Deborah Crooks

BAY AREA AMERICAN/ROCK SINGER/SONGWRITER DEBORAH CROOKS ANNOUNCES NEW EP WITH RELEASE OF THE SINGLE “INDIA STREET”

Nationally touring songwriter and recording artist Deborah Crooks announces the release of “Something Special”, a breezy 3-song EP showcasing her live sound and California sensibilities, September 1, 2015. The first single from the project, “India Street,” was released Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Crooks, whose past recordings— including the acclaimed 2013 release “Little Bird” produced by Art Khu — have received global airplay, placed on the PBS TV Series RoadTrip Nation, and included on the recent Songs from the Fog compilation, recorded and co-produced the track with her longtime bandmates amid working on a new KCDC recording.

A followup to Crooks’ 2013 release, the dynamic full-length Little Bird, the three songs on “Something Special” reflect her California roots and peregrinations. "India Street is loosely inspired by being lost in San Diego but is really a  meditation on various expressions of faith; "Room 223" is a classic he-done-me-wrong narrative, set in a 50s vintage Travelodge; while "Something Special" recounts an early fascination with the legend of Bigfoot, in the song, a metaphor for transcendence.

As she did with "Little Bird," and the collaborative KCDC project "Your Own Reaction,"  the project was recorded with drummer Mike Stevens at his Lost Monkey Studio, with guitarist Kwame Copeland and bassist Andrew Gibson rounding out the band.

“I was in the studio with the band working on the next KCDC (the band she co-leads with Kwame Copeland) CD earlier this year and we found we had some studio time left to play with. We decided to record some of my “stray songs,” those tunes that alway make it onto the set list but had yet to be recorded.”

On the surface, “India Street,” is about trying to find one’s way in a strange town, but really it’s about the various ways people demonstrate their faith in life. While Crooks has made numerous trips to India over the past decade to study yoga and voice, she wrote the lyrics while on tour in Southern California, reading directions on the way to a San Diego venue — where there is an actual India Street.  

“It’s one of those songs I’ve been playing live for years now, and it finally seemed time to record it,” said Crooks of guitar-driven tune.

The same can be said for “Room 223,” a song she wrote as a challenge to herself while staying in a vintage Travelodge that was once frequented by Roy Rogers. “How can you not at least try to write a country song?” Crooks asked herself, and penned a song that leans decidedly toward country swing.

“Something Special,” another California-based song, recounts the songwriter’s early fascination with the legend of Bigfoot. “I’d long forgotten my childhood obsession...until I read an in-flight magazine and found Bigfoot fever is still very much alive!”

Crooks celebrated the release with a show at Awaken Cafe in Oakland, CA, on August 29, 2015.

“Something Special,” available everywhere September 1, 2015, by Deborah Crooks. Featuring Mike Stevens on drums, Kwame Copeland on guitars and Andrew Gibson on bass. Engineered, recorded and mixed by Mike Stevens at Lost Monkey Studios, Hayward, CA.

Listen to and buy “Something Special” at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deborahcrooks7

For more information, contact birdinthetreemusic@gmail.com

For tour dates go to  http://deborahcrooks.com/shows

John Elwart

John Elwart, who has been a musician most of his life, at one point determined that since the top television series are police and detective oriented, that there is an audience waiting for someone to make police theme records. In addition to police themes, everything that makes the newspaper is in the album; Hollywood, movie stars, space aliens, and even the C.I.A.

The music is novelistic and commercial, sounding at times like a movie theme. The roughly 3 minutes as an average for each song is filled with catchy lyrics, something a person can remember and associate with daily events like watching a police car, reading the newspaper, or watching television.

The music is a collection of titles of novelistic ideas turned into a fantasy by exaggerating the subject matter. All selections are easily danceable. Whether you are an average listener, a police officer, a government agent, or a Hollywood fan, there is something for you in this album.

The C.R. Ecker Band

The C.R. Ecker Band, since its inception in 2011, has earned twenty major awards for its distinct sound, created by songwriter Charles Ecker and supported by producers Michael Stanton in Los Angeles and Stacy Hogan in Nashville.

At a time when so much in country sounds the same, this band is making its moves to chart new ground with songs like "Green Eyes," "A Lotta' Love," "My White Collar" and "I Believe in You," all aimed at getting people to develop a renewed interest in country music.

It has earned the distinction of being named to the Starliner's Europe Hall of Fame, one of the first ten inductees into the Renegade Radio Nashville "New Faces of Country" and recipient of "Song of the Year" awards at Hollywood Music in Media and L.A. Music Awards, the latter two consider precursers to Grammy attention.

Additionally, it was named "Country Band of the Year" at Independent Music Network and received the Silver Award for band of the year at Independent Country Music Association.

Why Radio Plays Same 20 Songs

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Why Radio Plays Same 20 Songs: The Sad Truth Of Media Consolidation [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you’ve ever tuned into terrestrial radio in your car, at home or at the office, then you’re well aware that commercial radio stations tend to play the same songs in rotation over and over again. Is it because these songs are so hot that people are just demanding stations play them? Hardly. The sad truth of the matter is that only six companies control 90% of the media: GE, Newscorp, Disney, Viacom, and Time Warner (compared to 1983 when roughly 50 companies owned the media).

