Maja Francis brings Swedish emo country pop to the forefront with debut full-length album A Pink Soft Mess. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In taking a step back from her signature synth-laden, sparkling pop music, Swedish singer and songwriter Maja Francis rediscovered her roots—and her piano—while writing songs for her full-length debut album A Pink Soft Mess. Released worldwide last month, A Pink Soft Mess finds the daughter of a record store owner embracing her melancholy and emotional country-pop sound which matches brilliantly with the album’s shimmering pink design themes—fitting for an artist often described as “Emo Dolly Parton.” Recorded with and produced by Johannes Runemark and David Wikberg together with Maja Francis, A Pink Soft Mess can be streamed or purchased right now at this link. (Maja Francis, 2021)
A Pink Soft Mess opens with the previously released single, “Anxious Angel,” which fans may have heard on Netflix’s acclaimed series Love & Anarchy. “This song is to all my fellow anxious angels,” says Francis. “To make us feel less lonely.” “Tiny Tornados” comes next; the first song Francis wrote on her way back to loving music again. “I opened up to fall in love with writing songs and singing them again,” she recalls of the writing of “Tiny Tornados.” “It’s also kind of a tribute to my ADHD, and how it feels to live with the constant ups and downs.” Also included is a stellar cover of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” a song which has always made Francis “feel physical sensations.” “I love when music does that to you. Like…shakes you around like a snow globe,” she says. “I think Kate wrote this song for a movie about birth from a man’s perspective. But for me it’s about loss. Losing someone or yourself—and how painful that is.”
Album single “PMS Party” is the low-key women’s anthem of the year. “I’m having a PMS party and nobody’s invited / I wanna be lonely and do whatever I want.” “I wrote ‘PMS Party’ on a moody PMS day, it’s the fastest song I’ve ever written,” recalls Francis. “I didn’t know if the boys in the studio would get it but I took it with me the next day, they loved it and after a while I found them in a room singing ‘pms party’ backing vocals.” The final single from A Pink Soft Mess, “Mama,” is an unreleased collaboration with Johanna and Klara Söderberg—better known as First Aid Kit. A tribute to Francis’s mother, “Mama” is about feeling a mom’s love and learning how to reciprocate it. “Now that I’m all grown up, I understand so much more about her struggles and her pain, and I also see so much of myself in her,” says Francis about her “mama.” Fans should also stay tuned for an upcoming music video for “Mama.”
When it is all said and done, A Pink Soft Mess is distinctive, emotional, personal, the result of a variety of strong sources of inspiration, experiences, and collaborations. With this new material, Francis has abandoned the world where music creation is captivated by demands and expectations and where commercial success becomes the only significant point of assessment. Now, when Francis returns with her new music, it comes straight from the heart.
A Pink Soft Mess Track list: 1. Anxious Angel 2. Tiny Tornados 3. PMS Party 4. Mama (ft. First Aid Kit) 5. Lava Love 6. This Woman’s Work 7. Lucky 8. Emo Butterfly 9. How Are We Doing
Zych’s Dante’s Inferno Part I will be released on October 22, 2021. Photo: Metal Assault Records.
Happy October, heavy metal fans! Here are this month’s upcoming new releases from Metal Assault Records. (Metal Assault Records, 2021)
ZYCH Solo artist Zych’s eponymous debut album, the epic progressive power masterpiece Dante’s Inferno Part I, will be released October 22 via Metal Assault Records. The album’s second single “Canto V – Lust” is now live, along with an awe-inspiring guitar play through video. Pre-orders for the album (digital, CD, merch bundles) are available now.
Dante’s Inferno Part I will begin a series of solo albums dedicated to the poetry of Dante Alighieri. Unlike other albums based on Dante’s Inferno, this album goes in-depth into each canto. The album is nearly 70 minutes long with eight intense songs (No fillers). This is a progressive metal album that drops the boundaries between all genres. Every track takes on its own direction with an all-star musical cast of internationally well-known musicians. Also included for each song will be a work from a well-established visual artist. This is a heavy metal soundscape as you read the first eight cantos of The Inferno.
