by Jane Lambert

Brooks John Martin Steps into the Light on His Most Personal Album Yet

There’s a quiet kind of confidence in Brooks John Martin’s self-titled album. This is a gentle culmination of stories, years and identities and it is all laid out in this richly textured and deeply personal collection.

Listen in here:

After years of recording under names like Toast and Frank Hansen, Martin drops the masks. He is not hiding behind a character anymore. What we get instead is a record that’s stripped down emotionally, even as the music swells with orchestral grandeur and noir-folk atmosphere.

The opening track “Tide Will Carry Me Away” is the perfect opener, with rich textures and a chorus that feels dreamy and distant.

“Clear Blue Waters” captures the tension further. It’s soaked in longing, built on stacked harmonies that drift somewhere between the Beach Boys and a heatwave hallucination. Inspired by a cold winter night and a dream of Malibu, this song is escapist in spirit but haunted by real-world context – the fires that have since scarred the coast where its video was filmed.

Throughout the album, Martin brings a sound palette that is both nostalgic and cinematic. You can hear echoes of The National’s emotional weight, Radiohead’s spacious intensity and the stylized drama of Bowie’s later work – but it never feels derivative. This is a record with its own internal weather system, slow-moving and thunderous.

The haunting “Straight Over Me” plunges into brooding, noir-lit depths with its hypnotic chord progression and mournful strings echoing the album’s overarching themes of introspection and reckoning.

“Millions” hits especially hard – equal parts weary and anthemic, it is like someone trying to remember what hope feels like. And the orchestration across the board? Lush, deliberate and gorgeously produced, thanks to the production at Martin’s own Catamount Recording studio.

What makes this albums stick though is the feeling that this may be Martin’s final musical statement. There is a gravity to that, and also a freedom. These are not songs written to chase trends but they are here because they had to be. Because Brooks John Martin needed to say them, finally, in his own name.

Whether this is truly the end or just the end of a chapter, Brooks John Martin is definitely a record that lingers. It is not trying to impress, but just trying to be understood. And it is!

About Brooks John Martin

Brooks John Martin is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, whose work blends cinematic folk, abstract lyricism with lush orchestration. With a deep baritone voice and a stream-of-consciousness writing style, Martin writes emotionally resonant songs that feel both timeless and otherworldly.

After years of performing under various monikers – Toast, The Blue Danes, and Frank Hansen – Martin sheds all aliases on his fifth and most personal album to date, “Brooks John Martin.”

Raised in a musically rich household and trained on piano and guitar from a young age, he combines a lifelong passion for melody with the maturity of lived experience. The result is an album steeped in Brian Wilson-like grandeur and grounded in folk tradition, with nods to Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and the atmospheric stylings of Radiohead and The National.

Now the owner of Catamount Recording, Martin brings a producer’s ear and a poet’s heart to his music, favoring analog imperfection over digital polish. His latest album is more a statement of his art, a moment of artistic unmasking and, possibly, a final chapter. Honest, unfiltered and wholly himself.

Keep up to date with Brooks John Martin on his Website.

Stream music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.

04.01.25

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s WITH MASSEY

With latest single “Tattoo My Heart”, MASSEY has created a fever dream of desire and danger, set against the intoxicating pulse of New Orleans.

The song, anchored by Charlie Wooton’s seismic bass and electrified by dueling guitars from Peter Oravetz and Daniel Groover, captures the city’s magic where passion and mystery intertwine in equal measure.

But the story doesn’t end with the music.

The accompanying video takes this sultry, shadow-drenched world and brings it to life through a mesmerizing fusion of AI-generated imagery and cinematic storytelling. A hypnotic journey through the vibrant streets and smoky backrooms of New Orleans, the video mirrors the song’s themes of seduction, adventure, and the lasting imprint of an unforgettable encounter.

In this exclusive interview, MASSEY and Peter Oravetz pull back the curtain on the song’s origins, the inspirations behind the video’s haunting aesthetic, and the creative process that brought Tattoo My Heart to the screen.

From the funk-infused grooves that shaped the track to the city’s spellbinding energy that influenced its visual storytelling, this is the inside story of Tattoo My Heart.

Watch the Official Music Video here:

Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

My lead guitar player and oft-song writing partner, Peter Oravetz, actually wrote this entire song.

That said, we’ve both long had a romance with New Orleans, each attending JazzFest a half dozen times, exploring the great restaurants like K-Pauls, Patout’s, and Brennans, and visiting the river plantations and the bayous.

Peter says:

“The lyrics were inspired by the romantic dark side of New Orleans with voodoo and mojo references. Also, MASSEY and I have always been attracted to the funky side of things, whether it be the Neville Brothers, James Brown, or Dr. John. The hook for this particular track grew out of studying hybrid pickers (using pick and fingers) like David Grissom and Keith Richards. Marrying that percussive guitar line to a driving, Tower of Power-inspired bass line provided the synthesis for Tattoo My Heart.”

