Erica Glyn has had quite a year since the release of her 2012 full-length effort, Static. She’s received praise and awe for her self-produced and released work. Static graced a few “Best of 2012” lists, her songs landed on radio in far off corners of the world, and she has already dropped four stunningly unique videos for singles off the album. She’ll be ending the impressive Static run with one last video for her sultry and provocative song “The Animal”, premiering exclusively on PureVolume.

When asked about the inspiration behind “The Animal”, Erica explained:

"The Animal" is one of those songs that just fell out of me and into place. I love the simple lyrics and how that simplicity reflects the meaning of the song. It's about female carnal desire, from the female perspective. The musical arch of The Animal ended up mimicking a sexual experience complete with a slow instrumental foreplay introduction, a long and steady build of instruments, to a burst of climactic psychedelia with trumpets hailing it's arrival, whirling vocals singing "the animal comes out for you", to the instrumental petering-out of the post coital cigarette guitar ascension.

"The concept of this song was hard to put into a visual representation; to represent the subtly of the meaning without it being misunderstood or getting hacked up, keeping it classy and portraying the nuances was a real challenge. I think it helped that we referenced a time period that was very buttoned up, prude and unwelcoming of self-possessed female sexuality. I really didn't want it to be harsh, overt or vulgar. So we used the late 1950's/early 60's as our point of deterrence. The video is meant to be exciting, joyful and supportive of women and their own lust for life. Women get carnal, and if they're lucky, they get to express it without judgment from others or themselves."

ABOUT ERICA:

New York City based artist/producer, Erica Glyn, is an amplifying force in the music industry. From her self-made creations to her songwriting/production work, she’s becoming a well-known entity and making fans across the globe. She produces a unique and intriguing sound, mixing elements of trip-hop, rocktronica and a splash of psychedelic rock with her captivating vocals and commanding lyrics. Erica leans towards the unconventional, experimenting with instrumentation and tonal effects, which garner her comparisons to boundary-pushing powerhouses like Florence Welch and Fiona Apple. Erica’s vampy, garage-pop lures listeners into “a world of the unusual and strange”, a landscape of pulsating beats, surging synthesizers, elegantly volcanic melodies, and dark, poetic lyrics.

She began her career working with Grammy nominated producer/engineer Bob Power, on albums by India.Arie, The Roots, Ozomatli, Citizen Cope and Meshell Ndegeocello among others. As an engineer, Erica has worked with a variety of notable personalities that include Hillary Clinton, Clive Davis, Hoda Kotb, Harvey Firestein, Aaron Tveit, Ed Westwick, Richard Clarke (Audie Award), Stephen Colbert, Frank McCourt (Audie Award), Joan Rivers, Uma Thurman, Dr. Oz, Mariane Pearl (Audie Award), Valerie Plame, Michael J. Fox (Audie Award) and John Lithgow (Audie Award), the latter two projects both garnering Grammy nominations.

Erica has currently begun working on her forthcoming album, due out mid-2013, and plans to amp up her live performance schedule, so stay tuned for announcements!

Tampa-based indie folk singer/songwriter Connor Zwetsch has partnered with The Bluegrass Situation for the exclusive song premiere of, "Candy Bars," from her debut EP, What Comes After (out 8/21/15). "Candy Bars" is an upbeat single about youth and joyfulness, and the carefree feelings of adolescence that is a favorite at Connor's live gigs. Zwetsch graces her live performances with a warm, sultry voice that evokes a sort of comfort when she's on stage and translates to the song. Here is what Connor had to say about "Candy Bars":

"'Candy Bars' has a very special place in my heart. I feel guilty even taking credit for writing the lyrics because it effortlessly flowed through me. Luckily, I happened to be lying in bed strumming my guitar when it arrived and from that, 'Candy Bars' was born. I grew up in the small suburban town that is Lutz, Florida. I spent my youth sneaking out of my house in the middle of the night, roaming the neighborhood with friends, doing things we shouldn't have been doing. You know, just being kids." - Connor Zwetsch

What Comes After was recorded at Bear Creek Studio with multi-platinum producer Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy, RaRaRiot). The EP will be released through Noble Steed Music on August 21st (pre-order here). What Comes After is an autobiographical collection that will resonate with all who are navigating love, loss, and the search for life's silver linings. It's a celebration of the big and small things: water wasted, bridges burned, gas station wine, and whatever it is that comes after.

Head over to The Bluegrass Situation today to stream Connor Zwetsch's new single "Candy Bars." What Comes After releases on 8/21/15 through Noble Steed Music and is now available for pre-order on iTunes. Follow Connor Zwetsch on social media for future updates and new music soon.

California Alternative-Folk/Americana outfit Anton Kellner & The Lone Stars is proud to announce the release of Understand, the second album since their 2014 release, You Were The Fire. The album, will be released digitally on 2/26/16, but fans can also expect an LP release later in the year. Understand was produced by Anton Kellner and Nolan Perry, mixed and mastered by Nolan Perry. The album looks from the outside-in on the daily struggles and emotions of others who seek help and comfort. Anton Kellner states, “I strongly felt the need to address these emotions, but needed a medium to communicate my thoughts, so I figured why not turn them into a record.” For the first time, Anton Kellner is not taking a personal approach to his songwriting, but rather pens stories about real people and the drastic situations that he has witnessed over the years. Here is what Anton Kellner had to say about Understand:

"We took a lot of risks with it, and dared to step into stories that were outside our comfort level. We are very proud of the end result, and truly believe that this is simply ‘our album’” - Anton Kellner

Coastal California is the home of singer/songwriter Anton Kellner, who performs with his band under the moniker “Anton Kellner & The Lone Stars”. After touring the circuit for quite some time in his prior band Holding Onto Hope (Come&Live Records), Kellner released his successful debut album entitled You Were The Fire. The album was released on July 29th, 2014 and had much critical acclaim among the press & his fans. You Were The Fire was produced by Nolan Perry (The Mighty Fine), with additional mastering handled by Eric Boulanger (OneRepublic, Plain White T’s). Kellner has landed 3 successful PR campaigns, extensive shows up & down the coast, two music videos, and numerous musical collaborations, such as with Louis Diller (HolyChild/Glassnote Records), Elle Puckett (Poema), Tim Brennan (June/Victory Records), Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday/The Color Fred). Anton Kellner & The Lone Stars’ sophomore album, Understand, features Anton Kellner (vocals, acoustic/electric guitar, piano, organ), Nolan Perry (bass), Josh Lucas (drums, percussion), and Scott Poley (pedal steel, additional electric guitar), with additional vocals by Sierra English.

Until Understand becomes available on 2/26/16, head to AntonKellner.com to hear past releases from Anton Kellner & The Lone Stars. Follow the band on social media for updates and new music.

After raising over $10,000 with a successful #FundTheFolk Indiegogo campaign, Nashville-based Americana/Folk outfit Roanoke [for fans of The Civil Wars, The Head and the Heart, The Lumineers] is thrilled to announce the official release date of their debut self-titled album, set for 5/13/16.  Roanokeis an album filled with modern yet vintage tunes that make the audience sit and listen to a back-porch tale in true Americana fashion.  The stories told in Roanoke are relatable, real-life tales of struggles, adventure, love, and heartbreak, such as "Heavy Goodbyes,"which is about coming to terms with having to leave someone you love, or the deep message in "Jordan" which touches on struggles with faith. Roanoke set out to send their audience through a wave of emotions with this album, not just sadness or melancholy. Roanokealso features fun, upbeat tracks about love and adventure.  Here is what the band has to say about their debut album release:

"Our hearts and souls are in this record. We wanted to tell a story, for people to become a part of that story, and we believe folks are really going to connect with these songs. From the harmonies to the instrumentation, even how certain tracks were recorded, this album was crafted by us to be as evocative as possible. This is our first record, our introduction to the world, and a chance to make our unique mark on a rapidly growing genre. We are thrilled to finally get our music into the hands and ears of our fans, and anyone who appreciates honest songs performed with compassion and unbridled spirit." - Roanoke

Roanoke is a rising folk/americana band based out of Nashville, TN. Lead by Joey Beesley (lead vocals, guitar) and Taylor Dupuis (lead vocals), the two come together to create rich harmonies and unforgettable songs of love, heartbreak, and exploration. Joined by band members Zach Nowak (mandolin and vocals), Kyle Breese (drums, banjo, and harmonica), and Jo Cleary (violin), Roanoke uses their undeniable musical chemistry to create a unique and captivating sound full of cultural influences, roots instrumentation, and catchy, memorable melodies. Their debut album Roanoke is set for release on 5/13/16, an invigoratingly classic Americana album filled with heavily emotional back-porch tales that pull on the heart through lyrical storytelling. Roanoke has struck a balance between the narrative songwriting of folk, the ear candy appeal of pop, and the roots authenticity of country music and are set to shake the alternative Americana folk scene in no time.

Until Roanoke's debut self-titled album drops on 5/13/16, head over to the band's YouTube to check out a live video of "Heavy Goodbyes.". Follow the band on social media for updates, new music, and more.

After winning a slew of prestigious awards including the Philadelphia Songwriter’s Project Contest and WSTW’s Folk Song Of The Year, for her track “Home to Me,” fans of the folk/rock singer-songwriter Andrea Nardello, have been anxious to hear more.  Today, the singer is proud to announce the official release of her next EP, titled Fire, which is to be released 4/15/16 through Noble Steed Music. The EP was produced by Matt Chiaravalle, who Nardello partnered with for her previous release ECHO. Fire is an emotional compilation of tracks by Nardello that encourage the listener to think and reflect on life’s issues as the singer guides them through an honest emotional ride. Here is what Andrea Nardello had to say about Fire:

"This EP takes the listener on a journey and covers topics that I consider to be heavy. The lyrics are very raw and honest. This is the type of EP you listen to on a long drive when you have time to think.” - Andrea Nardello

Andrea Nardello has garnered favorable comparisons to Melissa Etheridge and Shawn Colvin for melding pop songwriting smarts with a confessional and literate songwriting style which often explores relationships, romance, and her own "out" family life. Andrea has been busy touring in support of her EP, entitled ECHO, opening for Brandi Carlile, Tony Lucca, Gabe Dixon, Ron Pope, and Emerson Hart of Tonic fame. Andrea's refined accessibility draws from folk, rock, soul, and even the swagger of hip-hop. Andrea is once-again collaborating with trusted E​CHO producer M​att Chiaravalle (Warren Zevon, Josh Joplin) for this emotional new EP, Fire.

Fans can anticipate new music from Andrea Nardello ahead of the release of Fire (out 4/15/16), including the EP’s title track which will drop at the end of March in celebration of Nardello’s hometown CD release show in Philly.  For music, updates, and more visit AndreaNardello.com or follow the artist on social media.

Fire: Tracklisting

1. Fire

2. Leave The Light On

3. F**k It

4. August Nights

5. Hope For Better Days

6. Make It Hurt Less

7. When The Darkness Comes

Nashville-based singer/songwriter, Alexander, is thrilled to unveil his debut self-titled EP details today. With over a decade of honing in on his craft and sound, Alexander is ecstatic to release five pure pop tracks filled with genre-bending sounds. Growing up Alexander found his musical cues in rock legends such as Aerosmith, Queen and Led Zeppelin with a hint of pop-punk classics Blink 182 and New Found Glory and credits his love for the varying genres to the punchy pop tracks he is creating today. With the ability to adapt and create a sound that molds various decades and sounds together he is able to create something similar to Jason Derulo with a hint of Nick Jonas's pop tunes, and as much passion and honesty as The Weeknd. The debut EP is set to release August 12, 2016 and features Christian Fiore, Brittany Lane, Thomas Bracciale, and Brooke Williams as co-writers.

With years of honing in on the lyrics that have inspired his life come five pure pop tracks that tackle struggle, happiness, and relationships. Stemming from real life situations, Alexander is able to create lyrics that are passionate and relatable. He explains, "I want my listeners to relate with me through my struggles, and also through my happiness. I want them to know that they're loved and to give them hope." He continues, "I love writing stories, but I definitely write mostly about things that are happening in my life. It helps me cope with the problems I'm facing. Not just to complain about them, but putting them on paper sometimes helps me deal with them."

Alternative Blues/Rockers BLONDE ROSES meld gritty alternative tunes with a splash of rock n' roll and southern blues to create a harmonious union. Lifelong friends, the 4-piece are strongly influenced from the 60's and 70's and coin these decades as a main component to their songwriting. With a little throwback mixed with personal strife, the band delivers honest and real lyrics about overcoming something and gaining strength from destruction. Off their forthcoming EP release (yet to be announced!) comes "Bullet" a song that originally premiered on Consequence of Sound, detailing the fragility and beauty of life - the circle of life, death, renewal, and birth. It's about starting a new chapter, a rebirth - into your better self.

Today, the band has exclusively partnered with Huffington Post to unveil their accompanying music video for "Bullet." Filmed in the heart of Lafayette, Louisiana by John Paul Summers of Infinite Focus, lead singer, Molly plays a black widow, femme fatale type character who seeks out and seduces sleezy men to ultimately put them in deadly situations. Her character is stuck in an endless loop of destruction in which she wants to break herself free of. She is acting as a protector for women who have been wronged by men.

John Paul expands: "The idea of processing disappointment and recovering from heartbreak, and the cyclical tones of the lyrics opened up the door to telling the story of a total badass woman who preys on married men, specifically cheating married men. I was really drawn to the idea that our black widow character is really getting revenge on other men who are hurting the women that love them. In the video we see imagery of her victims wife. I love this moment at the end where the lyric "now run for your life" plays over a framed picture of the victim's family, as if she's protecting them."

Lead singer Molly Portier continues: "I want our fans to feel like they aren't alone in feeling alone at times. But I want to them to also know that it's going to be ok even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. That there's something bigger and better waiting for you if you look hard enough. Life isn't always going to be easy, but it's a blessing."

More about BLONDE ROSES:

Blonde Roses blend gritty alternative rock n' roll and southern blues to create a harmonious union. Based in Louisiana lies Molly, Harry, Anthony, and Albert, a group of lifelong friends ready to set a stage for a longstanding career in music. Originally formed as a five piece band, known as The Wooden Wings, the group shifted and changed to the now four piece, Blonde Roses, a perfect balance between "sassy and feminine."

The band is strongly influenced by music from the 60's and 70's and coins these decades as a main component to their songwriting. With a little throwback mixed with personal strife, the band is set forth to deliver honest and real lyrics about overcoming something and gaining strength from destruction. The band's fearless lead singer, Molly elaborated, "Even when things seem really tough, there's always that light at the end of the tunnel that keeps you going. It's up to you whether you run to it or stay in place. I want our fans to feel like they aren't alone in feeling alone at times. But I want to them to also know that it's going to be ok even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. That there's something bigger and better waiting for you if you look hard enough. Life isn't always going to be easy, but it's a blessing."

With a certain rawness - a grit - and a knack for creating songs that are vulnerable and relatable, Blonde Roses is ready to show their fans what they've been hard at work on.

Orange County's "salad rock" band King Shelter made noise with their latest single, "Preoccupy," which was described by Indie Shuffle as "several familiar pieces of different styles of songs that you're heard before mixed into one song that makes sonic love and produces a pleasantly audible baby." Riding the buzz, King Shelter is thrilled to announce that they will be heading out on a West Coast tour alongside the notable Australian rock band Sticky Fingers.

KING SHELTER is a band from Orange County, California that has a sound that can only be described as "Salad Rock," a healthy mixture of rock, consisting of surf, grunge, alternative and anything in between. With the obvious layers of intertwining genres (or ingredients, like a salad) creating a unique sound, they also bring their complex lyrics and ideas to remind listeners to think for themselves and that no one person is better than another-in other words, it's music made for the people, by the people.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

10/2/16 @ The Catalyst Atrium, Santa Cruz, CA | 8pm [tickets]

10/5/16 @ Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR | 9pm [tickets]

10/6/16 @ The Crocodile, Seattle, WA | 8pm [tickets]

Soul rocker Joe Marson is partnering exclusively with Paste Magazine to release his latest track "No Retreat." "No Retreat" is a bluesy, soulful track with cinematic quality reminiscent of the Deep South. The song features Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, St. Vincent) on drums and Rob Calder (Passenger) on bass. Marson learned how to play slide guitar specifically for this song, which was originally written for a movie that never got made. Marson explains:

"The song is about going all in, head first, fear first. into the unknown and into the dark. sometimes there's no way back and sometimes you have the chance to start over. I have been to the darkness and I found my way back. This was the first song of a bunch on the current record that I tracked with Matt Johnson on drums. Matt was someone I had watched play since I discovered Jeff Buckley at the age of 16. I idolized Jeff and his whole band including Matt who played on Grace as well as in his live group. He has gone on to become a legend in the drum world and plays with St. Vincent currently. Playing with him was amazing and we have since become friends. He's one of the smartest and goofiest dudes I know. 'No Retreat' holds a special place in my heart for that reason." - Joe Marson

National touring artist, and 2015 Guitar Center Competition Finalist Joe Marson is master in the art of melding soul and rock. Making it to the Top 5 out of 14,000 submissions, he won over $10,000 in gear from Guitar Center...as well as winning over audience members and fans all over the world. Melded together with guitar riffs that evoke Hendrix's essence, Marson creates timeless music that bridges the gap between the influential decades that inspire his songwriting. These elements can be heard in some of the songs he's had placed in major films like Marvel's Deadpool as well as popular television series like FX's Justified and Netflix's Bloodline.

Head to Paste Magazine today to stream the new track from Joe Marson "No Retreat." Follow Joe Marson online for new music, upcoming shows, and more.

Following a successful kickstarter campaign that raised over $30,000, North Carolina's alternative blues/soul artist Rebekah Todd is thrilled to announce the release of her sophomore full-length album, Crooked Lines, set for 2/17/17. This past year, Rebekah put her entrepreneurial spirit to work and and took the initiative to help fund her second full-length album. For the Kickstarter, Todd crafted 30 original fine art paintings for the campaign and with the help of 450 fans, the campaign was completed with over $32K raised to fund her sophomore album, Crooked Lines. Celebrating the announcement, Rebekah Todd released the debut track off Crooked Lines, titled "Hustle," via Spotify today which can be streamed here. The horns on "Hustle" are played by notable horn player Marcus Anderson (Prince). Crooked Lines features 10 soulful tracks which was produced by Dick Hodgin and Chad Lister (Osceola Productions), recorded and mixed by Dick Hodgin, and mastered by Brent Lambert (Kitchen Mastering). This is what Rebekah Todd had to say about the release of Crooked Lines:

"In the last two years, I've felt my voice mature into a confident blues and soul style.  The album is a great representation of that growth and is something I am deeply proud of.  The album is rich as it dips into the more vulnerable love songs, such as 'Let Me Prove My Love' as well as the sweeping and wailing rocky/blues tunes like 'Can't Sleep'.  It's in 'Hustle' where the band really found its funky stride. I can't wait for fans to listen to all of the new tunes and am already itching to start on a new album as we push even further into our sound." - Rebekah Todd

Growing up in the small town of Benson, North Carolina, Rebekah Todd has been surrounded by music for as long as she can remember. At 11 years old, Rebekah's father, a musician himself, gave her a black acoustic Washburn guitar and taught her to play. Flooding the house with sounds of classic rock and folk, her father played everything from Pink Floyd to the Righteous Brothers, leading Rebekah to instantly find her musical niche somewhere between melodic soul and alternative folk rock. Growing into her soulful voice and and musical style, the singer-songwriter started to pull inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, citing passionate singer/songwriters like Lauryn Hill and Susan Tedeschi as her inspiration and shaping the music she writes and performs today. After receiving her bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from East Carolina University in 2012, Rebekah has been devoting her life to writing and touring. Currently based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Rebekah is a gifted performer with a natural, soulful, and effortless voice and two releases under her belt, releasing her debut EP, Forget Me Not, in 2011, and first LP, Roots Bury Deep, in 2014.  Playing over 170 gigs in just 12 short months, her band Rebekah Todd & The Odyssey won the On The Rise series for FloydFest 2016 and are set to play the main stage in 2017 alongside acts such as St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Shovels and Rope, and Turkuaz.

Head to Spotify today to stream "Hustle," the debut track off Rebekah Todd's sophomore album, Crooked Lines, which is set for release on February 17, 2017. Head to RebekahTodd.com for more information, show dates, and more.

Blonde Roses, a New Orleans four-piece rock 'n' roll outfit, blends alternative grit and southern blues to create a harmonious union. Molly, Harry, Anthony, and Albert are a group of lifelong friends ready to set a stage for a longstanding career in music. Originally formed as a five-piece band known as The Wooden Wings in 2008, the group shifted and changed to Blonde Roses - the perfect balance between "sassy and feminine."

Today Blonde Roses is proud to present their latest single, "Anymore" off their upcoming EP, Hell or High Water due out this Spring. The song is about having someone in your life that completely stripped you of yourself, leaving you feeling like a shell of your former self, and finding the strength to say enough is enough. It's an anthem about taking the lowest point in your life, breaking free from it and not allowing your past to own you anymore. That person, that moment, isn't worth living your life in fear. These scars aren't something we should be ashamed of because they make us who we are. They make us beautiful. They remind us where we've been. They remind us that we're better than that. The second you let your demons control you, they win - and the best form of revenge is finding your way back to yourself and letting everything that is beautiful about you shine.

Pulling inspiration from their strong Louisiana roots, they are also heavily influenced by the 60's and 70's and coin these decades as the backbone to their songwriting. With a little throwback mixed with personal strife, the band is set forth to deliver honest and real lyrics about overcoming life's obstacles and gaining strength from destruction. The band's fearless lead singer, Molly elaborated, "Even when things seem really tough, there's always that light at the end of the tunnel that keeps you going. It's up to you whether you run to it or stay in place. I want our fans to feel like they aren't alone in feeling alone at times. But I want to them to also know that it's going to be ok even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. That there's something bigger and better waiting for you if you look hard enough. Life isn't always going to be easy, but it's a blessing."

Combining a certain rawness and a knack for creating songs that are vulnerable and relatable, Blonde Roses unleashed their debut single/video for "Bullet" exclusively with Huffington Post and Consequence of Sound. "Bullet" details the fragility and beauty of life - the circle of life, death, renewal, and birth. It's about starting a new chapter, a rebirth, into your better self. Stemming from their powerful debut, Blonde Roses is gearing up for a brand new EP release 'Hell or High Water' due out this Spring.