Dante’s Inferno Part I track listing: 1. Canto I – Overture (8:56) 2. Canto II – Gates Of Sorrow (5:23) 3. Canto III – All Hope Abandon (8:27) 4. Canto IV – Limbo (10:04) 5. Canto V – Lust (6:37) 6. Canto VI – The Gluttonous (8:24) 7. Canto VII – The Avaricious & The Wrathful (9:08) 8. Canto VIII – Into the Depths of Hell (11:21) Total Runtime: 1:08:20
DAEMONELIX A collaboration between musicians from the US, Canada, Australia and Spain, Daemonelix will release their four-track stomper Devil’s Corkscrew on October 15, 2021 via Metal Assault Records. Engineered and mixed by bassist / rhythm guitarist Derek W. Phillips and mastered by the prolific Maor Appelbaum (Candlemass, Armored Saint, Faith No More, Halford, Dream Theater and several others), Devil’s Corkscrew will be released on digipack CD and digital platforms. CDs, merch bundles and digital downloads are now available for pre-order.
Exhibiting a wide range of influences from Black Sabbath to Tool to Clutch to Lamb Of God and everything in between, Daemonelix has created a sound that is as unique as it is instantly identifiable. Devil’s Corkscrew hits the listener hard with elements of doom, death and groove metal, among several other styles and sub-genres within the heavy music spectrum. Romanian artist Mihai Manescu a.k.a. Obsidian Nibs designed the cover art for Devil’s Corkscrew.
Devil’s Corkscrew track listing: 1. Daemonelix (3:57) 2. Raise Crows (3:37) 3. In the Name of Freedom (5:02) 4. Sing For The Moon (5:58)
Daemonelix is: Vocals – Ana Garcia Lopez (Spain) Bass / Guitar – Derek W. Phillips (USA) Drums – Pat Labuda (Canada) Lead Guitar – Andrew Luddy (Australia)
ABSOLUM Louisiana heavy metal band Absolum will unleash their debut album Grand DesignOctober 15 via Metal Assault Records. The album’s second single + video “Black To Red” is now live, and pre-orders for the album (digital, CD, merch bundle) are now available. Tearing through the confines a single sub-genre; Absolum bellows with aggression and groove on Grand Design. Thick, heavy and thrashy, Absolum exhibits a broad range of talent across each track while maintaining their distinctly Louisiana metal vibe throughout the album.
Grand Design track listing: 1. Believer (4:09) 2. Grand Design (3:48) 3. Chemical Abyss (3:29) 4. Black to Red (5:34) 5. The Apath (2:58) 6. Exordium (3:26) 7. Thin Skin (2:43) 8. Bloodlust (4:07)
Total Runtime: 30:14
VANDALIZER New York City heavy rock ‘n rollers Vandalizer will release their three-song spinner Ride on October 29, 2021 on Metal Assault Records. The anticipated EP is available to pre-order now and will be issued on cassette tape and on all digital platforms. Pre-orders include exclusive merch bundles in addition to the release format of your choice, available now.
On Ride, Vandalizer mixes 1980s NWOBHM with the sounds of ’70s Punk N’ Roll for an exhilarating listen. Stream the EP’s lead single “Time Can’t Count” originally premiered September 3 and is now on YouTube. Vandalizer first entered the scene with their debut EP New Curse in 2015, followed by the Desensitize EP in 2017, giving listeners concise doses of exactly what they describe themselves as – a thoroughly enjoyable hybrid of old-school punk, rock ‘n roll and heavy metal.
VANDALIZER is: Mike McWilliams: Vocals/Guitar Stosh McMichael: Drums/Backup Vocals Sam Harris: Bass/Backup Vocals
River’s End will be released on Video On Demand on November 2, 2021. Photo: Giant Pictures, used with permission.
River’s End explores the global water crisis, using California as a microcosm. It reveals how water politics that led to the draining of the Owens Valley by Los Angeles, made famous by the filmChinatown, continue to this day in ongoing efforts to take ever more water from Northern California’s San Francisco Bay estuary. Except this time, the water grab is at the hands of industrial agriculture and its powerful corporate investors. River’s End inspires viewers to learn where their water comes from so that we can save our rivers and the ecosystems and communities that depend upon them. (River’s End, 2021)
River’s End is a feature documentary film by Jacob Morrison. It will be released on Video On Demand in the United States, Canada, and the UK on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Run time: 81 minutes (USA)
VOD Platforms: Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu (US, Canada, UK)
Cable Platforms: InDemand TVOD (Comcast, Spectrum, Cox), DirectTV/AT&T and more (US)
JACOB MORRISON- WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER Jacob Morrison is a filmmaker releasing his feature directorial debut, River’s End. Morrison has produced series for Viceland and Fullscreen, wrote and starred in a multi-episode explainer series for Vice, and directed a half-hour television pilot. He is a graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and a native of Southern California.
