Exploring the Enigmatic: Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles Unveil ‘The Zodiac’

In a melodic reverie reminiscent of a bygone era, the latest offering from Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles, “The Zodiac,” conjures the ambiance of a clandestine 1950s jazz haunt straight out of the silver screen. Crafted in collaboration between lead singer Adrianne and keyboardist Matt Blanks, this enchanting composition transports its audience to the enigmatic confines of “The Zodiac,” an underground nexus of beatnik culture immortalized in the timeless film “Bell, Book, and Candle.”

Adrianne’s entrancing vocals, intertwined with Matt’s evocative keys, Dillon Young’s expressive guitar, and Elias Grimsley’s rhythmic precision on drums, coalesce into a mesmerizing fusion of swing, pop, and jazz infused with hints of psychedelic rock and soul. This distinctive blend, aptly dubbed “Spellbinding Jazz & Rock,” serves as a testament to the band’s penchant for genre-bending creativity.

Reflecting on the genesis of the track, Adrianne shares her inspiration drawn from the allure of “Bell, Book, and Candle” and the evocative imagery of “The Zodiac.” Collaborating with Matt, she envisioned a sonic narrative that seamlessly transitions from Latin-infused storytelling to the exhilarating crescendo of surf rock—a sonic journey that mirrors the revelry of its cinematic counterpart.

Hailing from Asheville, NC, Adrianne Blanks & The Oracles have carved a niche for themselves with their enthralling performances, weaving tales of witchcraft, maritime mythology, and urban intrigue. Drawing from influences as diverse as Jacques Demy’s visual aesthetics and the musical legacies of The Zombies and Serge Gainsbourg, their sound marries lush orchestration with the raw energy of vintage surf rock, captivating audiences across festivals and speakeasies alike.

Building upon the success of her debut single, “Words Are Spells,” Adrianne’s latest release, “The Zodiac,” reaffirms her prowess as a vocalist and storyteller. With accolades such as the Best Costumes & Wardrobe award at the 2023 Music Video Asheville and recognition from esteemed publications like Enchanted Living and The Wild Hunt, Adrianne continues to enchant listeners with her enchanting blend of musical mystique and theatrical flair.

Shane Heilman’s Latest Release “Psalm 51 (Forgive Me)” Takes the Worship World by Storm – Listen Now!

With over 45,000 YouTube subscribers, and more than 32,000 monthly Spotify streams, singer-songwriter Shane Hellman has a wide reaching and fast growing International audience. 

His latest release, “Psalm 51 (Forgive me)” forms part of The Psalms Project; an ambitious project to set all 150 Psalms to music. 

Each album release from The Psalms Project shows Heilman’s adeptness at bringing together contemporary melodies with ageless Psalms, captivating audiences worldwide.

Collaborations with renowned musicians and producers coupled with a firm commitment to keeping the essence of the ancient texts within a modern composition, have really solidified this project’s standing in worship music. 

“Psalm 51 (Forgive Me)” draws inspiration from King David’s plea of forgiveness. Through introspective lyrics and emotive melodies, this song offers a poignant respite and exploration of human frailty and redemption. And it tackles a difficult and deep topic.

Shane shares: 

As you probably know, it was written by David after committing adultery with Bathsheba and trying to cover it up by having her husband killed in battle. 

I was hesitant to even try to write a song that captured all of Psalm 51 with music. 

Charles Spurgeon, the famous preacher, even put off writing a commentary on Psalm 51 for weeks because he felt no words could to it justice! 

He said, “Such a psalm may be wept over, absorbed into the soul…but commented on – ah! where is he who having attempted it can do other than blush at his defeat?”

Yet, I’m happy to report, I did write, compose, and record a song (with some friends of mine) for all of Psalm 51!

I think it’s one of the best songs we’ve ever done.”

This soothing and beautiful rendition of Psalms 51 set to music is not only inspiring, but really demonstrates the transformative potential of music and faith. The very talented singer, Trot Lifto, provides exquisite vocals, with haunting piano chords and soaring strings. 

This song captures a sensitive treatment of what is a complex Psalm and subject matter, with simple melodies and accompaniment to create a very beautiful Psalm rendition. 

As the Psalms Projects drums up increasing popularity, Shane’s continues to have a steadfast commitment to translating all 150 Psalms to music, bringing universal themes of hope, forgiveness, and Divine love to the fore. 

