Browsing Category

Blues Music Blog & Promotion

cp howes plays the ‘Situational Worldwide Blues’

Posted on 27 February 2021
cp howes

Wisconsin-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, cp howes, lyrically captured the monotony of a lockdown lifestyle while freeing us from it with his liberatingly soulful infusion of Blues, RnB and Gospel in their latest single ‘Situational Worldwide Blues’.

‘situational worldwide blues’ sounds like it should be a paradox, the clever juxtaposition drives home the devastatingly unifying reality of our lives while refusing the listener to be saddened by it. The honkytonk piano, shimmering organ wails and the unique acoustics of a cigar-box-6-string guitar ensure that nothing but good vibes are transmitted on the airwaves through Situational Worldwide Blues.

You can check out cp howes’ latest single here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

D. Marin Perez – Los Angeles: 60s psych pop-tinged blues

Posted on 27 February 2021
D. Marin Perez

Through exposure to the Beatles and Mormon hymns in their formative years, Cuban-American singer-songwriter, D. Marin Perez’s signature sound is laden with soul so strident it practically shimmers.

“Los Angeles” is the first single to be released from their 2021 album ‘Change Is’. Their infusion of 60s psych pop, accordant Americana, blues and soul unravels as a burst of visceral sun-bleached optimistic-in-spite-of-awareness-suffering euphoria.

With vocals as tender as Elliott Smith’s and instrumentals which find their roots in old school blues, Los Angeles is a track which blossoms as a compassionate snapshot of the trials and tribulations of modern living without allowing you to be depressed by them. You may just find yourself with a renewed sense of gratitude and purpose to invoke positive change once Los Angeles has faded to a close.

You can hear by heading over to Bandcamp or the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sav Izzi – Mad Chill: avant-garde jazz funk-fusion

Posted on 26 February 2021

Modern avant-garde jazz funk-fusion probably isn’t a formal genre, but it certainly needs to be on the basis of Sav Izzi’s ‘Mad Chill’, the title track from his debut album ‘Mad Chill Sessions’.

A graduate of the famed Musicians Institute in California but hailing from Chicago, Illinois – the home of Chess Records and that perfect blend of blues, funk, and Motown known as Chicago Soul – and playing with the funk band BabyBrutha, Izzi presents us with a multi-instrumentalists delight, gorgeous mellow piano melding with jazzy guitar, snappy rim-shotted drums, and a smouldering collection of brass and woodwind, to create a mind-bending soundscape, part Louisiana parade, part smoky soul club. There’s a collective of some of Chicago’s finest young musicians here with some serious groove and chops. Overall ‘Mad Chill’ is a delicious, compelling look into the full ‘Mad Chill Sessions’ album itself.

You can hear ‘Mad Chill’ on YouTube, and check out Sav Izzy here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Hip hop and blues fusionist Avery Jacob has released his latest cavernous stormer of a single

Posted on 22 February 2021

Vibe alchemist and hip hop/blues fusionist, Avery Jacob has been on our radar ever since the release of their 2019 single, Sprit Cookin’. With his ability to exude the charisma of 1,000 cult leaders, we couldn’t help getting excited about how they’d follow on from the stormer of a soul-filling single.

Now that the world is infinitely more dystopic and depressing than when we were introduced to Avery Jacob, his luminary style is more visceral than ever. Their most recent release, ‘Storm Coming’, lyrically reflects the depressive thoughts which have implanted in our minds over the last 12 months as drum rolls trigger a tribal impulse to get adrenalized instead of apathetic.

The cavernous rolls of thunder which join Avery Jacob’s signature bluesy acoustic bass bends is enough to make Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl sound tame. Hit play, and you’ll find out how Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction felt during the adrenaline-shot-to-the-heart scene.

Storm Coming is available to stream via Spotify.

Head over to their official website for more info and ways to listen.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

The tough get going: Brett Weller runs through the walls of his past on ‘Marathon’

Posted on 22 February 2021

Brett Weller is done with the sprints around his mind and is ready to take on the ‘Marathon‘ of life on this soul-stirring new single.

Usually a blues, rock and funk artist, the humble family man Louisiana/Mississippi border-born and now Charleston, South Carolina-based indie artist Brett Weller, brings us more of an uplifting electronic rock and synth pop vibe for this inspirational track, to awaken your senses.

This is the poignant story of how you need to lace your own shoes in life, take responsibly for your actions and retrain your mind to prevent past struggles from cropping up again- so you can run head first towards the future. Your own mind is the blockage from spreading goodness in this world and if you can fix your own pipes, you can stream free and be happy inside the deepest part of your soul.

His voice is so joyful and he sings with such freedom and passion that fills your speakers with hope. We have all felt like we could do with some hope sometimes to push us in the right direction and this feels like one of these moments. The production matches this musicians goals as they blend his voice with stunning soundscapes of grace and spiritually-positive enlightenment.

‘Marathon‘ from South Carolina indie artist Brett Weller is a real spirit-guiding track that shows us that we can rise up, show strength for those we care about and run through the ashes of our past life. You can’t change what happened before but you can make your future better by being self-disciplined and by believing in yourself, you immediately open the door for good things to happen.

The tough ones that want it the most, usually win after all.

Hear this promising single with plenty of real meaning on Soundcloud and see more of his story on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

VIDA NOA – Wild Woman: a cliché-free emboldening celebration of femininity

Posted on 22 February 2021

Fans of Stevie Nicks won’t struggle to find the same appeal in the latest single to be released by trailblazing singer-songwriter, VIDA NOA.

Wild Woman is a cliché-free celebration of femininity. The single rings with the same empowering sentiment as Bikini Kill’s ‘Rebel Girl’ and resounds as VIDA NOA’s panoramic vocals work with uplifting guitar progressions which drip-feed euphoria with every bended bluesy note.

