So Are We - FM Collective - Turkey The Bird - Jenny Banai - Elana Stone

So Are We have shared 'LA Love' today ahead of their new album, it's a refined and melodic Americana piece that exudes both warmth and feeling. === FM Collective have released a gem of a song entitled 'In My Backyard', their indie music is fabulously constructed and delivered. === Turkey The Bird have given us a beautiful, uplifting and refreshing track called 'Everybody Needs A Little Sunshine'. === Having already shared four tracks this year Jenny Banai returns with the full album 'Couchwalker' and I have to say the additional eight songs that make up the collection have all been worth the wait, this is a fabulous release. === Elana Stone has shared a video for 'Permanent Limbo' a rhythmic, catchy and melodic song.

 

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So Are We - LA Love.

So Are We’s long awaited album 'Piece of the Puzzle' is now ready for release! Warm, harmonic and beautiful Americana inspired pop music.

So Are We consists of songwriters Guro Vikingstad (vocal) and Stian Haslie (guitar), occasionally backed up by a band when songs call for it and when the stage is big enough. Their music is americana inspired pop with very personal lyrics, often based on their own lives. The duo is also a couple off-stage, and has a big collection of romantic, sad, happy and funny stories to provide inspiration.

Before the release of their upcoming album, they will release the fourth and last single track named LA Love, today September 25th.

So Are We had a shy start as a duo in 2015, and has since then released 2 singles and an EP, receiving great acclaim from critics. In 2018, So Are We toured around Norway doing 15 concerts, and during their 5th year as a duo built a big and devoted audience. Guro’s voice is often described as intimate and soulful, and Stian’s guitars sometimes sound like a variety of violins but then suddenly turn into the blues devil himself.

So Are We · La Love

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FM Collective - In My Backyard.

FM Collective is the Seattle-based music project of Mike Lucero, a multimedia producer known for his work in music, street art and public installations. Lucero has collaborated with many of Seattle’s most prominent artists, including members of The Posies, REM, Macklemore, Heart, Hey Marseilles, Portugal the Man, and The Head and the Heart.

Fittingly, FM Collective was born as a collaborative effort, namely with Ken Stringfellow (Posies, REM, Big Star) on vocals, bass, production, and mixing duties along with a rotating cast of fellow Seattle artists. On their latest single “In My Backyard,” the duo looked to create a romping country song with protest charging through its lyrics, enlisting the help of Andrew Joslyn (Macklemore), Colin Richey (Hey Marseilles, Cloud Nothings, Cataldo) and Kyle Zantos (Head and the Heart). The protest in question was centered on the political deterioration within Lucero’s own community in the wake of Trump.

“This song was inspired by an act of vandalism that occurred at the Jewish temple that I am affiliated with in Seattle,” Lucero says in a press release. “The incident occurred in the spring of 2017 right after the election of Donald Trump which had stoked the flames of thugs across America, including anti-Semites. While Seattle is one of the most progressive cities in the country, it was evidence that, even in the most modern, forward-thinking and tolerant cities, darkness lurks in the shadows. Today, the message resonates stronger than ever.”

All of the proceeds that FM Collective have raised thus far has been donated to Grammy’s Musicares program, raising nearly $20K to date.

Mike Lucero 2 · FM Collective - In My Backyard - V1

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Turkey The Bird - Everybody Needs A Little Sunshine.

Weird times. We're not supposed to travel at the moment, for example to the sea. But no worries, now the sea comes to your home, thanks to Turkey The Bird. The trio has packed sunshine and vacation-feelings into a big box and send them over.

Their songs: enlightening stories about life and love. Their melodies: three-part catchy tunes. The rhythm: leaves you at least tapping your feet. And the beards: the trademark of the band fronted by Swiss musician Andre Manella.

Well then, spread the towel! Song into the Boombox! Relax! And you'll discover that Turkey The Bird are Switzerland's answer to Simon & Garfunkel.

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Jenny Banai - Couchwalker (Album).

This album was a hard one for me to write. I felt uncomfortable often, stretched, if you will, lingering in the in-between. 

