Capitvating vocals and a delightful piano progression will carry you on a whimsical journey in Sam Luke Chase’s latest single Small Town Love. The performance is recorded in a stripped down fashion as a live in-studio session at PB&J Studios in Scituate, MA nestled on the south shore of Boston. Don’t miss the magic of Small Town Love - a gratifying song to unwind with on a autumn afternoon.
Brenda Carsey's new heartfelt song "I'm Sorry"
Brenda Carsey’s latest single “I’m Sorry” is a beautiful journey along a gently rolling road. It’s spacious atmosphere and comforting soulful background vocals blanket a strong folk-rock melody.
Southern rocking swelling guitars also surround Brenda’s sweet apologetic and confessional vocal. A tight yet laid back drum and bass combination drive us steadily along this mellow highway cruiser. A peaceful refreshing sound as we near a turn of seasons. Stream Brenda’s latest track now on all major streaming platforms. Listen here on Spotify.
Sierra Blax & Tim Rose crank out their 2021 collaboration “INYIM”
INYIM (It’s not you, its me)
Raised on the island of Kaua’i, singer-songwriter Sierra Blax brings a Hawaiian island flavor infused with Soul and R&B. Sierra and Tim’s relationship forged strong bonds as they traversed the Hawaiian music scene over the last decade and continue to collaborate in LA.
This latest pop/r&b track has a slick feel, big kick and steady groove. The bass line provides tasteful harmonic movement to keep each section sounding fresh. The tune has fun complimentary guitar riffs and textures as well as a soulful lead vocal by Sierra. Colorful harmonies and background textures decorate the song throughout and call on a blend of the bgv sounds from Motown, Destiny’s Child, TLC, Mariah Carey.
A few surprising moments pull the audience in an unexpected direction making for an engaging listen. There is an interesting modulation at 2:50 and there might even be a subtle synth-melody - reminiscent of Coolios “Gangsta’s paradise” playing lightly in the background.
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Sierra is spending a lot of time in the studio writing and creating original music. Don’t miss Sierra Blax’s latest release featuring production and guitar aficionado, Tim Rose. Spin it on Spotify now.
Katie Ferrara's latest LP, Break Free →
Immerse yourself in Katie Ferrara’s independently released 2020 record, Break Free. Her stand out tracks include Lost in Your Ocean Eyes, Saturn Returns and Break Free. Katie is an award winning alternative/pop singer-songwriter who has taken on stages throughout the U.S. and Europe. Recently, she won an acclaimed global singing competition called Musicash for a grand prize of $40,000.
One of the deeper cuts that has caught our ear and is spinning on repeat is Skin. The production on Skin has a comforting feel. Katie’s voice is soothing and gracefully melodic. The layers of lightly bubbling electric guitars create a very satisfying atmosphere throughout the track. Katie’s harmonies and some of the reverse guitar wave-forms create pleasant textures throughout the song. An excellent track, don’t miss it.
Tune in to Katie’s brand new full length LP on all major streaming platforms or pick up a fresh copy at one of her tour dates.
https://www.katieferrara.com
Magnolia Makes Waves
After a 7-year hiatus, Dan Kaplan’s Magnolia ensemble slams out of the gates with a driving anthem track titled Colorblind. The power behind the toms and kick drum in the rhythm section builds a strong foundation for a lasting melody and shimmering guitar riffs that take the listener for a full ride. Overcoming the sadness, grieving periods and losses and powering through to the next chapter in life are the common themes embedded within Kaplan’s writing.
Sink or swim has a pleasant introductory chord progression and melody that showcases Dan Kaplan’s dynamic vocal range, prolific song writing and clear vocal delivery. Backing vocals and electric guitar carry the tune throughout and assemble a tune that holds weight, be sure to give this song a spin.
Beautiful lyrics, calm melodies and simple harmonies take the listener for a pleasant stroll through the hillsides during Without a Sound. Perfect for a long stroll or open highway drive, Without a Sound has a hopeful and upward momentum which will carry you away, if you let it. Stick around for the climactic build and you won’t be disappointed.
