Browsing Tag

Seattle

Washington Rock powerhouse Birch Riley address the fragile state of your existence with ‘One Life to Live’

Posted on 16 November 2020
https://birchriley.bandcamp.com/track/one-life-to-live

Birch Riley gave us a taste of their highly-anticipated album with the monster of an Alt Rock hit “One Life to Live”. If you need frequent reminders that the sands of time are always slipping, this sonically electrifying hit from the Washington-based powerhouse will gladly hammer home the temporary state of your existence.

Despite the ferocity, there’s plenty of soul to be found in this viscerally enticing hit which was made for radio. With the vocals soaring as high as the guitar solos in the chorus, you can expect to be as adrenalized as the soundscape when you hit play.

There may be some Classic Rock touches to the single, but indisputably, there’s enough distinction and nuance in the deftly crafted track to assure you that Birch Riley are as authentic as Rock acts get in 2020.

You can check out Birch Riley’s single One Live to Live along with the rest of their interstellar album Fragments of Space and Time via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Seattle-based Audri is here with splendidly arranged ”Automatic”

Posted on 12 June 2020

Sometimes the feeling is just absolutely laser focused and automatic. You just know when you are attracted to someone and the spark can consume you. The first time I listened to this song I just knew I liked Audri. A lot. Her voice is smokey clear and with intoxicating power.

This is indie-pop with plenty of punch and perfectly percolated with methodical precision. Taken off the new EP titled Aud, put your hands together as one and turn Audri’s music up loud.

With a way of grabbing you by the soul but not in a pushy manner, Seattle native Audri dazzles with her new single. ”Automatic” is all about the first time your eyes meet with someone and the sparks fly off the earth like a furious welder. Her voice is so incredible and she brings us into the story expertly from a distance. There is no coincidence about this talent, she is here with a bang and we need to take note. I feel free while listening to Audri. The production is fantastic and blends in perfectly with her style and for the song’s purpose. We have just witnessed a breakthrough of a massive scale. Audri is on the rise and we need to tune in now.

Click here on Spotify for this song and more music from this fantastic young artist with the world at her feet.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Mitchell Mirande – Oh Ailia – An Emotional Song That Falls Somewhere In Between The Lightness Of Pop And The Intimacy Of Folk Music.

Posted on 3 November 2017

Mitchell Mirande is a singer and songwriter with a minimalist approach to his work. His music makes me think of the work of artists as diverse as Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz, just to mention a few. It is all about trying to find that thin balance that exists between cheerful and uplifting pop tunes, and that intimacy we known and love about acoustic/folk music.

This song however, takes on a different life, as the acoustic guitar and vocals are joined by a full-on arrangement, with lots of counter melodies, drums and other cool rhythmic elements.

Mitchell’s recent studio single, “Oh Ailia”, is definitely a great compromise between these two different vibes. The song has a nice rhythmic twist and a very sparse arrangement that further contributes to the emotional response and positive impact of this particular single release. When listening to this song, I almost find myself wishing it was summer all over again. I could picture myself sitting on the beach surrounded by friends with a guitar on my lap, singing along and strumming along to this great tune!

Nyro Releases Cinematic Track “Terror In Tacoma”

Posted on 17 October 2017

Rarely do artist completely change the direction of sound – and do it as effortlessly as Nyro has done on, “Terror In Tacoma.” The lavish yet slightly monochromatic musical score dances around a colorful yet glassy piano and not much else (maybe some slight strings here and there), but it’s the whimsical simplicity that sets the undertone of mystery and anticipation.  The musical score enters with a reoccurring motif that slowly blends within the score allowing the listener to relate to the sound on a narrative level. If you listen close enough, there’s a story unfolding right before your very eyes or ears rather and that’s the best part of this piece.

The veracity of the piano is a key factor when listening to this track, as it’s use employs a wide range of orchestrated sounds dancing from subtle almost Asian influenced patterns to playfully quaint tones yielding harmonious moments of both beauty and anticipation. Despite its beauty (or maybe because of it) one can’t help but be drawn in from beginning to end. This is a solid track, a refreshing glass of water in the somewhat cottonmouth sound we are slowing becoming accustomed to hearing more and more these days.

Check Out Bad Saint’s Electrifying Song “Hanging On The Telephone”

Posted on 16 October 2017

Bad Saint is a solo project by Tess Freedel based in Seattle. What is so fascinating about this is that she composes all the parts of the song and has fellow musicians join her for performances and “Hanging on the Telephone,” is no exception. This girl knows what she wants and she not only shows this in the way she composes her music but also in her very straight forward, fresh lyrics. With a strong pop rock vibe and an element of punk rock thrown into the mix, this song is one of those that you will find yourself singing randomly throughout the day.

With a cool edgy vocal tone, crunchy guitar sounds and underlying synth sounds sustaining the foundation, all performed by Tess Freedel herself, “Hanging on the Telephone” is basically an explosion of vibrant sonorities brought together in a fascinating way. The vocal tone also gives the song its character and attitude and it is evident that all instrumental and vocal parts are performed with conviction and very confidently, proving that this girl is definitely ready to take over the music scene with her sparky and creative ideas and a very unique and clear artistic vision!

-Sarah Marie Bugeja

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

A&R Factory Present: Plastic Picnic

Posted on 29 May 2016
Plastic Picnic is a Brooklyn based band comprised of four Pacific Northwest transplants. The duos – Lute and Panerio, and Hunt and Taylor – developed their styles playing in separate Seattle projects. It wasn’t until moving east that the pairs were brought together by a mutual friend.
Instantly compatible, the group shared a taste for lyrically forthright indie rock paired with driving 80’s rhythms, sweetly spun melodies and atmospheric synth and guitar work. The four piece teamed up with Producer/Engineer Ted Young (Kurt Vile, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Sonic Youth) to record their upcoming debut release—the first single being “Nausea in Paradise”.