Rock And Blues International by Rock and Blues International

JANUARY2021 2021 JANUARY

Rock And Blues International

SIR EARL TOON ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

STEVE STRONGMAN DOM TURNER ANDY WATTS DANNY JONES ROBERTO MENABO

Rock And Blues International January 2020 Hello Rock And Blues International readers. Needless to say, this past year has been terrible to the Music Industry. Thousands of people are without jobs. Bands were unable to tour. Live Nation is in shambles. Other concert promotors around the world are in just as much trouble. And that’s just the beginning. However, more great music has been created. New methods of reaching the fans have gone into play, and the music business is pulling together to try to make 2021 a record year. They say that prayers work, and so I’d like everybody reading this to say a prayer to a new and profitable 2021. Let’s pray that we can overcome the problems that 2020 brought us. Let’s pray for each other... And while you’re praying, please say a prayer for all the great musicians that we lost last year. All of them have made an impact on the music business while they were alive and they deserve these last respects. Some of the great musicians we have lost are Leslie West (Mountain), Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen), Neil Peart (Rush), Joe Diffie, John Prine, Bill Withers, Kenny Rogers, Little Richard, Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne), Trini Lopez, Alan Merill, Tommy DeVito (Four Seasons, Johnny Nash, Charlie Daniels, Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk), Ellis Marsalis, Wallace Roney, John “Bucky” Pizzarelli, Spencer Davis (Spencer Davis Group),Sean Reinert (Cynic), Joseph Payne (Divine Heresy), Reed Mullin (Corrosion Of Conformity), Andy Gill (Gang Of Four), Josh Pappe (D.R.I.), Genesis P. Orridge (Throbbing Gristle), Jason Rainey (Sacred Reich), Bill Rieflin (Ministry), Lou A. Kouvaris (Riot), Derek Jones (Falling In Reverse), Dave Greenfield (The Stranglers), Brian Howe (Bad Company), Phil May (Pretty Things), Bob Kulick (studio musician - Kiss, Balance, Meat Loaf), Joey Image (The Misfits), Steve Priest (Sweet), Paul Chapman (UFO), Keith Tippett (King Crimson), Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Jamie Oldaker (Eric Clapton), Steve Holland (Molly Hatchet), Jack Sherman (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Tony Costanza (Machine Head), Vern Ramsey (Unwound), Pete Way (UFO), Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot), Riley Gale (Power Trip), Jay White (The Agony Scene), Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep), Brent Young (Trivium), Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) and Alto Reed (Bob Seger Band). I’d like to thank all these fine musicians for their contributions to the music business. Many of them grace my music collection and I will think of you everytime I play your records. Thank you for all the hours of happiness that you brought me and your many fans. Thank you! I sincerely hope that everybody reading this new publication finds something here that they like and I would like to encourage you to let your friends and colleagues know about us. Just look for us every month at http:// www.rockandbluesinternational.com. I would also like to encourage you to email us for a free subscription to Rock And Blues International as well. Just email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com and in the subject line simply put “Sign Me Up” and we’ll email you a copy each month when it is published.

Kevin Wildman Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Rock And Blues International Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Web Address Http://www.rockandbluesinternational.com Mailing Address Box 1162, League City, TX 77573 Phone 281-650-1953

For Advertising email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com or call 281-650-1953 For A Free Subscription email us at rockandblues international@gmail.com and in the subject line put “Sign Me Up Now” January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Contents

VOL. 1 NO. 6

JANUARY 2021

ISSUE NO. 6

SIR EARL TOON Grammy Award Winning Musician Has Big Plans For The New Year

8 STEVE STRONGMAN

Canadian Blues Artist Steve Strongman Talks About His New Release, Tired Of Talkin’

DOM TURNER Australian Blues Artist Dom Turner Talks About His Illustrious Career

ANDY WATTS

Israeli Blues Guitarist Andy Watts Talks About His New Blues Release, Supergroove

ROBERTO MENABO Italian Musician Roberto Menabo Releases His New Album The Mountain Sessions: Blues & Guitar Excursions

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Contents

VOL. 1 NO. 6

JANUARY 2021

ISSUE NO. 6

BUJU BANTON Buju Banton Releases His ’Til Shiloh 25th Anniversary LP

62 KID CUDI

Returns With New Album Man On The Moon III: The Chosen

70 73

EDDIE VEDDER Expands Master Of Time With Three New Tracks

In This Issue: 6 8 12 16 20 22 23 26 28 29 30 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 42

Sir Earl Toon Steve Strongman Dom Turner Andy Watts Danny Jones Roberto Meabo (Italian) Roberto Meabo (English) Enter Shakiri Bokassa Sondre Lerche Still Dreaming Buju Banton Yamilé Cruz Montero Myrkur Jack McBannon Hallas Another Sky M. Caye Castagnetto Dorit Chrysler & Marie Losier Lindsay Ell

44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 60 62 63 64 66

Andrekza Boris and Merzbow Shaylen Grand Theft Auto Online Mob Rich Granger Smith Brett Young Wenches Steve Aoki & Aloe Blacc Anna Akana Dallas Smith & Friends Bessel Of Light Ill Nino & Hyro The Hero Noak Kahan Christian Scott a Tunde Adjuah Kid Cudi Kool & The Gang Women In Music Levara

67 68 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 76 78 79 80 81 82 84 85 85 86

Osees Aviella Liband Brooks Hudgins Juicy Pear Jpegmafia Fana Hues Eddie Vedder Lamb Of God The Neighbourhood Bad Wolves Scar Of The Sun Overlord Dark Roast Coffee Aversed Wolfheart Los Becomes Cro-Mags Shepherd Cat Stevens

Songwriter, Producer, Vocalist & Keys Sir Earl Toon “Celebration” “Ladies Night” “Too Hot” More Who hasn’t sung the refrains of Celebration, Ladies Night, and Too Hot? Pretty much all of us have while riding in our cars or on the dance floor. You only have to attend just about any wedding in the world to witness the crowd getting out on the dance floor shouting, “Celebration Come On Yahoo!” IMDB (International Music Database) lists the man as Earl Toon Jr but he is better known around the world as Sir Earl Toon. What’s really cool about the man is that he’s not only aces in regard to his craft but his heart is right. For example after moving from New Orleans to Dallas Ms. Carla Harrell The legendary Celebration man Sir Earl Toon approached him and with heartfelt emotion detailed how kids were going to school and returning home without coats in the winter time. Soon after Earl and Carla established “Give A Kid A Coat” that today has distributed literally thousands of jackets and coats. Earl shares, “No one should be without warmth in the winter months, absolutely no one, especially a child.” To date the Grammy Hall Of Fame member has 30 silver, gold, and platinum accolades to his credit yet remains humble and looks to ease the pain of others all the while continuing to write, produce, and record new music. That’s Earl in the nutshell, giving and contributing in more than one way all the time. Most recently he was introduced to another super star of music lifetime Grammy member and board member Mr. Danny Jones of Danny Jones Music. Danny is widely recognized as a top rated recording engineer and world class drummer. Danny is currently teaming with recording studio owner David Ehninger (ATR Studio). Together, they are presenting a fully equipped live streaming studio for professional artists. Sir Earl Toon can now be listed as one of the celebrated artists that will join Danny and David at their new facility in Katy Texas. That’s Sir Earl Toon always forward thinking and ready to innovate. It’s interesting to note that the celebration man himself is not resting on his laurels. Sir Earl is a true creative. One only has to travel with the man to realize the depth of this creative soul. So a compelling live stream show featuring Sir Earl Toon may once again present a knock your socks off leading edge event for the world’s enjoyment. Earl has not stopped since music found him nor will it stop as his Y.M.O. Enterprises organization focuses on uniting tried and true talent and time tested education to young, aspiring artists. Traveling internationally the man has been introduced to some awesome talent over the years and realizes that many of them just need to get on the right path. Y.M.O. Enterprises is all about sharing that path. Learn more about Sir Earl Toon at www.sirearltoon.com. Photography by: Trent Di Giulio Copyright 2020 Sir Earl Toon Y.M.O. Enterprises LLC Showcase Productions / LeadStar Studios Photo by Jeff Fasano 6

Rock and Blues International • January October 2021 November December 2020 2020 2020

Photo by Gary Bedford

January 2021 â&#x20AC;¢ Rock and Blues International

Steve Strongman Is Just “Tired Of Talkin” New Release Out now! Photo by Jeff Fasano

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

By Kevin Wildman Canadian Blues Artist, Steve Strongman has just released his 7th studio album. The album is called Tired Of Talkin’ and has been released on the Stony Plain Records label. This is actually the second release for this album. It was originally released independently by Steve in 2019, but it quickly came to the attention of Stony Plain Records, who were so taken by the album, that they convinced Steve to sign to their label and reissue the album. Essentially for most people, this is the first release and the most important one. Tired Of Talkin’ contains 11 well crafted and written songs along with one cover, which indeed shows a different side of Steve. The cover is the Al Green classic, “Let’s Stay Together.” That song is one of Steve’s favorites and it has been a part of his set list for many years now. Steve and his writing partner, Dave King, wrote most of the songs on this album. In fact, Dave cowrote nine of the songs on this album with Steve. Steve solely wrote two of the songs, and the last one was the Al Green cover. Steve is a Juno award winning bluesman and composer. There always seems to be a wonderful evolution in his albums as he moves from one to the next. His first two releases contained more of a live feel. That later moved into more of a studio feel and one of his albums even moved into the acoustic realm. Tired Of Talkin’ returns Steve back to his original live feel. In fact, that was done on purpose. With this new album, Steve wanted his listeners to feel more of a live sound from him. Steve has been around for quite a while now. He has been awarded Maple Blues Awards for recording, songwriting, and guitarist of the year, not to mention the 2013 Juno Award for Blues Recording of The Year. In 2014 he was also nominated three times at the Maple Blues Awards for Guitar Player, Electric Act, and Entertainer of The Year. In 2015 Steve also won another Juno Nod for

Blues Album of The Year. 2018 also brought Steve a Juno nomination for Best Album of The Year, and in 2019, Steve won the Best Guitarist for the Solo Duo Category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. In addition to all these great accolades, Steve has also shared the stage with many great Blues artists, such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Johnny Winter. Yes, Steve has had such a very accomplished career. We had a chance to talk to Steve at his home in Hamilton, Ontario about his new album and the songs on it… the inspiration behind the songs, and the meanings. Like most musicians today, he is taking time off from touring due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has gripped the world and pretty much stopped all touring. Steve, like the rest of us is just counting the days till touring and the music business returns to normal. The first song that we touched on was I get a lot of comments about it. the Al Green song, “Let’s Stay Together.” Although it wasn’t planned for the album, it One thing in particular to note about sneaked it’s way on to it. “Yeah, The Al this album, was that it was recorded in two Green song,” acknowledged Steve. “I’ve different countries, Canada and The United been playing the song in my live set for years States… Nashville and Hamilton, Ontario to and years and years, be exact. It was very important to have the and I was asked to two different sounds of the studios used to do it. So when my mirror each other. “It was recorded in two producer, Dave different countries and there were some King and I went challenges around making sure that the record down to Nashville had a very cohesive signal to it. Meaning, the to do some recordings that we did down in Nashville recording down sounded so great we wanted to make sure that there we thought we were able to mask that kind of feeling and well, it would be fun intensity here in Canada with a different set to play a cover song. of musicians and I feel like we absolutely did Let’s just see how it that. My producer, Dave, and I wanted to do turns out. And so we a record that was very much sounding like did “Let’s Stay what you hear when you came to see the band Together” and we live and we had minimal overdubs. We were thrilled with wanted to make it feel really live and I think how it turned out. we were able to do that. That’s what we were So it made the going for, you know. That can be a challenge record. That one’s a when you’re getting into a different environbit of a surprise for ment. So we recorded half of that in Nashpeople because a lot ville with studio musicians and then the other of people don’t half here in Hamilton with other musicians, know that I sing that but they’re my core group of touring kind of style and so continued on next page January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 9

of the lyrics go, “This is a pardon that you can’t get. You can’t get that part of you out of you. It’s in there. It’s in your blood is in your veins and I really feel fortunate to be able to get a chance to do that travel obviously… not so much right now for us, but that’s what that song’s all about. And you know, I write from personal experiences. There’s a song on there called “Still Crazy About You,” and that’s about how my wife and I have been together for 25 years. I wrote that with her in mind, that I’m still crazy about her. Like any relationship, sometimes you drive each other crazy, but I’m still crazy about her.”

Steve Strongman continued from previous page musicians that I work with all the time. They’re absolutely amazing guys, and I’m just I’m thrilled with the way it all turned out and to get all those great musicians on there’s pretty amazing.” As I mentioned earlier, Steve collaborated on 9 of these songs with his songwriting partner and producer, Dave King. The two of them have had a long working relationship together and are very familiar with the direction that they wanted this album to take. As Steve explains, they have had a long collaboration in both writing, recording and performing together. “Dave is one of my best friends. He’s my drummer and he produced my second record, which is a record called Blues In Color. He produced that one as well. And we’ve been together over 20 years playing music together. After my last record came out I wanted to do something a little different than my last record, so I went back to Dave and asked him if he would be interested in producing a record for me. He has a beautiful recording studio and we came upon these songs very organically. We just got together in a room and started with some ideas and we let the song dictate where we were going to go with that and let the lyrics just kind of start to flow. So it was very kind of normal. It wasn’t a strange get together or anything like that. It was just we did what we always do which is get in a room together and start trying to hash out some ideas.”

evolution or difference between this one and the others. “ I would say that’s a good question actually. I would say probably this record is more reflective of the kind of artist that that I am live. My first record was very much like that and my second one was like that as well. But I did an acoustic record called A Natural Fact, which was quite a departure from my live show. It was all acoustic-based and had a lot of success for me. I think as you progress as an artist, you have to keep pushing yourself to do different things and Tired Of Talkin’, the latest record has brought me back full circle to the kind of records I was making when I first started my first and second records, which I think is great. That’s the kind of record that we felt like making because my last record was a little bit more studio-based. We just wanted to feel like, you know, ‘let’s give people a sense of what it feels like to be at a show.”

When it came to writing the songs for this album, a lot of the material came from Steve’s own experiences, but wasn’t just limited to that. Some songs came from observations that he had, as well as from other people’s encounters. One of the more personal songs on the album is “Living The Dream,” another song co-written by Steve and Dave King. “Yeah, “Living The Dream”. “Living The Dream” is an interesting song because of what everybody in the world is going through right now,” says Steve. “So the song kind of talks a little bit about all the places that I’ve been to and this As with every new project, there is all that I do. This is all that I’ve ever done, always seems to be an evolution of sorts with traveling and getting a chance to be a new music coming in. Dave is now into his professional musician from a young age. I seventh album with Tired Of Talkin’ and we really feel like I’m living the dream and some asked him if there was some kind of 10 Rock and Blues International • January December 2021 2020

Another personal song to Steve that he included on the album is “That Kind Of Fight.” It’s a bit of an emotional song, but it’s a story that Steve felt needed to be told. “ That was a special song. I had written it a few years ago and it didn’t make it onto any of my previous releases. Dave the producer always really loved that song and it was a personal song for me. So he said, you know, I think we should come at this from the perspective of putting the strongest songs that you have on this record and we brought that back in and played through that with the guys in Nashville. It really came to life and it’s a very personal song and it just had to be on there. Sometimes people might say, well, I don’t know that it fits the mold of what you’re doing as, “quote unquote” blues artists, but to me it all sounds like blues, and that’s a song that I wrote, that I wanted to get behind in the way that I did so. I think it deserves to be on there. It’s an emotional song, the idea of a struggle. That idea came from a friend of mine, when I was talking about how hard we were all working and touring and traveling, and then he just said to me, ‘I don’t know if I have that kind of fight,’ and that really stuck with me. So I you know, just put it into more. A friend was going through a bad breakup and that’s what it made me think of it, so it is a personal one. It’s not about myself and my relationship, but it is about somebody going through a bad breakup like that.” While all the songs on this album are very personal to Steve, the song “Highway Man” was more written in the third party about something that had happened not far from him. While it didn’t happen to him, it certainly hit a chord and made it one of the more important songs on the album, not to mention it was solely written by Steve. “Yeah, “Highway Man” is another personal song,” continues Steve. “We’re pretty fortunate up here in Canada that you don’t hear about shootings and violence like you do in other parts of the world, but when it happens right around the corner like it did for me… there was a shooting and it was somebody that my wife’s friends knew. A young person got shot right in her apartment and I sat down and I wrote that song about that, you know, trying to get the authorities to just try and see if they can slow this down. I think people are looking at different ways to

get it out and it almost seems like the pandemic has kind of raised that tension a little bit.” Not all the material on the album is quite as serious as “Highway Man.” Take the title cut of the album, “Tired Of Talkin’”. That song is a bit humorous in a sense, and deals with the comings and goings that take place at clubs all the time. “Well,” explains Steve, “the lyric is kind of about a guy who’s in a club, in the bar having a good time and you see somebody he likes and they just keep talking and he’s trying to say ‘Hey, listen, it’s getting late. I’m tired of talking, let’s go and get down to it,’ that kind of thing. I wrote that song with my cousin who’s a great, great piano player. And we wrote it as a very kind of a straight-up feel, almost like a Stones, kind of feel. We we’re going to try and switch it up and I just said ‘it is what it is.’ You don’t have to reinvent the wheel with this. I love the song. Let’s just do it and it turned out great.” And as you can expect, some of the other songs on the album are about the more traditional blues stylings, such as “Paid My Dues.” Yes, it’s the traditional I’ve paid my dues type song as Steve reminisces about performing every since he was a teenager. “Yeah, I wrote that song with Dave and that is exactly what it’s about. I been in the fortunate position that I’ve been doing this long enough. I started in clubs when I was 16 years old and performed all over the world and got a chance to meet some of the biggest blues artists in the world. Sometimes you just feel like you’re still slugging away, but you do it because you love it, and there’s a time where you feel like ‘man, I’ve paid my dues, so that’s what that was about. I’m really proud of all the things I’ve been able to achieve. This is the life that I’ve chosen and you work hard and you do it because you love it. It can be tough when you’re playing big festivals in front of 25,000 people and then three nights later you’re playing in a club somewhere in front of 50 people, because that’s the way that it is. So that can be a little bit tough. When people ask me about that song in particular, I do feel like that paid my dues and we’ve still got a long way to go. Hopefully a lot more a lot more dues to keep to keep paying, but I’m proud of the work that I’ve done.” We’ve only touched on a few of the songs here but believe me, this entire album is full of great moments. Steve and Dave’s inspiration was indeed flowing throughout the entire creative process on this album. Perhaps part of it came from working with

musicians in Nashville that Steve had not interacted with before, but was well aware of their capabilities. In fact, it’s safe to say that Steve was a bit enamored of some of these folks, as he explains. “I hadn’t worked with these great musicians, so Pat Sansone (Nashville Keyboardist, Piano, Acoustic Guitar) was incredibly helpful. He’s in a national band called Wilco and he’s ver close with Dave. So Dave called up Pat to say we’re thinking of coming down. I’d been in Memphis for the International Blues Challenge in 2019, and I won best guitar. We were in a Solo Duo category. I took an extra week and I went and visited around to a few different Studios and Pat had told me to go and check out Creative Workshop, which is just a great beautiful space. I had already been into the studio and sort of got a Vibe and picked that one knowing that I thought it would be good for the kind of environment that I wanted to have, but I was a little bit worried going down there. I haven’t worked with Pat in a musical way or with James Haggerty (bass) and Audley Freed (electric guitar). I’m a fan of Audley’s and I told him that as soon as I met him. He’s played with the Black Crowes and Sheryl Crow, so I’m a big fan of his work, so to get to get a chance to get into a creative space with these guys, these world class musicians. It was fantastic. There was a little bit of anxiety there. Yeah, but you know, I was very, very pleased that they were such incredibly gracious, nice gentleman. And you know I really felt like it made me feel like I belonged there. That’s how I felt by the end of it all later.”

nervous, but the excitement was part of it. Like, oh we’re really going to do this and then we got the final listening back, you know, listening back in the Hamilton studio and I was like, ‘this is the right thing.” So with the recording of this album two years ago and the release of the album now, Steve is hard at work writing songs for the next album. Moreover though, Steve is just counting the days till he can get out and start performing again. He tells us that about six or seven of these songs will definitely be in his set list when he can start performing again. Although he has a great catalog of songs to perform, Steve is mainly going to concentrate on this new album. Yes, he’s got a couple of old favorites from previous albums that he will definitely have to perform. He knows his fans want to hear them, but he is also going through the anticipation of how they are going to take the new songs. But perhaps the foremost thing that Steve would like his listeners to go away with after listening to this album is his dedication to his craft… to his music… and to pleasing his fans.

As Steve puts it, “ I would say that you know, this is this is what I do. I’m dedicated to this. This is part of my life and I got the wonderful support system and my wife and my children and my extended family. In terms of my music, I hope people realize how hard I work at it. I work at being a better singer and guitar player, songwriter and harmonica player every day in my life. I do it every single day. I work at I’m so I guess that After returning from Nashville to the would be what I’d like people to take away. studio in Hamilton, Ontario, Steve took a I’m not somebody that’s going away. I’m listen to the tapes and knew that he had made going to be here and continue to keep the right decision. “Yeah, I was a bit working hard at my craft.” January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 11

Dom Turner 12

Rock and Blues International â&#x20AC;¢ January 2021

Dom Turner The Blues Doctor By Barry (Baz) Maxwell from Blues on the Hill

What I love about the Blues is the way the music can cross pollinate through different cultures and still retain its passion, soul and its authenticity. Dom Turner is an Australian musician who for the last 4 years has been doing just that. Recording with artists from Vietnam and Korea and also travelling to the deep south of America to include blues, gospel and Sacred Steel music. The outcome of this resulted in Dom graduating recently with a doctorate in Creative Arts. A doctorate in the Blues. I had a chat with Dom to talk about the past, the doctorate and his band the Backsliders whose latest album ‘Bonecrunch’ has just debuted at number 1 on the Australian Blues and Roots airplay chart. The beginning I asked Dom when he had first heard the blues and he said. “I’ve older brothers and sisters and in the 1960’s they were listening to the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. I listened to their music, but soon realised I was drawn towards what I now know was the bluesy elements; the microtones, the bent notes on guitar and harmonica. So, when I was a teenager in the 1970s, looking at the cover notes on these albums and I saw the name McKinley Morganfield credited as a writer and discovered that was Muddy Waters’ real name, I went searching for Muddy Waters’ albums and I never looked back. The search took me initially to Lead Belly, Lightning Hopkins, Robert Johnson and Mississippi Fred McDowell.” “I have a deep love and respect for the Mississippi hill country blues. Fred McDowell is the centre of my musical universe. I also enjoy Fife and Drum, which is a form of blues music, and there’s a strong connection between the two.” The Backsliders Dom is a founder member of ‘The Backsliders’; a three piece Australian blues band. The current line up consists of Dom on guitar and vocals with drummer Rob Hirst on drums and percussion. They are joined on harmonica by either Broderick Smith, Ian Collard or Joe Glover depending upon where the Backsliders are playing. So I

asked Dom to tell me the history of The Backsliders. Dom explains “In the early 1980’s I had a few bands that played essentially Chicago style blues. I also had a duo with Rex Hill on harmonica and we gigged around Sydney as an acoustic blues duo. Then I went to the United States in 1986 for about six months. When I came back, I had this idea of trying to blend rural blues with the urban Chicago sound.” “I drew inspiration from the Mississippi Fred McDowell records where Fred was accompanied by a drummer. So, I began rehearsing an idea for a new band. The concept for the sound was rural blues but with percussion. Rex Hill on harmonica and Peter Burgess on washboard and percussion. That was the start of The Backsliders in late 1986.” The name ‘Backsliders’ came from a Library of Congress recording of Lead Belly singing ‘Backslider Fare you Well’. The debut album ‘Preaching Blues’ was released in 1988 to critical acclaim. In 1989 Rex Hill resigned from the band and Jim Conway agreed to join on harmonica. A follow up album ‘Sitting on a Million’ was recorded and released in 1989 and the band quickly moved onto the Australian music festival circuit. I asked Dom how Rob Hirst, the drummer from the legendary Australian rock band; Midnight Oil joined The Backsliders? Dom said “Rob invited me to do a session on a ‘Ghostwriters’ recording in the mid-1990s. We’d been friends since. In 2000, Peter Burgess resigned and we needed a replacement, and when I mentioned in conversation, the fact that Pete had left the band, Rob immediately put his hand up. He was my first choice

The Backsliders but at the time, Midnight Oil were touring regularly so I was worried about the logistics of it all. ” “After a brief rehearsal, Rob agreed to join on the understanding that he would also have Midnight Oil commitments. Rob fit straight in and is quite a different sound to Peter, but that doesn’t really matter. It’s the evolution of a band, you know, so I just knew that his unorthodox approach would work great. And sure enough it did. Rob and I love working together and he’s got to be one of the most intense Mississippi hill country drummers out there, you know, as far as that sort of groove goes.” “What many people don’t realise is that Rob has a jazz drumming background from high school. You can see it in a way that he holds his sticks at times, he uses a traditional grip and also you can see it in his choice of equipment, you know, very odd drums at times— including a piece of suspension form an old Citroen car, or something like the water tank that he used in Midnight Oil. For me, that’s the blues, because

continued on next page January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Dom Turner continued from previous page traditionally, in blues you use what unique interpretation of ’Cai Luong’ and you’ve got on hand and you make it my blues soaked guitar and vocals. There work. So, we already had this musical was musical synergy and the result was connection in the choice of tools to 10 tracks for our album ‘Two Days in produce sound.” Hanoi’”. The Doctorate The album is available on iTunes. Dom has recently completed a It’s a tantalising and original blend of Doctorate in Creative Arts with the Asian and American music with enough University of Western Sydney. I wanted string bending and slide guitar to satisfy to talk to Dom about his doctorate. Dom the most discriminating Delta blues explains “The whole project was based lover. upon collaborating with people and “To start my study, I began the drawing connections between different research by seeking traditional musicians musical types. In particular, my idea for in Asia and America who were exploring the doctorate was to find connections their musical origins and seeing if I felt a between East Asian Music and blues. connection, and if so, whether they were And if there are connections, in terms of willing to connect with me.” similarities, influences, links and Tony Wheeler relationships then I wanted to draw out I started by trying to find a Chinese those connections by collaboration with guqin master to collaborate with. After musicians and create innovate music that researching it became clear that a leading improvises and blends the two genres.” exponent of the instrument was living “I’d already recorded with Vietright here in Australia: renowned namese stringed instrument master, Kim composer and performer of the guqin, Sinh.” Said Dom “Kim Sinh had no and member of the guqin Research connection or real understanding of the Society, Tony Wheeler. I contacted Tony blues. Kim was interested in a form of proposing a collaborative recording Vietnamese theatre called ‘Cai Luong’ – session to which he agreed. Tony is an a musical genre that started in the 1920’s amazing musician with a career spaning and combines traditional Vietnamese several decades and has taken him across folk tunes with theatre.” musical borders into Hong Kong and “Kim plays Cai Luong, but in his China as well. We did a series of own idiosyncratic way and I could see a recordings mixing blues with guqin real connection with the blues based music released as “Dom Turner & Tony music that I play. So, after a number of Wheeler: Microtonal Crossroads One: years of searching, I tracked down Kim Music for Slide Guitar and Guqin.” Sinh and our second meeting was at a Jin Hi Kim recording studio in Hanoi. What fol“Jin Hi Kim is an internationally lowed was an intense two day improvisa- acclaimed innovative komungo virtuoso tional session - a musical blend of Kim’s and a Guggenheim Fellow in Music 14 Rock and Blues International • January December 2021 2020

Composition. The komungo is a Korean fretted board zither, which originated in the fourth century. Jin Hi is known as a pioneer for introducing komungo to the American contemporary music scene.” “I wanted to work with her on a cross-genre mix of avant-garde blues and jazz blended with stringed instrument traditions from Asia. The komungo uses the blues scales and the first time I heard this, I saw a connection with Son House and Bukka White. They played slide guitar with microtonal notes, and they’d hit the guitar so that their use of the guitar became percussive and it’s really a similar thing with the komungo. We recorded and released an album called “Microtonal Crossroads Two: Music for Korean Komungo and Slide Guitar.” The Como Mamas Dom continues telling me about his doctorate journey. “Then I went to Mississippi and worked with The Como Mamas. They are three lifelong Gospel singers. Their instruments are their voices.” The powerful voice of Ester Mae Smith, the deep sound of Angela Taylor, and the energetic vocals of Della Daniels. “They create amazing harmonies and for this part of my project I wanted to reconnect the gospel music of Como with acoustic slide guitar, much the same way as Fred McDowall did in the 1960s, where he recorded in church and played with a small ensemble of singers.” Nikki D Brown Nikki D Brown is from Toledo, Ohio. She grew up in a Church-based lap-steel guitar tradition known as ‘Sacred Steel’. She plays the lap-steel guitar with a unique and mesmerising sound. Her powerful vocals and performance has developed over a lifetime of gospel singing, resulting in a powerful gospel-soul vocal style delivered with impeccable flare and flamboyancy. The Turner Brown Band is a collaboration between Dom and Nikki D Brown. The merging of Nikki’s guitar and vocals with Dom’s blues-based sounds forms an uplifting gospel-blues musical feast. Joining Dom and Nikki in The Turner Brown Band is Nikki’s sister Gloria Brown on rhythm guitar and vocals and her cousin Tomika Webb on drums and vocals who both share the same deep musical heritage and love of infectious gospel-soul music. They are a sensational live band and I wanted to know more about when and how Dom had met Nikki Turner and how she became involved in his doctorate. Dom explained “The sacred steel

tradition, goes back, to the early part of the 20th century, in the primarily African American church communities in the Southern States of America. The tradition started with a musician by the name of Little Willie Eason, turning up at a church with a lap steel slide guitar. The story is not really clear whether the piano or organ was broken, but he played his steel guitar in church and the congregation liked it. Gradually, more musicians started doing it. The thing is, the way the musicians play the steel guitar in church, is very different to what you would hear in country music. It’s closer, in my mind, to what you would hear in Hawaiian music, except there’s a lot of single note playing, and it’s very vocallike. So I was basically searching for someone form the Sacred Steel tradition in the USA to collaborate with. There’s lot of musicians playing sacred steel, but I wanted to find somebody that I thought I had could have a real musical synergy with. Anyway, I found these video clips of Nicki Brown and I had an immediate connection with the way she was playing. We are quite different players, but there was a real similarity in her approach to constructing solos and the way that she played the single notes. I felt that we could play together and it could work, creating something new. So I was able to contact Nikki and went to America to see what would come out of a recording session; whether we would connect or not.” Dom goes on “Nikki’s music is gospel really, and what I was trying to do was introduce more of a blues element to it, in the way the early rural blues players had combined blues with gospel. I also wanted to understand the sacred steel tradition. I knew from listening to the Fred McDowell experience, that the blues and gospel crossover works so well, that maybe if Nikki and I work together, it would be a similar thing. So it was kind of a two way thing. I’d try and feed some blues ideas Nikki’s way and then get some gospel ideas from her. As it was it was, there was an immediate connection, musically, which doesn’t always happen.” “So it was a fabulous study; doing the research, finding the musicians, making the connections, making the music, then writing up the research. There are four recordings that accompany the written thesis as part of the study. Three are available on Dom’s website as well as various digital platforms. I asked Dom whether he had any intention of publishing his work as a

book. Dom explained “I’m working on it at the moment. That’s the next project!” Phil Wiggins Phil Wiggins is one of America’s foremost harmonica virtuosos. He has toured the world for three decades with the Piedmont Blues duo ‘Cephas & Wiggins’. Dom and Phil are old friends and they’ve recorded and toured together. I asked Dom whether his partnership with Phil Wiggins had been part of his doctorate and he said. “I’d already worked with Phil when my doctorate started in 2016, so while he wasn’t formally part of the project, I did reference working with Phil because our relationship has the musical synergy that is necessary for a collaboration to work. Phil and I go back to when I first went to America in 1986. The Backsliders toured with John Cephas and Phil Wiggins many times throughout the 1990s and we all became friends. Phil and I started working together around 2015 beginning with a short run of shows in the US. We’ve done 2 albums since then.” Bonecrunch I asked Dom about the latest release from The Backsliders, their new album ‘Bonecrunch’ and the process they go through when making an album. Dom replied “We started this slightly more than two years ago. Rob Hirst and I have a process that we use to make albums. We start by doing a lot of experimental playing and come up with grooves and riffs and ideas. We do this a few times over a week or so and then we take them away. Then we work out some lyrics, piece them together and make them into a song. One of the songs on the album, we’ve been playing for last couple of years, it’s an instrumental called ‘Tombstoning’. At the beginning of 2020 I had tours booked up for most of the year as did Rob and then COVID19 happened and everything stopped. So we took the opportunity to make the album and recorded it at Oceanic Studios in Sydney, which is owned and run by Midnight Oil guitarist Jim Moginie”.

