by Jane Lambert

From Bossa Nova Vibes to Smooth Jazz Bliss in Marla Lewis New Single “Te Quiero A Ti”

Marla-Lewis-Te-Quiero-A-Ti-English-Version-400

New Jersey born artist Marla Lewis has had a remarkable career as a singer, songwriter, and educator.

Her brand new, original single “Te Quiero a Ti”, offered in both Spanish and English renditions, radiates an enchanting groove and ambience.

Marla’s impeccable vocals, reminiscent of the finest bossa nova melodies, is accompanied by a sophisticated arrangement. With elements such as flute, piano, acoustic bass, electric guitar, drums, and lush backing vocals, the song allows Marla’s voice to shine.

Originally, Marla had written a really beautiful tune, but could not come up with lyrics to her liking so she asked her friend Dave Kinnoin to write them. Loving what he came up with, the song was recorded on Marla’s first “Songbook” album. As she had always wanted to have it translated into Spanish, it was not until a few more years that she met Melissa Sanley who was able to use the same instrumental tracks as the previous recording:

“My life was touched by a real life angel — that’s the best way to describe it! I signed up for a Peer Networking program offered by the Grammy organization (I’m a voting member), and they paired me with Melissa Sanley. Talk about Divine intervention! A superb singer, songwriter, recording artist — she speaks four languages, and now she is my voice teacher!

But I digress — I played her a song from my first Songbook album to see if she liked it enough to translate it into Spanish. It had some Spanish words in the lyrics that were written by Dave Kinnoin (I wrote the melody). She told me the title was not correct Spanish! OMG! She changed it to “Te Quiero a Ti,” translated the lyrics, coached me on every line, created the cover art, sang backup vocals, and made the lyric video!”

In essence, the song is warm, very romantic and has a vulnerable vibe too. The powerful and simple message is – New Love, for everyone!

Taking inspiration from an eclectic array of musical influences including Ella Fitzgerald, big band, folk music from around the world, The Beatles, Laura Nyro, Carole King, James Taylor, Michael Franks, and Phoebe Snow, Marla has made her mark with music that involves different styles and genres.

For 25 years, Marla worked as an elementary school teacher, a role which ignited her passion for writing songs that are both educational and entertaining for children. This led to significant achievements, notably her song “Leap of Faith”, co-written with Nancy Schimmel, which was featured on the Grammy-winning children’s album “All About Bullies … Big and Small” in 2011.

Her dedication to children’s music is also evident in her award winning albums “I Love to Talk to Plants” (2009) and “We All Laugh in the Same Language” (2007). Produced by the renowned Bob Stander, both of these albums have earned prestigious awards such as the Parent’s Choice Gold and NAPPA Gold. Marla’s songs have also received First Prize and Finalist honors in various national and international competitions.

Marla’s career took a new direction with her venture into smooth jazz and American standards; with her first album in this genre, “Songbook”, this was a significant shift and was met with critical acclaim. Produced by two-time Grammy award winning producer / engineer Bob Stander, “Songbook” features 14 original tracks that critics have described as “pure bliss.”

Building on this success, Marla released Songbook Volume 2 (SBV2), which further explores smooth jazz, cabaret, and American standards. This album, also produced by Bob Stander, comprises six original tracks showcasing Marla’s vocal talents alongside an accomplished ensemble: Mike Ricchuiti on piano, Teddy Kumpel on electric guitar, Rob Jost on acoustic bass, Matt Miller on drums, Erik Lawrence on sax, Daniel Sadownick on percussion, and Adam Minkoff and Gabby Scherba on backing vocals influenced by the Manhattan Transfer. The album’s first single, “Enchantée,” has achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on the World Indie Charts and #2 on the Euro Indie Charts.

Her latest single, “Te Quiero a Ti,” is a fantastic song rich in musical influences as well as vibrant passion. Listen to “Te Quiero a Ti” on Spotify now!

Find out more about Marla Lewis on her Website.

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Stream music on Spotify, Soundcloud, and YouTube Music.

05.02.24

by Jane Lambert

Lady Charles’ New Single “Bedroom Pop” ft. Zoe Towne is a Captivating Tribute to Indie Spirit

Lady Charles’ latest release, “Bedroom Pop,” featuring Zoe Towne, is a mesmerizing journey into the evocative ambiance of the early 2010s indie music scene.

Channeling the spirit of DIY creativity and the raw intimacy of lo-fi sounds, the song serves as a poignant tribute to an era where artists carved out their own spaces within the musical landscape, often from the comfort of their own bedrooms.

At its core, “Bedroom Pop” weaves a narrative rich in themes of self-discovery, collaboration, and the shadows that lurk beneath the surface of the music industry. Through a lyrical exploration of the protagonist’s journey, Lady Charles confronts the spectre of exploitation and the quest for autonomy in a world where artistic integrity can often be compromised.

The song unfolds like a conversation between friends, each verse and chorus revealing layers of emotional depth and introspection. Zoe Towne’s ethereal vocals provide a captivating counterpoint to Lady Charles’ introspective lyrics, adding an additional dimension to the song.

