Category: Music News

New music release: Happy Birthday 2U – Pink Man Shout and Pios Phantom

Happy Birthday 2U is the new song by Pink Man Shout and Pios Phantom. Photo: Balarama, used with permission.

Balarama is a musical searcher. The German born lyricist has explored both the physical world and a seemingly endless sea of musical genres, emerging with tracks that are hypnotic, uplifting, and full of revelations. Having spent years honing his craft, he is now emerging with some of the most meaningful tracks of his career. This week he released a new song, a collaboration between Pink Man Shout (electronic dance music) and Pios Phantom (indie rock pop punk) titled Happy Birthday 2U. It is available for streaming on Spotify. (Balarama, 2023)

The heartbreaking Happy Birthday 2U brilliantly blends rock and EDM.  Written in the wake of a personal tragedy, the song is a meaningful meditation on loss and survival, yet its massive hooks and hypnotic beats keep things uplifting and cathartic. The artists have come together to create a work of beauty, likely to appeal to anyone who has experienced difficult times. Perfect for any electronic, rock based playlists

The many experiences that have made Balarama’s story so unique are also the key elements of his lyricism. He carries on the traditions of love and peace that were born at Woodstock. He has written a divine rock opera inspired by the heavenly mantra entrusted to him by his guru. The story begins in 1969 and takes listeners on a celestial journey from his village in the past to the era of love he has created in the present. If you look closely at the artwork, you may even find hints as to where you can find the artist if you choose to follow this heavenly path.

He is a yoga master, a modern day philosopher, and a pilgrim. Along the way on his extensive travels, he has encountered several kindred spirits, many of which have become trusted collaborators. Together, they have made genuinely beautiful music.

On his latest tracks, Balarama has been experimenting with innovative electronic sounds. The songs take inspiration from vintage pop, rock, and soul, while using modern recording techniques to brilliantly capture the energy of the performers. These songs come from humble origins, but they are beginning to capture the imagination of listeners around the world.

Above all, the artist’s goal is to bring people together through music. His home in Siegbach, Germany is a holy place where people can come to find the essence of their divine spirit. To find peace and harmony in a world where those qualities are increasingly rare and he may very well succeed. With a steady stream of new releases expected this year and beyond, he is poised to make an indelible impact on the international music world.

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Red Bull brings world’s biggest Spanish freestyle rap competition to Fiesta San Antonio

The world’s largest Spanish freestyle rap competition takes over Paper Tiger with Red Bull Batalla Exhibición on April 20. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Red Bull Batalla – the world’s largest Spanish-language freestyle rap competition series – announces details for a special music concert and pop-up experience scheduled to take place during the opening night ceremonies of Fiesta San Antonio 2023 on Thursday, April 20. (Painting Pictures, 2023)

Leading up to the 2023 Batalla Regional Qualifier in Houston this summer, as well as the U.S. National Finals scheduled to take place later this year in November, this Red Bull Batalla Exhibición event will kick off from 10p.m. to 2a.m. at Paper Tiger (2410 N St Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78212) on the St. Mary’s Strip. Doors open at 9p.m.

The Thursday event is free to attend for music fans of all ages, although limited space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans are encouraged to RSVP to reserve their spot in advance.

Thursday night’s showcase will feature eight of the most dynamic Spanish-language lyricists that the USA has to offer, each of whom has held a championship title and was personally invited to participate in this special bracket-style tournament.

Participants representing Texas and beyond will travel to San Antonio to flex their lyrical skills and compete for the crown as they battle bar-for-bar. The initial list of participating MCs for the San Antonio Exhibición is listed below (in A-Z order):

Cuban (Texas)
Jordi (Texas)
Oner (Florida)
Reverse (Florida)
Yartzi (Puerto Rico)
Plus additional surprise guest MCs from Mexico and one to-be-announced competitor based on results from the TX Cup Championship in early April.

Omar Cadena, better known as Fluffy The Host will be hosting this San Antonio competition. DJ Lobo of the Texas-based Spanish-speaking rap battle league, Urban Rapstars, will serve as the official DJ for this event, with DJ Vinny set to perform as an opener.

Once the freestyle rap battling concludes, Texas’ very own Latin DJ collective and perpetual party-starters Peligrosa will close out the event with a special collaborative performance.

Throughout the evening event, patrons will be treated to several tasty cocktail concoctions curated by Red Bull, as well as free haircuts and beard trims courtesy of some of San Antonio’s premier barbers and hair stylists. Local barbers offering complimentary, cost-free cuts onsite as part of this barber shop pop-up experience include Sergio Barron, Adrian Barron, Faded Culture, Kurly Kutz, Koo Kutz Barber Shop, and more. This experience will be available first come, first serve starting at 9p.m. and running through the duration of the show while supplies last.

Following this event, there will be two more opportunities for aspiring MCs to compete in a series of regional cups and qualifier events across the country leading up to the USA National Final this fall and ultimately the 2023 World Final. Throughout these exciting proceedings, aspiring MCs will compete in one-on-one knockout battles to show off their best rhymes, wordplay, stage presence, and more as they battle amongst the best and most prestigious Spanish-speaking freestylers across the globe.

Since 2005, Red Bull Batalla has provided a platform for the best hip-hop improvisers in the Spanish-speaking world to connect, develop, and compete. Last December the historic Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City hosted the 2022 International Final where Mexico’s national champion Aczino took the title, making history as the competition’s first-ever triple World Champion.

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New album release: People Talk – Lauren Morrow

Lauren Morrow’s long awaited full length solo debut album People Talk will be release March 31, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In the short few years since Lauren Morrow branched out from her more-than-a-decade-long role as the frontwoman of The Whiskey Gentry, her solo career has taken her above and beyond what was ever imagined—from being listed “Best of” in the pages of Rolling Stone and Garden & Gun to performing on television sets nationwide on PBS. Surprisingly, Morrow has done it all without ever putting out a full-length album. That is, until now; her new album will be released March 31, 2023. People Talk is a collection of ten songs that Morrow says, “truly reflect who I am as a person and the sounds I’ve been waiting to explore for my entire career.” Produced by Parker Cason and mixed by Vance Powell and Jacquire King, People Talk finds Morrow exploring her beyond-country influences like 90s Alternative, Britpop, and 80s New Wave bands with moody, brutally honest lyrical content and rock n roll attitudes; all with Morrow’s signature soprano and vulnerable vibrato and a host of atypically-Americana vibes and tones. The end result is a patiently cultivated and refined sound, a pure expression of everything Morrow is made of—not just what we have seen so far. (IVPR, 2023)

Recently Morrow shared the first single from People Talk, “Only Nice When I’m High,” and its accompanying music video which features Morrow and her on-screen pal, a living, breathing, three-foot-tall joint. Fans can watch the “Only Nice When I’m High” video, stream the single, and pre-order or pre-save ahead of People Talk’s March 31 release on Big Kitty Records—Morrow’s own record label, along with her husband and business/creative partner, Jason Morrow.

People Talk track list:
1. I’m Sorry
2. Only Nice When I’m High
3. People Talk
4. It’s You
5. Looking For Trouble
6. Nobody But Me
7. Hustle
8. Family Tree
9. Leona
10. Birthday

Catch Lauren Morrow on tour:
March 31 – Nashville, TN – The Basement (Get Happier Fridays)
April 18 – Uppsala, Sweden – Katalin
April 19 – Mariefred, Sweden – Gripsholms Vardshus
April 20 – Tranas, Sweden – Plan B
April 21 – Falkenberg, Sweden – Tryckhallen
April 22 – Kristianstad, Sweden – Kulturkvarteret
April 23 – Hyltebruk, Sweden – Forum
April 25 – Hultsfred, Sweden – Hotel Hulingen
April 26 – Oslo, Norway – Krosset
April 27 – Trodheim, Norway – Moskus
April 28 – Ringbu, Norway – Amemoen Gard
April 29 – Ljusdal, Sweden – Roda Kvam
April 30 – Stockholm, Sweden – Twang
May 3 – Norrtajle, Sweden – Imperial
May 4 – Ostersund, Sweden – Captain Cook
May 5 – Pitea, Sweden – Studio Acusticum
May 6 – Sundsvall, Sweden – Q-Bar

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New album release: Road to Rendition – New Rules Duo

Road to Rendition is the new album by New Rules Duo. Photo: New Rules Duo, used with permission.

