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Jazz

Ellen Mara Band sparked jazz-fusion liberation with ‘Burnout’

Posted on 29 November 2024
Ellen Mara Band

‘Burnout’ by the Ellen Mara Band transcends unravelling as a sign of the times; it liberates the listener from the exhausted frustration of feeling as though there aren’t enough hours in the day to tend to the excessive demands of modernity.

While there was once a time when burnout was considered an individual problem, consciousness of the systemic social issue is starting to become a major part of the discourse. Exemplified by this all-serotonin, no-brakes jazz fusion tour de force. The track wraps you up within the technically proficient sonic emancipation as the band’s ability to balance consolation with euphoria and affirming lyricism is proven to be superlatively second to none—if their sound is this sweet recorded, you better prepare for the sugar rush if you see them live.

Recently rebranding from a solo project to a full band in preparation for their 2025 album release, Ellen Mara still takes her place as the frontwoman, sharing heartfelt life learnings through carefully crafted melodies, intricate arrangements, and playful grooves. In collaboration with her partner and co-writer Will Sutcliffe and their talented band members, the Ellen Mara Band offers an authentic fusion of Soul, R&B, Rock, and Jazz. They’ve earned a reputation in the Sydney live music scene and have recently captured the attention of renowned U.S. soul singer Allen Stone, making their international debut at Stone’s annual festival ‘Stone Family Field Trip’ in Washington in October 2024.

If you do one thing today, tune into the soul-provoking expression of resilience and join the groove-driven Ellen Mara Band revolution.

Burnout will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from November 29th;

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tom Waits Meets Ricky Martin in THE Astrolabe’s pop mood elevator,  Lovers

Posted on 13 October 2024

THE Astrolabe became the superlative king of cosmic pop sex appeal with his latest single, Lovers. If you thought Ricky Martin’s Livin la vida loca was sonically seductive, brace yourself for the affectingly aphrodisiacal energy of Lovers, which alchemises Latino rhythms with Bowie-esque space dust and jazzy grooves, creating a genre-fluid tour de force that sweeps through the soul with maximum volition.

Following a prelude that nods to Kraftwerk, the Athens-hailing innovator’s vocals croon into the mix, allowing you to imagine how Waits’ discography would have unfolded if he was just as adept at wrapping his gruff timbres around pop hooks. In the choruses, the peerless singer-songwriter proves he’s equally comfortable in a more harmonic register as his vocal notes soar with the brass section.

We are officially obsessed with THE Astrolabe and his endlessly uplifting cultivated sound that goes beyond setting a tone; his ability to command your entire mood is second to none. For your own sake, get him on your radar.

Lovers started serenading the airwaves on October 3rd; get hot under the collar with it by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Swirling Smoke and String Mastery in Peter Trappen’s ‘Cottonmouth Blues’

Posted on 8 September 2024
https://soundcloud.com/pete-trappen/cottonmouth-blues

Peter Trappen, with his four decades of experience and a Grammy nod under his belt, became a blues mesmerist with his latest single, Cottonmouth Blues.

The atmosphere of a blues bar unfurls through the release as Trappen’s textured Jim Morrison and Jimmy Buffet-esque croons drape over the guitar progressions which testify to his intuitive connection with his fretboard and his ability to materialise seductive echoes of alchemy with his notes.

Reminiscent of Eric Clapton’s and Mark Knopfler’s deft grooves, the guitars are an aphrodisiac to the rhythmic pulses as they introduce the sound and soul of a man who has soaked in the flavours of Motown, Memphis Soul, and Chicago Blues. The Epiphone Les Paul through a cranked Fender Blues Jr. ensures every note is a reverent whisper to blues’ storied past and a bold statement in its ongoing evolution.

The backing instrumentation, featuring stalwarts like Paul Hirsh on keys and Martin Ditcham on drums, complements Trappen’s work perfectly, making every moment of the track resonate with bluesy purity.

Stream Cottonmouth Blues on SoundCloud now and follow Peter Trappen on Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jazz underpins electro-pop in NxC’s comeback track, Can’t Get You Out of My Head

Posted on 23 August 2024

From the province of Laguna, NxC, a dynamic pop duo, has re-emerged in the limelight with a comeback that dares to share a title with Kylie Minogue’s famed hit, Can’t Get You Out of My Head. It was a bold titular choice, but that’s nothing compared to the endlessly evolving innovation caged within the progressive anthem.

