Meet the Fiona Noakes Band, headed by, you guessed it, Fiona Noakes. Noakes is joined by lead guitarist/back-up vocalist Cliff Chamberlain, drummer/back-up vocalist Danae Tsikouras, bassist Ben L’Ecuyer, and guitarist Seedus.
Get to know Trades, a New York based band who has recently announced their upcoming fourth album, About Above Across. Each member of the band brings his own experience, his own musical taste, his own story to the band’s sound. Trades is a piano-focused trio, but incorporates drums and vocals to create a unique instrumental blend. They have a self-described “raw, unfiltered honesty” in their sound that they hope resonates with listeners.
Fusion – n. the process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity
The “cosmic world music ensemble,” BELLA Gaia, offers music that is a combination of “virtuosic violins, soothing vocals, and exotic instrumentation (koto, tablas, Egyptian nay flute).”
Meet Meghann Wright, an emerging singer/songwriter based in New York. Meghann has a background drenched in culture, extending beyond music and the arts and encompassing food, people, and places. With her cultured background it is no wonder Meghann transgresses “genre boundaries,” surpassing established sounds and creating music that stands on its own. Meghann hopes to move listeners with her music, assure them that they are all part of a shared human experience. She finds beauty in music and hopes others find the same.
When you hear or read the words, “Every Flavor Weather Machine,” you don’t immediately think of music, but that’s precisely what Every Flavor Weather Machine is. The band is an octet, something you don’t see very often in today’s popular music. They use a bassist, trombonist, drummer, trumpeter, saxophonist, percussionist, vocalist, and keyboarder to create the many flavors in their music. The flavors that the band offers include funk, soul, blues, gospel, and rock and roll. Some of these flavors or songs have meaning, and some just make you want to dance, according to front man and songwriter, Ben Anshutz (keyboards/vocals). Read more of Gadfly Online’s interview with Anshutz to learn how the band got their name and more, and be sure to check out EFWM’s latest single, “Do What I Can,” here.
In a world of sugary pop ballads and singles encouraging us all to shake some sort of ourselves, I always rejoice when I come across an artist who writes conscientious, meaningful lyrics. That is exactly what I discovered when I came across Liam McAlary, otherwise known as Bronte, a singer/songwriter from Sydney, Australia. In addition to soulful sound and catchy hooks, Bronte’s music narrates a story. It is through music that Bronte promotes political issues and engages in social commentary.
“We have never heard the same comparison more than once, which makes us feel like we have created a sound that really is Lion’s Mouth.”
Meet Chelsea Zareczny and Sara Wexler, together known as the indie-pop duo, Lions’ Mouth. In preparation for their self-titled debut album dropping today (November 18th) on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes, and more, the duo talked to Gadfly Online about how their experiences, from volunteer firefighting to elementary school bands, have brought them here today and how their album fits into their overall career arc, which hopefully includes touring where the duo “thrives under stage lights.”
Meet The Harmaleighs, composed of 23 year-olders, Haley Grant and Kaylee Japerson. The folk duo met in college and instantly bonded over chips and queso. Since then, they have played alongside some of their favorite artists, including Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. With their new songs that tell stories about “the joy that comes with living,” they are hoping to become favorites of their own of the old and young. Take a listen to their first single, “I Keep Ticking On,” off of their debut album, Pretty Pictures, Dirty Brush, and continue reading to learn more about The Harmaleighs.
Today’s featured artist is Sarah McGowan, a recent graduate from New York University and emerging singer. McGowan describes her sound as “sweet with an edge,” and she is currently working toward producing her EP Indian Summer to encapsulate that vibe. As a new artist McGowan is still discovering her sound, but is committed to staying unique and fresh. Read more about Sarah McGowan in this exclusive Q&A, and be sure to check out Gadfly’s previous review of that song!
I stopped watching American Idol after Season 8 or 9, so I narrowly missed Paul McDonald, a top-10 finisher in the 10th season of the still-running show. That is until I had an opportunity to listen to his new single, “Bright Lights” from his debut solo album, For You, and interview him for Gadfly Online.