Regular readers of MY Indie Music blog, as well as those of you who follow me on Twitter, know that I unashamedly show favoritism towards certain indie artists. There's a good reason why I do this. When you find a singer/band that exceeds your own passion with the music that they create, they deserve every ounce of support that you can muster. This is why Chaser Eight is back on MY Indie Music Blog with their new, self-titled album, Chaser Eight.
I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity of enjoying Chaser Eight for several weeks now as I was forwarded an advanced copy of the album by the band. I have taken a more personal interest in this particular project because I was also given the chance by the band to hear the music in its most honest form: the demos. I was invited in to the recording process by Chaser Eight and asked for my input on the demos and what I would like to hear on the new album. I had never been asked to give my opinion of an artists music up to this point in this manner. For this opportunity, I will always hold this band in the highest of regards, both as artists and as friends.
Now, let's get down to the business of the music. The first single, Lead Me Down, gives you an immediate indication of what your in store for... one helluva rocking good time!
I've also had the pleasure of witnessing the spectacle that is Chaser Eight live and in living color. There aren't many acts out there, mainstream or indie, that transfer their energy from the studio to the stage as flawlessly as Chaser Eight does. Their artistry is pure and genuine and you never feel put off by the disappointment that what you listened to at home isn't what you heard when you saw them live. I'd even be willing to go out on a limb to say that the live product is a step above the recorded product. And THAT is saying a lot.
The official release date for Chaser Eight is 02/17/2015, which is just a few hours from now. There is a HUGE release party scheduled for a few days later on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at The Ballroom at The Outer Space in Hamden, Connecticut. If you are within relative driving distance, I highly suggest that you do not miss out on the opportunity to see one of the hottest bands in the world of not just indie music, but the world period. There's a reason why I consider myself to be one of the biggest Crazy 8's around. It's your turn to find out why.
Make sure that you're following Chaser Eight on Twitter, like them on Facebook and sign up for their newsletter on the official website for all news related to the official release of Chaser Eight.
And as always, stay tuned here at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Chaser Eight!
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, it is with enormous pride and great pleasure that I bring back to MY Indie Music Blog one of my forever favorites, Project Dirty™!!!
Mark your calendars for 02/03/2015. That, my friends, is the worldwide release date for their new single Just In Time!!!!
Micah and Rhett have once again been gracious in allowing me to preview the new single and tonight I'm going to share just a snipet of it with you right here!
What you're witnessing is the evolution of one of the most important indie artists around. Already staking their claim as one of the hottest up-and-coming artists on SiriusXM Channel 3 (20 on 20), as well as numerous radio stations all across America, Germany, Australia, Venezuela and Brazil (are you sensing a trend here?), Just In Time gives us more of what we've come to expect from Project Dirty™ while allowing us to hear the growth of their sound. As I've begun to state on previous posts, as well as on Twitter, I don't want to see indie artists dominating the Billboard mainstream charts. I want to see artists like Project Dirty™ taking the helm of a new generation of REAL music that outshines every single contemporary artist out there today. As far as I'm concerned, Just In Time has arrived just in time!
Now go set whatever reminders you need for the worldwide release of Just In Time on 02/03/2015 on iTunes. Make sure you check out the official Project Dirty™ website, follow the guys on Twitter (Project Dirty™, Micah Faulkner, Rhett Fisher), like them on Facebook, check out and download their previous releases on iTunes, and as always, follow along right here at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Project Dirty™ as they happen!
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
To all of my readers in the United Kingdom, I am jealous of you. SERIOUSLY jealous of you. Hot on the heals of their critically acclaimed and long overdue debut album, Euphoria Audio, Euphoria Audio has announced the first leg of their 2015 UK tour! I'm jealous of all of you because you are there and I am not. You have the chance to see the band hand picked by Aerosmith to open for them at a benefit concert in Singapore. I'm jealous of you because those of you who have yet to experience Euphoria Audio live and in living color now have the chance to do just that.
