Quality Not Quantity: Jessica Rotter - Em George - Hannah Lou Clark

Jessica Rotter - Pray For Rain.

Background words - Jessica Rotter is able to transcend creative boundaries and defy what's expected of a modern female musician. The songstress' voice has been heard across multiple genres, from movies, TV shows and commercials to backing vocals and collaborations with other artists—all in addition to her original songs. The list of artists she has worked with reads like a who's who of the music industry today: Daft Punk, Carole King, Alicia Keys, Sam Smith, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and others.

Rotter's family roots are steeped in music, with her grandfather writing songs for Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. With this background, Rotter describes herself as a "musical storyteller" with classical training from Pepperdine University in opera, musical theatre, and directing for theatre and film. She is just as comfortable using her voice in a major feature film (credits include Pitch Perfect 1 & 2 and Frozen) as she is performing one of her original songs live.

Following the success of charting #1 on HypeMachine with her mashup of Stay/Animal with Emily Colombier, Rotter is embarking on her most powerful and ambitious project to date; the full length release of Plains. Produced by Cazz Brindis and mixed by Scott M. Smith (Carole King, John Mayer, Katy Perry), the 11 track record is breathtakingly stunning and cinematic. Most uniquely, Plains is organically raw with the listener being able to hear breath in every track, a rarity in today's over produced musical landscape.

In the album's leading single "Pray for Rain", Rotter poignantly describes wrestling with falling in love in "uncertain times, lost times and times of revelation." On the track "Stars", you can clearly hear Rotter's past of free spirited travels and musical influences of early 60s folk and Americana. "Let Me Go" is a well-crafted, catchy and emotional pop tune expressing the restless moments found in relationships. Plains will be released April 22nd. 

'Pray For Rain' explains very clearly why Jessica Rotter has worked with so many top artists. Her vocal abilities are quite special and this song really showcases that. Musically thing get better still, with the excellent production, heightened more, as music and vocals weave around each other.

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Em George - The Grind.

Background promo - Following on from three successful singles, with one (“Murderers On The Inside”) being optioned by HBO and remixed by LA based producer Stephen Kozmeniuk (Madonna, Kayne West) comes Em George’s fourth release “The Grind” which is the first single from her debut EP.

Produced by Ryan Miller (Oliver Tank, The Delta Riggs, Magic Bones) and Matt O’Connor at The A&R Department (Harts, Magic Bones), it features stripped back production, raw vocals and resonating, wistful lyrics. It’s an exciting release for this innovative artist.

This first release from her debut EP follows on from her third single, “Paper Hearts” in 2015. It spent two weeks in the AMRAP Metro and Regional charts reaching number three. It was also featured in The Music Network alongside artists such as C.W Stoneking. It was released to radio in United States receiving airplay in New York, Texas and California.

After playing at various live venues around Sydney such as Venue 505, The Vanguard, Oxford Art Factory, Brighton Up Bar, Bondi Bowling Club, FBi Social and The Sly Fox, Em George has built up a unique live performance style that is all her own, forging a path in the live music scene. “The Grind” by Em George will be released 4th of March 2016.

'The Grind' allows Em George to demonstrate her vocal talent, with this passionately delivered song. The contrast between her singing and the delightfully stripped back, acoustic background is excellent. This deserves to be heard.

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Hannah Lou Clark - It's Your Love.

Background promo - Hannah Lou Clark has announced a brand new EP Its Your Love, due for release 22nd April on her own label Quatre Femmes Records via PIAS.

Extensive touring around the release of debut EP Silent Type, gave a fresh perspective on certain things in Hannah's life. Its Your Love was written over this touring period and sees Hannah experiment further sonically with interesting sounds and textures and vintage drum machines. Winning a Rhythm Ace on Ebay, became the musical catalyst for the EP as well as the time previously spent collaborating with artists such as Rob Ellis (Torres, Anna Calvi, PJ Harvey) and Deb Goodge (My Bloody Valentine) .The completion of this EP marked the end of a life chapter, and the beginning of a new one.

Hannah said of the EP - "Sometimes in life it feels as though people are holding a gun to your head, and you have to suck it up and get on with it. I wanted the music to replicate that repetitive feeling of frustration. This whole EP is really about that realisation, in three chapters."

Its Your Love offers an artist in full command of her voice and her instrument, a woman who knows exactly what she wants to offer listeners and who isn’t afraid to cover sunlight with clouds. The title track sees the protagonist trapped inside a small wooden drum machine, and driven mad by the Bossa nova.

Hannah has announced her first UK headline tour, the news follows stunning headline shows at St. Pancras Church and Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room and support tours with the likes of Ezra Furman, Thurston Moore and Gaz Coombes including an incredible Roundhouse 'In The Round' show. With more festivals in both the UK & Europe to be announced soon this year is set to be an exciting one for HLC

April Headline Dates:
Thu 21 Apr 2016 UK Birmingham Sunflower Lounge
Fri 22 Apr 2016 UK Manchester The Eagle Inn
Sat 23 Apr 2016 UK Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire, The Big Discovery
Sun 24 Apr 2016 UK Glasgow Broadcast
Mon 25 Apr 2016 UK Bristol The Louisiana
Tue 26 Apr 2016 UK Brighton Prince Albert
Wed 27 Apr 2016 UK London The Victoria
Festivals:
Sat 19 March London Roundhouse Rising
Fri 29 Apr Leicester Handmade Festival
Sat 30 Apr Live At Leeds.

The opening 'drum machine' beats had me expecting something quite different, from the powerful and superb 'It's Your Love'. It's no nonsense delivery and intense vocals makes for one potent and pleasing song.

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Alternative Take: Kauf - Juke Jaxon

Kauf - Through The Yard.

Background promo - If you've ever needed a soundtrack to your existential crisis, Kauf has made exactly that.  Who hasn't pondered the existence of God or the meaning of life while going full throttle on the dance floor at Berghain? Kauf has achieved the nearly impossible feat of making music rooted in a dance aesthetic but that is also lyrically deep.  There just aren't that many records out there that could work in a club and also touch on emotional conflicts with your family and society at large.

The project of Ronald Kaufman, Kauf took shape after moving back to his birthplace of Los Angeles.  He self-released his first single in 2011 - "Relocate" b/w "When You're Out," which quickly found its way into the hands of Dan Whitford of Cut Copy who released the "As Much Again" EP on his own Cutters Records.

After the dissolution of his early experimental rock bands spurned the dive into electronic production and synth collecting, he is equal parts studio rat psychedelia obsessive and art-pop traditionalist.  The rhythms, informed mostly by slowed down disco, support simple, emotive chord progressions with a melancholic bent.  Dense layering, his own echo-laden vocals, and a penchant for distorted, imperfect sounds create the dominant motif, where the words sometimes ring out as if emerging
from a barely remembered dream.  

2016 will see the release of his debut full-length LP, Regrowth. The response to the EP was overwhelmingly positive, with press support from NPR, XLR8R, SPIN, KCRW, etc. Kauf was tapped to remix the likes of Poliça, The Big Pink and Public Service Broadcasting, and has toured and performed with the likes of Cut Copy, Maribou State and many more.

His forthcoming Regrowth LP mostly explores the small fractures within his closest relationships. They are the kind that have long been there, but were either willfully ignored or conveniently missed, like a tiny crack in the windshield that slowly creeps across, but eventually demands you take notice and make the repair before it shatters completely.  There is the realization that a relationship with an ex-boyfriend was entirely superficial ("A Ruin") and truly understanding why you're in love ("Through the Yard").  Complicated family issues are the focus on "Turning," "Key to Life" and "Pacify".

As the first single and last track on the forthcoming album, 'Through The Yard' certainly raises my interest in the album. There is an emotional feel throughout the song, the vocals, the intense beats and haunting melody, makes for a very fine track.

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Juke Jaxon - Memory Man.

Background promo - It’s not every day that you come across Indie Soul…

Meeting on the London underground in summer of 2014, Jack Moore and Ben Hawthorne discovered a mutual interest for classic British sounds and the 60’s Motown greats. Then, like many others before, took to bedroom song writing before emerging as Juke Jaxon, now ready to demonstrate their re-imagining of this elusive genre.

Musically the band’s début single ‘Memory Man’ wears its influences clearly on its sleeve, evoking classic elements with an electrifying crunch and soulful swagger. Think Alex Turner a la Last Shadow Puppets with vocal spice from James Blake thrown in and an added touch of Jamie Woon - you’ll see what sort of ballpark we are in here.

‘Memory Man' has the sound that lashes out whilst masking tears. Melodically aggressive; Lyrically sensitive. The song tries to embrace you with one arm, but punches you, winding you, with the other.

Juke Jaxon are fresh from their inaugural sell-out London show in early February, their début single ‘Memory Man’ will be in all the usual places Friday 26th February 2016. Keep an eye on this one…"

This very well may be Indie Soul, however I'm not so sure it needs to much hype and alternative genre placing to get noticed. OK so in today's crowded music market place anything positive helps, so let's just say whatever the genre and influences, this is one very cool song.

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Gentle Friday: Sorority Noise - Those Pretty Wrongs

Sorority Noise - Either Way.

Background promo - Ahead of the band’s first ever UK dates, headlining and in support of Modern Baseball, Sorority Noise announce a new EP for Topshelf Records, “It Kindly Stopped For Me”, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2015 album “Joy, Departed”. The EP was recorded and produced by the band with exclusive artwork from Mitch Wojcik.

The intimate first song from the EP, “Either Way”, is available to stream now. Frontman Cam Boucher said the following of the track: “I wrote this song in our van outside of chain reaction in Anaheim, ca. I had found out I lost another friend a few days previous and was having a difficult time thinking about how I had made positive strides in dealing with my mental health but hadn't been able to help friends around me that I didn't know we're suffering from the same thing.”

'Either Way' is a soft acoustic number with calm vocals and harmonies. Keyboards add to the lilting melody, in what is a very delicate song.

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Those Pretty Wrongs - Ordinary.

Background promo - Those Pretty Wrongs are Jody Stephens and Luther Russell, two old friends and veterans of the music scene in different ways.

Jody-as many people in rock and roll (and beyond) know-was the drummer for the legendary band Big Star. He went on to help run the equally legendary studio Ardent in Memphis and play with the endearing troop Golden Smog. Luther Russell was the leader of seminal roots-rock band The Freewheelers and went on to make several acclaimed solo records, as well as produce many important artists over the years. Together they have forged a sound that is brand new for both, yet begets a strangely familiar feeling...

It was the documentary Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me that brought Jody and Luther together creatively, when Jody asked Luther to join him for some promotional performances. A chemistry was immediately noticed. They began writing songs and performing them whenever possible, soon taking their name from the opening line of Shakespeare Sonnet 41, which they slipped into one of their first collaborations, "Fool Of Myself". A relationship was soon struck up with underground SoCal label (and two-man revolution) Burger Records when the first track they cut in Memphis, "Lucky Guy", was sent to Sean and Lee, who jumped at the chance to release it as a 7", along with the aforementioned "Fool Of Myself" for the flip side. There was an outpouring of support for the new music, which gave Jody and Luther the confidence to move forward. Regarding how this all came together, Jody declares: "In a word...serendipity. So many of the events that brought Luther and me together were just by chance and born out of the Big Star world. I actually thought we might write three or four songs together for an EP but we just kept writing beyond that. 'Another window opened up and through it' we became Those Pretty Wrongs."

Luther lives in Los Angeles and Jody in Memphis, so the commitment had to be strong to persevere in composing these songs and cutting them until they were completely satisfied.

Tour Dates:
Mar-21 - Melbourne, Australia - Melbourne Recital Centre *
Mar-22 - Sydney, Australia - The Factory *
Mar-23 - Sydney, Australia - Petersham Bowling Club
Mar-24 - Melbourne, Australia - The Gasometer
Mar-26 - Tallarook, Australia - Boogie Festival
* = w/ Tweedy.

'Ordinary' has so much going for it. Vocals and harmonies rise above the predominately acoustic soundtrack, as the song gently builds. Melodic and calm and very pleasing.

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Wednesday Double: Jaye Bartell - Mike Hill

Jaye Bartell - Tuesdays.

Background promo - Jaye Bartell's move to Brooklyn, NY in 2013, as well as the work of Spalding Gray and Eileen Myles, heavily influence the content presented on his latest record, Light Enough. In his own words, "Resettlement is an implicit theme in much of the writing, and the process of making the album itself was an act of resettlement, finding out where I lived as a means of coming to live there." 

Bartell spent about a year secluded in his Greenpoint bedroom, piecing together the intricate tunes and gentle melodies that furnish his new record.

Originally from from Massachusetts, Jaye Bartell laid the groundwork for his music career after relocating to Asheville, NC in the early 2000's. During this time, he began to play music among friends, parallel to his poetry and other writing endeavours, which included a reading/performance series and a small magazine. After relocating, again, to Buffalo, NY in 2006, Jaye joined up with the publishing collective House Press and released his first record, Feeling Better, Pilgrim, in the company of Buffalo musicians and writers. The record helped establish Jaye's sound utilising field recordings and manipulated loops, centered on vocal melody.

Upon returning to Asheville in 2009, Jaye released his second record, The Dog's Dinner. This marked Jaye's departure from the self-production of his earlier work, and the beginning of his collaboration with guitarist Shane Parish of Ahleuchatistas, and visual artists Ursula Gullow and Nathanael Roney. The years 2012 and 2013 saw the releases of Elation, an EP recorded with J Seger, and Loyalty, a full-band record featuring Parish, Seger, and Emily Easterly. Followed by a 2014 UK tour with like-minded troubadour, Angel Olsen.

The songs on Light Enough encompass the processes of aspiration, pursuit, and fulfilment, if only to find that "People don't change. They only stand more revealed," as Charles Olson writes in Maximus Poems. In the album opener, "G & Me," Bartell sings of the joyful illusions of escape, "a whole new life" that's recognised, without bitterness as a "whole new lie." "Light Enough" is a declaration of sufficiency, as if to say, Let this be enough then, and if it isn't now, then it never will be: "I'm ready to come down," he sings. The record as a whole takes as a kind of informal credo a line from Eileen Myles' Chelsea Girls: "I have waited all my life for permission. I feel it growing in my breast. A war is storming and it is behind me and I am moving my forces into light."

Tour Dates:
02/25 - Brooklyn, NY - Troost
06/02 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room *
06/03 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theater *
06/04 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place *
06/06 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios *
06/07 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club *
06/08 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern *
06/10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
06/11 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
06/12 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room *
06/14 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
06/15 - Chicago, IL - Schubas *
06/16 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme *
06/17 - Toronto, Ontario - The Great Hall *
06/19 - Allston, MA - Great Scott *
06/20 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle *
06/22 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC *
06/23 - Washington, D.C. - Rock and Roll Hotel *
06/24 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook *
06/25 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
* = w/ Kevin Morby

'Tuesdays' is a gentle acoustic song with a soft melody and Jaye's quite individual vocals. There is a little bit of Leonard Cohen about the song, not a copy, or even influence, rather I think it's just the way Jaye sings. Whatever, it's said as a compliment, the album will be a fascinating listen.

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Mike Hill - Look At Me Now feat. Ashely Morgan.

Background promo - Canadian born but now local Southern California artist Mike Hill is taking musical collaboration to new heights with his much anticipated debut album Love & War. Funded entirely by fans via Kickstarter, Love & War features a total of 28 musicians many of whom Hill met while playing in the Mad T Party at Disneyland.

Each song not only features a different group musicians and/or singers, but also highlights different songwriters.

Yesterday's release of "Look At Me Now," features Season eight of The Voice contestant Ashley Morgan on lead vocals, was written by John Flanagan and just, straight up, rocks.

Album, Love & War, Coming Soon.

'Look At Me Now' has some fine vocals from Ashely Morgan, plus some good old full throttle rock'n'roll, supplied by Mike Hill and friends. Full credit to the man for involving so many in the forthcoming album, if this song is anything to go by, there will be a fair number of happy fans.

Quality Not Quantity: Lecia Louise - Stratus - Migrant Kids

Lecia Louise - Shock Me.

Background promo - “Shock Me” is the brand new single from Brisbane’s Lecia Louise,  just released ahead of her east-coast launch shows later this month.

Since her musical beginnings in 2005 with the release of her debut EP ‘Heaven or Hell’, Lecia Louise has been a force to be reckoned with.

Lecia has an impressive touring history that has seen the award-winning guitarist/singer/songwriter travel the four corners of the globe since 2006 performing to audiences throughout The UK, Europe, Abi Dhabi, Dubai, Rome, Singapore, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

On February 19th, Lecia released her first new single in two years titled “Shock Me” which continues to showcase her upbeat guitar laden, rock/pop offering. “The song is about a man who ‘trades in’ his long term girlfriend for an 'updated model, a more edgier version',” says Lecia. “But in the end she doesn't actually make him any happier”.

The track, produced and mixed by Jeff Lovejoy in Blackbox Studio (Powderfinger), is one that’s lifted from Lecia’s forthcoming EP titled ‘Per Te’ due for release later in the year.

Following the release of ‘Heaven or Hell’, in 2009 Lecia released her first full length album titled ‘Into Being’ which garnered radio airplay in Australia, New Zealand and North America. That same year, Lecia was invited to perform with Brian Cadd on his ‘Morning of The Earth tour. 2012 saw the release of the single ‘Individual’ which topped the Triple J Unearthed Charts and the single ‘For You’ released in 2013 – a track that earnt her a top 10 spot at the MusicOz awards.

Touring is second nature to Lecia having supported some of Australia’s greatest in recent years including Jon Stevens, Daryl Braithwaight, Mental as Anything, Shannon Noll, Phil Emmanuel, Killing Heidi and James Morrison. Add to that performances at festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford’s ‘Dreaming Festival’, Tamworth Country Festival, Blues on Broadbeach and Joyfest. More recently, Lecia was invited to perform at the Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival in September 2015.

Lecia is a multi-talented artist which is evident in her live performance. Don’t miss Lecia perform throughout Queensland on her “Shock Me” launch dates kicking off later this month:

Wednesday, February 27: La Piazza, Labrador, QLD
Saturday, March 5: The Morrison, Brisbane, QLD.

'Shock Me' is a lively, upbeat pop meets rock song. Guitars and rhythm are full on rock'n'roll whilst the vocal juxtapose intriguingly with a seventies pop feel to them. Musically it's full of enticing hooks and can't help but leave you in a better place.

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Stratus - Rêve De Nuages.

Background promo - From Tor’s “Drum Therapy” to Stév’s “Beyond Stolen Notes,” Emancipator’s Loci Records has built a steady reputation as a label unafraid to feature experimental sounds by emerging talent. Honing in on that ideal, the forthcoming album release from Doug Appling’s forward-thinking imprint comes from a relatively unknown talent who goes by the name of Stratus. “Réve De Nuages,” the lead single off “The Diver,” with the full record set to drop on Loci Records February 26th.

“Réve De Nuages” fits in perfectly with the traditional Loci style, as delicate guitar plucks, piano keys, and expansive vocal samples weave in and out with the melodic down tempo vibe, leaving the listener in a state of profound reverie. Even as the organic instrumentals in the song shine, the minimal structure of the song allows for a smooth and steady rise in momentum as the core electronic elements come into play. At the root, this is a song and album that has the propensity to inspire and move listeners with its beautiful intricacies.

California-based Stratus, real name Tristan de Liège, began his interests in music in middle school, first playing in indie bands and eventually exploring loop-based electronic music. His sound is inspired by instrumental hip hop, jazz, down tempo artists and also his love of film soundtracks, world music and orchestral arrangements. He constantly seeks to push his sound further, trying new combinations of instruments (most of which he plays himself) and genres.

He has collaborated with several different musicians on a variety of projects, including Thoma (with experimental producer and childhood friend Askanse) and Lost At Sea (a one-off post-rock project with guitarist Ben Formanek). He is looking to further expand his horizons, not only into the realm of more challenging and innovative live performance but also in scoring for film and games.

There is a considerable amount packed into the lead song 'Rêve De Nuages' from the forthcoming album 'The Diver'. However somehow it manages to feel so relaxed and calming. The delicate mixture of sounds and strong melody are topped with just enough vocal sampling to make this an excellent example of how a down tempo song can be so refreshing.

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Migrant Kids - Thread.

Background promo - Cousins Miguel Ojeda and John Zakoor have been playing music together for a decade and a half, dating back to when they lived in Detroit, and their upbeat, post-rock riffing, pop act, Migrant Kids are releasing the precise and most excellent Primordial Soup EP on May 13th on Pure Joy Records. 

Alongside the record announcement, the band have debuted the video for "Thread", a throwback-styled performance video set in the band's home town of Laredo, in which their city's backdrop provides the perfect setting for the arpeggiated hit song, that echoes the finer Bloc Party singles.

The four song extended player swoops in quickly and grabs the listener with such a powerful backbeat immediately, that the top tier hooks almost seem like an afterthought. The chorus guitar and earnest vocal sincerity pile on top of the grooves so perfectly that the juxtaposition of that driving force and saccharine melodies create a brilliant tension you want out of a pop act like Migrant Kids.

'Thread' is one of four really good songs on the forthcoming EP, in fact, such is the quality of the music, it's a wonder they could choose one track to lead with. It's a feast of indie pop & rock music, played with passion and professionalism and a huge chunk of heart, and the video is on our BeeVids page.

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