I love it when musicians I follow break into a wider stream. It means they are finally getting a wider recognition they deserve. And yes persistence plays an important part.
Once A Tree are a Canadian duo(comprised of Jayli and Hayden Wolf) that make ethereal tinged electronic pop. They just released their debut album called Phoenix and it is getting critical acclaim, including a good article in Billboard.
Check out their amazing music video called Without You!
Tracklisting:
1. Be Brave 03:48
2.I Won’t Rest Until 04:10
3.I Can’t Make It Grow 03:24
4.Wings of Wax 03:52
5.Sweetheart 02:55
6.Our Side 04:07
7.Seven Days After Hello 04:46
8.Psalm 57 04:55
9.Let Yourself Be Led 04:41
10.Vanity 03:17
Category: christian pop indie pop
In 2011, singer-songwriter Brianna Gaither released her debut album Love is Patient. I got my copy via Noisetrade which is a great site if you are looking for fresh independent artists. I really love the album. For anyone who stumbled upon her albums after a terrible relationship, loss or pain, that album was (and still is) a friend’s comforting hand on a weary shoulder.
It took six years for her to release a follow up called Vanity. With her amazing range and expressive delivery(both as vocalist and instrumentalist), Vanity is worth the wait. This album is a testament to what Oklahoma can provide musically. In fact she wrote 10 songs, in 10 months, with 10 different, Oklahoma-based producers. You can learn more about it by reading this Q & A and her decision to take this path.
Although Vanity presents her big Indie Pop or Adult Contemporary influences, you can feel her other influences with each track, from quieter ballads to arena friendly sweepers. This album also presents the power of collaboration and how different ideas can bring forth something fascinating and fresh. I noted this with the track I Won’t Rest Until which is totally different from anything she has every done as a songwriter. The big drums, reverb and insistent chorus can sweep you off your feet.
Vocally, I do miss some stretches that she did in Love is Patient. I miss those high notes in ‘Find You’. There’s also the heavenly sonic tides of Faithful among other things. But then again, Vanity offers what’s missing in the first album, which is sonic exploration. In I Can’t Make it Grow, she showcases her prowess in chamber music. The instruments play in and out of the recording like imagines from a half forgotten dream. It’s a gorgeous track that stretches and leaps into your subconscious.
And like Love is Patient, she makes sure there is at least one unique track in the list. Such as Psalm 57. It is a powerful song. I consider myself as spiritual rather than religious and this is the kind of song that can really touch you regardless of your belief. It doesn’t preach but embraces you like a pair of glowing wings.
Oftentimes when I want to do something productive, I need a to be emotional in order to get things done(as in the case of blogging). And the urgency is also dependent on the intensity of that emotion. I wonder if her two albums were dictated by emotional impulses rather than the discipline to set down and really ‘work on the music.’ But whatever or however she makes her music, her efforts got them where they are today. If you’re an avid follower of her music as I am, you do know that in 2011, she injured her wrist. It is a big no no for artists who play the piano. I can imagine how hard it must have been for her to let go of her music for a while. She found work in a local tech company. Wow think about it: Technology and Songwriting. That’s Brianna Gaither for you!
In a way Vanity could be conceived as a sort of experimental album. I do have this curiosity when it comes to making albums. Oftentimes artists choose one producer to work in that particular album. And because of this, the producer lives a mark on the musical process even though the songs were primarily crafted by the artist. And Vanity gave us the answer. It is indeed an interesting decision that yields variety in the total musical collection.
One thing I admire about Ms Gaither’s musical career is the impact of her music outside of her identity. You could say that Vanity is the album for our times-the ‘anti-me’ in this generation of entitlement. And rather than focusing on herself as an artist, she is aware of the responsibilities that we as people with voices have to the greater world. That we are not just serving our egos but also the consequence of our actions and for me this is good enough. You can get your copy of Vanity via the following:
https://briannagaither.bandcamp.com/album/vanity
https://www.amazon.com/Vanity-Brianna-Gaither/dp/B01N29SI4A
http://noisetrade.com/briannagaither/vanity
They describe themselves as a two-piece lyrical acoustic band from Olympia, Washington. Just punks playing sad love songs.
Months of Indecision are a duo of Ely and Sox. They write and record warm acoustic tunes that I started liking at first listen. They are mysterious but I got this bio from their Facebook page:
Months of Indecision formed in Olympia, WA in 2011 as the brainchild of an old friendship. The duo has since brought their string-driven folk music to audiences across the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Combining elements of americana, country, and soul, Months of Indecision deliver a contemporary sound, yet maintain the candor and clarity of great folk musicians. While performing, Months of Indecision bare themselves with a rare and forthright innocence; it is a treat to be invited into the lives of these talented strangers.
I think it is the cello, accordion and other acoustic instruments that got to me. The simplicity is something you need especially when you are recovering from an illness (like in my case and that is why I got time to write this entry). One of the songs that is becoming a favourite is Home Stuck because it reminds me of an Irish hymn.
Everything about Months of Indecision is enjoyable. The female voice reminds me of k.d. lang. I just love what they do! Check out that amazing video from Balcony TV. You can tell they are amazing.
Listen to their 2015 album This is the Past and enjoy the music: http://monthsofindecision.hotglue.me/?music
Like them of Facebook and ask them to play near you: https://www.facebook.com/monthsofindecision/
Hungarian musical artist Koryan Daniel Csernei dabbles between writing music that is suited for films or computer games. Then there’s that singer-songwriter aspect that makes his works accessible to a wider public. Following his musical career, I can safely say that he falls in the category of the composer/artists who are comfortable writing in the background. They more concerned with the craft and they don’t usually care about the fame aspect of the field. They seem to be satisfied with the output.
His new EP Emberibb maszk is out. If you haven’t yet, you can read about my review here.
He handed me the answers in this interview after sometime as he is currently working on several music-related projects-a follow-up to the EP, the building of his recording studio
and his day job.
1. What inspired you to make this new EP?
Merging synthesizer sounds inspired by Astronomy and robust hip hop beats, The Liftoff is an album that is exciting and original. You can hear samples from NASA space travel,snippets of conversations, as well as captivating chords that will surely open your mind.
Who is Imagine? Well, for starters he’s an MC based out of Covina, CA; about 20 minutes east of Los Angeles. This past year, he released his most ambitious musical project to date, The Liftoff. It has twenty tracks:
The 4th mixtape sees Imagine scratching the surface of fine tuning his original approach to his music. Playing with the theme of space travel, he expands upon his interest of varying music styles, bringing them together only as he can- Band Camp.
By the third track “I Am’ I can say I am completely hooked. I think this is an exciting decade for hip hop. There are many interesting artists blooming out from all over the West Coast and he is one of the few who is able to craft a unique sound.
I guess the reason why I like his approach is because I also like Ambient and New Age music. And he sort of bridge that gab between that outer space feeling and robust beats grounded on urban soundscape.
The Liftoff contains explicit lyrics so I just want to warn those who might get offended by strong languages. I don’t mind. This is an awesome album!
Buy the album here: https://thatimagine.bandcamp.com/album/the-liftoff
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