the Gibson and left the next day to record Objects in the Mirror in Nashville. Objects in the Mirror will be available everywhere digitally and on vinyl via the Kellogg Family Store.
'High Highs, Low Lows' gently opens with some fine guitar playing and the natural and instinctively Americana vocals. The musical arrangement gradually expands, as this timeless sounding song subtly appeals on so many levels.
Lauran Hibberd - What Do Girls Want? / Call Shotgun.
Background - Fresh off the back of her heavily coveted single ‘Call Shotgun’, a release that landed her praise at The Line Of Best Fit, Clash, BBC Radio 1, 6Music as well as a spot as BBC Introducing’s Track Of The Week, Isle Of Wight native Lauran Hibberd returns with the release of her new cut ‘What Do Girls Want?’ out now via Be-Known Music.
Continuing her brand of off-kilter indie-pop, ‘What Do Girls Want?’ channels the tongue-in-cheek lyrical flow of Courtney Barnett, as she soars through energetic guitar riffs and ironical content to deliver a wonderfully catchy return to the scene.
With influences stemming from bands like Weezer, the frontwoman’s latest single is a stern slap in the face for conventional attitudes. Treading her own path in the industry, this latest release cements her as one of the most exciting and divisive new names in British’s indie music.
Speaking about the new single, Lauran explained, “For me, ‘What Do Girls Want?’ is a good punch to the mouth. It’s sarcastic, and bleakly honest. It highlights what it feels like to be young, and obsesses over the ideas that come with being just that.” TWITTER.
We featured Lauren Hibberd three times last year and although it's been a while 'What Do Girls Want?' was worth the wait. Actually if we had picked up on 'Call Shotgun' a couple of months ago, this would be our second 2018 share, but better late than never so here are both splendid songs. Once again our Isle Of Wight musical favourite delivers her infectious brand of charming pop with style.
Background - Wooing has announced a new 7", The Clouds, due out November 9th via Kanine Records. It features singles "Could Have Been" and "In Her Head," the first two Wooing songs that were written collaboratively by all three members: multi-instrumentalist and lead singer Rachel Trachtenburg, guitarist JR Thomason, and drummer Rosie Slater.
The band have just shared a video for "Could Have Been," a song that examines the disappointment of shallow friendships and the need to move on from them. With a hazy, dream-like quality that matches the song's swirling, psych-tinged vibe.
Trachtenburg has been performing in the New York music scene since she was six years old, first with The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and later in Supercute! (alongside Slater.) With Wooing, her haunting, etherial vocals float above echoing guitars, for a sound that mixes elements of '90s rock acts like Helium and Quasi with the sounds of '60s Syd Barrett. The band has shared stages with San Cisco, Black Lips, Dream Wire, Hinds, and more. WEBSITE.
Wooing has a string of live dates coming up with Wavves, along with a couple of hometown shows. * w/ Wavves 10/18: Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co* 10/19: Austin, TX @ Empire* 10/20: San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger* 10/31: Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere* (Elsewhere 1 year anniversary w/ Wavves, Beach Fossils & more) 11/6: Ridgewood, NY @ Trans Pecos (w/ Dehd & Patio).
'Could Have Been' is an expansive indie rocker packed with power, emotion and plenty of musical hooks. The trio have a distinct sound where potent rock is balanced with some melody, and a fine hint of psychedelic feel, and just a little loose rock and roll swagger.
ElectroBluesSociety feat Michel Peters - I Got My Mojo Workin.
Background - ElectroBluesSociety is formed by Jasper Mortier and Jan Mittendorp: two guys and a bunch of junk with a broad taste and an open mind mixing the old with the new. Modern technologies combined with 30+ years of live stage experience in the European blues / roots music scene. The musical input ranges from Alan Lomax to Roxy Music and from Charlie Parker to Led Zeppelin. On stage you will find computers, a double bass, foot pedals, vintage amps, midi controllers, an old drumkit and lots of cables. All of this handled by the two band members. This time they took a classic blues song and invited Michel Peters for the vocals, RECORD LABEL.
This is our third feature for ElectroBluesSociety this time the vocals are provided by Michel Peters on 'I Got My Mojo Workin'. Once again the mixture of timeless natural blues is performed with passion and the modern electro influences add another fabulous dimension to the song.
Background - When your songwriting theme is love it can often feel like a road too well travelled. From the rose-tinted idealisation of new love, to the emotional tempest of love lost, we’ve heard the story retold in countless variations; we get the picture. Enter Tiny Eyes with his latest song ‘Just Saying’, the first single to be taken from his forthcoming debut album, released next year. ‘Just Saying’ is about the less documented side of our strongest emotion.