“I have seen a lot of predatory behaviour aimed at young, talented artists, and I wanted to affirm that if you’re finding yourself disrespected or worse you do not owe anything to these types” says Charles of the lyric.

“I’ve always felt very protective of my artistic friends’ output, and there is little more disheartening than seeing someone’s energy sucked away by the promise of success with a hidden cost. The song isn’t inspired by a particular experience, and that’s partially just because of how unfortunately widespread this is. I have helped bands re-record their demos after producers began to demand dates in return for what was supposed to be free help, I have been kicked out of a band only to find out that a remaining member isolated and verbally abused the other once it was just the two of them. I have seen incredibly talented people absolutely burned out by the ludicrous parasatism of these types.”

Musically, “Bedroom Pop” represents a departure from Lady Charles’ usual style, incorporating a blend of major and minor 7th chords that evoke a sense of harmonic richness and complexity.

The inclusion of saxophone refrains and a soulful guitar solo further enhances the song’s atmospheric allure, transporting listeners to a realm where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.

“The song differs a bit from my usual writing. I used a lot of major and minor 7th chords and arranged the progression such that adjacent chords share harmonic content but the entire progression doesn’t stay in one key. It’s effectively like how a lot of jazz is composed, and I did it because it has a certain airy, open sound that I associate with dreaminess – a major tendency with bedroom pop music is a certain hazy dreamlike quality and because the track isn’t actually that lo-fi I think it helps evoke that atmosphere well. The chorus is a bit more like a traditional pop chorus, and I think it anchors the flow of the verses well – here the lyric is far more direct and less stream of consciousness. The guitar solo is completely opposite my playing on Manic Pixie Dream World – a clean, gentle melodic line drenched in reverb not unlike what you might find in bedroom and dream pop of the era.”

Drawing from personal experiences and influences ranging from David Bowie to the glam-rock era, Lady Charles infuses “Bedroom Pop” with a sense of authenticity and vulnerability.

With its thought provoking lyrics and captivating dreamy sound, the song leaves a lasting impression and invites listeners to embrace their own unique voice and creative vision.

Listen to “Bedroom Pop” on Spotify now!

Stay current with Lady Charles:

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify / Soundcloud / YouTube Music

02.15.24

by Jane Lambert

Jason Vitelli Transcends Genres with his Mesmerizing “1. Ambient Corridors” Album Release.

Brooklyn-based composer, artist, and instrumentalist Jason Vitelli released his new album “1. Ambient Corridors” earlier this year.

The album serves as an inaugural instrumental collection, a series of projects planned by Vitelli, and highlights a return to his compositional roots. His dedication to exploring nuances of instrumental music comes to the fore here where Vitelli vividly experiments with various music styles and elements.

All 12 tracks on this album show genuine musical skill as well as fine talent in sound design and orchestration, creating an overall impressionistic sound.

Earlier single releases from the album, such as “Exit Love Story” and “Night Falls”, exemplify Vitelli’s ability to craft emotive melodies while experimenting with various musical styles and elements, songs which he coins “vignettes” in that they are short and highly illustrative.

While the ambient genre usually conjures up the idea of a quiet and chilled-out musical backdrop, Vitelli takes the genre and molds it with his unique instrumentation and chamber orchestra, creating a more avant-garde sound that could be likened to 20th-century composer Olivier Messiaen delicately mixed with the experimental rock of Bowie and Kate Bush.

There is a newness, a freshness as well as an ode to the “modern” music style of the past, as Vitelli breathes new life into these pieces.

The piano counterpoint in “Lost and Found” is inspired by Bach, for example, while “The Veil” contains richer textures, deep cello melodies, and rhythmic percussion. “Snazzy Cats” brings together gentle jazz piano and cinematic elements with curious pop-style lines and an overall lounge aesthetic.

All of these tracks on the album captivate the listener with quirky and sometimes surprising sounds, adding to the experience.

“1. Ambient Corridors” is a rich collection of instrumentals that Vitelli has been cultivating for over two decades. These pieces all originated from a variety of multimedia projects, including short films, modern ballet productions, and documentaries. Recognizing the abundance of material he had amassed, Jason decided to categorize them based on mood and release each as a playlist in a series of albums. This is why there is a numerical prefix in the album’s title to signify the plan to reveal more playlists in the future.

Some instrumental vignettes were composed with a plan to match specific video cues, while others were to be transformed into fully developed pieces. While Jason handles most of the recording and sampling himself, additional depth was added with session musicians on viola and cello.

Finally, the mastering expertise of audiophile Barry Diament brings the finishing touches, ensuring a cohesive sound through leveling and subtle EQ adjustments.

Listen to “1. Ambient Corridors” on Spotify.

Stay up to date with Jason Vitelli on his Website and social media Facebook and Instagram.

Stream music on YouTube and Spotify.

04.26.23

by Jane Lambert

Amaris Shares Her New Debut Indie Rock Single “Lemon, Lime & Bitters”

El Paso-based musician Amaris has released a new single called “Lemon, Lime & Bitters”.

