A trip to other worlds with Mike Milan Dedic

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According to Mike Milan Dedic “The guitar instrumental rock genre is very small at best, and is very difficult to garner attention to.”

Yes that’s perhaps true but man, listen to this guy play. Listen to the three YouTube clips I added below and tell me if this doesn’t sound BIG to you! I remember back in school- which was ages ago- there were friends who were crazy about Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. They spent countless hours dissecting albums and tracks (if they are not worrying about Chemistry and Physics projects) and sported long hair like their idols. I didn’t look like any of them but I hangout with them so I really love the genre.

I am glad to discover this gifted artist and talk about him.

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Maddening beauty…

These amazing passages remind me of great composers like Beethoven and Rachmaninov on acid. Mike Milan Dedic who currently resides in Ontario has dedicated his musical gift to this, creating other words with his guitar and enchanting new listeners. His guitar solo track called “Zoom” is a total trip to outer space. You forget everything! It’s really remarkable how one instrument can do that to you. “Energy” is intoxicating with his clever use of arpeggios and varying scales.

He also released a brand new track called Escape, which I think sums up his music and the mood he is trying to create. Amazing artist. Check him out via YouTube and facebook!

 

Swedish band Damen will win you over with their own brand of Indie Rock!

25591632_1711334275586039_6766254288329411803_nWhen you hear Sweden expect nothing less. That’s what happened with new band called Damen. I only heard two tracks from them: Lights and Freud Division. What can I say? I was blown away. My excitement for indie music is once again rekindled all because of the great vibe I got from their music. 

  Oh youth, with your innocence, angst and energy to transform…I am glad I feel you in this band! I describe their music as melodic indie rock, rooted in punk. I love the guitar style which is hard to categorize-part ethereal, part aggressive new wave-that at can sound jangly with a pleasant dose of distortion. The vocals are also notable in terms of range and expressiveness. The beats are irresistible while the bass lines keep things tight and sexy.

  They’ve been around for three years and the members are constantly writing new songs. Freud Division is a tribute to the current generation.

I got this need, I wanna be something
reality shows and whatever on the TV
A.D.H.D come and and label me

Become a star and this all makes sense 
I guess it all collides in the end

I guess it all make sense in the end right? But whatever the song means to you, you can’t deny its beauty.

Lights on the other hand has this nostalgic flavour to it. Like it’s a song recorded in a cigarette clouded radio booth back in the 70s. I love the chord pattern. It sounds like you are floating on air. 

Damen has a distinctive sound that will draw listeners. Hopefully the band will gain more exposure because we all look forward to music that’s really interesting and poetic.

Listen to their songs below.

What’s Up with Irish Band The Stunning?

Of course you know The Stunning! Everything Rises was a smash hit in the 90s. Every kid who grew up in that period must have owned Once Around the World. This Dublin-centric band catapulted the Irish rock scene to the world, originally dominated by the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Dishwalla, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Soundgarden. I do love these bands and everything about the 90s! I mean wouldn’t you? It was a decade of The X Files, MTV and so much more.

The Stunning are touring the US soils this November along with fellow Irish rocker James Vincent McMorrow. Read the press release below:

THE  STUNNING

 
The legendary Irish band’s long-awaited return to US this November – 
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5th ~ CONNOLLY’S, KLUB 45, TIMES SQ, NYC
 
1990 was a pivotal year in Ireland. The national football team had done the country proud in the World Cup in Italy and Ireland had her first lady president. There was also a new soundtrack to that summer, the debut album by a young band from the west of Ireland. Coming out of Galway city, The Stunning took Ireland by storm, and shifted the focus from a Dublin-centric rock scene to the provinces, paving the way for many more artists to come.  They released a string of hit singles and 2 number one albums and toured relentlessly, building up a following that would make them one of the most successful Irish bands ever. Their debut album ‘Paradise In The Picturehouse’ spent five weeks at number one in 1990 and became one of the best-selling Irish albums of all time. Two years later, the follow up ‘Once Around The World’ also hit the number one spot, and the band went on to sell over 100,000 albums in Ireland alone.  They toured the US and the UK with the likes of Bob Dylan and the B52’s.
“Brewing Up A Storm” has become an anthem of sorts – a rallying call at football internationals and a guaranteed floor-filler in pubs and clubs around the country.   Breaking up and making up – Despite two number one albums, winning major music awards and a huge fanbase, the band split in 1994. They eventually reformed in 2003 for the re-release of their debut album ”Paradise in the Picturehouse’’ and the subsequent run of dates turned out to be one of the highest grossing tours in Ireland that year. In 2012 around 30,000 people turned out to see them play a concert in their old hometown of Galway city.
 
Things have changed dramatically since their early days of constant touring – now the band have their fingers in several pies and the challenge is to find the time to gig – lead singer Steve Wall is also an actor, appearing in shows such as Vikings (MGM/History), Sile nt Witness (BBC), Crossing Lines (Netflix) and Moone Boy (SKY/Hulu); Joe Wall teaches in BIMM – Dublin’s  ‘school of rock’; Jim Higgins is a much-in-demand bodhrán player, touring with folk-legend Christy Moore; Derek Murray works as a sound engineer with Tommy Tiernan, one of Irelands finest comedians,  and Cormac Dunne plays with practically everybody west of the Shannon. 
Tickets available on their web site or at the door night of show – BUT it may sell out!
Website: Photos, info, etc: thestunning.net/media
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JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW
@ Webster Hall November 7th
 
 Dubliner James Vincent McMorrow has just released his new LP – ‘We Move’ – out September 2nd via Caroline Records. The follow-up to 2013’s acclaimed ‘Post Tropical’ marks a breathtaking and radical sonic shift for the Irish artist, in what is his most expansive, generous, and ambitious work to date. The 10-song collection 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). 
Unlike his previous releases, ‘We Move’ was written in constant transition. McMorrow decamped to Los Angeles in late-2014 for six particularly fish-out-of-water months, where the new songs began to crystallize. He then recorded between Toronto, his home city of Dublin, and London over the course of roughly the next year. The album’s backbone was formed in each of these places by a few key producers that McMorrow met during his travels, who were able to finesse the record’s warm, vintage yet forward-thinking feel.  The result is an album about movement – geographically, mentally, and emotionally. Far from the dense, protective imagery at the heart of ‘Post Tropical’, ‘We Move’ is McMorrow’s most honest statement yet, touching on anxiety and social unease.
 
This Fall McMorrow will head out on a full band headline North American tour, playing his biggest venues to date. Full itinerary below. Tickets will go on-sale July 8th, but fans can get exclusive early access to his ticket pre-sale by pre-ordering ‘We Move’ from the official US store: shop.jamesvmcmorrow.com
HE IS IN NYC on 11/7 @ Webster Hall go to his website for tickets before it sells out! http://jamesvmcmorrow.com/
My big thanks to Anita Daly of Daly Communications!
 

Hungarian Musical Phenomenon Koryan Daniel Csernei Talks About His New EP

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

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and his day job.

 

1. What inspired you to make this new EP?


The reason is too complicated. Actually it started with a demo song (Emberibb maszk) that was inspired by someone, who was close to me. The title of this song is talking about a human mask to hide the symbol of the lies, hypocrisy, the charade.
Then the momentum carried me with itself and I made two other songs too, in it I’m talking to the people. So the theme is similar.
 
2. What was the process involved in creating this recording?
There are two types. When I have a new idea, and write/compose a complete song, or when I have a theme, or a half music, or lyrics from the past and I finish it because I get idea, or I find it good and I want to make it complete.
Most often I write sheet music for the instruments, then I learn it and record. I insert a drum machine, and record the guitars at home. The vocals are recorded usually in my friend’s studio / Power Source Studio. Then I do the after-works and mastering at home.
 
3. Your songs are personal but some are also filled with social commentary. What are the topics close to your heart?
There is not a favorite topic. I compose from inside, my current feelings, my current opinions.
4. I love the way you sing and arrange the songs. Who influenced your singing style?
Thanks, but I think there is nothing extra. I sing the way I can. I have no qualification. I didn’t learn to sing. So I don’t think I’m a good singer, rather I know I’m not. I just like to do it. I have some favorite performer, but I cannot and I don’t want imitate them. As I said I sing the way I can, as the actual music requires.
 
5. Thanks for translating some tracks from your native Hungarian to English. Are you planning to record English songs in the future?
You are welcome. Yes, I’m currently working on that. My next EP will be in English. With my bad accent. 😀
 
6. Can you explain the title of the EP? Why Human Mask?
 
Actually, it’s More human mask, or Humanest mask. I don’t know which is right. As I made mention in the first answer it’s started from a demo. In this song I asked someone to wear a more humane mask for hiding her bad properties, features, such as lies, hypocrisy, charade, untrustworthiness. I asked her for more humanity. 
I cannot explain it better. 😀 Sorry. So this song gave the title for the EP.
What I like about Mr Csernei is that he doesn’t take himself too seriously and he is really down to earth. He is not your typical metalhead/rockstar. He is actually an artist in a true sense of the word and a good friend of mine. I am posting his new stuff which is a different  take on a Katy Perry song.

Walking On Cars-The Hottest Irish Indie Pop Rock Band This Year

Members: Patrick Sheehy,
Sorcha Durham,
Paul Flannery,
Evan Hadnett,
Dan Devane
Genre: Indie Pop Rock
Home Town: Dingle

Let me tell you how I chanced upon Walking on Cars. I am talking about the hottest indie pop rock band to come out of the Emerald Isle. I was browsing through YouTube for “fresh awesome bands” and their name came up. I remember it was Two Stones that caught my attention. It was one of the biggest hits in the UK when it was release and it is still massive. Currently it has more than one million views since its release two years ago. With their US tour on the way, I know that the band will gather more fans.12190961_1039796956040840_1991186454690506930_n.jpg

Their music stands between the delicate melodies-typical of bands using the piano/keyboards as a dominant instrument-and the big arena sound soaked in energy and sheer talent. This is due to supernova aura of lead vocalist Patrick Sheehy. His tall build and intense gaze can draw you to the music like a druid harnessing the force of nature to enchant you. You add talented and equally charismatic band members you got an insanely beautiful musical treat.

The band are Sheehy, Sorcha Durham, Paul Flannery, Evan Hadnett and Dan Devane. They emerged from the windswept Dingle, Country Kerry. Actually most of their music videos were shot on that location. Whoever is in charged of their music videos deserve a praise as the scenes really give justice to their songs. Their album is called Everything This Way released this year. It has twelve songs and many of the songs in this album have potential mainstream appeal. And I mean top -of -the -charts kind of hit potential.

The new single is Speeding Cars. Now if you haven’t yet, you better check out the music video as it is fucking amazing! It is the most haunting thing to come out this year and another kudos to the creative team for giving us something fascinating.

12540610_1076411879046014_5642465984581589876_n.jpgGuess what, Everything This Way can be addicting and I’ve been listening to it everyday when I go out on my morning exercise. Like I said about the song Two Stones-The Alleluia works on this one!