Browsing Tag

americana

Shane Cooley finds freedom in isolation in his alt-indie-folk single, Coyote

Posted on 8 April 2022
https://soundcloud.com/shanecooley/shane-cooley-coyote-radio-edit/s-3SBTPIaFsbn?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Inspired by tumultuous times and personal emotional upheavals, the acclaimed alt indie-folk singer-songwriter, Shane Cooley, stepped into the metaphysical wild to create his seminal upcoming album, Forest. The first single to be released, Coyote, is a hauntingly euphonic hit that blends tonal palettes of Jack White and Elliott Smith while experimenting with artful simplicity and the dust of desert rock. Vocally, Cooley parallels Grandaddy with his honeyed high timbres that still resonate as organic despite the raised velvety pitches.

With lyrics that run like wild poetry, “A coyote/In grown man’s clothing/Forever lonely/Forever free/Down in the valley/Out on the streets/If you push me/ I’ll show my teeth”, this modernised feat of indie-folk Americana won’t fail to reel you into the themes of isolation and freedom, which are proven to be two of the same.

We can’t wait to hear what the rest of his seminal LP delivers. The Richmond, VA artist may be flying under a lot of people’s radars. Yet, it is only a matter of time before he gets full recognition for his inexplicably honed-in talent and instantly magnetic charisma as a songwriter.

Coyote will officially drop on April 8th, 2022. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Americana goes pop in Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, I Met Her in Memphis

Posted on 29 March 2022

Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, I Met Her in Memphis, has shifted his alt-country sound to a poppier territory; it is a move we more than approve of. With the playful college rock radio vibes in the vein of R.E.M., mixed with the Memphis Americana instrumentals, you’ll get just as hooked in the narrative lyrics as you will the poppy country guitars that compliment Marcus Liuzzi’s viscerally upbeat vocal style.

It is impossible to listen to the roots deep record that comes with a twist of modernity without turning a smile. We can’t wait to hear what follows. If there’s anything the world needs more of now, it’s stellar songwriters that know how to bring the escapism.

I Met Her in Memphis is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Casey Freedom is right on time in his country folk single, On My Own Time

Posted on 25 March 2022

The country singer-songwriter Casey Freedom soothingly proved that pace is the trick with his latest single, On My Own Time, which kicks back the tempo and allows you to lull yourself into the breezy Americana cool and collected atmosphere.

After graduating as a music student from the University of Oregon, Casey returned to his hometown to replant his roots enamour crowds at open mic shows. Over lockdown, he started writing his own material, which is becoming increasingly defined by the evocative themes, narrative lyricism and glistening country charm.

His songwriting style already carries decades of maturity and nuance, even after such an inexplicably short span of time; this may seem hyperbolic, but the proof lies in the slice of Americana. Take a bite.

On My Own Time is now available to stream via Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Buddy Greenbloom revives the Western ballad in ‘I Remember Those Times’

Posted on 25 March 2022

(Better Off) I Remember Those Times is the latest single from the nostalgically inclined singer-songwriter Buddy Greenbloom. His vocal timbre resounds with the same magnetic pull as the likes of Dylan and Cohen, but there’s plenty of extra twang from the notorious singing cowboy who made a name for himself in 2003 with his alt country covers of infamous punk rock tracks.

With reminiscing on how it felt to smoke in bars, drink in cars and be carefree in hedonism, it is so easy to find yourself at the centre of this western Americana trip into the past before mediocrity and polarised arguments surrounded us.

With his debut studio LP currently in the works, the Houston-born, LA-based artist is definitively worth a spot on your radar.

I Remember Those Times is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Dive into Stan Silver and the Brave Puppies’ fervently azure folk-rock single, Cool Water

Posted on 1 March 2022

I never anticipated encountering a band that appease my visceral-emotion-seeking soul quite as well as Tiger Army, Koffin Kats or the Brains. The Hamburg hailing Americana folk-rock outfit Stan Silver and the Brave Puppies surpassed all expectations with their latest single, Cool Water.

There’s plenty of reminiscence to Nick 13’s style in the gristly and shimmering Gretschy tones and in the chorus harmonies around the fervent verse vocals that effortlessly paint a landscape that you want to get lost in. Yet, Stan Silver and the Brave Puppies set themselves apart with the rock licks against the psychobilly-style chugging basslines, and the folky picturesque lyrical escapism.

Cool Water is the first song released from the incredibly promising outfit’s forthcoming album. We couldn’t be more stoked for it.

Cool Water is now available to stream on YouTube and Reverb Nation.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Malo Daniels gave indie Americana pop-rock a soul injection with ‘Waiting for Roses’

Posted on 15 February 2022

After the successful launch of his debut single, Down, Out and Up, in 2022, the singer-songwriter, Malo Daniels, proved that he was worthy of a place on listeners’ radars with the launch of his debut album, Waiting for Roses, which fuses pop, soul, rock and Americana – to swoon-worthy effect.