New Rules Duo is a multi award-winning international duo made up of Celia Stavri (vocals) and Dominik Dybka (guitar and vocals). Celia Stavri is a singer/singer songwriter born in the UK and now living in Paphos, Cyprus. She is a well known award winning singer and the runner up out of thousands of singers applying for a Greek singing contest called ‘Rising Star,’ which was televised in Greece. She is also the lead singer for the award winning band Party Crasher where she also performs together with Dominik. Dominik is not only a guitarist/singer, but also the owner of the recording studio Overtone Records and the director of the music school Art2see Academy in Paphos. As an accomplished sound engineer and music producer, he takes passion and talent to the next level. Road to Rendition is their new album. (New Rules Duo, 2023)

Road to Rendition is a 12 track cover album featuring cover songs of popular hits including Part Time Lover, Wicked Game, and Zombie. It is available for streaming on SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube. Follow New Rules Duo on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

“We have been working extremely hard on this album. Each instrument, sound and voice has been recorded by us and is our ‘rendition’ of some of our favourite songs that we perform. It’s taken blood, sweat and tears but we are so proud of the finished product. We really hope that you all love it as much as we do!”

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New album release: I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying – Whitehorse

Whitehorse’s new album is available now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Award-winning Canadian duo Whitehorse—Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet—just released their eighth LP, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, leaving no emotional, personal, fantastical, or political stone unturned. The new album finds the pair venturing deeper into classic country music touchstones than ever before; a move that is both a homecoming and an evolution of their sound. A twist on the ever-present “pandemic album,” Whitehorse distilled and transcended the gloom and uncertainty of the time with a collection about heartbreak and loyalty; shaking things up and hunkering down. The resulting twelve-song collection is playful yet profound; masterfully simple and timeless—and is out on Six Shooter Records, surprising and charming critics and fans alike. (Whitehorse, 2023)

Stream or purchase I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, where you can listen to fan favorites like “Division 5,” “If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me,” and new tracks like “Bet The Farm,” which is a chapel-ready ode to loving love.

I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying track list:
If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me
I Might Get Over This (But I Won’t Stop Loving You)
The Road
Division 5
Manitoba Bound
Bet The Farm
Leave Me as You Found Me
6 Feet Away
I Miss The City
Sanity, TN
Lock It Down
Scared of Each Other

Catch Whitehorse on tour:
May 18 – Sarnia, ON – Imperial Theatre
May 19 – Highgate, ON – Mary Webb Centre
May 24 – Meaford, ON – Meaford Hall Arts and Cultural Centre
May 25 – London, ON – Aeolian Hall Performing Arts Centre
May 26 – Guelph, ON – Royal City Evangelical Missionary Church
May 28 – Peterborough, ON – Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
May 31 – Ridgeway, ON – The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts
June 1 – Paris, ON – DT Concerts Series
June 2 – Kingston, ON – BLU Martini
June 3 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre
June 4 – Parry Sound, ON – Charles W. Stockey Centre

Whitehorse is the prolific partnership of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet. Uninhibited by expectation, boldly adventurous, and categorically talented, Whitehorse’s signature sound is always guitar-heavy, harmony-plentiful, and lyrically deft. With an expansive run of records that freely and thrillingly dip in psychedelic country, pop noir, squalling blues rock, and celestial folk, Whitehorse has pushed their musical identity into new realms and sounds for over a decade and has received five consecutive JUNO Award nominations in many different genre categories.

New album release: Lost Voices – Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz

Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz pay tribute to those who ‘Still Had So Much To Say’ on their new album Lost Voices now out via Mountain Fever Records. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

When long-time friends, mutual admirers, and heavily respected bluegrass musicians Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz started accumulating a catalog of co-written songs during Covid lockdown and beyond, it only made sense to get these inspired, well-crafted stories recorded for the rest of the world to hear and enjoy. Retreating to Jutz’ log cabin studio outside of Nashville with a crew of like-minded greats including Shaun Richardson on mandolin, Ron Block on banjo, Tammy Rogers on fiddle, and Mark Fain on bass, Stafford and Jutz cut fourteen of their songs to create an album of tunes that the beloved, late music writer and historian Peter Cooper called “Songs that bring American history—mountain culture, steam trains, vaudeville, race, baseball, strife, and grace—to technicolor life.” The album is called Lost Voices, and it is out now on Mountain Fever Records. (Tim Stafford/Thomm Jutz, 2023)