I don’t know if there has been a more honest and weak time in my life than now (but I only say that now) and I believe in the importance of sharing, in equal parts, both the consolation and desolation of this strange and beautiful tent I walk around in.

Jenny Banai is an old soul and a child of the nineties, and as such, has inherited both the contemplative wonder and the wardrobe of her parents. She is a fresh and authentic voice who pairs powerhouse vocal abilities with unique and clever pop arrangements. 

She blends jazz, folk, and rock into sophisticated pop music that both celebrates and laments the dynamic of human relationships and the relationship with one’s self.

Jenny Banai · couchwalker

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Elana Stone - Permanent Limbo.

Following the success of her single release, Elana Stone returns today with a charming and colourful animated video clip for 'Permanent Limbo'.

Created by a Melbourne artist Luna Tunes, the video premiered earlier this week via Music Feeds. Fun and explorative in nature, the video clip cleverly depicts the narrative of the intertwining of human relationships, and more specifically how we relate through technology.

When explaining the vision of her video Elana explains she was "In the midst of recording the song I had an idea for an accompanying music video. It was essentially about the merging of humans and technology - the many pitfalls and wonders of this emerging industry.

I decided to reach out to a Melbourne based artist that I came across who made beautiful caricatures of robots and cats and dogs for AIME - the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. We set about bringing his beautiful colourful robot characters to life. The story shifted again and the result is an incredibly optimistic depiction of robots steadily gaining intelligence, personality and enlightenment."

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Jenny Banai - Anna Erhard - The William Brothers Shipping Company

Jenny Banai makes her fourth appearance here this year with 'Paper Plain' and it's another strikingly impressive modern pop piece. === Anna Erhard just released 'Short Cut' along with a video, it's a catchy, quirky and satisfying song. === The William Brothers Shipping Company new E.P is 'The Cedarhouse Sessions' where acoustic music and splendidly natural vocals come together from this notable indie folk rock band.
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Jenny Banai - Paper Plain.

“Paper Plain,” the newest single from the forthcoming full-length, is a lo-fi conglomeration of bits and pieces. Its simple groove is carried by mostly two chords – not Jenny’s regular style – and has a freeform melody that borders on melodic rap.

Jenny Banai blends jazz, folk, and rock into sophisticated pop music that both celebrates and laments the dynamic of human relationships and the relationship with one’s self. Following the 2015 self-release of her debut album, Flowering Head, Jenny independently undertook several Canadian tours, collaborated on the documentary Where We Come Home, and early in 2017, her song “Boars” was featured on TV and web series The Drive. In 2018, Jenny received Fraser Valley Music Awards, Folk Artist Of The Year.

Jenny Banai is an old soul and a child of the nineties, and as such, has inherited both the contemplative wonder and the wardrobe of her parents. She is a fresh and authentic voice who pairs powerhouse vocal abilities with unique and clever pop arrangements. “She is able to ebb her voice in dynamic with masterful control, rocking you gently into a dream, yet gripping your ears to keep you awake: lucid and loose”.

Jenny Banai · Paper Plain

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Anna Erhard - Short Cut.

Anna Erhard, 30-year-old, who lives in Berlin, writes songs about states of movement: they deal with leaving, escape and transformation.

And that although letting go is often difficult at first. After years as head of the Basel-based band Serafyn, she has left the band and the city behind and has given in to the desire to change her place of residence and expand her musical comfort zone.

Definitely too clichéd and typical for her fast-moving generation, flooded with possibilities and stimuli, this step seemed to her at first. However, the new start was urgently needed, provided space and time for musical expeditions and offered an unknown freedom.

A freedom that can also be felt in the new single "Short Cut". There the Swiss musician criticizes the superficiality of our society. Every small talk begins with "How's it going?" followed by "All is well", we have all the possibilities, can achieve everything, live the dream. So the illusion. Anna explains:

"We are told every day that it is possible to enjoy only the good aspects of things. This is bullsh."

Life holds many challenges, not everything is always easy, but it is these moments that make life what it is. Anna illustrates this in an abstracted way in the loving music video for "Short Cut", which was shot on an alpine pasture in Furna (in the Swiss canton of Graubünden), in the village where Anna's grandmother grew up. Growing up there in the countryside is a special challenge, to which Anna bows and states: "Mountain children are the most blatant children, nobody has as much stamina as they do".

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The William Brothers Shipping Company - The Cedarhouse Sessions (E.P).

From the band - I wanted to introduce myself and tell you about The William Brothers Shipping Company. The Shipping Co. is an indie folk-rock band from Los Angeles CA. Our mission is to make honest music for people to enjoy. It's that simple.

With the release of our new EP The Cedarhouse Sessions, The Shipping Company is excited for people to join the party.

Sparking Music puts it "Everything in The Cedarhouse Sessions comes together in a stream of consciousness style. It is an unforgettable journey into an acoustic world."

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The Sea The Sea - Jenny Banai - Ramiro Fauve

The Sea The Sea have shared 'Fall Before The Climb' and it's a soothing, atmospheric modern folk piece with delicate melodic vocals and a flowing musical backdrop. === Making her third appearance here this year Jenny Banai returns with the new song 'Gold' and her lush modern pop sensibilities continue to really impress. === Ramiro Fauve first single from 'Where Rivers Cross Vols. 1 & 2', due October 6th, 2020 is 'I Give You All I Have' and as a foretaste of what's to come this is a powerful modern country rock song that packs feeling.
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The Sea The Sea - Fall Before The Climb.

Frequently lauded for their otherworldly vocal harmonies, heart-piercing lyrics, and unconventional song arrangements, The Sea The Sea – comprised of Chuck and Mira Costa - continue to make waves in the music industry.

The New York-based indie folk-pop duo is releasing “Fall Before the Climb,” the third single from their forthcoming album, Stumbling Home, that the band co-produced with Grammy and Tony award winner Todd Sickafoose (Hadestown, Anais Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Andrew Bird).

“This song feels like a song we needed to hear when we wrote it,” shares Mira Costa.

“ It can be surprisingly easy as writers to forget that sometimes—that you can write a song you need to hear. Most of our songs tend to have a positive spin on things—I think that’s just the way we are drawn to see things—and this song feels to us, like what it feels like to dig yourself out of a difficult moment. To feel the weight of something lift. To understand something in a way that brings everything else into focus. To embrace the parts of life that are a struggle as part of the human condition — to lean in — find the beauty there, and let it be something that ultimately allows you to evolve.

Having recently signed with AntiFragile Music, The Sea and Sea is eager to release their new album, Stumbling Home, which officially drops on August 28.

“Fall Before The Climb” follows previous album singles, “Parachute” and “A Thousand Years.”

“This new album is the work we are most proud of to date,” shares Mira. “We are proud of the way we grew the arrangements in our new creative space. Making music fills us, and we also believe that it matters in the world. Our mission statement as a band is to remind people they aren’t alone — in their pains or their joys, and everything in-between.”

The Sea The Sea · Fall Before The Climb

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Jenny Banai - Gold.

Jenny states - “I want this song to remind us all that we are broken to be formed. That there is hope. Perhaps that is wholly unseen at the moment, but I pray that in some way, the pieces we embody, would reflect the wholeness we hope for.”

Jenny Banai is an old soul and a child of the nineties, and as such, has inherited both the contemplative wonder and the wardrobe of her parents. She is a fresh and authentic voice who pairs powerhouse vocal abilities with unique and clever pop arrangements and whose live show commands attention.

Often garnering comparison to vocalists such as Feist and Jeff Buckley, Jenny Banai’s creative influences range from Andy Shauf to Patrick Watson to The Cranberries. Armed with classical training on both voice and violin, Jenny performs live on electric guitar and brings a unique vision to the creation of powerful progressive pop music.

Following her self-released debut album, Flowering Head (2015), Jenny independently undertook several Canadian tours, collaborated on the documentary Where We Come Home, and early in 2017, her song Boars was featured on the TV and web series The Drive. In 2018, Jenny received Fraser Valley Music Awards, “Folk Artist of The Year”.

Jenny’s new album entitled, couchwalker was recorded at Afterlife Studios in Vancouver with co-producer, Scott Currie and engineer, John Raham (Frazey Ford, Destroyer, We Are The City).

Jenny Banai · Gold

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Ramiro Fauve - I Give You All I Have.

Multifaceted artist Ramiro Fauve has released his first single, “I Give You All I Have”.  The new track is the first release off Ramiro Fauve’s twenty-six track double album, Where Rivers Cross Vols. 1 & 2, out on OCTOBER 6TH, 2020. The album seamlessly fuses his traditional country roots with a modern contemporary spin, tapping into Fauve’s musical inspirations as well as his vulnerable side.

With the help of LA-based composer Sam Glaser, Ramiro Fauve reminds listeners to give love their all, despite past experiences and broken hearts. Featuring poetic lyrics and familiar sounds of Bluegrass through guitar and drum, “I Give You All I Have” is an ode to those who feel petrified in the face of love. Ramiro Fauve sings that for the sake of your heart, you have to take a chance in love; you have to “lay it on the line.”

Son of the award-winning folk singer/songwriter Suni Paz (Smithsonian Folkways artist, NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award, CMN Magic Penny Award), Fauve sees himself simply as a storyteller. He is also known for his creative direction in the unique 1920’s themed lounge, The Edison, as well as in the renovation of the historic cafe, Clifton’s in Downtown, Los Angeles. Fauve has painted countless mega-murals such as the “LA Marathon Year 2026” mural and album cover “Tupac Starry Night”, for Tupac Shakur's commemorative album, “R U Still Down?".

Follow Ramiro Fauve on social media for exclusives and updates on his new double album, Where Rivers Cross Vols. 1 & 2, on  October 6th, 2020.

Ramiro Fauve · V1 I GIVE YOU ALL I HAVE

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Endless Forms - Zoe & Cloyd - Jenny Banai

We have three tracks from Endless Forms brand new album 'More Than Candy' with each song exploring differing styles where warm synths, dramatic musical backdrops and refined vocals vie for our attention. === We featured Zoe & Cloyd around a year ago (time flies) and their new song 'Where Do You Stand' is a thoughtful piece with some classic Americana vibes. === Jenny Banai was featured back in February with 'Couch Walker' and her new song 'Intermittent Heart' is another gorgeous and imaginative modern pop affair.
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Endless Forms - More Than Candy (Album).

Endless Forms have released their third album, More Than Candy. The album is their first since 2017's If There Were Water and follows an appearance of their song "Lungs" on Netflix show Elite.

"This is serious listening for the serious-minded music fan," V13 raved in a review earlier this week. "Allen seems very much at home throughout More Than Candy, operating in a mellowy, interpretative space that knows no limits."

The project is Tulsa-based singer/producer Justin Allen's first as a solo project, pairing down from a three piece band in the wake of Water.

"I never had any intention of ending Endless Forms," Allen elaborated in a recent interview. "In 2017, I was in a weird headspace with my art, and I really needed to find a new imagination for what it meant to be an artist... I knew I had more music in me, and I learned again how to enjoy creation itself."


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Zoe & Cloyd - Where Do You Stand.

As we navigate through a year already fraught with both ongoing and new, unanticipated crises, the need for dialogue and common ground has never been clearer. That’s the message of the new Organic Records single from Zoe & Cloyd, which sets its titular question — “Where Do You Stand?” — to a hard-driving, traditional-leaning bluegrass groove.

“‘Where Do You Stand’ is a commentary on the state of our national discourse,” says John Cloyd Miller of the powerful new original, written together with his wife and musical partner, Natalya Zoe Weinstein. “Often, it's the farthest ends of the political spectrum that make the news and it seems like inflammatory rhetoric is the only thing that gets heard these days. I'd like for us to remember that we're all connected and are more alike than we are different, no matter who tries to convince us otherwise. For us to move forward, we have to find common ground on which to build a path toward a sustainable future."

