It doesn’t happen every day that a pianist and singer, composer, producer, and singer-songwriter who lives between Zurich and Los Angeles records a song with rock legends like Canned Heat. Yet that is exactly what Deniz Simon (born 1980) has achieved. Also known as “Dee” and as "The Ambassadress Of The Sixties", she has produced the single “Song For A Friend” together with the legendary classic rock band.
And this is only the beginning: Deniz Simon has already worked with Paul Turner, Derrick McKenzie, Rob Harris, and The Jam Horns of Jamiroquai — an impressive testament to her international network and musical versatility. Even if her name may be new to some, Deniz Simon has long since secured her place in the music scene. Through collaborations with various rock and pop greats, she combines musical depth with stylistic openness in her work.
Her musical journey began early: as a child she received classical piano training, later studying jazz and contemporary music with a focus on piano and vocals. For many years, she has also worked as a music teacher and workshop leader. Deniz Simon composes original pieces for piano and voice and rearranges well-known songs in a personal, contemporary way. Her work connects musical tradition with a timeless soul, rock, and pop aesthetic — building a bridge between past and present.
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“Children of The Night,” is the new single along with Jim Basnights new album “Under the Rock," which is currently out only on Bandcamp, but scheduled for release on most major digital platforms on February 3rd, 2026. "Under the Rock" will be released on CD on the Kool Kat Musik (USA) and on LP on Precedent Records (USA) on February 13th, 2026.
“Children of The Night” is a track which will likely be released on a to-be-titled album in the works, as in Jims opinion "it is one of the best tunes cut during the recent 25 track sessions".
Jim tells us "My last single, “Get it Out” and “Days in The Sun,” was one of the most successful digital singles since I started issuing them seven years ago. It's currently on a nine-week run on the Radio Indie Alliance Top 100 (RIA), peaking at #2. It's also charted on two other notable indie charts, World Indie Music Top 100 and the Hugs Top 200 chart (currently at #101, moving up 23 spots this week).
For that single, this new single, and the next few singles, my plan is to release a track from the album, plus a non-album track to provide a window into some of the quality tracks being prepared for the next album release.
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| Photo - Luke Jin |
Fresh off a festival run and two tours, Oxford based new wave chamber-pop band Blue Bayou have released their third single ‘Carousel Song’. Seemingly emerging from thin air in Spring 2023, Blue Bayou took Oxford by surprise when they hosted and sold out a string of debut performances at the Jericho Tavern, Modern Art Oxford, and The Library, developing a reputation as an exclusive, “infamous” live act (BBC) for their eclectic and confounding live performances.
A UK tour supporting Max Blansjaar and the band’s own headline appearances in London and Brighton followed, with the band consistently welcoming larger stages and crowds: in 2025, they shared a stage with Jacob Alon at Wilderness Festival and played the main stage at Love Trails and in 2024 they headlined Sunday at Riverside, after Beam Me Up. Blue Bayou are currently the in-demand support act in venues in Oxford: they’ve been main support for Brown Horse, warmed stages for European acts the Klittens, New Yorkers like the Jeanines, and locals like Danny Mellin at the O2 Academy 2.
‘Carousel Song’, produced by Chris Barker (Willie J. Healey), shimmers with the magic of mid-winter: tracking to tape, and self-producing at a home studio, Blue Bayou eschewed a clean recording in favour of the warm texture of overtones, tape hum, and rack reverb. The opening verse seemingly hosts a world of distant strings and bells, while only a parlour guitar was being played. The bass which then enters evocatively re-harmonises these understated chords. It’s as if the ground beneath you is shifting, while the violin, vibraphone, and makeshift percussion, swirl in the air above. All of this is to situate the listener in an old, familiar, world of wonder, magic, and loss.
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Kimberly Dawn - Days Go By.
Country artist and singer-songwriter Kimberly Dawn releases her version of the Keith Urban classic, "Days Go By." Kimberly Dawn is back with a pulsating, feel-good cover of Keith Urban's “Days Go By,” a track that hits the gas from the first note. Driven by rhythmic guitars that immediately catch the ear, it draws you straight into the story, and Dawn wastes no time setting the scene owning her take on Urban's fantastic lyrics: “I'm changin' lanes and talkin' on the phone / drivin' way too fast / and the interstate's jammed with gunners like me / afraid of comin' in last.”
The production perfectly captures that unmistakable feeling of freedom on a long stretch of highway. It feels like a summer drive with the windows down, elbow on the doorframe, hand surfing the breeze, as the production opens up and sweeps you into the soaring chorus. It’s a song balanced delicately between presence and nostalgia, a reminder that the “good old days” are often the ones we’re living right now. You can hear Dawn’s voice lean into the quiet truth that life’s rush can blur its brightest moments unless we’re intentional about staying grounded in them. Witty yet heartfelt, Kimberly Dawn delivers a timeless song through her own country lens: time doesn’t slow down, so it’s on us to meet it with intention.
Kimberly Dawn has established herself as a resilient force in the country music landscape, backed by deep industry ties and a commitment to advocacy. She is an active voting member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), the Country Music Association (CMA), the Academy of Country Music (ACM), and the Americana Music Association. Her dedication to the craft recently earned her a nomination for Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 Texas Country Music Awards for "Cowboy's Church," as well as a Song of the Year nomination at the 2019 HMMI.
Recently named a 2025 Artist to Watch by Got Country Online, Dawn continues to elevate her profile and has been featured on CMT, Holler, CMA, and the Academy of Country Music, and more. Beyond the music, she utilizes her platform as a Music Ambassador for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), blending her artistic output with a message of wellness and resilience. With the release of "Days Go By," produced by Kent Wells, she enters the new year ready to connect with fans on a massive scale.
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| Photo - Connor Truax |
Echosmith frontwoman Sydney (Sierota) Quiseng has released her new single “That’s My Baby! (On Main Street)” alongside the official announcement of her upcoming solo EP That’s My Baby!, out February 20. A testament to Quiseng’s artistic evolution, That’s My Baby! is defined by reflection, resilience, and self-discovery, and chronicles her unfiltered experiences with love, loss, and personal growth as she steps into the next chapter of her story and prepares for the arrival of her daughter.
“This song is about shamelessly loving someone out loud,” shares Quiseng on the new single. “I got married at 21 and now I’m expecting my first baby, so these lyrics celebrate both the love I found with my husband and the love I already have for my baby. It feels extra special to release this one at eight months pregnant. I hope this song makes you want to have date night this Friday, on Main Street.”
Showcasing the emotive vocals and signature storytelling that have cemented her as an indie-pop superstar and fast-rising Country/Americana singer-songwriter, That’s My Baby! draws inspiration from Quiseng’s own journey and stretches from the indie-pop stardom she found as a teenager with Echosmith all the way to falling in love with her now-husband and her journey of self-discovery as a solo artist who is building a family of her own.
That’s My Baby! captures the wide range of emotions Quiseng has had as she’s learnt to navigate this new terrain and was recorded during her pregnancy as an honest representation of who she is today. Featuring lead single “Coffee Shop in Kyoto” as well as recent fan favorite “When a Good Thing Ends” which explores the heartache of holding on while trying to move forward when something you love is slipping away, That’s My Baby! offers listeners an unfiltered look into her heart and mind and carries forward the authenticity listeners have always connected with.
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