Turner Bown band The Backsliders are a force to be reckoned with and ‘Bonecrunch’ is another awesome release and deservedly reached number 1 on the Australian Blues and Roots airplay chart.

References https://domturner.com.au/home https://backsliders.com.au/home http://www.jinhikim.com/ https://domturner.com.au/domturner-jin-hi-kim https://domturner.com.au/kimsinh-dom-turner https://daptonerecords.com/artists/ the-como-mamas/ https://domturner.com.au/theturner-brown-band https://domturner.com.au/philwiggins-dom-turner https:// oceanicstudio.wordpress.com/ About Barry (Baz) Maxwell I live in Melbourne, Australia where I’m – Presenter of Blues on the Hill radio show (https://www.facebook.com/ bluesonthehill and http:// www.sunburyradio.com.au) President of Hume Blues Club (http:// www.humebluesclub.com) President Blues Music Victoria (http:// www.bluesmusicvictoria.com.au) Acknowledgement I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by Glenn Owens to this article. January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 15

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Israeli Blues Guitarist Andy Watts Releases His New Album Supergroove By Kevin Wildman The wonderful thing about Blues is how it touches people all over the world. I really hadn’t thought about it that much, but I know I’ve been aware of it to some extent. However, when I heard about Andy Watts, it really got me to thinking about it. The Blues does indeed touch people all around the world. Andy Watts is a Blues artist from Israel. For Andy, Blues is his life. Andy is considered to be Israel’s Ambassador of the Blues and the country’s premiere Blues performer. Andy Watts has been playing the blues for over 20 years now. He has several releases to his name already, including Fragments of Bone (EP), Turn The Lights Out, and Blues On Fire. Now Andy is back with his new release, Supergroove. Andy produced Supergroove along with Blues legend, Kenny Neal. In fact, Supergroove was released on Kenny Neal’s record label, Booga Music in Cooperation with Vizztone Label Group. Andy has performed with a lot of notable Blues performers, including Johnny Winter, Kenny Neal, Bernard Alison, Rick Estrin, Joe Louis Walker, Lucky Peterson and Eliza Neals among many others. On Supergroove, Andy reunites with a few of them. Joining Andy on this new album is Joe Louis Walker, Rick Estrin, and Eliza Neals along with Roy Young, Danny Shoshan, and Gadi Altman. The album features ten of the finest Blues songs you’ve ever heard. Andy wrote half of these and Andy’s friends and mentors wrote the rest. Among the cover songs on this album are songs written by Rick Estrin, Freddie King, Joe Louis Walker, Danny Shoshan, and the legendary Peter Green. It’s Peter Green’s “Supernatural” that ends the album and brings the project full circle. From the opening bars of “Supergroove” to the closing bars of Peter Green’s “Supernatural,” Andy

takes you on what might be a ‘spiritual journey of the Blues.” Both of these songs are instrumentals, sandwiching in some really fantastic Blues songs written by Andy and some of his peers. “Supergroove” is a great starting song for this album. The song is filled with some great incendiary Blues licks that would make the Blues Masters proud. It’s amazing that this Israeli guitarist can conjure up sounds that make you feel like you’re sitting in the Deep South listening to one of the greats. That coupled with the beautiful tones of the organ highlighted by what could be only described, as one of the most fantastic horn sections I’ve heard in a long time is truly inspirational. After listening to this fine Andy Watts original, you know you’re in for a sweet ride. Production on this song, as well as the rest of the album is bright and crisp and shows that a lot of love went into recording and mixing it. There are no dull spots to the production. Everything cuts through where needed… the guitar… the horn… the organ. It all sounds so beautiful. Each song on this album seamlessly glides from one into another. No doubt a lot of attention went into the running order of this fine album. Next up is the Rick Estrin penned song, “Living Hand To Mouth.” Now we’re talking about the greats. The song kicks off with a fantastic harmonica intro that only Rick Estrin can deliver. Quickly the soulful singing of Roy Young enters the picture with a conviction that can certainly be felt here. Obviously Andy is a strong performer here and keeps the rhythm section flowing for a while being dominated by Rick and Roy before he kicks in about halfway through with a domineering lead that really rocks this song. Rick certainly does shine on this

song and Andy appears to really enjoy it. He should… Andy tells us that he and Rick have been friends for years. In fact, it was Andy who first brought Rick to Israel to perform the first time. They have remained friends ever since. “Straight Shooting Woman,” another Watts original kicks off next with a blistering Andy Watts solo that truly delivers the vision of this song before the vocals of Danny Shoshan kick in. It’s great to see how Andy relegates himself to sideman waiting for the perfect moment to come in and deliver another inspiring solo. The solos in this song are really awe-inspiring… not too flashy, but filled with enough punch to deliver the message and carry it out through the end of the song. Andy Watts and Dov Hammer write the next song up, “Burning Deep,” which kicks off with a haunting Watts solo before the brilliant vocals of Joe Louis Walker kick in. Although the song is a bit slower than the previous ones, it definitely accentuates the situation with some great meaningful lyrics delivered by another true master of the blues. Sometimes a great slow moving riff really showcases a song the way it should. It certainly works on this one. And what a stunning ending. It just fades out wishing you could hear more. The late Freddie King comes into play with the next offering of “Pack It continued on next page

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

‘lonesome road,’ there’s nothing lonesome about the energetic sound it conjures up. It’s a fast moving song with a great message and an Andy Watts solo that just burns into your mind, leaving you with ‘sweet memories.’

Andy Watts continued from previous page Up,” another song that returns the soulful Roy Young to vocals. Andy’s interpretation of this song is right on. It truly captures the intensity of Freddie’s original, but Watts gives it a flair that only he can deliver. Again, the horn section on this song really helps to accentuate the feeling of it. Not too flashy, but certainly on top of it. Very subtlety delivered… The intensity of Roy’s voice really lends credibility to this fine re-imagining of a Freddie Kind song. Freddie must be looking down on us smiling right now. Joe Louis Walker lends his song to this fine collection now with the addition of “Blues Of The Month Club,” and a new vision of it with the female voice of Eliza Neals. Eliza just nails this production with her sultry voice and bluesy styling. Accentuated by the horn section, the song just cooks and then the solos kick in… Not too domineering but filled with enough soul to give this a very distinctive feel.

Danny Shoshan returns now with his vocal on his self-penned song, “Don’t You Let Me Down.” Kicking off with a great lead, the song is soon joined by the horn section before being joined by Danny. It sounds a bit for rocky that the other songs on the album, and definitely helps to change the theme of the album into more of a rockin’ vibe, at times sounding a bit like a soul song punctuated by a subtle Latin feel, complete with congas. Probably the heaviest rocker on this album is “Raw,” which was written by Andy Watts and features Gadi Altman on vocals. This one is really a true rocker. It’s fast moving intro spearheaded by Andy’s guitar is really dominant and rules through the entire song. And while Gadi sings about the

The next song has a great meaning to Andy and it returns Roy Young and Rick Estrin back into the mix. The song is called “Don’t Take My Blues Away.” The slow moving song has a real. During a conversation, Andy heard the line “Don’t Take My Blues Away,” and he just loved the phrase. He knew he had to write a song about that line, and he nailed it in this slow-moving soulful song. We know now that nothing is going to take Andy’s Blues away from him. They’re too deeply routed in his soul. Rock and Blues International August 2020 18 2021 26 Rock Rockand andBlues BluesInternational International ••• January November 2020

Finishing up the album is the tourde-force “Supernatural.” Regarded as one of Peter Green’s finest instrumental works “Supernatural” appears to be the logical song to end this journey. And this album has certainly been a journeyed through the peaks and valleys of a great Blues mind. Peter would just love Andy’s rendition of this song, complete with the subtle keyboard leads as well as Andy’s embellishments to the song. When we asked Andy about starting the album with an instrumental and ending it with an instrumental, he told us that a long time ago he noticed that a lot of great Blues performers would start their albums off and ended it like that. He really liked that concept and want to continue it on this release. He also tells us that it was also planned to have the beginning song and the ending song start with the word Super. Yes folks, this is definitely a wellplanned and executed album. It runs the gamut from Rock To Blues to even containing some great soulful slow songs. There’s a little bit for everybody here. Andy and Kenny Neal both have a lot to be proud of about this album. Andy and his friends did a wonderful job recording this project and Kenny did equally as impressive job producing it. It will be very interesting to see what the two of them have planned in the future. Congratulations go out to the both of them on such an inspiring album.

October 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ Rock and Blues International

A View From the Drum Riser Reflections on Holiday Gigs Just about any band member will tell you that holiday gigs have a bit of a different feel to them than most non-holiday gigs especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Recently I caught up with world class drummer, producer and recording engineer Danny Jones and asked him if it was me or is there a different kind of vibe that comes back to the band at holiday gigs. Danny thought for a second and then shared some rather interesting memories about the view from up on the drum riser. One of his fondest memories developed at The Peabody in Memphis back in his college days in the 70’s. High school seniors that had graduated in June and went away to college would be returning to Memphis and joining about two hundred to three hundred others at The Peabody. Danny recalled that the vibe at this combination Christmas home coming gig was marvelous. They would be performing for a sea of peers that were excited to be with their friends again, they wanted to share their stories about being away. You could feel it, you could literally feel the holiday spirit in the room and the mood affected the way we played, it was a cool experience. Another time, it was New Year’s Eve going into 1976 Danny heard a loud pop and then was hit with something. That something turned out to be the cork from a bottle of champagne. Because 1976 was America’s bi-centennial year the band had rented period costumes that represented the look of 1776. It was cool to the max as the audience was into the gig big time and when that cork popped Danny knew that midnight had arrived and it was great to be there. Another memory that stays with him in regard to holiday gigs is how nice everyone is to the band whether it is the management at the facilities, at the hotels, or the audiences. Danny shares, “I was fortunate to have worked with Allen Toussaint for years. Allen was always a gentleman but especially at Christmas time. We would all get together with Allen and the seasonal joy Allen was feeling enveloped the room. Allen had a way of bringing the warmth of the season to life and these special holiday get togethers would stick with you long afterward.” Another time the band had a holiday gig in Memphis that was funded by a banking association and one of the audience members was a banking executive from right David Ehninger, Barry Coffing, Darbi Shaun, Danny Jones at ATR Studio there in Memphis. As time moved forward Danny would be looking for a bank to start doing business with and he chose one that he thought would be a good one. The initial visit became quite interesting as the banking officer he was introduced to had been at the association’s holiday gig and remembered him. The man even remembered some of the set list and commented on how much he enjoyed himself that evening. Over time Danny would develop a strong relationship with that bank and to this day he is grateful for that holiday gig so many years ago. About Danny Jones - Danny is a laid back easy going kind of a soul that is deep into the mechanics of recording and mixing. Danny is widely recognized as a preferred percussion mentor for young people on the drums. His passion has always been the combined pursuit of percussion and the technical aspects of great recording sessions. Danny’s professional credits are numerous in this regard. The Danny Jones Productions website lists line after line of internationally recognized talents that the man has worked with over a lifetime in music. Currently Danny is associated with ATR Studio in Katy Texas and away from the studio he can be found annually with his good friend Malcolm Harper (Reelsound Recording Co) in the audio recording suite at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo event. Additionally, he handles the mixing duties at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the jazz stage. Learn more about Danny at www.dannyjonesproductions.com 20 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

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Roberto Menabò: Di che “genere” parliamo quando parliamo di chitarra? By Edoardo Fassio È in uscita The Mountain Sessions: Blues & Guitar Excursions, l’ultimo album di Roberto Menabò, avventuroso chitarrista ferrato in blues e altre musiche ambientate tra le due guerre mondiali. Strumentista dalla tecnica strabiliante, acquisita dallo studio del catalogo della Yahoo e di etichette similari, che all’epoca mettevano a disposizione di un nuovo pubblico internazionale i segreti di Charley Patton, Clifford Gibson e Blind Willie McTell, nei primi anni Ottanta Menabò era riconosciuto tra i pionieri del folk blues revival in Italia. Si era conquistato uno spazio nei locali e ai festival suonando blues tradizionale alle sei o dodici corde, diventando un portavoce del genere anche alle radio private. Ma con lui parlare di genere non è semplice. In quegli anni Roberto acquisì una maturità all’insegna di uno stile che non era completamente né blues né folk, ma poteva includere elementi originali, improvvisazioni e contaminazioni con musiche acustiche contemporanee non nordamericane. Nel 1985 pubblicò il long playing A bordo del Conte Biancamano, che inaugurava una coerente carriera proseguita a suon di dischi, concerti, seminari e sonorizzazioni di spettacoli teatrali per gli autori Franco Insalaco e Loriano Macchiavelli. A suo nome anche una serie di documentati libri a soggetto, tra i quali la biografia di John Fahey, visionario innovatore della tecnica fingerpicking e inventore del concetto di American primitive guitar, e Il blues ha una mamma bianca, che rintraccia dimenticati suonatori nell’America della Grande Depressione. Il ritorno in studio di registrazione del virtuoso del canavese trapiantato in Emilia avviene a dieci anni dalla precedente incisione che nel titolo rimpiangeva Il profumo del vinile e, forse non inconsapevolmente, preconizzò la rinascita del mercato dei 33 giri. Non si può escludere perciò che il nuovo lavoro, prodotto in collaborazione con A-Z Blues e con l’associazione Blues Made in Italy, non risvegli l’attenzione su John Hurt, longevo bardo da Avalon, Mississippi, di cui Roberto affronta con destrezza un paio di composizioni. Oppure su precursori dell’alta velocità come “Il Settebello sulla Direttissima”, uno dei tre brani strumentali che fanno sferragliare le corde d’acciaio della chitarra come ruote sui binari. O persino su cartoline in bianco e nero della vecchia Ivrea, evocata nel pezzo “Il ponte romano sulla Dora”. www.robertomenabo.it

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Roberto Menabò: Playing guitar may not be that simple, not even defining a genre. By Edoardo Fassio The Mountain Sessions: Blues & Guitar Excursions is the latest album by Roberto Menabò, an adventurous guitarist skilled in blues and other pre-war popular music. Equipped with an amazing technique, acquired from the study of the catalog of Yahoo and other reissue labels, which made the secrets of Charley Patton, Clifford Gibson and Blind Willie McTell available to a new international audience, in the early 1980s Menabò was among the recognized pioneers of the folk blues revival in Italy. He had gained a special niche in clubs and at festivals by playing traditional blues on the six (or twelve) strings, also championing the genre with specialist shows on private radio stations. But defining a genre with an eclectic instrumentalist like him may not be that simple. In those years Roberto matured a style that was not straight blues or folk, but could incorporate original licks, improvisations and contaminations with non-North American contemporary acoustic music. In 1985 his LP named A bordo del Conte Biancamano (On board the Conte Biancamano, referring to the Italian ocean liner launched in 1925) set up a coherent career of recordings, concerts, workshops and theatrical performances. He also authored a series of well documented books, including the biography of John Fahey, the visionary innovator of the fingerpicking technique who first conceived the idea of American primitive guitar, and Il blues ha una mamma bianca (The Blues Has A White Mum), which tracks forgotten musicians in Great Depression America. The virtuoso returns to the recording studio ten years after his previous effort, which title Il profumo del vinile literally regretted The Perfume of Vinyl and, perhaps not unknowingly, predicted the rebirth of the 33-rpm market. Likewise, one may expect that his fresh job, released in collaboration with AZ Blues and the Blues Made in Italy association, will generate new interest on John Hurt, the legendary bard from Avalon, Mississippi, of which Roberto skillfully tackles a couple of compositions. Or on the pleasure of riding on steel wheels, be it long distance trains or streetcars, thanks to the three instrumental cuts that make the strings rattle like steel on the tracks. Or even on black and white postcards of Ivrea. his ancient hometown in the Alps, evoked in “Il ponte romano sulla Dora” (“The Roman bridge over the Dora”). www.robertomenabo.it January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Bert Wills

Legendary Texas Singer/Songwriter Bert Wills Delivers The Goods

Down in southeastern Texas lives a man that was born in rural Kentucky but moved to Texas years ago. He came here playing the blues harp with a slow, winding country bent to it, part of his Kentucky roots, and the recording industry was quick to pick up on his unique sound. Abilities is used in the plural here and that’s because the man not only wails a mean harp but his guitar work is aces as well. His name is Bert Wills and if you are a studio musician you know that name well as the man is sought after by many producers. One of those producers is Andy Bradley, known world wide for his talents at the console, his past co-ownership in of SugarHill Studios, and his successful book titled, “House Of Hits”. Bert and Andy go back a ways, 35 years to be exact, both know each other’s talents well so it would be of no big surprise that they could team on a compilation of Bert’s songs for a new album. It would not be their first collaboration as Andy has recorded nearly every album Bert has presented to the world. A new album has come to life recently simply titled “Bert Wills”. It’s just being shipped to radio stations right now and let me tell you whether you are a blues fan or an Americana fan or both this album is packed with stirring and riveting selections. Both men have similar personalities, friendly but direct. Both will tell you where to go in a New York second if you are a poser and both will be the first to tell you how welcomed you are if you are the real deal. Bert is known throughout the industry internationally and has worked with a ton of well known stars over the years. He’s also an accomplished songwriter and when he puts his Kentucky roots into a song well Katy bar the door because it’s going to be good. His last gig was with Nashville artist Rob McNurlin who is part of the Marty Stuart clan. Then he returned to Texas to work on his new blues Americana album. The end result was a fourteen track collection of 13 original songs and24 one Rock cover,and notBlues a klunker among them. On the2020 collection you International • November can hear the raw strains of good back woods country music in Bert’s voice and on the same collection you will hear some of the best blues you have heard in years. To learn more access www.bertwillsmusic.com

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“Boglin-esque blob” from the “T.I.N.A” video Today, Enter Shikari share their unusual video for “T.I.N.A,” directed and animated by film maker Matthew Taylor. Watch here @ https://youtu.be/ f2QZNZ6XmOg. “T.I.N.A” is taken from the band’s sixth album, Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible, which was released in April and became the highest charting album of their career, landing at number 2 in the UK Official Charts Frontman Rou Reynolds commented on the video: “When Matt came to us with this idea for a video back in the summer, it intrigued us so much we couldn’t resist giving it a go! We each did two “performances” of the song, one with our faces and one with our fingers, and the next thing we know he’s welded them together into four grotesque, and quite frankly distressing, Boglin-esque blobs. And it was all recorded from a smart phone!” Enter Shikari “T.I.N.A” Link/Embed: https://youtu.be/ f2QZNZ6XmOg Enter Shikari’s Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible UK amd European tour will begin on May 10, 2021, taking in their fourth headline show at London’s prestigious Alexandra Palace. Dinosaur PileUp and Nova Twins will support the band on their UK dates. Acclaim for Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible: “Enter Shikari once again destroys any molds set forth by their peers. There are no rules for Enter Shikari, and that’s why they are making some of the best and most underrated music today. (10 out of 10)” Outburn “Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible is a snapshot of all the plentiful possibilities that their music has explored. Sometimes pieces of music arrive at the right time to remind us of things that we can’t see through the fog of grief” -Substream Magazine “It’s the sound of grand ambition being realised.” **** Q Magazine

Enter Shikari Share Unique “T.I.N.A.” Video nothing short of spectacular.” **** DORK “… uncompromising excellence…” Louder Than War “… as the album charges so confidently towards innovation it would be foolish to suggest it’s anything other than brilliant ... they’re now distinct leaders, paving a new and exciting trail for those in their evergrowing shadow.” 8/10 Gigwise “Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’ proves once more why Enter Shikari are not only one of the best, but also one of the most important bands of our generation.” Punktastic Enter Shikari UK & European 2021 Tour dates: Tickets available here: www.entershikari.com/shows May 10 UK - Middlesbrough - Town Hall

May 12 UK - Birmingham - 02 Academy “(Nothing Is True & Everything Is May 13 UK - Nottingham - Rock City Possible) only serves to show off their genius – SOLD OUT further.” KKKK Kerrang! May 14 UK - Nottingham - Rock City - SOLD OUT “It’s a crash course in their unruly May 15 UK - Edinburgh genius – a Greatest Hits waiting for you to Assembly Rooms learn the words.” **** NME May 17 Germany - Berlin Columbiahalle “Rou Reynolds’s versatile vocals and May 19 Germany - Munich - TonHalle precision production steer the St Albans May 20 Germany - Stuttgart quartet from riotous electro to disorientating LKA Longhorn jazz.” Sunday Times Culture May 21 Germany - Offenbach Stadthalle “What Shikari have managed to May 22 Switzerland - Zurich - X-TRA achieve over the course of the album is Limmathaus 26 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

May 25 Netherlands - Amsterdam Melkweg May 26 Belgium - Antwerp - Trix May 28 Germany - Cologne Palladium June 09 UK - Manchester - O2 Victoria Warehouse June 10 UK - Southampton - O2 Guildhall June 11 UK - Cardiff - Great Hall SOLD OUT June 12 UK - London - Alexandra Palace Sept 02 Ukraine - Lviv - Font Republic Sept 03 Ukraine - Kiev - Bingo Club Sept 05 Belarus - Minsk - Prime Hall Sept 06 Latvia - Riga - Meln Piektdiena Sept 07 Estonia - Tallinn - Helitehas Sept 09 Russia - Moscow Adrenaline Stadium Sept 11 Russia - St Petersburg A2 Green Concert Sept 13 Finland - Helsinki - Tavastia Sept 14 Finland - Tampere - Klubi Sept 16 Sweden - Stockholm Fryshuset Sept 17 Sweden - Gothenburg Pustervik Sept 19 Norway - Oslo - John Dee Sept 20 Denmark - Copenhagen Pumpehuset Sept 21 Germany - Hamburg -

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Rock and Blues International • August 2020

video

New Signing From Norway

Bokassa Signs Worldwide Record Deal with Napalm Records

[Photo Credit: Ole Ekker]

Explosive Norwegian Punk Trio Will Smash Your Ears in 2021! Napalm Records is gearing up for a raucous punk rock attack, welcoming Norwegian power trio Bokassa to its growing roster. Since releasing their ferocious debut album, 2017’s Divide & Conquer, the Norwegian Grammy-nominated band has gripped major attention by fusing polished punk, hardcore and metal riffage, stoner rock grooves and hooky lyricism – forming their own self-proclaimed brand of gritty stoner punk. Upon release, their aforementioned debut was urgently hailed by critics all over the world and placed prominently on several “Best Of” lists.

fucking cool” after hearing the first album. The band’s sophomore full-length, Crimson Riders (2019), was critically acclaimed by respected magazines all around the globe. Kerrang´s Sam Law described the output as follows: “It’s not southern-fried licks or black-eyed breakdowns that set this lot apart. It’s a zero-bullshit mindset that sees everything inauthentic, non-essential and not nailed down cast to the wind. True grit, see, is tough to fake.” Bokassa already found their own way out of the seething underground, and with Napalm Records, the high-voltage Norwegian outfit is now ready to enter a new, promising chapter in their budding career, taking their energizing, boisterous punk to the next level!

From there, Bokassa performed on some of Norway’s biggest festivals like Øya, Stavern, Pstereo and Malakoff, just to name a few, and toured throughout Europe and Norway. In 2019, the band set a massive milestone when they were handpicked by Bokassa on the signing: Lars Ulrich to support Metallica alongside “We are extremely excited and proud Ghost on their summer stadium tour across to have signed with Napalm Records and to Europe, the UK and Russia. The legendary join the roster of such a legendary label. We drummer hailed them as “his favorite new can’t wait to show the world our new music band” and described them as “Insanely and feel that Napalm is a perfect fit for our 28 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

unholy mix of everything awesome in rock, punk and metal.” Fasten your seatbelts and get a glimpse of what lies ahead with the mind blowing, official video for “Mouthbreathers Inc.”, taken off the rumbling Crimson Riders: Bokassa is: Olav Dowkes - vocals, drums Jørn Kaarstad - vocals, guitar, banjo Bard Linga - vocals, bass Catch BOKASSA online: WEBSITE https://www.bokassaband.com FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ BokassaBand/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/ bokassaband/

Sondre Lerche Releases Ambitious And In My Dreams: Patience Extravaganza Performance Film Recorded Live in Norway Listen to Lerche’s Annual Holiday Cover Release: Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain On Me” and Bob Dylan’s “I Contain Multitudes” Last month, Sondre Lerche livestreamed what is surely one of the most artistically ambitious performances of 2020. Filmed at the Drammens Theater in Norway, Lerche and director Eivind Holmboe, along with his band of 5 musicians, a six-person choir, 14 danacers, and a technical crew of 30, collaborated on the 70 minute performance And In My Dreams: Patience Extravaganza that was filmed and recorded completely live with no editing whatsoever. The show merges fantasy, surrealism, and music, recalling a mix of Sleep No More, David Byrne’s American Utopia, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s 2014 film Birdman. Tickets to experience a re-airing of And In My Dreams: Patience Extravaganza are now available through January 1, 2021: https://vier.live/act/patience-extravaganza Watch a trailer for the performance via YouTube: https://youtu.be/JQVIoT5Ncu4 “Visually, I’m always inspired by Hitchcock, the way he used color, lighting and costume very symbolically,” stated Lerche. “That’s a theme in my music and music videos, and it carries into this. I really trusted Eivind’s attention to visual detail and lighting. We wished for the show to take place in a heightened state, and for the audience to be transported with us. We did what we could to get as far away from traditional concert film as possible — like having only one camera follow me at a time for most of the shoot, and to largely show the performance in medium to wide shots. We

reason to someday be on stage where I could invent and reinvent myself.”

wanted the audience to feel that something was at stake, and so it was important that the performance was 100% live, without any post-production. As a performer, that’s the experience that really makes me tick, I just love it and thrive on that vibe.” The film flows like a series of dreams, mirroring the year that’s ending, while also showing us a vision of the year that might have been. Lerche’s vision for the show was to echo both the performances he was able to do this year (first live stream from his home on March 18, a performance with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra KORK in April, Mausoleum solo shows in May, Patience Live with a full choir, Solo Patience live in Lofoten), and the fantasy of all the performances and experiences that might have been. “I wanted it all to happen in the form of a fever dream of performances that might have been, as well as echoing some of the great experiences that I was lucky enough to have, despite everything, in 2020. In many ways this is physical embodiment of the ‘performance-piece of work’ that I sing about in the song ‘Patience.’ I started trying to write songs when I was 8, in the hope of having a

Since 2009, Lerche has released annual cover songs for the holidays, which typically focus on his favorite pop hits of the year. Today, Lerche released covers of both Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain On You” and Bob Dylan’s “I Contain Multitudes,” produced by Matias Tellez, who has produced Lerche’s holiday covers since 2013. Read/ listen via Stereogum. Listen/download both songs via Bandcamp: https:// sondrelerchemusic.bandcamp.com/album/ rain-on-me-i-contain-multitudes Earlier this year, Lerche released his ninth studio album Patience, which was met with critical acclaim from Stereogum, Paste, SPIN, American Songwriter, and Under The Radar among others. Magnet Magazine called it his “finest record yet” while Atwood Magazine named it “a music masterpiece whose sweet sounds and deep emotions speak directly to the present age of uncertainty, and discomfort.”