What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

The inspiration behind the video for Tattoo My Heart is the allure and mystery around every corner of New Orleans; The music, the food, the intoxicating atmosphere of the city at night and the sensuous free spirit of the people in the streets and the clubs. A reveler is almost uncontrollably drawn to the adventure, often tinged with a more than a bit of danger.
The city is an enchantress. A spell is cast. And she can never be separated from your soul, your heart.
Secrets are shared, or are they? A warm embrace , and then she is gone. Yet, no matter where you go, she is always with you, like a permanent mark . . .

What was the process of making the video?

Joe worked directly with the AI artist to come up with the images and the flow of the video.

The challenge was to ensure that each frame felt immersive and cohesive, maintaining a cinematic quality that matched the song’s hypnotic allure. The result is a swirling, surreal interpretation of New Orleans at night – a world of deep shadows, neon reflections, and fleeting encounters that linger like a memory you can’t shake. It perfectly capture the feeling of the song.

“Tattoo My Heart” is now available on all major streaming platforms:

Stream on Spotify

Watch the Official Music Video on YouTube

Follow MASSEY on his Website and Instagram

04.01.25

by Jane Lambert

Earl Patrick Re-imagines “Billie Jean” as a Ghostly Folk Confession

Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” is one of the most iconic songs of all time. Its hypnotic groove, pulsing bassline and undeniable energy helped define a generation.

But in Earl Patrick’s hands, the song is reborn as something entirely different: a stark, intimate folk ballad filled with quiet regret and eerie beauty.

Patrick strips away the familiar pop sheen and reveals “Billie Jean” for what it has always been at its core – a tragic story of deception, betrayal, guilt and the weight of consequence. Accompanied only by his nimble acoustic guitar, Patrick’s vocals carry the song with a hushed intensity, letting each lyric linger like a ghost from the past.

“Be careful who you love, be careful what you do, because a lie becomes the truth” no longer feels like a warning. It feels like a lesson learned too late.

Earl says about the song:

“When Thriller came out in 1983, I was seven and Michael Jackson was everywhere. I think that was probably one of the first times I saw someone have pop music success at that level. The second single, Billie Jean, is the one I remember falling in love with. As a kid, I really didn’t connect with the lyrics. It was just the music and the groove. As I got older and would hear the song again from time to time, I think I just connected with the sadness of the lyric which was overshadowed by the production, by the buoyancy and groove of the tune.

To me, the lyrics go deeper than the kind of surface level story. There’s a certain pathos to lines like “my mother always told me be careful who you love, be careful what you say because a lie becomes the truth” and “she came and stood right by me and the smell of her perfume, it happened way too soon….” I started messing with it and trying to find a way to really strip it back. Like what would it sound like if someone had written it on a single guitar without the dancing or the groove in mind. I feel like I found a certain blues quality when it’s all said and done, which makes sense – ultimately, I think it’s a song about longing on several different levels.”

The result is haunting. His fingerpicking gives the melody an almost blues-like quality, transforming the song into something weary and deeply personal.

Recorded in the quiet of his family home after his children had gone to sleep, Patrick’s version of “Billie Jean” carries an almost spectral presence. It’s the sound of someone sitting alone with their memories, reckoning with the past in the stillness of night.

As the lead single from his upcoming album “Smooth Runs The Water” this rendition sets the tone for what’s to come – a collection of re-imagined classics, stripped back to their barest elements and re-shaped through Patrick’s singular artistic lens. His “Billie Jean” is proof that even the most familiar songs can hold hidden depths, waiting for the right artist to uncover them.

“Billie Jean” is available now on all streaming platforms.

Follow Earl Patrick on his Website for updates on Smooth Runs The Water.

03.14.25

by Jane Lambert

Keyth Jones Releases Gritty New Single “Run To Me”

Keyth Jones has never been afraid to shake things up. Over the years, he has explored everything from the kaleidoscopic harmonies of Fractal Cat to the experimental edges of Plän Pläns, always taking his music somewhere new.

His latest single, “Run To Me” roars in with a different kind of mission, cutting through the noise with a blistering, fuzzed out garage rock rush.

Listen here:

This track is a raw, high energy homage to the rough and tumble 1960’s garage bands that lit up basement parties and dive bars before vanishing into crates of forgotten vinyl. As soon as the guitars kick in, it’s all speed, sweat, and grit.

There is an urgency; Jones sings like he has something to prove, his voice riding the distortion like a runaway train. The rhythm section is relentless, keeping the pulse pounding from start to finish.

Jones wrote “Run To Me” in the most fitting way possible – jamming with his wife on drums, chasing the thrill of loud, unfiltered rock n’ roll. That energy is baked into every note.

“Run to Me” came from a 2022 jam session with my wife on drums. I had just started playing electric guitar again and wanted to write a rocker that paid homage to the 60s garage bands. My buddy and I used to spend hours combing bargain bins in record stores for those bands. It was like a competition to see who could unearth the most obscure 60s relic. Then we’d go back to his basement and rock out, and we always felt like we were the only people in the world who cared about this stuff.”

But don’t mistake the song’s ragged edges for carelessness. Getting the right balance between loose and electrifyingly tight took serious effort. Jones has said that this was the toughest track to get right in the studio, with producer Miles Gannett helping to fine tune the chaos into something razor sharp.

