by Jane Lambert

Peter Calandra’s “The Gambit” is Dedicated to the Artists That Inspired Him

Peter Calandra is a prolific composer and keyboard player whose solo albums are wonderfully diverse, spanning world music, jazz, contemporary jazz, new age, pop, and neo-classical. The thread throughout his music is the lyrical expressiveness of the compositions and purity and purposefulness of the musicianship. Three of his recent albums of original music — First Light (2015), The Road Home (2017) and Carpe Noctem (2018) were nominated for ZMR Awards.

His newest single, “The Gambit” is is a beautiful tribute to the late Keith Jarrett and his influential solo piano albums Lausanne-Bremen and the Koln Concerts. As we get older musicians we admire leave us. When Peter was a developing musician, there were a handful of pianists who came to prominence in the late 1950’s-1960’s that were inspirational, influential, and whose music has been a constant companion throughout his life.

Calandra’s emotional connection to the music of Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett is apparent in the lyrical expressiveness of his compositions and the purposeful musicianship.

“The music these people created not only taught me but the stories and feelings that their music evoked were there to help me through turbulent times. Almost as a salve to the uncertainty of being a lost teenager and being a companion as I grew into an accomplished musician,” shares Peter.

Connect with Peter Calandra via:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

04.10.23

by Jane Lambert

Acapella Group, The RockNRoll Chorus, Share Their Original Work “Heaven in My Soul”

New Jersey’s own RockNRoll Chorus is an acapella group run by singer/songwriter and composer Joe Cantaffa. The RockNRoll Chorus launched its first tour and full length album, What They Didn’t Teach Us In School, in 2007 and since then have been blessed with amazingly talented singers and performers over more than 15 casts.

RNRC has performed with, and opened for, Bruce Springsteen, Darlene Love, Jacquie Lee, Judy Collins, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles, Jefferson Airplane, Foreigner, Kenny Loggins, The Chieftains, Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd, The Wall, Willie Nile, Max Weinberg, Jay Leno, Danu, Jill Tirrell, The Chicago Children’s Choir, and many studio recordings as a guest choir.

The RockNRoll Chorus’ newest acapella song, “Heaven In My Soul,” is a moving and uplifting tribute to the power of love and the human spirit in the face of loss. The song, which speaks to the pain of losing a loved one and finding solace in memories and the support of others, is a testament to the power of music to heal and inspire.

The song’s opening notes immediately set the tone, with a haunting and soulful melody that sets the stage for the group’s signature harmonies to take center stage. As the song progresses, the lyrics evoke a sense of hope and optimism, celebrating the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

What is particularly striking about “Heaven In My Soul” is the sheer power and emotion that the RockNRoll Chorus is able to convey through their voices alone. The lack of instrumentation only serves to highlight the strength and beauty of the group’s vocal arrangements, which are nothing short of breathtaking.

This is a song that speaks to the heart, and one that is sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced loss and the pain of grief. The RockNRoll Chorus has once again proven themselves to be among the most talented and innovative acapella groups working today, and “Heaven In My Soul” is a true masterpiece.

Connect with RockNRoll Chorus via:
Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

04.07.23

by Jane Lambert

Star Goes Nova and Sonic Butterfly Collaborate with “Eye” Ahead of Spring Celebrations

Just in time for the Easter and Solstice holidays, Sonic Butterfly features Star Goes Nova in this moving spiritual piece.

An unusual giant instrument, Sonic Butterfly is an acoustic harp with strings, at minimum 60ft long, that span out over the audience, transforming buildings and natural environments into a stunning, immersive musical instrument. Listeners describe it “like being inside YoYo Ma’s cello.”

Star Goes Nova, an electronica composer known for blending genres, in a feat of recording engineering, captures the giant harp and adds piano against a cathedral ambiance, creating images of a medieval Spring dance amongst the strings.

Hear the newly awakened butterfly alight amongst the starburst of Easter, Solstice, May Day and all of the Spring celebrations.

“Eye” has a simple and hypnotic melody that builds up slowly with the addition of various layers of electronic beats and sounds, leading to a climactic and satisfying drop. The vocals are delicate and ethereal, adding a spiritual quality to the track. The lyrics are abstract and poetic, creating a sense of mystery and introspection.

The production of the song is impressive, with a great attention to detail and a careful balance between different elements. The electronic beats are crisp and dynamic, while the atmospheric sounds are immersive and transportive. The mix is clean and spacious, allowing each element to shine without overwhelming the others.

“I’ve always thought of myself as an intrinsic soul, finding meaning in space and time and thought,” says Star Goes Nova. “I create epic stories that combine real instruments with electronica, transcending past and future, told through my 115 year old piano, power drums and deep bass music. These sonic manifestations are empathic spaces to stargaze, gather personal power or share thoughts from other worlds.”

Connect with Star Goes Nova via:

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

03.14.23

by Jane Lambert

Moses Mikheyev Reveals the Cinematic Ballad “Fernanda, It’s All Right”

Singer/songwriter, author, and poet Moses Mikheyev, released his new alternative folk pop ballad “Fernanda, It’s All Right.”

