Artist Propaganda
Breathless Copy by Bill KoppIn my time as Editor-in-Chief for Skope Magazine, there were a number of times when my publisher would come to me with the news that he had "sold" a story about an unsigned artist. I tried hard (and successfully, I would argue) to maintain the editorial integrity of the magazine. What I did was put together short quarter-page "artist Spotlight" pieces, all grouped together on their own page. They looked a bit like ads, but were written in a softer tone. See example at right. Anyway, here's a few of them. And actually, many of these artist are indeed worth checking out.
Blurred VisionWith a lush, midtempo sound reminiscent of a cross between Ambrosia and the David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd, Toronto/SF/Vancouver/NYC-based Blurred Vision is led by brothers Soheil and Sepehr. The pair are émigrés from Iran, and their sound incorporates some Eastern influences and instrumentation into the progressive mix. And the live clips shown on their MySpace page (myspace.com/blurredvisionmusic) show that the group's musical "vision" translates well onstage.The progressive tag applies to their world view as well, as the group is involved in human rights advocacy and has done some work with Amnesty International. In 2006 they started the Open Eyes Movement, a weekly newsletter that shares their concerns about world affairs and more. As Sepehr says, a world-based perspective "could very well be the most important way to fight back against the injustices committed by governments on both sides of the spectrum." Under a Pale and Faded Sun is available from CDBaby. Learn more about the group by visiting their web site at www.blurredvisionmusic.com Mitch LinkerConnecticut-based Mitch Linker sports a streamlined pop-rock sound that will be pleasing to fans of Owsley and Ben Folds. Although he's American, there's a faint British inflection to his vocals, possibly a result of growing up listening to his influences. Like many pop greats, Linker writes his songs on piano, and it shows; he ventures beyond the I-IV-V structure favored by many guitar-based writers. Linker was a runner-up in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in both 2002 and 2003, and has fared well in other competitions as well.A highlight on his latest Learn How to Love is the 70s-styled "Bright Side," featuring upbeat horn charts for added interest. Once you've fallen in love with the new disc, you can work backward through his catalog (a 2005 solo debut plus one album as part of The Day Traders, and three albums with The Dent). Visit his web site at www.mitchlinker.com and pick up Learn How to Love from CDBaby. SolithaThe breathy R&B hip-hop stylings of Solitha jump out at you on "Personal Horizon," in which she invites the listener to "unwrap me." That phrase is also the title of her self-released debut. The suggestive undercurrent remains consistent through tracks with titles like "Bootey" and "Damn Hawt," but this Brooklynite has more depth than those cock-teasing titles might suggest.Solitha says that "it was my father who encouraged me to set my lyrics to melodies; he said, 'make music. That's how you might cause attention.'" Her naughty persona has indeed attracted some interesting attention. Many of the posts to her MySpace page (myspace.com/solitha) are actually ads for, um, male enhancement products. But as the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad publicity. Her seven-track Unwrap Me is available for purchase on CD or via download. Visit her web site (home to some nice pics, it should be noted) at www.solitha.net Paul KawaboriKawabori gives new meaning to the word versatile. While his original tune "Don't Stop Now" recalls The Cars, his EP's title track "Meant to Be" is a smooth pop number closer to--and I mean this in a good way--N*SYNC. And then "Call Me Home" is a heartfelt piano ballad with subtle yet stirring string backing.A singer/songwriter, Paul believes that "telling stories through song is something that is a part of every human being and ingrained deep within every single culture on earth." Yet he's also a fine interpreter of the work of others; Meant to Be includes a pleasing cover of Billy Joel's "She's got a Way," and his MySpace page (myspace.com/PaulKawabori) features a haunting live vocal performance of "Una Furtiva Lagrima" from Gaetano Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore. Is there nothing Kawabori can't do? He's currently seeking a deal with a major label; stay tuned. Meantime, learn more about Paul by visiting www.paulkawabori.com Steve DunnWith its sampled flute lines, the opening of "Spend Some Time" evokes memories of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." Though he's thoroughly original, Steve Dunn's breezy pop sound cherry-picks from a number of winning influences. Solid-yet-subtle instrumentation travels John Mellencamp territory, albeit with the rougher edges smoothed out.Dunn has followed up his 2004 full-length Ok to Drive with a new EP Great Escape. The EP continues Steve's winning mix of originals and covers; the latter includes a remake of the Gin Blossoms hit "Hey Jealousy." Dunn truly makes the song his own. Dunn's music is promoted as "calming," but the EP's title track has a pleasantly rocking vibe. An in-demand performer, Steve Dunn has live dates booked well into next winter. Most of these are in and around his Connecticut home base; those outside the tri-state area are advised to pick up Great Escape, available via his website www.stevedunnmusic.com Marc BerleyMarc Berley's musical approach falls into the powerpop vein a la Material Issue, but with a harder-edged attack (see: Trick, Cheap) that keeps the songs from ever straying into bubblegum territory. The songs do stick in the listener's head like gum, however, and that's the idea. "I wanted to make people jump and feel great. I wanted to make people keep hitting 'repeat' over and over again," says the New York-based rocker. Berley has taken his set to stages at famed venues