Nikki Culing and Cedric Patangan, who first harmonised in their high school choir and later in various local bands, entered uncharted territory with Can’t Get You Out of My Head which amalgamates the nostalgia of disco pop with the edge of synth sequences and the spontaneity of jazz, presenting a track as layered as their musical background.

After a brief hiatus after their initial single, Peach Fizz, NxC’s sound is more honed than ever. Their comeback initiates with a tease of classic house pop, swiftly morphing through a spectrum of sounds that defy simple categorisation. With Nikki’s euphorically infectious vocals and guitar alongside Cedric’s multifaceted mastery of keys and bass, the duo navigates through hyper-pop highs and rap-infused rhythms, making each transition a head-spinning hit of serotonin.

Every beat of Can’t Get You Out of My Head promises an adrenaline rush of sonic surprises – brace yourself before you hit play.

Can’t Get You Out of My Head hit the airwaves on August 10th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: The LA Prog RnB supercluster of creatives, No False Ego, is all about the vibes in their authenticity-advocating debut single, We Are the Soul

Posted on 7 August 2024

In their debut single, We Are the Soul, LA’s Prog RnB collective No False Ego introduces themselves with a resonant proclamation of authenticity, amplified through an exploratively diverse sonic expanse. The blend of jazzy saxophones, indie guitar licks, and fluid genre transitions are undeniable attestations to how No False Ego is leading by example with their unique vision.

Fronted by the ethereal vocals of Kassandra, the track weaves through groove pockets of dreamy reverie, underpinned by a rich tapestry of sounds that reflect the band’s ethos of genuine self-expression. The production, crafted in the Big Bad Band Studios and finely tuned by Camilo Cedeno and Ronnie Silos, underscores a polished, heartfelt debut that promises so much for the future of the collective.

With a backbone of seasoned musicians including Steve Murillo on sax and keys, Carter on bass, Corey Scimenes on guitar, and Roach on drums, No False Ego is a veritable supercluster of creative minds with a clear message everyone should heed: embrace your authentic self, ditch the façade, and revel in the power of unfeigned originality.

As they prepare to broaden their horizons beyond the LA scene with upcoming releases, including the anticipated single Sunshine and a forthcoming EP, No False Ego is poised to uplift and empower a wider audience with their heartfelt vibrations and innovative sonic signature.

Stream We Are the Soul on Spotify now.

Stay up to date with news of the sophomore release by following No False Ego on Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: ‘Find Out’ and Fall in Love with Dilly Dally Alley’s Indietronic Jazz Infused Earworm

Posted on 19 July 2024

As lightness meets lyrical depth, Dilly Dally Alley’s latest feel-good earworm, Find Out, opens a doorway to rhapsodic bliss with a juxtaposing key of edgy off-beat style and an all-consuming sense of jazz-collective-next-door soul.

Straight out of Minneapolis, the ensemble, led by Sophia Spiegel, spun every-day awkward moments into sonic sugar for the soul; the single pulsates at the crossroads of indie-pop and jazz-inflected alchemy and unravels as the ultimate affirmation that you’ll always be free to shed your inhibitions and embrace your idiosyncrasies in front of the people who matter.

If there was any definitive formula for indietronica pop perfection, Dilly Dally Alley found it with Find Out; the kinetically weightless rhythms pull together to form a dance-worthy anthem that is equally as liberating for the mind and soul.

With Find Out, Dilly Dally Alley doesn’t just step into the limelight—they grab it, twist it, and weave it into a tapestry of infectious grooves and raw, emotive energy. The track is a testament to their journey from late-night jam sessions to becoming the heartbeat of Minneapolis’ vibrant music scene.

Dilly Dally Alley Said:

“Find Out is about the silly, clumsy moments in a relationship that grow to be the very reasons why you fall in love. It’s a song about running into your crush when you’re too drunk at a bar, or the grocery store without your makeup on or being completely tongue-tied trying to ask them out.

It’s about the love that nevertheless persists between two people because it’s meant to work out. This tune is to dance to – maybe a bit clumsily – so long as you’re doing it with someone you’re crushing on.”

–

Find Out will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from July 19; shortly followed by the next single in Dilly Dally Alley’s line of sonic succession, This Just In, on August 23.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dry awakened a new era of jazz fusion with his electrifying symphony, Refresher

Posted on 3 July 2024

Dry’s debut EP, Kickback Selections, introduces jazz fusion fans to a bold new talent with the opening single, Refresher. The instrumental score is an unforgettable showcase of the composer’s modernised touch in the jazz scene. Symphonic keys scintillate alongside expressively enthused drum fills, defying the laid-back expectations set by the EP’s title as the loungey nuances invite listeners to lose themselves in a chiptune-esque euphonic universe of electrifying energy.

