by Jane Lambert

Dear Midnight Reveals Their Debut Electronic Pop and Downtempo Single “Fool’s Gold”

Dear Midnight is the San Francisco-based electronic music duo, who formed in 2020. The frontwoman, Jessa Callen, is a conservatory trained songwriter and harpist and has worked on productions such as Mozart in the Jungle, Bel Canto, and Confessions of a Shopaholic as well as a Cordless Recordings (Warner) artist with her group The Callen Sisters.

Dear Midnight blends wordsmithing with jazz harmony and electronic grooves to create songs that speak to the heart and soul of issues like the un-reality of social media, temptation, opioid addiction, and unconditional love. Both versatile multi-instrumentalists, they wrote and recorded their debut EP, Siren Song, in their home studio, combining 90’s trip-hop with electro-pop sensibilities, filtered through the lens of a singer-songwriter.

Their newest song from Siren Song was just released, entitled “Fool’s Gold.” This electronic pop and downtempo song has the sense and stylings of a singer/songwriter in the way it’s structured and performed. “Fool’s Gold” has a strong Tori Amos vibe throughout with a Goldfrapp or Massive Attack influence on the overall electronic sound. Jessa’s vocals are entrancing and the beat and melody makes you want to sway your body.

“Fool’s Gold explores the trope ‘all that glitters is not gold,’ concluding that things are not always as they seem and that beneath a glamorous façade there could be something else entirely,” shares Jessa. It’s a deep reminder that being so trusting can get you in trouble or cause pain.

Listen here:

Fool’s Gold is the band’s debut single from their upcoming EP, Siren Song, set for release on May 20th, 2022.

Find Dear Midnight via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud

03.28.22

by Jane Lambert

“Queen (of the Barstool Two-Step)” is Randie O’Neil’s Latest Single from her Upcoming Album

Randie O’Neil has done it again with her latest single, “Queen (of the Barstool Two-Step).” The country, Americana, and folk artist herself is breaking boundaries with this new track, fusing elements of alternative pop with folk, country, and rock all together in sound.

O’Neil describes her latest single as “actually a sad song about a lonely individual who just doesn’t want to be alone. They get dressed up and try to look their best and hope they don’t end up alone. They also know that it’s not true love but just alone in a crowd. It’s a covid song in that for lonely people, covid was even lonelier because there was no chance at connection.”

O’Neil puts her whole self into her writing and performances, using honest and witty lyrics about heartache and strength, paired with catchy melodies. With her roots-inspired sound, she has independently released multiple albums over the years. This latest single is one of many. With influences like Pat Benatar, Melissa Etheridge, and Fleetwood Mac you are sure to not be disappointed.

Make sure to go check out “Queen (of the Barstool Two-Step)”

Find Randie O’Neil via:

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

03.18.22

by Jane Lambert

Craig Norris Byrd Premieres His Debut Solo Album, ‘Remissions’

Craig Norris Byrd has no problem writing songs about the trials and tribulations that life throws at us. The folk-rock singer/songwriter takes the personal and makes it relatable with his conceptual music and lyrics. His debut album, Remissions, gives us a look at his passions and values. The 10 track album is heavy with a cathartic artistic statement where he purges his pain and struggle into his music. “I am not so interested in publicizing what I have done, but I am interested in sharing where this album comes from,” shares Craig . “This album is a personal statement I had to get out of the way before I could move on.”

Remissions pulls from many different folk traditions, and harkens us to the likes of Paul Simon and a little bit like Johnny Cash. It was solely composed, arranged, and produced by Byrd, but features a bevy of ace musicians supporting his fine songcraft.

The songs on the album take on darker themes. His song “Your Bud” is about his father’s descent into dementia and how he never got to fix their relationship. “He died with much regret and never got the chance to meet my two sons,” Craig shares. “His mental acuity steadily diminished and he met his death in a hospital when he woke up from back surgery and did not know who he was and what was going on. He was unrestrained and proceeded to tear out his sustenance and medication tubing and get up to try and leave. This resulted in physical trauma from which he never recovered.” He sings “And I was wrong to let the pain I went through/keep us so far apart until just now,” trying to grapple and cope with the memory of his father.

Not every song is as heavy as “Your Bud” and “Gina Rides a Tiger,” a song about his sister’s death by breast cancer. He also has a few love songs, like “Consuelo,” which is sung entirely in Spanish and dedicated to his wife. It even has a bit of Latin influence in the way he plays guitar. The song “Merge” is a conceptual take on love going beyond the physical and thinking more about the emotional and mental aspects.

Listen to Remissions:

https://soundcloud.com/cnbyrd/sets/remissions/s-zjdEMp2EwqJ?si=ac6d8097262443bd8bc9ca4be5e87bd1&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Needless to say, each song is vulnerable, raw, and poetic. What separates Craig from the pack is his openness and love for what he does. He writes music with a meaning, hoping to affect the lives of others in a positive way.

Find more on Craig Norris Byrd via:

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

03.16.22

by Jane Lambert

We Are in Love “Midnight Love” at Any Time of Day or Night

The new single “Midnight Love” by DJ Eliza May is entrancing and leaves you wanting more.

“I produced ‘Midnight Love’ in the beginning of the pandemic. I felt sad, lost and lonely, nothing felt right including my love life. Sometimes I felt numb both physically and mentally. All I really wanted was to feel loved but at that time I didn’t realize that love comes from within. Don’t ask for love – love yourself first and give love. You’ll see how everything changes. It took me 2 years to learn that and 2 years to release this song. I hope I was able to keep the emotions alive and make the track relatable.”

