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Brianna Gaither and the lasting resonance of ‘Vanity.’

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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

a0348199050_16Category: 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

J.R. Richards Original Lead Singer Of Dishwalla On His Solo Career Plus Two New Albums Out Now!

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Musicians have the best jobs in the world. They get to do something they enjoyed very much without the need for incentives, promotions or big cash. It has been a dream to talk  J.R. Richards, original lead singer of Dishwalla. Thanks to my blogging and social media I was able to slip a few questions his way.

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Photo :Taken During the “Opaline” Sessions…. photo: Eugene Pierce

His involvement with Dishwalla was a massive success. Their Pet your Friends  album came out during the time when alternative rock was at its zenith. Counting Blue Cars was a massive hit and it was cool to include at least one Dishwalla album if you happened to call yourself a rocker. I remember how the album which was in cassette form got passed around in college. Local bands covered their songs. Who would have thought that years and years later I would finally secure an interview with him(jumps up and down)?

Richards continues to be passionate about music and still releasing records even as a solo guy. He also branched out to other creative endeavors including humanitarian efforts.Like a biker in full speed, he continues to overcome headwinds and obstacles along his creative road. There are also several facts about him in case you are not aware:

*He has appeared in the films like Almost Anything, 2:13 and Morning (which he also scored) and he guest starred on Charmed as himself.

*His band had a No. 1 hit in 1996 & 1997 with Counting Blue Cars,and they won a Billboard Music Award for Top Mainstream Rock Track of the Year.

*In 2013 The City of Los Angeles awarded J.R. a Proclamation for Dedication to Enhancing Lives of Families Living in Extreme Poverty for his work in El Salvador with 20k Watts

His new album is “Honore et Amore” which is also available on Vinyl.

Read the interview below:

 Now that the new album( “Honore et Amore”) is out, are you excited playing the new songs live?
Yes, definitely! I have done a few internet streaming shows via Stageit.com as well as played a few new songs acoustically live on Facebook. And now I am in the process of putting together a show. At this point I am not sure yet if it will be a solo acoustic show to start with or a full band…. whichever I do first though I plan on doing both.

 You gave us a sneak peak of the new album and also new tracks via Pledge Music. Who encouraged you to take this independent route?

I wanted to avoid going the Label route and try the Independent route this time. Being signed to a label puts a lot of constrictions on an artist as well as a lot of pressure….. something I am trying to avoid these days. My wife Min and discussed it and decided to look and see if there were any other options other than the usual label path. Times have changed. We found Pledge Music a few years ago and decided to watch a few bands go through the process. In fact a band that I had recently produced (and Min shot 2 videos for) Britroyal, used it to fund the making of there 2nd full length album, “London”. It worked really well for them.. so we decided to try it ourselves.

Other than your solo career, are you going to make new music again with your band Dishwalla?
Hard to say at this point….. the band basically disbanded in late 2005 after releasing our last album but I continued writing and started recording my first solo album “A Beautiful End” in 2007. Around 2008 some of the original members wanted to start touring again but I was in the middle of making that record. So I was unable to join them at that time which prompted them getting a new singer. Now its 8 years later and I have released 3 albums solo and Dishwalla has been touring off and on and honestly I think we all are happier doing our own thing for now.

 How’s it like to work in Air Studios London for this album?

Amazing! I had a chance to work in both A.I.R. Studios and Abbey Road for the these last 2 albums which was simply amazing. Both studios carry an incredible amount of history – both then and now. At A.I.R, I was in studio 2 and happened to notice that on the schedule for that room during the week I was there, Muse was there and Adele and Ryan Tedder from One Republic were working together right before I came… the day after I left Cold Play was in the studio… I was blown away to be in the middle of all that talent!!
Abbey Road was just as amazing. I recorded in studio 3 where both the Beatles and Pink Floyd recorded in the early 70s…. and it really doesn’t get any cooler than that. When there was a break in recording, I would sneak off with Min to explore the rest of the building’s rooms and studios. Good times.

How do you stay passionate and creative all these years? What are the secret ingredients that may inspire other musical artists?

