Wed, 03/23/2016 - 1:52 pm

Rising Southern singer/songwriter Nate Currin recently released the official music video for his current single “Midnight Train.” The video premiered exclusively on The Boot and can be seen here. The video was shot on location in southern California’s Joshua Tree State Park and the swamps of central Florida. The juxtaposition of these two distinct locales makes for a compelling and gorgeously made video that only adds to the tension of the song’s narrative. Nate had this to say about the track: “Midnight Train hearkens back to the days where southern rock, gritty country, and rock n roll all came together in a seamless blend of beauty and organic decay. The story is of a memory the writer has of a girl from the past, a true southern beauty who breaks his heart as he leaves the South behind, trading love for the road but nonetheless haunted by the memory of the 'one who got away'."

“Midnight Train” is featured on the highly anticipated album The Madman and The Poet which drops on April 15th. The album is the follow up to 2014’s You and I are Ghosts record and features some of Nate’s most compelling and emotionally charged tracks to date. Nate recently talked about his vision for the record: "The Madman and The Poet is a concept album, a 2-sided feature that shows the dichotomy between the beautiful things in life and the dark and introspective times that leave us shrouded in questions. The first half of the album, the Madman, is a darker and more gritty collection of songs, both stylistically and thematically, with more of a bluesy rock-n-roll feel, while the second half, the Poet, is a lighter and often times happier song collection that is more acoustic musically.”

As anticipated, Nate will be headed out on the road this Spring in support of The Madman and The Poet. For a full list of dates visit www.natecurrin.com/tour. To stay current with all things Nate, be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Thu, 03/30/2017 - 6:52 am

Brooklyn based singer/songwriter Brett Gleason has just premiered the supremely melancholic video for his current single “Expiration Date” at Purevolume.com. A bleak testament to love’s inherent conclusion, the black and white video took Gleason almost a year to complete, and can be seen here.

Brett had this to say about the video: The 'Expiration Date' video took almost a year to make.  Whereas the song is a general take on the temporary nature of love and life, the video became more personal with each shoot - the photograph at the start is a picture of me with my first boyfriend and the cemetery we shot in is one where I've mourned too many friends.  Ultimately, whether dealing with loves loss from death or otherwise, it becomes increasingly difficult to be present in a relationship with the knowledge that every love that's come before has come to an end, and you will too.

“Expiration Date” is featured on Gleason’s upcoming sophomore album, Manifest, which will be released on April 14th. Fans can pre-order the album through Brett’s official site here, and on iTunes.

To celebrate the release of Manifest, Brett will be performing a record release show at  Pianos in NYC on release day. Tickets are still available here.

Brett also has the following live dates confirmed:

4.21 // Somerville, MA // PA’s Lounge

4.24 // Philadelphia, PA // Kung Fu Necktie

5.26 // Washington, DC // Ebenezers Coffeehouse

A multi-instrumentalist and self-produced artist, Brett Gleason constructs deceptively complex songs that twist and turn but effortlessly stay in your head and burrow into your heart.  His piano playing is the cornerstone of most songs as he often performs solo but there’s not one instance where he doesn’t also accompany himself on guitar, bass and at least one other instrument.

Gleason’s self-titled debut album was a dark mix of piano pop and electro rock and debuted in the Top 100 of the iTunes Alternative Charts in 2014. It produced 5 music videos & was called “An absolute winner,” by Regen Magazine.

To stay current on all things Brett Gleason be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and his Official Site.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 7:19 am

The self-proclaimed “punk empress of African Rock” Cole Williams has premiered an invigorating cover of the Sam Cooke classic, “A Change is Gonna Come.” The track premiered over on Glide.com recently, and can be heard here.

Williams had this to say about the track: "A Change Is Gonna Come’ is a song I've always been drawn to because of the message, and of course the arrangement and performance by Sam Cooke.  As an artist, I feel a responsibility to empower my fans and reflect the times through my music and performances. My band and I perform this song at our weekly residency at the Marigny Brasserie, and we always feel the energy of the crowd when we start playing this song. I’m not just singing this song, I experience this song, and feeling the story or the message of a song I choose to cover is vital. This is also my first band recording since relocating to New Orleans from Brooklyn. We recorded the song at "Long Gone Studio" located in the 9th ward of New Orleans. This song is a very special piece of music and has always been very close to my soul."

The Cole Williams Band will be hitting the road on a short East Coast run, including a return to Williams’ native Brooklyn on 7/21. Dates are as follows:

7/21 - C’mon Everybody - Brooklyn

7/22 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia

7/28 - TBA

7/29 - Rockwood Music Hall - NYC

"Life is a stage," says Cole Williams, host of Tuesday WWOZ New Orleans Music Show, innovator of genre, African Rock, Director Of Education and Outreach with Community Works Of Louisiana and 2017 French Quarter, Freret Street and Congo Square Rhythm Festival & 2016 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival performer, with the authority of a seasoned artist, entrepreneur and educator. More than a singer/songwriter/producer/ composer, Cole has expanded her repertoire to reflect an increasingly eclectic assortment of creative endeavors. Blessed with a powerful voice and superlative musical instincts, Cole is forging a “fearlessly original sound that is as eclectic as her outré fashion sense.”

Cole’s stage presence has been likened to Grace Jones with a girl next door flare bends and melds sound breaking traditional genre distinctions, making her a unique musical entity, comfortable singing rock ballads as she is reggae or a blues tracks. Williams studied voice with Ankh Rah Amenhetep (Making the Band) from 2000-2002 to develop her vocal personality, and soon began writing and recording demos in some of NYC’s top studios.

To stay current with all things Cole Williams Band be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or her official site www.colewilliamsband.com

Mon, 09/04/2017 - 11:00 am

Southern California singer/songwriter Matt Westerman has just premiered his new single “One Fine Day” over on AXS.com. The anthemic and empowering track is the first single off of Matt’s debut EP, “Life Out Loud,” which will see a release on November 3rd.

Matt had this to say about the track: “The song is basically my motto for making this whole EP. It is about waking up and deciding today is the day I am going to take a chance and go after my dreams! Mostly it is about having the courage to be who you want to be."

“One Fine Day” can be heard here.

Fans can expect more of Westerman’s feel good vibes on his debut EP, “Life Out Loud,” when it drops in the Fall. Joining Westerman on the record is a veritable “who’s who” of notable session players. Pedal steel player Marty Rifkin – long time Bruce Springsteen collaborator – showcases his talents on the record. Westerman is also joined by session journeyman Sean Hurley on bass who has performed on John Mayer’s records and is currently on tour with Idina Menzel. The finely nuanced production on “Life Out Loud” is credited to Brad Swanson, whose tracks can be heard in popular shows like  Smallville, CSI, Ghost Whisperer, and more.

Featuring bright stand-out tracks like “One Fine Day,” “She’s More,”  and “Don’t Give Up On You” the EP is sure to win over admirers of the singer/songwriter genre and fans of modern contemporaries like Passenger, Jack Johnson, and Brett Dennen. By fusing his main influences that range from Neil Young to Dave Matthews to Coldplay, Westerman has crafted an original collection of songs that expertly fuse the pop sounds of the past and present.

To stay current on all things Matt Westerman be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 8:00 pm

Southern California based singer/songwriter Matt Westerman has just premiered his new single, “Don’t Give Up On You” over on Atwood Magazine. The track is the second single to be released off of Westerman’s forthcoming debut EP, “Life Out Loud” (out November 10th). Atwood called the track “the epitome of the out stretched hand, a lively and impassioned assertion of inner strength and persistence.” Fans can listen to the track here.

“Don’t Give Up On You” is a song about believing in yourself and not letting your inner critic or other people’s opinions drag you down,” Westerman shares. “It is about tapping into the beauty of who you really are and owning it.”

To celebrate the release of his debut EP “Life Out Loud” on November 10th, Matt Westerman will be performing at The Mint in Los Angeles at 9PM. Tickets are still available here.

Joining Westerman on the EP is a veritable “who’s who” of notable session players. Pedal steel player Marty Rifkin – long time Bruce Springsteen collaborator  – showcases his talents on the record. Westerman is also joined by session journeyman Sean Hurley on bass who has performed on John Mayer’s records and is currently on tour with Idina Menzel. The finely nuanced production on “Life Out Loud” is credited to Brad Swanson, whose tracks can be heard in popular shows like  Smallville, CSI, Ghost Whisperer, and more.

Featuring bright stand-out tracks like “One Fine Day,” “She’s More,”  and “Don’t Give Up On You” the EP is sure to win over admirers of the singer/songwriter genre and fans of modern contemporaries like Passenger, Jack Johnson, and Brett Dennen. By fusing his main influences that range from Neil Young to Dave Matthews to Coldplay, Westerman has crafted an original collection of songs that expertly fuse the pop sounds of the past and present.

To stay current on all things Matt Westerman be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SHORT BIO: Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Matt Westerman writes upbeat acoustic pop songs with a positive, compassionate message meant to uplift and inspire listeners everywhere. His debut record, “Life Out Loud” (due out this fall), is a musical manifestation of the phrase “carpe diem,” that shines with all the inherent bravery needed to live life to the fullest. The EP showcases Matt’s ability to write powerful melodies, catchy hooks, and thoughtful lyrics. This, combined with his distinctively smooth vocal delivery and stand out rhythm guitar playing, makes “Life Out Loud” the perfect introduction to the world of Matt Westerman.

The EP is inspired by Matt’s unique background in music, education, and psychology. He’s spent the last few years working as a self-employed tutor which informed and impacted his songwriting. In addition, Matt’s degree in psychology has had an impact on his songwriting and lyrical subject matter with a focus on encouraging a clear and positive state of mind. Matt also applies this courageous message to himself, which has given him the strength to overcome his own challenges and set his sights on a career in music. In the last few years Westerman has been carving out his dreams on stage, with gigs all over the Southern California area – from clubs, to bars, to busking on the Santa Monica pier.

With “Life Out Loud” slated for a Fall release, Matt Westerman is taking the chance of a lifetime, a chance that he hopes will inspire others to take a leap, reach for a dream, and actualize their own potential.

Sun, 11/26/2017 - 2:17 pm

The self-proclaimed “punk empress of African Rock” Cole Williams has premiered a brand new single titled “Free” over on Huffington Post. The new single follows the release of “A Change Is Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke) from earlier in the year, and showcases Williams at the top of her game. Huff Post has called the song “a gift…[a] singular touching performance” and credited her for her “powerhouse vocals and empowering lyrical stance.”

Williams had this to say about the track: “That song is a collaboration between myself and French producer/musician Pierre VEUILLOT while I was working in Paris. It was an incredible experience to create music with someone I could barely have a conversation with. This song is about me and my right to express my voice as a woman, Jamaican-American, musician, educator and human. At times, the music world can feel more oppressive than the “real” world, and you feel like you are fighting to be heard. This song is my statement, my personal mantra and my gift to everyone that wants to be free.”

Fans can listen to the track here.

Cole Williams will be bringing her spirited African Rock performances all over New Orleans in November. She will be performing at Marigny Brasserie every Saturday this month, and will also be at the ACE Hotel Nola on November 29th. Ticket information can be found at www.colewilliamsmusic.com.

"Life is a stage," says Cole Williams, who is more than just a singer/songwriter/producer/composer. Cole has expanded her repertoire to reflect an increasingly eclectic assortment of creative endeavors. Model, WWOZ New Orleans radio host, community worker, and more. Since moving from her native Brooklyn, Williams has welcomed New Orleans with open arms, taking it’s eclectic spirit as an influence, and leaving her own creative and singular stamp on the city. Blessed with a powerful voice and superlative musical instincts, Cole is forging a “fearlessly original sound that is as eclectic as her outré fashion sense.”

Cole’s stage presence has been likened to Grace Jones with a girl next door flare bends and melds sound breaking traditional genre distinctions, making her a unique musical entity, comfortable singing rock ballads as she is reggae or a blues tracks. Williams studied voice with Ankh Rah Amenhetep (Making the Band) from 2000-2002 to develop her vocal personality, and soon began writing and recording demos in some of NYC’s top studios.

Sun, 12/24/2017 - 3:21 pm

Southern California based singer/songwriter Matt Westerman has just released a stunning performance video for the song “Sunrise.” The video features Matt performing at dawn in the Southern California mountains accompanied by cellist Danica Pinner.

Matt had this to say about the song:

"Sunrise is about getting in touch with your spirit. It is about cutting out all the excess noise and getting in touch with who you really are underneath it all."

“Sunrise” is featured on Westerman’s debut EP “Life Out Loud,” which has received praise from critics. Huffington Post called the EP a “compassionate debut collection of six uplifting and hopeful tracks that fans of the tried and true acoustic guitar wielding songwriter will be easily drawn to.” Substream Magazine called the EP “nothing short of triumphant,” while Atwood Magazine said that Westerman crafted “a finely felt out piece of musical poetry that comes from the heart and speaks to the heart.” The Low Down Under remarked the EP is, “Accessible, warm and bursting with optimism.”

“Life Out Loud” is available now via Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music and more here.

To celebrate the release of the record, Matt performed at the legendary Mint in Los Angeles on Friday November 10th with a full band to a packed crowd.

Featuring bright stand-out tracks like “One Fine Day,” “She’s More,” and “Don’t Give Up On You,” “Life Out Loud” is sure to win over admirers of the singer/songwriter genre and fans of modern contemporaries like Passenger, Jack Johnson, and Brett Dennen. By fusing his main influences that range from Neil Young to Dave Matthews to Coldplay, Westerman has crafted an original collection of songs that expertly fuse the pop sounds of the past and present.

To stay current on all things Matt Westerman be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.