The Psalms Project is led by singer/songwriter/producer Shane Heilman, and includes the collaboration of more than 70 accomplished musicians, including Grammy nominees Phil Keaggy and Jeff Duo to name just a few. 

Psalm 51 features singer Trot Lifto. 

Follow The Psalms Project Now Online:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube

Internationally Acclaimed Songstress and Pop Sensation Gabby B Unveils Two New Tracks Paying Tribute to Her Brazilian Roots

Renowned Brazilian singer/songwriter and iTunes chart-topper Gabby B has just released two exciting new songs – “Si No Sabias” and “Lickorish.” The artist has garnered international recognition, performed sold-out shows, and shared the stage with artists including Flo Rida, Ja Rule, Justina Valentine, Shaggy, Jax, and others.

 The Miami-based Gabby B’s two newest music videos and tracks continue her mission of empowering women, while having fun and exuding confidence that exemplifies her influence within relationships.

The Reggaeton-infused anthem “Si No Sabias” is about empowerment, independence, and moving on from past relationships. Sung in Spanish, Gabby B remarks, “Being a Brazilian Latina, there’s a lot about the rhythm in Reggaeton that’s similar to what I grew up listening to.” “Si No Sabias” is produced by Carlos Vidal Meijias (@CameBeats) and directed by Sebastian Andrade (@sebasfilms) of ORANGE. This Reggaeton was released on February 2, 2024, to fans worldwide via Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, iTunes, and various other streaming platforms. 

With “Lickorish,” Gabby takes inspiration from Brazilian Funk, delivering a high-energy track about rebellion, breaking free, and embracing one’s independence. Sung in Portuguese and English, the lyrics convey a playful and confident vibe, celebrating sensuality and living in the moment. The collaboration is written by Gabby B and Joseph Lopez (@MrHitRecord), with music produced by Lopez and a video also directed by Sebastian Andrade (@sebasfilms) of ORANGE. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, this new music video is out today February 16, 2024, to fans worldwide via Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, iTunes, and various other streaming platforms.

 “Brazilian Funk is a fun experience,” says Gabby B. “The lyrics are more playful, and sensual, and have repetitiveness. The chu-cha sound and repetitive ad-libs are my favorite part of every funk song.”

 In addition to her recording career, the multi-talented, multi-lingual Gabby B, based in South Florida, co-owns the independent label, Muy Bueno. She is also responsible for creating her choreography and she designs and makes all her performance costumes.

In 2023, Gabby released her single, “Leche,” produced by Emmy winner Joseph Lopez (@MrHitRecord) featuring Latin pop singer Vikina, a Mr. 305 Inc. (Pitbull) recording artist. Global Filmz (@ThinkGlobalFilmz) produced the video which has over half a million views across platforms. The Latin crossover has also garnered airplay support from Pitbull’s Globalization on Sirius XM from DJ Laz and DJXray, as well as WBTT 105.5 The Beat.

Filipino-Canadian R&B Singer MARZIA Shares Silky Lovestruck Debut “SHE IS HER”

Marzzhia Janine (MJ) Ancheta, mononymously known as MARZIA, is a Filipino-Canadian R&B singer born and raised in General Santos, Philippines. She has gained recognition around the world for her live performances and vocal range. MARZIA carries a strong influence from R&B, Soul and Pop music, citing Ariana Grande, H.E.R. and Giveon as inspirations.

Now releasing her debut single “SHE IS HER, the artist shares: “I wanted to emphasize how taking a hold of the right person is so important that instead of looking for the right person, be the right person. On the other hand, it’s also about a guy forgetting a girl’s value and it’s to remind him of how much she really means to him. It’s a realization on either partner’s side that you never realize what you have until it’s gone.”

FRANKIE FLOWERS Delivers on New Single “Lust”

FRANKIE FLOWERS is an emerging alternative artist from Waterloo, Ontario. She creates a genre-bending sound by merging her love for dark-wave and post-punk music, as well as combining elements from other genres. FRANKIE has a dark, psychedelic, and eclectic vibe that urges you to escape reality and experience the unknown. 

“You can lust for anything,” says FRANKIE. “People, money, power – we’re all longing for something.” Her aptly-titled new single “LUST” feels dark and desperate, with echo and reverb that drown out the verses, in contrast with the punchy chorus.

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.