Archive by Author

Hey Oh From Sluka Gives Us A Preview As To What To Expect From Album Ready To Connect

6 Dec

With the music flowing creating an atmosphere that will have listeners rocking their foot and dancing around their living room, Sluka makes feel good music. When you close your eyes and listen to the song, you get a feeling of happiness and freedom within. Instrumentally, the single carries the tone of the mandolin and the other collective instruments in a swirl, mixes it up, and gives you music that is truly timeless. One of the first things listeners will notice about Sluka’s music is that one won’t be able to pin it down to one region or one location. Not only is this due to the fact that Sluka was exposed to different music all over the world, with his family moving frequently, but I think that its intentional as well. To have a sound that is wordly, sends a second message of all if welcome and no matter where you are, the sound of Sluka fits. Some interesting facts about this musician include the very diverse side pursuits he has gone after as well. While not performing he is a visual artist, distance runner, aircraft pilot, and owner of his own flight school. Audiences who listen to his music will not only feel a connection to his moving songs, but will sense that passion for music making runs to Sluka’s core.

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Scott Chasolen Writes From The Purest Tragic Heart In Album Living In Limbo 

5 Dec

Living In Limbo expresses the twists and turns of love and every emotion that accompanies that in this reflective album. Listeners should not lump this music alongside your typical heartache anthems. Chasolen’s music is not only raw, but it dives deep on your beneath the surface emotions that aren’t even linked directly to an emotion like happiness, sadness, or anger. With piano ballads that are as mighty as a guitar riff, the album does not fall short instrumentally either. Standout tracks include Limbo and Bluebird on the 12 track list. Lyrics from both of these songs differ greatly and capture two different emotions of love. Limbo describes that feeling where you are on the fence with someone and your heart does not know what to do. Bluebird is unlike any song I’ve ever heard before, painting the bird as one that will get through anything and using the superhero power of strength to overcome obstacles and a reclaiming of their silver sky again. Elaborating a little bit further on the instrumentals on this album include acoustic guitar sections and ever constant piano ballads that are almost symphony like, but pair up nicely with the meaningful lyrics and mood that this set of songs brings the listener.

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River of Light Mesmerizes Listeners With Styko’s Sultry Voice & Feeling Of Rock + Roll

28 Nov

Listening to Kristina Styko will mesmerize you from the very beginning. With her sultry voice accompanying her acoustic guitar, Styko brings a feeling of rock and grill with a dash of grit. Out of all the tracks on her album River of Light, the one that is a strong standout is State Line Diner and At The Edge. From setting up the narrative to describing certain emotions in story form, Styko connects with the audience that is listening to her music effortlessly. Diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia back in 2017, nothing stops Kristina Styko which makes her music even more inspiring. Spasmodic dysphonia causes speaking and singing to be sometimes difficult to articulate and get sounds out. It should not come as a surprise that her isolated Thoreau like retreat in Vermont contributes to her unique and raw sound in her music. If listeners think that this is a talented musician, her talent exceeds that of a vocalist and she has put herself in the category of producer in her studio Pepperbox and record label owner of Thunder Ridge Records. If a strong female musician that organically creates her music by her own will, does not inspire you, I do not know what will.

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Luiz e Os Louises Brings A Collection of Melodies In Album Life’s A Cigarette

16 Nov

Life’s A Cigarette embodies not only a significant collection of work, but a masterpiece from Luiz e Os Louises. Out of the songs on the album that standout the most is Please Everyone and Time To Love. With the song Please Everyone, it reminds me of early Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly. The lyrics not only form a narrative, but carry the musical characteristics of classic rock at its beginning. It reminds us of a society where we have to please everyone and live up to the standards. The song not only is reflective, but carries a tone of optimistic melancholy. Time To Love carries a Devendra Banhart vibe with the light melodic tones of the guitar and whimsical tones. With lyrics such as the “night unfolds inside our bones and we will look back to say its all blown away”, its thematic elements carry the spirit of nature and tonality that is indescribable. 

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Coffee by Resurrection Fern Channels Reaffirmation of Self 

10 Nov

Upon first listen, Resurrection Fern’s voice channels enchantment and simplicity. Comparable to the voices of Sheryl Crow & Rachael Yamagata, its quite clear that her voice is raw. The setup of the track itself is nothing more than Fern’s voice and an acoustic guitar adding to the instrumental qualities of simple. With lyrics from the track Coffee on her album Savanna, they send a strong message about self identity and the path one can take in life. “Escape the machine, find a way to make it seem like I don’t care” says a lot not only from an individual’s point of view and their path, but also making a double declaration on society and the rules that we feel like we are binded to. Fern not only reaffirms herself in a conversation style of writing within her music, but this connects to her audience as well. While most musicians make a significant effort to connect with their audience, either through the message in their songs or in social media, Fern accomplishes this with little to no effort. Her music style, delivery, and lyrical content does not seem forced or replicates anything other than a sound that is unique as herself.

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