Two is a new album from singer-songwriter, Matthew Austin Hunt. Scheduled for official release on 07/30/21, Two is good old fashioned clean and powerful music right here. The sound is rather eclectic, as there are elements of rock, Americana and country, and Matthew Austin Hunt also cites legendary crooners like Bing Crosby as being among his influences. The guitars on songs like Things I Find have a delicious crunch to them, providing the backbone in what are some satisfyingly full mixes. The album subtly blends themes like patriotism, love and loss, interweaving them together cohesively. Hunt’s vocals are emotionally expressive yet charismatic and cool, balancing a “down to Earth” sensitivity with a strong stage presence. He’s a highly capable singer as well. The songwriting is as sincere as it gets, and overall this is a solid album. My favorite song is probably Questions, which has a melodic bounce to it.

For more info:

https://matthewaustinhunt.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oAdrwuUzvDfR0xLRvDWya
https://www.facebook.com/matthewaustinhunt/

Rainbow is a new single from Los Angeles-based artist, Brooke Josephson. After what has been a difficult year for many people, this colorfully inspirational pop track offers an uplifting message, reassuring people that it’s okay to celebrate being themselves. The music is bright and peppy, and Brooke Josephson proves herself to be one heck of a gifted vocalist. Dynamic, elaborate and technically on point, this is one of the best pop vocal performances I’ve heard in a while. The lush guitar backing gives the sound an almost retro rocking ambiance, as the melodies are brimming with optimistic tones that seem like they’re from another era. Rainbow is an invigorating and energetic release that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready for new adventures. The video for this song is professionally done and features some impressive effects, which really enhance the experience.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/brookejosephsonmusic/

Blu is a new single from Evin Gibson, an award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, and model. Blending elements of pop and R&B, this smooth track flows in a fluid and dreamlike fashion. Evin Gibson is clearly a gifted vocalist, and his dynamic voice functions as an instrument in its own right. He squeezes every last drop out of each note, guiding the song majestically. The backing music is ambient and ethereal, providing a meditative backdrop while a fresh beat keeps the action tight. Blu is much more enchanting than standard R&B fare. It’s enjoyably hypnotic and has a chill vibe.

Thematically, this track deals with the bittersweet feeling people experience when being played after falling for someone. It combines the hopeful tenacity of moving forward with one’s lingering sense of sadness. The recording itself has a nice, clean mix that’s mellow and sonically pleasing to the ear.

For more info:

https://evingibson.com/

White Girls is a new single from DJ Kosho (also featuring the talents of Slim Spitta). As mentioned in a previous write-up, DJ Kosho was a pioneering figure in the West Coast Breaks scene and was the original founder of Club RED in Los Angeles way back in 2000. From 2009-2010 he ran Club RED San Francisco. He’s been active in his most recent venture, iRED Recordings, since 2016.

DJ Kosho brings down the house with White Girls, a lively party jam .The high octane mix just sizzles with productive richness and clarity. This song really gets the juices flowing. Blending elements of hip hop and dance, a good way to describe this music is that it’s the type of song that would be playing if you strolled into a party at its most climactic point the evening. Slim Spitta’s no-nonsense delivery is crisp and straightforward. The lyrics maintain a disciplined and laser-like focus on the prize, which in this case translates to living it up and partying to the fullest in every facet of life. White Girls takes me back to simpler times of late-90s dance mix compilations and carefree clubbing. The audio quality is excellent, as DJ Kosho proves once again he knows how to put together a top notch recording. The action never lets up.

For more info:

http://www.iredrecordings.com/
http://www.instagram.com/iredrecordings
http://www.instagram.com/djkosho

3000 CE is a new EP from Fresno-born artist, Son of Satan. This darkly original release blends elements of hip hop with electronic music, singer-songwriter style and an other-worldly ambiance. Robotic vocal effects and retro-futuristic synths create a powerful aesthetic. If not for the rapping, one would be forgiven for thinking these songs were from 1980s Sci-Fi film soundtrack. Son of Satan demonstrates a talent for both delivery and lyric writing. His vocal cadence is methodical and magnetic. Thought the pacing is modest, the artist’s tone is rhythmically captivating. His voice lends these songs a charismatic presence. I was particularly blown away by the track, War of the Worlds with its jarring intensity and catchy verses. Every facet of the music fits within the artistic and thematic framework of the album. 3000 CE is both well-crafted and competently-executed.

