Category: Indie Music Page 12 of 69

Introducing… Boston’s Earth Heart

On June 14, 2016

Are you up for some noisy garage rock? Of course you are! Earth Heart hails from Boston, and at the risk of seeming trite when I say “of course they do,” let’s face it, Boston is rather legendary for this kind of rambunctious bravado, and proudly so! While their name might suggest a new age ensemble, once you hear their new single, you’ll realize they’re most certainly not.

No deep sentiments here, but then, there doesn’t have to be. Not when the thrashy guitar, boisterous drumming and acerbic juvenile delinquent vocals of Katie Coriander and Matt Axten sound this good.

The duo met at that premiere Cambridge hot spot, All Asia Cafe in 2013 and, as chance would have it, Katie was in the market for a drummer. In fact, she needed one for a show the next day. He came through despite no rehearsals, and the rest, as they say, is history. Since then, they’ve self-recorded and released five EPs and have played extensively around town. They’re set to release their debut full-length album Homesick on August 5. It was recorded by Shaun Curran at Napoleon Complex in Somerville. Yes, a professional recording studio — a first! Though no worries; their music still has that brashy edge, influenced in part by bands like The Melvins, Mouldy Peaches and Cat Power. Following their debut album, they were joined by Natan Keyes on bass.

They plan on local shows and a proper tour for the first time this summer, so stay tuned!

facebook | bandcamp | soundcloud

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Introducing… Lara Maxen

By julie

On June 7, 2016

In Indie Music

Don’t let her soft, sweet appearance fool you. Lara Maxen is, as her Twitter profile warns, a New York based savage. Pure and simple. If you don’t believe me, have a listen to her third single, ‘Bite The Bullet’.

The song was co-written with Oktavian and Mickey Valen and produced by Valen. And, hard to believe, that’s not the third single of her third or fourth album — it’s her third single ever. Incredible.

“The world is spinning out of our control
You just have to wait until it slows down
See, I don’t got the time to drag you back to life
So grab your chance while still I got fucks to give
‘Cause I’m at the speed at light, so better hold on tight
We’re gonna break the ice that you’re sleeping in

What the fuck are you waiting for?
Don’t you pull it, gonna do it
What the fuck are you waiting for?
Don’t be foolish, bite the bullet”

Good advice.

facebook | twitter | soundcloud | instagram

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Introducing… Brooklyn Doran

By julie

On June 4, 2016

In Indie Music

photo by Cassandra Rudolph

It began as a poem written some years ago by Canadian songstress Brooklyn Doran. She tells the story of Icarus, though written from a unique perspective, that of the sun. It’s in hearing a familiar story told from a unique perspective, plus the added attraction of her fragile yet supple voice and the sparse acoustic accompaniment that gives “Paper Wings” the essence of a fresh summer rain.

It is the first single from her album These Paper Wings, set for release in September. The music was recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. It was produced, mixed and recorded by Dan Hosh (City and Colour, Arkells, Rose Cousins) and mastered by Stephen Pitkin (Elliott Brood) at Modest Heights Recording. The converted century-old church that is home to Catherine North Studios seems like the perfect spot to bring to life a song which carries with it a sense of reverence.

Her debut EP, There’s A Light On, was released in 2014, followed up with a remix compilation called Sink This Ship: a Brooklyn Doran Remix Compilation.

Doran says of her musical creations, “A big part of the process for me is creating a conversation through music. And it’s something I am incredibly interested in. It’s one of the main reasons that I make music and put it out into the world.”

Upcoming Performances

Aug 09 Via Rail Artist On Board – Toronto, Canada
Aug 12 Trout Forest Music Festival w/ The 24th Street… – Ear Falls, Canada
Aug 18 Moose N’ Fiddle Festival w/ Mike Procyshyn &… – Caliper Lake, Canada

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Introducing… Larus Sigurðsson

By julie

On May 31, 2016

In Indie Music

Sometimes it all just gets to be too much, doesn’t it? The walls closing in, life’s seemingly endless cacophony of instructions and tasks, status seeking and stresses. And then there’s Lárus Sigurðsson, whose ethereal, meditative music just is. Imagine a crystal clear lake in the still of winter, surrounded by stately trees covered with fresh snow, so quiet you can hear your heart beating. You feel your mind slowly come to a point of rest, devoid of civilization’s clutter. Serenity.

