Nashville based Darling Parade is one of those bands that frankly, deserve to be better known than they are. I'd put them up against any pop/rock band out there. Excellent songwriting, strong instrumentals and impressive vocals. Then again, I guess that's the point of this blog, to get the word out :)
They've released two EPs "Darling Parade" and "What You Want" - and while I think the standout tracks are "Change" and "Far Away" all the songs are excellent.
I absolutely adore Kristin Kearns vocals, and I've heard comparisons to Paramore's Hayley Williams and Hey Monday's Cassadee Pope, but I don't see it myself. Kristin's voice is deeper and richer and well-suited for the style of music.
If you like strong female vocalists and catchy, meaningful songs, you should do yourself a favor and pick up their EPs on iTunes.
Also check out their Twitter and Facebook and if they're playing in your area, go see them!
Amazing indie singer/songwriter Samantha Darnell was gracious enough to answer a few questions that I e-mailed to her, hope you find them as interesting as I did :)
Hi Sam, to start off with, I'd love to thank you for taking the time to answer my questions :)
No problem! Thank YOU for interviewing me :)
I know you're very much into retro fashion and music, but what modern convenience could you not live without?
The internet. I use it more than a person should be allowed to, haha.
I've seen a lot of indie artists fund various projects (such as tours and album creation) from fan donations through sites like Kickstarter.com what is your opinion about that? Is it something you would consider doing?
I actually signed up for that a month or so ago and will be launching it soon to help raise money for my next album, so keep an eye out for that and please help if you can! Your retro-pop sound is wonderful and pretty unique, is it a style you see yourself sticking with?
Thank you! I'm always happy to hear someone refer to my music as unique because I'm a unique person, haha. And yes, I plan on sticking to this genre. It really captures who I am.
You're about to go on tour with Phone Calls From Home and Joy Island in June, and you're going to be making your New York debut at Angels And Kings on June 3rd as well, are there any other events coming up that we should know about?
It's actually now Phone Calls From Home and Rookie Of The Year. I'm very excited for both the tour and the NYC show! After I get home from the road, my main focus is going to be on getting my second EP done. I'll probably play a show here and there during recording, though.
I know you're attracting some fans here on the West Coast, what can we do to make it easier for you to break out here (or anywhere else)? I for one would love to see you sometime!
I would love to get on the West as soon as possible! The best thing you can do to help is to buy my record at www.itunes.com/samanthadarnell and tell anyone and EVERYONE you can about my music. Your help means the world to me and I'm so grateful.
Your EP "The Art Of Breaking Hearts" (which, by the way, is completely amazing) has only recently been released, but I've heard that you've already started writing for another album. Any hints about the musical direction?
Thank you! My next record is only half written, but it's already coming along great and I'm super anxious for it. It's going to be the same kind of feel as the last...that vintage/pop sound. Whatever come out, comes out. The only rule I make is that I write each song to the best of my ability and stay true to myself.
Finally, I know that you've inspired a lot of people with your music (myself included) but who inspires you?
All of the icons of the 20's-50's. They inspire me musically, in performance and in fashion. Also, any great singer/songwriter. My hero is Conor Oberst. He's such an amazing lyricist. But most of all, my frans inspire me. They're belief and support in what I do keeps me going and words can't express how much I love them <3.
Thanks again Sam!!
Along with her iTunes link above, you can find out more about Samantha at her MySpaceFacebook and Twitter.
Like a couple other artists I've blogged about, I did post about Fools For Rowan back on my old Tumblr, but I think it's time to revisit them.
I found out about FFR from some fellow Halestorm fans, and I can understand why there is quite a bit of overlap between the fans, both bands are truly excellent rock bands, with strong female vocalists. That said, there are some definite stylistic differences that I'll get to in a moment.
