West Point Band clarinetist Kristen Mather de Andrade had revealed a new phase of her illustrious music career with the debut of her first single, “Côco Tara Tá Tá”. The song takes influence from de Andrade’s fascination with Brazilian music that she discovered from her husband, who is from Brazil. She uses the rhythms of Brazilian style music and some traditions of American big band for this song and the rest of her debut album, Clarão, which is Portuguese for “flash of light”. De Andrade’s passion for music is on full display with this beautifully arranged single.

De Andrade puts her primary instrument, the clarient, on full display in “Côco Tara Tá Tá” along with Brazilian style percussion and an accordion. The song, which was composed by Severino Araújo, combines the feeling of a traditional big band with the feeling of a Brazilian ensemble. The result is an infectious groove that can get anyone on their feet to dance along. And it is no wonder that Kristen Mather de Andrade is such an acclaimed clarinet player, with her solos adding a passionate flare to the instrumentation. “Côco Tara Tá Tá” is just what people need to get excited about more of the music Kristen Mather de Andrade will be putting out in the near future. 

We are so grateful for the epiphany that de Andarde had that led to the creation of Clarão. Her musicianship is undeniable and her fire is not going to go out anytime soon. Make sure to stream “Côco Tara Tá Tá” as soon as possible and be on the lookout for more music from the insanely talented Kristen Mather de Andrade.

Jordan Davis is making waves with the release of his new EP “Lights Up.” The North Carolina based artist just released a compilation of 5 country/hip-hop tracks that are sure to take your breath away.
Going by DAVIS88, Jordan Davis has brought a new innovative sound to the game. Not only is he combining country and hip-hop, but Davis is giving it a hard rock feel, which he credits to the nu-metal bands he grew up on. First picking up a guitar in college, Davis worked hard to teach himself guitar as well as familiarizing himself with other instruments to better prepare him for studio sessions. Releasing one EP and several singles since 2012, Davis is about to make 2021 his year with his latest release “Lights Up.”

“…everything from Hootie and the Blowfish to the doobie brothers through his home boom box are some of his earliest memories.” His influence from these bands is extremely visible through his music. By combining the traditional sounds of southern rock, such as crunchy wailing guitars and organ, with his hip-hop/nu-metal vocals reminiscent of Linkin Park, Davis brings a heavy hitting and catchy new vibe to hip-hop. The title track of the EP preaches the chorus “Lights up, let’s go, all in, let’s roll,” and serves as a song for those who have felt they’ve been doubted in their journey. A call for never giving up, and assembling those who have felt the same to continue their journey and remain persistent no matter what others say. He wraps up the EP with his own rendition of Cage the Elephant’s “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked.” Incredibly done, this cover adds a new level of southern rock grit to this hit, with a rap thrown in to complete a great cover that perfectly reflects the feeling you get while listening to DAVIS88.

DAVIS88’s latest EP “Lights Up” is not one to miss. We can’t wait to hear what else is coming from Jordan Davis in 2021!

Dallas String Quartet releases a flavorful music video for their latin-jazz hit ‘Sabor’ featuring pianist extraordinaire, Jesús Molina on the keys. The video transports you into a welcoming and sunny summer feel, bursting with dancing, rhythm, and spice. This instant hit was released on May 7 and has gained attention on Spotify’s All New Jazz and Pandora’s Classical Crossover editorial playlists, as well as dazzling fans worldwide!

Dallas String Quartet is referred to as “Bach meets Bon Jovi” and compared to artists like Lindsey Stirling and 2Cellos. DSQ was founded in 2007 by violist Ion Zanca. A fusion of contemporary classical and pop music, they use both traditional and electric strings performing as a quartet with the full accompaniment of drums and guitar. DSQ has performed for Presidents Obama and Bush, the College Football Playoffs, NBA, and NFL organizations. They’ve sold out concert venues like the House of Blues and symphony halls and have played alongside Josh Groban, Chicago, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. You’ll find the group’s music featured by ESPN, A&E, The Wall Street Journal and prominent Spotify playlists such as Pop Goes Classical and Sinfonía Hipster. DSQ has over 50 million streams on Spotify and one million streams per week on Pandora.

Find DSQ via:

Website
Spotify
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Formed by Nick Schofield and Stefan Christoff in Montreal, Rêves sonores provides a platform for inspired improvisation to interact with contemporary classical compositions, reinforced with experimental electronic production techniques. Their new album, Crépuscule, out now via Youngbloods, was recorded in New York City and Montreal, produced at the Banff Centre and mixed by Radwan Ghazi Moumneh at Hotel2Tango studio. The focus track, “Swan Song,” is inspired by violinist Ari Swan whose enchanting melodies elevate the piece to new heights. “Swan Song” begins with warbling piano hits and smoky saxophone loops, but Ari Swan brings a brilliance to the music, like a bright moon emerging from the clouds on a midnight walk.

Hailing from the illustrious area of Brooklyn, New York, bandmates Jeffery, Mike, and Danny take you for a ride in a subway time machine with their new single, “Timeline”. The letter “R” of their band name, “The R Train”, might as well stand for “rock” because this record evokes feelings of nostalgia of 70s rockers like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and David Bowie. The R Train gives you a contemporary take on classic rock and roll sound all the way from the drum roll lead-in of the song to the catchy guitar and vocal melodies. The way this song was recorded made me feel like I was simultaneously in the room with them listening to their live performance and also driving down the coast with the windows down on a summer evening.

This time-bending song blends sounds, melodies, and instrumentation from several different points in recent music history. The lead singer’s voice is reminiscent to me of Adam Pascal’s voice and performance in “Rent” the musical especially the song “What You Own”. The song gives you an all-American rock and roll vibe the whole way through. The chorus of this song got stuck in my head after the first round but my favorite part of the song has to be the interlude at 1:46 with the deviation from the regular chord progression and rhythm to a brief darker moment that really emphasizes the emotions of the lyrics.

The lyrics of “Timeline” capture the tumultuous nature of today’s world and made me feel incredibly reflective of the times. We are all truly victims of time and have one life to live so we better live it the best we can. The R Train did a great job of making me feel like I pulled this record out of a time capsule from the 70s with the powerful drums,
catchy electric guitars, and sweeping vocals. If you are looking for a modern take on a classic sound, you’ve come to the right place.

Connect with The R Train online via:

https://thertrain.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheRTrainBand/

https://www.instagram.com/thertrainband/

https://independentartistbuzz.com/post/638150020596662272/indie-5-0-5-questions-with-the-r-train-band

Shadow Monster is an angsty and loud two-piece from Bushwick, Brooklyn. Gillian Visco’s gritty, dissonant and desperate guitar riffs meet with John Swanson’s epic and explosive drumming style to form a raw and moody version of grunge rock. Lyrically, Shadow Monster explores themes of loss, depression and isolation. If you’re into Elliott Smith, Weakened Friends, Helium, and Kills Birds, your ears are going to love Shadow Monster. Their new video “Kill Me Sweetie,” is the final release from their LP “Punching Bag,” which is an artful masterpiece from start to finish. Shadow Monsters sound is vibrant, captivating and bold as they bring a vision to the table that is truly their own. It’s hypnotic and smooth, yet raw, vibrant and dark. They bring the best of all worlds. The video perfectly encapsulates the essence of the duo, and goes above and beyond to impress your ears.