I try to appreciate what life offers and do my best to take on its challenges…. those moments make for great songs I think. My suggestion to other artists is to take time each day and write down on paper how you are feeling and / or pick up an instrument and just play what ever comes to you in that moment and record it. Even if its on your iPhone. I think that its important to capture what you feel each day in some way where you can then listen and look back on it. Most likely you are going to be surprised. The key is nit to try and write a song….. instead just let your thoughts drain away onto the paper and whatever melody or chord progression just let it be.

What’s your creative ritual before going to the studio?

I don’t really have a ritual. I just make sure to have gas in the car, a guitar or two, my phone, my wallet and a hard drive or two. Oh… and I generally warm up my voice before I get there… still, if I forget something, Min usually reminds me.

 What is it that you love about your musical career?
I haven’t had a real job in 25 years.

Your message to fans?
Gosh… I guess I’d like to say “Thank you”. I would not be making records without their support. I hope that I can continue to make music that they enjoy.

Listen and buy the new album:

 

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He also released a new album called ‘Stripped.’ According to Richards: To commemorate 20 years since Dishwalla Pet Your Friends Album was released, I am releasing an acoustic, stripped down version of the songs in the way I initially wrote them.

Sample Stripped below:

Listening to This is the Past by Months of Indecision is a Good Thing.

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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/

James Vincent McMorrow is back with the new single Rising Water!

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The Irishman with an exquisite and smooth silky voice is back! The new single is Rising Water released in early July this year. James Vincent McMorrow broke into the indie pop/folk scene with Post Tropical and Early in the Morning. His live performances duplicate the meticulous perfection of his studio recordings. And yes that remarkable voice has attracted 100 million Spotify streams!  Rising Water is taken from the new album We Move. Expect the album to sell like hotcakes. Check out the lyric video of Rising Water above.

Read further about the new release:

NEW SINGLE “RISING WATER” AVAILABLE NOW

James Vincent McMorrow, an Irish singer/songwriter from Dublin, has just released his new single Rising Water. The single is the opening track of his upcoming album We Move, which is set to be released on September 2nd via Caroline Records. On July 4th, Rising Water was premiered by Annie Mac on her program ‘Mac’s Hottest Record in the World’ on BBC Radio, listen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p040fl09.   After its UK debut, the single was released here in the U.S., which McMorrow called home for a few months while he recorded his new album.

In early 2015 McMorrow decamped to Los Angeles for four surreal months, wanting to experience something totally alien to any way he’d ever worked before. McMorrow explains “Making this album was about changing so many things. Physically changing where I was, mentally changing how I think about life, about myself, how I think about making music. Every time I’ve made a record in the past, I’ve walked to the edge of where I’ve wanted to be, I’ve gotten scared, and I’ve walked back to a safe distance.”

Rising Water is the perfect example of what the rest of the album holds. The single, along with the rest of the record, features production from Nineteen85 (Drake, dvsn), Two Inch Punch (Sam Smith, Years & Years), and Frank Dukes (Kanye West, Rihanna), as well as mixing from the legendary Jimmy Douglass (Donny Hathaway, Timbaland).

McMorrow’s 2010 debut ‘Early in the Morning’ achieved platinum-status and reached #1 in his home country of Ireland. His “Breath-taking” (VICE) second album ‘Post Tropical’ was nominated for the Choice Music Prize, and led to sell outs at the biggest venues of McMorrow’s career including two nights at Sydney Opera House, and London’s Barbican & Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Earlier this year, McMorrow surpassed 100 million Spotify streams, recorded a cover of “Wicked Games” for a trailer of season six of Game of Thrones, and was featured on “I’m In Love” off Kygo’s debut LP ‘Cloud Nine.’ 

Purchase ‘Rising Water’:

iTunes: https://smarturl.it/RisingWater

Amazon MP3: https://amzn.com/RisingWater

Wow The Joys Of Modern Life by The Dennis McCalmont Band!

