Tag Archives: alternative

Nobody says it’s “Easy” – new music from @missMollyMoore

MOLLY MOORE, “Easy”

All it takes quite often when you’re listening to a song written and sung by the L.A.-based Molly Moore is a couple of verses before that song has that resonating effect. “Easy” is her newest song, possibly from a forthcoming second EP following Shadow Of The Sun. It’s definitely a companion-piece to the songs from that EP, as well as her other recent song recorded by EDM producer/DJ Boehm called “Swallow My Pride”. The singer is in equally fine form vocally, intriguing in the song’s quieter moments and powerful when it’s louder. The percussive effects and EDM backdrop also create a persuasive atmosphere. If you’ve loved Molly Moore’s songs thus far then “Easy” is especially for you.

 

@CosmosnCreature give a creative alt.rock spin to Iggy Azalea’s “Team”

COSMOS & CREATURE, “Team”

It’s great that Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore have started a side project for songs that they wouldn’t necessarily record as solo performers.  They’ve already made sidebar inroads to the EDM world thanks to their recent appearances on Vicetone’s “Bright Side” and Lost Kings’ “Marathon”.  Now they’ve decided to tackle Iggy Azalea’s “Team” and the result shows the thought that went into covering the song.  The duo have taken away all of the attitude of Iggy’s performance and unveiled the song in a low key soulful, hip hop tinged alt.rock setting, which brings out the quality of the lyrics that are lost in Iggy’s version.  The result is fresh and interesting and well done for my ‘dream team’ 🙂 and well worth spinning for college and alternative radio stations.

Pop and R&B influences connect with @CallMeKarizma’s hip hop in “Love Me Right”

CALL ME KARIZMA, “Love Me Right”

We’re getting closer to the April 28 release of his upcoming album Uninvited, and Minnesota’s Call Me Karizma continues to unveil new music to whet your appetite for what’s to come.  “Love Me Right” is probably Riz’s most accessible song to date despite the usual in-your-face, direct verbiage which is definitively and lovingly Call Me Karizma.  Within the first 30 seconds we have a melodic check-in to R. Kelly’s “Ignition” followed not too long into the song by a choir-like chorus, which all lends to ear-catching variety to keep you listening.  This will be one of Riz’s key songs to hit home in concert.  Give it a listen above.

Call Me Karizma is opening for The Summer Set on their upcoming tour, which arrives in Toronto at The Mod Club on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.

“RiGht HeRe” by Grant (@_thefuckisgrant) is unique, sparse, triphop

https://soundcloud.com/grant-klinger/right-here

GRANT, “RiGht HeRe”

New American producer/singer Grant Klinger has some unique ideas up his sleeve with “RiGht HeRe”.  Using an easily identifiable lyrical theme about a guy who’s waiting for his gal to stop messing and flirting with other guys, probably to an unsatisfying end, Grant shapes his triphop style with a sparse sound that throws his vocal and lyrics up front.  So “RiGht HeRe” still has a raw hip hop quality about it but can easily sneak through the EDM doors of clubs too.  Give it a listen above.  I think remixers could put some interesting spins on it too.

@BadW0lfy (aka Ro Danishei) returns with funky and futuristic “Used 2 This”

BAD W0LFY, “Used 2 This”

The world needs more funky and fresh Bad W0lfy songs if “Used 2 This” is any indication.  The L.A.-based singer/songwriter and model otherwise known as Ro Danishei, and co-leader of the duo Wrathschild with Simon Curtis, has returned after 5 years after her End Of The Rainbow release.  “Used 2 This” is a real ear-grabbing solo song after 2014 saw the release of Wrathschild’s EP and last year a once-online cover of Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do”.  It’s a futuristic, bass-laden dance number that doesn’t quite sound like anything out there (remixers take note!).  The singer’s voice is completely on-point and suited to producer Ray Reich outside-of-the-box production which places a totally appropriate dubsteppy vocal break (you’ll think Erik Hassle’s “No Words” or Years & Years’ “Shine”) in the midst of it all.  To quote the esteemed Lady Kier of Deee-Lite,”Used 2 This” is definitely one de-groovy feast for the ears and feet.  Pick it up on iTunes.

