Fridays Singer/Songwriters: LeRiche - Joni Fuller

LeRiche - Rain.

LeRiche introduces himself - I'm 22 years old and I'm from Port aux Basques. My passion for music began at an early age, first stretching my fingers out on a six-string at the age of one. After years of playing local establishments across the island of Newfoundland, I'm thrilled to be upon my first commercial release, Rain.

In this release, I'm supported by a string quartet, percussion and the sound of rain falling (captured on microphone) through an open window at the downtown Toronto studio as the track was being recorded.  This will be the first look at new music from my debut EP Quiet Steady which is set for release Summer 2016.  The album delves deep into strong memorable melodies at the core of my music.

The only other band I know who recorded rain with a live mike through an open window was The Who (Quadrophenia). OK music lesson over and to LeRiche. 'Rain' is a gentle and melodic song, with LeRiche's vocals reminiscent a little of Jeff Buckley, in as much as they are so natural and sincere. It's a fine introduction and one that sets the EP up, as a must listen.

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Joni Fuller - The Penny.

And The News - Friday 27th November 2015, the day history is made by Joni Fuller, an award-winning songwriter and classically trained multi-instrumentalist. Joni Fuller will be releasing her high-energy, indie folk/pop song  'Everybody Says So' through existing digital outlets, but the track will first be available on Aurovine, an revolutionary platform which utilises the recently launched music industry currency AudioCoin.

Aurovine allows music fans to connect and support emerging artists by listening, rating and sharing tracks, earning AudioCoins for both parties which can be exchanged for other currencies, stored in an offline wallet to earn interest or used for transactions on Aurovine and other websites. Through revolutionary blockchain technology, Aurovine provides super transparent and fair revenue splits to the artist, songwriter and anyone with a tangible stake in the making and promotion/distribution of a record. Even fans can become an integral part of the project with an innovative crowd revenue share feature.

Just three hundred limited edition digital copies of Joni Fuller's single will be available, featuring two extra specially recorded bonus tracks. Along with an official record of support, these three hundred backers will also get a revenue share of worldwide sales.

Born in Lytham-St Annes, Lancashire, Joni Fuller's first solo performance was made at the Montreux Jazz Festival when she was just twelve years old. Since then she has honed her craft the traditional way,  performing extensively in the UK, mainland Europe and North America. Known for her high energy, instrument swapping solo performances, Joni combines sublime musicianship with ground breaking looping techniques to build a wall of sound live on stage.

So all of the above is about 'Everybody Say So' and I have featured 'The Penny'. Well 'The Penny' is a great introduction to Joni Fuller, and it only seems fair to support her Aurovine release by encouraging a visit to her page on the site. Joni's Aurovine link (here). Both are really good songs indeed you can checkout more on her website (here). Right I'm off to figure out how Aurovine works - enjoy.

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Two For You: Timber Bones - yndi halda

Timber Bones - Travelling Song.

And we are told - One hot summer under the shade of a Queenslander indie-rock 5-piece Timber Bones jammed out their first song together. “Travelling Song” was written in celebration of one of Australia’s newest pass-times- “the festival romance.” A side effect of excessive cider consumption and inadequate sun safety the festival romance is a whirlwind of summer dresses, white smoke and young love. The third single from Timber Bones "Travelling Song" is best enjoyed in the company of strangers with inhibitions left back home with your day job.

The bouncy, folk-rock tune takes inspiration from the likes of Mumford and Sons, Fleet Foxes and The Mama's and the Papa's. "When we first started writing music together we had aimed for a more folky sound overall,” says guitarist Kendall. "Originally the guitar lines were written for banjo and the song was jug-tootingly folky. When the song came out of pre-production at The Palace, producer Caleb James had worked this awesome festival vibe around it. People heard it and started dancing so naturally it became our festival song and my banjo became a paper-weight."

Timber Bones leave on their maiden bus voyage after a month’s work under the very same Queenslander. Planning an east-coast tour for the coming summer Timber Bones whole journey will be documented in a web-series to appear on their website (here).

