by Jane Lambert

Peter Calandra Shows Brilliance with new Album Release “Spirit”

Peter Calandra’s latest album, “Spirit,” offers a captivating blend of emotive piano compositions and ambient soundscapes, providing a sanctuary for listeners amidst the chaos of the modern world.

This brand new album consists of 10 original tracks as well as 3 re-imagined classics, reflecting Calandra’s journey from his teenage years to the present day.

The original compositions were curated from material improvised during the pandemic, recorded during Calandra’s Saturday Night Live Sets on YouTube. From these sessions, favorite pieces were selected to be included on the album, all of which are improvised. “Spirit” also features cover songs from Calandra’s earlier days performing in bar bands.

Each track on “Spirit” is meticulously crafted with attention to detail, with the album unfolding like a series of paintings. Layers of sound are carefully blended together.

Tracks such as “Joyful Light,” “Fading Memories,” and “Night Sky” show Calandra’s ability to convey deep emotions through delicate piano solos and ethereal textures.

A standout track on the album is “Layla,” where Calandra reinterprets this classic Eric Clapton song with serene notes and touches of gospel that bring a fresh perspective on the familiar melody.

Overall, “Spirit” offers a reprieve from the noise of the world, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in its beauty and solace. Calandra’s musical expertise shines through in every composition, reflecting his diverse career spanning Broadway productions, film scoring, and composing for prestigious events.

Peter Calandra, based in New York City, is a versatile composer, keyboardist, and guitarist renowned for his contributions to various realms of the music industry. With a remarkable career spanning decades, Calandra has left an indelible mark through his prolific output and diverse musical endeavors.

Notably, Calandra’s expertise in composing extends to the realm of film, where he has scored over 100 films, bringing his distinctive musical touch to a wide array of cinematic productions.

Additionally, his compositions have graced television screens globally, with over 2500 pieces created for TV broadcast.

Calandra’s talent for crafting memorable theme songs has garnered widespread acclaim, with his compositions for network television, including the FIFA World Cup Theme for Fox Sports, The Special Olympics World Games Theme for ESPN, and the Invictus Games Theme for ESPN, standing out as for his versatility as a composer.

In addition to his work in film and television, Calandra has established himself as a prolific recording artist, having released 15 albums of original music.

Calandra has also graced stages around the world, serving as a keyboardist for iconic productions such as the original Little Shop Of Horrors, Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, and The Lion King. His performances, both in theater orchestras as well as alongside esteemed artists such as NY Pops, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Aretha Franklin, further exemplify an ability to be versatile in genre.

Calandra shares his expertise as a teacher at the Aaron Copland School Of Music at Queens College, CUNY in New York City. Through his teaching, he continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of musicians.

Keep up to date with Peter Calandra:

Website / Facebook / Spotify / YouTube Music / Soundcloud

04.08.24

by Jane Lambert

Faint Halos Drops New Single “Something To Lose” Ahead of Album Release – A Must-Listen for Indie Rock Fans!

Faint Halos, the brainchild of singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Hashemi, has released their latest single, “Something To Lose,” from the eagerly awaited album “I can see a million lights.”

With a captivating blend of raw emotion and undeniable charm, “Something To Lose” delves into the introspective territory of questioning life choices, especially those that pertain to love and lost love.

Originally conceived with a modern rock sound upon its initial release in 2022, Paul Hashemi has taken the song in a fresh direction opting for a more intimate acoustic setup.

Reflecting on this fresh new take, Hashemi shares:

“After the original release, I felt drawn to explore a different dimension of the song. Stripping away the layers revealed a tender, almost folky quality that I wanted to bring to the forefront.”

The track narrates a poignant tale of lost love with intricate emotional lyrics and instrumentation.

“Something To Lose” exudes a lighthearted charm, seamlessly blending old-school indie rock sounds with a contemporary edge. With unconventional instrumentation, including a sofa repurposed as a kick drum, and the melodic richness of the accordion, Hashemi has an innovative approach within the indie rock genre.

The result is a refreshing departure in a sometimes-stagnant music scene of indie rock music today.

“Something To Lose” was recorded, mixed, and mastered in Paul’s home studio in Berwyn, Pennsylvania;. Vocals were also tracked at home in North Carolina. The instrumentation is two acoustic guitars, an accordion, and some couch slaps/floor stomps. (Although truth be told, the accordion and percussion were both MIDI and not real).

