Hailey Steele (November 16, 2014)

Hailey Steele is a great representation of the incredible music coming out of modern day Nashville.  She is a country artist (who previously appeared on The Voice) and she owns that label even though her music is easily enjoyed by those who like singer songwriters and people who generally say "oh, I don't like country music."

Her new EP is coming out this Tuesday (Nov 18) and having spent hours and hours listening to it I can verify that it's outstanding!  Hailey has an incredible voice that brings in just enough of that raspy quality to give her sweet sound a little grit.  The songs are instantly singable and catchy and each stands strong on its own. Many new artists fall into a trap where each song starts off the same or sounds almost identical but not here. Each song, from the first note to the last, has something different about it.  The first song that really grabbed my attention was "High Horse" which has a chorus that just makes me melt. Not sure why but I can't get enough of it. "Getaway Car" is a great track and could easily be a hit single. "Diamonds" is a favorite because I love the imagery and using the idea of diamonds in a different way.  There are only 5 tracks on the album but they are 5 outstanding songs.  Not only do I love then, but my 3 year old daughter is obsessed and has quickly learned the words too (see below).  I hope you'll take a listen as well!


Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Call It Off (November 9, 2014)

Sometimes you just have to turn the music up loud and go a little crazy.  Call It Off is a great band to help you do just that! When I first heard them I was brought back to the sounds of "old" Green Day hits from the late 90s/early 2000s.  Their songs are short but pack a lot of punch.  Their latest EP "Liars" is a 5 song high energy sprint to the finish.  This Netherlands based band rocks hard but also finds ways to show off harmonies, have lyrics you can actually understand and write songs that stick in your head.  If you like what you hear then go grab their previous EP "Lovers" as well!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Kate Voegele (November 2, 2014)

It seems weird to feature Kate Voegele because I've been following her for over 8 years and thousands of people know her from her time spent on the TV show "One Tree Hill" starting in 2008 where she shined both as an actress and musician.  Kate's been laying low for a few years but is about to burst back onto the scene with her new EP "Wild Card" (out this Tuesday, 11/4) and a tour that begins the following day in Virginia and continues right up until Thanksgiving all over the East Coast and mid-west.  The first song from her EP, "Just Watch Me" is outstanding and clearly touches on why we haven't heard from her in a while. She is a huge talent and I can't wait to hear and see more from her.  She's a singer songwriter who plays around with the pop/country line very successfully.  If you're not familiar with her music now is the time to hope on the KV bandwagon!

Have a great week and enjoy the music,
Ira

You + Me (October 26, 2014)

I'm excited to let you know about a great new acoustic/folk leaning duo that has everything I'm looking for these days - great vocals with incredible male/female harmonies, excellent songwriting and a debut album that takes you through a whole range of emotions while on a great ride.  These are all the things that make You+Me one of the best finds of 2014.  But this sweet, easy going duo isn't exactly what they seem. You may not have heard of them together but you surely have heard of Alecia Beth Moore, the female lead.  She usually goes by the name P!nk - yes, that P!nk ("Get The Party Started," "Raise Your Glass," etc). This is her side project with Dallas Green of the band "City and Colour."  So while they aren't emerging artists on their own, together as You+Me they are a whole new entity one that I'm surprised hasn't gotten more attention. Be sure to check out "Unbeliever," "You+Me" and their cover of "No Ordinary Love."  It's a whole new sound for these incredible musicians.

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Paperwhite (October 19, 2014)

We used to live in a world where musical genres were broad and general (rock, pop, R&B, country) but now there seem to be an endless number of narrowly defined categories (pop punk, surf pop, acid rock, mathcore, etc.). So I don't generally pay a lot of attention to these categories - until I came across paperwhite which calls itself "dream pop." I had no idea that that meant until I started listening to their music and it all made sense.  This brother/sister duo has created light and airy pop music that seems to float among the clouds.  Dream pop does not, in this case, mean sleepy but rather imagine a great dream where you are floating on air;  just happy, seeing all of the people and places you want to go and enjoying a beautiful day. That's what papewhite brings to mind.  Check out their latest single "Pieces" or my other favorite "Take Me Back." Right now they only have a few singles out but an EP is in the works.  I for one can't wait to hear what else they come up with.

Have a great week and enjoy the music,
Ira

Listen to their music here: https://soundcloud.com/paperwhite

Lower Than Atlantis (October 12, 2014)

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS is one of the best UK based rock bands out there and their new self titled album is awesome.  These guys can turn it up loud with the best of them but never lose sight of the lyrics or the music. No matter how high the energy or how intense the music it never gets messy.  "English Kids in America" is a favorite of mine as is "Here We Go." "Words Don't Come So Easily"  is a more laid back song that also grabbed my attention from the first listen. And I can't help like a song called "Emily" since that's my daughter's name.  This is a great band and album and someone should be booking these guys on next summer's Warped Tour!

Have a great week and enjoy the music!
Ira

Trinity (October 5, 2014)

Trinity is the ultimate feel good band as they combine the high energy of Latin music and the classic folk sounds of Irish music to create something really special.  It doesn't seem to matter if the song is in English or Spanish (they do some of each) because the music is just so good and infectious.  The song that grabbed my attention is "Unbreakable" of their latest album called "Mundo."  It's without a doubt one of my favorite songs of the year.  You can get this song and several others for free on Noisetrade.  Give this great band a listen and you just might find some of your favorite music of the year!

Have a great week and enjoy the music,
Ira