No one will look at you askance when you say, “Who’s Crack the Sky?” I didn’t know the story behind this 70’s prog rock band bestowed with a breathtaking brush with ever-lasting fame only to end up defeated by circumstance and largely forgotten. It’s well-worth looking up and reading. The band’s members didn’t necessarily fold up their respective tents and abandon any hope of making music; many went on, in…
How does it feel to embark on your solo career since your days as the lead singer in TheGray Vines? What motivated you to begin this journey now more than ever before? I just wanted to finally do whatever I wanted to do, you know? In the past, I experienced a lot of,“I know what’s best for you”, and I remembered I do this for me. There’s no promise of…
If you’re into heavy music or, more specifically, inclined towards stoner rock in any capacity, the sludgy guitar play in Sisteria’s Dark Matter may well be the most intriguing element of the record to behold, but if you listen a little closer, you’re definitely going to see that there’s more to this LP than is initially expected. With lead vocals that bring to mind the fragility of a bohemian folk-rock…
Kramies’ new self-titled album marks, in my opinion, a re-emergence. His willingness to self-title the collection is evidence of such thinking from Kramies’ himself as it suggests a sort of clearing of the decks. Changes in his personal life are in significant part responsible for a point of view shift that has Kramies looking back on the period of his life covered by these songs with a sort of elegiac…
How would you describe your musical genre and style? Where do you draw inspiration from when cultivating your sound? Firstly, thank you for having me. I don’t know really… There is a musicality within me that can go in so many directions…from prog rock to classic or psychedelic to acoustic… And I know I am a problem for music biz folks because I will often change direction before the commercial…
When did your musical journey begin? At what point did you know music was a passion that you’d like to pursue professionally? My parents aren’t musicians, but they are music lovers, so It was rare that there wasn’t music playing in my parents’ houses (they divorced when I was 5) growing up. I also had an obsession with reading and writing basically since I could spell. I started singing lessons…
Walk us through the start of your music career; at what point did you know you wished to pursue music professionally? Music was something I was invested in for a long time now. I remember my father putting me on to Hip hop and R&B greats as a child and I always saw it as an amazing career path but I didn’t have the confidence to fully get into it.…
Dark Below is a hard-hitting heavy rock band that brings intense energy in their music and live performances while providing rhythmic songs that people can sing along to. Formed in Columbia, MO, the band signed with Nashville based JPS Productions in 2014. The current lineup has been together since 2016 and includes Josh Campbell (Guitar/Vocals), Josh Grove (Bass/Backing Vocals), and Quin Koldan (Drums). New single “Tense” was produced by Jason Schrick and award-winning producer Malcolm Springer (Matchbox…
It’s rare that an album like That Girl I Knew by Black Sweater would require a parental advisory sticker, but that is sure to be the case. Essentially a 16-track review of a break-up with blow-by-blow commentary, That Girl I Knew is a rather gentile-sounding record. However, there are moments that see outbursts of internalized rage and confusion. Black Sweater somehow combines several aspects of multiple genres into a solitary…
Starfish Memories is the new release by the UK’s Chris Lewington (The Bicycle Thieves and The Silence), which can be streamed on Lewington’s Bandcamp. This extended play begins with The Bridge At Midnight, a 5:54 track which reaches through countless styles and approaches. There’s a good amount of 1960s rock, whether it the more experimentasl fare of The Beatles or something a bit more psych-tinged. The vocals that rise up…
Jenny Bruce is the mastermind behind Ghoste, who has just released a new extended play (and self-titled) album. The Ghoste EP begins with Slow Motion, an effort which showcases a dreamy pop approach. The dynamic that is established here stands boldly out among the masses of performers currently occupying spots on radio and playlists. The track does well to provide listeners with some sort of information about Ghoste as she…
What is your song-writing style and process like? How do you get into the writing mode to bring your ideas to life? My song process and writing style differs from song to song. Sometimes I write, other times I freestyle and or pinch in bar for bar. Overall I breathe in life and use what ever I’m going through or see around me as the topic for my music. The…
Nick Demopoulos could have played it safe. Cyber Solstice could have been a nine track collection of straight ahead techno tracks with a bright keyboard and synthesizer-fueled bounce. Predictable, but intelligent and possessing widespread audience appeal. He chose another direction with his project Smomid, however, and now several releases into a growing discography, the latest collection Cyber Solstice plays like the fullest realization yet of the project’s promise. FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Smomid…
The cover of Kimberly Morgan York’s new album Keep On Goin’ says it all – this is a record that’s all about a player and her guitar, and she wastes no time proving as much in tracks like the title cut, “Kick Us,” and “Ruby.” York experiments with the depth of her compositional wit, but always within boundaries as they’re created by her six-string counterpart, and from what I can…
With ten albums and countless singles under your belt you are undoubtedly a very hard worker. “Two Hands” is a testament to this fact, and with that, do you have any advice to those who need that extra push and motivation to work hard and do their best during this challenging time? The world will give you exactly what you give it. I think of the old saying “the grass…
Josh Fiend immediately brings together a number of distinct approaches with the first song on his new EP. The Last Time unites traditional country music, a bit of blues, and a whole heck of a lot of the singer-songwriter style. The inimitable vocal tack that Field takes here has a bit of the grittiness of a Waylon Jennings or John Mellencamp. The production of The Last Time ensures that the…
Jojo Engelbert’s “Sweet n Sour” is a high-energy track that will bury its hooky chorus deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Both the supersonic vox of Engelbert and the synth/drum backdrop combine to make for something that could easily make it onto pop rotation and radio playlists. There’s a timeless sound to Sweet n Sour that ensures that a wide swath of fans will be able to find…
Ricci Bamboo’s “Papa” is an impactful track. The vocals laid down here are effervescent, telling a story as each subsequent utterance adds mightily to the overall harmonies established by the drums and keys. The track twinkles in its runtime, moving ever closer to the end. The song itself eats, shoots and leaves but listeners are never quite the same. Check out the video (below) for Ricci Bamboo’s Papa and let…
Where do you draw inspiration from as an artist? Who would you consider to be your greatest musical role models? I believe all gifts, talents, inspiration, and creativity come from God, our Creator. So, I draw inspiration as an artist from my faith in Christ. I am inspired when I look at God’s creation, the universe, the earth, and humanity. Growing up, my most significant musical role models were gospel greats like…
What was the intention behind “Shake Down” and why was it important to incorporate the beautiful farm setting for the visual? Can you talk about the process of creating the concepts for both the song and music video? The intention behind “Shake Down” was to show my love of Country Fried Chicken, Horses, and of course country life, food and good times with friends on the farm. The process of…