Anya Parker-Lentz

Anya Parker-Lentz is a sixteen year old that can write music like she has been doing it for years. Anya reminds me greatly of Sara Bareilles. If you have never heard of Sara, check her out, she is fantastic and Anya is just as great. She writes deep and meaningful lyrics that are far beyond her years and that voice, amazing! How a girl Anya's age as so much depth is beyond me, but thank goodness she does! I have been listening to her for the past week and I am completely mesmerized.

Although I have enjoyed everything I have heard from Anya, I especially LOVE The Giving. Anyone who has ever been in a relationship where they gave everything they had and still ended up alone can relate to this song. Mission Possible is another song that Anya has written. This song is about a friend of hers that has a neurological movement disorder called Dystonia. It is incredibly moving and amazing how much Anya cares for her friend. She is not only a beautiful song writer with a gorgeous voice, but a lovely, caring person as well. 

To find more out about Anya visit her website link below and follow her on twitter @AnyaParkerLentz Keep an ear out for her because this will not be the last time you hear the name Anya Parker-Lentz!!!

www.anyaparkerlentz.com

DIG DUG DISASTER

Dig Dug Disaster's new e.p. StarsBurn will be coming out this fall. I have had the opportunity to hear StarsBurn in its entirety and well frankly, I haven't been able to stop! This album in absolutely amazing. It has a raw feel, but also very well put together. The genre is hard to place has there are sounds of pop, rock, and everything in between.

My favorite song on this e.p. is Come to Me. While listening to this song I cannot stop moving around. The song is energetic and masterfully done! As all my readers know, I am a huge fan of lyrics and the lyrics for Come to Me are fantastic. They seem to be coming from someone that really wants to be with the person that they are in love with, but the person of object does not want the same things. I get a lot of feeling from this song and I love that.



The rest of the e.p. is just as good and I strongly suggest everyone check it out! The link below is where you can learn more and you can also follow on twitter for more information: @DiGDuGDiSaSTeR
http://digdugdisaster.com/

As always thanks for reading! Enjoy StarsBurn and don't forget to donate...more information is on the website above...

Kati Mac

It has been awhile since I have written about any music. Not because I haven't been listening, but because I have been incredibly busy. With no further ado, my next blog is on the lovely singer/songwriter Kati Mac. 

Kati Mac has a voice that is soothing, and at the same time a little bit angry, on the album Save Me From Myself. My absolute favorite on this album is the song titled Bullet Hole Road. It is gritty, angry, sad, and  a bit empowering. Kati is not new to the scene, but this album is different from others she has done, and I say BRAVO!

To learn more about Kati Mac follow the link below! She is definitely worth a listen...

www.katimac.com 

Antioquia

I've always been a fan a music that sounds a little different than the normal everyday, dare I say crap, that is heard on the radio.  So, when I found the band Antioquia I just knew I had to share them with all of my readers. Pronounced an-tee-OH-kee-ah, even their name is out of the ordinary, which by the way is fantastic!


Their most current album is titled Viajero and every song on the album is unique (another hard thing to find these days).  I love funk and Antioquia is funky to the max.  The first time I really listened to them I was driving and I almost had to pull over so that I could get out and dance.  If you don't want to dance around while listening to this album, then perhaps you should re-listen because it is impossible not to move when their music is playing.  I can only imagine what a live show is like, but from everything I have read, seeing them live is incredible.  If I am ever in an area that they are playing, you can bet I will be at that show!


Check Antioquia out at the link below and be prepared to get funky!

http://antioquia-band.com/

Matt Wilson Band

I am a huge fan of Billy Joel and when  I found Matt Wilson Band I was absolutely ecstatic! I heard a cover of Billy Joel's She's Always a Woman by Matt Wilson Band and just had to hear more. The album Volume 2000-2010 has a Billy Joel vibe, but in it's own unique way. To any of my readers that enjoy blues, jazz, and the piano, this album and band is definitely for you.


The album has ten songs and every single one of them is worth a listen. My favorite, besides the Billy Joel cover of course, is definitely Press On. I love the message in the song: No matter what cards life deals you, you just keep on going...I truly believe this is a message everyone should live by and this song is a great reminder of that.