Giant Pictures is a leading digital distributor that is committed to empowering filmmakers to own their distribution. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, we work directly with rights owners to distribute movies and TV shows to VOD and streaming platforms in North America and worldwide. Our content partners range from first-time filmmakers to award-winning independent producers, as well as notable studios Alamo Drafthouse Films, Abramorama Selects, Participant, Tribeca Enterprises, Utopia Distribution, and XYZ Films. A division of Giant Interactive, the award-winning digital media and technology services company, we distribute across 45+ platforms, including AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Peacock.
These classic programs will be released on home video for the first time. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The David Susskind Archive announces four classic programs for release on home video for the first time: Paul Newman – The Paul Newman Trilogy on DVD and Digital on October 5, The Power And The Glory on DVD and Digital on October 5, Harvey on DVD and Digital on November 9, and The Bridge Of San Luis Rey on DVD and Digital on December 14. (MVD Entertainment Group, 2021)
Paul Newman – The Paul Newman Trilogy Three early live TV performances starring Paul Newman as a college kid, a clothing manufacturer, and a cowardly soldier. Produced by David Susskind for inclusion in various TV anthology series, these shows have not been seen since their original air dates in 1956-57. Featuring all-star casts, headed by Paul Newman and starring Jack Lord, Nehemiah Persoff, Sydney Pollack, and Frank Campanella, each episode contains the original commercials and previews of future shows.
“Five In Judgment” has two hitch hiking college kids forced to seek shelter from a storm in a small town diner where they are falsely accused of committing murder. The diner customers and owner terrorize the boys in the belief they committed the murder, only to discover the horrible truth. “The Rag Jungle” has Newman working for his father as a clothing manufacturer. They run up against racketeers demanding protection money, Newman refuses to pay and after his father is attacked, he organizes other manufacturers to stand up against the gangsters. “The Army Game” portrays Newman as a spoiled mama’s boy, a 9 letter man in college and a narcissist who does not want to be in the Army. His efforts to get a discharge anger his friends and barrack mates and it is not until he is attacked in the barracks that he is given his discharge.
The Power And The Glory The Graham Greene novel that made the world gasp, the drama of a priest who somehow stumbled onto the road to martyrdom. In the 1930s, a cynical Catholic priest is sent to Mexico to preach in post-revolution Mexico: a cleric who risks his life by continuing to conduct the Catholic Mass in secret after the totalitarian government has outlawed the Catholic Church. To confer the Christian sacraments, the priest must have wine but his attempts to obtain wine will call attention to his clandestine activities.
Featuring an all-star cast with multiple Oscar winners, the film was released theatrically in Europe and was nominated for an Emmy and DGA awards. The novel was recommended reading by Barack Obama in 2008. For fans of: As You Like It, Merchant of Venice, 21 Days, The Fugitive.
Harvey Due to his insistence that he has an invisible six-foot rabbit for a best friend, a man is thought to be insane. The classic stage hit gets the Hollywood treatment in the story of Elwood P. Dowd, an endlessly pleasant and delightfully eccentric bachelor living in a small town that is not aware that its newest citizen is an invisible 6’3″ white rabbit named “Harvey” that only he sees. After his sister tries to commit him to a mental institution, Elwood and Harvey become the catalysts for the family to heal.
Featuring an all-star cast (Art Carney, Larry Blyden, Fred Gwynne, Marion Lorne, Elizabeth Montgomery, Charlotte Rae, Jack Weston), the Paley Center for Media provided the film master elements. The Elwood P. Dowd character and imaginary rabbit are referenced in a variety of places: The Simpsons, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Field of Dreams, Shawshank Redemption, Farscape, Bob’s Burgers, and Scrubs. The novel won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize, instead of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. For fans of: The Honeymooners, Munsters, Bewitched, and Donnie Darko.
The Bridge Of San Luis Rey A friar is tried by the Inquisition for questioning God’s intentions when five die in the collapse of an Andean bridge. In early 18th century Peru (1714), an old Inca rope bridge over a gorge in the Andes, collapses, plunging five travelers to their deaths. Brother Juniper, who was within minutes of being on the bridge himself, becomes obsessed with discovering how five people of differing class and circumstances came to be on the bridge at that moment. The Catholic friar wants to know if it was mere existential happenstance or part of God’s cosmic plan. After researching the lives of the victims for five years and publishing his findings in a book, he is accused of heresy by the worldly Archbishop of Lima and put on trial for his life by the Inquisition.
Starring Judith Anderson (who received an Emmy nomination for her role) and Theodore Bikel, Hume Cronyn, Rita Gam, Viveca Lindfors, and Kurt Kaznar, the film originally aired as part of Dupont Show Of the Month which was watched by 47% of the available audience. “The Bridge Of San Luis Rey,” Thornton Wilder’s second novel, won a Pulitzer Prize and is #37 on the American Modern Library’s list of “100 Best 20th Century Novels.” For Fans of Our Town, and Hello Dolly.
The Devolver Album, the band’s new album in eight years, will be out November 12, 2021. Photo: Beatallica, used with permission.
World renowned mash-up (bash-up) metal phenomenon Beatallica have confirmed they will release their fourth studio album (their first since 2013) on Metal Assault Records. Forged from the influences of two of history’s greatest bands, Beatallica are the world’s first live mash-up or “bash-up” band. Their wit, creativity, subversiveness, and flair are as sharp as the point they make. Beatallica destroys the boundaries of creativity and reveals how original compositions of music can be crafted for those who identify with humor and biting commentary. All the while, they show appreciation and reverence to The Beatles and Metallica, grandfathers of their respective genres. (Beatallica, 2021)
On the arrival of The Devolver Album and what to expect from the new release, the band issued the following comment: “Beatallica are stoked to finally be releasing The Devolver Album after many years of arranging, re-arranging, and deranging concepts! Our relationship with Metallica has been a blessing and we thank them for their support and allowances. The Devolver Album will have all the elements of past Beatallica recordings plus more. Listeners will notice the mash-up between original music and lyrics and Metallica compositions along with Beatles sensibilities, style, and influence. Thrashy, heavy, clever, subversive, and hesh, of course. Beatallica are made up of highly experienced song writers and we had a great time working in original material on this release. Our first single and video for “Wherever and Everywhere” will be out soon. Beatallica are pumped to be working with Metal Assault Records and we look forward to playing live, in support of The Devolver Album, before too long. Information and show dates can be found at [Beatallica] and merch will be at [Bandcamp.] Hells yeah!!”
In 2021, Beatallica was signed to Metal Assault Records and the label will release their long-awaited fourth studio full length offering, The Devolver Album on CD and digital platforms on November 12, 2021. A music video for the album’s lead single “Wherever and Everywhere” is available on the band’s YouTube channel, along with the pre-order launch of the album in the aforementioned formats on Bandcamp. All digital and physical album pre-orders will come with an instant download of the lead single.
Beatallica continues to change the face of music on the internet, in live settings, and over radio waves around the globe. They flourish with music lovers from all areas of the world at their side. Throw your fist high into the air, become a “Beatallibanger,” and open your mind to a one-of-a-kind brand of musical mayhem.
Beatallica is: Jaymz Lennfield – lead vocals, guitars Grg Hammettson III – lead guitar, backing vocals Jimmy Ul-nic – drums, percussion, backing vocals Dr. Robert Stujillo – bass, backing vocals
Produced by Beatallica, The Devolver Album was recorded at Hamtone Audio and engineered by Jeff Hamilton and Lodi Broekhuizen. Flemball Rasmartin at Shane Olivo Audio and Justin Perkins at Mystery Room Mastering oversaw mixing and mastering duties, respectively. The incredible artwork featured on the cover of The Devolver Album was created by Matt Wells.
The Devolver Album track listing: DEVOLVER PLAY ME OVERDRIVE GUITAR NEVER BORNE WHEREVER AND EVERYWHERE HESH TODAY HERE COMES REVENGE NUMBERNINE B. C. H. C. THE DAMNING OF HELLEANOR HIPPIE
Beatallica. Photo: Beatallica, used with permission.