Being from Iceland, Sigurðsson knows a thing or two about clear bodies of water in the pristine stillness of winter. With his experimental ‘ambient guitar’ and homemade musical instruments, this talented composer and multi-instrumentalist creates a magical portal through which you can leave your reality for a little while. Step through the “Entry by the Wolf Door.”

Lárus Sigurðsson is a formally trained musician and artist. He studied classical guitar at the College of Music in Iceland, musical instrument making at Emerson College in the U.K., had art teacher training at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and studied Art Theory at the University of Iceland. He has released six albums, the latest of which is We Are Told That We Shine, just released on the Dutch label Volkoren. On it, he is joined by Ã“lafur Josephsson (electric guitar soundscapes), Fredrik Robertson Boulter and Laura Wolfgang (choir), Angel Welp (cello) and Claire Ouille (violin). It was mixed and mastered by Jan Borger. The album can be purchased at YouMakeMusic.com

Lárus Sigurðsson: bandcamp
Volkoren: facebook

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Introducing… Poo Poo Patrol

By julie

On May 28, 2016

In Indie Music

There’s nothing whatsoever smelly about the unfortunately named Poo Poo Patrol. In fact, this Boston/New York musical project is all about dreampop and whimsy, with minimalist experimental folk, a few sprinkles of electronics, tuneful harmonies and spacy or downright silly lyrics. I’m not sure what to make of “Thieves” (“Thievery of mind, spread through time all alone in the sun, it’s fun to track, the sand beetles along my back”), but I quite like the sentiments of “Wind Music” —

“Dreaming-sleeping,
Knowing-waking
All the dirt here
Is earthquaking
Solid footing
Can’t be found
Miles under underground
Where there isn’t any sound”

<a href="http://poopoopatrol.bandcamp.com/album/nonguise">Nonguise by Poo Poo Patrol</a>

These unusual and quirky experimental folk tunes are some delightful ear candy. The band just released their debut EP Nonguise. The mood gets rather rambunctious “Deep in the Rambles,” almost turning into a wacky Broadway musical towards the end. “Mice” begins as a piano ballad and breaks out into a something akin to a rock opera. These guys are weird. I like them.

Lucky New Yorkers can catch the band on June 24 at Freddy’s Bar and Backroom.

facebook | bandcamp

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Introducing… Quiet Hollers and their broken guitar

By julie

On May 24, 2016

In Indie Music

On their latest single, “Broken Guitar,” Louisville, Kentucky band Quiet Hollers tells the story of disconnection, or so it seems, accompanied by a quiet and somewhat haunting alt-country vibe.

I wrote a song on a broken guitar
and I played it for them
they told me it was out of touch
but I thought I had my finger on the pulse
of the nation’s youth, of a girl like you
of a few home truths I thought you already knew.”
– Broken Guitar

There’s delight to be found in these quiet moments, with the personal storytelling and intricately crafted melodies and harmonies. A hint of wistfulness permeates throughout in the soft strumming, subtle strings, tinkling bits of piano and plainspoken, reverb-soaked vocals.

Quiet Hollers released their debut album I Am The Morning in 2013 and their self-produced self-titled album last October, with a few singles from the latest album, including the stunning southern gothic vibe of “Mont Blanc,” with introspective storytelling from singer-songwriter and frontman Shadwick Wilde. It also has the amazing line “Shed a tear for the books I should have read.” Oh, the regrets! So sad, so beautiful.

The band is currently working on their third album, and they’re touring all summer, hitting towns across the midwest and elsewhere. They’ll be in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin and Colorado. Check their website for details. Two of their songs, “Cote d’Azur” and “Flood Song” were used in the cable TV shows “Kingdom” and “Guilt,” both airing this summer. In the meantime, grab their new single from iTunes.

