Tag Archives: New Releases

Everywhere Around Here by Canadian singer-songwriter Layne Greene Is A Thing OF Beauty.

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Recorded and Mixed at The Farm in Port Howe, Nova Scotia by Dale Murray
Mastered in Mineville, NS by J. LaPointe at Archive Mastering
Produced by Dale Murray
All songs written by Layne Greene (SOCAN)

Everywhere Around Here by Layne Greene


Everywhere Around Here
by Layne Greene

credits
released 04 April 2015

Layne Greene – Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Bryan MacDonald – Guitar
Alex Lank – Drums, Keys
Dale Murray – Bass, guitar, Backup Vocals
Christina Martin – Back up Vocals
Fleur Mainville – Fiddle
Devon Greene & Adam Johnson – Backup Vocals

Graphic Design by Kyle DeCoste
Photo by Kelsey MacLennan

I was so happy the day I received a copy of Everywhere Around Here by Canadian singer-songwriter Layne Greene. Instead of jumping in front of the computer and blog about it, I decided to hold the urge and go on with my life for almost two months to see if the novelty wears off. So these things happened along the way:
I take it everywhere.

I got two physical copies and one digital copy of the album. I am displaying the two copies in my book shelves because I love the packaging. But I take the digital copy where ever I go-to the gym, the beach and the park. Right now I am listening to it inside Starbucks while writing this blog. Lane Greene’s music has a way of soothing me when I am stressed. The songs also make me feel like I am in a safe environment. The drums, bass, guitars and other instruments have that sparkling but soft quality. I love the production as I think this is truly represents his music.
Every time I listen to it, I notice new things.
I love it when an album reveals to you something in pieces. Unlike most young singer-songwriters that sound generic, his approach is mature and diverse. Fiddles, glockenspiel and other folk instruments make themselves heard in Everywhere Around Here. This dude is really enlightening and you could spend hours and hours with his talking about genres and history of music and he has a lot to say about them. He loves what he is dong and he knows where he is going with his career.
He knows his assets and limitations.
He knows he is not Ryan Addams or Neil Young so he doesn’t try to be. When he sings, he does so within his range. He also uses his voice as an instrument, layering them, harmonising them making something awesome out of the ordinary. He is not a rockstar type but an artist who likes to make music as a lifetime career.
All nine songs are worth hearing.
The album has nine songs. Some of them already appeared in his previous EPs. I think he has more than five of them out before he was twenty-two. But these songs have undergone many arrangements. They have also experienced the stage as performing live is what he likes to do. I remember the many time he busked under harsh weather and people loved what he’s doing. My favourite is Quiet Places because the song has a good beat and it builds up this wonderful thing. But there are songs worth noting like Iron Town which has a special meaning to him. The current single is Look Out. You should see the video because it’s really amazing!
Layne is special.
He is a fantastic artist. He fascinates me endlessly and I love to chronicle his career. I think I will do so until I am old. I hope this post will urge you to listen to Everywhere Around Here. Get it and support this dude. There is no one quite like him.

GOAT: The Power of Music, Causes and More (Interview)

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Following the release of the senseless ep, Justin Griffith a.k.a. GOAT took my request for an interview. I admire how he handles his musical career and how he inspires other people to be passionate with what they do. His music is a fusion on Hip Hop, Alternative rock and Pop. Other than giving us tips on how to stay buoyant in the seas of challenges that face  independent artists, he also gives us a glimpse into his project H4. You will learn about it as you read along. 
1. How did you come up with the moniker GOAT and what’s the meaning behind it?
When I was around 8 years old, a childhood friend gave me the nickname GOAT. After watching Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, there’s a part where they say something about a “gnarly ole’ goat dude.” We started calling each other that and it stuck to me. For a long time, my friend Brent was the only person that called me that. I began playing in bands with him years later and the name spread.  Back in probably 1998, I came up with an acronym for it – Grades Of Absolute Truth. So I didn’t choose goat, it was given to me and I gave it meaning later. Within the last few years, I noticed how many people think of evil things when they think about goats, which is completely deceiving regarding my music. That’s when I really started pushing the branding of Grades Of Absolute Truth more.
2. Can you tell us about your latest release and video?
Our new project, the senseless ep, is almost anaural social experiment. After recognizing my life was out-of-control and unhealthy, I decided to design a customized 40-day cleanse based on my weaknesses. I committed to specific diet restrictions and water intake, but also refrained from touching people, intimacy, listening to music, watching TV/movies, documented how many times I visually admired women, and more.  I needed a change for myself and I wanted to build an inspirational bank to write from.  We’re constantly on sensory overload and things bombard our senses every minute – marketing, advertising, entertainment – all targeting your cravings. I wanted to cleanse myself of some of that.  I wanted to get back to the roots of what I feel like lifeshould be about. Less clutter, more substance minus substances.