Back by popular demand, The Call: The Uncut Experience returns to theaters for one night only, just in time for Halloween. Photo: google
On Monday, Cinedigm and Fathom Events announced that The Call is coming back to the big screen with an extended, uncut edition just in time for Halloween. The Call: The Uncut Experience will be in 700 movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, October 27 at 7p.m. local time. After the movie, there will also be a pre-recorded Q&A interview with Emmy® Award-winning director Timothy Woodward Jr. about the making of the movie and a future sequel. Visit Fathom Events online for a complete list of theater locations and to purchase tickets. (The Call: The Uncut Experience, 2021)
From the creator of Final Destination, The Call stars horror icons Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell. Shaye is best known for her role of Elise Rainier from the worldwide box office hit franchise Insidious. She has also starred in a variety of horror films, including The Grudge, Ouija, The Final Wish, and Showtime’s Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. Bell is best known for his role in the Saw franchise playing the terrifying John “Jigsaw” Kramer in all eight movies. The spine-tingling tale also stars Chester Rushing (Stranger Things), Erin Sanders (Big Time Rush), Mike Manning (Teen Wolf) and Judd Lormand (SEAL Team).
Strong word of mouth helped The Call become one of the top-performing horror films of 2020. It was a hit with both audiences and critics alike with MovieWeb calling it, “A chilling tale of revenge and the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season as we head into October” and Dread Central saying, “From credits to the final frame, The Call leaves a lasting impact, an almost congenital terror that’s certain to break your heart and scare you senseless.”
SYNOPSIS: From the creator of Final Destination, Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell star in this terrifying tale of death from the fall of 1987. After a tragic accident, a group of small-town friends must survive the night in the home of a sinister couple. One by one, their worst nightmares quickly become reality as they enter the realm of The Call.
“Being able to bring The Call back into theaters just in time for Halloween is an incredible opportunity,” said Woodward Jr. “From directing genre icons like Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell to re-creating the ‘80s and developing this fantastical horror dreamscape, I’m excited to share some great stories with theatergoers.”
“There’s nothing quite like the visceral experience of watching a horror film with fellow genre fans on the big screen,” said Yolanda Macias, Chief Content Officer, Cinedigm. “It’s scarily perfect timing to bring The Call back into theaters for Halloween with this new Uncut Experience. The additional scenes and Timothy’s interview will keep fans asking for a sequel.”
Directed by Timothy Woodward Jr., The Call: The Uncut Experience was written by Patrick Stibbs and produced by Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick, Patrick Stibbs, Zebulun Huling, Gina Rugolo and Randy J. Goodwin. Executive producers include Nicolas Chartier, Jonathan Deckter, Matthew Helderman, Joe Listhaus, Drew Ryce, James Shavick, Kirk Shaw and Luke Taylor. Co-producers are James Cullen Bressack and Chaysen Beacham.
The Call: The Uncut Experience. Photo: Fathom Events, used with permission.
Demigod opens in select theaters on October 15, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Just in time for the Halloween season, Demigod, starring Rachel Nichols, Jeremy London, and Elena Sanchez opens nationwide in theaters on Friday, October 15, 2021. Upon the death of her grandfather, a woman and her husband return to her birthplace in Germany’s Black Forest, only to find a terrifying secret awaits them. Directed by Miles Doleac. (Demigod, 2021)
Demigod – “Already plagued by terrifying visions of childhood memories she cannot quite make sense of, Robin, nevertheless, remembers fondly her grandfather Karl’s (Jeremy London) deep connection to the natural world, the animals, and even the “spirits” of the ancient forest. Soon after arriving at her grandfather’s secluded cabin, however, Robin realizes that the inheritance left her is far more macabre than she had bargained for. She finds herself entrenched in an ancient hunting ritual that will force her to reckon with her family’s past and her own will to overcome the monstrous obstacles in her path.” (Movie Insider, 2021)
Creed Fisher’s Whisky and the Dog is due out October 22, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
With over 22 million combined streams on Spotify and over 17 million views on YouTube with past releases, “Life of A Workin’ Man,” “The Way That I Am,” and “This Place Called USA,” Texas born and bred southern rock artist Creed Fisher is gearing up for the release of a new album, Whiskey and the Dog, on October 22, 2021. (Creed Fisher, 2021)
Released through Dirt Rock Empire and distributed by CMDSHFT, the 14-track album reflects Fisher’s hardships, outlaw living, and blue-collar lifestyle and represents a community of hard-working men and women. Produced by Bart Rose, Josh Rodgers, and Fisher, Whiskey and the Dog is now available for pre-save on all streaming services here.