First the facts - Fools For Rowan are:
Erin Mullins - Lead singer
Aaron Elliott - Bass guitar
Jordan Cullen - Drummer
Rachel Brandsness - Lead guitar
Ryan Nanney - Rhythm guitar
So, what can I say about them that doesn't make me sound like a gushing fanboy....very little I think. :)
I've honestly been a fan since the very first time I heard 'Burnt Around The Edges". FFR has a rock sound that is all their own. I really don't want to compare them to other bands, but at the risk of having my Halestorm friends attacking me (I kid, I kid) I actually like their sound more than Halestorm sometimes. They've got a more laid-back sound, not to say they can't rock, but they don't have the hard edge that Halestorm has, and sometimes that's just what I'm in the mood for.
Erin's voice is absolutely gorgeous, hopefully this doesn't sound too corny, but it's like a velvet covered hammer. One minute it's smooth and comfortable and then it hits and knocks you out. FFR also...well, for lack of a better term, is playful at times, a good example of this is "It's Alright" which is a sweet bit of pop/rock that will have you nodding your head along with the music.
They can get serious though, "Dead" is a break-up song to end all break-up songs. It's sadly beautiful, and devastating. Anyone who has been through the death of a relationship will completely understand whats being said.
The rest of the band is equally as amazing as Erin. Rachel's guitar work is impeccable, as is the musicianship of Arron, Ryan and Jordan.
They released their current album "Twisted, Tied Up, Tangled" last year and for a limited time, it's available for free for just signing up for their email list - HERE so no excuse for not giving them a listen.
They're about to go in to the studio to work on their next EP, and I'm really excited to hear more music from them. From the videos I've seen, they put on an amazing live show, and they do tour fairly often so if they're playing near you, go see them! Unfortunately, they won't be in my neck of the woods (Oregon) until next year, but it will be worth the wait.
So, I mentioned when I started this blog that I might veer off the indie music path and mention bands that are signed but still have that indie spirit. Halestorm fits that description perfectly. Halestorm started off with very definite indie roots, just Lzzy Hale and her brother Arejay way back in 1998 and they've paid their dues. I felt I needed to make a blog post about them because of the impact they've made in my life.
I didn't know about them until I saw their video for "I Get Off" (from their 2009 self-titled album) on TV, and I knew I was hooked. I'm a sucker for female rock vocals, and Lzzy has the best I've ever heard. It's not just about Lzzy tho. After seeing them live during their 2010 headlining tour, I got to meet all of the band, and they're amazing people. Halestorm, more than any other band I've seen, really cares about their fans. I've seen them go to enormous lengths to let people have a chance to meet them. They've even recently signed nearly ALL their tour merchandise at some recent dates, because the venue couldn't handle the crowd they'd generate for in-person signing, and even at that, they took the time after the show to hang with their fans. That's dedication, and one of the reasons I love them
They also have an active presence on Twitter and it's not uncommon to see various members of the band joking with fans, or giving them advice. Lzzy has been gracious enough to throw some advice my way, and is greatly responsible for giving me the confidence boost to start this blog.
Now about the music. Their debut album is still one of the finest rock albums I've ever heard. Some albums have tracks that are filler, but every song on this album is a winner. Since then, they've also released a live CD/DVD album "Live In Philly" which, if you haven't been able to catch a live show, is a great example of how amazing they are live. Their latest release is an EP called "ReAnimate: The Covers" and as the title implies, is a selection of cover songs from bands as diverse as Heart, Lady Gaga and Temple Of The Dog, and they do them all justice.
They're currently still on tour for a few more dates and if they're playing near you, please check them out, you won't regret it. They've also started work on their latest full-length album, which I'm very excited for.
Yes, I know this wound up being a giant love letter to Halestorm, but this is my blog, and I don't care :) Lzzy, Arejay, Joe, Josh - I love and respect you guys more than you'll ever know. Keep being awesome.
A friend of mine introduced me to Toronto-based Chiara Young's music a few weeks ago, and I bought her EP off iTunes and I've been listening to it recently, but what prompted me to feature her on my blog was actually watching one of her Stickam chats. She honestly blew me away, someone who can sound that good, not only live, but with iffy streaming audio, is a real singer in my book. Also, she was completely charming during the chat, it's always nice to see musicians who don't take themselves too seriously and know how to be themselves.