Sondre Lerche online: Website - http://www.sondrelerche.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sondrelerche/ Twitter - https://ymlpsend3.net/2c763uqeeeharaehyjjapahmmaraw/click.php Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sondrelerche/ January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Tomorrow X Together Announces First Japanese Full-Length Album ‘Still Dreaming’ Available On February 12 Limited Edition Versions to Include Bonus Materials 30

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Global phenomenon K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI) will release Still Dreaming via UMe, their first full-length album in Japanese, on February 12, 2021 in the U.S. Pre-order here: https://TXT.lnk.to/ StillDreaming. The album title Still Dreaming imparts the message that the five boys continue to reach for a shared dream after the success of their debut album The Dream Chapter: STAR, released in March 2019. The album features ten tracks comprised of Japanese versions of six of the group’s Korean hits, plus two intro/outro tracks, their Japanese hit “Everlasting Shine,” and a brand new Japanese original song, “Force,” featured as the opening theme for the animation “World Trigger” (2nd season). In addition to the Standard 1 CD version, which will include one of five randomly selected photo cards for the firstrun pressing, there will also be limited edition versions of Still Dreaming featuring all ten tracks. Limited Edition A (1CD) is encased in a limited-edition deluxe slip case with a 24page booklet filled with daytime photos, a 24page booklet filled with sunset-time photos, and a lyrics booklet. Limited Edition B (1CD + 1 DVD) will include a DVD featuring the music video for “Blue Hour (Japanese Ver.),” a making-of video and footage from cover photoshoot, as well as a 12-page booklet filled with daytime and sunset-time photos unique to this limited-edition package. Tomorrow X Together made their debut in March last year and has proved themselves as global super rookies as the forefront of the K-Pop scene, claiming a total of ten Rookie Awards. Widely recognized for their high-quality content and impeccable performances, Tomorrow X Together is once again prepared to take the world by storm with the release of Still Dreaming. Tomorrow X Together received global attention even before the release of their Korean debut mini-Album The Dream Chapter: STAR in March 2019. Upon its release, the mini-Album topped the charts at No.1 on iTunes’ Top Album chart in 44 countries and regions and went to No. 140 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. In addition, the music video for “CROWN” achieved 10M streams in just 13 hours and exceeded 14.49M streams 24 hours after its release, which is the fastest record among new artists debuting in 2019. As of February 15, 2020, the video now has more than 100M views. Their debut full-length Korean album

Dream Chapter: MAGIC also went to No.1 on iTunes’ Top Album chart in 25 countries and regions and the music video for its lead track, “9 and Three Quarters (Run Away),” has already exceeded 65M streams (as of Nov 25, 2020). Tomorrow X Together’s last miniAlbum minisode1 : Blue Hour reached 300K in physical sales in the first week of release, hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and debuting at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S.. The EP also placed No. 19 on Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Albums Chart. The new ranks mark career milestones for the group, coming on the heels of previous accolades including reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artist chart. Track List: Intro: DREAMING Force *New Japanese original Blue Hour *New Japanese version of the lead track in the mini album, “minisode1: Blue Hour” released in Oct. Run Away [Japanese version] CROWN [Japanese version] Angel Or Devil [Japanese version] Drama [Japanese version] Everlasting Shine Can’t You See Me? [Japanese version] Outro: STILL

Limited Edition A (CD) Available on CD in a limited-edition deluxe slip case with a 24-page booklet filled with daytime photos, a 24-page booklet filled with sunset-time photos, and a lyrics booklet.

cover photoshoot. In addition, this package includes a 12-page booklet filled with daytime and sunset-time photos unique to this limited-edition package.

Standard Edition (CD) The first pressing to include one of five randomly selected photo cards. Tomorrow X Together (“Tomorrow by Together”) has come together under one dream in hopes of building a new tomorrow. Composed of five members, SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI, the band is full of bright and playful energy, where each member is different from one another, shining in their own way to create synergy. In just two months of their debut, Tomorrow X Together successfully sold out their first US showcase tour in six cities with their debut album The Dream Chapter: STAR. Emerging as one of K-pop’s most highly-acclaimed acts, the global super rookies have already won Best New Artist accolades on various award shows and received nomination in 2019 & 2020 MTV Video Music Awards’ Best K-Pop category. About Big Hit Entertainment Founded in February 2005 in Korea by CEO and Producer Bang Si-Hyuk, Big Hit Entertainment’s core business focuses on music production, artist management, and publishing. Big Hit’s business ventures incorporate and develop a range of content produced from top-notch artists’ IP, including global superstars BTS and its newest addition Tomorrow X Together. With its mission of “Music & Artist for Healing”’, Big Hit strives to impart a positive influence through content while providing comfort and inspiration to music fans worldwide.

Limited Edition B (CD+DVD) Available as a CD + DVD limitededition with the DVD featuring the music video for “Blue Hour,” a making-of feature of the music video and videos from the album January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From Jamaica

Buju Banton 32

Rock and Blues International â&#x20AC;¢ January 2021

Global Reggae Icon Buju Banton Releases His ’Til Shiloh 25th Anniversary LP Grammy winner, multiple Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping artist and, international reggae legend, Buju Banton celebrates 25 years of greatness releasing his ‘Til Shiloh 25th Anniversary LP, out today, via Island Records/UMe. The collector’s edition of this special body of work will include the original recordings of the critically acclaimed album, plus three new bonus tracks mixed by Buju Banton, exclusively. “Not An Easy Road”, “Wanna Be Loved” are remixes from the 1995 debut, and “Come Inna The Dance”, a new track that he initially recorded but didn’t make the original album. As a surprise for the fans, Buju is releasing new YouTube remastered videos. Eager to revel in the moment, fans and critics alike share the sentiments of FADER declaring Buju, “A national hero… he is as much a singer as he is a hallmark of Jamaican culture.” Buju Banton, the innovator and global icon himself shows much gratitude, with a short but satisfying memory: “The 25th anniversary of ‘Til Shiloh’ is rather epic, it displays the culmination of 25 years of work, which proves and stands the test of time; undeniably so. I am so happy and proud that I was able to tap into my creative consciousness, to create such a body of work that can still represent itself to the world today” One of the most successful Reggae albums of all time, the RIAA goldcertified album, “ ‘Til Shiloh” represents Buju’s focus and exploration of his faith

and the transcendent journey through music. Exploring Banton’s Rastafarian faith on records such as, ‘Til I’m Laid to Rest, Untold Stories, Not An Easy Road, fan favorites Murderer, Champion, and Wanna Be Loved— legendary producer Donovan Germain remembers the massive global cultural moment “‘Til Shiloh” had upon release, stating: “I can recall the global impact and the astonishment on the faces of his fans the first time hearing tracks like “Untold Stories”, “Not An Easy Road”. The audience would stand in amazement listening with no movement, no reaction as they were not familiar with “this Buju”. Familiar with dancehall Buju, the audience was now being introduced to Rastafarian Buju. Six months later after the release of ‘Til Shiloh’ I recall having to be police escorted to venues and from airports based on the global impact of this album. The transition Buju made impacted a generation and we were seeing it right before our eyes”.

individual. As true artists do, Buju had followed an introspective path and through this album found a means to share his testimony.” Most recently celebrating his 2020 Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album for “Upside Down 2020”, Buju’s first full-length studio album in a decade – the album was a victory lap celebrated globally. Appearing in the historymaking Long Walk to Freedom Concert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Buju Banton continues his run as “one of Jamaica’s biggest contemporary stars.” # # #

‘TIL SHILOH TRACKLISTING 1. Shiloh 2. Til I’m Laid To Rest 3. Murderer 4. Champion 5. Untold Stories 6. Not An Easy Road 7. Only Man 8. Complaint Feat. Garnett Silk Even Founder of Loose Cannon 9. Chuck It So 10. How Could You Records, Lisa Cortés, who signed Banton to her label and released this pivotal 11. Wanna Be Loved 12. It’s All Over work warmly speaks about “‘Til Shiloh 13. Hush Baby Hush “, recalling: 14. What Ya Gonna Do? Feat. Wayne Wonder “ ‘Til Shiloh was a complete shift 15. Rampage from the sound and vocal style of Buju’s 16. Sensemilia Persecution previous album, Voice of Jamaica. I 17. Champion (Remix) remember when I first heard his raspy *18. Wanna Be Loved (Remix) vocal singing the intro “Strange this *19. Come Inna The Dance feeling, I”m feeling...” I knew this album *20. Not An Easy Road (Remix) was going to expand our knowledge of * PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Buju and his growth as an artist and October 2020 • Rock and Blues International 37 33

Cuban Classical Pianist Yamilé Cruz Montero and the Greek Jazz Drummer Christos Asonitis Arrange Classical To Contemporary Cuban Music Styles Fused With Influences From World Music Cuban pianist Yamilé Cruz Montero “gives listeners an insight into the world of piano music with passion, rhythmic precision and great feeling.” She presents her audiences with unknown, rhythmically rousing world sounds and contrasts. With a broadranging repertoire from Bach to Lecuona, she is particularly distinguished as an interpreter of the music of Latin American composers. Cruz Montero gave her debut with the “National Cuban Symphony Orchestra” performing the third Piano Concerto of Sergei Prokofiev. She has performed at the Gasteig Philharmonie in Munich with the Bach Collegium Orchestra and she was invited to festivals around the world such as “Piano Prestige”, “En blanc et noir” in France, “Echoes” in London, “Art in Perspective” in Munich, “Internacional Piano Circle” in Uruguay and “Contemporary Music Festival” in Havana. While she was studying with eminent Cuban musicians such as Andrés Alén, Patricio Malcolm, Maria Teresa Pita and Miriam Cruz she became prize winner of several competitions in her native country and Costa Rica at the “Maria Clara Cullell” international piano competition. In 2009 she graduated with honors from the University of Arts of Cuba (ISA). She did her Master of Music 34

at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich and graduated with honors in 2014 under the guidance of professor Adrian Oetiker. She attended also master classes at the international summer school in Bad Reichenhall, where she studied with Bruno Canino. The Cuban classical pianist Yamile Cruz Montero and the Greek jazz drummer Christos Asonitis are a couple in life and in music. Although they come from two different musical worlds, they have found a common language. Both of them arrange classical to contemporary Cuban piano music with great precision and feeling, such as compositions by Aldo López Gavilán, Andrés Alén, José Maria Vitier & Ernán López-Nussa for piano and percussion. They present the traditional and popular Cuban music styles and fuse them with influences from world music. Some of the works leave space for improvisation, which the two musicians use with creative enthusiasm.

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

The international duo has already played live in Cuba, Germany, Great Britain and Greece. They are very proud to present their debut album as a creative duo: Rapsodia Cubana.“Magical, authentic, touching” (The New Listener) “Cruz Montero manages to thrill under that fusion of dynamic pianism, rooted in romantic virtuosity, the Spanish and gypsy folk rhythms and the infallible melodic sense.” (Luis Suárez – Revista RITMO)

New Music From Denmark

Photo Credit: Shawn Brackbill

MYRKUR SHARES NEW DIGITAL SINGLE “DRONNING ELLISIV” Please Post and Share: https://orcd.co/myrkur-dronningellisiv Please Post and Share: https://orcd.co/ myrkur-dronningellisiv Myrkur returns with the new single, Dronning Ellisiv. Recorded during the Folkesange album sessions, Dronning Ellisiv sees Amalie Bruun harnessing the very magic that has made her new album so special from soaring atmospheres to lush instrumentations accompanying Bruun’s bold, immense voice, Dronning Ellisiv is cinematic in every way.

an old Nordic tale. Nostalgic and timeless, Dronning Ellisiv continues to usher in a new era for Bruun and Myrkur. Myrkur recently shared her new collaboration with The Sims for a rerecording of the song “Onde Børn” in Simlish! The video, a behind the scenes look at the recording at Lava Studio in Denmark, is streaming at the official Myrkur YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/pr7VYS8Pr0I). Shot and edited by Rasmus Malmstrøm.

Listen to Dronning Ellisiv on all streaming services at this location (https:// orcd.co/myrkur-dronningellisiv).

Purchase all Myrkur titles via Relapse Records: http://bit.ly/MyrkurM

The single, a reimagining of a song by the great Harald Foss, tells the tale of the Grand Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod and his daughter Elisiv of Kiev. Elisiv would later marry King Harald of Norway and become Queen Consort of Norway in the 1040’s. Immersive and ethereal, the mood of Dronning Ellisiv dives into the source material and continues to evoke the sounds of expansive folk music, breathing new life into

“Burrowing into a lifelong love of Scandinavia’s traditional music and writing her own modern versions, and without sacrificing her intensity.” - The Guardian (February Folk Album of the Month) “Myrkur shifts from dreamy to nightmarish with a whip-cracking intensity” FACT “Her delivery, full of sustaining notes that subtly decay, is reminiscent of choral music — with all the ritualism, religiosity and awe it entails” - NPR

Myrkur Website - https://www.myrkurmusic.com Myrkur on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/myrkurmyrkur/ Myrkur on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/myrkurmyrkur/ Myrkur on YouTube - https://relapse.us2.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=0d7dba5a27266057cc106ad66&id=c0b9680bb8&e=f338f1e27d Myrkur on Bandcamp - https://myrkur.bandcamp.com January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From Germany

[Photo Credit: Frank Metzemacher]

Jack McBannon Announces New Single and Video for “Dancing In The Rain” Watch here @ https://youtu.be/v_kwxtqInmA German singer-songwriter JACK McBANNON began his consistent career as a real DIY artist. His last two studio albums were written, recorded, produced by himself – a strong nod to his passion and persistence as an artist. JACK McBANNON has just released his brand new single, “Dancing In The Rain”, via Rodeostar/Napalm Records, taken from his upcoming, emotive new album, True Stories, to be released on February 19, 2021. Listen to “Dancing In The Rain” and watch the video here: “Dancing In The Rain” is one of the most personal songs from Jack McBannon’s album, True Stories. The musician describes: “This song is about a letter I found, in which my mum wrote down all the things she wanted to experience, despite her illness. She didn’t get to do all of them before she passed away, but she’ll live on in all of us and through this song.”

You can really hear these feelings in “Dancing In The Rain” with Jack McBannon’s warm, slightly raspy voice that transports the deepness of this ballad. True Stories is more than just another singer-songwriter album, it’s a trademark JACK McBANNON’s individual musicality is not only audible, but perceptible with every note he plays and sings. His warm and slightly raspy voice coalesces with his music to create a unique sound combining modern acoustic rock, blues and country, paired with incredibly personal lyrics. JACK McBANNON‘s “Dancing In The Rain“ is out now on all Streaming Services @ https://smarturl.it/JMBTrueStories

Coming February 19th as CD (Limited Edition) and Digital formats on Rodeostar Records, True Stories is now available to preorder here @ https://smarturl.it/JMBTrueStories True Stories Track Listing: 01) Right Here 02) Set Me Free 03) The Snowflake 04) Together 05) Here’s A Winner 06) Dancing In The Rain 07) An Outlaw‘s Inner Fight 08) Motel 81 09) Walking In The Dark 10) The Long Road Ahead 11) Runaway Me

WEBSITE - https://www.jackmcbannon.com/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/jackmcbannon INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/jackmcbannon YOUTUBE - https://napalmrecords.us20.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=02a924be55e148730a070a9b1&id=087412ff88&e=0457745000

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Swedish psychedelic adventure rock quintet HÄLLAS have been turning heads and taking names in the scene for years, but 2020 saw their undisputed breakout with the stunning album Conundrum, out now via Napalm Records. One of the album’s catchiest tracks, “Carry On” – featuring a timeless, stardustlike scattering of infectious guitar lines and booming, yet haunting vocal performances – can now be experienced in a whole new light via a brand new music video. Straight from the studio, this new video showcases the band up close and personal, providing a window into their passion and unique musical insight. Get ready for another cosmic journey through their vintage-inspired sound spectrum! The release of Conundrum showcased the band as one to watch, and now, their acclaim and success has been cemented even further: HÄLLAS were recently nominated for a P3 Guld Award in the Rock/Metal category! Initiated by Swedish radio stations, P3 Guld is THE Swedish award, highlighting the most standout talent in Swedish popular music every year. You can vote for HÄLLAS HERE @ https://www.p3guld.se/

[Photo Credit: K. Bengtsson]

Watch the new video for “Carry On” HERE @ https://youtu.be/yX0vSM1H6dc vSM1H6dc Order Conundrum via CD / Vinyl HERE @ https:// www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/hallas Conundrum is the final installment of HÄLLAS’ mysterious trilogy of albums, inviting listeners on a cosmic ride through a parallel world! The band flexes their sonic muscles amid massive soundscapes and spacey 70’s rock riffs, channeling influences ranging from Pink Floyd to The Devils Blood. HÄLLAS evokes a bizarre, intriguing world that reincarnates elements of progressive art rock and psychedelic prog and folk, but in an entirely authentic way. HÄLLAS invites listeners into a cosmic adventure accompanied by music forged on tales of sorcery and courage. Catch HÄLLAS on their European Tour! HÄLLAS are ready to conquer your mind (and Europe!) with a full headline tour, hitting many major cities and beginning in autumn 2021. See below for all dates. HÄLLAS European tour: 19.11.2021 Hanover (GER), Chez Heinz 20.11.2021 Berlin (GER), Cassiopeia 22.11.2021 Amsterdam (NL), Melkweg 23.11.2021 Aarschot (BE), De Klinker 24.11.2021 Leipzig (GER), UT Connewitz 25.11.2021 Nuremberg (GER), Der Cult 26.11.2021 Munich (GER), Strom 27.11.2021 Vienna (AT), Arena 28.11.2021 Prague (CZ), Strahov 007 29.11.2021 Cologne (GER), Club Volta

Adventure Rockers HÄLLAS Reveal New Official Video for “ Carry On” | Watch Here @ https://youtu.be/yX0vSM1H6dc Nominated for P3 Guld Adward (https:// www.p3guld.se/ Acclaimed Latest Album, Conundrum, Out Now via Napalm Records Order the CD / Vinyl HERE @ https:// www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/hallas 30.11.2021 Paris (FR), La Maroquinerie 01.12.2021 Lyon (FR), Rock ‘N Eat Live 02.12.2021 Tilburg (NL), Little Devil 03.12.2021 Wiesbaden (GER), Kesselhaus 04.12.2021 Stuttgart (GER), Club Zentral

Alexander Moraitis: guitar More info: WEBSITE https://www.hallasband.com/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/haellas/

INSTAGRAM HÄLLAS are: https://www.instagram.com/ Tommy Alexandersson: vocals / bass hallasband/ Marcus Petersson : guitar Kasper Eriksson: drums / percussion Nicklas Malmquist: organ / synthesizer January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From London

others’ lives; “a struggle with identity, walking past churches you are no longer part of and the person you become when you are in pain. If there is no end in sight of struggle, where are our white sands, green hills and fresh fish? If we can’t ever truly escape, which is what we were exploring in our debut album I Slept On The Floor, can we carry paradise in ourselves?” Naomi adds about her experience, “It’s so easy to push things to the back of your mind. You never really know the impact this has on you until it becomes overbearing, and you’re forced to address it. I found it incredibly cathartic to tackle these issues head-on by visualising certain situations and being able to say whatever I needed to say, both in therapy and in writing music.” Photo Credit: Ella Brolly

Another Sky Releases “Sun Seeker” https://youtu.be/WDDU4RKT-rE Taken From Music For Winter Vol. 1 EP out January 1st via Missing Piece Records / Fiction Follows Critically Acclaimed Debut Album I Slept On The Floor On the first day of 2021, Another Sky will release their latest body of work, an EP entitled Music For Winter Vol. I., the band released the second single “Sun Seeker.” “Lyrically, ‘Sun Seeker’ is about being the only one who can say who you are,” vocalist and lyricist Catrin Vincent says. “It’s also about letting things self-destruct and then rebuilding. Someone once said they’d tell me when to quit music. This is me saying, I say who I am and I say when I’m done.” Listen to “Sun Seeker” here: https:// youtu.be/WDDU4RKT-rE Having confidently stepped into the spotlight with their performance of ”Chillers (https://youtu.be/uTWi1aytTfs)” on ‘Later… with Jools Holland,’ Another Sky has earned praise from Paste, Under the Radar, The FADER, and NPR Music, who invited them in for a Tiny Desk Concert (https://youtu.be/ oi0uBhX9fxI) earlier this year. Frontwoman Catrin wryly credits some of their early success to the fact her distinctive, haunting vocals are frequently mistaken for those of a male singer. “People say I sound like a man maybe that means they’ll listen.” On how Music For Winter Vol. I came together, Vincent explains, “some songs are

old, some are new, all are entirely collaborative. After being kept apart because of the lockdown and writing a bunch of our second album separately, we just wanted to get back into our studio and record.” The entire EP was recorded, produced and mixed by the band themselves at their South London studio, The Lighthouse, in October 2020.

The band are currently recording their second full-length album which is anticipated to drop in 2021. Music For Winter Vol. II is also set to be released next winter. Another Sky’s debut album I Slept On The Floor proved to the world just how vital the words of lyricist and vocalist Catrin Vincent truly are. Her poetic rage has been titular in Another Sky’s story, grappling with the topics of toxic relationships, childhood trauma, systematic elitism, Brexit Britain, the rise of Donald Trump and much more. Juxtaposed against the horizon reaching sound of guitarist Jack Gilbert, bassist Naomi Le Dune and drummer Max Doohan, Another Sky sounds like nothing and nobody else. Praise for I Slept On The Floor: NME - “music so powerful it’s impossible not to take notice, all fronted by a once-in-a-generation voice” Under The Radar – “a unique majestic brand of otherworldly avant-garde post-rockpop.”

“Where do we find our portable paradises?” - Catrin found herself staring at this very poem by Roger Robinson on the London Underground in March 2020.

Earmilk – “Another Sky exists masterfully in the juxtaposition between a riot of the heart and a sense of calm.”

For the first time in six years, the band couldn’t see each other, and the band’s bassist Naomi was able to sit still long enough to confront her intense fear of going to hell for being in a same-sex relationship, due to a Christian upbringing.

The Times – “an exciting, unusual debut” The Independent - “a marvellous, and intense, debut” Mojo - “Another Sky enthrall”

Catrin explains, “After lockdown eased, myself and Naomi revisited the opening track ‘Pieces,’ an old track originally sung by Naomi. We wrote lyrics together from an imagined conversation with a loved one telling Naomi she was going to hell.” Naomi’s journey became the lyrical foundation for each of these six songs as Catrin drew universal comparisons with

Rock and Blues International • December 2020

Dork - “nothing short of exceptional” DIY – “a potent and empowering statement of intent” The Line Of Best Fit – “just the right balance of despair and hope” www.underneathanothersky.com

New Music From Peru

the groovier tracks on the album.” The album is a thick collage of samples Caye recorded with different artists and musicians, including Beatrice Dillon and the late Aileen Bryant, that spans 5 years in the making. There is something in Leap Second that tracks the speed of bodies, how they approach and retreat. The 10 tracks are speedy and languid, thick ruffles, and dirges. In parts it feels like you’ve stumbled upon a forgotten incredible 70’s folk record but that feeling gets broken quickly by clever sleights of hand. Caye’s balladry is angular, time is elastic. Each song is a fresh cape. How dandies really mean it, so masc that it’s fay, how the only moment is this one and it’s just passed, etcetera. “While it doesn’t really sound like anything else, there are moments that feel like a Latin flavored Nico, that’s edging its way towards some of the outings of the Sun City Girls. In my opinion it checks all the boxes, by checking none of them.” - Bjorn Copeland, Black Dice

Photo credit: Daniel Rampulla

M. Caye Castagnetto (LGBT/Castle Face) ‘Leap Second’ LP Out January 22nd

“A truly interesting conglomeration of loose inspirations and conjurings. A hard to decipher sound all together which makes it worth every moment, A sprinkling of Catherine Ribeiro, Dr. John, Terje Rypdal & Nico. Far out sunsoaked odysseys & moon dappled woodland night creepers..” - John Dwyer It’s out on Castle Face Records January 22nd.

Earlier this month, Peruvian artist Caye Castagnetto (they/them) shared their debut track “Hands On The Business.” The song was premiered by Brooklyn Vegan, who praised their unusual approach to songwriting, dubbing it “both famailiar and alien” and regarding it as “of the groovier tracks on the album.”

Recorded with various artists, including Beatrice Dillon and the late Aileen Bryant, Leap Second comes out January 22nd on Castle Face. John Dwyer of Osees described it as “a truly interesting conglomeration of loose inspirations and conjurings. A hard to decipher sound all together which makes it worth every moment.”

Influenced by a life split between Lima, London, and Twentynine Palms, Peru-born Caye Castagnetto’s debut Leap Second is an intriguingly personal and hard to classify debut album.

Their debut single “Hands On The Business” is a sample-splattered slapper that received praise from Brooklyn Vegan, complimenting Castagnetto’s unique approach to songwriting and declaring the track “of

“While their music is song based, they also uses a spectral array of samples to get there. It’s an unusual sound, both familiar and alien.” - Brooklyn Vegan LEAP SECOND LP TRACKLISTING 01. I Invented Disco 02. Stopping You 03. Slippery Snakes 04. Mi Mentira 05. All Points North 06. Amor Cabra 07. Hands On The Business 08. Until 09. Street Trees, Evening Green 10. Chase Water, Blue Moon

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

music, a colossal moment of invention... the centennial of the theremin.”

New Music From Austria

Behind the Creation of “Electric Storm” “I had recently seen a remastered version of Metropolis by Fritz Lang and its industrial sceneries evoked CERN for me, “ Chrysler recalls. The Austrian theremin virtuosa had previously composed a theremin-centric score for a remake of Lang’s other famous film, M, and was familiar with his dramatic style. So descending into the cavernous spaces of CERN with French filmmaker Marie Losier was both a natural fit for her new video and the realization of a collaboration she’d been hoping to do for quite a while.

Photo by Lucien Samaha

Electronic Music & Particle Physics Meet in “Electric Storm” (Moog Music, CERN) Composer Dorit Chrysler and filmmaker Marie Losier give new meaning to underground art in “Electric Storm,” a short theremin-centric film shot 30+ stories below the Earth’s surface in the heart of CERN’s Large Hardon Collider. Watch “Electronic Storm” by Dorit Chrysler and Marie Losier here. https://youtu.be/KcWy9k4g4vw Without actually making the trip 30+ stories underground, it might not be possible to get a feel for just how thrilling it is to visit CERN (https://home.cern), the European Organization for Nuclear Research, located just outside of Geneva, Switzerland— but “Electronic Storm” gets you closer.

purpose but pure creative experimenting on a scale so grand that I had never witnessed before. It immediately inspired the idea to set a film there... putting this location to sound and to celebrate the beginnings of electronic

In this new short film, accomplished filmmaker Marie Losier (https:// www.imdb.com/name/nm1633031/) and master thereminist Dorit Chrysler (http:// www.doritchrysler.com/toc.html) build a scifi-inspired world at the intersection of musical exploration and scientific discovery. Set to an original composition that Chrysler crafts throughout the piece using Moog Music’s new Claravox Centennial theremin (https://www.moogmusic.com/products/ claravox-centennial) — a mystifying musical instrument that is played without physical contact—Losier artfully captures the futuristic world of the world-renowned particle physics facility. “It was a uniquely inspiring location,” Chrysler says of CERN. “An international Photo by Lucien Samaha cathedral of science following no commercial 40 Rock and Blues International • January November 2021 2020

“I collaborated with CERN’s science outreach program for many years, and it was a long time fantasy of mine to be able to actually shoot there. It was a complete privilege to have access to such a unique location.” The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) (https://home.cern/science/experiments/cms) is one of seven ongoing experiments inside CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (https:// home.cern/science/accelerators/large-hadroncollider) (LHC) that try to snatch the elementary particles of the universe from particle beams hurtling beneath the surface of the Earth at 99.9999% of the speed of light. Around 150,000 people visit CERN, but nothing really prepares you for witnessing these modern marvels of science in person. “For most people it’s just a wonderful moment to finally get to see something they may have heard about or read about or seen on the television,” says CERN’s Connie Potter. “But it doesn’t take away from the sense of awe that they have when they see the big underground machines—they are real feats of modern engineering.” Potter worked with Chrysler and her team on getting them access to CERN’s techno underworld even while everything

above ground was grinding to a halt. “Dr. Austin Ball, who’s the Technical Coordinator of the CMS experiment, gave her even more access (than expected),” says Potter. “Dorit was able to get down onto the floor of the cavern, so she could film looking up and really see the size of the detector. They had pretty exceptional access, even though it was a weekend that was pretty fraught with worry and anxiety as the world was closing its borders.” Reduced to a crew of three that included Chrysler herself, filmmaker Marie Losier had to improvise a good amount of the shoot because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lightning gear, sound equipment, and extra helping hands were simply no longer an option. “I had taken all the audio equipment there so we could do things in accordance to the music,” says filmmaker Marie Losier. “But since we suddenly had a catastrophe of having to do a one day shoot rather than three days, I just put it aside and tried to memorize the rhythm of the film.” Losier, who’s worked with cuttingedge musicians like Genesis P-Orridge, brought a 16mm Swiss Bolex vintage camera into CERN, and turned the disadvantage of not being able to sync sound into the freedom of experimentation. “It’s a camera that I really cherish because it separates the sound from the image, which really allowed me to think about editing and to think about sound as a strong property to invent worlds. I was discovering the space, which I had not seen in person. (And) according to the spaces, I did many experiments with Dorit. I didn’t realize how large these machines were and how tiny Dorit would be next to them, so I had to lie down on the ground and capture her which really was not easy to do since we were on our own,” Losier recalls. Despite the intense challenges and worry, Chrysler loved the results that she and Losier were able to achieve.