Moses wrote the song after a particularly tough breakup, using writing songs, poems, and a novel titled “This Time Next Summer,” to help him get through it.

“I process emotional trauma by writing about it,” he reveals. “I tend to turn everything into a poem, a novel, or a song. Music is therapy. It saved my life, and I hope it can save yours, too.”

The song itself is similar to Lighthouse, Coldplay, or The Fray in its cinematic essence and poetic lyricism. The song is sung from the male character’s perspective, longing for the Fernanda. He imagines that a breakup never happened. In his mind, they are still happy.

The opening refrain goes “In her room she’s busy putting on her dress/ But in my mind she’s naked and she’s on my bed/ Somewhere in Seattle she is getting loved/ But in my mind I still think it’s the both of us.”

“Soren Kierkegaard once said, ‘What is a poet? An unhappy man who hides deep anguish in his heart, but whose lips are so formed that when the sigh and cry pass through them, it sounds like lovely music…’ I think that’s very true in the case of ‘Fernanda, It’s All Right,'” explains Moses. “The music was made possible through pain.”

Connect with Moses Mikheyev via:

Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Spotify

02.17.23

by Jane Lambert

KALEN’s Electro Pop Single “Phoenix” is a Message of Healing

Singer, songwriter, and musician KALEN has become a Brooklyn mainstay during residencies at Alligator Lounge and Spike Hill, performing high-kicks and jumping off amps in kinetic kinship with the audience. She began by hauling her keyboard and amp up and down Bedford Ave, forging a sound rooted in soul, funk and electronic music.

Getting set to release her newest EP, Silence Like Sirens, her electro pop single “Phoenix” bounces with an anthem like piano hook and a chorus that elevates the overall message of redemption and healing. The chorus is bound the get stuck in your head as you find yourself singing it throughout the day. It’s reminiscent of Madonna, both in her vocals and pop musical style.

“Phoenix” was named after a friend’s second child after losing her first. “I couldn’t fathom the pain they went through. Now, as a mother myself, it’s even more difficult to imagine,” shares KALEN. “I love the way the bridge really came to life on this one with that rhythm section! The most magical thing that happened on this song, though, was the choir that sang on the choruses! Maggie Collier arranged sick BVs and led 6 incredible singers. I was 8 months pregnant and the world was about to shut down, but we didn’t quite know it yet. We were all talking about whether or not we should hug goodbye (which we did).”

She’s performed at Brooklyn Bowl, Rough Trade, & Joe’s Pub, DC9 (Washington D.C.) and Hotel Café & The Mint (LA). During the pandemic, KALEN brought us into her world streaming her moody tunes in late night solo sessions. Performing live again KALEN tailors each performance (and the accompanying visuals) to the specific site and space, from analog slide projectors coupled with poetry and acoustic bands in Brownstoner salons to projection mapping and thumping tracks with a full electric band on stages around NYC.

Connect with KALEN via:

Website // Instagram // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Spotify

02.17.23

by Jane Lambert

Low Tide Levee Premiere Their Playful New Single “Dang Diggy”

Low Tide Levee is the rising band featuring seasoned musicians and lead by singer/songwriter, composer, drummer, pianist, and former marine biologist Amy Brookes. She writes the songs, sings lead vocals and harmonies, and plays drums, percussion, and keyboard. Her husband, Sasha Ames, is the band’s bassist and, sometimes, studio guitarist, and the trio is rounded out by a guitarist. Formerly, Low Tide Levee has included Chris Amato on guitar, engineering, and production, and Harold Spiva on guitar.

Their trippy and transformative music is fun and exciting with heavy, blues-based riff rock, stanky funk, and sneaky adventures into sprawling psychedelia. Lyrically, the songs can be mystical, playfully irreverent, and enlightening—sometimes in the same song. “A lot of the subjects we write about are things bubbling inside of me—themes of finding one’s power, and rising like a phoenix as an allegory. I’ve been through a lot of trauma in my life, and I am waking up to seeing the things that held me back,” Amy shares.

Their new single, “Dang Diggy,” is a whimsical 1960s garage-rock single with an ABBA meets The Beatles sound that came to Amy during one of her creative sessions at a local tea she frequented. The lyrics came to her quite quickly, but she never expected the band to love it. The song boasts a sing-a-long refrain and oozes mystical overtones.

“Eventually, I realized that this incredible mask we found for our music studio (the “Funk Palace”) *was* Dang Diggy, and that Dang Diggy was absolutely this non-gendered deity that hung about in the sky throwing down pies to whomever might be fortunate enough to receive them,” says Amy. “These days in band practice, we use Dang Diggy both as a great warm-up, and as a sort of casting of the circle for our ritual of music creation, offering homage to Dang Diggy as it hangs out above my drum throne on the wall. After this musical ritual, I can’t help but laugh, every time.”

“Dang Diggy’s” hallucinatory charms come to life via its silly and fun claymation video. The video depicts the character of Dang Diggy throwing pies down on someone alone in a boat, almost like Dang Diggy symbolizes a God or life and the person down below in the boat represents you and your reality. This figure sits there letting life throw everything they’ve got, good and bad.