Her current EP is called "They Must Be Dreaming" and it shows a lot of Chiara's potential. The songs are catchy, and while there is some auto-tuning, it suits the music and doesn't cover up her excellent voice. I think my favorite track is the title track and "Hearts In Hands" , but they're all very good, and fun to listen to. They would be a good addition to anyone's summer playlist.
I know she's got a lot of things in the works for the coming months, and I'm sure we're going to see and hear a lot more from Chiara soon!
So go check out her music below, and then be sure to check out her website, Facebook and Twitter
First the facts: Blameshift is a New York based trio, composed of Jenny Mann on vocals, Tim Barbour on guitar and James Miller on drums.
I've been following them for a few months and they're truly a DIY band, they've worked so hard to get where they are, they've done shows all over the country, including Warped Tour and SXSW and they show no signs of stopping.
Their EP "The Black Rose" is an excellent rock album, and Jenny's vocals are put to good use. A particular favorite track is "Killing Me" which really showcases the band as a whole but the entire EP is definitely worth the purchase...but what's that? You don't have to buy it? Blameshift has made the gutsy move of putting "The Black Rose" up for download just for "liking" their Facebook page, so you really don't have an excuse for not giving them a try.
If you like them, tell someone, go to a show, buy merch. Bands like Blameshift live and die by word-of-mouth so don't be shy.
They're currently touring in the Northeast so if they're playing near you, go check them out!
Go "like" their Facebook page and get your download of "The Black Rose" Also check out their Twitter and YouTube
It's time I recognized some local Portland, Oregon talent. My wife and I first saw Stephanie when we were visiting Portland in 1999 and saw her perform at Lilith Fair and we were taken by her amazing voice and talent. A couple years later we moved here and we've been watching Stephanie's career ever since. She's been a fixture of Portland music either on her own or with the trio "Dirty Martini" Recent years have produced a new sound for her and I personally love it.
Starting with the 2008 release of "Dangerous Fruit" Stephanie has been collaborating with producer/electronic musician Keith Schriner for a more electronic edge to her music, and it's a combination that works amazingly well. Her latest album "Rubber Teardrop" had it's official release party last night (May 6th) and my wife and I were honored to be in attendance. "Rubber Teardrop is an extraordinary album with a unique sound that demands attention. Stephanie deserves to be much more than a local artist, this album is something the whole world needs to hear.
Stephanie completely funded this album from a Kickstarter campaign, where her fans and supporters donated toward all the expenses involved with mixing, mastering, manufacturing, etc. this album. I honesty think that Kickstarter and other crowdsourcing funding sites like it are the future for the independent artist.
As always, I'm not going to pick it apart and tell you why you should listen, just follow the links I post and decide for yourself. I'm certain you'll love it, and if you do, let others know.
I just discovered this band a couple of weeks ago but I wanted to talk about them and get the word out because this is a critical time for them.
FTV are a 5-member pop/rock band out of Hayward, CA. I want to go in to more detail about them, but honestly I'm still learning about them. I do love their sound however and I really admire their DIY spirit. They're operating on a shoestring budget and they've still come out with some really professional tracks.
I'm trying not to compare them to other female fronted bands, but I'm thinking they wouldn't mind me saying that they do remind me a bit of Hey Monday! but mixed with a sound all their own. I love Caitlyn's vocals, she's got a very powerful, yet sweet voice, but I also really notice some exceptional instrumental work in their songs as well.
They've already released an EP "First Impression" and recently released a new single "Last Goodbye" which is the song that got me hooked.
So, this brings me to the reason I felt compelled to post this profile so soon. They're trying to raise enough money to replace their touring van. Their bassist is unemployed and the rest of the band are barely making ends meet, so this is a huge thing. Go listen to them, if you like them, buy their album, or please donate to their Kickstarter (there are some amazing incentives for you to choose from)
Edit: as I was writing this, I discovered that they have reached their Kickstarter goal, but don't let that stop you from helping. The more money, the better the van, and you're definitely getting a good return on your investment :)
This blog will always be first and foremost about independent musicians. While I may from time to time post about some signed musicians, they will never be the focus. I honestly believe that independent musicians are the heart and soul of music, there is no gatekeeper between them and their audience deciding what to release and when.