With eleven songs written entirely by himself and three others co-written with Mark Jones, Whiskey and The Dog is different than anything Fisher has done to date and stays true to who he is. Unapologetic, patriotic, and passionate, the album remains true to Creed Fisher’s unwavering form, speaking to and for his fans. His songwriting harkens back to the roots of genuine outlaw country music, taking listeners back to a place and time when the fine art of storytelling flowed effortlessly.
Fisher’s second single off the album, “High on the Bottle,” is out now along with the official music video. The single is available on all streaming services here. With the strum of a guitar and his unfiltered, seasoned vocals, the track gives fans a listen into the album’s southern rock, honky-tonk country tone.
“High on the Bottle” is personal to Fisher as it stands as a real-life example of his past self-choosing between his music dream and the woman he loved. Fisher explains, “It’s a tough one to understand if you haven’t lived it. There’s a personal side that isn’t so glamorous in this business that other musicians can agree to. It’s the rigors of being on the road. Always having to be here and there makes for the biggest challenge, often times-let downs. Overall, music is what I love and what I will continue to do as I watch those white lines on the highways continue to zip right past the window as life passes us all.”
Currently, Creed Fisher is on tour with his most recent album release, How Country Music Sounded Before It All Went to Shit, Vol. 1, and is experiencing success at Texas radio. With his last three albums debuting in the Top 5 on iTunes, Fisher hopes his new album Whiskey and the Dog will continue to help him defy the odds.
Like a steely-eyed gunslinger from a Sergio Leone western, he is a man of few words and lets his music tell his story. Fisher has never been one to sell his soul to trends. Keeping it real means writing songs that real people can relate to; the good, bad, and even the ugly. His previous singles, “Rock & Roll Man,” “Be the Hope,” “I’m Growing Older, But I’m Not Growing Up,” and “A Few Good Ol’ Cowboys” all hit Top 10, Top 25, or Top 30 on the Texas Charts. He was also named the BigStar97 Outlaw Country artist of the Year in 2018. Fisher has upped the ante, joining forces with renegade record label Dirt Rock Empire for the release.
Whiskey and the Dog Track List: 1. “High on The Bottle” (Creed Fisher) 2. “This Town” (Creed Fisher) 3. “Girls with Big Titties” (Creed Fisher) 4. “Whiskey and The Dog” (Creed Fisher and Mark Jones) 5. “Hundred Dollars Short” (Creed Fisher) 6. “Gray Skys” (Creed Fisher and Mark Jones) 7. “Don’t California My Texas” (Creed Fisher and Mark Jones) 8. “The Good Ol’ U.S. of A.” (Creed Fisher) 9. “Down To The Riverbank” (Creed Fisher) 10 “Find My Way Back Home” (Creed Fisher) 11.“Honkey Tonk Drankin’” (Creed Fisher) 12.“I’m Crazy And You’re Gone” (Creed Fisher) 13. “Jesus, Haggard & Jones” (Creed Fisher and Mark Jones) 14. “Hankles” (Creed Fisher)
Amazing Radio USA welcomes new presenters comprised of fifteen trusted tastemakers from across the country. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Amazing Radio has given artists their first break since 2007. Founded by Paul Campbell, the British new music radio station was the first to spin Alt-J, Haim, The 1975, Dua Lipa, and many more. With a continued commitment to new and emerging artists, it is free for musicians to sign up and upload a song for airplay consideration. Fans can also sign up for an account for free and can like their favorite artists, create their own playlists, and pledge money to musicians, with 100% of proceeds going straight to the artist. In May 2020, the company launched their North American counterpart Amazing USA, along with the acquisition of beloved radio festival CMJ. (Amazing Radio, 2021)
Since day one, their mission has been to turn listeners on to great music and to support the musicians who are making it and with new slogan “Reject The Algorithm,” the online radio station is making their commitment to independent artists clear. Amazing Radio is proudly curated by trusted tastemakers, aka presenters, who have the power in what they play. Think: your favorite DJ, but one who can play whatever they feel like. Free of the traditional radio format and the confinement of outside forces regulating spins, presenters play what they are listening to and the bands that they personally want to champion—the stopgap between revenue-based radio and anonymous Spotify curators.