Photo by Lucien Samaha

Photo by Lucien Samaha “I thought her craft and emotional approach to objects would stand (as an) interesting contrast to the technical cold and industrial environment of CERN,” Chrysler said of her collaborator. One significant piece of gear they did have on board was the Moog Claravox Centennial. Built on more than half a century of theremin savvy, Claravox Centennial is the latest Moog instrument to carry forward the tradition of elegant circuit design and the modern application. Named in homage to Clara Rockmore, one of the earliest and most accomplished thereminists of the past century, the Claravox Centennial is a celebration of what the theremin has achieved sonically and what it can offer the players of the future. “Working with the Moog Claravox on the composition opened many new possibilities for more,” Chrysler shares. “In addition to its rich variations of tone colors and playability, it also allowed me to create arpeggios, looped and overlapping, like layers of steam in a big factory.” In the same laboratory where British scientist Tim

Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, “Electronic Storm” makes its mark as a lasting contribution to CERN’s singular legacy. Film Credits A film by Marie Losier Music composed and performed by Dorit Chrysler Drums/Percussion by Yuval Lion Mixing at Bernd Heinrauch Studio Image and Editing by Marie Losier Calibration Yannig Willmann Production Tamara Films / Carole Chassaing Assistant Director and Associate Producer Clara Alloing Still Photography by Lucien Samaha In collaboration with the CERN CMS Collider With the support of the CNC / Aide a la Video Musique Moog Music is the world’s leading producer of theremins and analog synthesizers. The employee-owned company and its customers carry on the legacy of its founder, electronic musical instrument pioneer Dr. Bob Moog. All of Moog’s instruments are built with love inside its factory in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Learn more here. Follow Dorit Chrysler Instagram and Facebook: @doritchrysler www.doritchrysler.com Dorit Chrysler is an Austrian born composer based in New York. Following her studies of musicology in Vienna, she moved to NY where she co-founded the NY Thereminsociety with Suzanne Fiol. Dorit established KidCoolThereminSchool and L’Ecole Theremin with world wide teachings of the theremin. She has released numerous records and written for TV and Film. Having performed with the SF Symphony on several occasions, she is featured on the HBO Soundtrack “Going Clear.” She has toured 6 continents and is the founder of Dame Electric Festival.

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Lindsay Ell Lands Second #1 at Canadian Country Radio with “wAnt me back” 42

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

By Pinky Black This has been a great year for Canadian songstress Lindsay Ell. She just received her 2nd #1 on Canadian Country Radio as well as the Mediabase and BDS charts with her new hit single, “wAnt me back” (https://lindsayell.lnk.to/wAntmeback). “wAnt me back” is off Lindsay’s second album, Heart Theory (https:// lindsayell.lnk.to/hearttheory). Heart Theory proved to be a monumental album in Lindsay’s career and has skyrocketed up the charts this past summer. Besides that, Lindsay is also a CCMA Award winner (Interactive Artist of the Year 2019 & 2020) and two-time 2020 ACM Award nominee (New Female Artist of the Year & Vocal Event of the Year). Yes, it’s been quite a year for Lindsay. “wAnt me back” is Lindsay’s second big hit on Canadian Country radio. Her first foray into the big time was with her #1 Canadian Country hit, “Criminal” that was released on her debut album, The Project, back in 2018. Besides that, last year Lindsay also scored big in the United States with her #1 on Country Radio with “What Happens in a Small Town, her duet with Brantley Gilbert. “I am beyond thrilled to celebrate my second #1 in Canada,” said Ell of today’s news. “I have written so much of my heart and soul into my latest album, and to release music in a year like 2020 has been quite the rollercoaster. But to top this year off with a celebration like this is truly incredible! I am forever grateful to Canadian Radio and all of my fans for believing in me from the very beginning of my career and sticking by me every step along the way. This is the best early Christmas present ever.” Recently Lindsay also performed live acoustically on Paste for their “Paste Studio on the Road: Nashville” series. It was there where she performed an intimate concert featuring songs from Heart Theory along with her new hit single, “wAnt me back.” You can check out her entire performance here (https://youtu.be/wZ9in0nWTNU). Ell co-wrote “wAnt me back” with Kane Brown, Matt McGinn & Lindsay Rimes. It was the #1 most added song on Country Radio when it debuted. It was also accompanied with a video that premiered exclusively on CMT CMT (http:// www.cmt.com/news/1825707/lindsay-ellwant-me-back-video/) to great acclaim. Heart Theory debuted in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums and Top 5 on the UK Country Album Chart. One of the unique things about the album is its close ties to the heart and the emotions that survive heartache. It takes us through grief sparked by an intense breakup for Lindsay, a health crisis, confronting the big 30, and childhood secrets. American Songwriter hails it as a “masterpiece of an album” and Rolling Stone calls it Ell’s “most empowering album to date.” Billboard says Lindsay “turns her

heartache into art with a uniformly strong pop-country set” and that the record “demands to be listened to as a whole from start to finish to appreciate fully the journey Ell is taking us on.” Forbes says that Lindsay is “one of the most exciting and talented young artists in country music” Without a doubt, Lindsay Ell is a triple threat in the music business. She is an exceptional musician, fantastic vocalist, and an incredible songwriter. Lindsay has had an extraordinary career so far. Born in Calgary, Lindsay learned to play guitar while traveling the road with her father, who took her to all the country-bluegrass camps with him as she was growing up. She then was discovered by former The Guess Who and BTO guitarist and songwriter, Randy Bachman at the tender age of 13. Soon she found herself touring with the likes of Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Buddy Guy. Since then the sky’s been the limit. She also has

shared the stage with Little Big Town, as well as other female artists at the 2019 CMA Awards where she was nominated for “Musical Event Of The Year.” She has been nominated for New Female Artist of the Year in both 2019 and 2020, in addition to her 2020 ACM nomination of Music Event of the Year. Ell also won 2020 CCMA Interactive Artist or Group of the Year for the second year in a row. Lindsay also amazed audiences as part of Keith Urban’s Graffiti U World Tour, Brantley Gilbert’s Not Like Us Tour, and Brad Paisley’s Weekend Warrior World Tour. In addition to all that, her debut album, The Project debuted in the #1 position on the Country Album Sales Chart and Billboard Magazine named it the “Best Country Album of 2017. Not band for a young lady from Calgary. Lindsay’s future is very bright and it looks like we’re going to be hearing a lot about her in the future. Congratulations Lindsay Ell on your new #1.

Check out Lindsay Ell on Social Media today WEBSITE - https://www.lindsayell.com INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/lindsayell/ YOUTUBE - https://t.e2ma.net/click/xhkg0f/h1kh7mc/hlgnwl FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/officiallindsayell/ TWITTER - https://t.e2ma.net/click/xhkg0f/h1kh7mc/d6hnwl January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

New Music From Venezuela

Rock and Blues International â&#x20AC;˘ December 2020

YouTube channel, or Grand Park’s YouTube or Facebook Live. In addition to releasing music, Andrekza is currently doing 3AM Flow, a weekly livestream session on Instagram where she plays through and discusses her and her guests’ favorite playlists and songs at the moment. She is also releasing monthly vlogs that summarize her experiences while rolling out Cassette. Watch her latest vlog here. Andrekza’s first two well received singles were added to major playlists across all digital streaming platforms and featured across an array of prominent media outlets including Grammy.com, Billboard, Ladygunn, Noisey, Univision, Telemundo, La Música, People en Español, and mitú, amongst many others. Stay tuned for more news on Andrekza coming soon!

Andrekza Releases Evocative New Single “Nerviosa” Buy & Stream: https://ffm.to/nerviosa Venezuelan artist and creative director, Andrekza, releases evocative new track “Nerviosa” off of her forthcoming debut EP, Cassette Lado A, set to be released early 2021 via Steve Aoki’s Latin imprint - Dim Mak En Fuego (https://www.dimmakenfuego.com/ ?mc_cid=f00fe0d908&mc_eid=f2c463be81). The track showcases Andrekza’s versatility as she spits fast rhymes and melodic verses over a seductive reggaeton beat while narrating the nervous excitement of having a new crush. “Nerviosa” was written alongside Gale Yoel Henriquez and Luis Alfredo Salazar, who also produced the record and is known for his work with artists such as CNCO and Sebastian Yatra, amongst many others. “When we talk about someone we like for the first time, we tend to deny that feeling. When I like someone or find them attractive, many feelings come up, but I can only identify instantly the way I get nervous,” explains Andrekza about the inspiration for the track. Andrekza will be ringing in the new year alongside Steve Aoki and Dim Mak En

Fuego at Grand Park’s NYELA, the annual flagship West Coast countdown celebration, which will be presented in a new format as a special national broadcast and streaming event for the first time. The event will feature both local and global talent for a 90-minute music and dance party, with guest performances by Platinum-recording artist and fashion icon BIA, and 2DEEP from L.A.’s own Gasolina Party. Viewers can tune in or log on starting Thursday, December 31, 2020, from 11:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m. PST / 2:00 a.m.3:30 a.m. EST to January 1, 2021 to watch on Fuse TV or live streaming through the Fuse

About Dim Mak En Fuego Dim Mak En Fuego (DMEF) is the new home for the global Latin underground. Founded in July 2020, the imprint spotlights the genre-defying sounds burning up dance floors worldwide and fosters the boundless voices who are originating hybrid sounds in their own vision. As a breeding ground for the innovative artists pushing the scene forward, the label fuses music, visuals, fashion and internet culture to discover and develop the singular art and artists defining the sounds of tomorrow. Dim Mak En Fuego is the next evolution of Dim Mak, the iconic independent record label founded by twotime Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Steve Aoki in 1996. For more than two decades, the brand has stood at the epicenter of emerging youth culture and has shaped definitive movements across punk, indie and dance music, launching the careers of Bloc Party, The Kills, The Chainsmokers, The Bloody Beetroots, Deorro, Keys N Krates, MSTRKRFT and many others. Evolving from the eclectic vision and DIY spirit of Dim Mak, DMEF transcends genres, languages and borders, all while channeling la gente’s unique music, culture and identity through the Latin experience and challenging the old ways of traditional Latin music.

Andrekza Online Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/ 7K2ZrWY8iteGlM7G4V9B0s?mc_cid=f00fe0d908&mc_eid=f2c463be81 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Andrekzaa/?mc_cid=f00fe0d908&mc_eid=f2c463be81 Twitter - https://dimmakrecs.us2.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=8d4cb445fe6edfb6fa3c62a86&id=30b8740385&e=f2c463be81 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrekza/?mc_cid=f00fe0d908&mc_eid=f2c463be81 YouTube - https://dimmakrecs.us2.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=8d4cb445fe6edfb6fa3c62a86&id=9de5fa0555&e=f2c463be81 January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 45

ADVERTISE HERE Advertise in a revolutionary new magazine Boris And Merzbow’s that will be New Collaboration taking the Album 2R012Po Is music world Out Now by storm!

Photo Credit: Miki Matsushima

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2R0I2P0, the brand new collaborative album from BORIS and MERZBOW, is out now! The album is available on all streaming services HERE.

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An album that is at once familiar and unique for its time, melodic and harsh in equal parts, 2R0I2P0 aims to find sonic harmony. After all, 2R0I2P0 translates to “Twenty Twenty R.I.P.” “This year was a period of trial for everyone in the world,” BORIS comments. “This work becomes a monument to the requiem of the previous era. From here, a new world begins again.” The 10 track album showcases every bit of the excitement and pulse-pounding rock and metal heard throughout the inimitable, expansive BORIS catalog, as it meets the signature harsh noise and soundscapes of the equally prolific MERZBOW. “The newest collaboration between these Japanese heavies finds their reunion doing what it does best: taking Boris’s genre-fuck towering amplitude and soaking it in a deep layer of Masami Akita’s otherworldly sonic mess.” - Metal Injection 2R0I2P0 is out now on CD/2xLP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical Pre-Orders are available HERE and Digital Downloads / Streaming HERE. Watch the official “Away From You” music video on YouTube HERE and “Boris” music video HERE. 2R0I2P0 Tracklist: Away From You To The Beach Coma Love Absolutego Journey Uzume Evol Boris Shadow Of Skull BORIS Is:

Rock And Blues International

Takeshi - Bass/GuitarsVocals Wata - Guitars/Vocals Atsuo - Drums/Vocals BORIS Online:

https://www.facebook.com/ borisheavyrocks/ https://www.instagram.com/ borisdronevil https://twitter.com/ Borisheavyrocks https://boris.bandcamp.com/ MERZBOW Is: Masami Akita MERZBOW Online: https://www.facebook.com/ OfficialMerzbow/ https://twitter.com/ merzbowofficial

Los Angeles songstress Shaylen dropped Goodbye (Acoustic Sessions), a four-track acoustic EP that features stripped-back versions of her latest singles, including “Goodbye”— listen HERE @ https://shaylen.lnk.to/ GoodbyeAcousticPR “Goodbye” re-invents the classic Macy Gray track “I Try” and updates it for a new generation on a song about “saying goodbye to those crutches in life.” While Shaylen was writing it, Macy Gray serendipitously walked into her writing session and gave her blessing for the new take on the classic song. “Goodbye” was recently added in rotation at SiriusXM Hits 1 and has subsequently seen an increase in streams across all platforms. The Goodbye (Acoustic Sessions) collection also includes acoustic versions of her songs “Forgive Myself” and “Roll The Dice,” all produced by Loote’s Jackson Foote [Demi Lovato, Cheat Codes]. Stay tuned for more from Shaylen in 2021! Way more than a singer and songwriter, Shaylen might just be your shoulder to cry on, partner-in-crime, and the keeper of your most intimate truths. Spilling her secrets first, she doesn’t just welcome this sort of vulnerability as she does command it. She’ll open up about days on the floor in tears, share the mantras she spoke to the mirror on

SHAYLEN RELEASES GOODBYE (ACOUSTIC SESSIONS) “GOODBYE” ADDED TO SIRIUSXM HITS 1 LISTEN TO GOODBYE (ACOUSTIC SESSIONS) HERE @ https://www.facebook.com/ShaylenOfficial/ WATCH THE ACOUSTIC VIDEO OF “GOODBYE” HERE @ https://youtu.be/LaRr8R9rSgM Instagram, and laugh about going home alone despite eyeing a dude across the bar like, “You gonna make a move or what, bruh?” Listening to her is like sharing an Uber with a brand new best friend. It doesn’t matter where you’re headed; you just hope the ride doesn’t end, because the conversation is so freakin’ interesting. As a result, she racked up over 12 million streams in twelve months across her debut EP Highs & Lows, singles such as “Sprite,” and collaborations a la “Come Back To Me” with Chantel

Jeffries as she twisted up pop, R&B, and alternative on her own terms. Not to mention, she garnered acclaim courtesy of Billboard, Just Jared, Hollywood Life, Popdust, and Idolator who predicted “[she’s] on the brink of a major breakthrough.” However, she embraces listeners even tighter on her 2020 Temporary Feelings EP and Santa Barbara EP [Republic Records] led by the singles “Forgive Myself” and “Goodbye.” SHAYLEN: INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/ shaylenofficial/ TWITTER | https://republicrecords.us5.listmanage.com/track/ click?u=3051269687d98ad95ab882a80&id=6cfe9ec1b3&e=8c586f3e2f FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ ShaylenOfficial/

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

DOOM and KOKOKO!’s “Bim Bam Bam” (a cover of “Din Daa Daa” by George Kranz), to all streaming services today. The release of the new tracks follows last night’s performance of “Alien Crime Lord” by The Voidz on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “Alien Crime Lord” debuted on Julian Casablancas’ in-game radio station, launched with The Cayo Perico Heist, K.U.L.T. FM 99.1 and is also available on all streaming services. The Cayo Perico Heist was described by Founder of Rockstar Games, Sam Houser, as “our way of getting everyone together to party and dance in the safest possible way while also giving players the chance to take on our biggest and best Heist yet.” The update marks the latest cultural event by Rockstar Games in Grand Theft Auto Online, with the addition of the new in-game club The Music Locker notably being one of the only immersive nightlife options available to most of the world at the moment. An expansion of the continued engagement with club culture that has existed through Grand Theft Auto’s history and updates, The Cayo Perico Heist builds on the club experience first introduced in Grand Theft Auto Online’s After Hours update in 2018.

Original Songs From Grand Theft Auto Online Update The Cayo Perico Heist Available On Streaming Services HEAR NEW TRACKS FROM MOODYMANN, MF DOOM, BADBADNOTGOOD AND MORE NOW THE VOIDZ’ PERFORMANCE OF “ALIEN CRIME LORD” (https://voidz.lnk.to/AlienCrimeLord) ON THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON OUT NOW HMoodymann: “1988” http://smarturl.it/moodymann1988 BadBadNotGood & MF DOOM: “Chocolate Conquistadors” http://smarturl.it/BBNGMFDoomCC KOKOKO!: “Din Daa Daa” http://smarturl.it/ KOKOKOBimBamBam The Voidz: “Alien Crime Lord” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon https://youtu.be/84EcWirVrKs “one of the most immersive video game experiences you can currently tap into” Complex

“one of the more remarkable stories in console gaming” Forbes “few games have ever held the longevity GTA V has managed” Rolling Stone Following the release of The Cayo Perico Heist, the biggest and most actionpacked update to Grand Theft Auto Online yet, Rockstar Games has debuted three songs featured in the update, “1988” by Moodymann, “Chocolate Conquistadors” (a reimagining of Johnny Hammond’s “Los Conquistadors Chocolates”) by BadBadNotGood and MF

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Building on the game’s reputation for supporting underground culture and also as a platform for music discovery, The Cayo Perico Heist features three new radio stations: Still Slipping Los Santos from UK DJ Joy Orbison; Kult FM hosted by Julian Casablancas featuring Mac DeMarco, David Cross and Tony Mac; and Music Locker Radio, bringing the club sounds of Moodymann, Keinemusik and Palms Trax to the airwaves of Los Santos. The Cayo Perico Heist also features major updates to existing stations, Worldwide FM with Gilles Peterson and FlyLo FM from Flying Lotus for a total of 250+ new tracks, including never before heard songs by The Voidz, Burna Boy, MF DOOM, BadBadNotGood, Tierra Whack, Moodymann, Flying Lotus featuring Mac Miller and more. Cameos from real world musical superstars like Dr. Dre, Scott Storch and more further underscore the title’s affinity for creating cultural moments. Check out Rockstar Games’ Newswire @ https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/ article/61840/out-now-the-cayo-perico-heist for full details on the GTA Online’s biggest event in its seven-year history, with GTA V having sold over 135 million units since launch in 2013. Rockstar Games cemented their reputation as creators of complex living worlds with the Grand Theft Auto series, one of the most successful entertainment properties of all time with over 270 million units sold-in worldwide. Through a string of critically acclaimed games including the Grand Theft Auto series, Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2, the Max Payne series, Bully, L.A. Noire, the Midnight Club series and The Warriors, Rockstar Games has helped propel interactive entertainment to the center of modern culture.

Alt-pop duo Mob Rich (formerly Moby Rich) unveil their new EP Songs We Didn’t Write, VOL. 2 It stands out as the sequel to the 2019 acclaimed project Songs We Didn’t Write, where they covered Weezer and Lizzo. The EP features covers of “The Killing Moon” by Echo & The Bunnymen and “Sweet Disposition” by Temper Trap. Both songs simultaneously bring new life to the originals but also remind Mob Rich fans of their musicality as a dynamic duo. Earlier this year, Mob Rich joined forces with multiplatinum songstress Bishop Briggs for the single “friends*.” It has already racked up 2.2 million Spotify streams and 123K YouTube views on the music video. FLOOD described it as “an impassioned duet,” and Variety named it among the “Top New Singles of the Week,” going on to write it “expresses a fairly common theme, but the video has an unexpected same-sex theme, and also deserves big props for its imaginative direction.” Mob Rich has amassed over 30 million-plus streams to date and received praise from Billboard, Funny Or Die, Noisey, Alt Press, Ones To Watch and more. The EP is the first in a string of new music set to come in 2021. Be on the lookout for more music from Mob Rich soon! LA two-piece Mob Rich turn melancholy song craft into bold, pop hooks and visuals. The pair—Maxwell Joseph and Connor Pledger—relocated to LA in 2015 from Indianapolis and Atlanta respectively in search of, well, anything. In a moment of synergy,

Mob Rich Drops New EP Songs We Didn’t Write, Vol. 2 EP Features Covers of Echo & The Bunnymen And Temper Trap Announces New Music Coming In 2021 Connor began attending open mic nights around the town in which Maxwell was living. The pair serendipitously met, began writing together, and realized an identifiable sound between the two them. Writing the majority of their tracks on acoustic guitar, they sing every song in unison, a sort of whole-is-greater-thanthe-sum-of-parts attitude, which speaks volumes of their close, almost twin-like, friendship. The first insight into Mob Rich’s unique sound comes in the shape of

their 2018 breakout hit, “Yoko Ono,” a melancholy pop banger that combines the euphoria of early MGMT with the laidback beat making of N.E.R.D, which was featured on their debut, Our First EP. Following an Australian tour with Broods, the duo released their follow up, Our First Second EP, in June 2019, which includes “Oil Spill” and “Sabotage.” Hot on the heels of a North American tour with Matt Maeson last fall, the duo dropped their empowering anthem, “Loser,” which is featured in the latest installment of filmmaker Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

MOB RICH: FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/MobRichMusic INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/mobrich/ TWITTER - https://republicrecords.us5.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=3051269687d98ad95ab882a80&id=0a10d87172&e=8c586f3e2f January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 49

The album and contest are just another layer of Granger’s multifaceted life. Granger has his own outdoor apparel company called Yee Yee Apparel in which they have been able to donate over $230,000 to various charities they feel passionate about with the revenue generated from this company. From his family YouTube show “The Smiths,” to well-known alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr., to his No. 1 book “If You’re City, If You’re Country,” to his Granger Smith Podcast, to his hero-honoring documentary “They Were There: A Hero’s Documentary,” to his work with The River Kelly Fund, the chart-topper continues to build a brand synonymous with those who cherish hard work and those who want to live life to its fullest.

Photo Credit: Paul De La Cerda

Granger Smith Gives Away His Own Truck To Lucky Fan In Need Over 10,000 Country Things Physical Albums Sold in a Climate Where Physical Sales are Dwindling Album Garners Nearly 50 Million Album Streams to Date As Granger Smith rounded out the release of his Top 5 Country album Country Things, he wrapped his unprecedented contest to give away his very own truck. The Country star held the contest at the Yee Yee Farm where the five qualifying contest winners competed for the grand prize. The goal was to be the last to remove their hand from the truck, which posed as a challenge as the participants withstood 24 hours of cold, rain, and declining an onslaught of enticing offers. The truck couldn’t have gone to a better recipient as it went to ‘Mark from Wisconsin’ who was in need of a new vehicle for his family back home. The runner up, ‘Lauren from Ohio,’ stood toe to toe all night and finally accepted an offer to go on tour for a weekend with Granger in 2021. This really was a win-win for the both of them! Check out the contest recap video below! Country Things has already started shining its resonance with fans old and new as the chart-topping vocalist and songwriter’s 10th studio album has already sold over 10,000 physical copies in a climate where physical unit sales have been dwindling year by year. This album is for anyone who appreciates (or needs a reminder) of the little things in life that are sometimes overlooked. Split into two parts but painting one whole picture, Country Things is all about the things that money and politics and status can’t buy. According to American Songwriter, “As a songwriter, he captures the essence of what remains when all else has been taken away,” and PEOPLE hails “the artist who built his massive fan base on beer, boots and truck songs is still present … but Smith

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also has unflinchingly put the full range of his big heart on display.” During street week of the album, Granger filmed the music video for “Diesel (feat. Earl Dibbles Jr,)” that amassed DOUBLE the number of views in the first 12 hours than his viral music video for “Holler” did in that window. The new music video has already been viewed over ONE MILLION times in ten days. Watch the video here @ https://youtu.be/ g4k1qp7MiJ4 Granger also appeared on NBC’s TODAY during the album’s street week where he caught up with Hoda and Jenna to talk about all things new album, what it was like being back in the studio, he and his family’s current life in Texas, and much more. Watch the whole conversation here at https://youtu.be/ g4k1qp7MiJ4. The full-length album is meant to be listened to like a rollercoaster ride. It has highs and lows and, in the end, leaves the listener satisfied. Released in September, Country Things, Vol. 1 showcases the man, the father, the performer, and bona fide artist Granger has become. With songs such as “I Kill Spiders,” “Heroes,” and “Country & Ya Know It feat. Earl Dibbles Jr.”, Vol. 1 takes listeners through the up and down journey leaving them with heartfelt belly-laughs. Country Things, Vol. 2 is the final loop of the rollercoaster ride with songs such as “6 String Stories,” “Buy A Boy A Baseball,” and “Workaholic (feat. Earl Dibbles Jr.)” that bring it all home.

Rock and Blues International • August January2020 2021

Over the course of his groundbreaking career, Granger Smith has amassed a massive and rabid audience now known as “Yee Yee Nation” built through heavy touring and grassroots fan engagement. He now has a social media following exceeding eight and half million along with more than one billion online video views. Signed to BBR Music Group’s Wheelhouse Records, Smith broke onto the national scene with Remington, an album that garnered him the No. 1 smash “Backroad Song.” Smith was also awarded a BMI Country Award for writing, producing, publishing and performing “Backroad Song” and followed it with the Top Five hit, “If The Boot Fits.” “Backroad Song” was one of the Top 10 Most Played Country singles of 2016 according to Mediabase and has been certified RIAA PLATINUM. His album When The Good Guys Win spawned the hit “Happens Like That” that has been certified RIAA GOLD. Not only has Granger stacked major accolades as an artist, but he also released his first-ever book If You’re City, If You’re Country, which immediately hit No. 1 on Amazon best-selling lists. Known as an artist but also for his alter ego, Earl Dibbles Jr., his family’s YouTube series “The Smiths” and his iconic outdoor apparel company, Yee Yee Apparel, Smith is a jack of all trades. Additionally, Granger and his wife Amber Smith started The River Kelly Fund to bring awareness and invest in children in need, arts and education, wildlife preservation, military, veteran and first responder assistance, donor affiliations, and many more organizations in honor of their son River Kelly Smith. Taking all of these experiences and channeling them into good, Smith recently released his 10th studio album Country Things which ultimately showcases the man, the father, the performer and bona fide artist Smith has become. Keep up with Granger Smith Facebook https://www.facebook.com/grangersmith Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ GrangerSmith/ YouTube https://t.e2ma.net/click/lgrzef/lkib1oc/ x5mu3k Twitter https://t.e2ma.net/click/lgrzef/lkib1oc/ dynu3k website https://www.grangersmith.com

Chart-topping entertainer Brett Young is taking over the desert for his first-ever “CALIVILLE WEEKEND” in Palm Springs, CA on June 18-21, 2021. The inaugural experience presented by Pollen and curated by Young will feature daily live performances, wellness activities, pool parties, plenty of surprises and more. Ticket packages are available now here. All event packages include hotel accommodations, payment plans available and only $25 deposit to reserve your spot. Click here @ https://pollen.co/ event/caliville-with-brett-young for additional details. “Bringing us all together for a weekend in one of my favorite places in the world is definitely a dream come true for me,” Young said. “I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have planned for them next summer!” Young has captured the hearts of fans everywhere through his honest lyrics and West Coast-meetsSouthern sound, aptly dubbed “Caliville” style. His latest Top 25and-rising single, “Lady,” is a heartbending love letter to his daughter and wife written with Ross Copperman and Jon Nite shortly before Presley’s birth in October 2019. While touring is paused, Young has been tapped for several high-profile, all-genre livestreams in an effort to bring music and relief to fans across the world – Live at The Ryman, Levi’s 5:01 Music Series, Visible’s Red Rocks Unpaused, Pepsi’s Unmute Your Voice Concert and Camping World’s Taking The Highways Across America series. Young’s GOLD-certified TICKET TO L.A. (BMLG Records), debuted atop the Billboard Country Albums chart upon release and features back-to-back No. 1 hits he co-wrote — “Catch” and “Here Tonight.” His sophomore effort follows a PLATINUM self-titled debut, which dominated the Top 20 on the Country Albums chart for 37 weeks. Young’s six consecutive chart-toppers – “In Case You Didn’t Know” (5X PLATINUM), “Mercy” (3X PLATINUM), “Sleep Without You” (PLATINUM), “Like I Loved You”

Brett Young Plots First-Ever “CALIVILLE WEEKEND” In Palm Springs June 18-21, 2021 Ticket Packages On-Sale Now (PLATINUM), “Here Tonight” (PLATINUM) and “Catch” (GOLD) – have contributed to over 4.5 billion streams globally. He was named ASCAP’s 2018 Country Songwriter-Artist of the Year for his “melodic craftsmanship” (Billboard) and has also garnered nominations from ACM, Billboard, Teen Choice, CMT and

CMA Awards as he continues to rack up nonstop hits as “one of country’s most consistent radio stars” (Rolling Stone). For additional information, visit BrettYoungMusic.com.