Matt Wilson is a seasoned performer and by listening to Volume 2000-2010 this is extremely evident. Boy can that man tickle those ivories! Are you intrigued yet? I bet you are, so below is the website where you can learn more about the Matt Wilson Band. The album Volume 2000-2010 can also be found on iTunes, so what are you waiting for....check this band out!!!!

http://www.mattwilsonband.com/

Vintage Blue

Vintage Blue is a band that is a must listen.  Being a teenager in the late '90s, Vintage Blue brings me back to that time. FYI: I loved it! They have a style that is fantastic, mainly because it is not just one style. These guys can do just about anything and it sounds wonderful.  I wanted to know more about this band and what makes them tick, so here is an email interview that was conducted with one of the members, Ben.


Give me a short history/background of yourself? (where did you grow up, where you live now, how old you were when music first effected your life)



I (Ben Bassett) was born on the East Coast in Pittsfield, MA but moved to the West Coast whenI was very young. I grew up in Monterey, CA and Chico, CA. Monterey is a beautiful town onthe Monterey bay near Pebble Beach and the Carmel Valley. It is one of the most scenic areasI have ever been and someday I hope to live there again. Chico is a college town and is in theNorthern California valley. It is a great place to raise a family and a very comfortable communitywhere people very rarely leave. I left California when I went away for college in the Midwest. Ihave been there ever since, moving from college (in St. Louis), to Chicago to pursue an advanceddegree.Music has been a part of my life since I was very little. My step-father had a degree in musicand was a very talented musician in his own right. We always had a piano in the house and heoften filled the house with the sound of classic rock and soul/funk tunes that he and my momreally enjoyed. When I was old enough, my step-dad, step-brother and I would team up aroundthe piano and learn three-part harmonies to Beatles tunes and other great rock n’ roll classics.Those early lessons continue to guide me today.

1       

      If you could describe your music, how would you?

We use the tagline “Contemporary. Classic. Rock.” We think that line best defines what weare. We all grew up on the classic rock of The Eagles, Queen, Tom Petty, The Doors, CCR andThe Boss, so when we started writing music together those influences naturally came through.But you cannot just emulate what has come before, you should build on it. So we tried toadd a more contemporary edge on some of the tunes with some synth, crunchy guitar andincorporated layered horns and harmonies.If you listen to our record you will see that our music covers a handful of sub-genres from ska, toblues, to folk. Because all these influences are felt on our record, there is something for everyfan of rock and roll. There is even a song with a string section!!

1     

         Favorite song?, band?

I HATE THIS QUESTION!!! Ha ha ha. I have so many bands and songs that I love, it really
depends on the day, my disposition and the color of my mood ring. Some of my favorite artists
that have always been on my mix-tapes are Aerosmith, Nirvana, The Doors, Foo Fighters, Frank
Sinatra, Steely Dan and SRV. While many in my band think I am crazy, I also have a TON of pop
music. There is a reason that pop music will never die. Sometimes you just want something
light and fun! As far as favorite songs … ugh. A young lady I recently started investigating
has turned me on to the newer dubstep and indie artists and I have been repeatedly listening
to “One on One” by The Bird and the Bee. It is a re-make of the old Hall n’ Oates tune. Pretty
awesome and sensual.

        What do you do besides making music?

Why would I do anything besides make music? In all honesty, making music, when donecorrectly and with feeling and emotion generally takes a lot of time and consideration. You areconstantly analyzing everyday thoughts and extrapolating lyrics or ideas. But as a band we allhave our 9-5 jobs and do the whole “job” thing. We are all very grateful to have careers thatalso allow us to pursue our love of music. Outside of that, we do the usual things, hang out,go eat and drink at our favorite spots here in Chicago. We also spend a ton of time supportingother local bands that have supported us. We try to get out and hit the local music scene asmuch as we can.

       

        What are your hopes and/or plans for the feature with your music?