For more info:

Love is Special is a song from ThinkJr (a musical project which was created to instill strong values in kids using fun and entertaining content). ThinkJR emphasizes kindness, honesty, humility, compassion and love for all. The full title of this particular song is actually Love is Special, Love is Kind. Love is Yours, and Love is Mine. It appears on the EP, Sweet and Beautiful inspirational Songs for Kids, Vol. 2.

The melody is fun, and the chorus mantra is one that will really stick in your head. With its bright and friendly tone, this song could put a smile on anyone’s face. The music features a light beat, along with some piano and xylophone-like elements. The vocals have that catchy and familiar sing-song style that epitomizes the iconic children’s music that people love. As the title suggests, the song teaches us how wonderful love is, and how it can be part of everything around us. There’s a little more to it obviously, but you get the idea.

The life lessons are valuable, but music like this will also remind you how neat it is to be a kid. Interestingly, even though the songs are sung by children, ThinkJr’s largest audience is comprised of people of ages 23-47. That doesn’t surprise me. The themes are universal, and anyone can fall in love with these inspiring jams.

For more info:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-is-special-love-is-kind-love-is-yours-and-love-is-mine/1572664825?i=1572664827

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/thinkjr-inc/1571645909

Oceans Away is a new album from Electric 85 (a Seattle-based duo comprised of Ian Piña & Kent Worthington). The album comes out officially on June 25, 2021, but they’ve made available “Side A” on Bandcamp as a precursor to the release. Suffice to say that this is exactly the kind of avant garde, retro-inspired indie music that I live for. Blending elements of disco, rock, pop and dance, the sound strikes me as a slightly darker and more artistic version of groups like Of Montreal. Ultimately though, Electric 85 has carved out its own distinct music identity, so comparisons can only tell part of the story.

Overflowing with dreamy reverb and deep ambiance, the song Phenomena feels like an instant classic. The video for this track features some incredible vintage Super 8 footage of the Space needle in Seattle, as well as a undated (most likely from the late 60s or 70s) Batman themed, kids’ birthday party. The more contemporary visuals in the video aesthetically bring to life the retro-futuristic quality of the music. Though the tone is thought provoking and not necessarily what one would consider sunshiny (this is Seattle after all), the songs still seem to convey a positive message. With its electrifying vocals and quirky disco-like synths, the upbeat jam Unify The World will definitely lift your spirits.

The best way to describe Electric 85’s music is that it offers that rare combination of imaginative creativity with technical musicianship. Some experimental music is merely interesting, but the songs on Side A are genuinely phenomenal. The full album will definitely be worth checking out.

For more info:

https://electric85.com/
https://electric85.bandcamp.com/

The Cradle is a new single from songwriter, Blake Red. Backed by robust guitar rhythms, Blake Red’s charismatic vocals drive much of the action. She has a great stage presence and belts out the lyrics with both provocative intensity and melodic sensitivity. The guitar bridge about 2/3 though the song is absolutely killer, the stuff budding musician dreams about while playing “air guitar” as a kid. When you hear it, you’ll know. The ambiance is deep and slightly dark. It’s difficult to classify this song musically, as it blends elements of various rock-oriented genres like alternative, punk, garage, metal, etc. The Cradle is a hard hitting and stylishly artistic single.

For more info:

https://www.blakered.com/
https://www.facebook.com/blakeredrocks
https://www.instagram.com/blakeredrocks/

Happiness is Hard is a new album from artist, Keith Curtis. Scheduled for an official release of 06/20/21, this acoustic driven Americana album is rich with delicate detail. The recording quality is such that you can hear every delightful note of the guitar. There’s almost a folkish quality to this music. It has an outdoorsy, open road feel. The songs are slightly romantic and convey a beautiful sense of innocence. The song Taking Off And Landing is a perfect duet featuring male and female vocals. Had it been released in the mid-1970’s it would probably be a top ten hit. Keith has a naturally cool voice, at times sounding like a country/Americana version of Lou Reed. Even though this EP contains only three tracks, it punches well above its weight musically. This is award winning caliber material right here.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/pillowofsound/