This video is as close as I'll get until these guys head out on their first world tour, which I desperately hope will happen VERY soon. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of this band. Every day, I force myself to listen to my local Top 40 station for 15 minutes. I often find myself begging for bands like Euphoria Audio to get their shot at righting everything that's wrong with mainstream radio today. Very recently, I've found myself reevaluating that very sentiment. I no longer want indie artists to take over mainstream radio. That would mean that they've fallen under the influence of the decision makers that are ruining music for us today. No, I want indie artists to outshine their mainstream contemporaries and create a new era of music. REAL music for fans of real music! Euphoria Audio is the exact type of artist that can do this!!!
Check out their tour dates for the first leg of their Spring tour:
MARCH 2015
5th - Golden Diamond - Sutton in Ashfield
6th - Lounge 41 - Workington
14th - AOR Festival - Camp HRH, Pwllheli - North Wales
21st - **The 229 Club - Great Portland St. - London** £6 per ticket via Paypal
APRIL 2015
10th - **The Hop - Wakefield** £5 per ticket via Paypal
More dates will be announced soon, so make sure you are following the band on Twitter,
like them on Facebook and join their mailing list on the official Euphoria Audio website to ensure that you receive all the important updates as they happen, but most importantly, head over to iTunes right now to download Euphoria Audio and get ready for the eargasm of a lifetime!
And as always, check back here with MY Indie Music Blog for all things Euphoria Audio as they occur!
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
2014 was one hell of a year for me musically. For this first time since I became the unofficial voice for the independent artist, I made it an entire year without a single purchase of a "mainstream" artist's material. You read that correctly. Not one single mainstream record label got a single penny of my hard earned money in 2014. Every single cent that I spent last year on Bandcamp, iTunes, cdBaby, Reverbnation, Amazon, every pledge made on PledgeMusic and Indiegogo, went to hard working independent artists. And I spent A LOT of money!
Now, I've intentionally held on to this post for a reason. Towards the end of each year, we get inundated with lists from all over the music spectrum. I wanted to give you all some time to be able to enjoy each of those lists, as well as to give myself time to make sure what I was giving you truly was the best of what was given to us last year. Some of the albums/EPs on this list you've heard of from previous posts, others may be new to you but are already near and dear to my indie music loving soul. So without further ado, I give to you, my faithful readers and lovers of all things indie, MY Indie Music Blog's list of the top indie albums/EPs of 2014!
Honorable mention:
Little Donkey - Real Woman www.littledonkeymusic.com
The Well Reds - Volume www.thewellreds.com
Collette Andrea - Steady Sun www.colletteandrea.com
Simpleton & Cityfolk - Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken www.simpletonandcityfolk.bandcamp.com
Ghost of Paul Revere - Believe www.ghostofpaulrevere.com
Rikaan Ray - Inaugurated www.rikaanray.bandcamp.com
Forever Still - Scars www.foreverstill.dk
Sleeperstar - Lost Machines www.sleeperstar.com
Lori Henriques - How Great Can This Day Be www.lorihenriques.com
D. Edward - Love Is www.dedwardmusic.com
Olivia Millerschin - Over the Weather www.oliviamillerschin.com
Nicki Kris - Dream Big www.nickikris.com
Codie Prevost - All Kinds of Crazy www.codieprevost.com
Ben Harvey - #Two www.soundcloud.com/BenHarveyMusic
Gunther Brown - Good Nights for Daydreams www.guntherbrown.com
Alexander McKay - Brings Us Together www.alexandermckaymusic.com
Mad Anthony - Sank for Days www.madanthony.bandcamp.com
3PM - Slow Me Down www.3pm-music.com
Step Echo - Songs for the Broken www.stepecho.com
Haster - Let It Go www.haster.us
Friends of Emmet - State of Mind www.friendsofemmet.com
Josh Damigo - I Will Be There www.joshdamigo.com
And, now let's have a listen to the MY Indie Music Blog Top 10 (or so) indie albums/EPs for 2014!
10. Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy - Picture Day at Night School
Toronto, Ontario all-core rockers Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy were so far ahead of their own game with Night School that I have a hard time keeping the volume turned down much below blow-my-fucking-eardrums-out every and anytime I listen! For those of you who think rock n roll is dead, Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy would like to have a talk with you!
www.all-corerecords.com/Adrian_Pain___Dead_Sexy
9. Aloud - It's Got to Be Now
The biggest compliment I can give to this Boston, Massachusetts quartet is simply this: They are one of the best live acts that I have EVER seen. Period. This was one of the many successful crowd funded campaigns that I supported this year (at the recommendation of Sasha Alcott from When Particles Collide), and It's Got to Be Now is a rockers delight from start to finish.
www.allthingsaloud.com/
8. The Porter Draw - The Porter Draw
The Porter Draw is one finely polished album that flawlessly blends roots rock with alt-country and Americana. If there
were ever a call for a revival of today's mainstream country music, I would put
my first call in to the this band. I mean, how many people have balls
big enough to track a cover of a Bruce Springsteen tune and do it better than the Boss ever did?
www.theporterdraw.com/
7. Broken Romeo - Side 1 (2014)
Tuscon, Arizona alt-rockers Broken Romeo did things their own way in 2014 by piecing together what turned out to be an epic follow-up to the smash hit album Desperation Daze. The band recorded and released the first five songs off of the EP one epic rock anthem at a time, one after another... and the EP isn't even finished yet! I can say with certainty that the completed product is already on my list for 2015!!!
(Tie) 6. Project Dirty - Blue Fire
Los Angeles, California electronic pop/rock duo Project Dirty is currently exploding on the pop scene. They represent the best chance indie music has of crushing the misconception that the major record labels dictate to us what we hear. SiriusXM satellite radio has become the stomping grounds for song after song by Project Dirty, and Blue Fire took off like a rocket in 2014!
www.projectdirty.com/
(Tie) 6. Ruth Willow - Heart Requiem
Making her debut on MY Indie Music Blog is Liverpool, United Kingdom's Ruth Willow. I've been trying to find a way to get her on this blog since I first listened to Heart Requiem but my biggest fear is that my words will not do her music justice. So much emotion comes out in her songs that I get lost in her voice and find myself continuously hitting repeat just to hear more. Ruth Willow is a prime example of an indie artist that should be outshining every single mainstream artist on a global stage.
www.ruthwillow.co.uk
(Tie) 5. Katie Cole - Lay It All Down
Los Angeles, California based Aussie native Katie Cole is back on MY Indie Music Blog with something special that's missing from today's mainstream radio, Lay It All Down. With
one of the strongest voices in music today, Katie's songs instantly have
a familiar feeling. There's a charm to her that reminds you of some of
music's classic folk/rock artists with a fresh update for today.
www.katiecoleofficial.com/
(Tie) 5. When Particles Collide - Photoelectric
Bangor, Maine husband/wife duo When Particles Collide had one helluva coming out party in 2014. Already an established favorite in the Northeast, Chris and Sasha managed to cut Photoelectric, embarked on their first cross-country tour, and still found the time to fit in the beginnings of yet another album! Classic rock, modern rock, punk rock, call Photoelectric what you want as long as you call it a raucous, ass-kicking, rocking good time! When it comes to the DIY indie artist, there aren't many better or more on top of their game as WPC!
www.whenparticlescollide.com/
4. David Gielan - The Golden Record
Los Angeles, California based David Gielan is the ultimate indie artist. Singer/songwriter, producer, engineer, composer... these are just a few of the hats that he wears. Whether it's producing hit indie record after record for some of the best in the industry at his studio, Melody Maker Productions, or constantly redefining himself as a singer/songwriter, David does it all. The Golden Record was a late entry in 2014 and well worth the wait. Venturing into the electronic genre, this is not at all what we've come to expect from our favorite indie artist, but damn, what an impressive 3 song EP this is.