Personally, I cannot imagine my life without music as a key part of it. The process of making ourfirst record brought so much good fortune into our life. We met our producer Jamie Candiloro(REM, Ryan Adams), played shows with Sister Hazel, Vertical Horizon and Richard Marx, we haveplayed several shows at some of the most prestigious Chicago music venues, and we have hadour record passed to some of the most influential names in the music industry. I continue tosoak up the connections we have made and the success we have had with this first record havedriven us to already begin work on a follow-up record. Ultimately we have no idea where ourmusic will take us, but we all would love to keep our band growing and keep moving ahead,exposing our music to new fans and new people all over the world.
     
My favorite part of this interview is the answer, "Why would I do anything besides music?" What a perfect answer. Vintage Blue is based out of Chicago, and for most of my readers, that is not very far away. So my advice, check these guys out and if you dig them (which I am guaranteeing you will) go see them.  Below is the link to their website. Their music can also be found on iTunes. I cannot forget to mention that my favorite song on their album Strike the Mics is Unchained. It's the scream, it's definitely the scream!

http://vintagebluemusic.com

Obsession Interview

Electronic music is not really my genre of expertise, nor something I listen to often, but I must say when hearing Obsession for the first time I was quite impressed.  I am not one who would go to a club and dance, however, I was definitely "moving" while listening to Obsession. This made me want to know more about them, so I sent them an interview. Jonathon and Aryn are the members of Obsession and the following is the interview that was sent to them.

 1. Give me a short history/background of yourself? (where did you grow up, where you live now, how old you were when music first effected your life)

We were both born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and raised in the same place. Currently we still live in the Indianapolis area. Growing up, both of us listened to all types of music from Pop to Country, Rock to R&B, and everything in between. We were heavily influenced by the major stars of the industry. Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and many others were all a big impact on both of our lives. Music got us through every issue we had growing up.


2. If you could describe your music, how would you?


The goal of what we try to do with our music is to get people dancing, and to get them excited. When everything else in life is difficult and stressful, music can completely change a person's mood, even just for a few minutes. We want people to have a good time when they hear our songs. We also want to spread around positivity and empowerment to all those who feel like he or she could never make a difference to someone else's life.


3. Favorite song?, band? 



We are both obsessed with Britney Spears at the moment. Everything that she does encompasses what we would like to accomplish. She has been in the industry for a long time & has been successful, and that is extremely difficult to do. She is the true definition of an entertainer. Right now Aryn's favorite song is "Give Me All Your Luvin'" by Madonna, and Jonathan's favorite song is "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson.



4. What do you do besides making music? 


We both truly revolve our lives around music. Jonathan enjoys going to the gym and laying in the sun, as well as designing personalized clothing items (sunglasses, t-shirts, jeans, etc). Aryn loves to dance and create choreography routines for performances, watching movies, and socializing. We are both very outgoing people and love to have fun with any opportunity.



5. What are your hopes and/or plans for the feature with your music?


We hope to go on tour soon, and finally see some of our fans in other countries. Our South American, Australian, and European fans have given us a huge deal of support. Other than touring, we are currently working on an album titled "Global Domination" that is VERY soon to be released. We only want the best quality and sound for our fans, so we decided to take the recording process slow to achieve that. We also hope to eventually be signed to a label, and that way we know that we are reaching as many people as possible through radio, television, etc. We always tell everyone that we meet to keep an eye out for us, because we will be taking over the world with our music!

If you are intrigued by these answers, or just want to hear some fantastic electronic music with lyrics that make you think and a beat that makes you want to move, check out Obsession's website.  Their music can also be found on Amazon and iTunes.

 http://officialobsession.com/

A Little Break

Hello to all of my readers! I am posting this to let everyone know I have not quit writing this blog, but am terribly busy with school, so I am taking a bit of a hiatus from the blog. Probably just a week or two. During the break I will be looking for new artist to write about. If you have anyone in mind send me an email and I would be glad to check them out. Thanks for reading....


Brandy


bkbohm29@gmail.com 


(email address)

Hunter Reese Interview

Most of my readers know I have been interning for the website HumanFanKind doing Public Relations and that is how I found this amazing artist.  This entry is going to be a bit different from the previous reviews and will include an interview as well as my review.