This debut indie pop song is a beautiful, emotive and haunting track which is a tribute to Amaris´ husband as she imaged a life in which they lived worlds apart. To combat the longing, she imagines his favorite drink; lemon, lime and bitters. It is also a song that serves as a further nod to the loss of her two babies and five family members in a short time span on 2 years.

“Lemon, Lime & Bitters!” s a great example of how a song can gain power and further its meaning with time. I wrote it in November 2020. Back then, it was about me imagining a life without my husband by my side. Now, it´s about grief, loss, and the will to overcome,” shares Amaris.

This single was created by listening to voice memos on her phone, hashing out the song in different phases, and finding the lyrics while playing around with different chords on the guitar.

The bass stands out as well as the melody and lyrics, with a style that is both introspective as well as bold. There is an expanded meaning about loss as Amaris´ lost her grandfather and step grandfather a year after experiences 2 miscarriages. There is an additional grief for her grandmother´s same yearning.

Amaris did not decide to become a singer – songwriter; it was something that happened quite by chance really. She taught herself how to play the guitar at age 12, and then moved on to develop her songwriting from there. Now at the age of 24, Amaris continues to write songs that inspire her and bring out those emotions and stories of her life that she couldn´t express otherwise.

With influences as broad ranging as The Smashing Pumpkins, The Killers and Nina Simone, Amaris´ musical sound is certainly interesting as well as showcasing her talent.

Stay current with Amaris on her Website and social media channels Instagram and TikTok // YouTube // TikTok // Soundcloud

04.20.22

by Jane Lambert

The Lyric Video of Michael Gutierrez-May’s Folk Single, “Imaginary Tomato,” is Wonderfully Stylized

The rising indie folk singer/songwriter, Michael Gutierrez-May, has been working to help the underground folk music scene for almost 30 years. While he’s promoted shows, booked coffeehouses, and supported underground artists, unfortunately, he didn’t do enough to support his own songwriting endeavors. But in 2009, he decided enough was enough and started focusing on his music.

He just debuted his lyric video for his much loved song “Imaginary Tomato” from his latest album, Drifting to the Right. The song has a Bruce Springsteen style in both Michael’s vocals and guitar style, but there’s also a hint of Johnny Cash in the style and storytelling. Michael utilizes his background as a mental health therepist to inform his songwriting, especially “Imaginary Tomato.”

“‘Imaginary Tomato’ is a fun video created by Kat Reinhert about political ranting on the home front,” says Michael. He takes on his own frustrations on the political standing of the United States and his anger towards the former President. The lyric video is quite animated. The lyrics are guided by a tomato, but the tomato is telling the story to the viewer. It dances around the screen, guiding your eyes to the words and direction the words go. It’s the most telling lyric video I’ve ever seen.

Watch here:

The song is “inspired by current events with the added thought not to take oneself too seriously,” shares Michael. “This song came quickly, not long after the tomato idea emerged from my subconscious. The message of the song is to embrace tolerance and openness, keep hope alive and also not to be afraid of throwing tomatoes at repressive authorities.”

Find and connect with Michael Gutierrez-May via:

Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud

04.19.22

by Jane Lambert

“One Last Kiss” is the Folk Pop Melody We Want

Emily + Shawn release a new single called “One Last Kiss” and we will play it one thousand times over! It’s a song that celebrates the freedom that comes with putting your foot down and just moving on. It’s reminiscent of the sounds of Gwen Stefani married with Sara Bareillis and The Lumineers, putting their own spin on folk-pop. “One Last Kiss” is infectious and hypnotic. You’ll find yourself singing along in no time.

“This song started out as a slow acoustic ballad, reflecting on our frustrations with the drag of the 9-5 workday. Making music is what we love, but our day jobs are a “necessary evil” in order to put food on the table while we shift our careers from typical corporate and government jobs into the music industry.”

Listen here:

The journey of Emily + Shawn started in college, where they met and fell in love with each other. While Emily began her career in music theater and took vocal lessons throughout high school and college, Shawn was writing and performing his own original music. In college, they were both in a cappella groups, where they started singing covers and making their own music together.

After college, Shawn moved out west for his day job, but he still performed regularly in and around the southern California scene. Once Shawn moved back east, he performed at the Bethlehem MusikFest and had a jingle he co-wrote used for a national Target ad campaign.

After they got married, they started making original music together – our sound and style combines Emily’s love for indie pop with Shawn’s love for classic folk & blues. We have performed in a variety of venues, from small cafes to crowds of over 5,000 people. In 2019, we began working with renowned vocal coach Wendy Parr, and our recently-recorded debut EP is produced by David Baron (Lumineers, Meghan Trainor, Shawn Mendes).

“We like the real stuff – the good stuff. The stuff that takes time and effort and attention to detail. Artisanship. Handwritten notes. Home made cocktails. Listening to records from start to finish. Finding and creating music that brings us in and takes us somewhere.”

Find Emily + Shawn via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok // Spotify // Soundcloud