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Wenches Share Video Single From Upcoming Debut Album Bloomington, IN Noise-rockers (Ex-Racebannon) Take On Classic Hard Rock Watch/share “Bad Man” video @ https://youtu.be/NBrpIatMtH0 Bloomington, IN quartet Wenches (exmembers of Racebannon) share the first video single from their forthcoming debut album Effin’ Gnarly today via Metal Injection. Watch and share “Bad Man” video @ https:// youtu.be/NBrpIatMtH0. Assembled from broken bits and leftover chunks of various known and unknown groups in the punk, metal and posthardcore world, Wenches hail from Bloomington, Indiana in the heart of the Midwest. Described by No Echo as “raw, no bullshit...undiluted rock realness” and in the vein of proto-punk bands like MC5 and The Stooges, the debut album Effin’ Gnarly is slated for a February 2021 release.

what hopes to be a lasting lineup. Effin’ Gnarly follows a previously sold out 3-song “demo” cassette and precedes the release of a limited edition 7" single entitled State Fair Hair. Effin’ Gnarly will be available on LP and download on February 26, 2021 via Master Kontrol Audio. Limited edition cassettes will be released by Small Hand Factory. Pre-orders are available @ https:// masterkontrolaudio.bandcamp.com. Artist: Wenches Album: Effin’ Gnarly Record Label: Master Kontrol Audio

Tracked at Russian Recording (Built to Spill, Tortoise, of Montreal) and mastered by James Plotkin (Sunn O))), Pelican, Earth, ISIS), the band portrays the album as “highenergy screaming hard rock played the only way long-haired punk metalheads know how. “After a rotating door of bassists and drummers, the band has finally landed on

Rock and Blues International • January November 2021 2020

Release Date: February 26, 2021 01. Mama, Wake Up 02. Truck Stop Tank Top 03. Bad Man 04. What’s Next To The Moon 05. My Lady’s On Fire 06. Break Up To Make Up 07. Six To Midnight Man

08. Slip Slidin’ 09. 100,000 Years On The Web: www.wenches.rocks facebook.com/ wencheswencheswenches instagram.com/mstrkntrl

2x-Grammy-nominated producer/DJ and artist Steve Aoki unites with platinumselling singer, songwriter, producer and activist Aloe Blacc on the motivational anthem to close out 2020, “My Way.” The new work is the first official collaboration between Aoki and Blacc. It arrives as the world reflects on the past and prepares to enter a new year. Blacc’s uplifting lyrics speak to maintaining optimism and faith through trying times: “I can make it through this / You can throw the world in my face / But the fear gives me life / And I swear ’til I die I’m gonna do it my way.” The message is accentuated by Aoki’s upbeat synth melodies and dynamic backbeat, blending seamlessly with Blacc’s soulful touch. “I’m so excited for my track with Aloe to finally be out in the world and to be able to share it with all of you,” shares Steve Aoki. “He has an incredible voice & it’s been awesome getting to work with him and blending my signature sound with his.” Accompanying the single is an official music video directed by Marco Marchiori. Featuring shots of Aoki and Blacc performing “My Way” cut up with TikTok-trending transitions, the video highlights the track’s strong message while emanating its uplifting spirit to viewers. “My Way is such an anthem,” shares Aloe Blacc. “I knew Steve could take it to the next level! This song is the perfect way to ring in the new year.” About Steve Aoki: Counting nearly 3 billion music streams to his name, Steve Aoki is a true visionary. Billboard described the 2xGRAMMY-Nominated artist/DJ/producer and Dim Mak Records founder as “one of the most in-demand entertainers in the world.” As a solo artist, Aoki boasts a lauded crossgenre discography that includes 7 studio albums and collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert, Maluma, BTS, Linkin Park and Louis Tomlinson amongst others. In 1996, he established Dim Mak out of his college dorm room, a trendsetting record label, events/ lifestyle company and apparel brand. It has

Steve Aoki & Aloe Blacc Unite on Uplifting Collaboration “My Way” Buy & Stream: https://ffm.to/s-myway Watch Music Video: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUFBYI2YiTI served as a launch pad for global acts like The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Bloody Beetroots, and The Kills, in addition to being the home of early releases from acts such as ZEDD and Diplo. As a nightlife impresario, Aoki’s legendary Hollywood club night Dim Mak Tuesdays hosted early performances from future superstars such as Kid Cudi, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, and Travis Scott. A true renaissance man, Steve Aoki is also a fashion designer, author and entrepreneur. In 2012, he founded THE AOKI FOUNDATION, which primarily supports organizations in the field of brain science research with a specific focus on regenerative medicine and brain preservation. In addition, Aoki has pushed his clothing line Dim Mak Collection to new heights, both with original designs and collaborations with everyone from A Bathing Ape to the Bruce Lee estate. Aoki’s multi-faceted journey is chronicled through the Grammy-nominated Netflix documentary I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2016) and his memoir BLUE: The Color of Noise (2019). In the summer of 2020, Aoki unveiled his Latin music imprint, Dim Mak En Fuego, continuing to break down musical and cultural boundaries ‘by any means necessary.’ About Aloe Blacc: Aloe Blacc is a singer, songwriter, producer, and activist born

to Panamanian immigrants who settled in California. From the crossover hit “I Need a Dollar” to the chart-toppers “Wake Me Up,” “SOS” and “The Man,” Aloe has stamped his name on the music scene globally. Spanning several albums and cross-genre collaborations with producers such as Avicii, David Guetta, Tiësto and Zedd, Blacc’s multidirectional sound has evolved to occupy a unique pocket that reflects the long and beautiful history of American soul. Through timeless, descriptive songwriting Blacc speaks to the broad range of human experience, from platonic love to love for humanity, from politics to aspiration. Versatile and compassionate, his songwriting is classic in a way that makes categorization irrelevant; indeed, Blacc’s lyrics have been paired with dance music and country — always to stirring effect. All Love Everything, his latest album, is the singer-songwriter’s first collection of material written as a father, a journey that has expanded Blacc’s already heartfelt artistic palette. Generous and warm, All Love Everything draws on soul, folk, and contemporary pop, reminding listeners that there’s no pigeonholing the human experience. “Becoming a father made me want to share those experiences in music,” he says, admitting it’s a challenge to translate such a powerful thing into lyrics and melody. But the listeners who have followed Blacc over the course of his career know that his facility with language and sound is deep — if anyone was up to the task, it’s him.

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Anna Akana Shares “Pink” Vlog & Comes Out To Friends K. Flay, Tessa Violet, Gaby Dunn New EP No Longer Yours Out February 19

Last month, Anna Akana released “Pink,” the lead single from her upcoming EP No Longer Yours. Today, Akana shared a vlog about the inspiration of the track, coming out to her crushes with the song. Watch the video here to see the reactions from K Flay, Tessa Violet, and Gaby Dunn. On her debut album, 2019’s Casualty, Anna Akana took an unapologetic and uncompromising look at all the battles she’s faced throughout her life, examined through the rawness and heartbreak of a toxic relationship that was still fresh on her mind. Fast forward a year – one marked by the clarity of sobriety – and she returns with her anticipated follow-up, No Longer Yours.

that weren’t working for me, what I had to let go of, and how I wanted to shape my life moving forward with more selfawareness about what was within my grasp to change.

Always one to use her own life experience to lead by example, Akana has again proven her ability to create high energy, addictive pop records full of inspiration and courage.

Returning to work with close collaborators Jenga Productions (Nicci and Jim Funicelli, Shayon Daniels), the team that produced Casualty, Akana and co. up the ante on No Longer Yours, at once expanding and improving their pop sensibilities while creating a more succinct record than its predecessor.

NO LONGER YOURS TRACKLISTING 01. I Feel Nothing 02. Run 03. You Don’t See Me 04. All The Time 05. Swim 06. Pink

Apple Music - https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/535388523 Twitter - https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=52a9074950&e=28146e6e7b

Says Akana about the 6-song Website - http://www.annaakana.com project: This EP is about the process of assembling the broken pieces and Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/ stitching them back together. It’s about 0YSxCnmIwDDphTykhROUWe?si=A94lZqYARNyfgWUYPFlvWw the moment you finally see the person who used to make you nauseous and YouTube - https://tellallyourfriendspr.us10.list-manage.com/track/ realize it doesn’t sting so much anymore. click?u=63f1674ecdb2a4574b77e600b&id=4ba911cb59&e=28146e6e7b I had so much clarity about the things 54 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Sessions is excited to announce a special livestream performance by Country Music Superstar Dallas Smith & friends featuring Josh Ramsay, Jojo Mason, Shaw, Austin and Kristin Carter on January 30 at 6 PM PST / 9 PM EST. Recently voted CCMA ‘Entertainer of the Year’, Smith is the unmistakable multi-platinumcertified talent behind such award winning albums as 2016’s Side Effects and 2020’s Timeless. Originally part of rock band Default, formed in 1999, Smith went solo in 2012 with his debut album Jumped Right In and has been racking up a steady stream of accolades including ten No. 1 hits like “Autograph,” “Drop,” “Timeless,” “Tippin’ Point,” “Wastin Gas” and more ever since. Special guests to be announced.

SESSIONS PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR DALLAS SMITH & FRIENDS, JANUARY 30 AT 6 PM PST / Featuring: Josh Ramsay, Jojo Mason, Shawn Austin & Kristin Carter Tickets Available at: https:// www.sessionslive.com/DallasSmith/ tickets

Sessions is fast becoming a go-to hub for country music live streams with rising and established musicians eager to take advantage of the new platform’s marketing strength and audience engagement. Most recently legendary artist Hank Williams Jr. performed his first and only hybrid livestream that grossed over 6 figures. Meanwhile, Scotty McCreery gained over 50 million impressions for his performance. Other country artists who have performed on the platform include Lee Brice, Adam Doleac, Darby, Emily Ann Roberts, Jon Langston, Lainey Wilson, Lindsay Ell, The Shadowboxers, Spencer Crandall, Scotty McCreery, and Temecula Road. Sessions creates an opportunity for artists to put on performances that are simultaneously more intimate but virtually reach wider audiences. “Hank’s show is a great example of the power of livestreaming on a platform like Sessions. With our ability to market this show globally, an enormous audience around the world were ‘in the room’ for this special experience,” says Tim Westergren, Sessions Co-Founder and former Pandora founder. “And through our interactive features, fans were able to connect with the artist in an exciting new way.” In this way, Sessions is amplifying the reach and revenue potential for the world’s working musicians. Sessions. Play More, Earn More, Experience More.

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Rock and Blues International and have it delivered directly to your email when it comes out every month! Just email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com and in the subject line put “Sign Me Up Now” and we will email you your own personal copy every month! January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Doom Rockers Vessel Of Light Reveal New Video for “Torture King” from Fourth Album, Last Ride Last Ride Out Now via Nomad Eel Records VESSEL OF LIGHT has unveiled the latest video from the Doom-laden hard rockers’ fourth album, Last Ride, in the Sabbath-esque “Torture King.” The video was captured by Jason Stewart and includes footage from one of VESSEL OF LIGHT’s rare full-band rehearsals, when vocalist Nathan Opposition flew in from Cleveland to join the rest of the guys in New Jersey just before Halloween. Watch the video now at https://youtu.be/ 9EAPFXX5Pig. “The opening riff to ‘Torture King’ was the first riff I wrote after we finished our last album,” says guitarist Dan Lorenzo. “Even though it’s not drop tuning it just sounded so heavy. Obviously, it’s very Sabbathy and I was curious if Nathan could come up with a cool melody line to it. When I first heard what he wrote to it I was blown away...I still am. I actually asked him if we should change the name of our new album from ‘Last Ride’ to ‘Torture King’ at one point.” As the title may suggest, “Torture King” is in line with the lyrical theme that permeates Last Ride, exploring the darkest sides of humanity and indulging both Opposition and Lorenzo in their fascination with true crime.

“The riff in ‘Torture King’ is so heavy and dark that I wanted to make the lyrics evil and descriptive to get into the listeners head and convey a message equally as dark and sinister,” Opposition says. “For me it’s about creating a mood when I sing and when I write lyrics. The mood of ‘Torture King’ is sadistic terror through the eyes of a cold-blooded killer. The subject matter is a familiar story, from Jack the Ripper to Dennis Rader. Sick people in the world playing sick games, winning sick prizes. Just a pawn in someone else’s game of chess where human life holds no value and the ones who suffer are the innocent. There will always be real horror out there in the world no matter how much we try to hide it. There’s no escape from it, just a blind eye.” The most refined of VESSEL OF LIGHT’s releases, Last Ride, released October 23 via Nomad Eel Records, is rife with depth, harmonies, the trademark riffs and guitar sound of guitarist Dan Lorenzo while also maintaining a familiar feel. Like the haunting first single and title track from Last Ride, “There’s No Escape” has a sinister lyrical theme, keeping in line with the darker subjects that permeate this record. Last Ride has produced two other singles – the title track and its dark accompanying video, and “There No Escape.” Last

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Ride is available at https:// nomadeelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lastride. Founded in 2017 by Lorenzo, best known for his work with seminal New Jersey bands Hades and Non-Fiction, and Cleveland based Opposition, the duo released two albums, Vessel of Light and Woodshed, with Italian label Argonauta Records before introducing former Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki and former Hades bassist Jimmy Schulman into the fold for the recording of a third album, Thy Serpent Rise. It wasn’t until VESSEL OF LIGHT’s first live show before a sold-out crowd at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom with Life of Agony that vocalist and the band’s new drummer and bassist finally met, merely hours before the quartet hit the stage. VESSEL OF LIGHT is: Nathan Opposition - vocals Dan Lorenzo - guitar Jimmy Schulman - bass Ron Lipnicki - drums VESSEL OF LIGHT online: www.facebook.com/vesseloflightband www.instagram.com/ vesseloflightmusic https://vesseloflight.bandcamp.com/

Rock rebels FIRE FROM THE GODS and Latin Metal Legends ILL NIÑO announced today a virtual concert with special guest HYRO THE HERO to air on January 30, 2021. Tickets and exclusive merch bundles are available to purchase now at www.americanrevolucion.com. No moshing? No problem. The world may have paused, but that’s not stopping FIRE FROM THE GODS, ILL NIÑO and HYRO THE HERO from keeping the live show energy alive. On January 30, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST, fans will experience three unique sets as part of the must see package, #AmericanRevolución. Featuring new live music from HYRO THE HERO, surprise guests from ILL NIÑO and more. The “American Revolución” livestream, will premiere ILL NIÑO’s stomping current 2020 lineup and reunite 2001’s original Revolution line-up, featuring lead guitarist Marc Rizzo (Soulfly), rhythm guitarist Jardel Paisante and percussionist Roger Vasquez and will mark the first time in 18 years that they have performed together, and will be performing songs from their renowned opus, Revolution Revolución, which celebrates its 20th year in 2021. In addition, fans can listen to their newest single, “Máscara,” feat. AJ Channer of FIRE FROM THE GODS. When the world shut down, FIRE FROM THE GODS were just coming off of a US arena tour with label mates Five Finger Death Punch and preparing for their next tour to showcase their brand new album, American Sun, via Better Noise Music. In celebration of its anniversary and an imminent return to stage, FIRE FROM THE GODS will perform American Sun in its entirety for the first time from the rooftop of local Austin, TX, venue Mohawk. Tickets, virtual meet & greet packages and exclusive merch bundles for FIRE FROM THE GODS, ILL NIÑO and HYRO THE HERO available HERE @ https://americanrevolucion.com. Stream American Sun by FIRE FROM THE GODS: https://fftg.ffm.to/ americansun Stream “Máscara” by ILL NIÑO feat. AJ Channer of FIRE FROM THE

FIRE FROM THE GODS and ILL NIÑO Announce Virtual Concert with HYRO THE HERO to Air January 30th Tickets and Exclusive Bundles On Sale Now @ https://americanrevolucion.com GODS: https://ps.onerpm.com/mascara New music from HYRO THE HERO feat. Chad Gray of Hellyeah and

David Draiman of Disturbed: https:// ffm.bio/hyrothehero January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 57

Noah Kahan

Rock and Blues International â&#x20AC;¢ January 2021

“‘Pride’ (ft. mxmtoon) is a beautifully bittersweet acoustic pop song blending the loneliness of isolation with the raw pain of rejection.” – Atwood Magazine Today, Noah Kahan releases a live performance video of his latest single, “Pride” feat. mxmtoon—watch it here at https://youtu.be/Yfp3lNktvJc! “Pride,” which features vocals from songstress and internet sensation mxmtoon and production by chart-topping artist and producer Alexander23, has amassed nearly 3 million Spotify streams to date. Idolator praised the song as a “relatable, deceptively catchy tune,” while Variance Magazine said, “The track displays Kahan’s renowned relatable songwriting craft by taking his personal experiences and lyricizing them.” Of the video, Noah says, “Filming this video was special because it was the first time I had done anything besides sit in my dad’s barn since the pandemic hit. It was amazing to get a chance to perform again, to be under pressure, and to be in a room with more than two people. Working with Maia was amazing, she is super talented and just a great hang.” mxmtoon chimes in saying, “It was such a pleasure to be able to sing with Noah for the acoustic performance of ‘Pride.’ With a safe 8 feet distance between us, I got to sing a song live for the first time in months thanks to this video! Nothing is quite like being able to make music with another person, and it was all the more fun because it was “Pride.’” Stay tuned for more new music to come from Noah Kahan in 2021! Stepping out of his childhood home located on a 133-acre tree farm in Strafford, VT (pop. 1,045) and onto stages worldwide, Noah Kahan introduced one side of himself. Since 2017, he has generated half-a-billion combined streams and views, garnered a Gold plaque for “Hurt Somebody” with Julia Michaels, and launched sold-out headline tours in North America, Europe and the UK. His 2019 full-length debut, Busyhead, attracted acclaim from Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, NYLON, Idolator, Ones To Watch and more. He performed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Late Night With Seth Meyers and Today Show. As he breached radio airwaves and infiltrated popular playlists, he quietly penned songs at a feverish pace. Favoring storytelling, he unveiled another side of himself on 2020’s Cape Elizabeth EP [Republic Records] led by the single “A Troubled Mind.” Following widespread tastemaker praise, he capped off the year with “Pride” feat. mxmtoon. ABOUT mxmtoon In 2017, as a teenager in Northern California, mxmtoon began releasing her selfproduced songs and cultivating a rabid fan base for her honest and clever lyrics and pristine voice. Just a short year later, she released her debut EP plum blossom, which has gone on to amass over 100 million streams. 2019 marked the release of her debut

Noah Kahan Drops Live Performance Video Of “Pride” featuring mxmtoon WATCH HERE https://youtu.be/Yfp3lNktvJc album the masquerade. “In barely two years, as her music has ricocheted around platforms, bringing new followers every day, Maia, who overflows with earnestness, has assembled an independent, D.I.Y. miniempire,” said the New York Times. Already her music has had well over half a billion streams and she has more than 4 million followers across her socials, including 2.3M on TikTok, 788K on YouTube, 1M on Spotify, and 115K on Twitch. 2020 brought the release of two companion EP’s - dawn

released in April and the dusk EP released this month and hails yet another exciting chapter from the 20-year-old. dusk also features the breakout single “ok on your own” featuring Carly Rae Jepsen. This fall, mxmtoon also launched her new podcast 365 days with mxmtoon where each day for an entire year she will take you through the most interesting, weird, and funny events of that day in history. Released in partnership with Allbirds and you can subscribe to daily episodes here.

Noah Kahan: WEBSITE - http://www.noahkahan.com FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/noahkahanmusic INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/noahkahanmusic/ TWITTER - https://republicrecords.us5.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=3051269687d98ad95ab882a80&id=efa13ea180&e=8c586f3e2f TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@noahkahanmusic SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/artist/2RQXRUsr4IW1f3mKyKsy4B mxmtoon: FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/mxmtoon/ INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/mxmtoon/ TIKTOK - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HthCchcL0kVLHTr113Vk1?si=VWGLFDvRSn3nzduSgWPNQ SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HthCchcL0kVLHTr113Vk1?si=VWGLFDvRSn3nzduSgWPNQ January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 59

Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson

Christian Scott a Tunde Adjuah Earns Two GRAMMY Nominations for AXIOM Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Best Improvised Jazz Solo (Guinnevere) Axioms are essentially postulates from which an abstractly defined structure is based, a statement or proposition which is regarded as selfevidently true…Axioms serve as starting points for further reasoning and arguments. It’s difficult to find a more appropriate correlative to Jazz and Expansive Music… Stretch Music, especially in a Live setting.’ - Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (Adjuah’s third year in a row nominated in the category), and his performance on “Guinnevere” was nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Stream AXIOM here: https:// ropeadope.lnk.to/Axiom

mined to stay the course, Adjuah made the decision to press on with the show. Little did he or his band know, this would be their last show for some time. This performance was captured as AXIOM — the album was praised by New York Times, Stereogum, Bandcamp Daily, WBGO, Consequence of Sound, and more.

Though it feels like a lifetime, March 10th, 2020 was only nine months ago. At that moment Chief Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah was in a familiar place during an unfamiliar circumstance — about to play New York City’s famed Blue Note Jazz Club as COVID-19 uncertainty gripped the world. Deter-

Heralded by NPR as ushering in “a new era in jazz,” Chief Adjuah continues to expand on the trailblazing pace he has set since 2006 with his Grammy Nominated debut Rewind That. JazzTimes Magazine proclaims him as “The architect of a new commercially viable fusion” and “Jazz’s young style God.”

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah has earned his fourth and fifth GRAMMY nominations for AXIOM — Adjuah’s Photo Cred: Nick Hughes new live album released August 28, 2020 via Ropeadope. The full length was 60 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

AXIOM follows Adjuah’s critically acclaimed 2019 album Ancestral Recall, which “highlighted the sounds of his ancestral history and recent coronation as Chieftain and Idi of the Xodokan Nation of New Orleans Afro Native Nations (regionally referred to as Black Indians).” Ancestral Recall was said to be “A Listening Revolution” by Exclaim Magazine. In 2017, Adjuah released three albums: Ruler Rebel, Diaspora, and The Emancipation Procrastination (collectively titled The Centennial Trilogy). Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first jazz recordings, The Centennial Trilogy is a sonic exploration rooted in a sobering reevaluation of the world’s social and political realities, and their correlatives a century earlier. The trilogy as a whole was named by Stereogum as the Best Jazz Album of the 2010s. The Emancipation Procrastination and Ancestral Recall were both nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 61st and 62nd GRAMMY Awards, marking Adjuah’s third nomination. The recordings also garnered the chief a Downbeat Critics Poll Rising Star Composer, Rising Star Trumpet, Trumpeter, and Electric/Jazz-Rock/Contemporary Group/Artist wins from the publication. AXIOM is a blistering set showcasing his Stretch Music concept — a vision of genre blindness in sound. The riveting live recording is rooted in the intellection of listening as the primary conduit for understanding and narrative in sound, pointedly contrasting the energy and sound design of his studio albums. “There’s a difference between hearing and listening,” says Adjuah. “The intention to understand is present in listening. When you listen to our band, what you are hearing is the sound of listening.” The document features flautist Elena Pinderhughes, GRAMMYnominated saxophonist Alex Han, djembefola Weedie Braimah, pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Kris Funn, and drummer Corey Fonville. So far in 2020, Chief Adjuah has been announced as the Jazz Journalist Association’s Trumpeter of the Year, and recipient of the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts. The chief also recently starred in

Billboard and 1800 Tequila’s Refined Players Series, and he’s the subject of PBS American Masters’ Masters in the Making. In recognition of his musical contributions Adjuah is featured in the recently released Bill & Ted Face the Music playing a Noble of the Future Council, leaders of a world saved by music. He also contributes his trumpet sound to Louis Armstrong’s character throughout the film.

compact disc.

AXIOM is Adjuah’s third live album, the previous two being Live at Newport released in 2008 and Ninety Miles Live at Cubadisco (with Stefon Harris and David Sanchez) in 2011. AXIOM will see a deluxe special edition issued via Bandcamp with bonus tracks available in high quality download and

Digital Track Listing: 1. X. Adjuah [I Own the Night] 2. The Last Chieftain [for Big Chiefs Donald Harrison Sr. & Jr.] 3. Guinnevere 4. Songs She Never Heard 5. Sunrise in Beijing 6. Huntress [for Cara] 7. Incarnation [Chief Adjuah - Idi of the Xodokan] 8. West of the West 9. Diaspora 10. Introductions 11. Guinnevere [alt take] 12. The Last Chieftain [for Big Chiefs Donald Harrison Sr. & Jr.] [alt take]

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah online: Official Website - http://christianscott.tv Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ChristianScottOfficial/ Twitter - https://ymlpsend3.net/9849euysmmwaraewsehaxauwsaoajbbsy/click.php Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christianscottofficial/ January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

TRACKLISTING 1. Beautiful Trip 2. Tequila Shots 3. Another Day 4. She Knows This 5. Dive 6. Damaged 7. Heaven On Earth 8. Show Out Featuring Pop Smoke and Skepta 9. Solo Dolo, Pt. III 10. Sad People 11. Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback) 12. Sept. 16 13. The Void 14. Lovin’ Me Featuring Phoebe Bridgers 15. The Pale Moonlight 16. Rockstar Knights Featuring Trippie Redd 17. 4 Da Kidz 18. Lord I Know

Kid Cudi Returns With New Album Man On The Moon III: The Chosen Tracklistin Revealed, Including Appearances By Skepta, Pop Smoke, Trippie Redd, & Phoebe Bridgers Watch Album Trailer Here: https:// youtu.be/JvexZz-HJkA Kid Cudi has launched his anxiously awaited seventh full-length studio album and the third installment of his legendary Man On The Moon series, Man On The Moon III: The Chosen [Republic Records].

In other big news, Cudi recently cofounded his own production and music management company Mad Solar backed by none other than Bron.

Cudi blasted off into history with Man This stands out as the most anticipated on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009. It has sequel of 2020 and a blockbuster befitting of since gone double-platinum, garnered three the Man On The Moon legend. Cudi returns GRAMMY® Award nominations, and seized with 18 new songs, inviting a cast of A-list a spot on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest collaborators to join him in space. These Albums of All Time.” A year later, Man on include anthems such as “Show Out” [feat. the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager Pop Smoke and Skepta], “Lovin’ Me” [feat. claimed #3 on the Billboard Top 200 and Phoebe Bridgers], and “Rockstar Knights” went platinum. Audiences worldwide have [feat. Trippie Redd]. Not to mention, clamored for the next chapter of this trilogy acclaimed director Nabil [Kanye West, for a decade now. Cudi delivers with Man on Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean] helmed the the Moon III: The Chosen now. music videos for “She Knows This” and “Heaven On Earth”—set to be unveiled soon. Take flight higher than ever with Kid Check out the full tracklisting below. Cudi again. 62 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Over a decade ago, Kid Cudi dubbed himself “The Man on the Moon” with good reason. Since 2008, the Grammy Award®winning multi-platinum trailblazer and trendsetter has cast his influence over hip-hop like a lunar glow. Celebrated by everyone from Kanye West to Travi$ Scott, his 2009 full-length debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, has earned double-platinum certification from the RIAA. Cudi followed up with the platinum selling 2010 album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. Recognized as a vital force in pop culture and music, 2012 saw him win “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration” for “All of the Lights” at the GRAMMYS®. Indicud captured his highest chart entry on the Billboard Top 200, bowing at #2 and yielding a platinum-selling favorite “Just What I Am” a year later. Selling over 20 million singles worldwide, his influence has only expanded exponentially with time. 2016’s PASSION, PAIN & DEMON SLAYIN’ marked a fiery return to form. “Baptized In Fire” [feat. Travi$ Scott] generated a staggering 39 million streams in six months. His sixth studio offering also drew praise from Complex, Billboard, Pitchfork, and The Fader, while XXL placed it among the “50 Best Hip Hop Projects of 2016.” He scorched late night TV with a powerhouse performance of “Kitchen” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon accompanied by a string orchestra. He reunited with West on the 2018 psychedelic hip-hop-rock opus KIDS SEE GHOSTS. The union of these two innovators sent shockwaves throughout the culture. Not only did the record bow at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, but it garnered widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, XXL, Vice, The Guardian, and Entertainment Weekly. As the project took off, Cudi also graced the cover of Billboard. Beyond his prolific musical output, he’s also appeared on the big and small screen. Not only would he lead HBO’s How to Make It in America and IFC’s Comedy Bang! Bang!, but he also starred in Need for Speed, Entourage, and more.

