JaTavia Akiaa is more than a great talent and singer with an impeccable sound. She is a survivor of very harsh circumstances and an example of sticking with your dreams through any adversities. The Arkansas native has garnered national recognition from appearing on American Idol and Lifetime Television because of her unique gifts, style, and story. Beyond the rising accolades and accomplishments, JaTavia is a woman that is determined …
Dan Mangan’s new song “In Your Corner (for Scott Hutchison),” is a direct response to the indie-rock anthem “The Woodpile” from Scotland’s Frightened Rabbit, and is dedicated to the outfit’s late and dearly missed songwriter, Scott Hutchison. With the lines ‘Leave a light on when it’s bad / We will congregate and make a plan / We’ll be in your corner’ Dan …
Co-written by Gracie Abrams and Aaron Dessner (of The National) and recorded at the famed Long Pond Studio in New York, “Block me out” opens on a series of confessions that immediately prove the subtle power of Abrams’ storytelling (“I’ll say whatever you want but I’ve become such a liar/I used to follow my gut …
Photo by Josefine Cardoni Today, Anna Bates, the Los Angeles born and raised singer-storyteller, releases “Something Greater” HERE and the self-directed music video HERE from her upcoming, debut EP Here’s To The End out June 3 on Neon Gold Records. Classically trained in piano from a young age, it wasn’t until as recently as 2020 that Anna Bates began to release music under …
Photo by Bennet Perez LA-based vocalist, songwriter, pianist and producer Rozzi is set to release her new Berry EP this Friday, April 22 via BMG. Today, she commands listeners to their feet with the upbeat single, “Consequences” ft. Nile Rodgers. Rozzi’s relatable, emotive lyricism cuts like a knife and is immediately soothed by the behemoth anthem of infectious funk rhythms and modern R&B grooves. …
Melbourne three-piece Telenova, one of the brightest musical discoveries in 2021, are thrilled to share their self-assured new single ‘Why Do I Keep You?’ – released via Pointer Recordings. ‘Why Do I Keep You?’ is a sophisticated slice of modern nostalgia that evokes ‘90s melancholic guitar pop without losing its contemporary lean. Intensely personal in nature, ‘Why Do I Keep You?’ is about letting go …
Today, on her 21st birthday, Texas-based alternative singer-songwriter Juliana Madrid is releasing “Peppermint” HERE on New York’s Neon Gold Records (MARINA, Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens etc). The 90s-00s fuzzy guitar driven “Peppermint” is written by Juliana Madrid, Benjamin Ruttner (The Knocks), Simon Oscroft (Almost Monday, Naked and Famous), Matthew Koma (Kelly Clarkson, 5SOS, Shania Twain), produced by Benjamin Ruttner and Simon Oscroft and features Matt Chamberlain (Lorde, …
The other day I listened to WNUR, which is the student-run radio station at Northwestern University though students do not host all shows. For example, Chuck Mertz @thisishellradio has conducted long-form interviews on an array of subjects for over 20 years and Erick Ricks has exposed me to jazz and contemporary classical music just as long. …
Photo by Harper Smith Take a listen to the wondrous music of rising country artist Hailey Whitters, who recently released her critically acclaimed album Raised. Hailey will be performing in Portland at Mississippi Studios on 4/22 and in Seattle at the Tractor Tavern on 4/23. The new record focuses on her hometown of Shueyville, IA, a small farming community in the …
Sentimental blocks unfold… the unloading of heavy emotional turmoil is perfectly described by these three words. “But I Don’t Know Your Name” centers on the story of an innocent, platonic fixation that quickly turns into a dark and deranged obsession. The track draws musical inspiration from the alternative rock icons of the ‘90s and recontextualizes …
This is the third in a series titled My Friend Herb. The intention is to introduce you to some of my favorite herbs, their traditional uses and the stories surrounding them. Today I would like to introduce you to my friend Herb, his friends call him Catnip. He is the most fascinating of my herb …
Photo by Avery J. Savage Julius Rodriguez, “rising jazz phenom” (NPR) and multi-talented pianist/drummer/producer, has released, “All I Do”, the second single from his forthcoming major label debut album Let Sound Tell All which is set for release June 10 on Verve Records. Rodriguez takes on the beloved Stevie Wonder classic, referencing Tammi Terrell’s 1966 version of …
For their second single from a yet-to-be released project, the powerhouse duo of Benson — that’s award-winning banjo player Kristin Scott Benson and her husband, acclaimed mandolinist Wayne Benson in their first collaborative setting — make clear that they have more than virtuoso picking in mind. A powerfully intimate reflection on doubt and grace written and first recorded by contemporary Christian …
Isaac Abbey is a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Starting to write songs on his grandma’s old Washburn at the age of 14, he always dreamed of doing it for a living one day. Though he chose LA over Nashville, he never stopped being drawn to country music and ended up working with producers and …
I was involved in a car accident on a snowy evening in Minnesota during the Christmas break of my freshman year in college. I sustained numerous injuries: a broken clavicle; ligaments torn from the spine; a fractured elbow; and, a fractured pelvis. I remained in the hospital for three weeks. I had to suspend my …