Consolidation of media has lead to far less diversity in programming and ownership, with far fewer voices being heard. Media consolidation has heavily affected the balance and diversity of today's music on terrestrial radio. This is great news if you’re Drake, Lil Wayne, Lady Gaga and the like, but not so great if you’re just about anybody else.

The below infographic, first presented by Frugal Dad, displays exactly what the consolidation of our media looks like:

Click on image to enlarge

Source: Frugal dad

Southside House Collective

Southside House Collective & Martin Eriksson feat. Jonny Rose - Headstrong Headstrong has melodic breaks and powerful drops with a powerful vocal hook that will stick in your head for a lifetime. Headstrong will turn heads and create the desired atmosphere on the dancefloor every dj is looking for. Buy or Stream: http://SouthsideRecordings.lnk.to/Headstrong iTunes: http://apple.co/1Jv46IM Beatport: http://btprt.dj/1EcgF7o Spotify: http://spoti.fi/1Ew1Spt Deezer: http://bit.ly/1HJC4HaGoogle Play: http://bit.ly/1DPjhEV  Read More Dario Trapani - Wish A big tune, with a clever synergy between o smooth voice, trancy dreamy synths and a drop that moves from that 4 on the floor time-signature to 24/4, and then back again. Mr Trapani has been busy in Logic changing the Piano-roll grid, that’s for sure. Here at the office we get some Hardwell feeling, or is it just a ”Wish” ? Buy or Stream: http://SouthsideRecordings.lnk.to/WishiTunes: http://apple.co/1bfrMSP Beatport: http://btprt.dj/1y6lRVbSpotify: http://spoti.fi/1EmLhWPDeezer: http://bit.ly/1Fb8Q3I Google Play: http://bit.ly/1DaZuQS Read More   Contact & Licensing Southside Recordings Disponentgatan 14b 211 57 Malmö Sweden recordings@southsidehousecollective.se

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Kwame Binea

They say a man walks a long road before finding his path. Kwame Binea has been paving his way through the art of music. Born Nana Kwame Biney Asiedu Agyemfra in West London to a single Ghanaian mother, he soon moved to Ghana to live with his grandparents, where music became his passion. Kwame was influenced by the rhythms of traditional Ghanaian and West African music as well as Reggae, Folk, and American Soul and Blues.

Moving to the United States to further his education enabled Kwame to fulfill his dream of making music. He attended William Paterson University, which is recognized as having one of the finest Jazz and Contemporary Music Programs in the country. At William Paterson, he began pursuing his musical career by teaming up with fellow musicians, creating a classic rock, blues and soul band, The Kause.

After leaving The Kause, Kwame met songwriting partner Justin Wilcox at a recording session in Union City, NJ. Initially performing as an acoustic act, their iconic sound drew the attention of other talented musicians hailing from NY and NJ. As his band grew larger, the music developed both lyrically and sonically making Kwame's Harlem apartment walls rattle. As a result, the 'Uptown Shakedown' was born.

Kwame Binea's electrifying live performances with the solid musicianship of his band, the 'Uptown Shakedown,' built a following as diverse as New York City. His fans were able to watch him perform all over iconic New York City music venues including Brooklyn Bowl, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Sullivan Hall, The Bitter End, Kenny's Castaway and their Summer Residency at Arlene's Grocery as well as shows across the East Coast.

Kwame, the singer/songwriter, has made his home in Harlem, New York where he continues to spread the message of peace, love and music. His strength in music has been shaped by the diversity of cultures he has experienced, and his passion and intensity of spreading positivity through Music are symbols of who Kwame Binea is. 

"My music is organic," says Kwame, "it's about life, love and struggle, but it's danceable. We make music that moves you and that makes you move."

Kwame is currently putting the finishing touches on his first solo EP, Rock & Roll Shakedown.

Celine Schmink

 

       

 

Press Release

Céline Schmink's new LP : “Paris-Memphis”

The french singer and songwriter Céline Schmink releases her new LP, “Paris-Memphis” This LP is comprised of 13 classic tracks for a total playing time of nearly 50 minuts. It’s a tribute to road trip and american bluesy music.
The album is partly folk and partly indie rock with a bluesy attitude and a very “Chris Isaak” soul. The album is humble but ambitious. Céline Schmink’s “Paris-Memphis” addresses itself to fans of romantic bluesy ballads and South music including two timeless classic folksongs she plays with the autoharp: “Lil’Liza Jane” and “Aura Lee” popularized by Presley as “Love me tender”.

These 13 tracks are sung in Schmink’s signature: a dark and emotional timbre. While Céline Schmink is an accomplished singer with many singles and tracks to her credit, she remains best known for her romance ballads as “Your breath” or “Les yeux froids” in duet with californian singer Chris’M.

Her tracks are original and wholly her own. Her lyrics seem drawn from a travel diary. “I like to perform, to think about my past memories and of course I like trips and roads. Paris-Memphis celebrates the power of music to bring people together and focus on our common humanity” she explains.

Céline Schmink's Live LP : "Lil'wild ones"

Céline Schmink also releases a live LP named "Lil'wild ones : One french voice. One autoharp. Live improv session". It's a tribute to Colorado and wild spaces. The album is minimalist folk, mainly in english. Céline Schmink has got a very french accent singing in english what makes the listening experience pretty exotic !

"Lil'wild ones" is available on Itunes and Amazon only.

 

More infos : www.laparoliere.com