Kool & The Gang Recognizes Longtime Legacy And Releases New Single “Pursuit of Happiness” Since the band’s inception over 50 years ago, the legendary masters of funk, pop and soul, Kool & the Gang, have given music fans classic tunes from “Jungle Boogie”, “Hollywood Swinging” and “Summer Madness” to smashes such as “Ladies’ Night”, “Get Down On It” and their first number one pop hit, “Celebration”. Co-founded by Robert “Kool” Bell with his brother, the late Ronald Khalis Bayyan Bell, Kool & the Gang earned multiple Grammy and American Music Awards with many of those award winning tunes being sampled by hip-hop artists through the years (A Tribe Called Quest as well as the smash hit, “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will “Fresh Prince” Smith come to mind for

folks). Also as important is how Kool & the Gang have inspired generations of musicians who studied their recordings and thus incorporated that influence into their playing. “Measuring Kool & the Gang’s influence is like asking what the influence of the Beatles was over pop music it’s impossible to pull it apart,” said record producer Mark Ronson (of Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” fame) to Rolling Stone magazine in 2020. “Anybody who has played in a funk band or DJ’d had Kool & the Gang in their DNA for so long.” As the band honored the 40th anniversary this year of their first number one pop hit, “Celebration”, Kool

& the Gang have released a new single, “Pursuit Of Happiness” – which calls for all people around the world to live together in peace, love and harmony. The new tune also serves as a last will and testament from Ronald Khalis Bayyan Bell, who’d co-written the song and was the chief composer of “Jungle Boogie” and “Celebration”. Robert “Kool” Bell continues to lead the group as they’re recently signed with Omnivore Recordings. Kool & the Gang’s forthcoming new album, “Perfect Union”, is slated for release in 2021. Listen to “Pursuit Of Happiness” Here https://youtu.be/rqj3lSQUsFU

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Women In Music Celebrates 35 Years Through Education And Empowerment Encompassing 25 Gloval Chapters Today Please Join The Virtual Anniversary Event On December 16 at 7pm Via Zoom The music industry’s leading non-profit organization, Women In Music will host their 35th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, December 16 at 7pm ET via zoom. Non-members who are interested in the event can join the organization today (http:// www.womeninmusic.wildapricot.org/event4080115?utm_source=WIM+Google+Group+Members&utm_campaign=cb9a07636eEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_11_08_52_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f84b56d598cb9a07636e-187300501&mc_cid=cb9a07636e&mc_eid=49d16de637). Women In Music’s President, Nicole Barsalona mentions, “our growth this year is entirely due to our amazing global team of volunteers, who pour their heart and souls into working toward our shared vision of a more equitable industry. I am inspired every day, and feel so fortunate to work alongside some of the most dynamic and brilliant womxn in our business who will lead us into the future.”

inspiration and education showcasing vendors, artists, and community resources. RSVP for free (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/ 1FAIpQLSc0AY7miFhFx6UytdLaTOwpDZPwPKLEeLMNbKDXRpkBDkIdQQ/ viewform). >> December 9: WIM Presents, Passion to Profits Event at 8pm ET Gabz Landman & Nikish Bailey discuss turning their passion into multi-faceted careers in and outside of music. For members only. Nonmembers can sign up today (http://www.womeninmusic.wildapricot.org/ event4080115?utm_source=WIM+Google+Group+Members&utm_campaign=cb9a07636eEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_11_08_52_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f84b56d598cb9a07636e-187300501&mc_cid=cb9a07636e&mc_eid=49d16de637). >>December 16: WIM 35 Year Anniversary Virtual Event at 7pm ET

Originally founded in 1985 the organization will celebrate 35 years in service to the music community to educate, empower and advance womxn in the industry. The 35th Anniversary celebration will honor mental health and wellness, with an introduction by the Board of Directors, a Fireside Chat and Q&A with Shanti Das, a wellness workshop with the CoFounders of Equilibrium, and networking breakout sessions hosted by WIM Chapter teams, from Atlanta to Japan. The event will cap off a banner year for Women in Music, which produced record programming in 2020, hosting one to three virtual events per week since March to serve its members and the community. The organization also featured its most diverse programming to date, led by WIM’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. Women In Music members are a diverse group of individuals at all stages in their careers, from students to seasoned industry veterans. The organization now encompasses 25 chapters worldwide today. Throughout the years, the organization has worked to advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment, and recognition. In addition, Women In Music is the exclusive music partner for The Power Women Summit (https://www.thewrap.com/power-women-summit2020/) from December 8-10, rsvp for free (https://www.thewrap.com/ power-women-summit-2020/). Separately, Women in Music will present Passion to Profits virtual event on December 9, non-members can today” data-type=”url” href=”https://t.e2ma.net/click/rjosqc/rv12so/fmq6oj” style=”font-weight: normal;font-weight: normal;color: #333;textdecoration: underline;color: #333;text-decoration: underline;color: rgb(44, 92, 255)” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”> join today. More information below. >>December 8-10: WIM at The Power Women Summit from 9am 6pm PT Women In Music is the exclusive music partner for The Power Women Summit, the largest annual gathering of the most influential women in entertainment, media, and technology. The Summit aims to inspire and empower women across the landscape of their professional careers and personal lives. This year’s all-virtual PWS provides three days of education, mentorship, workshops, and networking around the globe – to promote “Inclusion 360,” this year’s theme. Featuring entertainment,

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

Reflections on the 35 year history, highlights of our growth and new global community including a focus on mental health in music and wellness plus a look ahead into 2021. Non-members can sign up today. Includes breakout sessions. networking opportunities, Fireside Chat with Shanti Das followed by a facilitated Q&A and Crafting a Wellness Toolkit for 2021, hosted by Equilibrium Co-Founders Marni Wandner & Nicole Blonder. ABOUT WIM: Women in Music is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to educate, empower, and advance women in the music industry. Originally founded in 1985 in New York, Women in Music now encompasses chapters across the country and across the globe – from LA to India. Our members are a diverse group of individuals at all stages in their careers — from students to seasoned industry veterans. We are record label executives, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, music publishers, marketers, and more. Women in Music believes that the conversation around equality is an inclusive one, where all voices are welcome. Our panels, seminars, webinars, workshops, performance showcases, achievement awards, leadership summits, and global initiatives serve the needs of our diverse communities around the world. Our members are women at all stages in their careers — from students to seasoned industry veterans — and men who support our cause. We are record label executives, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, music publishers, online and traditional marketers and more. WIM MISSION STATEMENT: Women in Music is an organization with a mission to advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment, and recognition. Our seminars, panels, showcases, achievement awards, and youth initiatives celebrate the female contribution to the music world, and strengthens community ties. US chapters: Atlanta, Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, DC, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Portland and Puerto Rico. International chapters: Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Jamaica, Japan, Great Britain, India, Romania and South Africa.

By Greg Fontaine CrowJane aka Heather Galipo has just released a new video for the song “Circular Valley” off her debut album, Mater Delorosa, which was released just last September. Mater Delorosa was released on the Kitten Robot Records label. Paul Roessler produced the album. Eric Livingston, who you may remember for his work with Mr. Bungle, and Dead Cross, directed the video for “Circular Valley”. CrowJane tells us that the video is about a spirit of a dead person who enters the body of an animal and proceeds to feel everything that the animal feels. The song was inspired by a short story CrowJane had read by Paul Bowles. In a recent interview with American Songwriter, CrowJane revealed that “‘Circular Valley’ is inspired by a short story written by Paul Bowles. The brief summary of the short story is this: In the Circular Valley lives a spirit, a mute presence, Atlajala. Thirsting for sensation, this spirit enters a moth, a panther, an eel, and feels what they feel - the cool darkness of water, the pleasure of a kill. Centuries old and indifferent to time, it enters man and discovers Obsession for the first time. Yearning to be incarnate as man, it enters priests, soldiers and bandits. When an adulterous couple arrives in the valley, it slips into a woman. Finally, it feels complete. But as it possesses her, she grows restless and

CrowJane Releases Lush Watercolor-Animated Video for “Circular Valley” Off Her Debut Album Mater Dolorosa would be good at telling the story through it.”

extreme and her affair takes a darker, more sinister turn.” Check out the video for “Circular Valley” here https://youtu.be/v-e9LdNDH_k Eric Livingston, who collaborated with CrowJane to bring her vision to life performed the extraordinary animation work done on this video. “I asked Eric if he would be into making a music video for this song because I love his artwork and I thought he

“I told him what the story is about and how I wanted to try to portray this ‘mute character,’ Atlajala, morphing into different species that enter into the circular valley. I wanted him to portray the dark side of humans, as well. Eric worked out the details of how to do all that in the pictures he painted. He also is the one that suggested it be in watercolor, which I thought was a great idea some of his art involves harsh lines. Watercolor added a softness that flows along with this song.” Because of her past experience in visual arts, CrowJane was able to convey her thoughts and images to Livingston on the creation of the video to “Circular Valley.” CrowJane is definitely no stranger to the art of animation. She is a professional effects makeup artist and has worked on many major motion pictures and television shows. Among those are Mulan, The Orville, Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood, Civil Twilight, The Clinic, Don Quixote, Toolbox Murders, The Last Of Us: Part II, and Star Wars: Fallen Order.

“I have more music videos coming out for different songs on this album. The visual art has been important to me for this release. I have always been a fan of music videos and think they don’t get as much attention or appreciation as they did in the past,” further reported to American Songwriter. January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 65

echoes these thoughts stating, “The video really captures the notion that we are all different and beautiful, and we should be celebrating that! I’m excited for the world to hear this!” Jules Galli adds, “I am so grateful for everyone involved in this video and thankful for Steve Perry in lending us his genius on this very special song.” Earlier this year, LEVARA and Mascot Records presented “Heaven Knows,” the first recording to be shared in front of the band’s debut studio album. To view the accompanying music video, click here: https://youtu.be/ Ca0yQq05QOE.

Levara And Mascot Records Present “Chameleon” In Front Of Band’s Debut Studio Album Coming In 2021 Long-Time Friend Steve Perry Contributes Background and Group Vocals On Track, While Matt Pinfield, Boxer Victor Ortiz, Members of Toto, alongside Forty Plus Others Make Cameo Appearances in Accompanying Music Video V i e w “ C h a m e l e o n ” V i d e o H e r e : https://youtu.be/Q5FDlJLt85c LEVARA and Mascot Records present “Chameleon,” the second song to be revealed from the band’s debut studio album coming in 2021. To view the accompanying music video please click here: https://youtu.be/ Q5FDlJLt85c. The recording features a special contribution from Steve Perry on background and group vocals, while the accompanying music video presents more than forty friends of the band appearing singing the song simply expressing themselves in a natural sense. Amongst those appearing are tastemaker Matt Pinfield, boxer Victor Ortiz, multiple band members of Toto, alongside many others sharing a common humanity driven by the power of song.

I’d rather be hated for who I really am, then loved for who I’m not!” Guitarist Trev Lukather reveals, “Chameleon was one of the last songs we wrote and laid down in the studio. Originally it was supposed to be a deluxe track but we knew as we were writing and starting to build it, that it was an undeniable anthem that moved its way up as a serious contender on the album. My long-time friend Steve Perry who was a huge presence on this record brought a lot to the table on this track. He brought his legendary power house vocals on the BGVs and group vocals. He and I built the epic bridge solo together. He even sang on top of the guitar solo melody. It was a spiritual experience making this song and it has such a spiritual meaning to it.”

Singer Jules Galli offers, “The metaphor of being a chameleon in our human society is something we can all relate to in our own way. The chameleon learns to blend in as The music video was produced and a means of survival... he’s got to stay invisible directed by Jake Hays and Olivia DeLaurentis. to predators while preying on his next meal. Trev Lukather offers, “The video we made for To me, the song is so deep that the meaning of Chameleon shows how we all blend together. the song keeps evolving through time. Within We all have our unique qualities and they are our authenticity lies our real power. Break free beautiful, we are beautiful. Truly showing we from this mode of survival and let yourself be are one race, the human race. We had our close seen, heard and accepted.” Drummer Josh friends from all different backgrounds come Devine shares, “Chameleon is one of my by and sing a pass through the song. No personal favorites on our debut record. The direction other than sing along and be you. meaning to me personally speaks to the idea The song brought nothing but connection, that I don’t want to just be another chameleon, happiness and love out of everyone that took blending in to fit in with the worlds agenda to the time to be a part of it. You can clearly see be liked or loved for someone I am not. It may that in the video. Everyone shines. We all do be the path of least resistance, but at what and that’s the truth. Let’s love together, cost? Stand out and be YOU! Loud and proud. enough with the pointless hate.” Josh Devine 66 Rock and Blues International •• December November December2020 2020 2020

Trev Lukather, Jules Galli and Josh Devine are LEVARA. Collectively, their musical union brings life to the individual talents of three musicians that together have enriched the aural landscape for all of us. Their songs offer an escape, as all music does, with points of reflection that relate to any listener’s life. The collective hope is simple. To be the catalyst for each and every person who comes across the music to find revelations through the experience of hearing these songs. Their union merged in Los Angeles, one The World’s epicenters of musical creativity. Singer Jules Galli emigrated from France, while drummer Josh Devine chose L.A. as home versus his native United Kingdom following success behind the kit with One Direction. There they found common vision with Trev Lukather (guitar), son of Toto’s Steve Lukather, one of SoCal’s most successful ensembles to ever emerge from the city. On some level these three players believe the universe brought them together. Prior to recording their debut, the band toured the United States several times and supported Toto on an arena tour last Summer. While in Europe, they staged several headline appearances across Germany and other countries, floored by the response with fans coming out at every date. In Early 2020, they began their collaboration with Producer Ethan Kaufmann at Elephant In The Room Studios in East Hollywood. The album unequivocally captured the magic they sought to see take life. “I believe LEVARA is a band that can spark an influence for young kids and people of all ages to pick up an instrument and feel that connection,” Trev concludes. “At the same time of singing along to anthemic, feelgood, and emotional tunes, you can incorporate the heart and soul that started music in the first place. We want to inspire our generation and the next to want to pick up a guitar, pick up a bass, pick up drum sticks, or go for those high notes vocally. I feel there is a need for epic ‘pop’ tunes to have that musicianship behind them like the classic bands we all love and admire. I believe we accomplished that with our album. If we can influence that in any way, we are winning.” The band has plans to tour late-Spring, 2021. A confirmed itinerary will be announced shortly. This week, the band’s e-commerce store has opened, with initial t-shirt designs now available here: https:// www.levaramusic.com/shop.

In the swirling & undulant warm mud of jettisoned reels of magnetic tape, blurps up the fog of reinvention. Every night I would parley with my pilots and run and rerun the recordings. Right up until the moment sleep slips its veil over eyes and ears and you drift back without a sound. Protean Threat dream haze becomes Panther Rotate in the other dimension. A companion LP of remixes, field recordings, and sonic experiments using all sounds generated by the him and crackle of the desert farm. A second version of our “Protean Threat” if you will, but barely conspicuous in its relation. Forward, never straight! Sunrise, sunset. Two lives connected by a cosmic thread, One for your feet and one for your head. For fans of Thee Oh Sees, Oh Sees, OCS, The Oh Sees, Osees, and OSE’S etc etc etcetcetc Be Well, JPD Back in September, OSEES performed a blistering set out in the desert at Pappy & Harriet’s, which aired on the LEVITATION Sessions streaming series.

Osees’ Panther Rotate LP Out Now On Castle Face Records https://youtu.be/Kl1PhY3nzIc QP3fUOV8uos Hotel Vegas Edition - benefitting Hotel Vegas in Austin, Texas

The live album is now being pressed on 3 limited vinyl pressings via The Reverberation Appreciation Society record label. OSEES and the label are donating 100% of proceeds to independent music venues. Music venues have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many in danger of closing their doors permanently. Unfortunately some have already.

Each edition includes a 7” with the final track from the show, “Block Of Ice” pressed on Desert Sand colored vinyl. These limited vinyl editions will be released March 5, 2021 and will be available for pre-order on the Levitation website at 11am PT, on Friday, Dec 11, 2020:

The NIVA Edition proceeds will be donated to the National Independent Venue Association’s Emergency Relief Fund. The fund has been launched to raise money for the most vulnerable venues, and keep them afloat during these unprecedented times for live music.

OSEES next streaming show, Live From Big Sur, is coming up Saturday, December 19. Get tickets here: http://bit.ly/ OSEESbigsur.

Special editions for two independent clubs have been created: Zebulon Edition - benefitting Zebulon in Los Angeles, California

LISTEN & SHARE: Osees - “Don’t Blow Your Experiment” Stream - https://youtu.be/ oJzAXNkuEqQ WATCH & SHARE: Osees - “Red Study” Watch - https://youtu.be/q-Ya9ZtEsYg

http://levitation-austin.com

BIG SUR DEC 19TH LIVESTREAM + 2021 UK TOUR TICKETS ON SALE NOW https://go.seated.com/events/d62c1ee89d6c-4357-adbf-868708bf8563 LEVITATION SESSIONS VINYL PRESSING TO BENEFIT INDIE VENUES OUT MARCH 5TH AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW https://levitation-austin.com LISTEN & SHARE: Osees Panther Rotate Stream - https://youtu.be/ Kl1PhY3nzIc LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: (MEANT TO BE LISTENED TO LOUD ON SPEAKERS): Osees - “Gelatinous Cube” LIVE Youtube - https://youtu.be/ YhmsB_hdd00 LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Osees - “Voice In The Mirror” LIVE YouTube - https://youtu.be/

WATCH & SHARE: Osees “Scramble Experiment” Watch - https://youtu.be/KIS_IcWIlOw

PANTHER ROTATE LP TRACKLISTING 01. Scramble Experiment 02. Don’t Blow Your Experiment 03. Synthesis 04. Toadstool Experiment 05. If I Had an Experiment 06. Miz Experiment 07. Terminal Experiment 08. Poem 2 09. Gong Experiment OSEES UK TOUR DATES 08.05.21 - The Crossing Birmingham, UK 09.05.21 - Chalk - Brighton, UK 10.05.21 - Junction - Cambridge, UK 11.05.21 - SWX - Bristol, UK 13.05.21 - Button Factory Dublin, IRE 14.05.21 - Button Factory Dublin, IRE 15.05.21 - QMU - Glasgow, UK 16.05.21 - Albert Hall Manchester, UK 18.05.21 - Academy TBA Oxford, UK 19.05.21 - Electric Ballroom London, UK 20.05.21 - Electric Ballroom -

December 2020 • Rock and Blues International

Liband Pushes The “Limits” With New Aviella Leads with Love on “tell me what Single And Video you’re thinking”

17-year-old Shreveport, LA rapper LiBand reveals a new single and music video “Limits” via Republic Records.

Buy & Stream: https://ffm.to/ tellmewhatyourethinking Aviella introduces charming melodies and bold hooks on “tell me what you’re thinking,” a ripe mix of dynamic pop and dance floor grooves. “tell me what you’re thinking” is Aviella’s third release via Dim Mak, following her 2020 debut single “Lean” alongside Sawyr and electro-pop anthem “Ain’t Too Late.” On her latest record, the singer/ songwriter utilizes her riveting vocal prowess to narrate the complexities of love, relationships, and reciprocity. Produced by David Pietras (Axtone, SIZE, Protocol Recordings), the track’s airy soundscape allows listeners to absorb Aviella’s lyrics to the fullest extent. “Oftentimes, our minds wander and lead us to overthink; however, ‘valuing love’ is enough to realize that some things in life are not worth giving up on.” - Aviella Aviella’s ethereal dance sound continues to captivate her growing fanbase with every new release. In addition to her own records, Aviella is one of the most in-demand rising topliners in dance music today. Despite her fairly recent entrance into the industry, the singer/songwriter impressively boasts over fifty features and collaborations, including tracks with Slushii, Barclay Crenshaw and yetep. AVIELLA onlline: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/ 5UA4NsiBgSQICPFMDKcPAe?mc_cid=9c83ae15cd&mc_eid=f2c463be81 Twitter - https://dimmakrecs.us2.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=8d4cb445fe6edfb6fa3c62a86&id=02ca76afc2&e=f2c463be81 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aviellamusic/ ?mc_cid=9c83ae15cd&mc_eid=f2c463be81 68 Rock and Blues International • December 2020

Listen to “Limits:” HERE - https://liband.lnk.to/Limits Once again, he delivers a haunting and hypnotic melody in between sharp bars. As guitars echo with feeling, LiBand lyrically taps into raw and real emotions without filter. Meanwhile, the music video mirrors this intensity with its unapologetic footage and tight pacing. Watch “Limits:” HERE - https://youtu.be/_r_QK14Zugk It arrives on the heels of “My Sins” and “Due Date” feat. Toosii as he prepares more music for release very soon. He proves there are no “Limits” to what he’ll pull off on his rise to the forefront of the culture in 2020 and 2021. With an inimitable melodic flow and barbed-wire bars, LiBand has emerged as a powerful, punchy, and prodigious talent at the age of 17. Striking a balance between Young Thug-style harmony and YoungBoy NBA’s menace, he has already posted up half-a-million YouTube views and counting. He recently signed to Republic Records and will unleash more new music soon. FOLLOW LIBAND Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xliband/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/xLiBand/

were recorded in various studios and bedroom closets across the US and promise a dark peculiarity characteristic of the little that we have heard from Brooks.

Photo Cred: Kevin Lombardo

Brooks Hudgins Shares Debut Album and Official Music Video For “Only Fans” DRIVE THRU COMMUNION NOW OUT ON ALL DSPS NYC by LA multi-instrumentalist Brooks Hudgins has released his debut album, Drive Thru Communion, along with the official music video for single “Only Fans”. A cinematic project that flaunts impressive production and polished musical ideas, Hudgins unveils a wide array of reflections and stories that will entrance and immerse listeners. Culture Collide praised Hudgins’ refreshing take on the musical tradition, declaring “In a genre dominated by ultra-Americana imagery, Drive Thru Communion is something new and different, laid back and yet pulling from the country sounds and attitudes of old that are begging for a resurrection.” “It’s got some songs on it that are a decade old, and some that made the album last second; so it’s vastly different track to track...a lot of these lyrics started in high school but weren’t finished until I was in the studio tearing through my old notebooks and finding crazy shit I wrote that still resonated,” explains Hudgins when discussing the variable, at times mercurial, nature of the project. “Drive Thru Communion is kind of a Greatest Hits of my unreleased angsty decade.” Alongside the album, Brooks also premieres the official music video for “Only Fans”. Says director Oliver Shahery on the story and collaboration behind the video: “The first source of inspiration was definitely the scene of the woman in the phone booth which had already been shot years prior and was musically embedded into the song. After watching that I knew that every decision in terms of performance, story, cinematography, and overall tone had to be true to that first scene, and that all I was meant to do was expand on that feeling. In a way, Brooks gave me this bottle with a note in it and I just opened the bottle, read the note, and jotted down a few paragraphs of my own.” In early 2020, Hudgins teamed up with classically trained violinist turned record producer Grant Gardner at Corner Store Studios in Ridgewood, NY to record what would eventually be tormented into Drive Thru Communion. With little experience, and a lot of unexpected global news nigh, they recorded an alt-country album with flashes of brilliance and maimed by a lot of head scratching inconsistencies. The 14 tracks

Brooks Hudgins is a long origin story, but we’ll give you the Spark Notes. Dallas born, Tennessee baptised, and raised in LA in an aspiring Hollywood family, the root of the fruit came from a guitar and an early interest in the potency of booze and prose. Much of the music was gleaned from teenage years in Hollywood sparring with his parents over child acting, getting to know the local law enforcement, and shadow puppeting the biggest and brightest celebrities. Disillusioned by the false summit of a childhood in LA, Brooks went to film school in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he learned more about music and clubbing than film by tenfold. An early heavy techno DJ career saw success, running nights at the infamous Sneaky Pete’s and DJing for SUBSTANCE, with Soundcloud touting him “one of the best young DJ’s in Scotland. “Brooks couldn’t scheme a visa, so he split the difference between LA and the UK and settled in New York, where the songwriting of his youth clicked with the influence of his college years, and the never-ending game of “Beat the Demo” began. Writing and recording track after track in his stripped down Bushwick basement studio, and working at the ignominious Flatiron hellhole Sugarfish at night, Brooks finally got the courage to quit his job and face the music. Drawing on his screenwriting degree, Brooks wrote and executive produced an 8 episode season of an iHeart Podcast country musical podcast for MGM and WME, featuring Billy Bob Thornton, Miranda Lambert, Dennis Quaid, and Craig Robinson. He quickly turned and burned that money into the studio album to complete the musical vision rooted in a decade of songwriting and storytelling. Brooks currently resides in Brooklyn with his three absentee roommates and his bike named Cat. DRIVE THRU COMMUNION TRACKLISTING 01. Lola’s Intro 02. Only Fans 03. Gas Station Viagra 04. Mall Goth Jazz Club 05. Salt Lick 06. Covergirl 07. 405 South 08. Lost in Conversation 09. Interlude 10. Force Majeure 11. February 12. Golden Arches 13. Transatlantic 14. 1-800 SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/user-65640843 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brookshudgins/ Website - https://www.1800brooks.com LISTEN & SHARE: Brooks Hudgins - Drive Thru Communion Souncloud - https://soundcloud.com/hotwaxhotwax/sets/drive-thrucommunion/s-nhYCm9RLlUv Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/ 3lIQeSou0onBNncRS8ERz4?si=qL4HmsXTSquSsB96dcTHFg WATCH & SHARE: Brooks Hudgins - “Only Fans” Official Music Video Youtube - https://youtu.be/ux4FPzW5rJI LISTEN & SHARE: Brooks Hudgins - “Lost in Conversation” Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/hotwaxhotwax/07-lost-inconversation-1/s-5YFMZUWRUz4?in=hotwaxhotwax/sets/drive-thrucommunion//s-nhYCm9RLlUv Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/ 4YeGjxyqGC3GfQw99FUadU?si=kjeDlcc9RHS4eZil5u1gAQ LISTEN & SHARE: Brooks Hudgins - “February” Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/hotwaxhotwax/10-february1/s-GOtiDh0Krox?in=hotwaxhotwax/sets/drive-thru-communion//snmN4V3sp6Qr Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/ 1NWCBSVKsCOIBK3opq36Pj?si=HjVerS_mSLSiS6WPQF19YA LISTEN & SHARE: Brooks Hudgins - “405 South” Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/hotwaxhotwax/06-swansong-1/s-ftYeGmLcXev?in=hotwaxhotwax/sets/drive-thru-communion//snmN4V3sp6Qr

December 2020 • Rock and Blues International

and remixer, Julie Lov takes us on a ride with her new wave remix of “Rollercoaster.” Musician, DJ, and producer, Sj, rounds out the EP by putting his electronic spin on JUICYPEAR’s explosive, dancefloorready EDM track, “Caught Up.” Sj is best known for his work on Tritonal’s “Hung Up,” which has amassed over 40 million streams on Spotify alone. “To us, hearing our songs reflected on themselves, created in this new experience, was like listening to them through a kaleidoscope, if you can imagine that. We were so stoked from the first listen of these reimagined songs as soon as we’d get them back from the remixers,” says Jacob. JUICYPEAR is part of AESTHETYK, founded by music industry veteran, Matt Ingle. Ingle created AESTHETYK as a way to offer emerging songwriters and musicians an opportunity for incubation, helping them cultivate a signature and meaningful sound, as well as brand and ethic for a mass audience.

Delectable Pop Duo Juicypear Dro Remix EP Featuring Reworks From Ruslan Julie Lov,, And SJ LISTEN HERE - https://ymlpcdn3.net/ 8c7e9eqbyyaxaewsmsakaqjqapahysm/ click.php REMIX EP INCLUDES JUICYPEAR’S 2020 BUZZ SINGLES *OVER HALF A MILLION TOTAL SPOTIFY STREAMS With the soul of Emily King and Pharrell, the vibe of Daft Punk, and the style of FutureSex/LoveSounds-era Justin Timberlake, California-based pop duo, JUICYPEAR, is here to crash your next roller-skating party

“It’s really an honor to get to work with Sj, RUSLAN and Julie so early in the life of JUICYPEAR and AESTHETYK. Seth [Sj] have known each other since our days living in Nashville over a decade ago. And Ruslan and Julie have become key collaborators and truly part of the AESTHETYK family in a variety of capacities this past year. They each delivered a sonic element in their remixes that was uniquely theirs and still perfectly fitting to JUICYPEAR’s vibe.” Jasmine and Jacob Mayeda were both born and raised in the South Bay area of southern California. The story of their ultimately serendipitous union has all the makings of a Hallmark movie, filled with heartrending twists, turns, and missed opportunities. The two married in April of 2019 and live happily in South Bay with their rambunctious 8-month old puppy, Gibson. “I believe every music lover has had a day where the right song perks them up, comforts them, or transports them into another world,” says Jasmine. “Music has a way of getting to peoples’ hearts without their permission. It comes in under the closed doors and the cracks in the floorboards to move us, sometimes to tears. We write all of our songs with that thought in mind.” “CAUGHT UP”- LISTEN - https://fuga.ffm.to/caughtup WATCH - https://ymlpcdn3.net/ 50f94eqhsuavaewsmsalaqjqaxahysm/click.php “continue to impress with every new release.” - AIPATE “ROLLERCOASTER” - LISTEN - https://fuga.ffm.to/ rollercoaster WATCH OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO - https://ymlpcdn3.net/ 4392feqhsmaaaewsmsaxaqjqaiahysm/click.php “one dance-pop hook after the other.” - THE DELI MAGAZINE LA “GOLDEN SKY” - LISTEN - https://ffm.to/juicypear-goldensky WATCH LYRIC VIDEO - https://ymlpcdn3.net/ 3f293eqhsbalaewsmsakaqjqadahysm/click.php “captures the iconic, mainstream electro-pop sound.” - CLOUT

As we give a not-so-fond farewell to 2020, why not reflect on some of the things that made this year…shall we say…less sour?