including CBGBs and The Knitting Factory, and has performed on the highly-regarded World Café Live.Berley's singles "I Like You" and "Day Go By" (both featured on his new album Kick the Machine) were included on a recent compilation alongside tracks by The Killers and Citizen Cope. Adding to Berley's classic rock cred, Steve Holley (Wings) plays drums on one track on Kick the Machine. Order the disc and keep up with Marc at www.marcberley.com Michael JamesEqually well-suited for close listening and as background music for an evening of romance, Michael James' Everything We Used to Be is a wistful collection of acoustic-guitar-led songs that suggests a less idiosyncratic Dave Matthews. With his Jeff Beck good looks and distinctive voice, the Denver native's approach has won him fans and praise across the country. James has earned significant college radio play and high-profile gigs at the Hyperactive Music Festival (Albuquerque NM), Diversafest (Tulsa OK), NXNE (Toronto), 2007's Virgin College Mega Tour and many others.Everything We Used to Be and his first solo effort, the 2005 Loft Sessions EP are currently available from www.michaeljamesmusic.com, and Michael is already working on his next album, due soon. "I really feel like I've grown as a writer and as a singer since my last album. I want that evolution to shine through on the next one." The Jon Klein CombineFather-son band The Jon Klein Combine (named after guitarist Matt's daddy) is a hard-driving blues/rock group that incorporates elements of soul and funk into their music. From the fertile music grounds of NYC/New Jersey, the Combine manages to sound traditional, fresh and new all at once. On their web site (www.jonkleincombine.com) they tell us their music is for those "tired of the same old shuffle blues, jam-bandish self-indulgence or angst-driven teeny bopper rock." In other words, nearly everybody. Hooks and foot-stomping melodies are given a rock-solid backing; Jon's strong vocals and Matt's searing leads are the icing on the cake.The JKC's self-titled album (available from CDBaby) features thirteen songs in the Allman Brothers vein, but with definitive and distinctive modern influences mixed in to good effect. An album highlight is "USB," which answers the question (in case you asked), "what would Beck, Bogert & Appice have sounded like with SRV on vocals?" Chris DicksonChris (Christian) Dickson is a Christian artist. He makes it clear on his web site (christinadickson.com) that his choice of genres isn't based on musical opportunism, but rather on a deep and heartfelt calling to spread a message. Much of his music is acoustic-based; Dickson's music is rooted firmly in the singer/songwriter style, but it avoids the contrived trappings of that genre. Still, then there's a track like "Armor," with a rock intro that wouldn't be out of place on a more rock-oriented album.Like the best of its style, Dickson's lyrics convey love in a manner that works almost as well when applied to another person, though the subject matter is squarely on his god. Without being overly preachy or maudlin, his music explores his triumphs over some major setbacks. Dickson's live dates center on the church/coffee-house circuit, mostly in the Northeast. His latest CD, Hold On to You, is available through CDbaby, iTunes and Rhapsody. Garth AdamGarth Adam has successfully learned the lessons of how to make good rock music. His latest EP, Storm in a Teacup, sports instrumentation and arrangements that uphold the tradition of catchy, tuneful (yet not lightweight) pop-rock. He explains that the EP was recorded on old analog equipment using "old guitars, old amps, old drums, a creaky 40 year old Hammond B3 organ, a slightly out-of-tune 100 year old iron frame piano and my coffee- and red wine-strained vocal cords." No matter how it was done, the results are engaging.Garth released two full-length albums (Great Ocean Road and Dance on Friday Night) and another EP (Kiss the World Away) before Storm in a Teacup, and while he's played with other well-known artists, he's all about making it on his own these days. The songs on Storm in a Teacup make that likely. Available from iTunes, eMusic and at www.garthadam.com Girls Like CigarettesThis trio--founded in Baltimore but now based in New York City--draws upon the melodic side of the rock tradition. They describe their powerpop sound as "a welcome break from the current crop of metal-influenced music." And for that, they truly do deserve the tag "alternative."The catchy songs of Girls Like Cigarettes are built around the economical trio of Joe Black (vocals, bass), Jeff Reed (drums) and noted guitarist Pat Fisher. The chiming fretwork on a track like "Beautiful Death Machines" (from their debut EP of the same name) recalls the work of underrated 90s group Wire Train. They also evidence good taste by claiming influences from Hüsker Dü and Teenage Fanclub. The group plays mostly up and down the Eastern seaboard, and was featured prominently at the Seaside Music Festival in May. Their music is available from (among other places) their MySpace page at myspace.com/girlslikecigarettes TraedonyaTraedonya's music is all over the place--she loves (and is influenced by) rock, funk, gospel, punk and more--but she brings to her songs something that makes them very much hew own. It's tough to describe her sound with a short label, so let's call it trip hop/soul/electronica. She's a self-described "international party girl"--Treadonya has lived in The Bronx, North Carolina, Ireland, and England, though these days she claims to "live out of [her] suitcase." And she's in it for the long haul; she promises to "rock it until the wheels fall all the way off."A video for her track "Beloved" is onAOL Video, and her MySpace page (www.myspace.com/traedonya) features no less than five mixes of the popular "Beloved" track plus a couple other joints ("All Night Long" featuring Patra and a Sexy Shooter remix of "Naked Gun") that'll make your hips sway. |
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