Browsing Tag

joni Mitchell

Julianna Sweeney tells us like it is with her jazzy soul-pop single ‘all talk’

Posted on 4 March 2021
https://open.spotify.com/track/5amxgKuPmVRg2n4uh8bnzZ

With a sound so celestial it sounds like it has been pulled from the 5th dimension, it’s safe to say the lead single ‘all talk’ taken from Julianna Sweeney’s debut album ‘Exit Fo[u]r is stunning.

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter’s approach to jazzy soul pop will undoubtedly enamour fans of Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones and Carole King while arresting you with the originality of her sound. Nothing is forced, everything is effortless, at least on the surface there’s no diminishing the amount of nuanced skill in all talk. With smooth jazzy instrumental interludes between Julianna Sweeney’s vocals, there’s plenty of room in the soundscape to drink in the romantic frustration which transpires before you learn that actions speak louder than words.

You can check out Julianna Sweeney’s debut album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Charlotte Morris Bares Her Soul on new single ‘Three Hearts’

Posted on 26 December 2020

With a delicious blend of folk, pop, rock, and Americana comes ‘Three Hearts’, the new single from Charlotte Morris’ new album ‘Songs For My Next Ex’, and that title probably gives a pretty good lead into what’s on offer here; beautiful, soulful, confessional and personal, soft and gentle and tugging on the heartstrings. There’s a little of Joni Mitchell, a little Sheryl Crow, and a lot of Delta Rae and Brandi Carlisle; a tender and compassionate vocal sitting over gently strummed acoustic guitar chords and a sensitive backing of drums and bass.

Listened to in its entirety, ‘Songs For My Next Ex’ is a soul-bearing ‘story album’, tracing the highs and lows of relationships; her first full-length album, following up 2018’s ‘To New York With Love’ EP, it’s a perfect showcase for Morris’ stunning, plaintive voice. ‘Three Hearts’ is the impeccable, sublime introduction.

You can hear ‘Three Hearts’ on Soundcloud and follow Charlotte Morris here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

CORBETT – Under the Tree: An Alt-Folk Festive Playlist Staple

Posted on 18 November 2020
CORBETT

Usually, when you think of Christmas music, you think of the grating classics you hear in supermarkets or whichever iconic track John Lewis has decided to butcher with their Christmas ad, but CORBETT’s forthcoming single ‘Under the Tree’ will shatter your perception of festively-inclined aural offerings.

With the London Folk singer-songwriter’s enigmatic whiskey-soaked raspy vocals which will send an ethereal chill up your spine interlacing with a stripped-back jazzy Folk arrangement and lyrics lamenting over lactose intolerance, it’s impossible not to be endeared.

I didn’t think that I’d ever see the day where a Christmas song touched my soul and made me turn a smile, it’s practically a Christmas miracle.

Under the Tree is due for official release on December 1st. You’ll be able to check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hampshire based Folk-Roots artist Megan Linford shines bright with truthful ‘’Lessons’’

Posted on 31 May 2020

Put in time and you will get the results. With a soothing piano to start the song, you know this is going to be good. Giving thanks to her parents, speaking about lessons learnt- no matter how hard the occasional trips and falls. 

‘Megan Linford’, is making her way on the UK Folk/Indie scene with her sun-kissed melodies and honest lyrics, that shows her humble and grateful attitude to life. She is an Indie artist, doing it herself with the love and support of friends and family. She hosts her own music night in Portsmouth and seems to be learning all the sides of the music industry, a very smart move indeed. 

After already pushing out 2 self- released EP’s and 3 singles, Megan is working hard on her first album set for release in 2020. I personally can’t wait to hear the new music and hopefully lockdown hasn’t slowed anything down for her.

From the little I know about Megan, I can tell that this is an extremely industrious and hard working woman who won’t let anything stop her. Her voice is absolutely breathtaking and I can’t wait to see her live at a gig soon. The local music scene needs people like Megan, someone with a positive message and self-awareness, in these troubled times.

‘’Lessons’’ and more stunning vocals from Megan are here on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

A&R Factory Present: Laryssa Birdseye

Posted on 10 February 2017

Laryssa Birdseye is a singer songwriter based out of Portland Oregon. Many years ago, she stole her older brother’s guitar, picked up a Beatles anthology book, and taught herself how to play. After realizing her adolescent attempts at writing poetry were best paired with music, a lifelong relationship with songwriting was born.

Having struggled with addiction and an eating disorder for the better part of a decade, Laryssa’s songs reflect the turmoil of heartbreak, dependency, regret, and the persistent strive towards recovery and healing. Herself now firmly in that position, she hopes to touch people in the same struggle by helping to bring catharsis through the power of her honest and frank style of songwriting. Heavily influenced by legendary female songwriters Amy Winehouse, Joni Mitchell, and Ani Difranco, Laryssa Birdseye is not one to be overlooked.

Watch for her debut album, “So What” coming in Spring of 2017.

A&R Factory Present: Erica Cooper

Posted on 16 January 2017

Erica Cooper announces the release of her debut album Safety Escape, April 29th 2017 on her record label Safety Escape Records. Erica is a Alternative Pop singer/songwriter from the Seattle area.

Her debut album was produced by Alek Edmonds, mixed by Paul David Hager (live engineer for Miley Cyrus, Devo) and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley).

Erica performs as a solo artist and with her five piece band. She studied Jazz Vocal Performance and Composition at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She took an interest in audio and met engineer and producer Alek Edmonds. There she found her passion for writing and sound. For the last 3 years, she has been writing and recording her debut album.

Erica is influenced by Disco and artists such as Radiohead, The Eurythmics, Grimes, Joni Mitchell, Enya, Florence and the Machine, Imogen Heap, Arcade Fire and Feist. Themes in Erica’s music include the roles we play in love relationships, vulnerability, being present and staying in the moment, loss, addiction, her struggle with Lyme Disease, the highest highs and the lowest lows, self empowerment, setting boundaries, and hope.

Erica was fortunate to record in some amazing studios including London Bridge, Synergy and Avast in Seattle and Encore Studio A in LA.

www.ericacooper.com