DIG IN TO JUICYPEAR. CHILL OUT. ENJOY. Website https://www.juicypearmusic.com

Undoubtedly, one of those things is the sweet goodness of indiepop duo JUICYPEAR.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/juicypearmusic/

Comprised of Jacob and Jasmine Mayeda, JUICYPEAR has been dishing out delectable ditties since the August release of their highly acclaimed debut single, “Golden Sky,” which Wolf in a Suit called “a catchy and playful musical gem.”

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/juicypearmusic/

Now, the band is closing out the year by dropping a remix EP, featuring an alternate version of “Golden Sky,” as well as their other singles, “Caught Up” and “Rollercoaster.” On the EP, Nashville-based artist/producer RUSLAN (The Chainsmokers, Maggie Rogers, Lennon Stella), adds an upbeat trap/ trip-hop blend to “Golden Sky,” while Nashville based producer, artist,

Rock and Blues International • December 2020

YouTube https://ymlpcdn3.net/2830eeqhsyacaewsmsalaqjqafahysm/ click.php Connect with AESTHETYK: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aesthetyk/ Website - https://www.aesthetyk.co

EP! collates a string of fan-favorite singles unveiled throughout 2020. Among those, he re-ups “BALD!” with a razor-sharp remix featuring none other than Denzel Curry. He also revisits “THE BENDS!” with a new mix. The original received plugs from HYPEBEAST and many more. Topping off the nine-song tracklisting, he turns up with the new single “SUPER TUESDAY!,” with a throwback sample simmering underneath his quotable bars. As always, he wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed everything by himself on EP!, preserving the integrity of his vision. In order to celebrate its arrival, he spoke to Zane Lowe in-depth during an interview on Apple Music’s Beats 1. Additionally, he took over the cover of the platform’s “New Music Daily” playlist. JPEGMAFIA continues to flip the game upside down and inside out. Beyond quietly posting up hundreds of millions of streams and views, his 2019 third opus, All My Heroes Are Cornballs, graced over a dozen year-end lists, including Clash, Dazed, FLOOD, NME, Paper, and more. Architecting his vision by hand, he paves the way for more to come in 2021 and beyond.

Jpegmafia Releases EPI On All Digital Service Providers Rapper, producer, artist, and culture-disruptor JPEGMAFIA releases his project entitled EP! on all digital service providers with new track “SUPER TUESDAY!” via EQT Recordings/Republic Records. Listen to EP!: HERE - https://jpegmafia.lnk.to/_EPPR

EP! TRACKLISTING BALD! COVERED IN MONEY! BODYGUARD! BALD! REMIX ft. Denzel Curry CUTIE PIE! THE BENDS! (OG MIX) ROUGH 7 living single SUPER TUESDAY! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jpegmafia/?hl=en Youtube - https://republicrecords.us5.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=3051269687d98ad95ab882a80&id=dc1026e18d&e=8c586f3e2f Twitter https://republicrecords.us5.list-manage.com/track/ click?u=3051269687d98ad95ab882a80&id=a09b4bfd6f&e=8c586f3e2f

Rock And Blues International Employment Opportunities Available!

Rock And Blues International Is Looking For A Sales Manager and ad salespeople! Please Email Your Resume To rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com December 2020 • Rock and Blues International

her purpose as a musician at a young age. A student of R&B’s masterful vocalists Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick, Anita Baker, Beyonce Knowles, and Mary J. Blige, and one of nine children, Fana was raised within a large, musical family. Her father, a bass, guitar and piano player, taught her and her sisters how to sing. “I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t learning harmonies,” Fana remembers, illustrating a home environment built to foster her passion. “Music is literally in the fabric of our family [and] our bond as a family,” she says about her relatives, who make appearances in the form of memories in the self-conceptualized video for single, “Notice Me”. Her family is also the inspiration behind the moniker Hues, named to reflect their surname Hughes as well as Fana’s intention to be innovative in her approach. “I want to capture all the different shades of one idea,” she explains about bending and twisting R&B, and bringing elements of herself to the genre.

Fana Hues Releases Debut Collection And Shares New Video For “Desert Flower” LISTEN: Hues - https://ffm.to/FanaHues WATCH: “Desert Flower” https://youtu.be/XdvK7mgjMfc Fana Hues recently released her debut collection Hues via Bright Antenna Records. The project is a sonically-sprawling collection of tracks that weaves moody trances with funky bass lines and delicate strings, landing cohesively as a thorough reflection on the complexity of human emotion. “I thought it was super important for me as a Black woman to be open about that because so many times I feel like I’m not allowed to express my emotions,” Fana says. “I’m kind of all over the place, but there’s always a method to the madness; it’s all centered; it all has a purpose.” Alongside Hues, Fana is also sharing a new video for “Desert Flower.” The animated visual poignantly chronicles the beauty and strength in vulnerability through a cleverlyweaved blooming metaphor. The video is the fourth from the project following “Snakes x Elephants,” “Icarus” and “Notice Me,”.

Fana is one of nine children, mostly sisters, and the strong matriarchy she comes from is at the core of her music. “Music is literally in the fabric of our family [and] our bond as a family,” she says about her relatives, who also make appearances in the form of memories in the self-conceptualized video for single, “Notice Me”. When singer-songwriter Fana Hues was a child, illness took away her voice for almost five years. “I had scarlet fever, tonsillitis, and strep throat at the same time,” the 25-year-old from Pasadena, CA recalls about the years she spent yearning to sing—years her mother, a dancer and healer, spent concocting natural medicines and elixirs that would eventually restore her voice. A challenging and humbling experience, Fana’s period of near voicelessness, led her to appreciate both the power of healing and realize

Fana trained in violin lessons for eight years, and after inheriting a bass from her father, taught herself to play. In school, an English teacher encouraged her poetry writing skills, and by the time she was a teen, Fana was writing her own songs. “It was one of my favorite things to do for a long time,” she says about trips to San Quentin State Prison, where she participated in writer’s workshops and emotional literacy programs with inmates as a part of a local community organization, Aim4TheHeart. It’s where Fana says she developed her voice as a songwriter, and rooted her musical practice in service to others. Theatre has also been a really important part of her life that has shaped her as a writer. “Theatre specifically calls for a more traditional and broader approach to conveying emotion,” Fana notes, “I was taught never to move without purpose in acting and I try to incorporate that in my writing and everything I do really. To have intention behind every word I write or move I make, makes for a better artistic display.” More recently Fana was cast in a musical biographical exploration of Elvis Presley’s early days. Fana shared, “I got to sing some of the blues and gospel songs he ‘borrowed’ from black artists, but being in the production, and repeating the same track every night for over 9 months allowed me to discover my voice in Fana Hues Hues Bright Antenna Records 1. Slippin 2. Notice Me 3. Lay Up 4. Icarus 5. If Ever 6. Ends 7. Snakes x Elephants 8. Desert Flower 9. Death On The Vine 10. Yellow

Fana Hues Online: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fanahues/ Twitter - http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001y-8TYANHD6ocaaOWcFAmZxO9DFCdw6z1MQhhDifVpCrnNCHUV5Aw7jthyj2hFkKz9jCiNBL8v2_3HAvJOmZnp2a8zyYgTO7ZQUCRrHDFucgOoSY8rDhUxeDYNNnaHupi0KYpNzwmlXGv2EUcYi52Q==&c=x7pD1jN5FVOOO5a3OZYoj73zLDE7BYNXkaRnUXiulhsf9LqSSfoMQ==&ch=Zur41rZLpfCQw8WveVWXWhcKjaqkdymckhTn6jNPDrj7fsaZCbAbGQ== YouTube - http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001y-8TYANHD6ocaaOWcFAmZxO9DFCdw6z1MQhhDifVpCrnNCHUV5Aw7jthyj2hFkKMR6gKqIkLRB8xIsZMiBjXvqSVDfnx0oVfo_ZfCFKzQkWh8_R6Leh93oZVKaLFxWEx54svgm1fRXv648l2lWA6yx8FfKucN-3FtONO2altpezRHYFNbBgGipaXgr_lXj&c=x7pD1jN5FVOOO5a3OZYoj73zLDE7BYNXkaRnUXiulhsf9LqSSfoMQ==&ch=Zur41rZLpfCQw8WveVWXWhcKjaqkdymckhTn6jNPDrj7fsaZCbAbGQ== Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fanahues

Rock and Blues International • December 2020 Photo by Arnie G

Eddie Vedder releases the five-song Matter Of Time bundle. Just in time for Christmas, he expands on the previously released two-track set and collects a series of acoustic songs and covers performed and recorded throughout 2020. He presents all of these tracks together for the first time in one comprehensive collection which also includes an acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s song “Growin’ Up.” Get Matter Of Time available at all digital streaming partners at https:// eddievedder.lnk.to/MatterOfTimePR via Monkeywrench/Republic Records. Among the additions, the project includes a powerful acoustic rendition of “Future Days” from the 2020 Game Awards, which he performed remotely and beamed into the show. The track originally concluded Pearl Jam’s 2013 tenth album Lightning Bolt and also appeared in the blockbuster video game The Last of Us Part II as a tearful and poignant goodbye between main characters Ellie and Joel. Meanwhile, Matter Of Time includes emotionally charged and energetic at-home performances of classics “Porch” and “Just Breathe” captured for Amazon. He initially introduced Matter Of Time with the title track “Matter of Time” and “Say Hi.” Check out the animated music video for “Matter of Time” and live video for “Say Hi.” Fans may reserve the vinyl here @ https:// shop.pearljam.com/products/eddie-veddermatter-of-time-b-w-say-hi-vinyl-7?variant=37551298117822 and limited-edition event poster at https://www.ohanamerch.com/ collections/eddie-vedder/products/eb-ventureinto-cures-event-poster (designed by renowned contemporary illustrator and artist Munk One, with all proceeds benefiting EBRP). Eddie personally premiered both songs as part of Venture Into Cures. As co-founders of EB Research Partnership (EBRP), Jill and Eddie Vedder proudly presented the digital event livestreamed free to viewers around the world on the official YouTube channels and Facebook pages of both Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam as well as on the EBRP site @ https:// www.ventureintocures.org and social media platforms and https://www.nugs.net. Fans everywhere tuned in to support. The event showcased uplifting stories about individuals and families living with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) alongside appearances and performances from celebrity friends to educate viewers about EB and raise critical funds for research toward a cure for EB

Eddie Vedder Expands Matter Of Time With Three New Tracks INCLUDES ACOUSTIC COVER OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S “GROWIN’ UP” and other rare diseases. Produced by Door Knocker Media and Seed Entertainment, an all-star cast of guests graced the show, namely Judd Apatow, Bradley Cooper, Laura Dern, Billie Eilish, Chris Hemsworth, Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman, Gaten Matarazzo, Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, Adam Sandler, and Renée Zellweger. Meanwhile, Jon Batiste, Alessia Cara, Andra Day, Glen Hansard, Adam Levine, Keb’ Mo’, and Lukas, Micah and Willie Nelson delivered unforgettable and uplifting performances of their own. EB is a life-threatening genetic disorder that affects approximately 500,000 people worldwide. Called “Butterfly Children” because their skin is as fragile as the wings of a butterfly, children with EB face severe pain, open external and internal wounds, and a grueling daily bandaging process. There is currently no treatment or cure for EB, however EBRP’s innovative Venture Philanthropy model is helping to fast-track not only a cure for EB, but therapies that could affect thousands of other rare diseases. As the largest global organization supporting EB research, EBRP has funded 80

projects through their innovative model, directly impacting the clinical landscape. Through EBRP’s work, clinical trials for EB have increased by 15 times, including four Phase III clinical trials, the final phase before the FDA considers approval for a new therapy. Learn more about the Venture Into Cures live show at www.ventureintocures.org. Learn more about the life-changing work of EBRP at www.ebresearch.org Venture Into Cures live streaming channels include: Websites: www.ventureintocures.org and www.pearljam.com Facebook: Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, EB Research Partnership, and Nugs.net YouTube: Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, EB Research Partnership, Nugs.net, and The Ohana Fest Enjoy and experience Matter Of Time from Eddie Vedder tomorrow. TRACKLISTING: 1.) Matter of Time 2.) Say Hi 3.) Just Breathe (acoustic at home) 4.) Future Days (acoustic at home) 5.) Growin’ up (acoustic at home) 6.) Porch (acoustic at home)

December 2020 • Rock and Blues International

of 2020 playlist. Loudwire praised the album in its 70 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2020, while also singling out the track “Memento Mori” as one of The 66 Best Metal Songs of 2020. “The Virginian metal stalwarts’ selftitled album – their first release with Adler’s full-time replacement Art Cruz – boasts all the neck-snapping technical riffage and burly roars we’ve come to love,” Revolver wrote, placing the album in the 25 Best Albums of 2020. At iTunes, LAMB OF GOD has landed at number one on the Overall, Rock and Metal iTunes album chart upon release.

Lamb Of God Close Out Year by Topping Radio Charts and Magazine ‘Best Of’ Lists Around the Globe LAMB OF GOD’s first new album in five years met with universal acclaim – not only among major rock journalists, but with all strata of metal fans around the world.

LAMB OF GOD’s career, but the heavy album of the year.”

Released June 19 via Epic Records, reaction to Lamb Of God has been overwhelmingly positive. But critics, media and the industry aside, perhaps the most telling statistic is the year-end US Metal Radio chart, where the new album dominated at #1 by a massive margin (over 2,000 more spins than the album at #2). Lamb Of God spent nine weeks in the #1 spot and never left the top 10 since debuting on the chart in February. Metal Radio is the lifeblood of the US metal world, largely staffed by college students and regional tastemakers, playing the music that they know their local metal fans want to hear.

“LAMB OF GOD deliver the album of their career with self-titled effort…This album isn’t just an awesome release from LAMB OF GOD, but a perfect record to unite metalheads as one.” – Consequence of Sound

LAMB OF GOD’s self- titled album reached the coveted #1 spot on Consequence of Sound’s Top 30 Metal + Hard Rock Albums of 2020, stating, “Along with bringing in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, LAMB OF GOD have been one of music’s most important acts over the past 20 years. From their phenomenal instrumentation to the potency of their sociopolitical lyricism, LAMB OF GOD remain titans of the genre, continuing to craft remarkable works of thrilling and captivating adrenaline… also proves to be a profound work of heavy metal… perhaps the most important metal album of 2020. It’s not only the album of

“LAMB OF GOD know, after all, that their true essence is a brutish machismo and that they are a vehicle for total catharsis.” – Rolling Stone

Additional critical acclaim:

“There is a world-weary pessimism that permeates right to the bones of LAMB OF GOD’s breathtaking eight LP.” – Kerrang! “The band has been vocal about the good place it’s in right now, and it shows in these songs.” – Metal Injection

Bassist John Campbell was recognized as Best Bassist in 2020 by Music Radar and rewarded with a two-page spread in Bass Player. Guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler were also recognized by Music Radar for their prowess, being rated number two on the magazine’s Best Metal Guitarist(s) list. With a planned co-headline tour with Megadeth sidelined due to the pandemic, LAMB OF GOD offered up two of the most successful and highly-praised virtual concerts in rock and metal – one with the quintet showcasing Lamb of God in its entirety and the other presenting the groundbreaking release Ashes of the Wake in full. Additionally, LAMB OF GOD kept busy by creating unique products that tied into the band’s latest release. In April, Scottish craft brewer BrewDog and LAMB OF GOD announced the release of the world’s first non-alcoholic collaboration beer, Ghost Walker. The summer saw the announcement of the Memento Mori and Overlord coffees in conjunction with Nightflyer Roastworks. LAMB OF GOD eagerly awaits their return to the road to support Lamb of God. Their North American co-headline tour with Megadeth and support from Trivium and In Flames has been rescheduled to begin in July 2021 and their headline tour in the UK and co-headline tour with Kreator in Europe will take place in November and December 2021. Tickets for both tours are on-sale at lamb-ofgod.com/tour.

“This is a record that’s the most authentic version of the band LAMB OF GOD want to be.” - NME

LAMB OF GOD is: D. Randall Blythe – Vocals Mark Morton – Guitar Willie Adler – Guitar John Campbell – Bass Art Cruz – Drums

Lamb Of God continued to endure through the following six months, now taking its seat at the top of year-end lists around the world, including Revolver, Metal Hammer, Music Choice, YouTube Music and Spotify’s Kickass Metal Presents… Best Metal Songs

LAMB OF GOD online: www.lamb-of-god.com www.facebook.com/lambofgod https://twitter.com/lambofgod

74 Rock and Blues International • December 2020

doubt. It’s about the persistence it takes to make your dream a reality, committing to the vision regardless of others definition of success.” Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones finds the band fully transformed into the album’s title characters with Jesse Rutherford serving as Chip Chrome and the rest of the band as The Mono-Tones. Initially introduced in 2019’s “Middle of Somewhere” video, Chip Chrome and The Mono-Tones quickly became a vessel for inspiration and a tangible extension of the next stage of The Neighbourhood, the characters allowing for a new evolution of their sound and artistry. Watch “Stargazing” and listen to Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones (Deluxe) above, see album details below, and stay tuned for more from The Neighbourhood coming soon. If you escape from your world, you have the chance to possibly make it a little bit better upon your return.

The Neighbourhood Shares New Video featuring Blake Griffin, Lana Del Rey, Mac DeMarco, Jaden Smith, Benny Blanco, Devon Carlson and Alexa Demie WATCH “STARGAZING” NOW DELUXE VERSION OF CHIP CHROME & THE MONO-TONES OUT NOW VIA COLUMBIA RECORDS

“‘Stargazing’ is the culmination of my

Under silver paint and flaunting glistening diamond grills, he introduces himself on The Neighbourhood’s fourth fulllength album, Chip Chrome & The MonoTones [Columbia Records]. Big questions remain… Is this still The Neighbourhood? Are Chip and frontman Jesse Rutherford the same person? And, what is next?

personal relationship with Chip Chrome & the Monotones aka The Neighbourhood. This video builds off of our previous effort “Pretty Boy,” aesthetically mirroring the bands reality within a fantasy and thematically taking the ideas set forth to a logical end.

“I wanted to speak in a different way with music,” explains Jesse. “At the end of the day, I’ve been trying to figure out what it really means. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to put it into words—even though it’s supposed to be my job with the lyrics. Chip helped me find that voice. He’s the best leader I could be for this project, for the boys, and for my friends. The Mono-Tones are the voices in my head that are always there. They can be a bit haunting and keep me up at night, but I trust their taste. In the same way I want to make the guys happy, I want to make the fans happy. To do that, I shut everything out, sat alone, found what makes me happy, and discovered my voice. The funny thing is it takes the piss out of being so serious. I don’t want to be brooding. A lot of these songs are based on major chords, so it might be a happier version of The Neighbourhood.”

Jesse turned himself into a shiny object hoping to catch strangers eyes on the streets of Hollywood, ultimately flailing and feeling like a lost loser. If “Pretty Boy” is the sad question… ‘Stargazing’ is meant to be the hopeful response. It’s Jesse and the band on a ‘tour,’ going door to door attempting to connect, give feeling, the same way Gibby did for him in the previous video, overcoming self

Chip Chrome has always been somewhere behind-the-scenes as The Neighbourhood rose to prominence. Since 2011, the Southern California quintet—Jesse, Zach [guitar], Jeremy [guitar], Mikey [bass], and Brandon [drums]—have consistently zigged and zagged past conventions and expectations. Following the success of their platinum-selling debut I Love You. powered by

WATCH: “Stargazing” https://thenbhd.lnk.to/CCTMTDPS/YouTube LISTEN: Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones (Deluxe) https://thenbhd.lnk.to/CCTMTDPS On the heels of releasing the deluxe edition of their album Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones on Friday, which features 4 brand new songs from the band, The Neighbourhood is back to share a video for new song “Stargazing.” The latest visual installment in the Chip Chrome universe, the video is directed by Ramez Silyan and features cameos from the likes of Blake Griffin, Lana Del Rey, Mac DeMarco, Jaden Smith, Benny Blanco, Devon Carlson and Alexa Demie. It picks up where The Neighbourhood and Silyan left the story of the “Pretty Boy” video, with Silyan putting it best:

Instead of stealing away to some remote locale or exotic hideaway, The Neighbourhood frontman Jesse Rutherford escaped to a different place. In his case, retreat happened inward where Chip Chrome resides.

Rock and Blues International • December 2020

the 5x platinum smash “Sweater Weather,” they collaborated with everyone from YG to Denzel Curry and graced the stages of top festivals such as Coachella and late-night television, including Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! Beyond over 1 billion streams and views, they earned critical acclaim. Of 2018’s self-titled album, Atwood Magazine, wrote, “On The Neighbourhood, The Neighbourhood bring 42 minutes of brilliance and resilience, remaining lucidly transparent about life’s greatest emotional toils.” However, Chip stepped into the spotlight on the 2019 single “Middle of Somewhere.” “We came out of the gate pretty hot and successful with ‘Sweater Weather’, but then I always got stuck in my head and thought, ‘How can I do it again?’,” Jesse admits. “I didn’t want to do that this time; I wanted to do something totally new. We had a plan to do the music video for ‘Middle of Somewhere’, and I showed up in silver spandex and paint! To my surprise, it was the best move I could’ve made with the band, because they ended up liking how whacky and interesting it was. In the process, I still got to do the most Jesse thing possible. Chip was a way for me to say, ‘I’m going to do me. You’re not going to stop me’.”

Meanwhile, “Devils Advocate” hinges on a guitar-driven melody punctuated by off kilter bleeps and bloops and fluttering falsetto. “It’s about getting back to being a simple man rather than trying to chase a designer brand,” he says. “I’m attracted to designer stuff, diamonds, and the good life, but there’s nothing like finding greatness in the simple things.” Then, there’s “Pretty Boy.” The rustle of surf guitar rings out over tambourine and a delicate bass line as he croons out an apocalyptic love song named after his dog.

At the top of 2020, he unplugged himself and plugged into Chip. As Jesse puts it, he “got off the internet, picked up a guitar, played it until [his] fingers bled, and learned how to write songs in a new way.”

“After these two earthquakes last year, I was playing guitar on the couch, I had my dog on one side, and I had my girl on the other side,” he recalls. “I was like, ‘If it’s all over right here, it’s not a bad scene to end on, you know?’ It made me appreciate what I do have. We’re on this ride together, and it’s a pure little moment.”

That brings us to the first single “Cherry Flavoured.” His delicate delivery drips through the cracks of a simmering beat and clean guitar towards an admission, “I sold my soul a long time ago. I feel like a ghost now.”

Based around “a fire sample Brandon dug out of the crates,” the effervescent “Lost In Translation” rides out a seventies dancefloor groove to a hook about “how there’s so much noise and it’s so hard to be heard or even hear anything.”

“‘Cherry Flavoured Conversations’ means exactly what it sounds like,” he goes on. “It’s something that seems really good and sweet when you’re talking about it, but it may not be possible in reality. I ended up going to an internal place and got back to me. I realized, ‘Maybe I’m the one who’s putting the cherry flavoring in these conversations?’ I needed to take a look at myself.”

Meanwhile, the record closes out with “Tobacco Sunburst.” It would be the first song Mikey contributed to the group on guitar. The buzz at the beginning came from an airplane taking off near the Coldwater Canyon home they shared during the writing process. It concludes on a sparse and stark refrain. “The album was originally going to be

called ‘Tobacco Sunburst’, because I wanted it to be based around guitar,” Jesse reveals. “The song is a special moment. There’s a washedout vibe to it. It suggests what the future of this band could be. We could put it out when we’re forty, and it would still hold up.” For as much as Chip has affected The Neighbourhood, Chip also has the power to affect listeners everywhere. “I think Chip was really about saying, ‘We don’t know what’s going to happen, but you’re never going to know what to expect from us, because we might switch it up’,” he leaves off. “At the end of the day, this is an art project. It’s supposed to be fun. I feel like the boys and I are closer than ever. It’s amazing we get to live this life of music together. If we still get to have a voice in the world, we’re going to use it. Chip Chrome & The MonoTones helped define my voice. The more I hear it, the more I think, ‘This is totally a Neighbourhood record’.”

Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones (Deluxe) cover art photographed by Adam Alessi The Neighbourhood Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones (Deluxe) Columbia Records 1.Stargazing* 2.Over the Influence* 3.Here We Go Again* 4.The Shining* 5.Chip Chrome 6.Pretty Boy 7.Lost in Translation 8.Devil’s Advocate 9.Hell or High Water 10.Cherry Flavoured 11.The Mono-Tones 12.BooHoo 13.Silver Lining 14.Tobacco Sunburst 15.Middle of Somewhere * = new songs December 2020 • Rock and Blues International 77

by Joshua Buma (Boy Hits Car, Malaki, September Mourning) and David Fulford-Brown. Vocal engineering was handled by Andy Haller (Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Rob Halford, Santana), and Joe Bozzi (Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, U2, Imagine Dragons) mastered the record, “‘Enjoying the End,’ to us, is the eulogy of the record,” the band says. “It’s the culmination of ups and downs over the last four years of our lives.” Watch the video for the album’s first single, “Oracle,” at https://youtu.be/ jogoQhrl8iY. Enjoying the End is available now via all digital music providers.

Bad Wolves Guitarist Doc Coyle Joins Emerging Artists Royalty Kult on Title TracK From Debut Album Bad Wolves guitarist Doc Coyle has joined emerging artists Royalty Kult on a new single, the title track of the debut album Enjoying the End, available now. Listen to “Enjoying the End” today via BraveWords at https:// bravewords.com/news/exclusive-bad-wolves-guitarist-doc-coylejoins-emerging-artists-royalty-kult-on-title-track-from-debutalbum. Coyle, also known for his work with God Forbid, took a break from his number one-charting band to lend a hand to Royalty Kult, a band he has been supportive of on his popular podcast, The Ex-Man. “It is an absolute honor to have Doc Coyle showcasing his guitar talents on this song,” the band says. “It came together very naturally, and he went above and beyond. We are truly thankful.” Royalty Kult’s debut album Enjoying the End was produced 78

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

The California based duo of frontman Joshua Michael – the son of HavocHate vocalist Tim Bouchee, who sang on the band’s 2005 sophomore release Cycle of Pain - and David Fulford-Brown began their musical journey together more than a decade ago and have shared stages with the likes of Jonathan Davis of KoRn, Fear Factory, Taproot, Spineshank, Flaw, Powerman 5000 and Adema, among others. ROYALTY KULT online: www.royaltykult.com www.facebook.com/royaltykult www.instagram.com/ royaltykultmusic https://twitter.com/royaltykult www.tiktok.com/@royaltykult

New Signing From Greece

Scar Of The Sun Sign Worldwide Record Deal with Napalm Records

photo credit: Sylvie Samara

Energetic Modern Metal Unit Hailing from Athens, Greece New Music Coming Soon! By Tank Well, leave it up to Napalm Records to land another great act. That’s right, Napalm Records has just signed the energetic Metal Band, Scar Of The Sun from Athens, Greece to a worldwide record deal. Scar Of The Sun is ushering in a new direction for metal bands with their new sound intertwined with atmospheric soundscapes coupled with dynamic hard hitting guitar riffs. Napalm Records is really happy and pleased to add this fine outfit to their ever rowing roster of metal bands. Scar Of the Sun definitely has an interesting story. Yes, the band is from Athens, Greece. However, the band was formed in the late 2000’s in London, England. The later relocated to Athens, Greece in 2005 where they released their first self-titled demo. Metal Hammer Greece nominated their demo for “Demo Of The Month. This really kicked things off for the band. The band followed that up in with their first full-length album, A Series Of Unfortunate Concurrencies in 2011. They followed this up in 2016 with an even more powerful album, In Flood. The band was quickly getting rave reviews and making a lot of noise for themselves all over the world. Critics and fans alike couldn’t help but notice the new, fresh sound that the 5-piee band was delivering. Yes, it was a new direction for metal bands. They had the audacity to add a modern atmospheric metal sound to their

music. Soon the band was sharing the stage with other great acts like Dark Tranquillity and Insomnium, along with contemporaries Rotting Christ, and touring with highpowered bands like Firewind, Manimal and Monuments. Now the band is really gearing up to do some major damage with their new, as yet untitled third album. We’ll clue you in to that as soon as we get more information. Scar Of The Sun tells us that “It is really hard to describe how happy, thankful and honored we feel now that we are part of the Napalm Records family! We have been following the label for years and admiring not only its roster but also its top-notch level of work. Now the only thing left is to overcome the current virus situation and get back on the road, since we are committed to work even

harder and see you all out there!” And now for all you metal fans out there that may not be familiar with Scar Of The Sun, we have a song to share with you from their last album, In Flood. This song will give you an idea what you’re going to be in store for. It’s the extraordinary tune, “Among Waters and Giants”. Check out “Among Waters and Giants” here at : https://youtu.be/bETlWMqZCGY SCAR OF THE SUN is: Terry Nikas - vocals Alexi Charalampous - guitars Greg Eleftheriou- guitars Panagiotis Gatsopoulos - bass Thanos Pappas - drums

HOMEPAGE https://scarofthesun.com/ ?utm_source=North%20American%20PR%20contact%20list&utm_campaign=8137cabfdaEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_24_09_58_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecb2e210248137cabfda-52576027 FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ scarofthesun?utm_source=North%20American%20PR%20contact%20list&utm_campaign=8137cabfdaEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_24_09_58_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecb2e210248137cabfda-52576027 INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/scarofthesun/ ?utm_source=North+American+PR+contact+list&utm_campaign=8137cabfdaEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_24_09_58_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecb2e210248137cabfda-52576027 January 2021 • Rock and Blues International 79

Lamb Of God Announce Second Collaboration with Nightflyer Roastworks for Overlord Dark Roast Coffee LAMB OF GOD has collaborated with Nightflyer Roastworks once again to create Overlord Dark Roast, the band’s second signature coffee. Overlord was created at the behest of LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe and perfected by guitarist Willie Adler and Nightflyer Roastworks’ Paul Waggoner. “I loved what Willie came up with for Memento Mori but I have been lobbying him to make a dark roast ever since,” Blythe says. “I like my coffee strong, dark and BLACK like my soul. Overlord checks those boxes!” This dark roast blends beans from Brazil, El Salvador and Guatemala to create a robust coffee with very rich, dark chocolatey notes that’s a little smoky. It’s a “diner dark,” an elevated take on the diner coffee LAMB OF GOD has come to enjoy over the years on the road. Overlord follows the release of Memento Mori, a single origin small batch medium roast coffee launched in August. Both available in whole bean 12 oz. bags from LambofGodCoffee.com LAMB OF GOD is: D. Randall Blythe – Vocals Mark Morton – Guitar Willie Adler – Guitar John Campbell – Bass Art Cruz – Drums

LAMB OF GOD online: www.lamb-of-god.com www.facebook.com/lambofgod https://twitter.com/lambofgod http://instagram.com/lambofgod

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Rock and Blues International • January 2021

New England Extreme Melodic Metal Act Aversed Reveals Video for Title Track from Upcoming Album, “Impermanent” Extreme melodic metal band AVERSED has revealed a video for the title track from their upcoming album, Impermanent, due out March 19, 2021. Watch the video for “Impermanent” now at https://youtu.be/mVqdIzCtqxM. “The album ‘Impermanent’ presents our own struggles with anxiety and depression reflected on the backdrop of environmental collapse on Earth,” says vocalist Haydee Irizarry. “We present this inevitable human destruction as a chance for a beautiful rebirth, as a chance for new life to flourish, which I think is a good metaphor for the healing mind as well. The title track is one of the best total representations of the theme of the album, and one of the most intense songs we have ever written. We could not be happier with how director Tony Simone (Abiotic, Pathogenic) brought this apocalyptic vision to life.”