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Bowie, Rykodisc, Salem: The Untold Story – May 12, 2016, CinemaSalem

By julie

On May 21, 2016

In Indie Music, Music Biz, Music News

Despite the fact that he is no longer with us, the stories about David Bowie are far from over. So prolific was this legendary artist, there are many songs yet to be heard that will no doubt see the light of day in coming years. His Twitter and Facebook feeds are more active than those of artists supposedly still in existence — yet more evidence of his eternal presence and lasting legacy. And yes, the stories from those who knew and worked with him keep coming in, uncovering a depth of knowledge about his work previously unknown of by even his most devout followers. One such story is of his time working with once Salem, Massachusetts-based maverick indie label upstart Rykodisc, and in particular, their A&R and Special Projects Director, Jeff Rougvie.

Rougvie had a job that Bowie fans could only dream about, which involved digging through the Bowie archives, listening to all the original master tracks of legendary albums and putting together a “wish list” for Ryko’s David Bowie Sound + Vision reissue series. This unveiling of an audiophile’s collection of CDs began with the ambitious Sound + Vision 3-CD plus CD-ROM box set, which went on to win the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Album Package. They then re-mastered and re-released all of his RCA albums, from Space Oddity through Scary Monsters.

Recently at CinemaSalem, located in the heart of this town on Boston’s north shore, Rougvie gave a presentation, ‘Bowie, Rykodisc, Salem: The Untold Story.’ If I were more savvy with a smartphone, I might have Periscoped it for Bowie’s fans worldwide, such were the gems uncovered — in story, visuals and song. It began with a comprehensive history of Rykodisc, a brave little CD-only indie label that achieved stupendous things back at its inception in 1983, but which has fallen into the shadows of rock history. When most people think of Salem, they have images of its witch-burning history and modern day pagans that still inhabit this still rather sleepy New England seaside town. Suffice it to say, a little bit of pagentry to celebrate the good deeds of this label that brought the first compact discs to the U.S. is long overdue.

Ryko's contribution to music aficionados' collections is vast.

I won’t go into Ryko’s impressive artist roster here (Frank Zappa, the Residents, Chris Bell and Big Star, Bowie, Elvis Costello, Jimi Hendrix, Devo, Nils Lofgren, Bob Mould, Yoko Ono, Galaxie 500, Misfits, Morphine…). You can see their Wikipedia page — or, better yet, Rougvie’s ongoing online retrospective.

In this amazing presentation, what was billed as a 90-minute show turned into three hours of hilarious anecdotes and delicious behind-the-scenes stories (I was going to say ‘dirt,’ but I don’t want to get him into any trouble). This was accompanied by a slide show with rare photos and internal record company documents and two blistering mini-sets from Boston-based Bowie aficionados The Daily Pravda. After the Ryko story leading up to Bowie, the band performed four Bowie songs, in stellar fashion (they’re really quite wonderful). Rougvie then launched into the Bowie portion of the show, which included an exhaustive (and exhausting) biography, some interesting stories about RCA and other entities and what went on when Ryko took over. This was accompanied by photos of Bowie (several of which I’d never seen before) and documents like master tape track listings and album tracks which included possible bonus material, some of which remains unreleased. By hardcore fan standards, it was intense, so you can imagine what the audience thought — a mix of big Bowie fans, casual fans and regular cinema visitors. The band came back and played another four songs to seal the deal for those who were still riveted to their seats in awe.

It is my hope that Rougvie takes this show on the road, because I know of many devout Bowie fans and collectors who would have loved to be there. Until that happens, if you’d like to learn about Bowie’s collaboration with Ryko on the reissues, discover what really happened behind the scenes and learn about the rare tracks that have yet to be heard, check out Rougvie’s Bowie Sound + Vision Blog. It’s crammed full of really interesting information for the serious fan and collector. And follow him on his Twitter and Facebook for any news of upcoming posts, publications and events. He did tell me that this was “just the tip of the iceberg” and that much more is on the way.

The Daily Pravda’s setlist: (set 1) Rebel Rebel / Ziggy Stardust / Man Who Sold The World / Moonage Daydream // (set 2) Starman / Drive In Saturday / Hang Onto Yourself / Heroes

Follow Jeff Rougvie’s exploits:
web | facebook | twitter | album credits (AllMusic) | creative salem podcast

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Introducing… HÃ„ANA

By julie

On May 17, 2016

In Indie Music

Los Angeles-based HÃ„ANA describes herself as a sound artist rather than as a musician, and listening to her otherworldly, ethereal violin exursions, one can understand why. This latest offering is a remix of her song “Brym Al Mar” by Dimond Saints, an Oakland, California duo, whose mission it is to expand the boundaries of electronic music. This musical interpretation conjures some heady magic, as a classical string quartet is brought into an exotic overseas dance hall. The result is hypnotic.

This is the first track from an album of different remixes of this beautiful song. You can preorder it here. It comes out on June 14.

HÃ„ANA’s original song is inspired by a traditional Norwegian folk song. Her unique sound merges traditional Scandinavian folk music with the latest electronics and her exotic, mysterious vocals. She has opened for The Rolling Stones, shared the stage with Kanye West and has performed at some high-profile events, such as President Obama’s Inaugural Ball and Michael Jordan’s wedding (now, there’s a juxtaposition!). Her discography thus far includes three singles and two EPs. This stunning music can be heard on her bandcamp site, and please support this innovative artist!

HÃ„ANA – Upcoming Shows

5/29 Lightning in a Bottle Festival, Bradley, CA
6/18 What The Festival, Duruf, OR
7/22 Enchanted Forest, Laytonville, CA
8/5 Arise Festival, Loveland, CO

Dimond Saints: web | facebook | twitter | soundcloud

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Introducing… Emay

By julie

On May 14, 2016

In Indie Music

This isn’t just any old rap from Emay (a.k.a. Mubarik Adams), a hip-hop artist from Hamilton, Ontario. His latest single, ‘Israfil’ (or “angel’s trumpet”) is so named for an angel in Islamic tradition that blows his horn to signify the day of resurrection. The angel’s trumpet (also the name of a poisonous flower) is a metaphor for life, in that, as the artist says, “its contents may be ugly at times but there’s a bizarre sense of beauty to all of its chaos.” The track, in which Emay speaks of the blind race for material success and the struggle for survival in a crazy world, includes a clip from American author, feminist and social activist Bell Hooks.

This fine artist is as eloquent in his explanation of his music as he is in the music itself, which blazes with the intensity of insightful social commentary and poignant self-awareness.

“Israfil or ‘angels trumpet’ is a track in which I explore my conflict with society’s expectations upon me as an artist and an everyday worker trying to ‘make it.'” – Emay

This powerful song is the first single from his self-produced debut album, Ilah, due out later this year. On the album, he explores his personal struggle with being a Muslim and the concept of God. As he explains it, “The entire project is essentially my development in thought from early life to now. Trying to find the Objective. In the sense that I’m searching for purpose in trying to see the world more objectively from a subjective standpoint.”

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Introducing… Ozonna

By julie

On May 10, 2016

In Indie Music

Anyone who says that electro-pop is devoid of humanity has never heard the music of Ozonna. This Nigerian artist who lived in London and is now based in New York wears his heritage proudly and combines raw and honest savagery with contemporary electronic dance music, tribal rhythms, world music and a smooth-as-silk voice in his just-released video for “Wonderland.” Filmed in Africa with a large cast of furry co-stars, this compelling, dramatic video would likely make a great tourism ad. It’s incredibly beautiful and it soars along with the swelling chorus.

Raised in London after his family migrated from Nigeria, Ozonna’s music fuses the culture of his birthplace and his adopted country. He performed around London, opening for artists such as Kyla La Grange, Alice Gold and Chrystal Fighters. On early singles (which can be heard on his bandcamp), he added ukelele along with the electro, giving him a unique sound and showing his versatility. When his single “Me & You On Top” was put into rotation in a half dozen U.S. markets and received some serious blog love (in 2013), it attracted some major label attention. His debut performance in New York was hosted by Rahim Wright, an Atlantic Records exec. He ended up moving to New York City that year and released his debut EP Believe It To See It last October. The official video for the title track also featured African heritage and scenery as a backdrop.

This EP features the contributions of many of music’s heavy hitters, including Grammy-nominated producer Jimmy Greco (Paramore, BeyoncÃ©, Miley Cyrus), Grammy Award-winning producer Scott Jacoby (Alicia Keys, Vampire Weekend, John Lennon) and producer and hit songwriter Russ DeSalvo (Santana, Celine Dion, Trisha Yearwood). Listen to four of the tracks below and pick up the 5-track EP on iTunes.

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