www.gielan.com
3. Euphoria Audio - Euphoria Audio
As I've
grown to love Wakefield, United Kingdom based Euphoria Audio more and more over the last two years, their
sound becomes more and more familiar to me. So much so that I often
forget that I'm not listening to them on a local radio station. Prior to
the release of Euphoria Audio, we've become familiar with Gravity, 3 Seconds, Speechless and Our Yesterdays
to name a few. But put this entire album together in one cohesive
package and Euphoria Audio comes off more like a greatest hits album
than a debut. Chock full of huge stadium pounding guitar riffs and
soaring vocals, it's easy to see why Aerosmith (yes, THAT Aerosmith)
asked the guys to open for them at their first ever show in Singapore
last summer. This band is that good and this band is ready for the world
to discover what the EUAUArmy already knows!
www.euphoria-audio.com
2. Spaceship Days - Saving the Universe
The evolution of indie music in 2014 was never more evident than with Durham, North Carolina alt-rockers Spaceship Days and their album Saving the Universe. Song after song, verse after verse, Universe gives back to fans of real music what has been taken from them over the years. As soon as I hit play when I was first checking out this band, I knew this band was a bona fide superstar in the making. Spaceship Days is taking the helm as one of the best bands around, and in doing so, they are bringing the most original modern rock sound there is in any medium today.
www.spaceshipdaysmusic.com
1. Ryan Star - ANGELS + ANIMALS
It's almost unheard of in today's mainstream music that an artist on the verge of having one of their biggest "commercially" successful years would just walk away from a major label recording contract. In 2014, New York native Ryan Star did just that. After achieving success with his major label debut, 11:59, 2014 looked like it was chalking up to be the year of Ryan Star. Switching record labels after a hugely successful self-funded single (Stay Awhile) became a viral YouTube sensation, the realization that his creative freedom was going to be severely hindered, Ryan decided to return to his indie roots and record his music on his terms with his vision. It says
more about the artist and what's important to him than what we may have
ever given him credit for. Sure, we all knew the passion was there in
his previous recordings. Now we get a taste of his character. A N G E L S + A N I M A L S
is what you get when an artist is unwilling to compromise his craft to
conform to some standard set by someone that just doesn't get it. Ryan Star, I would like to personally thank you for setting a standard that every other artist will have to strive for for the rest of their careers. Others may say they give their fans what they want. Very few ever deliver. You sir delivered and then some. Here's looking forward to 2015 and After the Elephant.
www.rstar.net
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
Hello everybody! I'm back again to bring you another MY Indie Music Blog feature that I hope you will be as excited about as I am.
My regular readers will definitely pick up on the fact that I tend to migrate towards one type of music more than others, rock. It's in my blood and it's a part of my soul. BUT, that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy other genres of music as well. There's a little bit of everything here for your listening pleasure from the aforementioned rock to country to rap/hip-hop and even a little bit of soul. Tonight however, we're going to up the ante somewhat in the soul department.
I've been given another opportunity to preview an upcoming release and just couldn't pass up the chance to share the music with you here. It's that good. So without further ado, I give to you the soulful, jazzy renderings of D. Edward and his upcoming album Love Is.
Oakland, California, USA native D. Edward is a music industry veteran with quite an impressive resume already under his belt. An accomplished percussionist, he currently tours with legendary R&B/funk group Con Funk Shun, as well as working with 2013 Grammy award winner Laura Sullivan on her current project. I can go on name dropping on his behalf but I think it's best if I give you a little sampling of what he has in store for us with his upcoming album...
The album itself is nothing short of amazing. There is so much sound packed into the 11 tracks on Love Is that I almost couldn't decide on what to sample for this piece! The biggest draw for me is the return to old school r&b. I find it increasingly difficult to find good music on mainstream radio these days. This album is one that could turn the industry upside down and give fans of real music something to be excited about again.
I highly recommend that you head over to iTunes right now and pre-order your copy of Love Is ahead of its October 21st release date. I guarantee you that if you're a lover of real music, you will not be disappointed. Make sure you also check out the official D. Edward website, and don't forget to follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook. And as always, check back here with me at MY Indie Music Blog for all things D. Edward as they happen!
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about tonight's post. This post is what I live for. This post has come about because of a mutual respect between artist and blogger. And you, my fellow lovers of all things indie, are the beneficiaries.
Tonight, it is with immense pleasure that I bring back to MY Indie Music Blog, Project Dirty™ and their soon to be released new single Wake Up the Night!
Regular readers of MY Indie Music Blog, as well as those who follow me on Twitter (@cgnipp), know which side of the fence I stand on in regards to today's mainstream radio. Simply put, I just don't get it. Maybe I really am getting old and am starting to wonder if I put my parents through the same thing when I started blasting 80's hair metal and r&b and hip-hop all those years ago. Or maybe it's just because what's on the radio these days really isn't that good. It's all fine and dandy to have the hottest producers and songwriters doing their best behind the scenes to make the current crop of "pop" radio darlings sound better than they are to pump up record sales and increase downloads and YouTube views, but what do we really get in return? A longing for something a lot better, that's what. And trust me when I say this, Project Dirty™ is that something better... and a whole lot more!
What you've just experienced is mainstream radio's saviors. Already making huge waves on Sirius XM radio channel 2 (20 on 20) as well as FM radio stations all across America and parts of Germany and South America with hits like Skywalker and Raise the Bar off of their latest album Blue Fire, Rhett Fisher (vocals) and Micah Faulkner (guitar) are ushering in a new era of artists who actually have to talent to make it on their own in the music industry. With Wake Up the Night, the guys have carried forward an already winning formula of pop rock infused, stadium anthem ready party rock that, according to Micah, is the "best we've done yet I feel." I couldn't agree more. I've had the pleasure of hearing the full track and really can't wait for them to unleash this tune on all of you in the very near future!
In the meantime, get yourselves ready for some new Project Dirty™ tuneage by checking out their current album Blue Fire as well as their debut EPs Act 1 & Act 2. And don't forget to check out their official website projectdirty.com, follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook and circle your calendars for Tuesday, October 7, 2014 for the official worldwide release of Wake Up the Night!
And as always, check back in here at MY Indie music blog for all things Project Dirty™ as they happen!
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
Tonight, I have no witty banter to share with you. Tonight, we're going to dive right into the music, because I have been patiently waiting to bring Euphoria Audio back to MY Indie Music Blog for what seems like an eternity.
So, without further ado, I give to you Euphoria Audio and their debut album!
I first introduced you to Euphoria Audio way back in 2012 when I started this blog (..British Invasion). That was only my 6th post at a time when I was just beginning to engulf myself in the indie music community. Fast forward two years and a lot has happened since then. The band is still the same, Matt Shirty, vocals; Ben Lloyd, guitar/vocals; Ben Hughes, bass/vocals and Josh Hughes, drums/vocals, and they're still out of Wakefield, England. The main thing that has changed in the time since I first discovered their music is that the guys have significantly upped the ante for ALL artists in the music industry today.
As I've grown to love this band more and more over the last two years, their sound becomes more and more familiar to me. So much so that I often forget that I'm not listening to them on a local radio station. Prior to the release of Euphoria Audio, we've become familiar with Gravity, 3 Seconds, Speechless and Our Yesterdays to name a few. But put this entire album together in one cohesive package and the entire thing comes off more like a greatest hits album than a debut. Chock full of huge stadium pounding guitar riffs and soaring vocals, it's easy to see why Aerosmith (yes, THAT Aerosmith) asked the guys to open for them at their first ever show in Singapore last summer. This band is that good and this band is ready for the world to discover what the EUAUArmy already knows!
Editor's note: I'm going out on a limb here and saying that Euphoria Audio is the current front-runner for this bloggers top album of 2014.
Head over to iTunes now to download your copy of Euphoria Audio. Follow the band on Twitter and like them on Facebook. Make sure you check them out on their official website. And as always, follow along with me here at MY Indie Music Blog for all things Euphoria Audio!
Support unsigned artists... give indie music a chance.