Hunter Reese is definitely one of a kind.  The first time I listened to his album I was impressed by the complexity of what Reese is portraying with his lyrics.  This guy has quite a mind...

BMR: Give me a short history/background of yourself? (where did you grow up, where you live now,
how old you were when music first effected your life)

HR: "I was born in Turlock, CA and I was raised not too far from there in the small town of Stevinson, CA. I
went to Hilmar High School, the same high school as Dot Jones from Glee.
I appreciate having grown up in a small town now, but at the time I really hated it, I felt stifled
by the small-town atmosphere. My saving grace was my involvement in extra curricular activities. The
one I’m particularly proud of is FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), I was a Central Section
officer, I believe we represented 29 schools in California.
I met a lot of people through FBLA so the summer of 2009 I decided I would go on a road trip and visit
some of them. I stopped in San Francisco for a few days and then went to Denver, CO. When I arrived
in Denver, I loved it so much I decided to stay. I used to joke and say that the only reason I stayed was
because I didn’t want to drive back (I didn’t really care for the 23 hour drive) but looking back I think
that was a part of my motivation to make Denver my new home.
I went to school there and also worked for a great Career Center. Working there saved my life, it was
there that I realized that committing to my dreams of being “an artist” was the only logical path for
me. The career assessments said it, and my heart believed it. So I got the guts and began taking acting
classes. I was 100% certain that acting was “it” for me, then in late April 2011 I met a producer through
my good friend Sami.
I wrote my first song “The Age of Young” that same week after Google’ing and studying a few days, then
just dove in. I ended up writing somewhere around 150 songs and melodies for this album, I lost all of
them when my hard drive crashed, except for the 10 on the album. Many of the songs in the album
were inspired by my love for conspiracy theories but also by my emotional state at the time, which was
chaotic. Once I was done recording the vocals and writing the songs I moved to Los Angeles. I had always
wanted to live in LA but I was always too scared to commit. Having the album gave me the reason and
the confidence."

BMR: If you could describe your music, how would you?

HR: "I would definitely describe my album as eclectic, it is a reflection of me and my eagerness to incorporate all of my likes into one
compilation. This album was definitely a learning experience, I explored various genres and in
turn produced a genre-varied album. So I guess I would describe my current music as eclectic
but I would like to progress into something a bit more creepy, dark, Classical and Rock-ish. More
along the lines of the song "Conspiracy Theories".”

BMR: Favorite song?, band? 

HR: "The favorite song award, for me, is an equal split between “Stairway
to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin and “Desperado” by the Eagles. They’re my go-to songs when
I need to get sounds out of the vox. :) My favorite band isn’t a band, it’s Micheal Jackson!
“Human Nature” ranks up there on the top reasons why I love him, but I also own a DVD from
his Dangerous tour, I never went to any of his concerts but that DVD is a glimpse into how
amazingly well he lives up to the role of “Entertainer".”

BMR: What do you do besides making music?

HR: "I do A LOT of soul-searching. I feel very connected to a
part of me which I like to refer to as my “higher-self.” It’s the part of me which I turn to when I
need wisdom, a change of perspective or an articulate and eloquent way of justifying my actions
haha. I also find myself facing various challenges on a daily basis and I use these challenges as
excellent opportunities for me to teach myself to overcome negative emotions or character-faults.
I have changed a lot, and am constantly changing. I’ll know that I’ve done something
wrong if I am still the same person 5 years from now, or even a month from now."

By now I am sure you are intrigued, so below is a link where you can find Reese's Facebook page.  Reese is also on Twitter.  Follow him, like him, and it will for sure pay off.  This guy will be going places!!!

http://www.facebook.com/HunterReeseMusic?sk=app_131686150237656

Pheroze

Pheroze was a great find for me! I am a product of bands like Alice in Chains and Guns n Roses, which are my two favorite in this genre, and Pheroze brought me back to the days when I would rock out with my old roommates and great friends a million years ago! Yup, those were the days...