This is the perfect preview to Jones’s upcoming “Love Yourself” EP, due out in April 2025. While the full project is set to explore themes of self-reflection and romance, “Run To Me” is all adrenaline. Rock and roll at its most immediate and infectious.

Whether you are a fan of The Sonics, The Stooges, or The White Stripes, this one demands to be played out loud!

Listen to “Run To Me” now on Spotify.

Keep up with Keyth Jones on his Website

03.04.25

by Jane Lambert

My Troubled Days Ignite a Fire with “The Burning Clock – Part 1”

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Some music feels like it was made for dimly lit rooms, neon reflections on rainy streets, and the kind of nights that stretch into something surreal.

My Troubled Days taps into that energy with their debut EP “The Burning Clock – Part 1” blending blues-soaked soul, gritty alternative rock and smoky psychedelia into something deeply evocative.

This five track release is lean, atmospheric and full of unexpected twists, never settling into one mood for too long, always pushing forward.

Listen in here:

It all begins with Endless, a slow-burning statement piece that simmers with bluesy guitar work and effortless vocals. There’s a sense of restraint in the verses; it carries the weight of Detroit grit but with a smoothness that recalls the best of ’90s alt-rock.

Crybaby (Day Dreams) flips the script, bringing a dreamlike bounce that somehow manages to feel both carefree and brooding. This is a track that walks the tightrope between light and dark, with sensual vocals leading the way like a whispered invitation to something unknown. The track never loses itself in the haze but it stays sharp, grounded in a groove that makes it impossible to ignore.

Then comes Always This Way (Broken Slowly), the EP’s moment of pure vulnerability. This isn’t a ballad in the traditional sense; it’s more of a slow unraveling. The guitars are delicate, while the vocals lay everything bare. There is a sense of heartbreak in each note, but it never stops to wallow – there is too much truth in storytelling for that.

With High Beams (Time to Go), there is an unapologetic blast of energy. This track struts with a mix of swagger and farewell, like the last drink before heading out into the night. The guitars shimmer, the rhythm section pulses like a heartbeat and the vocals soar in a way that makes it clear: this isn’t an ending, just the beginning of something bigger.

The EP closes with No Chains (Temptation), the band pulls another left turn, diving into a hypnotic swirl of psychedelia. A bit like a late-night hallucination swirling in echoes of classic ’60s rock, it’s moody, intoxicating and a little dangerous.

It’s clear that with “The Burning Clock – Part 1“, My Troubled Days have created a debut that isn’t just an introduction, but one that makes a lasting impression. This is music for the night owls, the seekers, the ones who crave something raw and real with each track telling its own story.

But, together, they create something larger than the sum of their parts. The clock is burning, and My Troubled Days are just getting started.

Find out more about My Troubled Days on the Website

02.28.25

by Jane Lambert

MASSEY’s New Single “Tattoo My Heart” – An Electrifying Ride Through Love and Mystery Featuring Charlie Wooton on Bass

MASSEY’s new single “Tattoo My Heart” is a visceral, no-holds-barred rock ‘n’ roll blast.

It’s gritty and unapologetically electric, taking you into a world where hard-driving guitars meet a mysterious and cinematic narrative.

Listen in here:

The song opens with an urgent riff, and it only intensifies from there. Peter Oravetz and Daniel Groover’s twin guitars cut through the mix, with their dueling solos creating a sense of tension and release that mirrors the track’s voodoo-inspired storyline. Charlie Wooton’s basslines pulse with a deep and powerful groove, while Doug Belote’s drums sound almost like the driven heartbeat throughout.

Each beat and riff sounds like it’s pushing the track forward as it develops into a feverish, all-consuming love story that the song paints. It’s about a relationship all wrapped up in mystery and obsession, where only one touch is enough to be forever marked.

But it’s MASSEY’s vocals that genuinely sell this track; his voice is commanding, direct, and full of emotion, and he has conviction behind each word. It’s the perfect vehicle for the story of a man caught under the spell of a mysterious voodoo priestess.

“Tattoo My Heart” was recorded at the now legendary Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana, and the setting proves to be the perfect backdrop for the song’s swampy and electrified energy.

The production is not too overdone, but it manages to capture the band’s live energy. There is that unmistakable New Orleans vibe, which also has a layer of mystique to the already cinematic feel.

The voodoo theme is reflected in the lyrics. “Tattoo My Heart” explores a love so intense and consuming that it leaves a mark on the soul. It draws the listener into a tale of passion and magic, of danger and allure. It’s the kind of story that is both intoxicating as well as unnerving. It’s almost like falling in love with something you know you have no control over.

Accompanying the single release is a striking music video where the story comes alive with a visual twist.

The video features young women seducing men, with tattoos on their skin glowing with an electric charge that pulses like lightning. This visual effect emphasizes the track’s themes of enchantment, obsession, and the irreversible impact of love. The glow of these tattoos becomes as mesmerizing as the song itself.

In MASSEY’s own words, this track is “Rock ‘n’ Roll alchemy – a spell designed to captivate and spark something deep within.”

And it’s easy to see why. It’s a potent blend of passion, musicianship, and authentic energy. An explosion of sound and emotion fills the space with an electrifying presence.