With the release of Impermanent, AVERSED presents a metal experience cultivated of unprecedented beauty and torment. The third release following 2011’s self-titled EP and 2016’s Renewal EP, Impermanent marks a turning point for the New England scene veterans as they pivot from melodic death metal towards a nuanced balance of blackened and orchestral melodic metal. Mixed and mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Agonist, Shadow of Intent), Impermanent illustrates AVERSED’s unique approach to songwriting with nine diverse compositions full of catchy hooks and vast melodies. Impermanent track listing: 1. Natsukashi ?2. Close My Eyes 3. Laboratory 4. Impermanent 5. Abandoned

6. The Solar Sea 7. Malaise 8. Spiraling 9. Nightshade Pre-orders for Impermanent are available now at https:// aversed.bandcamp.com/merch. In addition to the album, a variety of bundles are also available. AVERSED is: Haydee Irizarry - Vocals Sungwoo Jeong - Guitars Alden Marchand - Guitars Peter Albert de Reyna - Bass Jeff Saltzman - Drums AVERSED online: www.facebook.com/AVERSEDmetal www.instagram.com/aversedmetal www.youtube.com/channel/ UCoGMPHQufI2Ry-cnN07OR9A https://aversed.bandcamp.com/

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Rock and Blues International â&#x20AC;¢ January 2021

Photo Credit: Valtteri Hirvonen

Wolfheart to Perform Entire Debut Album, Winterborn, plus Live Rarities via Virtual Studio Performance By Tank Finnish death metal band Wolfheart will be holding a very special event this month on the 20th at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 9 PM CET. That night they will be performing and livestreaming their entire debut album Winterborn in its entirety along with a special selection of rarities on the internet. But don’t worry, if for some reason you don’t catch the broadcast, the band will have it posted for 72 hours after its original broadcast for fans to either see for the first time, or revisit again. Tickets are available NOW for just $9 USD via TicketSpice.com. Wolfheart were one of the first bands in the world to livestream a live concert just weeks after the Covid-19 outbreak forced the world to shut down. Now the band is back and determined to do this project all over again, but not necessarily repeating their concert, but staging a new one which focuses solely on their debut album Winterborn along with some rarities that they hardly ever perform live. The band is really excited about this and promises that this is one event that Wolfheart fans won’t want to miss and will be talking about for years after the concert is broadcast. The band is also celebrating reaching over 10 million streams via Spotify and YouTube. They even promise to through in some special bonus footage, such as fan request material, such as multiinstrumental tutorials along with a special question and answer section. They also tell us that they will have an announcement about some new material that they have been working on, which should really delight the fans. Wolfheart’s guitarist, Tuomas

Saukkonen tells us, “After hitting the brick wall of 2020, we had some unexpected free time to look into the past while diving into writing mode and getting ready to kickstart 2021 with a new release. Our dear debut album ‘Winterborn’ has reached 10 million Spotify and YouTube plays and we wanted to celebrate that by making a special studio live experience and play the whole album through, adding a few selected gems into the setlist.” Wolfheart released its most recent album, Wolves Of Karelia in April 2020 to massive acclaim. Wolves Of Karelia reexplores Wolfheart’s special sound of “winter metal,” and it’s combination of extreme metal along with their atmospheric and acoustic elements. The album’s theme is loosely based on the Winter War between Russia and Finland, the band’s home country that raged between November 1939 and March of 1940. It was a very brutal war that the band

explores with great vigor. Fortunately during that time, Finland managed to fend off the brutal Russian forces from their mass invasion of Finland. Tuomas Saukkonen tell us that the stories of the veterans and heroes of this fight whom survived this thwarted invasion inspired him. Wolves Of Karelia explore these themes and lays out a musical history of this time. Be sure to tune in to Wolfheart’s special livestreaming of their debut album Winterborn on January 20th at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 9 PM CET for this special event. Remember, tickets & viewing information is available via TicketSpice.com. WOLFHEART is: Tuomas Saukkonen: Guitar, Vocals Joonas Kauppinen: Drums Lauri Silvonen: Bass, Backing Vocals Vagelis Karzis: Session Guitar

Watch new videos from Wolves of Karelia below: “Ashes” - https://youtu.be/o34xBjbhFPQ • “Hail of Steel” - https://youtu.be/D7J3BjjEGgc “The Hammer” - https://youtu.be/Ql2cHdrSJnM • “Reaper” - https://youtu.be/GSfjtOuPUFo “Horizon on Fire” - https://youtu.be/pPvsBd6GXog Follow Wolfheart Online: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WolfheartRealm/ ?utm_source=North%20American%20PR%20contact%20list&utm_campaign=5a8b63517fEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_24_09_58_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecb2e210245a8b63517f-45646843 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wolfheartofficial/ ?utm_source=North+American+PR+contact+list&utm_campaign=5a8b63517fEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_24_09_58_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecb2e210245a8b63517f-45646843 January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Photo: Selwyn Tungol

NYC Metal Newcomers Loss Becomes Featuring Esteemed Chef Brian Tsao Debut with New Single and Video, “Focus” Anyone who knows esteemed Chef Brian Tsao knows that he loves his metal licks as much as his tasty licks. So it was only a matter of time before Tsao threw his chef hat into the metal ring. Introducing his new band LOSS BECOMES and their first single, “Focus,” available today. “The band name LOSS BECOMES is centered around the idea of learning from your mistakes,” guitarist-chef says. “There’s a lot to be gained from loss, because it’s often the catalyst for change... for better or worse.” The debut video from LOSS BECOMES, a modern take on classic metalcore with hardcore tendencies, premiered yesterday with Metal Injection. “Focus” is available now via all digital music providers at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ lossbecomes/focus. “‘Focus’ is about finding the truth within a relationship,” explains vocalist Anthony Copozzi. “Who are truly your friends? Who has your back? How badly do you need or want them in your life?” Recognized nationally for defeating Bobby Flay on his eponymous show Beat Bobby Flay, and regionally for leading the

kitchen at Beauty & Essex NYC, Tsao is not your typical chef - he wants to fill your ears as much as he wants to fill your belly. With a heavy appetite for heavy music, Tsao picked up his guitar and was ready for a new adventure, so he reached out to friends Alec Kossoff and Will Gomez, both established musicians in the heavy music scene. Kossoff, previously of DC-based progressive metal act Wings Denied, had relocated to NYC where he made his mark as a professional acrobat, stunt man and trapeze instructor. Gomez, a hospital radiologic technologist who continues to work through the Covid outbreak since March, earned his stripes as the former bassist of NYC bands Johnny Cage is a Fake and Tiger Flowers. In the bowels of an NYC practice room called Funkadelic, the trio carved and shaped their varying styles, writing together for months until LOSS BECOMES was born. In search of a powerful voice to complete the circle, all roads led to Anthony Copozzi who earned his vocal chops as lead singer of Long Island metal act Thracian. “When I first started working with Brian Tsao, his riffs were super whack,” Gomez recalls. “I almost quit on the third practice session, but we finally wrote something that wasn’t complete shit and

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

LOSS BECOMES was born.” “‘Focus’ was one of the first LOSS BECOMES songs we wrote,” adds Kossoff. “It really played a key role in helping us find our sound as a band.” LOSS BECOMES’ music is unforgivingly aggressive and executed with intensity and vigor. Copozzi’s ferocious enthusiasm can be heard on every lyric, giving the band what can only be described as a full aural assault. LOSS BECOMES’ debut full-length was recorded at Long Island’s Westfall Recording Co. with producer Anthony Lopardo at the helm (Moon Tooth, Johnny Booth, Give Up The Goods). The album is scheduled for release next year. LOSS BECOMES is: Brian Tsao - Guitar Will Gomez - Bass Alec Kossoff - Drums Anthony Copozzi - Vocals LOSS BECOMES online: www.lossbecomes.com www.facebook.com/LossBecomes www.instagram.com/lossbecomes

Cro-Mags Release New E.P. 2020 Buy / Stream 2020. https://orcd.co/cromags2020 CRO-MAGS are kicking this sh!t-storm of a year to the curb with the release of 2020, a six-song EP that captures all the frustration and rage at the unprecedented chaos of this year. Hailed by Metal Hammer as ‘The perfect soundtrack for 2020,’ the EP is available on all digital music platforms. The record itself is unintentionally 20 minutes and 20 seconds, and plays out more like a time-capsule look into the dumpster fire known as the year 2020. CRO-MAGS founder Harley Flanagan explains, “Just by coincidence we recorded 20 minutes and 16 seconds of music, so we simply added a few seconds of real-world chaos. The album cover is meant to look like a calendar - 7 squares across, with one picture from 2020 per day. Corona Virus, quarantine, empty streets, brutality, burning buildings, violence and destruction: 2020 is a year none of us will ever forget.”

Shepherd Release “Persephone” Debut EP - ‘First Hand’ is out now! Doom-rock trio Shepherd have partnered with BraveWords to release a playthrough video for their single “Persephone”. Fans can check out the premiere at the link found here (https://bravewords.com/ news/exclusive-shepherd-premiere-persephone-guitar-playthroughvideo). Last month saw the release of Shepherd’s debut EP, titled ‘First Hand’ and released via Destruent Records. https://bravewords.com/news/exclusive-shepherd-premierepersephone-guitar-playthrough-video Speaking on the release of their debut EP, the band comments, “Our sincerest thanks to everyone who helped us climb this mountain and to Juggernaut Audio [recording studio] as well as all of our listeners and supporters. This experience has been monumental for us as a band and as individuals and we are grateful to have the opportunity to share a part of ourselves with you.” ‘First Hand’ is out now on all streaming platforms and available for purchase via the Destruent Records Bandcamp. Shepherd - ‘First Hand’ Tracklist

CRO-MAGS were one of the first musical acts to deliver a full live-stream set just as a nationwide lockdown fell upon the United States, now known as the infamous “The Quarantine Show (https:// youtu.be/-JxoAEAwaic).” 2020 Track Listing 1 - Age Of Quarantine 2 - 2020 3 - Life On Earth 4 - Violence and Destruction 5 - Chaos In The Streets 6 - Cro-Fusion “Fast punk and thrashy breakdowns” - DECIBEL “The founding band of hardcore punk” - ROLLING STONE “Fast-paced, raw, blazing and blistering” - CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND “This one’s gonna snap a few bones and blacken an eye” NEW NOISE “A two-stepping salute to four-chord classic hardcore” METAL HAMMER “Heavy grooves, impressive depth and really powerful” DOWN FOR LIFE “A hybrid of ‘80s and ‘90s anthemic hardcore full of underlying anger” - BLABBERMOUTH

1 “Sea Cave” 2 “Chariot” 3 “Wendigo” 4 “Vestigial” 5 “Persephone” 6 “The West” SHEPHERD - “Persephone” (Official Audio) https://youtu.be/zYIkOmLz_N8 SHEPHERD Lineup: Holden Sims - Vocals, Bass Austin Garrett - Guitar, Backing Vox Nathan Bilodeau - Drums SHEPHERD Online: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/shepherdband19 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shepherd.band/ Bandcamp - https://destruentrecords.bandcamp.com Destruent Records - https://www.destruentrecords.com January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

Yusuf / Cat Stevens Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of His Legendary 1970 Albums, Mona Bone Jakon and Tea For The Tillerman, with Suite Of Releases, Including Multi-Format Super Deluxe Editions Available Now Via A&M / UMe Box Sets Feature New Mix and New Remaster Of The Classic Records Alongside A Wealth Of Unreleased Material Including Demos, Outtakes, Alternate Versions and Live Recordings Following the widely acclaimed release of Tea for the Tillerman2, Yusuf / Cat Stevens is celebrating the two albums that first established him as his generation’s premier acoustic troubadour and then fired him into international superstardom. Released only seven months apart in 1970, Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman are now both available in a suite of releases, including single CD and LP, a double CD Deluxe Edition and Super Deluxe Edition box sets, featuring more than 20 unreleased tracks each alongside a host of other rarities. Tomorrow, Saturday, December 5, Yusuf will be honored with the CatSong Festival, a special live YouTube broadcast featuring more than 40 artists paying tribute to his incredible career and timeless

songbook with performances from the likes of Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, HAIM, Feist, Brandon Boyd of Incubus, Passenger and many more. Fans can expect new interpretations of “Wild World,” “Peace Train,” “Father And Son” and more of Yusuf’s hits and classic songs. This wonderful collection of covers will be broadcast on the official Yusuf / Cat Stevens YouTube channel on December 5th at 12 pm PST/ 8 pm GMT, HERE. Before Tea for the Tillerman, a musical masterpiece widely lauded as one of the greatest albums of all time, a new deal with Island Records – A&M in the U.S. – saw the April 1970 release of Mona Bone Jakon. The album represents one of the most profound artistic metamorphoses of the 20th Century:

Rock and Blues International • January 2021

the cleanly shaven Carnaby Street pop-star incarnation of Cat Stevens, who brought us “I Love My Dog” and “Matthew & Son,” fades into the mist of a bygone era, emerging from the shadows as a new man, musician, and authentic lyrical master of metaphor, whose songs would help define a new genre for a generation of music lovers, and pave the way for a poignant new wave of soulful singersongwriters. Inspired by a near-fatal battle with TB and extended period of convalescence during which he studied classical music, metaphysical literature and meditative self-reflection, Mona Bone Jakon is equal parts painful torment, self-referential humor and spiritual awakening. It is deeply revealing of the man he was becoming and the journey he was

embarking on that would last a lifetime. Through its stunning and often overlooked crop of songs we encounter an artist who has discovered himself but is unsure of whether the world will accept what he has become. The album has a deeply personal, almost vulnerable quality that, arguably, makes it the most compelling and human of all of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ work. Marking the start of a long-running creative partnership with producer (and former Yardbird) Paul Samwell-Smith, the album includes the deeply Romantic “Lady D’Arbanville,” the spiritually uplifting “I Think I See The Light,” the tongue-in-cheek “Pop Star” and the heart-rendering “Trouble” - which has connected with many a tormented soul including Elliott Smith, Chris Cornell and John Frusciante. 50 years on, the songs on Mona Bone Jakon still sound as fresh as the day they were recorded. Presented here in a new 2020 remastered version on CD, and a new 2020 Mix by David Hefti on CD and LP, the Super Deluxe Edition also includes an exclusive third CD of previously unreleased demos, and a fourth CD featuring 18 live performances from 1970/71. The 2020 remaster was completed at Abbey Road Studios, and was overseen by original album producer, Paul Samwell-Smith. This 50th anniversary set is completed with a live 12” etched vinyl EP of the rare audience recording of “Live At Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival” from August, 1970, and with a Blu-ray disc featuring the original promo video of “Lady D’Arbanville,” plus eight live TV performances, and the HD audio of the new Mona Bone Jakon 2020 Mix. There’s also a selection of memorabilia

including the Island Records press kit, two Island press photos, a replica 1970 Plumpton Jazz and Blues flyer, a Cat Stevens tour sticker and “dustbin” greetings card and pop art print in a card envelope. Tillerman followed Mona Bone Jakon only seven months later that same year, confirming the sensational rebirth of Cat Stevens as a spiritual seeker capable of drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of imaginative inspiration. Here, his new-found gentle and folk-oriented style was artfully weaved with urgent, morally demanding questions beneath bewitching melodies. This soul-searching masterpiece felt simultaneously like a deliberate reaction to what Cat saw in the world as well as his own struggle for answers, and would continue to resonate through countless generations to come. The Tea for the Tillerman Super Deluxe box set features a new 2020 remaster, also completed at Abbey Road Studios and overseen by original album producer Paul Samwell-Smith, and mix, of the original 1970 Island Records multitrack master tape, overseen by Yusuf and engineer David Hefti. The 2020 Mix also appears on the 1LP format which is exclusive to this box set. CD3 features the newly released Tea for the Tillerman2 – Yusuf has chosen to include it here in order to present the most complete edition of the original album, showing how these songs are as pertinent today as they were when written over 50 years ago. CD4 includes demos, outtakes and alternate versions, including two previously unreleased tracks (“Can This Be Love?,” “It’s So Good,” “If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out,” and “Don’t Be Shy”), while CD5 features 25 live performances - 5 previously unreleased tracks recorded Live At The Troubadour, 4 previ-

ously unreleased live performances from the December 8, 1970 show at Fillmore East, and 6 previously unreleased live from British, French and German TV performances over 1970/71. The box set also includes the previously unreleased “Can This Be Love?;” originally scheduled to appear on the album, the song was written by Cat along with “Father and Son” for a proposed musical project “Revolussia” in 1969. The Super Deluxe box set is rounded out with a Blu-ray featuring HD 24bit/96khz audio of the 2020 Mix, as well as 8 previously unreleased live TV performances, 7 tracks performed live at KCNET studios, Los Angeles, and the official “Father and Son” video. Also housed in a card envelope within the box is a “Pick Up A Good Book” bookmark, a Yusuf / Cat Stevens designed “Miles From Nowhere” print, a reproduction handwritten lyric sheet for “Miles From Nowhere,” a fold-out “Live From The Troubadour 1970” poster, and a Tea for the Tillerman sticker. With Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman Yusuf / Cat Stevens asserted himself both lyrically and musically as a true artist in the most profound sense. His work during this period would go on to transcend its own era and stay relevant for generations to come. By looking inward with eyes wide open he discovered truths that he was able to present to the world with compelling sincerity through his unique and spellbinding gift for songwriting. These two albums truly stand as a rite of passage for all songwriters seeking to learn how to present their intimate experiences to the external world, and essential listening to all lovers of great music.

CD3-Demos 1. Maybe You’re Right (Studio Demo) 2. I Think I See The Light (Studio Demo) 3. Trouble (Studio Demo) 4. Mona Bone Jakon (Home Demo) 5. I Wish I Wish (Studio Demo) 6. Katmandu (Studio Demo) 7. Time (Studio Demo) 8. Fill My Eyes (Studio Demo) 9. I Want Some Sun (Studio Demo) CD4-Live 1. Interview (Live At The BBC (16/06/ 70) Mona Bone Jakon Super Deluxe Edition CD1-Original Album (2020 Remaster) 1. Lady D’Arbanville 2. Maybe You’re Right 3. Pop Star 4. I Think I See The Light 5. Trouble 6. Mona Bone Jakon 7. I Wish, I Wish 8. Katmandu 9. Time 10. Fill My Eyes 11. Lilywhite

CD2/1LP-Original Album (2020 Mix) 1. Lady D’Arbanville 2. Maybe You’re Right 3. Pop Star 4. I Think I See The Light 5. Trouble 6. Mona Bone Jakon 7. I Wish, I Wish 8. Katmandu 9. Time 10. Fill My Eyes 11. Lilywhite

2. Lady D’Arbanville (Live At The BBC (16/06/70) 3. Maybe You’re Right (Cat Stevens In Concert, 27/11/1971) 4. Trouble (Live At The BBC (16/06/ 70) 5. Katmandu (Live At The BBC (16/ 06/70) 6. Changes IV (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 7. Time / Fill My Eyes (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 8. Where Do The Children Play? (Live continued on next page

January 2021 • Rock and Blues International

at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 9. Lady D’Arbanville (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 10. Maybe You’re Right (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 11. Father and Son (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 12. Lady D’Arbanville (BEATCLUB (GERMANY) 25.08.70) 13. Lady D’Arbanville (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 14. Maybe You’re Right (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 15. Katmandu (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 16. Interview (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 17. Lady D’Arbanville (DEUX SUR LA 2 (FRANCE), 12.10.70) 18. Maybe You’re Right (POP DEUX (FRANCE) 27.02.1971)

BBC (16/06/70) 8. Katmandu (Live At The BBC (16/ 06/70) 9. Time / Fill My Eyes (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) 10. Maybe You’re Right (Live at Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival, 08/08/70) Mona Bone Jakon 1 CD Remaster 1. Lady D’Arbanville 2. Maybe You’re Right

3. Pop Star 4. I Think I See The Light 5. Trouble 6. Mona Bone Jakon 7. I Wish, I Wish 8. Katmandu 9. Time 10. Fill My Eyes 11. Lilywhite Tea for the Tillerman Super Deluxe

Blu-ray disc-Music Video & Live Videos + High Res Audio of Original Album (2020 Mix) 1. Lady D’Arbanville (Official Video) 2. Lady D’Arbanville (BEATCLUB (GERMANY) 25.08.70) 3. Lady D’Arbanville (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 4. Maybe You’re Right (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 5. Katmandu (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 6. Interview (TV CONCERT (FRANCE) 01.11.1970) 7. Lady D’Arbanville (DEUX SUR LA 2 (FRANCE), 12.10.70) 8. Maybe You’re Right (POP DEUX (FRANCE) 27.02.1971) 9. Maybe You’re Right (Cat Stevens In Concert, 27/11/1971)

Edition

12” Etched Vinyl-Live At Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival (08/08/70) 1. Changes IV 2. Time / Fill My Eyes 3. Where Do The Children Play? 4. Lady D’Arbanville 5. Maybe You’re Right 6. Father and Son Mona Bone Jakon 2CD Deluxe CD1-Original Album Remastered 1. Lady D’Arbanville 2. Maybe You’re Right 3. Pop Star 4. I Think I See The Light 5. Trouble 6. Mona Bone Jakon 7. I Wish, I Wish 8. Katmandu 9. Time 10. Fill My Eyes 11. Lilywhite CD2-Demos / Live 1. Maybe You’re Right (Studio Demo) 2. I Think I See The Light (Studio Demo) 3. Trouble (Studio Demo) 4. I Wish I Wish (Studio Demo 5. I Want Some Sun (Studio Demo) 6. Interview (Live At The BBC (16/06/ 70) 7. Lady D’Arbanville (Live At The 88 Rock and Blues International • January 2021

CD1-Original Album (2020 Remaster) 1. Where Do The Children Play? 2. Hard Headed Woman 3. Wild World 4. Sad Lisa 5. Miles From Nowhere 6. But I Might Die Tonight 7. Longer Boats 8. Into White 9. On The Road To Find Out 10. Father and Son 11. Tea for the Tillerman CD2/1LP-Original Album (2020 Mix) 1. Where Do The Children Play? 2. Hard Headed Woman 3. Wild World 4. Sad Lisa 5. Miles From Nowhere 6. But I Might Die Tonight 7. Longer Boats 8. Into White 9. On The Road To Find Out 10. Father and Son 11. Tea for the Tillerman CD3-Tea for the Tillerman 2 1. Where Do The Children Play? 2. Hard Headed Woman 3. Wild World 4. Sad Lisa 5. Miles From Nowhere 6. But I Might Die Tonight 7. Longer Boats 8. Into White 9. On The Road To Find Out 10. Father and Son 11. Tea for the Tillerman

CD4-Demos / Outtakes / Alternate Versions 1. Wild World (Demo) 2. Miles From Nowhere (Studio Demo) 3. But I Might Die Tonight (Deep End Movie Version) 4. Can This Be Love? 5. Honey Man (duet with Elton John) 6. It’s So Good 7. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (Demo) 8. Don’t Be Shy (Demo) 9. I’ve Got A Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old 10. Love Lives In The Sky 11. The Joke 12. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out 14. Don’t Be Shy CD5-Live 1. Where Do The Children Play? (Live at the Troubadour) 2. Hard Headed Woman (Live at the Troubadour) 3. Longer Boats (Live at the Troubadour) 4. Wild World (Live at the Troubadour) 5, On The Road To Find Out (Live at the Troubadour) 6. Father And Son (Live at the Troubadour) 7. Into White (Live at the Troubadour) 8. On The Road To Find Out (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA / 1971) 9. Where Do The Children Play (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA / 1971) 10. Wild World (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA / 1971) 11. Miles From Nowhere (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA / 1971)

12. Longer Boats (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA / 1971) 13. Father And Son (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA / 1971) 14. Wild World (Cat Stevens In Concert, 1971) 15. Into White (Cat Stevens In Concert, 1971) 16. Tea For The Tillerman (Live On BBC Radio / 1970) 17. Wild World (Live On The Beat Club, 1970) 18. Hard Headed Woman (Live On The Beat Club, 1970) 19. Wild World (Recorded for ORTF, Pop deux / 1970) 20. Father And Son (Live At Fillmore East, NY, USA / 1970)

27/11/1971) 10. Into White (Cat Stevens In Concert, 27/11/1971) 11. Father and Son (Cat Stevens In Concert, 27/11/1971) 12. Wild World (Beat Club, 25.08.70) 13. Hard Headed Woman (Beat Club, 25.08.70) 14. Wild World (Gala du Midem, France 24.01.71) 15. Wild World (Deux Sur La 2, France, 12.10.70) 16. Wild World (TV Concert, France, 01.11.1970) 12”-Live At The Troubadour, 1970 1. Where Do The Children Play? 2. Hard Headed Woman 3. Wild World 4. Longer Boats 5. Into White 6. On The Road To Find Out 7. Father and Son

Blu-ray disc-Music Video & Live Videos + High Res Audio of Original Album (2020 Mix) 1. Father and Son - Official Video 2. Where Do The Children Play? (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/ 71) 3. Wild World (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/71) 4. Hard Headed Woman (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/71) 5. Miles From Nowhere (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/71) 6. Longer Boats (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/71) 7. On The Road To Find Out (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/71) 8. Father and Son (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/71) 9. Wild World (Cat Stevens In Concert,

Tea for the Tillerman 2CD Deluxe CD1-Original Album Remastered 1. Where Do The Children Play? 2. Hard Headed Woman 3. Wild World 4. Sad Lisa 5. Miles From Nowhere 6. But I might Die Tonight 7. Longer Boats 8. Into White 9. On The Road To Find Out 10. Father and Son 11. Tea For The Tillerman

1. Wild World (Demo) 2. Miles From Nowhere (Studio Demo) 3. But I Might Die Tonight (Deep End Movie Version) 4. Can This Be Love? 5. Honey Man (duet with Elton John) 6. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (Demo) 7. Don’t Be Shy (Demo) 8. Wild World (Live at the Troubadour) 9. Longer Boats (Live at the Troubadour) 10. Into White (Live at the Troubadour) 11. Where Do The Children Play (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/ 71)) 12. Hard Headed Woman (Live At KCET Studios, Los Angeles, USA (08/06/ 71)) 13. Father and Son (BBC Radio, 08/ 11/1970) 14. Tea for the Tillerman (BBC Radio, 08/11/1970) Tea for the Tillerman 1 CD Remaster 1. Where Do The Children Play? 2. Hard Headed Woman 3. Wild World 4. Sad Lisa 5. Miles From Nowhere 6. But I Might Die Tonight 7. Longer Boats 8. Into White 9. On The Road To Find Out 10. Father and Son 11. Tea for the Tillerman

CD2-Demos & Live

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