From Callie Lou, a song based on a scene from Harriette Arnow’s The Doll Maker that features Dale Ann Bradey on vocals; to the story of Negro League heroes, The Elizabethton Blue Grays, brought to life by the dedicated research of Jacey Augustus and the Cedar Grove Foundation; to the amazing story of the now-recognized Navajo heroes of the battle of Iwo Jima in Code Talkers; to The Queen and Crescent which is full of the alluring jargon from the golden era of America’s railroads; Lost Voices is all in tribute to what the longtime Blue Highway guitarist (Stafford) and the long-respected Nashville songwriter and session man (Jutz) call “the lost voices that still had so much to say.”

After calling both Stafford and Jutz “master guitarists and writers,” the aforementioned Cooper described Lost Voices: “These are new kinds of bluegrass songs, informed by mutual heroes Tony Rice, Norman Blake, John Hartford, and Gordon Lightfoot, yet not beholden to any prior influence, other than the influence of the American experience.”

Fans can stream or purchase Lost Voices.

Lost Voices track list:
Take That Shot
Enough To Keep You Going For A While
The Blue Grays
The Ballad Of Kinnie Wagner
Callie Lou
The Wild Atlantic Way
No Witness In The Laurel But The Leaves
Vaudeville Blues
Code Talker
The Standing People
The Queen And Crescent
High Mountain Rising
Revolutionary Love
Lost Voices

Mountain Fever Records is proud to announce the signing of Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz; two of the most prominent and prolific songwriters in bluegrass music, for the release of their forthcoming duo project, Lost Voices. Their love for history, vintage guitars, and well-crafted songs brought the two together five years ago. “I’m such an admirer of Tim’s writing, singing, and playing. Making a duo record with Tim was a logical step and a dream come true for me,” notes Jutz. Stafford says, “Thomm is such a great, unique writer, player, and singer – we connected and found so many ideas that spoke to us both. Recording was a breeze!”

Songstress Jessica Medina blends musical genres in new single

Jessica Medina blends merengue and salsa in her new single Locura, available now for streaming. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Jessica Medina is a singer-songwriter born in New York to a Dominican mother and Puerto Rican father. Their voices were the soundtrack of her formative years. She studied jazz and rights at Hunter College in New York City and she was influenced from a very young age by merengue, specifically the merengue sounds of the 80s. By having the musical wealth of two cultures, her sound is a mixture of both. (Vesper Public Relations, 2023)

Jessica Medina broke barriers with her previous single “Back to Black,” an exemplary song by Amy Winehouse, approached from a completely new style. NPR regards her as “a new artist that you cannot stop listening to.” Constantly taking risks, she breaks barriers that the music industry imposes on language, offering bilingual lyrics and attracting the new generation called “Latinx,” Latinos raised in the United States.

Her new single Locura is now available for streaming. She once again demonstrates her passion for fusions, this time bringing together the rhythms of merengue and electronic synths with samba. Locura is part of her upcoming EP entitled Rosa, which will be released this April. In this EP she dives deeper into her Dominican and Puerto Rican roots and the different types of love from a woman’s perspective. Rosa is a project which includes women in all aspects, such as compositions, musicians, visual arts, musical arrangements, and production. Merengue is having a resurgence and Jessica Medina has decided to celebrate love with this romantic merengue.

Locura depicts an empowered woman with passion, sensuality, and joy. This track will make us all dance and celebrate love. Locura translates as craziness and captures that period of infatuation we all know. “Let’s start the year dancing merengue and being crazy in love.” Award-winning composer Alex Cuba composed Locura with musical arrangements and production by Janina Rosado. It was recorded in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

New single release: En Este Amor – Adriel Favela

Adriel Favela presents his new single En Este Amor. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Adriel Favela is an internationally celebrated singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist in the northern Mexican Regional genre known as norteño. Adriel Favela gives free reign to his free spirit and does not hold back. Once again, he surprises the musical scene with the release of En Este Amor, a heartbreak song written by Gussy Lau and Tamayo Aguilera, who through their lyrics try to explain what it means to be that special person, who meant everything and takes away your entire life when they leave. (Adriel Favela, 2023)

En Este Amor was recorded in Sonic Ranch and is the first preview of his next album in the mariachi genre, different from his previous releases, and to which he has invited a renown group of industry collaborators, such as Kiko Cibrian (mix and vocal director), Marco Ramírez (Masterization), Daniel Valenzuela (head producer in Esperanto debuting as “Tipo Country Productions”) along with David Valenzuela, Jared Vacapiz and Ervey Vargas in the musical ensemble.

