by Jane Lambert

The Smooth Sounds of Jay Soul’s “Any Day”

Jay Soul’s current project Stay With Me is ten tracks of emotive tolerance. On each track of the LP Jay Soul grapples with situations he cannot change and emotions he cannot shake. The album highlights universal sensitivities that we all can feel or easily recall. Love, loss, pleasure pain, these are all feelings that Jay Soul is expressing on Stay With Me. Throughout the record we listen to a man empathize with his tumultuous past while singing and composing music in the style of soulful early-nineties (the years he came of age in).

His sound is vivid, soulful early-Nineties, with highly personal lyrics delivered passionately, following in the footsteps of such trailblazing British independents as Omar and Lynden David Hall. Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Jodeci and Dru Hill are all cited as influences, as well as poppier, more contemporary artists in the mould of Beyoncé. Production values are important but not at the expense of the quality of the raw material, a refreshing antidote to the recent trend for glossy, over-produced beats and auto-tuned vocals, and size-zero subject matter.

Jay Soul “Any Day”

https://soundcloud.com/jaysoulmusic/any-day?in=jaysoulmusic/sets/stay-with-me

10.23.14

by Jane Lambert

Julian Rhine “Excuse To Riot,” Plays CMJ

Julian Rhine is a Brooklyn based hip hop artist to watch out for. Critically acclaimed by such outlets like The Source, Rhine will be performing Friday evening during CMJ (Fri, Oct 24, 11:59pm, at The Bitter End). Recently he has released his new album, An Excuse to Riot, which came out the tail end of the Summer, and has quite an impressive repertoire. This is Rhine’s third year playing CMJ, and he has also played SXSW, as well as opening for Macklemore, Diddy and Mobb Deep.

Obviously his live show is killer, just like his latest release and video for “Excuse to Riot.” Channeling the likes of Beastie Boys and Linkin Park, Julian brings his own impressive brand of hip hop to the table. Swirling guitars surround his lyrical flow, which is smoothly done. His music also packs a heavy message touching upon the government and other important issues. His in-your-face brand of hip hop is truly impressive and will leave a lasting impression in your ears. Watch his new video for “An Excuse to Riot,” below.

Watch “Excuse to Riot,” Video HERE

Get tickets HERE for the Bitter End CMJ Show

10.22.14

by Jane Lambert

JES Releases Stunning Single “Sky Stand Still”

JES has just launched her epic single,“Sky Stand Still,” from the much talked about film, The Principle, which debuts on October 24.

The Principle brings to light astonishing results from recent large-scale surveys of our universe-surveys that disclose unexpected evidence of a preferred direction in the cosmos, aligned with our supposedly insignificant Earth! The Principle leads us face-to-face with this most important question: What does this mean for the future of mankind?

The Principle features narration by Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek Voyager, Orange is the New Black, Ryan’s Hope), stunning animations by BUF Compagnie Paris (Life of Pi, Thor, The Matrix: Revolutions, Van Helsing, Harry Potter), and commentary and insights from like likes of Michio Kaku, John Hartnett, Bernard Carr, Robert Sungenis, Max Tegmark, Robert Bennett and more.

“My main goal for a song is always finding that emotional connection with the audience. I wanted the words to mean something universally and make the melody beautiful so it touches the listener and leaves them feeling something. When writing for a musical theme you have that chance to sum it all up. Music is such an important component to film and I am excited because I think it is a powerful uplifting song that will connect with people and be able to reach a global audience,” says JES.

Rick Delano- Producer/Writer of The Principle says of JES and “Sky Stand Still”: Hero (my Son and Co-Writer of“Sky Stand Still”) and I were on one of our occasional songwriting road trips up Pacific Coast Highway in 2010 when he played me the demo for “Sky Stand Still.” It was simply instantaneous- the chorus didn’t even come around twice before I knew this was the Theme Song For The Principle. But it wasn’t until three years later, when the simply amazing JES brought us the soul- shaking line “you will always be remembered…” that I knew it had finally been brought completely through the storm and safely delivered as the final moment of The Principle.

10.22.14

by Jane Lambert

Syre & Fresko Release New Single, EP Out Now!

Syre & Fresko is quite an impressive duo, who create a brilliant combination of electro-indie, that will draw you in immediately. Along the likes of artists such as Chairlift meets Foster the People, the group who hail from Australia, provide us with a stunning EP titled Gonna See Miracles, which was released this week. Syre & Fresko have been having quite a big year already. Recently they were 1st place in the National/TripleJ Run competition, which allowed the band to represent Australia in the Annual Spring Gala for Chinese New Year in Beijing (with over 600 million viewers in over 70 countries!). Syre & Fresko’s intricate sounds are a vibrant burst of energy and heavy drums which come full circle which are noticeable on Gonna See Miracles. Give a listen to the EP below!

Listen to Syre and Fresko “Gonna See Miracles”: https://soundcloud.com/syreandfresko/gonna-see-miracles

10.17.14

by Jane Lambert

New York’s New Face of Rock Breaks into the Scene

Venlo is a band of friends made up of of Ryan Bergman (vocals), Marcello “Chello” Iaboni (guitar), Aaron Kudla (guitar), Johnny “Hodge” Hodgkinson (bass) and Joey Rizzo (drums). Gaining common interests via skateboarding through the streets in high school, the group formed an immediate connection. The sound that Venlo creates is a back-to-basics sound that shows inspiration from cited influences such as The Strokes, Lou Reed, and The Ramones to name a very few. The lyrical content is formed by singer and frontman Bergman’s poetry of romance, self-destruction, the working class and addiction. With the combination of his punchy though laid back vocals, his voice resonates well with the instrumentation of the band. Yesterday’s News was released earlier this year and for your listening pleasure, you can check out “Song for Rudy & Cody,” here: https://soundcloud.com/venlomusic/song-for-roxy-cody

10.17.14

by Jane Lambert

Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders Releases “The Last of the Originals”

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a sucker for alt-country based music. Upon first listen of Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders’ latest release, The Last of the Originals, I was immediately a fan. Hailing from Australia, Billy Roberts and co. are far more than just another band.

Their sensational brand of country mixed with indie folk shed light on influences such as Neil Young, Wilco, Johnny Cash and even the Black Keys. The first piece on the record, “Mrs. Jones,” hits you with a breath of fresh air. Swirling guitars and a whirlwind of melody are striking as they are accompanied by bright keys and on-point harmonies. This is a theme that carries throughout the record. Tracks such as “Never Know,” offer a softer side of the record, while personal favorite, “No More Mr Nice Guy” provides an in-your-face punch. Roberts’ vocals are gritty yet smooth, and perfectly fit the sound of the songs. “I Was Young,” reminds one a bit of early Ryan Adams’ Whiskeytown in vocals and musicianship. The accompanying violin is a beautiful touch. “Not That Special,” is a touching and intricate piece that is one of the highlights of the record. Roberts’ voice is definitely made for this music and is something that I have been enjoying more and more with every listen.

Purchase Billy Roberts and the Rough Riders’ l The Last of the Originals: http://billyrobertsandtheroughriders.bandcamp.com/