A new artist, and I mean new. Isabel’s first single is released on itunes and she’s defintely one to watch. Young, talented and nothing short of unique – her quirky personality reminds me of Ellen Page, different enough to notice, with a humble sweetness that makes you just fall for her.
Isabel’s captivating voice, thoughtful lyrics and real presentation are all the ingredients she needs to shine above the rest of them. Not only that, she’s only 16, only 16. Isabel has the world at her hands. No free download this time, but a great opportunity to support a rising star, most deserving of a chance to spread share her musical talents & wisdom upon us. If you like Joni Mitchell, you can’t go wrong with Isabel Wing.
Buy her single and make her glow even more HERE. Discovered and created by Kelvin Parker, from Avenue 34 Studios – avenue34studios.com. Check back to see more of his work and rising stars.
For Diego Garcia, 2011 might just be ‘the’ year. His new album Laura has been voted one of NPR’s top 25 albums of the year and it’s been a long time coming, 5 years in the making. Formerly the front man of Elefant, Billboard magazine says “Garcia emerges with a stellar solo debut!”
Anxiously awaiting my phone call with Diego, wondering what he was going to be like, my expectations were low, especially as a New Yorker at the top of his game. I picked up the phone to hear a soothing friendly voice on the other end – laid back like a surfer, eloquent like a writer and gentle like the father he is.
Diego originally made his mark on the indie music scene as front man for the popular indie act Elefant prior to his successful solo career. His new album, Laura, is named after his French-Brazilian wife, previously a successful fashion designer, and recently made a splash in the interior design world after the birth of their child. They’ve been featured in Casa Sugar and The Glow – as if their story wasn’t already cute enough!
The album explores his Latin heritage but also explores dealing with love, heartbreak and coming of age. He explains, “I began to write this album shortly after they broke up, to deal with the pain, to ask questions and get a few things off his chest. The album deals with the melody of love but also becoming a man in New York City and growing up.”
His culture and upbringing also allowed a self-assure man to explore the depths of love and explore his eternal side. “It’s natural to sing about in love in Argentina, the same way a kid on long beach signs about surfing. In my culture it’s okay for a man to sing about that subject of love. The album is not about a first kiss, it’s about a lot heavier – macho, grown-up, mature love.”
However he did make a point to say, the 80s killed the love category, further explaining the balance of the arrangement felt raw, dirty and the early 70s offered an edgy dark side to music. Thankfully, for you and for I, he has brought back melodic music about love and with no better way than his album Laura.
The album debuts a man of confidence, security in himself, and sincerity in his words. When speaking to him, I gathered a sense he knew exactly who he was – at peace with where he was at in his life. He has lived a full life, rich with culture, adventures, highs and lows. Diego admitted to not achieving his first goal in life, which was to become a professional soccer player. Music was a back-up plan, which at first he admits was something he enjoyed for the fame, the women, and the spotlight. Now, it’s a passion and as a grown up responsible man, “a way to put food on the table,” Diego tells me.
His mother was a musician, though she didn’t play enough. He remembers her having a old nylon Spanish guitar that she played as a teenager. Diego looked at it every day when he would go to get his shoes in the closet, before going outside. At times his mother would strum it after dinner.
While some of Diego’s music explores heavy issue, he himself was upbeat and happy. He told me some great stories, one having the opportunity to cook for Karl Lagerfeld, and it’s apparent he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We closed with a question of dreams. I asked him if he had the opportunity o have dinner with 5 people, living or dead, he said he would have dinner with – Diego Maradona – the greatest soccer player to this date, Karl Lagerfeld, Elvis, Oscar Wilde, Steve Jobs. I wouldn’t mind having a seat at that table either!
Check out Diego Garcia’s remix for download:
And his new album Laura is one don’t want to miss. You’ll have that on repeat..
Anthem Facility is the latest creation of NYC-based producer Stephen Hermann, who has been making music for over 20 years. He first emerged in the industry as a member of the group Sukpatch, whose lo-fi pop was recorded at home with cheap keyboards, samplers, and a 4-track cassette recorder, long before elaborate home studios would become commonplace. After signing to the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal label in 1997, the group disbanded, but Hermann continued to work with Sukpatch’s original label Slabco.
Despite being a competent multi-instrumentalist, Hermann hardly considers himself a musician. He spends countless hours experimenting with modem and vintage recording methods, production techniques, and synthesizer programming. His meticulous approach and dependence on outsourced session musicians can be compared to Steely Dan’s pop craftsmanship that transcends genre. Some sonic influences are the dense atmospherics of My Bloody Valentine, Brightblack Morning Light and the bouncy, breezy French House sounds of Etienne de Crecy or Daft Punk.
With the release of Anthem Facility’s debut EP Trace, the diversity of those influences is evident. With Malay offering her distinct lead vocals throughout the five songs on the EP, the same chemistry that drew so much attention and acclaim in their song’s first appearance is on full display.
Trace is the first in a series of releases planned from Anthem Facility. It also marks the first full release from Hermann’s label exro.fm, which will be releasing the EP digitally and on vinyl in late summer 2011.
If you know any of Apparat songs, and like them, then you’ll most likely think this is genius. Aparat is German producer Sascha Ring, and his latest record, The Devil’s Walk, has been catching a wide audience creating soundscape that’s subtle and melancholy, yet also uplifting and cinematic.
If you know any of Apparat songs, and like them, then you’ll most likely think this is genius. Aparat is German producer Sascha Ring, and his latest record, The Devil’s Walk, has been catching a wide audience creating soundscape that’s subtle and melancholy, yet also uplifting and cinematic.
One of my all time favorites from The National. I was reminded of how much I love this band over a dinner the other night. Hands down this is one of their bests.
Dublin native James Vincent McMorrow announces his first North American headline tour that kicks off September 8 in Philadelphia and currently runs through September 24 in Los Angeles.
His music has compared to Bon Iver and Ray Lamontagne.
James’s critically acclaimed debut album, Early In The Morning, has brought him to the U.S. and his music has already appeared in TV shows. After this tour, I would expect him to gain a huge recognition and following here in the U.S.
In real life they go by the name of Hugo Gruzman and James Lyell, but as DJs they remain anonymous, having yet to release anything under the name Flight Facilities. The duo claim to be from Trinidad and Tobago, but widely known to be from Sydney, Australia. Not sure what these two are up to in their undercover status, but their remix “Crave You” featuring Giselle Rosselli, has many taking notice receiving considerable airtime on the Australian radio station Triple J in 2010.
Kieran Hebden (born 1980, Putney, London, England, United Kingdom) is a post-rock and electronic musician who goes by the name Four Tet.. His sound and melodies incorporate elements of hip hop, electronica, techno, jazz, and folk music. Jon Hopkins, a London-based producer and musician on the rise, does a beautiful ambient mix of Four Tet’s song. Angel Echoes (Jon Hopkins remix) by Four Tet h
Caribou, Daniel Victor Snaith,a composer, musician and recording artist, takes it up a notch bringing in synthesizers, drums with a faster beat. Both amazing, depending on your mood. You decide!
A new artist, and I mean new. Isabel’s first single is released on itunes and she’s defintely one to watch. Young, talented and nothing short of unique – her quirky personality reminds me of Ellen Page, different enough to notice, with a humble sweetness that makes you just fall for her. 