Wild Woman is a perfect slice of radio-ready Americana pop-rock which would attract you to the front of a festival crowd like a moth to a flame.

Wild Woman is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Just one night: Hannah Reem sings so gloriously on fantastic second single ‘Beg Steal Borrow’

Posted on 20 February 2021

With no scheme in mind, Hannah Reem is looking for one night to be with her crush she has eyes for, on the stunning new single ‘Beg Steal Borrow‘.

Hannah Reem is a phenomenal Hampshire, UK-based indie soul/jazz/blues singer-songwriter, with a voice so massively incredible, your heart will be alive and replenished with that genuine love again thanks to this special talent.

She delightfully fuses that rare kind of music together, that is blooded from her North African roots and British upbringing, you shiver as she sings right into your heart to give you a thrilling feeling of hearing that golden voice, that has your hairs standing up straight to attention.

This is that story about being alone for so long during this horrific pandemic and your desires are awakened when you see him. You just want him for one night ,so you can satisfy your urges and show him what he is missing out on. Your eyes are firmly latched onto him and you want him to realize that this will be a night he won’t ever forget.

The smokey blues and dynamic jazz influence fills you up instantly like a cuppa hot chocolate on a winter’s morning, as she has that tremendous tone inside her luscious lungs. You love the soul food that makes your mouth water with stupendous delight as you close your eyes, wondering how she sounds live on stage with the bright lights and warm embrace of the loving crowd.

‘Beg Steal Borrow‘ from the wonderfully cheeky cool Hampshire singer Hannah Reem, is that succulent and tasty single that you have been desiring to enter your body, that just takes your breath away instantly with her effortless charms and world class vocal delivery.

Hear this dazzling talent on Spotify and see more on her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

You remember those close moments: Secret Season are truly wonderful on ‘I Miss You’

Posted on 19 February 2021

Taken off their enthralling 7-track 5th album called ‘Closer‘, the mystical Secret Season return with a song that will make you reminisce named ‘I Miss You‘.

Secret Season are a fantastic husband and wife France-based Franco-American indie music duo, formed by Mark Moogalian and Isabelle Risacher. They somehow fuse alternative, blues, pop and rock, to a magnificent box of tasty treats, that nibbles sweetly at your senses and helps you deal with loss, lost love and memories you will always cherish.

After suffering severe injuries after bravely helping stop the 2015 Thalys train attack from getting worse, Mark has been slowly getting back to 100% after incredibly surviving from being shot in the back. The nerve damage in his left arm has been catastrophic for his career and the road long, but this is a fighter and he is almost back to full form, which is a testament to his love for music and the incredible support that Isabelle has provided throughout.

This is the sad story about how love fades sometimes and vanishes away from your heart. You enjoyed your real time together but things have ended and although you miss them so much, you know that things are over for a reason. You think of them often and miss your long walks but the path has closed and it’s time to find a new journey, to be at peace again.

They compliment each other so well and you can tell that they know each other’s next move, just like professional chess players. Their words intertwine and the lyrics are heartfelt with vocals that give your body shivers.

‘I Miss You‘ from fascinating Franco-American alt music duo Secret Season, brings you back to those classic mid-90’s days as they dazzle with marvelous melodies and hooks, that cuts your lip from biting it, as you get lost in their music.

Missing someone close is natural and the best way to move on is to remember the good times, take those moments to heal and to be graceful about the exit. Life gives us many unexpected detours and it’s up to us, to rise up when we have stumbled into the windy roads and get lost.

Stream this wonderfully serene single on Spotify and see more on FB.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Leifer brought the James Dean appeal to indie blues pop with their latest single ‘Say You’re Mine’

Posted on 17 February 2021

Leifer may be just one of the artists bringing blues into the mainstream by packaging it into sweet accessible alt-indie soundscapes, but the amorously archaic kick behind the grooves in his latest single, ‘Say You’re Mine’ hit like no other.

I’m not even sure if James Dean himself could have proclaimed to be as smooth as this melodically-crafted, funk-layered feat of deeply sensual neo-soul. The sense of intimacy seems to breathe through the polished production which finds the perfect balance between modernity and aural nostalgia. If you can imagine what the male equivalent to Amy Winehouse would sound like, you can get an idea of what is in store once you hit play.

Say You’re Mine is available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Forging your own path: Sometimes Julie are highly impressive on ‘Arachne’s Pride / Minerva’

Posted on 16 February 2021

Sometimes Julie are excellent yet again on the spine-tingling new single taken off the recent album ‘Where Are You?‘ and this exciting track is called ‘Arachne’s Pride / Minerva‘.

San Diego, California original six-piece indie-rock band Sometimes Julie make that electric music with hints of blues and Americana fusion, that gets you off your sleepy feet and automatically jumping up and down, satisfying your urge for live music until it returns. They have a exciting allure that makes you want to turn them up real loud so that you don’t miss out on anything.

This is the story of wanting to stay small and innocent as you don’t want to get wrapped up in anyone else’s issues and dreams. You are a person who likes to be free and do what you have set out to do for yourself and not be tied to anything that you don’t feel will serve you long-term. This is ultimately the way to live as to be truly happy inside, trusting your gut is the only way to go.

‘Arachne’s Pride / Minerva‘ from San Diego’s Sometimes Julie is a rip-roaring effort from the tremendous six-piece band who are breath-taking here with a sound that is so energetic and majestically powerful. They somehow mesh all six members in effortlessly and put on a show that dazzles the speakers and makes you wish you could watch them live at a festival as soon as possible.

In life you need to make your own path, otherwise you will live someone else’s and theirs might have many dangerous detours that will make you dusty and scarred.

Stream this electrifying track on Soundcloud and see more on the band’s IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen