New music from new places

HOPE, HAPPINESS AND POSITIVE VIBES

By Terry Paquet

Terry Paquet is an award-winning copywriter with more than 20 years’ experience. He is a regular contributor to SideOne.

It’s finally March. That month in which winter takes its last gasping breath (fingers crossed). That time of year when the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel appears. When you start to shed layers of clothing because there are higher temps in the forecast. Melting snow at your doorstep. And best of all, clocks being eagerly pushed forward into daylight saving time. It is the end of hibernation as we know it.

In honour of this righteous event, I’m happy to introduce you to four artists from the genres of pop, folk, reggaeton and soul/jazz that couldn’t be more different from each other but collectively exemplify all that spring has to offer: hope, happiness, positive vibes, and change.

TO LISTEN WHILE YOU READ, CHECK OUT THIS MONTH’S SIDEONE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6sZ9yVp1s4Pw8LiVpttxAn?si=CkZ_hqUASIqMBB0bOw5I7A

BENNY SINGS

In the land of red light districts and pot cafés, an artist by the name of Benny Sings (Tim van Berkestijn) has been enthralling fans for more than 10 years with his infectious, sunny blend of pop songs that have earned praise from the likes of John Mayer, Anderson .Paak, and Rita Ora.

The music is easy on the ears, offering a modern take on ‘70s yacht rock, particularly on songs like Big Brown Eyes and Sunny Afternoon. It’s the kind of stuff you’d listen to with the top down, Ray-Bans on, and Farrah Fawcett hairdo blowing in the wind. On a lot of his songs, you’ll pinpoint harmonies and fillers that could have been lifted from any Bee Gees album. Listen to the recently released Nobody’s Fault or Not Enough and ask yourself if this could be the Dutch Barry Gibb.

Of course, it’s not all retro throwbacks. Rolled Up is a bass and synth, lo-fi number featuring Canada’s own Mac DeMarco in an existential groove about being in the dumps for no particular reason.

Although he’s gone largely unnoticed in mainstream North America, Sings has amassed an impressive collection of works that are worthy of your attention. In other words, when Benny Sings, you should listen.

TRACKS TO CHECK OUT

• Each Other from Art (2011)

• Sunny Afternoon Single (2020)

• Not Enough from City Pop (2019)

• Everything I Know from City Pop (2019)

• Nobody’s Fault Single (2020)

GABRIEL GARZÓN-MONTANO

On first glance, it would be easy to dismiss Gabriel Garzón-Montano as just another poser pop singer. His de rigueur tattoos and dyed hair are all too common with today’s artists. When you dig into the music, however, you start to get a sense of what this New York City boy can do.

After repeated listens, it’s clear he’s a big fan of funk. You can hear it throughout his repertoire, in which the obvious influence from old-school artists is omnipresent. He describes his reworked version of With a Smile as a “loving tribute to master teachers Prince, Dr. Dre, Sly Stone and Trent Reznor.”

On his latest offering, Agüita, Garzón-Montano has put together a disparate mix of songs, ranging from lyric-driven tracks like Bloom to the contemporary reggaeton of the title track, to tender tributes like Moonless that underscore the anguish of his mother’s passing.

Track after track, his sound blends old-school funk with avant-garde R&B, resulting in hypnotic, intricate beats and layers that owe much to his skills as a multi-instrumentalist. He’ll typically play most of the instruments on his albums, calling for help only when absolutely necessary. On track after track, it’s all Garzón-Montano, and that’s exactly the way he likes it.

TRACKS TO CHECK OUT

• Golden Wings Single (2018)

• Everything is Everything from Bishouné: Alma del Huila (2014)

• Keep on Running from Bishouné; Alma del Huila (2014)

• Crawl from Jardin (2017)

• With a Smile from Agüita (2020)

TERRACE MARTIN

To say Terrace Martin is talented may be the understatement of the year. As a child prodigy, he began playing the piano at age six and somehow caught the attention of Jay Leno, who offered him a scholarship to attend the California Institute of the Arts.

Martin’s father was a jazz drummer; his mother was a gospel singer who played a significant role in Martin’s affinity for the arts and ability in the studio. He has produced, written and/or performed on projects by Herbie Hancock, Wiz Khalifa, Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar, to name but a few. But it’s on his personal projects where Martin’s talents really shine, unbound by the constraints of another artist’s vision.

His music is a compelling mix of contemporary jazz, modern beats, and street vibes, driven by a reverence for the classics and infused with a deep sense of history. You can feel it in his work with the Pollyseeds on tracks like Believe or on solo projects like his 2020 EP Village Days. On 2016’s Velvet Portraits, Martin collaborates with a wide range of artists, including ‘70s disco group The Emotions, on the gospel-infused Patiently Waiting.

Martin has created so much music, and I know I’m barely scratching the surface, but one thing is for sure: He’s an artist who’s striving to say many things about life, love, and soul in as many ways as possible.

TRACKS TO CHECK OUT

• Push from Velvet Portraits (2016)

• Patiently Waiting from Velvet Portraits (2016)

• Freeze Tag (feat. Phoelix) from Dinner Party (2020)

• Beige Single (2019)

• The Mighty Tree (feat. Herbie Hancock) from Dinner Party: Dessert (2020)