It’s about the banal and the familiar, the quotidian journeys we go through with our lovers from sunrise to sunset, through mild annoyance to peaceable reconciliation, and then into bed again to repeat tomorrow. Featuring his partner Martha Bean on backing vocals, and made entirely at home on his trademark old 20’s piano with percussion patched together on a laptop, it’s a sonically adventurous ode to reality that endears itself to the listener through Tiny Eyes’ unique observational storytelling.
After cutting his teeth as the frontman of an angst-rock band for a few years, Tiny Eyes auteur Joel Evans met his partner (singer/songwriter Martha Bean) and found himself mellowing out. Feeling disconnected from the angst-ridden world of thrashing guitars his band drifted apart. It was around that time that he’d acquired an upright piano from the 1920’s. Taking to the instrument like a bird to flight, he quickly found a new musical voice and tonality that harmonised with his maturing tastes.
Tiny Eyes is a one-man band from Leicester, a singer and producer who’s reared himself on the understated elegance of lovelorn balladeers from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. By turns evoking Lennon, Tom Waits, Elliot Smith, Flaming Lips and Andy Schauf, Tiny Eyes is a brilliant and unique new sound. Last year, the release of his brilliant and original self-titled debut EP set out his MO clearly: he is a narrative songwriter in the classic sense, employing clever turns of phrase and vivid imagery to weave imaginatively fertile and provocative yarns into his music. TWITTER.
'Just Saying' is one of those songs that establishes itself in the opening seconds, with a simple melody, desirable musical backdrop and vocals that are just so enticing and likable. It reminds me in part of Mercury Rev, but hey, any comparison to said band should be seen as a very positive complement.
Background - Originally from Ipswich and the daughter of an artist, Hannah Scott draws much of the inspiration for her music from her affinity with Italy. A year living and working on an olive press in rural Tuscany, provided the backdrop to her early work and she has found her musical home with creative partner Stefano Della Casa who she met in London but may well have met years earlier when regularly passing through the train station Stefano was working in!
When Hannah and Stefano began making music together, they realised that they had an incredible connection, despite coming from very different backgrounds. Stefano had a difficult upbringing and a troubled early adult life, while Hannah was lucky to have a supportive, happy childhood. Hannah has had her own difficulties following the recent diagnosis of a form of arthritis which causes severe joint pain and fatigue. Both artists, firmly believe that their musical collaboration has provided an outlet to support each other through difficult times.
“Around the time of my diagnosis we had quite a lot of shows and Stefano literally had to help me on and off the stage! He still insists on carrying all our equipment when we’re on the road which makes us laugh because he ends up looking like a porter and people must think I’m some kind of superstar refusing to pull my weight!” - Hannah Scott
Stefano adds, “I was going through a pretty low patch while we were writing this record with no job and very little money and I’ll alwaChys remember Hannah turning up on my doorstep bringing groceries, even though she could hardly walk.” - Stefano
Their musical journey has also proved fruitful. Previous releases were supported by Bob Harris and Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2. They’ve also been featured by MOJO, Songwriting Magazine and as ‘New Band of The Day’ in The Guardian. Hannah has opened for artists including Seth Lakeman and 10cc.
Stefano has recently signed to Ultra Music Publishing and the pair are now working between London and Italy. The result of their work is a new album, “Pieces Of The Night”, a collection of songs that expertly combines organic, live elements, with classy electronica and stunning production. Lyrically, they’re honest songs about the human condition and human connection in an increasingly hectic world. The album ranges from stunning instrumental performances such as ‘Boy In The Frame’, to crystalline electronica soundscapes in ‘Pieces of The Night’. The two artists have struck a perfect balance between Hannah’s traditional songwriting craft and Stefano’s exquisite synth-rich production style. TWITTER.
The melodic and distinct vocals of Hannah Scott are the focal point of 'Pieces Of The Night' the title track from the new album. The musical arrangement is carefully crafted, adding more depth and energy without distraction. It's also loaded with hooks, and typifies the quality and creativity the album is crammed full of.
ElectroBluesSociety feat Jan Hidding - All The Way Down.
Background - In December 2017 Cuban Heels singer Jan Hidding did a recording session with ElectroBluesSociety and here is the third track from that session. This time another original and new song. This new single will be released digital only and will be available on all major download and streaming platforms.
ElectroBluesSociety is a new duo mixing electronics with raw vintage live sounds. Both of the musicians have been active in the European blues/roots scene for more then 30 years and in this new project they like to mix that experience with current technologies and other musical styles. The musical input from this new duo ranges from Alan Lomax to Roxy Music and from Charlie Parker to Led Zeppelin. On stage you will find computers, a double bass, foot pedals, vintage amps, guitars, midi controllers, an old drumkit and lots of cables. All of this handled by the two band members.