Move over, Beatles. There are new mop tops in town and they’re just as cute and just as poppy. But the similarities end there. Sitting On Stacy is a pop punk band from San Diego and they headlined at one of the new Crocodile clubs called Madame Lou’s. Sitting On Stacy is a young band …
[This song is beautiful, strong, exemplary, intense, air-clearing and coalition-building. Please listen. In small doses it can cure you of a two pack habit. At full strength it will inspire children to build their own university and animals exposed to it will never go extinct. It is also quite catchy and good music with which …
Image credit: Melanie Lehmann House legends Klangkarussell have released their next hit single, ‘This Love (Ft. Poppy Baskcomb)’ on the 7th of April via their own imprint, Bias Beach Records. The single follows their gold-status release, ‘Home’ which was written and sung by renowned lyricist songwriter Andrew Jackson (Dua Lipa, Kygo, Gryffin and Eminem) and …
There are at least 100 million success stories in the Philippine diaspora and this young musician is the latest. beabadoobee, aka Beatrice Laus, was, according to Wikipedia, “born in Iloilo City in the Philippines on 3 June 2000 and moved to London with her parents at the age of 3.She grew up in West London …
Behold the official video for “Knockin’” featuring Ledisi, George Porter Jr, Ian Neville, and Ivan Neville. The new recording is the sixth single unveiled from the upcoming soundtrack release Take Me To The River: New Orleans.The music video for “Knockin’” features footage taken from the forthcoming feature documentary film Take Me To The River: New …
Altın Gün is an Amsterdam-based Turkish psych band that was signed to ATO Records after King Gizzard championed them. Success has continued to follow them, including wide-reaching praise for their third album Yol, and sold-out shows around the world. Now, they are embarking on their own headline US run, which includes sold-out dates and a …
Los Angeles, CA (April 8, 2022) – Venezuelan artist and creative director Andrekza [An•DRECK•sa], releases debut album Cassette featuring focus track “Mil Curitas”produced by famed producer Albert Hype (Bad Bunny, Kali Uchis, Rauw Alejandro) via Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak En Fuego.The album includes collaborations with genre-bending artists such as Gabriel Garzón-Montano and Carlos Sadness. “Andrekza is a true creative. She’s a fusion of life experiences, and it shows in …
Heartfelt lyrics and emotive vocals have helped Jade Hilton evolve into her distinctive sound. The singer/songwriter fuses earthly folk melodies over alt-pop beats. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign playing Division 1 tennis, she moved back home to Toronto and began releasing music. Now, she’s ready to unveil her debut album, Unrequited, produced by Dominic …
Portland, Oregon, has some of the most beautiful landscapes and recreational spots in the entire country. One of the most engaging ways to experience its beauty is by going on a relaxing train ride around the area. Oregon has a robust rail system that connects its major cities, so there are plenty of sights to see. Train …
April 5, 2002 – the day Layne Staley of Alice in Chains died due to heroin addiction. 20 years ago today. (Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain died on April 5 also, eight years earlier. It’s a rough calendar day for Seattle musicians.) AIC, from the Pacific Northwest, got the “grunge” label along with Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl …
On Sunday, I attended a memorial service for a deceased neighbor whose family could not have a proper Jewish service due to COVID gathering restrictions. Ruth would have turned 85 years old yesterday. The outdoor service, situated next to Ruth’s headstone and that of her husband who had died 106 weeks earlier, started with a …
Belfast singer-songwriter Gareth Dunlop released the title track of his upcoming album Animal (out April 22) alongside a stunning, surreal video. “Animal” was inspired by the artist’s internal monologue about hangups and oddities in songwriting. Dunlop explains: “A great piece of advice I once received was to ‘write like no-one will ever hear it.’ It tricks my brain into being …
Dashboard Confessional appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #playathome series recently. The band performed “Here’s To Moving On” from their new album, All The Truth That I Can Tell, available now via Hidden Note Records/AWAL. The first all-new Dashboard Confessional LP in four years, All The Truth That I Can Tell is available in a variety of formats, including digital, CD, cassette, …
This is an incredibly fun punk pop tune, as it should be. No one should fear the good health which comes from a plant-based diet. Whalien will perform in Portland at Starday Tavern on April 10th, and at Goodfoot Lounge on April 16th. East Portland Blog has been known to frequent at least two of …
RitaKAS is a 24 year old singer/songwriter born and raised in Lithuania. She studied at the Kaunas Juozas Gruodis conservatory and Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. She currently lives in Los Angeles. Because of her huge love for both classical and pop music, she creates songs that have elements of both the pop and …