With a team of Nashville musicians behind him and acclaimed producer, Dallas Dudley, polishing the album, Waiting for Roses is a triumph of romanticism, sun-soaked talent and powerfully mature songwriting. The title single is as hooky as Faith by George Michael, as indulgently indie as Kurt Vile and as soulfully compelling as Prince’s sweetest serenades. With the warm over-driven guitars greeting the horn stabs and Daniels’ honeyed vocal timbre, you’d be hard-pressed finding a track that takes you higher than this unadulterated feat of romanticism and longingly panoramic expression.

Waiting for Roses is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

New York’s Angela Sclafani shatters all the preconceived notions with exemplary aplomb on ‘Bell Jar’

Posted on 12 February 2022

Radiating only care and true loveliness with her signature sweetly-toned vocals and smartly-created lyrical brilliance, Angela Sclafani sends us into a trance-filled state behind the glass with her latest single, ‘Bell Jar‘.

Angela Sclafani is an award-winning New York City-based indie-pop solo singer-songwriter and theatre-maker who blends in beautifully-created elements of folk and Americana.

”Inspired by Sylvia Plath’s 1963 novel, the song uses literary imagery to encourage the listener to “shatter” the conventions that hold them down- be it family, lover, or state of mind.” ~ Angela Sclafani

Featuring splendid production and instrumentation by the producer/songwriter Katie Buchanan, this is a superior release to most from the gloriously original Angela Sclafani. Showing us why she is one of the most respected artists in NYC and beyond, we find an introspective artist – who looks for a deeper meaning – and has your mood transformed with a classy display that shall perhaps have the hairs on your arms standing up.

‘Bell Jar‘ from New York City-based indie pop/folk/Americana Angela Sclafani, is a lovable single from a wonderful musician who brings a classic book to life. She sings with a comforting style that you can’t help but admire, as she sends us into a different world for a few minutes – as we urge ourselves to never let any restrictions hold us back – from fully realizing our full potential.

No matter what anyone says, if you believe in yourself enough then you owe it to yourself to open those doors and see what is inside.

Listen to this stunning single on Spotify and see her story on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Country hooks up with 70s cosmic pop in Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, 2 Night Stand

Posted on 4 February 2022

Country meets 70s cosmic pop in the Massachusetts-hailing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, 2 Night Stand.

The deeply candid and narrative track spins the whiskey-soaked tale of a hook-up that left the hook firmly embedded itself far beyond the hungover sunrise. If there is any definitive proof that the loss of the object of our lust is as crushing as the loss of love, it is this humbly honest track. It wears its heart on the shimmering guitar progressions, Americana-influenced basslines, psychedelically warm keys, and the occasional orchestral sing motif.

There are hints of R.E.M. in the vocals that rest atop the country twang and influence from ELO, Bowie and the Beatles. Only an insanely talented artist could pull that off in such an endearing fashion. It is safe to say that we are pretty hooked.

You can get down with a 2 Night Stand for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Meet your new slide guitar hero in Forest Ray’s psych-folk single, Always

Posted on 22 January 2022
Forest Ray

The notion of forever may be farfetched, but Forest Ray’s title-single from their upcoming album, Always, melodiously exhibits the beauty in love persisting. The folky psych rock soundscape carries the finger-picking influence of the late and great John Prine as the psychedelic nuances freshen the familiarity under the honeyed timbre of Forest Ray’s vocals.

The soaring guitar slides bring an absorbing dynamic to the release, entrenching Always next to the roots of Americana while simultaneously bringing in the future of psych-rock. Forest Ray deserves to be equally as revered as Kurt Vile for their hazy and cathartic sense of soul that leaves you with no question over their sincerity. For your sanity’s sake, delve in.

The single, Always, will release on January 22nd with the official music video.

Check out Forest Ray on SoundCloud, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

For The Last Moment: Pedro Meyer thinks back to those long-lasting moments on ‘Please Remember Me’

Posted on 28 December 2021
https://soundcloud.com/warrior_poet/please-remember-me?si=e0ccc386369c41b49da8417fc1c21b58&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

With his dark long locks flowing into the gusting breeze as he looks deeply into the sky above, Pedro Meyer wonders if his memory will live on forever with his profound new single called ‘Please Remember Me‘.

Pedro Meyer is a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-born, Denver, USA-based indie singer-songwriter who fuses in his own original combination of funk, blues, Americana and folk.

”With particular attention to lyrics and composition, his music aims to find the balance between the moods that sways the listeners and lyrics, drawn from his personal life and observations, that everyone can relate to.” ~ Pedro Meyer

As he guides us into this deeply intimate story that has you gazing into the mirror, Pedro Meyer is in a calmingly contemplative mood as his gritty vocals show us his ever-rising quality. This is an artist who certainly isn’t afraid to write completely honest lyrics, that has you in a quietly thoughtful and nostalgic mood.

‘Please Remember Me‘ from the Brazilian-born indie Americana/folk singer-songwriter Pedro Meyer is an emotional track that sinks you into the bubble bath of your churning soul and with a concerned look on your dreamy face. You feel that this is all that you want, as you look into your memory and hope that you have lived for a purpose. Having your name live on even when the darkness comes, is so vital as you ensure that you have not wasted your time on this planet.

Hear this new single on Soundcloud and see his moves via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen