Introducing The Past (Romanticized), the 2020 LP release by D.K. Lyons. The musical variety and intense coverage allow this album to be relatable to all its listeners.
The Past (Romanticized) really focuses on one major aspect, providing relief from a strong or repressed emotion. These songs allude to the emotional cycle that occurs looking back at past relationships, moments of loss, mental state, and growing pains. The examples become apparent with the very first song, “The Getaway.” This track displays hope even when your outlook may appear grim, making it the flagship for what's the come on the entire album. This song details self-exploration, "We're two lost souls heading straight to hell’..."brace yourself, keep your eye on the prize". These lyrics aren't there to discourage you. They're written to inspire you.
It feels like D.K. has done a bit of growing up since his first EP, Blame My Astrology. The production and songwriter feel more mature and the stories reveal he's gone through deeper revelations.
The two most notable tracks have to be "Long Way Home" and "Danger" includes declarations of taking chances and falling in love.
D.K.’s first solo release in 2018, called Blame My Astrology, was a lovable exploration of the ideas at the core of his sound with guitar rhythms, vocals, and the ceaseless, head-spinning barrage of hooks, so if you can't get enough of D.K. Lyons, you won't have to travel far for more tunes, but to be fair, D.K. is at least honest with his music and is less concerned about conforming to what the Pop world factory is dishing out. After pumping out 17 tracks in less than two years, we can certainly expect a lot more of his thought provoking stories in the coming years.
Regardless of what people might think of The Past (Romanticized), D.K.’s already morphed a world around it with numerous music videos to complement each hit. D.K. clearly believes that The Past (Romanticized) is his masterpiece, and everything around the record suggests as much. While a national tour may be out of the question due to Covid, we can only hope for a barrage of live performances from his living room to yours to give D.K. Lyon fans an installation of live streams from the man himself.
Our recommendation is to not judge the book by its cover. Instead, dive all in, not just once, but twice over in one sitting. Play both playlists from his YouTube page from beginning to end from Blame My Astrology to The Past (Romanticized) and then reverse it and you will experience all the effects of an over-the-top pop autobiographical masterpiece of D.K. Lyons.
The AIM featured song today is "Right Now" by Chelsea Perkins
Chelsea Perkins is an American singer, songwriter and producer from California. She is known for her eclectic look, undeniably unique vocals mixed with her playful alt-pop sound.
Chelsea Perkins released her debut EP You’re Busy independently in 2015. She made her major label debut in 2016 by releasing EDM singles California Dreamin with producer Fontaine Ivory through Armada Music and Night & Day with music duo Bormin through ElektraFrance (Warner Music France).
Chelsea is currently working with Outasight and Cook Classics on a new EP that showcases her natural sing song flow over multiple genres. Chelsea’s songs are fierce, female empowered and full of energy. They are real, authentic anthems that only this girl from Cali could pull off.
"The Draw" is a hopeful anthem for turbulent times,” said the band. “It is about loss and acceptance. When you’re dealt a bad hand in life… your choices are to be brought down by the situation, or to carry on. These are the moments where you feel like a stranger, even to yourself.”
WALLA have steadily grown their fanbase with performances at storied venues like The Satellite and Troubadour while making a serious impact online with over 33 million Spotify streams to date. Essential tastemakers ranging from MTV Buzzworthy to Hilly Dilly and Spotify’s New Music Friday have shown support for the band as well, not to mention a string of HypeM blogs that led to a #1 slot on the site’s popular chart.
WALLA continues to explore new directions sonically and visually. The band continues to re-invent themselves as they explore lo-fi, vintage sounds with introspective lyrics.
Ian Charlie, Alessio Balsemin, Mauricio Carcamo and Johnny Cisneros together are WALLA. “We feel like releasing it now would mean a lot to our fans given the current events. We will be releasing a home made, quarantine inspired music video for our fans as well as potentially touring when quarantine is lifted.”
Written by CHF STAFF
Beck Pete is an artist who brings a staggering amount of emotion, authenticity, and talent to every performance. It doesn’t matter if she is doing a full set, acoustic, or anything in between her story telling is sure to hook you in. With vocals that make people’s skin goosebump and a level of passion that demands attention. Beck Pete is definitely somebody you should have on your playlists.
Beatrice Kristi Laus (born 3 June 2000), also known as Bea Kristi or professionally as beabadoobee (/biːbəduːbiːˈ/), is a Filipino-British indie singer-songwriter. Since 2018, she has released 5 extended plays under Dirty Hit, and has supported The 1975 on both their Music for Cars Tour and their Notes on a Conditional Form Tour in 2020. As of March 2020, Beabadoobee has over 300 million accumulative streams on Spotify. She was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Brit Awards, and was predicted as a breakthrough act for 2020 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2020.
In February 2020, Kristi performed at the 2020 NME Awards after winning the Radar Award. She supported labelmates The 1975 on the UK leg of their Music for Cars Tour in February 2020, as well as their Notes on a Conditional Form tour of North America in April 2020. In April 2020, the song "Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head)" entered the Top 5 in United Kingdom, New Zealand as well as Australia, where it was certified Platinum. Kristi wrote on Instagram that she would be releasing an album this year.
Jaguar Jonze is Deena Lynch, Australian singer/songwriter, producer and multimedia artist who crafts songs of melancholic beauty woven with gun slinging guitar lines and a strikingly rich, yet intimate voice. Born in Japan to a Taiwanese mother and Australian father, Jonze is as eclectic as her cultural upbringing oozing influences by the likes of Portishead, The Last Shadow Puppets, Nick Cave and Angel Olsen. Jaguar Jonze and its adjacent projects, the narrative illustration project Spectator Jonze and the gender-subverting photography project Dusky Jonze are powerful ways in which Deena processes her most intimate vulnerabilities while empowering others to do the same. Straddling the worlds of music, art and fashion, Jaguar Jonze has been profiled in Style Magazine, spotlighted in the Converse // Vice Artist Collaboration, featured in Fashion Journal, covered by NME, and had her songs supported by FLAUNT, The Line of Best Fit, Cool Accidents and more. Signed to Nettwerk Records, the enigmatic yet vulnerable songwriter delivers defiant ferocity through smoky vocals that shift between fragile and forceful on her debut EP Diamonds & Liquid Gold.
For Fans Of: Japanese Breakfast, Courtney Barnett, Portishead, PJ Harvey, Jack River, CLEWS, Charlie Collins, Tia Gostelow, Ali Barter, I Know Leopard, WAAX, Holy Holy, Methyl Ethel, Thelma Plum, Angie McMahon, Polish Club, The Last Shadow Puppets, Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, Rina Sawayama
Featuring "Just to Forget" by Claud now streaming on
KGUPFM Emerge Radio 📻.
Claud (fka Toast) is the solo project of Claud Mintz. Standing at 5 feet tall with turquoise hair (hair color subject to change), Claud enjoys late night snacks and going to the movies with their friends. In 2018 they released their debut EP inspired by dorm room mac n cheese, dreamy synths and a janky microphone. In the last few months you may have caught Claud on tour with The Neighbourhood, girl in red, Bleachers, or girlpool. You may have also caught them bopping around the streets of New York, usually with a warm beverage in hand. Come back soon for new music :)
Rae du Soleil’s debut self-titled album starts off extremely powerfully and it continues throughout the whole album. The San Francisco native singer-songwriter, Rae du Soleil has released her new album on January 10, 2020 and is now available on all streaming platforms, and it is definitely an album that you NEED to listen to.
Filled with ten very raw singer-songwriter anthems that speak from the soul, this album is super catchy, fun, and heart warming. It’s hard to turn the album off simply because of how utterly addictive it can be. From another track favorite, "Another Road" to her latest single, “I Love You Close” starts off the album perfectly and shows just how wonderful du Soleil’s singing voice can be. The song itself is about relationships and love, something that many have dealt with and is very relatable. She has recently released a music video for the song which also features a cleaver animation that gives it's viewers a subtle visual of her message.
The song “How I Feel” is a dance anthem in itself. The catchy beat makes you want to jump up and down, and is a song that you can expect to hear at any party. The album is stellar, all the way until the last song, “The Gallery”, which is an acoustic piece that showcases Rae du Soleil’s vocal range perfectly.
Overall, Rae du Soleil's debut album is the ultimate listening album. It has tracks that will make you dance or you can just lay down and chill out to. Be sure to check it out on Spotify and Google Play Music.
Visit Rae du Soleil here:
Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Latin Pop R&B artist Marcel Red is a young singer/songwriter from the Inland Empire who is making a statement with his new EP “I Am…Marcel Red!” The new EP touches on all elements of the mind and soul with feel-good sultry pop, funk and R&B tunes. The first single “What You Did” dropped March 2016 on iTunes. “What You Did” is about a man struggling with suspected infidelity and the pain of seeing the women he loves in the arms of another man, it’s driving him crazy.
Marcel’s music incorporates a vocal style reminiscent of music icons Maxwell, Sam Smith and Brian McKnight while remaining true to his own unique sound and style. Marcel has performed with some of the industry’s biggest names including Pretty Ricky, Silk, Troop, J. Holiday, Annette Moreno, among others. He’s also been able to work with industry heavyweights like Jonas Weeks and Multi-Platinum producer Carlos Battey from The Jackie Boyz. Weeks and Battey have worked with artists such as Bruno Mars, NeYo, Linkin Park, Madonna, Chris Brown, Justin Beiber, and many others.
His new single “What You Did” and the EP are both available now on iTunes and CDBaby.com.
Listen to the new single here - https://soundcloud.com/marcelred/what-you-did
Interview with Marcel Red:
Tell us about your career in music. What was that pivotal moment when you decided you wanted to become a Music Artist?
Marcel: I am Marcel Red. I am a recording artist and music is my life. Since I was a little boy, I was exposed to music. I am fortunate to have a talented family. My grandmother was a singer and so was my dad, that's where I get my talent from. My dad and mom constantly played oldies such as Prince, Al Green among few. My family and I use to have fun singing their songs. The moment I decided that singing was my call, was after my brother passed away. I found myself pondering about my future. Then somehow I decided that I belong on stage, and that my soul is my music. I decided that no matter what the sacrifices or obstacles, I was going to face it and accomplish my dreams.
Who helped to inspire and shape who you are today? Marcel: My family has been very influential in my life and in my singing career. As I mentioned before we all love music and they are very supportive of me as an artist. Other influences are artists like Prince, Maxwell, Sam Smith and Brian McKnight are just a few artists that I have always look up to. I love the fact that they are constantly reinventing themselves and always challenging their artistry. That is what I try to do because I am always looking for ways to better myself.
What is your new EP I Am Mercel Red about? What do you want listeners to take away from your project?
Marcel: Most of the songs on my EP are about relationships from finding love to dealing with infidelity and breakups. Other songs are about encouragement, such as my song “Freedom.” "I Am... Marcel Red" is influenced by many genre R&B, Funk and Urban. The tracts have been shaped into its unique style giving today's generation a different outlook from sound and rhythm of yesterday music. This project was more experimental for me. I want the listeners to hear the diversity of this project, so they can experience the diversity of my vocals. So far, track # 2, "Love Me Better" is causing the most sensation in many parts of the world such in Japan and the U.K. and "Freedom" in Latin America.
Tell us about your new single "What You Did"? What is this song about?
Marcel: The song is about a man struggling with a suspected infidelity. The pain he is going through seeing the woman he loves in the arms of another man, it’s driving him crazy. The shadows of desperation and insecurities are suffocating him insanely.
What artists do you look up to today? Marcel: I am always fascinated with artist who are not extremist and not so traditional. Artist that I like today are Beyonce, Jason Derulo, The Weekend, some to mention. In my opinion, these artists have overexcited their expectations. My all time favorite artists are Maxwell and Prince, may Prince rest in peace. This is a huge lost to the music industry. He is an all times music legend.
If you could share the stage with any artist, who would you perform with?
Marcel: I'm a performer when it comes to the stage! I definitely would have to say Chris Brown or Beyoncé. They know how to work the crowd with their amazing choreography and dance moves.
What is in store for 2016 and what can fans look forward in the coming months?
Marcel: ? I am currently promoting my new EP "I am ... Marcel Red" and soon I will be releasing the video for "What You Did" directed by Olia Oparina. Olia has work with many artist, so I am excited about that. I will also be performing soon in several cities across California and I’m in the process of starting my new album soon for later this year.
"Chemical Refugee" are the badass street rockers from the red light district of Sydney Australia, bringing Rock N Roll into the 21st Century. Their destructively raw attitude and unwillingness to compromise sets Chemical Refugee apart as a band that make sense in a time that doesn't.
Doc McIntosh (singer/guitarist) howls with haunting honesty, inviting the listener through a multi-sensory, halusingenic-atmosphere provided by Purpz Graaf (Keys). Chemical Refugee bring the sounds of the streets alive, delivering an audio Kick powerful enough for inception.
Lock up your daughters, It's time to party!
Interview with Chemical Refugee
Who is Chemical Refugee and how did you guys meet and how did you guys decide to become a band?
-Purpz: it was a real life changing Idea and once the elements of the band began there was no looking back. We just had to go with the plan because we knew it would not only work and be Fuckrad, we also knew we formulated something we couldn't hide from the public!
How did you come up with the name Chemical Refugee?
-Doc: it came to us in a state of quarter consciousness, deriving refugee from refugee.
Let's talk about your single "Therapy Song". You recently released a music video for this track as well. Can you tell us about the song and the video? Who directed the video and what was the premise behind the video?
-Doc: There is nothing wrong with being whoever the hell you are, no matter who says otherwise. We did the video ourselves, we wanted it to have that streetrock, do it yourself vibe that meant we just had to do it ourselves.
What bands / artists do you look up to for inspiration?
-Purpz: the Pepps, system of a down, led zeplin, guns n roses, the Beatles
-Doc: and also artists like Marcel Duchamp and Ron English.
Living or dead, if you could share the stage with any band / artist, who would it be?
-Purpz: The chili peppers for their fuckwild energy and rockin entertainment.
What is the plan for Chemical Refugee? You released your first single already. How soon before you guys release a full EP? What else is in store for you guys?
The band is fronted by keyboardist and composer Lisa LaRue who is thrilled to announce this unique new release after spending the last two years successfully battling to regain her health. LaRue said, “2KX is excited about being able to make music again, after taking a break due to health reasons. The track has a classic 2KX sound, and goes through four movements, the last illustrating sussuration which is the sound of wind through the trees”.
The release involves an unusual feature in that one movement of the song will be available as a special 7”, hand-shaped lathe cut record. The record is cut real time on a vintage 1940 record lathe. This movement is the ballad section of the song and the only part with vocals. The CD/EP will contain the full-length version of ‘Sussuration” as well as a previously released singles from 2KX: “Lemniscate,” a radio edit of “Sussuration,” and a bonus of “Song For a Name - 2KX” by Johnny Unicorn It will be available as a CD and an mp3 album in addition to the radio edit “Sussuration” ballad which will be produced in a very limited quantity as the hand-shaped lathe cut 7” record. The CD cover art is by Keith Birdsong, famous for his Star Trek book covers and other outstanding work. Digital downloads will be available September 1, with the CD, special edition record, videos and more available soon after.
2KX members are Lisa LaRue on keyboards, Steve Adams on guitar, Mike Alvarez on cello, John Baker for vocals, Merrill Hale for drums and percussion, and Don Schiff on bass and NS Stick. Baker, previously lead vocalist/guitarist for Mars Hollow as well as playing for Christian Love (The Beach Boys) and The Little Girls, joins as a band member on this release, as lead vocalist. Special guests are Michael Wheeler playing Dilruba and violinist Brenda K of the Panache Orchestra. The album was produced and mixed by LaRue and mastered by multi-Grammy mastering engineer Adam Ayan of Bob Ludwig’s Gateway Mastering. Ayan is known for his mastering of bands such as The Rolling Stones, Nine Inch Nails, Rush, Linkin Park and numerous others.
Prior to their two-year break period, 2KX was nominated as Best Instrumental Band at the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music Awards. Earlier career highlights for Lisa LaRue include being the first female artist signed to the Sound of America Records (SOAR) Natural Visions sub label, the 2008 Oklahoma Music Awards “Native American Artist of the Year” and a 2008 nominee for the Hollywood Music Awards Instrumental category.
Interview with Lisa LaRue of 2KX Tell us about your name? Where did it come from and how you guys came up with it? Let me take a guess - Does it mean "To Knoxville" or does it mean "2010"? (just a shot in the dark)
Lisa LaRue: Although Knoxville is a very lovely town, the latter is correct - 2010. The band developed out of a project band in 2009, called Lisa LaRue Project 2K9. At the very end of December 2009, a few of us got to talking and decided upon forming a permanent band -not a project band- and since we were dawning on 2010, and because of the name of the former ‘project’, 2KX was born!
You went on hiatus for nearly 2 years due to health reasons, but you made a full recovery. Do you can to tell your story about that?
Lisa LaRue: It has been assumed it was due to my Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (with cyclic Cushing’s Syndrome due to meds, etc.) because I am very open about that illness, and desire to educate the public about it. But that wasn’t it…… it was due to my developing the most annoying malady: Adhesive Capsulitis, or Frozen Shoulder. I couldn’t lift my arms higher than about elbow height, couldn’t put them behind me, couldn’t even get things out of cupboards or lift. Being a keyboard player, it was just simply impossible to write, practice and play. They were just frozen! Not that it hurt to move them (although it hurt to try), they just simply would NOT move. Doctors’ advice and other information I was given all said this would resolve within 3 years, and it did!
So, tell me about the band. How did you all meet and how quickly did you three mesh together as a band before you decided to start producing albums together?
Lisa LaRue: With the production of the project band (Lisa LaRue Project 2K9) album, “World Class,” we all collaborated long distance with file sharing and sometimes Skyping, although a few of us worked together in various studios. We had met in different manners. One of the project vocalists, John Payne of the band Asia, and Lisa had known each other for a number of years. Steve Adams and Merrill Hale were of the progressive band ARZ from Portland, and Lisa had heard their work and was really impressed, and contacted them. Steve Adams could shred, could play jazz, could play classical…. And not just play, but write in about any genre. A very “Steve Howe’ type of guitarist. Merrill had a lot of qualities of Neil Peart (Rush) and Carl Palmer (ELP) all wrapped up into one. All the participants had qualities that, as a musical director for the project, made Lisa feel they would gel together. And they did. When the decision was made to form a permanent band (2KX) and work on their first album as such, titled Fast and Blue (2011), it was the participants who truly gelled musically, and on a personal level that became the band. We have all spent time socializing, meeting each other’s families, and talking about many interests. We became like family.
Going back over the past six years, you've received multiple nominations including Best Instrumental Band at the 21st Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, the Native American Artist of the Year Nomination, and a nomination at the Hollywood Music Awards. How did it feel to get so much recognition and do you plan on entering more award programs for your recent release of Sussuration?
Lisa LaRue: Those were interesting experiences. When I actually won Native American Artist of the Year, I was not even aware for a long time that I had been nominated! When 2KX was nominated as Best Instrumental Band for the Los Angeles Music Awards, we received a phone call from the organizer saying he had been given our music and even though the nominations were almost at an end, he wanted to personally nominate us and include us. Lisa was also nominated for Best Instrumental Song of the Year at the Hollywood Music Awards, and for a NAMMY (Native American Music Award), and it really was a confidence builder, and confirmation that we had made the right decisions in choosing each other to work with and choosing particular songs to develop and record. These experiences were real honors, and quite humbling, and exciting! If somebody were to nominate Sussuration, we would be extremely pleased and honored. A nomination is just as pleasing as an award, and we are thankful for all we have received.
Tell us about your new album, Sussuration. What is different about this release and why is this album so special to you?
Lisa LaRue: Sussuration is different in several ways. First, it is an EP and not a full length album, and includes a radio edit from the longer title track. With this release, we have crossed over into the AOR/Pop market with the radio edit, and are getting a much warmer and larger reception. We are also including a bonus product which is available separately, a hand-shaped, lathe-cut record of the radio edit. It is real-time cut on a 1940 vintage lathe. Also with this CD, we welcome the addition of a permanent lead vocalist, John Baker. John is also the lead vocalist for Los Angeles based progressive rock band Forever Twelve, and a former member of bands such as Mars Hollow, The Little Girls (who had one of the first videos on MTV), and Christian Love’s band (from the Beach Boys). Previously, we had no permanent vocalist, and all vocals were by guests. Predominantly John Payne of the band Asia, and Michael Sadler of the band Saga.
What song do you feel represents this album?
Lisa LaRue: I’d say the full length track, Sussuration. It encompasses every trademark of our sound, and travels from symphonic to pop to eclectic avant garde.
What is behind the name Sussuration and what does the title mean?
Lisa LaRue: Sussuration is a murmuring sound of the wind through the trees. The song is in 4 movements, each representing a different season. The idea was that the wind sounds different depending on the season and the foliage present or missing in each season. When John wrote the lyrics, he took it a bit deeper, interpreting that this voice of the winds represents the many spirits that are always surrounding us.
I love the artwork on the album. Who was the artist that did the artwork?
Lisa LaRue: The beautiful cover was done by Keith Birdsong. And believe it or not, it was done completely with colored pencils - not paint, and not digital. Keith is known all around the world, most famously for his numerous Star Trek book covers and posters, commemorative plates, etc. He has also done hundreds of other book covers, and even postage stamps for not only the United States but other countries. One of the most famous being the USPS Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative stamp.
So, what is in store for 2KX? Do you have a music video in the works or an upcoming tour to promote the album?
Lisa LaRue: We have just released a full-length video for Sussuration, which can be found on YouTube. At the present time, we don not have plans for a tour, but we all are involved in other bands and various projects. Lisa is currently completing a collaboration with Italian keyboardist/composer Federico Fantacone, John has just finished the vocals for the latest Forever Twelve album, and Don is enjoying the recent release of the Rocket Scientists’ latest album. Steve, Merrill and Mike have numerous other projects they are constantly involved in. We will always make music… sometimes as solo artists, sometimes with other bands, and sometimes as 2KX. Keep track on our website and our Facebook to see what surprises we will come up with next!
Let’s enter the world of Volary. Volary is an amazing Australian born singer/songwriter that currently resides in San Francisco, CA.
The definition of Volary has a double meaning. It is not only a cage for birds, but for Volary, it is a symbol that represents a freedom from those bonds that tried to bring her down throughout her life.
While Volary remains very private about the details of her past, her story is translated in the form of art in the lyrics itself.
What isn’t private is her battle against breast cancer. Just before she entered the studio to start recording her debut album in 2009, she was diagnosed with this terrible disease. Instead of giving up her music, Volary fought the cancer and resumed her career and produced an incredible album. For someone that has gone through so much adversity, Volary’s music is both inspiring and enlightening.
Volary’s brand new album, “Out of Shadows” is a vast in-depth creation of art that does not concentrate on the dark side of the human condition, but its beauty. The album is filled with the rhythms of the guitar, the viola, cello, and a few brass instruments like the clarinet, horns, sax and oboe. With the combination of the drums and Volary’s rich vocals makes this one of the most entertaining pop independent albums of the year.
To learn more of Volary’s struggle and sample the best music from “Out of Shadows”, listen to her incredible story in this weeks 100th episode of The Great Unknowns Presents.
You can listen here or you may download the episode to your computer or smart phone here.
Jewelzz Patrick is an R&B, Soul, and Pop artist that currently resides in Las Vegas, but he's originally from the "Motown" city of Detriot, IL. Jewelzz is not just a performer, he is also a producer.
Coming off his debut CD entitled, "Body Language" it is one of the better listening debut digital albums on the indie market comparing to Usher, Babyface, Robin Thicke, Eric Roberson. His vocal quality also compares to the legendary recording artist, Stevie Wonder. The single, "You Make me Wanna feat. Twitch Flav" has been a hit on internet radio stations, but online sales and lack of wide fan support has has not reflected the quality of his music and has become one of the least performing albums for 2010.
However, the number of hits and the qauntity of "Like's"and the the number of listens on MySpace do not prove it is not a great album. "Body Language" is not short of pure entertainment. Songs worth mention that have mainstream potential are, "Make You Wanna", "Pretty Girl", and "Do it Again feat. Dollah Jones", and the title song, "Body Language".
Even though the success of his first album is still relatively early for a brand new release, Jewelzz Patrick is already back in the studio and is in the process of creating his new better album called, "Fo'ever".
Josiah Gentry is a 16-year-old indie pop-rock artist from Grand Rapids, MI. Not only is he a singer, he is a true artist. Inspired by the beauty of life itself, Josiah Gentry transcends his gift of the mind, heart, and melody through his music. As a photographer might capture life on film from his point of view, Josiah captures life through his eyes and translates it with beautifully spoken poetry delivered with captive music.
When I stumbled across Gentry’s MySpace page, I saw a handsome kid and he looked like he was already a star with his long straight hair brushed to the side and inviting smile. I was compelled to press play on his music player and it was the song, “Like Summer”. Immediately, I was hooked. I couldn’t believe this song came from an unknown. This song is simple yet catchy, but also has all the musical features that could entertain an entire generation of listeners. “Like Summer” could easily be a top 10 on the Top 40 charts. This simple song sings about the girl on the other end of the phone line while he describes his feelings to her way into the night. It is a relatable song and it makes the listener ponder about their own days of summer.
Music from someone so young, I had some reservation about the rest of Gentry’s library, but that was before I heard the entire album. From song to song, it threw out all my preconceived expectations out the window. The first track on his EP was “GR Rockstars”, an acoustic rock song with an almost contemporary ring to it with a mid-tempo rhythm that appeared to make no sense, but it is actually a shout out song dedicated to his hometown.
Another song that caught my attention was “Don’t Break My Heart”, a well written song about regaining his control and not allowing his insecurity to ruin his relationship.
An especially grown up song is “The Old Version of Me”. It is a beautifully crafted song sung along side with the alluring voice of Erika Lopez. It is incredibly short song that made me wish there was more. The story behind painted a perfect picture about missing each other and describing whom they both were when they first met. This simple love story made it even more enjoyable.
Another great duet is the song, "Guys Like Me Aren't Allowed to Write Songs Like These" co-sung with Charla Bultman. This charismatic and cute song is exactly what the title is...about writing way too many love songs of being hurt, but still wanting to be with “her” as she sings back to “him” and says, “Now is not the time to use your words to make me cry again. You’ve written quite a few. You’re written too many love songs.”
Instead of candy coating his songs like a Justin Bieber, Miley, Cyrus, or Jonas Brothers, Gentry sings about real issues regarding love, loss, and hope and he does it with the maturity and respect of a true musician.
The one exception is the song, “Oh, My Beating Heart”. It is an up-tempo acoustic love song which is full of cheesy, warm-hearted lyrics, “Oh, my beating heart, you got me going around again…oh, my beating heart, got me pounding in my chest.” There is nothing serious about this song, except revealing his fun nature within his lyrics.
Enjoy a special 4-track music preview from his self-titled EP with a special appearance with Josiah Gentry on The Great Unknowns Presents, Ep 73
Q&A with Josiah Gentry:
So, tell me how you got started in music? I guess it was mostly derived from boredom. When I was twelve, I was taking piano lessons, and I hated them. There was something about being forced to play music that didn't seem right, especially because I had no choice in what I wanted to play. My brother came home with an electric guitar, and I bought it off him. I played it quite a bit, it was very refreshing to be able to play music and feel some passion. At that point, I mostly played punk music... I was 12, what could you expect?
How old were you when you wrote your first song? I was 14 years old.
You obviously love to perform, because you are booked solid through August. Thinking back to your first performance, what was it like and how did the crowd react after your set? I performed for the first time at a costume party. The night was mostly geared towards live music, I played in between two bands as they were setting up. I just played 2 songs, and I did terrible. I was so nervous. There was really probably only like 15 people in attendance, and most people were not paying attention, but I owe a lot to the few people who were and those of them who encouraged me to keep playing.
Was this the point when you knew you made the right decision to pursue a music career? I'm still having a hard time with the "knowing" part. I honestly am undecided in what I'll be pursuing after high school, for now I'm just playing music because it's what I am passionate about, we'll see what the future holds for me. If you weren’t a musician, is there anything else you would like to do? I have a couple other promising hobbies. I am a photographer and I do a lot of graphic design work as well, if music fails... I have a few back-up plans.
When you write lyrics, do you write about your personal life? As cliche as this sounds... my music my journal.
I have a very strong personal connection with every song that I write, most of which are deeper than they appear to be.
You have a lot of songs on your CD, but I am sure you have so much more to offer. How many songs have you written so far? I've performed over 40 originals, but I only have around 20-25 songs that I would still feel confident enough about to actually perform today.
Who inspired you to become “Josiah Gentry”, the artist? Oh my, what a question. I started writing music because I wanted to touch peoples lives. My first song was written about drug and alcohol addictions, it was a desperate attempt to open some of my friends eyes to the lifestyle that they had.
What musicians do you look up to? On a personal level, I look up to Chris Dupont and This April the most. Both are really great artists, and I would recommend them to anyone who's interested in listening to great music. On a level of musicianship, I really look up too Aaron Marsh. He's the vocalist of the band Copeland(which just recently broke-up). I'm also really inspired by bands such as The Fleet Foxes and Lydia.
If you have to pick which artist to perform with, who would it be? So many choices! The national act that I feel I would fit best with, would probably be NeverShoutNever, but for me personally I would have really liked to play with Copeland.
On your MySpace page, you wrote where it says, “Sounds like”, you wrote “A kiss on the mouth”. What did you mean by that? Oh gosh, is that still on there? That's a little taste of my adolescent attempts of being witty. There's really no background behind it... Ha-ha!
At the beginning of the year, you announced that you had a new project called, “Summerville”. What is this about? Are you still planning on expanding that project? It's basically a project that I started simply because that kind of music is a lot of fun to produce. Though, the "electro-pop" style generally holds little-to-no emotional value, it's a really energetic and fun genre. I haven't really done anything publicly with it, but since I finally finished my album I can start turning my attention to my side-projects again. I've been doing some work on some covers for Summerville, hopefully I'll have them all set to jet pretty soon.
When high school starts back up are you going to keep performing? Oh yes, performing is my outlet. I've been performing year-round ever since I played my first show.
Any plans on a music video? I hope to do one soon, I have a few video directors that might be working with me soon. But there are no plans in the works at this time.
Do you have an official CD release party coming? It actually already happened! It took place on July 9th, the day of the CD release.
What else is in store for Josiah Gentry?
I'm hoping to do more of a national-tour next summer, but besides that... your guess is as good as mine. I'm just going to see where this thing takes me!
Find more of Josiah Gentryon:MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Purevolume
Also, listen to a special 4-track preview with a special appearance with Josiah Gentry's self-title EP onThe Great Unknowns Presents, Ep 73
Bikini Robot Army’s originally was a college band headed by Val Broeksmit along with Brandon Geiger and Matt Goldsborough. The three went their separate ways, but they continued to compile and record new music together. Much of their music was recorded from their homes across different states. This went on for years.
Today, they have 12 tracks and Bikini Robot Army is continuing to add more music to their library. Their new EP is very different. There are multiple influences in their music, some of which is comparable to music from the 60’s and early 70’s with a sense of modern electro funk, but with a familiar rock appeal. Some of these influences could be compared to David Bowie or even Moby.
The highlight of the EP is by far “Joe strummer's house take 2” by Bikini Robot Army. The song reminded me of hanging out in downtown LA at the roof top at The Standard. This is an exclusive club where music similar to Bikini Robot Army is often played to match the atmosphere.
Bikini Robot Army’s music is psychedelic with a touch of counter-culture music of the 60’s era with a visual of go-go dancers on mini-stages lifted high off the dance floors inside cages. This "hip" high energy style of music would be perfect for even the most popular clubs in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles, but the rest of their music sort of falls off after, “Joe strummer's house take 2”.
After listening to Bikini Robot Army's other tracks, I felt let down with the rest of the music. One of the newest songs, "Desolation Row", a Bob Dylan cover had no alluring feature to it. It felt drab and gave no spark that compels the listener to want to press play again. One of the common traits that is heard throughout the EP is the word, “Cocaine”. There seems to be a fascination with the drug, because it is mentioned several times throughout in songs like, “Bitches and Blow”, “Never Going Back to LA”, “Joe’s Strummer’s House take 2”, and “Born Killa”. It can be annoying and with a feeling like this obsession is a bit overdone.
“Big Blues Jam That Will Melt Your Face” was strictly an instrumental. It could be a great piece, but some work on the arrangement during the guitar rhythms needs to be worked on to allow more cohesion. The other instrumental on the EP is, “Waa Ooo Waa”. There were no lyrics except some electronic programmed vocals with the words “Waa Ooo Waa”. For a performance at a local venue, this song may translate into a good song for a live audience, but this song does not translate very well on the EP. The electronic vocals pierce the eardrums and sounds like nails on a chalkboard.
Grading Bikini Robot Army, I give the song “Joe’s Strummer’s House take 2” a rating of 4 of 5 stars, but the rest of the EP, I give it a 3.
Find more of Bikini Robot Army on their official website and MySpace
Brother duo, Ryan and Joe Hughes have taken the traditional art of folk music, combined it with modern rock and tied it with an electronica sensibility to create, In the Cinema.
In the Cinema brings an artful sound never heard before. Not to mention, their unique music style is nearly impossible to compare with other artists. This sort of quality is what most artists strive to achieve. Many artists accomplish this task, but they do not produce the kind of quality music that people enjoy over and over. Where other artists have failed, the brother duo, Ryan and Joe have succeeded by doing what others only dream of.
Overall, In the Cinema’s debut album, "For the Struggle" is an excellent blend of folk, rock with just the right amount of modern tech. However, I was not crazy about some of the song arrangement, only because the tempo of the music has such dramatic ups and downs. The CD is very mid-toned and balanced, but then goes to a high charged song like, “Theatre…and the Instinct” and it enticed me for more.
While their music is far from a let down, I was disappointed there weren’t more songs with that same fire and intensity. Instead, most of the songs keep the listener down to earth as Ryan and Joe take you on a journey of deep spoken lyrics of compelling stories with somber tones of rich folk acoustic style in songs like, “Shelter, Late Night”, “Tie Me Up”. “Watch the Window”, “Never Leave”, and “Save”.
Songs also worth a solid mention have to be "Midday Refuge", "The Loop", and "Better". These tracks including, "Theatre…and the Instinct" are the life of the party and enough to capture a massive fan following, because it does not get much better than this.
Listen to a special 4-track preview with a special appearance with In the Cinema only on The Great Unknowns Presents, Ep 72.
In your bio, you speak nothing about the meaning behind the name. What does
“In the Cinema” mean? Why that name? How does it represent your band? When trying to answer that always difficult "What kind of music do you make" question, we kept coming back to the word "cinematic" for some reason. I guess we've always thought our music would lend itself nicely to film soundtracks/scores, which is something we're currently pursuing. We wanted a band name that would take the listener to a place, without being too thought out or difficult to explain.
Having grown up in such a strict house hold where radio and TV was forbidden, do you think that strict up bringing only encouraged you and your brother’s desire to pursue a career in music? Ryan: Absolutely! I used to get jealous of the stories, people growing up with parents who listened to The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones, etc...you know, the great music of the time. But I think since I had to search out and find the music that really personally floored me, it kept me hungry for it. It wasn't until I went off to college that I found bands like The Smiths, The The, Toad, Depeche Mode...artists that made me say "Now THIS is music for ME". That excitement was what propelled me into my songwriting, singing and overall journey as an artist. Joe: Well, I wouldn’t say radio and TV were strictly forbidden growing up. It was more that we weren’t allowed to watch MTV, VH1, or any other shows that were considered “secular.” Same thing with radio- only Christian stations. That being said, our parents worked quite a bit in the daytime so I think we appreciated that time really being able to see the cool new videos on MTV and new songs on the radio. Through that time I think we realized we wanted to do something different like these musicians were were seeing and hearing.
When your parents discovered that the both of you wanted to be musicians, were they disappointed or supportive of your decisions?
Our parents have always been supportive of what we do. They may think it is a little far- fetched to try and make a living off music, but they are excited about everything we try to accomplish.
When you and your brother used to emulate those artists in your living room, who were the bands that you used to pretend to play? Joe: I’m sure everyone will get a laugh out of this. Ryan and I were HUGE fans of Kris Kross back in the day along with Boyz 2 Men, All 4 One, BBD. We also loved Green Day when Basket Case came out. Ryan would play along with two old rack toms mounted up on shoes supported by a kitchen chair while I rocked it out with a broom as my guitar and a hockey stick as my microphone. Gotta love that early 90’s mainstream!
Do you still listen to those bands? Of course not. Wink Wink.
How do you describe your own style of music? We’ve been describing it as beat-driven folktronica.
Where did the inspiration in your lyrics come from?
Ryan: I draw inspiration from just being flawed and human. Most songs are stories about my life, things I'm going through or have gone through. I also find it easier to say things while singing them, so I think some of the lyrics come from a need to release...love, desire, fear, anger, desperation, redemption.
What inspired you to create the type of music you play? Ryan: Joe and I have our own styles/genres that we are passionate about, and they are pretty different. I have always loved folk/singer-songwriters, while Joe has been partial to hip-hop/electronica. When we started playing together as adults, it just worked. We want to create songs that represent both of those sides, so that it really feels like a partnership. Joe: A lot of it just happened naturally. We just create and play from our hearts, how we’re feeling, what we’ve been through and are going through at the time. Not to mention our musical influences past and present. Our inspiration and drive also comes from not wanting to be disgruntled 9-5 office workers with too much debt.
A question for Ryan: Several years ago, you had mentioned that “something was missing” when you produced your solo album with your first band. Was your brother the missing puzzle? Ryan: I really think so. I had a great time making my first album, and after about 8 months of playing live in support of it, Joe moved to Minneapolis and started playing hand percussion and samples with us. I knew instantly that our connection as musicians was still there, like it was as kids. Keeping a band together as a solo artist is very difficult, especially when there is no money coming in. So when Joe and I started doing our two-man thing, it was fresh and special.
Summer 2010 is already upon us. Do you have plans for a summer tour? We do not. We’re planning on doing a lot of shows in the Twin Cities and we’ll see what happens from there. We are itchin’ for the road though.
So, what else is in store for In the Cinema? Joe: We’re in the midst of working on a music video which is really exciting. Ryan and I are shooting around ideas about doing some different shows rather than just your typical bar show. We want to keep trying new things. Ryan: Shows, Shows, SHOWS!!! It's easy as a band to get stuck on your little island, especially with the internet and all there is to do to self-promote and market. It's a dangerous trap, and I personally have spent a lot of time this year focusing on non-creative work in support of the album, so I'm desperate to get out of the office and back onstage. We're booking shows for this fall so playing live and writing new songs will be our main focus like it should be.
Are there any plans for a new album? For sure. We have been in our studio throwing around new beats and rhythms and are presently building up new songs.
When can fans expect any new material from the band? Possibly some singles here and there this fall/winter, and hopefully early next year we will have another album ready.
Nobody Gets Killed are pianist, guitarist, and lead vocalist, Mo Nabulsi and bassist and drummer, Michael Overton. This duo from Anahiem, California almost never existed until one day they performed together during a jam session and discovered a shared unique musical chemistry.
Although this is their first album release, NGK shows the maturity of a seasoned band offering a full EP within their arsenal of songs from their self-titled debut to captivate their listeners. While these two musicians say they strive to be like The Beatles, Radiohead, and Muse, make no mistake, Nobody Gets Killed posses their own unique style and signature sound, but they would easily be grouped with these bands in that timeless rock genre.
The song, "Sublime" is simply one of the most beautiful songs from their EP. Combining piano and guitar, “Sublime” is reminiscent of songs like “Notice for you” by Dashboard Confessional or “Fall for You” by Secondhand Serenade. Other songs like “The Last to Know” and “Runaway” are equally serene, but offering more musical depth and rock appeal combined with the haunting soulful voice of Mo Nabulsi. This is where the influence of Radiohead shines through, perhaps they even sound somewhat like a Collective Soul and maybe even a bit of Coldplay type of band.
Unlike many indie artists that sound one dimensional throughout, Nobody Gets Killed gives listeners a variety. NGK was not afraid to be creative with their music with this EP. Even though every song seems to surround a somber level of tranquility, this band is an absolute enjoyment from one song to the next.
Listen to a special 4-track preview from their self-titled EP with a special guest appearance by Mo and Michael on The Great Unknowns Presents, Ep 69
Q&A with Mo and Michael:
Okay, so what is the story behind you two? How did you meet? I know you met at a jam session, but how did you find one another? (mo) Nothing super exciting, we met through a couple of friends.... (mike) Yeah, we didn't even know each of us even played music for a while... (mo) Then my sister invited mike to come over with his guitar one day... (mike) and its been magic ever since...
What made you stick with the title of your band, Nobody Gets Killed? (mike) We started with the name Everybody Gets Killed, but that got a bit messy... a lot of lawsuits... Our lawyers made us change it for the sake of humanity. (mo) Actually, my dad was going to kill Mike if he didn't marry my sister, so to ensure "Nobody Gets Killed" they got married.
You like to refer to each other as brothers, even though you’re not related. Are you guys best friends? (mo) "We're three best friends that anyone could have, We're three best friends that anyone could have, We're three best friends that anyone could have, and we'll never ever ever ever leave each other!" (The Hangover anyone?) (mike) We're musical blood brothers, but without being creepy. Your music is very nostalgic and serene, sort of like a Secondhand Serenade or an earlier version of Dashboard Confessional. I know lots of artists don’t like to be labeled, but what style of music do you consider yourselves? (mo) We have many different influences, from The Beatles, Coldplay, and Radiohead to Tool, Pink Floyd, even Zeppelin. We love to explore many different genres and you'll definitely be hearing that as we progress. (mike) Its hard to pin down the sound we’re going for, I don’t think we have that mindset, “here’s what we should sound like now lets write songs like this.” We just try to make music we are passionate about, that we would like to listen to. (mo) I personally just want to be Lady Gaga. No? Okay….
Who is the writer of NGK? (mike) what is NGK? is that a book or something? (mo) Its a pretty equal contribution from both of us. We really can't compare to the genius of McCartney and Lennon, but the dynamic is similar. We both feed off of and challenge each other in our songwriting. (mike) A lot of times Mo will start a melody and I'll play around with different chords or another melody. Eventually something just clicks and we run with it. Sometimes it feels like the music is writing itself, and we just try to keep up.
How do you come up with the lyrics? Are your songs based on personal experiences?
(mo) Some lyrics are very personal to us, some describe situations we feel passionate about, some have no real connection to anything, they just pop up spontaneously. (mike) Yeah, this guy just wrote a song about selling junk at the pawn shop. He's never even been to a pawn shop!
(mo) Hey! I watch Pawn Stars!
What is your favorite song? (mo) Breakdown! (mike) Last to Know! (mo) Breakdown is clearly a better song. It’s more stylistically developed. (mike) False! LTK has that sweet guitar lick and solo, Breakdown can’t compete! (mo) That’s it! I’m done! I’m starting a solo project. You will now refer to me as Lord Gaga!
What does the song mean to you? (lord gaga) What our music means to us is unimportant. We want the listener to create their own meaning to a song without our influence. (mike) I think that bit of mystery in some songs, having a very ambiguous meaning, makes them more interesting. You ever try to figure out one of Beck’s songs. He doesn’t even have any idea what he’s saying, but it totally makes sense.
Are you currently working on some more material for your new album? (mo) We’re always working on new material. One of my downfalls is that I will start a song, but can’t focus on it long enough to develop a finished product. That’s where Mike comes in. (mike) We’re both equally ADD-ish, I just have had a little more experience in the recording and production side. We’re finally at the point where we have all the material. Now it’s just a matter of recording and mixing; which takes us way, way longer.
I love the song, “Last to Know”, but it seems to be one of a kind. I’d love to hear more songs like it. Are the two of you working on adding more songs like it? (mo) Yeah, that’s Mikes little baby. I had to let him write one of the songs or he was going to throw a fit. I swear he’s just like Ringo. “Look, Mo, I wrote a song!” “Aww, you know what? I’m gonna put it right here; right on the refrigerator.” (Family Guy reference) No but really, it’s quite an awesome song. (mike) …(sigh) You know Mo? I put a lot of thought and feeling into that song, and all you could do was put it on the fridge?! Given that our musical backgrounds are so different, I think we’ve been traveling the spectrum of our influences. There will definitely be more songs with that type of feel.
The summer is here. Are you looking to add some venues, so more people get a taste of NGK? (mo) Absolutely, we’ve just been so focused on dialing in all of our songs and getting them recorded. That way we don’t forget how to play them before we hit the stage. (mike) Besides, we’ve only been together for 7 months, I mean, take it easy people, we’re going as fast as we can.
Are you producing your own music or is someone helping you? (mo) All of our recording and production is done from my garage. Mike does most of the engineering and mixing. I think we do pretty well for what we have. (mike) Yeah, we do the best we can with a very small budget and the little free time we have. I’d like to take some classes and expand my knowledge in music production to give our music a more professional sound.
Has anyone been interested in you and your music? Like a record label or music management company? (mike) No, other than you and Mo’s mom, no one is really too impressed. I was actually hoping this gig would get me laid. (mo) No offers on the table, but we have a few contacts in the music biz that we are hoping can help us. But all offers are welcome!
Would you consider signing with a label? (mike) It definitely depends on the label and the terms. What we’re doing now is an incredibly slow and painstaking process full of scheduling conflicts and trial and error. But it is so rewarding to have absolute freedom in pursuing any musical direction we want… (mo) Don’t listen to him! We will take any offer. We just want to live and breathe music.
Is your music available for purchase? Where can people find your music? (mo) We have several song that are both free and some for sale. Please visit our website, www.nobodygetskilled.com you’ll find lots of cool stuff and ways to interact. We are on facebook and myspace, so feel free to check us out there. Please drop us a comment, we love to hear from our fans and welcome any suggestions or criticisms. (mike) once our album is finished, possibly by the beginning of September, we will be releasing it through all the major digital distributors as well as Amazon and CD Baby
Is there any news you’d like to give to your fans that they might be anxious to hear?
(mike/mo) We just want to take the opportunity to thank our fans for all their support. It’s a pretty amazing feeling knowing that other people love listening to our music as much as we love creating it. We are working as hard as we can to finish our album. And thank you Michael J for the opportunity to showcase our music and reach out to our fans. Everybody keep listening to The Great Unknowns Presents!
Laura Steel releases her very first official video from her soon to release album that will hit stores in August 2010.
Set in a surreal nightclub fun fair, 5 punters wander in to find that things aren't what they seem. Is the owner of each stall one person?? You decide....
Directed By Blake Bedford. DOP: Sam Osborne. Choreography: Christina Andrea @ Frameous. Make Up: Rebecca Alexis & Bea Sweet. Hair: Daniel Palmer, Martin Mace & Sam Howard. Stylist: Eunice Jera Lee.
Find more of Laura Steel on her artist page website
This singer, songwriter, and guitarist may be still learning, but The Learning Curve proves Brad Cash has what it takes to make his mark in today’s music.
After entering a talent contest, young Brad Cash discovered to find himself with a record deal with Infrared Records right before his eyes. In less than a year, Brad released his debut EP album, The Learning Curve and is now available for purchase.
Idolizing artists like Maroon 5, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, and Augustana, Brad Cash definitely brings his own unique spin on music and has the potential to place him self among these high caliber artists.
Brad’s debut album, The Learning Curve is a compilation of different sounds. Listeners get a touch of jazz, acoustic rock, and folk all in one. The standout of the album is the song, “Quite a Situation”. It is a jazzy tune about a relationship that quickly turns from friendship to the possibility of falling in love. Brad’s smooth voice is a soft enchanting sound that is alluring to the ears. His acoustic skill is unmatched and compliments the lyrics. The lounge style keys in the song are a tad cheesy and reminiscent to 1960’s beat nick music has a retro appeal, but it is very modern.
Together with his clean look and magnetic vocal skill, I predict Brad Cash will be a success with the ladies and men alike across the world.
Check out why Brad Cash earned this weeks artist spotlight and preview music on The Great Unknowns Presents.
Q&A with Brad Cash:
You are relatively a brand new artist. So tell me how you got into music? My parents planted my love for music. I grew up listening to my dad play the piano after work to unwind (although I think it wound my mom up), and I would travel around the region to churches that my mom would perform in with her Christian band. When I was old enough, my mom put me in children’s choir at our church in the Little Rock area, where I sang solos frequently at a young age. While my love of music and performing came at a young age, it wasn’t until much later that I realized it was what I wanted to dedicate my life to.
What made you decide you wanted to be a performer? That decision came when I picked up the guitar and fell in love with music all over again. I started playing after what I believe to be a hard time in most peoples lives - Junior High. I, as many kids, struggled to find my identity. When I first picked up a guitar, that changed, and music was what I began to identify myself by. I became the proverbial “guy who wants to be a rock star” among my classmates, and that is still what I’m striving for. You have a little bit of a John Mayer, Jason Mraz sound about you. Is that who you look up to? Absolutely. The year I started playing I got several John Mayer albums for Christmas. Maybe this was my parent’s trying to influence my style. Whatever it was, it worked. Something about Mayer’s music resonates with me, and I feel his sound has influenced me more than any other single artist. I discovered Jason Mraz later, but I love his style as well. I look to him for inspiration, and his hats are pretty cool.
Who else are your main influences in music? I also love Maroon 5, Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, and Augustana, among many others. There’s so much music that moves me, and I like to think it all influences me in some way. How young were you when you first picked up a guitar. Was that the first instrument you ever picked up?
I was 15 when I first picked up the guitar. I feel that’s older compared to many in music, but I put in the time and learned quick. I actually played the piano before I ever picked up a guitar. As I mentioned before, my dad played, so I had a piano to play my whole life. I took lessons for a few years and love the instrument. Recently I’ve become comfortable enough to start writing songs on piano, so you can expect to see some piano driven songs on my next project.
What was the first time you sang in public? I sang “This Little Light of Mine” as a solo in church when I was five.
What is behind the title, “The Learning Curve”? The title of the album describes what the entire process of creating the album was for me - a giant learning curve. From the writing of the songs, recording the tracks, to building out the songs, what I learned was priceless. I started this first album having no idea of what went into making an album, and having little idea of who I was musically. Now I can say that has changed, and I feel I know who I am in the world of music. I feel I’m ready for anything now.
How did Infrared Records discover you? They were putting on a talent contest (it worked similar to American Idol) in the central Arkansas area. I decided to compete my freshman year of college and made it far into the competition. When I came in their studio and showed them my original songs they decided to record my album and put me on their label.
Now that you’re with a label, are you committed to a summer tour? I’ll be playing frequently this summer in the Arkansas area, but right now I’m trying to spend as much time in the studio as I can on new material that I’m very excited about before I head to Nashville this coming semester.
Will you have a band performing with you or are you doing solo acoustic sets? This summer I have a band I’m playing with, but unfortunately they won’t be able to come with me to Nashville. When I get there I’ll be acoustic until I’m able to put another band together, but I don’t think I’ll have any trouble finding people to team up with. I know the city is swarming with talent.
Who will you be performing with? This summer I’m playing with my good friends, Jared Clifton - Bass, Tim Eubanks - Lead Guitar, and Nick Villegas - Drums. It’s really going to be hard to leave them. I know the way we click together musically is hard to find.
You’re a college student from Belmont University, right? That’s right. Go Bruins! I found out about their commercial music program and knew it was what I needed to be doing.
What is your major? I’m a Music business major with an emphasis in production. Doesn’t that sound great? It’s incredible that I’m getting to go to school for what I love. I know so many people my age can’t say the same. I’m fortunate.
When you wrote your songs, are they about a personal part of your life or do you write about what ever comes to your mind? Both. Some of the songs on the album are about things I’ve experienced directly, while others are about indirect experiences. I’m young and I haven’t experienced as much as some songwriters, so I try to look at others experiences and write about them. One of my producers told me, “A good songwriter has to be able to write about things they know nothing about.” I’ll just say I see some truth in that.
What is your favorite song on the album? "Put In My Place" pulls on my heartstrings. Before we finished the album I wanted to have a straight acoustic song on it. When I wrote it I knew it was the one. I wanted the song to stay raw, like how I felt when it came into being. It brings me back to exactly how I felt every time I listen to it, and it reminds me of how caring for someone can hurt. I’d never felt that before.
Was it dedicated to anyone special? Yes. Someone very special. It was a case of investing too many emotions in someone too quickly. I doubt she even knows it’s about her.
Speaking of special, do you have a girlfriend? I’m flying solo.
Are you looking for one? I'm focusing on other things now, but I’m not going to run away if I find her.
Find more of Brad Cash:
Brad Cash presented by The Great Unknowns Presents, Ep 67
You can find the link to by my album and listen to tracks on my Facebook Page
Go to: Infrared Records to purchase The Learning Curve
Regardless of what people might think of The Past (Romanticized), D.K.’s already morphed a world 