JASPER MORTIER – drums, bass, mainly known as bass player but lately he found a new passion: playing drums !! Over the last ten years Jasper worked with numerous great artists like Preston Shannon, ‘Sax’ Gordon Beadle, Monti Amundson, Philip Walker, Candye Kane, Melvin Taylor, Sherman Robertson, Terry Evans, Long John Hunter, Eddy Clearwater, Toni Lynn Washington, Paul Oscher, Doug Jay, Boo Boo Davis, Byther Smith, Boyd Small, and many others. Right now is is the bass player of the Jimmy Reiter Band.
JAN MITTENDORP – guitar, buttons, Since 1993 touring Europe with USA artists like: Percy Strother, Smokey Wilson , Byther Smith, Burton Gaar, Roy Roberts, Larry Garner, Boo Boo Davis, Erskine Oglesby, Jody Williams, Roscoe Chenier, Clara McDaniel, Boyd Small, Billy Jones, Hosea Leavy, Percy Strother, Harrison Kennedy and many others. In 2009 with Boo Boo Davis among others at Montreux Jazz Festival and Peer Bluesfestival. TWITTER.
We have featured ElectroBluesSociety just once before back in December 2016. I think it fair to say that the second feature has been worth the wait. 'All The Way Down' has the deep rich vocals of Jan Hidding where his natural blues singing is fabulous, the backing music is stripped back with a potent blues guitar and drums and just a small glimpse of electro sounds.
Background - Otherwise branded as Youngsmith, Dan Smith is usually a man with a guitar and a bunch of ballads. A veteran of the Brisbane local live music scene.
He opened up his latest Australian Tour in August with a show at Brisbane’s Bearded Lady with tracks off his Light EP as well as new tracks ‘Wither’ and big-hitter ‘Red’ — the latter a sweet ditty about his auburn girlfriend which, after its May release date, took on a life of its own on the national radio circuit reaching the US through KPFK 90.7 in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ridgecrest and Santa Barbara, California.
After the tour launch, Smith played all over the country also garnering airplay from national community radio and Triple J’s Root ’N’ All program. New single “I Will Not Forget” for the first time leans Smith towards stadium rock territory, like ‘When I Grow Up’ by Garbage or ‘Everlong’ by Foo Fighters. Catchy hooks and beats surround lyrics speaking of personal demons and learning from your missteps along the way.
“I wrote about half this track a few years back but the main hook and chorus lyrics have always stayed with me. The starting lyrics ‘My demons, are chasing me, it takes all my will to keep my feet’ always felt like a metaphor for life. Everyone has something that bothers them and it takes effort not to lose your way. The more I remember both the good and the bad, the more I can be grateful for the moment.” - Youngsmith
Smith has worked among the Brisbane music scene for over a decade in various forms, providing an important part to the songwriter and band landscape. Recently working with producers Bryce Moorhead (Violent Soho) and Timothy Carr (Matt Corby) has given Smith a wider audience through singles ‘Red’ and now the latest release. Recording in his home studio and collaborating with producers both locally and interstate allows Smith to progress from singer-songwriter to more catchy territory. Website here and Facebook here.
'I Will Not Forget' is a crisp indie rocker, where the song builds into a powerful almost anthem like piece, with hooks galore running right through it!
Background - Two guys and a bunch of junk with a broad taste and an open mind mixing the old with the new. Modern technologies and 30+ years of live stage experience and the musical input ranges from Alan Lomax to Roxy Music and from Charlie Parker to Led Zeppelin. On stage you will find computers, a double bass, foot pedals, vintage amps, midi controllers, an old drumkit and lots of cables. All of this handled by the two band members.
Jasper Mortier – drums, bass, mainly known as bass player but lately he found a new passion: playing drums. Over the last ten years Jasper worked with numerous great artists like Preston Shannon, ‘Sax’ Gordon Beadle, Monti Amundson, Philip Walker, Candye Kane, Melvin Taylor, Sherman Robertson, Terry Evans, Long John Hunter, Eddy Clearwater, Toni Lynn Washington, Paul Oscher, Doug Jay, Boo Boo Davis, Byther Smith, Boyd Small, and many others. Right now is is the bass player of the Jimmy Reiter Band.
Jan Mittendorp – guitar, buttons. Since 1993 touring Europe with USA artists like: Percy Strother, Smokey Wilson , Byther Smith, Burton Gaar, Roy Roberts, Larry Garner, Boo Boo Davis, Erskine Oglesby, Jody Williams, Roscoe Chenier, Clara McDaniel, Boyd Small, Billy Jones, Hosea Leavy, Percy Strother, Harrison Kennedy and many others. In 2009 with Boo Boo Davis among others at Montreux Jazz Festival and Peer Bluesfestival. Website here, and Facebook here.
'Duck' is one very addictive track. It is a fabulous blues instrumental that as mentioned above, mixes old and new together, and let me add - the duo do it seamlessly and beautifully.