In just over a year, Amazing USA has welcomed diverse presenters from across the country, who have each paved their way in the music industry. The current group of 15 bring unique music from all genres, inspired by their influences and underground finds, as well as local selections from their respective communities: Austin, Chicago, Harlem, Queens, Indianapolis, London, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Taos, New Mexico. View the current show lineup here and learn more about each presenter below. Listeners can sign up for an account and artists can upload their music directly at Amazing Radio USA.
Dominick Martinez – Austin, TX:Dominick Martinez spent years as a touring musician, working in music venues and festivals, as well as documenting live music through photography, all while maintaining a passion for discovering new sounds near and far from home. Since joining Amazing Radio USA in the spring of 2021, Dominick has found a new way to discover and share emerging artists from across the globe.
Marc Fort – Austin, TX: Marc Fort is the presenter for Amazing Radio show The Ear Candy Mixtape where he DJs delicious sounding music from all over the world in addition to “Texas Music and Music that Texans love.” Fort is the marketing and communications specialist at the Texas Music Office, within the Office of the Governor. Fort has more than 30 years of music experience performing and recording on electric bass guitar, violin, drums, and singing. Fort has performed in multiple bands which have toured with and opened for various musical acts across North America and around the world.
Derrick “Lottery” Hardy – Chicago, IL:Derrick “Lottery” Hardy is the respected founder of the 3 Feet No Pressure agency and co-president of ArtClub International, working closely with some of today’s top artists and athletes, including gold-selling artist tobi lou. A powerful presence in music and sports, Derrick Hardy is a team player destined to win.
Linton Smith – Harlem, NY: Linton Smith II is a producer/artist from New Orleans who currently resides in Harlem, NY. He has been in the music industry for over 15 years and it is his greatest passion. You can find more information and music from Linton Smith II online.
Kevin Cornell – Queens, NY: Kevin Cornell is an Amazing Radio presenter based in Ridgewood, Queens. He got bit by the indie bug early: starting garage bands that would go nowhere, and obsessing over local Boston-area punk and indie groups in the age of burned CDs and MySpace. He has professional experience in PR, marketing and digital distribution. In his free time, Kevin also co-runs the small but scrappy Living Waters Records.
Tobi Lynn– Indianapolis, IN:Tobi Lynn started her career hosting a talk show called Tobi Talks in DeKalb, IL. This was followed by a five year stint in Los Angeles at various SoCal stations like Y107 and Soundbreak.com. She then went to DC to build the first coast-to-coast college indie channel (from scratch) called XMU. After the satellite radio merger, Tobi moved back to Los Angeles, and curated new music for ALT 98.7fm at iHeart Radio for a decade. She currently curates and hosts a new music show for Amazing Radio US.
Charlie Ashcroft – London, ENG: Charlie is based in London, England and has been on air in the UK at Amazing Radio since joining the station in 2009. Away from his radio work with Amazing, he oversees BT TV’s SVOD content, curates playlists, runs an indie club night called ‘Somebody Told Me’ and writes a monthly column for Record Collector Magazine.
Tyke T – Memphis, TN:Tyke T combined honest lyrics, bold production, and insight from his graduate education to climb the charts without the help of a major-label. The indie artist—who graduated with an MBA from Middle Tennessee State University—studied the charts and organized his fanbase, storming the Top 50 of four Billboard charts with his sophomore EP The Prelude.
Mimi & Muziqueen – Nashville, TN: Jamilia McCarley and Thalia Ewing, better and more affectionately known as Mimi & Muziqueen, are two names buzzing around the Nashville music industry and are synonymous with the words passion, ambition, and progress. Mimi & Muziqueen are, respectively, partner and Founder of the organization Nashville Is Not Just Country Music, which aims to cultivate Nashville’s diverse music scene. They have become a deep-rooted resource of knowledge, support and encouragement to the Urban/Hip-Hop/R&B music community in Nashville that has long been overlooked, until now.
Justin Hammel – Nashville, TN: Working in radio since 2003, Justin Hammel has wandered through the music business running Radio Bonnaroo for over 10 years, supporting local Nashville music and running a radio station called Acme Radio Live.