This has those feel good vibes through and through. Upbeat and to use the expression above 'bouncy', it does all of this without losing the sincerity. It's a nice bright song.

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yndi halda - Golden Threads From The Sun (excerpt).

Background - Eight-years on from Enjoy Eternal Bliss Brighton based quintet yndi halda are now preparing to release their new album, Under Summer. Having toured across the UK, Europe, USA and Asia, including shows at London's famed Barbican Hall, Koko and Union Chapel venues, and entirely selling out a short residency at Hoxton Hall; yndi halda's fervent and nominally patient fan base have been eagerly awaiting this new material. For those who were previously enthralled by the band's revered string-heavy and densely layered flavor of instrumental rock, there are seemingly endless new aural delectations to unearth and embrace in the band's intense second effort. Their music is at once subtle and joyous, hitting huge emotional peaks around moments of serene gentleness and heart-breaking sadness in its orchestration of sonorous guitar interlacing, meticulously crafted string arrangements and - now - soaring vocal harmonies.

Speaking about writing the new album, James Vella (guitar, vocals) said "We called the album Under Summer. It is two references. For us at least. Inevitably it will mean something different to everyone who hears the album. But for us it is the very upper limit of the sky under which we wrote and recorded the album. The endless July days that we played into, a perfect calm and joy. But it's also a sadness. 'Under' as in 'beneath'; sorrow and heartache. We found that important because we want to express that in our music too. Sadness and bliss. What one means to the other." The new album is due out on the March 4, 2016 via Big Scary Monsters in the UK/EU and Burnt Toast Vinyl in the US, and follows the critically acclaimed Enjoy Eternal Bliss, which was released in 2007.

A four minute taste of their forthcoming album, in this excerpt of the track 'Golden Threads From The Sun' and what a teaser it is! It suggests we really are in for a treat when the album is released, one for the diary to say the least.

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Another Genre Mix: Atlas Lab - Dirty Revival

Atlas Lab - Wake Up Slow.

About the band - Like so many stories, Atlas Lab's biography begins with a chance meeting. Alex and Solei met one chilly morning while street performing in Harvard Square. She had her mic and looper, he had a homemade drumset of pots and pans. Before long, they were playing out together. Around the same time, Solei and John were experimenting with adding vocal loops and electronic textures to folk tunes, and Alex and Samm were living together, making ambient electronic music, and performing with local acts. The four came together in a Brighton apartment one afternoon in the winter of 2015 and felt the undefinable thing called chemistry.

Since then, Atlas Lab has toured the Northeast in suppport of an EP of live demos, which have gotten noticed on Bandcamp and several online indie labels/blogs. They will be releasing their first studio EP, "Wake Up Slow," in January 2016. In the fall of 2015, bassist Otto Briner joined the band as it moved towards a more groove-based, soulful sound. The new line up is currently writing songs for a full-length album. They have spent the past year playing extensively in Montreal, New York, Cape Cod, Vermont, Maine, and at local venues like Middle East Up, TT the Bear's (RIP), and Great Scott. -- Website Here.

One of the nice things about running a music blog, is when one band you feature opens the door to another, and they also sound really good, as has happened with Atlas Lab. The first single 'Wake Up Slow' is a song that quietly builds into something quite special. Indie folk with a bit of a kick, I can't wait to hear the rest of the EP.

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Dirty Revival - Dirty Love.

Background and band comments - “Big, gritty, and honest.  Our sound is unique but pulls elements of our favorite genres: soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, gospel, and rock,” says Sarah Clarke, the resounding, and resonating, front woman for Portland, Oregon-based Dirty Revival. Also comprised of Evan "evv'n'flo" Simko (M.C., guitar), Terry Drysdale (drums), Karl Ludwigsen (keyboards), and Jon Shaw (bass), the quintet shines on their self-titled, debut full-length.  

“Someone once described us as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, and Rose Royce all blended up as one,” Clarke says of the comparisons her band has already started to receive.  “I nearly fainted.  What a massive compliment.” Expanding on that, Evan Simko says, “I think people will find a great variety of influences or comparisons, to name a few: P-Funk, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Bill Withers, Charles Bradley, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and The Roots.  It’s hard to say.  I think there are so many influences that it won’t quite sound like anyone in particular.”

Their debut is a representation of all of this, a melting pot of influences and personalities, with all five members getting their voice, literally and metaphorically, contained within the sounds of the album.  While navigating different musical waters, the album also vacillates between fiercely political uprisings to down and gritty party jams that are meant to make you smile and dance.

“The album is about honesty,” says Sarah Clark Clarke.  “It is candid and sincere, the same way we as a group approach music in general.  ‘Breathe’ is a song decrying the racial tensions in our society as we see it.  ‘Lay Me Down’ is about the brutal affect addiction has on people.  ‘Take It Off’ is a take on lust.  “Make It” is about the need for personal betterment.  And then there are songs like ‘Dirty Love,’ which highlights our passion for performance.  Essentially, every song on this album is an unadulterated take on music and the world that we see every day.” Adds Terry Drysdale, “It’s serious when it needs to be and fun the rest of the time.” The band decided on self-titling their debut, as a representation of who they are.

Now, with the record done, the band just wants to get their music out there, share it with people, and hope that those people want them to come to their city and play live for them.  And, the band, will be happy to oblige, with heavy touring this fall into next year slated in support of Dirty Revival.

Plenty of musical references above, however on merit the influences or comparisons are pretty reasonable. On the featured track the band stomp things up and certainly mix the styles. The album as a whole has plenty of 'traditional' soul songs, that whether they are softer, or more powerful, are just so full of commitment, and real soul passion. Dirty Revival are a melting pot of musical and vocal quality, that reaches way beyond just soul music fans.

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Upbeat Tuesday: Prickle - The Gromble

Prickle - Tell Me Why.

What we are told - Prickle is 17 y/o independent pop rock artist Emily Wilson from Melbourne, Victoria. After spending a few years honing and developing her sound, in search of her ‘unique voice,’ Emily is ready to share her personal perspective.

‘Tell Me Why,’ is her first single. It is a study of contrasting personalities and the thoughts that follow. The honest vocals engage a story telling voice speaking to the listener in conversational style. Initially sketched out with a laid back acoustic feel, the song has now adopted a garage rock 60’s mood with a strong rhythm section and drive.

The song is produced by Rich Bowers and Matt O’Connor, and features Jasper Miles on drums. Jasper has collaborated with Emily on a lot of her material and is also a member Auntie Mag. A lot more to come from Prickle in 2016 following 'Tell Me Why.''

This is a superb song. Vocals are a delight and the music (more rock than pop in my opinion) adds power to the whole piece. An exciting blast of fresh new music, due for release on the 11th of December 2015.


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The Gromble - Real Sympathy.

Background - Hailing from the warm shores of California, five-piece band The Gromble grew up playing together in various bands and have established the kind of rare synchronicity that has helped them carve out their own idiosyncratic niche: a charming blend of orchestral alt-folk and indie rock, honed live supporting such acts as The Lemonheads. 

With the classic intensity of early greats Pavement, Weezer and Neutral Milk Hotel and a taste for the heartland classics, they arrive somewhere between Grouplove, Miniature Tigers and Vampire Weekend. They take their name from Nickelodeon’s Aaahh!!! Real Monsters a perfect indicator of their unashamed love for 90s pop culture and for the sense of humour that runs beneath the surface of their songs.

Their new album 'Jayus' is due out February 12th 2016. The band say: “We wanted to create something that encompassed all of our varying and often conflicting influences, in hopes that it will reach the listener as something both fresh and familiar. There's something special about the time when a group is first trying to gel together and really define itself, its aural signature. For us, this album definitely captures that feeling as we're learning about ourselves, each other, and the burden of life in general.”

This just 'screams' summer and smiles and beach parties and warmth (you get the picture?). It's been some journey for the band to reach this point, based on the good vibes of this song, a lot of music fans will be glad they stuck with it.


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