Paul’s daughter Cate joins in too, with vocal harmonies, lending a really bright sound.

Based in Philadelphia, Paul Hashemi is a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is influenced by his formal training in classical piano, viola, and violin, and has taken much from the vibrant music scene of the 1990s, touring extensively with various rock bands along the East Coast.

Paul says: “I play a half-dozen instruments and could never just focus on being a “singer” or “guitarist”, which is a really intriguing quality.

Despite a hiatus from music to prioritize familial responsibilities, Hashemi rediscovered his passion during the pandemic lockdown of 2020.

Under the moniker Faint Halos, he embarked on a new chapter in his musical career, crafting deeply introspective songs that explore themes of adulthood, fatherhood, and societal progress.

Connect with Faint Halos:
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Spotify / Soundcloud / YouTube Music

Listen to “Something To Lose” on Spotify and YouTube Music.

11.01.10

by kenami

Concert Photos of CMJ 2010

For a New Yorker such as myself who is deeply into modern music and the direction its headed, there simply is no time greater in the year then CMJ. Last year was my first taste of the five day long Music/Film festival and despite photographing musicians for a full year prior to the festival, never have I experienced such respect, access, and simple gratefulness from musicians for coming out and seeing them perform. What also made this an exciting time was interacting with fellow music fans from all over the world! 2010’s CMJ has ended and though it is sad to imagine such an amazing event being over I was lucky to capture some amazing moments during the concerts of the festival.

For me the festival started on Tuesday (the 19th) where I headed to Music Hall of Williamsburg. Not only did I get to photograph a Kevin Devine headlining gig (who in my opinion is one of the most talented musicians you can find) but since it was CMJ the support list was varied and filled with musicians I’ve never heard of. This gave me the privilege to photograph artists such as:

Oh Land. A Danish electro/pop duo.

Death On Two Wheels. A Georgian hard rock outfit which wears confidence on their sleeves.

River City Extension. An orchestral indie band who make sure their listeners are fully engulfed into their tunes.

Miniature Tigers. Festival favorites who stressed the importance of singing along to their songs.

and of course our hometown favorite, Kevin Devine.

The following day featured me and my girlfriend venturing to Madison Square Garden for a highly anticipated show. Indie heroes Phoenix were to grace the stage to celebrate their widely received album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. To everyones surprise old friends of theirs took the stage with them to everyones delight.

WAVVES kept everyones attention afloat with their infectious garage energy.

Dirty Projectors kept the momentum up with an Arcade Fire esque stage presence.

Phoenix and Daft Punk took the entire arena by surprise!

The excitement of CMJ just ran more rampant within me as a band I have been in love with all year finally made their way to the city. Two Door Cinema Club is the most recent export from Northern Ireland, a country which is considered a personal mecca to me in terms of music. Their Webster Hall gig totally sold out quickly and impressed everyone who attended, and I dare say even amaze also.

Grouplove redefined the word enthusiasm as they played through their set. Its always great to see a band thats truly thankful to be there.

Penguin Prison smoothed the crowd with their jazz toned vocals. Dancing was a must as this band made the stage their own.

"Holy shit New York! I can feel the fucking ground shaking from here from all your dancing!" shouted Alex Trimble as the band went into their hit single "Undercover Martyn"

The exhaustion of CMJ was beginning to seep in as I headed to my final gig of the festival. It also felt fitting having it take place in Music Hall of Williamsburg again. What kept me excited was seeing British newcomers Everything Everything. Their debut album Man Alive is certainly one of the most addictive releases of 2010 so far and highly recommended.

Porcelain Raft

Dominant Legs

Mr.Johnny Flynn definitely wins the award for making the most women swoon during CMJ. His honest and well constructed songs are also a firm plus.

Chapel Club aimed to pave the way for British indie bands in New York and surprisingly enough I'd say they were successful in stirring interest.

I clearly wasn't the only concert goer who was tired from the weeks activities, but the energy and stage presence of Everything Everything made us all forget for 30 minutes how tired we were.

Blood Red Shoes filled the room with smoke and ended the night with an explosive set that no one saw coming (or at least being as wicked as it was!)

And that is my recount of CMJ 2010. This has been my second year of taking part of the festival and it truly is a privilege not only to see these acts perform but to interact with these musicians and help spread the word about them. For more photos be sure to go here to enjoy a full gallery of each show I covered.