Erin Frankenheimer – New Orleans, LA:Erin Frankenheimer is a graduate of Tulane University with dual degrees in English and Communications. She worked for Entercom New Orleans after graduating and co-created and launched a late night show, “The Conduit,” focusing on new music discovery. In 2017, Frankenheimer joined the Artist and Partner Relations team at TuneCore, running their New Orleans office. She is now the Vice President of Amazing Radio North America.
Marty Minor – New Orleans, LA:Louisiana native Marty Minor has a reputation: a fashionista, botanist, spiritual advisor, gris gris enthusiast, recording artist, and all-around flaneur. He compliments 100% of the planetary denizens he meets and has been known to give the tattoos off his back. Flash photography is encouraged.
Katie Pearlman – Taos, NM: A fourth generation Los Angelian, Katie Pearlman is a singer-songwriter who prefers wanderlust to the confines of the angel city. Making a habit of traveling alone, Katie’s attachment to the places that spark magic in her are the loves of her life. Carving out an authentic life for herself, she finds home within, exploring her femininity, defiance, sexuality, and intuition through the meditative sound of her seven-track EP.
Joe Sumner – Los Angeles, CA: Joe Sumner brings his eclectic passions into focus through music. As lead singer of Fiction Plane, he rocked audiences from Tokyo to Paris and as part of A Bowie Celebration, he has spent the last few years channeling the spirit of the Thin White Duke. Currently in the process of releasing his first solo album Sunshine in the Night, Joe has found huge inspiration from the treasure trove of as-yet-undiscovered talent in the Amazing Radio vaults.
José Galván – Los Angeles, CA:José Galván started DJing in 2008, when his job as an on-air personality at the now defunct Indie 103.1fm demanded it. José has held down lengthy residencies at downtown LA bars like Caña Rum Bar, Las Perlas & R-bar; he has made the rounds on the Westside with the likes of Bar Lubitsch, The Pikey, Circle Bar, Parlour Room, and The Standard WeHo. In 2017, he was booked to DJ at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival’s Sonora Stage. In 2018, he was named Host and On-Air DJ of his own weekly two-hour radio program at acclaimed LA radio station KCRW. His focus is promoting new music in all genres in both English and Spanish.
The final film by maverick filmmaker Nobuhiko Obayashi is a love letter to the power of cinema and will be playing on the big screen as it was intended. Photo: Crescendo House, used with permission.
Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Nobuhiko Obayashiwas a director, screenwriter and editor of films and television advertisements. He began his filmmaking career as a pioneer of Japanese experimental films before transitioning to directing more mainstream media, and his resulting filmography as a director spanned almost 60 years. He was notable for his distinct surreal filmmaking style, as well as the anti-war themes commonly embedded in his films. He died on 10 April 2020 at the age of 82 from lung cancer in Tokyo. The final film by Nobuhiko Obayashi finds the late director returning to the subject of Japan’s history of warfare following the completion of his “War Trilogy” which ended with Hanagatami.Labyrinth of Cinema will be released in New York at The Metrograph on October 20 and in Los Angeles at The Lumiere Cinema on October 29 (co-presented by Acropolis Cinema), with more regional dates to follow including Phoenix, Santa Ana, Tulsa, Seattle, New Orleans, Portland, Dallas, Vancouver (Canada), and more. (Crescendo House, 2021)
Labyrinth of Cinema – On the last night of its existence, a small movie theater in Onomichi—the seaside town of Obayashi’s youth where he shot nearly a dozen films—screens an all-night marathon of Japanese war films. When lightning strikes the theater, three young men are transported into the world onscreen where they experience the violent battles of several wars leading up to the bombing of Hiroshima. A breathless cinematic journey through Japan’s past, Labyrinth of Cinema finds Obayashi using every trick in his book to create an awe-inspiring, visually resplendent anti-war epic that urges us to consider cinema as a means to change history. The culmination of an exceptional 60-year career worth celebrating.
Director: Nobuhiko Obayashi (House) Cast: Takuro Atsuki, Takahito Hosoyamada, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Rei Yoshida, Riko Narumi, Hirona Yamazaki, Takako Tokiwa Feature, 2019, 179 minutes In Japanese with English subtitles
Crescendo House is a new boutique distribution company that aims to reinvigorate the American film landscape with a new model for distribution. Our goal is to expand the mainstream visibility of international or otherwise underrepresented films to provide viewers with an array of choices that more accurately reflects the diverse world we inhabit.
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