The single is the first new release from the duo and their band — banjoist Bennett Sullivan and bass player Kevin Kehrberg — since last fall’s full-length debut for Organic, I Am Your Neighbor. Produced by Jon Weisberger, the song kicks off with hard-edged fiddle that gives way to Miller’s equally biting lyric indictment of “voices in the chamber halls calling each other wrong” before Weinstein joins to harmonize with him on a memorable chorus built around the title’s urgent question. Fiddle and banjo engage in their own riveting dialogues as the lyrics wonder, “are we too dug in to face the truth, we’re getting nowhere fast.”

With “Where Do You Stand,” Zoe & Cloyd reaffirm their role as leading voices in a new generation of artists expressing the evolution of Southern Appalachian music and culture.

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Jenny Banai - Intermittent Heart.

Jenny Banai is an old soul and a child of the nineties, and as such, has inherited both the contemplative wonder and the wardrobe of her parents. She is a fresh and authentic voice who pairs powerhouse vocal abilities with unique and clever pop arrangements and whose live show commands attention.

Often garnering comparison to vocalists such as Feist and Jeff Buckley, Jenny Banai’s creative influences range from Andy Shauf to Patrick Watson to The Cranberries. Armed with classical training on both voice and violin, Jenny performs live on electric guitar and brings a unique vision to the creation of powerful progressive pop music.

Following her self-released debut album, Flowering Head (2015), Jenny independently undertook several Canadian tours, collaborated on the documentary Where We Come Home, and early in 2017, her song Boars was featured on the TV and web series The Drive. In 2018, Jenny received Fraser Valley Music Awards, “Folk Artist of The Year”.

Jenny’s new album entitled, couchwalker was recorded at Afterlife Studios in Vancouver with co-producer, Scott Currie and engineer, John Raham (Frazey Ford, Destroyer, We Are The City).

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Kalbells - The Hempolics - Malena Zavala - Jenny Banai

Kalbells has released 'Cool and Bendable' today along with a video, the song starts out gently enough but builds with wonderful intensity and passion. === We featured The Hempolics a couple of times last December and now we have the new video for 'Bongadasi' which is a potent mixture of reggae and funk. === We began February with a song from Malena Zavala and just four weeks later we have 'La Yarará' a vibrant mixture of Latin influences and Reggaeton. === Jenny Banai has shared a new song entitled 'Couch Walker' and it's a melodic and rich modern pop ballad with plenty of class.
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Kalbells - Cool and Bendable.

Today, Kalbells (the project led by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Kalmia Traver) announced Mothertime, a four track EP she co-produced with Jeremy Malvin (aka Chrome Sparks). The cathartic lead single and accompanying music video for “Cool and Bendable” was also released

Mothertime will be out April 10th, 2020 and is now available to preorder via NNA Tapes. This spring, Kal and her band will bring their new material to select dates in North America.

In April 2015, Kalmia Traver (Kalbells, Rubblebucket) had just come out of an intensive 2-month writing retreat with 27 songlets in hand, 10 of which would become Kalbells’ debut album Ten Flowers. Jeremy Malvin (Chrome Sparks) loved what she shared with him then, and the two began regular co-production sessions in his studio in Brooklyn, where classical percussion ensemble So Percussion also worked. Drawing inspiration from the abundance of acoustic sound-makers all around, Jeremy performed marimbas, cactus shakers, and massive bass drums, while Kal layered flute arpeggios, penny whistles, and saxophones through tape echo to make smooth harmonic waves of rainbow velvet layer cake. They pretended to be an orchestra.

Lyrically, the Mothertime EP sees Kal processing themes she has been continually chewing on in the 6-year wake of surviving ovarian cancer and transforming a codependent relationship wither her long-time music partner Alex Toth (Tōth, Rubblebucket): resilience, yielding, beckoning creativity, self-exploration, and joy.

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The Hempolics - Bongadasi.

The Hempolics drops the video for their recent single ’Bongadashi’, the third cut taken from their upcoming second album ‘Kiss, Cuddle & Torture: Volume 2’, planned for release in April 2020 through their own record label Zee Zee Records via Kartel Music Group. The band will also support Toots and the Maytals farewell UK tour in May.