Photo by Danny Duran

Photo by Danny Duran

After I completed the senseLESS Cleanse, I designed five 48-hour self-induced experiments aimed to deaden one sense at a time. For example, I blind-folded myself for a weekend. It helped me appreciate my blessings more.  The songs from the senseless ep are directly inspired by these experiences.
Our new video, “Hands Around My Throat,” is a story of struggle and addiction.  Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, sex, food, or whatever…we all have vices.  Once something has you by the throat, you’re finished until you make a decision to fight it.  If you defeat it, you can’t ever let that issue out of sight because it’ll sneak back into you.  “Lost in the darkness” is a phrase repeated throughout the song and Director Teddy Cool played with lighting and shadows to back that up.  Glimpses of hope appear in the lyrics and the occasional shots with the bright white background drive that home.  Roger Charo was in charge of editing and special effects – his post-production work blew me away.  Lourdes Mabel did an amazing job of personifying struggle.  We’ve heard several people comment on how creepy she played her role and that’s exactly what we were going for.  If you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss Double J sporadically appearing in the shadows behind me.  I also have to give a shout out to Jordan Palmer of JP2 Photography for makeup and Joel Salazar of Too Fresh Productions for putting in work behind-the-scenes.
3. How’s the music scene in Dallas these days?
It’s on a slow and steady incline. There are struggles like anywhere else, but the talent is thick here. I’ve read and heard that many critics feel like Dallas doesn’t have a sound.  I see that as a strength.  On the other hand, I’m definitely not a representative of mainstream thinking.  I want diversity and multiple flavors to taste.  This is my home, so I fully believe in what it can become.  On any day of the week, there’s multiple shows to choose from.
4. You also play the guitar and other instruments, right? What other musical things do you do?
Yep, my first love was the guitar.  I grew up listening to and idolizing musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Slash from Guns-n-Roses.  That’s where my passion for music began.  Then it slowly progressed into learning more about writing, singing, bass, piano, drums/percussion, sequencing, and production. Honestly, I’m just attracted to anything that has to do with music…it’s my life.
5. How challenging was the recording of the new EP compared to the rest?

The most challenging part of recording the senseless ep was the fact that Double J & I are both crazy perfectionists.  That’s a blessing and a curse.  It’s a blessing because now that it’s complete, it’s exactly how I envisioned it to be.  It’s a curse because it took so long for us to agree that it was finished.  With that said, I’ve never been so ready for that release date.  With past projects, there were always things that I wish I had done.  Not with this one, it was time.

6. You are also doing merchandising. I have seen the T-shirts and other things. Do you think this is necessary for artists in terms of propagating your ideas, style and brand?
Yes, I absolutely think it’s necessary.  When someone believes in what you do enough to wear it across their chest, that’s powerful. That’s always been one of the coolest things people can do to support us.  Because of that, I make it a consistent priority to release fresh and comfymerch – baseball tees, hoodies, thermals, t-shirts,racerback tanks, boy shorts,coozies, stickers, and more.  Plus, it has opened the door to collaborate with visual artists and pushes usto be creative in another way.

7. What are the causes that you are passionate about?

Overall, I feel like we all need to lend a hand when we’re able to.  Back in 2008, I foundedH4 (Hip Hop Helps Heal).  It’s a non-profit collective built on the love of hip hop culture, where egos are left at home and the people involved become selfless.  With close partnership with The Intelligent South, BumTheary,ArtLoveMagic, and more, we pledge to throw benefit shows annually to aid specific concerns of the community.  We’ve raised and contributed thousands of dollars to organizations, such as Genesis Women’s Shelter, Toys For Tots, American Lung Association, National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Susan G.Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Salvation Army, and Children’s Medical Center.  No one involved in our shows gets paid a penny and all profits go directly to the charity we chose.  Hip hopfrequently has negative connotations attached to it, but we try to disprove that mentality the best we can.

8. What’s the best thing about playing live and meeting your listeners?
Playing live is an addiction and I go through withdrawals when I go long periods of time without it.  Feeling the energy and connecting with people in the moment is amazing.  When a listener tells me that a song has helped them through a tough time in their life, that’s one of the best feelings in the world.  Music has always been a form of therapy for me.  So when someone can relate to something I went through and it directly helps them, I think of it as turning something negative into a positive.
9. Who is your mentor?
I’ve never had anyone that I’d call a musical mentor.  There are people that I’ve learned from, but only for short periods of time.
Dr. Paul Tucker and Dr. David Schwarz were two professors I learned a great deal from while studying music at UNT, but I’ve also learned from collaborating and consistently working with other lyricists and musicians.  The internet is something that’s really contributed to my growth, but it’s probably stunted it in ways too.  Tom Jackson, Derek Sivers, and John Oszajca are a few industry leaders that I’ve been following online for a while.  They put amazing info out for indie musicians.

10. What’s your message to your readers?
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to hear what I’m about.  Please feel free to hit me up anytime, it’s always cool to connect.  You can also sign up to get 7 free songs on my site.  Check out the LIVE IN YOUR LIVING ROOM page while you’re there too!

Instagram – @musicbyGOAT
Twitter – @musicbyGOAT
Thanks for the invite Baxter!
There you go. Another inspiring interview. Check out his links and give your support. This artist is amazing!