The album-titled track Chasing Daylight packs a punch unlike the rest of Kaplan’s previous repertoire. The pounding drums, gleaming electric guitars, blanketed synthesizers drive this song in an upward direction to its very last moments. Keep climbing with Kaplan as he takes you on a wild ride, and stay tuned for his upcoming releases and tour dates with Magnolia.
~Matt Koelsch
Turbulent Records
I'll Call You Tonight
HEAPS N HEAPS (Zach Moon, John Pruitt, Dan Dowsett, Alisa Fedele) bring a vigor that is shaking indie venues throughout greater Los Angeles and up along the left coast. Their sweet blend of male and female harmonies has bright moments of raspy indie-rock, smoother moments of delicate whispers, and pleasant melodies. Backed by a solid rhythm section, Call You found on their record, "Like No One’s Around" has a lively beat & groove that engages any listener and promises to keep you dancing and bobbing along in bliss. Look out for Heaps in and around LA, kicking it on Venice beach and making their magic on a stage near you. Be sure to save Call You to your indie-rock playlist and keep an ear out for their next release.
~Matt Koelsch, Turbulent Records
Najib Howls in the Night
Swedish-songstress Mona Najib spins a deep web of dark-pop with her new single Howlin’ . Inspired by her Moroccan fathers transient lifestyle, Mona has been on the move for most of her twenties but has spent her recent years in Los Angeles on the east side. Her latest track pairs clear and shimmering vocals with beautiful glassy synths atop heavy electronic bass and beat production. Howlin’ sounds like the first chapter of a new book of songs for Mona. It has captured our attention and is creating anticipation for her upcoming record. Roll down the windows and and turn on Howlin as you cruise through your evening.
~Matt Koelsch, Turbulent Records
Alfa hits the mark with Spark & Fury
Between touring the U.S. College market, Philippines and in LA and NYC, Singer-Songstress Alfa has been working diligently in the studio in San Diego and just released her fun-loving, catchy and sophisticated record via Pacific Records. Spark & Fury is the ideal record for a breezy highway cruise or a relaxing day on the porch.
Bare Feet is Alfa’s shimmering lead track on Spark & Fury. A driving four-on-the-floor rhythm section, pleasant pop flourishes and glossy harmonies roll through the track. Alfa paints a complete picture for us in each verse with her vivid and prolific lyrics. Alfa’s uptempo energy continues on her hit song Blue, which is contagious with its upward stroke, island-ukulele and pop-punch vocals. A playful vocal melody and lyrical story encompass Blue. You will be whistling this tune browsing the grocery store months after your first listen.
The upbeat and optimistic vibe of Incomplete and the harmonies through the chorus tie the song together in a memorable way. The bridge and build into the last chorus keep the listener engaged and coming back for more. This rendition of the song is a nice contrast to the alternate mellow version of Incomplete recently released by Alfa's co-writer, yours truly.
A light-hearted but sorrowful chord progression floats through Round & Round and pulls the listener in close. Particularly during the hook, Alfa pedals on a suspended chord that keeps us in a bit of a piano-lead trance. A cello hugs the track close, only enhancing the melancholy yet beautifully composed Round and Round. Alfa’s haunting voice and droning minor chords on her piano spin us back around to press repeat on this tearing ballad.
Rubber Band is Alfa’s departure from the rest of the tracks on Spark & Fury. It veers a bit outside of her typical songwriting style on the record as it leans a bit harder against the rock and roll tendencies of her past influences. Tension, marching and brooding comes to mind throughout this tune. Some light vocal production and cavernous calls rotating in the background give a more mysterious vibe to this track.
The chorus is a strong melody in M.O, aka Missed Opportunity. A bit of studio magic and mixing gives it a contemporary twist with a dash of inspiration from Dark Side of the Moon with the sampling of the cash register on Money. Soothing harmonies and a laid back feel on Nothing Ever Lasts and From Me help close out Alfa’s record in a conclusive and satisfying way.
Alfa’s new record is a steady expansion on her strong creative repertoire. Alfa’s 2017 record Spark & Fury, is available now at digital music outlets worldwide (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, BandCamp).
~ Matt Koelsch, Turbulent Records