Eliza May is a DJ and producer based in Los Angeles. Her sets are an explosive mix of R&B, Hip-Hop, EDM, and Pop music with elements of turntablism and scratching. She has managed to gain an international audience, playing shows all across the globe, from LA to NYC, and France to Russia – her homeland. Eliza’s incredible DJing and production skills can be credited to her musical background as a classically trained pianist, as well as her mentors DJ Qbert and DJ I-Dee.

Eliza has released several original tracks including “Up In The Club” on UFO Recordz (#8 on Beatport’s Trap/Future Bass Top 100) and “BadMan” on Epidemic House Music, as well as some remixes, including J-Kwon “Tipsy”, Liam Payne ft Quavo “Strip That Down”, and Drake “God’s Plan”.

You can catch Eliza spinning regularly in the Los Angeles area, or in a number of cities across the country, including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, St Louis, D.C., and more.

“I was one of the youngest students in music school and my parents chose piano as my main instrument. I was at music school for eight years and although I finished it with merit, I never really enjoyed it. It required a lot of work, practice and missing out on fun times with friends (not that I had many of them, but still). Everything I did as a kid I tried to excel at (a true perfectionist). I was one of the best at my school (finished it with a gold medal), one of the best at my aikido group (received my blue belt very quickly) and I got a scholarship for university in Tyumen (about 15hrs drive from my hometown), so I moved there. By then I had stopped doing music for four years, but at university I was invited to work at a radio station. I was just turning songs on and off and talking during breaks. One day while scrolling vkontakte(Russian version of FB), I saw an advertisement for DJ courses. They offered a 1st lesson for free, I thought it was about radio DJing and decided to check it out. It was about club DJing. At that time, I knew nothing about it, couldn’t even tell the difference between trance and techno lol, but I had some free time, so I decided to stay and learn. I have always had the desire to learn new things and I liked it.”

Check out “Midnight Love”

Find DJ Eliza May via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud

03.14.22

by Jane Lambert

Eli Lev’s Latest Single Makes Us Dance in Our Chairs

Indie pop-folk singer/songwriter Eli Lev returns with his latest project born from the pandemic called Walk.Talk.Dance.Sing. The EP is set for release in April, though his string of releases from this project have already hit fans by storm. His catchy beat and infectious melodies married with his deep passion and love for his craft is what makes his work so inspiring.

He has released 3 singles previous to his most recent indie pop song “Vacation,” which was released in February. Each song was written about a specific emotion we all had during the pandemic. The first release, which inspired Walk.Talk.Dance.Sing, “Be Your Someone” is a nice Bon Ivor meets Ben Harper style sound about learning to coexist with your partner. This led to the next single, released a year later, called “Dancin’ on the Lawn,” a song with an Ed Sheeran vibe to it, is about the hope Eli has for the future of live music; he’s hopeful that we will all be together together again. Finally, “Move As You Do” is the slowest and most intentional. It takes on the ideas of the future and how fast you “should” be going to achieve life’s biggest moments. He takes is slow and says that he will get there when he gets there.

“Vacation” takes on a Jason Mraz vibe with a catchy beat and memorable lyrics. He sings about taking the little things in life during the lockdown and making them fun. He explains that it’s all about the mindset. “Escape! Travel! Movement! These three things were essentially non-existent and forbidden for two years during the pandemic so I wrote Vacation as a way to remind myself that everyday I could put myself in the same mental state if I was thankful for my partner and everything we had in life,” shares Eli. “We could be each other’s escape and peaceful feeling. I wrote this song turning all the mundane tasks of everyday living during the pandemic into something exotic and special and interesting – kind of like an extremely long vacation!”

Listen to Vacation here:

All his music is available for purchase and streaming now. Be on the lookout for his upcoming EP.

You can find Eli Lev via:

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

03.11.22

by Jane Lambert

EDM and DJ Duo, All of the Above, Premiere New Single “Inside My Head”

Jay and Sofia make up the DJ and electronic producing duo All of the Above, or AOTA. The Southern California duo is carving out a spot within the industry with their quality productions and groove-filled performances. With a musical background ranging from rock to metal, AOTA have crossed into the EDM genre to deliver a dynamic style and sound. With every release, the SoCal natives will have listeners engulfed into the world they create with atmospheric productions.

AOTA wouldn’t exist without Sofia, who pushes their musical boundaries. She’s dabbled in a few musical projects, ranging from drumming to guitar work. Her love for EDM and rock is what makes AOTA what it is. Jay brings in his own style and influence, with a love for EDM and Metal music. This influence is what gives Jay a different perspective on their music and what provides him a unique sound and style for creating and playing their music.

The recently released their newest single, “Inside My Head,” an EDM and tech house single that makes one feel at ease and calm. Unlike some of their other songs, “Inside My Head” isn’t meant to get one feeling hyped in the traditional sense of the word. Instead of increasing your energy for a party or rave, this song wants you to be mindful instead.

“Inside My Head” sustains a beat the whole time with occasional electronic riffs here and there. When the song gets to its climax, we hear “inside my head,” the only words in the song. While you may not hear this song at a rave, it shows AOTA’s musical range and their ability to explore sounds and styles. “’Inside My Head’ was inspired by the two and a half years of the pandemic where it was difficult to see friends and family and the toll it took on our mental health and fortitude,” shares AOTA. “Being unable to socialize in person and with the weight of worldy issues, politics, and personal matters, it became easy to feel trapped in a prison inside my head.”

Listen to “Inside My Head” here: