Fitting neatly into the Vodka mold of “music that isn’t the same old thing, mostly…” this cross-genre, spoken word offering from Nite Bjuti’s forthcoming (April 14) LP hits the nail squarely on the head. Says lead singer Candice Hoyes, the song: “reclaims this impassioned plea that dignity and legacy of Black artists not die in ‘conspicuous forgetfulness’ as Black people of all nations continue to face state-sanctioned racial violence and hegemonic occupation in Haiti and throughout the Diaspora,” Let’s face it: This isn’t just a problem…
Read MoreHailing from North London, indie-pop artist Natalie Shay may not break a lot of new ground with The Edge (seen/heard here), but she makes up for it by sounding fresh in her delivery. The Edge is about reaching the end of a close friendship. Since the song is based on a real-life experience, it is cathartic for Shay: “This is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever released, and as the feelings are still very raw, I’m hoping to find closure…
Read MoreIt’s got a little bit of Weezer flavoring, but Wesson’s feel-good rocker, Made Me Happy (seen/heard here) is very much their own song and a whole lot of indie-rock fun! Wesson is based in Milton Keynes, UK, and is led by singer/songwriter Chris Wesson. The four-piece includes Jimmy (guitar), Callum (bass), and Dale (drums). That’s correct, nowhere in their promotional or online documents do they give up the last names of the remaining bandmates, at least, nowhere that Vodka could…
Read MoreSteeped in historical rock, gently tossed with pop melody goodness, and carefully served with attention to detail, Steve Stoeckel’s debut LP, The Power Of And (February 2023), is a careful look at what rock music can be in the age of overproduction. From the lead-off track, Laura Lynn, to the finale, Whistling Past Graveyards, each song is crafted with a simple story, a good melody, Stoeckel’s imperfect but infectious vocals, and instrumentation that offers just enough, without being too much. From start to finish, The Power Of…
Read MoreFormer Beatle and solo-artist Paul McCartney had a lot to say about the benefits of “Silly Love Songs” and artist Kian Blume is right there with him. Blume sings about the girl that he can’t get out of his head on Daphne (seen/heard here). There’s no new ground covered here and Blume proves that sometimes that just isn’t important. Kian Blume is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. His music can be delightful, infectious, upbeat, raucous, and more. To get a better feel…
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