Colette Kavanagh’s “Once In A Lifetime” is a song that builds into a completely engaging, dramatic effort. The dynamic between the guitar and vocals builds upon The Carpenters and Carole King. Hints of Nicole Britt and Sheryl Crow can be discerned here, but Colette brings enough of herself to Once In A Lifetime that fans will be devouring every word. The instrumentation swells into something engrossing at the 2:45 mark; Kavanagh…
Baddest is a track that showcases Twista’s immense skill. Where fans will undoubtedly remember the rapid-fire flow that marked Twista’s first few recordings, Baddest is a track that works through the back and forth of the distinct styles of both performers. This slow/fast sound of the single is a great way to keep fans firmly on the edges of their seats. Zaytoven’s production here allows these disparate elements to…
Xavier White’s Sudden Change ties together R&B and EDM to make a track perfect for the sunny summer months. The dichotomy between the music and White’s vocals is fantastic, with hints of Diplo and Avicii infused into the backing beat.
Cold Roses’ “Staying Alive Ain’t Easy” is a touching, compelling sort of rock that ties together influences as wide-ranging as Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, and Matchbox 20. The emotive sound of the vocals is matched well by the taut instrumentation. Punchy drums, emphatic pianos, and a completeness are given by the bass during this single. The quick tempo of the track will bounce around listeners’ minds long after the single…
Shaheed and DJ Supreme’s “Glorious Day” a rap track that looks back to the sunny days of 1990s California Rap, using soul samples to create a sweeping sound. The taut flow of Shaheed is high-energy while thoughtful in terms of subject matter, interacting with the picture-perfect beat that plays in the back. The single is something that will be blaring out of windows through the summer, while having enough in…
Jase Harley creates a catchy effort in Between the Lines. The inclusion of . Chris Lee to the track adds further variety to an already deep sort of R&B groove, which blends together electronic, trap, and drill styles. The harmonies that are achieved during Between the Lines adds in the same fashion to the overall spirit of the effort.
Founded by former Starlight Mints frontman Allan Vest and his wife Barb, doubleVee is just as quirky as you’d hoped they would be, based on his track record.
Sonny Hunter has released an amazing new Christian rock song called “Times in Life”. It’s a hard rock song that has a message. The song kinda reminds one of the hard Christian rock released in the late 90’s, similar sounding to Creed’s early album “My Own Prison” but with a modern twist. The song is well composed, the instrumentation and vocals line up nicely to make a well rounded recording.…
Ashley Lanzoni’s cover of the Meghan Trainor track “Lips Are Movin” spins the source material in a bold new fashion. Increasing the tempo a bit, I feel that the energy given the Lanzoni version makes for a track that will get listeners up on the dance floor. While there are some changes that are present in this version, there is enough of the original present to appease those that are…
MusicByKip’s “Without U” is a track that draws heavily on the pop-rock of artists like Mr. Mister and Stevie Winwood. An orchestral, sometimes prog-infused sound distinguishes Without U from other singles released this year. We’re particularly impressed by Kip’s vocals which do more than just provide the narrative content – they actually add considerably to the overall harmony of the single. A backing instrumentation bring together hints of 1980s country…
Astroblue Express’ Quarter to Somewhere begins with Calling On Alice, an ethereal track that blends together equal amounts of Bjork, White Town, and Massive Attack. The female vocals bring together ambient, goth, and indie rock styles in a way that we have never heard.
Today, we are talking with Ayhan Sahin, who owns Young Pals Music. How is life and the label treating you this week? Everything is great! We are excited about the beginning of summer with lots of musical activities at our label. The most exciting one being the new dance promotion we are starting for the Randy Jones’ single “Hard Times.” More than 6 internationally acclaimed DJs contributed their take of…
Venice, CA-based band The Dustbowl Revival roll deep; like Arcade Fire deep. But all eight members clearly serve a vital role as the band has managed to turn in one of the most exciting records in years regardless of genre by deftly mixing soul, Americana, swing, bluegrass and the funkiest brass heard outside of the French Quarter.
Elia’s “Time to Rise” is a touching track that is really a multi-media experience; one needs to watch the video (under the jump) to see the beautiful visuals that accompany Elia’s vocals. The track is wholly unique, with vocals placed at the fore. These vocals pull double duty in that they both weave a story and contribute to the overall harmonies of the single. Time To Rise is a track…
Daniel Zapata’s In My Dreams is a tremendously alluring sort fo track that works well in the singer-songwriter style. With Daniel building off of the tradition of later Bon Jovi or Rob Thomas, listeners will easily find something that they can appreciate here.
Triple Goddess’s “Born to Raise Hell” is inspired by acts like The Doors and ZZ Top, but the sultry, dirty sound of the vocals work perfectly today. This is due to the down and dirty guitars and the splashy drums that act as their vocals. A smart production ties all these elements together, making for a track that stands up nicely to repeat plays. With a bit of David Lee…
Hot Shot Kixxx’s The Devil Inside immediately starts off in an intense and menacing way, with this sizzling guitar work reminiscent of Velvet Revolver. The intense vocals are the perfect match for these vocals, reaching out over the track. Hints of 1980s thrash and 2000s rock are present here, but Hot Shot Kixxx are able to make The Devil Inside their own song. We love the ability for the band to…
AV Super Sunshine’s “Baby Goodbye 2017 Dance” is a delightful blend of Scooter and Coldplay. As always, AV Super Sunshine are able to create their own unique style on top of their influences. A drum / vocal dynamic is what Baby Goodbye 2017 Dance soars on, as is the shift at 2:25 towards a brighter sound.
Jane N’ The Jungle’s “Faded Stars” is a stunning track, with the band bringing back all of the fuzz of early-1990s acts like Soul Asylum and Jane’s Addiction. With hints of later nineties emo (The Anniversary, Lucero) being interspersed during Faded Stars, new fans of Jane N’ The Jungle will find something that they can easily appreciate. Particular kudos have to be given to the rich, emotive guitars and the…
On their “Modern Media”, Room Full of Strangers create a quick sort of angular rock that builds off of the framework of 1980s pop-punk and oughts acts like OK Go and Franz Ferdinand. With nary a breath allowed, Room Full of Strangers tie together sizzling Southern California (a la Dead Kennedys) guitars with a bit of Fred Schneider (B-52s). The result is a track that will get listeners out on the…