’Bongadashi’, is the follow up to the upbeat soul and reggae mash ‘Play On’ and the trip-hop meets dub-influenced single, ‘Full of Surprises’, which saw support at radio from BBC 1Xtra’s David Rodigan, 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, Don Letts, Chris Hawkins and 6Music Recommends, BBC 6 Music Mix Tape with Tom Robinson and BBC Scotland’sVic Galloway.

In the words of the band’s mainman and producer Grippa Laybourne - who has previously worked in the studio with a variety of international top acts like Mattafix and Faithless – ‘Bongadashi’ is “a pure British reggae-funk stomper full of swagger and verve”. The song is about the inherent danger on the streets whether in London or Port of Spain in Tobago, the home of Hempolics collaborator Franz who lends the vocals to the track. “When fear comes out of the blue, when you’re walking down the street and someone starts on you not sure whether you’re safe or not on the streets - Bongadashi coming,” Grippa adds.

The Hempolics’ blend of Reggae, Hip-Hop, Dancehall and Pop has already been heavily supported across UK national radio by BBC Radio1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6Music, where the band had three playlisted singles. They went on to have 6Music ‘Album of The Day’ and were subsequently chosen by Liz Kershaw's pick for 'Album Of The Year', after an impressive live session for Lauren Laverne.

‘Bongadashi’ is another stand out track and a statement of intent ahead of their forthcoming sophomore album and support slot on the Toots and the Maytals farewell UK tour in May, playing at O2 Academy in Bristol on Friday 15th May, London’s O2 Academy Brixton on 16th May, Leeds’ O2 Academy on Fri 29th May and Manchester’s O2 Apollo on 30th May.

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Malena Zavala - La Yarará.

Malena Zavala has today released the title track from her upcoming new album ‘La Yarará’, available April 17 on Yucatan Records. The follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2018 debut ‘Aliso’, ‘La Yarará’ cements the Argentinean-born, UK-raised musician as a songwriter with a unique perspective on where she’s from, where she’s headed and where her music can take us.

‘La Yarará’ draws from the various aspects, colours and shades of Latin music and culture: cumbia, Afro-Cuban, Afro-funk, Andean folk, Argentine folk, bolero-son, and in the case of the title track/new single, reggaeton. The percussion deliberately evokes the sinuous movements and character of a serpent.

“The yarará is a venomous snake, a viper, in Argentina,” explains Zavala. “It’s also used as a diss to a sassy woman, and my parents always called me that, so I’ve named the album that as a kind of in-joke.

“With the whole album I was researching every single Latino rhythm and style. With ‘La Yarará’ I started on reggaeton, but wanted to make it in my own way. I also wanted to make a song that’s really angry. And when I do that live, it is a challenge, because I normally sing very sweetly,” she admits. “But I’m trying to summon that yarará.”

‘La Yarará’ is the third single to be taken from the  album following 'En La Noche' and 'I'm Leaving Home'. Zavala will follow the release of ‘La Yarará’ on April 17 with a headline show at London’s Courtyard Theatre on April 23.

Born in Argentina to parents with Italian passports, Zavala’s family relocated to Hertfordshire when she was a small child. She began her musical journey in a band with her brother called, Oh So Quiet. At the time she tried to write songs, “but they were really shit so I concentrated on being a performer. But then my brother met a girl and moved to LA. So I decided to do my own thing. And I wrote my first album.”

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Jenny Banai - Couch Walker.

I was sitting on a couch next to a buddy (tbh, a potential more-than-buddy… we’ve all been there).

I don’t co-write very often, but there was a playful willingness in the room. I started off with a very Andy Shauf-esque melody; a creative inspo to many in our scene. I led with melody and my potential more-than-buddy followed with chords.

We made a little voice memo which he coined “jenny on a couch.” I wrote the lyrics later. The curiosity and hope about a relationship, as well as the frustration and heartbreak that ensues when one doesn’t work out, inspired my words.

It feels like walking a tightrope sometimes – the excitement, the back-and-forth, the risk. All of these emotions, in real time, take place with you sitting on a couch beside someone. I keep walking. I keep carrying all of these moments in my pockets. They are important and each human is important, not whether I have control of the narrative of my life.

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