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The Joys of Modern Life by The Dennis McCalmont Band has a dreamy and positive vibe. This is shown in the opening track Best Days of My Life which foretells the atmosphere of the whole record-energetic, smooth and timeless.

The introduction of funky guitars, groovy bass and smooth percussion call  to mind Jazz and R&B influences. His slick voice is the pillar of this release. I like singers who have big voices and great range. He embodies the likes of great 70s singers-combining the styles of Smokey Robinson and Phil Lynott.

The Joys of Modern Life boasts 12 songs that articulate the maturity of the singer-songwriter and his band. There is nuance in every song and there is also great passion. Each song feel like a holiday with their breezy melodies and apt instrumental arrangements.

This recording is a follow-up to his successful #SoulRecall  which I also featured in this blog. What can I say? It is always a pleasure to write about an artist who is fond of making amazinf albums. The Joys of Modern Life is filled with eloquent essays about how we live our lives written in song form. And I know listeners can identify their sentiments to each song and hopefully pick one of more stand out tracks as their favorites. I know I have mine.

Here’s an interesting blurb about the album:

One of The Joys of Modern Life is having the Musical Technology available to allow Four Musicians to go into a Room for Three Days and Record An Album… Now that’s just Brilliant! 
However the content of The Dennis McCalmont Band’s latest offering takes a more ‘tongue in cheek’ look at The Joys Of Modern Life. 
The Album kicks off with ‘Best Days Of My Life’ in a rush to get ready for the Day ahead! 
We’re living in a very uncertain World right now and McCalmont’s Lyrics seem to be right on Point, he addresses this from a Personal perspective on ‘Pure’ he laments ‘Once I Was Uncertain, but now I’m not so sure..’ and from the bigger picture ‘Your Life could change in a moment’ on ‘Nature Of Life’, and no one could argue that the Global Landscape has certainly changed recently, leaving us all a bit more insecure about our future. 

McCalmont and his Band of Soul Mates, Donal Hoban (Drums) Craig Donaldson (Bass) Michael Buckton Lead Guitar, John Flatley (Piano) and Tony Bambrick (Guitar), Rock and Groove their way through some tougher subject matter too, including reflections on Domestic Abuse ‘Leave’, Alcoholism and Addiction ‘Wasted’ where other Songwriters might fear to tread. 
But there is Hope… 
The Closing tracks ‘Time For Truth’ address Modern War and Conflict ‘When the World goes Crazy, You gotta trust Yourself ‘ is a hopeful lyrical Anthem with a clear message to continue to chart Your life course regardless of the difficulties around you. 

Yes Modern Life, with all it’s Technological Highlights can still be a very Dark Place for Real Lives to Survive, but they do…

So is this release different than #SoulRecall? Yes and No. I think his every release speaks about the time of their creation. I think it is different in a sense that the topics/themes are different from the last album. The style is distinctive. It is purely McCalmont with his love for good melodies and unique chord patterns. Though I must say  this one feels more pop and upbeat while the last one has an acoustic/jazzy feel-mostly.

So how do we assist this musically? I think McCalmont is already a better musician before he ventured into recording. Which I think a lot of indie artists out there can learn from. Creativity is not enough these days. You need the gift of eloquence that your listener can relate to, and can listen to time and time again. Here’s the track listing for The Joys of Modern Life:

1.Best Days Of My Life 03:27

2.Suffocate 02:57

3.Pure 04:26

4.Nature Of Life 03:47

5.Leave 03:25

6.If You See My Girl 02:47

7.Something She Said 02:56

8.Wasted 03:51

9.Fall 03:48

10. Time For Truth 03:39

11.When The World Goes Crazy 04:03

 

All songs from this release are generally lively. All eleven tracks crafted artfully. When The World Goes Crazy closes the album. And I think it is a timely song for these turbulent times. It says that you need to trust yourself. Trust your instinct..trust your humanity and the vallues that you’ve been taught as a child. Because I think in the end when everything crumbles, there will always be that light inside us that will never die-the light of love given to us by those who nurtured us to become who we are now. And that is our thread  out of every labyrinth. Thanks to The Joys of Modern Life for making me think that way.