Kao Wonder Reveals Dance-Pop Release “Safe Space”

Love and Music are the tools used when our Hero, Raphel ‘Kao Wonder’ Faison, engages with the world to conquer hearts and inspire hope whenever he touches a stage. Hailing from the rough but authentic rough parts of Brooklyn, New York City, Käo got the calling at a very young age following under his Mother and Father’s shadow. He would hear his Mom sing beautiful tunes while doing chores around the house, and Dad was an instrumentalist (playing tuba) and DJ/MC for local but notarized Hip Hop Group Oddessy Disco. Finding his natural dance grooves by watching music videos of iconic Michael and Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Prince , and Chris Brown, Käo also had a fascination with his radio, jamming and singing alongside it as if he himself was singing mostly during the afternoon and even in the late nights. He began to take the next steps of Showmanship in middle school, majoring in Performing Arts.

Listen in here to “EVOLUTION:

Listen in here to “Safe Space”:

Connect with Kao Wonder here:

https://www.instagram.com/kao_wonder/

With the idea of infusing both dance and songs, he along with three others young men who had the same passion of song and dance, decided to form a male Boy Band called Illicit Vice which served as a ‘prohibited corruption‘ to the current Pop bands in the music world and lay a new trend of group identity. Because Pop music wasn’t a popular trend in the south at that time, the boys decided to pick up their vision and head to Los Angeles, CA to continue their path. Shortly after the move, Illicit Vice decided to break up for inconceivable differences. As heartbroken and frustrated as he was, Kao still continued to pursue this vision as a Solo Artist instead. Today, he continues to execute this vision, singing tunes of Self Awareness, Love, and Empowerment of the individual. His core element being still inspired by Dance and Electronic music, Kao hopes to bridge the past world with the present, using retro inspired ingredients as a foundation but layering it with personal edge, style, and attitude. Calling his fans his “Highs & Lows” ,which represents the people who are naturally energetic or a bit hopeless on life , Kao plans to lead a nation of warriors, whose goals are not to only enjoy the music and show experience he provides, but increase or a develop a strong sense of pride and ownership to themselves in the process.

The sultry voice of Courtney Cotter King in her newest single “Big Strong Man” is passionate and draws you in from the first piano note. 

Big Strong Man is a playful tribute to masculinity creating a lovely backdrop for femininity. “Light as a feather, when we’re together” is how she feels against his “gentle giant, nice grizzly bear” frame. Syncopated percussion, flirty echos and horns resembling early Fiona Apple, set the scene for Courtney’s vocal personality to come through in this jazzy number. Ultimately written for her tall, handsome husband; Courtney hopes it can boost a lot of guys out there and promote brands that serve the individual strengths of women and men.

Courtney was born with the piano as an appendage, and is inevitably attached to the keys. Her artistry drives her blue-eyed soul, singer-songwriter genre. Courtney is a mom of 3 under the age of 5. She hopes to inspire moms that creativity doesn’t have to stop when kids are created. She humorously balances gigging with nursing and finger painting with songwriting. “Marriage and motherhood has opened me to songs I could have never written without these sweet souls in my life.”

Star Goes Nova gives a persona to the most alive entity in our solar system, our planet Earth. Earth is a vibrant being, always with us and increasingly in pain. Electronica infused with influences of The Cult, Bono and Bowie weave an outcry to see all the powerful ways Earth is trying to reach us.

Star Goes Nova’s signature dubstep beat, ethereal synthesizers and Charles Law’s progressive rock electric guitar becomes the voice of Earth crying out that a real climate solution begins with appreciating what is right outside the window.

The Smashing Pumpkins-esque sound is eclectic and intriguing and leaves the ear wanting more. 

Inspired by the environmental personhood movement and the rivers that have been granted legal rights as a person (Whanganui River, Klamath River, Lake Erie, Bolivia’s Law of Rights of Mother Earth and more), Star Goes Nova brings us the plea from the personhood of Earth for acknowledgement and love.

Singer Songwriter and seasoned guitarist Dan Zalles’ new album, called Resting Place, transcends all genres of music and brings to life the pain and reality of the past year during a pandemic. His eclectic direction of five types of genres in one album is one that is both inspiring and courageous. The reflection of Zalles’ thoughts on this record are easily relatable and beautifully stated. This record is Dan Zalles’ “pandemic album” and will live on forever.

Dan Zalles produced all songs on this album aside from two, one being “Silver Moon in the Sky” which was produced by Marcus Barone. This song shines bright on the album with vocals lended by a wonderfully expressive ballad singer Bernadette Conant who takes the song to a whole new level. Her vocals along with Dan’s musical talent and Barone’s production elevates this song unlike any other on the album. 

The other side of the album is the song “In Between” which is influenced by a progressive rock and fusion band from the 70s such as John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck and King Crimson. 

All the songs contain plenty of guitar riffs and melodies (Dan Zalles’ specialty) but some tracks surprise the listener with added keys too. There is ample trumpet soloing, more than Dan has done on any of his prior solo albums. 

Resting Place shows no greater passion for his music as he plays almost all of the instruments on his album. He states he has never put his instrumental tracks on the same album as his vocal tracks until now, nor has he ever combined blues tracks with other types of tracks before. 

Listen to Resting Place now, you won’t want to miss this record.

Connect with Dan Zalles here.

Thomas Stajcer was trying to win someone over when he found the inspiration for “Midwestern States,” the title track from his upcoming album of the same name. 

The gentle Americana of this song captures those feelings of wondering, anticipating, hoping and longing that maybe that person does like you back, coupled with vivid imagery taken from classic American literature by Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck.

This soaring track develops gradually, buoyed by a subtle yet powerful beat by drummer Matt Gallant, as well as organ and banjo accompaniment. Come along for the journey with Thomas Stacjer across “Midwestern States.”

Friends from Church is an evolving one-man sonic project and live show by Paul Rivard. 

His ambient music evokes the feeling of having profound realizations on your deathbed. Hear shimmering, textured tones layered onto warm bassline nods in eerie new single “Handmade Son”.