The release of En Este Amor comes with an official video, which through pictures, showcases a beautiful sunset in the desert of Sonora, Mexico. This is the perfect setting to convey the melancholy in the message of the song, while also representing the singer, composer, musician and producer roots, Adriel Favela.

“Everything has been a happy accident because this song was aimed for another person, but at the end of the day, God has a purpose for us all and the song conveyed a lot. I loved it! It has a beautiful essence which I think will differentiate itself from everything we’ve done before and we’ve obviously put a lot of heart into it and we hope the audience receives it the same way.” – Adriel Favela.

“This is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. I started composing it while sitting on my bed, before going to sleep, thinking about the two perspectives of this love, it was self-criticism because I gave it everything and the other person didn’t give anything, and when my heart told me that I had to continue trying, I realized that wasn’t a very smart decision.” – Gussy Lau, composer

New album release: Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions – Signal Omega

Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions is the new album by Signal Omega. Photo: Signal Omega, used with permission.

Signal Omega is an up and coming artist from New Port Richey, FL. For Signal, music is more than just a sonic combination of sound, it is a way to express the deepest stories through creativity and emotional individuality. Unlike many contemporary artists, Signal Omega takes immense pride and reassurance in his own style and musical expression, embracing his uniqueness and impressive qualities. Signal Omega is currently focused on expanding his music and brand this year with an acoustic rendition of his current and newer songs. His latest release is Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions. (Signal Omega, 2023)

Perfectly Imperfect: The Acoustic Sessions is now available for streaming.

Follow the artist: Facebook  Instagram  YouTube 

Steadily growing his listeners and fans with each and every release, things look to be even bigger and better in 2023 for this exciting and talented artist. In addition, Signal looks to start playing live shows and showcasing his live performance skills to a new set of audiences.

“This album is a recreation of my full production tracks I’ve released over the years. I like to be diverse in my writing style and felt an acoustic version of each would bring them all to a common sonic level.” – Signal Omega

A varied and versatile artist, Signal utilizes a number of genres including rap, metal, and alternative. His motivation is to create an abundance of genre offerings in his musical works. Impressively, the artist has a natural ability to take the listener on an emotional rollercoaster. From upbeat house infused drops to more reflective and intimate numbers, his vast and ever expanding catalogue of music offers listeners an array of styles and tones that is rare to see in todays musical landscape.

Signal Omega. Photo: Signal Omega, used with permission.

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New album release: Daniel Kruglov – The Talking Piano

The Talking Piano by Daniel Kruglov is available now for streaming. Photo: Google

In music news today: If you love classical piano music as much as I do, here is some information on a new album release from Daniel Kruglov – The Talking Piano.

Daniel Kruglov is a talented pianist and composer known for his unique style that seamlessly blends classical, jazz, and contemporary music. Based in Israel, he has made a name for himself as one of the most original and innovative musicians of his generation. The celebrated pianist and composer announces the release of his latest album “The Talking Piano.” This latest project showcases Kruglov’s musical versatility and virtuosity, delivering a mix of emotional piano tracks and comic virtuoso pieces that are sure to captivate audiences. In “The Talking Piano,” Kruglov seamlessly blends his classical training with his unique comedic flair, resulting in an album that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. From beautiful ballads to hilarious parodies, the album showcases the full range of Kruglov’s musical talent and is a must-listen for fans of classical and contemporary music alike. (Daniel Kruglov, 2023)

Kruglov began his musical journey at a young age, studying classical piano and composition at some of the most prestigious music schools in Russia. He went on to earn critical acclaim for his performances and soon gained recognition as a virtuoso pianist and composer. In addition to his classical training, Kruglov has a passion for jazz and contemporary music, which he incorporates into his compositions and performances. This musical fusion has resulted in a unique and captivating sound that sets him apart from other musicians. His concerts are always a feast for the senses, as he blends his virtuosity with his wit and humor to create an unforgettable musical experience. He has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls and has been praised by audiences and critics alike for his exceptional talent and musical mastery.

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