I recently listened to Pheroze's most recent album Crows Into Swine, and I must say, I am super impressed. Especially because Pheroze tends to do most of the record making process himself. That is a true musician right there. Also I must mention that his lyrics have a depth to them that I find to be absent from a lot of music, especially in the harder rock area these days. 


Pheroze is on Twitter and Facebook, and you can purchase his music on iTunes. Follow the link below to read and hear more about/from Pheroze. His story is an interesting one. I urge my readers to check him out even if this genre isn't your favorite. Pheroze has great things to say and he should be heard!

http://pheroze.com/

Ingrid Michaelson: Human Again

I have been excited for the release of Ingrid Michaelson's new album Human Again for months and it has finally been released. Was my excitement wasted? No Way!!! This album is incredible. It is classic Ingrid, but with a twist. Her previous albums (I love them all) have been quite different from this one. Human Again has more of a rock vibe to it then her previous albums. There are a few songs with a funk presences and the lyrics on this album are amazing!

The first song on the album, Fire, prepares the listener for quite a treat. "Open heart surgery, that is what you do to me." This is the first line in the song, and it sets up the feel of the rest of the album. The album has a after a horrible break up vibe, as well as an I still love you vibe. It is that exact struggle that makes a person human, hence the title Human Again.

My favorite song on the album (right now) is I'm Through. The lyrics to the song just make sense to me. Who hasn't been through something in the past and wanted to blame it on someone else, "It's all because of you I'm through." Although I have learned that I make my own choices, I have felt this way more than once. This song also shows off Ingrid's voice. Wow, can this girl sing or what?

The last song I will write about is Black and Blue. This song is fantastic with it's funk feel. The lyrics once again are discussing something of a break-up, "Everybody knows that I'm a mess, everybody knows you stole the heart from out my chest." Either Ingrid dealt with an awful relationship and was inspired to write this album, or she is channeling every woman who has been fooled. Whatever it is, this album is wonderful.

Human Again displays how Ingrid has grown as a songwriter and the sound is different from anything we have ever heard from her. If you have been a fan in the past, this album is a must listen. If you have never heard any of Ingrid's music, get with the program and check her out!

Secret Skwirl

My favorite kind of music is from the 1960's and 1970's, although I like today's music too, there was just something about that time that made music wonderful. It could have been what was going on politically and socially at the time, but I think it was a bit more. Secret Skwirl reminds me of the music from those times, but with a modern feel. I am reminded of The Beatles, Chicago, and the older recordings of Pink Floyd when listening to Secret Skwril.


I particularly enjoy the song Jeez Louise. I love the lyric, "What matters more is what your not, than what you are." How true is that? I also love how Jeez Louise has a double meaning. I say jeez louise all the time and never is there really a Louise around. In the song, Jeez Louise is a person, and it could also be refering to the saying. Brilliant, right?


Secret Skwirl is GREAT at what they do. I listened to the album Nothing is Real and fell in love. I rarely find this genre of music anymore, and done so well. Check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and purchase their album on iTunes. I strongly suggest my readers to give them a listen. As I said before, they are a rare band, one that we do not find a lot today, and most enjoyable. Their music, bio, etc. can be found on their website below.

http://secretskwirl.com/

Susan Picking

I have always been a fan of folk music and Susan Picking is one of the best I have heard in a long time. I would not say she is completely folk though. She is an amazing singer/songwriter and she even has the certificates to prove it!

With the holidays just getting over, I had a lot of cleaning to do (mostly from taking advantage of my recent break) and I decided I would listen to Wonder in the Wander by Susan Picking. Not only is the title of the record brilliant, but so is the record itself. It actually made my cleaning frenzy seem not only bearable (I loath cleaning), but dare I say fun?! Yup, I dare, and look forward to dancing around with the broom again. The lyrics are thoughtful. The music is whimsical. This album is a must listen.

I usually promise that listening to what I write about will not be regretted, and I will once again, but I also must promise that NOT listening to Susan Picking will be regretted. Her music can be found on iTunes, as well as at her website listed below. Enjoy this one folks!!!

http://susanleighpicking.com/