@SteveGrandmusic and @EliLieb team up for heart-wringing “Look Away”

ELI LIEB, STEVE GRAND, “Look Away”

Readers of this blog are already well acquainted with both Eli Lieb and Steve Grand, about whom I’ve written about many times in the last two years or so, and both have graced my personal chart with their stellar songs.  Each singer is decidedly different from the other, but “Look Away” is both a co-write and a duet that brings the best of both worlds together.  Essentially, if you loved A Great Big World’s “Say Something”, then “Look Away” is its companion song.  It brings together all of the emotions and racing thoughts about what to do next, just before a breakup occurs, and the realization that it is likely all ‘never again’.  I’ll be very happy if this is the start of a regular songwriting and/or singing thing for both Eli and Steve, the former breaking away from infectious danceable pop and the latter veering further away from country than ever and into pure pop where he really belongs.  You can pick up “Look Away” on Steve’s bandcamp page right here.  You can also enjoy the resulting amusing online antics on their respective social media pages 😀

Toronto-based singer/songwriter Joël LeMay (@itsjoelmusic) scores with his R&B flavoured story “You Fucked Up”

JOËL, “You Fucked Up” (free download)

Toronto has many fine up and coming performers who are finding themselves in the midst of a keener interest in R&B/soul – which Toronto has always fancied back to the 1950’s.  And yes I’m talking about beyond Drake and The Weeknd who we really have to thank for flinging the door open wide. 23 year old Joël LeMay actually hails from closer to North Bay from a family of music-makers, but is rooted in Toronto now to create his craft.  “You Fucked Up” is an excellent start.  It’s a fine piece of storytelling when your lover is cheating and has ‘splainin’ to do.  But that seems to happen after she drinks lots of whiskey, so what kind of mess have you got yourself into?  “You Fucked Up” is over 4 minutes long but breezes by because of the gritty, captivating vocal that makes you want to hear this story.  The production by Manuso Joshua is deftly subtle, allowing the song to bask in R&B/soul/alternative folk flavours.  If “You Fucked Up” is any indication, Joël should do well both as a solo performer and an in-demand featured vocalist who can adapt to many styles.  Download “You Fucked Up” for free at the link above and watch for more new music every month from Joël.

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Smooth soulful house music courtesy of a @TwoFriendsmusic remix of “Way Back Home” by @weareMako

MAKO, “Way Back Home” (Two Friends remix)

The follow up to the long-lasting dance radio hit “Smoke-Filled Room” by LA-based duo Mako is “Way Back Home”, which in its original form is a lovely, slow-ish progressive/alternative EDM track that will crawl into your ears and stay there.  These guys know how to write a great song, which makes it easy for any producer/remixer to adapt it to something suitable.  It may seem unlikely, but Matt and Eli, aka Two Friends, turn “Way Back Home” into an effortless-sounding soulful deep house track with so much going on in its 3 minute rework.  They’ve taken the yearning and desperation of the lyrics and made them equally urgent through bassy, buoyant rhythms.  You can pick up the EP with the original, as well as the Two Friends remix and others, on iTunes.  Ultra Music has another winner for Mako in whatever version you hear!

@Harrietsmusic is back with the jaunty, teasing “Permission To Kiss”

harriet4

HARRIET, “Permission To Kiss”

London-based singer Harriet has come a long way in a short time since I first heard her more than two years ago, resulting in the initial EP What’s Mine Is Yours.  Mixing up a repertoire that shuffles between originals like “Fly”, other performers’ songs as recorded on her Covers EP last year, as well as Christmas songs (which resulted in a warmly-received album Maybe This Christmas last year), Harriet’s honest love for her craft and her warm and caring vocals will continue to take her into the ears of new listeners.  “Permission To Kiss”, once again produced and co-written by the renown Steve Anderson, starts off with its keyboard riffs as almost a sound-alike to Sara Bareilles’ “Love Song”.  It works and Harriet’s smooth style takes over along with the playful, teasing lyrics.  The song successfully moves her away from the numerous comparisons to Karen Carpenter and puts her in the current company of Ms Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Brandi Carlile and others for whom there is already an eager audience.  Release is forthcoming but do give a listen at the Soundcloud link below.

https://soundcloud.com/harrietsmusic/harriet-permission-to-kiss

Young Aussie @JustAGentdj’s “Heavy As A Heartbreak” (f/ @Lanksmusic) gets a futuristic makeover by @XanGriffin

JUST A GENT featuring LANKS, “Heavy As A Heartbreak” (Xan Griffin remix)

Just A Gent is actually 19 year old Aussie DJ/producer Jacob Grant, and his rock-inflected EDM of “Heavy As A Heartbreak” (featuring fellow Aussie Lanks) is attracting some international notice after he acquired a following in his own country.  Among various remixes, Californian Xan Griffin’s shines by stripping away the rock flavour and accentuating the dubstep vibe of the original, taking it much further into the realm of a chilled out futuristic bass track.  In either version the song stands out as unique and not necessarily one that you can get into on the first listen.  But stick with it; like ARIZONA’s recent “Let Me Touch Your Fire”, there is much to be said for production by toning the core of the song down only to watch it explode at the hook.  Listen above and get “Heavy As A Heartbreak” for free using the download link.