Despite only beginning his journey into the music industry as a college freshman, Dry’s already attracting a loyal following among virtuoso-seeking jazz fusion fans. His unique blend of traditional jazz roots with electronically augmented elements of neo-jazz marks him as a fresh, innovative force. Refresher is an attestation to how good music speaks to the rhythmic pulses while superlative melodies evoke an emotional response. Dry is firmly in the latter camp; transplanted by the exhilaration delivered by his honed, eccentrically adventurous,  production style.

Fans of Lo-Fi Riders will not want to miss this sonic escapade. Dry’s talents in masterfully melding funk, jazz, and contemporary styles into an authentically modern symphony are sharp enough to enable the independent artist to tear through the mundanity and monotony within the modern industry.

Kickback Selections was officially released on June 29; stream the EP on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jazz Meets Dreamy RnB in No False Ego’s Irridescent Debut, We are the Soul

Posted on 26 June 2024

No False Ego came to iridescent light with their sublime-on-the-senses debut single, We are the Soul. The devilishly clever arcane reprise of “here we are” is the epitome of a statement of intent from the LA-based unreckonable outfit who, true to their name, riff, harmonise, and groove straight from the heart.

The track is an intoxicating blend of free-form jazz expressionism and dreamy RnB vocals, creating a sublime contrast that is as unpredictable as it is cathartically consuming. The time signatures pulse with an unpredictable fervour, giving the track a lively, spontaneous feel while the hazy-with-soul RnB vocals and loungey keys act as a pure, diaphonic anchor, grounding the listener in the midst of intuitively impromptu drum fills, warm yet wild sax lines, and chameleonic guitars which switch from chopping funk through the progressions to injecting nuances of indie blues rock.

No False Ego’s ability to weave together these diverse elements with superlative ease showcases their impressive musicianship and commitment to authenticity. Each component contributes to a cohesively rich soundscape which triumphs on a technical level while connecting with the listener emotionally.

Now they’ve made their introduction on the airwaves, it is time for No False Ego to hold soulful dominion over them; we can’t wait to watch their ascent.

We are the Soul is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NYC’s MG & the Orbs delivered a remedy for self-pity with their timelessly swanky jazz blues alchemy in HELP is What You’re Needin’

Posted on 31 May 2024

With Maria Giorgio at the helm, MG & the Orbs is a peerless ensemble, revered throughout the Big Apple and beyond for their soul-imbued brand of jazz blues. Their latest single, HELP is What You’re Needin’ is enough to make you want to turn back time to add them to your radar earlier.

The resolute rejection of an invitation to a pity party is the ultimate remedy for anyone who finds themselves perpetually employed to do other people’s emotional labour. The soulful defiance in the blues shuffle which Giorgio penned after a writer on a movie set she was working on started to sing his own relationship blues. After instantly finding the inspiration in the exchange, Giorgio enlisted her cultivated collective to breathe life into the upliftingly unreckonable single that proves just how dangerous it can be to bring out the hellcat in a conduit of soul.

MG & the Orbs don’t just believe in music as a healing force, they deliver the cure in their timelessly swanky jazz blues alchemy.

HELP is What You’re Needin’ was officially released on May 24; stream the single on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NYC’s Summer Fling put the soul in funk-rock with ‘Blissful Haze’

Posted on 25 May 2024

NYC’s Summer Fling broke their two-year spell of silence by conjuring an elemental force of feel-good furore in their single, Blissful Haze, which delivers exactly what it says on the titular tin.

Using high-energy funk-rock as the stylistic bedrock of the release and finding room to inject soul, blues, pop, and jazz, the seven-piece powerhouse ensured Blissful Haze transcends sound to visualise a state of mind you can enter simply by hitting play on the single which filters nostalgia through a modern indie pop lens.

Few vocalists could match the electrifying energy of the dynamic instrumental arrangement that layers shimmering organs over funk rhythms and hard-hitting horns, but Eddie Kam, an indomitable emissary of charisma, went supernova on the infectiously zealous soul.

With each member of Summer Fling a recently graduated jazz musician, you can rest assured that you’re in rhythmically safe hands as you get taken through the helter-skelter ride of rapture.

Blissful Haze was officially released on May 10th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast