The LA-based, successful multifaceted creative, Nir Yaniv, is gearing up to release his new EP, The Voice Remains. The album is comprised entirely by vocals and drums. All the vocals, including the ones serving as bass, guitars and keyboards, were performed by Nir, while the drums were played by, Israeli musician, Karen Teperberg.
The music moves between energetic and meditative, but never loses its basic underlying happiness. It is about journeys to faraway places, sometimes inside one’s own mind, about discovery of others and of one’s self, and thus change. All this was greatly influenced by Nir’s own experiences in recent years.
Inspiration for the project came from an eclectic range of music and art, including vintage funk, 70’s progressive rock, famous movie soundtracks and old French animation films. It also builds upon Nir’s past work with vocal groups (Funkapella, Vocaliens, King&Nir) and as a live musician for a dance company.
Another factor in the creation of this album was an audio effect called Manipulator, created by Polyverse Music. This toll enabled Nir to easily change the nature of his vocal performance and create lower and higher octaves and great harmonies. While Nir has done all that numerous times in the past, this audio plugin made it so much easier, that in fact it was during Nir’s beta-testing period for it that the album was initiated.
The Voice Remains comes out on June 15, 2018. Stay tuned!
Adult pop singer-songwriter and founder of Kantor Guitars, Robert Kantor recently ventured back into his love of music with the recent release his new album, Truth, on Blaksushimusic Records. Filled with timeless melodies, the album features 10 original songs written by Kantor that blend elements from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Bringing some classic sounds, Kantor creates a new modern twist to pop rock that music has been missing.
On the album, Robert Kantor worked alongside Kareem Devlin, Lady Gaga’s former guitarist, and Grammy Award-winning engineer, Fran Cathcart. As a team, they were able to bring Kantor’s musical ideas to life in a seamless way. Robert Kantor has been a lover of music since he started playing guitar at age 11, and by 15 was playing locally with his bandmates. While he was passionate about his music, Kantor got into the business of fashion design, a trade he proved to be very skilled in and led him to a successful career in the fashion industry.
Later in 2004, Kantor combined his background in fashion design with his passion for guitar collecting and began designing customized guitars and guitar accessories, some with Swarovski crystals, for various artists. His guitars or accessories have become prized possessions of household name artists, including Eric Clapton, Lady Gaga, Richie Sambora, Santana, LennyKravitz, Gary Clarke Jr., Def Leppard, Steve Stevens (guitarist for Billy Idol) and new Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer Elliot Easton of The Cars.
It was not until 2016 after the untimely passing of his wife of 18 years when Kantor decided to turn his focus back onto playing and recording music. The songs that he wrote now comprise his new album, Truth. The 10-track album is deeply personal, following the ups and downs of life in musical harmony.
Singer-songwriter, Steven Blane, returns with the release of his newest album, I Walk Alone, released April 16th, 2019. The album, self-composed, and self-produced is a true testament to Steven’s artistic capabilities. Blane was responsible for the entire project, from playing the instruments to mixing and mastering, this body of work was a one-man show. Says Blane, “It is is the truest realization of my artistry to date." I Walk Alone is an album comprised of 60’s Rock & Roll, Jazz Story Songs and is recommended if you like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and Tom Waits.
Steven writes and performs in multiple genres (Americana, Pop, Jazz, Country). The Huffington Post writes “stylistically, Blane fits in the Americana category. But there’s more going on in his music than simply Americana. There’s a pop influence in there, along with a 1950’s rock vibe that gives his sound a unique signature. It’s much different from the usual run-of-the-mill stuff most bands turn out today." Steven is also a multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, piano, and ukulele.
Steven Blane has had 7 other official releases including his acclaimed album, Motel Blue, which featured Nashville recording artist Rachel Horter on vocals and Ross Holmes on Fiddle. His August 2018 album, So New York, received much praised and featured drums by Frank-Frankie “Sticks” Levatino (played amongst John Tropea, Will Lee, Harold Ashby, Kenny Daverne and more), bass by Kevin Hailey (recipient of Hot House Magazine’s Jazz Fan’s Decision award for Best Bass), and piano by Jack Glottman (performed with Grupo Cachimba). Broadway World gushed over Blane’s music saying, “Steven Blane's voice is deliciously deluxe, full of lush tones."
Introducing Grammy Finalist and five-time Emmy Award-winning composer/producer/performer Mark Oblinger out of Boulder, CO. For the past four decades, Oblinger has had a very successful music career as a major-label nationally touring singer and guitarist, as well as an award-winning producer and songwriter. Today, Oblinger takes his well-deserved place at center stage as solo artist. He recently released his debut solo album, High Water Line, in July 2019.
Oblinger's illustrious music career includes performing with highly successful national touring acts, chart-topping country rock stalwarts Pure Prairie League (“Amie”) and 7 years with Firefall (“Cinderella,” “You Are the Woman”). Oblinger also worked with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) and in recent years with Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, John Oates, Jeff Hanna (Dirt Band), Drew Emmit and Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Billy Nershi (String Cheese Incident) and many others.
A vibrant, fresh approach to classic Indie Rock, High Water Line blends unusual musical elements with vivid lyrical pictures to reflect the common storylines of our lives and times. The lyrics deal with a woman's choice ("Julia"), the daily "work" of love ("Love Is"), the uncompromising nature of passion (“No Regrets”), an emphatic call to action/personal change ("Little Bird"), among other themes.
Oblinger pulled together a top-notch team of industry pros to create his new body of work, including producer John McVey (Chuck Pyle, Yonder Mountain String Band) and mix engineer James Tuttle (AAA radio favorites Big Head Todd, String Cheese Incident, Michael Franti, Hot Rize). He recorded the album with drummer Christian Teele, bassist Chris Engleman and Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Nick Forster (Founder & host of nationally syndicated E-Town, Hot Rize) - all members of the eTones (who backed James Taylor, Rickie Lee Jones, Moby, Ben Harper, Joan Osborne, and many more). Other musicians on the album include bassist Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon), pianist Eric Moon (Björk, Rare Silk, Jill Sobule), the Railsplitter's Pete Sharpe (mandolin) and Dusty Rider (banjo) plus background vocals by Robert Johnson (Steve Wonder) and Linda Lawson (Amy Grant, Garth Brooks, John Oates).
Colorado Music Hall of Famer Chris Daniels says about Oblinger’s new album, “High Water Line lives in that wonderful place between jam band and Jackson Browne.” Three-time Grammy winning producer Tom Wasinger raves, “Riveting and haunting songwriting, flawless musicianship, masterful production, and soaring above it all the golden throat of Mark Oblinger.”
For more updates and shows by Mark Oblinger, visit MarkOblinger.com.
Conveying honesty and vulnerability, contemporary singer-songwriter Siobhán O'Brien is excited to announce her new album You Can’t Run Out of Love, out late January 2020. Recorded in Austin, Texas, at Cicada Moon Studios, O’Brien worked alongside John Bush (percussionist for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) and Matt Hubbard (keyboardist for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians). Together they brought to life 10 original songs, each documenting important moments in her life since she left Ireland for the US in 2016.
Inspired by great American singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, and Joan Baez, O’Brien creates heartfelt tracks inspired by changes throughout her life. She shows her raw and vulnerable side through her tracks such as “Love Is The Holy Grail,” “Mother,” and “She Hides My Plecs.”
Reflecting on her upcoming album, O’Brien says, “I feel this record is about transitioning, it’s about acceptance, it’s about adventure, it’s about risk-taking. It’s a reminder to me to stay the course. To not give up. The theme is ‘women’ as I co-wrote the title track ‘You Can’t Run Out Of Love” with Jude Johnstone which is about the modern-day stress and struggles that mothers have to endure and ‘I Stayed Too Long’ is a co-write with Linda McRae. The last track ‘Mother’ is an apology to my own mother. “She Hides My Plecs” is about my sister. I want this record to bring joy and healing.”
Now, Siobhán O'Brien is excited to share her third studio album, You Can’t Run Out Of Love, with the world on late January 2020. The record will be introduced through her new single and title track “You Can’t Run out Of Love” releasing in November.
Be sure to follow Siobhan O’Brien on social media for exclusives and music updates.
World-renowned violinist and composer Scarlet Rivera blazed the trail for rock violinists when she was featured on Bob Dylan's legendary Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975. Today, she proudly announces the release of her new single and vocal debut, “Dust Bowl”. Rivera co-wrote the song with her producer, Tim Goodman, about the 1930s ecological disaster in the US Midwest. The song is on Rivera's EP, All of Me, the first release to feature Rivera on both violin and lead vocals. Her 12th solo body of work, All of Me is set to release on April 17, 2020 on Bright Sun Records.
On the All of Me EP, Rivera combines her versatility as a world-class violinist with her singing and songwriting skills to create six original songs. The songs cover various topics from women empowerment and political power to self-identity and the wisdom one gains from living life. The EP also includes the track “Songbird” that pays homage to iconic singer-songwriter and Rivera’s contemporary, Joni Mitchell.
Originally trained as a classical violinist, Rivera explored adapting the violin into several other music genres and styles, including Americana, rock, new age, Celtic and world music. It was this innovative spirit that got the attention of Bob Dylan in 1975. After an impromptu audition, Dylan asked Rivera to perform on his 1976 album, Desire, that went double-platinum and was considered one of the biggest albums of his career. Dylan featured Rivera on every track, being impressed with her versatile playing and improvisational skills. He later invited Rivera to accompany him on his Rolling Thunder Revue. This year-long tour featured a lineup of legendary artists, including Joni Mitchell, Mick Ronson, Roger McGuinn, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, among others.
Since then, Rivera has gone on to be featured on recordings and tours by many other major label artists, including the Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, Eric Andersen, Keb’ Mo’, Peter Maffay, David Johansen and Sylvia Tyson of ‘Ian and Sylvia’, and five-time Grammy winner Cindy Cashdollar. She also released 11 solo albums of her own, including genre-bending Celtic and rock albums that cemented her place as one of the world’s most prominent and versatile violinists of her time.
Rivera was recently featured in the 2019 film, Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese. The film includes captivating original footage of Rivera both behind the scenes and performing live on tour with Dylan in 1975.
Today, Rivera is pleased to introduce her latest rock EP, All of Me, which features the artist's vocal talents as well. The EP’s producer, Tim Goodman, assembled an impressive lineup of recording musicians for this project. They include: Mike Finnigan on keys (Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jimmie Hendrix and many more); Steve Ferrone on drums (Tom Petty and Eric Clapton); Jimmy Haslip on bass (the Yellow Jackets, Chaka Kahn, Jeff Lorber and Bruce Hornsby); Andrew Kastner on guitar, Bill Bergman on horns (Jack Mack and the Heart Attack); Tim Goodman along with young Blues phenom, Delanie Pickering, on guitars.
Check out Scarlet Rivera’s newly released single, “Dust Bowl”, from her upcoming EP, All of Me - out April 17, 2020!
Irish contemporary singer-songwriter Siobhán O'Brien releases her new music video to accompany her single, "The King's Fool", from her upcoming album, You Can’t Run Out of Love. The video was filmed by Reed Smith on location at Peace house Farm, Austin, Texas. Recorded in Austin, Texas at Cicada Moon Studios, O’Brien’s new album, You Can’t Run Out of Love, is set to release on April 20, 2020.
“The King’s Fool” video depicts two women, a secretary (Kay Miracle) and a hairdresser (Penny Jo Pulls) who are frustrated with their current positions in life. O’Brien stars in the video as a musician writing the song and reflecting on her own life’s challenges as she tries to “make it” as a musician. At the end of the video, all three women come together and realize the relationships they build are what matters the most in life.
Inspired by great American singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, and Joan Baez, O’Brien creates emotive tracks inspired by changes throughout her life. She recorded her You Can't Run Out of Love album with John Bush (percussionist for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) and Matt Hubbard (keyboardist for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians). Together they brought to life her 10 original songs, each documenting important moments in her life since she left Ireland for the US in 2016.
Check out Siobhan O’Brien’s new video for “The King’s Fool” out now on YouTube. Her new album, You Can't Run Out of Love, emerged officially on April 20th on all streaming and digital download platforms.