Callaghan Makes an Auspicious Single with Who Would I Be.

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One of the sweetest voices in the Pop Americana scene arrives just when we are experiencing the lack of female singer/songwriters who are like Tori Amos,Sarah Mclachlan and Kate Bush.  Her official music video “Who Would I Be’ has circulated in the internet enough to reach wider ears. I

t’s a beautifully written ballad showcasing her pure soprano voice. Like the other recent artists I’ve featured in this blog, I discovered her through Instagram. It would be awesome if music lovers like me would get together and talk about new voices in the indie pop/alternative scene. And I tell you, Who Would I be would be played often! It is one of my newer favourites and I wish it climbs the charts so that more people will come to appreciate her beautiful voice and melodies.

Few things I gathered about Callaghan.

Callaghan

Callaghan

-She spends her time between Nashville and London.

-Her record label is called Green Town Music

-Her music is labelled as Pop, Americana.

-Her new album “A History of Now” released this month, April 2015

-Her influences are Elton John, Sarah McLachlan, Coldplay, Shawn Mullins, Buddy Holly

You can find her through the following accounts:

http://www.callaghansongs.com/

www.twitter.com/callaghanmusic,

www.youtube.com/callaghansongs

Madison Park is releasing a new album titled MIX

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Madison Park is releasing a new album titled MIX with Dutch dance producer Beechkraft on 03.31.15! It will be her fourth release following her successful tunes that topped the Billboard Dance Charts. 

The new album by Madison Park will blow fans of electronic dance music away. Mix is beautiful, rich, vibrant and it is a perfect summer album. Mix has 14 tracks. Perhaps there will be a b-side. I am not surprised if avid collectors will want more unreleased tracks from Madison Park as her tunes prove to be irresistible. This partnership with Beechkraft is perfect. He highlights her strong points and also adds his technical savvy to the dance tracks. I think a song is just a song until two people put a twist on it, elevating it a work of art.

Her breathy voice works well with the chilled beats. There is a relaxed vibe all over the album. Her single Parts of Me is the third track. I am sure you’ve read my previous post about it. I assure you that most of the tracks in this album will be big hits in the dance floor. Especially in European countries like Holland, Germany, UK, France etc. Watch out for (Next Level Mix) upon the album release because I see this as a dance floor fire starter! Warm Me When I’m Alone, Tonight,Closer,Fascinated, Rain, I Am Your Beachbreeze, I Stumble and Let’s Dance(Cover of a David Bowie hit) are all fantastic. There is an irresistible vibe to them that it is hard to sit down and just listen.   They drive your body to move!

This is not entirely a dance album as there are ballads like Every Single Day, Rain and the chilled I Am Your Darkness.They serve as balance to the energetic beats of other tracks but they are valuable in a sense that MIX is a testament to the versatile artistry of Madison Park.

It’s worth noting that she makes music that’s not too mainstream but not too left-field. There is a sense of cool and chic but also accessibility that will appeal to the mainstream. If this is the new direction of pop then I am on it. Check it out and have a listen on the day of its release.

Nostalgia Kisses The Future with Shades of Sadness and Sorrow by Stellarscope

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Yup, nothing could represent the power of indie music that Philadelphia’s own Stellarscope. They are back with a new album called Shades of Sadness and Sorrow. They are improving on the sound that defines them as a band: a combination of 80’s post punk, dream pop and Gothic atmosphere. a2476030429_10

There are 10 songs from this album. Shades of Sadness and Sorrow is their latest release after The End is Near. I’m Not Prepared (March 2014). The album will be officially launched early this March 2015. It is amazing that the Shades of Sadness and Sorrow sounds complex considering that there are only two personnel under Stellarscope: Tom Lugo and Bob Forman.

The recording is so lo-fi you would think you are listening to a cassette tape from some obscure 80s band. And that’s the way I like it. In a way it is a trip to the bast while at the same time the subject is very much relevant to what’s going on in the world. The vocals sound like they could have been recorded inside an abandoned factory as you can notice in the echo.

Dug this Hole greets us with its energetic style plastic through speakers. Perhaps this might be the band’s carrier single. We will see. It is hard to choose which track stands out. There’s Never Hated Like This (which I can personally relate to following the tragic personal events in my life three years ago). Although I think Living in a Haze is my favorite of all. I love the hazy guitar sounds that encircle the song creating a plasma of stellar radiation amidst the pulsing rhythm.

Farewell sounds like an intro from either a Sioux’s or old Cure song. I don’t know how to describe it…but classy could a fitting word. The Mansonisque Eat Your Heart Out sounds a bit chaotic but the drums are crunchy like spicy peanuts. After the aggression and robust sounds of the previous tracks, It’s All Gone Slows the pace. The glorious guitars of Soul Disturbances reminds me a bit of Bauhaus especially that the singing is unmistakably Peter Murphy. I love it! Face the Dirt closes this carousel ride with high notes.

Stellarscope proves that what is beautiful about rock in the 80’s is here to stay. And it is a joy to be showered by music like this at a time when everything feels bland.